Archive for February, 2010

We recently found out that our insurance rates were going to sky rocket so we ended up switching to a different plan.  I understand that since Lloyd is a Realtor, he’s considered an independent contractor and doesn’t receive insurance through work but I wish there were more inexpensive options out there.  We looked into a few different plans and a health savings account and found what will work best for us.  I guess I should count my blessing that we can afford insurance.

This has been such a nice weekend!  Friday, my mom and Lloyd’s parents came over and had dinner and dessert with us.  I made crock pot lasagna, garlic toast and a yummy banana pudding dessert (I’ll post the recipe and a picture later).  It was nice visiting with everyone.  Then yesterday and today was just for us!  Lloyd’s been working so much lately and has been going in on Saturdays for appointments or to get his office together so it was so nice to have him home for the whole weekend!  I’m sad that it’s over

It took forever but I finally figured out how to cross stitch into crochet.  Once I got it down, I couldn’t believe how long it took me to figure it out…it’s actually really easy!  I’m so close to being done with that baby  blanket.  Now I want to start adding cross stitch patterns to some of my other crocheted projects   I really hope my friend likes it   I can’t wait for her to have her baby!  It’s kind of a bummer that they don’t throw you a baby shower for the second child.  I understand why but I think it’s kind of fun going to the store, running around with the barcode scanner and picking out things you want for your baby   I guess I’ll just have to ask her if there is anything in particular she is needing.  I can’t wait to find out whether she’s having a boy or a girl!

I have a lot to do today.  I’ve got the last load of clothes in the dryer right now and have two big blankets that need to be washed yet.  Tomorrow is garbage day so I have to clean out the fridge, litter and get the rest of the trash ready to go out, the kitchen and bathroom floors need to be swept and mopped, the house needs dusting and the rest of the floors need to be vacuumed.  Sounds like fun, eh?  I want to get as much done as I can before Lauryn’s appointment, which we should leave around 2 pm for.  I have no clue what to make for dinner yet but I think I’m going to stop at the store on the way home to pick up a few things to make a yummy banana pudding dessert I just came across.  Maybe I’ll get an idea for dinner while I’m shopping

I’ve been thinking that netbooks sound really good!  Our office is in the back of the house and it’s always freezing back here so a netbook or laptop would be great.  Lloyd’s been thinking about getting a new laptop and if he does then I get his old one   Besides being so cold in the office, I can only get online when Lauryn is sleeping because the office and the stairs to the basement are in the same place and there isn’t a door to keep Lauryn away from the stairs.  I don’t trust that a baby gate would be good enough to keep her from falling down them so we just keep the door to in the dining room closed so the office and basement are off limits to her.

Suppose I should get offline and get to my to do list

Insert Title of TT Here

1. Who is the craziest person in your family? Hard to say…there are a lot of different versions of “crazy” in my family
2. If you could make turtle shells any color you wanted, what color would turtles be? I’d keep them green…I like the color.
3. How fast do hotcakes sell? My guess would be pretty fast…they probably aren’t as good when they’re cold cakes!
4. Can cannibals be arrested for being under the influence of alcohol if they have eaten someone who was drunk? That’s funny!
5. If I had my legs amputated, would I have to change my height and weight on my driver’s license? You may not be needing your driver’s license anymore so I’m not sure.
6. Where do people in Hell tell other people to go? Hmmm…that’s  a tough one
7. Do you make stupid little baby noises when talking to your pets? No, I have a big dog…she needs to be talked to in a big voice
8. Is the light on in the room? Yes.
9. Did the voice tell you that the light is on in the room? Nope, I can see that it’s on.
10. If you were to name an alcoholic drink, what would it be called?  Carielle’s cocktail…I don’t know…it sounds catchy

I don’t know how one baby can make such a mess in every room she goes in!  Every night, I go into her room and fold up the extra blankets that she uses for capes and re-stack her books, go into the living room and find phones, more books, dolls, puzzle pieces, her dump truck that had all those toys in it and her refrigerator magnets (which never actually stay on the fridge), THEN I go into the kitchen where I find another blanket, more toys, a bear and her shoes.  After all of that you would think there wouldn’t be anything left for her to leave in the dining room but oh yes, there is!  I do this twice a day.  Once in the afternoon, before Lloyd gets home so he can come home to a clean house and then once again after Lauryn is in bed.  Everyday I am amazed at how much stuff is all over this house and that it’s that tiny little person who’s behind it all   Ah, motherhood

So far, Lloyd’s first week – even though it’s only half way through – has been pretty darn productive.  He said he finally has almost all of his files and things organized and put away and he has three closing set for Friday…Go Lloyd!  I’m not sure if he has his business insurance taken care of yet but the phones and the internet have been up and running since Monday.  I think the two agents working for him are pretty pleased with how quickly he’s gotten everything taken care of.

Lauryn has another appointment for a shot tomorrow.  It’s for her H1N1 booster.  I’m glad it’s just the one shot because she can handle that so much better than when there’s a couple of them.  Last time, she cried for a minute, gave me a hug and then as we were walking out she got all excited seeing the “Wall of Babies” by the nurses station.  I made the appointment in the afternoon so when we’re done we can swing into Lloyd’s office and see how it all looks when there aren’t desk pieces everywhere   I’m hoping she might doze off on the way home.  That might help her not be fussy tomorrow evening.

I recently started a new baby blanket for my best friend who is due in April (on her birthday actually ) and I’m just about finished. She isn’t finding out the sex so I had to keep it pretty neutral and I think it’s turning out cute! I’m almost done The only problem is the pattern I’m trying has a cross-stitched flower and four cross-stitched stars in it and I have never cross stitched anything in my life. I understand how to do it but there isn’t anything in the pattern that shows how to make the flower or stars so I guess I’m just going to have to wing it! I’ll post pics of it when I’m done.

I’m getting back on track with my weight loss plan. I’ve even started drinking Slim Fast shakes to help me along. I figured, I’m not taking any kind of weight loss pills – which I wasn’t really into anyway – and the shakes are full of vitamins – which I never take – so it’s a win/win. A while back, Lloyd and I were getting our life insurance set up and we found out after the blood work came back, I have high cholesterol, so I’ve been researching ways to help bring that down. Anyway…I’ve lost two pounds so far Just need to stay on track!

Lauryn is starting to get her molars in….I think this may be harder for her than any of her other teeth.  She’s been waking up crying in the middle of the night and it’s just the saddest little cry…it just breaks my heart.  Luckily, a little love from her mama seems to be all she needs   It will be so nice when all of her teeth are in.  My poor girl.

Over the weekend, Lauryn and I went to visit Lloyd at his new office.  I knew the building but hadn’t seen his office before.  It’s so nice.  He has a great view of the river and when spring comes around it will all look so pretty!  He’s been spending a lot of extra time there, trying to get the desks put together and get all his files and everything organized.  Lauryn and I are going to stop back in on Thursday and see how it all looks.  She has an appointment and her doctor’s office is just around the corner from Lloyd’s office.

I am so loving my new contacts!  I hadn’t had any in a while and I missed having them!  I have a new doctor too and he’s really nice.  When I went for my last check-up, I noticed he had one of those promotional calenders on his wall.  I saw that it was a real estate one and there was an older woman on it.  I asked him if that was his mother and he said it was.  We talked a little bit about Lloyd opening up his new office and he was telling me his mom was about to retire.  Anyway, I came home and told Lloyd about it and asked if he knew that realtor and he said that she was the woman who sold him his very first house…small world!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Clown’s Meme 2

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. Sunday Stealing originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim’s post. (It’s our way of saying “Thanks!”) We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme’s best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let’s go!

Today we ripped this meme off blogger named Boppo from the blog Boppo the Clown’s Journal. She states that she grabbed it at Drgncrystlwkr. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft’s thieves might take some time. It is a long meme, so we will do it in parts. Today is Part Two. If you missed last week, do them together today! Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Clown’s Meme 2

34. What do you like about the summer?
BBQ’s, longer days, going to Lloyd’s or my nephew’s baseballs games, NO SNOW!!!!
35. What do you like about spring?
Everything is new again   Green grass, green leaves on the trees, I get to start up my garden again.
36. How many states provinces have you lived in?
One
37. What cities/towns have you lived in?
Belding, Greenville, Grand Rapids
38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Warm, fuzzy socks in the winter and sandals in the summer.
39. Are you a social person?
Yes.
40. What was the last thing you ate?
Chinese food that my sweet hubby brought home
41. What is your favorite restaurant?
The Salt Grass Steak house in Galveston, TX…by far the best steak I’ve ever had….I so wish we had one here!
42. What is your favorite ice cream?
Pumkin Pie ice cream
43. What is your favorite dessert?
I don’t really have a favorite…I don’t eat a lot of dessert.
44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
My cheesy ham and potato soup
45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
Strawberry
46. Do you like Chinese food?
See #40
47. Do you like coffee?
Only with lots of cream.
48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
No where near enough.
49. What do you drink in the morning?
Coffee.
50. What non-banking related card in your wallet is the most valuable to you?
Insurance card.
51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Yes.
52. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes.
53. Do you like to cuddle?
Oh yeah!
54. Have you ever been to Canada?
Nope.
55. Do you have an addictive personality?
I don’t think so.
56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
At home.
57. What do you miss about highschool, if anything?
Seeing my friends every day.
58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
Yes, there were two kids in the same grade as me who shared my birthday.
59. Do you want kids?
I already have one and am wanting another
60. Do you speak any other languages?
I am fluent in the language of Lauryn
61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
Once.
62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Nope.
63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
I’ve only been to the ocean once and I loved it…I would take it over a pool any day!
64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
Window.
65. Do you know how to drive stick?
If by “drive stick” you mean stalling and having the car violently thrown forward, then yes, I do
66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?

Lauryn

I can’t believe all of the things that Lauryn can do! She says so many words now like please (peez!), up, NO, thank you (tak-en), Grandpa (bumpa), good girl, juice, cheese, hello (a-lo)….the list gets bigger by the day! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating her first roll onto her back and now she’s running all over the house. It’s amazing how fast she learns and she loves her books! Not a day goes by that she doesn’t go in to her room to get a book to bring to me to read to her and every night she picks three or four to read before bed. She’s slowly getting into different foods. She’s still not very big on meat but she’s trying more things now. Every now and then I will get this phantom feeling in my tummy and it reminds me that it was only 15 months ago that she was still in there kicking the crap out of me! I should have known then that she was going to be really active

I went to get the mail today and there was something in there about term life insurance quotes. We have life insurance but I might have Lloyd check it out because I think the quotes may be better than what we have now. I always make sure he’s sees those things because he knows more about our policies than I do and he knows when it really is a better deal.

Lloyd had his last official day with his old company today and tomorrow starts the beginning of his new one. He’s been there on and off for a few days now but tomorrow the phones and internet will be on and the new desks will be delivered. Maybe once everything gets going, he can start breathing again! He’s been nervous but I know this is what’s best for him and for us. It’s what he’s always wanted and he has the drive and the ambition to make it successful! Congratulations again Babe!!! I’m so proud of you!!!