Ouchy

Back to work today and my back is letting me know of it's unhappiness now. I have been up and going most of the day. It is getting better but very slowly. I don't like this getting old thing.

Old Lady

I am an old, old lady.

My back went out Thursday morning. I spent Thursday flat on my back for the entire day. Yesterday, I did venture out to Columbia to the chiropractor to find out that my vertebrae are twisted. Not sure what that means but do know it hurts. I came home from Columbia, and crashed for three hours. Today I feel a bit better. Standing and walking are still difficult but I can sit longer. My mom took the girls to Nebraska with her yesterday afternoon so I get the rest I need. I could have managed with Kaelyn but I can't go up and down the stairs and certainly couldn't have lifted Kate up to put her to bed. So, I am once again, indebted to my mom for her help.

I have been catching up on television and movies. I watched "What Happens In Vegas" the other day. I thought it was really good. I love Ashton Kutcher and can totally understand why Demi robbed the cradle. Last night I watched "Sweet Home Alabama", that was good too.

My back is twitching, letting me know that I have been in an unright position long enough so back to my nest I go.

My Office

I spent the day at work painting my office "lime green". It's not really lime green, more of a spring green, but a coworker kept insisting that it was lime green. I did it all by myself and think it came out pretty good! Once I get the room finished, I will share pictures.

Other than that, I am tired! Really, really tired.

First Day Recap

I survived my first day of work. I forgot how long eight hours really is! I know it will go faster when I have actual work to do. It was a little surreal as one hour into the job, I found myself sitting in a meeting with case managers from the state that I had worked with for years. But I think it is going to be good. I am just fascinated with the employees of this company. They are fun and passionate and involved and caring and just really neat people.

Kate seemed to have a good day at the babysitter. When I took her over in the morning, she tried to send her blankie home with me. Her sitter told her, she might need it at naptime. Kate shook her head and told her, "bed at home". I'm not sure if she meant that her bed was at home or that she would be going to bed at home or a little bit of both but it was cute. I know it is good for her...just hard on me.

The Party's Over!

Today is my last day of freedom! Remember that awesome interview I went on a few weeks back? The agency offered me the position, and I decided to accept. And I start tomorrow. I am anxious to get started to at least quit the wondering if I made the right decision. I truly loved being at home but this was a great opportunity that I didn't feel I could pass up. So, we shall see!

In other news...Kevin started working on the dining room floor so this is what it looks like at the moment:


This room will be the hardest and after this, we only have the living room and the office/laundry room area to finish. I'll be glad when it's done. He'll have more time to work on it with me at work and the girls at school or the babysitter.

And now I must get busy, cleaning house!

Galveston

I was just watching some of the news coverage of the damage and devastation caused by Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas this past weekend. Galveston is a special place to our family. As a child, Kevin spent a lot of time there at Stewart Beach with his family. He has many happy memories of that time. Every time we visit Kevin's parents in Houston, we always ask to go to Galveston to visit. This past summer we were able to spend three days there. We had the opportunity to do and see a lot and I took a lot of pictures. The city is (was?) filled with beautiful architecture and has such a charm. I want to share some more of the pictures I took:











Kevin and I are a little nervous...four years ago, after leaving Houston, we made a quick jaunt to New Orleans as I had never been there. After Katrina hit, we were so thankful that we had taken that opportunity to spend time in the Big Easy. Now this has happened in Galveston right after we visited. Kevin says we need to be careful visiting Gulf towns!

Employment?

I am employed once again.


What have I done??????????

Twilight

It's been a very long week, what with working three days and all. I am so spoiled. I used to work sixty to seventy hours EACH week.

It was a lot of fun though although those fourth graders got pertty rowdy during the last hour of school today. We were all glad it was Friday. I really like this age group. They think they are big but they're not so they still respect and like the teacher and aren't full of attitude yet. I felt like I knew enough to teach them something.

Besides working, my mind has been in overdrive all week and I am trying to make some decisions about my future. I fell asleep the past two nights when I went to lay down with Kaelyn, each night by 9 pm. That is unheard of for me! I am never to sleep before midnight,and that's on good nights. I did feel better so need to try to get to bed earlier on a more regular basis.

I also have been busy reading the Twilight Saga books by Stephanie Meyer and loving them. I am about halfway through the fourth and last book and will be sad to see them end. Oh well, the first movie comes out in November so will have that to look forward to.

Subbin'

I had a good day with the third grade yesterday but an even better day today with the 4th grade. I get to be with them again tomorrow so that will be nice.

Today is Tuesday

I have some pictures from the Renaissance Festival that I want to share but I need to get some rest tonight. I am substituing for the 3rd grade tomorrow and for the
4th grade on Thursday and Friday. These grades should be a little easier than the 1st grade. We'll see!

Kaelyn's friend from across the street is in the 3rd grade. Kaelyn couldn't wait to yell across the street, telling Haven that I was going to be her teacher tomorrow. I told Haven that she had better be good. Kaelyn had to add "because she spanks hard!"

Mermaid Art

Yes, this is my third post today...I am finally catching up on some of my blogging!

We went to the Renaissance Festival in Kansas City yesterday and I got to see some work from an artist that always exhibits there. Her name is Renae Taylor I have to share one of her drawnings that I fell in love with. Here it is:


I have a few more of her prints. I just love them. Check out her website!

Garden?

Inspired by Gayla's post about her Child Husband's garden, I had to share mine:

Heather, Heather How does your garden grow?

Right in the middle on my flower bed~and not even planted. It just showed up there. I finally remembered that Kaelyn had a small pumpkin that fell over into the flower bed so I am thinking it's a pumpkin plant.

Girls Weekend

It was Girls Weekend,well, three girls plus one gay guy weekend, and we went to Tan-Tar-A. I could only go for Friday night but I had so much fun that it was totally worth it. We didn't do much of anything:

Sat outside and watched the sunset over the water



Watched the ducks get closer and closer to us


Barbecued and ate one of the best meals I have ever had



Drank champagne and played games


And just laughed and had a great time.

Yada Yada Yada

It's been a really good week, albeit a fast one with the holiday on Monday. Kaelyn is going to bed so good. At 8 pm, we crawl into my bed and read five books that she has picked out. When there are done, it is lights out. I lay with her as long as she is quiet. She's been to sleep by 8:45 every night this week. I am really proud and so happy that our new routine is going so well. I can't believe another week is by us.

The kindergartners take turns bringing the afternoon snack. Kaelyn wanted to bring fruit roll-ups so I bought two boxes of them today. Of course, Kaelyn and Kate broke into them (when will I ever learn?) so I had to supplement with Kate's fruit snacks to make sure we have enough. While Kaelyn and I were discussing this, she exclaims "Do you know what Jamie brought for snack today?" I shook my head no. "Ice cream!!! We had chocolate and strawberry and it was so delicious!" That's a hard act to follow. MY fruit roll-ups just don't seem quite as impressive.

And tomorrow night is girls night at the lake. My friends have rented a condo at Tan-Tar-A for the weekend. I can only get away for one night but plan to make the most of it. I have the best friends...we just laugh and laugh when we are together. Big thanks to my sister Kellie for watching the girls so I can go.

90210

The new CW series 90210 premiered last night. I was so *addicted to Beverly Hills 90210 that I just had to watch this one. It was okay...a definite guilty pleasure. I have to admit I had tears in my eyes to see Kelly and Brenda together again. Wow! Fans have been waiting since 1995 to see that one. If the producers and writers were hoping to rope in some old viewers, well, it worked for me. I will watch it again.

I can't even begin to tell you how addicted I was to this show. I even wore my hair like Brenda's and people often told me how much I looked like Shannon Doherty/Brenda. I'll have to find a picture to share of my Brenda days.

Waste Not, Want Not

I heard Kaelyn calling my name from the bathroom. "What?" I yelled back. "If I go poop, I will use two squares of toilet paper and if I just pee, I will use one, so I don't waste. Just like at school."

And that folks, is what she is learning at school. Yes, I am proud.

Day 29

Today is the start of my fifth week on Atkins. I weighed in this morning and am down 13.5 lbs. Happy, happy, happy!

My Babies

More old pictures I just have to share. These were my brand-spankin new babies, fresh from the oven. When we went to the hospital to have Kate, I forgot my camera. We borrowed my sisters but then never saw the pictures until yesterday....after I searched through her many, many pictures. Thank goodness it was Kellie, my organized sister.

Remarkably Kaelyn and Kate were the exact same weight and length and birth...8 lbs. 11 oz. and 22 inches.

Six Years Ago Today

Kevin and I got married. Kind of. Six years ago today we had our wedding, we were already married. I was looking through pictures at my sister's yesterday and found these so had to share. Here is another of our wedding party:

Our Busy Weekend

It's been a busy weekend! Saturday was the Alumni Banquet at my high school. They have one every three years. I have never been before despite graduating seventeen years ago. The younger people don't really go to this but I am glad I did. Here are some pictures:






I had a nice time and it appears I will be part of the planning committee for the next one so maybe we can get more younger people there.

After the dinner, Kevin and I went out to celebrate our anniversary. We went to Red Lobster for dinner (yes, another dinner). Our first date was seven years ago on September 1 at Red Lobster. Kevin gave me an emerald cut Mystic Fire Topaz pendant and chain and pearl earrings. I love them both.

Then yesterday, we went to church and later in the day to my sister's for Devan's birthday party. She is eight years old now.


We got home late, got the girls in the tub. Then they were hungry so I made them a cup of soup to share. I checked on them once and they were eating. The next time I checked on them, this is what I found:



Kate had crawled up on the pillows and went to sleep. Poor baby! I felt like a bad mommy!