Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to ME! I'm a big girl now! I'm 2! Well, I will be officially 2 in a few minutes, at 5:12pm. Derrick bought me a Carebear coloring book, and some bubbles. We LOVE to play bubbles in the bathtub, that's the only place Mommy lets us play with them. I also got some treats, Derrick picked out some suckers that look like fishies. They taste yummy! I like the red one best. Well, Mommy will post pics later. I didn't cooperate too much with them, sorry. But maybe I'll have a nice pic with me and my cake. I don't think Mommy is doing anything special, which is fine with me, just give me the frosting, I mean cake!

Eve's 2-Year-Pics

Check them out!

http://www.searsportrait.com/

login - kre722@yahoo.com
password - carebear

Only two more days exactly (I'll post this at 5:12pm) and she'll be TWO!

When you get to searsportrait, up in the righthand corner will be a link "View my pictures" - once you go there, about halfway down will be a link to "Already a member?" - that's where you will log in.

I think the time got messed up :o( I thought I timed it right so I could post on Evie's birth time. Oh well!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our Papa (yesterday)!

Gran sent me my birthday present! See, aren't I cute? It has a cupcake on it! And sprinkles on my collar. I like it. Thanks, Gran!

First Day

My first day went well! It's so boring having to "learn" the restaurant way, when I've served for many, many years before this :o) But I understand they need to do it. I actually took a table :o) Don't think I was supposed to, but I new most of their menu from "studying" it this weekend, so I knew I could wing it. Too bad I didn't get to keep the tip! I go back tomorrow. Not sure Mondays and Wednesdays are going to work out, I can't seem to find a sitter. But that's what I'll work on tonight. Ryan likes to play basketball those days and then work out afterwards, and I don't want him to have to give that up.

Can you believe that Evie will be TWO in one week?!? Wow! She's getting better at talking. Except I still have no idea what she says most of the time :o) So that's something we'll continue to work on.

OH! I also got jury summoned, for the state of Minnesota (Minneapolis). So we'll see how that turns out. I hope I can get a deferment, if I can't get an excuse. I've already been called twice, this will be my third time! But it's so hard with Ryan being overnights, I have no day care, and we only have one vehicle. So this should be interested. I asked if I couldn't get it excused, to get a deferment until Evie was in kindergarten, so I wouldn't have to worry about just dropping my kids off at some strange day care with people I don't know.

Applebee's

So, I had my orientation today at Applebee's - I officially start on Monday! I'm excited, and a little nervous, as I really haven't had a job in quite some time. But I know this will be good for us. Right now I'm scheduled 11-4 M, W, Th and F of this coming week. A little more than what I was expecting, but this is my training week, so I won't say anything. I was hoping for evenings and weekends, so I will be home when the kids are mostly awake. But I just need to make it to May, then the college kids are out of school and hopefully I can do the other shifts if I want to still switch. And when I was getting a tour of the restaurant, Eddie was working - we worked at the Ground Round together! So that was pretty cool. So, tomorrow I'll be shopping - I need solid black shoes (that are comfy to work in for long hours!), black pants, and black shirts. I'm glad black is my color, or I'd look like I was tired every day at work :o) Anyways...

Kids are doing fine. Evie started throwing tantrums again. I'm hoping it's just because of her molars coming in and she's hurting. I'll try to keep her on pain killers (baby versions, of course!) tomorrow, to see if that helps her out at all. She finally let me put my finger where her molars would be coming thru, and she bit down, just like she did when she was a few months old. Derrick is also a little on the crabby side, but he just spent the last two weeks eating us out of house and home, so I'm sure he's growing. My 3 1/2 year old is wearing 6Ts!!! I don't even have the next set of clothes! Hopefully his legs will just grow, then his pants should fit fine. But if his upper body grows also, then I'm in trouble :o)

Oh, we also cleaned out the basement yesterday and today. I took 3 containers of toys up to Once Upon a Child today - and she bought every toy!! I was so excited! Our toy room is only about 1/2 full now. Which is the way I like it - NO ONE SEND NEW TOYS! Alright, off to bed. Have a great weekend everyone!

PRESENTS!

When Mommy took us to McDonald's so we could meet G and Auntie Marcie, we got to open our presents from GG! It was yucky out that day by Christmas when we were supposed to go to her house. I got some really cool trucks and a nice sweatshirt I've already worn, it's very comfy. Evie got a new dolly that she sleeps with, and a princess comb and some hair clips. She was very excited!





Then when we got to G's house, Evie got MORE presents. Auntie Marcie gave Evie her birthday present since she'll be at college on Evie's birthday. Evie liked it just as much as GG's present! It was more princess stuff! Nail polish, and some other neat things. When we met Mommy and Daddy at McDonald's again so we could go home, G forgot to bring our bag with! So our clothes and Evie's presents are at G's house still :o( Silly G!

Email Updates

Ok, so I found a site that you can sign up at and it will let you know when our website is updated (for those of you who don't check it frequently, or for those of you that check it every second and are tired of doing so!). So, check this out...

http://www.blogarithm.com/

Follow the steps. Easy Peasy. It will send out an email the morning after I post.

Or check out the top left corner of the main page, and you can type in your email address there!

Poor Evie

Poor Eve - she's been so sick the last few days :o( She can't lay down for very long, so I'm assuming it's an ear infection. Oh we haven't had to deal with this for 12 months! I think she's getting her 2-year molars in, and cutting teeth has never been easy for her. Derrick and I are at the library, picking out some movies to watch since she just wants to cuddle on the couch. I hope she gets better soon, I don't want to take her in to the doc. But I've started not feeling well, so if I have what she had, I can see why she screams! I hope those teeth come in soon for her, I don't want her getting sick for months until they do!

Two nights ago Eve and I spent 4 hours in the rocking chair. It was the only way she could sleep - if she was upright. Last night wasn't much better, but I was able to keep her in our bed. So, keep her in your prayers so she heals up - I don't know if I can take much more of this!

I also got a call last night that I got the job! I'll be starting hopefully this week if I have my way :o) But one manager said orientation may not be until next week :o( So we'll see. I'm just glad I got it! I'm looking forward to being out of the house for a few hours a day!

Well, better go. I'll upload pics as soon as Mom Z. sends them (from a long time ago!) he he he

Movie

I got to go see my first movie today! G took me to go see the Chipmunk movie! I had fun. And ate popcorn.

Evie's been driving G crazy! She does the same thing to Mommy all the time. She likes to ask the question, "Whatcha doin'?" Then you answer her, and she'll say, "Oh." And then a few seconds later, she asks you again and again and again. Goofy Evie!

Evie Dancing

I've got moooooves - check me out!

2 Down, 1 To Go

I had my second interview today. All went well, I found out which shifts I'll be working, etc. But need to do one more interview with the General Manager before I can be hired. Soooo, on Monday afternoon, I should know when I start :o) I'm excited. But sounds like I will be working mostly M-F lunch hour. Not bad. I'll take it. Just need to find a sitter for M and W so Ryan can go work out as usual. It's such a tough timeslot, hard to find someone, but I'm sure things will work out. Well, I better go get some dinner, then off to church to watch other people's kids so their parents can go out on a date and have free child care :o( I don't have kids, and I have to watch others' kids tonight! I wanted the night off too! Oh well, I'm ok with it. I guess :o)

Good News/Bad News

Alrighty, we'll get the "bad" news out first. Our keyboard doesn't work. So I have to go to the library to use a computer. So no more uploading pics until we get it fixed :o( Sorry! No idea what went wrong, but our computer hasn't worked right since Derrick "cleaned" it for us last year. So it may be time for a new one.

Good news - I called a friend yesterday to help me with a part of an application I was filling out. And she told me to go up to Applebee's right away and talk to the manager that was there. So I left within a few minutes and ran up there. I asked for the manager by name, and when he did come out, he had that look all managers do - "What the heck do you want? I don't want another application blah blah blah." So I introduced myself, shook his hand, and said, "Karly told me you might be looking for a good server." That was it, he was like "KARLY!" Lets sit down. So, thank you, Karly! I filled out a dumb personality questionnaire - 150 questions. Whatever, not that big of a deal, just the same question over and over in different words. But, they were PACKED last night when I went in for my interview. So I told him he was busy and I'll come back later. He liked that - HELLO! I've worked at restaurants for years, last thing you want to do is sit down for an interview when you're packed. So I think that gave me a few brownie points :o) He just had me do the questionnaire and told me to come back today for the rest of the interviewing process. Kelly came up to me and introduced herself as the other day server, so that we could get to know each other, etc. I'm not even hired yet, and everyone was welcoming me in! How cool was that? On my way over, I was praying, telling God nicely :o) that if this was meant to be, to show me right away. And He did. So, it sounds like I have a job - the manager last night said to stop back this afternoon so we can finish everything up and get going. Works for me! Totally proves the old saying, "It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know" that will get you places. Well, I should get going. Kids are running around the library somewhere :o) Will update again when I can.

Kids are off to G and Papa's again this weekend, as long as Evie gets rid of her nasty cough that decided to return two days ago. Ryan and I are planning on heading to Omaha again this weekend for a conference. I never really look forward to these very much, but I always know I have such a good time once I'm there :o)

New Year's Resolutions

Oh the old questions..."What are your New Year's Resolutions?"

We have a list of things to accomplish this year. We'll keep you updated on them! We have business goals - which this month is already fantastic! And we are only in the first week of it! We have financial goals. We're following The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. We did this once before to get rid of our credit card debt before Derrick was born. We paid off the last of it the day he was born almost four years ago! Now it's time for the student loans to be done with, and some other miscellaneous loans. So, we'll keep you updated on our progress! Last big goal for the year, we are going to get back to our ideal weights! I don't have a ton to lose, but just need to get most areas tightened up. Ryan has already lost weight and looks awesome! It's like I have a whole new husband already! Can't wait to see him thru the next few months. In August - I may not even recognize him! I'm proud of what he's done so far. Now I just have to watch what I cook so I don't mess things up for him :o) I'll keep you up to date on our inches lost also - you can be our cheering squad! We actually started doing all this before the New Year even started, so in a way, we cheated and started early - oh well! :o)

I've also decided to get a job. It will help in so many ways. I'm not meant to be a full-time mom and only a full-time mom. Especially for their ages. So I'm applying for server positions at local restaurants for a few evenings a week. Or a few day shifts if I can find someone to watch the kids for those few hours. I need to get some sanity back - Ryan mentioned the other day, in a very nice way, that I'm a nicer person to be around when I have a job :o) I could have decked him, but he is right. I get more accomplished at home when I stay busy. And if all I do is play with the kids or just watch them all day, then I get nothing done. But if I had a job to keep me busy, I am more time efficient. At least I was before kids when I had like 3 jobs. So we'll see how this goes! Wish me luck on getting some interviews set up! I talked with Ryan about me getting a full-time position during the day, but I just can't put the kids in day care. It's not worth it to me. Derrick will start preschool again this coming September, and Evie can start in November (I'll probably hold off until January to send her), and that will be enough time away from them. I can't believe my baby is going to be 2 in 3 weeks, and my other baby 4 in just over two months! I'm so enjoying them. Today, Evie sat on my lap, and said, "Momma, you ma fend" - that translates into "Mommy, you're my friend." How precious is that?!? I can't miss out on that by putting them into daycare for a few extra bucks.

Ok, have to tell you this. Sorry for the long entry, should keep you busy for a few minutes :o) Ryan is AWESOME at putting the kids to bed. I don't have the patience nor the will power to fight with them any more. He gets them not only into bed, but to STAY in bed. I listened tonight at how he got them to. Ryan stood at the end of their beds and asked, "What are the rules?" All three of them repeated, "No getting out of bed. No talking. No laughing. (Crap, can't remember the other one!). " Our little soldiers. Ryan's got them all trained so nicely!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mandy! We miss you! When are you coming back here so you can nanny for us?!?!?!?! Please come back, Mandy. Please!

Yay!

I figured out how to put "returns" on my posts. Every time I wrote an entry up, with returns between paragraphs - they wouldn't show up on the blog, just made one big paragraph.

But now I figured it out!

Well, off to clean the kids room. I'll add a pic as soon as it's clean :o)

I tried getting the whole room in one picture, but it didn't work. The door opens in the middle of the room (whoever designed this house - seriously!). But you get the idea. Off to the left is a bookshelf I decided not to take a picture of since the kids threw the books all over and I didn't want to pick them up AGAIN. Off to the right by Eve's bed is a cabinet that matches her bed, filled with pjs and blankets. Poor Dirkie, so much pink. I hope he turns out ok later in life! Ha ha!

Happy New Year!

2008! Wow. That means this year, Derrick turns 4! Evie turns 2! And I turn 30????

We're all getting over a bit of some colds, so we're going low key today. Putting away the Christmas decorations. Wow, now I remember why I haven't decorated in years! I didn't put too much up, but they are taking some time to come down. We got the frames and mirror put up! I'm so excited! I've wanted a big mirror for a while - thanx Dad! - and Mom too :o) We'll get a family pic done as soon as I find an outfit for Eve and for me. I know what we are doing, but just need to borrow them. Hopefully will get that done soon so we can fill the new frame with a pic of us and not whoever is in there :o)

Kids are doing well, besides the runny noses. The LOVE playing their games, especially the play dough. But I only let them do that when I take a shower. Oh, to have peace and quiet for 15 minutes - I should have gotten them play dough years ago!

We also bought a "Spider Crab" is what I call him - to eat the worms that have taken over our saltwater fishtank. He's nasty. EEEEEWWWWW! But, if he eats the worms so we can finally sell a bunch of stuff in there, he's worth it!