It's a struggle

Every weekend it's a struggle to get the kids to do their homework, brush their hair and teeth, take a shower and put on clean clothes. It's ridiculous.

Today we are going to go to Dubuque to watch the Bald Eagles. Christy loves eagles and the weather looks to be decent. Also, we are Fred-less so it's much better for a long car ride. 5 in the car is oh so much better than 6!

I've been up since 5:30 and am thoroughly irritated about it. I need a nap already. I made bacon and eggs on the huge electric griddle we got for Christmas. It worked out awesome + it's fully immersible for clean up!

Christy getting ready for her party 

My honey bunny wishing he were the one asleep! 

My adorable nephew Ryan 

Free at Last, Free at Last!

My center is closing March 10th - 60 days (well 59 now) and I will be unemployed. Bring on the severance baby!

Merry Christmas

We want to wish each and everyone of you a Very Merry Christmas. We hope you were able to spend the day with your loved ones. We also hope, that unlike us, you didn't eat yourselves silly.

Kurt and I are both beyond full. He is at home and I am at work. I had to work 6 pm to Midnite tonight. The boredom is the worst part of it. I've been here two hours and i believe there have been 3 calls in that time. Woooo Hooooo. I've already done all my work, cleaned out my desk, and organized my overhead. I should have brought a book to read or something.

We had a very enjoyable holiday. The kids were pretty happy with their gifts.....at least Nick and Christy were. Fred and Alex seemed disappointed....even though they got what they requested (the reasonable, non-ipod items anyway). We had our Christmas duck on Marcile's china along with her red goblets and Santa nut cups.

The six of us went to my parents for the traditional Christmas Eve with oyster stew. Kurt found a pearl in his oyster. My parents, my grandpa, my sister, my brother-in-law and my sweet little nephew were all there. I spent a lot of time holding and changing the baby. I noticed Kurt never held him. We talked about it today and he said he was afraid if he did he would want another. (Need to get that kid in his arms!)

We had to have the kids back to the PP by 10 so it was an early night. It gets harder and harder to leave them there. Hopefully we won't have to soon. It was back to my parents today for Christmas breakfast and lunch. It was very mellow involving much sleeping and looking at the baby. Not too exciting.

Tomorrow we're heading up to Rochester to get together with Kurt's family. It should be fun. We haven't been to his brother's house before.

Woooo Hoooooo!!!

Got my grades!
2 - A's and a B-!!

3.56 GPA for the semester.....3.22 overall.

Whew!

Christmas Robbers?

Last night was Christy's Christmas program. She told us last weekend that she was an elf and that other kids were Santa, cops, robbers, and a mayor. It was a hoot! The kindergarten thru 4th graders sang during the first part. Then the 5th graders put on a short play while the 4th and 5th graders acted as a chorus. The premise was that the robbers stole the key to Christmas. Christy looked scared to death. I'm sure the bright red spots on her elf cheeks made her look all the paler. She had 3 or 4 times that she spoke multiple lines. We are so amazed and proud. Being on stage in front of hundreds of people...Astounding progress for our backward, unsocialized former "home school" kid. She had a pointy green hat and pointy green shoes. Her elf smock had jingle bells on the ends. I had forgotten my camera. I still don't have the hang of this mom thing.

I got my birthday $ from my aunt so I bought the Garth Brooks cd set. It's not what i thought it would be but it's still pretty good. She also sent $ to get the dog groomed. Thank goodness. He's a little stink pot!

Fred is here today. He's gonna apply for jobs. Do I hear an "amen?"

In the Mood

...to bake cookies that is! I've got the lights lit, the Christmas carols going and the butter softening as the snow comes down outside. I wrapped a couple of presents this morning while I watched the View. I love days off!

Kurt is in New Jersey. I hate it when he is gone. Magoo is moping around too. Kurt said it's supposed to snow out there tomorrow. He comes home Saturday morning. I hope he doesn't get delayed.

I think a nap may be necessary while my dough chills.

Big Blue in the Snowstorm 

Wrap up and Review

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I had a pretty decent day. It was my day off (what could be better than that!). I got some money from my Grandpa so Kurt and I went to pizza hut for lunch and then uptown for some pie. I came home, had a nap, and did some homework. I've had more exciting birthdays, but this one was pretty relaxing and relatively stress free. The best present EVER would be if our damn house would sell!!

I found the crock pot, the serving and mixing bowls, and the missing corning ware. They were in the bottom of the cupboard at the other house. I SWEAR I've looked there a dozen times. Kurt was convinced we'd been robbed. I couldn't see, how out of all that CRAP and 100's of boxes in the garage, a robber would have been able to single out the things i use on a daily basis.

Kurt has a huge project due tomorrow night. He didn't get home til 2 am last night (I only beat him by 15 min). Driving home in the dark and blowing snow was a special bonus. Yet another thing I for which I can thank APAC. He'll be even later tomorrow night.

Last week I took everyone to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was good! Christy thought it was a little scary, Alex was disappointed things had been left out and minimized, but everyone was glad to go. Plus it was free popcorn night!

The house is starting to shape up. The end of the tunnel is getting near for school. I may make it to the end of the year!

Uh Oh

My fortune cookie said "you will soon change your present line of work".

NOT good when there is great and realistic fear that my center will close and my job will disappear by the beginning of the year!

I wish:

• the dang house would sell
• we had the kids full time
• i were done with college
• i had a diet Pepsi right now
• Kurt and I could spend 24 uninterrupted hours together (preferably in a hotel with a king size bed, a hot tub, and room service)
• I knew if was going to have a job after dec 31
• we could find my crockpot, serving bowls, and the other box of food
• i worked regular hours so i wouldn't have to keep vampire hours
• i were asleep

It never ends

The continuous cycle of dishes, meals, and laundry that is. I'm supposed to be writing my paper, but all of these other things keep getting in the way. I did get all of my other homework done as well as getting my introduction written. Plus I have all of tomorrow as well as most of Tuesday to get it done.

We got a lot of work out of Alex this afternoon. Two girls stopped by and he kept raking the entire time (trying to impress them I guess). It's been pretty laid back around here. It's been nice to have days off from work. It would get pretty each to get used to that's for sure!

Stressing!

Stress, stress and more stress....that's the only thing we have a lot of around here!

I have a paper to write, I have 5 articles to review, and I have a take home test to do.

Work still exists, but who knows for how much longer.

We have a parenting class to take.

We need to find a recipe that calls for lots of tomato paste because that is our main food supply right now.

The Old Mill - Only 2 blocks away 

Happy Halloween

Just another exciting day here in paradise. I had chiro, school,work, school and work. I love Mondays sooo much.

Kurt took Nick and Christy trick or treating. I had the camera so no pictures I'm afraid. Nick was a duct tape Knight with sword and Christy was a Ninja. Kurt wore my Frankenstein head band/hat thing so he got some candy too!

I still haven't' taken a picture of the house, but I do have one of the Mill that's only a few blocks away...We have a slight view of the River from here.

Wednesday Kurt and I are going to Des Moines to see my nephew, Ryan and go to the Bon Jovi concert. I'm very excited. I don't think I've seen Bon Jovi since 1989!

Charging up the Batteries

I'm charging up the batteries for the camera because by this time tomorrow I should be an Aunt! My sister and Todd left for the hospital tonite and she is being induced tomorrow morning! I am incredibly excited to see the baby. I've been guessing and guessing and guessing what his name will be but so far I haven't hit on it. I'm taking Friday off to go see them (and to get away from my crappy job). I have a test Friday morning then I'm heading to DSM after that.

This place continues to be a disaster, but it is home. I told Kurt that I don't miss the old house and I'm perfectly comfortable here. Home is where he is...other than that it doesn't matter. However it is VERY nice to have enough space. He said he was thinking the same thing.

This kids seem to love the new house. They've been great the past few weekends. Lewis was a little out of sorts at first, but he shredded some Kleenex and all is well now.

I better hit the books. I hope I can relax in a couple of years once I'm done with class.

It's done

We are moved. We're completely disorganized and can't find anything but we've got it all out of the old house and into the new house.

WHAT a pain in the butt! It took 2 car loads, 1 pick up load, and 3 - 26' rental truck loads. We have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF. There was no screaming, very little swearing, and lots of snacks.

Thanks so much to Mom for bringing lunch, Dad for helping despite working 3rd shift, and to my new favorite number one brother-in-law, Greg (sorry Todd). We would have never ever gotten it done with out Greg.

I'll post some pictures once we get the trash out of the front yard.

Big Day

Today is big day. We're having a graduation party for Fred this afternoon. I'm trying to cook, clean and decorate the garage, do homework (mine and the kids) and pack to move (without messing up the house or the garage) while Kurt and his brother, Kelly change the brakes and rotors in Kurt's car.

Wierdly, I'm the first one up. The second weirdest thing is that Christy is the number 2 person up. We are ALWAYS last.

We've had a decent week. I was in training 8-430 tues-fri so kurt and I got to spend a lot of time together which was nice.

I've got major wedding details set which is also cool!