"Not all kids my size can do this..."

Okay, I don't know if this is normal...but yesterday morning Ryan who is 5 yrs and 5 mos old said "Mom, I can tie my shoes". Me, being the naive mother that I am said "oh I bet you can sweetie" but secretly in the back of my mind knowing there was no way because I hadnt shown him yet. Ryan said "No Mom...I REALLY can...see..." So I sat down to watch, expecting him to just twist the laces around "pretending" to tie...much to my surprise...he REALLY can! When I asked him where he learned how to tie (expecting that maybe daddy taught him)..he said "my teacher showed me yesterday"...go figure!!!! My son is on the road to being responsible for himself. It starts with feeding himself and then going to the bathroom (and wiping) on his own, and now this??? What's next?? Wait...maybe I don't want to know the answer to that one...

Yet another update...

Well, good news and bad news on the insurance front...the good news: we did get our van window fixed (and just in time for the rain storm today). We found a glass company in another town who were willing to come to Delta to do it for $250 as opposed to the previously quoted $700. For the bad news...a few years ago our current insurance company merged or sold or something to another insurance company. When the new company took over our policy, our retarded insurance agent we were working with changed our policy. He changed our comp deductible from 100 to 250...sooo...we are stuck paying the 250$ for our own window. Grrr! Like I had an extra $250 floating around that was just dying to be spent on a van window.

As for the bathroom...that is still in limbo but we should hear something soon.

Nicole (* thanks for checkin out my blog :) *) - you can read about the initial "water damage" post here :Bathroom Update

Are you PUZZLED???

I found this on a blog I came across and had fun doing it so I thought I would try it on mine...just click and drag the puzzle pieces to where they should go. (my husband is the one on the right)

**thanks Bethany R. for the pic**

Do you search???

Now this is too funny not to share...I joined this thing called "Blingo". Its a new search engine (like google) and when you use their site for searches you have the ability to win things like gift cards. (If you are interested in signing up, let me know and I will send you a link...you can sign up under my name and we can BOTH win)...

Anyways...I was using this search engine just typing random things and I thought "hmm...i've never typed in my name as a search...I wonder what will happen". So I tried it and this is what I found...this is a real thing, not a joke or prank. This item really does exist...

Prudence

I LOVE the remark they make...If you want the inside track on where to eat, drink, shop and stay around the world for less, pick up Prudence – because life should be rich.

Insurance update

We finally got a claims adjuster to come check out our "water damage" in our bathroom. When I showed him the weak spot in the floor he gave me this look like, Lady, dont waste my time. I assured him he needed to look UNDER the house to see the real damage. He, reluctantly went into the crawlspace. When he came back up he had a completely different attitude. He told me we have a serious problem under there. He pulled out a little pocket knife. He told me the way he checks for rot is to use this little blade (about 3") and tries to push it into the wood. Most water damage spots the knife just goes in a tiny bit. He said his entire knife slipped right into the wood as if he were cutting butter. YIKES! Anyways, good news is that he thinks the insurance company will cover it, hes not completely positive, because if insurance companies can find a loophole they will...but he said he doesnt know ANY insurance company that doesnt cover rot. Soooo...I have to wait about 2 weeks to hear from my insurance company on a definite answer. Hopefully at that point we can get started right away with repairing that bathroom!

*funny* after the claims adjuster left I called Anthony to tell him the good news. He told me "Im in the driveway..you have to come look at the van". So I walk out the door (expecting the worst) and find the rear side window of the van completely GONE! I asked him "What happened???" He said he was driving down the road and the window just blew out. There is beaded, tinted glass all over the back of the van. He called the local dealer and it is a $700 window LOL...guess its back to the insurance company again. (we use the same company for home and auto insurance) They are going to think we are soaking them for every penny LOL. Funny thing is lately I've been really questioning why we pay so much for insurance (health, auto, home, etc) Asking God to show me if we should be spending this extra money on insurance or just let our insurance go...hmmm, could this be His answer?!?!?!

A weekend of adventure

This weekend I am heading out of town with my sister (and lizzie). It started as an unexpected, last minute trip to pick up her things at her college apartment and it has now turned into a girls weekend out. We figured, if we have to make the trip, we might as well enjoy ourselves and take a day to go shopping...right? So here is our plan. We are planning to split town tomorrow morning around 4:00 a.m. and arrive in Ft. Collins around 10 or 11 a.m. We are going to go to the bakery in town that makes the BEST eclairs I've ever had and then head around the corner to Everyday Joe's Coffeehouse where they make a GREAT mocha! After that we plan to hit a bunch of thrift stores and then head to Wild Oats. We have reservations at a hotel in town that has a pool, so we figure we will go take a swim, relax, and maybe watch a movie or something. On Sunday we will head to her apartment and load up all her stuff and head out for the long trip home.

Keep us in your prayers that we will be safe and not run into any problems with our vehicle (I am towing a trailer for the first time and am a little nervous...although I have been practicing around town, so I should be okay).

I will share with ya'll on how the trip went when I get back.

On a side note...I have an appointment with a claims adjuster on Monday to look at our bathroom...hopefully they will cover a large portion of our claim!

about time

Here are the pictures (finally)
from our romantic valentines dinner/dance.
The table that Anthony provided and decorated all by himself :)

Job Update

Well, I still have not found a job yet. I had 2 offers, one had absolutely no flexibility (if my kids were sick I would have to bring them to work with me) and to tell you the truth, im not THAT desperate, the 2nd was actually a daycare job but the person hiring me changed their minds and decided they couldn't afford it for the time being. Soooo that sends me back to the employment drawing board. I am torn between my place being at home with my children and helping my husband with paying the bills.

This summer is going to be tough. Usually Anthony does a lot of computer side jobs to help supplement our income. This year is going to be quite different as he will not be around most of the summer. We are actually looking at renting out one of our bedrooms in our house to my sister's boyfriend. He will be here for the summer and will need a place to live. At least this will help with the bill paying. Please continue to keep us in your prayers that God will strongly show me where I need to be...whether at home, or back in the workplace.

Don't eat yellow snow

This last weekend has pretty much been Delta's one and only snow storm this season...not that I'm complaining mind you. However, I DID grow up where it started snowing by Thanksgiving and didn't quit til Easter, so I miss it from the "kids point of view". It was great watching my boys play in the snow. Watching their care-free little bodys running all over rolling in the snow - no worries.

My neighbor introduced my boys to yellow snow. In a good way though. He informed them to stay away from yellow snow and that we don't eat it because that is where dogs peed. Now Ben (3 yr old) informs EVERYONE he sees that they shouldn't eat yellow snow! LOL

Snowman

Snowman
Video sent by cooperden

Welcome

Congratulations to my brother, Jon, and sister-in-law, Kassia on the arrival of their new little boy. Beniaiah Jubal born Sunday, March 12th weighing in at 7lbs and 14 oz.

Re-entering the workforce

Well, it looks like my days of stay-at-home mommy are done for now. I guess the phrase "eating us out of house and home" really is true! Im really nervous about having to do this. I really enjoy staying home, making my own schedule, etc. Once I go back to work I will have much less time with my children, as well as with my husband (depending on whether i work days or nights). I have a few job prospects - but Im not sure which direction I should go. Please keep me in your prayers that God will show me where I belong and provide the proper income. Also keep us in your prayers as I begin to look for child care.

Phrase of the Day

Said by my 5 yr old son, after being told he couldn't tape his dad's band headshots to the walls all over the house...*sigh* you just don't understand me Mom...