OLD.

Some mornings I wake up and feel 100 years old! Of course, I just had a birthday but I shouldn't be feeling *that* old!

I've noticed that my face is getting some signs of aging as well. Perhaps I should look for a good wrinkle cream that doesn't cost a fortune!

Or perhaps I just realize that it's all part of getting older and with two small kids I'm not going to look like the twenty-something that I once was!

Damn car.

We're pretty committed to have foreign cars. I mean, they last forever, and hardly ever have issues like or past domestic cars!

Lately, however, we've been hating on our Toyota! THe engine light was on and we found out what the issue was. Then we took it to the Toyota dealship. They charged us to run the same damn test and come up with the same damn issue! I complained and then they tried to talk themselves out of it...

Anyway...to say the least --- lesson learned. We're never going back to the local Toyota dealership for service and might not even go local when/if we buy a new car!

Awareness.

Since cancer runs in my family I know I have to do my part in reducing my chances. I've started eating better and taking care of my body.

However, I'm thinking about getting a good colon cleanse.

Maybe this should wait until after we go on vacation! Eek!

Packing.

We're getting our asses kicked when it comes to packing.

Pre-child we used to bring backpacks when traveling. In fact, we'd decide Friday afternoon to leave and we'd go for a long weekend trip to Canada or NYC!

Not anymore.

We just upgraded suitcases to a big ass Samsonite. Plus, we'll be taking two carseats, a stroller, and we've had a pack-n-play shipped to our destination.

Damn...

Up, up, and away!

We're always looking for our next vacation destination.

I imagine there will be a time when we can focus on adult vacations when the kids get older.

Years ago Shawna used to love golfing and used to go out every weekend to shoot the local courses.

Maybe in our near future we can plan a Myrtle beach golf getaway!

I've always loved driving the golf carts...

Finishing up...

I must say that I'm almost at the end of everything I need to do at work before we head out.

I'm debating bring the home laptop with me for the trip. We're going to have so much stuff and I'd hate for the laptop to break - however, I'm not sure how much computer access we'll have at the boys house!

POP

goes the pimple!

My complexion isn't what it used to be.

For the most part, I was able to get through high school and most of college without too much acne.

Now that I'm in my thirties - I've started getting pimples!

I'm at the point of looking for the best acne treatment over-the-counter.

We're almost outta here!

It always stresses me out right before we leave for a trip...

I constantly worry that we'll forget something major or that we won't have prepared enough.

When kids are involved it's pretty complex too! Especially, when traveling with a baby. We know that we'll need to pack Benadryl...but with the new rules we have to make sure that it's in a 100ml bottle or less!

Then there's the snack issue and keeping the kids occupied on the plane.

That 6 hour plane trip is going to be a "good time". I just feel sorry for the people around us!

I'm on that!

With my birthday approaching tomorrow I've realized that I'm really not where I want to be from a physical fitness standpoint.

I have about fifteen pounds of unwanted "baby" weight lingering.

I've thought about going to the gym but as it is I don't have enough hours in the day to work, sleep, and be a mom!

Maybe I should just look into some diet pills to get the unwanted weight off. I think if I ate less, moved more, and had a little bit of help I could probably be down to my goal weight in a few months.

Right in time for the holidays. Eek!

Another year...

Tomorrow's my birthday and it's hard to believe that I'm going to be 34 years old. Damn. How did I get to be this old?

Why does my body feel like I'm over 70?

With two little ones at home it makes me think twice about how I treat my body. Knowing my family history and given genetics I know that I need to start working out and eating better.

Just if I had eight more hours in a day...

Filters!

I just remembered that it's time to look for water filters for our fridge. We love the fridge and the idea of getting clean and fresh water and ice from it! However, the filters cost around $40 or so.

I'm looking for wf2cb model and it's part of the puresource 2 water filter system.

Everytime I go to order these filters online I find that they want around $9 to ship! However, I haven't been able to find these filters locally... Maybe I'll just order the 3 pack this time.

TGIF!!!

So this week we've been hit with sickness. I started feeling sick Tuesday and sure enough Graem was right behind me!

Yesterday Graem was home and Wednesday I was home from work.

Today is Friday and it looks like both of us are going to try and make it through the day!

The good thing is...I think it's just a cold. Graem did run a fever and as you know from previous posts she always starts to have asthma and wheezing when she gets a cold. Yesterday Shawna was going to take her into the doctor but we decided that instead we'd just call the doc and get the inhaler prescription called into our pharmacy.

There's some nasty stuff out there and I really hope that we can avoid some of it this winter!

Shoes, shoes, and more shoes.

I'm not really hooked on shoes. But Shawna has a serious problem. I just don't get it. You can only wear ONE PAIR at any given time! Why do the kids need FIFTEEN pairs each?

Of course, I have seen these cute baby Ugg shoes and they're so darn cute.

Maybe I'll see if I can find a pair for little Emm.

This weekend!

We have a lot planned already.

Tonight we're having an old friend over for pizza and chat. We haven't seen her in ages and it'll be good to catch up.

Tomorrow Graem has her first birthday party of the school year! I swear last year it felt like there was a party every weekend. Not only can that get expensive but tedious carting the kids around town!

Sunday we're just going to take it easy - maybe do some house work and yard work!

Need help?

From what I can tell I've pretty much exhausted all avenues when it comes to going back to school.

I can't imagine having kids and a family and going back for another degree. Mentally I don't think I can do it and financially - ha! We'd be living on the streets.

However, a program at Gongaza really struck on my interest and I'm going to send off for more information.

With all of these projects I'm dealing with I think it's important to have a Organizational development program.

More than likely I could get work to pay for it since it's directly related to my field. Plus, I might even be able to get a promotion or professional CEUS!

Friday.

So gone.

SEriously. My brain is about to explode and I just don't feel like I'm on my game. Today one of my co-workers called in because she needed a mental health day.

This afternoon I have to go out of town because my PIA project needs fixin' and I'm the one that fucked it up.

VACATION: where are you?

A serious clean.

We have been talking about renting or buying a pressure washer for YEARS!

A few weeks ago we had new windows installed and they almost got stung by bees and wasps while they were working.

Does anyone have a recommendation for good pressure washers?

I think it might be a good investment and if we had one we'd make sure to use it yearly. The last time we were going to rent one it was going to run about $75 for the weekend.

Ugh.

So my boss has told me on more than one occasion this week that I should put in more hours. Of course, I'm having a hard time with that. I typically put in around 42 hours or so each week. And when it's sunny the last thing I want is to be trapped in an office in front of a computer.

I'm thinking about taking every Friday off next summer.

Where is this going?

I have no idea what is going on with the health insurance debate.

What I do know is that this family has to have affordable health insurance! Without it our whole dynamics change and it might even mean that Shawna goes back to work and can no longer stay at home with the kids.

The upcoming months will be interesting and we'll just have to see what happens!

Alone!

Well, the girls have left to go on a hike and I'm left with a quiet and empty house.

I must admit it's kind of AWESOME!

I spent the first hour or so cleaning. I'm sure that when everyone comes back home all of my hard work will be undone.

Now I have no idea what to do with myself...