Weekend Update

What a week! I have come to the conclusion that my life is just crazy...plain and simple. But I have also realized that I have to take control. For my sake and especially for the girls' sake.

We had a nice weekend though. I got a long nap yesterday which was heaven. Then we went to the mall, just so Kaelyn could ride the Merry-Go-Round. Then over to Mom and Dad's for a swim and a picnic.

Kevin headed back to work this morning. We havn't gotten an official date for the opening of the new center but we're hoping for the end of August or beginning of September. I am more than ready.

Not much more to report but I will end with a picture Kevin took of me and the girls that I liked.

Worst Week Ever

Guess who's having the worst week ever...yep, that's right, it's me!

Trying to do a good deed, I did an overnight Monday night for a friend with a toothache. Now doing an overnight when I was single, wasn't a big deal. As a mother of two, much bigger deal. I have to pack clothes for all of us, blankets, pillows, baby travel bed, toys, books, you name it...I hualed it in that night. And while hauling, I forgot to lock up my car.

The next morning, I was getting ready for work when one of my employees asked me where my car was. With a smile, I told her it was outside, thinking she was playing a joke on me. She wasn't. My car had been STOLEN! If you know me, you know I practically live out of my car and it is full of stuff. Valuable stuff like a Camcorder, a DVD player, a bag of DVD's and toys for Kaelyn, carseats, my purse and most importantly my planner. The car was recovered a few hours later, with all of the above missing from it.

I do have a lot to be thankful for. They left my dirver's license, debit card, my IRS refund check that I had JUST received that day. But I have to admit I am pretty lost without my planner.

They also drove the tire completely off my front passenger wheel. The officer had warned me that the car had been wrecked so I was expecting the worst. It was better than I was expecting, but still unbelievable. The tire is in shreds! They must have hit something and just kept on going, for a long time. People are crazy.

The worst part is that I can't get a new wheel for the car until Friday and we were to leave on vacation this morning. So here I sit, not on vacation. No car, no carseats, and a $500 deductible. My camcorder was receovered with the "suspect" later that night, so another think to be thankful for. I am thankful, but I'd be a lot more so, if I were on my way starting my vacation right about now.

The Fair's Over

Well, the fair is over. Four days is a long time! We don't usually go all four nights but this time we did. Add in the reunion, and I was running on empty by the time we went last night. It has been so hot...the heat just drains me. I have to have lost at least ten pounds, just by sweating this past few days.

Kaelyn had a good time at the fair. The swings were her favorite but she also liked the cars. She really, really likes the cotton candy!

I have a bunch of pictures to share, but still one more day of the reunion so had better get around. Kevin left to go back to St. Louis this morning.

Swings

I have literally met myself coming and going this week. I was home Sunday night and then went to work Monday morning. I ran home to let Bailey out after work on Monday and went back to work at 7 pm until 7 am. I did the same thing on Tuesday. I was so tired this morning. But my work week is done now. I have to run to town in the morning for a quick meeting and then I am off for the rest of the weekend. We are having our family reunion this weekend. I am off next Thursday and Friday too, going to Oklahoma for Kevin's family reunion.

We went to the big Prairie Home fair tonight. Kaelyn was very excited. She rode the dragons, the cars twice, the swings twice, the big slide and the Sizzler one time. She got scared on the Sizzler though and cried. When she was going on the swings, I was helping her on. The Carny Man said, "go ahead and ride, Mom". I told him that it had been a really long time but I hopped on. It was so much fun! Although I was a little nervous, I don't know how Kaelyn wasn't scared. But, she was laughing and saying how much fun it was. Kevin will have a fit when he finds out I let her go on it.

They are going in the Pet Parade tomorrow night. Kate is going in the baby contest in the morning. I will be at my meeting but Mom said they could take her up. The joys of a small town...I love it!

We're Home

Our mini-vacation was so nice. It felt strange to get in the car and head out of town without kids in the backseat though. However, I quickly got used to it! It was a five hour drive to Des Moines. Kevin drove the entire way and I had my head in a book the whole time.

We checked into the Holiday Inn Express, right across from Drake University. This was our first time seeing the university where we are working on our Master's Degrees. We were very impressed with the college.

We went to dinner at the Drake Diner, enjoyed a drink and a good meal. It was very relaxing and much needed after the week I had. After that, we went back to our hotel room. Kevin watched a movie while I finished my book.

We had class this morning. It seemed silly to drive ten hours for a half day of class. But class was interesting and attendance makes 50% of this class so we really didn't have a choice. We only have one class this summer, which has been very nice.

Back home this evening, and very happy to see the girls. I'm not sure they missed us as much as we missed them though! Thanks Grandma and Papa for the help!

Road Trip

I think this may have been the longest week of my life. No kiddin' Really, the longest week. I got home at 11 pm last night after another twelve hour day, just emotion ally and physically drained. I cried on the way home, just relieved that the week was over. Not that the situation is over, but at least I get a two day reprieve from it.

And what a reprieve it will be! Kevin and I are headed out today on a little road trip sans the kids. We are going to sunny, fun-filled Des Moines, Iowa! Yay!

Mom and Dad are going to keep the girls while we make a flying trip (five hours one way) to Des Moines for four hours of class on Sunday. I have yet to spend a night away from Kate since her birth. She'll be fine, she'll be fine. Keep telling myself that, she'll be fine.

Happy 5th of July!

I came home from work tonight to a very clean house! Kevin is so great that way. He was really proud of himself, and didn't want me to sit down until I had taken a look around and saw all that he had done.

The girls and I stayed at mom's last night as I had to work until 10:30 pm. We didn't get to see any fireworks but did enjoy two barbecues. I got the girl's pictures taken in their matching "Lil' Sparkler" shirts. I'll post them when I get them back in a few weeks. They came out pretty cute despite Kate refusing to smile until the guy would walk away. Then she would break out in her huge grim, dimples showing!

Getting Closer

Kevin emailed to let me know that they are now training interpreters for the Columbia location. Yay! I can't wait to have him permanently home again!

I took the girls to Walmart yesterday and had their pictures taken for July 4th. They looked so cute. I won't get them back until July 26.

I had to do the overnight at work last night and it looks like I'll be working again tonight as somebody called in. Oh well, more money.

The Little Housewrecker

Sundays are hard days. Kevin leaves early in the morning and I am on my own for the day. It makes for a very long day. Here are a few of todays highlights:

Kaelyn unwound an entire roll of toilet paper on the bathroom floor. The reason? She wanted the cardboard tubing to use as a look out for pirates!

Continuing with the pirate theme, Kaelyn put an entire sheet of pirate stickers on the TV screen.

Later she scribbled all over the same screen with a blue crayon. I also found a glob of red Play-doh stuck to it.

She used Pledge on an area of the kitchen floor. I have came very close to busting my butt on the slick spot several times today.

And last but certainly not least, she poured blue Kool-aid into the toilet and then demanded candy in reward for her going pee.

Sure, she looks sweet...

Relaxation...finally!

The older I get, the more I crave simplicity in my life. I used to be all about the drama, but not so much anymore. I try to avoid arguments, rather than provoking them. Today was mostly a simple day. Kaelyn and I took a leisurely stroll, hand in hand, up to the post office and got the mail. We then walked over to my parents new house and watered the flowers. It felt good, walking with Kaelyn, around the little town that holds my heart.

We worked on cleaning the house. I deep-cleaned our bedroom and the living room. I even found cleaning relaxing, if you can believe that.

Later, we drove into town and took a swim at mom's and then soaked in the hot tub. And now, the girls are in bed, and I am getting ready to relax on the couch with a margarita. It really doesn't get any better than this!

Oh, and Kate did take a tumble from the swing! Poor baby!

Six Month Old Baby

Here is a picture of Kate at six months old. She is starting to sit forward when she is sitting in the swing. I am afraid she will fall out of it! I guess it will soon be time to retire it.

She is a darling little baby.