It's My Life

Bye-Bye 2011

2011-12-29T20:14:00.001-08:00

Are you serious? Did another year just pass us by? Where the hell did it go....let's review

After recovering from our trip to Louisiana, we unfortunately put another grandfather to rest, Darric stared in a TV commercial, as did Jordan. We didn't snowmobile much at all, but Geocached more than in years past. Grace had an awesome 2nd birthday at camp, and Jordan had one of the best 6th birthdays at the beach. Celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. Attempted to climb Katahdin, but didn't make it to the peak due to weather conditions and me being a pussy. Got teary eyed at Jordan's Kindergarten Graduation and again at my Mom's College Graduation. Took a mini-family vacation to New Hampshire. Jordan became a First Grader, Gracie can now wear pig-tails and I became a 32 year old that never gets carded anymore. Gracie is now talking more, as is Jordan (if that's possible). Darric seems to be working more (if that's possible). I got a new camera and a new computer and a new job title and HD switcher at work. And how could I forget that Darric and his father both got Moose permits and both managed to tag out. I've had so much fun with my kids this year, watching them grow, watching them learn. I know I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again that these are the best ages ever.

Happy New Year Everyone...

Now onto 2012...My dad's getting married, my sister-in-law's getting married. I'm doing the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer. And who knows what else is in store for us...

Out of the mouth of Jordan #5

2011-11-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

I had been on the computer all morning, catching up on some picture editing. Jordan jumped up on the bed and asked me what I was doing and after I told him he blatantly said "When are you going to pay attention to your kids."

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We got our first snow of the season the other morning and when I told Jordan to look out the window to see what arrived over night he said excitingly "YES! I've wanted this my whole life!"

He's so dramatic.

September 11Th

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful sunny Tuesday it was.

I was working the early morning shift at Channel 5, directing the morning news updates. In between the updates I would go out to our Master Control Room and chat with the operator, Gilbert, we called him Gil. It was still 15 minutes before the next news update and we were out there laughing and goofing off like most mornings, when a special report broke in. The laughing stopped as Gil was trying to figure out why he didn't get a warning about the break-in like he normally does.
When the images came up of what was taking place, it didn't seem real. I remember thinking how does a pilot mess up that bad that he flies directly into a building. That doesn't seem right.

10 minutes later there were about 20 people crowded around us in the control room. It was very quiet as we watched what was unfolding right in front of our eyes. Someone spoke up and said this has to be a terrorist attack and I think that's when it hit me. I felt scared, I felt unsure of what was going to happen next. I called Darric, I called my mom. I needed to hear the voices of my loved ones.

I got out of work at the TV station and headed to my second job at the bank, where we spent most of the morning running back and forth between the our teller station and the break room to watch the news updates. Some customers that had come through didn't even know anything was happening, we were breaking the news to them that our country was under attack.

We ended up shutting down the bank early, as most business' did that day.

I went home...hugged my husband...said lots of prayers and was glued to the television for the rest of the night. Even when I woke up at 2:00am, I turned on CNN to see if anything else had happened. I couldn't imagine what all the people involved were going through. Couldn't imagine.....

I was child-free when those planes hit the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and crashed into that field in Pennsylvania. People who had school aged kids at that time were forced to explain it to their curious, scared children on the fly. The rest of us are trying to figure it out as our little ones begin to notice the world around them and wonder what's going on when their parents stop, remember, and shed tears on the anniversary of September 11Th.

All week I've been trying to decide if I want to tell Jordan about that fateful day. He's going to end up seeing those dreadful images on TV at some point before the weekend is over and what is he going to think of it? Will he ask us about it? Then again...maybe that's my answer right there. Maybe I should wait for him to ask. Why would I want to put the worry of 'bad' people hurting innocent ones into his mind? Why would I want to change the way he looks at planes flying over our house? He'll never be able to see those towers in real life. When he hears "Twin Towers" it will be referring to tragedy and disaster and not the triumph and wonder that they represented.

Tomorrow, on this the 10Th anniversary of the last morning those "Twin Towers" stood tall in America, I'm sure I will take lots of moments to reflect on how things have changed since then. I will say prayers and shed tears for the fallen. I will thank a serviceman. And if my 6 year old is curious why things seem different tomorrow I will tell him, but for now if he's OK with it, I'm going to let him live his simple, carefree life as a 6 year old should.

Out of the mouth of Jordan #4

2011-08-30T21:02:00.001-07:00

My friend's mom hadn't seen Jordan in awhile and today when she saw him she asked him when he had grown up...his answer....
"Just a couple of days ago."

First Grader

2011-08-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

This morning he woke up wearing his Toy Story pajamas and looking like a little boy. Then when he came out all dressed for school, he looked like a little man. I can't believe this day is here. I can't believe my little boy is a first grader.

I feel like this year is going to be the big change for our family. For the past 3 years he's been going to a private school in Bangor and it's felt more like a daycare then a school. He didn't take the bus, they ate their lunch in their classroom and his grandmother worked right there on the premises. He's now going to a new school where there's new teachers to meet, new friends to make, new schedule to create, and I feel like he's going to have to grow up a little bit, and I don't want him to grow up.

Last Thursday was an eye opener to the change that was coming our way. First I had to pick him up at his "old" school and watch him say Goodbye to all his friends. Emily must have hugged him 5 times, he hugged the girl he called his girlfriend at age 3, Breanna was her name and it seems like just yesterday they were walking around the playground holding hands (sappy, yet adorable I know). Another friend since the beginning, Wyatt, seemed quiet as we said Goodbye, he's definetly one that we'll remember always.

Then onto the teachers, who without them Jordan wouldn't know what he knows today and I think they have a hand in shaping who he will be as he grows. Mrs. Grindle, Ms. Susan and of coarse Ms. Darlene. These people aren't just teachers, they're not just there to watch the kids and collect their paycheck. They truly care about every single child. They give each of them equal attention and make them feel special. When your child is sick, they are concerned. When your child is unhappy, they do everything in their power to turn that around. I cannot say enough good about them all. And I know we'll always remember them.

So after that whole emotional roller coaster, dry the eyes and get the nerves geared up for the next. We walked into Jordan's new school, we walked proudly through the front doors, hand in hand and immediately met his new principal...and immediately someone turned into this shy kid. It was like he turned into a magnet and I was all metal. He stood behind me and wouldn't talk to Mr. Principal and started the whining card....*sigh*

Then we were off to his new classroom and to meet his teacher. I explained to him the whole way down the long hallway that he didn't need to be shy. These people were all going to be his friends and they're not going to hurt him. He didn't say much.

We walk into his classroom...BAMMM! Practically right up my butt he was. I looked like a dog chasing it's tail trying to talk some sense into him. Then I embarrassingly introduced myself and my attached child. He sort of warmed up as we left, but we left just a short time after getting there due to the fact that if we hadn't my arm was going to get ripped off..."Mom, I wanna go. Mom, I wanna gooooo. I wanna gooo now!"
We went from sad to excited to shy, which led to angry. No wonder I couldn't see straight. And then the worry set in for his pending first day.

His first day has now come and gone. He walked into his classroom and barely forgot to say bye to me. He didn't even notice that I was still peeking through the door 10 minutes later. He had his school supplies, his desk next to his buddy Ryan, he was good to go, unlike me. I kept wondering throughout the day why I had this terrible, heavy feeling in my chest. It wouldn't go away and I couldn't stop looking at the clock.

He arrived home with the biggest smile on his face. .
One day down...how many more to come??

A Birthday Party To Remember

2011-08-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of years we've made it a family tradition to go to Lamoine Beach at least a couple times during the summer. We pack up our beach essentials, grab some Amatoes sandwiches on the way and spend the day making some great memories on the beach. We always have such a great time, we love it, the kids love it so we got thinking...let's invite others to have fun with us. Let's have a birthday party down here. We shared our idea with Jordan and he was all for it.

We were a little leery with the distance and the price of gas that we might not get a good turnout for the party, but we decided that no matter who was there we were going to have fun, gosh darn it.

The week prior I had done a lot of praying for good weather and for a good turn out. I also was concerned that what if somebody else had planned a party there the same day and there was no tables left for us. Well, we would cross that bridge when we got there.

We arrived an hour before the party started with our trailblazer crammed full of essentials, including a 6 foot sub sandwich and a beach themed cake, oh and 2 very excited kids. There were 2 tables calling our names when we got there, we parked and started unloading. An hour later the pirate table cloths lined the tables, chairs were circled around, a blanket for the kids was set up, games were waiting to be played and the guests were arriving.

I think I was just as excited as Jordan was when not one...not two...but three of his friends from school arrived. As each guest got there they got a pirate hat and skull necklace. Jordan did the introducing as I passed out the pre-made brown bag lunches that included PB&J sandwiches, chips and applesauce. To settle the kids down while they ate I brought along a book to read "The Circus Ship" (we didn't have any pirate themed books at home) but none the less only made it to page 5...at least they ate most of their lunch.

I gathered the kids all around to receive more pirate attire, only after each one gave me their best Arrrrrrr! Then I explained that I had found something that was left on our table when we arrived there. It was a rolled up piece of paper and they knew what it was...A TRESURE MAP! We studied it and then ventured out to where the map told us to go...X marks the spot. Ahoy there mateys, I think we've got ourselves a buried treasure! Arrrr.

We brought the treasure back to our picnic area where all the captain hooks got 10 gold deblaums, a skull whistle a compass and a glow stick.

Then we played an unpirated game "Musical Beach Towels" where Jordan got confused and thought that the one that didn't sit on a towel was the winner and he was the first one out, but that was OK, he was a good helper at starting/stopping the music.
Present time and cake time was next. This is when we noticed the beach area start to get crowded with guys in suits. There was suddenly a photo shoot going on for a wedding, must of been pre-wedding as the bride was no where to be seen. The groom got a hold of one of our pirate hats, and then someone got a great idea of giving all of them a hat and an eye patch for one of their group pictures. Then as we were getting the cake ready, all of a sudden the groom and groomsmen were surrounding our area singing to Jordan as well. Was this really happening, oh yes it was! I wish I had had enough cake for them as well, but it probably wouldn't have gone too good with their bud lights that every single one of them had as well. Soon after we had learned that they weren't only taking the pre-wedding pictures there, but the wedding was going to happen there as well. You would've thought that they would've reserved the area or had someone there early, but we moved some of our stuff over and they had plenty of space. Poor Darric had to miss all this action as he was at the bottom of the ocean gathering some more treasures. We strolled down to the water to cool off and wait for him to come up, and he soon did. With his bag full of goodies the people all swarmed around him to see what he'd got.

Some crabs (big & small), a lobster with babies which was very cool, couple of sea cucumbers, 2 starfish, a hermit crab and a partridge in a pear tree...I mean a sea urchin.

We hung out down by the water for a little while after that, as we watched the lovely couple wed. I still couldn't believe that this was happening. And after the very brief ceremony, the pictures began and I couldn't get Jordan to go over to get a picture with the bride and groom for a memory, but oh well.
Not sure if we're going to be able to top this birthday party next year, maybe if we plan it just right and find someone else who wants to get married at Lamoine beach we can have a repeat day. I'd go for that...again and again and again.

Live Free or DIE!!!!

2011-08-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

When Jordan turned 2 we took him to Storyland in New Hampshire and he had a blast...now that Grace is 2 we figured it was only fair to take her as well, so we decided to make the weekend trip a birthday present for both of them.

We arrived around 9:00pm Friday night at our hotel or resort shall I say, and just to give them a plug Attatash Mountain Village Resort...if you're ever in the area, Stay. There! Awesome place and decent prices as well, we got a package price that included our Storyland tickets. Their amenities include Indoor & Outdoor pool/hot tub, game room, fitness center, tennis court, restaurant & lounge. We had what they call a 'studio' room which consisted of one open room with a full kitchen, dining area, living room with a bed that folded out of the wall and a couch that made into a bed. Sliding glass door out to a patio/deck, then a small hallway to another room with a full size bed, full bath and sliding glass door out to another patio/deck. My dad and his girlfriend went with us and it was perfect for everyone. They took the bedroom and we had the other room. The resort had different buildings that housed the different rooms in them. It was in a country setting so it felt very private. The outdoor pool area had a place where families could have a cookout and there was even a kiddie pool where Grace played for about an hour and I didn't have to worry quite as much about her because the water level was only up to her knees. We got pizza from the lounge, MattyB's I think it was called, and oh my gosh, yummo. So, there's my plug Attatash Mountain Village Resort, check 'em out.
Saturday morning we got up, made a quick stop at Dunkin and headed to Storyland. The sun was shinning and of coarse the parking lot was booming. Jordan said he couldn't remember going there 4 years prior, which I didn't think he would, so that was good.

We started with Humpty-Dumpty, which Jordan kept wondering when he was going to fall off the wall...

Not sure if Gracie knew what to think of the old lady who lived in a shoe...

1, 2 buckle my shoe...

Peter, peter, pumpkin eater...Mmmm, my favorite kind of pie.

Darric took the kids on the little swan boats...

After we rode aboard the pirate ships, Arrrrrrrg, Jordan wanted to go up to the castle on the hill. On our way up I told him that Cinderella was probably going to be up there..."The reeeaaal Cinderella?" he asked. As we rounded the corner there she was all dressed and looking ever so beautiful. Once Jordan spyed her he seemed to be in awe and couldn't take his eyes off her. I was rushing to get my camera out and then she stated that she had to go out to have her lunch and she started off down the hill with Jordan still with that Cindy Brady game show stare going on. Then the moment that I will never forget....Cinderella was almost out of sight and Jordan yelled out "Bye Cinderella." She not only returned the goodbye, but she waved and....blew him a kiss. When Jordan turned around he had his hand over his heart and that lovestruck look in his eyes. The only thing in my eyes were tears.... Tears of worry that I was in trouble with that one.

After lunch Jordan rode his first roller coaster. I was sure he was going to be a little skiddish, but I was, unfortunately wrong. My favorite ride that I was sure he would love...the log flume...he came off the ride crying hysterically. He said it was because his favorite shirt got wet....then a half hour later he was soaked after going on the water raft ride and playing in the water park. Kids.

We ended the day with an Antique Car ride and had treats while traveling to the exit aboard the train.

Sunday we woke up and took a hike behind the resort to the Saco River to take in some beautiful granite state scenery.

The kids were sound asleep when we got home late Sunday night, but I'm pretty sure by the feeling of the hugs that we received the next day that they enjoyed their weekend... as did we.
I think if we ever decide to leave our home state, we probably wouldn't go too far because we've now decided that our 2ND favorite state is New Hampshire.

Baby Talk, Baby Talk...

2011-08-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma.......
Dadda, Dadda, Dadda, Dadda, Dadda.....
Pffffft, Pffffft, Pfffffft.....
Grace...would you like a drink?
(shakes head yes)
Grace...can you say drrriinkk?
Pfffffft.
Say drrrriiiiiiiiink
Pffffft.
Drrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnkkkkk!
Pfffffffffft. PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
Oh I give up...here's your drink.

At Grace's 18 month check up one of the things I asked the doctor about was the fact that she wasn't talking much. He said no worries, let's wait until her 24 month check up, then we'll talk about if we should be concerned and what we could possibly do.
24 month check up arrives and she has maybe said 2 more additional words. Nobody else seems to be concerned and others around her pick up on more words that she's saying than I am. Which when they point it out, I can understand it, but maybe I'm more concerned with her speech rather than lack there of.

She can definitely hear well, and she's smart, but comparing her to her brother and other kids her age (I know it's not the best thing to do) I just don't feel comfortable with what she's saying to us. In the morning I try to get her to say "Up". "Grace, can you say uuuuuupp. Uuuuuuuupp. Say Uuuuuuuuuuppp." All I get is open arms and bouncy legs. When she wants to get down from the table. "Grace, can you say down? Dooooooowwwnn. Say Doooooooowwwn." All she does is points to the floor. I've tried the baby sign. We've tried the "all done" sign. The sign for "milk" "hungry" "help" and all we're getting is tired hands.

Dadda, Momma, Jor, Bubba, Papa, Mimi, Ball, beep, bus, mine, me, eat, ouch, uh-oh, boo-boo, apple, baby...those are most of the words that she say. There's a couple that she's said here and there. Her doctor doesn't seem too concerned, but he said he would put in a referral for a speech test to be done. My mom & Darric's mom aren't concerned and she is slowly getting some words out, but they don't sound as clear as I feel they should be. I keep debating in my head on taking her or not. For 1, it's kind of expensive and 2 what if we get in there for them to tell us yeah she's fine, give her some time. But, I also don't want to wait too long and have her get into school and have problems. Decisions, decisions.

Not too many daughters can say this about their mothers

2011-05-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

My mom had me when she was 20, she had recently dropped out of high school and ran away from home to be with my dad. A year after I was born they moved into a duplex with my grandparents. Dad was a truck driver and Mom worked a couple of odd jobs before starting her 25 year career with Shaw's Supermarket. She worked lots of night shifts, I remember, going to work once my dad would get home from his day shift of work. She definitely worked her way up the ladder starting as bagger and eventually ended up in human resources where she was when they decided to close her store on Hogan Road in Bangor on January 31, 2009.

Anyone who knows my mom, knows her as a positive, upbeat woman who always smiles, always laughs and can make anyone laugh even if they don't want to. Even though she had just battled breast cancer and just lost her job, she was still laughing, she was still smiling, she was looking at what she had in life instead of getting bogged down at what she didn't have anymore. And instead of sitting back on dwelling on her unemployment, she took the situation as an opportunity, and opportunity to go back to school and get her G.E.D. and she did just that.

But that wasn't enough, she decided that she wanted to go one step further and go to college. That was 2 years ago, since then she's been watching her granddaughter 3 days a week, living off unemployment, she lost her father and has had lots of struggles. Many days she wasn't her bubbly, happy go lucky self. She was worried she would fail, she didn't have enough time to study, she was worried it was too much to watch Grace, but she didn't want to lose that time with her as well. She was worried about money, she was worried about grades, she was worried about letting her family and herself down.

Yesterday I got to watch my mom graduate college! I bet not too many daughters can say that about their mothers. I had never been so proud of her.

As she stood up on that stage waiting for her name to be called, that's when I realized how much she had just accomplished, how far she had come, how much she had been through just over the past 5 years.

Not only was her family proud of her yesterday, but I could tell my mom was proud of herself. She should be, she's come along way and when a roadblock was put in her way, she pushed right through it smiling and laughing the whole time.

Out of the mouth of Jordan #3

2011-04-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

This came out of the blue... Jordan: "Where is God right now?" Me: ".........Well, hunny. God, isn't really a person. He created the earth, he created us, he created everything around us. So God is everywhere. He's the trees. He's the grass. He's the air that we breath, he's the clouds, he's the sun that shines down on us to keeps us warm." Jordan: "Momma, right now God is the sun and he's shinning in my eyes."

What we've been up to lately

2011-04-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

We survived the rest of the winter and here's what's been keeping us busy.

The second week of March we had another vacation, this one was much, much more laid back. We share a timeshare with Darric's parents up in Island Falls. We own week 10 and we use that week to relax and do lots of snowmobiling. It's funny because when we were in the process of buying the timeshare I was really on the fence about it. Now that we've had it for 7 years, I think it's one of the best things we've ever put our money into. Even Jordan looks forward to it every year and usually starts asking about going to the condo by the time October comes around. You're probably asking why vacation in Aroostook county because there's nothing up there, but that's exactly what's so great about it. When we're not snowmobiling we're either swimming, sitting in the hot tub, or just lounging around enjoying each other's company. We watch movies, go ice fishing, play games, sleep in and relax. And it's close enough from home that other family and friends can come up and visit for a day as well. And the area is beautiful.

Unfortunately this year we didn't get to ride as much as we usually do, due to weather conditions, but no complaints here because the hot tub, pool, gym, DVD player and our new Nintendo Wii got plenty of use instead.

Grace got to take a stroll around the parking lot with Daddy, this was her first time on a snowmobile and mark my words when I say we've got another snowmobile rider on our hands.

This year it was nice to spend time with Gram Betty who came up and stayed a couple days, we didn't get to take her snowmobiling, but memories were made plenty other ways.At the end of the week my mom, brother and grandmother also came up for one night. We did get to take Mom and John for a short trail ride, they had a blast. And it was good to laugh non-stop for a couple days.

***

Jordan and I had a date night on the 24Th of March and went and saw the Harlem Globetrotters. We took him once before, but he was 2 then and of coarse doesn't remember a thing. I was a bit worried if he was going to make it through the whole thing when 5 minutes in he asked if it was over yet....but he got more settled it once I got him some popcorn and a slushy. The music was quite loud and so he ended up wearing his hat most of the time. He did get a kick out of the globetrotters, especially when the one of the guys got a hoedown in the middle of the game. Our favorite part though was getting his basketball signed by some of the players after the game.

***

Bubba got to visit Jordan's class for 'Bring your pet for Show-N-Tell day.' It was a bit of a stressful day as it started off with Bubba locking us out of the car, which I will take some of the blame for, OK I'll take all the blame, as I was numb enough to leave the keys in the car. So, that made us a little late, which domino effected me running late for work so I ended up having to take the dog with me to work for awhile. I can't complain though, Bubba did a great job with Jordan's class and he stayed by my side the whole time at my work. Jordan was some proud showing him off to his class and we even got Bubba to show off with sitting, laying down, rolling over, shaking and even sitting pretty. Spending the morning and some of the afternoon with him made me appreciate him. I can't believe he's going to be 12 years old in 2 months.

***

Gracie Lou-Lou (or new nickname for her) is growing every day, as is her personality. She still doesn't talk much, probably because her brother doesn't let her get a word in, but she sure knows how to get your attention with her ear piercing screeches. She has said ball, up, eye, hi, dadda, papa and of coarse Momma. She's come to the conclusion that she's not a fan of the word 'No' and when she hears it she shows you her temper and begins throwing things or bangs her head off the nearest wall, which then she gets even more mad because she hurts herself and I can't help but giggle at the poor thing. Last week she surprised me and pooped on the potty. I was in the bathroom fixing my hair and of coarse she was in there with me. She had the shitty look on her face and I asked her if she was pooping and she shook her head yes. I told her that she was suppose to do that on the potty, so she sat down so I figured I let her just poop in her diaper while sitting on the potty, get the idea in her head anyway. She then wanted to take her pants off so I did, there was nothing in her diaper yet so I took that off as well. She sat down, and a few seconds later...plop, plop, plop. Of coarse I made the biggest deal out of it, and she just scowled as she peered into the potty at what was in there. We're really going to push the subject now and hopefully she'll prove everyone right that said girls are easier than boys to train.

***

Darric's now a TV star. Yeah, I got him to be in a commercial for a local dentist. We chose Darric because we needed someone who uses a CPAP machine, he's had his for about a year, barely uses it, but it's a nice dust collector on the night stand. I think that now that he's seen the commercial, he's a little regretful of being in it.

Well I think that's it for now. Let the spring cleaning begin, then on to summah time, summah time, sum-sum summah time.

Out of the mouth of Jordan #2

2011-02-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last night during our valentine's dinner Darric whispered something to Jordan. Jordan got up from his chair and halfway into the other room he turned around and asked right out loud "Dad, do you want me to get both flowers?"

Rest in Peace

2011-02-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

It was back in 1994 when my first grandfather passed away. I still remember that morning when my dad got the call. It was a Sunday morning and I had a friend over and we had slept in the living room. I don't remember what I exactly heard, but I do remember the feeling of 'oh no.' It wasn't a total shock as Grampa Rutter had been sick for awhile. He had prostate cancer and every time we had made the 2 hour drive down to visit them he wold look weaker and weaker. My dad's somewhat of a quiet person so he didn't really say much and I don't think he initially showed much emotion. I was 14 years old and I had never been to a funeral or ever remember somebody dying. I felt sad and a little scared.

The date for the funeral was set for the same day as my 8Th grade end of year field trip to Sand Beach in Acadia National Park. I told my parents I didn't want to go to the funeral, I told them I would not be missing this field trip. They respected my wishes, possibly knowing that I was really freaked out about going to my first funeral. I knew there would be a lot of crying and I knew I couldn't prepare myself enough for what I would see.

It was about 4 years later when I actually started feeling guilty about the choice I had made back then. It's funny how your whole outlook on life changes after graduating high school. Now I make sure I visit Grampa Rutter's grave at least once a year. I have a picture of him in my living room and every time someone shares a memory about him from the past I make sure to listen and keep the memory with me. I recently learned that one of his favorite drinks was Moxie, so every year on Grampa Rutter's birthday I drink a Moxie and think of him a lot.

***

The date was Monday, August 31, 2009. I was at work and in a great mood as I had just had a great weekend spent with family. It was about an hour before news time and the phone in the back edit bay was ringing. My husband knows how to get a hold of me on this number so I had suspicions that is was him. His worried voice stated that Grampy had just been taken to the hospital by ambulance.....

Fifteen minutes later I was sprinting out of work as fast as I could, tears were running down my face and prayers to God were being said out loud over and over and over again.

As I walked through the doors of the emergency room there was the same family I had just spent an amazing weekend with. My grandfather's son's, his oldest daughter, and his wife of just over 51 years all sitting in a room, holding their heads. "No, this isn't happening! This. Is. Not. Happening!" I cried out those words as I fell into my mother's arms. I didn't want it to be true. I kept remembering that the day before when we left Grampy's house he had been on the phone and I didn't get to say bye.

I didn't get to say Goodbye.

We spent the next week preparing for his funeral. Gathering pictures, choosing prayers to be read, what he would wear, flowers that would be placed and how we were going to get through it. I spent my first 8 years of life living in the same house as Grampy Goody. I had listened to his stories, learned from his wisdom. I would sing with him in the church choir, he use to play the piano for me, he made the best cheeseburgers, loved a good card game, and always smelled of old spice.

I had been to a couple of funerals by this time, a couple of great uncles and a cousin. None of them had been easy or enjoyable to go to, I'm sure they never will get easier, this one by far was going to be a tough one.

I figured by Friday when the wake was being held that I had gotten all my tears out and I would be able to hold it together for the service. We arrived a couple hours early as a family to hang pictures and prepare ourselves. I hung pictures. I stayed out of the room where Grampy was. I knew this is when it was going to sink in, this was going to make it real and I didn't want that. I was the oldest grandchild and my brother and cousin were waiting for me to go into the room before they did, so I gripped my hands together, took a deep breath and walked into the room and stood about 10 feet in front of that casket. 20 minutes later I think I was still in the same spot.

Walking into the funeral was surreal. I tried to not think about what was actually taking place and focus on my grandmother and keeping her strong, but as I walked into that same church that I had been in so many times before with Grampy I could hear his voice singing in the choir and I lost it.

Another part of this death that I had to figure out was how was I going to tell my4 year old son that he was never going to see 'Pop' again? And how much about death did I was to explain to him. A friend recommended a book and that's how I told him. I know he didn't completely understand, but how could I expect him to. I choose not to bring him or Grace to either service, but I did bring him to the cemetery where he witnessed taps, he touched the casket and said his goodbye and I had brought balloons for all the little ones to set free as a way to show them where he was going.

Grampy Goody's picture now sits along side of Grampa Rutter's in the living room. I still have days where I wish I could hear his voice again, smell his after shave or play a nice card game of rummy with him.

***

Darric's paternal grandfather passed away when he was real young. The funeral was over one thousand miles away and only his mother attended. Darric grew up knowing another man as Gramp White.

Like myself, Darric is a family guy and cherishes good family relationships. While at camp you could find Darric most times sitting beside ol' Gramp White as he ate his ice cream, shared old trucker stories and told great jokes. Darric would take Gramp along for company when traveling to pick up stuff for work. A lot of times when Darric would be working in the garage, Gramp would stop by for a visit and some coffee and share his 2 cents.

We had a lot of scares with Gramp White. A lot of rushes to the hospital, a lot of preparing ourselves for the last goodbye. We gave good hugs whenever we saw him, took lots of pictures and made lots of memories. But on the day after Christmas in 2009 it wasn't quite a shock, but it still broke our hearts.

We had taken Jordan into Gramps room a couple days before he passed so he knew he was very sick. We explained that he would be going to heaven soon. I don't think he fully understood, but someday I'm sure he will.

Darric seemed to take the death of Gramp White a lot better than I thought he would. He was still sad and I know he still misses him every day and thinks of him often, but unfortunately I think it was somewhat of a relief knowing that he wouldn't be suffering anymore.

It's unfortunate that it takes things like funerals to see family and friends that you rarely see. Gramp White was loved by so many, many people and the funeral home was packed wall to wall that day. Some were crying and a lot were laughing as they shared past memories of that great man. "That man loved his steak dinners." "Did he ever make it through a single movie without falling asleep." "Remember the time he tried to get the nurse to draw blood on one of his grandsons instead of him?"

It was a brisk winter day when we buried him in the cemetery and the wind was whipping hard as we all huddled close and said our goodbyes, they were brief and I'll never forget Gram White yelling out hers "I love you Elden, but it's too damn cold out here."

***

It was a quiet Tuesday night, the kids were asleep and I had just folded my last batch of laundry for the night and was just sitting down to watch my evening shows. Darric came rushing in from the garage and said Gram Hammond just called and that if we wanted to see Gramp again you better get down there fast. They lived down in Harrington and the closest hospital to them is Ellsworth.

Darric and his family spent the whole night and the next day at that hospital by his grandfather's side. We had a snowstorm during that time and he decided to come home to plow and gather some clothes and things. As he was on his way back down I got the call...

Darric's real good at keeping himself busy so that he doesn't have to think about the things that hurt, but anyone that knows Darric knows that he was taking this hard.

Grampy Francise was a hard working lobster fisherman and Darric spent lots of times with him on his boat growing up. If it wasn't for me he probably would be living down east following in his footsteps.

The services were closed casket services, but at the wake we were told we could open it after visitors had left. The 2 great grandsons Jordan and Logan wanted to see Gramps one last time. I stayed in the back and observed from there. I was nervous about Jordan seeing Gramp after death, I was worried about it scaring him. Him and Logan stood there for a long time looking in at him, touching him and asking lots of questions.

Logan-"He's dead now, that's sad."

Jordan'"Yeah, that's sad."

Logan-"It's really, really sad."

Jordan-"Yeah."

Logan-"Really, really, really sad."

That's one of the conversations that I was told went on between them.

Jordan slept through the funeral the following day, but after the service at the cemetery Darric, his father, Jordan and Logan stayed behind and watched as they lowered the casket into the ground.

A few people seemed concerned that we had let Jordan be that exposed to death, but I'm now glad we did. Growing up I wasn't exposed to death at all and when my grandfather died, I didn't want to go, I didn't understand what was exactly going to happen, what I was going to see, it was unknown to me. I think now that Jordan understands what happens and that it really isn't a scary thing, as he gets older it won't be quite as hard to deal with the people in his life eventually going away forever.

We talk about the great grandfather's often and having their pictures on display in our living room helps their memories live on in us and in our children.

Out of the mouth of Jordan #1

2011-01-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

This morning we had parent/teacher conferences for Jordan, and while his teacher was explaining to us how well he knows his coins and how much each one is worth, she stopped for a moment to tell us the story of the day they were talking about the presidents on those coins.

"We went through each one, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and when we got to Theodore Roosevelt, Jordan thought I was joking and said Theodore is with Alvin and Simon and he's a chipmunk."

The time we were crazy enough to drive for 31 hours

2011-01-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

And for 2 weeks before our road trip to Louisiana Darric had Mercury school in NH so I had to work, wrangle kids and pack all.by.myself. The only reason I survived that was the fact that I am so blessed with the people in my life that are there to help me out.

Those 2 weeks went by so slow that I never thought our vacation was going to get here. And then my alarm went off at 2:30am and it began. After throwing my hair in a hat, squeezed the last couple of items into the car, set the house to vacation mode, and gently placed the kids into the minivan having no such luck with trying to keep them asleep, it was nice to sit and exhale knowing that it was finally here.

We were traveling to the Big Easy to visit family that we hadn't seen in 12 years. We were traveling with Darric's parents. His mom is originally from Louisiana and that side of the family hadn't even met Grace yet, so when they asked us to join them we couldn't say no.

Thankfully the kids fell right back to sleep. Not surprisingly the men also were snoring before we even hit the interstate. Darric's mom kept yawning so I offered to drive and we switched in Waterville. I drove until the middle of Massachusetts, it was nice watching the sunrise on the first day of my vacation. The van was quiet except for snoring and my voice singing along with the radio.

By the afternoon the guys were still sleeping (surprise, surprise), a cold was brewing in my nose, Grace had gone through 2 jars of Cheerios...

Jordan had read and listened to a number of books, we'd worked on some spelling, talked about the states we had gone through and time was actually flying by.

When we stopped for lunch Jordan asked his never ending question "What state are we in now, Mom?" And after I answered Pennsylvania he obviously asked "Well where are the pencils?" God I love that kid.

We decided to stop around 10:00pm and stayed at a hotel in West Virginia. Although it didn't have an elevator, it was nice to get out of those seats and lay down flat.

7:00am the next morning, our tummies were full of continental breakfast and we were back on the road. I felt like we were making pretty good time and we must have been...that is until we saw the blue lights flashing behind us. My MIL was driving, (sorry Deb, but I must share this part), she was only going 10 over, but in the state of WV, that is considered criminal. Fortunately, the cop was nice and knocked it down a notch, but not nice enough and issue Deb her very first speeding ticket in 38 years.

With the cruise control now set to the speed limit, Grace asleep, along with the two others, Jordan sitting back with a movie, I decided to plug in my mp3 player and relax to some Nora Jones. An hour later I remembered why I hate riding in cars with boys...I mean sleeping in cars, every bump jolts me awake and then the migraine steps into gear, along with my nose acting as a faucet...ahh, I was feeling great.

As dark set in, we were now in pacific time zone, the temperature was finally feeling un-Maine like, Grace was content with her Magna doodle, Jordan had the Leapster going strong, guys still sleeping and the GPS stated we were 2 hours away.

We stayed with Darric's great aunt Chetta and her husband Ivy, the two most welcoming and thoughtful people. Their house was very nice and I felt an awe come over me as I listened to their stories of surviving hurricane Katrina. As Chetta stood in the doorway explaining where the tree had come through the roof, pointing to the chips in the glass table that had surprisingly made it through with the rest of them, Ivy chimed in about how Chetta was in that doorway as the tree was about the come down and he grabbed her and they went and hid in the closet. I could not imagine what that time was like for them, but it was like something out of a horror movie as they explained how the walls were bleeding water.

The next day the girls drove over to get Darric's grandmother to come and spend a couple of days with us. I kept hearing Chetta talk about going over the causeway, OK so I don't get out much, so when I realized what the causeway was I was so excited.

And it was the perfect day, it was beautiful looking over at the city.On the way back we stopped at a drive-thru daiquiri shop for some Pina Collada daiquiri's. Wearing a short sleeved shirt with the windows down and sippin' on this it hit me and I started yelling it out the window..."I'M ON VACATION!!! I'M ON VACATION!!!"

The next day we decided to drive into the french quarter. We walked the cobble stone streets, ate muffalettas and bean yeas. Even took a horse drawn carriage ride, that Jordan got to drive...and heard about some great New Orleans.

We got entertained by some street performers ...And, made a visit to one of my favorite parts of the city.

The St. Louis Cathedral...
You can see a video of the whole inside here...

It was Wednesday, time to head to Gulfport, Mississippi. Darric's parent's anniversary was the following day and this was their present from Chetta and Ivy and we got to tag along. We stayed on the 17th floor at the Beau Rivage

and our room looked right out onto the Gulf of Mexico.

The buffet was loaded with amazing food, we got to go to a theatre performance and do some gambling where I was a dummy for not quitting while I was ahead and ended up leaving $10.00 under, but at least as long as you were gambling you were getting free drinks so you could say I won that night.

Darric & Jordan also got to visit a real pirate ship...

while I got to visit a real life outlet mall.

We headed back to Chetta's on Christmas eve and actually stayed at Chetta's son's house, aka Jordan's and Grace's godfather. He has some kids as well and there was a bit of a surprise happening at Chris' house on Christmas morning. The morning came fast, but I guess that's so when you go to bed at 2:00am.

I was perched in the corner with my video camera as Jordan walked into the room, and as he noticed the white bearded man in red sitting in the recliner, he turned back around and headed out of the room.

Keeping his distance he came back, accepted his gifts from Santa, but couldn't keep his curious eyes off him. As Santa left, my heart grew 2 sizes as Jordan waved to him walking out the door.

Seconds later all the presents were open and the living room was looking like a train wreck, but the children had smiles on their faces and that's what it's all about.

It felt weird being over 1,000 miles away from home on Christmas, it felt weird not having snow or cold weather on Christmas. I was missing Maine and my family on this day. We did have a great day, ate lots of good food including ham, turkey, potatoes, gumbo and cousin Shantel made pralines. Sweet, and very yummy.

So, like I said before, the last time we were in New Orleans was twelve years ago, so do the math and figure out that we weren't even 21 at the time, so we wanted to make sure that this time we were going to party on Bourbon Street. So, the kids stayed with Grammie and Papa for the night and Chris and his wife Tammie took us out for a night on the town. Our first stop...Coyote Ugly at Happy Hour. It was Monday night and the Saints were playing Monday Night Football, unfortunately away in Atlanta. The good thing about this though was that the streets weren't too crowded and it was less dangerous. There were 4 other people sitting at the Coyote bar when we walked in and we must have had fresh meat written all over us when we walked in. (This is where all grandmothers should probably stop reading). So, I had the best intentions not to drink too much this night, but the waitress named Jazmin had other plans and asked if I had just turned 21 when I ordered an Amaretto Sour. "Honey, Amaretto is not alcohol." she told me. So, I asked what she recommended and she gave me a sample of something way too sweet for me and after contemplating I talked her into sticking me with my usual. So, every hour the waitresses buy a round of shots for everyone and it just so happened that 5 minutes later was the time for that. We then watched Jazmin do a little dance on the bar, just like in the movie.

Then Darric just had to do a body shot, and as I was positioning myself...to get the picture of coarse, Miss Jazmin whispered to me that for $10.00 I would get a picture worth a thousands words, and honestly she wouldn't let me say no. Jazmin reached up and grabbed one of the bras hanging from the ceiling and covered Darric's eyes with it, then she pulled out this shooter that could have been shaped from a well hung big foot if you know what I'm saying.

After Darric swallowed...he was bent over the bar and Jazmin and the other waitress pulled out their spiked belts and whipped him about four times...each. He walked away after that, rubbing his ass, but with a smile on his face. So, then I was told it was my turn. They were much, much nicer to me, I can't imagine why...I had to put a shot glass into my mouth, without using my hands and do the shot without spitting or spilling, and if I failed I had to buy the guy who was still rubbing his ass another body shot. Well....I failed, I'd like to say it was on purpose, but I'm pathetic. It appeared Darric forgot about his hurt buttocks after his next body shot... just saying...

An hour later and $100.00 less in our pockets we decided to leave Coyote Ugly. Pat O'Brien is a well known place on Bourbon, so that was our next stop. It's known for it's water fountains that have fire blowing out of them

and a lot of celebrities have been seen there as well. We weren't lucky enough to see any, but we did get one of their traditional poses taken in front of the fountain.

The girls were in the mood for some singing, so we left watching the game at Pat O's and headed for the Cat's Meow, the world's best karaoke bar.

I have never had more fun in a bar like this before. We got to dance on the stage as others were singing, all the people were so friendly and they even had a web cam so as we sang our song, our family back home got to watch.

After we sang our hearts out, danced a little more, walked the streets... Darric rode a bull and sucked at it... he tried to talk me into going into a strip bar and we saw some people get arrested, so we decided to call it a night.

Our final days were spent bouncing at a huge bounce house, strolled through Celebration in the OaksJordan got to go to an Alligator farm and actual held a baby alligator, we went to the Aquarium,

and to the zoo and then on our final day when we had planned on packing I got sick with the inevitable flu and was bed ridden for New Years and our last day.

So, you can imagine what the ride home was like. Actually it wasn't as bad as it could have been, Deb actually had gotten a taste of the sickness that was going around, and even though my kids were still being AWESOME I could feel I didn't have as much patience with them as I did on the ride down. It felt like torcher watching the miles and hours tick down as we got closer to home. And as we were 30 miles from home it started snowing....urg! But we made it.

The whole time we were on this trip I tried to make Jordan and Grace realize how lucky they were to be on a vacation like this. I tried to make sure Jordan got the most out of everything we did, and I tried to capture every moment as a memory. You can view some of my other photos from our trip here.

Right now I'm in the process of making a scrapbook out of all of those memories that we made. Jordan says the next place he wants to go is California....that's fine by me, but we are NOT driving.

My Climb

2010-09-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

I've never been known to be athletic, I'm not the sporty type. In high school on gym days I would purposely forget my gym clothes so I didn't have to partake in the gym activity, especially when we had to run a mile, I would attempt (only because I was made to) but wouldn't even make it half way around the track without wheezing, coughing and I always finished last because I walked it, the whole way. So, when a close friend asked us to climb Mt. Katahdin with them, you can imagine my quick 'No Way' answer. But after some persistence, in other words I kept getting harassed, I had to give in.

So there I was at 3 o'clock in the morning, er check that, middle of the night, riding in a van full of red necks on our way north. When my alarm clock when off at 2 A-M my first thought was "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!" I had lots of different feelings about this climb at this point. I was very nervous, honestly I kept thinking "I could die today." Especially after this happened just a few weeks prior. I was excited to be able to experience this my uncle Tommy, he's one of the funniest people I know and I knew he was going to make it just that much more enjoyable; with Darric, although I was nervous about him not making it because he's really not in the best of shape, I still was syked to make this memorable event with him and I knew it could only make us closer; and with our close friend Mike, he's done the hike a couple times before so he was our leader and I knew he'd keep a close eye on everyone.

It wasn't until about a month before that I really started getting anxious. I spent one night watching YouTube videos of Knife's edge and searching how-to's on climbing a mountain. Then the next couple of weeks doing 100 - 120 stair climbs to try and prepare myself.

We arrived at the gate around 4:30am and was the third car in line. What we didn't know was that starting this year you had to register before hand. Deciding to take a chance we then had to sit and wait until 7:30am to see if there were any no-shows. Because it was going to be a late start we wanted to pick the shortest trail, so at 7:30 on the dot the ranger came to tell us the news. And then we were headed for the start of the Abol trail.

It was brisk, especially for a morning in July, but about an hour into the hike I was shedding my sweatshirt and my hair was up in my hat. Early on the trail wasn't like I expected, there was a lot of climbing around rocks and tree roots, I don't know why but I pictured it to be more smooth. Then I could tell when the hike started upward. I was becoming winded and the most annoying part was the sweating and not feeling like I could drink enough water to cool me off.
When we got to the point of being as tall as the trees we got passed by a Canadian gentleman who was probably in his 50's and he told us it was his 7Th trip up the mountain...this year. The view behind us was getting amazing and I couldn't stop myself from taking picture breaks.We stopped to break for some trail mix on this huge flat rock and I can remember Mike saying "this is the last flat point for awhile." He wasn't kidding. Things were getting more vertical, rocks were getting larger and it didn't feel like we were getting any closer. We had been passed by a lot of people. One women who was in her 60's and wearing make-up may I add, trucked right along with the rest of them. I felt the most embarrassed when the 9 year old, who was with her family from Lisbon, Maine passed us. That little girl was kicking that mountain's ass and the mountain was kicking mine. My legs were feeling very tired, I'd rest, but the relief would only last seconds. And this is when I knew what they meant when they said I'd have to push myself."Climmmb Every Mountain....." I know the guys were getting sick of hearing me sing this, but it was my payback for listening to their hunting stories on the drive up. At one point I looked over at Tommy and he looked so cool reaching from one boulder to another. "I'm climbing a friggin' Mountain! " I yelled out. I couldn't believe where I was, what I was doing. We weren't even at the top yet, but the views that we were seeing and the land that we had covered so far was feeling satisfactory enough to me. I couldn't imagine it getting any better.

"Unreal!" "Wicked Unreal!" I can still hear Tommy saying this as he looked behind us and as he was looking ahead of us. I was ready to give up. Mike kept saying we're almost there, we're almost there. In my head I was saying "yeah you said that already awhile ago." The rocks were so huge at this point and I spent every step thinking over where to step and grab next. There were a lot of points that the guys would have to help me out. Darric would pull me up while Mike was below me pushing me up. I couldn't imagine how the 9 year old had made it past some points. And it also kept occurring to me that I was going to have to go back down this thing and it was not looking enjoyable.

The journey ahead of us wasn't looking so far away anymore. In fact we couldn't see much ahead of us because the rocks were so enormous that it was hard to tell what was just above that rock. The make-up wearing lady was on her way back down, but she explained that she turned around before she got to the top and said the others she was with didn't want to push themselves too far. I wanted to join them, but they reassured me that the top of abol was 'right there.' We had been told that once you get to the top of Abol you walk across the plateau before you head to the actual summit.

Mike and Darric were in front of me at this point, I was pushing with all my might and then we crested the top of Abol. I was speechless and tears weld up in my eyes. It was one of the most beautiful views I had ever seen.

Pictures do not do it justice.

Then I was ready to summit. It was like I got a second wind, now that I could see the top, and now that we weren't at a complete vertical incline it wasn't so difficult. We started across the plateau.

Have you ever had your legs feel like rubber, like they could bend every way possible? As we started cresting to the summit this is how my legs were feeling. My second wind had wore off. The traffic coming down from the top was getting more and more busy and I was beginning to get worried that we were running late. "Another hour and you'll be there" one guy said, he was from Montreal. An hour seemed like such a long time, considering I could see where we needed to be.

We stepped from one rock to another, this young kid from Presque Isle who was on his way down forgot his hat and ran back up to get it and then back down past us...I didn't like that kid.

And then we made it....SUMMIT!!!!!!!

I was so friggin proud of myself, I could now say that I climbed a mountain. I couldn't run a mile, but I climbed Mount Katahdin.

We stayed up there for about an hour. Ate our Peanut Butter sandwiches, took pictures, some took naps......yeah, only my husband could take a nap on the side of a mountain.

I myself couldn't take my eyes off of Knife's edge. It freaked me out just looking at it and I was happy and thankful with the trail we decided to take considering it didn't involve that.

And then it was time to head down. I was excited to be headed the other way, but my legs didn't want to do it. The rubber was turning into Jello and I was dreading every minute ahead of me. Once we made it back across the plateau and started down the Abol Slide, slide is what I did and my butt was taking the brunt of it. This is when I was the most scared. I felt that I could fall so easily. The guys had to take turns carrying down my pack as I was so freaked out. This part was not fun...at all. It was straight down and the gravel on the rocks was making like water on ice. Every so often a good size rock would fall and we would duck as to not get smacked in the head. The thoughts going through my head "Please God, keep us safe. Please God, keep us safe. Please God, keep us safe." Four and a half hours later we had finally made it. I had never been so happy to be in a vehicle. We all shedded our boots and I'm sure you can imagine the smell that was in that van. We made a quick stop at a store and you should have seen the look I got from a lady as I walked around the van. Holy crap I was some sore, and I was for about 3 days later.I did it, I climbed a mountain. On that day if you would've asked me if I would do it again I would have said not anytime soon. Now a couple months later I'm happy to tell you that we've already got next years scheduled.

One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five Days

2010-08-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

That's how many days I've been a mom. One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five days ago my life changed and it will never be what it was before. Do I miss my life before kids? Hell yeah!! Would I change anything now? Hell no!!

Here I am on the eve of my first born's 5Th birthday and all I can think about is where has one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five days gone? Over the last week or so I've been putting together a music video for Jordan, going through pictures and pictures and more pictures and I know exactly where the days have gone, but why must they have gone by so fast and I know that within a blink of an eye I'll be saying where has six thousand, five hundred and seventy days gone.

Make it stop!!!!!!

Oh my little guy, if you only knew...

I'm going to go ahead and blame Aunt Crystal for the gene you got from her of not being a morning person. It's the reason we're always late to everything. I've tried an earlier bed time, I've tried letting you sleep until you wake up, I've tried using comedy to wake you up, I've tried tickling, threats of throwing you in the shower, threats of taking away all your toys, I've tried singing....(Hey! what?). You are a bear in the morning, you are un-bearable in the morning. Actually the only thing that makes you A-M bearable is cartoons. God, I swear you live for cartoons. You've gone through your Blues' Clues phase, Mickey Mouse phase, Winnie the Pooh phase and Super Why phase; Right now it's the old fashion Tom & Jerry, and any movie I'll let you watch including Toy Story. I wonder if the kid from Toy Story, Andy, ate anything other than oatmeal for breakfast? I bet he slept in his bed all night, and shared his toys with his sister and didn't have to be reminded to put his listening ears on. Although I wonder if when Andy turned 5 if he could count almost to 100, or write his name, or if he knew his address and phone number by heart. Even though you love your cartoons, it amazes me that you'll sit through reading stories for hours. Nowadays because you've been closing your door to keep your sister out, it impresses me to check on you and find you flipping though the pages of a book. I hope it lasts.

May I just ask you Jordan..Where did you get your temper from............................................What?
You can go from one extreme to another, just because of the simplest thing. I'm sorry if I looked at you the wrong way.

You do love to have fun with your friends, and what kid doesn't? We've been playing kick ball and tag football lately. I know you just love running around. You love to ride your jeep, your 4wheeler. You love to visit Grammie and Papa at camp and play with your best bud Mitchell, you guys are like 2 peas in a pod. You enjoy swimming and fishing and I'm sure one day you'll join your father and grandfather in the woods (but we'll try not to think about that now.)

In a couple of weeks you'll be starting Kindergarten. I know you'll do great, you were a born learner, just imagine one of our car rides, whether it's the rhyming game or opposites or I spy or 'What would you do," that's what learning is all about.

If I was to guess right now what you were going to be when you grew up....Hmmmmm......ahhhhhhh........wellllllllll........Today you told me you were going to be a doctor, but because you are always trying to make a deal with us I'm going to guess either a politician or an actor with all your dramatic skills, although it wouldn't surprise me if you went into something having to do with music because you love playing your guitar and you love singing and you can actually carry a tune.

To make a long story short, I would just like to tell you Jordan that you are awesome! You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me cry, you make my heart pitter patter. I know it's selfish, but I'm proud of the little person that daddy and I have created. I miss you when you're gone and when we're together you fill my eyes with amazement. You are included in the highlights of my days. As I've been looking through your last one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five days on earth I can't help but feel completely blessed, I couldn't ask for anything more. I am the luckiest!

Hi, Remember Me?

2010-01-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

OK so I'll admit it...

Having TWO kids is way more work than I expected. Having TWO kids takes way more out of me than I expected. Having TWO kids takes up more of my time, more than I expected. But...having TWO kids is more amazing, enjoyable and heartwarming more than I expected. It's double the smiles, double the snuggles, double the hugs and kisses, double the moments, double the heart flutters and double love. I could see how someone could go and have 10 kids. HA, YEAH RIGHT!

Since it's midnight and my eyes are getting heavy I'm going to make this short and sweet. Besides Grace, 2009 can go down in the books as being one of the suckiest years of my life. I had a pay 'cut' at work, had to take a furlough which put a hurtin' on our bills, which lead to bickering between Darric and I. I lost my grandfather and just a couple of weeks ago Darric lost his. So, we would just like to take 2009, put it in catapoult and launch it far, far away.

So, hello 2010! I'm baaaack!

I know I've got lots of housekeeping to do on the blog and I'll get to that later, as well as updating you on my kids who seem to keep growing and growing, until then though here's a video I threw together last fall. Enjoy!

Song: Smile by Uncle Kracker

Letter to my Baby boy

2009-08-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Jordan,

My sweet little boy, who is now 4 years old. You're so old, yet still so young. Where has the time gone? Why does it not seem so long ago that you were sitting in my arms as a baby, looking into my eyes as I fed you, smiling at me as I sang the 'A you're adorable' song and tears weld up in my eyes with happiness of the baby we had created.

It's only been 4 years and you're already so smart and so curious and so kind and so wonderful and so clever and so creative and so funny and such an awesome kid that I am frequently knocked back on my heels by the sheer wonderment of you.

The other day as I watched you play with your toys, and listened to you talk in your little pretend voices "Hey, you wanna go for a ride in my car? Yeah sure, let's go. OK let's go. Vvrrrmmm." It amazes me how big an imagination you have. Sometimes I hear you say "Mom" and then when I answer you, you say "I'm not talking to you, I'm pretending." I wish I had more time for you so that you wouldn't have to pretend, but I'm also so glad that you've picked up the ability to have your make believe friends to keep you company when I can't.

In the midst of your constant pretending, you are also constantly singing. Songs I taught you (you are my sunshine, I love you) songs Daddy taught you (Daddy's hands, Lean on me, Hot Rod Lincoln) and songs that you've learned in school (This land is your land, What a wonderful world). We've also brought singing into the bathroom with us as we sing 'Twinkle little star' as we wash our hands. Daddy sings to you the most, at night as you are falling asleep, sometimes you'd rather have a song from Daddy than a story. I'm often in the next room listening in, and that is usually my high for the day. As your sister was having a melt down in the car last week, you sang to her and it made her stop crying and I know you felt pretty proud at that moment.

You are doing quite well at this big brother stuff, exceptionally well should I say. And I know Grace is noticing too because when she hears your voice she turns her head towards you. You are a familiar voice to her and I know she looks up to you and loves you very much already. I wasn't sure how you would react when you realized I couldn't give you my complete attention anymore, and you've had your moments, but you've learned the new task of waiting patiently. Every morning you make sure to greet her with a kiss and every night you never forget to wish her sweet dreams. When she cries, you're at her side with her Binky, you love to help change her and bathe her and you ask often to hold her. You love to touch and kiss her head and it didn't take long for you to figure out how yummy her toes taste. Although you asked the other day when she was going to go back in my belly, you've adjusted with the rest of us and you've realized that she's staying and that she's part of our family now. I know you think it's pretty cool too.

You amaze us all with your intelligence. You can spell your name, along with everyone else's name in your class, and because you can read every one's name you often help with attendance, saying every one's first, middle and last name. You can count to 30 and use your counting as to tell me how many bites of your supper you're going to eat. You love to answer the phone and this is great for me as I pawn you off on the telemarketers (har-har-har). Your memory is sharp and you know that certain roads will take us to certain peoples homes. You are still learning everyday and when we try to explain to you why you shouldn't talk to strangers, or why we have to take the interstate sometimes, or why those guys were cutting that tree down the other day, or why is the moon big sometimes and like a banana other times, you always make us repeat our explanation as you take it all in.

Eating supper lately has tried our patience with you. I won't complain because you're not a bad eater, with some of your favorites being steak, hot dogs, chicken, mac n cheese, pees, cucumbers, corn on the cob, french fries, ham, cheese, peanut butter and jelly, oatmeal, raisins, apple sauce, yogurt and yogurt bites, it's just that sometimes it takes you FOREVER to consume such foods. You're often left at the table as we're settling down for the night.

Dramatic is often a word I use to describe you. If you drop your popsicle, or spill your juice, or bump your knee that doesn't even make a mark, you immediately loose it and I believe your great grandmother could probably hear you scream in Illinois if she tried. You are scared of the smallest of bugs, but would carry around a worm or lizard for hours. I've also had to hold back my punishments while we are in a public place or others might think I had beaten you. Please win me an Emmy someday with your talents.

It's hard for me to admit, but you are a daddy's boy. You often ask for daddy to get you dressed or daddy to bring you to school, or daddy to come help wipe your butt. You love to help daddy mow the lawn and fix things around the house and while it kills me that you often choose daddy over me, I also feel lucky that you have such a great daddy that lets mommy sleep while he changes you in the middle of the night when you've had an accident.At the age of 4 you've done a lot more than most. You've been to New York City, to the top of Mt Washington, you've been camping, 4wheeling, snowmobiling, tubing, fishing, and you're always wanting to do more.

You are constantly making us laugh. The other day when I made you change in the kitchen because you were muddy you asked:

"Mom, where's Gracie?"

"She's right there in the living room."

"But Mom, she can't see me naked!!!"

When Grace was still in my belly and her butt was sticking up and we could feel it, I told you it was her butt, you're reaction:

"We don't like butts."

"We don't, why not."

"Because there's poop in them."

You love for your butt to be naked though and every night as you get undressed you never fail us to run around yelling "NAAKID BABEEE!"

I'm trying to capture and remember how you are right now. The way you talk, the way you sleep, the way you learn, the way you laugh and the way you cry. I try to capture the ways in which I see your personality, you're self developing and taking shape and giving tiny hints about the person that you will be next year and next decade, but there are just so many moments, so many things you do that make us laugh and cry and wonder that I can't even begin to describe you.

Oh Jordan, you bring so much joy to our world each and every day. 4 years later and I'm still looking into your eyes, singing that same 'A your adorable' song and the tears still well up in my eyes with happiness of the boy we have created. You are the most wonderful, perfect thing that I could have ever even imagined. And as I try and tell you each and every day just how very much I love you, I hope you know just how much that is.

Hugs and Kisses,

Love you forever and forever and forever,

Momma

Grace's Birth Story

2009-07-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Here it is: long, kind of boring, and full of TMI, but someday I know I'll look back at this and be glad that I'd written it all down.

6:30am

Alarm goes off. Feeling tired as usual. Get up to go pee and am feeling very crampy. Think nothing of it, have had this before, lay back down in hopes it will pass.

7:30am

Have hit snooze button a dozen or more times, still feeling crampy, but push myself to get up. Take un-enjoyable shower due to tired legs and really just want to lay back down.

8:00am

"Wow, these cramps are a little more intense then they usually are. Could this be....nahhhh."

Getting Jordan dressed and soon realize I can't ignore these cramps. Sit down on couch and start timing.

8:30am

Call doctor's office, state that I 'think' I might be in labor. "My contractions are 10 to 15 minutes apart, should I come in?" Nurse Alison says yes.

Call Darric, tell him the deal and he wants me to call him when I get to the doctors. (????) Call the mom's, who then insist to call Darric back and make him drive me in. Call Darric back, he's on his way. Start grabbing things, not sure what, but filling a bag with something.

8:45am

Darric gets home. While I'm moving slow, Darric is being the usual father and running around the house like a chicken with it's head cut off, which has gotten Jordan running around the house as well, but he has no clue why. He begins asking questions, but we're kind of ignoring him, sorry Jordan.

9:30am

Drop Jordan off at school. Call work to tell them I may or may not be in today. At this point I haven't convinced myself that I'm in labor.

10:00am

Arrive at doctor's office. Get hooked up to monitors and within 15 minutes Alison says "Oh yeah, you're in labor." She also tells me that I had 4 contractions that I apparently didn't even feel.

11:00am

Tweet: Doesn't today seem like a good day to have a baby? On our way to the hospital with contractions at 7 mins apart.

Head to hospital, but not without stopping at Dunkin Donuts for Daddy.

12:00pm

In room 727, hooked up to monitors which baby is kicking like crazy. First dose of antibiotics started (because I am B-Strep positive, which can make the baby get a virus when it travels through the birth canal, I have to have antibiotics to help protect the baby against getting a virus.) Doctor Jack has been in, checks me and says he'll be back around 4:00pm to break my water.

12:30pm

Tweet: Now i remember this, can i change my mind now?

As contractions are getting more stronger and more often the waiting starts to take a toll on my mind and anxiety/nerves set in. Luckily my mom has now arrived and helps to take my mind off things.

1:30pm

Getting hungry, but am told I can only have a popsicle which isn't very appetizing by the time the nurse brings it in. Darric goes to get himself lunch and brings back an ice cream sandwich which he eats right in front of me. Jerk!

Take a short walk which seem to make my contractions a little more intense.

Get back in bed to continue to wait while Darric watches TV and mom acts her silly self.

Tweet: In the meantime, passing time by watching mom & darric play pass with giant ball.

3:45pm

"Wow, those 4 hours went by fast."

Second round of antibiotics given. Doctor Jack is back, check's my cervix and breaks my water, which although I'm so glad I've escaped the embarrassment of having my water break in public, it really, really, really hurts to have a tool that look like a knitting needle stuck up you and moved every which way until GUSH.

4:30pm

The whole day, as well as trying to make a decision on a boy's name, I've also been trying to make a decision on whether I want pain pills or not. By this point contractions are about 2 to 5 minutes apart, and very unbearable. The nurse has the anesthesiologist come in to talk to me about my options. This conversation goes as well as it could go with someone who is in hard labor, but the decision is made to not have an epidural and to just have a mild pain reliever put into my IV, which did nothing at all in the end.

The room slowly starts to get hectic, people are in and out, mom's cell phone keeps ringing which I want to throw out the window and I'm moaning and groaning with every contraction.

5:00pm

I say I feel the urge to push and suddenly the end of the bed has disappeared and 4 people, (Dr. Jack, student nurse Amanda, my nurse and some other guy who I've not even been introduced to), are standing at my crotch and staring at my girly parts. My first push is very wimpy, I'm panicking because of all the pain and I really don't think I can do this at this point and am wishing somebody else would step in for me, preferably my husband.

The contraction ends and I need to rest. As I lay there, I'm able to focus my mind a little better on knowing that I have to do this.

Another contraction; Me: "I CAN'T DO THIS! I CAN'T DO THIS!!!" Dr. Jack: "You are doing this!" Not only is he a Dr. McDreamy, and although I've not liked him at some points of the pregnancy (especially the scrapping of the membranes), I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him. He's encouraging, funny, makes you feel like you can ask him anything, he knows his stuff and did I mention he's hunky.

At my next rest, the room becomes completely quiet. I open my eyes to see if anyone is still with me and see Dr. Jack staring out the window with a bored look, he then starts whistling. (sigh)

Another contraction, another push, I'm suddenly not a wimp. I can feel a head pushing out, this is something I did not feel with Jordan due to the epidural. It is so uncomfortable, yet so motivating that the end is near. There's no more resting in between contractions now, except to breathe. Dr. Jack asks me if I want to reach down and feel the head, "No, I just want it out NOW!" Another big push and the moment we'd all been waiting for had arrived. What I felt was indescribable, even though I was so tired I felt so powerful, superwoman. What I saw was a baby with its cord wrapped around its neck, I started to freak and Dr. Jack removed it with no problem. One more push to get the legs out and we were told......."It's a GIRL!" I looked up at Darric and said "I did it, I got my baby girl." So many emotions were overcoming us, we wanted to laugh, we wanted to cry.

They layed Grace on my chest, she wasn't crying much but she was very alert, she looked at me, I looked at her and it was like we knew each other already. She was all goo-covered, but she was beautiful.

They took her away to do their stuff to her and I craned my neck to see her while trying not to pay attention to what they were doing down below. It's amazing how much we loose our modesty at times like this.

Soon everyone was done, they told me I did great which I'm sure that's part of their training in college so it's hard to tell if I really did great or not, but I was feeling pretty proud of myself anyways. They brought Grace back, she was now swaddled in a blanket, with a cute little nylon pink and blue hat, a little less gooey, but just as alert and as beautiful. We hung out in the labor and delivery room for awhile, family came to visit, with a surprise visit from my dad and Denise, then everyone was gone, they took Grace to the nursery and after peeing (this is something I couldn't do after having Jordan) I was wheel chaired into my huge, private room by 8:00pm.

That's where we stayed for the next 2 days. Jordan stayed at camp with his Grammie and Papa as Darric and I were producing his sibling. I had a wide range of nurses, including one who had 7 kids at home and gave me every bit of advice that she could, including nipple care (yikes). I rewarded myself for birthing such a beautiful baby girl by having a chocolate milkshake with every meal (had to do something to make the hospital food suck less). We spent a lot of time holding Grace, trying to sleep and adjusting. I got out of bed as little as possible, not only did I hate my bare butt hanging out of my gown, but boy did my bare butt and other parts hurt. The process of just getting in and out of the bed took what seemed like an hour.

Now that we've been home for awhile I can say recovery this time has been so much easier, faster and better then it was the first time around. I'm back to my normal self, they say 6 weeks before any strenuous activity, but I'm so totally starting to exercise already.

All in all I think everything went quite well, although she was stubborn getting here, the labor didn't go too bad, not too hard of a recovery and a perfect, perfect outcome:

Introducing...

2009-07-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

Grace Elizabeth
7lbs. 7oz.
20 1/2 inches long
born at 5:22 on Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Grace finally came into this world with all 5 fingers and toes, dark blue eyes, a slight dimple in her chin and lots of love in her heart.
She didn't cry much, but rather stretched out and flared her arms all around, one of her nurses stated she was going to be a swimmer.
So far Grace is known for her quiet "break your heart" cry. Her perfect round head and face. Her long, skinny frog feet and her ability to stare into your eyes and immediately make your heart melt.
She's taking quite a liking to her big brother who insists on kissing her every 5 minutes.
At first I don't think Jordan knew what to think of her, but now he loves her as much as the rest of us. He helps to change her, gives her her Binky (even when she doesn't want it), and gobbles up her toes at the sight of them (nom-nom-nom).

Grace already resembles her brother with the same nose and lips. She doesn't have as much hair as he did when he was born, but she seems to be full with as much poop as he is now and relieves herself almost every 2 hours.

Labor was definitely better this time around and I'll save the complete story for another day when our little princess doesn't protest against the fact of being taking away from my boob.

You may call her Grace, Gracie, princess, baby girl, beautiful, or poop machine.

Thank your everyone for all your well wishes through this long, crazy, exciting ride.

You can also see a slide show of Grace Elizabeth here by entering in the password graceelizabeth0630

Nearing the End

2009-06-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

So here I am 9 months pregnant with Jordan...

And here I am 9 months pregnant now...

Besides my hair being longer and my facial expression being more pleasant, I don't think things look that much different. What da ya think?

I can't believe I'm at 39 weeks and almost there. HOLY SHIT, people! I really could go any day now, but I have had no signs. I'm trying to not get my hopes up, as Jordan was 5 days late and I remember how I felt as his due date came and went and the next day came and went and the next day and the next day. I do hope that TK does decide to be nice to me like Jordan was and help me to not make a big scene, in other words I pray my water doesn't break at work or at the grocery store, or rather at any public place. That's been my worst fear lately, every time I walk into Target the first thought isn't "OK, what do I need?" It's "God I hope I don't go into labor in here." I figure though that I can't just stay cooped up at home until it happens, nope, nah-ahh.

You know that feeling you get when you've just almost been in an accident, that pounding heart, oh my lord, holy shit feeling? I've been getting that a lot lately, and sometimes it's out of the blue and I think it's just the fact that I have a 7 pound weight pressing up against my lungs and other times it's when I really get thinking about this whole labor and delivery thing. I mean I know I'm going to have to go through with this, but there's a part of me (the part of me that usually changes it's mind as I'm on the climb of a gigantic roller coaster) that really wants to change my mind...right now. And then I think about starting all over with another newborn, the sleepless nights, the unknown of why the child is crying, the worrying if it's getting enough to eat, the lugging around of the car seat and diaper bad and now I have to worry about a toddler at the same time. What were we thinking????? Then Jordan will run up to me, give me the biggest hug, tell me he loves me and then I remember why. Oh my beloved little baby boy, every thing's about to change, and I'm scared as hell and god I hope it will all be OK for him as well.

I've been trying to pay extra special attention to him lately. He loved helping me put the baby's room together and I knew I should have dug out the video camera as him and Darric put the dresser together, he was using his Handy Manny tools and now there's a handy dandy little dent on the corner, but it's a memory dent. Sometimes the extra special attention gets difficult though when he decides to not listen and throw a tantrum over why I won't let him use the scissors to open up a box. Today at preschool he seemed very down and we sort of blamed it on him getting over this nasty cold that he's had for the last week, but I'm also wondering if it has to do with you know what.

I guess we've all been a little tantrumy lately, I got a weird look from a coworker the other day when I snapped at him over him touching my computer. And I'm sure if you ask Darric he could ramble off tons of stuff that I've given him shit about. He's good for it though. And the pregnancy brain is setting in more now then before. Tonight after filling my water cup, I started walking away and then realized the faucet was still running. D'oh!

So for now I guess I'll just sit back with my pounding heart, my cranky toddler and self, I'll try to stay sane and enjoy this short time I have left of being a mom to one.

Bad Blogger Status Quo

2009-06-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh I haven't posted a blog in a month, can you say bad blogger or what. I knew it had been awhile, but a whole month? I'm so sorry, you probably have so many questions, starting with where the heck have I been? I'll try and answer that and any other questions without making this post a novel.

Pregnancy Status? - Still pregnant, 2 weeks to go
How am I feeling? - I get this question daily and my answer is usually "very pregnant." But, for the most part I'm feeling OK, besides the fact that it's uncomfortable to sit, walk, stand, lay down, bend over, all of the above.
Are we ready? - Yes and No. Yes because I'm so done with feeling so uncomfortable. I want to be able to sleep on my belly, bend over without feeling the urge to fall over, walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded, and eat any one thing without getting heart burn. No because if you saw the baby's room right now, you'd notice that there's no crib set up or changing table set up. There's no clothes hung in the closet and everything that I've gotten from my baby showers are still in their bags and boxes. And if you look in my car there's no baby car seat in there. So baby listen up, please just give me a couple more days.
Is Jordan excited? - He might be a little bummed when he realizes that the baby isn't going to come out and be ready to play with him, but he can't stop talking about how I will be able to pick him up once the baby is out. He's excited to be a big brother and he knows he's going to have to help out and his plan is to sing 'You are my sunshine' to the baby every night.
How's the addition? - Although it's not at the state that I wanted it to be at this point, it's definitely taking shape and looking really nice. Walls are up, windows are in, electrical placed and insulation hung. Ceiling should be done this weekend and sheetrock started next week. Because we can't put anything out there yet, the kitchen is acting as a place to eat, store junk and do office work..all at the same time.
Do we have a boy's name picked out? - No! Thank you all for your suggestions by the way, we're just numb and keep telling people our picks and then get their opinions which make us change our mind, then we think of something different, but the nickname we don't like or it doesn't go with our last name and ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sorry, that's a little bit of a touchy subject.

Is that it? Did I answer all your questions? Do you feel caught up on my life? Probably not, but you probably don't want to know how many times I actually go pee in a day anyway huh?

As some of you heard, I had to take Darric to the ER last week...twice. He had been having pains under his rib cage for a couple of days and when he finally gave in and called his doctor, because the pains were close to his chest and on his left side she sent him straight to the hospital. They immediately did an EKG and other cardiac test and they all came back normal. Then they tested his gallbladder and spleen and after giving him what is called a G.I. Cocktail, they concluded that he had an ulcer. Because my husband is the most stubborn man in the whole wide world, and can sometimes be the numbest, he didn't go pick up his prescription the next day and I was woken up the next night to bring him back to the hospital. After sitting around for another night, with the winners of the ER, waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting, they gave him another cocktail, diagnosed it as an ulcer (no shit I thought) and sent us on our way. Can't wait to see that bill. He is feeling much better now, says the pain comes and goes but not as intense and I don't really think he's numb, but I do think he's stubborn.

::::

I will now leave you with pictures of Jordan in his new room, and in his new big boy, twin size bed, which yes brought tears to my eyes putting him in it, and still does 3 nights later.

Oh and by the way, if you're not already you can follow me on twitter and I'll keep you up to date as to when TK (the kid) plans to make an arrival.

To My Mother...

2009-05-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is to the very first person I ever met.
The person who gave me life.

You were there when I took my first steps.
Until those steps led me to be on my own.
You were there to pick me up,
when I had fallen,
or felt all alone.

The things you have taught me,
and still teach me today.
From riding a bike, to swimming the seas,
to driving a car,
and making a kick-ass grilled cheese.

You can make me laugh,
you can make me cry.
You can make me mad,
but we won't say why.

There are times when only you can understand my tears.
Only you can soothe my disappointment
and calm all my fears.
In your arms was always the right place,
you'd rub my back,
and trace my face.

Where I am now is where you have led me.
With your special love,
you showed me the way.
To believe in myself
and the decisions that I make.
To always show love,
and never feel hate.

No one else can be what you have been to me.
You've shown me what a mom should be,
and I hope that everything that you are,
will one day be seen in me.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

The countdown is on

2009-05-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

First off I want to say Thanks to everyone who gave us wonderful baby names to choose from, I'm pretty sure we've picked our names, but in leau of making things more difficult for us I'm not going to share until the little munchkin is here.

The question I've been getting lately is of coarse "How are you feeling?" and the usual answer I've been giving is PREGNANT! But it's true and those who have been in my condition I'm sure know what I mean. Pregnant, and this far along usually means feeling fat, sore, tired, slow moving, the feeling of being kicked all the time, having heartburn all the time and anxious for it to be over with, yet freaked to go through the ending process. I find myself thinking a lot lately that I can't wait for this to be over with. I want to wear normal clothes again, I want to be able to bend over without the feeling of toppling over and I want to sleep on my stomach...oh do I miss that one. I don't want to make it sound like I hate being pregnant, because what could be a better experience then having a small human being growing inside of you. Knowing that everything that you do in your everyday life has an effect on this human being, what you eat, they eat, where you go, they go. This little person growing inside of me really only knows me, and when it comes into this world I will be the most important person in it's life, and this is more of a pleasure then I can ever imagine.

I've been thinking of that moment lately, the moment of when this little alien joins us and especially those minutes before. Jordan's birth story wasn't the most fun, so to speak. As much as Doctor Jack said I was doing a good job, we all know that if I had been doing a good job Jordan wouldn't have taken 3 hours of pushing then. I've been thinking that some might have been caused by too much epidural and I couldn't feel enough to push hard enough, if that makes sense. So, I'm hoping I don't wimp out this time and I can do it without the epidural. I've also heard that every pregnancy is different and it's usually easier with the second, so I've got my fingers crossed.

I've already gotten lots of predictions and the majority think I'm going 2 weeks early and it's going to be a boy. I should start a pool. As much as I'd love to go right now, let alone 2 weeks early, I won't mind going full term just so that we're that much more ready. Considering that they just really started on the addition, we're behind as it is. The walls of the foundation were poured today and the building contractors should be here next Monday to start. Darric says that once they get started it will be fast going from there, but I'm still optimistic. If we were rich I'd put my nesting to work and hire a lawn crew to fix our yard and put in flower gardens, I'd hire a decorator to do over the baby's room and Jordan's room, I'd build a deck and buy tons of deck furniture and I'd pay each one extra to get it done now. But we're not rich or even close so I try to close my eyes at the sight of my yard or at the fact that all the baby stuff still sits in the attic.

For the next 8 weeks I plan to spend my days preparing for baby #2 as much as I can, including getting a manicure, pedicure, haircut, wax....I mean cleaning out the rooms, getting the stuff down from the attic and cleaning them, moving furniture, packing a hospital bag, getting the car seat in the car and most importantly...enjoy being a mom of 1 while I still am.

It's time for everyone's favorite game...Name the Baby.

2009-04-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

One of my flaws is making decisions, another one of my flaws is procrastinating. And when it comes to a big decision like naming your child, a title they'll have to live with......forever, I tend to have an even harder time. I don't have much trust in myself I guess, and I have to get opinions from others before I make a decision on my own. Pathetic I know.

So here's your chance to share your opinion on my second child's life, that's if you're into the whole name game thing, and you know you are. And because we're 'one of those people' and we're deciding not to find out the sex of the child, I'm going to need boy and girl name ideas.

Okay...so let's start with GIRLS NAMES. We pretty much already have a girls name picked out, left over from if Jordan was a girl, but lately I've heard some other girl names that I could also hear myself saying over and over and over again. Some include Madison, Isabelle, and Addison. And let me also point out that I refuse to name my child after a fruit or a rock formation in outer space, also known as a star. So keep that in mind that even though my child may be as cute as a peach, I'm not going to name it that.

Now onto BOY NAMES. This is a little more difficult for us, because Darric and I can't seem to decide on anything for the child if it carries the Y chromosome. It seems like every name that I come up with for a boy Darric gives me a look as if he's eaten a sour lemon, and frankly I think I give him the same look when he gives me his boy name idea. There have been a few that haven't seemed so sour though.

Jackson (I thought of this one early on and I keep coming back to it. The only problem, my MIL has informed me that she hates it and states that if I name my child this she will call it something else. *sigh* I like the simplicity of the nickname Jack, but it's also my doctors name and I wouldn't want him to think I was naming the child after him.)

Hunter (Darric's choice and if you know him you know why, and I don't mind the name, but it doesn't fit with our last name.)

Dylan (Like it, but seems a little too common)

Bryce (This name got a "it's alright" from both of us)

Justin (Too trendy)

The top contender will be something that Darric and I both like, but I'm not expecting the same 'YES, THAT'S IT' that we had with Jordan. Although it may hit us when we least expect it, like maybe we'll find a necklace on the side of the road somewhere with the perfect name on it and we'll automatically know that that's it. Yeah, I doubt it though.

Whatever we do name it though I can't wait for he/she to be on the outside of my body. Although it is going by fast, it's not as fun. People tell me I look good and 'cute' but I tell ya, I feel everything but cute.

Back to the real life

2009-03-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

Last night we returned from our yearly vacation. We share a timeshare with Darric's parents and on the 10Th week every year we head up north for pure rest and relaxation, and snowmobiling of coarse, that's actually the biggest reason we bought the condo. It works out great because we consider it our last hurrah of the snowmobile season. When I tell people I'm going to Island Falls for vacation they look at me weird, but it's the one vacation where we can sit back and put our feet up and also enjoy the one thing we love the most. Although this year I didn't do as much riding as I usually do. We usually put on more than 500 miles, but this year I think my sled didn't even make it past 70 miles. Jordan went with me on most of those miles, including a trip to the top of an old ski mountain where we took in the view and had a fun snowball fight with our friends. We milked the end of the vacation by going ice fishing on Pleasant Lake, but only caught a bottle which got a rise out of the kids.

The resort has a pool which seems to be Jordan's favorite part, especially this past year. Because he's been swimming weekly, he's becoming quite the swimmer. He wears his little floaties and they give him just enough freedom to let him explore what he can do in the water. Last week he discovered his abilities with goggles and that he can see underwater and now that's all he wants to do is go under. He started with just putting his face under, but by the end of the week he was putting his whole head under water and swimming with his head under water. He makes me excited and nervous all at the same time.

We also got a chance to catch up on some movie watching and down the road from the resort is a campground which has an old fashion bowling alley which we always make sure to hit just for the laughs. This is also the only time we're so far up north that we head to the mall in Presque Isle and get to see some great scenery we wouldn't see otherwise.

Some would ask what is there to do in Aroostook County, but for having nothing to do, the week sure does fly by. Now it's back to our routine of our everyday life. We now have to focus on Easter, spring cleaning, getting our taxes done, putting in some gardens and building our addition to make room for our addition. I have a feeling I'm going to need another vacation before it's all over with.

Oh, Gimme a Break

2009-02-23T19:36:00.000-08:00

Even though I'm half asleep right now, I am bound and determined to update. Now, don't worry all's well that is well, I've just been either crazy ass busy or down right too tired to post. But I'm back once again; gee how many times have we heard that before?

If I were daring enough I'd write down everything on my mind right now, but then we'd end this post and you all would be looking into your computers with mouths wide open, and I'm not stupid enough to post personal stuff that could hurt me rather than help me, so we'll just keep you guessing. Har-Har-Har!

I will tell you though, that work has been stressing me out, my husband has been stressing me out, some other people who will remain nameless have been stressing me out, I've been very frustrated with not being able to get anything accomplished and now I've got a cold and I CAN'T TAKE ANY DRUGS! Which, yes you guessed it, is stressing me out. Jordan for the most part surprisingly hasn't stressed me out too bad lately. Remember when I wrote this post, well I've been working on keeping myself calm and talking to him in a calm voice and I've noticed a difference at how things turn out in the end. He's still having his outbursts, but instead of yelling back at him, I will either walk away from him and let him get over it, or I make a funny face at him, which usually only makes me laugh but oh well.

The poor kid had quite the weekend though. Saturday he had his first snowmobile ride. We took a trip from our house to our local snowmobile club with our friends and their kids, about a 15 mile trip. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the club, Jordan zonked out on my arm, which made it a little difficult to steer the sled, but it was so cute all the same. We had french fries and hot cocoa at the club and headed back, the shorter way. Jordan's exact words when we got home..."That was super fun momma!" Which totally made our day.

Sunday wasn't so fun though as Jordan woke up with a belly ache. After using the rest room he seemed to be fine and exclaimed he wanted juice. A little voice in my head told me not to give him juice, but I ignored that voice for some reason and gave in. An hour later as we were all snuggled back in bed watching cartoons, Jordan coughed on me and I felt a spray of something on my arm. I looked down to see grape juice splattered on me, so as careful as I could tried to move the blankets as to not get anything on them and not 2 seconds later Jordan looked me right in the eye and blaaaaahhhhhh! Straight out of his mouth, completely covering my white shirt and beige colored sheets was that grape juice I so totally shouldn't have given him. It was awful, and once I caught enough of a whiff of it, I knew I was going to be in trouble if I didn't get my shirt off and into the shower. Luckily Darric was actually home and helped clean things up while I cleaned myself up in the shower. Jordan didn't puke for the rest of the day, he was fine within 2 hours later and we were all laughing about it by the end of the day.

Hopefully he'll get all his sickness out of his system within the next 2 weeks because we're getting ready for vacation. Every year about this time we head to our condo in Island Falls, for lots of snowmobiling and lots of relaxation. This year I plan on doing more relaxing than snowmobiling, unfortunately it'll only be my legs that will get to feel the hot tub this year, but at least there's still the heated pool. We have been splitting the timeshare with my in-laws for the past 6 years and I always look forward to this week every year. It's nothing special, we play board games, eat good food, stay up late, sleep in, swim, sit around and chat and mostly just enjoy each other's company. It's a great week and makes me feel fortunate that I get along so well with my in-laws...well, most of the time. I hoping this vacation I'll come back to work feeling refreshed and hopefully not so stressed.

Well, I guess I've caught up on everything that I could huh? No? Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the squid growing in my belly. The squid that's been kicking at the laptop the whole time I've been writing this, how could I have possibly forgotten. I've been calling it a squid lately because I'm getting kicked in all directions possible. Although, someone called it an alien the other day and that could stick too. I feel we should call it something rather than it all the time, but because we're not finding out the sex we don't want to say he or she either and make some think that we know what we're having. And don't ask me what I think we're having either, but all I'm going to tell you is that we're having a baby. I have days when I think it's a boy, and then I have days when I think it's a girl. We'll just have to wait and see in June. I have to laugh when I hear from people "You're having a girl, I just know it." or "I've known for 8 years that you're having a boy." It's a baby, and as long as it's a healthy baby with all it's fingers and toes that's all that matters.

Here's a picture of the Buddha about 2 weeks ago, which is nothing compared to me now. It's amazing what 2 weeks can do, but I'll have to show you next time, I promise.

Jordan doesn't seem to notice that my belly is even growing. I know he realizes it and I'm constantly having to remind him that I'm not a jungle gym and be careful of the baby in my belly, but he seems to be like 'whatever.' He occasionally asks if it's kicking, but when I ask him if he wants to feel it he says no. A couple weeks ago, he did tell me though that he was going to get a big belly like mine and that's when I knew that I was showing.

There, I did it. I caught you up for the most part. I hope you didn't mind the complaining too much. I'm sorry for neglecting you for so long, now maybe that I've updated it'll be easier to keep up, we'll see.

Thinking Chair

2009-01-30T20:18:00.000-08:00

Jordan was not even one year old when he started watching Blue's Clues. I use to plant him in his swing in front of the TV, in order to get my housework done. And if Steve, or what I know as the dorky cute guy, and the blue puppy, which I thought was a boy dog until recently, would come on and Jordan would get that look on his face. It was then that Blue became another familiar face around our house. We had about 3 different stuffed dogs, 4 outfits resembling the dorky cute guy in the green stripped shirt, a play set containing all the characters from the show and so many books I lost count. And let me just say that Jordan had quite the 'blue' face after eating his cake on his first birthday.

As much as I even enjoyed Blue's Clues, I figured that one day he would grow out of it. I always thought that most kids did. I was always under the impression that kids went through stages and did their rounds of cartoon characters.

This past Christmas was our most enjoyable so far with Jordan. It was the first year we could really have fun with the whole Santa thing. So, it became apparent that Jordan had not grown out of Blue's Clues, when all he asked Santa for was a 'Thinking Chair.' Which for those who have never seen the show is a red chair that Steve sits in to figure out Blue's Clues. It's also the chair that Steve sits in to get the mail. It's a huge part of the show in other words and Jordan pretty much told Santa that he just had to have one. So 'Santa' began searching for a thinking chair. $100 was the cheapest Santa could find one for, and Santa's budget was a little slim this year, so he held off. As Christmas got closer and still no thinking chair available in our price range Santa started feeling a little worried. How could he let a good little boy down, but unfortunately that had to be the case. He tried to make it up to him by getting him a Handy Dandy Notebook, but the look on Jordan's face told that it just wasn't the same.

Christmas has come and gone, but the search for the right priced thinking chair continued. And...thanks to Darric's new favorite site (eBay) the now very popular thinking chair arrived last Wednesday.

I have never seen Jordan so excited. Wow, what a little red chair can do to a kid. He sits in it in the living room, in his room, and he'd bring it to potty with him if I let him, and I'm surprised he doesn't want to sleep in it.

So, although it was smaller than I had thought it was going to be and I still think we paid a little too much for a foam chair, what we paid for was the joy that our son got out of it and it was well worth it.

Sunday Ramblings

2009-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

So far throughout this pregnancy I've often wanted to step back in time to what things were like when I was this far along with Jordan. It's funny how soon we forget things, and although I can't exactly remember I do believe that things this time around are a bit different. It may have something to do with the fact that I didn't have a toddler taking up all my time last time. As far as the way my body feels, I don't remember feeling this fat rather than just pregnant, I know I could make it up past 10:00 at night, I never once had that 'Oh my gosh, I think I just...' rush to the bathroom moment, and there's no way I got this upset over the stupidest things like last week I forgot to bring Jordan's sneakers to school, I was still crying about it last night. And mostly just because of the way my moods are I just can't wait for this pregnancy to be over with. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, my body really does handle it well what with no morning sickness, no water retention (so far), and the only time I really feel pregnant is when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think "was that a cow passing by or....oh wait it's me" or when I out of the blue feel a tiny foot jab me in the side.

It's only been about 2 weeks that I've been really able to feel the kicks, before it was just little flutters. And it's at the point now that only I can feel them, I can't wait for Jordan to be able feel his little sibling getting his first jabs at him. Feeling the baby move have been some of my up moments of my day lately. I always have this sudden urge to yell out 'I just got kicked by the baby in my belly' but think twice when I know I'll get strange looks by others in the grocery store.

Right now we're in the early stages of adding an addition to the house. Right now we have a 3 bedroom ranch and one of those bedrooms is used as, what I like to call, Darric's love me room. It's where his guns, deer heads, shot glasses and yeah all his boy stuff is. It's also considered the junk room because whenever I don't know where to put something, it gets shoved in there. There's even a twin bed in there, but you'd never know it because it's completely covered with junk that I'd like to get rid of in a yard sale some day. So, when we found out that we were expecting we knew we had to make a place for another kid. We at first toyed with the idea of finishing the basement, but Darric was concerned with his precious deer heads getting musty. The only other option was to add on. So, our plan now is to have a combined mud room/family room/office, complete with cathedral ceilings as we also have a giant Moose head on the way. The thing I'm most excited about though is that I now can have my washer and dryer upstairs and I won't have to trudge down to the cellar and freeze my ass off every night. Can I get an Amen on that one. The project is on hold at the moment as things are a little covered in snow right now.

So, I guess you could say we're probably a little more busy/stressed this time around. I just remember though that I did have a private online journal while pregnant with Jordan, I printed it out and I think it's in his baby book, I'll have to take a peek later. Stay tuned for that.

Losing my cool

2009-01-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

Growing up there were a lot of times that my father and I butted heads, being a teenager I didn't agree with a lot of his rules. I distinctly remember a time when he made me mad that I threw something precious of his (case of beer) out the back door and into the snowbank, he then turned around and threw my stereo out the back door and into the snowbank. Being the father, he usually won the battles. Anyone who knows my dad knows that he's got a bit of a temper, and although I'm sure he doesn't lose it as much as he use to, I'm sure that vein in the side of his head still makes an appearance now and then.

Recently, now being the parent of a toddler, I've learned that one thing that I've got from my father, besides the vein in the side of my head, is somewhat of a temper. And lately Mr. Jordan has been testing that temper and knowing when to plug his ears as I yell at him. And poor Darric is slowly learning more and more about my temper, especially when he forgets to call me all day and in fact he forgot his cell phone at home and he's way down at then other end of the state and hello did you forget that I'm carrying your child, oops, there goes your phone out in the snowbank.

Now, I would never, ever, ever hurt my child or my husband out of anger. I'm more of a throw things out the back door kind of girl rather then smack my hand against something, but if you were to ask me if there was one thing I could change about myself it would be to have more patience with the men in my life. Every time I yell at one of them, rather it be for not eating their supper, or not calling me all day, or just simply blocking me out(which both of them do wouldn't ya know), and I get that look from them like they're looking at grizzly bear roaring at their pray, I immediately want to hit the Ctrl-Z key and replay the whole situation. But I think what keeps me doing it is because I know I'm bringing them to realization. I bet Darric won't be forgetting to call me for awhile huh. I do worry that I'm making the wrong impression for Jordan though. I don't want him to be that kid that flips out when he doesn't get his way, even though that's a lot of kids rather they have moms like me or not. I also don't want to be that Mom that has her kids walk all over her.

I try to watch other moms and how they handle their kids and I also pay close attention to Jordan's teacher and how she handles 10 kids all at once and I think the key is to raise your voice every once in a great while, just to remind them who's in charge, but if it gets too regular then the flip out doesn't seem so flippy, (if that makes any sense at all.)
And also to remind myself that throwing things out in the snow only gives you broken electronics.

Guess Who's Back? Back Again?

2009-01-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

Over the past 2 weeks I've been going over different posts in my head, then by the time I sit down at the computer, or by the time Darric gives up the computer, I can't seem to put the words together or I just plain get too tired. But you'll be happy to know that one of my New Year Resolutions is to post at least once a week. We'll see how that goes.

****

Let me start by saying we had a mighty fine Christmas. Although, I will have to admit that it is becoming my not-so-favorite holiday. It just doesn't seem right to have to rush around, stress out, feel guilty, and everything else over one of the most important holidays. This year we decided we were going to cut back, try not to spend as much and not buy for as many as well, in other words we cut out the neighbors. Oh my gosh, but the guilt I felt when those neighbors brought over gifts for us and I had nothing to give them. They must think we're terrible neighbors now, they'll probably egg our house or something, or what if they tee-pee our house?

What we did cut back on on others, Jordan made up for and although Santa struck out on the only think he asked for, a Blues Clues Thinking Chair, he seemed pretty happy at the end of the day with his Handy Dandy Notebook, Buzz Lightyear, Racetrack, VSmile, Movies, and all the other toys that has kept him entertained over the past week. Wow, I never realize how easy it is to spoil a kid.

Next year I plan to be a little more smart and take a couple of days before Christmas off in order to get it all done, especially since next year we'll have two kids to buy for. Although, these days off have been quite relaxing, and my house has stayed clean for a week straight, that's a first. Jordan has also enjoyed sleeping in 'til 8:30 and lounging around in his p.j.'s throughout the afternoon. We also did some shopping, baking and we had 'too much fun' at the Maine Discovery Museum.

And one thing I do have to admit to that I did way to much of on my vacation was....eat food. And no I haven't had any weird cravings yet, unless you call whatever is put in front of me a craving. Especially when it's my mother in law's peanut butter fudge. Mmmmmm!

I do have a question though? Did you ever crave the stuff that you're not suppose to have while pregnant? Like coffee, and I know it would probably be fine for me to have a small cup here or there, but I don't want to get myself in the habit, so instead I just sip Darric's. And can I just say that the cheap price on my all time favorite food, lobster, is not helping me not crave that.

Now I know that usually you start showing sooner with your second pregnancy, but I can't tell if I should be calling this my baby bump or my fudge bump, whattya think?

Oh and before I forget...Happy New Year!

Expanding the Family

2008-12-12T08:00:00.001-08:00

Special Message from Jordan
Originally uploaded by Sammie-J

We're so excited! We're so excited!
And I'm sorry that I've kept it from you for this long, but trust me you don't know how many times I've just wanted to blurt out in random places...I HAVE A BABY IN MY BELLY!!!

There. Whew. I feel so much better now.

I've gotten 2 due dates from the doctor. June 23rd or 25th. The 25th seems to stick in my head more, probably because it's a later date and I never thought Jordan would get here. So much for his August 12th date when he decided to arrive 5 days later. I'm surprisingly already through my 1st Trimester and no sign of morning sickness, just this damn cold that won't let go.
Yesterday I went to the doctors and got ultrasound pictures, but we'll let this sink in first before I show you that.

Up Next: Many entries topicaling pregnancy....and stuff.

So, that's my news that I've been so excited to tell you.

The Snot takes the fun out of it

2008-12-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

Today I decided that we needed to put up our Christmas Tree. I always snicker at people who insist on putting up their decorations and such the day after Thanksgiving. Nope, sorry I can't do it, because then by Christmas I'd actually be so sick of looking at all the decorations I'd want it to be over with already and I don't like to think of Christmas as hurrying up and getting over with. I do however always look forward to putting up the decorations. I always get a cup of hot cocoa, crank up the Christmas Music, and take my time, reel in the season.

I especially have looked forward to every Christmas that Jordan gets older and can help me. And someday maybe he'll blog about his Christmas Tradition of putting up the Christmas decorations with his Momma. Hopefully he'll leave out this Christmas though, due to the fact that I was struggling to breathe let alone have much patience with him trying to help. Last week my nostrils decided they wanted to seal up and leave me snorting, gasping and mouth breathing, which means my nights are restless, which makes my days full of grumpiness. I feel so bad, I've been wanting to do so much with him lately, especially this weekend. Because of this damn cold we didn't get to make it to the traditional "freeze fest" festival of lights parade, our planned gingerbread house still sits in the cupboard, unmade. And even our family Christmas picture had to be put on hold. I figured this weekend would give me some relief, but nothing seems to be helping me. No matter how much I blow my honker into the puffs, just hoping for that one clearing...nothing. I've even considered splattering hot sauce up my nostrils, but went against it after rethinking that one. Oh well, it could be worse I know, but please permit me to whine just for a moment huh?

Also due to my stuffy, sneezy, foghorn-y snout, last week seemed to drag. So, while it wasn't one of the best weeks, I hoping that this next week will turn around. Darric also started scalloping last week. Trust me on this one though, you don't want to hear my rant on that. So far, I'm not liking it, it makes me nervous, uneasy and I'm not finding any good in this new project he's got himself into. He's informed me he's going to try it for just one more week and then we'll take it from there. *Sigh*

I can feel another coughing spell coming so I better sign off and head to bed.

Let's Play Catch-Up

2008-11-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

Those who are part of Nablopomo are now taking part in a month long blog expedition, if you will. They are to post a blog every day for a full month. Me, I like to be different. I figured I'd do the opposite, yeah since it's been almost a month since my last post. Sorry. No, I haven't been on vacation, no I haven't been sick, I haven't even been that busy, I just really haven't felt like I've had much to say that I thought would interest you. I really don't have much to say now, but I gotta get you coming back somehow.

Jordan had school pictures a couple weeks ago. Picture this, 20 plus 3 and 4 year olds in one small classroom together, out of their realm, 2 teachers and a couple of parents primping kids and trying to keep them neat and tidy, yet keep them entertained. There was yelling, screaming, running, and yeah kios!!! Actually in the teachers defense, they really did a great job. I wouldn't have been able to keep my cool which is why I snuck out as soon as Jordan had his picture taken. Which he did great by the way. If only he would have done such a great job at Sears last spring maybe it would have been worth the $130 that I paid. I can't wait to see how they came out.

Last weekend an old best friend from high school got married. I was lucky enough to be in the wedding. The wedding was gorgeous and the day couldn't have been more perfect for Melanie and Tony. When Mel and I were in high school we were inseparable, but over the years we have grown apart. She now lives 3 hours away and our busy lives have unfortunately gotten the best of us. Spending what little time that I did with her before the wedding meant so much to me, it was almost surreal being in her mother's house that holds so many memories from the old days. I miss my best friend. You can see the beautiful pictures from the wedding, taken by Jennifer Stone, by clicking here.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is this week? Before we know it, it'll be Christmas and I have yet to really get a jump on my shopping. Although, this past week couldn't have gotten over any faster. Jordan had just finished an antibiotic because of a virus he had that was making him very congested and early Wednesday morning he decided to wake us up barfing all over himself and his bed. Oh, it was awful. We all finally got back to sleep and when he woke up he seemed perfectly fine, so we got ready for our day, as we were about to eat breakfast he did it again, all over my living room floor. So, needless to say we stayed home that day. Wednesday night seemed fine, until about 1am when I woke up to him throwing up beside my head...yeah in our bed. So, after cleaning that up, Darric and I slept in the living room, Jordan slept the rest of the night, woke up acting fine and he wanted to go to school, and he hasn't thrown up since (knock on wood). Then today, I noticed his nose running and his eyes have been watery all day, and tonight he insisted on me giving him medicine because his ear hurts. Does it ever end!!!

Now do you feel somewhat caught up in my life, I hope so because it's now midnight and I'm going to bed.

Pre-Preschool Update

2008-10-29T12:00:00.001-07:00

Smarty Pants
Originally uploaded by Sammie-J

Two months ago I wrote this entry on our Maine Mom's blog about Jordan going to Pre-preschool; it's hard to believe that it's already been two months, but when I sit back and see the changes that he's made in just that short amount of time it amazes the bejeepers out of me. Last week we had our first open house at his school, oh you should have seen his face when we both walked in. He's usually use to Daddy picking him up, but when he saw both of us he was filled with so much excitement that I never thought I'd get him to sleep that night. We enjoyed the open house, he showed us some projects he'd been working on like pumpkin cutouts, some bats and his hand cut outs put onto a big bulletin wall with all the other kids to make their hands look like they were the leaves falling off the trees. He also made if very well known that he loves circle time and his favorite job is the calendar, which is when we learned that he knew all the months and days of the week.

When you ask him who his best buddy is most of the time it's Wyatt, Alex or Colby; we also hear him talking about Kassidy and Brenna a lot. Although, we've been hearing from the school lately that him and a little girl named Breanna have been seen hugging and sitting next to each other all the time. That would answer who the blond girl was following him around at the open house. Oh-oo, we're in trouble!
I don't think these past couple of months would've gone so well without Jordan having such a great teacher. He talks about Darlene all the time. In fact, most nights Darric sings 'Daddy's hands' to Jordan before he goes to sleep, the other night Jordan was signing 'Darlene's hands' to himself. I told her, I think it made her day. But when you have a teacher who is as nurturing as she is, it really makes a difference and I hope she knows how much it is appreciated.
So, he's eating good, sleeping good, sharing good, and listening most of the time, now if we could just work on his aim into the potty maybe we wouldn't have to replace that wall that he's watered so many times.

My Escape

2008-10-20T20:11:00.000-07:00

It's Monday night which means The Hills on MTV is on my TiVo record list. Yes, I'll admit to it, I'm a tad bit addicted to this drama filled reality show about this group of rich, pretty girls who spend their days working at their really cool jobs like fashion institutes and Sony Records. When they're not working they're at the gym or hanging by the pool/beach with their hunky guy friends. Sometimes on the weekends they head to Las Vegas or Cabo.
This past weekend I didn't leave my house. On Saturday I got woken up at 7:30 by a snotty nose 3 year old who insisted on watching cartoons. Needless to say, our breakfast of waffles was spent with Steve on Blues Clues. Then it was off to do chores. Laundry, vacuuming, and bed changing all while trying to keep the kid entertained because Steve only lasts so long. Lunch time came where I got to have the uneaten crust from a peanut butter and j, Mmmmm. Nap time, oh but wait, my only me time of the day was spent picking up all the toys that got strewed all over the house, then oh wait, what's that smell, oh yeah I better take a shower while I've got a chance. Nap time over and it was then getting late in the day, I better start getting supper ready. Threw chicken on the George Foreman and attempted to teach a toddler how to peal apples for an apple pie. Ate supper, cleaned up, carved pumpkin and tried to keep my patience with toddler as he wanted to do it all by himself, then we played with matchbox cars on living room floor til my legs feel asleep, fought with toddler to get jammies on, read Goodnight Moon 3 times and then insisted that was it 'Time For Bed, I said!' Got woken up at 2am by toddler with an earache, spent the rest of the night in the rocking chair.
Woke up Sunday with a stiff neck, toddler has now recovered and seems to be back to his cartoon watching, energy filled self. It's big time cleaning day at our household. Dusting, window washing, tub scrubbing and walls to be wiped down. The aroma of Moose Roast fills the house throughout the day and sweet pumpkin chocolate chip cookies by the evening. By the time this day is over, I'm ready to go back to work just to get out of the house and relax.
On tonight's episode of The Hills, Audrina and Lauren are sitting by the pool in their skimpy bikini's talking about if Audrina should stay with Justin or go for Corey. Rough life. Darric often asks me how I can watch this show. He thinks it's just a show about rich bitches who 'Oh ma Gawd, I totally have to go shopping before I can go out to the clubs tonight. For Reeaall!' Well yeah, he's right, but I think of it as a way to bring me back to my younger days.
Now I'm not saying I don't enjoy my life as it is now and don't take what I said about my past weekend the wrong way. I honestly get so much joy out of having a clean house and putting a home cooked meal on the table for my family. There's just something in me that wishes I could escape some days and live the lives of Lauren, Audrina, Whitney and Heidi. To eat out at Sushi restaurants in LA, go shopping and easily spend $1,000 or just have their size 0 bodies. I know I'll never have that life, nor would I want it on a regular basis, but dreaming once a week never hurt anyone huh?
Well, here's some pictures from my weekend anyways.

Not bad for my first apple pie huh? You should've tasted it. Mmmm Good!

Happy Halloween too by the way!

Check Yourself

2008-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

It's no wonder most are stressed out to the max these days. With the stock market, gas and oil prices, food prices, mortgage crisis...It seems like every thing is going up except our paychecks. We're at war, there's job layoffs, business' are closing and if you've still got a job you're likely doing 5 peoples jobs, plus your own, oh and for the same pay. But chin-up sunny, change is a'comin. Yeah, you better back up that statement mister!!
So why would anyone want to bring children up in the world we're living in now? How could things possibly get better by the time our kids are at our age? I look at Jordan these days and worry what struggles he'll have to deal with as time goes on. When he's my age will the economy be at all time lows, will he be struggling just to make ends meet? We all want the best for our children, I just don't want Jordan to have to kill himself working 24/7, like someone else I know, just to put food on the table. I got thinking about this and I did a little research to what things were like when I was his age.

Back in 1982
* The world's largest oil ring (The Ocean Ranger) sinks in the north Atlantic.
* Wave of Terrorist attacks in France by Carlos the Jackal
* Argentina invades the Falkland Islands
* The largest cash robbery in History occurs in NY when $9,800,000 is stolen from an armored car.
* Unemployment Rate: 9.71 ~ Last year it was 4.61
* Gas Prices: 91 cents a gallon
* Average Cost of New House: $82,200
* Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 1046 ~ Last year: 13,264.82
* U.S. National Debt: 1,142,034,000,000.00 ~ Today: $10,282,317,129,382.17
* Average Income per year: $21,050.00 ~ Now:$50,233.00
* Severe recession begins

Now honestly, that's all mumble jumble to me. I'm not the greatest at math and especially history and especially trying to figure out the future. Yeah the economy sucks, yeah I hate that my husband has to work so much so we can go out once in awhile, yeah I may not have this job much longer, but life does go on. We're all on the same planet together, we're all fighting the same war together, paying the same bills, spending the same money, we're all worrying about heating our homes, driving our cars and feeding our families. So instead of worrying and stressing out, which will only make things worse, lets just do the best that we can with what we've got, and realize what we do have and be thankful for it. Trust in God, not Congress, that this too shall pass. And I believe it was the Spice Girls who said 'All you need is positivity.'

It was on this day, October 7, 1996

2008-10-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

It was a week before my 17Th birthday. I was on my way to my first period English class with Ms. Oldershaw. Everyone was already in class and the second bell was about to ring. I had walked to class the same way I do every morning, with Melanie, Kim and Darric. Mel and Kim had already gone into their classes and Darric and I were still chatting in the hall. 3 days before, Darric had rejected me when I asked him out, so I was kind of laying low, not flirting with him like I had before, I don't remember exactly what we were talking about, but I do remember that he was giving me attention and acting in a way like he wanted to tell me something. I'm sure I was all like 'OK, I really gotta go to class now, what are you trying to tell me?' Then as I turned to go into my class, Darric grabbed my hand and asked me if I would be his girlfriend. *Insert Ohhhhh's and Ahhhhh's Here*

We would spend the next couple of years visiting each other's house when we could. While Darric played football, I managed the team and brought him water and washed his stinky uniforms. You should've seen us on Fridays, we'd both wear matching football jersey's. We were so cute. We made sure to talk on the phone every single night, some nights until 2am, most nights Darric would fall asleep on the phone. We took trips with eachother's family, including me going to Louisiana for the first time. Then it was at a Christmas party at his mother's house in '99. All his family was there. His mother seemed to be acting weird towards me like she was hiding something and because of my self consciousness, I assumed she didn't like me. Then Darric pulled me into a back room, I honestly thought he wanted to get frisky and was all like 'No Way, we are in your parents house with tons of family that could walk in.' As I was trying to pull away, just like I was trying to pull away to go to my English class that morning, Darric pulled me back, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

And that's how we began our little story. Of coarse there were some bumps or brain farts on my part is what I like to call them, but we'll save that for another day.

This morning I was going through an old popcorn tin that contained everything that we saved over the years. And some of the stuff I didn't even know what it meant, old receipts, a taxi matchbox car, a Burger king crown. Had I known, I would've put all this stuff in a scrapbook and wrote beside it what it meant. There was also tons of notes in there. I found it funny how Darric started all his notes with 'Hi Hon, I'm not sure what to write about, but you wanted me to write you a note so here it is.' And I even learned that I use to call Darric Pookey, bet he's glad that didn't stick.

It's neat to look back at how much we've changed, how much we've grown together and everything we've been through. Back then, I'm sure I thought how could I possibly love this person any more, I still ask myself that question today.

Elephants and Tigers and....oh my!

2008-10-04T05:41:00.000-07:00

OK so it's October 4th, that gives me 26 days till Halloween. The last couple of years I've waited till the last minute to get Jordan a costume and just ended up getting him the best thing that I could find that was left at Walmart. Dummy me, I could have started early and come up with something really creative and different to really get people talking. Instead he was a pumpkin, a witch and last year a monkey that didn't look like a monkey. I figured this year was my last chance to come up with my own idea like a hunter(to impress his daddy) or a zombie or beaker or I don't know a Rubik cube or something. Instead the kid has apparently grown his own mind and is set on the idea that he wants to be an elephant. Why an elephant, I don't know. Then the other day he exclaims that he wants me and daddy to be tigers. So not only am I going to have to find an adorable elephant costume to make up for the past not so adorable years, I also need to find halfway decent tiger costumes for Darric and I. Maybe we'll just draw whiskers on our faces.

So, what are you being for Halloween?

What's on your iPod?

2008-09-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that my all time favorite band is Fleetwood Mac. No matter what time of day it is, no matter what the mood I'm in I could listen to the vocals of Stevie Nicks along side Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood. And if you've ever driven by me in my car and I appear to be signing at the top of my lungs, you can bet I'm bolting out anything from 'Go Your Own Way' to 'Silver Springs' to 'Say You Love Me.'

Given this said, don't be surprised if you ever hear me singing 'Independence Day' by Martina McBride, or 'Back in Black' by AC/DC or even 'Hot In Here' by Nelly. Yeah, in other words I pretty much will listen to anything, with the exception of that loud, angry screaming crap that my crazy brother listens to. I honestly don't know how anyone can listen to that stuff.

Ever since last mother's day when Darric got me my little iPod shuffle though I've been wicked into listening to new and hidden music. For Instance,

Bishop Allen: I heard of this Brooklyn indie-rock group from a fellow blogger, and after checking it out, holy cow I am hooked. I especially like Click, Click, Click and Things are what you make of them.

Marie Moreshead: I came across this folk/pop songstress from Maine on 207. Seemed real catchy. I looked her up online and not only is her songs on obsessive rotation on my iPod, but I've been keeping up with her online journal as well. 'I love how' is a big favorite, especially at 2am in the morning when everyone else is snoring.

Ryan Adams: As a favorite of a coworker, I actually decided to give this guy a try when I saw his music on my brother's play lists. Although I usually have to be in a Ryan Adams mood to listen to him (whatever that exactly means) the one song that I really love is the popular song 'New York, New York'

I pick music that I like because of the words, if the words make sense or if I can relate to them then it's something I usually like. Now of coarse it also has to have a tune, and a lot of the music that I do like is my favorite because it relives stress by cranking it to 100 after I've dropped Jordan off to Preschool.

So, what have you been listening to lately? I have plenty of space on my iPod that needs filling. So, pump up the jam and send it along.

Spent 2 days in the woods and all I came back with was these pictures

2008-09-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

I just got back from spending 2 whole days in the great Maine Woods and the only way I can find the words to describe what it's like to somewhat live like a Redneck is by the numbers. So, here goes...

Miles of woods, dirt roads, fields and swamps I walked...Probably only 5, because...

Hours spent riding in truck with stinky, dirty minded men...20.

Mud splats on me due to riding 4wheeler through mud holes...45, 3 on my face. Awesome!

Times I had to Pee in the woods...5

Times I had to crap in the woods...None, thank god!

Pounds gained from eating unhealthy food like donuts, bologna and other junk...5

Gallons of coffee consumed to keep me going since being up since 4am...10

Piles of different animal poop saw and watched husband examine...100

Deer prints discovered...4

Coyote prints discovered...10, including a set of huge ones that seemed to scare my husband.

Bear prints discovered...2

Moose prints discovered...1,460

Birds seen and heard throughout the woods...5,667

Partridge husband attempted to shoot...2

Squirrels seen and heard...4,000

Deer seen...0

Rabbits seen...6

Moose Seen and/or shot at...NONE!

So, all that for nothing. We didn't see one friggin' moose in the 2 days that I was in those woods. Did I have fun, sure some. Did it feel worth it? Well, besides actually getting to spend some time with my husband, not really. But on a positive note, I got some nice pics.

You Might Be A Redneck

2008-09-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up my father, my grandfather and my uncles always hunted. Whether it was deer, moose or birds, if it was fall they were mostly in the woods. It only seemed right that my husband also hunt, and besides I'd miss out on having that yummy venison in the house. If you were to come into our house and walk into our back room, which is actually the office, you would see a tan painted room with a deer wallpaper boarder. Behind the door is a deer hide. There are 2 locked gun cases mounted to the wall and you couldn't miss the 3 deer heads staring you in the face. Some women would be totally against having stuff like this in the house, me I don't mind. And while I'm not into hunting myself, I enjoy seeing how excited my husband gets when the season arrives or even more excited when he got his first Moose Hunting permit this year.

When Darric and I got together I was introduced to his best friend and his then girlfriend who is now his wife. This couple is pure rednecks and we are still good friends to this day. When we first met though they had me doing things and telling me stories that I couldn't imagine. I will never forget the time we went muddin', got stuck and while the men went to get a tow the women sat and talked, or I sat there and listened to her stories of shooting her first bear. Wow, this woman was more of a man then her husband.

Over the years the three of them have always teased me that they were going to turn me redneck and they have changed me a bit, and although I still consider myself somewhat classy I still enjoy a nice steak on the grill, a muddy 4wheel ride in the summer and a cold beer after a long day at work. Next week will hopefully be the closest to redneck that I get. Next week I will join my husband in the woods as he hunts for his first moose. You'll be surprised to know that this was my choice, but only for the reason that I couldn't pass up the chance to come along with my camera and see what the guys are like in their favorite surroundings. I'm hoping to catch on video the moment that my husband gets his moose. He will be at his all time high and I think it'll be worth it to turn my neck just a little red for this experience. But just this once.

Tweeks to be made

2008-09-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank everyone who voted on our business card design, it helped so much. We have a winner, which I'm sure you've figured out which one, but we are going to make some tweeks to it before printing it. Once those tweeks are done, I'll show you the finished product.
Thanks again for every one's very helpful ideas, especially the person who voted for #4. ???

In other unrelated news, our wonderful president just came on the TV talking about Hurricane IKE, and this is how the conversation went between Jordan and I:

Me: Jordan, do you know who that is?
Jordan: Um, No.
Me:That's George Bush.
Jordan: George Bush?
Me: Yup, he's our president.
Jordan: Why he our pezzident?
Me: Ummmmm, Ummmm, I'm not sure really.

Help Us Decide [Voting Now Closed]

2008-09-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Below find 3 different Business Cards (designed by yours truly). We're not sure which one we like the best, so why not ask the experts huh?

Look them over, and either drop me a comment or an email. Voting will end Friday night.

VOTING HAS ENDED!!

But Why...

2008-09-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is how most conversations are going lately in our house:

Me: Jordan, supper's ready. Time to come eat.
Jordan: Why it time to eat Momma?
Me: Because Momma has cooked a good supper and it's done and time to eat it.
Jordan: Why you cook a good supper Momma?
Me: Because I want you to eat healthy.
Jordan: But why you want me eat healthy?
Me: So you can grow big and strong like Daddy?
Jordan: But Why Momma?
Me: Oh, just because.
Jordan: But why just because.
Me: *Sigh*

Jordan: Momma, whatcha doin?
Me: Oh, I'm folding laundry.
Jordan: Why you folding Laundry Momma?
Me: So it doesn't get wrinkly.
Jordan: Why it don't get wrinkly?
Me: Because then we'd look funny walking around with wrinkly clothes.
Jordan: Why we look funny?
Me: Umm, I don't know hunny, why you keep asking me why?
Jordan: (Confused look)

Me: Jordan, time for bed.
Jordan: Momma, why it time for bed?
Me: Because it's getting late and you need your sleep.
Jordan: Why I need my sleep?
Me: Because if you don't get enough sleep, you'll be cranky in the morning.
Jordan: Why I be cranky in the morning?
Me: Well, honey it's because you take after your father in that.
Jordan: But why I take after my father?
Me: I don't know, maybe you should go ask him. *snickers*

Somebody, please help me!

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

Now even though I've got laundry piled up to the ceiling, dust bunnies creeping in at every corner, and boxes that still need unpacking I am in the best mood right now because I'M HOME!!!! Yay. And we're selling the camper. Yup you heard it here. If you know of anyone that may be interested in a 36 foot 5Th-wheel corsair camper, let me know. We had a nice couple come and look at it yesterday, and hopefully we'll be hearing from them. *Crosses fingers.* We had a nice weekend cleaning up, it was a little sad leaving, but like I told the camp owners, they'll probably see us more next year then they did this year. We will definitely be going down for a lot of day trips, I'd miss the people too much. We just won't be sleeping and showering and catching mice there. I think it will be better for us this way.

So, Jordan survived his first week of preschool, and I barely did. Tuesday, his first day, was rough. I thought I would be fine, but walking out the door I lost it. I'm not sure if I felt nervous or sad or happy or what. He looked so grown up sitting in his little chair with all his little people friends. He seemed to love it and he apparently learned to count 1 and 2 with his fingers, which I thought was awesome until Daddy asked what 3 was and he blatantly said "3 Means Time Out!" and I realized that's how he learned to count on his fingers, in one day. His teacher said he seemed to listen a lot more on the second day which was the good news, the bad news was that he had 2 accidents. But we won't talk about that right now. Thursday was great, Friday was tough. He had a substitute teacher and for the first time since he was born he cried and wouldn't let me leave. And I was dumb enough to come back during nap time to check on him and I though he was sleeping and he wasn't and he saw me and we had to go through the whole thing again. So, I snuck out of that building twice that day, tears and all. Let's hope for a better second week.

Also guess who arrived this morning? Someone who was once very small, who never talked, but always seemed to listen, especially when he was eating which seemed to be all the time. Someone who recently hid away from us, behind his green barrier. This morning he decided to break through his barrier and show us his new look. Ladies and Gentleman, I'd like to introduce to you, once Mikey the Caterpillar...now, Mikey the Butterfly.

I'm so glad it was today that this happened because we got to set him free as a family and I think Jordan and Darric really enjoyed too. Hopefully Jordan will remember his first caterpillar changing into a butterfly. I'm sure they'll be many more to come.

Don't Mind Me

2008-09-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

It is now 9:00 in the morning, and I've been awake, and at work now for 6 hours. So, that will explain why this post is so random. Usually when I post something, I take hours at a time to plan on what I'm going to write, then I change things constantly. This post, because I'm doped up on caffeine, seems different, I don't even know what I'm going to type next, and you should see how fast my hands are typing on the keyboard right now. Just be glad that you don't have to work with me this morning. I'm even louder than usual. And I'm giggly, fidgety and all out probably annoying the crap out of my coworkers. So, you should feel blessed that you only have me in words right now.

This was our last weekend at camp. Ah, so sad! Yeah right! Actually, next week I will feel a little sad that it's over. I do love all the people that we camp with, especially the camp owners, they're the best! So, even though I do love my home, and don't care much for the camping stuff anymore, I will miss all my fellow campers......But I am so friggin excited to be going home. Yay!!!!!

Tomorrow Jordan starts Pre-Preschool! That's the name that I've given it. Because it's not really preschool, he's only 3 for goodness sake, but it is at school and it is in a classroom setting so...Pre-Preschool! How am I feeling about this you ask? Totally freaked out! I know it's all going to be alright, but gosh it really scares me that he'll be going into a daycare type setting. I always said I would never put my child in daycare, due to the fact that I worked in one years ago, but this one is the exception due to the fact that my MIL works there. Wow, 2 due to the facts in one thought!

So, it is kind of a downer that I have to work on a holiday, but all in all it's been a fun morning. And it's cool that I get out early in the day and I still have the day ahead of me. I will not be going home to take a nap, if so I will be a grouch by sundown. Instead I think I will go home, putter around, invite some friends over for a early dinner cookout, prepare myself and Jordan for tomorrow and crash probably around 10:00pm.

"Momma, it's a very fat Caterpillar"

2008-08-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

When I was a child I can remember every year at the end of summer my brother and I would go out behind my grandmother's house and hunt for Monarch Caterpillars. Once we found the small yellow and black creatures, we'd stuff them in a glass jar, with some milkweeds and watch them for days. After a couple of weeks of eating and pooping, the caterpillar would climb to the very top of the jar, hang upside down and eventually make a cocoon around itself. Then a couple of weeks after being in the cocoon, the cocoon would break open and of coarse we all know the outcome. My favorite part of the whole process was letting my beautiful butterfly free. After feeding and taking care of my caterpillar for the past month, it had turned into an adult, so to speak, and I had to let it go; it was my first feeling of feeling like a mother. Now as a mother, I get to watch my son experience the same thing.

2 weeks ago uncle Bill took Jordan out behind grammy's house and the found a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar. On day one he ate through 1 green leaf, but he was still hungry. By the second day he ate through 2 green leaves, but he was still hungry. On the third day he ate through 3 green leaves, but he was still hungry. Yeah, you get the point. Anyways, we've been watching out little caterpillar, who Jordan has named 'Mikey', very patiently. I love seeing Jordan get excited and interested in what Mikey the caterpillar will do next. Tonight when I got home, he really had a big surprise for me. Mikey the caterpillar had finally made his cocoon.

3 Years Old

2008-08-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

So I started planning out a special blog entry for Jordan's third birthday about a month ago. I had this great idea to putting together a nice little video montage, being as I'm in the video biz, but time and technology has worked against me. Suck! So, just pretend this post contains a lovely video showing my son's miraculous leaps of development from his two year old stage (tantrummy, cranky and most of the time smiling) to his current three-year-old stage (tantrummy, cranky and most of the time smiling), with fancy transitions and shit.

Jordan's birthday was last Sunday. Hey, I know I'm a little late but let's not forget that I'm a working mother and all. Geez! We had a bit of a hard time planning this years celebration. I was all celebrated out after The 50Th Anniversary Party and The Reunion, that I just wanted to stay home, eat lots of cake, watch my son open a couple of gifts, eat some more cake and be merry. But because we're in the days of satisfying all parties involved (grandparents I mean) we pushed ourselves and rented a party room at The Maine Discovery Museum. It was a little last minute planned endeavor and not to sound harsh, but only 2 out of the 7 kids showed up that we invited. I wasn't very happy. I felt sorry for my child who was actually starting to understand what a birthday was and just wanted to celebrate it with everyone. But, he did have lots of fun and the 2 kids that did show up are his best friends. So, we didn't stay home, but we celebrated, watched our kid open gifts and of coarse ate some cake. Mmmm Cake!
It has been a trying, exhilarating, amazing, difficult, and unforgettable three years since Jordan entered our lives. I feel like we've climbed Mt. Katahdid a thousand times over, and the view is ever changing, more marvelous than the day before, but the terrain never gets any easier. I think I have learned the most over the past year and I know we have completed one of the hardest milestones (so-far) just in the past months, as Jordan has finally become potty trained.
3 years ago was when we first met. I still can remember the first look into your eyes and feeling as though I already knew you. The first words out of my mouth "Hi Baby J" and that nickname still sticks today.
The everyday things you do, Jordan, sometimes make me blink back hot stunned tears of pride. I marvel at it all because you did not receive the memo that said your development is not unique, that this is not worthy of open mouthed joy. How could we be anything but amazed by you, when you are so amazing?
I have grown, and my love for my boy has grown; it is a breathtaking thing, holy and fierce. I daydream about him, I moon, I miss him when I cannot see him. I kiss his face and feel as though I could shatter into a thousand pink balloons, just from the touch of his skin.
I want a magic wand to wave over his future, I want to whisper promises of a charmed life into his ear.
It is so big, this job of being his mommy. He is pure, innocent, he embodies a sweetness of life that we humans try to define with gods and myth. Here is my wish for his happiness, and my breath on the candle. Here is the gladness that spills from me. Here is my promise: that I will carry him with me, wherever I go. Here is my plea: that I will do right by him. These past three years have gone by so quickly. I say, stop the earth from spinning and time from passing, for just a brief moment while I sit and take it in that my son is now 3 years old.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jordan Richard

*Phrases that are italicized were taken from fellow blogger Sundry. Nobody says it like she does and I can't take full credit for these beautiful words.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm....

2008-08-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

While at a Maine State Fair that is. Yeah, last weekend we broke down and took Jordan to the Skowhegan State Fair. Here are some things that we saw while there.

*A child, under the age of 5, running around the fairgrounds...with no shoes on. Sigh

*A very pretty girl, wearing a black racing outfit that read "Route 69" as she handed out Pig Pooping key chains.

*A man looking the age of 80 sitting close, with his hand on the leg of a woman looking the age of 25.

*Vendors trying to sell socks.

*A guy with earring holes the size of the tires on my car.

*A girl, wearing the baggiest black pants I've ever seen. Sporting more chains then the Tour DE France. (Think about it.)

*A man, weighing probably over 300 pounds, wearing NO shirt, with a flesh beard and his protruding nipples pierced. I know, I threw up a little bit in my mouth too.

*Cows Shitting, Horses Trotting, Chickens clucking...

Pigs Sleeping

Sheep Bathing and...

Giraffe's Eating.

Gotta love a good ol' Maine State Fair. All in all we did enjoy ourselves, especially Jordan who even got brave enough to go on some rides.

And The Giraffe's were wicked AWESOME!

I'm Back!!

2008-08-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, it's been so long, but trust me I've had good reason. I've been trying to figure out the best way to blog about why I haven't blogged in so long, without boring the heck out of you with a too long post, and being the obsessive creative person I am, I'm can't think of anything good enough. So, I'm going to take a bit of easy way out and list (by day) what I've been up to.

Saturday, July 19Th - Spent the entire day at work, on my own time, digitizing 4 hours of video into edit machine. This entitled me to watch it as I digitized it, and if you know what it was that I was watching you know why I had a headache by the middle of the day.
Saturday & Sunday, July 26Th & 27Th - Spent the entire weekend at work, on my own time, editing that said video. Because I was a little crunched on time the only thing really consumed this weekend was lots and lots of coffee. This weekend was full of tiredness, worryness, tears. What this weekend lacked was....Jordan.
Monday, July 28Th - Worked, but took 2 hour lunch break to run to Sam's club and iParty to get last minute condiments for what was happening in the upcoming weekend. Stayed up until 11:30 wrapping silverware.
Tuesday, July 29Th - Worked, but took 2 hour lunch break to shop for a dress that I realized I didn't have for the event going on for the upcoming weekend. Stayed up until Midnight wrapping silverware.
Wednesday, July 30Th - Worked, but worked on finishing up my little personal project for the big event for the weekend.
Thursday, July 31st - Worked, but worked on personal stuff (Shhhh). I was also told this day that I was walking around with my eyes bugged out of my head, I had developed a twitch and slightly shook from nerves. Did laundry till 11:00 then layed in bed until midnight going over last minute details in my head.
Friday, August 1st - Dropped Jordan off at my grandmother's house and left as though I was going to work. "Har!" That's what she thought. I actually went up to the Knights of Columbus hall in Old Town to decorate the hall for the big weekend event. While she thought I was editing local commercials, I was really hanging up streamers, filling bowls full of pretzels and blowing up gold balloons.
Saturday, August 2ND - Slowly got out of bed around 9am, after laying there since 6am. Wrote down a few special words I didn't want to forget, and headed for Old Town around Noon. At 3:30, I ran to the ladies room to literally throw on my dress. The next hour, which flew by, (as did the rest of the night) I mingled with family and friends, double checked everything and then it time. When I got the cue that they had arrived and I grabbed the microphone, my heart began to pound as though I was going on stage or something. I didn't know what was wrong with me, I knew every person in the room. They arrived in a Stretch White Limo (it was the best way we could think of to get them there.) They got the red carpet and all. And because the Limo set so low to the ground it was a little difficult for some of the arrivee's to get out. This was good though because it let my heart stop pounding a little. They walked in the door, and I was in plain site to them "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you. A couple who's been though it all, through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse and a couple who love each other and continue to love each other till death do them part. Ladies and Gentlemen Celebrating 50 years of marriage today, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Goody!" Later on, was when all my hard work really paid off. Since January when I did an interview with my grandparents 5 kids I have been working on a very special video for my grandparents for this day. I wanted to give them something they could cherish forever. After months of work my video was played for everyone to see. It contained lots of laughs and even got some tears from most. My video was the talk of the night, and I think is still being talked about a week later. And at the end of this night, as I layed my very tired head onto my very comfy pillow I came to realize what I had gained in this. Now knowing the history of my grandparents life, I have a new respect for my marriage and my life and know that if my grandparents can make it through 50 years together so can Darric and I. I can only hope that maybe someday we'll have a grandchild that will do something like this for us.
Sunday, August 3rd - I did absolutely nothing except sleep and be a mom.
This week has just been spent regaining consciousness and catching up on ya know, stuff! But I'm back to blogging now, I promise. I hope you missed me because I missed you. Oh, and here's some pictures from our big event.

Welcome Baby Koston

2008-07-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 17Th at 3:44pm my cousin Chelsey and her Boyfriend Donovan welcomed their new baby boy to the world.

Weighing in at 8 pounds and measuring in at 20 inches long.

His proud daddy picked out the name Koston, but they're still unsure on a middle name.

Mom, Dad & Baby are all doing very well.

Let's Play Catch-up

2008-07-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

What we'll be going over in this post...

Our 4Th of July Festivities
How our Anniversary was
Potty Training update

~Every 4Th of July Darric and his buddies spend their entire day scheming and plotting their big moment. And when I say moment, I really mean hour or so. You see, it actually starts around the beginning of June when they take their secret drive down to the NH border to their favorite fireworks stand and purchase illegal explosives. At the beginning he use to only spend a couple hundred bucks, but every year his eyes seem to get a little bigger and the vehicle seems to get a little fuller. From the time they get back to their big night, it's all everyone talks about, and they pretty much put on a professional show that's way better than any other town in the entire state, and anyone who is nearby will admit that it's loud and crazy and pretty damn awesome.

I myself have a hard time getting all hyped up. I usually feel nauseous from anxiety until it's all over with. This year was no exception, especially when the cops showed up. Yeah! You see we made it through the whole fireworks, and let it be known that we are never the only ones shooting fireworks off, it's going on around the whole lake. After the big finale, Darric had a couple of odd ones that he was shooting off randomly. I was standing close by when I saw a vehicle coming down the road and then our camp owner came around the corner yelling to Darric to stop because the cops were here (this is where my mouth started feeling really dry and my heart starts pumping up into my throat and I'm on the urge of vomiting). Thanks to some stalling the guys seemed to get everything pretty cleaned up....And also thanks to some neighbors who decided they wanted to do some more fireworks, the cop took off. *Big sigh! Maybe next year, we may rethink if we want to keep doing this breakin the law, breakin the law stuff.

And while Darric is enjoying his 60 minutes of fame, I'm the one who has to take pictures while trying to keep my cool and keep an eye on Jordan. This is the first year he actually got to watch the big kabooms outside of the camper and although other mothers had their kids close by, I didn't take my eyes off Jordan as he covered his ears the whole time. But he did seem to enjoy his father's entertainment.

That's not enough for my darling husband though. He has to continue the big weekend with putting on a big pig roast and bean hole bean supper. After spending most of the night burning a fire to put the beans in, he gets up before the sun does to throw on a poor, helpless pig into a cast iron stove. (And no I don't eat it, I usually see the poor thing alive and I can't bring myself to it). Most enjoy the big feast and it's a nice gathering from all.

~After we've recuperated from our fourth festivities, we then prepare to celebrate our Anniversary. We were married on the seventh day in the seventh month. My ring, along with my wedding band has seven stones. Notice a pattern here. Seven is our lucky number and since this year was our seventh anniversary, it was kind of a special one for us. And while I never know what to get my husband, he sure knows how to spoil me. When I arrived at work I was greeted with flowers, not the normal dozen roses, try seven dozen roses...yeah, that's 84 roses! He's a crazy man and I think he just wanted to be the talk of the town. Well, I think he accomplished that, because it's still being talked about at work.

After work, Darric and Jordan picked me up and surprised me with my favorite meal from Olive Garden and we went and had a picnic at Indian Trail Park in Brewer where we had our wedding pictures taken on the day of our wedding. As we were setting up our little picnic, Darric snuck up beside me, got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him again as he placed a white ring box in my hand. Yeah, this is the part where I began to cry, and then I really cried when I opened the box. It was a 3 stone diamond, which he said stood for Past, Present & Future.

Then we ended the night....with ice cream of coarse, you thought I was going to say something else.

~While at our little Anniversary picnic in the park, Jordan exclaimed he had to go pee, well, we've found out that it's so much easier and pleasant to just have Jordan pee in the woods. He gets a kick out of it too, as expected. Hopefully this won't bite us in the butt down the road (no pun intended). But this does show that Jordan is peeing like a champ. And the biggest news, I haven't had to buy diapers/pull ups in forever!!! The bad news though, we have had to throw a couple pair of underwear away due to the fact that he still hasn't gotten the pooping part down. But we're trying to keep our heads high and thinking positive that he'll get it.

~Now, back to the grind of our everyday lives of working, eating, sleeping, toddler wrangling etc. etc. Till next time...Sammy OUT!

Seven Years Ago Today...

2008-07-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago today....I awoke very, very early, after only getting a couple hours of sleep. I jumped in the shower, which would be the last time I would have a moment to myself for the rest of the day.

Seven years ago today....Me and my closest girlfriends spent the whole morning together, we laughed, shared stories, talked about boys, got all dolled up and cried a little.

Seven years ago today....The weather was warm, the sky was blue, the air was clear, the flowers were in full bloom, it couldn't have been more perfect.

Seven years ago today....I learned what it was like to have a hundred people looking at you. Smiling at you, very happy for you.

Seven years ago today....I saw my father cry for the very first time as he placed my hand into another man's, as he gave me away to that man.

Seven years ago today....I married my soul mate, I became a wife to a wonderful husband, I said my vows and I meant every word of them. I still hold those vows very close and dear to heart today, seven years later.

It has been seven years today. Darric and I have been through so much together. We've gone on a cruise, made it through a back surgery, helped each other through deaths in our families. And most importantly made a child together. Our road has had it's ups and downs, but we've rode them together, not knowing what we were doing, trying to love, support and forgive one We weathered it all, trusting that somehow we could do this together.

Every day we start new. Every day we choose to be here. Every day we greet our little boy that we made together and find another reason why we're here.

Happy Anniversary Darric, I love you! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written all week (tee-hee-hee), but I'm about to venture out for my holiday weekend, of coarse, upta camp! But, I am looking forward to it!!! We've got a lot of enjoyable things planned. Stay tuned for pictures at the beginning of next week.
Before you head out for your holiday weekends though, please stop over and visit my fellow blogger, Joey at her 5 To Many blog to give her many wishes as her and her family are on baby watch and I'm thinking there could be a Yankee Doodle Baby.
Happy 4Th of July to you all!! Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

Where have I been you ask?

2008-06-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid (teenager) and I would write in my personal journal, as all teenage girls do right, I would start most entries with "Sorry I haven't written in awhile" as if I was apologising to someone. I wrote this because I was a big slacker when it came to writing down my thoughts of the day. I would've rather talked on the phone for more hours or write my thoughts on my closet wall. So, when I sit back and look at how well I've done with this blog, I'm quite proud of myself, aren't you proud of me...you should be. But this week, yeah hasn't been a good week to be proud of. I've kind of let my blog sit on the back burner as I attend to other things like caring for a toddler, cooking for a husband and actually getting work done at work. I know, how dare me.
You should feel lucky that I haven't blogged this week though because I've been a bit of a crank-butt. For those of you who know, it's that time of year. The time of year where we pack up all our clothes, all our food, all our really good movies, board games, lawn chairs, the boat, kayak, 4wheeler and whatever else I can grab and head upta camp! This is the time of year when I feel truly like a Maineah! 6 years ago we bought a 32 foot, 5Th wheel camper and went camping for a month, then we decided that we liked it so much that the following year we went for 3 months, the whole summer in other words. Back then, B.C. as I like to call it (before child), it was great, but by the beginning of the 3rd month I was ready to be at home. 2 months was enough of taking camper showers and shitting in a camper toilet then I needed, but being a good wife and knowing how much my husband loved it, I dealt with it.

Jordan was born in August, so we were upta camp when I went into labor. No big deal, but it became a big deal after Jordan was born and I really didn't want to be there and pretty much sheltered myself to the camper. I never left, I barely showered. I wanted to be in my home setting while I tried to figure out the early days of becoming a mother.

Since then, by the time the middle of May rolls around and we start talking about camping I can feel myself wanting summer to be over with already. Pretty sad huh? Darric and I have compromised, we still bring the camper at the end of May, spend memorial day there setting up and stuff, but we don't actually move there until the month of July, or the week before so we can prepare for The 4Th of July. And then we usually spend a little of time there in August. I still dread it though. I don't know why because honestly I do enjoy myself for the most part. We go boating, 4wheeling, kayaking, and there's family and close friends all around us. It's just become more of a pain in the butt I think because we don't have the time that we use to have BC, and we both work more now, and we get tired easier. I've tried trying to talk myself into being positive about the whole thing, I think of the pros rather than the cons, but for example last night at midnight as I was finishing up packing and I was dead tired out of my mind and as I looked at my peaceful spoiled rotten,unappreciative sleeping husband, I couldn't help but think THIS SUCKS! Excuse me while I spout off a little bit, but if he's the one that wants to do the camping shit shouldn't he be helping out a little more, or at least staying up with me to keep me company and make me feel a little appreciative. Yeah I know he's also busy with his work and trying to start up a business and all, but not only do I have to get the stuff ready for camp, I still have to keep up with the housework, I have a 40 hour job myself and remember that kid we've got. Yeah, he's almost 3 and he's very demanding and needy of my attention. And this year is going to be the worst I fear because in the month of August we've not only got our High School Reunion, but I'm in the midst of planning a 50Th Wedding Anniversary Party and at the same time making a video for it. Plus with gas prices...need I say anymore.....*sigh*

OK, I'm done! I'm over it. This morning I was kind of bitchy with Darric, oh and he knew why, and afterward, after I was at camp, after everything was put away and I got to sit for a moment and look at the calm lake and visit for a moment with family I kind of felt bad. It'll be OK. I'll make it through the summer. I'll have fun, most importantly Jordan will have fun. All will be fine.

Then next year will come and we'll go through this all over again. Obla dee, obla daa!

What's New?

2008-06-17T21:15:00.001-07:00

Well, we had a great father's day, despite the dreary weather, Jordan and Daddy made the best of it and went fishing. A first for Jordan, a thrill for Daddy!

Due to the newest trick by Mr. Jordan of climbing out of his crib, it was a must that we do the Ole' bed changaroo. As you can see, he's some happy, and he loves his bed...even though he's been ending up in ours by mid morning.

Heck, why not go full tilt and make him a complete big boy by really pushing the potty training with big boy underwear. You can read our progress, or lack there of, here.

And I got a new hair cut. Not sure how I like it yet, still trying to figure that one out.

So, what's new with you?

Dad, you may want to skip this one!

2008-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just need to learn to keep my mouth shut. If you missed The Today Show on Tuesday morning, then you missed this crazy story about the couple that challenged themselves to have sex for 101 days...yeah, I did say have sex for 101 DAYS! I know, they're crazy. And oh yeah, he wrote a book about it. How could he not.

The whole time I was watching this story, I was either laughing or saying out loud 'crazy.' The reason I was laughing was for the simple fact that yeah you had sex for 101 days, and you're now talking about it on National television. And I can only imagine what Ann Curry was thinking as her eyes appeared to be popping out of her head the whole time, let alone the rest of America. If you go on to read the comment section beware, they've got some braggers on there, that apparently having sex for 101 days is nothing to them because their record seems to be 1000 times a year. Blah, blah, blah!
So, here's where I learned my lesson though. Because I thought the story was so comical, I decided to email the link along to my husband, stating check out these crazy people. Well, he hasn't dropped the subject since. He keeps insisting we try it, better yet because our lucky number is 7, let's do it 107 days daily. What have I done? What does he think I am, wonder woman. OK, I'll admit it, I've obviously been thinking about this too. Don't ask me why because I honestly don't think we could pull it off. I still can't figure out how this couple pulled it off (what about her period? What if you just plain didn't want to? )Today though, I even thought about starting a competition with one of our friends. Nothing crazy, but ya know how when you're on a diet and you get encouragement from your friends that are also on a diet? Kind of like that.

So what do you think, are these people crazy? Do you think it's something worth trying? One thing the couple did say it did for their relationship is that at the end of the day, it wasn't about the sex it was about the time spent together, the intimacy and isn't that really what sex is all about? Being close together and sharing your love. I think we all could use more of that. I know my life gets pretty hectic between kids, job, house, cleaning, laundry, family, etc, etc. I tend to let myself and my marriage go and get put on the back burner and it's not suppose to be this way. What about you? How do you find ways to balance out your life? I'm not totally committed to this 101 day thing yet, but I may go buy the book. Just do it

Big Step

2008-06-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Wasn't it just yesterday that Jordan was learning to walk, didn't he just start saying Momma and Dadda? Well, it may seem like it was yesterday, but today I'm realizing that when people tell me the time flies right by with a kid, they are so right. I just got back from signing Jordan up for Preschool, which he will be starting in the fall. Big Sigh! Now I know he's going to do just fine, we've visited there many a times due to the fact that my MIL works there, and every time he'll go off on his own and play with the kids, it's me that's going to have a hard time with this. Before Jordan was born I swore I would never put him in daycare...I worked in a day care right out of high school and many of the teachers didn't give a rats about the kids, they didn't pay attention to them and the environment that I saw there was not an environment that I wanted to my child in. Lucky for us we've been able to have family watch Jordan. With my mom, Darric's mom, my grandmother and Darric's sister we were able to feel safe leaving Jordan with them, and it has saved us a ton of money. Well, we now feel it is time for him to get out and socialize with others who are under the age of 24. So, September 2nd is going to be one tough day for me. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the day. At least I've got a little time to prepare.

....

Now that's giving that Jordan is completely Potty trained by then as well, that's one of their major rules. So, in the last couple of days I've been sticking to my guns and really pushing it...and for the last 2 nights Jordan has pooped on the potty! Can I get a Hell-yeah! Keep your fingers crossed for us because I've got just a little over 2 months.

A Great Place To Visit...But I could NEVER live there

2008-06-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

The streets are crowding, everyone in a hurry, very fast paced. Some people appeared to be heading to work, some heading home, some at work out on the streets either advertising their product or trying to sell it, those people flocked to the many obvious tourist, including us. You can look left, right, up or down, no matter which way you look there's something to see and the views are breathtaking. Parts seem dirty, and grungy while others felt clean and classy, you knew that's where the stars were. (Nope didn't see anyone famous). During the day the mood felt all business like, while at night the atmosphere around us wanted entertainment. Seeing the sights I had only seen a gazillion times on TV felt surreal. Knowing I was walking on the same streets that many, many famous, well known icons has walked on was enough to complete my visit to the city. The overall effect of it all was stunning.

That's it in a nutshell really. Obviously, we loved NYC, not enough to live there, couldn't pay us to live there, but a visit every once in awhile is a must and a recommendation to all.

I hope you all didn't get up early just to try and see us on the Today Show cause it didn't happen. Our original reason for going to the big city was to drop my sister in law's car off to be shipped to Italy as they are in the Navy and are being re stationed there. We couldn't drop the car off until 8:00 and after waiting 2 hours with inspection and everything it was too late. Oh well. Next time.

What did we do though...Well, we walked.....a lot! I also had a great visit with an old friend in Bryant Park. We went to the Top of the Rock, paid our respects to Ground Zero, walked down Wall Street, took a ferry ride to Staten Island just so we could get a good view of the Statue of Liberty, rode the subway, walked some more, did some shopping, had some guy say he was going to pop us in the ass right here on Broadway (yikes), got approached by lots of street vendors, rode the subway some more and walked some more too of coarse. My favorite part, walking down Times Square....wait for it....at night. I could have stood there all night going around in circles just looking up. Wow, amazement really. And the only thing that our trip lacked in was sleep, but that was OK, sleep is overrated anyway.

Don't worry, I'll get to the pictures really soon, but before that if you are planning on making a visit to the Big Apple here are some of my tips for you:

1. DON'T BRING A STROLLER. While it's great to store all your stuff in, and it does make it nice to have your child strapped in securely and not running all around. Almost none of the subway stations have elevators and you will be left lugging the stroller down stairs. It gets old real fast.

2. DON'T DRIVE IN THE CITY. Take the bus, take a taxi, take the subway. It puts too much stress on anyone trying to drive in the city. It should be outlawed really.

3. GET FAMILIAR WITH THE SUBWAY. If you have no idea what you're doing when it comes to the subway, you can waste a lot of time trying to figure out where you're going to go and how you're going to get there. We bought a all-day pass, which costs $7.50 and we could use as many times as needed, highly recommend.

4. SKIP THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. You don't go all the way to the top anyway, and it's way too expensive. Instead, do what we did and go to the top of the rock. You actually go to the top, it's cheaper, and you can get a combo ticket and get a tour of NBC Studios. And if you go this way you can get a picture of the Empire State Building from that height.

5. FERRY TO STATEN ISLAND. Don't pay to go to the Statue of Liberty, you can't go up in it right now anyway. Instead take the free ferry to Staten Island which goes right by Lady Liberty and in my opinion was close enough to get some great pictures. (stay tuned, almost done.)

I'm sure I could come up with a ton more tips, like if you're going to Central Park, don't go past 59th street(scary) and if an vendor approaches you with something and you may be interested, chew 'em down, they'll most likely go down, but I don't want to blabber too much. So, now onto the pictures.

Road Trip

2008-05-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

We're heading to New York for the weekend, make sure to look for us tomorrow in the crowd on The Today Show, I'll be the one with the big zit in the middle of my chin and with a red nose thanks to a friggin cold. It was a nice departing gift from a co-worker, thanks for that.
I've still gotta fix my hair, paint my nails and find something to keep a toddler entertained for a 7 hour car ride. Wish me luck. I'll c-ya on the other side of the weekend and don't worry I'll have plenty of picture.

Do you like your job?

2008-05-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

When I tell people that I work for a local television station their immediate response is "That must be fun?" I'm not sure if fun is the word I would use, don't get me wrong I do enjoy my job most times, especially on those days when we're shooting a commercial for a local lobster restaurant and we get to eat the props afterwards. And it is kind of enjoyable to drive a brand spanking new car down the interstate to show how fast it will go for a local car commercial. Like a lot of things in life those moments don't happen often and while there are fun parts of my job, there's also not so fun parts. Give last Thursday as an example. Without giving away this particular client, even though some of you locals may figure it out, we were shooting a a local car dealership. This car dealer insists on using Golden Retrievers for their commercials, and I'm not saying anything is wrong with this...it definitely works for them, also given the fact that those of you who probably figured out what car dealership I was talking about when I said Golden Retrievers. But anyway, we've done a lot of commercials with this client and we've made these dogs, and other creatures, do some pretty crazy stuff, like the time we got a dog to look like he was talking on the phone, by using peanut butter. And I'll never forget the time we pulled off getting the poor dog to walk on a treadmill and we never thought we'd be able to pull that one off, but we did. In fact it's those difficult ones that don't seem to take as long. But when we think we've got something easy, like getting a dog to sniff a car, it can take us hours. Thursday I was forced to go with 'good enough' when all we needed was to have 4 dogs sit together in a car with their heads sticking out the window. After going at this for 2 hours while having one dog play shy in the back and not want to even pick his head up, and one other dog insist on jumping out the window every 2 seconds, it started to rain and I know we had one shot that was doable, when I took the factor that it was only going to show for a matter of 1 SECOND, that's when I said 'Good Enough.' Which those who know me, know that I'm not known for Good Enough, but when you can feel people's eyes glaring at you praying that we got the shot, it's hard to say 'sorry, we've gotta try again.

So, yeah while my job can be fun, and although I don't really get paid 'big bucks' and I'd much rather be doing this job then being a stay at home mom, yeah that last one's a lie. I hope the next time you see a commercial with a dog in it, you'll take note how much time it may have took to get that particular shot.

Weekend Wrapup

2008-05-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

It was a pretty crazy weekend for us, so I'll try to keep this to a minimum by just sharing some of the highlights.

Friday - Happy Birthday To My Husband
You're always there for me, when things tend to go wrong. It's the faith you have in me, that makes our marriage strong. It's your loving and your caring, and knowing that you're near. That special knack you have, make my troubles disappear. A better husband no woman could want, with your sweet and gentle ways. And knowing that your love for me is just as strong today.

If you could have seen the look on Darric's face when Jordan surprised him at work with his rendition of Happy Birthday and some special gifts, including a home-made card and a Dunkin Donuts gift card with a bonus coffee.

After work we took Daddy to The Ground Round for cake.....with a side of Budweiser.

And, don't ask me why, but the birthday boy insisted buying everyone a round. He had mine, I wasn't interested.

Friday I also got to have lunch with an old High school best friend who I miss very, very much. It was so good to see her and....she's getting married! And....she asked me to be in her wedding. I'm so excited!!

Saturday - Moved our camper down to our camp where it'll stay all summer. And all I have to say about that is...phfttttttttttttttt!!!!

Sunday - Family Get-together. Got up early to head south to visit with my dad's side of the family and to say Goodbye to his sister who will be moving to Colorado in 2 weeks.

It was so great to see everyone and Jordan loved playing with all his cousins. He followed Aly around all day.

And on the way home we made a stop to remember a loved one.

So, there's just a smidgen of how our weekend was. How was yours?

I've posted some more pictures on my flickr account if you'd care viewing. The link is to the right side of this page. Until later...I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

Admitting to my addiction

2008-05-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hi. My name is Samantha and I have an addiction. I am addicted...to blogs!

Hi Samantha

It all started about 3 years ago when I got pregnant and I became paranoid that I knew NOTHING about children and parenting. I went to the web, (which at that time I only used occasionally to check email), I searched pregnancy and holy moly had a plethora of different websites for moms and moms-to-be. I got hooked to a couple, a couple that I don't even remember the names of them. One that I'm still hooked to, to this day is Club mom. I like Club mom because they had forums where you could ask other moms questions or get their opinions on particular issues. The blogs didn't interest me yet, I had heard of blogs in the past, but I always thought 'why would I care about hearing about other peoples opinions, they're like assholes right and I deal with enough of those already.' And it wasn't until Jordan turned 1 that I came across a particular blog that I became very, very fond of. 'Purple is a Fruit' was the name of said blog. Linda, or Sundry, who lives on the other side of this country, blogged about her son Riley, who is just a couple weeks younger than Jordan. Well the more I read Linda's blog, the more I felt myself relating to her. Then I found myself clicking on other blogs that I found myself relating to. "Hey, this is really cool, I'm not insane, I'm not the only one who has a kid that seems to be puking, pooping and sleeping too much, I'm not the only one who wonders if she's doing an OK job at the parenting thing, I am a normal person." Some may argue on that last one.
Then last December I decided I wanted to bore people tell people about my life. Haven't figured out why though yet, but it's fun nonetheless. I guess I mostly started this blog so that in the future I could go back and read about what I'd done, what I was like etc. etc. And to laugh at myself. And it's also a great way for family members who live away to feel more close to us and know what's going on in our daily lives. But then last Saturday night I was up until 2 in the morning. Doing what you ask? Of coarse blogging. This is when it became apparent to me of my addiction. I then thought it out in my head. Ya know, this is why the laundry piles up more now, this is why I'm always so tired. This is why I feel like I can't get anything done, this is why I'm not as efficient at my job as I use to be. OH MY GOD, I've got a real problem here....

Now, let's turn this into a positive and what I can do with my addiction. Last week on the today show they did a segment on Mommy Bloggers, in case you missed it, you can view the segment here:

The part about this segment that I keep thinking about is that these women are making money, good money to do what I am doing. My addiction could make me money? Shyah! So, today when my employer handed out letters stating the word, CONSOLIDATION, and he told me not to panic, I said OK, because if something does happen and I get laid off, then I'm going to take it as a message from God that I should be a SAHM and get paid to blog. Hell yeah!

Now I'm just a beginner at this blogging stuff, so I really would have no idea of where to even start. So, now I'm hoping for some help from my other blogger addicts. And I'm hoping that one day in the future I can look back at these posts and say, "Huh, remember when I went to rehab for that stupid addiction. I'm sure glad I took that addiction and did something good with it."

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-10T10:40:00.001-07:00

Before I was a Mom

I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of:
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces, when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

I unfortunetley cannot take credit for this beautiful poem. The author to me is unknown, but each time I read it, I feel meaning in every sentence.

Jordan, you have brought so much joy to my life. Just today I rushed in to pick you up as you woke up crying from your nap. I held you and rocked you for awhile, feeling guilty because I knew I had a lot to do, but then I realized that none of those things that I had to get done were as important as sitting there holding you, and being your mommy.
The other day you ran up to me, asked me to pick you up, wrapped your little arms around me and told me you loved me. That right there is the best gift I could ever receive for Mother's day. You are my gift, my little man, my baby J and it brings me tremendous pleasure and joy being your mommy.
Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms. I hope your day is filled with beauty, love and happiness.

This is why I can't work nights..

2008-05-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

Right now, because of daycare options, I work late on Tuesday nights, which means Darric does the nighttime routine. Well, Monday Jordan came down with an ear infection (his first) and he is now on amoxicillin. Before I left for work I made sure to tell Darric the jist...1)Give Jordan his antibiotic around 9:00. 2)Give it to him with a snack. 3)Make sure you shake it really well. and 4) Only give him 1 teaspoon. I called around 9:30 to check in and this is how the conversation went.

Darric: How much medicine is he suppose to get?

Me: 1 teaspoon, why?

Darric: Are you sure?

Me: Yes, 1 teaspoon...WHY?

Darric: It says 5 teaspoonful...

Me: What??? No it doesn't!

Darric: Yes it does, it says five 1 teaspoonful.

Me: That doesn't make sense. (Pause as I search for the vision in my brain of what I actually saw on the prescription bottle..Heart starting to pound)

Darric: It does. Hang on I'll go check.

(Moment later)

Darric: It says five 1 teaspoonful by mouth twice a day.

At this point, I'm now remembering this particular label.

The pharmacy had cut of the first letter off. My DH was assuming it said FIVE....

Me: GIVE! GIVE! It says GIVE 1 teaspoonful by mouth.

Darric: Oh.....

Me: Sooo, HOW MUCH DID YOU GIVE HIM?

Darric: I only gave him 2 teaspoons because I wasn't sure.

Me: (Sigh)

You can now swallow your heart like I did when I thought my husband gave my 31 pound, 2 year old child 5 teaspoons of amoxicillin.

I'm never answering the phone again...

2008-05-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

when the caller I.D. says unknown at least. So, it was Wednesday morning, 9:45am, I'm about to walk out the door on my way to drop Jordan off and head to work. I was actually doing good on time for once, then the phone rang...I always check to see who it is calling before I answer. This call read "unknown" which I'm usually like oh well, they'll leave a message if it's important. Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I answered it. Bad mistake...or was it?

Before I go any further let me just make it known that my darling husband has recently become addicted to the Internet. God love him, he'll click on just about anything. And I caught him the other day putting in our information on this win a trip website. I knew I should have ripped the plug out of the wall at that point, but he's gotta learn right? So, the person on the other line asked for Darric, I thought I was saved, but once they asked if I was Mrs then they continued with their mission. Joanne, was her name, explained that we had just qualified for some Orlando trip, she continued on to give me my pin number and a website that I had to go to, to do something, I'm still not sure what that part was all about. I figured it wouldn't take that much longer, so I continued to listen. Well, for the rest of the day I felt as thought I had a word written across my forehead, I kept trying to rub it off, but it stayed...SUCKER! is what it read. Yup, I got suckered into some Orlando trip. Here's the offer though and you can tell me if it sounds worth it.

5 days, 4 nights in Orlando Florida (we have a couple of options of hotels to pick from, which from some of the pictures I've seen, they're beautiful.
4 of those days and 3 of those nights we stay at a place located right on the ocean
Rental car. No black out dates and no cut-off on how much mileage we use.
$100.00 off, per person for airfare
Can bring up to 5 people
We pick when we go
We have to go within 2 years

ALL FOR $398!!!

So, what do you think? Am I crazy, am I a sucker? I did say to the lady "now what if this is a scam and you just want my credit card number." She then directed me to their website where it stated everything she had just told me. I made sure to read all the fine print and it seemed all Kosher. We should be getting a fed ex package this week with more info, so I'll let you know about that. I would've normally discussed this over with Darric, but she stated it was a one time deal and once we hung up the phone, the deal was no longer available. SUCKER!! I know.

So, after I got off the phone I called Darric and ratted him out for signing up for this crap. In my head, I was a little excited thinking we may be going to Florida in the next 2 years, but I was still a little angry about the whole fact too. I really hate giving my credit card number over the phone. Something a little interesting though...Darric did say that if I get any other calls like that again, to just say they NEED to call back when he was home. I asked why and he said he was working on something at the moment, but he told me it was none of my business. Well...we'll see about that. Especially considering sitting beside me on our computer desk right now is a confirmation letter stating a Las Vegas trip.....WTF!!!

Tales From the Potty

2008-04-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

I started our nice Sunday off with plans of cleaning up the house, maybe playing outside and doing some yard work, clean out my flower beds. I also wanted to try and organize our closets, get out the summer clothes, ya know stuff like that. I did not plan on spending my entire afternoon sitting on the bathroom floor trying to get a 2 year old to poop for Christ sake. As a mom, we have our instincts and I knew he just had to poop and today was going to be the day, whether I got nothing done around the house or not. We were going to sit on that potty until something happened, and we all know what the something HAD to be. I read him stories, we sang songs. We played the 'I spy' game, bathroom style and did you know there's only so many things you can spy in a bathroom? I even did a poop dance, that didn't work, it just made him laugh and me feel foolish. I left the room to give him privacy, I came back to toilet paper strung all over the room. Arg! I even chanted...looked him in the eye and said "poop Jordan, poop!" I don't think I've said the word poop more times in one day, I wonder if that's in the Guinness Book of world records. I also wonder if I'm the first mother who prayed to God for poop?

And then it happened. I had given up really, it had been almost 2 hours of trying, and I figured any longer and he may have a permanent ring around his poor little bum and when he got up I noticed it. There it was, I've never been so happy to see 2 little grape size poops sitting there in the bottom of the john. We laughed, we danced. I tried to make the biggest deal out of this. Poopy in the potty, poopy in the potty!

Then it was nap time, and yes we had to try again because in the back of my head, I knew those 2 little rabbit size turds wasn't it. So, there we were again, sitting on the potty. I figured this time would be easier being that he had already done it once and it was so fun right? Well, after wasting another hour and it now being way past nap time, I was done trying. My house work was NOT getting done and I knew the yard work wasn't going to happen either and besides it was raining too. So, we put him to bed. ---2 minutes past, 2 MINUTES....
"Mommy, I POOPED IN MY PANTS!"

I made Darric go in because I was about to lose it. So, to put an end to this shitty story, no pun intended, I didn't get much housework done, I didn't get ANY yard work done. We had somewhat success on the potty which put us in the best of moods, but had those moods turned around when there we were once again wiping away our hopes and dreams...literally!

Day 4 Picture = Perfect Ending to a Perfect Weekend

2008-04-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend we had, busy but great. Friday night we headed 2 hours south to stay with Darric's sister. Her and her family will be leaving in a couple of months to be restationed in Italy. We're going to miss them so much, so we had a great visit, including being part of Gary's reinlistment into the Navy. I thought it was weird that they have to literally take you out of the Navy in order to put you back in. Hunh. Beautiful day and got some beautiful pictures. At the end of the day when I was reviewing all the pictures I had taken, I was bummed to find out that not one picture got taken of 'us' as a family. My own fault, but still bummed about it.

Saturday night we headed almost 2 hours west to stay with my dad and his girlfriend Denise. We had a great stay, and Jordan sure loves his Papa Rutter.

Usually after a weekend away, I'm so glad to just sit in the vehicle and not say a word. Even though Jordan does always do a great job at somebody elses home I'm so tired of being constantly on him to "don't touch that Jordan," and "Jordan, what do you need to say?" ect. ect. so it was nice to have a nice quiet ride home.

It's the thought that counts right? Yeah, Not Really!

2008-04-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Has another week already gone by? Wow! Ya know, there really isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about blogging and I usually have it in my plans for the day, but by the time I get home from work at 7:30, eat suppah, clean up from suppah, get Jordan ready for bed (this most times includes a bath), read him a story and tuck him in and do laundry it's usually 10:00 and I'm not sure if my brain works past that time. And actually, right now I've been attempting this post for the last hour while I'm at work, but people keep pestering me about work stuff, how dare them! So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

..Stand by for the newest picture to the picture project at the end of this post.

Until that though, I wanted to tell you of another place where you can read my works and hear about my ever so boring life. I may have mentioned it before, but we here at WLBZ 2 and WCSH 6 have started a new website for Maine Moms, and within that website of mom forums and stories that affect any parent really, there is a blog link where I write at least once a week. My scheduled day to blog is Tuesdays, but I sometimes post on other days as well. So, come on over and check it out.

..Now onto today's picture. Which, I have to be honest wasn't taken today, but I think it goes great with my post as to another reason why I can never get a moment to myself.

And can someone just please help explain to me why is it that my toddler always feels the need to take out every book from his bookshelf and take out every toy from his toy box and throw it on the floor only to not even play with it. And why does this always seem to happen either when it's time to leave the house or when it's time for bed? Why...Why...Why?!?

Remembering Sgt. Nicholas Robertson

2008-04-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Please forgive for skipping a couple days of my picture project. I will continue it very, very soon. I'm going to take today's post to recognize and remember a friend. Sgt. Nicholas Robertson was killed on April 3rd while serving in Afganistan. I was in the band with Nick and we graduated together. I remember Nick real well as being a quiet kid, he was awesome at the drums and I can still see his face as he played. He was a good looking guy that I didn't really know him real well, but now wish I had. Over the past week we've done a couple stories on Nick here at Channel 2. I brought in my yearbook and I even found video of Nick playing his drums. It was kind of hard for me to look at his pictures and have to make preproduction elements out of them. Over the past 7 years that I've worked in TV I've done tons and tons of preproduction pictures of mug shots, dead soldiers, but this one I really had a hard time with. This one hit home. Never had I dreamed I would have to take a picture of someone that I knew, write their name beside it and know that it was going to be broadcasted due to his death. I can't imagine if I ever had to do this with a close family member.
Everyday I've been thinking of Nick and his family. What they must be going through, what any soldier's family must go through. I wonder what Nick was like after high school, what he was like in the army. If he kept close contact with any of his friends and if he had a girlfriend at the time of his death. I didn't get to make it to Nick's wake or funeral, but I know where he is buried and I may just make a visit.
My deepest sympathies go out to Sgt. Nicholas Robertson's family. And my prayers go out to all the soldiers in this war that I now believe more than ever should be over!!

Remembering Nicholas Robertson on WLBZ 2
WLBZ 2 Funeral Coverage
Bangor Daily News Article 1
Bangor Daily News Article 2
Bangor Daily News Funeral Coverage
Obituary

Day 2: My Day with My Boy

2008-04-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful spring day here in Maine, we're lovin' it. Another sure sign of spring, less kids being at our playgroup at the Bangor Rec, which can only mean they were at the outdoor park. Today was also our last class of Kindermusik, until september at least. We've had such a great time at Kindermusik, Jordan has learned to have patience and he really is interacting with the other kids great. Tuesday's have become our 'Special' Day. I go into work late on Tuesdays, to coordinate with the different babysitters, this allows me to spend the morning with my boy. We recently started going to the Bangor Rec department. It's an open gym for preschoolers, it's free and open to the public, anyone can go, and did I mention it's free. They have balls, hoolahoops, giant blocks, and even a slide set up for the kids to play with. Jordan really loves it and I notice that on these days he tends to have less tantrums. Now that's it's getting warmer out, we're going to start going to the outside park instead. I charish Tuesdays with My Boy

So, here's day 2 of my photo project. I took this while waiting for Kindermusik to start. It's held at the Maine Discovery Museum. Every week we can not get through the door without playing with their toy train, or stopping to see the baby shark, or the turtle, or the snake, or getting a drink at the water fountain, or counting the pigs on the wall, or...now you see why I have to show up a half hour early.

30 Days of The Way Life Is

2008-04-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

So, just for something to do, I'm going to try a little project, I know just what I need something else to keep me busy, we'll see how it goes. My project is called 30 days of The Way My Life Is! I got this idea from a fellow blogger. I figured this was a good way for me to have something to write about everyday. Oh, what is it exactly? Well, I'm going to write everyday with a picture that shows a highlight of my day, or describes the way my day was. Get it? Like I said, we'll see.

So, here goes.

Day 1: A Sure sign that Spring has finally sprung.

Bird Watching. We had some time before we left the house this morning to take a stroll around the yard. Jordan was amazed with all the birds he could hear. It's funny, even though it was Monday, I spilt coffee on my pants, and I had to deal with grumpy people at work I still seemed to be in a great mood. I think it had to do with the weather. I really hope it decides to stay around.

WANTED: Comments!

2008-04-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I thought she said she was going to post more blogs this week, SHEESH! I often think to myself, Oh, I need to post a blog today. Then I find myself wondering what can I bore the people with today? So, the question to you is: What has brought you to my blog today? What keeps you coming back, if you have indeed been here before? I know that recently at work, I'll be carrying on a converstaion with somebody and then realizing I've been rambling on and on. The person's eyes are glossed over and I can feel the spit gathering in the corners of my mouth. I can't help it, I love to share the funny, cute, adorable stories of my 2 year old, but I don't want to bore anyone at the same time. This quesion and concern comes to mind because I've noticed that I'm not getting as many comments as I would like. I'm not begging, I just like to know who's reading my blog, and what you think of my posts. So, just do me this little favor and humor me, even if it is for this one post.

Tag, I'm It!

2008-03-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

*sigh* I've been tagged by Kristin for a meme and because I'm a good blogger I'll comply. The rules go a little something like 'dis.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names and as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Let the meme begin:

1. I talk to myself all the time.
2. I'm tongue tied. Plan to fix someday.
3. I'm having the hardest time with this.
4. I dated Howie Day in Junior High.
5. I pray everytime I get in car.
6. When nervous I chew on my hair.
7. I have a thing for number 7.

So, there you have it. Notice how many words are in each fact. Also, I got married on the 7th day in the 7th month. Last year our anniversary was 7/7/07 and this year we will celebrate our 7th anniversary. My ring has 7 diamonds. So, the fact that this meme had to do 7 facts was the only reason I decided to partake in it. Hope you enjoyed. Now I'll tag:

Joey at 5 too Many
Jennifer at List Mama
Linda at All & Sundry
Meg at Main-ly Megin

OK sorry, but I'm tired and that's all I've got. Hope you enjoy

Playing Catch up

2008-03-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

Ah, Good Morning....It's a beautiful sunday morning at our house. It's currently 9:30am, Jordan is still sleeping (YES!!), Darric is out helping his father with a project he's got going on. I've got the sound of laundry going downstairs and the aroma of my french vanilla coffee is filling the room. This is my down time from my hectic week. Sorry I haven't written all week, so here's a break down of how my week went.
*Monday - Was suppose to have an Orthodontist appointment, had to cancel because I didn't have a babysitter because my grandmother was sick. Spent the morning calling everyone I knew to see if they could watch Jordan because I could not take the day off. Another reason I HATE having to work.
*Tuesday - This is my weird scheduled day, because of babysitter schedules. Spent the morning with a cranky sick child then went to work only to spend it with cranky sick coworkers. But I got to see my dad this day so that was cool.
*Wednesday - Not a good day. Got a call around 8am from Gram Betty saying we needed to get to the hospital ASAP because aunt Nancy is not doing good at all. We recently found out she has cancer in her lungs, bowels and bones. Aunt Nancy passed away later in the day with her family all around her. Aunt Nancy was Darric's aunt, his father's sister. Very sad day, but the highlight of this day was seeing how my son was able to lift everyone's spirits. Aunt Nancy will surely be missed.
*Thursday - Just a very hectic day at work. And my monthly friend decided to visit me which made me very cranky.
*Friday - Right now at work we're doing our yearly Teens Who Care Award, and I'm one of the producers. I have to make a profile video of one of the teens. My Teen is awesome this year. But imagine spending your entire day writting down everything that all the interviews said. Blah. Which makes my weekend filled with putting the actual script together. When the profile is done I'll post it here so you can see it.
*Saturday - Took Jordan to the Bangor Y Spring Fair. Had fun, but I have to say my child is a wimp, he wouldn't go on any rides, and when we finally talked him into going down the slide he cried. Then later we talked him into going on the cars that just went around in a circle. Well, he made it around once, his face immediately turned red and tears filled his little eyes. I felt like the meanest mom. But I don't get why he's such a wimp. I wonder if I was a wimp when I was a kid? I also had to work the fair at our NEWS CENTER booth, it was fun. Met some great people. We ended the day grocery shopping and spending way too much money.

That leads us to today. I've got cleaning to do, a baby shower to attend as well as a benefit supper. It's just another day in the life of me.

Get off your Keaster and Have a Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

If you google the meaning of Easter, you'd likely find that it is the celebratation of the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred on the third day after his crucifixion around AD 33. Did you know that? I find it funny how every year the true meaning of this holiday is a little forgotten among some, myself included. This year, for some reason, I feel less like teaching Jordan about the Easter Bunny and more like teaching him about Jesus. Don't get me wrong though, "Here comes Peter Cottontail" is one of our favorites this time of year, but Mr. Cottontail will be leaving Jordan his first Bible this year, accompanied with chocolate eggs and plenty o' Peeps as well.
As a child I can remember waking up in the morning and finding our easter baskets left for us on the couch. There was always a small gift and tons of chocolate. We always dressed up in our spring clothes and went to church, then we would come back to my grandparents house and have a nice big family dinner, everyone was there, it was perfect. Now with my own little family we're starting our own traditions. Since this year is the first year that Jordan is starting to understand a little more we're finding we have to put some thought into what we are deciding to do. I stole our easter egg hunt idea from a co-worker of mine. Jordan had 10 eggs to find and each egg had a clue in it which led him to where the next egg was, for example "Go look in the machine where our dishes get clean." And the last egg led him to where his basket was. Jordan did a great job and he loved the clues. So, this is definetely going to be a fun tradition. Unfortunetely we didn't get up in time to make it to church, I feel a little disappointed in myself, I really should've got up and got moving.
Now we're heading to my grandparents house to have a nice easter dinner. It's unfortunate that a lot of the family isn't able to make it. I try not to let this get to me because every holiday is important to me because of family and I feel when some don't try as hard as they should it's just unexceptable. Someday they may regret not making family first, when that family isn't there anymore.
So, now that I've gotten all sentimental and all I just want to wish you a very Happy Easter. And on a lighter note can someone please explain to me what does bunny rabbits and eggs have in common? It's not like the bunny's lay the eggs. I don't get it????

Have You Missed Me???

2008-03-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been on Vacation. We didn't go to Burmuda, Florida or the Caribbean...we went to Island Falls, Maine. Just 2 hours north of where we live really. Why Island falls, well, we are Mainers and WE LOVE SNOWMOBILING!!!! Now, don't get me wrong we also would love Burmuda, Florida or the Caribbean, but this is our yearly relaxing vacation of snowmobiling. We have a timeshare at Vacationland Estates. But what is there to do up in the county you ask? Well, check out the video I made of all the fun we had and why we do love our Vacation.

So, as you can see there was plenty of fun including, swimming, hot tubbin', relaxing, eating good food and sleddin'. Now back to the real life, and back to blogging on a regular basis....I missed cha!!!

Can Someone Please Tell Me.....

2008-03-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

WHO stole my baby and replaced him with this YOUNG BOY because DAMN.

It does not seem that long ago that I could cradle this child in my arms and just watch him sleep for hours on end. I remember when he was first born I would sing to him and he would smile at me and it would bring tears to my eyes. Now tears are brought to my eyes out of rage when he refuses to listen to me and throws a tantrum for not getting his way. Oh, how the times have changed.

This picture was taken last weekend through Sears Portrait Studio. It was not a fun trip, I'll just say that because I know you don't want to hear the whole story of how Jordan refused to be in front of the camera, he wouldn't even stay in the room, every time the picture lady gave him a new toy to play with for the camera he threw it across the room, and this whole process was a lot more expensive then I had imagined. Oops, that's pretty much the story anyway. I will say thought that we did get maybe 2 decent pictures, but I can't post them here yet because there are eyes on here that I don't want seeing the pictures until they get them in person and you know who you are. :)

2008-02-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

What's On Your TiVo?

A year and a half ago is when we got our TiVo, I wanted it mostly because a lot of our shows were on at 8:00 and we weren't able to watch them because Jordan was still up and he was taking up our time, those gosh darn kids. Now it's amazing how many more shows we have to watch, and we still don't have the time. Here's a list of some the shows we're hooked on.

Days of Our Lives - Yeah, this is my soap opera. I've watched it since I was a kid and I'm sorry I can't stop watching it. Even though I do TiVo it, there's many times that I skim through to the very end just to see what's happening. And don't tell Darric I told you, but he'll sit down and watch it with me and he gets right into it.

Nip/Tuck - This season just ended. Don't ask me why I like this show, maybe because it's just so out there. You never know what they're going to do next, or what they're going to say.

American Idol - I'm having a hard time admitting to this one, but yes I am an American Idol fan. I'm not sure why really. Every season I say I'm not going to watch that crap this year, but here I am again getting roped in. I will say I can't stand to watch the sucky auditions, but now that's it's getting to the good stuff when they're singing with actual music, it's too late now, we're sucked it for the entire season.

Dirty Jobs - Did you know this show is on ALL THE TIME? It is because I have 15 shows to watch and they just keep adding to list. Of coase the only reason I watch this show is because it's interesting to see what other people do for work, makes me appreciate my job and Mike Rowe, after all, isn’t entirely difficult to watch, especially if you imagine him disrobing after one of his DIRTY JOBS to wash off all that dirtiness. Gwrrrr!!

Then there's Jordan's shows which are a whole category themself. There's Blues Clues, Super Why, Curious George, Dora, Clifford, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans and the list goes on and on.

A great feature that TiVo has is that it trys to figure out what you like to watch and will just randomly record shows (religiously might I add) and this is how we get hooked onto new shows. One show we watched the other night is the new show 'Moment of Truth.' This is another one of those reality shows that could ruin someones life and they do, all for money. This show did get me thinking about how crazy people are. It's their own fault they put themselves up to it, but Why, may I ask Why.

So, now that the writer's strike is over maybe we can get some of our better shows back on. Tell me though, what shows are you currently hooked to? Come on pile up my comment box, it's looking lonely these days and making me feel lonely too.

2008-02-23T20:30:00.000-08:00

Highlight of my day = Vacuuming.

It's now 11:30 in our household and you should hear the silence....ahhh it's so nice. There's a sweet, innocent toddler sound asleep in the next room, a dog asleep at my feet and a husband a hundred miles away. It was boys weekend away snowmobiling and while I'm totally jealous and I do miss my hubby, well a little, it's been a nice break, but one hectic toddler wrangling day. It's so funny how I wake up with a plan of daily tasks and end the day not accomplishing half of those tasks. I think it has to do with the fact that a toddler just takes up so much of my time. Gosh, they have to eat, they have to sleep, they have to be told to use the potty, they want you to play with them, they're so demanding.
But one thing I did get accomplished today, and the reason I titled this blog the way I did is vacuuming. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a fanatic when it comes to vacuuming. I love it and I'm not satisfied with the cleanliness of my house until the vacuuming is done even if it has to be done in the middle of the night, which I've done many times before, just so it would get done. So, why was vacuuming the highlight of my day today, well for the past week and a half my vacuum has been out of service. I realized a couple weeks ago that the reason it hasn't been working well is because the brush had no bristles. So, Darric took the part into the shop and they had to special order a new brush. Well after going a week and a half without a workable vacuum cleaner (don't tell anyone, but I was desperate enough to vacuum what I could with the hose...a nightmare) the part finally came in and Darric was nice enough to put it back together before he left for the weekend. And today as I pushed down the on button and gave the sucker a push across the living room floor, oh sweet mother of god. It was amazing. Not only did if fluff up my carpet as it sucked up all the dirt, it was a total different machine then before. I use to have to use so much muscle to push it agaist the rug and it was like it was doing all the work. I just had to hold it upright. Oh how I've missed my vacuum.

I can't believe I just wrote almost an entire blog about vacuuming, am I crazy lunitic or what?

2008-02-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

Here's to the Fourth member of our Family

Don't worry, nothing's wrong with Bubba, besides a broken heart. A broken heart from being neglected and from losing a close friend whose practically been a mother to him. Bubba's pal, neighbor, soulmate, whatever you want to call her, Mindy (Darric's mother's dog) had to be put down tonight. We've been noticing that over the past couple of weeks Mindy hasn't been acting herself. She's been moaping around, she wasn't eating which was making her loose weight and she was looking real thin, and today Darric's mom took her to the vet and they said she was just full of cancer, so they put her down. Mindy Sue was 13.....

Now I'm feeling really bad for Bubba. Bubba was our baby before our baby. She use to be able to get up on the furniture, heck she use to sleep with us, under the covers. Now the thought of that grosses me out. Now bubba is just a dog, who scritch, scritch scritches up and down the floors and sheds everywhere and acts super needy and obnoxious all the time. I still love our Bubba James, how could you not, I mean just look at that pathetic beagle face, I just don't have a shred of patience for him. After a long day of toddler-wrangling, I cannot stand to have one more creature doing something annoying nearby. If he's licking himself, I howl to stop; if he's padding around the kitchen, I yell for him to GO LAY DOWN . Then Jordan imitates me: "Bubba go lay down, WIGHT NOW." Shaking his little finger at him, while he wags his tail apologetically, unsure what all the fuss is about.

Oh, Bubba. I'm sorry I've been impatient, that we haven't shown you the attention you deserve. I'm sorry you're getting old and you don't have the energy you use to. I'm sorry lately the only attention you get is from a toddler who likes to chase you around the living room on his 4 wheeler and pull on your ears as you try to sleep. I'm sorry you've just lost a dear friend very close to your doggy heart. I promise I'll be more nice to you. I promise that in the very near future (when it gets warmer out) that they'll be tennis balls, beggin' strips and long walks in the park. I promise.

2008-02-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

Guess What This Is...

Well, here's the story that goes behind it. Yesterday Jordan and I played hookie. He has an awful cold and I totally didn't want to bring him out in the nasty Maine weather we were having. It was nice really, snuggling him on the couch all day. Listening to his pitiful voice ask "Dwink of watah Momma." And is was especially nice to be able to make a nice supper and sit down as a family at a decent time to eat. Anyways...on to the story. I made mashed potatoes, corn, banana bread and deer steak from the deer that Darric shot last fall. We were just finishing up and I was cutting into the last piece of steak I had left. I cut into something hard, and I could see something silver in the meat where I was cutting, my first thought was that my fork was bent and I was cutting into the fork, but the more I moved my knife around it dawned on me.....and I looked at Darric and said is this what I think it is?.......

Yup you guessed it, I bit the bullet. In all the years I have been eating game this has never happened to me. Oh, but the smart ass comments that were shooting out of our mouths after were hilarious!

Found This Today

2008-02-12T12:01:00.001-08:00

I think this is an older Ikea Commercial, but it's so funny. Thought you might enjoy a laugh.

2008-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

And Monday's here already???

Is it me or did it just seem like Friday 3 days ago....oh wait it was. Why is it that we all, or most, love fridays because the weekend is here, but if you think about it, it's just that much closer to Monday again. A co-worker recently shared that you shouldn't dwell on wishing for the weekend because then you're just wishing the days away of your life and I think he was right...but I still hate Mondays and I wish it was Friday already!
Can you tell I'm having a Monday? It's not the worst of Mondays, I guess I just feel like I didn't have a weekend. Saturday was the usual house cleaning, with a broken vacuum cleaner might I add, but don't get me started on that. Saturday night I had to work. And I don't mind working weekends really. It's easy, I'm one of the few in the building so I can get some work done without getting interupted, and the people that are with me are the coolest and let's just say they're the type of people that make work enjoyable. But, I was at work and not with my boys.

Sunday we went snowmobiling. This was the funnest part of my weekend. We went about 80 miles (that's not a lot for us, we usually do 100-150) for those reading this that know the area, we went from Newport to Dover-Foxcroft. We were going to attempt Greenville, but had a sled break down and that took some time away from us so we had to cut it short. It was still an enjoyable ride. Nice trails and because it was snowing, it was so pretty everywhere. I haven't got brave enough to bring my nice camera with me on the trails, so I don't have pictures, sorry.

Last night it had just started snowing out and it was also kind of nice out so I decided instead of getting some laundry and dishes done, and putting supper off for a little while we played in the snow. And Jordan and I (mostly I) made his first snowman.
Oh we had so much fun. It was funny to watch Jordan's expression as the snowman came alive as we gave him some hands, eyes and a nose, and somewhat of a mouth.
So, you're now probably wondering why I'm having such a case of the Mondays. I'll tell you why. It just sucks that I have to work really. I love work and I love the people I work with, well most of them, but I hate HATE having to leave my son with someone else to watch him, especially since I didn't get to see him much this weekend. And today I realized that Jordan never went through the stage of crying when I left, maybe he will eventually, but I don't see it happening. Most times he seems happy when I leave him. "Bye, Momma," as he pushed me out the door. I guess I just want him to miss me. I want him to be a Momma's boy. His grandmother sees him more then I do and I worry he's going to start thinking of her as a mother instead of me. Last night when we picked him up from his grandmothers he was playing and fell and I immediatly picked him up, but he didn't want me....(sigh) he wanted Grammie to kiss his boo-boo. He also favors Darric more often then me. From the first words out of his mouth in the morning "Daddy, oh daddy," to whenever the phone rings he insists that it's Daddy and he MUST talk to him. I know it's a sin to be jealous of others, but I feel as a mother shouldn't I get the appreciation from my own 2 year old? I am the one who gets up with him all hours of the night, I feed him, I give him his baths, I dress him, I read him stories, I spent very long hours of pain in labor with him after carrying his body inside me for 9 months and living with heartburn, jimy leg, being totally uncomfortable and not being able to consume alcohol or even coffee for that long.......RIGHT?
Well, I know I just need to make it through the day and everything will be alright. When I walk through the door tonight I'll be greeted with a great big bear hug. It's still early yet and I know my day will be complete when I hear Jordan's new favorite phase as we put him to bed:

Mom & Dad: "Night Jordan, see you tomorrow."

Jordan: "Night, momma & daddy, see ya tomorraw, wuv ya, proud ya."

Mom & Dad: (laughing) Love ya Jordan, Proud o ya."

2008-02-06T18:29:00.000-08:00

I know isn't it cool? I made a new blog header graphic, up there...see it? I'm pretty proud of myself really. I was going to have someone else make one for me and I googled all kinds of sites, but then I said to myself "self, you work with photoshop all the time, just make one yourself, that way it'll be the way you want it." So I did and I LOVE IT! So the conversation going at my work now, after showing them my new blog header is coming up with captions for what we think Bubba (the dog) is thinking. I'll let you come up with a few of your own before I tell you what we came up with.

In other news, yesterday was the one year anniversary of Darric's major back surgery. Yup, it's been a year. Last year at this time I was sitting in a hospital room playing suduko by my husbands side while he slept and every half hour moaned because he was in so much pain. I'll never forget seeing him in so much pain. I'm the type of person who loves to watch those Discovery shows that show actually surgerys. I can stomach any surgery on TV and I've seen tons of people in a lot of pain on Trauma: Life in the ER, but I tell you when I saw my husband for the first time after his surgery and saw how much pain he was in I was immediatly nausious. I guess it's different watching someone you don't know who's in pain, then it is seeing someone you love who's in pain.

So his back is a lot better now. It's funny, it's actually been hurting him a little this week, imagine exactly a year after his surgery and he's complaining of back pain again. No, I actually think it's due to the fact that he's doing too much. He's a typical man when it comes to being careful at what he's lifing and how he's lifting and so on. I do still constantly worry about him hurting it again and I'm also constantly reminded of the fact that he did have back surgery at the age of 27 when I see the 6 inch scar on his back. But he's now a 27 year old that can play with his son and he can pick up his son without being in total agony.

2008-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Just another day...

Sorry I haven't written all week, it's amazing how hectic it can get around here sometimes. I actually shouldn't be writting now, but I'm taking a break from my saturday house cleaning, and trying to be quiet while Jordan attempts to fall asleep. Right now I can hear him in his room, tossing around in his bed, talking to himself about being a bad boy. That's been his new thing lately, he always thinks he's a bad boy. It makes me wonder what I'm putting into his head. I have been getting a little frustrated with him lately with the whole potty thing. For some reason I can not get this kid to poop on the potty. He'll pee everytime we bring him in there, although he doesn't tell us he has to go, but he won't poop for nothing. And he knows what he's done when he does go poop in his pull-ups. I've tried taking stuff away from him for the rest of the day after he poops in his pull-ups, and I've tried bribbing him to get him to go on the potty. But like I think I've said here before if only myself and my MIL are the ones really trying with him, then I can't really blame him.

So, let's wrap up my week shall we? On Monday I got flowers from my hubby. For what you ask, well the card said "Sorry for being inconsiderate, Love Darric." Let's just say last weekend we were fighting a lot, I won't bore you with the details though, I'll just tell you he was being a dink. But I got flowers and all is well now. He's no longer on my shit list. I will tell you though, sometimes I don't realize it, but I am very lucky to have Darric. After I got the flowers I found out from a couple of friends that their husbands never send them flowers. What's wrong with these men?

On Tuesday Jordan and I went over the Bangor Rec Center and had preschool play time with some new friends. I found out from my Maine Mom Site about this open gym that the rec has everyday. Jordan had such a blast and it was amazing how much it affected his mood for the rest of the day, so I told him if he was a good boy we'd start going every week. I had a blast too meeting some new mom friends.

Wednesday & Thursdays I was just straight out at work, as well as Friday. My gosh, I literally never stopped Friday. And it sucks because days like that when I get home and I actually get to spend time with Jordan and Darric I'm tired, I'm cranky and I just want to go to bed. Last night I felt bad because I hadn't seen Jordan all day, so since it was Friday I let him stay up until 10:00 and snuggle with us on the couch and watch Caatoons.

Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow. GO PATS!!!

I think we're going to stay at home, possibly have some friends over to eat chinese food and watch the game. My predictions for the game are 28-13 Patriots of coarse. I hope you all enjoy the game if you plan to watch.

2008-01-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Can't get this off my mind

After seeing this story last week on the news about the double homicide in Marshfield, it really got me thinking, how can a mother expose her children to this type of person. As a mother, my concerns are: is Jordan eating enough healthy foods, is he getting enough sleep, am I spending enough time with him, let alone am I exposing him to such violent behaviour. I feel so bad for what these kids had to see. I had to do some preproduction for this particular story and I had to pull a line from the affidavit that read:

HER 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AUTUMN ROGERS WAS IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME AND WAS SHOT IN THE FOOT. ACCORDING TO A SWORN AFFIDAVIT--
"AUTUMN SAID SHE SAW RICHARD SHOOT HER MOMMY AND THEN HE SHOT HER IN THE FOOT...AUTUMN SAID RICHARD SHOT HER MOMMY NOW THEY HAVE TO BURY HER."

And as I just re-typed that the chills once again...down my spine. These children are scarred for life, I'm afraid. And although I don't know the whole story and what the background is and I know I shouldn't judge, oh but it just upsets me by what some mother's have to go through and what their children have to go though.

2008-01-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

Bear Hands

Tis' the season for friggin freezin' and that's just what us Mainer's have been doing a lot of lately. Well, I'm here today to recommend the warmest and most conversation starter mittens that a very good friend of mine got Jordan and I a couple of christmases ago. These are Bear Hand Mittens and they are soooooo warm. Unfortunetly Jordan grew out of his this year, so I've gotta order him a new pair. And not only do they keep your hands warm, like I said, they also get great comments and fun reactions from people. I love these!!!

2008-01-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

Weekendries
*Saw a new movie this weekend, 'Evan Almighty', ahhh, I don't think I would really recommend it though. It was cute, but a little dumb as well. The plot line: God (Played by Morgan Freeman, wouldn't have been my first choice) contacts a newly elected congress man, Evan Baxter (played by Steve Carell) and asks him to build an ark. Evan's transformation of appearance and being pursued by eager animals are the main areas of humour here, which means at times the film is thin on the ground. If you're looking for a movie of 100 minutes of easy going fun then this is the movie to see, but if you're wanting a movie that will make you laugh out loud don't be counting on this one to satisfy you there.
*Got to catch up with some old friends this weekend. Sunday morning we got together with friends from camp. It was so great that all the seasonal campers made it to the breakfast. It was held at a local Knights of Columbus halls, which was a first for me, but wow, they can serve up a nice, hot, delicious meal. Getting together got everyone in the mood for the camping season...everyone except me of coarse.
I also got together with an old, but very close friend for lunch on sunday. This friend and I have somewhat grown apart over the years and has caused some hard feeling for me, but I think now I've come to realize that these things can happen sometimes and happen more often then I think for.
We're ending our weekend I'm sure as many other Mainer's and New Englander's are. Watching the Pats Game. Daddy and Jordan are wearing their matching Tom Brady jersey's (for luck). It's halftime and the Pats are up 14 to 9. GO NEW ENGLAND!!!!!!!

2008-01-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Breathe Deep, Count to Ten...

All the kids that I've ever been around that were in their terrible two's so to speak haven't really seemed that bad. I've had all the warnings and never really thought it was a big deal, and it's never been in my list of things to worry about with my kid. Until Now...

For the last week or so, Jordan has entered maniac, syco, crazed, unbearable, his terrible two's! And I've learned something about myself as well in this last week, I can't deal with it. In this phase of Jordan's life he has learned that he can push mommy to her limit. "I can make mommy's face turn real red and make her talk real load at me." And I've come to the conclusion that I've done this too much in the past that he's now use to it and it doesn't have an effect on him.

So today I've been researching ways to stay calm. A Fellow blogger recommended this site and I think that not just mom's of 2-year-olds could use it. I am welcome to any other suggestions though.

2008-01-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

So Much To Do...So Little Time!!!

If these last two weeks have illustrated the way this year is going to be for me, then shoot me now. It's currently 12:45am, and here I am catching up on my internet stuff. I didn't even get to sit down tonight until 10:30. This has been a usual for me lately. Reason being, trying to catch myself up from christmas. Also, Darric has been trying to catch up on his stuff as well lately, so he hasn't been able to help out with putting Jordan to bed (which is a whole big process in itself). I believe my toddler has learned the act of changing his mind, or better yet he's learned how to stall. He uses Potty as a way to stay up longer, but then when we get in there and get to the part where we pull his pants down, he suddenly doesn't want to go potty anymore. He's learned to ask for a drink of water right before I turn out the light, a task I believe I used on my parents...sorry mom, sorry dad. And back to him changing his mind all the time...For breakfast he wants oatmeal, then he wants toast, no he wants oatmeal. He wants to watch curious george, 2 seconds later he wants to watch mickey mouse, 1 second after that he wants to watch Bob Buildah. And Jordan has turned into Mr. Independant! "Jordan do it," is what he says to everything. And this makes for long mornings, especially when you're running late for work and if you don't let "Jordan do it." All hell brakes loose and the tantrum begins.

I should've known this was going to be a crazy year. The first month isn't even halfway over and my list of things to do is adding up:
1. Plan 50th Anniversary Party for Grandparents
2. Make a video for 50th Anniversary party
(This entails, interviews, gathering info & pictures & editing)
3. Edit Wedding Video from a wedding shot last June, hopefully I'll have it to them by their 1st Anniversary.
4. Make an Animation (This is a side job of my own. This entails me finding an animation program and learning it.)
5. And So on...

And this is just personal work I've got for myself, this doesn't include real work. I actually planned on getting a lot of this done this month because usually the month of January at work is slow, but so far this week I've edited 3 spots and it's only wednesday and I'm suppose to get another 2 done by Friday. You see why I'd like to be shot now.

Changing the subject a little bit now. I want your opinion...Am I boring you or what? Is my blog interesting to you? I'm not sure who exactly is reading my blog. I've gotten a couple of comments and Thank you to those who have commented, but I'd like to know for sure. If you've got some tips for me, please share. I want to be entertaining, I want to keep you coming back. So, ifn ya would let me know am I a blogger at heart or does my blog seem a little tart.
"Hee-Hee, I came up with that one on my own."

2007-12-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

My Top 10 of 2007
Here are the Top Ten Things that happened in my life over the past year.

10. Forgetting Friends. The realization was know to me this year that sometimes you just have to let a friend go and live their life. After trying and trying to keep in touch with an old friend I've decided it may not be worth it. Sometimes it just felt more like a hassle than anything. I miss my old friend, and maybe someday, hopefully someday things will be different.

9. New Friends. Even though everyone goes through losing friends in their life, one way or another, we're always making new friends. My new friends this year include some new coworkers who I've become close with as well as some blog friends

8. Beginning a Blog. Speaking of blog friends, that's how I got the urge to start my own web log myself. I've been reading other mom blogs for awhile now and love hearing their stories. I'm hoping my blog only continues to get better in the year to come.

7. 7/7/07. It's only right that I use number 7 as our anniversary date. And although it wasn't our 7th anniversary it was one of the more memorable ones. I surprised Darric this year with a weekend away to Boston. Darric ended up having an allergy attack as we toured the streets of beantown and I ended the night all by myself at our hotel bar. Not a total washout though, we did get to visit Fenway Park, The New England Aquarium, The Prudential Building, Quincy Market, and many, many other shops.

6. Kidless. I couldn't imagine bringing an almost 2 year old into the streets of Boston, so with our anniversary weekend came our first overnight without the boy. Darric was sure I was going to call every hour, but I only called every other. And while it was nice to sleep in, sleep all night, only worry about ourselves, and eating whenever we wanted...I still had a lump in my throat evertime I called and thought about him the whole time.

5. Divorce. A couple people close to us got divorces this year. And although each one affected us differently there was one that was rather close to home. The 25 year marriage of my parents finally came to an end this year. And I say finally for a reason. There were some unsolved issues that needed to be worked out in court, and it seemed to drag out forever. This was at first hard for me, I honestly didn't know how to deal with it and at times I felt I needed to take sides, but soon learned that I was not going to take sides. They're both my parents and they both will always be my parents whether their together or not. Now that it's all said and done though, I think it was the best thing that could've ever happened to all the party's involved. I've never seen my mom or my dad happier. They both have done more now then they ever did when they were together. I'm happy with their current companions and I actually talk to my father more now then I ever have.

4. New Hampshire. For Jordan's 2nd Birthday we spent a weekend with my dad and Denise in New Hampshire. We went to Storyland, which he loved and also went to the top of Mt. Washington, a first for me. I will never forget entering a total different climate zone. While it was 50 degrees where we left from it was 32 degrees, sleeting and very, very cold ontop of the mountain.

3. Every Man Needs a Garage. For those who know my husband know that you can find him more often in his father's garage then at home. Well, this year we decided to start building our own. At the particular moment it's just a slab, come this spring the walls will go up. There was a bigger reason for this garage though, which brings us to number 2.

2. Hammonds General Contracting. I remember the day I called Darric's Cell phone and his voice mail answered "Thanks for Calling Hammonds General Contracting." Darric has always been a handy man and he's always working on everybody's stuff whether it be a snowmobile, 4-wheeler, boat or even a car/truck. So, we've now decided to attempt our own business. And with anything big like this comes stress. Now he's really never home, which is the biggest reason we're doing what I said in number 3.

1. Disk Fusion. My husband is only 27 years old, but his back is that of a 57 year old. Don't tell him I said that though. Last February Darric had back surgery. This was one of the most scariest times of my life. I had many sleepless nights as well as Darric did. I hated seeing my husband in so much pain. He was out of work for quite a while and for a person with anxiety it's not fun. If you saw him now though you'd never know he's had back surgery unless you see the 5 inch scar on his back. This has changed us and the way we live our life. Darric is still on tons of meds and some days are better then others depending on what he's done that day. He's back to his old self, but I still worry day to day.

Now it's an hour away from being 2008. This year I hope to lighten up a little, become my ol' positive self again, which I may have to make some difficult choices in order to do so. Jordan will be 3 this year, HOLY CRAP! Darric will be 28 and I'll be 29 and we will celebrate our 7th Anniversary. I hope the year ahead brings you all health and happiness. Now I'll end here with this quote from Lord Tennyson.
Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Happy New Year!!!

2007-12-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

Feeling Brave!!!

So, another present that my darling hubby got me that I didn't tell you about was a gift certificate to my hair salon. Since Darric had Jordan with him all morning at his sisters house in Bowdoinham and I didn't have to be to work until 3:00 I decided to treat myself.

After I made the appointment, my mind started thinking...

"Maybe I should get this really, really short. It has been driving me crazy forever! Heck if I don't like it, it'll grow back."

I go through this everytime I get a hair cut. I start to get daring and say I'm going to cut it all off and then as I sit in the chair... "Cluck, cluck, cluck." I chicken right out. Then after it's all done I regret it and say I should've got it shorter.

Today...today though, I fought off those clucks.

So, tell me what do ya think? For me, one minute I'm liking it, the next I'm not quite sure. Maybe next time I'll shave my head, ya know start from scratch.....yeah I'm just kidding.

2007-12-26T19:28:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours!!!

Wow, what a busy, hectic, long, overwhelming, exciting, joyous day we had. The day didn't start too early, Jordan let us sleep in until 8:30, due to the fact that he didn't even go to bed until 10:30. Myself on the other hand was up until 3am, finishing up on the last minute wrapping and stuff.
We opened presents until 10:00 where Jordan told us he wanted a break. I could tell he was already getting overwhelmed and we still had a long day of present opening ahead of us.
We then went to my inlaws to have christmas morning breakfast (breakfast pizza, Hammond Tradition) and open presents with them.
Then we headed back down to our house to clean, shower, cook, ect. Everyone showed up around 2:00 and this is where it got hectic. Imagine 25+ people in my tiny little house, bringing food, presents and laughter. We ate (Mashed Potatoes, Dirty Rice, Corn, Peas, Veggie Platter, Rolls, Turkey, Ham, Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Chip & dip, Shrimp & dip, and sweets by the dozen.), we open presents, we laughed, opened more presents, laughed some more, ate some more and by 11:00 we were pooped.
So, what did we get? Behold here are just some of the presents...

From: Darric's Mom.

From: Aunt Chetta. Now I have a place to put all my photos that I've been taking with my new camera.

From: My Mom. This is just some of the gift cards I got. I also go Khols, Texas Roadhouse, Applebees, Chilli's, and Money(can't go wrong there!!)

From: My mom. Bird house, even though grampy thought it was a candle holder. We had some laughs there with that one.

Some of Jordan's toys he got. Others included ride on 4 wheeler, bed sheets, clothes, coloring books, reading books, tons of Thomas Train & Mickey Mouse stuff, oh the list could go on and on.

Darric got some clothes, a briefcase for his laptop, GPS system, gift certificates, new feather pillows...

And our big family gift this year was...

This sweet Polaris, 400, 4 wheeler.

Darric surprised me with it, so for the record it's actually mine, but we'll use it as a family...but it's mine! So, yeah you could say we all made out good this Christmas.

Even though this is my favorite time of year, it's also a very stressful time of year for me as well, but I will say, it never fails, by the end of the day I can always sit back and feel blessed with the people I have in my life.

I hope you had a nice christmas as well.

2007-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Chex Muddy Buddies

(or as some call it "Puppy Chow")

If you found this blog by searching Healthy recipe,

YOU'RE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

Ingredients:
9 cups Chex® cereal (any variety)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (ah, heck I use a whole 6 ounce bag)

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (or as much as it takes to coat)

Preparation Directions:
Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
In 1-quart microwavable bowl, stir together chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Test to make sure tastes good. Wait a few minutes and test out some more. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!!