I'm a stay-at-home mom and enjoy this "job". I know how precious this time is for me as well as my child (soon to be children). However, getting the random monetary gig can be such a blessing at just the right time. In speaking of blessings earlier, I should have also mentioned that the Lord even provided the means to pay the ER co-pay from Wednesday night. He set this up way in advance for us to be able to pay for it w/o interfering in our regular bills!! Thanksgiving morning we went down to a large family photo shoot (a grown family with 11 children who all have their own families now, too!). It was a lot of fun, a way for us to be occupied with other thoughts than Eric's injuries, and the way to earn the money to pay for this accident. (We also got to eat Thanksgiving dinner and not lift a finger for preparation or clean-up.)
Then, the next day, we got spoiled again by Stef and Ryan coming over and serving us Thanksgiving dinner. It was really good food and nice to be with our friends who have become our family, too.
I also have to mention helpful family. Eric's two brothers came Wednesday night to pick up the bike for us while I took Eric to the urgent care. I'm so grateful they could do that for us (and sadly, one of them ended up with an accident the day after Thanksgiving...they signed the papers on their new car and as they drove home that evening, a huge buck ran out and crashed into the side of their car. The car was obviously damaged, but they were all okay...Boyds don't have a good track record with Thanksgiving weekend as it was!).
I've also been blessed with a great opportunity to get paid to do someone else's genealogy, so that added bit of income has been another blessing at just the right moment (with Eric being out of work, he won't make the same money as he has...no way to sell phones when you're sitting at home!). So, the Lord has definitely blessed us a lot; especially this past week!
30 November 2008
29 November 2008
Deep Thoughts
We're sitting here watching ABCFamily,which is playing a couple Charlie Brown movies. I have a few questions about Charlie Brown and perhaps someone out there knows.
Why is Charlie Brown mostly bald? He has a few hairs, but basically is bald. Did he an illness or treatment for an illness that caused this?
What's the deal with Snoopy's obsession with the Red Baron?
Why does EVERYONE refer to Charlie as "Charlie Brown"? No one regularly calls him just Charlie.
Why do all the adults squawk yet the characters still can figure out what they are talking about?
Why does everyone make fun of Charlie Brown for having such a large head, but all the others have just as large of heads PLUS hair that makes their heads bigger?
Why is Charlie Brown mostly bald? He has a few hairs, but basically is bald. Did he an illness or treatment for an illness that caused this?
What's the deal with Snoopy's obsession with the Red Baron?
Why does EVERYONE refer to Charlie as "Charlie Brown"? No one regularly calls him just Charlie.
Why do all the adults squawk yet the characters still can figure out what they are talking about?
Why does everyone make fun of Charlie Brown for having such a large head, but all the others have just as large of heads PLUS hair that makes their heads bigger?
27 November 2008
One Thing After Another
Okay, I am really not trying to complain, but update everyone on our lives. Eric had a bit of an accident last night coming home from work. Don't worry, he's okay for the most part. He was slowing down to turn into our subdivision and didn't see the plank board in the road (it was dusk/getting dark). The board wasn't very thick, but it was a finished/glossy piece of wood. It caught Eric's back tire and spun the bike from under him. He laid it down on the left side and has injuries on his left (a fractured clavicle and a fractured food, plus he dislocated his fourth toe on that foot...but they were successful in putting it back into socket).
He is on pain medication and a muscle relaxer and will be out from work for at least the next 5 days...moving around only possible by the use of the wheelchair we are borrowing from his parents. I know it sounds exciting, but he isn't hurt too bad, yet it is just enough to be completely annoying and makes him dependent on me (someone suggested that perhaps I was in need of relearning about service...I think she's right!). I don't mind and am grateful for earlier training in my life when I worked as a care attendant while going to BYU.
So, my thanksgiving this year is that my family is safe and alive...even if we have bumps and bruises and things might be hard...we are so blessed to be together!
He is on pain medication and a muscle relaxer and will be out from work for at least the next 5 days...moving around only possible by the use of the wheelchair we are borrowing from his parents. I know it sounds exciting, but he isn't hurt too bad, yet it is just enough to be completely annoying and makes him dependent on me (someone suggested that perhaps I was in need of relearning about service...I think she's right!). I don't mind and am grateful for earlier training in my life when I worked as a care attendant while going to BYU.
So, my thanksgiving this year is that my family is safe and alive...even if we have bumps and bruises and things might be hard...we are so blessed to be together!
25 November 2008
Scams
So, we've been trying to refinance our house for a few months now. We were working with a company called Elite Financial, and particularly two employees of that company (both our broker and his manager). This post is mostly to warn our friends and family of the company. They are a broker who uses Taylor, Bean and Whitaker. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with that financial institution, but Elite does have problems.
I could go on for pages and pages about the lies they told (even down to telling Eric that I had "misinformed" them about not having a basement....uh, yeah, that was something they never asked but then tried to pass the buck on! Or the fact that they told us the house was appraised at 10K higher than "the bank would accept" only to find out today that what the appraiser had figured it at WAS the number the bank accepted...and it wasn't that higher figure, either).
I just mostly wanted to get this out there to be careful when signing anything. Thankfully we followed the promptings and did NOT sign, as today we have uncovered more lies they have spun over the past nearly 3 months. NEVER, NEVER let someone make you feel pressured to sign something or purchase something.
I could go on for pages and pages about the lies they told (even down to telling Eric that I had "misinformed" them about not having a basement....uh, yeah, that was something they never asked but then tried to pass the buck on! Or the fact that they told us the house was appraised at 10K higher than "the bank would accept" only to find out today that what the appraiser had figured it at WAS the number the bank accepted...and it wasn't that higher figure, either).
I just mostly wanted to get this out there to be careful when signing anything. Thankfully we followed the promptings and did NOT sign, as today we have uncovered more lies they have spun over the past nearly 3 months. NEVER, NEVER let someone make you feel pressured to sign something or purchase something.
24 November 2008
Heat Pump Meltdown
We discovered our heat pump wasn't working yesterday. It took opening the unit in our attic to find out why...as you can see from the pictures, we barely escaped having a house fire. We aren't sure what really caused this and are still waiting for the service guys to get out here this morning, but live wires and metal are not a good combination.
21 November 2008
Tagged
5 Shows I love to Watch:
1. House, except we don't even watch that when it comes on
2. ?...the only other things we may watch are cartoons for Em
3. ?...or perhaps a movie, which doesn't happen that often
4. ?
5. ?
5 Favorite Restaurants:
1. The Rodigio (sp?) Grill (Brazilian)
2. The Spaghetti Factory (Italian)
3. Casa Mexico (decent Mexican in middle GA)
4. Ingleside Pizza (recent addition to the list...obviously, pizza parlor)
5. Cold Stone (ice cream...but if that doesn't count, I'd go back to Kneader's Bakery Cafe in a second for a yummy turkey sandwich or other tasty treats)
5 Things that Happened Yesterday:
1. Decorated our Christmas Tree (yeah, it's early, but not by much!)
2. Lazed around for most of the day b/c Eric had the day off and we didn't HAVE to do anything
3. Counted contractions because they were so strong and consistent (no matter what position or how much water I drank) for about 5 hours, but stopped after we got the tree up, so no worries
4. Let Eric make a huge yummy breakfast (Eric loves to cook, so anytime he wants to, I'm happy to oblige and just be the spectator/eater)
5. Watched some cheesy Christmas movie on ABC Family (they have a countdown TO their 25 days of Christmas...which is basically also our countdown to baby #2)
5 Things I Look Forward to:
1. Rachel and Adam's sealing in April, which includes a (hopefully) 2 week vacation visiting Missouri family
2. Having this baby at the end of next month (think positive, think positive!)
3. Having a fenced back yard
4. Eric finally being able to graduate and work in his chosen career
5. The Millennium so people aren't crazy anymore
5 Things I Love about Fall:
1. Autumn colors and cooler air
2. Wearing sweaters and warm snuggly clothing
3. Our anniversary
4. The holiday seasons
5. The smell of wood chimneys which evoke images in my mind of warmth and cheery homes
5 Things on My Wish List:
1. To be out of debt...completely: no car payment, no mortgage, etc.
2. To be healthy and comfortable in my own skin (though it is fun to feel the first movements of a child, this one has gotten quite rough and my skin feels like it's going to rip)
3. To have all my children grow up in the church with strong testimonies of their own
4. Not to worry about the economy and it's impact on our "quality" of life
5. To have Eric finished with college and working in his chosen field with a good company that has great benefits like the one he works for now (he can still work for Verizon, that's fine...just not in sales).
5 People I Tag:
1. Sarah-ann
2. Sarah Beth
3. Lori
4. Julie
5. Crystal
1. House, except we don't even watch that when it comes on
2. ?...the only other things we may watch are cartoons for Em
3. ?...or perhaps a movie, which doesn't happen that often
4. ?
5. ?
5 Favorite Restaurants:
1. The Rodigio (sp?) Grill (Brazilian)
2. The Spaghetti Factory (Italian)
3. Casa Mexico (decent Mexican in middle GA)
4. Ingleside Pizza (recent addition to the list...obviously, pizza parlor)
5. Cold Stone (ice cream...but if that doesn't count, I'd go back to Kneader's Bakery Cafe in a second for a yummy turkey sandwich or other tasty treats)
5 Things that Happened Yesterday:
1. Decorated our Christmas Tree (yeah, it's early, but not by much!)
2. Lazed around for most of the day b/c Eric had the day off and we didn't HAVE to do anything
3. Counted contractions because they were so strong and consistent (no matter what position or how much water I drank) for about 5 hours, but stopped after we got the tree up, so no worries
4. Let Eric make a huge yummy breakfast (Eric loves to cook, so anytime he wants to, I'm happy to oblige and just be the spectator/eater)
5. Watched some cheesy Christmas movie on ABC Family (they have a countdown TO their 25 days of Christmas...which is basically also our countdown to baby #2)
5 Things I Look Forward to:
1. Rachel and Adam's sealing in April, which includes a (hopefully) 2 week vacation visiting Missouri family
2. Having this baby at the end of next month (think positive, think positive!)
3. Having a fenced back yard
4. Eric finally being able to graduate and work in his chosen career
5. The Millennium so people aren't crazy anymore
5 Things I Love about Fall:
1. Autumn colors and cooler air
2. Wearing sweaters and warm snuggly clothing
3. Our anniversary
4. The holiday seasons
5. The smell of wood chimneys which evoke images in my mind of warmth and cheery homes
5 Things on My Wish List:
1. To be out of debt...completely: no car payment, no mortgage, etc.
2. To be healthy and comfortable in my own skin (though it is fun to feel the first movements of a child, this one has gotten quite rough and my skin feels like it's going to rip)
3. To have all my children grow up in the church with strong testimonies of their own
4. Not to worry about the economy and it's impact on our "quality" of life
5. To have Eric finished with college and working in his chosen field with a good company that has great benefits like the one he works for now (he can still work for Verizon, that's fine...just not in sales).
5 People I Tag:
1. Sarah-ann
2. Sarah Beth
3. Lori
4. Julie
5. Crystal
Dual Meaning of Words
I guess I haven't taught Emily that there are certain words that have more than one meaning...
Emily wanted to go to the garage to play with Hannah (this is the only open space the two of them are able to romp in and I don't have to worry much). I told her she had to go find her socks and shoes. Of course, this started me laughing because she put her hands over her mouth and started calling them, "Sock and shoe, where are you?" This isn't the funniest, though. After she came back and claimed she couldn't find them, I told her that her socks were in her bottom drawer, "So go check your bottom drawer." Simple enough direction, I thought. Well, Emily began pulling down her pants and underwear. I asked her what she was doing and she replied, "Bottom drawer". Uh, yeah. That's your bottom, but I hope there isn't a drawer installed there. Needless to say, I started cracking up...much the same as I am doing now trying to relate the story.
Emily wanted to go to the garage to play with Hannah (this is the only open space the two of them are able to romp in and I don't have to worry much). I told her she had to go find her socks and shoes. Of course, this started me laughing because she put her hands over her mouth and started calling them, "Sock and shoe, where are you?" This isn't the funniest, though. After she came back and claimed she couldn't find them, I told her that her socks were in her bottom drawer, "So go check your bottom drawer." Simple enough direction, I thought. Well, Emily began pulling down her pants and underwear. I asked her what she was doing and she replied, "Bottom drawer". Uh, yeah. That's your bottom, but I hope there isn't a drawer installed there. Needless to say, I started cracking up...much the same as I am doing now trying to relate the story.
19 November 2008
Strange Things Your Children Say
I've often been entertained by a friend's blog when she posts things her adorable daughter says. Sometimes I'm laughing so hard that it is hard to breathe. Emily has come up with something that did that to me just recently. She was getting a bath when she started doing a tummy roll. She shouted out, "It's a hotdog!" and pointed to her belly. We were laughing so hard as it was completely random...and because we've told Emily that she's going to become a hotdog because she eats so many.
The Holidays
I have always loved the holidays, but they became even more exciting when I was a missionary and now I've completely reverted to being a child now that I'm married and have a child!! So, I can hardly wait to put up the Christmas tree, especially after last night when we HAD to turn on the heat (we had a freeze warning, as temperatures dropped yesterday and it was already down to 33 degrees when Eric got home around 9 pm). So, to satisfy my desire to just drag down the tree from the attic and go ahead and set it up, I've changed my background to live the festive spirit of the fall/winter holidays!!
18 November 2008
Barely Skating By
We had our next doctor's appointment today. I got to see the final member of this practice. I must say, I am so grateful to finally have found a great OB/GYN...and that goes for his entire practice (all other doctors, nurses, and office employees)!! Fourth times the charm, right?
Anyway, I continue to struggle gaining weight. I'm measuring a little on the small side for my week (33 weeks) and I'm barely hitting the "minimum" weight gain they like to see. However, the doctor didn't make me feel bad. In fact, he was reassuring. Although my weight gain has plateaued, he commented that Emily was born at a good, healthy weight (and I only gained 25 lbs with her), so this one would probably be the same.
I think...hey, we have some huge holidays coming before the end of this pregnancy. Let's see (if I can squeeze food into this belly) if I hit their "recommended" weight by the end of this. =)
I was also glad to hear that he thinks that the baby coming the last week of December is very possible. We'll know more as we get closer!!
Anyway, I continue to struggle gaining weight. I'm measuring a little on the small side for my week (33 weeks) and I'm barely hitting the "minimum" weight gain they like to see. However, the doctor didn't make me feel bad. In fact, he was reassuring. Although my weight gain has plateaued, he commented that Emily was born at a good, healthy weight (and I only gained 25 lbs with her), so this one would probably be the same.
I think...hey, we have some huge holidays coming before the end of this pregnancy. Let's see (if I can squeeze food into this belly) if I hit their "recommended" weight by the end of this. =)
I was also glad to hear that he thinks that the baby coming the last week of December is very possible. We'll know more as we get closer!!
15 November 2008
My Wishbone Wish
Not that I have one, but if I pulled on a wishbone and was granted my wish, I'd like to be home at my parents for one more Thanksgiving (or Christmas). I just miss that big family feast that my family traditionally holds. It was different being on the mission and even more different now that I'm married and living close to my in-laws. I have yet to prepare a holiday meal since we always do these meals with Eric's family.
I was blessed to grow up in a home with a mother who loves to cook. I know she spent countless hours preparing meals in general, but more specifically, those holiday feasts. I know I moaned and groaned about having to peel potatoes or whatever assignment she gave (the worst was cleaning up afterward!! No dishwasher in our household growing up...unless you count each of us kids!), but I really do appreciate the love and effort she put into those meals.
It's very enlightening to find out what each family serves as their traditional Thanksgiving meal. For the Lasley's, the following menu was ours (and is what I am craving...along with just being able to be with my side of the family for a holiday for once):
Oven roasted turkey
Stuffing
Giblet gravy
Mashed potatoes
Dinner rolls
Green beans and pintos
Brown beans with piccalilli relish
Cranberry sauce (jellied-type)
*Cranberry relish
*Pineapple and cheese salad
*Broccoli salad
*"Pink stuff"
Relish tray: dill pickles, sweet pickles, sweet cherry peppers, carrots, green onions, black olives, green olives
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Pecan pie
Whipped cream
...and of course, that crisp, cold weather that makes gathering together in a warm house filled with the wonderful smells of food just that much more enticing!
What are traditional foods your family enjoys for these feasting holidays? (And, for any of you Lasley kids reading this, did I miss anything? It has been quite a long time since I was home for the holidays!!)
*recipes I've only ever had with my family.
I was blessed to grow up in a home with a mother who loves to cook. I know she spent countless hours preparing meals in general, but more specifically, those holiday feasts. I know I moaned and groaned about having to peel potatoes or whatever assignment she gave (the worst was cleaning up afterward!! No dishwasher in our household growing up...unless you count each of us kids!), but I really do appreciate the love and effort she put into those meals.
It's very enlightening to find out what each family serves as their traditional Thanksgiving meal. For the Lasley's, the following menu was ours (and is what I am craving...along with just being able to be with my side of the family for a holiday for once):
Oven roasted turkey
Stuffing
Giblet gravy
Mashed potatoes
Dinner rolls
Green beans and pintos
Brown beans with piccalilli relish
Cranberry sauce (jellied-type)
*Cranberry relish
*Pineapple and cheese salad
*Broccoli salad
*"Pink stuff"
Relish tray: dill pickles, sweet pickles, sweet cherry peppers, carrots, green onions, black olives, green olives
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Pecan pie
Whipped cream
...and of course, that crisp, cold weather that makes gathering together in a warm house filled with the wonderful smells of food just that much more enticing!
What are traditional foods your family enjoys for these feasting holidays? (And, for any of you Lasley kids reading this, did I miss anything? It has been quite a long time since I was home for the holidays!!)
*recipes I've only ever had with my family.
10 November 2008
The Next Julia Child
...or Betty Crocker, or Emmeril....
Emily LOVES to help in the kitchen. We've let her assist in the making of cookies and cinnamon rolls, but last night, we ventured even further. She wanted to make dinner. She chose everything: bow tie pasta with red sauce served with cooked broccoli. I opened the cans for her and she dumped them in the pot. I handed her the seasonings and she shook them into the pot until I told her it was enough. She put the broccoli in the pot to cook and loved stirring things (especially if she could taste-test the sauce some more). She even boiled the noodles. She was quite proud of herself and called her Daddy to tell him. (Eric loved the dinner so much that he actually had seconds, which he normally doesn't do.)
Today she wanted to cook some more, but we figured the breakfast Eric was making wasn't child friendly (too much grease involved and popping...not a good combo w/a small child). So, for lunch she asked to cook. We stretched the meaning of that word and showed her how to make a peanut butter sandwich (no jelly for this girl...she wants the PB straight up!). Again, pleased as punch, she gobbled up her sandwich.
I can see it now...in a few more years I won't have to figure out dinner...she'll decide and cook it for me!!! =P
Emily LOVES to help in the kitchen. We've let her assist in the making of cookies and cinnamon rolls, but last night, we ventured even further. She wanted to make dinner. She chose everything: bow tie pasta with red sauce served with cooked broccoli. I opened the cans for her and she dumped them in the pot. I handed her the seasonings and she shook them into the pot until I told her it was enough. She put the broccoli in the pot to cook and loved stirring things (especially if she could taste-test the sauce some more). She even boiled the noodles. She was quite proud of herself and called her Daddy to tell him. (Eric loved the dinner so much that he actually had seconds, which he normally doesn't do.)
Today she wanted to cook some more, but we figured the breakfast Eric was making wasn't child friendly (too much grease involved and popping...not a good combo w/a small child). So, for lunch she asked to cook. We stretched the meaning of that word and showed her how to make a peanut butter sandwich (no jelly for this girl...she wants the PB straight up!). Again, pleased as punch, she gobbled up her sandwich.
I can see it now...in a few more years I won't have to figure out dinner...she'll decide and cook it for me!!! =P
07 November 2008
MY Pumpkin!
Last night I realized that Mr. Pumpkin was starting to get hairy on the inside. So, this morning during clean up, I asked Eric to take it out and throw it away. I should have had him do it last night. Emily was in tears about us taking away HER pumpkin. I had no idea she was so attached!
06 November 2008
Joke's On Us
Wanna laugh at how intelligent Eric and I are?
We got up this morning and decided to go for a family bike ride. We even took Hannah with us(she does really well attached to the back of Em's bike trailer). Eric asked me if we should close the garage door although we weren't going far or would be gone very long. I told him yes, so he hit the button and did the "jump" over the sensor as he left the garage (we don't have an exterior door to the garage.)
We didn't get very far before my brain realized what we'd just done. We left our house VERY locked. Since we've added the child locks, and didn't go out either of those doors but instead left through the garage...we didn't have a way to get back inside.
Eric, in his calm manner, said to not worry about it and just enjoy our ride...we'd figure it out when we got back. I'm so glad I'm married to such a patient and calm man! After our ride, we realized that we'd (luckily) left the van unlocked, so we could open the garage with the garage opener clicker!! And the only reason it was unlocked is because my loving husband got in there before we left to grab my sunglasses for me.
Now I just have to remember never to leave the house through the garage UNLESS I have a van key with me so I can get back inside!!
We got up this morning and decided to go for a family bike ride. We even took Hannah with us(she does really well attached to the back of Em's bike trailer). Eric asked me if we should close the garage door although we weren't going far or would be gone very long. I told him yes, so he hit the button and did the "jump" over the sensor as he left the garage (we don't have an exterior door to the garage.)
We didn't get very far before my brain realized what we'd just done. We left our house VERY locked. Since we've added the child locks, and didn't go out either of those doors but instead left through the garage...we didn't have a way to get back inside.
Eric, in his calm manner, said to not worry about it and just enjoy our ride...we'd figure it out when we got back. I'm so glad I'm married to such a patient and calm man! After our ride, we realized that we'd (luckily) left the van unlocked, so we could open the garage with the garage opener clicker!! And the only reason it was unlocked is because my loving husband got in there before we left to grab my sunglasses for me.
Now I just have to remember never to leave the house through the garage UNLESS I have a van key with me so I can get back inside!!
04 November 2008
Child Locks, a Must-Have
I have not been a big one for getting all crazy with child locks and whatnot. I used hair-ties to "secure" the cabinet under the sink. So, you know that I am not a crazy-lady with the child safety products. However, my biggest concern has been Emily's escaping from the house with me unaware. We have previously just had to make sure we locked the exterior doors. Alas, we knew our child would one day be tall enough and smart enough to figure out how to do those locks. Well, that day has come and gone.
Emily decided she wanted Hannah to go outside, so she unlocked both the door lock and the dead bolt and ordered Hannah to get out. So, I ordered Eric to find new locks to put up high to lock Emily (and any other member of the household needing supervision) IN. I must say, now that she doesn't take a nap and I MUST, I can now rest and relax and not be afraid that she will make a jail break.
Emily decided she wanted Hannah to go outside, so she unlocked both the door lock and the dead bolt and ordered Hannah to get out. So, I ordered Eric to find new locks to put up high to lock Emily (and any other member of the household needing supervision) IN. I must say, now that she doesn't take a nap and I MUST, I can now rest and relax and not be afraid that she will make a jail break.
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