I love this story. I think she had a good time imagining how it must have gone when Arlin and I met. Ah, the influence of princess-happily-ever-after movies.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
An Octopus Love Story
I love this story. I think she had a good time imagining how it must have gone when Arlin and I met. Ah, the influence of princess-happily-ever-after movies.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Miscellaneous
Things Linsday has learned to say this month:
1. Pizza (itzah)
2. Meow
3. Arlin (awin)
Things going on with me this month:
1. Sinus infection
2. Removing the house from the market (no where to rent at all!)
3. Settling in and making a plan to actually decorate the house (ah, I never get this treat, so it is AWESOME!)
Things I wish were different now:
1. Laney was home (I miss her so much and she turns 8 in just 4 more days!)
2. My finances were in a different order (we are making HUGE progress, but that doesn't mean I don't want this wading through the mucky muck part over)
3. The shop was settled (just settle down please, no more drama and changes, let's get busy and make some money!)
Things with Arlin this month:
1. He was 2nd in sales during his first month ever at the Honda dealership! (so proud!)
2. He is now working 6 days a week - 12-14 hour days :(
3. We are about to celebrate our 9th anniversary. Can you believe that?! Crazy I tell you, crazy.
1. Pizza (itzah)
2. Meow
3. Arlin (awin)
Things going on with me this month:
1. Sinus infection
2. Removing the house from the market (no where to rent at all!)
3. Settling in and making a plan to actually decorate the house (ah, I never get this treat, so it is AWESOME!)
Things I wish were different now:
1. Laney was home (I miss her so much and she turns 8 in just 4 more days!)
2. My finances were in a different order (we are making HUGE progress, but that doesn't mean I don't want this wading through the mucky muck part over)
3. The shop was settled (just settle down please, no more drama and changes, let's get busy and make some money!)
Things with Arlin this month:
1. He was 2nd in sales during his first month ever at the Honda dealership! (so proud!)
2. He is now working 6 days a week - 12-14 hour days :(
3. We are about to celebrate our 9th anniversary. Can you believe that?! Crazy I tell you, crazy.
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Wheels on the Bus
Well, the wheels on my bus went "round and round" this weekend, all the way to Meridian, Mississippi. Saturday morning, Laney and I drove the entire 550 mile trip in a very quick 8.5 hours. The weather was nice, she was great in the car, the traffic was light, all in all it was a good trip. We landed down in Meridian about 5 pm. What is there you ask? Not sure (click the link it for some history). What did I see while I was there? The Super 8 and Cracker Barrel and two of my favorite people: my parents.
The last 4 years or so Laney has spent several weeks of her summer with Grandma and Grandpa at their house in VA. She helps in the garden, visits cousins, picks all the wild berries, helps can food, chases goats, chickens, dogs, cats, horses, and whatever other animals that might be on the farm at the time, and attends the annual family reunion. She has a great time playing with cousins Madison, Christian and Morgan and her her distant cousins. She visits people I visited when I was a kid, and even gets to visit Momaw Betty (great-grandma) and Momaw Louise (another great-grandma). She loves it, they love it, and I love it. BUT, I miss her. A LOT.
Arlin and I try to go on a couple's trip when she is gone, or at least have a lot of date nights. I don't think that is going to work out the same now that we have Lindsay too. Lindsay, being too young to gallivant to unknown parts of VA for an extended period, stayed here with us this year. While my parents and I were willing, there is no way the car ride would have left any of us sane after traveling with a small girl who loathes her car seat. And it's hard to let her go when I won't be able to watch over her as well from this far away. At least I can talk with Laney on the phone in sentences and get a good idea of what is going on. No such with Lindsay.
So Sunday I drove the 8.5 hours, 550 miles back home with an empty backseat, and dead silence except for my thoughts and the radio, and it struck me how much I missed her already. I'm excited for this time for her this summer. And I know how wonderful it is, because I spent a month of my summer at my grandparents, with my cousins while growing up and I LOVED it. But, it doesn't mean I won't be counting down the days until I see my Laney again.
The last 4 years or so Laney has spent several weeks of her summer with Grandma and Grandpa at their house in VA. She helps in the garden, visits cousins, picks all the wild berries, helps can food, chases goats, chickens, dogs, cats, horses, and whatever other animals that might be on the farm at the time, and attends the annual family reunion. She has a great time playing with cousins Madison, Christian and Morgan and her her distant cousins. She visits people I visited when I was a kid, and even gets to visit Momaw Betty (great-grandma) and Momaw Louise (another great-grandma). She loves it, they love it, and I love it. BUT, I miss her. A LOT.
Arlin and I try to go on a couple's trip when she is gone, or at least have a lot of date nights. I don't think that is going to work out the same now that we have Lindsay too. Lindsay, being too young to gallivant to unknown parts of VA for an extended period, stayed here with us this year. While my parents and I were willing, there is no way the car ride would have left any of us sane after traveling with a small girl who loathes her car seat. And it's hard to let her go when I won't be able to watch over her as well from this far away. At least I can talk with Laney on the phone in sentences and get a good idea of what is going on. No such with Lindsay.
So Sunday I drove the 8.5 hours, 550 miles back home with an empty backseat, and dead silence except for my thoughts and the radio, and it struck me how much I missed her already. I'm excited for this time for her this summer. And I know how wonderful it is, because I spent a month of my summer at my grandparents, with my cousins while growing up and I LOVED it. But, it doesn't mean I won't be counting down the days until I see my Laney again.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Dreaded
There is one conversation (or two or three versions of the one conversation) I dread having with each of my girls:
The Sex Talk
Just YUCK! Laney turns 8 in about 3 weeks and I'm afraid we are getting close to have "the talk". I'm really not that prepared for this! I thought I had more time!!! I'm not sure who says things to her and I don't think she really even knows what they are saying, but I've had to correct her on a couple of things. For instance, the other day we were house cleaning and folding laundry on a Saturday in front of the TV with some Disney movie that had some type of kissing scene. Laney says to me, "Oh no, I can't look they are about to have SEX." Yep, said that she did. My heart dropped.
"What do you know about sex?" asks me.
"It is when they kiss," she says.
"Well, there is kissing in sex, but that is not really what sex is. What else do you know?"
"You are naked." Be still my beating heart. No, really, be still. Ugh. Now I know there have to be kids at school talking about this. Second graders. No way. I mean, she still gets her homework instructions confused sometimes, so how do they get the details of anything right? I knew we were no ready to have the entire conversation, and I don't think she would have even understood it if I did, but I also knew we had to do some cleaning up of her understanding of what sex was. So very generally I told her what it was for and how only mommies and daddies and husbands and wives have sex, and how it is special and those types of things. AND now I guess I cross my fingers and begin hoping that whomever in second grade that thinks they know all about sex, will move away this summer. Or become a mute. Either work for me.
The Sex Talk
Just YUCK! Laney turns 8 in about 3 weeks and I'm afraid we are getting close to have "the talk". I'm really not that prepared for this! I thought I had more time!!! I'm not sure who says things to her and I don't think she really even knows what they are saying, but I've had to correct her on a couple of things. For instance, the other day we were house cleaning and folding laundry on a Saturday in front of the TV with some Disney movie that had some type of kissing scene. Laney says to me, "Oh no, I can't look they are about to have SEX." Yep, said that she did. My heart dropped.
"What do you know about sex?" asks me.
"It is when they kiss," she says.
"Well, there is kissing in sex, but that is not really what sex is. What else do you know?"
"You are naked." Be still my beating heart. No, really, be still. Ugh. Now I know there have to be kids at school talking about this. Second graders. No way. I mean, she still gets her homework instructions confused sometimes, so how do they get the details of anything right? I knew we were no ready to have the entire conversation, and I don't think she would have even understood it if I did, but I also knew we had to do some cleaning up of her understanding of what sex was. So very generally I told her what it was for and how only mommies and daddies and husbands and wives have sex, and how it is special and those types of things. AND now I guess I cross my fingers and begin hoping that whomever in second grade that thinks they know all about sex, will move away this summer. Or become a mute. Either work for me.
The Ties that Bind
I've been thinking lately about the memories we make with our kids and the way it shapes them in their personality and their lives and in their self esteem/confidence. I sometimes feel like two completely different moms with each of my girls, but I think in large part it is because of their personalities and how we have to change to what works with each individual. In some ways this is the same theory I use on my co-workers or employees because you have to talk to people in a language they understand and be the person who they are willing to work with to reach a common goal.
Laney has been very trying on boundaries lately. Not anything horrible, but as in, "how many times can I not listen before she will do something?" I do NOT like this stage. I've got tired of nagging, nagging, nagging, ask for results in a different way, and then finally being mean or punishing her to do something as easy as changing into PJ's or brushing teeth, or cleaning her room. My new trick is articulating to her that she has pushed me to the last teeny tiny told hold I have over my patience. I now tell her at this point that the "Nice Mom" is going to leave and the "Mean Mom" is going to come out. I ask her if she would like to work with the Mean Mom, the lady who puts her in the corner or takes away a toy or gives her the talking to and usually she says, "No" and gets her little self together and does what she is supposed to do. I wonder why this works so well for her, but I think it is almost like counting to three but in a more sophisticated way. She now knows when she can no longer avoid consequences or procrastinate action. It works for us. At least for now... Although, I do miss the simplicity of the reward chart days (and the attitude-free days).
Lindsay is a good kid too, but she is always laid back until you want her to do something you want. Such as, oh, going to bed, leaving the playground, getting out of her booster seat, you know, those kind of things. Then she has turned into a ferocious biter, kicker and screamer. She doesn't use a lot of words yet (although, "NO!" is one of her favorites) and so she heavily uses physical expression to convey her opinions. I try to talk her through these things and at first, it didn't help, but now she starts to listen a little more and scream a little less. She is almost 2 now, and I just can't believe the changes in this girl. The miracle of children is so different for me this time around. With Laney, I was more nervous and less engaged because I saw her so little with working so much. With Lindsay, I got to be with her almost the entire first year, and see the stages and watch the changes in minute detail. After the NICU, it was so amazing how these little babies are so determined to be born and thrive. They say NICU babies are fighters and go getters and I have to say I would agree. You show Lindsay how to do something once and she can duplicate it. Laney took a couple of walk throughs, but Lindsay is out to do something in this world and she's conquering and moving on already.
My girls are years apart in ages, but it's still just about the relationship, the time you spend, the memories you make and the way you teach them. I know these things will change them for the rest of their lives and I have to remind myself every day to take my time and get it right. Now I just need to remember to listen to myself a little more and take my time and get it right.
Laney has been very trying on boundaries lately. Not anything horrible, but as in, "how many times can I not listen before she will do something?" I do NOT like this stage. I've got tired of nagging, nagging, nagging, ask for results in a different way, and then finally being mean or punishing her to do something as easy as changing into PJ's or brushing teeth, or cleaning her room. My new trick is articulating to her that she has pushed me to the last teeny tiny told hold I have over my patience. I now tell her at this point that the "Nice Mom" is going to leave and the "Mean Mom" is going to come out. I ask her if she would like to work with the Mean Mom, the lady who puts her in the corner or takes away a toy or gives her the talking to and usually she says, "No" and gets her little self together and does what she is supposed to do. I wonder why this works so well for her, but I think it is almost like counting to three but in a more sophisticated way. She now knows when she can no longer avoid consequences or procrastinate action. It works for us. At least for now... Although, I do miss the simplicity of the reward chart days (and the attitude-free days).
Lindsay is a good kid too, but she is always laid back until you want her to do something you want. Such as, oh, going to bed, leaving the playground, getting out of her booster seat, you know, those kind of things. Then she has turned into a ferocious biter, kicker and screamer. She doesn't use a lot of words yet (although, "NO!" is one of her favorites) and so she heavily uses physical expression to convey her opinions. I try to talk her through these things and at first, it didn't help, but now she starts to listen a little more and scream a little less. She is almost 2 now, and I just can't believe the changes in this girl. The miracle of children is so different for me this time around. With Laney, I was more nervous and less engaged because I saw her so little with working so much. With Lindsay, I got to be with her almost the entire first year, and see the stages and watch the changes in minute detail. After the NICU, it was so amazing how these little babies are so determined to be born and thrive. They say NICU babies are fighters and go getters and I have to say I would agree. You show Lindsay how to do something once and she can duplicate it. Laney took a couple of walk throughs, but Lindsay is out to do something in this world and she's conquering and moving on already.
My girls are years apart in ages, but it's still just about the relationship, the time you spend, the memories you make and the way you teach them. I know these things will change them for the rest of their lives and I have to remind myself every day to take my time and get it right. Now I just need to remember to listen to myself a little more and take my time and get it right.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Update on Nothing
Ha! All the clever has left me and I have nothing for you but regular ol' boring news and titles for this here blog. We had a pretty great weekend this weekend. I took Friday off to take the car to the shop (sigh good-bye $250, but hello $400 we saved using a friend!) and to paint the spare room for our home on the market-ness. I came home Thursday evening to find my father-in-law all done with the painting, and smiling brightly at the surprise for me. I mean, I was so shocked I had nothing to say and no facial expressions of joy that I truly felt inside. Later, Arlin told me I must not have been very surprised or happy about it because I just stood there with a blank expression. How do you say you had steeled yourself all day for coming home and painting all night only to find there is nothing to do? I was completely unprepared and thought perhaps I was still dreaming. No really, I thought it was all made up and I was trying to figure out how they made the room look different without painting. Next time I dream like that I hope I wake up to a bag of money at my feet. Nice huh?
Well Saturday, found us at the Houston Zoo with our cousins. We had a great time! Fun had by all of course. And I was determined to have fun when it cost us $32 to get in and a $35 parking ticket on the windshield when we got out! Lindsay rolled around in her stroller like a champ! I was so amazed she stayed in there for that many hours. Laney was completely anti-stroller as a small kid. I mean, I don't think she was in the thing after 3 months because she wouldn't stay in it and you were lugging the stroller around for nothing while you held her in your arms. Lindsay was practically a dream come true when it comes to hanging out in the stroller and being distractable! Love you girl! Laney was over the moon to spend the time with her cousins and to check out all the animals at the zoo. She loved playing and running and chasing and even posing for some pictures when prompted. She didn't know where we were going until we arrived so it was a great surprise for her. Not to mention it was Lindsay's first time. I don't think she understood what all the fuss was about, but she seemed to have a good time. Arlin and I had a great time too, but unfortunately my flip flop did not and out of anger it decided to break half way through the zoo. I limped around like a fool til the end determined to enjoy the family day. I think it was a small sacrifice for tired happy faces on the way home.
Sunday was church and hanging out. We kept hoping to have a couple of appointments to look at the house (especially because we were supposed to be gone for most of the weekend), but no such luck. We did have a little lookie-loo on Thursday, but our response from them was they didn't like the floorplan and they smelled smoke. I was completely depressed by this because our renters 2 years ago did smoke in the house (against our wishes) and while I don't smell it, I didn't think others could either. Sad face. We were super pumped though because we had a request for the showing within a week of putting the house on the market. This is good news peoples! And then today, Monday, I got another call for a showing this morning. I have yet to hear any feedback. Crossing my fingers for a positive feedback, but either way, it's the second showing within the first eight days of the house being on the market. I'll take it. School is still about 5 weeks from being out, here in Texas so I think it's looking good. We're super pumped like I said. Can't wait to move on!!
Finally, today Arlin started his new job. I'm not sure how excited he is, I think he's pretty excited, but I know I'm elated. I think this will be a good field for him and really give him some more marketable skill sets for his resume. Plus if he does well here, maybe I can retire one day. Ah, to dream!
Well Saturday, found us at the Houston Zoo with our cousins. We had a great time! Fun had by all of course. And I was determined to have fun when it cost us $32 to get in and a $35 parking ticket on the windshield when we got out! Lindsay rolled around in her stroller like a champ! I was so amazed she stayed in there for that many hours. Laney was completely anti-stroller as a small kid. I mean, I don't think she was in the thing after 3 months because she wouldn't stay in it and you were lugging the stroller around for nothing while you held her in your arms. Lindsay was practically a dream come true when it comes to hanging out in the stroller and being distractable! Love you girl! Laney was over the moon to spend the time with her cousins and to check out all the animals at the zoo. She loved playing and running and chasing and even posing for some pictures when prompted. She didn't know where we were going until we arrived so it was a great surprise for her. Not to mention it was Lindsay's first time. I don't think she understood what all the fuss was about, but she seemed to have a good time. Arlin and I had a great time too, but unfortunately my flip flop did not and out of anger it decided to break half way through the zoo. I limped around like a fool til the end determined to enjoy the family day. I think it was a small sacrifice for tired happy faces on the way home.
Sunday was church and hanging out. We kept hoping to have a couple of appointments to look at the house (especially because we were supposed to be gone for most of the weekend), but no such luck. We did have a little lookie-loo on Thursday, but our response from them was they didn't like the floorplan and they smelled smoke. I was completely depressed by this because our renters 2 years ago did smoke in the house (against our wishes) and while I don't smell it, I didn't think others could either. Sad face. We were super pumped though because we had a request for the showing within a week of putting the house on the market. This is good news peoples! And then today, Monday, I got another call for a showing this morning. I have yet to hear any feedback. Crossing my fingers for a positive feedback, but either way, it's the second showing within the first eight days of the house being on the market. I'll take it. School is still about 5 weeks from being out, here in Texas so I think it's looking good. We're super pumped like I said. Can't wait to move on!!
Finally, today Arlin started his new job. I'm not sure how excited he is, I think he's pretty excited, but I know I'm elated. I think this will be a good field for him and really give him some more marketable skill sets for his resume. Plus if he does well here, maybe I can retire one day. Ah, to dream!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah
I haven't really been up to posting lately. Thought about it a lot, but then the words are not willing to come out of my brain down to my fingers. So today, there is going to be the catching up of information and all other things of no real importance. A-Number-One largest of the news is that we have decided AGAIN to put our house on the market. We've owned this home for 7 years, but only lived in it for 4, spread out over the 7 years. We've had renters, it has sat empty, etc. We've put it up for sale/lease two other times and always ended up renting it out because right after we bought the home, the builders slowed the building in the subdivision we are in. Then when they finally started picking it back up, the market softened. So we are finally seeing our home value get back to where it was when we bought the house in 2004. We are really at a break even point and it makes it really tempting to hang on to the house for several more years hoping to increase in value, but I'm just kind of over the whole home owner/landlord thing. I don't want to worry about any of that nonsense any more (at least for a while).
We are hoping things will go well and we'll find a buyer before we find a renter. We just listed it last weekend after much cleaning, repositioning of items (no spare room since my in-laws are staying with us and using the spare room). When our last renters moved out a year ago we had to replace all the flooring on the first floor, the water heater, the disposal, the oven, the fridge, and the motor in the A/C. So we are hoping with a house with pretty much all new major appliances, new floors, etc. we'll be in shape to compete against the new homes still being built in the neighborhood. I mean we do have mature landscaping going for us right?! Good news it, we are scheduled for our first showing tomorrow at 2 pm. That unfortunately, means tonight I am going to be painting the last of the rooms on the to-do list. I'm not complaining, I know plenty of people who have lost a considerable amount of value in their homes. Just to break even would be F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S (insert sing songy voice here).
B-of-All on the list is Arlin's great news that he has a new job. This is very exciting for us and we are all thrilled. I do feel bad for him during this next little bit of the new job phase, because it just isn't comfortable for awhile. But I'm way excited and really pumped for his opportunities at the new place. He's still in Sales and I know he is going to do well because he is made for selling. Me on the other hand, I couldn't sell if I had to. I HATES me some selling. Of anything. Heaters to Eskimos, popsicles at a pool, ... anything. Even if you want it, I don't want to sell it. Really.
Thirdly, Laney is about to turn 8. I just can't believe it. We are starting to think about her baptism and are having talks with her about personal responsibility for choices and all that good stuff. It's crazy. That means she's getting way close to double digits and is even finally out of a car seat (I can't believe you have to be 8 to be out of a car seat?!) Lindsay turns 2, and that's even more amazing with how far she has come since our long days and nights at the NICU. She really only has skin problems that may or may not be related to being preemie so I couldnt' be more relieved, and feel more blessed, about how things are going with her. Now if only we could convince her that she is really not missing out on anything when it is time for bedtime. And if we can convince her to stop doing somersaults in her bed and/or on Arlin she might make it to 3.
Business...the shop is doing ok. We lost one of our busier stylists about a month ago. It caught us a little off guard, but not off guard if you know what I mean. Just very sad and disappointed to lose her as an employee. The shop is doing okay considering we are now recovering from a shortage of coverage. We have hired new people and have to get all that up and running smoothly. Our manager is trying her best to keep a handle on it all. Hard to believe we've had the shop open for more than a year and a half. Great to see the numbers going up and clients coming back.
Otherwise, life has been more of the same...work, kids, chores, running a business, maintaining a marriage, dealing with problems and stupid people as they prop up. I think I've hit all the highlights, but I'm sure I've missed out on plenty. More to come I guess. Oh, and an update on my whole working out thing...the past month we've been averaging 2 days a week. Sad I know, but better than I was right?? I can get credit for actually improving a little right?
We are hoping things will go well and we'll find a buyer before we find a renter. We just listed it last weekend after much cleaning, repositioning of items (no spare room since my in-laws are staying with us and using the spare room). When our last renters moved out a year ago we had to replace all the flooring on the first floor, the water heater, the disposal, the oven, the fridge, and the motor in the A/C. So we are hoping with a house with pretty much all new major appliances, new floors, etc. we'll be in shape to compete against the new homes still being built in the neighborhood. I mean we do have mature landscaping going for us right?! Good news it, we are scheduled for our first showing tomorrow at 2 pm. That unfortunately, means tonight I am going to be painting the last of the rooms on the to-do list. I'm not complaining, I know plenty of people who have lost a considerable amount of value in their homes. Just to break even would be F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S (insert sing songy voice here).
B-of-All on the list is Arlin's great news that he has a new job. This is very exciting for us and we are all thrilled. I do feel bad for him during this next little bit of the new job phase, because it just isn't comfortable for awhile. But I'm way excited and really pumped for his opportunities at the new place. He's still in Sales and I know he is going to do well because he is made for selling. Me on the other hand, I couldn't sell if I had to. I HATES me some selling. Of anything. Heaters to Eskimos, popsicles at a pool, ... anything. Even if you want it, I don't want to sell it. Really.
Thirdly, Laney is about to turn 8. I just can't believe it. We are starting to think about her baptism and are having talks with her about personal responsibility for choices and all that good stuff. It's crazy. That means she's getting way close to double digits and is even finally out of a car seat (I can't believe you have to be 8 to be out of a car seat?!) Lindsay turns 2, and that's even more amazing with how far she has come since our long days and nights at the NICU. She really only has skin problems that may or may not be related to being preemie so I couldnt' be more relieved, and feel more blessed, about how things are going with her. Now if only we could convince her that she is really not missing out on anything when it is time for bedtime. And if we can convince her to stop doing somersaults in her bed and/or on Arlin she might make it to 3.
Business...the shop is doing ok. We lost one of our busier stylists about a month ago. It caught us a little off guard, but not off guard if you know what I mean. Just very sad and disappointed to lose her as an employee. The shop is doing okay considering we are now recovering from a shortage of coverage. We have hired new people and have to get all that up and running smoothly. Our manager is trying her best to keep a handle on it all. Hard to believe we've had the shop open for more than a year and a half. Great to see the numbers going up and clients coming back.
Otherwise, life has been more of the same...work, kids, chores, running a business, maintaining a marriage, dealing with problems and stupid people as they prop up. I think I've hit all the highlights, but I'm sure I've missed out on plenty. More to come I guess. Oh, and an update on my whole working out thing...the past month we've been averaging 2 days a week. Sad I know, but better than I was right?? I can get credit for actually improving a little right?
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