Realizations....

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I LOVE: My family

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I SAY: things in a much more mature way than I used to.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I AM: a woman with self-worth

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I'VE LOST: much of my negativity

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I HATE: very little, it is too hard to feel that strongly in a negative way about something.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT MARRIAGE IS: a lot of work, but worth it.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT THE BEST: life is the one you are happy with.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE: a little bit insecure.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT LOVE: is not always the answer.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT THE LAST TIME I CRIED: was because I was allowing myself to feel like a victim in a situation.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT, WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING: I really should have gone to bed earlier the night before.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT: I need to take a deep breath and try to relax, I'm far to stiff.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT RIGHT NOW: that Celtics basketball is going to dominate our tv for the next 7 months.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT BABIES: are the most precious beings that need to be protected and loved unconditionally.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I GET ON MYSPACE: never

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT TODAY: was pretty crummy, but I can learn from it and move on.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT TONIGHT: Ends the day and wipes the slate clean.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT TOMORROW: Will be kinda boring at work, but I still get paid to sit there and do nothing.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I REALLY WANT: for very little, I'm pretty happy.

:-)

Because I'm horrible at Facebook...

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?! 'Have you ever kissed someone? Missed someone? Told someone you loved them? Drank alcohol?' 38 questions for the people who are a little older...Tag me when you finish.

Copy the questions here; start a new note and paste putting your answers over mine. Then tag your friends (only if you want - that's the adult thing) to see what we all have in common.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
My Student Loans

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
The Century House

3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Taking a Translating Call

4. How many colleges did you attend?
One.

5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It was clean and light, it is super hot here today.

6. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Even though my car gets good gas mileage and I don't drive far, I'm glad they are coming back down.

7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
I really wish G hadn't set it as we don't really need to be up.

8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Um... I hope I get to sleep all night and not have to get up with Katharine.

9. Do you miss being a child?
No. I definitely appreciate the innocence of childhood now though.

10. What errand/chore do you despise?
Dishes.

11. Get up early or sleep in?
Get up early. "Sleeping in" means 8 at the latest for me.

12. Have you found real love yet?
Yes, both my husband and children.

13. Favorite lunch meat?
Roasted Chicken, but I rarely eat lunch meat anyways.

14. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
I never always get one thing every time....

15. Beach or lake?
Beach at a lake.

16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No, but some of society's rules and expectations for it are VERY outdated.

17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Neither

18.What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
None really, I expect they would just want to be a person when I had dinner with them.

19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Yes, but not my current one.

20. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Yes, we were required to have annual training at an old job I had.

21. Ring tone?
I don't know, one of the ones on my phone that plays music.

22. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth.
In a tent, I guess.

23. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco

23. Do you go to church?
Once in a very great while... G and I always say we should go more, but we never do.

24. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career.

25. How old are you?
35

26. Do you have a "go to" person?
Yes. My husband.

27. Are you where you want to be in life?
Mostly, yes.... but I am still working on it.

28. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?
Scooby Doo and The Wile E Coyote/Road Runner Show.

29. What about you do you think has changed the most?
My outlook on spending and managing money.

30. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
No.

31. Do you believe in magic?
No.

32. Did you ever own troll dolls?
No.

33. Did you have a pager?
Nope, just a cell phone.

34. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
I don't know, I didn't hang out much with friends as a teen.

35. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Absolutely.

36.Who do you think impacted your life the most?
My granmother.

37. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Quite a few, actually.

38. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age..."?
I try not to, but I have on occasion. I have had a 20-something tell me that they don't understand the colloquialisms from 'older people my age' LOL

Yeah, Yeah, I know...

I'm such a bad blogger.... I've been reading everyone's blogs, and I've thought many times about posting on mine, but I've been... well, lazy. Let's just be honest here... may as well. I have been making a ton of excuses and just been rather lazy about posting anything. However, I have kicked myself in the arse and I'm now updating.

I'm am doing really well. I've been tired a lot lately, but hopefully that will subside soon as I am now not working again until I return to my school job in September. I foresee many days of rest and recuperating in my near future. Yes, I understand that I have a toddler and a pre-schooler and rest and relaxation aren't really part of their vocabulary, but hey, let me have my moment.

Speaking of the kids - let's update: Alex had his pre-school moving up day last Thursday! He has officially completed one year of pre-school already. It went by so fast. Next year he will be going three days a week. *sniff* my little boy is growing up so fast. However, he's been really great. He did have a sinus infection last month, but one round of medicine and he was all better. Now he's just into rough and tumble little boy antics - which I think are making me go gray already. Geez!

Katharine is doing great. She's almost 18 months old. She has really started talking up a storm - well, okay she babbles with a few words we know thrown in. And she gets pretty frustrated when we don't understand what she is saying, which usually results in her yelling the same phrase to us over and over. It's rather funny to watch. She went pee on the potty last night too. We aren't pushing it, but every time she wants to sit on the potty, I let her. Last night we had a little success... today, back to diaper. I don't mind - she's growing up way to fast too.

G and I are doing great. We've curbed our house renovations down to wants and needs. We've decided to put a roof on and fix the decking on our porch this summer. Then we plan on saving to (hopefully) side the house next year. We haven't decided about carpeting yet... we keep wavering back and forth. Our biggest hold up is the cat... she's rather spiteful and we don't want her clawing up the new carpeting (which I'm pretty sure she would do). So, that is sort of on hold. But things are going well... we are continuing to put money away and plan our future. Which are good things.

Other than that, it's pretty much summer vacation around here. Days are rolling together and almost becoming irrelevant at this point. I am enjoying being mom and wife and Courtney. It's all good.

Present and accounted for....

Here! I'm here. Tired, feeling super emotional for no real reason, and a bit cranky, but I am here and that is what matters. Alex is sick again... he has an absolutely awful head cold, it has gotten so bad his ears hurt and he had green goop coming out his tear ducts. I'm thinking a trip to the pediatrician is in order as this may very well be a sinus infection. Poor little guy. I feel so bad for him. Of course, if he could just manage to rest for a day, he'd probably feel much better, but he is four and that is just impossible for him. I understand that...

Katharine is doing pretty well. She is chatting up a storm, mimicking so many words now. And a climber... oh my, she is a little monkey sometimes. But she is cuter than ever, growing like a little weed, and wrapping everyone around her little finger.

G and I are doing well. Since I am working a short-term second job right now, we see each other a lot less. As a result, we are making much more of an effort to have the time we are together to be quality time. We are constantly talking about things (finances, kids, our relationship, future plans together, etc.) and definitely concentrating on keeping our marraige strong and solid. While we are both tired and things are a bit hectic, we know that down the road things will be so much easier for us. Keeping our goals and the end of this current schedule in sight helps immensely. And yes, we do know the general end-date of my short-term position... not so bad.

So, now the question is... why do I have this pit feeling in my stomach? Why am I feeling so emotional (I cried over seeing a cute little girl in a movie today)? And why am I waiting for 'the other shoe to drop'? I don't know... guess I think things must just be going too well and that can't last or be good. I'm trying really hard not to give in to these feelings, as I tend to create self-fulfilling prophecies and that is not a good thing.

Okay, self pity party is over... I'm not going to get myself down and do this to myself... it's just not healthy. And I am more and more about getting and being healthy each and every day. That is what I'm going to try to focus on. So, here's hoping Alex gets well soon (especially since his very first picture day at school is Tuesday), Katharine continues to develop well, and G and I keep on keeping on.

Okay, think I'm gonna head to bed.... cheers

Yeah, yeah.... I know...

I've also been avoiding my blog lately. It seems like everytime I post that all is well in the house, someone gets super sick. The Katharine has been sick for almost 2 weeks. Poor thing. Her nose finally started to just run today, so we are hoping she is through the worst of things, but I am watching her close b/c she has been coughing pretty awful too. We had to keep Alex home from school on Thursday b/c Tuesday he said his throat hurt when he swallowed, then later on he started throwing up, coughing, and was super stuffed up. He still sounds hoarse and is stuffy, but his nose started running a lot today too. Here's hoping he's on the mend as well.

Other than that, things are going pretty well. My goals for the year are in decent shape. We are still putting lots of money away for the future, well, okay as much as we can manage - that's more accurate. G and I are making it a point to have good conversations and stay connected. My weight loss has stagnated, I've maintained for the last 3 weeks. I totally need to work on that a bit more. However, I haven't gained, so I am accepting that as a small victory. We are eating much healthier now that we have been, so that should help. I am still working on being more patient with the kids, but that is going pretty well too. Most of the time it is hard not to laugh at Alex, we refer to him as the great negotiator. And it is truly an accurate description of the boy... LOL!

Things are still super busy. We have picked a few projects we'd like to accomplish on the house by fall. We are waiting for an estimate to come in on fixing the flooring on our porch. That is the big one that may or may not happen. We are hoping, depending on the cost. But we also understand that if we don't have it fixed soon, it will end up costing us much more down the road. We are also discussing having the living room, stairs and hallway carpeted. The LR floor is pretty cold (even with the area rug and pad) and the stairs and hallway floors really should be covered as they are in rough shape. Lastly, we are going to finish the finishing work on our master bath. We pretty much have to clean it up, install the lighting fixtures, paint, put in the closet, and it is ready to go. Mostly we just need time to do that one... we have just about all the supplies sitting in there ready to go.

Okay, off to relax before bed.

Howdy...

Wow, blogger is slow to open up for a post tonite. Oh well, here we go.

Things are going pretty well around here. The time change has goofed little miss Katharine up a bit. She's had to cry herself to sleep the last two nights and her naps are all goofed up. She is also fighting the whole sleep/nap thing. She wants to be on the go all the time.

Alex is doing well. He's four now. Can you believe it!!!???!!! FOUR YEARS OLD! Wow. He has turned into a total little boy. Doing pretty darn awesome at it too. I'm so proud of him. Yeah, he still tries to see how firm the rules are, but that is to be expected. Overall, he is doing great.

G and I closed on our house refi last Friday. Our payment is going to go down and we are going to pay the house of much earlier. Nice. We are putting more money away into our savings account. So our financial goals are going well. And we are making it a point to spend more quality time together. So that is a good thing.

Other than that, things are pretty quiet around here. Just figured I'd give a little update for ya'll.

Time keeps on slipping....

Not that I have had too much going on, but man, the days just seem to be flying by. Which hasn't been a bad thing. We have all been on self-imposed quaranting in the house though. Alex came home with a whopper of a cold a week and a half ago and got everyone sick. Unfortunately, none of us has been able to fully kick it, so we are catching pretty much everything that is going around now. The poor kids have such awful coughs... I feel for them. However, I am on vacation this week from school, so hopefully by the end of the week, we will all feel much better.

Yes, February break has officially begun. Although, I am having a hard time remembering that I don't have to go to work tomorrow. I did remember to turn the alarm off, so that won't be disturbing me at 5:30 a.m. That will be nice. Our big plans this week are G taking of Tuesday night from work so we can all spend an extra day together. And G, Alex and I have eye appointments on Thursday. Other than that, we just plan on laying low and relaxing. I'm looking forward to it.

As for my goals for the year. Things are going well. G and I went out to dinner on Friday night (no kids) and just enjoyed each other's company. And ate super good food... mmmm. We already have received our federal tax return $$ in our savings account. Hopefully our state return arrives soon too. We have already discussed how we are going to invest it, so our financial goals are still going strong. And I have pulled out my fitness book and started my introductory workout schedule today while everyone was napping. It felt pretty darn awesome. Other than the colds, I am feeling better with my overall health, so that is a good thing. And I have two finished knitting projects, I am working diligently on two more, so that is picking up and going well. And I have been trying to be more patient with the kids. Alex's behavior over the last two weeks has changed dramatically... he still has moments, but for the most part his temper tantrums have subsided greatly and he is able to talk about what is bothering him more. Katharine is still as adorable as ever, and she and Alex have really started playing together without requiring mom and dad to be present every second. It has been very nice.

Other than that, I am tired, as I am still recovering from this stupid cold/flu thing, so I am headed off to bed. I hope everyone is well.