Yeah I've Been Bad...

about posting in my blog...and? lol. I'm a busy girl nowdays. I am quickly learning that being a mom while working full-time and going to school is NOT conducive to having much free time. Heck, I haven't scrapped since JANUARY! (Unheard of for me.)

So Troy is STILL furloughed. Hopefully when the new railway safety rules go into effect he'll be called back and STAY there. I'm so sick of having to depend on the damned mechanic's pay he makes now. Oh well, at least my job pays decently and after we pay for daycare my pay covers most of our mortgage. (Sad huh? MOST of...DAMNED RAILROAD!) Enough bitching about that though.

Jack may have eczema. I'm making Troy take him to the Dr. tomorrow because his little forearm is THAT BAD. Poor little guy. Then to make things more fun, he decided to paint his bedroom door, the carpet and himself with poop when he woke up for his nap. UGH!!!!!!! One of these years I WILL get a picture of it so that in 10 years I can start exacting my revenge on the little shit monster.

YAY JOB!!!

So I FINALLY found a job. It may be a day and a dollar short to be able to save my family's personal economy, but I AM WORKING AGAIN!!! YAY!!! Yes, I have a little mommy guilt, I'd be lying if I didn't say I did. However, it stems more from also having to do classwork than the working. I feel like a regular person again rather than a pawn to the whims of a two year old. lol. Seriously, HOW do stay-at-home moms do this? Or is it a little easier once they get older? Oh hell, let's face it, I am not patient enough to do the job.

What am I doing you ask? My technical job title is Integrated Service Specialist. I schedule for durable medical equipment and other services for workman's comp. claims. This is experience is going to do WONDERS for me when I finally have my degree. Plus, get this, it's a place that treats you like you're an actual professional rather than someone who has to have her hand held all the time. I LOVE IT so far. (It's only been a week, but my last job I knew within HOURS that I would dislike it. I was not wrong. lol)

Since my parents have Jack for the night...I am going to think of something fun and special to do with my whacky husband tonight. (Or I could use all my scrapbooking crap and make him a Valentine's Day card!)

FUN!!!

Yeah, so I'm a little challenged when it comes to web page layouts. Fine- a LOT challenged. I found a site today though that allows you to use all sorts of different backgrounds. WOOT! This is going to be FUN! (And a big ass time waster. lol)

I had another bit of fun today. I start a new job on Monday and realized while I was hanging laundry up yesterday that I have TWO, count them, TWO outfits that are anything near "business casual." D'OH! So I had my mom come over today and I got to go shopping ALONE.

Wow...when did my life get to the point where I'm excited to go somewhere without my "mantourage"?

And before anyone asks me...

I STILL LOVE MY CARDINALS! I was proud of my boys this Sunday. I wish they could have won, but they played a great game and had good sportsmanship. (Cannot say the same of the Steelers.)

Cake, yummy, delicious CAKE...

So I'm FINALLY putting my cake decorating lessons to GOOD use and I'm making my first cake to take into public. It's going to be a Cardinals Superbowl theme. (Part of it is baking as I type this.) Oh Lord just PLEASE let it at least taste good. lol.

I'd also like to know why it is that there isn't anywhere half way decent in Tucson to buy decorating supplies. Michael's is ALWAYS out of what I want, unless I want to drive across town for it. There's another place I found that's SUPPOSED to be a cake decorating supply store. Right, and I'm Collette Peters. (Google her if you don't know who she is.) If I ever need cheap plastic doo-dads for a cake or cupcakes, I know EXACTLY where to go, otherwise it's overpriced crap that Michael's carried anyway. I guess when I need something I'll be looking to a friendly internet retail shop. (Shopping in Tucson for anything just plain sucks anyway, unless you WANT overpriced crap.)

Oh! I also made my first BIG word faux pas with Jack today. I was driving down the street when someone in a TINY little car pulled right out in front of my 3/4 ton Suburban, causing me to slam on my brakes and spill iced tea all over the front of my ONE unstained white t-shirt, cause me to yell one of the easiest four letter words for a toddler to replicate. Let's just say within thirty seconds I was repeating "no honey...SHOE." It worked this time. WHEW!

Homework STILL sucks..

I decided to get off my duff and go back to college. YAY ME! I am discovering that homework still sucks. I am having to take the most b.s. class EVER, although I will admit I've learned a few things from it. What sucks about it is the fact that I am supposed to write two three paragraphs describing a challenge I am facing in regards to going back to school and how I can use creative problem solving to overcome the challenge. Um....the only challenge I face is WRITING THIS PAPER. lol. Would saying I have to use financial aid be a legitimate challenge since we don't have the funds to pay for it outright? UGH.

Ah hell, I could just be honest and use my poor writing and grammar skills for my challenge. HA HA HA!

Hope for Change...

I hope that the Democrats change their tune and don't do all they're planning to do. I hope that in six months from now, much less four years from now, I still have the right to own a firearm AND ammunition for it. I hope that this country doesn't go to Hell in a hand basket. I hope that Socialism doesn't overrun what little Capitalism this great country has left. Don't get me wrong, I am excited we finally have a person of color in office, just not THIS one. Obama being the POTUS with the Democrats in charge of the legislative branch scares the shit out of me. I hope I have some change left in my pocket when all is said and done...

Sleep...whatever happened to a good night's sleep?

So my mom had her knee replaced last week. Her and my Dad live so far out in BFE that the home health people won't drive out there for physical therapy three times a week. I let her stay here. Not such a big deal except that we put Jack's bed in the office so my mom can have her own room, which means Jack gets the toddler bed again. He is NOT happy about this. He's been getting up several times a night, to the point where when he does his 0100 wake up we just let him come sleep with us. Who in their right minds WILLINGLY sleeps with children? Both Troy and I get kicked in various places all night long by the monkey boy who does acrobatics in his sleep. Then to top it off, last night Troy decided not to fight it and took Jack straight to bed in our room. This meant that when I went to bed a few hours later there was NO ROOM! (Yeah, sorry, no way in HELL am I going to wake up a two year old to move him. NO WAY NO HOW!!!) Remind me next time to just gently move him so I can crawl in. Sleeping and getting kicked in the head has GOT to be more restful than sleeping on the fart noodling couch for a night. UGH.

Is it nap time yet?

Finding Nemo, Cars, Mickey Mouse and the World According to a Two Year Old.

So I spoke too early about Nemo. DAMMIT ALL TO HELL! Oh well, I suppose there could be worse things in life than having to watch all aforementioned titles five HUNDRED times a day. (Although I feel like suggesting this to the Marines to use on the prisoners in Gitmo.)

Another thing about two year olds- NO PATIENCE. It's a theme I've noticed in Jack lately, and a theme I've noticed amongst other moms of two year olds I know. To them time means nothing at all and EVERYTHING is at the utmost importance. Doesn't matter if it's Mickey Mouse, a cup of frozen blueberries or devising a way to get an interplanetary star ship to actually travel at the speed of light- they want it NOW NOW NOW. (Come to think of it, this sounds like a boss I used to have and a good chunk of the passengers I used to deal with while working for US Airways.)

And now for something different. I HAVE to rant about this for a second...

I do not have myself fooled into believing that I am a scholarly writer. I do, however, like to believe I have a semi-decent grasp of the English Language. As I mentioned before I started back to college. All of my classes are online, so I get to see what my classmates write rather than hear them speaking. After reading through about twenty answers on our blackboard page, all I could think was "You have GOT to be kidding me!" Seriously, how illiterate IS this country getting? Has spell check really ruined us that much? Do school systems no longer teach elementary grammar?

Adventures with Llama Boy and Potty Training

Jack officially has his super hero identity. Llama Boy. I truly hope for his sake he doesn't become Llama Man. He's got his mother's penchant for pushing buttons lately, and he's learned that EVERYONE finds spitting to be rather rude. He's also aware that it royally pisses me off. Yes ladies and gentleman, my son spits at you when he gets angry. It's annoying as I'll get out.

Jack is also now FINALLY starting to lose interest in Finding Nemo. Seriously, I really do think it's a cute movie, but would rather not to have to watch it 3 or 4 times a day. This has been going on for about 2 months now. Prior to this it was Cars. Jack ha a Disney/Pixar fixation. Anyway, Jack has now decided that the dvd du jour is a Huggie's Potty Training Secrets dvd they sent me in the mail. (I love how I get random crap like that in mail.) I wouldn't mind him watching it if he LEARNED anything from it, he just likes to watch it for the other little kids in it.

Recipes to be Tried...

Because I don't feel like opening Word right now! HA HA HA.

Chicken Pot Pie
Box of refidgerated pie crusts.
2 cups pre cooked chicken/turkey
1/2 cup milk
Can of Cream of mushroom or Chciken soup
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2teaspoon pepper
1 bag frozen mixed veggies
Bake for 45 minutes @375

Thanks Rachel!


Bowtie pasta mixed in with pesto and extra parmigiano cheese. Then in a pan with EVOO I sauteed onions, garlic, mushrooms and apple/chardonnay chix sausages(got them from Target). Steam a little broccoli and add it all together. YUMMY!
That one gets credited to Amber.

Brooke's Baked Kale Chips
1 bunch of kale, stems off and torn into bite sized pieces
4 tbs olive oil
1 tbs Vinegar (she used cider, I used Tarragon)
a shake of salt free lemon pepper
a dash of salt
Preheat oven to 350*. Wash and shake dry Kale. Prepare as mentioned above. Toss kale in a bowl with the olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings and turn out onto greased baking sheet.
Bake for about 20 mins.
Watch them carefully, as I think mine only took maybe 10 mins.
(Thank you to Brooke and thank you to Kim for posting this in her blog so I could find it again!)

Is it obvious I want to get into meal planning? YAY!

Tucsonans LOVE their junk.

I've been searching for a decent used treadmill for a while now. Craigslist has been a bust as well as the newspaper classifieds. Seriously, someone actually thinks that because their nonworking treadmill says Nordictrack on it means they should still sell it for eight hundred dollars. What the HELL? This is just par for the course for the people in this city.

Of course, this also goes the other way. If you have a garage sale and have a gently used baby swing that cost $120.00 brand new marked for thirty, they offer you ten bucks. Sorry, I'll donate it and take the tax write off for a higher amount than that.

I totally understand wanting to make a buck or two and wanting to get a good deal, just be REALISTIC about it people!!!

YAY SCHOOL!!!!

So I finally decided to get off my rear end and finish my degree. WOOT! I feel like Nemo when he's jumping on his dad yelling "FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!" This enthusiasm had BETTER darned well last more than a few days this time. I'm sick of the dead end, useless jobs here in Tucson. If you want to do ANYTHING here you need that bachelor's degree. Sadly, here in Tucson it doesn't guarantee you a job that pays more than twelve dollars an hour. It's like this city says "Welcome to Tucson- now go away."

My ultimate goal is to finish this degree in Health Care Administration then go to the U of A here to get an accelerated BSN. Depending on how the economy is by the time I finish my HCA degree, I may talk my husband into moving back to Texas and doing my BSN there. Tucson just isn't a very family friendly city to raise children in. (Sorry, the city wants to be, but it just isn't.)

I have also decided, for my BIG New Year's Resolution to organize this house. I am sick of clutter, and three people living in a 1200 square foot house does not equal a lot of room. Especially when one of these said people is a two year old who believes the entire house is his to turn into a playroom. This will teach me to listen to my mother when it comes to home buying advice. She told us to not get a house with a family room and a formal living room as the living room would never be used. I'm now thinking that at least with the formal living space I could have an area we could block off from the monster and have company in. (I know...HA HA HA HA!!! Nice thought there.) In any case, it could be an area to turn into a playroom. Either that or I wish we had bought a four bedroom home. Oh well...lesson learned for next time we go house hunting. (Although I have a feeling my then Jack will be old enough where we'll need a media room or something awful like that.) Anyway, back to my organization plan...if you have any tips to give me to get my life organized, feel free to pass them along!!!

It's been WAY too long!!!

I haven't posted here in a LONG time. I kep forgetting it's here! lol.

Update on Jack:

He is now a little over 38" tall. I think we have a big boy on our hands here. He also currently weighs in at 32.4lbs. (He hopped on my digital scale last night after his bath so we know this for sure. lol) Like I said- BIG boy. We're apt to call him Tank a lot of days.

Jack is growing like a weed and FINALLY starting to talk more. (At least something other than "CARcar.") We've been working on his ABC's and 123's, although he still has yet to point at the letter of any alphabet and say it. Oh well, he's only two so I know it'll come someday soon. I'm in no hurry to make him grow up on me any faster than he is.

That is it on the Jack front for now. More to come later!!!

No Babies Were Harmed in the Cutting of Hair

Jack's first haircut! THANK YOU AUNT LISA!

Jack's First Birthday!

One year ago today I was fortunate enough to have this sweet face enter my life. He was born at 148pm and this was taken at 148pm a year later. What a difference a year makes huh?

The happy look of a satisfied young toddler with birthday cake!

Backyard in the tub!

This has been OUR favortie toy that he got for his birthday. It's a T-Rex that moves and roars at you. Jack mostly likes it, unless it's too close to him then Jack takes a hike! HA HA HA! (Note the thing has a Little People character in its mouth...Mommy was playing it too!)
Thanks for the fun toy Auntie Lisa!!!

Keep Your Eye Out!

Pictures and all sorts of fun from Jack coming SOON!

Mean Mommy!

Who DOES this to their kid??? I do! HA HA HA HA!!!!!!! OK, it was acutally Earl, my beloved brother-in-law. That's his Aunt Lisa who's hands you see in the picture. You gotta LOVE it. Jack obviously did not, but hey, it'll be a good blackmail shot someday. It'll hopefully be a good way to keep a teenaged boy in line. (Insert eveil laugh here.)

Moving sucks. Trying to close on a house and sign mortgage papers suck. Love the house though and since it won't happen again for several years I am going to try to deal with it.

BAD Blogger...BAD BAD BAD!!!

I admit it, I need to update here more. I forget I even have one of these things!

So my little man is now hamming it up for the camera. It's about time! He's cute as I'll get out but it gets old having the same open mouthed expression on camera. HA HA HA!!!! Now maybe I can prove to the world he has a personality of SOME sort. Jack also wants me to send a shout out to his favorite girl...HI ELLA!

We got word today that there's a chance we could close on our house on Thursday evening or Friday. YIPPEEE!!!!! If that happens we'll have our keys on Monday and I can get some painting done before we move in. VERY BIG thing for me. (Not that I have anything against blah beige, but come ON! lol) Jack is trying to decide between an undersea look or pirates for his room. I told him I didn't care either way but he has three days to decide so I can buy paint and be ready to paint. In the meantime...does anyone have any suggestions for kitchen colors? It also houses my dining room...ugh. Maybe I'll go boring white and paint a wall a good navy blue. Should be different huh? We'll see. This color crap is hard now that I can do something other than repaint a wall WHITE! lol. YAY! NO MORE RENTING!

Now for the other big news! Jack and I were playing today and he was cruising the couch. He was doing that scream that happy babies are want to do, lifted his arms in the air, screeched again and took a step towards me!!!! YAY!!!!!! My little boogar is growing up on me!

Prayers WORK!!!

I am back from Phoenix AGAIN. I am officially a stay at home mom again for now. YAY!!! I really missed not being home with my stinker. And now for the really, really good news...

ALL of Dad's pathology reports came back NEGATIVE!!! YAY!!!! The surgery went well too. YAY!!!!

BAD Mommy

Yes, I am a bad mommy. I was sitting here last night, about 1am, when it hit me...I FORGOT AN EASTER BASKET!!!! Thank GOD my sister got him one to play with. YAY Auntie!!!! I guess with new crappy job I ought to be glad I finally had the time to go see the Easter Bunny with him yesterday. CUTE CUTE CUTE picture!!! (And if y'all are LUCKY, I may even scan it and post a picture!!!!)

I guess I am also feeling like a bad mommy because I am not able to spend as much time with my darling son anymore. I leave in the morning when he's been up an hour, drop him off at the sitter's, get home and he's ready to go to bed an hour after we get here. I *MISS* him. As soon as this darned student loan is close to being paid off I am OUTTA there. I got really lucky and have an AWESOME sitter who actually loves him, but I am jelaous that she's the one who'll more than likely get to see his first steps, hear his first words...y'all know what I mean.

My dad is also going in for a resectioning of his colon tomorrow afternoon. He had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and they discovered cancer. I wish I could say what I wanted to here. I do ask for your prayers- both for his physical and mental health. He is depressed, and I can understand that- but it seems like he doesn't really want to fight this. My mom is understandable freaked out about the what-ifs of it all, my sister is too. I feel like I have to be the strong one so I haven't even let myself get to the point where I *CAN* cry at all about this. I have the need to be the strong one, plus I feel like I need to know what to worry about. Will he need chemo? Chemo AND radiation? Is it terminal? Too many unanswered questions at this point and we won't have the answers until tomorrow or Tuesday. (Then my whole state of mind may be another thing entirely.) All we do know is that the Dr's believe they caught this thing early- which is good. If they did then I am not going to worry, just horsewhip my father until he too believes this isn't a guaranteed death sentence.