27

Today I turn 27. I don't feel old, in fact i still feel like I'm 17. So I don't really dread the number itself. I more dread the day. There are two days, in my opinion that I get to have all to me during the year. My birthday, and mothers day. And usually, I'm let down by both. Each year I hope for something. . .acknowledgement at mothers day, and to have a little extra attention on my birthday. And usually, neither happen. Not because my husband is insensitive and doesn't care. It's more that he thinks because we have no money to go out of the way and do something, that there's nothing to be done.

So now I rewind the clock back to 10:00 pm last night. I'd gotten home from my meeting, and Todd had gotten home from fixing his brothers fridge. We were sitting in the kitchen, and Todd says out of the blue "So what do you want to do for your birthday tomorrow?" This is the first mention there's been of my birthday at all. He then said "Sara offered to watch the kids if we wanted to go to dinner. Or I could go out and spend way more than I should on a present." I sat there, silent, trying to choke back the tears. Because what I really wanted for my birthday was to not have to ask for something. I didn't want it to be like other holidays, and when I give a gift idea, I get exactly to the word what I mentioned. I wanted there to be some THOUGHT behind it. I wanted there to be an acknowledgement that he'd thought about it ahead of time. I'm not asking for mansions or gold here. Just some thought.

For example, I never let a birthday, fathers day, or any other holiday go by really, that I don't have the kids make something for their daddy. We sit down, and we take the time to think about daddy, and to make something. Todd always tells me he can't do that, because he's never home alone with the kids to do that without me being right there. Ok, I can understand that. But last night, he was home alone with the kids for several hours. I would have loved nothing more than to have been woken up this morning by hand scribbled, unreadable birthday cards from my children. That would have made my day. That would have meant the world to me.

I was greeted by my children this morning. All four of them came flying in after being prompted by Todd, and yelled out their "happy birthday" and then rushed back out to the living room to continue to watch "Tom and Jerry". And out the door my husband went to work. This is a super crazy busy week for him, and I know his mind has been elsewhere.

My other thing that I didn't have the nerve to tell him last night was that I don't want him to go out today and get something. Because then its just getting something to get it. There hasn't been any thought put into it. He'd just be getting it to say he got me something. And I don't want it that way. I'm sure that sounds really selfish, and like a spoiled brat, but its how I feel. Again, he could have written a note to me that said "Happy birthday" and I would have been perfectly content with that.

I'm sure this afternoon I'll have to get the kids dinner made before they go over to Sara's, and then we'll head somewhere for dinner. I always enjoy a date with my husband, but I just hate how I have this disappointment over it going into it. I wouldn't have been upset if he said a few days ago "hey honey, we're going to go out to dinner on your birthday, where would you like to go." Because then it would have let me know that it wasn't a last ditch effort to acknowledge my birthday.


Sorry for the pity post. I just needed to get that out so that I could continue along with my day, and try to put on a happy face.

I was kicked out this weekend!!!!

My parents called me on Friday night to see if I was going up to their camper for the day on Saturday since Todd would be gone, and i couldn't help with the house work. I talked to Todd, and he told me I should actually leave Friday night, and go up with the kids, and have a weekend away. So the kids and I left.

I don't have time to write about the entire weekend right now, but I will say we had an america's funniest home videos moment on Friday on the way up. The boys had had some chocolate to share, but gabe was sleeping, so dallas put it in his hand, not in the wrapper, even though I'd told him to put it in the wrapper on the seat. We stopped to go potty, and just like you've seen people do with whipped cream on the face, Gabe rubbed the melted chocolate ALL OVER HIS FACE!!! I wasn't sure whether laugh or be upset!!!

It was fun, but tiring. here are some pictures.

Kendyl getting her hair french braided by grandma

Kaleb and HIS Papa. Just ask him, thats HIS papa

Kendyls hair! I need to learn how to do this, but she isn't patient enough to let me learn yet.

Searching for feathers

Kaleb and papa fishing

The wind was SOOOOO strong on the dock, Kendyl just snuggled with grandma to stay warm.

More fishing.

The waves were so large they were crashing over the end of the dock.

Checking out the catch in the live well.

Smiling cause she has her grandma. Kendyl is a TOTAL grandma's girl.

Dallas with his new transitions glasses on.

Going down the slide

The boys swam way out to the platform! They did a great job! Gabe didn't want to get off once he was out there, because he was scared. Until a bee came, which he was MORE scared of, and he hopped right in!!

Kendyl was in a mood all weekend. I got this look alot, and let me tell you, if looks could kill, mommy would be dead!!!


But on a good note, Kendyl is potty trained! She's been try for over a week now! She still wears the pull up at night, but other than that she's good.

If I whisper, maybe I won't jinx it.

I'm talking about Kendyl, and the potty training adventure. For one week now she's been fully into big girl undies for the day time. (just a word for those out there wondering why I call them undies. . .the word panties creeps me out! They're undies in this house, NEVER panties!) She's only had one accident, and that was yesterday at the new house while we were there working. She cries at night not wanting to be put into pull ups, but she's still hit or miss at night, and I don't want to deal with that mess. So, I'm hoping if I celebrate in a whisper that I won't jinx it!!! This has been all on her lead. She's the one insisting on wearing them, she's the one who first thing in the morning wakes up and asks for her big girl undies, she's the one going, and taking care of things on her own. She's doing AWESOME!!!

Kaleb on the other hand, is my pill. He shows NO interest in the potty. None what so ever. I have him in big boy undies today, because he's starting to show signs of foliculitus again. We'll see how it goes. I made a deal with him though. He's been asking for a big boy bed for a few weeks now. I told him he has to be in big boy undies to get a big boy bed. . . I don't know if it will actually work, but I'm hoping there'll be some good motivation there! He can't have a big boy bed till we're in the new house so we have some time!!!!


Other than that, off to the eye doctor with Dallas today, and then to do some work at the new house. . .again.


Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

The plans for the house

I talked about them the other day, so figured I'd post the plans. This first picture of the house is the house as it is right now. It isn't to scale AT ALL! That bathroom looks nice and roomy on the picture, and its NOT!!






This next one is the things that were proposed to the city on the building permit. They approved everything!! WOO HOOO!! I'm so excited!!!


This weekend is when a majority of the work will begin. We only have the dumpster for two weeks, so everything demo related will need to happen in that time. It will be WONDERFUL to see that kind of progress happen! I can't WAIT!!!!

Last night we went to AplianceSmart to check on prices for new appliances for the house. It was interesting. I'd never been before, and let me tell you, ITS SO WORTH IT!!! We could get an entire new kitchen package for 1,999.00. That included (all stainless mind you!) a side by side fridge, gas range, dishwasher, and above the stove microwave. But after doing some more looking we found a side by side for 549.00, a dishwasher for 200, and a stove for about 1,000. (its a really nice stove with nobs that aren't on the front, and it has five burners!) We already have the above the range microwave, so we think we'll be going with option two!!! We also looked at washer and dryer combos. Todd wants to get the new ones that can stack on each other so that we can save room in the already small laundry room. We can get the pair for about 799.00. We didn't actually purchase anything last night. We're waiting till we figure out where all the money will NEED to go before going forward with purchasing things. But it was a very informative, very fun trip none the less!!!


I'm off today to pick up Dallas's new glasses. We had to get the prescription lens put in the side with the cataract. We opted for the transitions. . .holy banana boats though. It cost us 189.00 AFTER our EyeMed discount. Ouch. Then after we go get those we'll be heading for the new house to get some work done over there. I'll be doing some cleaning of the debris that is all over from tear out, and getting things in order for them to work on Saturday. Todd will be joining us tonight and we'll get some more of the bigger stuff done.


Fun times. . .fun times.

Ok ya big sap, who invited y ou???

I'm not an overly emotional person. By that I don't mean that I'm a cold hearted witch or anything, I just don't let me emotions show very easily. I don't let ANYONE see my cry, other than my husband, and if I'm mad, chances are I just get really really quiet. But lately, I'm prompted to ask "Who invited the big sap to the party?"

I don't cry over movies, or song, or things on TV. I've never been one to sit down and bawl at a chick flick. Until lately. And I'm not even bawling over things you'd guess. For example. Todd and I watched "I am Legend" the other night. We'd never seen it, and it came from net flix. (warning, spoiler alert if you've never seen it!) I started crying when his dog died. What's up with that? That so isn't me!!!!

And the other day I cried three different times in the car over songs on the radio! Seriously people, this NEVER happens to me!!! I don't know what the deal is, but really, the sap can leave the party here soon! Its getting old!!!

Do you know whats NOT fun to do on a 90 degree day???

That would be GROCERY SHOPPING!!! I hate grocery shopping with four kids in toe to begin with, but when its this hot, things just get even worse. None of us want to spend the time outside to get INTO the store, let alone how quickly I get irritated because they're going SO. STINKING. SLOW. getting IN the car, and all I want to do is shove them in, so that I can load the groceries in, and then get in and cool off again.


Oh, and what's even worse than that? When it isn't just to one store that you have to go to. Nope. Its worse when you have to go to the gas station, only to find out that they won't let you fill up because not enough time has lapsed since your husband used the same debit card at their store, and their worried its theft, then to bank, then to cost co. Then to the cost co food mart to feed four starving whining hungry children before you lose your mind listening to the complaining, Then to the cost co gas station to get the gas that was denied earlier, THEN to target to get WIC supplies, and to get other necessities. Only to hear whining all through THAT store because its almost time for school, and they need every single gadget that they see because "so and so down the street" MIGHT have it, and it would be cool to have one like them.

And THEN, you get to come home and unload all the crap that you've purchased, shoved in every crack and crevice in the car (while pushing it in with your foot and slamming the door before things can fall out again!) again in said 90 degree heat. And you're CERTAIN its hotter than that because its all in direct sun light.

And after all that, what would you want to do? Lay down on your bed, cool off, and take a nap right?? Yeah .... nope. Off to the new house to work on more things since we have NO ONE helping us that said they would.


Yep. So not in the mood for it all today, can ya tell??? Maybe if the weather weren't so hot, but then again, probably not!!!

Progress of sorts, on the house.

There's been a bit of progress on the house, so I thought I'd share!!!


This first picture is the night we had the mini flood, it was our first meal in the new house, pizza, picnic style, with a TV jimmy rigged to the Olympics to keep the kids busy!!!! They loved it!!!



mmmmm, pizza and cherry mountain dew for Todd and I, orange pop ( a HUGE treat, since my kids NEVER get pop!) for the kiddos!

That same night they started taking cabinets out of the kitchen. This is Todd and my brother in law Matt (Todd's brother) working on taking the old pantry out. Matt took the pantry over to his house (next door) cause they were in desperate need of one! Todd took all the rest of the cabinets out tonight! WOO HOO!!!! He even took the kitchen island out, so that it can be replaced! (you can kind of see the other cabinets in the pizza picture above!) The windows are all int he house ready to be put in, and things are STARTING! WOOOO HOOOO!

Tonight while Todd was ripping cupboards out, I started painting the boys' room. Here is the before pictures:

And here are the after pictures. I"m sorry they're not the best. I used my cell camera since I forgot my other one! You can see how fresh the paint is, the light just bounces off of it!!! Now, to pull the two colors together (dallas's favorite is yellow, so "his side" is yellow, and Gabe's favorite is blue, so "his side" is blue) we're going to paint squares around the room with alternating colors. It should look really nice!!! Pardon all the crap in the picture. Everything got shoved in the center of the room!