Goings on

Did ya'll think I fell off the planet?I know there haven't been many posts lately. Nothing much is new. Aidan and I made bread last night, there is one slice left, lol. Just got done eating dinner before Ian left for work, I made spaghetti and meat- a-balls (you have to say it like that, meat-a-balls), and home made spaghetti sauce. Not to bad for a first time with the sauce, will use the rest of it tomorrow with the meatball sandwiches. Probably will try my hand at making Italian bread for that.
Gas prices are INSANE. If they go up much more, it won't be worth me working. I'll miss my discount, and the people of course. Oh well, what can I do?
I'm off to read a book to the little man.
later taters!

Contacts

the kind for your eyes, lol. This is day two of me wearing them (I had them about 8 years ago, but I was working 6 days a week and wasn't allowed to wear them at work, so it wasn't worth it to continue wearing them at the time). Ian and I both got our eyes checked yesterday, holy cow glasses are $$$$$!! I about went in to cardiac arrest when I heard our total, hopefully work will reimburse Ian well for his safety glasses. He's also got to go see a specialist for something the doctor saw on one eye, we've still got to find out if out VSP insurance covers this doctor we've been referred to. Any who I was talking about the contacts and I have to say they've come a long way, they're not nearly as uncomfortable as they were the last time, but I do need practice putting them in, it takes me a couple of tries, and I'm sure if doesn't help that I'm barely awake when I'm putting them in, LOL. And I totally have to stop trying to shove my glasses back up my nose, I didn't realize how much I must have done that, seeing as it's a habit now....
In other news Grandma is going to take us to see the new Veggietales movie tomorrow, hopefully it's as amusing as the previews. :)

WOW! 6 Years

(and a day, because I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, not because I forgot, I'm not that senile yet, lol) Ian and I have been married. That's just wild. But then when you think about it, we met 10 years ago. Yeah that's what I said, 10 years. Where does the time go? Is there like a time vacuum somewhere? Do the little gremlins that steal one sock from a pair out of the dryer run off with it? It just seams to keep slipping away. Any who...Ian worked last night but we're going to try to go out tomorrow. Probably will see a movie if there's something we both want to see.
Happy Anniversary Babe!

Goodbye 2007, HELLO 2008

Wow, so there went another year! Was it just me or did it fly by really quickly? I'm apparently getting old or something, I couldn't even make until midnight, I was snoozing by 11:30. Maybe it's the whole, I'm not on second shift and I'm having to get up in the mornings like a normal person thing. This was definitely a banner year in the McBride house. Ian graduating was by far the highlight. We received his diploma last week, I'm thrilled to report that he graduated with honors. How awesome is that? I had to just stand there and look at it for a while with a big grin on my face.
Some other highlights this year were:
Aidan turning 5 (this just doesn't seem possible to me, I mean we just brought him home from the hospital right? right? sniff sniff)
My mom going complete off her arthritis infusions. She's feeling well enough and they were far enough in between that she's hoping she won't need them anymore. Hopefully she's right because if it turns out she's not it will take awhile to get it back under control again according to the doctor.
Christmas with a large chunk of the family. It's been a few years since we went and had a huge crowd, there were 20 of us there and only 8 missing. It was loud, the dinner was awesome (great job Jen!!), the company was fantastic, and it was a great time. I hope we can do something like this again soon, it was great seeing everyone. Aidan was thrilled to finally meet his little cousin Anson.
So all in all it was a good year. I hope this one is awesome as well.

As far as resolutions go, we know I'm not to into those right? I feel like they put way to much pressure on a person. I still have the same goals as last year, I want to keep simplifying things, getting organized, spend more time just playing and spending time with my little guy (which we did a lot of this last year, Aidan and I are much closer then we had been, We both still get frustrated at times but that's normal)and hopefully spending more time with Ian this year, since he's done with school hopefully he'll have more time for playing with us(and job hunting too).
So that's where we stand this snowy New Year's Day. Blessings to you all for the New Year!

Lots going on

So much going on around here (or at least it seems that way to my frazzled self!)
My last real post I was sick with a sinus infection, for the most part it is gone, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that it trying to come back.
With the coming fall weather my little guy's nose bleeds are a little more frequent again.
Our van died. it is no more. it's not resting. it's not pining for the fjords! this van is deceased! (that's a little Monty Python humor for my darling hubby) The repairs that it was going to need this time were just to much for us. So I had it towed away this morning. That leaves us with one vehicle. We've put a lot of thought it to and I've given my two weeks notice at work (although they've offered to let me be a casual employee- which I have to give some more thought to and talk it over with Ian). Between the cost of fuel, the amount I end up spending there (because lets face it I'm WEAK and I just love scrappy stuff) and the amount I actually bring home, we're going to be better off with me not working. Plus we'll be saving money on our insurance since we've gotten rid of the van.
This will leave more time for straightening things out here at home, making this house into an actual HOME -since we don't know when we'll be able to move. It's time to make the most of what we have.
I'm looking forward to being able to get to know my little boy better and hopefully work on some of his aggressive-ness. I want to start home schooling him now, haven't had time before (not that this means he's behind, because he would have missed the cut off for kindergarten this year anyway).
I'm hoping I'll be able to cook more, and bake more, and scrap more. I need to learn a bit more about what's going to make us all happier. I have a feeling a happier momma will make a happier daddy and Aidan too.
As much as I've loved this job, it's been super stressful too. Which I honestly didn't expect. I've been working more days then I wanted to though and haven't had the time that I thought going to part time was going to get me. SO big changes are on the horizon.
We're taking the little man to his first concert tonight. Weird Al is coming through again and we managed to get tickets. He's been bouncing about for days he's so excited! Sadly though this venue doesn't allow cameras. So I'll take a picture of the boys in their Weird Al shirts and do a page with that and the tickets.
More to come soon!

4th Gen

These are Aidan and his cousins (one more on the way next month). I did this page for an AD challenge here.

Kit used is Shabby Fluer by Brenda Kempf

Font is Poster.

In other news, work is still going well. Got my first paycheck last week, not bad if I do say so myself (it was more then I thought it would be) and yes I even managed to bring a good chunk of it home. Got paper to start making my x-mas cards, I'm hoping that starting them now I'll actually finish them and get them mailed before x-mas. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

My little guy is totally excited about Halloween, keeps wanting to put his costume on. He's going to make a great Buzz Lightyear. He's totally got the moves down! LOL.

Ian is still sleeping, must have gone to bed later then normal this morning. Going to have to go and get him up soon or he's going to screw up his schedule.

Nothing much else is new.

Later Taters.

Ian off to work

There goes Daddy leaving for work. I had the camera out there to take pictures of Aidan riding his bike and snapped a few of Ian heading out to work. He's such a good man! Works been a little rough, they've basically been tossing him anywhere that they're short handed. But he doesn't really complain. He just goes with the flow. Comes home goes to bed and gets up again for more. He's had the last 2 days off and is getting ready to go to bed so he can go to work tonight. This weekend will be his 3 days off and he's looking forward to it. I've got work saturday, it's going to be my first Scrap Mania, which is a late night crop. I hope it goes well.

For those wondering how the 1st day went

It has been a few days since I posted but that is because it has taken some time (and will take another week or so) getting used to being a day person; still have some adjusting to do! I really am enjoying working at the store, I have a lot to learn, but oh the emotions I feel working there. The joy at being in a happy, positive environment. Working with other people who enjoy the same things that I do. The agony of seeing all the cool new things that come out and having to stop myself from scooping them all up. The joy out-weighs the agony though so I can't complain. The ladies that I've worked with so far have been great. So nice, and patient. Working with the customers is great too, I really do believe I was cut out for retail. I just love working with the people.
My little guy is adjusting pretty well. The first night (and last night too, but not as much as the first night) he cried a bit because he missed his daddy. It didn't help that it stormed most of the night. I got him down to bed at about 8:40 pm and came back down to watch a movie before I went to sleep. I finished watching my movie and went up to bed and that's when the storm really picked up, it woke my fry guy up and he didn't want to go back to sleep, took almost 2 hours to get him down again. He kept asking me if I was ready to get up yet. LOL, what a kid. Once he was a sleep it took me a little while to fall asleep myself. I had trouble falling asleep last night also. I just sleep better when Ian is home. He's home tonight and tomorrow, so HIP HIP HOORAY for a good night's sleep tonight. I've worked the last two days from 10am-4pm and tomorrow I work 12p-6pm. Then I'm off a couple of days. I really do think this is going to work out great. I'm home more, which once I get myself settled into a routine I'll be able to get more stuff done. I even made dinner a couple of times this week. I'm probably going to be getting my money's worth out of my crock pot since we're both on such odd schedules . I really like being able to get things done during the week. Instead of having to cram all the errands that come up into Saturdays I can do one or two each day during the week and it makes things much easier.
Ian has worked 2 shifts this week, and is doing pretty good. But then we figured he would do okay since he was usually up those hours anyway. If anything he is probably getting more sleep now then he used to! Which is not a bad thing by any means.
Here's to more good days ahead!

And so it begins

Today is going to be Ian's first night on the 12 hours shifts. He's all set, got him self all worked out as far sleeping and waking, and is actually up already, about 1 and half early. The only really big problem is I have to sleep without him in the house. This has only happened once before and that was when he was in the hospital and they thought he had something wrong with his appendix. And that time I didn't so much sleep as just lay there waiting for it to be early enough to go back to the hospital. I'm already used to him not being in the bed because he stays up late doing school work, but he's usually still here, he's right below me, we're secure because daddy is in the house. That won't be the case today. I hope I can sleep, especially since I have to work at 10 tomorrow. I also hope Aidan will go to bed without daddy sitting with him (which is why we're getting the rocking chair, daddy sits on the floor, mommy can't do that unless someone is around to help me back up). Here's to crossing my fingers that tonight goes smoothly.

Lazy Day

The Andrew chapter of my life is over. It was bittersweet leaving. There are a handful of people that I will miss. But I'm going to consider this a new beginning and try not to get to sad about the people I'm leaving behind.
Ian and I had a lovely date. We went to Connie's Pizza at about 4pm, the place was mostly empty so it was really nice. Quiet, we could actually talk and hear each other. The food was great. They make the best bread, which they bring out with a bottle of olive oil. Fantastic stuff. From there we went looking for a rocking chair. Couldn't find one at any of the big furniture stores. The sales people of course tried to sell us gliders. But that's not what I wanted. Then I remembered a new store called the Amish Furniture Shoppe. And this was the first time we went in there and they have some beautiful furniture! Including rockers! All but one was already sold, and the one that wasn't sold was made for a skinner person then I am. So, I asked if they'll be getting more in and it turns out that they have 2 in there warehouse which they're going to bring to the store and I can pick one of those. I'm so excited, these chairs are gorgeous. Then we went to Sears and picked me up two more pairs of pants for my new job and some nice warm fall/winter PJs. We stopped at blockbuster and got a couple of movies and home we came. A lovely evening all in all!

This morning Ian is sleeping in, he stayed up until morning (just like what his shift will be at work) and has the alarm set for 4pm. The little man and I had a nice lazy morning consisting of eating a bowl of cereal a piece and of sitting on the couch watching Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Now we might scrap a little more of Daddy's book. Then when Daddy gets up we're going to go grocery shopping since tomorrow is my first day at the store.
Happy Saturday everyone!

One more week

...until our lives are altered. One more week until Ian starts working the 12 hour shifts and I start my new part time job. One week until we see how rough it's going to be trying to get Aidan (and me for that matter) onto a more "normal" schedule. Is Ian nervous? He says no. I am I nervous? Good grief YES! Can we make this work? We're sure going to give it one heck of a try! We're going to need tons (and tons and tons and....) of patience on my part (which for those of you who know me know I'm not patient) since I'll be spending more time with the little man (which I'm thrilled about and scared about, because Daddy is his preferred parent), I'll be the one dealing with the meltdowns and having to make sure he doesn't make to much noise while daddy is trying to sleep. This is so going to put a whole new spin on being a mommy for me. Lets hope I'm up to the challenge.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!!!!

This month has been a month of changes. We've been eating healthy-no take out of any kind since May 1st, holy cow! We've made a budget and are in the process of finalizing said budget. We want very much for me to quit working and stay home, hopefully only having to work part time. We're close, I think we'll be fine. But I'm going to ride this stinky job until they say we're going on 12 hour shifts so that we can save my paychecks..to buy another house. I know you're thinking how we've talked and talked and talked about moving from this wretched house. Our plans have changed so many times.. we've had ups and we've had downs. If you had asked us last month what our plans were we would have said they we were going to do some more work on this, ride it out until we can move to the east coast. It seemed like the water problem in the basement was fixed...okay...fixed again... Well this week Ian went down there and lo and behold there was a little lake in one corner of the basement. We've decided, seriously this time, that we have to move. There is no definite date of when we'll get to move to East, we're tired of the stress of this house, the never knowing what is going to happen next. The weather has been fabulous the last few days, it would have been great to be able to open the windows, but we still can't do that, we need new ones, ones with screens. I was forced to put the air on yesterday, it was just so bloody hot in here. The spiders are getting ridiculous. Doing laundry is still a pain, we've got to take the cover off the main line, thread the hose over to, do the laundry while enduring the awful smell, then close the pipe back up. And good grief but this neighborhood sucks. This is a close to a ghetto as I ever want to be. There are times when it seems ok, like when it's quiet, but since we've gotten new neighbors that are way louder then the last neighbors it just sucks even more. I mean who sits outside..in the dark of night...talking so loud on their cell phone that people can here them in their houses..with the windows closed...and the fans on to stay cool while the roast in a closed in space...the answer : our new neighbors. We're just so tired...of it all. We need more space, we need more bedrooms on the same floor, we need something better. So we're going to save for a down payment, and start packing things up they we don't need out right now, and in a few months see if we can sell this one and find something else. Please God let this work itself out.