uh...

Sorry to over-shadow the post below...I just couldn't resist.

uh....Ok....



Does this just shout RED-NECK to anyone else??
To give you an idea...we were in my Dad's Buick Rendevous and this guy's windows were even (a little higher, actually) with ours.. Oiy. Some people.

Scroll down and read about my Smartie-pants kid! :)

The Assessment

p.s. These pictures are totally awesome...They're taken just as she and Dad were leaving for her appt. and she had just shoved the remainder of her sandwich in her mouth and couldn't chew it fast enough for me to get a quick snapshot. Ah...the memories...

Wow. Blogging is a little scarce these days. Sorry. Anywho..Brooklyn went to her assessment yesterday. For Kindergarteners in the school district, they did an individual assessment on each kid during the first week of school for the rest of the grades. They did this so the classes could be balanced for the teachers and those kids who need lots of extra help could go to all day kindergarten (vs. half day). I thought it was a pretty good idea, but was a little worried that Brooklyn would be behind. I never did get her into preschool...it all seemed to go well. Except for, of course, her own little personality. I asked Jon to take her since my sister was in town and we were doing something. So, this is all second hand, but he said the teacher asked Brooklyn to count as high as she could. Brooklyn promptly responded: 1,2,3....counting all the way up to: 13, 14, 15. Then, silence. The teacher said, "Is that all?" and Brooklyn responded, "I'm done.". Of course she's done!! Why would she want to show off??? Silly girl. It turns out the teacher knew better and eventually got her up to 29 or something. They asked her all kinds of things and from what Jon said, it sounded like she did pretty well. WHEW! I haven't injured my kids' education...yet. We'll know who her teacher is and when her class is by Thursday evening and then on Friday we'll go to "back to school" night and meet her teacher and stuff. She is SO excited she can hardly contain herself. And although I'm super-excited for her, too...I'm a little teary-eyed about the whole thing. HOw in the heck did she get so big???
But then, I'm teary-eyed about nearly everything it seems. My water-works get going over the strangest things. You know that country song about the soldier dying and not coming home, and they hand the young-wife the flag. Yeah. Cry EVERY TIME and my hubby isn't even in the service. Do you think I'm smart enough to change the station? Nah. I just listen to the song and cry (it's such a good song!). I digress...
So my little one isn't so little anymore and in 5 days...she'll go to her first day of school. {sigh}

totally awesome

So I ran by the grocery store the other day, wearing my fav shirt...My pepsi shirt. I just ran in and out to get some pectin to make jam (yeah...domesticated goddessness, here I come). I was seriously in the store for like 5 minutes. When I got to the check-out someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and it was the Pepsi vendor. He said, "Are you wearing a Pepsi shirt?" and I said, "yes" a little embarassed by the attention. He said, "Here. Have a free 12-pack." and he gave me a coupon for a FREE pepsi 12-pack!! How awesome is that!! HA! I was a little giddy about it and I will be cashing in my freebie VERY soon!

P.s. I'll add a pic soon!

3 days in....

Well, we're three days in...and loving it. I've accomplished MOST of my to-do list. Some things just keep getting put off....Now that it's 5:30 p.m., I just started the laundry I meant to do yesterday. And, still haven't finished organizing all our stuff that we brought to the house. One day....one day.

I finally got Brooklyn's paperwork all turned in for Kindergarten. I'm so excited for her. I'm a little anxious, though. We knew in NV who her teacher was and when she would be in class. This time around, we have to wait for the first week of school, then they will assess all the kindergarteners and then make class lists. Her class officially starts on the 31st and we pretty much won't know until then. It's going to be so much fun for her, though. I absolutely cannot wait for her to have such a great time at school. I always loved school. Well...until I'd been in college for 4 years and still wasn't done anyway. I'm a little sad that she's that old, but I know she's ready. I kinda feel bad for her most days. She gets bored at home with me and craves all that social interaction. Can't really blame her on that last one. I crave social interaction, too.

I've been trying to decide what kind of job I should get. I've been thinking a little part-time work would do us all some good. Julianne would be forced into some Daddy-time (poor daddy for the first little while) and it would help the old pocketbook out. I can't decide if I should look into things I've been wanting to do or if I should stick with the stuff that has more flexible schedules. I'm a little concerned about how my going "back" to work would affect Julianne, specifically her feeding. I was hoping she'd take right to cereal and I could worry less. But...her first go-round was less than stellar. Today I made her cereal again with water (yesterday I used formula...she didn't much care for it) and it seemed to go better. I still have some hope. I was thinking, if she'd eat solids while I was gone, I wouldn't have to worry about pumping and what-not. We shall see. I HATE HATE HATE to pump, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

Mason is his same-old self. Chatterbox and says funny things. My favorite phrase he says to me is classic and I can't remember if I've blogged about it before. If I tell him NOT to do something, for example, "Mason, don't try to put that movie in by yourself." He says, "I wouldn't." totally innocent like the thought never crossed his mind. It's awesome. I love it. Even though sometimes he says, "I wouldn't" and goes ahead doing the thing he "wouldn't" do. Ah...the age of innocence.

Jon is finally getting some time to relax. Even our mini-vacations the last little while were far from relaxing for him. I'm glad he's getting some me-time. The guy needed it. The job-hunt has resumed, but we're taking it easy this time. No rushing into things. We'll see what happens.

Julianne is still growing. She is awake more and more, and suddenly has decided that sleeping at night is optional. The last two nights she went to bed as usual. Got up at midnight to eat (no biggie) and then again at 3 a.m. (slightly annoying) and again at 6 a.m. (so TOO early to be up). I was really hoping we'd be sleeping through the night by now. So, now I'm stressing that I don't have enough milk for her. My poor kids. All starve to death because their own mother can't feed them... Hopefully this little no-sleep fiasco will resolve itself soon. We're both much pleasanter people when we get our beauty sleep.

So, in general we're doing good. We're surrounded by family. We have well-wishers all around and feel that life will bring us something good. Hopefully sooner rather than later, but we can't be picky can we?

Sorry about the lack of pic. I had one to upload, but it was a little big. Maybe I'll find one and add it later. Happy Wednesday all. I'm attempting to make Chicken Cordon Bleu for my sis-in-law's bday tomorrow and I'm a little scared. My last few dinner attempts have been less than stellar. We shall see. We shall see....

Explanation

Alrighty, my dear friends, the time has come for an explanation (get comfy, it's been a long month). I'll admit, my spirits have been on a slight roller-coaster as of late, but I really thought I was shielding you all from the brunt of it. Unfortunately, when I get frustrated I like to vent and that usually entails talking someone's ear off or writing. Since I have a blog, a facebook AND a twitter, I generally leaned toward writing. The one-sentence vent appealed to me because I didn't have to elaborate or re-explain. The time has come. As they say on Princess Bride, "I will explain. No, too long. I will sum up." So, here I go. We'll start at the beginning.
Sometime at the end of June/beginning of July, I backed my car into someone at church. Just scratched their door and completely broke off my bumper. Ugh. Insurance claim, new bumper, and $1000 repair later....
First day of July, Jon's boss laid him off "due to financial struggles". We have one month of employment. That is where it all began.

Put our house on the market. Had some hope of selling it, but listed it for rent as well.

People looked, and we had hope.

10 other houses in our subdivision went up for sale...all for smaller price than we asked.

Hope diminished.

People still interested in our house. Small ray of hope returned.

Work environment steadily deteriorates until it isn't worth the agony of going anymore. Jon resigns early and saves all our sanity's.

Took Chevy in for "free" oil change. Got charged $20 more b/c it needed "special oil" (which it has never needed before). Pretty annoyed by that.

Last week of July; FINALLY got check from insurance to get car repaired. Timing requires a rental for scheduled Utah trip. This costs more than expected.

Went to Utah for visit. Crossed fingers someone would want to buy our house while we were gone.

Agent went to view house and found that no key was in the key box. Joy.

Luckily, our realtor had it. All worked out.

Received offer to lease house with possible purchase at the end. Took offer and breathed a sigh of relief.

Came back to NV to pack and move. Leave two older kids in Utah ( it was a long week without their smiling faces).

Car finally repaired and back in our hands. Boy, we have a nice car :).

Got letter from Apartment (that we moved OUT of 6 months ago) that we owed them $200. Bill dated Feb. 4th. Letter postmarked August 3rd. Oiy.

Go to work out money we shouldn't owe and still have not heard back.

Took Honda to get "free" oil change. Had appointment, but turned away because they didn't have ANY oil.

Took Julianne in for check-up. Growing healthy and strong.

Took Honda for second appt. (calling before to make sure they had oil) only to be told it could take up to 3 hrs b/c they were busy (why did I make an appt then???). OH and they want me to pay $10 for high mileage oil. uh...NO!! made them use regular oil and actually got the FREE oil change that I went to get.

Realtor hard to get a hold of about leasing offer. Concern for agreement.

Work out leasing agreement with tenant. Pull house off market. Pack, load and leave first house.

Loading the car trailer.

half of the caravan

hooking up the car carrier

One last pic of our first house. Although it totally stressed us out, I was just a teeny bit sad to leave....

the other half of the caravan

One last pic with our house.

So, here we are in Utah. Living with Jon's parents once again (it sure is a good thing they love us). Our house has been rented (whew). We are healthy and blessed. Now, on to the job hunt. Brooklyn will be going to school at the elementary school Jon attended (awww...) and hopefully we will be employed and happily settled soon. Thanks for everyone's concern. I appreciate all the love and support. Driving back to Utah was an adventure. I'm not great at driving long distances by myself...we had a little rough patch around Payson (didn't help it took us 12 hrs....stupid hills). But, made it and we're glad to be settled. So, if you're in Utah and want to hang out, definitely give us a buzz! I had so many people offer me their listening ears and such that I can't thank anyone enough. Thanks again!

Had to have In'n'Out one last time...

Dave's request

Can't argue with that...

Julianne thought it looked tasty...

My view. We've become rather efficient at this caravan thing...

Driving alone. Thanks to everyone who tolerated my phone calls!

Mason was VERY interested in the truck when we got to Utah.

And we were both SO GLAD to see them!!

almost 4 months

Yep, it doesn't seem real, but it is. She's nearly 4 months. In anticipation of our upcoming move, I had her checkup a little early. She's healthy and strong and growing like a weed. She weighed in at 12 lbs (21st percentile) and stretched to 24 1/2 inches (66th percentile). Just another of our kids. Tall and skinny :). She got some vaccinations (although one less than she should have) so she's a little miserable when the tylenol wears off. All in all she's doing well. Two teeth fighting to break through, lots of coo's and kicks and just fun to be with in general.



Crazy how fast you forget life before them...