Monday, February 23, 2009
A busy week...
Last Monday I drove the black car down to Cameron and was stuck with out a vehicle all week. Well I shouldn't say I didn't have one but it was an old person car. A Cadillac. Not one of the sporty looking ones but one with the wings in the back. A late 90's model. Or as I like to call it a couch on wheels.
Mason and I got down there about midnight on Monday night. Lucky Mason got to sleep in the car so he was up early. Grandma says she heard him awake at around 5 but waited until 6:30 to get him out of bed. Needless to say I don't believe her but that is okay because she is grandma and can do just about anything she wants.
Tuesday Cameron, Mason, Isaac and I went to Council Bluffs to see our grandma and did a little bit of shopping before heading home to our mom's for supper.
Mason and I spent Wednesday at my mom's house as that is her day off. We didn't do too much that I remember this day just seemed to fly by.
Thursday we had dinner with Mason's grandparents before heading to Cammie's in the afternoon to hook up her printer. We all ended back at mom's for supper again.
Friday we had dinner with Mason's grandparents again before heading over to Cammie's so that she could drive us home. Cameron and the boys stayed the night with us Friday night so that she didn't have to drive 7 hours in one day.
Cameron's boys, Daniel and Isaac, are horrible. They don't listen and won't mind. I caught them trying to teach Mason the "F" word. I'm sorry that is so totally not okay with me. They also taught him how to scream. You know the scream that is ear piercing and annoying. It usually comes before they throw themselves on the floor and having a fit. They also do this scream for fun and laugh at each other when doing it. Well Mason now thinks it is funny and will laugh after he does it. Me being the mean mommy have started putting him in time out every time he does it. Hopefully soon we will have him broke of it. That is not behavior we want to see. Translate: We will not tolerate it.
All in all it was a pretty good week. No one got stitches or broke a bone. There was a lot of crying. A lot of crying but thankfully not from my child. Nope he was just soaking in all the naughty. I cannot wait until summer when we can just throw the kids outside. Little boys have way too much energy.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sure Is HOT in here...
You see his grandparents are around 80 and get cold easily so they keep the house at a balmy 78 degrees and if I open the register I will be truly miserable. As soon as I get here I always come into my bedroom and close the register. I have no clue why they tend to think they need to heat a room they are never in but they do. (I say 'my' bedroom because I spend the most time here and she only changes the sheets when she hears someone different is coming. Otherwise I wash them about every third time I am down.)
Mason had no nap today. As in none, zip, zilch, nada, bubkiss. I couldn't even get him to sit down to eat supper the poor little thing was afraid he was going to fall asleep. It was so cute.
So here I am hot and almost miserable and I know Mason will be. Up super early because the grandparents get up early and Mason miraculously wakes up. Amazing how that happens.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
And To Think...
Funny argument that was. He was appalled that I would suggest such a thing. He thinks that money should go to bills. All my money has always gone to bills and his has always gone to whatever he wanted. That is how he got the motorcycle in college. He saved his paychecks (that didn't even cover his gas for the week to get back and forth to work) for that motorcycle. Then he got the big TV. So when I tell him that essentially that is what I am going to do with my paychecks he throws a huge fit. All I have to say is shut up big cry baby.
I hadn't been that worked up in a long time. It is like he has forgotten how to fight with me. I was enjoying myself so much that I drug it on for a little bit before I totally annihilated him. He should have known better than to dictate to me how we were going to spend my money. I know I could have just agreed with him and then done whatever I wanted to do anyways but I couldn't let him think that he could get away with that.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Valentines Day? What's that?
I neglected to tell him that I was also getting a couple new pairs of shoes from Mason. I figure what he doesn't know, won't hurt him. I love how generous my son is.
I am determined to teach my son differently than what Austin thinks.
I even got him something. A Wii remote charging station. Okay so it might actually be for me. I am tired of buying batteries.
I am hoping he doesn't look at my golf score because I am kicking his butt. As it should be.
I Love...
Really?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
She got here around 3:30 and I told her Mason would sleep until around 5 or 5:30. So I leave the house at 3:45. She woke him at 4. She couldn't even wait 15 minutes.
It really surprises me. She LOVES schedules and doesn't like to deviate off of them. I think the Grandma in her over powered the anal retentiveness in her.
Maybe there is hope for her.
Monday, February 9, 2009
So yeah my day is going to suck...
I see several things going wrong today.
First off, Austin's meeting was scheduled after he already had my schedule. He says he had forgotten to mention it to me. Like I really believe that... So anyways, he called this morning and said he already talked to his mother about it and she will be over at 3:30. Um... HELLO... my house is no where near M~I~L ready. I worked all weekend.
Second I had planned on taking his car to work because, hello, mine has a flat tire. I ran over something on the way to work yesterday because I know it wasn't low when I left the house. Why you ask, because I had to drag out the air house myself and do it because my husband is worthless like that. He thinks I should take care of my own car. I tell him he should be taking care of me and that includes things on my car. We go rounds and rounds. I told him last night after he accused me of 'forgetting' to check that tire that from now on I was taking it to a mechanic to even put windshield washer fluid in it.
So that leaves me with the truck. You remember the awesome green truck. That is if the stupid thing will even start. He changed the battery just a couple of weeks ago when we were way below zero and I don't think he got the battery cables tight. He says he did. Let me put it this way; If they were tight you wouldn't have wiggle them before starting the damn truck.
Honestly. I think he just likes to argue. Yes I realize that they could be tight but still have a bad connection because of corrosion etc. All I have to say to that is fix it right and then you don't have to worry about it. Don't tell your wife 'Well if it doesn't start just wiggle this cable and then it should.' Do you know what that gets you.
Just guess.
That's right Shit on a stick for supper all week.
Let me tell you he is one lucky guy.
I got off topic...
Third- His mother. I didn't want to spend my whole day cleaning. The living room needs picked up and vacuumed, along with the dining room, the kitchen needs swept and mopped and dishes done. (I think my husband is allergic to dishes) The bathroom needs picked up also. Austin decided to give Mason a bath last night and now all the towels that were clean are now dirty. He had taken two of the folded ones on the shelf and unfolded them until they were just halves and laid them in front of the bathtub for his knees. It's okay I laughed too. Then he said he was getting Mason out of the tub and somehow dropped the towel into the water. So he got another one and got him out but Mason wouldn't let him use it to dry his hair. So instead of getting out a hand towel for his hair he got out another huge bath towel.
That is all 5 clean huge bath towels. We have more towels but we mostly use the huge ones and there is only the 3 of us so we don't need a huge number considering Mason has his own towels but Austin obviously doesn't know where they are. I really need to get back to that re-training. He is driving me nuts. I actually got mad at him on Friday and told him it doesn't matter how bad he actually does it still needs to be done and he will get better at it. Perfect example was the bath. Now if I could only convince him to do the dishes. I wouldn't even care if he did a really bad job. Sometimes effort counts for a lot.
Those are just the obvious things I see that are going wrong today. It does not take into account the whole multitude of things that will go wrong. Like Mason getting on the dining room table a hundred times or the dog marking my fridge because I forgot him outside. And Austin wonders why I want to paint the office pink. I am horribly out numbered by these inconsiderate jerks. I think I need a vacation.
Well I better go get my butt busy. I am only going to get as much done as I get done. I am going to start on my usual Monday stuff. The bedding is already in the washer. The bathroom is back to looking like my bathroom and not a truck stop. The living and dining rooms are ready to be vacuumed. The kitchen is ready to be mopped. There is a rank smell coming from the stove. Like actually from the stove. I have this sinking suspicion that my husband forgot something in it. I really don't want to open the door on the oven but it is unavoidable. I will have to. Next is to get the dishes washed and put away before M~I~L gets here. If I don't she will put them away and then I won't be able to find anything. Last time she actually rearranged my cabinets and forgot that I am short I couldn't reach the plates. Literally. Couldn't reach them.
Hope everyone has a better day than me.
Officer Lock
It is common knowledge that most of the females on the Ames police squad are not friendly. Really not friendly. You know crazy B with a gun type.
I got lucky. Oh Boy did I ever get lucky.
Officer Lock is a wonderful lady. So sweet and nice that on first impression if she hadn't had on the uniform I would figure her for a kindergarten teacher or something just as sweet.
I noticed a problem with the driver information sheet after I got home and before I could call her to figure it out she had called me. How many times will that ever happen? I'll tell you the chances are one in a million.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Oh, What A Night
I know what a way to end the night.
I was driving the black 300 (the same one I was going to sell to my sister next week) and was pulling away from the pumps and this lady came barreling into the driveway and just hit me. I wasn't able to get out of her way. She ended up hitting my rear passenger door on the drivers side. My poor friend Jodi got thrown across the backseat and it did quite a bit of damage to the car.
Jodi and my other friend Lisa, who was in the front seat, got upset at this lady. I mean really upset. I just couldn't be upset with her. I don't really hate anybody or get mad easily. I sure didn't see this as a reason to get upset. It was dark, she was looking for the air hose, I was laughing with my friends, maybe it is that we both weren't paying as much attention as we should have been.
I know my car got damaged, but so did hers and I just felt bad for her about the way my friends were acting towards her. Giving her dirty looks and everything. I chastised them about it. After the police report had been written and we were talking to the officer I apologized to her and told her that we are usually very nice people. She smiled at me. I hope she understood.
On the way home Lisa was complaining about her still and I just looked at her and said 'Sometimes it is harder to show compassion towards someone rather than hate.' She just looked at me.
I don't know maybe I am too soft hearted but I sure don't think so. I know if the accident had been my fault I would want to be treated the way I treated her. Not the way my friends treated her.
Please tell me I'm not alone in feeling this way.
Friday, February 6, 2009
I think...
I am my own person.
I know what I want.
I am going to get what I want.
no one is going to be able to stop me.
I would like to say that there won't be any more complaining going on on this blog anymore but I don't want to lie to you.
I couldn't even type that with a straight face.
I am not saying there won't be updates of Mason on here because there always have been; after all him and his father are the sources of my aggravation and quite honestly they are hilarious. If I ever write a book about my life it would be considered a tragic comedy. Some of the things that happen around here feel like they should be happening to someone else so that I could laugh about it. I am not sure how I feel about that. I guess I can't really change it so it doesn't matter.
Anyways just wanted to let everyone know that things are changing here. I think it is because of this horrible case of cabin fever I have going on. Fifty outside today and yet we are stuck inside because of all the mud. It is everywhere. I cannot imagine letting my 20 month-old play in it. I am not crazy.
It is bad enough wiping off Hyde's feet when he comes back inside.
First big change:
I am taking time for myself. Tonight I am going out with some friends. Just a girls night out. Even though I have been gone almost every night this week. I didn't care. Austin was even okay with this. Not that it would have mattered. Well that much anyways.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
25 Randoms
1. I have been married for 8.5 years; we've been together 12.5.
We met at the Fremont County Fair in July of 96. For the next 4 months or so we talked to each once a week and wrote letters back and forth.
Two days after my 16th birthday I drove to Ames to a hockey game and the rest is history. Really old history because we didn't really have email. As I said we mailed letters back and forth and talked on the phone 2 hours a week. I can't imagine we would be together right now if we had had cell phones. Just a feeling.
I still have all of our letters. The ones he sent me and the ones I sent him. I didn't find out until a couple of years ago that he kept them. What a wonderful surprise that was.
2. I like to cook... just not supper.
I hate having to decide what is for supper. If I had my way we would have hamburgers every night. I do a lot of my experimenting at lunchtime.
3. I wash my bedding every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I don't know why. I just do. It isn't even that those same sheets are going to go back on the bed. We have something like 11 sets. The comforter and all gets washed. We also have a lot of comforters. Enough that I don't want to count them.
Austin used to think that this needed to be a couple's joint decision. After all it is about decorating. He no longer thinks that because I refuse to get his okay every time I want to change the blankets.
I have a new one in the closet that I got on clearance and I don't feel one bit guilty about that at all. It would be on the bed but it is more of a summer theme one and just looking at it makes me cold this time of year.
All the comforters have a light brown color in them somewhere so that every one that I get blends right into the colors in the room.
4. I might be OCD on some things.
The bathroom must always be clean. Sink washed out and the toilet scrubbed. Floor swept and mopped. Mirror wiped down. Everything clean.
Sheets get washed on schedule. If I am gone on one of those days and get back the next it is okay I just change sheets and they still get washed on the next scheduled day.
The blankets on the bed must be centered. They all have to be pulled up to the same evenness at the top. No exceptions. I have been known to safety pin them together. My husband just realized this quirk last year. Crazy.
DVDs must be alphabetized according to the first letter of the title not including 'The'. DVDs with numbers in the title go at the end in numerical order no matter what the title is. Unless it is just a second movie in which case they go alphabetically.
Glasses in the cabinets go one right side up, one upside down, etc to prevent chipping.
5. I like to go grocery shopping late at night by myself.
I think this one is self explanatory.
6. We have one too many houses.
We have a second home in Indiana that has been on the market for a really long time. It will be a miracle if it ever sells. We have an accepted offer on it right now but I am not holding my breathe. After 3 years we have had more than one failed offer. Nothing to do with the house but with buyers financing going bad.
I am really glad that we bought the house we are in when we did. There is no way we would have qualified for another loan in the current credit market. Not that we can't pay it but because the banks are a little more skittish now.
7. I count the steps in my house every time I go up or down them like I expect there to be a new number of them. There are 14. That isn't going to change.
If I happen to lose count on the way up I will usually trip. If I lose count on the way down I have to stop and check myself because I have been known to fall down them. Thankfully I usually lose count on like number 12 or 13.
8. I hate when people talk about nothing or try to monopolize the conversation and will often change the subject to better suit myself. ;)
I don't like when people just talk about themselves and don't let anyone else in on the conversation. That or they just talk to hear themselves. That just doesn't fly with me. I also don't like when people have to think about what they are going to say. Like they are reading off of a teleprompter or crib sheet. Don't get me wrong if they have some kind of mental problem or disability that is something else entirely. But most of the time it is just people trying to keep their lies straight. I might be a domineering conversationalist but I let everyone in on the conversation.
9. I am a morning person that for some reason likes to stay up late.
Just call me stupid. Thankfully I don't need a whole bunch of sleep. 4 or 5 hours a night is enough.
10. I kept Mason rear facing until he hit the limits of his seat.
It was and is so much safer to have little kids in rear facing. He hit the limit of his seat and I have reluctantly switched him over to forward facing. I did look around at other seats and decided for the extra inch I would have gotten out of it was just too much. I really struggled with this decision because I do drive a lot. Now when I go somewhere I am more likely to find a route that isn't traveled very much. I don't worry about my driving so much it is more those other stupid bastards out there talking on their cell phones playing with the radio while trying to light a cig that make me nervous.
11. I am scared of snakes... really scared.
I have always been scared of snakes. I used to have nightmares about them, they would be climbing the walls and coming out of toilets. As I got older I realized how ridiculous it was to be that afraid of snakes. That was until we moved here. Most snakes in the state of Iowa won't bother you. Once in a while you will run over while you are mowing the yard but that is the extent that you might see one.
Here at my house though we have a more aggressive bread of bull snake I believe it is called a fox snake and they will follow you around striking. I currently have one in the basement and have caught others down there.
12. There is an unwanted snake living in my basement.
Here is a pretty good of what it looks like. It is bigger than this though.
13. During the colder winter months Hyde can usually be found under my sweatshirt with just his nose sticking out of the neck hole.
We started this when he was just a cute tiny puppy. Whenever he is tired or cold he likes to get on my lap and he will worm his way under my sweatshirt. He cuddles up and then sticks just his little nose out the neck hole. He is my own portable heater.
14. I am a closet smoker... SHHH don't tell.
Yep, been a closet smoker for many many years. I know your wondering how in the world do I hide this from the husband. Easy he just associates me with the smell of smoke. He can take something of mine out of the dryer and say it smells like smoke. It could be something that I have never smoked in.
And he said I would never be able to brainwash him.
15. I go to the mailbox everyday but don't always check it...(refer to #14)
I make it look like I checked it if there is snow on the ground or it is muddy. Really anything that will show my foot prints.
All I care about are the bills. I just let the rest of it pile up out in the mailbox. My mailman thinks it is hilarious. We get a lot of magazines every month and I don't even bring them in. We can fit 3 months worth of junk mail out there.
I have tried to train Austin that on Mondays to just empty out he mailbox when he takes the trash to the end of the driveway but he won't go for it.
17. I love to sit and watch my son play 'trucks' on the dining room table.
He will line up his cars and trucks on the edge of the table and push them around for house. They have to stay in line and it is just fun to watch him try to get them all moving and keep them in line. Sometimes he gets frustrated and starts to grumble and sounds like his dad.
He does the same thing in the window sills.
18. I like sweet tea with a bunch of ice and don't understand how people can drink it unsweetened.
My family has always had sweet tea with a bunch of ice. Austin's not so much. I don't know what they drank I have a feeling it was probably pop. I buy no pop. Austin will not drink sweet tea. He likes it unsweetened and at room temp. So wrong, so very wrong.
I have given up and make it unsweetened but only because I have figured out that if I add two sweet and low packets it taste almost the same. There are some days though that I just don't care and add sugar right to the pitcher. Those are usually the days that Austin decides to drink some. He is very aggravating some times.
19. I love the aftertaste of black coffee but I drink mine with enough sugar and creamer to qualify it as candy.
There is nothing like warm candy to get me going on the weekends. I don't generally make coffee during the week. I don't know why I just don't.
20. I love to read. I always have a book in my purse.
Perfect for those times when Mason falls asleep in the car and I know that transferring him will wake him up and it will still qualify as a nap. It never fails he falls asleep during the last 5 minutes of the drive.
I have finished many books in the driveway sitting in my car with a sleeping child in the back.
21. I talk to my little sister everyday on the phone. She truly is my best friend. I just stay on her good side...
My little sister is a bitch. There is no other way to put it. When on her bad side she can become vicious. She is my best friend though. We fought like no other all through high school.
There aren't very many days over the last 10 years that we haven't talked on the phone.
She is a very protective mother with two of the naughtiest little boys. Smart naughty boys and a protective mother is not a good thing.
22. I wish I had more time for photography... time to myself for photography.
This should be easier this summer when the sun is out later. I used to feel guilty when I would need some time alone because that meant leaving my husband with a crying baby but i don't feel guilty anymore. Why? Because he gets the crying side from his father and I totally believe Austin should know how to take care of his own child. I shouldn't have to be afraid every time I leave them home alone.
I have taken this so far as to get a job. I love it. Adult interaction and it doesn't involve me asking them to bring down their dirty clothes or cooking them supper. Wonderful. I will only be working about 12-15 hours a week but that is perfect.
23. I have decided to paint my office a pink color; I just need to find a way to tell my husband how it is going to be.
My husband spends no time in here. I let him have an opinion on every other room in the house and I am claiming this one as mine. I have already bought the paint and am just waiting for a weekend when he isn't in the house. It might have to wait until summer when he is helping his friends hay.
24. I can survive on very little sleep.
I found this out because my husband cannot. I have had more than job where I had to close and then open. Casey's specifically I would close Friday nights, get home about 12 and be back up there to open on Saturday mornings. I had to be there at 4:30 to get the paperwork done before we opened at 6. There is a very good reason I don't work at Casey's anymore.
25. I DON'T drink. Like at all. Cost too much to get tipsy and taste bad too boot. No Thanks.
I have way too high a threshold. When I would go to the bar with my siblings I would usually drink my own drinks and finish off everyone else's and didn't even get buzzed. It has been years since I have tried that. Mainly because it taste bad. Sorry don't like the taste.
More recently when we have friends over they will bring over different alcohol for everyone to try and I keep up with the guys and so I just get to sit there and watch them get trashed. There has been more than once that one of our friends has had to have help getting to the car and yet I am clear headed and sober. Sucks.
Well those are my 25 random things. If you follow this blog I am sure you knew some of them but I know you didn't know all of them.
Monday, February 2, 2009
I have decided...
I have also decided that my diaper bag needs retiring. It is not cute and I don't use it that much so I might as well just use a purse and keep a diaper in it. I am tired of carrying around a ugly diaper bag filled with toys, diapers and snacks for the 'just in case'. I don't think I have ever changed a diaper while we were out unless it was a day trip. I will have to wait until next month to replace it though because I am fairly certain that Austin would flip out if he saw both hit the account in one month.
It is probably a good thing that way I can decide what one to get. The Pink Black Paisley, the Spa Chocolate Trellis or the Spa Kiwi Chocolate.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I think...
Everyday I vacuum. Everyday! Sometimes twice a day.
Well today it smelled really bad. Like burning rubber/hot electronics. I called to tell Austin and he says 'you probably just broke the belt'. Um... no! That is the first thing I checked. Duh!
I have learned not to call the en-g-neer until I have checked everything it could possibly be. Therefore I checked the belt and the roller thingy (thankfully he doesn't require technical names) and even changed the bag. So he says 'You used it to clean up those Cheerios didn't you?' Well I didn't. I swept them up and threw them right away thankyouverymuch.
I then reminded him that the stupid thing is 9 years old. He came back with 'Okay, your 28 what is your point.' I got a little irritated at that and said 'If you used me like I use that vacuum I would be dead too.'
I have to say that got to him and he said 'I don't have time to argue about this at work. If you think we need a new one just go buy one.' This made me very happy because I have been asking for a new for over a year.
I guess my problem was that I always asked him when he was at home. I think from now on I will ask about everything when he is busy at work.
I think next week I will ask for a new fridge...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
My Son...
Take today for example. I am Emailing and he is trying to stand on the John Deere toy, he looks over and sees me watching him. He stops what he is doing and smiles sweetly, steps down from the toy, still with the sweet smile, walks over to the door, still with the sweet smile, starts to shut the door. When the door is almost shut he sticks his head in and smiles sweetly again at me and then shuts the door all the way and pats it. Then I hear the sound of little feet running across the room.
I jump out of my chair and out the other office door and stand in the living room and watch what he is doing. Yep, trying to stand on the toy in the middle of the room. He looks over and sees me and gets all mad because I am watching him.
I am afraid that I am going to have start tethering him to me.
...
Yes that is a whole new box of Cheerios. My husband didn't forgot to put away after he ate breakfast.
Where was I you ask. Well I was in the shower. I know I shouldn't be allowed anytime away from my child. I usually stick him in the highchair with a snack but he had fallen asleep watching CARS (he loves this movie) so I thought I had enough time before he woke up again. I would have too if the stupid hairless mutt Hyde hadn't gotten out of the bathroom and woke Mason up by jumping in the chair. My stupid hairless mutt sweet little dog can't get a normal door open even if it is ajar but has figured out the sliding pocket door on the bathroom. Go figure.
We Have Good Days...
Yesterday was a bad day.
There was a certain number of things that I needed to get done. I had to get the C tax title and license done, my hair
I can tell you the only things on this list that we got done were the nap and the grocery store. I thought the day was going good until we had a mishap in the dining room and it just kinda went downhill from there.
We got to town to get the car registered and come to find out his parents need to get an Iowa title first. Evidently they have what is called a non-transferable registration because they have a Kansas title and Iowa registration. So it will be another week before we can get it done. Why couldn't they tell me that on my first trip to the court house I don't know. Hopefully trip #4 will be the lucky number.
After that upset we made it to the store where Mason proceeded to yell at the top of his lungs to listen to the echo all through the store. Fun times let me tell you. I am about ready to never take him again. He gets a little embarrassing. If I tell him to stop he says 'no momma butt'. I have his father to thank for that one. I don't put up with that and the old ladies who think he is just a sweetheart look at me strangely when they see me pop his mouth.
So then we get home and of course Austin isn't home yet to help carry in groceries. Not that he would have helped anyways but at least he keeps Mason entertained so that I don't have to listen to him scream from the baby gate. I knew a nap was out of the question when he fell asleep on the way to town and again on the way home.
By the end of the night I was more than ready to go to bed but Austin wanted to talk about the house in Indiana which is a sore subject with me. I didn't want to buy the stupid house to begin with and then he doesn't listen to me when he asks what we should do when we get an offer and so we have had a couple of deals fall through.
Anyone out there looking for a house close to Cincinnati but in Indiana let me know and you can probably get the house for a song. Literally. Cheap, cheap, cheap!!
I took some NyQuil and he started talking and what do you know I fell asleep. Thus ending a horrible day or so I thought. I woke up at 1 wide awake. I didn't have to pee, the dog didn't have to pee so I don't know what was wrong. I gave up the fight about 2 and went and cleaned my kitchen. What else was I to do.
Please tell me I am not the only to have days like that. Please...
Monday, January 26, 2009
I'm still here...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Well...
Yeah... um... well... she butchered it.
No joke.
I absolutely hate it.
I am just thankful that my hair grows really quick and should grow back soon.
On the bad side, I know your thinking there is a bad side like having my hair butchered wasn't the bad side. Nope having my husband tell me 'I told you so' is even worse.
I'll post pictures soon along with why he got to say I told you so.
He really does deserve it...
My husband works at answering Emails and phone calls all day about different product lines he supports. The last thing he wants is a long Email from me. I usually abide by that and just him short and sweet ones.
Honey,
Please bring home milk, bread, and diapers.
Love you
Laura
Well not today. I asked him if he was going to take the C to please install the car seat in the M. I come down stairs this morning and the car seat is in the kitchen. That is totally not what I asked. I would demand it but then he would just take the whole car seat with him to work just to smite me.
This is what I sent him today. I made sure he would have to read it twice just to understand what I was getting at. He is such a butt sometimes. He deserves it.
Honey,
Why do I always have to switch over the car seat? I didn't realize it was that hard. Just joking. It doesn't matter to me. Just imagine this was said with a light hearted lilt in my voice. No not the normal shrew you usually hear. Thank you for leaving me my gloves.
I will probably wait until you get home to run to town anyways because I want to get my hair cut. Let me rephrase; I need to get my hair cut. It is a little hard to do with a 19 month-old with me. I will be ready to leave as soon as you get home. I will also try to have supper ready.
I am thinking Eggs and Bacon with toast. Eggs can be scrambled or over hard. If that doesn't sound appealing we also have pork chops and chicken. Just let me know.
I forgot today was the Wednesday before a MOPS meeting and I have to get the newsletter done. (I cannot wait until this year is done.) I am not going to be publicity next year. I am thinking craft maybe. Anyways, I won't have it done until right before you get home so you might as well watch Mason and I can get some me time. That way I don't have to pack up the stroller also. God forbid they have carts at the mall and I refuse to pay 5 bucks for a mall stroller that will just make him sick anyways.
I have called State Farm and Sarah is faxing you insurance cards for the C. I have it set up that the insurance for the Firebird will end Monday the 26th. That gives you the rest of the weekend and all weekend to get it home. When it ends it will automatically transfer to the 99 since we will be still driving it after the 1st when it was set to expire. Did all that make sense.
Sorry so long winded today. Probably a good thing I won't be home seeing as that I am leaning more towards a chatty cathy today and would just make you mad.
Love you
Laura
Don't forget to let me know about supper.
Note: Even if he doesn't want scrambled eggs and bacon for supper that is what he is getting. It doesn't matter if he is okay with it or not or if he wants over hard. He is getting scrambled eggs and bacon. If he wants toast he can make it himself.
Yes, he knows this and will get the hint.
Now that I have procrastinated enough I had better get that newsletter written.
Monday, January 19, 2009
That isn't quite how I remember it...
We are in the awesome green truck. I am in the middle, Mason is on the passenger side all bundled up and in his car seat, Austin is driving. I knew this would be an adventure when Austin had to go back to his parents garage and grab the 2x4 block of wood that keeps his door shut. It is always a tight fit in the truck when we are all three in there because of the car seat and gear shift, this time we were really lucky and had the dog with us also. Hyde couldn't sit on my lap because of the gear shifter so he had to settle for Mason's lap. This made Mason really happy. I was hoping that Mason would sleep on the way home but the truck is too loud and he was too excited after he realized that Hyde 'wanted' to sit on his lap.
After we got all settled we were off to try to get out of the driveway. This might be where I suggested for the first time that maybe we should just walk back to the house and stay the night. Austin looks at me like I am crazy so I smile sweetly and say 'It was just a suggestion that I now realize was stupid.' Austin actually laughs. At me. I couldn't believe it.
About halfway down the drive we encounter a drift that easily covers the tires and is longer than the truck. We get about halfway through it and the back end of the truck starts to slide sideways but I don't say anything. We make it through finally and I am sure I just had a heart attack and we aren't even to the highway yet.
At this point I am thinking this could be interesting but at least it isn't too cold out for the walk back. I know I really played the 'good wife' and trusted my husband to get home in one piece.
We get to the highway and it looks clear so I am thinking that the road maintainers have been out and cleared the roads. Then we get to the top of the next hill and I know better. The road is covered in snow in areas and where it isn't you can see the snow blowing across it. About half a mile down the road we run into the first big drift. I am surprised that the truck doesn't have any problems getting through it. I say to Austin 'What is the strategy for getting through those? Speed.' He looks at me, smiles and says 'Nope. I didn't have you pressing my foot down on the accelerator.' I was speechless. I might have been wondering if I heard him wrong or something. Needless to say I didn't say anything back and made a mental note to ask him about it later. That is when we come across the biggest snow drift of the night so far.
We are coming up on this thing and Austin isn't slowing down so I look at him and he is smiling. A little excited type smile. I say quickly and a little frenzied 'Aren't you going to go around that thing.' (the last of which was said in such in a high pitch that I think only the dog heard it) as we hit this monstrous drift. To me it felt as though we had hit a brick wall. I closed my eyes vowing to myself not to open them again until we get home.
I didn't keep this resolve very long.
I had a moment to think about it and decided that I wanted to know what was coming. I open my eyes and it is like I am in some kind of nightmare. We are just getting through the drift and Austin starts laughing and says 'Don't you just love that feeling. Like a roller coaster where your stomach falls out the bottom.' and laughs again. Mason being awake is loving every minute of this. He has become a mimic lately and even if he doesn't know why you are laughing will start laughing with you. I feel as though I am surrounded by two laughing idiots that are taking me on some crazy ride down some redneck rabbit hole.
Again I am sure that he has just taken 10 years off my life. I am sweating and starting to feel queasy I ask him if we can roll down a window a little bit. I must have looked green because my husband who has an aversion to anything cold didn't hesitate to roll the window down.
The next mile or so was okay as were in the valley between hills. We come to the top of the next hill and I am sure this is where we are going to die. I don't think there is anything worse than this feeling. We are at the top of a hill where we encounter a couple of medium sized drifts but I don't notice them. I am frozen in fear of what is to come.
You see at the top of the next hill is a stop sign and what looks like a huge white wall. Austin asks me if I can see any headlights coming from either of the other directions and I can't so that is what I tell him. I still don't know if this was a bad idea or not. All of a sudden (I say all of a sudden because to me it feels like time has stood still) Austin punches the gas. I get a little frantic and grab his arm and say what the crap are you doing? Again he smiles. A little sardonic smile. I want to just slap him. For a split second I think it is my imagination and that we aren't speeding up but no luck. We hit that drift and I knew we weren't going to be stopping for that stop sign.
Austin and Mason start laughing again and are having a great old time. I feel as though I am going to throw up. I am sweating and dizzy and I think I taste bile in the back of my mouth. I don't know if it was my imagination or not but it felt like we were spinning and the walls were closing in on me.
Next thing I know Austin has pulled over and is asking me if I need to throw up. All I could do was ask him to roll down the window to give me some fresh air. He informs me that the window has been down for the last 3 miles. I tell him that I get by and just to get me home. He informs me that the worst is over. All I am thinking at this point is liar.
The next couple of miles are uneventful because it is flat ground so there aren't any big drifts. We are coming up on the second stop sign and I see that the intersection is drifted fairly bad. I also notice that my husband isn't slowing down and we have to take a right at the stop sign. At this point he notices that I am quiet and ask if I am okay. I am thinking great how sick do I look.
I
I don't know how it happened but I had a moment of clarity. A brief moment but a moment non the less. I look at him and say that is okay because if you really want to live to see another day if you at any point think we won't make it through one of these drifts you will pull over and walk home and get the chains and then come back and get our asses. Understood.' He didn't even blink but turned pale and agreed. We only encountered a couple of little drifts and one big one the rest of the way. The big one though we had to drive on the wrong side of the road where other people had driven through it. I was just glad it had some tracks through it unlike the other ones we encountered.
Finally we turned onto our gravel road and he asks if we can have some fun. I agree because the ditches on our road aren't ones that we rollover in. He was a little disappointed that we didn't see any big ones. I am just thankful that our neighbor knew we would be coming home that night, thought of us and plowed us a path from the highway to our driveway.
We pull into the driveway and Austin turns off the truck and opens his door, Hyde jumps out, Austin gets out and then I get out. Austin is still laughing so I tackle him. I was so mad. He just kept laughing. I put snow down his shirt and even managed to stuff some down his pants. He never did apologize for scaring the crap out of me. Nor did he yell at me for tackling him and putting snow down his pants and shirt. He just kept laughing. Probably figured he deserved it. He did.
I unloaded the truck of our junk and he took Mason into bed and came back out to help and make sure I was okay. We went inside and went to bed. I will never forget it. Never.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy!!
I will have to update Monday when I will finally have some free time.
Right now I am thankful to be home and in one piece. Yesterday the wind was blowing and so with nothing to stop the wind but a couple of barbed wire fences the roads drift really bad.
Mason, Austin and I spent the day over at his parents house so that Austin could use their garage to work on the brakes of his car.
Not a big deal I followed him over in the pickup because he also had something he wanted to do with it also. So last night when we left to come home the roads were horrible. I am talking drifts that come up to the grill of the pickup and go almost across the road. I have never been so scared in my life.
I would never had put Mason and myself in such danger if I had known what the roads had been like. Robin and Jeff's house is off from the road in a really wooded area and the drive is a quarter of a mile long. You don't' really know how bad it is outside until you get a couple of miles from the house. We didn't turn around because Austin informed me that the worst of it was only for another mile. He was not lying but that 'worst' was really bad. Not that I could have gotten him to turn around anyway.
I will admit though that if Mason hadn't been in the truck it would have been fun. I think it is just amazing how your child being there with changes the definition of 'fun'. I might be an adrenaline junkie so flying through snow drifts is right up my alley. My husband on the other hand is just dangerous and life endangering. (no my thinking is not skewed)
I will just die if Mason inherits these traits from us. I would like to think that he will never be in danger. Maybe I should put it as that he will never put himself in that kind of danger. It is impossible to think that he will never be in danger. He is a boy after all and danger and mischief seem to go hand in hand.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
So far...
I am ready to get out of this house. We have gotten so much snow and it has been so cold that we haven't left in a while. This does bad things to me.
Mason has been such a pill lately. We had to move all the dining room chairs away from the table because he was getting on the table and throwing stuff off of it. That didn't stop him though. he just rolled his little Tonka truck up to it and put his John Deere toy in the back of it and used it like a ladder. He thought that was okay until his "ladder" fell over and he was stuck.
As I was typing that above I look over and he is sitting on the John Deere toy leaning over the front of it to get a cheerio off the floor (shh is was part of snack so shoot me) and he just goes tumbling over the front of his toy. Being a little turd he didn't want to let go of his toy so it comes up between his legs and then he just kinda falls to the side. Everything was okay until he caught me silently laughing at him. Imagine his surprise when he finds out all his little antics are on here for the world to see. That is one teenage fight I am going to try to avoid.
It looks beautiful outside but the windchill is way below zero so we can't even go out and play. That has got to be the worst part of winter. The nicer the day looks the colder it is outside.
How many days till spring.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Do we have power?
I guess a couple of guys from work got calls from their wives saying that they didn't have power. The guys discuss it for a little bit and find out that they are all on the same power company so Austin calls me to find out if we have power.
Do you see where I'm going with this...
My husband thought I wouldn't have called if our power had gone out. It is like he doesn't know me.
Of course I would have called and
I will have to remember to give him grief about this later.
Is it FINALLY over...
Saturday we went to Jess and Joe's for supper and to play card games. All the kids made it past midnight. Notice I didn't say they made it happily. All 3 of the older ones were crabby. The littlest, 9 week E, was happy and content as long as she was being held. Luckily there were enough people there to pass her around.
We finally made it home around 1. After my husband made me pump gas. Yes my husband made me pump gas in a vehicle that he has been driving. We had a discussion about it all the way home. He wanted to sleep but I didn't let him instead he got to listen to me complain having to pump gas for the whole 25 minutes. The bum.
When we finally got home I couldn't sleep. I laid down and tried several times but no dice. I gave up the fight about 5:30 and just got up for the day. Sunday took forever. We didn't really do anything. Mason and I played and Austin worked out in the garage. He is building Mason a dresser. I had to tell him not to go overboard on the dresser and thankfully he didn't. It is going to look a lot like my dresser which is a good size.
My antique dresser and vanity were in his room along with my vanity but with Mason being in a big boy bed and being able to get out of said bed in the middle of the night to play Austin was worried that my stuff might get messed up so we finally moved them into our room.
I was all for moving them into my room when we moved into this house but Austin didn't like how little they made the room feel little. Mind you we could fit another whole bed on his side.
I was surprised that he was okay with moving them into our room now. They both went on his side of the room so he complained that they took up too much space. I offered to trade him sides of the bed but he wasn't going for that. Then I suggested that we could rearrange the furniture but he was adamant that we wouldn't be doing that either. I had to explain to him that he needed to stop his belly aching. I am still not sure how I ended up on the small half of the room. I just did. Anyways I'm just rambling.
Mason took a long nap and we ended up having to wake him up about 6. I think he is growing again. I ended up making grilled cheese for supper. Austin had the choice of peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese. I was really hoping he would choose the pb&j. We ended up going to bed early at 8:30. I actually fell asleep right away.
If I had only stayed asleep. I woke up when Austin's first alarm went off and was unable to get back to sleep. I laid there awake waiting for Austin to leave so the house would be quite again. Naturally this would be the day that my husband decided to start the dryer on his way out the door. Thirty minutes later I was still awake when the dryer shut off. Then the dog started to snore really loud. After positioning him a couple of times it was the stupid clock with the tick tick tick that kept me up. I got out of bed at 6. My back had started to hurt laying there so I knew that even if I did end up falling back asleep I would have a huge headache all day.
Friday, January 9, 2009
more bad weather and other crappy things...
We went to MOPS and had a wonderful time. I should have stopped at the store on the way home but didn't even think about it. It is very rare that I don't stop at the store while I am in town. It is also very frustrating that I am the only who can manage to go to the store without throwing a child like tantrum. I would hate to point fingers though since he is stopping on the way home from work. It doesn't happen often that he does that so I would hate to begrudge him when he deigns to do it. After all he wouldn't be stopping at all if the weather wasn't to get nasty this afternoon. No, he would wait and let me go after he got home. Most of the time I like it when he does that but then there are sometimes that I just wish he would come and pick Mason up and take him to the store with him and leave me... alone... by myself... for over an hour. That doesn't happen that often though.
Tonight we are having something with hamburger in it. Really we will probably just have hamburgers. If he wants something else he can cook it. I don't really care. Sometimes he gets upset if we have the same thing every night. I still can't believe he hasn't noticed that we have a weekly menu. Talk about dense. Anyways I actually thought this out ahead of time. He doesn't like to have hamburger every night and absolutely hates spaghetti so that is what we had last night. Yep, I played the 'good wife' and we had spaghetti. I didn't put hamburger in the sauce. I figured that way he wouldn't complain about what we are having for supper tonight. The only other option for him is left over spaghetti.
I know what a way to start off the weekend. I am hoping by annoying him today he will leave me alone tomorrow. I haven't decided about Sunday yet. I guess if I don't want him to bother me Sunday either then I will have to play the annoying card tomorrow night.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sid The Science Kid
Maybe it is just me.
WWWAT~ Change, Goals and New Beginnings

It's Wednesday and so it seems that it is time for WWWAT. The theme for this one is Change, Goals, and New Beginnings. I had some problems with this theme.
This year some of my changes and goals involve me and some do not. I really like the ones that do not... except for then they don't get done right... or at all... so I think I will just try to supervise everything... or maybe not... I think I'll just throw the towel in right at the beginning... yep... sounds good to me.
For more WWWAT be sure to go to American Mum.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Peace and Quiet
I guess it is kinda like at the end of summer vacation and you get excited for the kids to go back to school.
Yep! Just like that.
He was driving me nuts.
I couldn't stand it any longer.
He always has to be doing something.
I swear he cannot sit still.
I even let him buy 2 video games to keep him out of my hair. The only bad thing with the video games is that while he is playing them he won't answer any of my questions. You know the 'good wife' ones.
'what do you want for lunch'
'will you watch Mason while I run to town'
'how about you bring the dinner dishes in from the living room'
'what do you want for dinner'
'when was the last time the dog was out'
'why is Mason crying on the dining room table'
'why is he crying'
'why is he on the table'
'can we watch something else'
'did you know that it is time for bed'
You know just the run of the mill questions.
It was icy all weekend so his car was all icy and he couldn't get into it. He tried the black car and it wouldn't open either so he tried the truck. Jackpot! It opened but do you think it would start. Nope! So finally he comes back in the house and he quietly comes up the stairs and starts looking for my car keys.
Mind you I am laying there awake so that as soon as I hear him leave the driveway I can get up and do my happy dance. I scared the crap out of him by asking 'What are you looking for?' I swear he jumped 10 feet in the air. I got a good chuckle out of it.
So he ended up driving my car to work thus stranding me at home.
I had plans yesterday to go to the store and post office and get caught up on my errands. I know you thinking so why don't I just do that today. Well quite simply because I don't want to.
I just don't feel like getting out of the house before I have to. I have a MOPS steer team meeting tonight and I don't like to leave the house more than once a day so I won't be leaving here until 5:15 and by then most of the things I had to go do are going to be closed. I know I could leave earlier but then I would be way early for my meeting and I don't feel like sitting there waiting for everyone to show up.
I have decided I will just complain about it.
Makes me happy what can I say. We'll just consider a late Christmas present to myself.
It did feel good though to have him gone yesterday so that we can get back on schedule. Somehow Mason got horribly off schedule. Then Austin decided it was time to try the big boy bed. I know I wasn't ready for the big boy bed and as it turns out neither was Mason. He likes the security of the crib and that is fine with me. We will be trying naps in the bed first and hopefully by, I don't know, June maybe he will be ready to do all night in the big bed. So far I think he has slept a total of 30 minutes in the big bed. I am not pushing it though because I don't want him to be afraid of it or his room. Right now he is happy to be in there with the light off and doesn't need a radio or night light to sleep and I don't want to mess that up.
Well that is all for today I have to get my MOPS stuff around and get him in the bath before I can put him down for a nap because he decided to smoosh peaches and banana in his hair and down his shirt. Yay for me!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
New to us
One of these days I will get a picture taken of it but until then I can tell you it is silver with black tires. I know real descriptive.
I need to get all my stuff switched over. You know the stuff that makes your car your home. My radar detector, cell phone car charger, all my change, Mason's toys and extra blanket and my CDs. I also need to locate a backseat organizer that hangs from the headrest for all of Mason's stuff otherwise it all ends up on the floor boards and then it just looks trashed. I also need to get my little headrest hanging trash bag switched over for all of my gum wrappers. I might have a gum addiction and it is too cold to throw the wrappers out the window; for Mason's sake. Yeah... for Mason's sake...
Show Of Hands...
No one?
Really?
I sure didn't.
I guess that is one of those things you have to see to believe and even then it takes a moment to sink in.
I couldn't believe it. All he did was touch the mouse but it affected so many things. It took me a whole day and a half to get the computer running correctly again. It took another 2 days to back up all the photos to CD. 30 700mb CDs. Austin then stole it for a whole day to work in AutoCad. And late last night I got the internet working again.
Let me just say it has been a very long week. Austin was ready to just go and buy a new computer. While a new one would be nice this one had all my photos on it. Everything!! All of Mason's baby photos that I just couldn't lose. Not to mention all of my other photos.
Needless to say I am very happy to have it up and running again.
I have some posts that will be back dated because I wanted them to be on 2008 so don't forget to scroll down. It might be tomorrow before I get them all posted but eventually they will be there.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Farewell 2008
January- Started the year off with a failed buyer on our house in Indiana and an ear infection for Mason. The 7th Mason was 22 lbs 9 oz and 28.5 inches tall. After the doctor appt we went to Wal-Mart and Mason got called a slow toddler. (I still chuckle over this)
I missed the only MOPS meeting of the month because of bad weather on the 15th.
Towards the end of the month Mason started doing the caterpillar crawl. Mason and I went to Ames with Jess and V for a well baby visit for V and some shopping.
February- I had my annual girls day with Jess and Julie where we went to Des Moines to go shopping and left the husbands with the kids until late.
The 22nd thru the 25th we were in SW Iowa for my nephew Isaac's birthday on the 27th. Mason and I unknowingly went down there and took the flu with us. I say this because we came home sick and Austin was already sick. At Mason's doctor appt he weighed 24 lbs.
March- This was a busy month for Mason. He got his first top tooth on the 4th. Learned the word 'NO' on the 6th.
On the 9th learned to use 'NO' to talk back.
Started pulling up on the couch and everything else around the 11th.
Said Mama instead of MOM on the 13th.
The 22nd we attended a b-day party for a little girl of our friends.
The 23rd we celebrated Easter at Grandma Robin's and instead of candy Mason got a John Deere scoot and play toy from us and a bucket filled with little toys from Grandma and Grandpa.
A couple days later he caught onto how to scoot around on his John Deere scoot and play toy.
April- Mason turned 10 months and weighed 25.5 lbs and was 30 inches tall.
On the 4th Mason learned to get down from standing position.
On the 7th Austin left for Slovakia.
Mason and I went to SW Iowa to watch some nephew's soccer games.
We got home the 10th in the middle of a thunderstorm that produced tornados in SE Iowa.
On the 11th (the next day) we woke up to 1 inch of snow.
The 12th Mason learned how to hold his own bottle and got the hang of drinking out of a sippy cup.
On the 13th we learned that 2 gal of water makes a huge mess in the middle of the kitchen floor. Austin also got home from Slovakia on this day after some delayed flights and all around aggravation.
On the 15th Mason found out he could get into Hyde's kennel and that he could stand on the John Deere toy to get into stuff. Yay!!
The 18th after several days of a grumpy child his 5th tooth, 4th on the bottom, finally came in. I was blissfully gone for this occasion helping at the MOPS garage sale.
The 19th we had our friends over for a huge turkey dinner and Slovakian Brandy.
The 22nd Austin left for Pennsylvania for 3 days.
The 26th we went to my sister Marianne's for Hunter's 3rd B-day party.
The 27th Mason rode front facing in the truck to buy his tree.
On the 30th we planted Mason's tree. We also planted marigolds and Azalea.
May- On the 1st Mason and I went to MOPS and to lunch with several of the other Moms afterwards.
The 3rd Joe, Jess and the kids came to supper.
The 7th Mason started walking along walls and furniture and by holding onto only one hand.
The 8th Mason and I went to town to have lunch with Jess and the kids. On the way home we stopped to get b-day invites.
The 9th I went to a MOPS steering team meeting, afterwards Mason and I went garage saling with Jess and the kids.
The 10th Austin and I bought Mason's b-day present and hung it in the Elm tree.
The 11th was Mothers Day and we went to town and had lunch with Robin and Jeff. Later that afternoon while Austin and I were cleaning the basement we found 2 snakes.
The 12th Austin broke down after getting tired of my 'bitching' and got a new rear tire for the motorcycle.
The 15th was the last MOPS meeting of the year.
The 17th Joe, Jess and the kids came over for supper.
The 19th Mason gets sick...
The 22nd I got out of the house for a MOPS steer team meeting. A much needed break from a sick child.
The 23rd Mason woke up feeling better. Annoyingly like he had never been sick.
The 26th Austin went with me to town to order Mason's b-day cake and get supplies for the party.
The night of the 29th and the day of the 30th Ames got 7 inches of rain and flooded the streets getting to Wal-Mart and the parking lot thus closing Wal-Mart for the day. Had to switch my cake and sandwich order to Fort Dodge.
The 31st was Mason's b-day party. Too many people to name came and fun was had by most. Cameron and Marianne's boys were horrible and beat up on my friends sweet boys. I might still be a little bitter about that.
June- The 1st was Mason's 1st birthday.
The 7th Mason and I went to Marianne's for Major's 8th b-day party. We got stormed in and ended up staying in a hotel with Cammie, Ricky and the boys.
The 8th Ricky fed Mason his first taste of McDonalds.
The 17th Austin had to fly to Ohio for work so he drove my car to the airport and came home late the next night.
The 19th Austin decided that my car needed new front brakes before vacation.
The 20th Austin decided that my car needed new rear brakes.
The 21st we pulled out of the driveway at 3:30 in the morning for vacation. More on that can be found here and the photos are here.
The 24th Austin and I celebrated 8 years together with some
The 26th we pulled in the driveway at 2:00 am with Isaac with us.
The 28th Sterling, Julie and the kids came over for supper.
The 29th Mason, Isaac and I went to mom and dads for the Farmers Merchant Picnic.
The 30th we went to the parade with Great- grandma and grandpa Hansell.
July- Mason and I got home from mom's the 2nd.
The 12th Austin left for Slovakia, after dropping Austin off for his driver Mason and I went to a b-day party.
The 13th Mason and I went and helped Jess pit cherries all day.
The 14th there was a suspicious truck in the field across the road.
The 15th found cig butts on the back step and to make the day even worse there was a live snake in the basement.
The 16th Mason got his 7th tooth.
The 17th Austin got home.
The 18th Mason and I went to work with Austin to unpack his desk after they rearranged the buildings while he was gone.
The 19th I had a MOPS retreat to plan the new year.
The 22nd I sat at a booth with Lisa at the fair.
The 23rd the Corn Crib fell over. Austin was excited he was home for it. Austin went to Sterling and Julie's to help re-shingle the roof.
The 24th Mason sat at a fair booth with me.
The 25th again at a booth at fair.
The 26th Grandma Robin watched Mason while I sat at the booth.
The 27th Jeff came over and Austin and him started making plans for my new bathroom. Mason went to Robins while I sat at the fair booth. We had horrible weather. Hailed while I was at the fair and Austin had to pull over on his way home from town.
The 28th went to town for bathroom supplies.
The 29th went to town again for bathroom supplies.
The 30th Robin came over. I am still not sure why.
August- The 1st was the beginning of a heat wave. Mason and I went to his great grandparents on way to my mom's. We ended up going to Shen to eat with them and Jeff and Robin. We stayed over at my parent's house Marianne and her family brought the camper to moms and stayed in the driveway.
The 2nd we went to Thurman and helped my mom clean a rental. That night we went to the Sidney Iowa Rodeo. Austin rode the motorcycle down and went with us. Mason got his first cowboy hat and fell asleep during the bull riding.
The 3rd Austin, Mason and I went to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Hansell at the Elks Club in Shen. They just really wanted to show off Mason. Austin went home after lunch, in a long sleeve shirt with the temp outside at a humid 103. Mason and I drove to Grandma Shirley's and spent the day with my family. I went to Hansell's that night and stayed.
The 4th Mason and I spent the morning with his great-grandparents and went to my Grandma Shirley's to go shopping. Austin needed a new suitcase for international travel. We stayed the night with my grandma because I made the executive decision that I wasn't driving home in that heat.
The 5th Mason and I spent the morning with Grandma and my Aunt Cheryl.
The 6th Mason and I sat at the registration booth for MOPS. After registration Jess and the kids came over for lunch and we played outside.
The 7th Mason took off on walking. He walked all the way across the living room by himself. Naturally I was in the kitchen and didn't get to see but Austin did.
The 8th Austin started tearing apart the bathroom and for 3 days we were without a shower. Luckily Austin parents live close so we didn't have to smell.
The 10th Mason came down with Herpangina and was contagious for about a week so we stayed home and didn't do much.
The 16th we went to the Iowa State Fair. The weather was wonderful, a much improved 76.
The 23rd Mason and I went to Adventure Land with Mare, Major, Hunter, Cammie, Ricky, Daniel, Isaac, Jesse, Jake (Jesse's brother), and Justin (Jesse's nephew). We didn't get home till around midnight. I might be an adrenaline junkie and am naturally a roller coaster fanatic.
The 27th Mason learned "Tickle Tickle".
September- The 2nd I had my first Steer team meeting of the year for MOPS.
The 4th was the first MOPS meeting of the year. Yay!! Afterwards Mason and I drove down to SW Iowa for a wedding that weekend.
The 5th Mason got his first haircut. I also got 8 inches taken off my hair that I donated to Pantene ProV. Mason also went to daycare for the first time while I helped get the reception area ready for the wedding. Austin drove down on the bike and brought my new camera with him. It arrived while he was on the way out the door.
The 6th was the wedding; I was in charge of the reception. Fun fun!!
The 7th Austin went home. Mason and I went to my Grandma Shirley's. We stayed the night there.
The 8th Mason and I went home.
The 12th Mason and I drove down to mom and dads for the Vanatta family reunion.
The 13th Mason and I went to the Vanatta family reunion. Mason was cute and well behaved. He had his first taste of sweet tea and Mt. Dew.
The 14th Mason and I went home with a pit stop at the grocery store.
The 16th Austin left for Germany. This is also the day that Bubba passed away.
The 17th I had to borrow my f-i-l truck to take Bubba to be cremated. The neighbors thought I was crazy for taking molds of his feet for Olive.
The 18th was MOPS.
The 21st Austin got home.
The 23rd Mason decided that the fish tank made a good playhouse.
The 30th Mason threw one of his first 'real' tantrums.
October- The 3rd Joe and Jess dropped the kids off so they could go to see their new little one on ultrasound.
The 4th I went to a craft fair in Clear Lake with my friend Lisa.
The 5th I went to the hospital to see Amanda, Kevin and Ke`Vion.
The 7th Mason slept in till 10:30. A truly wonderful surprise.
The 8th Mason and I went to town for groceries and on the way home stopped to get pumpkins.
The 12th I caught Mason running with his arms straight out behind his back. Just like on his favorite kids show 'Sid The Science Kid'.
The 16th we had Pampered Chef at our MOPS meeting. We also moved the Washer and Dryer this night. After much teamwork and relationship building.
The 17th Mason had his first sleep over at Grandma Robin's. I had a dinner for MOPS convention.
The 18th was MOPS convention.
The 21st I had my 200th post. Where was I for the first 100. It feels like yesterday that I started this thing.
The 25th Mason and I drove down to Mom's for my cousin Cassie's baby shower. Austin grouted the tile and drove down later. This night we went to the Tabor Fire Departments Halloween Party. Austin and his grandparents went home around 10:30 and I drug myself home around 3.
The 26th Austin went home after lunch and Mason and I went over to mom's for a little bit then we went to Marianne's for supper because she is halfway home and I don't like to feed Mason McDonalds. We got home around 10. I think Austin was just surprised it was before midnight.
The 31st was Halloween and Mason and I drove to Grandma Shirley's for trick or treating with my siblings.
November- The 1st Mason and I were at my parents. Mason played outside with his cousins.
The 2nd Mason and I were still at my parents.
The 3rd and 4th we were still in SW Iowa. For the bulk of the days we were over at Mason's Great Grandparents. After all my family all works.
The 5th Mason and I headed up to my grandma Shirley's to go to my cousin Jessica's home interior party. The weather was horrible so Mom didn't go, Cameron was sick with sinus infection and Marianne didn't want to drive 45 miles into town. After the party Jessica and I went and ate Chinese and rented a movie.
The 6th my aunt Cheryl came over for breakfast and after she finally left Grandma, Mason and I went to JCPenny to buy my bath mats that I got for a steal. Mason and I actually beat Austin home.
The 9th Austin put up some shelves that I have been asking for for a really long time.
The 11th my son decided that the corn plant in the kitchen would make a wonderful indoor dirt pit. Perfect for playing trucks in.
Around the 18th Mason started call Hyde 'Sid', me Momma Raura and Austin Papa Oney (Honey). I have gotten a good laugh out of the Papa Oney.
The 20th was my birthday. We went into town and bought a Wii as combo B-day/Christmas to each other. Afterwards we went and ate.
The 27th we had Thanksgiving at our house. All our friends came and even Austin's parents.
December- The 2nd Mason had a well baby visit. He was 29 lbs 14 oz and 33 inches tall. The doctor called him a tank. Said the word Ouch for the first time while in with the doctor.
The 5th I realized that my kitchen is huge I just don't utilize the space very well.
The 7th was my PartyLite party and afterwards we all went out to eat at LaCarretas in Boone.
The 8th we got a big storm.
The 9th Austin worked from home. yeah I could have done without that.
The 11th I went to the MOPS Christmas brunch alone. Mason stayed home with dad... we moved the baby gate up an inch so that Mason will no longer be able to get his leg stuck on the top. I only tripped over it 4 times.
The 16th and 17th we got a ton of snow. The 18th Mason and I went sledding. Okay well... I pulled Mason around the yard on his sled. Same thing right? We also got more snow this night. So much snow that it rubbed Hyde's belly and came up about 10 inches on the door.
The 20th Mason and I spent with the in-laws due to weather conditions.
The 21st was Christmas over at the Hansell's.
The 22nd Robin and I took Mason to see Santa. We were finally able to get out of the driveway.
The 23rd we left for SW Iowa before the next storm system could come through.
The 24th we went to the Vanatta Christmas at my parent's house. Austin actually took his coat off and talked to people this year. I would think so he has only been part of this family for 8 and a half years.
The 25th Christmas. We went to my grandma Shirley's for lunch. Austin, Mason and Hyde went home with his parents. I hotfooted it back to Council Bluffs to play cards until 2 in the morning with my family.
The 26th I slept in till 11 and then did absolutely nothing.
The 27th was Marianne's b-day party. We went bar hopping in Kimbalton and Harlan. I stayed sober because I just go to the bar to smoke but it was too damn cold to stand outside.
The 28th I went home.
The 29th was Marianne's 30th Birthday. Austin and I went and picked up our car from his parents house.
The 31st was New Years Eve. We went to Sterling and Julie's for supper and to play cards. We made it way past midnight.
At 3 I called a halt to the festivities and made Austin go home. Thus ending 2008 and starting 2009.
I think I touched on everything that happened during the year. If I forgot some things thats alright. I am sure most of the same stuff will come up again in 2009.
Happy New Year!!