The Rest of Us

I didn't get to complete my last post. I only covered the kids!
Today, we had Luke's soccer game early this morning, had to have the house up to par for a showing (and mom is gone on a "bow trip"), took care of animals, and then while we waited we went to NFM and bought a flatscreen tv!! My eyes go cross-eyed watching the tube. And I can't read the subtitles either. So, I bring this up because this is kind of a look into how our weekends go. And patiently waiting/ trying to figure out how this stinking credit thing works. It's like we're biding our time.....

Aldo finally figured out a few days ago what his plan is for the future. I asked him the other day, saying I need a plan. He heard of an opening within NFM for a warehouse manager. It would allow M-F working 6:00 am-3:00 pm, some Saturdays, starting at 52K a year WITHOUT the Bachelor's that is required for the position. Yesterday, as we were eating out he announced that someone overheard a good word. He might really get this position!! Crosses fingers. If he gets the position, the plan is to send him to school for business or something along those lines. When he completes it, his salary will go up. Then I, depending on the time, can go back to school if I wish -or- he can continue his schooling and look into the chiropractic field.

Where does this leave us with the house hunt? I have no idea. I guess we'll just keep our eyes open, bide our time, and talk to the financial advisor again. These beginning stages are lame. But things might move quicker than expected... who knows... because mom went down to Tennessee last weekend and put an offer down on a piece of land. I never find out anything through mom until much later, so I don't know the status of that.

As for myself, I have been working on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings since the summer. I'm glad we chose for me to go back to work; it has been a breath of adult air. BUT, it is not at all the same as it used to be. I still need to figure out goals for myself. Without a "to-do list" I feel lazy. Without a specific job I don't feel necessary. It's chump work. And that's ok, but I'm also applying this to the home job too. I've been digging into the Bible on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday early in the morning (and even did my own Bible Study for the teens on Cisterns vs. Wells), but I need something else too. For when I can't read all day. With Luke, I used to come up with projects. That's what I need. Once we have a house of our own, I forsee that I'll probably be DIYing and decorating a lot. But for now, what am I to do? What can I do with a 1-yr-old? I need to get that creative outlet, and satisfaction. Or teaching outlet... but she's only 1. Hmph.
Speak of the sweetie, it's time to feed. Until next time....

One last thing though... I may have an outlet here soon because we have a Halloween party coming up that I need to create some super awesome outfits for. They are family costumes. :) I have my work cut out for me! More to come soon.

An Eating Crayons Kind of Day

Well, it seems the past weeks have been mainly going to birthday parties and cleaning house. I can't think of anything in between.

Luke is the easiest to keep track of. He has school during the day, soccer practice on Wednesdays, and games on Saturday mornings. This past Saturday, Papa came and watched. Although they lost (10-4), and although Luke tripped and ate grass hard so he had to sit on the bench for a few minutes, Luke played his best game yet! He scored 3 points and I couldn't stop bragging about how he bopped the soccer ball off of his head. Like a real pro!! I'm glad my kid enjoys playing outside, playing sports. Lately, he's been trying to pull out his second tooth. The thing is hanging on by a string and his big tooth has come in behind it. Luke said, "Grammy says I have cricket teeth and have to get braces." Haha!

Watching the Cheetahs Play!

Mila is.... I can't even explain. Today I caught her eating crayons at Stacia's house. Lately I've been so tired (not sleepy, but physically drained) to where it's hard to keep up with Mila or do anything. Stacia called and asked if I could help her get her house ready for her grandma to visit. (She's pregnant with her 4th if I haven't mentioned yet.) Maybe it's the lull of my own dungeon of a house, and doing it over and over again.... Anyway, doing things with Mila (such as reading, cleaning, cooking, watching a movie, anything....) is difficult because she likes being on your lap. She likes reinforcement. She likes your attention. There are few times where she'll play on her own, like right now! In the meantime I've been trying to teach her animal sounds and different words. If she wants/needs the attention so much, she might as well learn something. So here is what she is doing, loving, and learning:

- Bullet. She probably says his name more than Mama and Dada. She really loves him so much. It sounds like "Bulley!" She also knows puppy, but we only use that for strange dogs or stuffed animals, and she doesn't say it much. And she can bark too. As far as animals go, I'm also teaching her Big Bird/chicken, horse, elephant, pig, duck, and kitty. Sometimes she shows interest. Most of the time she gets distracted. She may have a name for Luke ("Luuuuuuu"), but I've only caught her saying it once or twice. And today, for the very first time, she said, "BABY!" (I'm putting exclamation points because every time she says a word, she says it with this cute excitement.) She was looking at Jax when she said it and tried to give him his bottle. 

- Music. The girl looooves music. She was rocking on Luke's guitar until it ran out of batteries. As you know, Luke got her a little piano for her birthday. She'll play on that for a while and now sing in the microphone. She would much rather play on his huge keyboard. There are times where she'll yodel/gargle in a way, which I understand as her singing to herself. When I play music, she'll nod her head up and down. That's adorable.

- Food and snacks. I just told mom the other day that I have no idea where this child came from. She'll eat spicy enchiladas, green bean soup, Chinese food, broccoli cheddar stuff, vinegar-y QUINOA, but not bananas and not peanut butter. She recognizes the sound of an open package of chocolate, but won't touch a cupcake. She likes sipping on my cereal. She'll down a bottle of blue Gatorade, but doesn't go for apple juice or milk unless she's feelin' it. She likes fruit snacks and apple sauce, but doesn't care for graham crackers (because the ones we have are oddly shaped like Star Wars characters). I don't understand this girl at all when it comes to food.

It's a Classic.

When she falls asleep on you.... </3

- Games and toys. Our favorite game is Peek-A-Boo, and it's mainly me hiding in the same spot... in front of the Frankencouch, and saying "Boo" when she walks around. Except last night, she hid! I would love for her couch to be her favorite spot, and to sit still and watch a tv show like Luke watched Elmo or Blue's Clues, but she's not a sit still kind of girl. She walks around looking for things to get into and touch. Remotes. Books. Opening and closing cupboards, doors and drawers. Flushing the toilet. Mommy's purse... taking out credit cards and cash (this has been a repeat thing). Oy vey. But if I absolutely need to contain her - she does like the swing and the slide. And when it gets too cold out for that... we can always go back to Bullet.

 Hiding in Grammy's TV Cabinet