Changes...

...you may be unaware of.

Our trip to Lake Arrowhead went well even though I was feeling sick the entire time. Anika was a trooper and slept in a "nest" with Emmet, pretending they were birds. When we got home, Anika politely informed me that she would like Daddy to move her nest into her room and her crib out. So finally she is in a big kid bed, albeit pretending to be Tweety bird.

So the crib went into the play room where a baby will be sleeping in it in February. That's right, I'm pregnant. Seven weeks. It's weird how you forget what it feels like. I remembered but I didn't. So I am enjoying puking and feeling weak. This is a whole new ballgame while concurrently caring for a three-year-old.

I quit my job. I realize that a lot of women go to work while feeling this crappy and just suck it up but not for so little $$. Summer really slows down at PF. So much so, it's not even worth the gas $ to drive over there. So, I'm done. It's kind of sad and I go a little crazy in the head not working outside of the home, even if it just was my measly 10 hours a week.

Remember how my car broke down about seven times recently? Man, if there ever were a "lemon", that car was one. It has given us nothing but grief and repairs since the month we bought it. So, it needed $2,000 in more repairs! $2,000 we certainly don't have. So it was either drum it up on some credit card or trade it in. Miraculously, we got $5,000 out of it for a trade-in and I now drive a minivan. Yes, folks. A white, Volkswagen Routan minivan. Our payment on the Saturn Vue was $150 and now our payment is $300, a jump up but at least I can budget around it now... you can't budget a surprise $2,ooo. I swore I'd never do it but every time I tried to nurse Anika in the car or change a diaper, the perpetual, longing chant inside my head was minivan. minivan. minivan. I'm a lady now, aren't I? Bummer.

That's about it.

I remember a moment about four months ago. Things had been the same forever. Life just seemed like no changes were on the horizon and I was getting restless. And now I just laugh and long for that phase. It was such a reminder that each little phase is brief. You can never go back. So I'm trying to remember that and enjoy all the little things... especially these last months where Anika gets all the attention. Just me and her. Man, her world is about to be rocked. Along with mine. I'm terrified, actually.

PARTY AT THE FED

I'm Sorry. I Just Had To.

I took notes at Nicole's baby shower yesterday of all the comments she made while opening presents. I will list those gift-opening comments now but entitle the list: THINGS NICOLE SAID THE NIGHT SHE CONCEIVED BABY. Are you ready, ladies?


Cute!

I don't have anything like this.

That is funny, thank you.

Bath tub toys!

I'm workin' up a sweat.

Not one spec of clothing...

That's a cute winnie the pooh hat.

Petroleum jelly!

Way, super cute.

Thank you very much.

I think it's a boy?

That's a waaaay thoughtful gift.

How cool!

I was gonna order this.

Still blowing!



I'm sorry. I just had to. Hope you enjoy your last month of pregnancy, Nicole, you're almost there. And to you, Quinn... don't worry, the moratorium on drilling will be over soon, you're almost there.

Outta Here

Well, I'm off to Lake Arrowhead until Monday. I keep telling Anika about these weird things called trees and shade they have there. A high of 75, the whole family at Andrea's house, jumping in the clean lake, Ian's graduation, fly fishing in Big Bear, eating at our favorite Mexican joint, the smells of my childhood, ahhhhh. This is just what the doctor ordered. Adios.

Of note: Jake and I are now the only ones in the family that did not graduate from Rim of the World High School. They call it Rim of the World for a reason (see below). You can see all the way to the ocean from it and sometimes even Catalina Island. See the football field?

To Nicole:

YES! Revelation! The under wire! It just so happens that I spent the better part of tonight trying on every single bra at the mall. Without success.

But I do have big news... I found them! The chosen ones! For $12 at target. They are thin, not hot pink, and I can't feel any pressure on my fat waist... I think these sweatpants could be the ones. It's as if my body is the disembodied soul of the Dalai Llama that just located its next, meant-to-be body (which would be sweatpants) and slipped right in to home. Still with me? And all the while the world was looking for where the Dalai Lama's reincarnated soul had been reborn. They're black gauchos and they bring peace, enlightenment.

I just can't understand why I'm so sensitive. I swear, if I can feel the slightest pressure in the smallest place I want to kill somebody with a spoon or other blunt object. So much for pacifism.

So, last night I had a dream that you owned your own helicopter and flew it yourself all the way to the drugstore just to buy me eyeliner. Then you delivered my new eyeliner in your helicopter.

Also. Baby shower invites are going in the mail tomorrow so I will have to bring you the ones to deliver. Not homemade, sorry. I suck. But your helicopter rocks, girl!

And then it occured to me...

I had an epiphany. After months and months... a life time really, of suffering. Great and TERRIBLE suffering. It occurred to me... CUT THE UNDER WIRE OUT! DUH!!!!

I should be shot for not thinking of it sooner.

That's the kind of stuff they out to teach you in college.

I Want

I really, really want!

Janna and I are dying to go to the Aerosmith concert in Vegas but that is the day we are at the beach house. There has to be a way, there just has to be a way. Show up late to the beach? Drive all night after the concert?



It would double my pleasure, double my fun to go with Janna because this is what we grew up on. Remember this video above? Janna and her friends entered a lip sync and dance contest and did this song and won. They won a bunch of money so my Mom took her and her friends in our motor home to the beach for the weekend and got a hotel. They even let little sister tag along.

You know you're cravin' it.



I always get stuck watching memorable music videos on youtube. It really flashes me back... You know, to the days when MTV and VH1 actually had music videos on.

I will not be f.i.n.e. fine unless Janna and I make it to this concert.

Williams - Homemade Laundry Detergent

I recently started making my own homemade laundry detergent. The process:

Ingredients: 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup A&M Washing Soda, 1/3 bar of FelsNaptha.

It only takes 2 TBSP per load of laundry.

soap cheese

my little helper

end result

Williams - Bamboo Floor

the small hallway that my mom gets lost in on a daily basis.

bathroom/hall transition, doesn't it look lovely.

Next year we are going to put tile in the bathrooms.

our room

kids' room

living room

kitchen

I am finally posting pictures of our flooring. We are still missing the baseboards and transitional pieces. I doubt that they will even get done this year but atleast the floor was finished by the time I got back from Utah. Herb's mom even moved all the furniture back in for me and rearranged it. We left most of it the way she placed it but changed the living room a bit. We have to keep some things in certain areas otherwise my mom gets confused and lost.

Williams - My Cute Nora

Sound familiar?