I'm Finally Moved In ...

But not yet unpacked ... fully. I took a week off from doing homework and just can't afford to take any more time. This is a SUPER hard semester. Dean will just have to finish it or it will get done in May when I graduate! I just hate living in this mess, though!

It's so nice to be in a house again!! I really like the house. I'll take pictures this weekend and post them.

Firemen at 4 am!!!

So we were all sound asleep last night. Or I should say Dean and the kids were; I was half asleep when all of a sudden someone is pounding on someone's door very loudly. I looked at the clock and saw it was 4 am. I thought, who is partying and making all that racket at 4 am on Tuesday morning! Then all of a sudden I here all these voices and it sounded like Dean was one of them. So I got out of bed to find Dean at the door talking to two firemen. There was a gas leak at the restaurant across the street. All the people on the south side of the hotel had to move to rooms on the north side of the hotel. The reason being, that if there was an explosion, the windows would get blown out on the south side. So we grabbed our pillows and extra blankets and headed across the hall to another room. We got in there and it was SOOOO cold. So I cranked the heat and we all went to bed. The kids were excited because there were TWO beds meaning they got one. For the last three weeks, Tanner has been on the couch cushions on the floor and Hayley has been on the pull-out sofa. But I didn't sleep very good at all over there. For one thing, it was so cold and I couldn't get warm enough. Then, I started feeling sick to my stomach, which usually happens when I'm over tired and due to birth control - that's why I take it at night so I can sleep through that sick feeling. Also, I was waiting for the explosion because I just thought with our luck, there'd be one. But there wasn't one. So this morning over continental breakfast, everyone was talking about being woken up at 4 am to move to another room. I think most of the guests happened to be on the south side.

It was funny because this morning when the kids woke up, Tanner couldn't remember why we had to move. It makes me wonder if he was truly awake last night when we walked across the hall to the other room!!

Learn More About Me

A is for age: 29 + 27 months

B is for booze: Malibu Rum & Diet Coke

C is for career: Full-time Student (CPA wannabe)

D is for dad's name: Roger

E is for essential items to bring to a party: Myself!

F is for favorite song at the moment: Daniel Powter "Bad Day"

H is for hometown: Britton

I is for instruments you play: Flute in HS. Piano in elementary & I still play.

J is for jam or jelly you like: Strawberry/Rhurbarb

K is for kids: Tanner & Hayley

L is for living arrangements: Hotel for 1 month, then a brand new house!

M is for moms name: (None that I care to give)

N is for name of your best friends: Maria, Jenn, Kari & Julie

O is for overnight hospital stays: 2 kids

P is for phobia[s]: Spiders, snakes, lakes (you never know what's in there), storms, driving in the dark, & the dark

Q is for quote you like: God will only give you what you can handle.

R is for relationship that lasted the longest: Dean - 13 years

S is for siblings: Kelly & Jodi - Step-sisters; Shar - Half-sister; Kai & Keola - Half-brothers

U is for unique trait: I can be such a perfectionist and clean person but yet still be messy!

V is for vegetable you love: I love all vegetables - grew up with a garden. Don't really like onions but I'll eat them.

W is for worst trait: I am judgmental and have a short temper.

X is for x-rays you've had: Dental, ankle, & neck

Y is for yummy food you make: Mexican Chicken Manicotti & Cheesecakes

Z is for zodiac sign: Libra

FIRSTS

First job: KreeMee (like a DQ) - not counting babysitting

First funeral: My uncle's wife's brother, in elementary or junior high

First piercing: Ears - 2nd grade

First tattoo: I will never get a tattoo - HATE needles

First credit card: Probably a Visa

First favorite musician/band: Probably Garth Brooks

LASTS

Last movie watched: Click

Last beverage drank: Hot chocolate

Last food consumed: Blueberry muffin

Last phone call: Kelly (my sister)

Last CD played: Mixed with 80s & 90s songs that my sister Jodi made

Last website visited: MSN Hotmail

Single or Taken: Taken

What do you miss? Living in a house

Hair color: Dark brown

Natural color: Dark brown

Eye color: Brown

Makes you sad? When things don't go my way.

Are you happy? Today - Sure

Hotel Living Is Grand ... NOT!

So last Saturday we hauled two car loads of stuff up to the hotel where we'll be staying for the next month. It's so hard to plan 30 days in advance of what you may need. I know, I can always go and buy something if I need it but if you know me, I stock up on everything so chances are I already have 2, 3 or 4 somethings but now they're packed up in storage and I can't get to them for 30 days.

For New Year's Eve, we went to Dean's sister's in the afternoon and had goodies during the day and prime rib for supper. Everyone left about 8:00 so we were in bed by 10:30 that night. Oh well, I'll make up for it next year! The kids really wanted to stay up until midnight but there was no way Dean & I could, we were so tired.

Monday Dean and I left to go back to M and straighten up the house. Even though the movers were packing everything we didn't want to leave it a pig sty, which is how we left it on Saturday because I was tearing the house apart packing for the next 30 days. I did like umpteen loads of laundry. Didn't get it all done. Still had the comforters to wash. Now they're going to be stored for 30 days unwashed. :( Yesterday I also realized I didn't get to wash the small load of whites that was left. Which means the movers packed it up. I'm sure after 30 days in storage dirty, the socks and underwear will be able to stand up by themselves!!! Certainly hope I don't open that box!

On Tuesday the movers arrived at 8 am. There were about 5 of them, I think. They each take a room and start packing. One had to leave early but they were all done packing our house by 2:30. Not bad at all. Dean was really impressed. Then we had to sit around in an empty house for 1 1/2 hours waiting for our closing time on the house to sign papers. It was the longest 1 1/2 hours EVER - no tv, no radio, no internet. How did people survive?! By noon I had a HUGE headache. I took 2 extra strength Tylenol and it did NOTHING!!! When I was straightening up the hotel bathroom I whacked my head on the towel bar. It really hurt! But my headache disappeared after 1 - 2 minutes. NO JOKE! I wish I would have whacked my head sooner. Who knew?! I was in bed that night at 9 because I was so tired.

Yesterday I had the hotel room to myself, Dean was at work and the kids at school. I made 5 bracelets and one necklace. Today will probably be more jewelry and reading. And maybe I'll make it to the fitness room.

Last night Dean wasn't feeling well. He said his ears were boiling. So I took his temp, in each ear of course, and several times, and his highest reading was 103.8!!! I forced ibuprofen down him and refused to sleep in the same bed. Although I'm probably already doomed because we shared a pop at lunch yesterday! Why I ask myself?! So Tanner volunteered to sleep on the floor and I slept on the pull-out sofa with Hayley. But never again. She's mean. No wonder why Tanner & Hayley don't get any sleep sleeping together. She hit me, kicked me, and tried to push me off the bed. I think she'll be on the floor tonight and Tanner and I will be on the sofa. Or maybe they'll both be on the floor and I'll get the sofa to myself. Dean checked his temp at 11 last night and it was basically gone. But this morning it was back at 102 so he's in bed sleeping. Skipping work. God, I hope the rest of us don't get sick but being we're all in this small hotel room it's bound to happen. AARRGGH!!!

The kids have seemed to adjust well to the move. They both enjoyed their first day of school and Wednesday School (aka Sunday School). Hayley also went to dance class. She was very shy so hopefully next week she'll participate. This dance program is way better than the one she attended in M. FYI - Don't sign up with SSDA. You'll regret it!

Well, I better go start relaxing!

Merry Christmas - Late

But better late than never, right?! Well, Christmas came and Christmas went. It certainly wasn't our normal routine around here. First of all, on Christmas Eve we all sat around asking ourselves if it really was Christmas Eve because it just didn't feel like it. My sister, Shar, from SF arrived about 6 pm - just in time for supper. We decided to go to 10 pm church instead of our normal 5:30 service because Shar had to work late. We didn't make it to bed until midnight - way too late for me!

Christmas morning we were up fairly early. It doesn't matter what time the kids go to bed. They don't sleep in. They can go to bed two hours late and they sleep in for an additional 15 to 30 minutes - that's it! Our family loves to play games and we have so many but there are so many out there. Santa brought more games so that's pretty much what we did all day. Usually I cook for my side of the family, which includes my dad and his lady friend, my sister Shar, my sister Jodi and her boyfriend TJ, and my sister Kelly and her boyfriend (now fiancee) and their three kids. But this year, only Shar and Kelly and her family came. It was rather quiet - or at least as quiet as it can be with five kids between the ages of 7 and 11. We ate at 5:30 (way too much), opened gifts, and then just gabbed while the kids played. Kelly forgot all the gifts for our family so the gift opening was fairly quick! Geez - what was she thinking! If it wasn't an hour drive back to get them, I would have said - you want to eat, you bring presents! :) Heck, she's still holding onto our birthday presents, which were in October!

Tuesday the kids had dentist appointments in SF. Dean believes that I specifically requested this date so we could go shopping for Christmas sales/deals but really I didn't. I swear!! The dentist office suggested the date and I grabbed it. Of course, because of the Christmas sales/deals. Couldn't turn it down. No cavitities so we're doing something right! We went appliance shopping. We think we found the appliances we want.

We're just glad Christmas is over so we can concentrate on our move. Movers are coming to pack everything up but I feel like I should be doing it. We're definitely going to make up for Christmas next year. I had so many people disappointed in me because I didn't do my regular Christmas baking - only my fudge. I'll definitely be going overboard next year to make up for it.

Well, have a safe and Happy New Year!

Decisions, Decisions!

Last Friday, the kids and I went to H2O so they could visit their new school prior to starting on the 3rd. The kids are pretty excited. I think after a week they'll be totally at ease. Tanner is going to have a male teacher - something new for him. I think he's really looking forward to that.

Dean & I also had some decisions to make regarding the house in H2O. We needed to pick out light fixtures. So Friday evening I had it narrowed down to two different types. By Saturday morning I had it narrowed down to THREE different types. We went to the store and finally decided on some - I went with my gut instinct. Then we went furniture shopping. I was on a mission for a purple sofa. Yes, a purple sofa! And I found one. And a loveseat! It's a pretty purple - deep, dark and muted microfiber. I'm really excited. It was cheaper to get the 5 piece set with two end tables and a coffee table than just the sofa and loveseat. I'm not too crazy about the tables but I plan on looking around for other ones. I just had to get them because it made more sense. Dean thinks I'm crazy to get the tables when I don't like them but the bottom line is that it was cheaper than not to get them. Stupid, I know! I'm going to do my kitchen in the grapes and wine theme. I'm real excited about that!

Then we went to look at fireplaces. There's going to be one downstairs in the corner. We found the fireplace we want. Now we just got to decide how far to frame it off the floor and what kind of look we want - bookshelves above it, TV above it, sheetrocked all the way to the wall, tile, brick, seating area - and the list goes on. I'm starting to think I'm not cut out for all these decisions. At this point I'm glad we didn't start from square one with the layout and building!!

Needless to say, my head was spinning by the time I left H2O on Saturday!

I've still got to buy kitchen appliances, master bedroom furniture, entertainment center, office set, full mattresses for the kids, and Hayley new bedroom furniture. Is Dean going to allow me to get all this?! I better find some really good deals if I think he is!

What An Icky Day!

I hate winter and this weather makes it even worse. The kids and I were going to head to H2O today to visit their new school. I'm such a chicken when it comes to winter roads that I decided not to go. Plus school was canceled for many schools in the region (including M) and there's a reason for that. If you don't need to be out on the roads, then don't. Hopefully it will be a little better and the kids and I will head up tomorrow.

The kids were supposed to have their last day of school today but it was canceled. This normally wouldn't disappoint the kids and I but Tanner still has all his school supplies in his desk (Hayley brought hers home earlier in the week) and I was going to take pictures of each of their class for memories. That's what we have done each time we have left a town. It's kind of a tradition now. I'll have to call Tanner's teacher and try to make arrangements to get his stuff before we leave town on the 2nd. Plus Hayley had painted a picture for her teacher and wanted to give it to her before we left. We'll just have to drop it off at the office on the 2nd before we leave as that is when school resumes. The 4th & 5th graders don't start until the 5th because of the move to the new school.

I'm starting to become lonely! Dean left Tuesday morning for work in H2O and hasn't been home since. I requested he stay put so he didn't have to deal with the weather and I didn't have to worry like crazy about him dealing with the weather. We decided he'll be staying there tonight, too. :( Hopefully we'll get to see him tomorrow. It works out real nice that he has parents in H2O.

I can't believe Christmas is 4 days away! How crazy is that?! I'll be cooking for my family. The only baking I'm doing this year, because of our move, is my fudge. It is the best! We could not be without it! I'm really bummed about not being able to do all my baking. But I guess I'll have to look at the good side - I won't be eating and won't be gaining weight!!!

We Sold Our House!

We sold our house! It was on the market for 5 weeks before we received an offer. However, it seemed like forever. Our house in H2O was on the market 3 1/2 months before we received an offer and our house in F was on the market 4 months before we received an offer. We found a house in H2O. It is currently under construction and won't be finished until Jan 31. We close on our house in M on Jan 2. Therefore, we will live in a hotel for a month. The kids are excited about that! The house is 2335 sq ft split level with four bedrooms and a triple garage. We get to have some say on the things that go into the house, such as lighting fixtures, appliances, gas fireplace, etc. The flooring, kitchen cabinets and countertops, and paint were already decided by the time we secured an agreement on the house. Here is a picture. It's only a drawing because it's not finished yet.

Movers will come pack up all our stuff and keep it in storage for the month. I can't wait to move in! I look forward to visitors!!

I will be commuting back to M to finish my last semester of school. But it will only be MWF and maybe not even Friday if I can ok it with my instructor. Then I will also be taking three classes by internet/correspondence. I suppose I'll also have to start keeping my eyes open for that perfect job to come along!

It's a good thing that I'm on a month long vacation right now. Don't know how I could have handled all of this while still taking classes and doing everything else I'm involved in.

Also, the new buyers had requested a radon test to be done in our home. We found out we do have radon in our house. Who knew??!! At 4.0 they recommend you install a mitigation system. Our's was 4.8. I didn't know radon was a problem around here so I did some research. A friend and the home inspector said in SF, 60% of the homes have radon. So I went to the EPA goverment web site and our area is in Level 1 - the highest radon levels in the United States!! So I encourage everyone to have a radon test. They are inexpensive and to fix the problem it's only $600 to $1200. Shortly after moving into our new home in H2O we will be conducting a radon test to see if that one has it.

Julie Says It's Time To Update!

Julie, a good friend of mine, says it's time to update my blog. I haven't for two reasons: 1) I've been really busy and 2) I don't think anything exciting has happened in the past month! But anyways, here I go!

In the middle of November, Dean started a new job in H2O as a Quality Manager. This company is a foreign industry to him. He's used to being involved in the automotive industry and this company makes circuit boards or something like that. Also, it's very CLEAN!!! (I am very excited about this part!) He would come home from work so filthy! He was so nervous the night before he started his new job, I had to laugh and make fun of him! He's usually so laid back and not much bothers him so to see him worrying and fretting is cool! He's human after all. Anyways, he's used to being forced out of his job and then having to find a new one. In this instance, Dean left his job voluntarily. Plus, it was a new area of work he was not familiar with. He's a little more comfortable now but even last night he was saying how he's still feeling like a newbie and doesn't like not feeling confident about his job. BUT, he says he believes he made the right decision and when he becomes fully knowledgeable about his job that he will really enjoy it. It's been going good but the driving back and forth is getting kind of old he says, especially on Friday nights coming home. The other two times he had to commute for awhile, the kids and I only saw him on the weekends because it was so far away. This time it's only an hour away so we get to see him everyday, which is nice. Most of the time!

As soon as we sell our house, we will be moving. It makes more sense for me to commute than him as my daily school schedule is a lot shorter than his daily work schedule. I've changed my schedule so I will only be commuting on MWF for two classes. The other three I will take by internet and correspondence. We were hoping to move over Christmas break but being we haven't received an offer yet, that's slim to none! Oh well, it will happen sometime, Dean keeps telling me.

A couple weekends ago, Hayley brought home the rat from school. We let Tanner last year so we had to let her this year. Dean couldn't believe that I was allowing them to bring them home but I grew up with hamsters so I figured it'd be ok. Well, I found out, rats are a lot different than hamsters. Hamsters are actually cute. Rats are not. Rats get big fast. Last year I was surprised how big the rat was because it was only like 6 weeks old at the time! So this year, I told Hayley she had to bring home the smallest one. Which she wasn't too happy about because that's the one that had bit her. But she abided and we had fun.

Over Thanksgiving we were in H2O visiting Dean's family! It was so nice that I actually had no homework to do so I could really just relax, visit, and enjoy myself. Last year, some of the family members decided to join in on the 5k run/walk. No way, not me! I was the DB - Designated Babysitter so everyone else could participate. Well, this year they decided to do it again. But not me, even though my babysitting services weren't needed this time. Here's the brave ones that took part. And just in case you were wondering, Dean walked.

Happy Halloween (A Little Late)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Here's what Tanner and Hayley were for Halloween. Hayley was a Rainbow Star Witch and Tanner was a Vampire. Everyone just loved Hayley's cape - it was very pretty! Tanner didn't want the make-up on and the teeth only lasted a short time but everyone thought his hair was pretty cool. It tool water and a lot of gel and hairspray. It was pretty crunchy by the end of the night. He thought it felt so weird. They got lots of candy so they'll stay sweet for quite awhile, at least until Christmas when they get more!