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!

AWESOME!

Kurt and I went to Alex's 1st parent teacher conferences last night. We heard great remarks from all of his teachers. He doesn't have anything less than an A- in any of his classes. He is #1 in his art class. They all said he is articulate and stays above the fray when the other kids are misbehaving.

The one area where he is having trouble is, of course, spelling. None of the kids can spell.

We are incredibly proud of him and are SO relieved he is in school!

I HATE my job. I have to go back and close tonite from 6pm to midnite. UGH. I will be the only sup there. The list of things I CAN'T do is MUCH larger than the list of things I can do. I have to close tomorrow night too. I do have Sunday off though!

Our house is being shown tomorrow at 12:30 and there is an open house on Sunday from 3-4. I hope we get some offers!

Why?

Why is it always necessary for someone to piss on your parade?

EVEN MORE Big News!

Kurt and I have had an offer accepted on a house in Independence!!!

!!!

Move in date is October 15th.

Yikes! (And Kurt thought LAST year was the year of big changes!)

SO.....if you know of anyone in the market for a lovely house in Waterloo......

More News

Christy has joined the 5th grade band. She is going to be a trombone player. When I asked her if she wanted to go out for band she said "no." As I further explored it, she had decided for herself that it was too expensive. I hugged her and made her promise that before she makes any decisions about what she can or can not do she needs to talk to us. I told her we had a trombone. Her face lit up. I said it wouldn't cost anything for her to be in band so if she wanted to join all she had to do was tell us. She goes "I want to play trombone! I want to be in the band!"

We went to band tonight and signed the child up. Of course, she wasn't allowed to go with us. We were the only parents there sans children.

Lessons start on Tuesday!

Big News!

The stars appear to be aligning.....

Kurt and I are getting married :) It's looking like June 18th. (yes, I know it is a Sunday).

We are very excited. He told the kids. They were like, "ok". Kurt asked if any of them were listening. Christy said with enthusiasm, "I am!"

YAY!

HA!

Told ya so! I was right. The PP did, in fact, Round-up the lawn!

As my sister says, "What a freak".

Do Not Disturb

Kurt is coming home tonight!

At last

Fred finished his GED today with an 800 on the science portion. He now has an education (ha!). Plus I got him 90% signed up for health insurance. All that's left is for him and the PP to come up with the incredibly cheap premium by October 1st.

The next step is to get him off the child support and wait for him to come to his senses. We can concentrate on socializing and educating the other 3 now.

Also it is T- 2 days til my hunny bunny comes home. Thank God! I do NOT like being alone. I will gladly give up the middle of the bed to have him home.

Happy Labor Day!

It's so nice that I'm not laboring for once. I actually don't have to work anymore holidays this year. It will be first time ever since I started working that I've been able to say that!

We ended up not going to the Renfest. I looked at radar and a big storm was parked right over it. I didn't feel like drive 1.5 hours, paying $40 entrance, and then as Fred said, "Looking at a thunderstorm." I rented SAHARA instead. Everyone enjoyed it. It was pretty good; not as good as the book of course, but still fun.

Magoo and I went to my parents' for lunch today. I had ribeye and the dog had a pig's ear. My sister was up from DSM. The baby, 2.0, was kicking but not when anyone but Marn could experience it. Apparently, he doesn't like to perform.

Talked to Kurt, he was watching the ferries load and unload. He had another wonderful FRESH seafood meal. I'm jealous. This time it was big, juicy, sweet scallops. I may have to go to Red Lobster tonite!

Sugar Overload

Alex had to make no bake cookies for his foods class. It's not often that something is too sweet for me, but MAN these cookies are sweet! They turned out pretty well, but I'm wondering if he wrote the amount of sugar down correctly.

Apparently, I have an exceptional set of measuring spoons since I have an 1/8 teaspoon and a 1/2 tablespoon measure, neither of which are standard according to Mr. Food. However, the praise I garnered for the spoons was quickly replaced with scorn for my "plain salt" and "imitation vanilla". He said, scathingly, "iodinized salt is better for you." RE the vanilla I told him to look further and i have real vanilla from Mexico (no doubt harvested by exploited Mexicans).

I've decided to take the kids to the Renaissance Faire. They seldom beg for anything, but I woke up today to Nick in armor, Alex armed with a sword and dagger, and Christy picking out an appropriate medieval outfit. Fred, of course, was a lump on the coach.

YIKES!!

I had my first run in with the PP today. I went to pick up the kids since Kurt is out of town.

She got out of the van screaming and yelling; demanding to know where Kurt was. She then told me I didn't need to have the kids. I replied that we have custody on the weekends. She said, "Kurt does. You don't."

My heart was racing and I was shaking. I left and called Kurt. I drove a mile down the road and waited while he got it all straightened out with her. I ended up being able to pick up them up and bring them home. As soon as I got to the farm I turned around so I was headed out. I left the engine running and didn't get out.

Christy ran out to the car and hopped in. She exclaimed, "I love you" as soon as she got in. We got home at 2:15. None of them had eaten or bathed. Christy and Nick hadn't bathed since last weekend when they were here.

I can not imagine how Kurt lived there as long as he did. I'm shocked the kids aren't worse off than they are. I had planned on taking them to the Renaissance Fest tomorrow, but her reaction has me spooked. I'm worried that something bad might happen while we are there and it would give her fuel. I think we'll go see the March of the Penguins.