More on life

A couple of questions were brought up and I thought that I would just continue my previous post!
Our roommate DID move out. She did not stay here much in August, (she does home health care), she was gone on vacation for a good bit of September and she had all of her stuff moved out by the end of September. (She did pay rent through November, though) The original agreement would have had her here through January, then we changed it to May/June 09. With student teaching coming up, we were talking about asking her to stay even longer, though. I think that this house was a pretty stressful place to be last summer and I know I was certainly no jewel to live with, plus a friend of hers offered free rent in exchange for helping to clean out and organize the entire house. It was an offer she couldn't refuse. We are having a challenge dealing without the extra income, but we are doing o.k. The extra room is much needed, appreciated and being enjoyed.
The kids have been sharing a room since we moved in and Gavin is moving into the smaller, front bedroom. We (um.. actually.. Andy) painted the trim and replaced the handles on doors, and we have installed a closet system in there too! This weekend, Andy is going to paint the walls and then we are going to order a loft bed (like a bunk, but with nothing underneath). We will be moving the carpet from the shared bedroom into there and then we will decorate and get him settled in. Most of his stuff is already in there and he does his homework in that room, but he is sleeping in the old room. The kids are really excited for all of this to "really" happen, with the holidays, we really did not work on that project much at all. Another question was about the cake for Ella, the doll? That IS the cake. It was really fun to make, Andy's mom and I did it together and it was more fun that usual because I wasn't worried about the outcome. It was just for us and I knew Ella would love it anyway that it came out! I would make that again, if anyone ever needs a doll cake!

Another question was about baseball. Gavin is going to be in his 3rd year at Murphy Ranch and he loves it (so do we...it is a legacy thing now since my brothers and Andy and his brother all played up there). Gavin started out with YMCA ball, it was very fun and the kids really learned the rules and how to play. Each child has a parent with him/her while playing each position so that they have help and support. Ella asked to play and the scheduling seemed to work out well for us, so we are going for it! I have NO idea if she will like it, we will wait and see.

Lastly, the water heater... it was NOT the water heater, it was the main hot water pipe coming out of the hot water heater and supplying the rest of the house. It had several pinhole leaks for an undetermined amount of time (I am guessing for the last month or two) and then it blew 2 big holes in it the other night. There is a considerable amount of mud under the house (brave husband went under and looked) but no standing water. The wall is soaked and very damaged as is the cupboard and all of the subflooring. The plumber couldn't do anything today, except tear a big hole in the wall and figure out what supplies he needs to do the job.

The plumbing work IS covered by our Home Warranty insurance and we made a claim to our Home Owners insurance to cover the other damages. We can't do anything until the insurance adjuster assesses the damage. We are hoping that he/she will be here tomorrow. We are also getting an estimate for a tankless water heater, but it may be way beyond our price range. Relocating the hot water heater to outside might be another option, but right now.. we know nothing, have no estimates and are thankful that water boils quickly on our stove. Andy also made sure that the motorhome is hooked up to water and that the propane tank is full, so that we can get a quick rinse off in there if we need it.

Tomorrow, Ella has her 4 year check up and will get FOUR shots...pray that she remains calm and that the promise of an ice cream cone afterwards will keep her in good spirits!

Until later....

Life...

Still, no time for blogging! Been to a couple of Dr's (nothing major, just checking all systems...it's been a while) Had sick family... head and chest colds, followed by a minor intestinal upset and finished off with pink eye.. all of us, all of the bugs. Does Lysol make a "bomb" akin to a flea bomb that I can just light off in this den of bacterial ickiness? Windows open, everyone feeling better. Andy and I both missed some work, not so good.

Celebrated Ella's 4th birthday (inconceivable!) We took the kids ice skating, had breakfast for lunch and had dinner and cake with Gramma Sharon and Grampa Jack(Andy's parents). Gramma Mary and Grampa Randy (my mom and stepdad) joined us for cake. It was a wonderful family day. Though both of the kids did cry on the ice and Gavin claims that it was the worst day of his entire life.

Have a hair appointment tomorrow and finally going to work. Have been going to the gym, did gain weight over the holidays, did already drop some of it. More Dr. appointments next week for me and for Ella. Photo appointment for her birthday pictures too!

Hot water heater blew last night, need to have it replaced...and the floor, and some wall, and the cabinet and the room has been steam stripped of it's paint. (just some, not all) This weekend, scrapbooking and Gavin has Little League try outs, we are also going to paint his "new" room, finally. Andy and I have a date on Monday to go for a hike and have lunch! Yipee! The next weekend will find me in Yuma, Arizona with long time college friend, Darci. We are going to scrapbook our brains out!

It is a busy month, but I am striving for balance. Thought I had almost achieved it last night with a good cry, a long work out, a heartfelt talk with my husband, a hot bath and a soothing cup of cocoa. THEN the hot water heater blew! I am very upbeat about it though, we may finally get that Tankless heater, painted walls, new floor and new cabinet that I have been wishing for! (I really need to be more SPECIFIC with the universe when I wish for things, ahhhh)

Here is how we feel!

Here is what we need!

And, does anyone know what happened to "The Cutest Blog on the Block"? Is it me, or have they gone missing!?

Did anyone get the license plate number?

Wow.. that holiday season hit me like a semi-truck. Once I peel myself up off of the pavement, I will change that background and maybe come up with something interesting to blog about. I did suceed in enjoying a 4 hour "lunch" with some girl friends today! Whew.. then a Pampered Chef party... missed my family though and look forward to hanging out with them, oh.. maybe in a week or two... yikes.. absentee mom here.... enough on the guilt trip... moving on.... gonna read some other blogs and then head off to bed. My "to do" list is 3 pages long and now that I am organized, I will start working my way through it.....
for now... sleep is the priority....
good night!

Ah... now, I can relax. WHAT!!! It's Christmas time?

So I got done with all of my work, submitted my final papers (got an A on that big one by the way) and registered for classes for next semester. Good news, only 6 units instead of 9! Hooray.

I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that I was done and I could relax. Then, I fell asleep! The next morning, I realized that I had Christmas to contend with and there was much to be done!

I did the Christmas cookies with my Aunts last weekend and we had a wonderful family dinner together afterwards. We had a great time and got some gorgeous and delicious cookies from our labors. We also decorated the tree during the week and got the rest of the decorations up.

Aunt Marie-licking the bowl!

Aunt Sylvia, showing us how to do the traditional holly and berries.
Just a few of the finished cookies!
Cousin Jeff made ribs and beans...oh, and Uncle Dave changed an outlet and put in a dimmer switch while he was here!
The kids were literally vibrating and had major meltdowns before crashing into bed!

We had a CRAZY fun weekend.. we went to the Whittier Christmas Parade and Gavin marched with our church. Ella and Andy weren't up for it, and I thought that sitting with them sounded nice... so he joined some friends and led the group! In the afternoon, we made our family ornaments. (A tradition since Andy and I first lived together, we make an ornament - or set of ornaments- for our tree) It has been challenging to find things that the kids can do with us, but we have done it. This year were these pretty, beaded snowflakes! Ella did a great job and even made two! Girls really are different! Gavin was more about getting DONE! Saturday evening we were scheduled to stay with GiGi (Andy's Gramma) so that his parents could go out. We had Indian food for dinner, ate a giant chocolate bar and watched "The Year Without a Santa Claus" by the fire.

Sunday morning we went to the L.A. Zoo with my brother Allen and his family. The kids had a great time! By the time we got home, it was getting late and we all got changed into our fancy Christmas clothes to go to the Friends Church Christmas Dinner with my mom, stepdad and Andy's family. We have done this together since that first Christmas together, too. The kids got to see Santa, but Ella did not want to get anywhere near him. He snuck up behind her so that I could get a shot! We came home, sorted through the piles of presents that I have been stashing in my closet for the last 3 months and figured out that we just need one thing for Ella and something little for her stocking and a few things for family members, but we know just what we are getting. We made our list and checked it twice and then, we fell into bed!

Is he thinking about what he wants for Christmas,

or trying to answer the "Naughty/Nice" question?

Posing in her pretty dress... FAR away from Santa.
She is not happy with me.. but, Thank You Santa!

I sent Ella to the babysitter today, just like I have every Monday (so that I could study) and I wrapped up ALL of the gifts. I did all of the laundry and put it all away! (since I have been in school, it gets folded, but not put away...) I caught up on quite a few t.v. shows and I made dinner. Now, I am blogging and next I am going to make some fudge

and then work on my Thank you notes from my birthday party.

Very productive.. but boy, I still have a long way to go!

all...most...there....

So close to done... finished the big papers, have to do a 3 page final and 3 journal entries tomorrow after I put in an hour at the office... THEN I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be making a big batch of Chicken Enchilladas for dinner and then, I will fall down!

I can't wait to focus on the holiday stuff and put the school stuff aside for a while.

Oh, but wait.. I have a meeting at school next Monday and then a test on the 10th and then, what???? More school stuff!? I thought that I was on a break!

Until I finish...