I woke up this morning thinking it was just another Saturday. I was wrong on two accounts.
It is actually Friday.
And it is the first day of Christmas break.
It doesn't feel like it.
I have no decorations up.
We made no Christmas candy, cookies, or other type of goodies.
I haven't wrapped any presents. Or done any shopping for that matter.
I don't even know where my Santa hat is.
It is funny when I think back to a couple months ago when I found out we would probably be moving into our new house the weekend before Christmas. I had all these plans of going ahead and putting up at least one tree and a handful of decorations. I even thought I might be able to squeeze a batch of cinnamon rolls in to take home to my parents.
Yeah...didn't happen.
The only thing I have up that is Christmasy is a snow globe nativity that was given to me by our Priest.
I'm still working on unpacking boxes and figuring out where everything is going. Changing my mind. Then changing it back. (I have a feeling that's going to be the theme of my break.)
Then realizing with a small since of panic that I still have to also pack to go home for a couple days.
And run to the mall (shoot me now...)
And call the lighting place
And get ready for the closing of both houses today
Wow...
This is definitely one Christmas I will never forget!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
It Will All Get Done
- The cabinets will all be cleared
- The clothes will all get washed, folded, and packed
- The sub plans will get written
- The basketball game will get coached
- The boxes will be moved
- The boxes will be emptied
- The old house will get cleaned and ready for it's new owner
- The new house will have each room organized with everything put away
- We will sign the papers to close on both houses on the same day
I don't really know how, but I do know that by this time next week I will be sitting in our new house, on our new couches, and enjoying that many of the things on this list will be behind me.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
A Plethora...
Ethan and I are movie people. We don't go to the movie theater very often. We LOVE movies, but we are also fairly logical of the way we spend money. We both agree that it is ridiculous to spend 20$ for us to go see a movie one time. Instead, we wait until the movie comes out on video and we buy it.
We also have netflix.
Our most recent netflix move was "The Three Amigos"
Hilarious.
One scene in particular where Jefe is tells his boss, El Guapo, that there are many many pinatas for his birthday celebration.
The rest of the scene plays out like this...
El Guapo: "Jefe, would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?
Jefe: "Uh, Yes!"
El Guapo: "Jefe, what is a plethora?"
Jefe: "Uh..."
El Guapo: "Well, you just told me that I had a plethora, and I would just like to know if you know what it means to have a plethora. I would not like to think that someone would tell someone else he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has no idea what it means to have a plethora."
I love that scene.
Does anyone really know how what exact number constitutes for a "Plethora?"
I do not.
However, as I was beginning the process of packing things for our big move into the new house in two weeks. I started by packing up our DVD collection.
I brought in one good sized box.
Didn't even come close to holding all our movies.
So I got another box.
And another...
4 and 1/2 boxes later the DVDs are all packed and ready to move.
I would definitely say that we have a "Plethora" of movies!
We also have netflix.
Our most recent netflix move was "The Three Amigos"
Hilarious.
One scene in particular where Jefe is tells his boss, El Guapo, that there are many many pinatas for his birthday celebration.
The rest of the scene plays out like this...
El Guapo: "Jefe, would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?
Jefe: "Uh, Yes!"
El Guapo: "Jefe, what is a plethora?"
Jefe: "Uh..."
El Guapo: "Well, you just told me that I had a plethora, and I would just like to know if you know what it means to have a plethora. I would not like to think that someone would tell someone else he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has no idea what it means to have a plethora."
I love that scene.
Does anyone really know how what exact number constitutes for a "Plethora?"
I do not.
However, as I was beginning the process of packing things for our big move into the new house in two weeks. I started by packing up our DVD collection.
I brought in one good sized box.
Didn't even come close to holding all our movies.
So I got another box.
And another...
4 and 1/2 boxes later the DVDs are all packed and ready to move.
I would definitely say that we have a "Plethora" of movies!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Car Trouble...
I am an intelligent person. I'm not a rocket scientist my any means, but I typically grasp concepts pretty quickly. Except for one...
Cars.
I don't understand them.
I use words like "thingy," "what-cha-ma-call-it," and "dohicky."
Conversation on the phone with my husband as I was driving to work:
Me: "Oh crap...what just happened! One of those warning light thingies just flashed on and my car is doing some kind of jerky thing"
Hubby: "What does the light look like?"
Me: "uhhh...I have no idea"
Hubby: "Well, what is going on with your car right now"
Me: "It seems to be ok now, but when that light turned on it jerked me forward a few times and then stopped. Should I pull over?"
Hubby: "Yes, pull over... Ok, what does that light look like..."
Me: "There is no shape in the known world that I can describe to you what this looks like. It is kind of rectangle with a lot of different other pieces on it..."
Hubby: "Does it look like an engine?"
Me: "I don't know, maybe, I have no idea what an engine looks like. I'm going to get out the manual to find out which light that is and what it means."
Now, do you think there would be an easy category in the back of the manual for warning symbols and what they mean. NO! It took me probably 10 minutes to just find a place in the book to tell me that yes, the symbol was the "check engine" light. Seriously...why can they just have the words "CHECK ENGINE" or even the word "CHECK" under the picture to help me figure it out.
We finally figuring out that the car would be fine to get to school and then we could try to figure out what was going on. Once I got to school, I received numerous offers of help. Have I mentioned that I work with some of the most kind hearted, wonderful people?!? The mechanic teacher came down on his planning period, and with a very handy tool provided by my Principal's husband, we (ha...I mean HE) was able to figure out that the problem was with the crankshaft position sensor.
The what???
Crankshaft position sensor.
That means NOTHING to me.
Is the car ok to drive?
Is this fix going to be expensive??
(In case you have missed the last few previous posts now is NOT a good time to have expensive car trouble...we're building a house AND having a baby...I repeat...NOT a good time for an expensive car problem)
(PLUS...we JUST had some expensive car work done not even a month ago. Brakes, timing belt, tires, oil, water pump, the works...this should NOT be happening!)
Turns out the problem with the crankshaft position sensor SHOULD have been something that was either looked at or replaced when the timing belt was changed...3 weeks ago. So, in a very polite but firm voice that meant business my husband called the repair shop that did the work and told them what was going. They said to get the car in right away and they would have a look at it.
Hubby took the afternoon off work (he hasn't been feeling well, so he was planning on going home early to get some rest anyway before the fiasco with the car happened) and came to the school to pick up the car and take it in to the shop. I followed him in with the truck, dropped him off at the house, and returned to work in time for my last class.
The end result...the problem was with the crankshaft thingy and the shop fixed it at not cost to us because that should have been done 3 weeks ago.
Thank goodness for honest mechanics!
After a very long and humbling day I am proud to say that I have learned a few things with this adventure.
1. My coworkers are AWESOME!
2. The car has a very important part called a crankshaft position sensor.
3. These little mishaps are really hilarious when everything is all said and done. (It helps that we don't have to pay for the repair...I'm sure the story would not be near that funny if it came with a big price tag)
And probably the most important thing I learned today...
4. That funny looking symbol is actually the shape of an engine.
Cars.
I don't understand them.
I use words like "thingy," "what-cha-ma-call-it," and "dohicky."
Conversation on the phone with my husband as I was driving to work:
Me: "Oh crap...what just happened! One of those warning light thingies just flashed on and my car is doing some kind of jerky thing"
Hubby: "What does the light look like?"
Me: "uhhh...I have no idea"
Hubby: "Well, what is going on with your car right now"
Me: "It seems to be ok now, but when that light turned on it jerked me forward a few times and then stopped. Should I pull over?"
Hubby: "Yes, pull over... Ok, what does that light look like..."
Me: "There is no shape in the known world that I can describe to you what this looks like. It is kind of rectangle with a lot of different other pieces on it..."
Hubby: "Does it look like an engine?"
Me: "I don't know, maybe, I have no idea what an engine looks like. I'm going to get out the manual to find out which light that is and what it means."
Now, do you think there would be an easy category in the back of the manual for warning symbols and what they mean. NO! It took me probably 10 minutes to just find a place in the book to tell me that yes, the symbol was the "check engine" light. Seriously...why can they just have the words "CHECK ENGINE" or even the word "CHECK" under the picture to help me figure it out.
We finally figuring out that the car would be fine to get to school and then we could try to figure out what was going on. Once I got to school, I received numerous offers of help. Have I mentioned that I work with some of the most kind hearted, wonderful people?!? The mechanic teacher came down on his planning period, and with a very handy tool provided by my Principal's husband, we (ha...I mean HE) was able to figure out that the problem was with the crankshaft position sensor.
The what???
Crankshaft position sensor.
That means NOTHING to me.
Is the car ok to drive?
Is this fix going to be expensive??
(In case you have missed the last few previous posts now is NOT a good time to have expensive car trouble...we're building a house AND having a baby...I repeat...NOT a good time for an expensive car problem)
(PLUS...we JUST had some expensive car work done not even a month ago. Brakes, timing belt, tires, oil, water pump, the works...this should NOT be happening!)
Turns out the problem with the crankshaft position sensor SHOULD have been something that was either looked at or replaced when the timing belt was changed...3 weeks ago. So, in a very polite but firm voice that meant business my husband called the repair shop that did the work and told them what was going. They said to get the car in right away and they would have a look at it.
Hubby took the afternoon off work (he hasn't been feeling well, so he was planning on going home early to get some rest anyway before the fiasco with the car happened) and came to the school to pick up the car and take it in to the shop. I followed him in with the truck, dropped him off at the house, and returned to work in time for my last class.
The end result...the problem was with the crankshaft thingy and the shop fixed it at not cost to us because that should have been done 3 weeks ago.
Thank goodness for honest mechanics!
After a very long and humbling day I am proud to say that I have learned a few things with this adventure.
1. My coworkers are AWESOME!
2. The car has a very important part called a crankshaft position sensor.
3. These little mishaps are really hilarious when everything is all said and done. (It helps that we don't have to pay for the repair...I'm sure the story would not be near that funny if it came with a big price tag)
And probably the most important thing I learned today...
4. That funny looking symbol is actually the shape of an engine.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Light at the End of the Tunnel
The year 2011 did not start off on a real positive note for me. I spent the majority of January, February, and March sick with a horrible combination of bronchitis, sinus infections, and probably pneumonia. I went to 2 different doctors 6 different times and spent the majority of 3 months on any kind on antibiotic or steroid breathing inhaler to try and feel better. Luckily for me the rest of 2011 made a HUGE turn around!
In April Ethan and I worked every night painting, cleaning, rearranging, and de-cluttering the house in order to try and get it ready to sell. Mid-May...the house went up on the market.
By June we had our first offer. It was low. Too low. We passed.
In July we found out we were going to be parents! Excitement filled us as we waited patiently (and a little nervously) through those first 12 weeks before announcing to family and friends.
August we started the process of building our new home. Ethan went out everyday and took pictures of the progress. It is so neat now to look back at when all we had was a hole in the ground...
October we found out we're having a little GIRL...right before E's birthday. What a great birthday present for him :)
November has flown by so fast I'm not even sure what went on the first 3 weeks...but I do know that now we are about a month away from the new house being finished, the reality of possibly having two mortgages was starting to weigh on us more and more. Clouding the excitement of seeing the progress of the house.
We have had many showings over the last 6 months. Many. Most reviews of the house came back very positive, with a big fat BUT...
"We're going to look for a house with three bedrooms..."
Three bedrooms. Ugh! I know that you want three bedrooms. So do I. That's why we're building...we need more bedrooms. There's nothing I can do about the fact we have only two bedrooms. Whoever decided to only put two bedrooms in this house obviously was NOT thinking about resale value!
About a week ago we decided to drop the price...again. We were a little reluctant this time because the price has never been a problem. All the reviews coming back say that the house is reasonably priced and that has never been a deterring factor. BUT as our Realtor pointed out, we needed to find a price that someone was willing to say "ok...I can do this."
Finally...last Saturday, Ethan checked his email right before we were about to head over to some friend's house to watch some football, and there in the inbox was a message with the subject: Contract for 151st!
YEEEEESSSSS!
My very next thought was..."Please be a reasonable offer..."
It was the same offer as in early June. Same price. Same person.
This time however, that number offered didn't seem so low.
Everything is relative...when you've had the house on the market for 6 months with only one offer, a new house about to be finished and paying two mortgages hanging over your head, AND a baby on the way. That offer seemed just fine.
We accepted.
And now wait patiently for inspections and pray for everything to continue to work out.
What a fantastic light at the end of the 2011 tunnel. SO many things to be thankful for and so many thing to be excited for.
Now, if I could only get excited about packing...
In April Ethan and I worked every night painting, cleaning, rearranging, and de-cluttering the house in order to try and get it ready to sell. Mid-May...the house went up on the market.
By June we had our first offer. It was low. Too low. We passed.
In July we found out we were going to be parents! Excitement filled us as we waited patiently (and a little nervously) through those first 12 weeks before announcing to family and friends.
August we started the process of building our new home. Ethan went out everyday and took pictures of the progress. It is so neat now to look back at when all we had was a hole in the ground...
October we found out we're having a little GIRL...right before E's birthday. What a great birthday present for him :)
November has flown by so fast I'm not even sure what went on the first 3 weeks...but I do know that now we are about a month away from the new house being finished, the reality of possibly having two mortgages was starting to weigh on us more and more. Clouding the excitement of seeing the progress of the house.
We have had many showings over the last 6 months. Many. Most reviews of the house came back very positive, with a big fat BUT...
"We're going to look for a house with three bedrooms..."
Three bedrooms. Ugh! I know that you want three bedrooms. So do I. That's why we're building...we need more bedrooms. There's nothing I can do about the fact we have only two bedrooms. Whoever decided to only put two bedrooms in this house obviously was NOT thinking about resale value!
About a week ago we decided to drop the price...again. We were a little reluctant this time because the price has never been a problem. All the reviews coming back say that the house is reasonably priced and that has never been a deterring factor. BUT as our Realtor pointed out, we needed to find a price that someone was willing to say "ok...I can do this."
Finally...last Saturday, Ethan checked his email right before we were about to head over to some friend's house to watch some football, and there in the inbox was a message with the subject: Contract for 151st!
YEEEEESSSSS!
My very next thought was..."Please be a reasonable offer..."
It was the same offer as in early June. Same price. Same person.
This time however, that number offered didn't seem so low.
Everything is relative...when you've had the house on the market for 6 months with only one offer, a new house about to be finished and paying two mortgages hanging over your head, AND a baby on the way. That offer seemed just fine.
We accepted.
And now wait patiently for inspections and pray for everything to continue to work out.
What a fantastic light at the end of the 2011 tunnel. SO many things to be thankful for and so many thing to be excited for.
Now, if I could only get excited about packing...
Friday, November 18, 2011
Turning 29...
I am about to embark on the last year of my 20's.
I am ok with it.
I am not bursting with excitement over my birthday, but I am ok.
I tried to explain it to some of my colleagues today. I made the comment that I wasn't excited about my birthday this year. Now this comment doesn't fair very well with the majority of the teachers in my building. I am, and have been, one of the youngest teachers in the building. So when I say that I'm not excited about turning 29 the other's moan and groan about how the WISH they were turning 29.
It is not the number.
29 is fine with me.
I think the lack of enthusiasm comes from the many other things going on in my life at the moment.
I am happy. I am ridiculously happy. There are times I sit and think that I should be more worried, stressed, and frustrated because there are definitely things in my life that could cause me to be overwhelmed with those emotions. BUT I'm not. I'm happy.
My birthday has always been something I look forward to. A day to celebrate, relax, and forget anything that might not be going the way I want. But this year...there are many more EXCITING things going on in my life, that my birthday just doesn't seem all that big.
I could list for you over and over all the wonderful things in my life, but I think I'll try to narrow it down to a top 10.
In no particular order...
10. We our building a house. It is almost done!
9. We are "building" a baby. She is half way done!
8. I am constantly reminded of what a WONDERFUL husband I have. Not that I need reminded :o)
7. The inside of the house is painted. We will finally be able to see how all of the decisions we had to make over tile, carpet, paint, hardware, wood, and so many other things come together.
6. I get to eat and not worry. Habits are hard to break. I still weigh myself every morning to make sure I'm not gaining too much to fast. But it is nice to be able to have a second helping of mashed potatoes if I want to!
5. I can finally fill out a bra! (Yes, that makes the top 10.)
4. Thanksgiving is only 6 days away. I love Thanksgiving. We will be heading home to my parents for the holiday. We haven't been home since Labor Day. I can't wait!
3. I LOVE all the belly rubs I get from my husband. He is so excited for the baby to get here so he can hold her. He is going to be a GREAT dad!
2. Baby is moving more and more, and I'm finally starting to feel her on a regular basis. Still stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away.
1. One of the perks of having a girl is the added estrogen. For me that means my ridiculously spiky leg hair grows slower and softer. Thank you baby!!!
So...as you can see. There are FAR more important things to be excited about this year than a number. Especially a number that represents the "last" of something, when there are so many firsts heading my way.
I am ok with it.
I am not bursting with excitement over my birthday, but I am ok.
I tried to explain it to some of my colleagues today. I made the comment that I wasn't excited about my birthday this year. Now this comment doesn't fair very well with the majority of the teachers in my building. I am, and have been, one of the youngest teachers in the building. So when I say that I'm not excited about turning 29 the other's moan and groan about how the WISH they were turning 29.
It is not the number.
29 is fine with me.
I think the lack of enthusiasm comes from the many other things going on in my life at the moment.
I am happy. I am ridiculously happy. There are times I sit and think that I should be more worried, stressed, and frustrated because there are definitely things in my life that could cause me to be overwhelmed with those emotions. BUT I'm not. I'm happy.
My birthday has always been something I look forward to. A day to celebrate, relax, and forget anything that might not be going the way I want. But this year...there are many more EXCITING things going on in my life, that my birthday just doesn't seem all that big.
I could list for you over and over all the wonderful things in my life, but I think I'll try to narrow it down to a top 10.
In no particular order...
10. We our building a house. It is almost done!
9. We are "building" a baby. She is half way done!
8. I am constantly reminded of what a WONDERFUL husband I have. Not that I need reminded :o)
7. The inside of the house is painted. We will finally be able to see how all of the decisions we had to make over tile, carpet, paint, hardware, wood, and so many other things come together.
6. I get to eat and not worry. Habits are hard to break. I still weigh myself every morning to make sure I'm not gaining too much to fast. But it is nice to be able to have a second helping of mashed potatoes if I want to!
5. I can finally fill out a bra! (Yes, that makes the top 10.)
4. Thanksgiving is only 6 days away. I love Thanksgiving. We will be heading home to my parents for the holiday. We haven't been home since Labor Day. I can't wait!
3. I LOVE all the belly rubs I get from my husband. He is so excited for the baby to get here so he can hold her. He is going to be a GREAT dad!
2. Baby is moving more and more, and I'm finally starting to feel her on a regular basis. Still stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away.
1. One of the perks of having a girl is the added estrogen. For me that means my ridiculously spiky leg hair grows slower and softer. Thank you baby!!!
So...as you can see. There are FAR more important things to be excited about this year than a number. Especially a number that represents the "last" of something, when there are so many firsts heading my way.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
By the Way...
In case I didn't mention it before...
Ethan and I are going to have a BABY!
A little bundle of JOY. A little PINK bundle. (Or purple bundle...E is struggling with the transition of pink into his life)
A GIRL with 10 fingers and 10 toes.
Our little DAUGHTER is going to come to us at the end of March.
In MARCH we will say hello to so many new and wonderful things. Life will change forever as we know it. Getting a full night's sleep will seem like a distant past. Spur of the moment trips to the store will no longer be "spur of the moment" due to taking a baby with me. I might have to get used to not being early and settle for just being on time, or even a few minutes late (gasp!). Grandparents will be coming to visit often to see their newest grandchild. So many wonderful and exciting changes.
Little baby...we are so ready to meet you and hold you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)