Great Weekend

I just love a 3 day weekend! Saturday Ayron worked in the morning and then we relaxed all afternoon! Sunday we ventured to Indy for the 500. It was awesome!

Dean Kruse gave us tickets to the race (Thanks Dean!) and we decided to ride the "party bus" to and from Indy. It was nice to not have to drive and worry about parking. We had great seats (about 100 yards back from the finish line, right across from the pits) under the paddock so obtaining a sunburn was not an issue! Despite some motion sickness and heat exhaustion on the way home, all was well!

Yesterday we decided to buy a grill! We did some checking and found one at Wal-Mart that we like and it was in our price range. Ayron went back with his dad, and the SUV, and picked it up. They then brought it back and managed to successfully build our grill. We had New York Strip steaks for dinner and they were GREAT!

Our backroom is empty and ready to be demolished. We won't start that till after the auction this weekend. I can't wait to make that room livable/usable space. It will be nice to have a room that Taylor and Ayron can play in while I read in the other room!

I kind of wish we had painted the garage and front doors this weekend, but it was nice to spend some time with Ayron and just relax.

They do grow fast

I don't know how many times I have heard people (when referring to babies) say, "They grow so fast." I agree, but at times I wish Taylor would grow faster.

Thursday night is yard work night at our house. After dinner I mow and Ayron tends to other yard projects. Taylor enjoys being outside and spending time with Ayron.

Last night, as I was mowing the perimeter of our property, Ayron placed TJ in his stroller in the middle of our backyard. Every time I came around the corner of the house Taylor would start waving and yelling at me. He's smile and just start babbling. I could tell he was trying to yell in an attempt to be heard over the mower.

After I had finished mowing we were hanging out in the driveway. Scooter was roaming the yard and Taylor was talking up a storm. I looked at him and it was like I was given a glance into what he would look like as a teenager. He continued to talk as I marveled at this child that we created. I realized that Taylor was silent. He was waiting on my reply. I said the standard, "Oh really? Tell me more." and he continued to talk. I then realized my Aunt L was right when she said, "Just get him potty trained and freeze him right there. He is getting too big!"

At that moment, I wished he was older. What was he really saying? It is exciting to see how much he is learning and doing on a daily basis and I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for him. I am eager for his first soccer game, first day of school, the nervousness that comes with starting the middle school, the excitement of a learner's permit, etc.

People ask me if I miss when he was small. My standard response is, "He has never been small!" But, I really don't think I do. I don't miss itty bitty diapers. I don't miss the screaming at 3am. I love the fact that he is learning to communicate (we use sign language) and learning it very fast! I love that he will sit and "read" me a story. I like watching him as he discovers simple things, like where I moved the Tupperware drawer too.

Do I want another one, sure, in time. We have talked about when we would like to start trying and we have some things in mind, but I just don't want to miss anything when it comes to Taylor. I spent so much time on the bathroom floor praying for the nausea to pass when I was pregnant with Taylor, I can't imagine doing that now while having a toddler. How do you explain to a toddler that Mommy doesn't feel good? How much would I miss out on because I spent the evening in bed with a pinched nerve in my back, unable to move? Someday we will cross that bridge, but I'm not sure when.

Bald

How much easier would our day be if we were all bald? Think about it ladies. No need to worry about deep conditioning treatments, updating your color, etc.

My boss recently decided to shave his balding head. We now call him "Q-Tip." I also love to sing, "Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean." When he walks into the office. We have recently discovered that the Nerf dart guns he gave us for Christmas, when paired with his shiny bald head, make a great target practice. I think it's odd that his shaved his head, but kept his "billy goat" scruff (whatever he calls that stuff on his chin).

I am in the process of growing out my hair. My hair grows fairly quickly but has a nasty dishwater brown color. I am in need of a new look. I always start to grow out my hair, but then summer comes and it gets hot and I chop it off (much to the dismay of Sara). I have a wedding in October and I'd like to have longer hair. My senior year in high school I had it down to the middle of my back. It was close to that same length when we were married, but since then I have kept it short. Not short by most standards, but short for me.

I get to this phase where I want to grow it out, but it looks crappy. I want a change of pace, but what?

My eye brows are way to dark, so going blonde is out of the question. I have been going slightly darker with a hint of red. Highlights maybe? But I think I may also want a new "style." I need something easy, but I want to actually look professional (when I need to look professional). I am really close to calling and making an appointment for a "whack job" as I call it. I am really not picky and my theory is, "It's hair, it will grow back."

I need suggestions!

Garden Time!

Ayron planted our garden last night! Hopefully, we will have tomatoes, peppers, red onion, white onion, sweet corn, carrots, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and lettuce. We have already realized that we will need a bigger garden next year. We want to be able to plant more corn and have room for some spinach and potatoes as well as an herb garden. We also are hoping that we managed to save the corner of the garden that had asparagus and chive already growing. Guess time will tell.

I guess my next step is to learn how to can all of the vegetables so they don't go bad....I am sure youtube has a video that will teach me.

The Last Lecture

I am currently reading Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture. I am finding several nuggets of truth that seem so basic, yet so profound.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

Just because you are in the driver's seat doesn't mean you have to run people over.

Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome.

You've got to get the fundamentals down, because otherwise the fancy stuff is not going to work.

Tenacity is a virtue, but it's not always crucial for everyone to observe how hard you worked at something.

The brick walls are there for a reason. They're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.

Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier.

Tears of Frustration

I am so ticked off right now that I am on the verge of tears. I have a student coming out of placement today that has SEVERAL needs that MUST be addressed. The evaluation even said, "Likely to re-offend." Yet, he is coming home and none of his needs will be addressed. I can't give the details of the case and I wish I could. Trust me, if you knew, you would agree. There isn't any services in Northeast Indiana that can help this student with his issues. They think putting him on home detention will help. It won't.

I went and met with my boss today to at least have my concerns heard and it's like he doesn't even care. He won't have to deal with him in a daily basis so why should he care. I have worked with this student before and I know what services are needed and I am not equipped to administer them.

It is just so frustrating that the psychologist at placement, as well as my on staff therapist says he needs intensive therapy and yet nothing. I AM SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW!!!

Ok, venting done. I am still thoroughly ticked though. This kid is getting robbed of the treatment he needs to improve himself.

Gun Safety

This past week a one year old was shot in the face by his 3 year old brother. The mother stole the gun from her boyfriends house and isn't sure how the 3 year old obtained of the gun. The one year old is in the hospital and recovering from the incident.

This disturbs me. I am not against guns, I am against idiots possessing guns. Let me drag out my soapbox for a moment. If you are a gun owner, you have a responsibility to keep your family and children safe from incidents (like your child having access to the guns). Gun safes are a great way to prevent such situations. My family (the in-laws side) owns SEVERAL guns. When not being used to hunt, they are locked in a gun safe. The ammunition is also locked in a safe. It's not hard! Only the adults know the combination and my nieces are respectful of guns.

I feel there is a difference between being respectful about guns and being fearful. Growing up I was never around guns. Marrying into a hunting family, I used to be fearful. Not anymore. I don't carry a gun, but I do own one. It is an antique .22 that my grandmother Eaton owned and it's more sentimental than practical. We will be purchasing handguns this summer. I would like to be properly trained by the county trainer so that I can do survailence this summer for work. I know that I am ignorant about guns and am looking into classes. My nieces know more about guns than I do! They have been taking classes through 4-H for two years now and they are dead on target shooters! They know the proper use of guns and would never play with them (even if they knew they weren't loaded).

If you have a gun, PLEASE LOCK IT UP!

One Last Burrito

After I read this article all I could think about was rewriting the words to Phil Collin's "One More Night" to "One More Burrito."

Really? Did he think the cops would be like, "Oh, you wanted one last Taco Bell run, ok, Go ahead. While you're in there get me a gordita and some of those cinnamon twisty things."

I have seen jail food and have eaten Taco Bell and in my opinion, they are the same thing. I'm sure he'll survive just fine on jail food.

Anti-Butt Crack Bill

I personally like this idea, what about you?

They want to use the money to better the schools, so I'm all for it. I make my students wear suspenders because I am sick of seeing underwear and teenage butts. I always tell them, "It's great you are wearing underpants, but I don't want to see them!"

I'm sure some people will say that clothing is a type of speech and don't we have free speech? Don't we have enough respect for ourselves and others to no show off our butt cracks and underwear?

I am also curious if this bill would spawn sometime of "thong" bill for women (and unfortunately girls) whose thong rides higher than their britches.

Spring Cleaning

This Saturday is spring cleaning pick up on my side of town. I know they say to not put out your "garbage" till Friday night or early Saturday morning, but we had a lot of stuff to go through. As we sorted, keep from garage sale and trash piles, we would throw the trash in big cardboard boxes. Once a box was full, I would close the top and haul it out to the corner of our property and stack it. Most of what we were getting rid of was trinket crap from when we were younger. Posters from the fair, stupid little toys from school give aways, etc.

We had already gone through our shed awhile back so we started to tackle the garage closet last night. We drug all of the rubber totes into the living room and started sorting. At 9:30 I was dragging the last box of garbage out to the curb. A woman in her mid to late thirties pulled up in a Cadillac and proceeded to go through every closed box (we had about 10 boxes of crap out by the curb). I didn't really care that she was going through the stuff, heck if she found something that would be useful to her, great! What I didn't like was the fact that her car was full of children. I am guessing between 3 and 6 years of age. They were hoping in and out of the car and running around, at 9:30pm! Our road is semi dangerous. There are no sidewalks and it's basically a great street to drag race on. People are always speeding down the road. There were several times (she spend about 20 minutes going through the stuff) that cars slammed on their brakes and honked at the out of control kids.

We have an old broken dryer to move out to the curb and I am willing to bet that it sits on the curb for all of 5 minutes before someone picks it up. If they can make it work, good. We knew what the problem was and the cost of fix it was more than what the 1970's dryer was worth!

Standing Outside the Fire

I love early Garth Brooks songs. I always have and I just do, I can't explain it and I don't feel the need to justify it. I was driving to work this morning thinking of how it is a gorgeous day and "Standing Outside the Fire" came on the radio. I started thinking about the music video. That video ALWAYS makes me cry. If you haven't seen it, find it and watch it! If you don't cry, are you heartless? Anyways, so I was singing along at the top of my lungs and I realized that lately, I have been standing outside the fire.

I think part of the reason I was unable to sleep last night was because I was worrying about little stupid things. The dishwasher wasn't loaded, we are running low on toilet paper and apple juice, the yard needs mowed, the house payment needs sent, etc. Why and I letting stupid trivial things worry me, let alone keep me up at night?

I have decided to live for today (yet another song lyric from Natalie Grant). I am taking some "me" time and I am going to enjoy this beautiful day that God has given me. I am going shopping and I might even call and schedule my spa appointment (Ayron and Taylor gave me my Mother's Day present early in case Ayron has to work longer than expected this weekend. They gave me a gift certificate for whatever treatments I want at Shear Expressions Salon and Day Spa!).



Garth Brooks
"Standing Outside the Fire"

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned

But you've got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to
stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you
stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire


Natalie Grant
"Live for Today"

Sittin' in my room staring at the wall
Wonderin' about the meaning of it all
Why is it this thing called life
Has got me goin' crazy
So I open up Your Word and let it speak to me
The purpose and the plan that You've designed
Is clear to see, and I believe

I'm gonna live for today
I'm gonna follow in Your way
I'm gonna let my little light shine
Like there's no tomorrow
I won't worry about the past
I know my future is intact
So I'll choose to live my life one way
I'm gonna live for today

You told me not to worry
About what lies ahead
So I am gonna focus on today instead
Making every moment count and counting
Every single blessing
I'm gonna set my mind on the
Here and now
This is what I want my life to be about
And this is how...

My oh so crazy life
It's got me spinnin' round & round
Hanging upside down
Takin' one step at a time
Holding your hand all the way
And it'll be okay

Oh Happy Day!

I am in great mood, which is surprising considering my lack of sleep! I just couldn't sleep last night. Knowing that the alarm clock would go off at 3am didn't help either. Ayron was up at 3 and getting around to leave for Grand Haven (for work). Finally, one he left I managed to squeeze in an hour of sleep!

I can just tell it's gonna be a good day. I just know it. It is sunny (for now), the weather is nice, the trees are blooming (and thanks to my allergy meds I'm not sneezing) and it's pay day Friday!

I have an eye exam (contact check up) this morning and a credit on my account so I won't have to pay for my contacts (see previous blog titled "Rx Optical"). I am then going shopping, and home to clean. Then my sisters are coming home tonight.

It's just a good day all around!

Poor Ayron

Ayron works in the marketing department at Kruse International. A lady contacted him, via email, about a collection of cars she had. She was looking to sell her collection of over 300 cars. Ayron thought he hit the jackpot! He started questioning her. She said she had over 300 promotional vehicles in mint condition and she wanted someone to estimate what they would bring at an auction.

Ayron passed the information on to Dean, the owner of the company. Dean called and was talking with the owner. He asked her, "Ma'am, where do you store all 300 of these cars? I have to ask since you say they are all in mint condition." The lady paused and then answered, "In my curio cabinet." Turns out they are matchbox sized cars. Dean lost it. He thought it was hysterical!

So much for Ayron's jackpot of a find!

Home Improvements

We had decided looong ago to use our tax refund to do some improvements to the house. I was so eager at first. I didn't know where to start! We are finally starting to plan and now suddenly I am nervous. I don't know why.

We have decided on a shutter color and I am going to purchase them today at Menards and then tonight we are looking at siding. We talked with Tom (my contractor father in law) and started planning last night) and he is working on a plan. It seems that it might actually happen, so why am I nervous?

We aren't doing anything major. We are replacing the shutters, painting the house and the garage door, making the backroom usable (new windows, door, insulation, etc), and siding the back room. It seems like a lot, but it really isn't.

I think I have gotten used to seeing that money in our bank accounts and I am afraid to see it go. I know that we had this planned from the start and I really want these changes done, but it's just so hard to say good bye (this is humorous).

I really can't wait to see how the house will look. I can't wait to finish the landscaping either! Last fall we added mulch around some trees, but ran out of mulch (we were getting it from the compost center). We need to find time when we can take the truck and trailer back to the center and get some more free mulch! I hope to redo the fire pit this weekend (we were given a real fire ring for Christmas so I can take down our makeshift brick one). I need to get some flowers planted, etc. It's about time I make the place look like a home. If only I could get grass to grow where we had to dig up the front yard.

Rx Optical

This morning I had an eye exam at Rx Optical in Angola. I decided on Rx Optical (my original doctor headed towards warmer weather) because they have a "vision advantage program" with the county employees. I called the company and researched and was amazed when I was told my first visit would only cost $59. After my exam this morning I was given a trial pair of contacts and scheduled a check up for a week later (new brand, I am trying them out). I was surprised when there was an additional $55 new patient fee I wasn't told about.

I debated on what to do and I decided I would send an email to corporate. I just got off the phone with a local customer service rep who apologized. He said he doesn't know why I wasn't told that information when I called. He also told me that since I wasn't expecting that fee he would credit that amount to my account and I could use that credit to purchase my contacts next week!

I am very pleased! Their customer service and the ladies (and gentleman) at the office were very nice. Especially when I stopped in on my lunch break to complain about the trial pair I was given. One of the contacts had a tiny rip around the rim and it was driving me crazy. They gladly gave me a new trial contact and set me on my way!

So now I am glasses free and have a credit on my account!

Am I a "minority?"

I have to wonder if I am a "freak" or a "minority" compared to my peers. Here are my "reasons."

1. I was a virgin until my wedding night. So was my husband. We had the chance but decided to never take it.

2. I have never been drunk. There was a time in Spain, but it wasn't on purpose and in my defense, those Spainards know how to mix drinks!

3. I have never smoked a cigarette. Never even wanted to smoke.

4. I have never smoked weed. Never even had the desire.

5. I have never taken an illegal drug.

6. I don't spend my weekends playing beer pong or doing stupid things....I guess this could go with #2.

7. I have never broken a bone in my body. Until recently I had never had stitched. Gallbladder surgery and childbirth ruined that for me.

8. I don't have a tattoo. Doesn't mean I don't want one, I just currently don't have one.

9. I'd much rather spend a quiet night at home with my husband and son than a noisy night at a bar.

10. Until about a month ago I had never been inside of Crickets. I have had a Cricket burger and YUMMO!

11. I can't, and therefore I don't, dance. Kind of odd and random, but oh well.

12. I lost 30lbs. when I was pregnant. It was great! I was buying smaller sized jeans instead of bigger!

13. I have traveled outside the USA 3 times. Once to Canada (we were in Detroit and my Uncle wanted me to be able to say that I had left the country) and twice to Europe. I guess that makes me fortunate, not weird, but it's still uncommon.

14. I ran away from Auburn (freshman year of college) and then came running back. The "running back" is the odd part. Not many people do. Ever been to Auburn? (I really do like it, I just crack a lot of jokes about the lack of things to do).

15. I have only been pulled over once. The expiration sticker on the license plate was on the wrong side. Thanks Dad! It was my senior year in high school and it was the DARE officer that pulled me over, so I don't think it really counts.

16. I never skipped school (in high school). In fact, I actually got caught sneaking into school. I was out with pneumonia and was supposed to be at home resting, but you can only watch so many videos on VH1 before becoming bored.

17. I never was called to the principals office or kicked out of class. Never "earned" a detention or Saturday school.

18. I didn't plan my wedding, Ayron did! The spring semester of 2005 was very difficult for me (course load wise) and I told him that if he wanted to get married that summer he'd have to plan it all and I would show up. He planned it all and I showed up.

That's all I can think of for now. I am sure there are more, but does this list make me "odd?"

Cancer

I have a lot of thoughts swirling in my head and I'm not sure how to compose them, so forgive me if this post isn't very organized.

Cancer sucks. This weekend we lost a family friend to the disease. The disease stripped her of her former self and broke bones. It just seems so unfair. Now her husband and young child must pick up the pieces and carry on.

Last week my Uncle's father was diagnosed with cancer. That family already dealt with this horror before when my Uncle's mother had the disease.

Another family friend, who has been horribly ill, is going to see a specialist on Tuesday. One doctor thinks it could be Chron's disease. Another doctor says that colon cancer often has the same symptoms as Chron's disease and he wants to do a scope.

It seems like the stupid thing is running ramped these days. I am honestly surprised cancer isn't the #1 killer of humans. I am sure we all know someone (if not a family member) who has dealt with the disease. Heck, my grandmother died due to cancer and her sister battled breast cancer (2x if I am not mistaken).

So how do we beat this stupid thing? Is there one thing we can do to prevent it? It seems like every week some study says, "If you eat lots of item 'X' you can prevent cancer." The following week another study says, "Eating too much of item 'X' can cause cancer." Can we not make up our minds? Do we really even know?

Thinking about how ramped the disease runs I have to wonder if I will be forced to deal with the disease. My grandmother had ovarian cancer and my great aunt successfully kicked breast cancer, so am I going to have to fight the same battles they did? It seems a bit unfair to be 25 and wondering if cancer will effect me, but I can't help it.

School Bus Rant

This morning I got stuck behind a school bus. I had dropped TJ off at the sitter and was driving thru the housing addition I grew up in. The school bus stopped every other driveway. What's the point? Are these kids not capable of walking?

(Crack out the cane and dentures for the following paragraph)

Back in my day, we walked to the bus stop. The bus didn't stop at the end of our driveway? If you were lucky, the bus stop was in some one's driveway. If you were really lucky, the owner of that house had a porch they'd let you use when it was raining. Back when I went to school there were only 4 bus stops in my addition. One at each corner. Are the kids to lazy to walk to the end of the street? It's not that big of an addition. A little exercise won't kill them. Is there some sort of new safety hazard I don't know about? One that warrants the students being picked up at their door? Come on now, we walked to a bus stop and we all survived!

Ok, rant done.

Funny From Today

I was talking with a student this morning when he told me he was to walk to the hospital (two blocks away) after school. When I asked why he was being picked up at the hospital he said, "My mom is getting neutered today."

New bed, but sleep cannot be found

Friday morning we picked up our new king sized bed. I was so excited to sleep in a big new bed. Friday night, I did not sleep. Our niece spent the night and slept in Taylor's room. I would rush in every time Taylor coughed in hopes of silencing him before he woke our niece up. Saturday was a busy day of shopping and hanging out with our niece. I thought for sure that I would sleep well......NOPE. I was exhausted last night and wanted so badly to sleep. Due to Ayron's continues nose and throat concert (I didn't buy a ticket, but was serenaded anyways), I failed to sleep again last night.

I am beginning to wonder if it is the bed. Maybe I need new pillows? A visit to the chiropractor perhaps? I'm not overly tired but I'm not full of energy either. I have to wonder if I don't sleep well because Ayron is so far away from me. That would be ironic, we bought the bigger bed to have more space and now I can't sleep because he is too far away from me.

I attempted to wake Ayron up 10 times last night. His "concert" was very loud and very annoying. Several rib pokes and "roll over" later, a nice sock to the gut did nothing to shut him up. I even smacked him upside the head in an attempt to wake him up. He sat up and looked at me, I told him, "Shut up! If you are going to insist on snoring GO TO THE COUCH." His response, "I don't wanna and you can't make me." He magically didn't remember that conversation this morning. He has offered to sleep on the couch tonight in an effort to see if I can actually sleep! I'm thinking, and hoping, a shot of Nyquil will help me sleep.