It's been a while...

Well, I knew when I decided to start a blog it would be hard for me to post frequently, but I didn't think almost two weeks would pass!

One thing that has kept me busy the last couple weeks is my 365 project. I signed up to do a 365 pictures project in which I take a picture a day for a year. We have weekly themes to help inspire us. It sure has given me a different perspective, that's for sure. I find myself looking at things in a way I never thought I would and constantly looking for that perfect picture opportunity. Our themes thus far have been; "Look up", "My home", "Shadows", "Routine" and now this week is "Out and about". Below you will find my favorites from the 1st four weeks.

I look forward to the next week to come so I can start snapping pictures.

We have some big news in our household, as of this morning, we now have three people earning an income. Almost 3 weeks after Jesse interviewed at Fleet Farm, he received the call today letting him know that they want to offer him a job, part time cashier, part time sporting goods. I think Jesse was pretty excited! He filled out a lot of applications, in fact, I think Fleet Farm was one of the first places he stopped at. He will now be donning the classic orange shirt! Duke is happy too (read: Discount). I tried to convince him that Macy's or Ann Taylor Loft or some other womens' clothing place would be the "perfect" job for him but he wasn't buying it! I think I can still find some great stuff at Fleet Farm!

That's all for now, hopefully my next post will not be two weeks from now!

New Shoes

Do you remember as a kid how exciting it was to get new shoes, there was nothing better! How wonderful life would be if a simple pair of new shoes was all it took to have a sunny outlook on life. Duke would tell you that it still works for me, and maybe it does a little!

There have been two new pairs of shoes in the last couple days, for two little girls.

• The first is Arianna and she got a new pair of galoshes (sp?) for her birthday from me! They were pink and purple and she LOVED them, it was one of her favorite gifts. Cindy said she wore them around the house and put them on her stuffed puppy!


• The second little girl is Sara. She tried telling me yesterday afternoon that her Dora shoes had a hole in them and I kept looking at the back of the shoe. We were then outside and I noticed that her toes were practically sticking out the front of her shoe. We took a trip to Target to find new shoes. We were hoping for more Dora ones but they didn't have her size. I think we tried on 6 different pairs of tennis shoes and, as she put it "Deese don't feel so good." I then turned around to see her putting on these shoes. She put them on by herself and them proclaimed, "Mommy, deese are perfect." How do you argue with that? She was so proud to wear them to school today. When she was walking down the steps with daddy this morning she sort of tripped and she told Duke, "Wow, these shoes are pretty fancy." Makes me smile!

So I have to share two quotes from Sara, she has no lack of good things to say...

I was helping her in the bathtub last night and she said "Mommy, I sure do appreciate your help." I started to laugh and she responded "But mommy, I really do."

Duke was getting her ready for school this morning and he told her to go potty, she insisted she didn't have to go but he told her to sit on the potty anyway, she did, and a short while later Duke asked her if she was done, her response, "No, and I don't have all week to wait."

She brings bright smiles to our faces every day!

Busy week

Well, it's been a busy week so far. I am ready for Friday to be here!
We celebrated both Jesse and Duke's birthday's this week which was fun. Both birthday's were sport themed. Jesse had a hockey themed birthday while Duke's was all about golf. They were both pretty happy, in face, Duke came to bed late because he wanted to swing his new clubs just one more time. : )
Both Hailey and Sara got their hair cut this week and Ollie is scheduled for Saturday. I think Hailey was just as excited to get her hair cut this time as she was in December when she lopped it all off. Very exciting to see! Sara feels fancy when she gets her haircut because Miss Kim who cuts her hair always blow dries and curls it, it is quite a sight to see.
Jesse had his first job interview on Wednesday at Fleet Farm. We were starting to think he would never get a call. He filled out at least 12 different applications for entry level positions and this was his first bite. When I interviewed for my first job at Burger King moons ago, I basically walked in, they asked if I wanted a job, they asked me a couple questions and I started pretty much the next day. Times have changed. Jesse may be the only 16 year old who goes to a job interview for a cashier position and brings a resume fully filled out detailing his accomplishments at school. He also explained that not only would he fit as a cashier but he would also be a good fit for their sporting goods opening because of his background in sports. He did comment that "he felt pretty good about his interview, especially when he realized that the kid interviewing after him didn't have a resume." He was told that he would hear within a week or so either way. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
At this point I'm looking forward to the weekend and another birthday party, this time a circus themed one for my niece Arianna, it should be very exciting!

Pondering...

It's been an interesting week or so, I am blaming the full moon that I think is approaching us. In the medical field especially, it seems like the full moon brings out the (best) in us. : )
Every once in a while I will think about where my life has taken me, what things I have been through and how they have made me who I am today. Do you ever question, "what if"... What if I didn't choose that specific college when I was 17, what if I hadn't transfered home after my sophomore year, what if I wouldn't have taken a medical job through a temp agency, what if I wouldn't have crossed paths with certain people in my life (both good and bad), what if I hadn't gone on that job interview, what if I would have listened to my head and not my heart....where would I be today? I know that where I am today is for a purpose that I may not know the answer to, I just often wonder "how did I get here, today?"
I am happy with where I am today and I wonder what the next few "what if's" will bring. I know I can only sit back and enjoy the ride and have faith that every step I take is for a reason.

Very Full!

Well, we had a wonderful dinner and obviously the weather didn't affect us. Weren't we supposed to get 6" of snow today? We took Jesse out to Cosetta's in St Paul for dinner, it sure was good but I ate too much. We all had fun and Sara did great!

I had three instances today in which I wish I would have had a recorder near by, all three involved Sara...

1. Upon seeing Piglet in an extra diaper we had pre potty training... "Oh Mommy, doesn't he look adorable?"

2. While I was in the bathroom getting ready this morning..."Mom, do you think I could help clean the bathroom again today?

3. While I sat on the floor to fold baskets of clothes my husband washed and dryed..."Mommy, could I please fold the towels?"

Now the first statement she may say all her life, but the other two, if I fast forward 12 years or so, do you think she'll still say those same things? One can only hope! : )

Daylight Savings

Ok, so every year, twice a year, daylight saving time comes and every year, twice a year, I swear it won't affect me. IT DOES! I didn't sleep well last night, not sure why, I am blaming the time change.

Made an awesome cake last night, Confette Angel Food! I even got fancy and cut it in half and put a layer of white fluffy frosting inside. Was shocked to realize that between the two cans of frosting I used, there are a combined 27 servings. I don't know about you but I have never gotten 27 servings out of an angel food cake!

We have a fun dinner planned today, hopefully weather cooperates!

Am I really doing this?

Well, here is my first official blog. I am not quite sure why anyone besides my family would want to read it, but, what the hay, I'm game for trying this out.
Sara is in bed, her room was switched around today. We'll see how she does, we removed her one bed rail so hopefully we don't hear her go bump in the night!
Duke and Jesse's combined cake is made and the joint birthday celebrations will start tomorrow, unless the looming snow storm happens to keep us home, hopefully not!