Perfect Morning

I have the house to myself this morning. The rooftops are frosty outside and it looks cold. I'm finally getting over my cold and I feel like a normal person again - sort of. But it's the perfect morning to sit in bed with a hot cup of coffee and my computer while watching the Today show. Now if my Mr. were here with me the morning would be absolutely perfect.

We've been spending our spring break fighting colds and hanging out at home. It's been pretty nice. We braved the snow storm last weekend and snuck out for a birthday party.

We did a fun Easter craft to prep for this weekend. Too cute!

Later this week we'll be making Spring sugar cookies and our traditional bunny cake. While the week hasn't been super exciting it has been nice just being home with my two loves. 

Spring Break 2013

I was really looking forward to Spring Break this year. I busted my butt and got two weeks ahead in school so I could spend the entire week with Taylor and DJ, not worrying about homework. That's the problem with taking college classes online. You don't get a Spring Break. We didn't have any big plans but I was looking forward to just relaxing. But wouldn't you know it - as soon as Spring Breaks starts my baby and me get sick. Worst feeling in the world. The chills and body aches have finally started to subside so I hope this clears up soon. Not how I pictures Spring Break going here. . .   

Nothing Too Spectacular

Nothing too spectacular has happen around our neck of the woods this week leaving me with little to blog about. Add in large amounts of homework, finishing projects around the house and regular daily stuff it's been pretty boring. Here's a few funny things too happen:

Taylor went to a birthday party Friday night. They played musical chairs and she won one round. Saturday morning she was talking to me as if I wasn't even at the party with her. She was very theatrical in telling me this story, "So, we played music chairs last night and so now I know how to play. I even won. I am like the best music chairer ever". I thought it was too funny.

I dropped my iPhone. I only had a case on it that protected the back of the phone. Smart huh? I guess that's what I get for taking out the trash! It fell out of the pocket in my hoodie when I bent over. It shattered the screen completely. Luckily our phone were eligible for upgrades. DJ got the new iPhone 5 and I took his iPhone. Such a pain switching everything over for new phones. Having the iCloud helped but it didn't make it any easier.

We are finishing up projects around the house. We (I mean DJ) finished filling the holes in Taylor's walls and painting over them. He also finished the trim around the chalk board in the loft. I'll have to post pictures soon. Now we still need to move a few pictures in the entry way but after that we are done with home projects for a while. At least until it's warm enough to plant flowers and work on the yard :o)

Taylor has parent teacher conferences on Friday. I can't wait to hear how she's doing this year and how she's changed from last year. I love her teachers. Not sure what we'd do without them.

DJ will be working on his grilling skills. We finally got a new grill. We've had the same grill since we were 19. It was time for an upgrade.

That's the most exciting things have been around our house lately. Taylor and I are making cookies today after she gets out of school. Gabby goes to the groomer tomorrow. I still have homework and DJ will be working. Pretty mellow ending to our week. I guess it's better than being super hectic though, right?

Catch My Breath

We had a very busy weekend around here. The kind that made me feel like I need to catch my breath and unwind. Unfortunately for me it's already Monday morning though and we'll be out the door once more for school pretty soon.

Friday morning we went to Taylor's school so she could do an assessment. Her teacher said she did very well but we won't be discussing everything until next month when we meet for Parent Teacher conferences. After the assessment we picked up Grandma and met DJ for lunch. Then we parted ways and the girls went shopping for a while. We didn't make it back home until about 4:30pm. DJ had been up about 24 hours at this point as he worked the entire night before and didn't get to sleep when he came home so I knew it was going to be an early night for everyone. After Taylor and DJ went to bed I headed to our friends house to take care of their dog.

We did some Valentines Day crafts. One of the crafts I didn't get a picture of and I didn't even get out my camera once this weekend so all the pictures I took were with my iPhone.

Saturday we went to a baby shower for one of DJ's cousins. She's the only one I know expecting a boy. It was nice to buy little boy stuff for a change. :o) After the baby shower we headed to a birthday party for our friends' little girl. Her and Taylor have so much fun playing together.

The clown Kristin found for the party was amazing. She did face painting, balloon animals and a magic show. Taylor loved it! 

Taylor got to have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's Saturday night but DJ and I were there most of the night. Sunday morning DJ and I get up, drank coffee and did some homework together. It was kinda nice. In the afternoon DJ and Taylor went to lunch for Great Grandma's birthday while I picked my brother up from the airport. He spent 8 days in Thailand visiting his girlfriend who's there for school until March. He came back super tan and made me so jealous! I met DJ's family after I took him home and had cake with everyone. I was exhausted by the time we made it home. 

Oh, and in Taylor's free time she's been building up her own UPS terminal. Paul gave her a bunch of UPS cars and stuff and she's been moving them all around the wood floors pretending to be a UPS worker. It's so funny to watch.

Now I'm off to take Taylor to school before coming back home to meet my friend so we can work on labs for our Anatomy class. . . busy busy day.

A Whole Lot'a Nothin'

This week has been pretty boring on our home front so I don't have a whole lot to share.

Taylor's been sick all week.

We took her in to get a check up and it turns out she has a fever without a cause. Never knew that could happen. She doesn't have the flu, no strep throat, no ear infection. I thought for sure she at least had an ear infection but I was wrong. We've got to just wait it out and keep doing what we've been doing. I hope she starts to feel better soon. Nothing makes a mommy feel worse than having a sick baby.

School is now in full swing. We're past the first week introductions and I've had my heard buried in the books. I'm anticipating submitting my application for nursing school and hope all goes well with that.

Last week two exciting things happen. We found out on Friday that Jess and Gabe are going to have a girl! Taylor is over the moon about that! And on Saturday I found out my step-brother Ben and his wife Tamra had their baby! I have another niece! Total, after Jess has her little girl, I'll have three nieces. I think it's time our family added a boy to the mix :o)

I've been getting 'cabin fever' having to hang out inside so much. For me, Spring can't come soon enough. I can't wait to walk to isles at the flower nurseries and get new plants for out front. I hope we can find a new little barista furniture set for our front porch this Spring too. And since we've been spending so much time inside it's been itching me not to redo every room in the house. Every time DJ is home I go on and on about all these ideas for the house. I'm going to start working on a few of these ideas soon so I'll be sure to post all about them! We'll be doing a few fun projects for Taylor's room, finishing up some things in the loft and I'm going to attempt making curtains for my kitchen window!

Stay tuned for all my craftiness! :o)
 

Weekend Recap

We had a great weekend. Sometimes they just don't get any better.

Saturday Taylor and I went  dress shopping. Again. This time Ranee and Joel went with us. I thought it was so sweet of my brother to go wedding dress shopping with us girls for 6 hours. Yep that's right. 6 hours! We went to three stores and tried on about 20 dresses. I am so happy to finally be able to say . . . I found THE DRESS. 

After trying on so many dresses I was starting to get nervous that I may not find the right dress and I would end up feeling like I settled for one that I just liked. But I knew as soon as I tried this dress on that it was going to be the one. I have fallen in love with every detail of the dress. I think I could honestly just sit and stare at it all day - or just wear it around the house - I love it that much! I can't wait to share my dress with the rest of the world! And Taylor was so cute throughout the entire experience.

After dress shopping DJ met us down at The Ale House for lunch. It was so nice to sit and relax and just talk over good food. I think we both needed that. After leaving dinner we went to St. Nick's to buy our annual Christmas ornaments. I'll post pictures of them when I post pictures of our tree. I love that store and I think if anyone is lacking that special Christmas magic this season they should just take a trip down there. It did the trick for me! I found the perfect ornament for myself too . . .

We bought our Christmas tree Sunday morning. I love the way it makes the house smell and it is beautiful when it's all lit at night. I must say though, this year our tree is just about as perfect as it gets. This little guy was there. I think I should have brought him home with me . . .

Sunday was an extra special day for us. Joel and Ranee were out in our area and stopped by for a bit. We ended up spending the whole day together hanging out, snacking on food and playing games. It was so fun to watch them play the xbox Kinects with us . . .

I swear our living room has pictures and stuff on the walls! These pictures made it look so bare!

I wish we could have weekends like this every week. In my book there's nothing better than spending lots of quality time with family. It meant the world to me to have these guys close with us all weekend!

Jumbled Thoughts

I don't have much of anything specific to blog about today; just a bunch of randomness.

These made me really happy the other day. . .

This is supposed to be me. (not sure why but blogger uploaded it sideways and I can't change it.)

And this is supposed to be DJ. His pockets must have been full . . .

I really wish Starbucks carried their Christmas Blend coffee year round. It's seriously my favorite coffee. It almost can't get better than sitting in a quiet house in the morning, watching the sunrise and sipping a cup of hot coffee.  

I tried going dress shopping with my sister-in-law Renee on Tuesday. It didn't go as planned. The first shop we went to said on their website that appointments were not required. But when we got there we were told we needed an appointment. No luck there. I knew of another wedding boutique around the corner so we tried stopping there. They were closed for the day unexpectedly. So we tried one last thing. We googled dress shops around us and drove over to the closest one to us. The address is completely wrong on their website because it took us to what looked like a drug house. After that I decided that the third strike was enough and I just wasn't meant to try on wedding dresses that day. We'll try for this weekend - with appointments.

Why do people charge so much for the simplest things? Really, it's like you say the word wedding and they tack on an extra $100 just because the word wedding is involved. I mean, come on, $350 just to officiate?! Maybe I should change my career.

We've been stuck with a few hard decisions lately. Mainly concerning DJ's job and school for me. I wish I had an 'Easy' button. Then we could stop running our minds around in circles trying to make the best decision and not feeling like we made the wrong turn somewhere.

I've taken my finals for both classes. School is officially over for the semester! I am so excited to say I have no school until January. I should know my final grades by Tuesday. Now I get a month to focus on personal projects.

My sister and her husband may get to come home for Christmas. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works out. I haven't gotten to see her in two years.

I'm going to clean house today. Like, really clean house - bathrooms, laundry, everything. Sometimes there isn't a better feeling than a clean house. And since we have plans almost all weekend I think it'd be a good day to do it.

After I'm done cleaning I have a fun holiday craft planned for Taylor. It's going to be a good day :o)

Weekend Update

I'm going through a bunch of computer stuff so I won't be posting any pictures for a few days now. But I guess that's alright because the only pictures I ended up taking on Thanksgiving were of our decorations . . . weird huh? That's the second year in a row! I kept telling myself I would take pictures this year and I would even get some good pictures to add to my cookbook. Oops!

Thursday morning Taylor woke up and told me in the sleepiest voice, "Happy Thanks Turkey Day Mommy". Too dang cute! Our Thanksgiving here was amazing. Everything ran smoothly considering we hosted 16 people and this is the first year I have hosted it. I have to admit I was pretty impressed.

DJ got to go Black Friday shopping for us. There were a couple of things we wanted and thankfully he was able to get them. I stayed home. Taylor was in bed and I wasn't about to go to bed with a kitchen that still needed some cleaning. DJ even made it home before I went to bed!! I miss Black Friday shopping! Maybe next year. We did run to Best Buy Friday morning though and I found the movie A River Runs Through It. I've been looking for this movie for a while without having to order it online and finally found it. It was a little like Christmas morning. We watched it Friday night. Great movie if you're looking for a quiet night in!

Today we started setting up Christmas decorations. It always amazes me how cozy our house can feel after we add a few Christmas decorations. My favorite will always probably be the garland hanging on the stair banister.

I'm spending the rest of the weekend relaxing, watching the Twlight movies (or at least one since I've never seen them), finishing laundry, and playing games with Taylor. I just wish I didn't have to go back to a routine on Monday.

Bunch of Nothing

There hasn't been a whole lot going on around here lately. It's been a pretty good thing . . . I think.

Midterms have come and gone. I got an 87% on my Anatomy and Physiology Midterm. I was pretty excited about that little tid bit and the fact that there wasn't a midterm for my Sociology class. Then the next test went really well too. . .

 Registration for the Spring semester opens up next Wednesday at midnight. I know the classes I'll be taking - Anatomy and Physiology II and Pathophysiology. In February I am applying for the Nursing program and that will start next October. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get in :o) On another note, there are about 4 weeks left in the semester - is it bad that I am already making a mental note of things I want to do on my break from school?

Is anyone else over all these political ad's we've been seeing? The ones that play back to back to back and it's almost the only type of commercial airing? I officially decided last night that we've seen too many. Right after we finished eating dinner we were watching the news and Taylor kept saying: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message", "I'm Joe Miklosi and I approve this message", "I'm Joe Coors and I approve this message". Then she started mixing the names up and said, "I'm Mitt Coors and I approve  this message". We were cracking up.

Taylor and I made popcorn last night. She wanted to eat it while we watched the Voice. She wants to be a singer so she loves watching all the people sing and I love Adam Levine. :o) We decided to spice up our popcorn and add M&M's to it . . .

Today we're taking a trip to the park with Daddy and Gabby and trying to make cake pops. Wish us luck!

Recent Happenings

Lately we've been doing a little of this, a little of that, but nothing super amazing that I just had to write about. Midterms are next week, our Sociology class is working on writing two different papers at the same time and we still have all the normal assignments for my Anatomy class. I think we should at least get a 3 day break after midterms. Maybe I should suggest that to my professors. . .

This morning I have been lucky enough to sit in a totally quiet house, enjoying a cup of coffee while watching one beautiful sunrise. I tried getting a picture of it but wouldn't you know that's when I realized the battery to my camera died and I haven't remembered to charge it. Oops.

The day after Taylor's birthday I skipped my class to be a volunteer at her school and help her celebrate her birthday with her class. We took chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. I know it's for the safety of kids with allergies but it makes me really sad that we can't take homemade goodies to school anymore. 

We got to go costume shopping for Halloween. Taylor has known for quiet some time what she wanted to be. Lucky for us we were able to find a costume! I'll post pictures when she dresses up :o) While we were shopping her and DJ found a t-shirt for Gabby. Taylor couldn't wait to get it home and let Gabby wear it. The last time we dressed Gabby up for Halloween she was a devil and was not very excited about it. I don't think she was very excited about this new shirt either. . .

I'm sure glad she tolerates us :o)

Taylor had her 4-year well-baby check up. She was so brave and did awesome!

She is 3'7 1/4", 45 1/2 lbs.

I was so proud of her for being so brave. Before her appointment DJ did a really good job of explaining that she would need to get shots. She got her first finger poke and didn't even cry! She also had to do a TB test and get 2 shots. She didn't cry very much at all! To help her 'feel better' we took her to get Little Man ice cream afterwards. We got a super special treat while we were there too - Uncle Joel and Aunt Ranee met us there! It was windy and pretty chilly. I think that's probably the last time we'll be getting Little Man this year.

This weekend we're filled with birthday parties, finishing laundry and homework, vacuuming out a certain messy car and de-cluttering. Maybe I'll even go on a run this weekend :o)

  

Random Thoughts

 - I love celebrating holidays, birthdays, special occasions. . . for other people. Not my own. I don't like everyone's attention on me. I'd rather just skip it sometimes. And when you tell someone not to get you anything, why do they go against your wishes? It's your birthday after all isn't it? 

 - I learned how to change a tire last night. I mean a bike tire, well more like a stroller tire. We have a jeep jogging stroller for Taylor and the tire has been flat for some time now. I've been waiting for it to be changed, got tired of waiting and did it myself. My pants got a little dirty but I got it finished! It's nice to know how to do things your husband would noramlly would do.

 - Don't use spell check on your phone when you are in a hurry . . . if you misspell party it inserts ORGY. Not good.

 - And most importantly . . . this is more of a warning than anything . . . the medicine you have to take for egg donation will leave you a little crazy until it's all out of your system. I have never been so emotional in my life. Tears are coming at all the wrong times.

Our Weekend. . .

Was filled with. . .

Stained T-shirts from eating fudgscicles. . .

Getting angry becasue Grandma went outside without me. . .

Realizing Mama was taking my picture and I needed a close up . . . (LOVE this girls eyes!)

Sticky, crazy, messy hair - from getting mango juice all over our lil' fingers and running them in our hair. . .

Putting stickers on our bare bellies . . .

(missing shirt is in the laundry, soaking in stain fighter praying the stain comes out!)

Getting really upset because our mean Mama made us come inside. . .

Cooling down the food we are stealing from other people. . .

Yum!

Things I am Loving. . .

. . .
 - All the green shirts walking downtown. It looks awesome
 - That in the 'snowiest' month in Colorado we are wearing t-shirts, capri pants, flip flops and no jackets. The sun is shining, it's in the mid 60's and beautiful
 - I am not loving however, the snow that is coming our way Friday and Saturday. How does that work? It is 60's on Thursday, 32 and 33 degrees with snow Friday and Saturday and Sunday is back into the high 50's??? Can anyone explain. . .
 - Oranges. I honestly think I am getting addicted
 - When you bite into a banana and it is the perfect ripeness. Nothing better at breakfast!

Random Stuff

Nothing has really been going on here lately. Everyone is tired of the cold weather and I think it has just in a bit of a funk.

Taylor's hair is now long enough to put in pig-tails and I can't get over how irresistable she is when her hair is done! She knows she is too cute too. DJ says he will never be able to tell her no when her hair is up like that because she so adorable. It's still amazing to me that everyday it can feel like you fall more in love with this lil' person.

Last weekend a friend of ours had a gymnastics party for their son who turned 2. Taylor had so much fun running around all over the place. She wasn't so sure about the foam pit and took a little bit getting used to the trampoline but she loved the hoola-hoops. We need to get her one now.

(It's very obvious that my camera lense needs to be cleaned)

We've been going to the gym pretty regularly to work out when I get off work. Taylor hasn't been a huge fan of the day care center until she found the infant room. Her new favorite thing is looking through the half glass door and pointing at the babies as she ooo's and aahhh's over them. I laugh so hard everytime. Doesn't she know she is still a baby?? :o)

That's all from here. Pretty boring but at least it's something.

Random Thoughts

Life has been hectic lately. First I was sick, now Taylor is sick and the poor thing can't get rid of it. I don't have much news, just a few random thoughts:

- I hate my job. Know I shouldn't use the word hate and I should appreciate that I have a job and everything it offers me. But in this situation it is the only acceptable word. Maybe if I came to work knowing everyday I would be given more than 1-2 hours of work for an 8 hour shift I would be happier here. But no, I should be home squeezing my baby instead of doing nothing in an office. I think I need to find my calling. Does anyone know how I can find my calling?

- I am so happy to be working out regularly again. Of course, I can see small differences everywhere but my stomach. . . these crunches need to work from the outside in. Not the inside out!

- I dream of warmer weather 24/7. I hate snow. Why do I live in Colorado? Maybe I should move to Arizona?

- I think when a company makes Trail Mix, they should use half the m&m's

 - My car is filthy. And not just the outside. If I don't clean the inside this weekend it might start growing things.

- I never realized how many songs are on my iPod that I don't listen to until I started using it all the time at the gym and have to skip through more than half the songs. I need to get my computer fixed so I can fix my iPod problem.

For Just One Day . .

 . . . I would like to be invincible. I would like to tell everyone how I felt, not worry about the reactions I got or the consequences from what I said. This doesn't apply to anyone in my personal life - just those in my surroundings. And I don't know, maybe I have just become sensitive. I'm not sure. But to me it seems everyone in public has become rude and offensive. So since I am too chicken to do it in real life I will do it here:

To the man on the bus screaming into your cell phone about you divorce, how awful your soon to be ex wife (and mother of your children) is - no one wants to hear it. No one! So save that conversation for when you get into your car.


To the teenage girls on the shuttle downtown talking about sex, using a curse word between every other word you say - some things are meant to be private and such language should not come out of your mouth, especially when in public and you look like you are 12. (I better never catch Taylor acting like this)
To the teenage boys on the shuttle downtown - you have headphones for a reason! No one wants to listen to the music you are listening to so don't sing it out loud! Especially the rap songs!
To the young mom's walking downtown with your babies - when someone holds the door for you so you can get your stroller through the door with ease, thank them!! We all know being a mom is tough but it doesn't mean you are excused from using your manners.
And last but not least - if someone in your office says 'good morning' respond with a like gesture and do not act like you are better than they are!
That's my rant for the day.

Today would be. . .

Because it's only a whopping 14 degrees outside and snow is still falling here in Denver today would be the perfect day to:

• Sit in front of the TV, wrapped in blankets, watching classic Christmas movies such as, It's A Wonderful Life or the cartoon version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas
• Bake cookies in tke kitchen all day (of course only one's in cute Christmas shapes)
• Get lost in a bookstore or for that matter, lose time while reading a book and sipping on a hot cup of coffee
• Taking a very much needed, loooong nap after lunch
• Finish all the Christmas projects I have started and need to finish so badly
• Catch up on all the things on my To Do list because I have been asking myself when they will ever get done

The Loot

With Thanksgiving comes Black Friday. Technically not a real holiday, but just as good to some. I never participated in Black Friday shopping as a kid. It wasn't until three years ago did DJ and I get into it. The first year we bought a new TV. Last year we had a 7 week old baby and I had just returned to work off maternity leave. We didn't go shopping and I was bummed. This year we had everything planned.We were getting up at 3am and would be out the door by 3:30am. Some people just couldn't drag themselves out of bed though...

 The in-laws were going to Wal-Mart. DJ's sister Jess and her boyfriend Steven were going to JCPenny with us. DJ and I were looking for ourselves and getting some things on his parents' list. We left the house at 3:30am, grabbed coffee at DazBog (shocked they were open) and made it to JCPenny for the opening. We found everything. Cookware, bedding & pillows, a tunnel/tent and Christmas PJ's for Taylor, coffee pot, griddle and crockpot for his parents. We made out great! I can't wait to use the new cookware - originally $499.99, bought today for $178.00. Our new bedding was 60% off and the pillows were 50% off. Jess and I are headed out in a while for more steals! Enjoy the 'Holiday' if you participate!

All packed up

We are all packed up . . . almost. . . and ready to go. Tomorrow is moving day in our house. We will be moving in with DJ's parents for a short time. I thought we got a good start on things a few weeks ago but I am beginning to think otherwise. It's been hard deciding what needs to be taken with us and what can stay in storage. I am sure in a few weeks, possibly days, I will need something that has been packed away. For about 2 weeks now I have been packing at least one box a night. I thought this move would be a piece of cake considering we have been moving at least once a year for 5 years, sometimes even twice in the same year. I'm beginning to hate moving all together. I can't wait until we can buy a house. On top of the move, I am getting sick. Scratch that. I am sick. The cold chills set in at work today, the sore throat last night and this afternoon the sneezing. When I get home I will be spending the night packing, organizing boxes and getting everything finalized for tomorrow morning. Luckily we have the lease until Thanksgiving day but I work everyday until then next week, leaving no time for odds and ends. Wish me luck!

One after the other. . .

Yesterday I ran into a series of annoying events. It was a day when every event makes you understand everything that irritates you in life. It was not a good day. The three major events that stuck out in my mind were the following:

-  Sitting on the crowded bus on the way home, there were two women sitting in front of me. It was very clear they did not know each other. The woman on the right was texting on her phone. The woman on the left pretended to be reading her book but followed and read the entire texting conversation the woman next to her was having. What happen to privacy?!? It wasn't even mine that was being invaded but it still upset me.
-  As Taylor and I were leaving the parking lot of the grocery store I was trying to back out of my parking space. A huge SUV pulled up behind me and waited to take my spot. I have no problem with this. . . usually. But this woman had pulled up so close that I could not back out. After waiting patiently for a few moments, I had to roll my window down and tell her to back up so I could get out. I could only think, "How Rude!".
-  Finally, when Taylor and I got home we were taking Gabby outside and it was a pretty nice night. As Gabby did her business, I had the pleasure of watching our (out of shape) neighbor grill on his patio. . . . . in his UNDERWEAR. Believe me, my eyes are scared, no one wants to see this. If you are going to be outside, put some clothes on man!! For the sake of everyone in the community, please!


But it's funny how life works. There can be a series of things that irritate you all day and put you in a bad mood and then just as quickly as they happen, something so small can happen to make you smile, and you suddenly forget all bad that happen. Taylor is practicing her face making. She has a bag full of them.

This last one is my favorite. I get it all the time and I know she is just thinking her mommy is one crazy lady.

But she has also been practicing crawling onto the furniture by herself to help her reach the things she should not. Last night I took her clothes into the bedroom and placed them in the hamper - this took all of 2 seconds. By the time I stepped into the living room to get her for bath time, she was already standing on the chair, reaching over the back of it to grab her photo albums. Every time I picked her off the chair, she climbed right back up. Obviously this had become a game for her. I couldn't help but laugh because she is so mischievous and ornery.

                                                                                                                                                                                          

I love the small things that make my day great