Booyah!

I am getting a little excited here! I have honestly got a lot crossed off my list in the past two weeks! I am way proud of myself! I deserve an A for this! Michael cannot believe how fast things are getting done. I can't either!

Friday we finally went around and got our tree! We had about 3 we were looking at and we finally decided on one! I am way excited about it! I love Christmas. It's may favorite season (minus the snow) and I wish it would last a lot longer then it does. I can do without the gifts and that jazz. I just love the meaning, the music, the lights, the movies, the family time, all of it. Anyways, when we went to pick up our tree we also found an awesome train to go around it at the bottom. Jake wants to play with it so bad and gives attitude every time we say "no" and tell him we have to wait till we put up the tree. He was so excited that we bought one though. I know he will love it! We also got a big dent in our Christmas shopping started on Friday. Yes, I know it sounds early, but we have to have it done. I do not want to leave Michael in charge of it come December and I also wouldn't wish that on anyone to have to go out alone for a lot of shopping. We got home after a very productive evening, ate dinner, and I will not lie, crashed. I was exhausted. This week did me in. 

Saturday we got up early as usual, had a fantastic breakfast, hit up Starbucks and went out shopping again! We now only have 2 more kids to buy for and 3 adults! Rock on! Jake is completely done! The sales are insane already. We even got wrapping paper and all the trimmings so I can start on that this week! I figure that if I wrap as I go, it will be a lot easier. David also came home for the first time in 2 months. The kid has been MIA for way too long. He looked like it too. We took Amber's photos in the afternoon and I felt it went pretty well. She didn't want anything "senior pose" like, so it's interesting to get her in her own element. Jeff being there really helped. He got her to laugh at the right times. We then stopped by the rents to check up on them and talk about the Iowa game a little bit. Jake will make any excuse to stop by my parents house. I think it's cute. He is very into my dad right now. He talks about him at home all the time. The boys watched football and played their game the rest of the afternoon. I cleaned. I got 3 more things crossed off my list! Check and mate! We had a pretty low key evening of pizza and a movie. We stayed up later due to gaining an hour of sleep. I tell you what, I could have gone to bed at 9 instead of 11:30. I was beat. 

Sunday we woke early, went to Perkins for a fantastic breakfast, went to church, got our grocery shopping in, and then headed back home. I wish 'falling back' would actually work on kids. Instead of the normal 6:30 wake up call, we got a 5:30. You can't blame the kid, he doesn't understand it yet. Ugh. I wish they did though. This afternoon I got the pantry cleaned out (another item off  my list), filled about 2 body bag trash bags full of junk, and went through all the food in all the cupboards in the house. My dad gave me a call to help with taking some photos in the afternoon so I then decided to finish my 3 loads of laundry and headed out to do that. We had dinner at Michael's parents house. We got a few outfits that Michael wore when he was a baby. It's so cute. I think it will be fun to take a few pictures of Baby J in them. Hopefully they will fit. Michael and David were pretty small for awhile. We will have to see. I also got a sneak peak of Baby J's blanket from Marilyn. Oh my word. Amazing. She went all out. None of the other grandkids have a blanket like this. I love it. I can't wait till I'll be able to have a baby to wrap in it! We finally got home to watch the Packers beat up on the Cowboys. No surprise there. Those Cowboys are sucking it up this year. We took some time to put up our new tree during the beat down. I love it!!! It's taller then our old one, that is for sure. I think I'm going to donate it to Goodwill if we can. I am not sure if they take Christmas trees or not. We will see. I will decorate it during the week this week. I figured we could let it "relax" a little on it's own since it is new this year before we attack it with our decor. I could just sit here and stare at it. It's relaxing. 

Another weekend down, only a few more to go. We are under the 30 day mark. I only have 2 more weeks of work left. That in itself is scary. I am really looking forward to that though! I need naps! I really do. I hit the final hump and now I want to sleep all the time again! Yet, I have so much to do still. Taking it one day at a time!

Politics...they make me want to vomit

I will not shove my beliefs down your throat. Please have the respect to do the same back. I believe what I believe. I have stern convictions with certain topics and whether I go one way or the other, that should not be a reflection on who I am. That is one part of me. I could go into how much I either like or dislike how Tuesdays events unfolded but I won't. I could say how much I loathe/like how the elections 2 years went, but I won't. I don't talk about it because you can't do much to change it once it happens. I do research, I go above and beyond with looking at who I am voting for. I don't vote for someone because the majority does, or because some famous person endorses them or because my boyfriend love them and I am trying to please him. I do it for me and me alone. Yes I grew up in a Christian home and I still hold those beliefs dear to my heart and will always. People who really know me and what I am about, know that I am a Christian first and everything else is branches out from that. We all have different views on how we want the US or even the World to run and we all don't have to agree. Just don't attack people for making changes when you are only one person. You can't make someone vote/believe the way you do. So why bring them down? It just makes you look like a fool. Especially when you blast everything on FB people! Seriously, keep it to yourselves or just tell someone. Don't dump all your feelings on your FB status. Do you know the people that look at that then lose respect? Quite a few. Especially when you start name calling. Just because you voted different then someone else doesn't make you an idiot or an a-hole. Sometimes I wish people would just keep their mouths zipped and move on with life. Not everything can be handed to us they way we want it. That is life. Welcome to it!

Ok that is my rant from today. I have had it up to the 5th floor with talk from both sides today. What happened last night, happened. Not much anyone can do about it so let's move on! I am just thankful we have at least another year off before primary starts for the next round. Ugh. Again, I dislike politics more then anything but I do have my beliefs and I stick with them. Love me or hate me, I am who I am. Nothing is changing that! =)

Major upside! No more polictical ads during football!!! I can live with that!! (I am sure they are on during other TV shows but I record most of my shows so I can fast foward through them!)

Another upside: It's Wednesday! 2 days left of the work week!!

To each his/her own.

Am I pregnant? Didn't realize.

Apparently I don't talk about being pregnant enough. First off, the word "preggo" makes me want to vomit. I hate hearing it, I hate seeing it written out, I dislike the word period. It just sounds...lazy. I don't know. Anyways. It's becoming apparent to people that I am pregnant. I guess that only took 8 months. Come on! I have a round baby gut that has a 4 foot clearance and can wipe out a glass if it's too close to the end of the table. People keep telling me that they just forget I am because I don't talk about. I don't think I need to. Why complain? Why say unnecessary comments to get people to ask questions or remind them I am pregnant? I do not need any extra attention. I am not going to log on to my FB or constantly talk about being pregnant. I am sorry but it gets really old when all people can talk about is being pregnant. I can maybe understand if it's your first, but by your second or third, you should be use to it and not have to complain or comment about everything. The worst for me is when people are only in that 6-16 week mark. They complain about smells, sickness, names, babies sex, how it hasn't hit them yet, and if they just keep saying over and over and over that they are pregnant. I get it if you feel the baby move the first time, you find out the sex, maybe your due date is set, or if people ask. I will ask if I want to know. Somethings are personal and I feel like pregnancy is a pretty private experience. I'm not going to get into every gyno appointment I have so others shouldn't either! I of course tell my close friends about certain "accidents" or little things but I do it to the ones that get me and that I know care. I am not going to ramble on and on to people that either know me at work of via the internet. So yes, I am pregnant. If you haven't figured it out yet, well, it's not big deal. I only have 5 weeks left so bring on the countdown!

I feel like when it rains, it pours. I have a few friends that are just going through some unnecessary life experiences right now. Well, in my opinion they are not needed.

1) I have a dear friend that had a normal uneventful surgery that has turned out to be not even close to uneventful or normal. She doesn't deserve it. Her family, who are amazing, do not need to be put through this either. It's always hard to see a loved on hurting, in pain, sad, feeling like they are going no where. Set backs are never something we like to deal with. You have a plan for something and when it doesn't go through, it's hard to get past it sometimes. I think about my "plan" for this arrival of this baby. I know things happen and there could be difficulties or a change in plans but I still always hope that it will go as is. Jake sure as heck didn't, so maybe this one will be good. A verse that always comes to mind is Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today." It's very true. Today is today, tomorrow is another. We can't predict what is going to happen tomorrow or the next day. We can only have faith no matter what happens, it has a reason and a purpose. Life gives us trials and tribulations for reasons that are unknown. Whether it's to make us appreciate something or to understand someone else's perspective, or just to grow from, we have to have these experiences to make us stronger. Another verse John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." I continue to pray for her and her family and hope things are starting to look up! I miss her terribly everyday and I can't wait till I am on leave and I can bug her daily, in person!

2) You know those parents that are just awesome? The ones that you strive to be because they just blow your mind? Well I know a few but one in particular because she has gone above and beyond for her kids. She gives the most amazing advice for parenting (among other topics) and is always there to listen or laugh! Lately she has had a giant speed bump in her road. Something she doesn't deserve and that honestly, no one deserves. She is my Mother of the Year nominee every year. You can't control people, which at times I wish we could, but my heart just breaks when someone thinks they have a right to mess up everyones lives because they are selfish. It really comes down to that. I am not going to go into detail about any of this. But she knows that she is loved by so many people and we would all do anything for her and we will always be there for her! She is my Elphaba! I love her so! =)

Halloween

This weekend brought the end to October. After today, it's November! What? Where did the time go? Seriously, this month flew by way too fast. I remember thinking just 31 days ago "I have about 2 months and I am sure they will take the longest". I was proved wrong. D-day is rapidly approaching and I have no idea what to do! One day at a time.

Friday Jake stayed with my parents. They were watching Eli and Caleb overnight so my mom figured they would have all 3 and Jake and Eli could play all night long. That they did. We took advantage and had our probably final "date night alone" before #2. Our weekends are pretty packed and we have so much to do we won't have that much time for "alone" time. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. I hadn't been there in about a year. I forgot how fantastic and reasonable it was. Those rolls are to die for there. I was glad we went because now Michael wants to go again! Plus they have "take out" service and they aren't far from us so we may be taking advantage of that come the baby! After a fabulous meal, we went to American to kill some time before our movie started. I will say, I love the Tempurpedic bed system. I could sleep on that thing all the time. I am not a fan of the sleep number at all. I know so many people that have had them and they are great for a while but then go down hill. We walked off what we could of our dinner and headed to the theater. We decided to see "Red". It is a total shoot 'em up movie that is completely unrealistic but I loved it! Bruce Willis has to be one of my favorite "action" stars. He still looks pretty good too. Take that Stallone, Van Damme, and Seagal! Seeing Helen Mirren use a giant machine gun just made my day. It was humorous and a feel good movie. I love John Malkovich. I really do. When he plays a corny, pshyco, off the wall man, he is at his finest. I laughed every time he spoke! It was fantastic. We then went late night shopping and didn't get home till about 11. Shockingly late for us! We didn't even go to bed till mindnightish. That needs to go in the record books!

Saturday Michael was gone most of the day. I woke up at the same time, got ready, and headed to the hospital to visit a friend. I then picked up the little squirt and came home. Jake was suppose to take a nap but 20 minutes in he started crying. I went upstairs and yeah, another Jake moment. He dumped an entire bottle of lotion all over our bed, including our new bedding we got the night before. He was crying because some of it got on him. Seriously? First he cuts up our sheets and comforter and now dumps lotion all over. Basically, nap time was over. Michael walked in about 5 minutes after his incident and we then spent about a half hour cleaning up. We then headed out, ran a few errands, and then got to my parents house just in time to order dinner. I finally got to eat them. 8 months later, I got to eat my Italian Fries. I love Big Tomato and I love their Italian Fries even more. I finally got to consume them after craving them for so long. Of course, I over ate but I didn't want to stop. They are so good. I did keep half for lunch the next day. We then took a few pictures and Jake went off for trick or treating. Two hours later of answering the door, watching a movie, and eating more candy then kids knocked, Jake returned. Full load of candy. Looking cute as ever! He immediately started to taking his costume off and wanted his pj's on. We headed home and the boy and us crashed from sugar.

Today has been a normal Sunday for us. Church, grocery shopping and football. I got a ton of things done though. We took a giant load to storage, cleaned out Jake's entire room, even the closet! Just threw a few things away and took some stuff to the dumpster. I felt bad because Michael had worked all weekend but we really needed to get some things done. I managed to get all the laundry plus some done and even got a few things ready for, you know it, Christmas. It has been a productive day and now I can relax for the rest of it. I am so exhausted and I think going to bed early is definitely in the cards tonight. I need it. Michael needs it. We all need it.

Another week is coming up! Tomorrow is my last of 3 Mondays I have at work!! Down hill slide! I am getting excited! Also, next weekend, our house is going Christmas. Get over it people. I have a baby coming and it has to be done by then! Tomorrow is the first day of November so the Christmas music will be blasting on the iPod!

1 week down, 3 more to go...

Surprisingly this week has gone by extremely fast. It has been a very chaotic week at work and I'm glad I survived with only receiving 1 zit as proof for living through it. Tomorrow (Friday) should be interesting. After tomorrow, I only have 3 weeks left of work until I leave for baby time! Let’s see...what happened so far this week.....

1) First week of Josie being gone. Complete downward spiral of depression on that one. Upside is she is doing well and now probably holds some super human power. It has been very odd not being able to roll over to her desk, get or send a random IM about life or thoughts I get, now being able to hear her man laugh or evil laugh when Ferry is around, not having someone stir things up with Eric, it's just been weird. I am so glad she was able to be fixed and hopefully it will improve the pain she has been having but I miss her. 'Nough said.

2) Jana left. Double depression. Monday night was one of those "perfect" nights and even though I only got 3 hours of sleep, it was so worth it. I was so glad we got to see her and spend some time like the old days. Ok, so it was 2 months ago but still. I will be counting down the days till December when she returns! Then baby Janzen 2.0 (seriously typed his name first...whoops) can meet her and her him! I am really looking forward to the fact that I will be off work that entire time. Sorry Jeff, but this vacation, she is mine. =)

3) End of month. This means, end of life as we know it. Every month it's the same thing. Last minute this, checking on that, people stalking every policy we are writing. It gets old. Really old. For some reason this month was the worst I have seen in a long while. Yes, we are down a few people. One due to getting a bionic hip and a few for sickness. It still was far worse then it should have been. We can only do what we can do, when our hands our tied, it's not our problem. Also, please don't ignore emails informing you when EOM is or when everything needs to be in by. I know I will show up to work tomorrow with a few "surprises" in my queue to get on the books. Well, sorry, that shipped passed at 3:30 today. If I could have a drink, I would have this week. I needed it. Instead I ate a piece of chocolate chocolate chip cake and watched Grey's. It will have to do till December.

4) Busy factor. I have no idea what is going on. I really don't. I feel like we are never home. Or, only 1 of us is. I was gone Monday, both Tuesday, Michael was gone Wednesday, then again tonight. Tomorrow night we are gone due to having a final date night before #2 makes his appearance. The boys are all staying with Nana and Papa on Friday. We are taking advantage to go out. It's been a while. We have been so insanely busy that we haven't had time for just him and me. Saturday morning, the busyness starts up again. Michael is working on a side job Saturday and Sunday morning. We have plans for most of Saturday afternoon and evening. Yet, I feel like our house is in shambles. It really isn't but there is so much more I need to do. Ugh. Maybe when I am finally done with work it will get done.

5) Storage space is now upgraded. Thanks to a gracious Steven and even more gracious Tina for letting us borrow her hubby for the night, Michael and Steve got everything moved. Michael said he was shocked how much room we have. That I am looking forward too. I would love love love to move some more things over this weekend, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe Sunday afternoon. I have about 4 pieces of furniture that I want over there soon! Free up some more space!

6) Sleep. Lack of or too much. I have no idea. I can say Monday it was lack of. Yet, Wednesday I passed out at 7:30 after Jake went to bed. The wind was a factor this week due to it woke Jake up at least twice each night. Michael never wakes up at night, ever. Just getting up for 2 minutes to put him back to sleep, pee and fall back asleep, really messed me up. Two nights in a row of that did me in. Plus last night our college neighbors across the street came in at 2:45 and would not shut up. Again, waking Jake up. Although, they did wake Michael up too so he put him back to bed. Sadly, I figured I should just pee while I was awake then. I would say instead of going on a date, I would go to bed at 7 tonight, but I need Michael time!

On a final note, it's almost November. Where on earth did October go? Also, where did the Fall weather go? I do not recall 20 degree weather being Fall weather. I expect that in December - February. I need to find my winter coat and scarf. We woke up and our thermostat was at 58 this morning. Yikes. My bad. I still don't have the guts to turn on the heat. I will say this thought. Next weekend the big C is coming to our house. I waited until Halloween was over but tree is probably going up next weekend! Prepare yourselves! =)

Storage melodrama averted

We have this issue. We want to move come Spring. Ok, let me rephrase that. We want to put our house on the market and hope it sells in Spring. Main problem: crap. When you have kids, I never realized how much junk you accumulate. None of the stuff you can throw away. Toys can be handed down, same with clothing and sleeping apparatuses from older sibling to younger. Yet, you keep collecting tons of it. It never stops. Just when I think I have something organized...BAM! Something new shows up. This is why a year ago we got a storage unit. Heck, I could basically fill it up with my Christmas decorations. Kidding! Actually, it is probably the truth. Currently it is filled with a piano, dressers, 2 desks, washer and dryer, a futon, and many upon many bins full of stuff. It's a 10x10 which you would think it would be enough space. No, it's not, especially since we want to move. You are supposed to make your home as de-cluttered as you can. Are you kidding me? I have a 3 year old and soon to be newborn. I think 50% of the things in my house belong to them! We love the company that we go through but they never have anything bigger available. That was until last night.

We were searching for a new place to hold everything and couldn't find anything that wasn't about a 50% increase in cost. Why is a storage unit so expensive? Man. I am in the wrong business. Charging $134.50 a month for a 10x15 unit is crazy. Not to mention most of these places have at least 10 units of that size. Anyways, I thought for fun I would check our storage unit. What? Wait...I'm I going crazy. There is one unit that is 10x15 available. What? No way. It's only $5.50 more then what we are paying now? Sign me up! Pronto! You can switch your options on line but due to our luck, their system was down. Michael then started reading our agreement and you have to give a 30 day notice if you are canceling or wanting an upgrade. That basically meant we will be paying for 2 storage units in the month of November. I had given up hope because these little beasts are taken fast. Once again, Michael came through. He gave them a jingle ASAP this morning and ta da! The bigger one is ours! Not to mention Larry (owner) told us we didn't have to pay extra. He was just going to adjust and pro-rate our next invoice. Rock on!

Now the fun part of moving everything from one place to another begins. Sadly and oh so unfortunate for me, I cannot help. Shucky darn! Michael will have to get some of his manly friends to help. I hope it goes smoothly and we have to do it pretty quickly. Not to mention the day we do it we probably will have to take a giant load from our house over there. Jake's closet has about 10 bins lined up full of clothing and miscellaneous things that need to go. It is a giant weight lifted though. I am so excited that we can get more of our stuff out of the house! It will also make more room for Baby J when he makes his arrival in December (still hoping he holds out!)

That was my excitement for the day. Yes it was about a storage unit. It's the small things in life.