Happy Weekend from the Tundra

It snowed. Weee... And it wasn't some piddly little dusting. It's a beautiful, cover everything, hard to walk in snow! I have to say I would not want this all the time. And I am pretty much OVER winter. But every now and then it is nice.
We stayed in all weekend. Staying in is not unusual for us, but at least we had a good excuse for being homebodies this weekend! I also planned to do a whirwind cooking extravaganza (more on this later) and I figured this was a great weekend for that too.





Brandon braved the elements with the kids. I saw lots of Facebook posts about people going sledding with their kids. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Maybe it's just because my kids are so young. But nothing about the sentence "Let's bundle the kids up and go sledding" appeals to me. So I bundled the kids up and they stayed out for about 15 minutes. I put on a lightweight jacket and my Target rainboots to snap a couple of pictures. I wasn't prepared and it was COLD. Mason doesn't understand "Honey you will not be able to feel your toes if we stay out any longer." He wasn't thrilled to come in. Then today, Brandon took them each for a short, separate 4 wheeler rides. But all in all, we were inside a lot of the weekend. Needless to say, they took terrible naps and went to bed early. And I am taking a cue from them and heading there myself! Night night, People of the Interweb.

{Men's Screw-ups}

I backed into the garage last night. Yes I did.

Let me back up and explain to you why it is a miracle I get to work with a shower and all my clothes on. And in the right place. Have you been reading this blog long? I am loose at all ends. And according to Biz, I have every right to be. After all, I have a lot on my plate. Well I DO! I digress...

Bootcamp is still in full swing and it started at 6:30 last night. The kids and I made the mad dash home and I got dinner together for them, dressed in my workout wear and waited for my ride, Tim. He texted me "Be THERE at 6." 6:06, Biz calls wondering where I am. Um, waiting for Tim at my house. Well it seems he meant I should come to his house and ride with him. Mad Dash #2 out the door to meet Tim at the Y. (Now you can see where this is going, right?) Jump in my truck, hit the button for the garage door, check the mirrors and notice Callie threatening to come into the open(ing) garage door, throw it in gear, back up and SCREECH.

I caught the very bottom of the door with the top of my truck. I just didn't give it long enough to open. Brandon was beyond thrilled. Because evidently I don't care that the garage door may have to be replaced and I don't take care of our stuff. And then I left for Bootcamp. Oh yes I did. This is about me.

I called on the way home to see if I could park in the garage or if I should park in the driveway. He said I could park in the garage as long as I waited for the door to open before pulling in or out. I told him everyone makes mistakes. He ranted "Yes everyone makes mistakes but you have to pay attention to what you are doing. ..." I calmly replied "You backed my truck into the shed and demolished the backup sensors. Everyone makes mistakes." He didn't have much to say after that.

The door was no worse for the wear. It operates just fine and you can barely tell anything happened. My truck is ok too.


Nana has suggested we start a book that can serve as a go-to resource during major marital catastrophes. You know. So we can point out what they did wrong that cancels out what we did wrong. We will title it "Men's Screw-ups". I think it will be a long book.

Welcome to the new Millennium, Fields Family

I am typing from my very own computer! Brandon and I have never had a computer. Hard to believe, eh? He has always had a laptop for work and I had a lap[top that kind of half worked, also from work (a cast off from someone else that was BROKE. DOWN.). So we decided to join the ranks of the tech savy and get a computer of our very own! I got a Dell and I really like it. I got green (Brandon did not approve). I've decided green is my power color!
We've had a pretty busy week. I am proud to say that I went to "Bootcamp" last Saturday, kickboxing Tuesday, Bootcamp Wednesday and Bootcamp yesterday. And contrary to Biz's prediction, I did just fine. I even beat her husband in the last run around the parking lot. Although I am sure he will say he was walking on purpose because he wanted to bring his heartbeat down or some such non-sense.

Now if someone can kindly tell me what I am doing to re-size everything on my screen so that you can read it from across the room, I would much appreciate it. Seriously. Mason just bumped me and I turned back around to everything on my screen about 5 times bigger.

Mason is sick. Sam story, different week. It started last Sunday. I held out until Thursday then finally took him to the dr. He said the congestion was not in his chest and he saw no signs of infection. Friday, he had a fever and has been complaining that his ears hurt. The complaining is actually a new one for us. Even with all of her terrible ear infection, Ellie never complained. And this morning his ears were draining. Nice. The dr did give me a rx for an antibiotic "just in case" so I had that filled on Friday but I can't say I think it's doing much. Good times. Oh and I have a stuffy nose and sore throat. Joy Joy Joy.

I've started decorating. I need a decorator. Not only because I just don't have decoraty ideas, also because time is not something that is plentiful. We got a few pictures hung yesterday. I want cool decoraty things and I just have no ideas. I know I said that.
Here are a couple of things we did in the kitchen:
We hung this ??? We are not sure what it is. (If you know, email me or comment!) It was in some of the stuff Brandon got from his Grandma and we thought it would make a nice little place to hang cutesy towels.




My mom did this last weekend when she stayed here to keep the kids. Ok, I had the cookbooks out like that but she added the gravy boat and tray. But I thought it was cute. See, I am impressed with small things.


We also got this out. We like it. It used to hang on our wall. It was something Brandon's mom had tanned years ago and she gave it to him. It kinda freaks my mom out. Especially when she said "Oh look at that." and Ellie said "Yeah, it's cow clothes." I guess I am cool like the Pioneer Woman! I'm pretty sure she has a cow skin rug.





PS gg if you are reading, let's schedule a date for you and Nana to come work your magic.

2010

Ellie on the phone with my mom. This was a 20 minute phone conversation in which she actually asked my mom (who happens to be re-doing one of her guest rooms) "So what have you decided to do with that bed?"


Well, a new year is here. I thought I'd make it real and put some of my goals in writing in hopes that they actually happen.

1. To actually get the house complete. We live there, yes. And in a frat house kind of way, we have everything we need. But we just have the basics. There are no pictures on the walls, no rugs on the floors, and there isn't a ton of furniture. I have started frequenting "Design on a Dime" blogs and I have about 50 million ideas for ways to re-vamp my old stuff. There were a few things I had planned on sending to Goodwill, but I have actually changed my mind because I think with a few small changes, those items will be adorable. Now it is just finding the time to get it done!

Besides decorating, there is still a ton of organizing that needs to be done. We have some outstanding storage (a two car garage and two very large unfinished areas) so I want to utilize it! It's actually a bit overwhelming for me to think of how many different options I have for storing my vacuum. Or extra rolls of paper towels. Ahh...its the little things.

We also have a LOT of work to do outside. Obviously right now isn't the time for that. Hopefully in the next few months we will get everything in gear to continue to beautify our home and YARD.

2. To lose some weight. There, I said it. I started back to kickboxing this week and I am very serious about this. There is another class going on at the Y called "Boot Camp". I want to do it. And guess what...BIZ has no faith in me! She thinks I will be over my head. I ask her: "WHAT WOULD JILLIAN SAY???"
There is this song that has become my new mantra. Did you ever watch Ally McBeal? Remember when she would zone out because everything around her was going nuts? She would hear music and just tune everything else out. Well, my new zone out song is "Its Your Life" by Francesca Batistelli. It's my anthem. Here is one of my favorite verses:

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget

CHORUS
It’s your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It’s an open door
It’s your life

I spend a lot of time worrying and doing for other people and it is time for me to come first. With the house being finished, chaos is tremendously decreased in our household so it's time for me to face the monster of losing weight and get on with it. I owe it to me and everyone who loves me and worries about my heart and health.

3. To sew more. (Read above for more info on Jennifer Time) It should come as no surprise that sewing makes this list. I see things all the time that other people make and I just kick myself because I COULD SO DO THAT! Hopefully before 2011, I will get things going again with Initial Reaction.

I think that is about enough for now. Those are three pretty BIG goals and if I even make a dent in them, I will be very happy. Baby steps, right? I have to remind myself because I prefer immediate gratification and if I don't get it, my ADHD kicks in and I just lose interest.

The fam is doing well. Brandon is traveling a lot. It's not ideal to be a single mom several nights a week, but as I said, everything in the new house just seems easier. We are planning a day trip up to IN this weekend for Macy Lynn's 5th Birthday. It's hard to cram it all in to one day, but honestly, it's just so much easier than spending the night. (I don't know how my parents did the traveling with kids things for so many years! We came to BG at LEAST every couple of months and stayed for several days! I am so thankful that everyone lives close enough for day trips!)

On a final note, a little funny from Mason. Mason has the ability to be so funny without even trying. (I guess there aren't many two year olds who work at comedy, right?)
Mason came in to the bathroom yesterday morning while I was still getting ready and Brandon was just finishing up his shower. I think I've mentioned before that Mason is extremely curious about anatomy. So much so that he has been banished from the bathroom when Brandon is showering. I kind of forgot.
Brandon opened the shower curtain and:
Mason: Hi Daddy! You have a pee pee just like me! (Grabs himself through his jammies)
Brandon: Yes, Mason I do. That is because we are boys.
Mason: (In an OMG Daddy you are so silly voice) No we not.... We not boys. I Mason and You Daddy. (implied DUH!)

This morning I was in the bathroom and the door suddenly burst open:
MASON: It's meeeee!!!!
ME: Hi Mason. How are you?
MASON: I Mason.
ME: I know who you are...(I decide to let a further explanation of the question go)
MASON: Sooo....Where Biz?
ME: Um, not in my bathroom at 6:30 am. I am pretty sure she is at her house.

And that's all he wanted. I guess he has just figured out conversation but he is still in need of some fillers?

Seriously. We have these interactions All. Day. Long. He cracks me up!

Happy New Year! Happy New House!

Brandon pointed out last night that I have not updated the blog in weeks. If I ever thought my life was crazy, I had no idea until the last few weeks. I came back to work this past Monday to take a break!
We are moved in. Everyone has a bed and we have most of our other furniture in place. But, the process continues. The "little house" still has tons of stuff that we need to move. For example: Brandon had to run down to the little house yesterday before I left to get my hiking boots. I had grabbed about 5 pairs of shoes in one of my mad dashes of moving and substantial, snow worthy shoes were not in that group. (He also realized last night that he did not have any very snow worthy shoes to wear to work today!)
We started moving on the 17th of December and were finally given the "all clear" around the 21st. My mom encouraged me to concentrate on the essentials since our goal was to sleep there by the 24th. That, my friends, is not an easy task. It's almost like thinking about what you would grab in case of a fire! But we are faring well. And we are filling up all the wonderful storage spaces of the new house quite nicely!
Everyone was back to work on Monday. The kids were more than ready to get back to school. It is so nice to have so much space and be able to have a pretty normal routine. Everyone's beds are made in the morning and at night, when I go to bed, the house is neat and picked up. The house is really everything I dreamed it would be. My kitchen is AWESOME and I love being in there. We spent a lot of time in there.

The kids are adjusting very well. We decided at the last minute not to move Mason's crib and just see if he would move into the double bed. And of course, he did! He still asks for his paci almost every night, but he never questioned where his old bed might be.
Ellie is doing well too. She did awesome at first, but this week, she has started a bad habit of becoming weepy at bedtime. She just does not want to go to bed. She stalls and then once she is finally tucked in, she gets up at least 20 times. Honestly, she does seem to have so legitimate anxiety. She has told me that when the lights are out, her dollhouse looks like a ghost. I told her that cats, monsters and ghosts are NOT allowed in my house so she can just quit worrying about that one. It gives her some comfort, but not much. Ellie's picture happens to be in the article on wikipedia called "DRAMA", so we are having trouble deciding how much is "put on" and how much is real. Biz told me today that I gave her (Biz) my watch when she was little and told her it would protect her. I do not remember this, but it is a genius idea so I think I will have to come up with something like that for the Ellster.
If you haven't yet hear, South Central Kentucky is experiencing the "Blizzard of 2010". Of course, I have been at work both days. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it really pisses me off that many of my co-workers have called in with the excuse that they can't get here. I told one co-worker on Wednesday when she started with the "If it snows I can't come" crap that I could pretty much guarantee that NO ONE lives any further out in the boonies than I do and I would at least make an effort to come! Which I did. And it's not that bad! It took us a little longer to get to Scottsville Road, but once we got there, it was smooth sailing. And we may leave a bit early to get home before dark, but come on...calling in??? And then there's the fact that we happen to be the only pre-school or school that is open today. We have a total of 25 children (out of 120) here today. Now, is this really necessary???
I have updated the pics: HERE. Keep in mind that things are not at all decorated. Once we get everything moved, I will finally get to do all the fun decorating. I can't wait!