The End of an Era

In 1996 I started working for the fine retail establishment better known as...

SAFEWAY!!

Yes, the grocery chain.

In order to get a car and actually drive it when I was 16 required me to get a job. As luck would have it that job would be a courtesy clerk (technical term: bagger) making a nice minimum wage of $5.00 or something close to that an hour.

Now before I get to the matter at hand I should give you a little back story. The plan was never to make a career out of Safeway (no offense). To be fair, I am not sure I know what the plan WAS, but I can say with a good amount of certainty that it was NOT to work at Safeway for the rest of my life. I dabbled in the idea that I would be some sort of criminal psychologist, but no one knows that. OK now everyone knows that, but whatever. Obviously that never panned out.

See I got accepted to Washington State University (Go Cougs!!), but declined!! Why might you ask?? Well I had a boyfriend and without boring you with all of the details you can pretty much figure out I chose the boyfriend. It is a little funny to think what my life would have been like if I had chose the school over the boy. But I didn't, so that is that.

I spent a few minutes in community college, but that didn't last either. Looking back I think it came down to the more my paycheck was the more I liked it and school got pushed to the back burner. And the back burner turned into the back of the closet.

Anyway, fast forward 14 years.

I now have a wonderful hubby, two wonderful kids and more than a few bills. Oh and I am still working for Safeway.

BUT NOT FOR LONG...

Christmas Eve 2010 will mark the end of my Safeway career. The end of an era as I would like to refer to it. A decision I have not and still do not take lightly, but think it is the right time. I am going to try the SAHM thing full-time for a while and then when the wonderfulness of that wears off...

Figure out what I want to be when I grow up!!

Wish me luck and if you know what it is like to spend 24/7 with two toddlers, send me a bottle of wine. I might need it!!

He'll Always Be My Baby

He makes me laugh

He makes me smile

He frustrates me just as much

He knows everything (just like his namesake)

He asks me not once...not twice...but multiple times a day the same question and I am convinced it is just to drive me nuts

And five years ago today I was laying in a hospital bed waiting for him to arrive.

I did not know it then, but this little baby boy that I would give birth too would change my life FOREVER!!



Being his mommy makes me a very lucky girl!! I love you Thomas!!

Candy Cane Anyone???

I am pretty sure this picture speaks for itself...

But I will let you decide.




It is moments like this that bring everything into perspective and are what make being a mommy the best thing I have ever done!!!

What I know...

1. I know that the sounds of my voice DOES NOT get better every time I hear it.

2. I know that my kids only listen when it benefits them and never anytime else.

3. I know that there is no such this as a "Laundry Fairy", but if I could have a fairy that is what I would want it to be. The tooth fairy seems expendable, she never really served much purpose if you ask me.

4. I know that I should be a lot further along with my Christmas shopping.... but I am not.

5. I know that I am not a car person... I am an SUV or truck girl and absolutely love my new car.

6. For some reason I have a new addiction to starburst (yes...the candy), it developed after Halloween and hasn't gone away.

7. Now I want Starburst and I do not have any....GREAT!!

8. I am SUPER DUPER excited for Black Friday!! YES...I am one of the crazies out at some ungodly hour of the morning, standing in a very ridiculous line...waiting to buy....a bunch of crap.

9. OK fine not crap...but probably stuff I don't need.

10. Speaking of Black Friday... is it just me or are we getting really closed to it being Black Thursday?? Every year the stores open earlier and earlier. I am contemplating just getting in line right after I eat my pie on Thanksgiving. But I won't!!

11. I can not believe it is the week of Thanksgiving!!! I know I sound old, but time really does fly by.

12. I have 5 year old!!!! What the heck??? When did this happen?? I swear he was just a little baby.

13. Oh what am I saying...he is the test that keeps on testing. Every minute of my day is spent bargaining with him.

14. Totally random, but I just noticed that my DVR is fuller than it has ever been...apparently I have some shows to catch up on.

15. I will leave you with that, but trust me there is more where that came from.

Putting in my two week notice...

Because this morning while driving to dance lessons, Thomas told me that when he grows up he is going to be a professional football player. He then asked Taylor what she was going to be and when she told him that she too was going to be a professional football player he laughed and said...

"Oh no Cookie! You are going to be a princess, Right??"

She then replied..

"Oh Yeah!!"

So is it too soon to hang up my hat at Safeway and plan for my Thomas to take care of me??

An Unexpected Upgrade

So a few weeks ago...ok actually about a month ago my hubby had a little accident. No worries, everyone is alright.

Well except...





My car!!

She was a total loss, so I have been driving a rental car this entire time. I am now happy to report though, I will be turning in my rental car this evening and driving my newly purchased SUV tomorrow. I will be sure to post a couple pics and let you know how I like driving it. I am pretty nervous because it is bigger than the car I had. I plan to be a grandma driver for a while until I get used to it. :)

My Furry Friend!! Or not

I know, I know...

I told you last Monday that I had an uninvited guest in my house and this guest had really put a wrench in my Monday morning. Well, he put a freakin' wrench in the first half of my week when all was said and done.

After three days, half the contents of my pantry thrown in the garbage and a minor disagreement with my hubby (ok it was a little bigger than a minor disagreement, but we'll just leave it at that) ...

The mouse is GONE!

I am not sure how the little bugger got in the house, but hopefully none of his friends or family come to visit. BUT...they will end up in the same garbage can this mouse did if they do.

In other news...

Thomas finished soccer yesterday. I think he was more excited about the trophy he got than any part of the actual season, but oh well. Around here soccer is huge and therefor the next season starts in two months.

Taylor is loving her dance class and gets SOOOO excited every Wednesday morning when I tell her she has dance. She has her first recital in December and besides practicing in class, I practice with her at home. If all goes well she will be the star of the show. :) Oh who am I kidding she is already the star in my opinion, but it would be great if she did the performance without getting distracted.

Another Halloween in the books

Well I had hoped to post earlier today, but I woke up to an uninvited guest in my house and have been tending to that mess. That story will be for another post.

Halloween, or should I say Halloween weekend, was a huge success!! My two little munchkins were transformed into a pirate and a wench for three days straight. It was a jam packed weekend that started on Friday for Thomas' school party and ended last night with some good ol' fashion Trick or Treating!!









Seeing all these things through the eyes of kids is absolutely awesome. Watching their eyes light up when they get candy, watching their little legs run from house to house...I absolutely loved it!

It was a great weekend, but I am officially done with Halloween. Ok fine... I am thinking about what great costumes I will have my mom make next year, but don't tell her. HeHe!!

Living in a BUBBLE

Sometimes I feel like we live in a bubble. I sit down to peruse blogland and see what my fellow bloggers are up to and all I see is hats and gloves, rain boots and coats.

Apparently AZ is the only place that has not received the "It is Fall!" message.

Taylor comes out of her room this morning with a skirt and tank top and I say "Sure...why not? It is supposed to be in the 80's today."

Please do not mistake this post for a complaint BECAUSE it is anything but. I do however want to start wearing some of my fall clothes and my new boots. I am just slightly burnt out on flip flops.

One post recap...

Last week was a very busy, but wonderful week with my hubby's family. It felt busy, but to be honest it was pretty laid back and relaxing. Well, except the minor detail that the kids were hyped up from Sunday to Sunday solid. For that I needed my own vacation from their vacation, but enough about that.

The week included a visit to the aquarium, which in my opinion was a total bust. However, I did get some cute pics of the kids and they enjoyed it. So who cares what I think right??



I think the carousal in the mall after the aquarium was more exciting, but what do I know??



We spent quite a bit of time just hanging out at the house and playing outside. Although the temps where still in the high 90's, it felt cooler to my kids and they love that they can be outside again.






We ended the week attending a beautiful wedding. And for the most part my kids behaved themselves almost the whole night. It was nice getting the whole family dressed up for a change.

For a GREAT cause..

I am going to stray completely away from the kids and what's been going on in our lives lately and tell you about something you need to check out.

My mom has an auction on ebay for 100+ greeting cards, all proceeds going to Susan G Komen. All of the cards are handmade and one-of-a-kind. I may be a bit bias, but these cards are AMAZING...oh and you would never have to buy another Hallmark card (well at least not for a really long time).

Updates on our week still to come!!

When is it my turn??

I have been a mom for almost five years and although I have taken vacations with just my hubby or with the whole family...

I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN AWAY BY MYSELF!!

Yes, you guessed it...my hubby is out of town again. This time though it is not so much business as it is pleasure. A long weekend playing golf.

The kids and I manage just fine, but I just keep wondering when I get to jump in the car with some girlfriends and take off for three days???

Maybe someday!!!

A girl can dream right??

I don't have any pics from the last week, but I did edit some pics of the kids swimming two weekends ago at my parents. Thought I would share.

Have a good weekend!!

Soup and Footy Pajamas

When we lived in Washington if the sun came out everyone left work early (or sure wanted too) to soak it in. You just never knew if it would last. I am not lying when I tell you that it is the exact opposite in Arizona. During the hot summer months going to work is 100% OK because being outside is pure hell.

Now please do not think for one minute I am complaining...

Although I am sick of the 100+ degree days (it is October people, it needs to end), I would not trade them for rain ANY day.

People down here think the rain is great!!!

They talk about it like it really is the GREATEST thing. I DO NOT get it???

On that note though, every time the skies turn gray and I can see rain in the distance (and know it is heading my way)...

I want soup and a fire. Maybe a movie and some cuddling on the couch with my munchkins in there footy pajamas. Who by the way think rain is the funniest thing. One rain drop and they instantly think it is cold outside. I would guess during our rainstorm today the temp dropped to 80. And truthfully that is probably way understated.

Since I have no soup and I am opting for "Breakfast for dinner" night. The kids LOVE that!!

A year's supply!!!

Among other things this is one thing that has kept me busy and away from the computer lately.

Applesauce!!!

Lots and lots of applesauce!!







A while back I gave you my recipe and since I have gotten so good, I will just refer you to that post. I now just throw it all together and cross my fingers.

I don't have time for recipes...just kidding!! I rely heavily on recipes, just ask my mom (whom I also rely heavily on)!!

Anywhooooo....

My freezer is stocked and we should be good for a while. The kids and I love us some applesauce!!

A complicated relationship and something serious

If I haven't told you this before (I know I have over 100 times) my little Taylor is stubborn. It is rare that you can convince her to do something that she does not want too. Completely unlike Thomas...who will eventually cave.

Taylor can be outgoing and very friendly...when she wants to be.

She is daddy's girl...when she wants to be, and mommy's girl the rest of the time.

She is Nana's girl...when she wants to be, and papa's girl....

Oh wait...

This is the complicated relationship I was referring to.

Every time papa asks her for a kiss this is the reaction he gets.




What a little pill...don't you think?

But sometimes

When she feels like it.

She can be a his sweet granddaughter!!



The nature of the beast I guess!!

Now, for a little more serious note. I have sat down to right this post a few times and end up deleting it because I haven't been sure about posting to my blog.

A while back I posted some wonderful news that our family was going to be growing by two little feet. Well, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you all a few weeks after finding out I was pregnant, I had a miscarriage. It was quite an emotional roller coaster and nothing I ever imagined would happen to me. After having two very normal pregnancies and two very healthy babies, it came as a huge shock. Besides the enormous amount of emotions I was feeling about everything...I had to tell everyone. It is just not something that easily fits into conversations...Oh by the way....

I wasn't really sure it was something I wanted to post about, but I decided that my blog is my life on paper. I use it to vent in all other aspects of my life, so this should be no different.

For a mom of two busy toddlers, some days blogland is my only door out and for that I love you all!!