A tiny glimpse...

Back in the game?!?

Well there has been a lot happening in the past year - birthdays, losses, surprises, change...and I am finally feeling like things might be getting a little bit back to a new normal for me.  I have lost about 40 lbs since the birth of our daughter almost three years ago and kept it off for about a year, now I need to keep it going and our new lifestyle changes have helped out a lot. 

My husband A has been really health concious for a while now and been reading a lot about  paleo living and eating - love lots of meat, fruits and vegies!!  We have also had to adopt a stricter budget due to a forced job change for myself which lowered our monthly income, and really would still like to support CSAs and eat the way we want to.  We have finished a new section of the basement which allows for us to have a hobby room where we can all enjoy ourselves - gave up cable, i-phones, and a land line.  There has been a lot of adjusting to our new lifestyle!  The kids have done really well with all the changes I think I have taken it the hardest!  I am hoping to be able to get back in the groove of sewing, crafting, cooking and playing as I get better at juggling my career, family and house. 

I never thought I would say this, but I actually am looking forward to a day when I might be able to quit full time work and work part time at some sewing or cooking store...that would be awesome...*sigh*...someday!  Until then I hope to be able to use this space as an outlet for all the things I have in my head.  Not sure what that will bring and pretty sure I need to put that stuff somewhere!  Hahahahahha!!  Not sure anyone cares, but not worried about that either it's just a place that is all about me for once!

k

New Job.....New Outlook

I have to say we were very lucky to have weathered the economic crisis for as long as we did, but unfortunately it caught up with us last fall.  My company had to go through the downsizing procedure and I got swept into the flow.  It was horrible and I feel for all those who have also lost their jobs in these hard times.  I can't say I saw it coming, and even though I knew that it was always a possibility to be laid off I didn't think it would really happen to me.  Imagine my surprise that after 9 years of service with exceptional reviews I  was told they did not have a spot for me.  I have to say I felt very betrayed, stupid, shocked and hurt just to name a few of the emotions from that day.  I always thought that I had found my dream job and was in a group of people who had been working together for 17 or more years, so I was still considered a newbie!  I feel like there was so much I still hadn't learned and so much potential I hadn't yet reached.  It has been very difficult to handle all of the emotions that have come with the loss of that job.  I was very fortunate to find a new gig that is almost as fantabulous as the old one.  The only thing that could make it any better is if I could do the work I am doing now with my old co-workers.  I miss sharing and seeing the people I have seen everyday for the past nine years....the people who shared the birth of my children, the purchasing of my first and second home, the stories about our families and lots of talk about food!!!  I know that the friendships will continue and I still have the ability to ask them questions about my new work and to ask advice for new endeavors and I will make it!!  I made it through this far and I can make it even farther.  I will create relationships with new co-workers and will e more diligent in driving my own career.  Now if I can just get the kid's through college so I can relax!!!!

Outdoorsmen

So over the weekend we had quite the outdoorsy activities going on.  First we had T-ball on Saturday morning when it was still about 30 degrees out with the wind chill.  I think that was seriously the longest hour of my life.  I was going to take some pictures, but as I am a slacker mom I wasn't really paying attention and it was way to cold to take my hands out of my pockets, sooooo there are no pictures.  I swear I was only listening to my i-pod because the ear buds were keeping the cold air out of my ear holes!

We then attended a couples shower for my friend/co-worker that was just our work group.  It was a lot of fun really good food and pretty much the only traditional thing we did was bring presents so I guess technically you could say it was just a party.  The couple that is getting married do a lot of hunting both with guns and bows so they brought over their bows and arrows and we all had a go!  It was really fun to be so relaxed and we only played one game which was guess how many candy kisses there are so that wasn't to bad for the boys.

Then on Sunday morning the boys went fishing at the park (same park, but not the lake we fell in here).  I did not go - see I really needed to go to the market and I wanted to have the boy take a nap and I wanted to watch some T.V. and be by myself in the house (this hardly ever happens) and well ultimately it comes down to I really don't like fishing.  I am not bothered by the fish or the worms, I just don't enjoy the silence and the waiting and then there is that whole slacker mom thing that is just called LAZY!!  Until next time slack on!!!

Bikes Arghhhhhhh!!!

Ok, so a little back story.  Last Saturday after T-ball practice we ran into another family from daycare at the park and while the kids played we found out that someone had loaned them a bike for their oldest son to practice on.  He is about a year older than C (I should really think up some nicknames for everyone) and that he was to big for the bike would we want to borrow it.  We have been thinking about getting one, but since his birthday is coming up in a month or two will wait until then, so this was a great deal!  He would be able to practice while we figured out what we were getting and it can still be for his birthday.  So we have been riding non-stop in the evenings and begging to go to the park and ride on the trail like the neighbors do. 
    Of course this whole riding in the park presents many new challenges that have been voiced by yours truly, such as hills and people and dogs, all of which make C pretty nervous, but we are going no matter what "we have to do the things we are afraid of momma, then we won't be scared anymore".  Yeah right - whatever.  Let's go.
    So you may think what is the worst that could happen right.   Large 4' wide bike path, late evening not many people around, we have only seen one dog - perfect right?  And then it happens riding really fast and totally wipe out in the middle of the path = loud tear filled howling.  Get up check everything out we are ok and ready to get back on the bike.  So what could be more traumatizing than this?  Well that would be riding really fast, trying to turn around on the bath and come back to mom and dad, rolling into the grass, not remembering how to use the brakes, proceeding to ride down the grassy hill and flip over the handlebars into the nasty a** water at the edge of the lake - face first!!!  Yeah that's right ride all the way down with a look of terror and ignoring momma's cries of  "use the brakes" and "jump off" because we are paralyzed by fear and cannot let go of the handlebars.  Holy screaming - I think everyone in the park new something had happened even if they were miles away from us.  And I ask you, why did the two old ladies who were closest not run down the hill to catch him as we charged forward?  Well, they probably were to old, but they did stand around and gawk as we pulled him and the bike out of the lake and tried to check him out and calm him down at the same time.
    And what were the first words out of the little tyke you ask?  "My cars helmet is ruined, and my car shoes - momma they are band new and they are ruined forever".  Renewed wails begin and then "Audrey's bike momma I broke Audrey's bike how can I give her back a broken bike?  what will we do!"  Hysterics begin again.  Once I have explained that eveything is washable and if necessary replaceable, we have our shirt off so we will not be as cold totally soking and covered in mud walking back to the car I hear.  "Boy, I am lucky to be alive!  I crashed into the lake and that was scary!  Do you think those people know I crashed into the lake?  Will you let me sit in the car or do I have to ride in the back on the plastic?" 
    It is now the next morning everyone is clean all the clothes and shoes have been through the hot wash twice (might get washed again if they still smell) and we have learned a few lessons.

C:  Momma I sure learned some lessons yesterday.
Me: Oh yeah, what did you learn?
C: I am not ready for a two wheel bike yet I need to practice more.
Me: What else?
C:  If you are going towards the lake you should use the brakes.
Me: And if the brakes don't work?
C: You need to jump off before you hit the lake.

All good lessons if you ask me.  I would like to think that this was a one time trauma in our lives, but I am afraid that it is probably only the beginning.  It is a good thing I don't freak out easily because it's going to be a long ride!

Making pants

Ok so today is April 12th, but would you believe that this morning there was snow in the air.  I know that we are in danger of freeze advisories until the end of April. but the weather just keeps going back and forth I am itching for spring real bad.  Well since today I could not get the family outdoors we (I) decided some projects should be done.  So what better than to practice making pants by trying to make the smallest pair first.  I went to the fabric store the other day and was once again disapointed by the lack of things for boys.  I guess that clothing manufacturers feel there is no point in making lots of things for boys since there is not as much revenue produced from it.  I feel that I would spend a lot of money on clothes for my boy if I had more things to choose from.  Anyway, I digress I  was saying I was disapointed because there was about 5 patterns for little boy clothes and they were all pretty much the same style.

    So I decided I could probably find something on the internet and I did!   This site has a really great tutorial on how to make kids pants.  I think I could have figured it out on my own, but it was more of a confidence thing that validated what I was thinking and so I made a pattern out of the Sunday newspaper and within an hour had the pants pictured above.  We even tested out some of our patented "fancy moves" and they work great!  I have also been told that we can run faster since the pants have Lightning McQueen on them and he is super fast.  So on to the next project - Yippee!

A show and tell board!

So I have a blog that I really like called freshvintage and she had this great entry in January on covering a corkboard.  Well, over the holidays we painted our son's room and I have been wanting to add a corkboard so that we don't have to put a bunch of push pins in the wall, because of course at the age of four you have to hang everything up for at least a week.  So the other weekend I went thrifting in Grandma's majic basement (mentioned the other day) and found this awesome really huge corkboard that she wasn't using and bought some material to put over it.  It isn't totally finished I still need to put something around the edges to "finish" it, but have to figure out the best way to make it stick.  Perhaps a job for the glue gun.  I also attached the fabric with spray glue so it would be fairly easy to pull off and change or even put on another layer as he gets older.  It's really a great idea and allows you to add some of yourself and some art to a room without a lot of money.

I am also testing out if I can insert links so far I think so good, let me know if they don't work.

Kinder-what?

    So I have been procrastinating for a few weeks now and time is almost out.  I have to register my son for school!!!!! I can't believe that it is already time to embark on a new adventure such as school.  Luckily our district has the option at most of the grade schools for all day kindergarten, but there are only a certain number of spots so if there are more children than spots they do a lottery so we could still end up in a half day class.  Anyway, I know we will get it all figured out I am just having trouble pulling the trigger to fill out the paperwork.  Who knew there would be so much of it!  He is only 4 and I feel like I am writing a CV for him with all the information they want to know.  Things are just so simple now with daycare and work schedules we pretty much have it all down pat so iIt is really hard to have to start the logistical planning for the fall.  I am very much a creature of habit so I really hate changing my daily routine!  I know that some will find that pathetic, but it keeps me from going nutty.  Well I guess if I was using my time wisely I would be filling out all those questions I need to answer.....Maybe tomorrow I think Lost is on TV!