The Breakdown Lane:

2010-11-05T00:13:00.001-07:00

My dream...

2010-10-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

.. is to one day be the person that makes cupcakes for Johnny Cupcakes.. http://shop.johnnycupcakes.com/story/

Glad Game..

2010-10-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

SO! I'm now officially on High Blood pressure meds. Yay! I think? Sort of?
I've had high BP for 4 years but the Dr has always said it's high.. but not high enough for meds so we need to watch it.. So, when I lost 30lbs at the beginning of this year, I was excited to see what my new BP would be. I was disappointed to see that it hadn't gone down at all. What does my Dr say? Diet. (What do you think I did to lose 30 lbs??)
6 months go by and then I have 2 really scary days. Dizziness, light headed, headaches, heart palpitations and at the end of the second day I said, enough is enough! I took my BP and it was really high. I went and saw my Dr and he put me on meds. Which I thought is what I wanted.. so I can relax a little and not always think about having a stroke at 25.. or feel like my heart is beating way to fast.. and not feel so TIRED all the time..
The first 3 days of the meds were horrible while my body got used to working at a slower pace. I was even more dizzy than before and WAY more tired! But I've started taking them at night and going into week two I think I'm feeling pretty good about the pills. And best of all they aren't permanent! If I ever feel like I don't want or need the pills anymore, I can toss 'em out! Which is awesome!
On that note, I thought I would copy my cousin and play the Glad Game. =)

I'm glad I have 2 healthy little girls. I'm glad I have a roof over my head. I'm glad I have an amazing husband that I'm still very much in love with. I'm glad I have my Dog. I'm glad I have parents that raised me to the very best of their ability and instilled in me the values that I want to pass along to my own kids. I'm glad I have a job. I'm glad Kai has a job. I'm glad there's always enough food on the table. I'm glad we have money to pay the bills. I'm glad Alexis goes to a good school. I'm glad Alexis loves to read. I'm glad Keira is finally potty trained. I'm glad I have friends I can call whenever I need them. I'm glad we have two working cars. I'm glad I have a big extended family that has fun when we get together. I'm glad we have the best Holidays around our house. I'm glad I get along with my mother in law and genuinely enjoy being with her. I'm glad Kai loves my family. And for some shallow ones.. I'm glad I discovered Mac make up this year. I'm glad I have an extensive library in my bedroom. I'm glad my favorite shows record for me to watch alone at at night. I'm glad my heart is going to be healthy again. =)

Hellllooooo Blog!

2010-09-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Now that I've deleted my Facebook page.. *gasp!* I think I will probably be blogging much more. Yay! Well, I do need SOME kind of outlet!
Update: I'm working 32 hours a week at night and it seems like the perfect amount. If I worked just one hour longer I might go crazy.. but it helps with the bills and I enjoy my coworkers. I'm thinking of taking classes but I'm just not sure how with my work schedule.. I know I want to cook again though. And I have a wonderful new friend! My neighbor Salina lives on the corner, is my age with 3 girls almost exactly the same age as mine plus a ten year old. She's so much like me and her husband is really nice and we share the same family upbringings and values, it's been so great!
Kai is still with the city.. although they continue to make him NOT want to work there. But I love that he's single handedly trying to make it a better work place. He brought in some other unions to give speeches and they picked a new one, he has a zero tolerance for "shit talking" and tries to divert it, and he's been trying to schedule poker nights/family BBQs etc and convincing everyone to come and get closer together and bond. We shall see! He's pretty amazing!
Alexis continues to excel in school. I mean this kid is amazing! I put her homework packet in front of her and she's done without a question in ten minutes.. for the whole weeks wort of homework... She reads books at at least a 3rd grade reading level. I'm so proud of her. School is really her thing.
Keira is.. well Keira.. Some days she's just so sweet and funny and cuddly and others.. she's soooo TWO! (even though she's three..) She can't wait to start Preschool, anything to be like Alexis, her hero. <3
And then Harley.. yup.. Harleys big.. that's pretty much it.. =)

There's a fine line between being honest with your kids and wondering if you told them too much...

2010-05-10T00:47:00.001-07:00

A quick run down- My friend and I decided to rent a spot at the Flea Market to sell cupcakes and other baked goods. Then I got an idea to donate some of the proceeds to a local boy that needs a heart transplant. (He's 5 yrs old.) His website is here: www.saveabrokenheart.com

SO. Alexis has been curious what all the fuss is about at home while we're getting ready for the bake sale. On the way to the Dixon May Fair yesterday we stopped and got bracelets that say Aaron has captured our <3's and we decided to carefully fill her in. We explained that there's a little boy that's heart doesn't work like it should and that if someone dies accidentally, like in a car crash, that they can take that persons heart and give it to someone living that needs a new one.
Sounds a little deep for a 6 year old conversation, but you have to know Alexis to know that she got it. She asked a couple questions about the little boy but then seemed OK.
So, today when I'm drawing up signs for the sale she asks if she can watch. She sits quietly and then says.. "Mom... I don't want to donate my heart." I -of course- gasp and tell her that SHE doesn't have to. She says,"No... I mean when I die..." So I told her, "Well... that's your decision.. When you die your body is just a shell and your soul leaves it and you don't need your organs anymore..." *This is the exact spot in the conversation that I knew I was in over my head. She says, "So, my Grandma that just died.. doesn't have her heart anymore??" Me- "Umm... well... uhh... Oy." I think I overstepped the whole "being honest with your kids" thing. :(

probably...

2010-04-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

wouldn't kill so many houseplants if they could scream for food and water the way my kids do…

Hindsight is 20/20

2010-04-26T00:34:00.000-07:00

I had a little run in at work today with a drunk girl. Around my age and sporting a string bikini... and nothing else. The story would be better if I could say she shouldn't have been wearing this bikini but the thing looked like it was made for her 110lb tan and super fit body. She was a total knockout and maybe that made her more intimidating? I dunno, I guess I'm just justifying.
She threw money at my coworker and pointed to the gas pump and never took her eyes off her blackberry while her fingers were texting a mile a minute. He had to watch her walk out to her car to see what pump she was on. 5 minutes later she comes back in and exclaims that he stopped the pump at $8.00. He calmly tells her that that's all she gave him. She explodes and insists she gave him a twenty. Blah blah blah, I made him count down his cash register and I pulled up her picture on the security camera and showed her a clip of her obviously handing him more than one bill. She then changes her story to "I gave him a twenty and some ones.." Long story short- I left ten minutes after she did (clutching a piece of paper with my name and boss's phone number to complain to.) and I've been looking back on the situation all night wishing I had handled it differently. I should have called the cops and had her spoiled butt arrested for drunk driving. I should have stood up and talked to her with more authority. I should have taken a deep breath and made my hands stop shaking the whole time I was trying to resolve the situation.
Last week I had to confront 3 teenage boys for stuffing their pockets with candy. I was the only one in the store and they were totally oblivious to me watching the security cameras the whole time. They came to my register and I had to tell them to empty their pockets. I had 'em. Red handed. They were young. Innocent looking and timid. Why was my heart racing and voice shaking??
I daydream about standing up to rude customers or thieving kids. In the "dreams" my voice is clear. My hands don't shake. My cheeks don't burn bright red. I convince myself that the next time will be no big deal. That I will be calm and stern and full of authority. WHY doesn't it ever happen that way? I know exactly what I want and yet.. I can't seem to obtain it. I'm left with this hindsight and regret and daydreams of what could have been.

Just my experience...

2010-04-02T13:14:00.001-07:00

Stacy's Easter Egg coloring tips 2010- Mr Cleans Magic Eraser gets dye off countertops! Apple Cider Vinegar works in lieu of reg Vinegar in dye if you don't have reg vinegar. Use Q-tips and dob dye on eggs to Tie Dye. Using brown eggs vs white makes pretty eggs. The Glitter Egg dye kit is ridiculously messy. Stickers don't stick well to eggs. And the white crayon thing? never works as well as the pictures make it look.

From the mind of a 5 year old...

2009-10-21T15:20:00.001-07:00

So we're driving down the road and Alexis says "Hey mom, I have a plan for if I ever fall out of the car." I'm like-" Oh yeah? Let's hear it..." And she says, "I'll just catch the speed of the car and run along side it. That way I wont get hurt." I respond "OK, that sounds good." Then she says, " Sooo If you ever look back in the back seat, and I'm not there and you remember putting me in the car... you should probably slow down. 'Cause I might be be running after you..."

Pictures of Pictures

2009-09-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Cooking class. The Beach. And Christmas.

2009-09-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my blog.

Days go by. We have ups and downs. Nothing noteworthy.

I took the girls shopping yesterday. 2 kids by myself is exhausting. I can't imagine having 3 or 4. Yikes! I'm sure it'll get better as they get older and more self sufficient.

Kai and I watched "No Reservations" last night. I got to see Kai cry over a movie for the first time in my life. It was great. I hope he gets even softer in his old age. =)

The movie gave me a great idea though! We're going to take a cooking class together at DVC. It's one of the classes I've already taken, but it puts you working behind the scenes of the on-campus restaurant. Very exciting! Kai seems to have a fascination for high class, fast paced restaurant cooking. He says he doesn't want to do it... but it's still cool to him. Whatever that means. One of his favorite shows is "Hells Kitchen." I'm curious to see how he'll do in that atmosphere.

I'm very excited for next week. My uncle John is visiting from Virginia and we're going to go to the beach next week and see the tide pools. I love the beach. It's my happy place.

Know what else I love? Christmas. I can believe my favorite time of year is almost here again. I asked Kai last night if I could decorate the house before Thanksgiving. =) Maybe mid November? That's not too out there is it?

Alexis is healing well. She went to school a day ahead of schedule. She only needed the Tylenol with Codeine for 1 day, much to my amazement and liking. She keeps trying to use that hand too. It frustrates her to not be able to draw and color. It was pretty cute to see her trying to teach herself to use a spoon with her left hand though. She says, "Mom! I forgot how to hold a spoon already!" I had to explain that it's harder with the hand you're not used too! Wait until you go to wipe your butt! Hahaha.

My cat brought home a stray last night. A sweet little Persian kitten. It's the first cat I've seen him be nice too. He usually fights with the cats around her. I know we can't keep her, but she's sooo sweet. =)

Surgery

2009-09-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Alexis did great in surgery today. I can't believe it's actually over! After all that anticipation!
They gave her the meds through a breathing mask which meant no IV. Awesome! And they didn't have to put the breathing tube down her throat. More awesomeness! They laid in on the back of her tongue just to be there for emergencies. I told her if she was brave and didn't cry she could get 5 movies to watch and she held me too it. =) Of course.
She'll have her soft cast on for 7 to 10 days and then stitches come out and she's back to normal. Yay!
The best part was when Kai closed his eyes for a couple minutes in the little hospital room and Alexis said, "Dad!! Wake up! This is my special day remember??" Hee hee hee.

One word...

2009-08-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

1. where is your phone? desk
2. relationship? committed
3. your hair? frizzy
4. work? drama
5. your sister(s)? non existent
6. your favorite thing? laughing
7. your dream last night? nightmare
8. your favorite drink? passion tea
9. your dream car? Got it
10. the room you're in? big
11. your shoes? none
12. your fears? death
13. what do you want to be in 10 years? healthy
14. who did you hang out with this weekend? coworkers
15. what are you not good at? stress
16. muffin? Top
17. wish list item? nada...
18. where you grew up? country
19. the last thing you did? cleaning
20. what are you wearing? capris
21. what are you not wearing? scarf
22. your pet? Luci-furr <3
23. your computer? dinosaur
24. your life? chaotic
25. your mood? Ok
26. missing? my old body
27. what are you thinking about? more cleaning
28. your car? A to B
29. your kitchen? is mine.
30. your summer? Cabo
31. your favorite color? Pink
32. last time you laughed? This morning
33. last time you cried? ???
34. school? no thank you
35. love? Very much

Juno

2009-08-05T12:38:00.001-07:00

He is the cheese to my macaroni. And, I know that people are supposed to fall in love before they reproduce, but... I guess normalcy isn't really our style.

Peanut Butter-Banana-French Toast.

2009-07-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

I caught the tail end of a recipe on the food network that I'm definitely gonna have to try out. This lady was making French Toast, and she put a splash of orange juice, and a splash of dark rum into her egg mixture. Then she made a Peanut Butter and banana sandwich, dredged it in the mix and fried it. It looked yummy!!!

Kinder

2009-07-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

So Alexis starts Kindergarten tomorrow. This is actually a phrase I've heard like 5 times, with people pausing at the end, waiting for my response. I'm like... "Yeah... yeah, she does." And then they laugh and ask me if I feel old...
I totally don't! I think being like the second youngest mom at Back to School Night helped. Haha. But I just see this as something Alexis has been ready for for years. I don't feel older. I don't feel like this is a HUGE deal. I know it'll set some more rules in our lives and things will be more scheduled... but I'm all for it. I'm excited. I have NO worries about her crying for mom, or having "accidents" in class, or not being able to write her name... or anything else the teacher warned us about. I know she's ready. And so am I. =) Maybe... Just maybe... I wont even cry about it. =)

Pondering...

2009-07-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Do you ever think, life is so good, it can only go down from here? That's how I feel right now. Kai and I are closer than we've ever been. The girls have their own rooms, they're happy and healthy. I genuinely like my job. I LOVE this house. I have great, loyal, successful friends. I'm going on vacation in less than 2 months. I've accomplished some things. I've overcome some things. I feel like things can't possibly get any better. I hope that doesn't mean they're gonna get worse! The calm before a storm? I hope not.

I love this...

2009-07-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

Wear Sunscreen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experienceI will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years youll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you cant grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.Youre not as fat as you imagine.

Dont worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Dont be reckless with other peoples hearts, dont put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Dont waste your time on jealousy; sometimes youre ahead, sometimes youre behindthe race is long, and in the end, its only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Dont feel guilty if you dont know what you want to do with your lifethe most interesting people I know didnt know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds know still dont.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, youll miss them when theyre gone.

Maybe youll marry, maybe you wont, maybe youll have children, maybe you wont, maybe youll divorce at 40, maybe youll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversarywhat ever you do, dont congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either your choices are half chance, so are everybody elses. Enjoy your body, use it every way you candont be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, its the greatest instrument youll ever own..

Danceeven if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you dont follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when theyll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do youll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Dont expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Dont mess too much with your hair, or by the time its 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen...

Alexis

2009-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Alexis is scheduled for her trigger finger release surgery this Tuesday. The anesthesiologist called me this morning to go over the meds they're gonna give her and the procedures. He was really nice and answered all my questions. He told me they're going to give her a mask to breath in the medicine and put her to sleep, then the IV with stronger meds and then a breathing tube. The breathing tube freaks me out. I hung up and started crying and I don't know why! I'm not afraid of them messing up, I know they know what they're doing. It's the thought of her lying there limp with a breathing tube... uhg. It just makes me sick. I have to wonder if this is really what's best for her! The Doctor said she's at the best age to do it. And it's her right thumb so she should get it done before Kindergarten. But what if it really doesn't NEED to be done? What if I'm jumping the gun? (no pun intended) I'm just starting to question it now that it's getting closer. It's minor surgery but I cried more than she did when she got a TOOTH pulled! I just can't handle hurting my baby. =(

Blog

2009-06-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

I watched Slumdog millionaire and was pleasantly surprised! It was actually really good! I just watched it 'cause it got so much attention, it made me curious. But I was glad I did.

Went to a Bachelorette party last night... yes... on a Wednesday... We went to this cool little (very little) dance club that was a real speak easy in the 1920's. In the prohibition days, it was The Cable Car theater but they had a secret sliding door that would open and there was a round tube slide you slide down into the bar. It was an awesome little place. The slide is still there and the original bar and chandeliers. You can go down the slide but they put stairs in for fuddy duds like us. =)

Here's the website:

http://www.slidesf.com/slidesf.html

Daughters

2009-05-20T12:32:00.001-07:00

This...

2009-05-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2009/03/jon-gosselin-of-jon-kate-plus.html

Makes me so sad.

Say it isn't so.

Another day older...

2009-05-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

My best girlfriend so nicely pointed out the other day that this year I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20. Wow.
I never really thought about it. I don't feel old...
Until I realized in the past year I:

Watched my brother buy a house.

Bought a house of our own.

Attended my childhood best friends wedding. (We used to have slumber parties and giggle over David Bowie in Labrynth!)

Traded my Cosmo subscription in for Better Homes and Gardens D.I.Y magazine.

AND have a daughter starting Kindergarten in 2 months!!!

Yikes! =)

what's the deal?

2009-05-14T14:11:00.001-07:00

Any theories?

Google:

Montauk Monster real?

A story by Alexis Horlacher

2009-05-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Humpty Dumpty was sitting on a wall with his friends. One friend said, "Know what's under a pony tail? A pony butt!" Haha.
And Humpty Dumpty said, "That joke always cracks me up" and he laughed so hard he fell backwards over the wall.

The End.

Maybe I just don't get it...

2009-05-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

OK... so is it wrong that I totally agree with this law? Let's get some of the guns off the streets.

You can't own a gun unless...

..It is registered
.You are fingerprinted
.You supply a current Driver's License
.You supply your Social Security #
.You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing
.Each update - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25

- Failure to do so you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail.

OK! Well, we own guns and we both have current socials and DL's and wouldn't mind being fingerprinted! We have nothing to hide. And if you do... then maybe you shouldn't own one. And why would someone argue with: The Government would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs, in prison.
??? because let's PLEASE eliminate these 14 year olds on the streets with guns or the 10 yr olds that find daddys gun and shoot their little brother on accident. "Guns don't kill people, People do." So, how about we make it a little harder on those people that would?!

In Oakland: "Blue's 1-year-old daughter, Prosperity, was one of three children shot around 2 p.m. Saturday as they crossed the street at International Boulevard and 64th Avenue, police said.

The other wounded children were a 4-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Two women walking with the children, including Prosperity's aunt pushing the girl in a stroller, were uninjured.

Investigators said Sunday they believed the children were caught in the crossfire of an attack meant for a group of young men nearby."

Why would you argue against laws that are going to make it harder for people like THAT to get guns??

The New Law:

HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009

Please send this to everybody on your list... this is Obama gun control by secrecy.

Very Important for you to be aware of a new bill HR 45 introduced into the House.
This is the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009. We just learned yesterday about this on the Peter Boyles radio program. Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because it is flying under the radar.

To find out about this - go to any government website and type in HR 45 or Google HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. You will get all the information.

Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm - any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless:

..It is registered
.You are fingerprinted
.You supply a current Driver's License
.You supply your Social Security #
.You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing
.Each update - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25

- Failure to do so you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail.

.There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18.

The Government would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison.

If you think this is a joke - go to the website and take your pick of many options to read this.. http://www.opencong ress.org/ bill/111- h45/text

It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this. Pass the word along. FAILURE TO DO SO AT YOUR PERIL!

Any hunters in your family - pass this along.

This is just a "termite" approach to complete confiscation of guns and disarming of our society to the point we have no defense - chip away a little here and there until the goal is accomplished before anyone realizes it.

This is one to act on whether you own a gun or not. If you LOVE your country as it was intended by our founding fathers, and that people kill not the gun then take a stand for yourself and many others. Because if they get this through then only the lawless will have guns. And if you belive in all of our constitution then you should fight aginst this HR.

Franci's wedding

2009-04-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

The wedding was a success. Alexis did very well dropping flower petals after not attending rehearsal. A good time was had by all. =)

One room down...

2009-04-17T00:13:00.000-07:00

I got Keiras room done today! Yay! Well done as in... painted. We have the downstairs painted and 75%... maybe... of the upstairs but the rooms wont be "done" by Kai's standards until they have base boards and crown molding. *sigh* It's never ending. =) But it's been fun. =)

Here's Keiras tree. The walls are pale pink...

Before the owls...

My children

2009-04-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

instead of waking me up this morning, got together and got ALL the dish towels out of the drawer in the kitchen, got them soaking wet in the bathroom sink and piled them onto the couch.

Oh the joys of 5 and 2 year olds.

Coulda been worse... I'll laugh about later.

A spare tire, missing the Gynecologist, and falling in love all over again.

2009-04-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe it was because it was 80 degrees out today, the grass was green and the birds were singing but I got a touch of spring fever today.
I called Kai at noon to tell him my car was making a funny noise and it sounded like it was coming from the tire... I walked around the car and the tires weren't low and it seemed OK... so I dropped the girls off with my mom and left for my Gynecologist appointment. (It was routine!! and all I hear is my cousin Jessica saying "go get 'em Tiger!" but that's a whole different story) The funny noise stayed with me as I got on the freeway but then a loud noise and some shaking and I had blown a tire. I like to think I'm a little better than the whole "Damsel in distress" thing. But I have to say it made me heart pitter patter when Kai hurried away from work to come "rescue" me. He came in his big white work truck with the flashing yellow lights and put cones out behind my car (I was kinda out there on the off ramp) and had the spare on in less than 10 minutes. Standing on this grassy hill watching him "save me" got me thinkin'.. I sure do love this guy.

little ha ha

2009-03-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

Heee heee heee
Why do I love these? I'm not a huge cat fan. I don't mind 'em they're alright but these:

http://icanhascheezburger.com/page/8/

Make me LOL. =)

Pics inside our new house!

2009-03-08T01:38:00.001-08:00

Needs carpet and paint and new cabinets... but that all comes with time. =) And a handy husband!

The Handy husband. =)

Entry way...

Kitchen

half bath

New carpet is FIRST to be done!

Our pretty bedroom bay windows!

Master bath, double sinks! Yay!

Alexis and Keiras bathroom:

Stairs...

Living room

Ideas::::

2009-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

So the girls rooms in our new house are a fresh canvas to me.
Alexis is old enough to pick her own colors. And she wants bright Pink, Purple, Blue and Green stripes on one wall. Then a Pink wall, a blue wall and a green wall. Luckily her comforter happens to be these colors. And Lowes has that Handy Dandy machine where you can bring in a scrap of cloth or a stuffed animal or in this case a Pillow sham, and they can mix up the exact colors right then and there.

SO. I'm modeling Alexis's room a little off of this:

I'm gonna do the stars- if you can see 'em from this picture... there's stars on the wall that are just a different gloss than the base. And then stripes on one wall and... well we'll just see where it goes...

But for Keiras room! (Since she has no say! Mwuuhahaha) I'm going to paint a base coat of pale pale pink. Then I'm going to paint a tree mural in the corner. And the leaves are going to be cut out of scraps of fabric in mostly pastel colors, and few and far betwwen, think fall time with 15-20 leaves. =) And a cute owl in the tree. And I found the PERFECT bedding for my little idea but it's OUTRAGEOUSLY priced so I'm just going to find something similar.

This is the tree I'm gonna use. Minus the cute little blue birds and flowers and the painted-on leaves.:

And this is the super cute (super expensive.) bedding I love:

5338 Sunrise Meadows

2009-02-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Doesn't the name just sound good? I picture butterflies and flowers and a pretty sunrise...
Here it is! We get keys on March 25th!

Beautiful, Wonderful house update.

2009-02-18T00:09:00.000-08:00

One of bids was accepted. YAY! The house is the same floor plan as the very first house we bid on. Super cute floor plan with a ton of potential. We sign papers tomorrow and put 1% down. I'm so excited. =)

Here it is!

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakley/5338-Sunrise-Meadows-Ln-94561/home/1849535

Pretty baby

2009-02-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

A certain little girl climbed from the ledge of the bathtub onto the bathroom vanity today to "Do her make up." =) She was quiet for like 5 minutes before I decided I should go investigate. Eye shadow everywhere!

ANOTHER house update

2009-02-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

We lost the 2 houses we bid on. Unfortunately our price range is the amount that investors seem to want to spend. They're swiping all the good ones and fixing 'em up to re sell. We bid on one more and it's the same floor plan as the very first one we bid on. Just not as clean. Needs paint and carpet and lots of yard work. But that's OK. That's all stuff we can do. We've decided to start bidding on anything in our price range that has a good floor plan. That's the only thing we can't change... anything else we can do ourselves. It's been stressful, and I hate that I fall in love with these houses just to be disappointed a week later. But it's been an experience. I've learned a lot and it's been fun to imagine us living in all these houses. It's funny that the first thing you notice is of course the carpet and paint. But I always look for where the Christmas tree would go. Silly I know. =)

Trigger finger

2009-02-11T00:55:00.000-08:00

I took Alexis to the Doctor today for her "tricky" thumb as she likes to call it. It's stuck at a 45 degree angle, it has been since she was 2. He said it's trigger finger and she'll have to have surgery to fix it. It's supposed to be no big deal and it's "routine surgery" but ya know? no surgery is routine when it's on your own kid. I'm going to try to plan it between pre-school being let out and Kindergarten starting. That way she'll be all set to start cutting with scissors and writing. He also said it's hereditary! And duh! wouldn't ya know! my mother in law just had surgery on her hand for trigger finger! Hmmm!

Alexis

2009-02-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

We're driving down the road, the sun is out, the windows are down and Jimmy Buffets "Margaritaville" is playing on the radio...

Alexis: "Turn the radio off! I can't stand it! I can't stand this song!"

Me: "What?? This is a great song!"

Alexis: "Turn it off! I can't take it!"

Me: *Turn the radio down* "Why???"

Alexis: "It just makes me want to go to the beach soooo bad!"

Me...... That's my girl. =)

1/7/2009

2009-02-07T22:37:00.000-08:00

Two new houses. Two new bids. A whole array of emotions. A whole new level of stress.

And the search continues

2009-02-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

Well scratch that last one, someone out bid us already. We'll keep looking!

New house update

2009-02-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

We put our first bid in on a house! Yay! It wasn't the one I originally wanted, but it's right next door. The one I was really excited about ended up have a shady lady living there that wouldn't work with us to let us see inside. So we looked at the house next door which we had already seen before and loved but was pending. I guess the last bidder fell through and we got to put our bid in! Very exciting! It's totally adorable and move in ready. I hope everything goes smoothly! Ha! As if. =)

unfair

2009-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

OK so I feel like I'm being hated on at work. Seriously. First I got a note in my box saying I couldn't do something that everyone is allowed to do... so I was like ok, whatever, I'll let that go. BUT then people around me started getting away with murder! One lady is older and an alcoholic and comes in to work either drunk or super hungover and throwing up ALL the time. The day shift girl steals. And everybody knows it. And the boss told me the other day she thinks she stole food right in front of her. Then while I was in WA. the other employee was a no show-no call! Like didn't even show up at all! And when they got a hold of her 24 hours later she had gone to S.F. with her b/f and forgot she had to work.... And you know what the boss said?! "I think you threw caution to the wind and went to the city with your boyfriend.... that's romantic." What the hell! But the I went in on Thursday and had a note in my box. I was written up! for my register being 20$ short!!! Total accident! It's not like I would EVER pocket money. Ya know? So I said to my boss, "OK, this person comes in drunk... and this person steals... and this person is a no show... and I got written up for an accident???" and she says... "Lifes not fair." Wha.... So, I would say OK, I'll just straighten up and fly right and keep my nose clean and all that but I HAVE been! I haven't done anything wrong! I do my best at work! I'm so confused.

This is it.

2009-01-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

We finished our VA loan paperwork and we're free to go look at houses now. Everybody says you never get the first house you bid on but I'm sooo in love with this house:

http://maxebrdi.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=2ae3b62a-d8f1-4c1a-a5ca-9a27c8b39347&Report=Yes

4 Bedrooms, Kristofers neighborhood, no HOA, 2 1/2 bathrooms, AND it's comfortably in our price range.

If I get one thing in the next 10 years! Please let it be this house!!! =)

Mini mid life crisis?

2009-01-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not even mid life. Quarter life crisis?
Ever since Alexis turned 5...
I feel the need to do something young and fun. I cut all my hair off and dyed blond and pink streaks in it. It's hair, it's temporary. I figured that was better than a piercing or new tattoo... =) I mean let's not get drastic here. =)

Mini Vaca!

2009-01-13T00:27:00.001-08:00

We're going to WA in 3 days to visit Kai's family and I'm sooo excited. We haven't been since 2006. I can't wait. I'm soooo burnt out on some lame drama going on at work and I can't wait to sit and drink coffee with my wonderful mother in law....

You will be missed.

2008-12-30T11:15:00.000-08:00

R.I.P Chris Davis

Alexis turned 5!

2008-12-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

Wow... I have a 5 year old...

Bring it on

2008-12-18T00:46:00.000-08:00

this Christmas. I got my troll doll on ebay! I'm ready!

Kaupanger Cup

2008-12-17T00:44:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited for Christmas this year and our football game.

Now where am I going to find a troll doll to stick to the top of the trophy...

We're moving

2008-12-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

into a house in Antioch. It's a decent neighborhood off a not so nice street. But it's something we can afford for up to a year! So that's nice! We get to paint, but we don't get to do anything else to fix it up. The bathroom is... not so nice. And the carpet is shag but we'll get by. We move January 1st I'll post pics soon!!

Yesterday

2008-12-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

was awesome. Thanks Jax! and lunch was to die for I'm sooo looking up the stuffed mushrooms recipe. =)

Bratz...

2008-12-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

Kinda wondering if we should go stock up on BRATZ dolls. I can't stand them, my kids aren't allowed to have them... but there's a big lawsuit and now they're being pulled from the shelves after Christmas... I wonder if we should go buy a few and try to sell 'em like 5 years...

Wise investment or waste of time?

From Wikipedia.....

Mattel sued MGA Entertainment for $500 million alleging that Bratz creator Carter Bryant was working for Mattel when he developed the idea for Bratz. On July 17, 2008, a federal jury ruled that the Bratz line was created by Carter Bryant while he was working for Mattel. The jury also ruled that MGA and its Chief Executive Officer Isaac Larian were liable for converting Mattel property for their own use and intentionally interfering with the contractual duties owed by Bryant to Mattel. On August 26, the jury found that Mattel would have to be paid US $100 million in damages.

On December 3, 2008, U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson banned MGA from selling Bratz. He allowed the company to continue selling the dolls until the winter holiday season ended. The ruling will be in effect on February 11, 2009 at the earliest; Mattel and MGA will meet in court on that date. As per the court order, after the end of the holiday season, MGA must remove, at its own cost, all the Bratz dolls from store shelves, including the reimbursement of the cost of the dolls and all shipping costs to its vendors and distributors. The court gave exceptions for some toys if they are packaged separately from infringing toys. MGA has since stated that they are planning to file an appeal.

Shady people. Grrrr.

2008-12-10T00:34:00.000-08:00

OK so I'm standing at the cash register at work ringing up 2 customers and this guy walks up with 2 of our gallon bottles of liquor. He says, "I was told to see the manager about getting a refund for these." I'm like, "We don't give refunds on liquor." He says "Well, I was told I could get one from a manager." And I say, "She'll be here tomorrow morning until 2 PM" And he says, "OK I'll come back, can I have a bag?" And I give him one....

So I'm totally bothered by it for some reason like 2 hours later and I decide to watch the security tapes.

This dude walked in, walked down the liquor isle and got the bottles! And then brought 'em up to me like he brought 'em into the store!!! He walked out with 2 bottles and I gave him a frickin' bag to do it!

Jeez.

Super bold.

He got me.

Boo.

Teeny Boppers EVERYWHERE.

2008-12-04T22:57:00.001-08:00

We just got back from Jingle Ball 2008. David Archuletta, Jesse Mcarthy? McCartny? I dunno whatever. Katy Perry was cool though. I went just to hang out with my friends and I did that and we had a blast. =) But wow.... teeny boppers. I've never seen so many skinny jeans, tucked into fake Uggs and straightened to stick-straight hair in my life. Good times. =)

2008-11-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

Alexis: MOM? How do people make their wishes come true when they wish on stars and stuff...?

Me: Magic honey.....

Alexis: But my wishes never come true...

Me: *silence*............. wow....

Working late nights...

2008-11-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

I miss my TIVO... =(

Have you heard the Taylor Swift Song....

2008-11-24T10:04:00.001-08:00

"Love Song" I love it!!!

Decisions, Decisions....

2008-11-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

I have to start by saying I really need to remember my log on to project playlist 'cause my music is a little depressing, no?

So tomorrow we meet for the first time with a real live loan agent. Yikes! It's not like we're signing papers tomorrow or anything but I'm nervous! I looked online at places to rent and for the amount we would pay for a 2 bedroom apartment, even on low income, we could be making a house payment on a 3 bedroom HOUSE. It really makes you think.

It seems like Duh! Go for the house and have something to show for it a year from now! But a 30 year commitment... Uhg. Even a 5 or 10 year commitment.... Uhg.

It means that I would not have the option of quitting my job should I learn to hate it 6 months from now... It means not being able to quit just to be a stay at home mom again when the girls start school and I have to carpool and drive to PTA and soccer games. We would be strapped! And for a long time! Kai gets raises but not enough to make a house payment on his income alone. Not for another 5 years anyway.

But the thought of THROWING money away on rent just sucks. And we can't afford a 3 bedroom apartment so we'd be crammed, ($1500 for a 3 bedroom! Are you kidding me???) and we can't afford the nice neighborhoods so we'd probably end up in the ghetto... It's such a hard thing to decide. I wish somebody could see the future and give me a little heads up. =)

Why am I married to a 12 yr old Boy?

2008-11-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm super annoyed. I woke up to all the dirty dishes still in the sink, and the meat I left out still defrosting!! Well it's def done defrosting now!

I told Kai last night that he was supposed to pick up the girls and go home and cook dinner. NOT eat dinner at my moms and be a mooch while she watches the girls so he can go play with tools in my dads shop. (Something he does all the time when I go to work.)

Apparently he disregarded me all together. He got home with the girls at 10PM, took a shower and went to bed.

So I get to do all my chores today plus what I left for him last night. And throw away the meat. And drop Alexis off at school at 1:10, drop Keira off with my mom at 2:45 and go to wok until 11:30.

Oh! And we spent an extra $100 on groceries this month and now I'm throwing out $17 in lunch meats 'cause Kai made this HUGE show of leaving his credit card at home and not spending money... and then picking it up the next morning on his way to work.
He usually brings lunch from home, but now that we have a couple extra hundred dollars in the bank, he's been eating out for like 3 weeks! And I'm like dude- I have to throw all this meat out now, it's too expensive to eat out daily... and he's like Oh... well I just bought my lunch for today too....

Thanks Kai, you're really showing me how we can save money for a house. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHG.

Marriage tip #726

2008-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

Never compare your wife's cooking to your mothers. Ever. Your wife's Pot Roast is the best thing you've ever tasted and you tell her that. And she doesn't care how your mom cooks it and no she doesn't want your mothers recipe. Thank you.

Halloween

2008-11-10T11:44:00.001-08:00

Keira was a sock Monkey for Trick or Treating and Alexis was Diamond Castle Barbie. Alexis also went to a Safe Halloween party and dressed up in a Pirate costume out of her dress up box. Waaaay cuter than the Barbie costume but whatever. =)

Only in California

2008-11-10T11:16:00.001-08:00

Only in California can I walk my kid out to check the mail at 11 AM.
In the middle of November.
In just a diaper.
It's 70-something degrees outside.
Can we see a little winter? Please?

Please. Please...

2008-09-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.saveveronicamars.tv/

Save Veronica Mars. I can't be left hanging like this... please.

I just love Logan Echolls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Mars

http://jason-dohring.com/

House Hunting

2008-09-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

So, in case you didn't hear we fell in love with the first house our real estate agent showed us. Built in 1940, 3 Bedrooms 2 1/2 Baths and huge basement with a stage/theater. It used to be a Catholic church. It was amazing, we went home to sleep on it and it went pending that night. Then we found out the next day that even though it had been listed for $104K it had sold less than a year ago for $508K! Add a little salt to that wound? Anyway this is the slide show of the pictures...

http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sweet_ms_hottie/?action=view¤t=719c8def.pbw

We've since looked at about 25 houses and decided to call off our search for a little while. We'll pick up and look again in December or January.

Thursday...

2008-09-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

My crazy day.

2008-09-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

8:30 Get the girls in and out of the bath and fed and ready to go.

10:00 take Alexis to have school pictures done

11:00 Pick up kitten from home

11:30 Take Alexis and Keira to Grandmas

11:45 take Kitten to vet, spend over 100$ =( Find out Lucy is a boy!

12:30 Pick up Alexis and Keira at Grandmas

1:00 Drop kitten off at home

1:30 Drop Alexis off at my moms work

1:45 Take Keira to Dr in Antioch. Sit in Dr's office for 50 minutes. Find out Keira has Croup again. Dr.tells me the girls can get worms from the kitten and he needs a STOOL sample!
2:45 Take Keira to get shots, pick up vials in Lab for stool samples! go stand in pharmacy line for 15 minutes just to find out meds are in OTHER pharmacy. Stand in OTHER pharmacy line for 15 minutes. Take meds home just to find out Pharmacist didn't screw the cap on the meds and liquid medicine is all over the floor of the Navigator and now I have to go back and get re-fill....

Camping.

2008-08-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

We went camping last weekend (sans kids) with our "fun couple." It was fun! We went to a beautiful campground none of us had ever heard of. We're driving and we got off the freeway into suburbs and I'm thinking OK... this is gonna be the lamest campground ever! But it was actually secluded. And gorgeous! Overgrown with trees and vines and ivy. All shaded. Clean. With fire pits, trash bins, "animal boxes" for your food" and picnic tables. PLUS it was a mile off the Stanislaus river. We drove down to the river without any expectations and were greeted with a sandy beach, 2 foot deep crystal clear water, an island, and nobody around. Serenity! I will definitely go back, and I recommend the Caswell Memorial Camp Site in Ripon to anyone who will listen. =)

Bicycle! Bicycle! (You know the Queen song? yeah that one...)

2008-08-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

So, Kai and I have bikes with kid seats attached to the back, you remember riding in your parents? The hard plastic? how scary it was when they would zip around corners? How much it sucked when they stand up and pedal and you get sling shotted back and forth in the seat? Yeah... good times. =) We didn't get the trailer-pull-along-kind when Alexis was a baby 'cause I was afraid it wouldn't fit between those poles they have on bike trails. So we got one hard plastic seat and when Keira was born we got another. I recommend it to anyone with toddlers. I love it. We go after dinner when it starts to cool off, we have a safe neighborhood, so I don't worry... much. It's peaceful, it's wholesome, It's great.
So we convinced our "fun couple" (the other couple we hang out with that has a toddler and the same interests as us...)to get bikes too. Last night was our first trip out with the 7 of us (Jeez...) 4 adults, 3 cling ons. It was great, we rode almost 4 miles. (Round trip) we went to the park. We joked about getting biker gang t shirts. I love happy days like these.

Nightmare

2008-08-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Uhg, I had the Kai cheating dream again. It's like once every 3 weeks maybe? Maybe once a month... but you know what it made me realize?
Kai is testing for Border Patrol on August 30th, and we would have to move to Long Beach or San Antonio, TX. I've been back and forth about if I would want to move away... I love San Antonio and Southern Cal but in the back of my mind I'm thinking No! I can't leave home!
Well in my dream after I found out he cheated I ran to my group of friends here at home...
I'm thinking subconsciously I want to stay close to home because if he cheats again I have my best friends to run to! What am I going to do if he cheats in Texas! I would be alone! Then I would just have to turn around and make a ton of arrangements to move back to CA... Whereas if he cheated here in my hometown around all my friends and family... I could just tell him to get out! I would be way stronger. We could just run him out of town. =) And I wouldn't be left with nothing...

I hate nightmares. I'm not 9 anymore. Please inform the Sand Man. Thank you.

Horrible, rotten, ugly, no-good day.

2008-08-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

I went in for a job interview yesterday. It was the worst interview ever. I was actually humiliated when I walked out. I wasn't aware that I didn't really qualify for the job when I walked in. I gave myself a pep talk in the car, I planned some witty answers and I planned on smiling a lot. I thought I had a really good chance at this really important job! So, we shake hands and sit down and they start asking questions and they get to, "Name all the computer programs that you are familiar with and rate your skills" I totally drew a blank! Not only am I not fluent on any of their programs (Excel and Power Point) I drew a totally blank as to the names of the programs! I couldn't even bluff my way out of it, and have my mom teach me to do them later! So, I actually had to answer "Uuuuum... Word....?" After that all their questions seemed out of pity and I had no good answers... none... all of my charm and wittiness was out the window. I stuttered, I answered "I don't know" and I answered "I have Passion" to 3 questions in a row. (Passion?!?) When they finally thanked me for coming in they all stared down at their papers, nobody even stood up or offered me a hand shake, I had to show myself out the door.
Total humiliation.
I'm never applying for another job out of my league.
I'm sooo going down to apply at Target tomorrow. The mother ship is calling me home.

Old Friends

2008-08-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Alexis (5 years ago!!) Kai and I would sit at home every night and watch old Friends episodes. We bought even them on DVD. =)I LOVE that show. So last night when I couldn't sleep I put Season one on. OMG! Where Rachel runs in in her wedding Dress at Central Perk! Their clothes are so early 90's!! They're wearing the high-waisted jeans. (Maybe those need to come back- I'm pretty sick of low rise BTW) and Joey has long-ish straight hair parted on the side. lol I loved it. It was like pulling a warm blanket over me. Hats off David Krane and Marta Kauffman. =)I love my old Friends.

misprint

2008-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I just read over my last entry and realized how it sounded. Not how I meant it to sound...
I am blessed with 2 healthy, well behaved, smart little girls. I don't regret having them, I love them more than I ever knew I could love another person. Alexis is mature, she listens, she's smart, and eager to please. Keira is strong willed, cute, smart and determined. I wouldn't trade 'em for the world.
I'm just not cut out to be a stay at home. I don't think anyone can stand to be with one other person for 24 hours a day everyday and still like each other in the end. =)I just need a job outside the house and I'm frustrated about not being able to find anything that will pay daycare and still have take-home money left over!

It's only 10:00 AM?!?!

2008-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

OK first of all I just has serious issues trying to log into my Blogger account, My only thought was- what if I really can't get into it and it's all lost forever?! a little too dramatic? Sorry. But I put in my email address and it kept telling me "email address not valid" It's the only one I really use! But I got it figured out and it's all OK now.

So, people are always telling me to "enjoy these years" with the girls. I just don't know how to do that... I mean I can't wait until they're old enough to come in from school (or even old enough to go to school!) and do their homework... or watch TV... or read a book! I'm tired of being NEEDED 24-7. Some people are like oh you just need a break... but I've done "breaks" Kai and I have gone away for the weekend without the girls, or my mom will take them while we go to the movies, or even Kai will take them so I can go have a drink at a friends! That's not it, it's the whole life style of being a stay at home mom... Of being needed ALL the time. I talk to other people that are sad when their kids leave and go to Kindergarten for the first time... I'm like- are you crazy?! I can't wait until my kids are in school and someone else is teaching them! and playing with them! Wow! When people say Aw, my little one is growing up.. I say hallelujah! they can entertain them selves for 5 minutes without needing juice, or a snack, or diaper or someone to just listen to them re-tell the entire episode where Dora's mom has twins... My ears are tired, my patience is running low, my nerves are shot... I need a job away from home. For my sanity.

Try this

2008-07-02T14:43:00.001-07:00

it's fun!

Http://DNA.imagini.net/friends

Four going on fourteen.

2008-07-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Alexis. Uhg.
Are all four year olds this hard?
I feel like very time I make her sit quietly and finish the food on her plate- (this is a daily battle.) I'm contributing to her being a food-hating anorexic when she's older.
And when I tell her to give me five (just five!) minutes to take a shower or catch part of a TV show, I'm neglecting her.
I can't imagine life without here. She's my mini me and always will be. I just don't know how to give her my 100%, 100% of the day and raise another child and have a successful marriage.
I had no clue that 4 year olds are even harder than 1 year olds. I thought (when she was a baby) I just can't wait until she can feed herself! I just can't wait until she can use the toilet! I just can't wait until she can tell me what's wrong instead of just crying! Now... I just hope I'm giving her what she needs to be a happy kid.
My heart breaks when I put her to bed for not doing what she was told and when I get her up again she asks, "Do you still love me?" ....Do I not tell her enough? Do I not give her enough hugs during the day? Not enough "good jobs" or "I'm proud of you's"?
Does every mom go through this or is my daughter just waaay overly sensitive? Do moms with boys go through this? Is this a sensitive girl thing? Will she grow out of it or is she going to be a very dramatic teenager? Is this what I get for being such a moody teen? If only somebody actually had all the answers.

Homeless

2008-07-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Living with Kristofer has been awesome. Probably because he is single. (No wife to compete with on the daily household chores and cooking.) He appreciates the cooking and cleaning and we all get along so well. We're careful not to step on each others toes and it's brought us closer together.
OK here's where the bu-ut comes in. I want our own house. I looked at houses online today and got myself all excited. I can't believe the prices have gone down so much! These awesome looking 3 and 4 bedrooms for $175K?! PLUS we get the VA loan so there's no money down AND a lower interest rate. We just can't do on Kai's income.
This is where I kick myself for joining the military for 4 years instead of going to a 4 year college. I know I can't get out there in todays world with absolutely no school or formal training and make more than 10$ an hour. Add $1000 a month for full time daycare for 2 kids and I'd be working for free.
I can start Dental school in September and be done in 11 months and IF I get hired right away I'd make about 16$ an hour average. With no room to move up... And that's OK for a second income but 11 months... we're supposed to move out of Kristofers by Christmas.
I think I'm gonna look into this Phlebotomy class offered here. It's only 6 weeks long and it starts in August. I have no clue what they make and how hard it is to get hired but it's gotta make more than minimum wage, and I can definitely draw blood! How hard can it be, right? =)
We HAVE to buy a house this year...

I'm meeeelting....

2008-05-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

It's a whopping 97 degrees outside, hottest day of the year so far!

Foresthill. It's a love-Hate relationship.

2008-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

So, we're moving. Kai got a job in Concord making about 1$ more than he makes here. But the benefits are really great and he'll get a $1.50 raise in a year, and it puts us closer to friends and family. Oh, and he has the opportunity to move up quickly.
So, we're going to stay with Kristofer for the first 3 months and then re-analyze and see if we're driving him crazy and then possibly stay with him for another 3 months or move in with my folks for 3 months. After that 6 months is over, Kai's probationary period will be over at the new job and we'll look at buying a house in Oakley. Yay!

Pros:
Closer to friends and family
Better area to raise kids
The tech school I want to look into
Better job opportunity
Job opportunity for me too
Closer to shopping!
Getting out of foresthill!

Cons:
Leaving Grandma K up here alone
Leaving Michelle
Leaving this wonderful Pre-School
Being farther from Jaye, Jill, Jordan and their folks.
Leaving the house we just fixed up
Leaving Sugarpine
and Getting out of Foresthill...

Pics of Kristofers new house.

2008-04-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Legally Blonde

2008-04-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

OK. So, last night Kai wanted to go pick tile for the kitchen, at Home Depot. (For those that don't know, we live 30 minutes from town and then another 30 to get to Home Depot.) So, we got our tile and managed to stay Waaay under budget. To "celebrate" we went to Ihop to get Alexis the "Horton Hears a Who" breakfast, that she's been begging for. By the time we got out it was late, like 9:30 and dark out.

Now, in my defense! It was dark, and we were in a part of this town I had never been! Oh, and we took separate trucks so Kai could load supplies from Home Depot on his flat bed.

So, Kai takes off before me and turns right... which I know is the wrong direction, we were supposed to go left to back to the freeway. But I see his lights go down a block and turn around and come back towards me. So, not paying attention and watching Kai, I pull out and go LEFT, to get in front of him. That's when I realize I just turned left into cars coming towards me... Kai then whizzes past me, and I look over and realized there's a cement median between the lane I'm in and the lane Kai's in... the one I'm supposed to be in!
So of course I slam on my brakes and think OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod just as I end up bumper to bumper with none other than of a fine member of the Roseville PD coming in my direction. Luckily the cop stopped and let me flip a bitch and pull into a gas station parking lot.

This all happened in a matter of like 25 seconds. The cop pulls in behind me and I totally burst into tears. Not like one little tear of embarrassment but like the hyperventilating crying that 4 year olds do? The cops walks up to my window and I see... it's a chick cop. I'm not usually one for stereo typing but C'mon! I'm thinking I'm not gonna get any sympathy whatsoever! BUT she took one look at my sticky-with-syrup babies and she smiled and said "Ooooh, I TOTALLY understand, and I only have one!"
She ran my license and told me to just sit for a second and then I was good to go. But not after asking me 3 times if I was sure I was OK, and if there might be something else wrong with me... Ha! She probably thought I was a total nut case.
So, of course Alexis is in the backseat asking a million questions this whole time. "Was that a cop mom?" "What's wrong mom?" "Why are you crying mom?" Why are we here, mom?" I just answered with: I went the wrong way, baby, I just went the wrong way, and that nice cop showed me which way to go. So, Kai pulls up and comes to my window (Smirking of course) and asks if I'm OK. To which Alexis replies. "Mom is just confused dad, mom is really confused..."
I'm NEVER going to live this down.

Zombies

2008-04-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Kai and I got to be extras in a zombie movie yesterday. It was fun, although I was jealous that Kai was filmed in like 5 scenes and I only got one. =( It was definitely an experience though. We got to see how they make blood shoot out when they shoot people on the big screen. We got to go through the long, sticky, make up process, (It really is corn syrup, like on Carrie!) and we got to see how much time goes into setting up and shooting a 10 second scene! Jeez!
The name of the movie is Dead End, if you're ever in the video store and have nothing better to watch. Kai is wearing a gray shirt, he's probably the tallest zombie... and I'm in black. =)

How Exciting!

2008-04-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

Alexis got her very first Book Order at school today! I used to LOVE Scholastic book orders! That's where I got ALL my Baby Sitters Club books. =) I had to limit myself while filling Alexis's out.

Sunny California!

2008-04-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to be 82 degrees on Saturday and high 70's Thurs and Friday too! Woo hoo! =)

Rambling

2008-04-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I wouldn't start posting out of boredom, when I have NOTHING to write about but I'm so BORED.
I started Alexis in all these activities hoping it would cure these boring days, and get me out of the house. It's been great. She has Karate 2 days a week and Preschool 3 mornings a week. But Fridays are nothing. Boring nothing. I can't wait until both girls are in school and we have Soccer practice, and school "stuff" and homework and all those things that occupy time during the day. Being a stay at home mom with little kids is rough.
I'd like to go back to work and we could use the money but I don't want a minimum wage paying job and daycare is so darn expensive.
I found a tech school near my parents house that I would LOVE to go to. They have the Dental assistant program, and also some other programs that look interesting. If Kai gets a job out there I'm definitely looking into that. They're cheaper than most Tech schools too. I looked at Western Career College and their Dental assistant program is $17,000! My GI Bill will only cover $1100 a month AS LONG as I'm in school. The I'd be stuck with the remainder. (It's only an 11 month class.)

I caught the Opera show with the pregnant man on it. Wow. If you haven't heard the story "He" was once a SHE and still has the female reproductive organs. He found a Dr. (after years of being turned away) that would inseminate "Him" and he's 6 months along now. He lives with his wife as a man, and actually really looks like a man. This poor baby is going to be so confused...

Ooops Keira is awake.

Sibling Rivalry

2008-04-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

My brother bought a house! I don't know anything about it, but I hear it's cute! I'll go see it next weekend and take lots of pictures.
I can't believe he got to buy a house before us, but I'm really excited for him. Especially since he asked me to pick paint colors and do the interior decorating. A sister has never received a better compliment. =)

I Love Jodi Picoult!

2008-04-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

I recently got to see Jodi Picoult, (My all time favorite author) speak in Berkeley. I even got her autograph! I even got to take a picture with her!!! Yay Me! This is much the same as meeting your favorite actor, that's how I felt!
If you've never read anything by Jodi, I recommend "My sisters keeper" to start you off. But make sure you have tissues at hand.

http://www.jodipicoult.com/

A step up from Myspace

2008-04-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, after reading through some of my cousins blogs I decided to try it out.
I have a Myspace page (which I often feel silly about) but I don't "blog" much on it. I think sometimes- am I too old for Myspace??? I think Alexis is gonna have a myspace account in a few years (OK maybe not a FEW years, but...) and she's gonna get made fun of at school. Like a bad "Your Mama" joke "Your mom is on myspace!"

After reading some of my older cousins posts I have to wonder if I'm clever enough for blogging. Who's gonna wanna read this? My ramblings. Gripes. Complaints. Word vomit- if you will. But we'll see. Maybe it'll be an outlet for me.

My husband just called me and asked me "What happened on this day in 1973?" I immediately clicked over to google but before I had time to type it in he answered. Today the first cell phone call was placed. Hmm, I thought it was in the eighties. Remember Zach from Saved by the Bell lugging out that brick of a cell phone that was SO COOL back then? But I guess that was in the nineties...

Kai is at an interview in Concord today. Grandma K needs put the house on the market soon, so Kai has been applying and interviewing for jobs closer to my parents house. This particular job would be 25 cent pay cut though. We haven't talked much about it but I don't think he'll take it even if it's offered to him. So the job search continues....

Alexis started Preschool and Karate this week. I love her going to preschool. It good to have these few quiet hours with Keira. Although it stings a little when she doesn't want to come home when I go to pick her up. Karate on the other hand... is interesting, for lack of the right word. She can't keep up and she can't stay focused at all, but we'll see. It's only her first week...

I need to go make my bed before going to pick Alexis up.

I LOVE this commercial;

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1/7/2009

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Yesterday

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Shady people. Grrrr.

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Marriage tip #726

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Foresthill. It's a love-Hate relationship.

Pics of Kristofers new house.