Monday Already??

Mason and I have had a busy couple of weeks. I doubt that I will get an update done in just one post so here is the first weekend...

Saturday, October 25th Mason and I got up really early and went to down home for a baby shower. Cassie was beautiful and glowing. I swear it looked like she had cut a basketball in half and taped it under her shirt.

Austin didn't drive down with us because he was laying the tile in the bathroom. Which looks great.

He did drive down later that morning and met up with us over at his grandparents house. Later that afternoon Mason, Austin, me and Austin's grandparents went to the Tabor Fire & Rescue Halloween Fundraiser. I couldn't say too much about what they had for dinner but I didn't pay so I won't complain.

Grandma and Grandpa like to go to see the costumes people wear. They also like to stay kinda late to see the crazy drunk people in costumes. Mason had a great time walking around all the tables trying to steal the older peoples canes and walkers. Mason finally fell asleep listening to Josh Heard sing. It was so cute he was clapping and everything. Austin, Mason and his grandparents left about 9:30. I however did not. Austin didn't want to stand around and talk to people he didn't know and truthfully I didn't want him there. I can't smoke when he is around. Don't get me wrong it would have been fine if he would have stayed I just wouldn't have had as much fun. I got back to his grandparents house at 3 in the morning.

Sarah and Phil. The Barmaid and the Beer Stein.

There are no words to describe Sarah. She is something else.

A drunk redneck tooth fairy.

If you look real close those are actually white stirrup pants he is wearing. I did ask if those were a special purchase or if he already had those on hand and he told me he would let me know later. He wasn't drunk enough to say yet. He never did get drunk enough because I never did find out. Last year he was a stripper pole but says he doesn't remember much of the night.

My sister, Cameron, an Angel my butt!! I don't know any other angels that smoke like a train and drink like a fish. She really should have dressed up as the devil. That fits her personality better. More like perfectly. She is a rather tenacious. I know some people that know are now wondering why I would describe her as tenacious. A single mother of two little boys, she rather has to be.

I didn't get photos of all the costumes but there was Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends, a Pregnant Prom Queen, A Milk Man, A pregnant housewife (who came with the milk man), a desperate housewife, a couple slutty sailor girls, three fat sumo ladies in bikinis, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, Wayne of Wayne's World, and the typical assortment of Halloween costumes. Don't worry I wasn't dressed up. NO WAY!! I was a respectable adult this year.

After sneaking into the grandparents house at around 3, morning came awful quick. My eyes felt like sandpaper and I felt like I had swallowed a beer bottle. I could hardly speak from yelling all night. It was a great night.

Austin left to go home after lunch while Mason and I went over to my mom and dad's for awhile. After a nice chat Mason and I headed towards home. My sister Marianne lives about half way so we stopped in for supper.

We finally arrived home about 10. I think Austin was just surprised it was before noon. Thus ending that weekend.

We didn't do too much during the week. We cleaned and organized did a bunch of laundry and got things ready for the cold weather. That was hard to do with the temp in the 70's but we got it done so that now that it is cold out we don't have to worry about it.

Snow!!

We got a little dusting of snow today! I am not ready for snow yet but am excited for our first actual snowfall. I got Mason the cutest little sled that you strap him in and I cannot wait to try it out.
Fortunately today's snow was just a light little dusting and barely stuck to the grass.

I feel...

I feel as though I have neglected my blog...
It isn't as though I have meant to, I have just been busy and this is the first time I have been on the internet in over a week. A great achievement for me no doubt.
We had a very busy and fun weekend last weekend down at mom's and another planned this weekend.
Mom has internet but it is dial-up and dreadfully slow. I have been spoiled with my super fast, fiber optic, blink speed internet.
I have tons of photos that I need to put on here and on Mason's blog but they will have to wait until next week. Hopefully Friday.
Pictures like the 'Redneck Tooth Fairy' and 'The Bar Maid' or how about 'The Beer Stein'. You know really great blackmail photos. Plus lots of photos of Mason and my almost finished bathroom. (Austin is grouting it tomorrow!!)
Can you read the excitement?
I just want to break out in song I am so excited.
Don't worry I won't. I am tone deaf and know it. My poor child has to listen to me sing in the car but at least I am better at it than he is, so far anyways.
Well I have tons of stuff to do before I leave in the morning so I'd better get to it. Hope everyone has a great weekend and remembers to turn the clocks back on Saturday night.
Oh did I mention that Mason is going to be a ducky for Halloween. A cute little ducky. I wonder if he will squeak if I squeeze him?

It's Real Life~ Video Introduction

Well it is It's Real Life time again. This week was a video introduction linked up at Heart of the Matter.
I don't know how many others will be doing this but I thought it sounded like fun. So after fighting with One True Media to get the code and blogger to accept the code it can now be seen and heard. I don't know if that is a good thing or not. So anyways this is me.
*Never mind the hair and makeup*

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Weekend Plans

This weekend Mason and I are going to Mom and Dad's. I am going to a baby shower on Saturday morning with Cammie and Marianne for my cousin Cassie. It should be fun. A little girl shower. Something new for us. We all had boys! All 3 of us... had boys... what are the odds of that?
Saturday night I am going to the town Halloween party. I don't know if this one will be fun or not. I cannot leave Mom's until Mason is asleep because we are having attachment issues and I don't want to leave her with my crying child, so I won't get up there until 9 or so. I remember last years, by the end of the night a lot of people didn't even know their own names.
Not me, no thanks, I just smelled of cigarette smoke really bad. It was a great night. This year I am taking my camera to have photographic evidence of Cammie's behavior. She doesn't believe me about some things that happened last year. I don't know if Marianne will be going with us or not, she has turned into a little homebody. Even worse than me.
I had to refill Mason's brag book because last year everyone wanted to see photos but the only ones I had were on my phone. Now Mason keeps taking my book, pointing to his photos and saying Ason, der Ason. Then he has to kiss the photo of his dad that I put in there. Don't worry he won't kiss the photo of me in there. I ask him if he will and he spits his tongue out at me. He definitely has his fathers personality.
Austin is staying home and laying the tile in the rest of the bathroom. Finally! It is finally getting done. It has been a long 2 months. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am also all caught up on the laundry. Now the question is what do I do with the 10 sets of sheets that we have. Who in their right mind has 10 queen size sets of sheets. Sad part is that they are all tan, cream or white. How boring.
I think one of the white sets will be used to back my quilt that I have been working on. You know in my 'free time'. In other words when I can't sleep in the middle of the night.
Well we should be home by Monday at noon, Wednesday night at the latest. After all we are going back to Council Bluffs for Halloween the next weekend. I wouldn't want Austin to think that we forgot about him.

I remember...

why I don't upload video to one true media. It takes forever!!

Halloween

Halloween is 9 days away and I still haven't decided what Mason is going to be. There are just so many choices and I just can't settle on one.

Wonderful!!

Nap time is early today! I can handle the screeching no longer. Everyday I look at his b-day countdown on the right side of the blog and think only 16 years so many days. How horrible is that?
I looked at it this morning after a very long tantrum and thought 16 years 221 days. I think this should probably be marked "Bad Mommy Moment". Especially considering he won't have graduated high school yet.
I think I'll just take a nap also.

My Ordinary Day!

Now that we have finally slowed down enough to be home for one whole day I can now tell you about an ordinary day. At least in this household.

7:30 to 9:00 Wake up. This all depends on if the sun is shinning or if it is cloudy. I like the cloudy days.

7:30 to 9:00 Mason goes potty and we change his diaper and clothes if he leaked. Breakfast. Cereal with a half banana and a sippy of milk.

10:00 to 11:00 I check my email and blog. If I don't get finished I will steal a couple of minutes here and there to finish by the time Austin gets home.

Breakfast to 11:00 Mason plays and destroy the house and let the dog in and out a million times.

11:00 Lunch. Sippy of milk. Fruit and sandwich. (meat or cheese depending on what is in the fridge)

1:00 Story time. Lately the favorite book is Bubbles, Bubbles. (I have nightmares about this book.)

1:30 Austin gets home to go to his 'hobby'. He changes and then roughhouses with Mason and Hyde until he leaves at 2.

2:00 Mason chases Hyde around the house. (I think I need to change nap time because he does this everyday and I think it is just him being tired and trying to stay awake)

3:00 Let the dog out grab 'Mine' and go take a nap in his crib. Let dog back in.

3:00 to 5:30 I wash dishes, do laundry, pick up the house, vacuum, sweep the kitchen and bathroom, mop the kitchen, clean the bathroom sink mirror and toilet. Time permitting I jump in the shower and start supper. All while letting the dog in and out another million times.

5:30 Go wake Mason up give him a snack of 1 pear half cut up and sippy of water.

5:45 Austin gets home from 'hobby' and takes Mason. Changes diaper and weather permitting they go outside and play or roughhouse until supper is ready.

7:00 Eat supper. He finally eats what we eat. No more special meal preparations.

7:30 to 8:15 Mason destroys the living room again playing.

8:15 Bath jammies and story. Grab 'Mine' and go to bed.

After Mason goes to bed I rinse the dirty dishes and put them in the sink. Let the dog in and out another million times and 30 minutes after Austin heads to bed I go up to bed also. Mason no longer wakes up in the middle of the night but Hyde does. Around 2:30 Hyde wakes up and has to go outside. I am still at a loss as to why this has to be me, really Austin's alarm goes off at 3 and there have been numerous times where Austin's alarm has been the reason for Hyde waking up. Try as I might Austin will not let him out though.

On this particular day Mason woke up grumpy. Most days he is a happy little smiley thing.

It might have taken him awhile to wake up.

On this day we watched Bob the builder while eating breakfast.

Right before lunch and he has destroyed my living room.

My wonderful Husband came home from work after Mason was down for his nap he saw my camera on the table and decided to catch me unawares. I think I said something along the lines of 'You BUTT'.

Yes those are paint brushes you see beside my sink because he forgot to bring them inside and it had started to rain and I wanted him to be able to find them without me.

He usually wakes up from nap in a good mood.

A very good mood.

This is what I get when I ask him to smile.

I caught him playing with my card reader that was in my camera bag in the office. He has learned to climb over the chair. I think I need to invest in more gates.

I didn't get all the laundry folded during nap time if you notice the couch in background.

Mason waving Bye Bye

This wasn't taken on our 'Ordinary Day' but I thought it fit perfectly.

Can I Just Say...

this is my 200th post of this year and I am really tired of laundry!!
I feel like this is all I have done since we got the washer and dryer moved. Today I am doing all the bedding so I am at least to the bottom of the pile but still it all needs put away or ironed and hung up.
I could skip the ironing but then Austin would go to work with all the wrinkles. I just can't have that. No way. Not when all his colleagues know that I don't work.
Really the least I could do is iron his clothes.
Don't worry I don't always do this willingly. To make up for it I sometimes...um...starch his underwear or the collar of his shirts. Once I even starched the crotch of his pants.
Shush!! Don't tell!
He deserves it. I'm positive of it.

Mason's First Night Away!!

Mason spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa on Friday night. I didn't have a hard time with it but Austin sure did. I couldn't believe it. He did everything but stomp around and cry.

I had a dinner for MOPS on Friday night so I left it up to Austin to get Mason over to his parents house. I made sure all he had to do was grab Mason, the milk out of the fridge, and a little bag with sippies in it. I didn't think it sounded that hard. I had already packed the truck with the bags, pack-n-play and carseat.

Well I go and enjoy my dinner and get home around 9:30 and Austin isn't there so I call him. He wasn't even over to his parents house yet. What??

Come to find out Mason had hurt himself by falling into the couch arm and they had fallen asleep in Austin's recliner. Mason now has a huge bruise on his cheek. The poor little kid.

So anyways Austin wasn't happy about Mason being away all night and had planned on picking him up as soon as he got home from his 'hobby'.

That didn't happen. He went over there but ended up bring his father home with him and working on the bathroom floor. What do you know they ran out of tile at 6:45 so I had to make the hurried run to Menards. He just had to have it that night so that he could get it all cut and thinset so that he could grout Sunday. Whatever. I am about 10 minutes away on the way home and he calls me to say that they will see me over at his moms that he decided he could wait until next weekend to thinset and grout. Sometimes I would like to spank him, but that would be a whole new post in itself.

Oh Happy Days! Happy Days!

My washer and dryer are upstairs and running. They are stacked nice and pretty in my bathroom. I have done 4 loads of laundry since last night. I love it.

Last night I get home from doing MOPS stuff, I walk in the door and Austin says 'Are you ready to help?'

Naturally I was skeptic whether to say yes or no so I said 'That depends.'

He starts towards the basement and says 'Nope it is now or next month, late next month.' So I said 'Sure!' still not knowing what it was.

I get to the basement and he has the washer ready to come up the stairs. This washer 275 pounds and he expects me to help him get it up the stairs. Well as you can guess we got it up after much fighting, yelling, name calling and cussing teamwork, cooperation and relationship building.

The dryer wasn't near as hard to get up. It is much lighter. It did take some more yelling and cussing teamwork and communication to get it stacked on the washer.

It was actually really comical. We get the stupid up there, the vent hose put on and attached to the washer and Austin says 'YOU forgot to plug it in!' I start laughing and Austin starts thinking of ways to get it plugged in.

After much deliberation we went with my suggestion. Austin stands on a chair to get to the top of the dryer, climbs on, I hold his feet while he sticks the top half of his body behind the dryer to reach the cord and get it plugged in. All I have to say is thank god he is tall and skinny and not short and fat.

So now my washer and dryer are stacked in my bathroom and we are still married. I would call that a success.

Now I have to go put a very tired little boy down for a nap. I might even take one as well. I hurt in places I have never hurt before or will ever again.

Now enjoy this beautiful photo:

Crazy

Life around here has been crazy recently. Well... mainly this week. Most of Wednesday, all of Thursday and most of today. Tonight I will be gone again for a dinner. Mason will be staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house tonight. Let me just say that Austin is not happy about that. I don't know why...wait...I don't care why.
I have to be back to town at 7 in the morning. Which means that I would have to wake Mason up at 6 and wake Austin's parents up at 6:15. This way Mason and them can sleep until 8. Austin will just have to get over it.
So I guess what this boils down to is that I haven't loaded my 'Ordinary Day' photofest yet because I haven't been home to do it. I will just have to do it on Sunday.

Well...

I finally got my MOPS newsletter emailed off to be printed. It took forever. I just couldn't get into it. Then my fingers didn't want to work. It is a little chilly in here and my fingers get stiff and start to just type junk. Anyways, it is done and now I don't have to worry about it. Yay!!
Now all I have to do for MOPS tomorrow is cooked my hamburger and chicken. We are doing a Pampered Chef party at MOPS. Should be fun. I have to take 1 lb of hamburger cooked and 2-3 cups of cooked diced chicken for the casseroles we are making. I already know what we are having for supper tomorrow and breakfast Friday. I just don't have room in my freezer.
My husband thinks he has to keep a supply of frozen treats like twin pops, fudge pops, bomb pops, ice cream sandwiches, sundae cones and ice cream over anything healthy like frozen hamburger, chicken, pork or veggies. I know, Paul, the Schwans guy, loves coming to our house. Especially when Austin is home. Last time Austin spent $50 on his frozen stuff.
Anyways... I am off subject... So my newsletter is off and should be printed by now. Yay!!

WWWAT~ Capture the Light

That's right it is WWWAT time over at The Adventures of an American Mum Alien. The theme this month is Capture the Light. I got excited when I read what the theme would be. I love to play with light. There are so many ways to take it. Here is how I took it.

These sunset pictures were taken Monday night after the rain we got that day and before it started to rain again in the middle of the night. I really like how they turned out.

I used to sell PartyLite so I have a ton of it around the house. I didn't put it all in my house most of it is still in my show suitcase.

Not including the stuff I just got from having a book show. It is all still in the box waiting for the bathroom to be done.

This is the Global Fusion Hurricane and Mirrored Tray. They usually sit on my dining room table but it has been loaded down with bathroom stuff.

I love this piece because in the evenings before the sunsets the light hits it and it throws rainbows all over the room.

This is another one of my favorite fall pieces. Whispering Leaves Pillar Lantern.

This is the Shimmering Lights Tealight Tree. Well a reflection of it anyways.

I love the Orange Sherbert tealights I used. I wish I would have waited longer for the candle to melt all the way.

What is ordinary?

I have discovered that my life is boring. Very boring!
We don't go anywhere or do anything. We stay in our pajamas all day. Really why change clothes if we aren't leaving. Worse yet, if someone were to look back through my photos of the last 3 days it looks as though I haven't changed Mason's clothes at all. How horrible. Poor little child has 3 pair of the exact same little footie pajamas thanks to his cousins. I didn't realize it until I got out the rest of the winter clothes. I have two 2Ts and one 18 month pair. Worse yet is that Austin asked me about it. I had to pull his 2 other dirty pairs to show him that I wasn't crazy.
So yesterday I couldn't figure out how to work the timer on my camera and couldn't locate my tripod. I looked and looked and come to find out it was in the vehicle that Austin drove to work. My next question was why was my tripod in his vehicle? Did he use it without asking? Sure did the little brat. He couldn't even remember what he had used it for just that it was in his vehicle. He is lucky that I love him and can overlook his flaws... well almost. After all overlooking all of them and I would be lying to myself. I really try to be brutally honest with myself.
So today I have filled in the rest of my ordinary day because really everyday is the same for me. I know it is pathetic. I am sure it will change once mason starts preschool.
Now on to some cuter stuff...
Mason has learned to run. It is so cute he juts out his chest and put his straight behind himself and moves his legs really fast. He doesn't actually go any faster just uses more energy. I couldn't for the life of me figure out where he learned to run like that. I mean I don't run like that and I know Austin doesn't. It finally hit me while we were watching Sid the Science Kid on IPTV this morning that that is how those little kids run to the play ground. It makes sense that is one of Mason's favorite shows. Right along with Thomas the Train and Big Big World. I don't even get to watch the new anymore in the mornings unless I want to stand in the kitchen.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love me some news. Especially the morning news like the Today Show or The Early Show. I used to only watch The Today Show but then Katie left and Meredith came and I cannot stand her. I liked her on The View but not on The Today Show. Then again I used to like The View but then Meredith left and Rosie was on and now Whoopi. Sorry, don't care for either of them. I have finally resigned myself to watching Sid the Science Kid and Sesame Street in the mornings.
Tonight I have to start and...um...finish my MOPS newsletter. Yeah, I don't know if that will happen. It all depends on if I can get the two guys in my life to behave long enough. I really doubt that will happen and will probably have to finish it tomorrow.
For now I am off to rescue an overly tired toddler who is in desperate need of a nap. All I have to say to that is ME TOO!!

Ordinary Day?

Today I am taking photos for It's Real Life over at Farm Fresh Jessica's.
It's Real Life is a blog photo fest dipicting things are that real life. This weeks theme is an ordinary day.

Here are the only rules for this week.
You must include at least one picture of yourself in action.
You must include at least one picture of someone close to you, also in action.
You must include one picture in your kitchen.

Sounds easy enough right. I don't do much other than play with Mason all day so my day isn't too interesting. I will have to remember to delete the photos off of my computer after I post because it would not do to have photographic evidence of this. Austin thinks I do stuff during the day.

I just don't know how I am going to get a shot of myself in action. Maybe I'll take a photo of me doing dishes. That should count as action and in the kitchen.

I know people read this blog on Mondays more than any other day so grab your camera and join in on the fun. Don't forget to fill out Mr. Linky at Jessica's. Posting day is Thursday so you have a couple of days.

Now I need to read how to operate the timer on my camera. Yeah.

Wish me luck, I am off to find my tripod and play with the camera.

How long does it take?

We started work on the bathroom on August the 8th. We are now 2 months later and it still isn't done. So here is the update:



Tile is down where the washer and dryer are going to go.

Walls have been mudded, sanded, primed and painted in the washer/dryer area.

Ceiling has been mudded and sanded everywhere but where the light fixtures are.

Only the corners need to be mudded. (I can not do them anywhere near as good as Austin so he has agreed to do them. We have decided to wait until the floor is down to do the rest.)

I found a magazine rack for the bathroom. (Austin has been asking for one for years)

Austin did his own laundry without complaining because he saw the snake in the basement again.

Peace and Quiet

At least for a little while.
Austin took Mason with him to town for parts this morning.
That means that I have the house to myself for about an hour.
I can't believe he took him. He doesn't know what the part is that he needs and knows they will have to look it up and that he will be there for a half hour at least.
I hope he doesn't go too crazy and that Mason doesn't cry too much.
Why?
Because it would ruin my chances of Austin ever taking him again.
Alone.
As in without dragging me along also.

M~I~N~E

This little teddy bear has been in Mason's crib since he was born. Last week one day when I was getting ready to get him out of his crib he decided that he wanted to take this teddy downstairs and since then it is never far from him.

This is the look we get if we ask to see the teddy bear.

It is a cute little teddy bear. We got it from State Farm when we went to review our policies after Mason was born.

And in case we didn't already know that the bear was his he has named it MINE.

When we get ready for bed he will go around the living room looking for the bear saying Mine, Mine, Mine, like he is calling it over. It is really cute but his dad is not happy. Austin didn't want Mason to have a 'crutch'; even though he did.

Yes, my hard headed husband had a teddy of his own. He took it everywhere and when it came time for teddy to be washed he would sit in front of the washer and dryer waiting for it to be done. He would then cry because it 'smelled clean'.

All that is left of Austin's bear is one arm and the head. Personally I think it looks more psycho than comforting.

When his mother pulled it out to show me Austin walked in the room and without even thinking said, 'You told me that teddy ran away' like he was 4 again.

I have yet to tease him about this. Don't worry the day is coming. I rather like the sneak attack.

Pumpkins

Mason and I went and got pumpkins on Wednesday afternoon. We didn't actually go and pick our own pumpkin. We live in the country and within about 5 miles of us there are 3 little roadside stands. There is no one there to take money, you'll notice the gray box in the left corner of the photo. On it are the prices and PLEASE PAY HERE. On this day we got there about when the kids that lived there were getting home from school so the owners were out in the driveway. Being Iowa we chatted for a bit and Mason picked out his pumpkin. We were getting ready to leave we had already put our money in the box and the owner decides that we need one more pumpkin. He brings over this huge pumpkin, it comes almost to Mason's shoulders. It is in this photo to the left of the scarecrows head. It is huge. The price on the top of the pumpkin is $4.25. Austin was pretty shocked. Evidently he had been to Orschlens and looked at pumpkins but didn't want to pay the $5 for a little one the size that Mason picked out.

I just love these little shoes. Mason finally grew into them.

He looks so proud of himself. I think this is the only photo I took there that he would actually look at me so I am really glad that he is smiling.

I got home and put Mason in the living room while I unloaded the car. I am putting away groceries and notice how quiet it is. No wonder he is sitting in my chair trying to eat some candy that his dad forgot to put away. Mason did end up getting one unwrapped and ate it in the highchair after I put some play clothes on him. I figured after he worked so hard to get it unwrapped I couldn't not let him eat it.

Laundry Day

Whenever I do laundry Mason will grab my bra out, put it on his head and twirl around screaming. I don't really like my bra being posted but I couldn't resist that cute little face.

He had just taken it off his head and said 'boo' to me. I don't think he was expecting me to have the camera there and ready.

I need to...

invest in some room darkening shades for Mason's bedroom.
On rainy or overcast days I have noticed that Mason sleeps A LOT later. On mornings like this morning with the sun shinning he wakes up before 8 and is cranky until nap after lunch. It makes sense I am cranky also if I get woke up early instead of waking up on my own.
I am just not sure how it will look in his room if I add room darkening shades. I made his curtains and so I don't know how they would look with shades behind them. I am going to try it though. I just need to get my butt to Walmart or Target. I try not to go into those places unless I absolutely have to. It never fails we will spend $100. It doesn't matter if I am just there to buy diapers so I like to send Austin on his way home from work. He might not like it but it works out pretty handy for me.

And He Got Mad...

I reclaimed my dining room table and Austin got mad. I know hard to believe. I hung everything back up in the kitchen on the WELCOME wall and shelf. I moved all the misc bathroom tools and stuff to a tote that I sat by the back door.

He was mad. He couldn't believe that I would just move 'his' stuff. We have been married for 8+ years he should have known that I would only allow it to be there for so long before getting tired of asking him to move it and move it myself. He is lucky that I didn't just throw his tools out the back door.

I also washed all the ceiling fan blades down stairs. He was mad about this also because he thought that I took them all off at the same time and didn't put them back in the right order. Well I didn't. I took them off one at a time washed it and put it back before taking the next one off.

I know some people are wondering what the big deal is. Well all the blades are on in a certain order and weighted differently to keep the fan from shaking. While I was on my cleaning spree I cleaned the light fixtures also. I have had all the windows open all summer (I didn't turn the central air on once) and living on a gravel river rock road things tend to get a little dusty. Tables and such I keep dust free with my weekly dusting but the ceiling fans are a little more difficult to do on a weekly basis.

I think tonight I start to nag him on painting the bathroom. I am so ready for this project to be done. If when he got work early he actually stayed home and worked on it it would be done by now. However he has decided that his 'desk' job is not strenuous enough and has decided that he would like to help a local seed company harvest this fall. I don't care what he does it just looks a little ridiculous for him to do that. Considering he makes a fourth an hour harvesting as what he does at his 'desk' job. I don't think his 'second' job even pays for the gas. Actually I'm fairly certain it doesn't because he doesn't put his paychecks into the checking where his gas money comes from.

I might be a little annoyed about this 'second' job because he complains about having to get up at 3 am like I am making him work 2 jobs. Whatever makes him feel better about being a dumb butt.

Wednesday...

How is it that Wednesdays always sneak up on me? It is halfway through the week and I feel as though I have got nothing done. Mason woke up late yesterday and I got some things done before he woke up so I know that at least a couple of things got done. Last night I washed dishes. All the dishes. Very rare. Sometimes when I think I have all the dishes done my husband will bring in a bowl from the living room and put it in the sink and that is where it sits until I do dishes again so in all actuality not all the dishes were done.

I have been trying to convince Austin that he needs to start helping out more around the house. I don't care if the only thing he does is bring in his supper dishes. That would be wonderful. He doesn't seem to care. I think he should start caring. For years I have been trying to get him to start emptying the trash can and taking it out. I figure if my father can do at least that that he can also. I think I am almost there with it. I have started to leave the trash in the can until trash day. Don't get the wrong idea I don't let it start overflowing. I get out a trash bag every morning and use it sitting beside the trash can I take it out to the trash can before he gets home from work. So far he is none the wiser. Last week he actually emptied the trash on Monday (trash day) and Wednesday. I think that is a huge improvement. Someone should really write a book on how to train a new hubby or better yet on how to re-train a hubby. I got lack somewhere and he is being difficult.

Speaking of re-training. I am in the middle of re-training our little 6 year-old dog Hyde. He has started to think that it is okay to mark my fridge, trash can and cabinet under the sink. I however do not think that this is acceptable. It is really aggravating.
I do not know why he has decided to mark these things. Nothing has changed, he is outside enough. It isn't like he actually pees on these items. Nope just a couple of drops, enough to smell. I have tried all the doggy marking products and nothing has worked. If anyone has any ideas send them my way. For now I will just keep spraying them down with my vinegar and bleach.
I guess I should add that it isn't an everyday occurrence that he does this. I don't want everyone thinking that I just let my dog pee all over the house or get away with marking things in my kitchen. I keep a clean house with everything in its place. True occasionally there are dirty dishes but that is about it. Everything else is put away. For crying out loud I mop and vacuum just about everyday. I cannot stand to have clutter which is why the bathroom thing is about to drive me nuts. I no longer have a dining room table it has been taken over by his tools and misc things from the bathroom.
I think it is more of a vindictive thing. I just can't figure out what we did to him. He gets just as much attention now as he did before the baby. He isn't home alone very often and when he is it is usually for less than 2 hours. The only thing different around here is the bathroom but I wouldn't think that that would upset him. I do know that I am at my wits end with it. If we can't find something to get him to stop then we are going to have to leash train him again. As enjoyable as that sounds it isn't something we want to have to do. Then again we don't want him marking my kitchen.
Any ideas on re-training hubby or dog would be greatly appreciated.

Ke`Vion Jaymes

Little Ke`Vion Jaymes 9 lbs 21 inches

He is so sweet with a cute little dimple in his right cheek. I actually got to see Amanda and Ke`Vion by myself. No one else was there. Luckily I missed out on seeing Raquel and Dan which was good. Although I hear she has dyed her hair 'poop' brown. As Amanda put it 'it looks like she tried to do something and it went horribly wrong so she tried to cover it up. Her roots are really blonde. Not a good look on her but at least it takes the attention off of her face.'

Now I am curious to see exactly how bad it is. Don't worry not bad enough to actually try to see her myself after all Amanda said she has photos. Just for a point of reference Raquel's hair is medium mousey brown, if that makes any sense. Her hair is really, really thin. Over the last year she has been getting more grown up hair cuts. Unfortunately her hair is so thin and limp that they make her look like she is balding. I don't know if she thought that now that she is married she needed to get her hair cut to look more mature. Although did she finally get away from the straight cut little girl bangs. Literally they were cut right above her eyebrows straight across her forehead. Anyways I'm done complaining about her for now. If only I had a photo of her showing exactly what she looked like this photo is from March of 2003 and she has put on probably 50 pounds since then. It does a good job of showing the bangs.

10:30 AM

That is the time this little Heathen Angel decided to wake up this morning. It was so wonderful. I actually got to shower and do some cleaning before he got up. I forgot what it felt like to be able to shower in the morning. I don't know if this is something that will happen everyday or if today was a fluke. Hopefully it will happen everyday. It would be nice to be able to have a couple of hours in the morning and evening to myself.

Bathroom Update:

Austin has been trying to get the floor down for what feels like forever but in all actuality is only about 2 weeks. He has the dry run down in the area where the washer and dryer are going to go. Finally.

Since the beginning I have been trying to talk him into buying a tile cutter (a table saw like thing that cuts while spraying water on the cut), he has refused saying they cost too much. I might have been speechless at this point. My husband was giving up the chance to buy new tools. I seriously thought he was sick and offered to take his temp.

So here we are, trying to get this floor laid, and he gets to where he needs to cut a tile. He sends me to Menards to buy tile snappers, cost $9.00. The tile snappers didn't even make it for 2 tiles, so I go back to Menards and get a tile snapper, cost $30.00. I laughed when I saw him try to use this contraption. I think he broke more tiles than actually got cut.

I find myself at Lowes on Sunday after seeing the cutest little baby (a whole other story all in itself). So I am at Lowes and he tells me to get a new snapper. Well right beside the snappers are tile cutters. The size of tile cutter we needed was $80.00. I made an executive decision. I figured screw it we would end up with one anyways but how much more money was he going to waste before we got to that point. He was mad and then I did the math for him. I am returning the snapper we bought at Menards because it is broken and 30 bucks is 30 bucks.

I don't know why he always has to make things so much more difficult.

Thankfully it rained last night and most of today so far so it is too wet outside for him to help with the harvest so he is going to actually get something more done on the floor. Yay!! The sooner we get my washer and dryer upstairs the better.

He really threw a fit when I told him that he was going to have to take both outside and make sure there were no snakes in the drums before he could put them in the bathroom. He will just have to get over it because I am fairly sure that is where the latest snake has made his home.

I compromised on the color also. I didn't feel like driving clear down to Des Moines to go to The Home Depot to get the color I wanted. I found a color I can live with at Menards. It is more olive colored than the grass/john deere color from Home Depot. I like it and I think Austin will be happier with it. Not that I am really concerned about that but I don't want to have to listen to him bitch about it for the next 5 years.

Thanksgiving

We are doing Thanksgiving at our house this year. I have told Jeff, Robin, Dan and Raquel that they are invited but I don't really think they will show up. Austin and I decided that we didn't want to drive for 3+ hours to see my family for 1 hour before everyone had to leave for other obligations. We have friends that are staying in the area also because of gas prices and new babies so they are all going to come and we are going to have a 'family we choose' Thanksgiving. I think it will be fun. Austin doesn't care either way. He did ask me who was going to be doing most of the cooking. Like it was a question. I already know that I will get the minimal amount of help from him. Hopefully it doesn't snow before then...

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Raquel is now a grandma!! I guess that is what you get for marrying an older man. Yep, being a grandma at 28. Sounds fun!!
No seriously... Amanda had Ke`vion (kay-veon) Saturday morning. 9 lbs 21 inches. I can't wait to go see him. I have to call first and make sure that Dan and Raquel aren't going to be there. That would suck. Really bad!! I don't think I have to worry too much about it considering how Raquel is and that she doesn't like Dan's ex-wife or family but still not really wanting to run into her.
Next week I will be taking Ke`vion's newborn photos so I am really excited. Really really excited!!

Well...

surprise... surprise... the mother-in-law canceled on me.
I can't say that I was too disappointed as some of you might have gathered I was not looking forward to this expedition per say. There are a certain number of things that as a daughter-in-law I have to subject myself to so that I look good and they can't try to blame anything on me. ie: not getting to see their grandson- that is their own damn fault
So for the sake of looking good I invited Robin and Raquel to this craft show. Raquel is still mad at me so she didn't even respond but Robin said she would "pencil it in". I had been waiting for the phone call canceling. Well she didn't even call she emailed. Either way I wasn't surprised. I just made plans to go with my friend Lisa. The craft show was a bust but we had fun anyways. I did get a couple of things at the craft show and as soon as I get them hung up I will be posting pictures.

Where?

Where did my year go? It just vanished. Poof! Gone!
Well it is 2 in the morning and I just got done writing the MOPS newsletter. Again I am sitting here asking myself how in the world I got roped into doing it this year. I know some of you are thinking 'well, how hard can it really be you write this blog'. Well this blog is different. I don't have to look you in the eye and wonder if your judging me. Why because I don't care. I like to think I have at least grown as a person that much. But this newsletter is read by around 30 women in the same room. I actually had a nightmare that I went to MOPS and instead of the normal lovely ladies it was a room with 30 Mrs. Malcoms nit picking and dissecting my newsletter.
Yes I realize most won't understand this analogy but for those that went to Fremont-Mills you understand. It isn't that I dislike Mrs. Malcom because I really do like her she was one of my favorite teachers. It is just that I can only handle one English teacher at a time so 30 was kind of overwhelming and I woke up in a cold sweat. Now that I reminded myself of that I get to go and try to go to sleep. Yep like that is going to happen.