Things I’m lovin’

Here are just a few things that I’m loving right now:

1.  Starbuck’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Yum!  Even better, we had to wait in the drive through for 5 minutes the other day and they gave us our order for free.

2.  Dexter

I had three people, in just one week, tell me that I needed to watch this show.  I did and loved it.  It’s a little messed up (serial killer that only kills bad people) but different, in a good way.  I’m waiting to get season 2 from the library.

3.  Fork and Screen movies

What could be better than eating dinner while watching a movie in big, comfy seats?  And the food isn’t that bad.  I did make the mistake of ordering the fish the first time we went and it was definitely more difficult to eat in the dark.  Eric took me to the Fork and Screen showing of Twilight two weeks ago.  The beginning was so, so bad BUT the end completely made up for it.  It had a little twist that I did not see coming.  It was much better than the book.

I want to see the Abraham Lincoln and James Bond movies next.

4.  Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

One of my FB friends recommended it as a good read.  At first, I was kind of put off by the fact that it’s about college students but quickly got over it.  She is also writing it from the guy’s point of view (this one was from the girl’s) and it’s coming out in April.

I also read 50 Shades of Gray and I’m not sure what all the fuss is about (maybe it gets better in book #2 and #3).  If she mentioned biting her lip or her inner goddess one more time, I was going to lose it.

Next, I really want to read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  I’m still #121 on the wait list at the library.

My book club is reading The Life of Pi for our January read and I really hope it’s good.

I would LOVE some more book recommendations.  I need a new, good author/series.

5.  Groupon

I’ve already bought three Christmas gifts off of Groupon.

6.  Ebates

It kills me when I forget to go through Ebates when ordering on-line

7.  Luke and Kenny’s excitement for Christmas

Luke has been talking about Christmas since September.  Even though we’ve had to remind him a few times that Christmas is about Jesus’s birth, and not presents, it’s still really cute.  I am really going to miss it when they no longer believe in Santa.  I’m actually a little surprised that Kenny still does.

8.  Longview Lake’s Christmas in the Park display

This is the second year that we’ve gone to it.  The display is huge and they just really do a good job.  We took my parents along this year and we decided to make it an annual thing.

9.  Indoor soccer

I love soccer in general but I really love watching the boys play indoor soccer right now.  I love how fast paced it is.  Kenny’s games are just fun to watch because the kids are all starting to get to that stage where they are really good.  His footwork is getting so good and the kid can seriously get the ball away from anyone.  Luke is fun to watch because he likes to be the goalie.  Kenny and Luke are so different in that regard, and it really shows their personalities.  I feel like Kenny doesn’t like to be goalie because when he gets scored on, he takes it personally and feels bad.  When Luke gets scored on, it doesn’t bother him and he says he didn’t have any help (with a smile on his face).

10.  Eric’s schedule

I can’t believe I forgot this one at first.  Eric is now working Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00 like normal people do, with holidays off.  Unless a promotional process comes up, he’ll do this for the next four years.

Spring sports in pictures 2012

This spring is just as hectic as our fall was (by choice).  Kenny is playing soccer and flag football and Luke is playing soccer.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Kenny’s football team):

Bulldogs (Kenny’s soccer team):

Luke’s yet to be named soccer team:

What’s going on

The last few weeks have been crazy.  As in, I completely over-extended myself crazy. 

Here’s some of the big stuff (nevermind the practices, games, normal work and everyday stuff):

1.  Chili Supper at Kenny’s school

I signed up to be the co-chair of fundraising at Kenny’s school this year.  Part of that position included putting the chili supper together.  Luckily, two of the women that ran it in the past were VERY helpful.  I’m sure I asked them a million and one questions but they patiently answered each and every one of them.  The easiest part of the whole thing was getting donations from stores and finding great deals on the food.  It was amazing how charitable the restaurant and four grocery stores that I went to were.  They either gave me gift certificates, food or supplies.  The hardest and most stressful part was getting families from our school to sign up to bring things (chili, muffins, crackers, drinks) or volunteer.  Everything came together at what seemed like the last minute and it seemed to go off without a hitch.  THANK YOU to everyone that helped out that night!!!!!!

2.  Family Fun Night at Kenny’s school

I also signed up to run the Family Fun Nights at Kenny’s school.  They’re only once a month but this one happened to fall on the night after the chili supper.  I did a dance for the kids and one of the dads at our school was the DJ.  It really was fun but it was just a really long week.

3.  New job

One top of all that, I was offered a new job two weeks ago.  I work in aquatics.  I’ve been at my current job for over 4 and a half years.  I love it and I’ll always have a place in my heart for it but I was just getting bored.  I turned in my resignation back in October.  January 1 was scheduled to be my last day but then they came back and asked if I would stay on until May, which is when my replacement would be there.  I agreed on the terms that I could cut way back.  My plan (after May) was to strictly work over the summers and stay home with the boys during the school year.  I’m sure that sounds a little backwards to some people but I like to be active at the boys’ schools and I feel like I just don’t get to see them very much during the school year as it is.  So, two weeks ago I was offered a job to put together and run a swimming lesson program for a local swim team.  The owner had actually approached me two years ago about it but I was happy where I was at the time.  It just seemed like perfect timing this time around.  I said yes and am looking forward to the new challenge.  I’ve spent the past two weeks putting a program together, getting instructors and starting on the website information and enrollment forms.  I’ve still got a lot to do but I’ve gotten off to a great start.  My lessons officially start in March.  March should be fairly quiet due to Spring Break.  I know things will pick up in April and May but the lessons are only for two hours on Sundays at one location.  That will change over the summer when we go to three or four pools with morning and evening lessons.  That’s next on my list to figure out. 

So, that’s what has been going on here.

Huh?

Here are a few of the latest things that have me saying, “huh?????”:

1.  What happened to size 9 in boys’ clothes?  It goes from either an 8 or 7/8 straight to a size 10/12.  I asked a saleswoman at Children’s Place the same thing and she didn’t know either. 

2.  My parents bought Kenny an iPod nano for Christmas.  He wanted to get an armband for it so he could run with Eric but Apple doesn’t make them for the smaller 6th generation version.  They just make a wrist armband.  Huh?  Who wants to run with it attached to their wrists?  The nano does, in their defense, have a clip on it but I guarantee that it would be broken within a month if Kenny just used that.  I was able to quickly find this one on-line from USBfever.com and it’s working out great.  I just think it’s weird that Apple doesn’t sell them at their store.

mydailyswim.com

Hi everyone!  I have some exciting news – or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I have some news that’s exciting to us.  Eric and I spent the last few days putting together a new website.  It’s called My Daily Swim and as the name states, it offers daily swimming workouts for different levels of swimmers.  Even better, the workouts are free. 

Wish us luck! 

Even better, pass the website on to any friends that might be interested.  We would be very, very grateful!

Best books

These are the top 10 books that I’ve read this past year (in no particular order). 

• The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay

I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t liked these books.  I don’t buy many books but I bought these.

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by Steig Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

I liked the first and second book much more than the third but it was nice to have it all wrapped up.  I even watched all the movies (luckily I don’t mind subtitles).

• How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown

This book probably isn’t for everyone but heard the author speak on one of the NPR book podcasts.  He’s an astronomer and made the whole planet vs. dwarf planet thing interesting. 

• I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
•  The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

My book club read this and almost everyone really liked it.  It’s one of those where you go back and read the first chapter again after you finish the book. 

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett

It’s funny because I really wasn’t excited to read this book but once I started, I just couldn’t put it down.  Loved it.

• Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Hannah recommended this and I’m glad she did.  Speaking of which, when are you going to join Goodreads?  The book is written as a series of letters after WWII.  So good.

• Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Depressing but good.

• Room by Emma Donoghue

This is written from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy.  It would always take me a few minutes to get back into the way it was written but then I was fine.  

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boynez

You know how the book is going to end but you just don’t want it to. 

I’m waiting to read these books from the library.  I have them on hold and am just waiting for my turn.  #1 and #2 are written by bloggers.

1. The Pioneer Woman:  Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – A Love Story by Ree Drummond
2. Two Kisses For Maddie by Matt Logelin
3. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

I know my birthday isn’t until April

…but I really want Eric to get me this for my birthday.  One of each of our boys, please.

What’s going’ on

Here’s some of the craziness that’s been going on at our house via bullet points:

• I am so behind on my Christmas stuff.  I just ordered my Christmas cards last night.  Actually, at first I ordered the picture of the boys that you’ll see on the card.  Less than an hour later I realized my mistake, tried to cancel that order and then ordered the actual card.  I love my kids but I don’t need 50 copies of that one picture:)  I have presents for all the kids in our families but I’m still working on the adults.  I have absolutely no idea what to get Eric.  I have a few little things and that’s about it.  I really don’t want that much this year either.  I want a food chopper thing, a movie, an I-tunes gift card and new pillows.  That’s all I can think of.   
• In the midst of the holiday season, we’ve found a house that I think we’re going to put an offer on.  After much debating on whether we should move to a different area or stay close to here, we’ve finally decided that we’re staying in this area.  If we moved to Lenexa (where I grew up) or a little further south in Overland Park, we could definitely get a bigger house for the same amount of money.  But, we love this area.  The people are great and the schools are wonderful.  Kenny would even go to the same elementary school.  The high school that the boys will go to will never have a bad reputation.  It just won’t.  We already know some of the people who live on the street through the PTA and one of the ladies even emailed me after the first time we looked at the house to tell us how great that street is and that she hoped it would all work out.  Eric and I both work really close (1.5 miles and .5 miles respectively).  It is so nice that Eric can come home to eat during whatever shift he is on.  If we moved, we wouldn’t have that.  So, the house that we’ve found is on a street that we love (and that I’ve blogged about before).  It’s a two-story that looks like a cape cod but has a basement and more living space than we have now.  It’s already cute but it also has so much potential.  We looked at it for a second time yesterday and will probably put an offer down some time this week.  The offer will be contingent on how the inspection goes and on us selling our house.  The ‘us selling our house’ is the part that I’m freaking out about.  Our house is really cute and we’ve made a lot of big improvements to it (ex:  kitchen, fence, roof, etc)  but I’m not looking forward to always having to have the house clean and leaving for showings.  Cross your fingers that it sells quickly if we end up putting it on the market.  If you live in the KC area and know of someone looking for a house, send them our way. 
• The plus side to possibly moving is that I didn’t have to put up a lot of Christmas decorations this year.  We put up our Christmas tree and brought out the Little People nativity, Christmas plates and cups for the boys and our wreath.  Pretty much everything else will stay packed up. 
• My boss is having surgery today and he’ll be out for 4-6 weeks.  I’m trying to work a little more while he’s gone.  Plus, money is always good when you are thinking of moving. 
• I have a surprise up my sleeve that I’m working on but can’t talk about yet.  Don’t y0u hate it when people do that:)
• I joined a book club.  We read The Girl from Foreign in November and are reading Thinking in Pictures now.  I also have a huge stack of library books that I’m trying to get through.  I just read The Help and couldn’t put it down.  I started The Hunger Games two nights ago.  So far, so good.  I had to return The Girl Who Played with Fire without even reading a page of it.  I’m bummed about that one.  I’ve reserved it from the library again and am hoping it doesn’t take another three months to get it.  As you can see, I don’t really buy many books.  I only buy the ones that I’ll read over and over again (and I do).

I heart Glee

These are my favorite Glee performances to date:

1.  Teenage Dream

2.  Poker Face (the video is a little slower than the music)

3.  Gives You Hell

4.  Toxic

5.  Sweet Caroline

6.  Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat – can you tell that Guys and Dolls is my favorite musical?

Did I miss any good ones?

Another one bites the dust

I hate squirrels.

Because it just never gets old

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Why I’m glad September is over

It was just a little crazy.

October

Here are some things that I am loving for October:

- Fall hand soap scents at Bath and Body.  I bought a few of the candied apple, cinnamon pumpkin and vanilla ones yesterday.

- These remote controlled pumpkin lights.  I think I’m going to have to buy it this year.  I’m always a little freaked out that our pumpkin will catch on fire, which will then spread to our front step and house. 

- Gymboree clothes.  Thank you for getting past the mainly orange and brown shirts – my kids cannot wear those colors.

- Things at work are slightly slowing down. 

- Open windows during the day.

- The fact that my dogs are barely shedding anymore.  Hallelujah!

8 years

In the eight years since Eric and I said “I do”, we’ve:

- started working

- purchased a house (and done multiple home improvements to said house)

- had two boys

- added two dogs to the mix

And that’s just the big stuff. 

It’s been a very busy but fun eight years.  Happy anniversary honey!

9 years ago

…I was in Amsterdam, with my driver yelling, “the Twin Towers, they’re gone, the Pentagon, it’s gone, the White House, it’s gone.”  That wasn’t quite 100% accurate, but not too far off either.

…I was in Amsterdam, trying to figure out what hell was going on back in the USA.

…I was in Amsterdam, absolutely horrified as I watched the news reports.  I still remember the shots they showed of the poor people choosing to jump to their death when trapped by the flames. 

…I was in Amsterdam, buying these papers:

…I was in Amsterdam, trying to get ahold of my family and friends.  Everyone was more than a little freaked out when they couldn’t get ahold of me.  I had a record number of voice mails when I got back to the US and was able to access them.

…I was in Amsterdam, trying to figure out if it would be better to stay in the Netherlands for a few extra days or go back to the US as soon as possible.   

…I was in Amsterdam, feeling bad for the stranded passengers that were trying to get home to the US but still not ready to have them on my flight.  I know that sounds horrible but our plane would have been full of fuel and passing right over the east coast.  In the end, our flight left with crew only a few nights later.

God bless all those who lost their lives on that day.

Unofficially

Unofficially it looks like both Eric and I are keeping our positions as precinct committeeman and committeewoman:)

CM OP R       Total Number of Precincts   1   Precincts Reporting   1 100.0 % Vote For   1   Total Votes   153   Times Blank Voted   41   Times Over Voted   0   ERIC R 85 55.56% E R 66 43.14% Write-in Votes   2 1.31%

CW OP R       Total Number of Precincts   1   Precincts Reporting   1 100.0 % Vote For   1   Total Votes   140   Times Blank Voted   54   Times Over Voted   0   SUZANNE R 138 98.57% Write-in Votes   2 1.43%

Additions to the mix

We went to Springfield to spend the day with my friend Annie and her family (specifically to meet her sweet little girl).  In the past ten years since college, Annie and I have added husbands - and now kids – to the mix.   

Re-election

Eric and I are up for precinct committeeman and committeewoman again.  No one is running against me (yet again) but Eric is up against another man. 

The primary elections are on August 3rd – wish us luck!

Delete

After six weeks of getting up at 6:30 (which is just wrong during the summer), I was finally able to delete all my alarms.  Kenny’s last day of swim team was on Saturday so we’ll be sleeping in the rest of the summer.  Definitely.

NY – day 2

I have to start out by saying thank you to Mike for doing all the touristy stuff with us because we really did a lot of it.

Day 2 began with a much needed trip to Starbucks before we headed over to the bus tours.  On the way over, Mike needed to stop at his bank to get some cash.  My mom and I were waiting for him at the corner next to the Radio City Music Hall when Mike called to say that if we walked towards the bank we would see the Dalai Lama.  That’s him in the red. 

The Dalai Lama waved to the crowd and quickly went inside the RCMH, where he has a speaking engagement, and we went on find a tour around the city.  We climbed on our bus, saw some NY sights,

(please ignore the other people taking their picture)

and hopped on and off when we felt like it.  We went to Union Square, where there was this great outdoor market going on with food, flowers and art.  That’s where I found the Super-Man and Batman pictures for the boys’ room.  We ate lunch in Greenwich Village out on a patio and made our way over to Canal Street to try to find some fake purses.  Mike said the sellers usually just sell their stuff out of suitcases on the side streets but the cops must have been cracking down on them because we had a hard time finding them.  We finally found some guys selling them out of trash bags and cars, but none that we loved so we moved on.  We caught the bus again (after a lot of walking – just because they say that a bus will pick up at a certain spot, doesn’t mean that it necessarily will) and made our way back to the start of our tour.  We had a little time to kill so we made a quick stop in Central Park and walked around a little bit. 

Then, it was time to go back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and a musical.  I can’t remember the name of the restaurant where we ate but it was a really good Italian place.  Plus, it took credit/debit cards.  I think it’s weird that you have to pay cash at so many restaurants in New York.  Anyways, after dinner we tried to walk to where Next to Normal was playing but my new shoes gave me huge blisters that popped while we were walking.  I made them hail a cab that drove us literally around the block.  But it was worth it and we got to the musical with minutes to spare.  I was really surprised at how small the theater was, especially when my mom paid so much more for our seats.  We seriously could have gotten the cheapest seats in there and we still would have had good seats.  Live and learn, huh?  Also, we bought our tickets ahead of time but you can buy tickets the morning of and get them pretty cheap.  You obviously have to be flexible in which shows you are willing to see but as long as you have a few in mind, you should be fine.  I think they say to be in line around 9 in the morning to get afternoon tickets and maybe 1 or 2 p.m. to get night ones.  Next to Normal was really good – it won a Pulitzer and three Tonys.  I won’t spoil it for anyone but it’s about a family where the mom is a little nuts.  There’s a big surprise in the story and you find out why she is like that and how the family deals with everything.  I was completely bawling at one point and I’m not a big crier.  The play was over around 10 or 10:30 so we took a taxi back to the hotel and went to bed. 

If you ever go to NY and need a good hotel to stay at, ours was great.  The Hilton was right down the street from Central Park, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, MoMA and theatres.  I highly recommend it. 

Next up….day 3.