Dean's New Job

Dean has been working at his new job for a month now. The company he is working for is probably one of the few companies that is busy, busy, busy right now! (The company makes fire trucks.) Dean is so exhausted by the end of the week!! We decided he would commute each day rather than get an apartment or hotel in SF. (We had to decide which was the lesser of the two evils, 15 hours driving & longer days or not seeing his family during the week.) He gets up at 5 am, is on the road by 5:20 & at work by 7:00! (Must be nice to be a guy & be ready in 20 minutes!!) He calls me when he leaves work (about 5:30) so I can have supper on the table when he walks in the door (about 7:00). We're used to eating supper between 5:30 & 6:00 so this 7:00 stuff seems SO late! There have been many times where I couldn't have timed supper more perfectly.....as in, I was setting the food on the table as he walked in! (Yeah for me!) Then we get to spend a couple hours with him & he goes to bed between 9:00 & 9:30! (It's funny because he goes to bed the same time as the kids!! Now I'm the night owl who heads to bed later whereas Dean used to stay up later than me!!) Dean had to work the last two Saturdays for a half day so he is really pooped. He should also be working this Saturday but we already had plans to head out of town on Friday for Easter so they'll have to make due without him! (Plus his boss said he's been spending enough time at work!) Not only is he putting in 50+ hours of work a week, he's putting in 15+ hours of driving a week! And when he's at work, he's constantly busy & running around so he does not a minute to rest or think! But......he is enjoying the job & is looking forward to the day when he "knows his stuff" as this is a new industry he's working in! (His last job involved circuit boards & such for medical equipment & Dakt*ronics.)

Needless to say, we're REALLY looking forward to our house selling (soon) & moving to the SF area. Then we can get on with our lives as it feels like we're in a holding pattern & there are so many uncertainities right now.

Daddy, How Was I Born?

A little boy goes to his father and asks, "Daddy, how was I born?"

The father answers, "Well, son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway! Your Mom & I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via email with your Mom and we met at a cyber cafe. We sneaked into a secluded room where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said: 'You Got Male'."

Ha ha! Got this through email and just couldn't resist posting it. It's a good laugh!

He's Good...

PRETENSE: I was in SF all weekend visiting my sister WITHOUT my hubby and kids. Last night coming home from the Super Bowl party, this conversation between Tanner and me occurs...

Tanner: Mom?

Me: What?

Tanner: We missed you this weekend and didn't get to spend much time with you. Can we stay home from school tomorrow and have some quality time with you?

Me: (laughing) You're good! I wish I could but no. Nice try though!!

Yep, he's a keeper!

Hayley's Cool Bedroom

My plan was to get all my painting in the house done this November & December being I would have absolutely no time during tax season to do it. Well, that plan has changed for two reasons. Reason #1: Dean lost his job and there is a possibility we may have to move so it does not make sense to paint. Possible buyers will prefer neutral colors over my crazy colors! (To possible buyers - Sorry in advance for the purple kitchen and pink bedroom!) Reason #2: I quit my job earlier this week (more about that some other time) and now there is no urgency to get it done!

Dean lost his job on a Wednesday and I had started painting Hayley's room the prior Saturday so I was committed to finishing it. Although there were days when quitting seemed like the right solution...... It took me three weekends and two weeks of evenings to get her room completed. It turned out better than we could ever imagine! Prior to painting, Hayley & I had sat down and sketched out 11 possible painting techniques! Believe it or not, we actually agreed when picking the actual technique to do! So without further ado, here is her room - which involves chocolate brown, tan, three shades of pink - pastel pink, bubble gum pink & red raspberry, and white. Obviously her comforter was our inspiration!

Hayley's dance photos are all displayed here. They do them up like a scrapbook page so all you gotta do is put it in a frame or in your scrapbook. So we've decided to put them in white frames and hang them behind the door. They tend to wear a lot of red so it kinda clashes with the pink so that's why they are behind the door.

This is the wall where the sticker will go - if we stay! It states: "It's a girl thing".

I haven't decided yet if I should get tie-backs for the curtains or just leave them as they are.

Her room is not quite finished as I need to buy some white shelves to hang on her walls and I have one of those up*per ca*se liv*ing stickers in chocolate brown that is to be put on the pink wall at the end of the closet as you walk into the room. Being the sticker is not reuseable and we may have to move, I don't want to put it up until we know. And it makes me very sad to think we might have to move for two reasons. Reason #1: It was A LOT of hardwork to get this room done! Reason #2: I will have to do it all over again at the new house! :(

I Can Finally Share......

...... the details of our difficult situation.

On Wednesday, Dean lost his job. His company let 10% of its employees go and Dean was one of them.

How many times can this happen to one family??? This is the FOURTH time this has happened to us!!!

When we lived in W the first time, Dean was let go from his job along with many other employees. Then we moved to F and he was let go from that job because the company closed. Then we moved to M and he was let go from that job because THAT company closed. He then found another job in M but hated it so we moved W and he has now been let go from that job!! This all in a matter of SEVEN years!!! Even if he would have stayed at the job he hated in M, he'd still be out of a job because that company let many of its employees go and the ones that remained are only working six days a MONTH!!! So either way, we'd be in the same situation.

I only make a small salary and there is NO WAY that we can live off of my income!!! And on top of that, I just started a new job that has no health insurance. And no paid vacation or sick time. And, in addition to dealing with learning a new job, I have this stressful situation at home. I wish I had my old job back......... The only good thing about my new job right now is that tax season is soon approaching in which I will be working 60 hours a week and earning overtime pay!

I only hope that Dean can find a decent job and soon! And this means we may have to move........AGAIN!!!

There's a saying: "I know God won't give me more than I can handle, I just wish He didn't trust me so much!" Boy, do I agree!!!

So I ask that you please keep us in your prayers!!

I'm Sad & Mad at the World!

Well, to be honest with you, I'm PISSED at the world!!!

I can't say anything at this time but when the time is right, I will fill you in.

In the meantime, we'd appreciate it if you could please pray for us during this difficult time.

Halloween 2008

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday Honey!

To my true love, my best friend!

You know the rest! :)


I saw this meme on Ginger's blog and thought it'd be fitting as it's all about my hubby!

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Either sports (golf, football or wrestling) or CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (the original show).

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch.

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Tomatoes.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Either a rum & coke or a beer (sometimes Miller Lite and sometimes those "different" ones.)

5. Where did he go to high school? At the local high school.

6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 1/2

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Golf memorabilia.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Italian BMT, Chicken Breast, Wraps... He really likes all types of sandwiches.

9. What would he eat every day if he could? Ice cream or shrimp.

10. What is his favorite cereal? Lucky Charms.

11. What would he never wear? Low rider pants.

12. What is his favorite sports team? Minnesota Vikings.

13. Who will be vote for? Most likely McCain.

14. Who is his best friend? Me, of course!

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Swearing.

16. How many states has he lived in? Three.

17. What is his heritage? Swedish.

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? 7 layer chocolate cake.

19. What could he spend hours doing? Golfing.

20. Does he belong to any men's organizations? Nope!

Love you, Honey!

Hope your birthday was a GREAT one!

Happy 12th Birthday Hayley!

It's hard to believe my baby is 12 years old already! When I asked her this morning if she felt any different now that she was 12 she said to ask her again tonight at 6:18 pm (the time she was actually born)! Too funny!

We will be celebrating tonight by going out to a Mexican restaurant so she can have her favorite meal - a beef enchilada and frijoles (refried beans)!

Tomorrow she will be celebrating with five friends. Hayley is having a sleepover!! And friends are actually coming! (Last year she was supposed to have a sleepover, but then another classmate had a birthday sleepover and all Hayley's friends went to that sleepover being she was still kinda new in town. I felt so bad for her. But this year we actually have people coming!) It should be a fun time!

Happy Birthday Hayley!

You are turning into such a nice, young lady!

Stay sweet!