PICTURES TO FOLLOW TOMORROW

Just an overview of what we have been up to.
School started back for me after MLK day. I have a full load of classes. I enjoy school. I like feeling like I am doing something productive. All of my classes are Tuesday and Thursday. I have homework hours Monday and Wednesday, I didn't have enough daycare hours with just the 2 days of school. I actually have been using my homework hours A LOT! I only have to take 1 math for my major and I am doing good in it so far I have a 93% but we are only 1/4 of the way through. I am also in Eng 1o2 - my teacher is out there and I have a Core Humanities class.
Back to my math teacher - he is tall and handsome and young oh yeah....and a math genius. I wish I had any friends I could set him up with! ahhaha sucks for the friends I don't have here.

Ava is doing great! She is talking and talking and talking. She has figured out that she can get on top of any surface she wants to if she pushes a dining chair to that surface she can get on top of the counters and the table. I have begun to put the chairs upside down when we aren't using them. She is just getting the cutest and funnest personality. When it's nigh nigh time she has to say goodnight to all of the pictures on our entertainment center, Grandma and Grandpa, Lexa and Riley and Baby Jase and Naliea, Mario and Evan. I mean everyone. It is funny. I am so thankful for her. When I threw out my back last wednesday I was just bending over to give her some snacks and I fell instantly to the floor. As I was crying out for help she brought me the phone, my cell phone, the remote control, she even was able to move the dowel in the kitchen sliding glass door, she was moving it to bang it on the floor - but made it possible for someone to get into the house!

Brooklyn's schedule is keeping me busy as usual! I made the mistake of telling her if it is a school activity she could do it! So Monday she has band and then sign language club after school, then indoor soccer practice after school. Tuesday she has basketball games, (soccer and basketball only overlap for one more month) Wednesday she has yearbook at 7:30am then the same schedule as Monday. Thursday she has math club after school. Friday she has Thinking Cap at 7:15am, they are an academic debate team. The math club and academic were programs that she had to get invited to participate in. I am thrilled that she is so active - I just wish she had her own car! ahahaha maybe in Jr. High her activities will slow down a bit as she figures out what her passions are.

Don is still busy! His schedule doesn't change much. He is getting closer and closer to graduation and I can't wait! He will start applying for jobs in May. We are praying that our house sells by then. We would rather rent for a few months and be out from underneath this house so we have no ties that bind us here. He is actually the one pressing hard for Vegas. I love him so much.
I am not one to gush. I am so thankful for him. He is determined and caring and thoughtful. He really is the perfect man and you all should be jealous! haha

So i will be posting pictures soon --hopefully by tomorrow

SERIOUSLY

So, seriously, I am selling our house. I have listed it on Zillow and on Craigslist. We may consider doing a lease to buy type situation with the right person. We aren't asking a lot for the house. I am asking $199,000. Please --- if you know anyone who is interested and can qualify please have them contact me. We have completely remodeled the kitchen, custom cherry wood cabinets and pergo flooring. Bathrooms have been completely remodeled also, sure we have projects that we are still working on but will not have time to finish.

Next Sunday, Feb 22nd we will be having a family fast and prayer meeting that we will be able to get out from under our house so that when Don gets the job offer in May we won't have the house worry then. Please alert the presses!!

Pray it works out!

Last Wednesday I had a horrible back spasm. It knocked me to the floor, I couldn't move. I cried and cried and Ava cried with me. I texted everyone I know here in this God forsaken town and heard from no one. I could not feel my right leg and my toes were increasingly numb. I seriously thought I would have suffered major nerve damage and loose feeling in my feet (yes dramatic - but I was scared!) I have a long history of sciatica, but this was by far the worst it has ever been. Don came rushing home from work to find me almost 2 hours lying in the same spot. Every move or twitch I would make would make my back spasm even more and I would cry more. Ava was so sweet, she brought me my cell phone, the home phone and even the remote control. I was in the middle of the kitchen floor so the remote did me no good. Don was able to get a hold of Amanda (Sean's wife) and she came to take Ava for a ride and pick Brooklyn up from school. We called an ambulance, as I could not even stand. The ER here sucks. They just kept giving me Demerol and all kinds of narcotics. I just wanted a muscle relaxer to stop the spasms in my lower back. I was permanently stuck on my left side. It was horrible. I am more mobile today, and feeling slightly better. My "AHA" moment came as I lie crying to myself and to Ava that I could honestly lie her until 8:30 when Don was supposed to get home from work. No one had answered my pleas for help. I need to be home. I need to be back in Vegas. Where I can count on people. For crying out loud I was on the floor for 2 hours! My Mom and Dad could have made it to Vegas from Hurricane in that amount of time. So we are house shopping for Vegas right now. Hoping that by the time Don graduates College in May we should have a job offer by June and be out of this town in June. We are prequalled for 200k which, right now buys you a hell of a lot in Vegas !!! We need to come up w/ 3% and closing costs by then. And we need to figure out what we are going to do with this house. I put it up on Craigslist, trying to sell it only for what we owe on it - we are also willing to rent to buy to the right person. If you know anyone who wants to rent or buy in Carson please send them our way, we have done a ton of work to this house, there are a few projects that need to be done, but we are working on them - nah...not really! I am done with Projects on this house! hahaha Great first time home - great investment property!!! Please pray that our plans work out. I need my family and friends again!

# 257

This week I have encountered reason # 257 why I hate Carson City, oh but well, who's counting anymore.
It really sucks when your "best friends" and even some family know what your vocation is and how you make a living and still choose to employ others to list their homes and take them to see new homes. Oh, well C'este la vie. Makes it easier to leave this place.

Hero

Since this has been so fun to read for everyone else – I followed the rules and some of my answers are HYSTERICAL – You can’t make this stuff up!

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
.
If someone says "Is this ok?" you say? When I See You Smile – Bad English
How would you describe yourself? Lose Yourself – Eminem
What do you like in a guy/girl? Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm – That’s why I love him!
How do you feel today? Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynrd - I must be missing family?What is your life’s purpose? Gold Digger – Kayne West – Hahahahahahaa True Nuf True Nuf
What is your motto? Doin’ Just Fine – Boyz II Men – See I am a glass half full kinda girl
What do your friends think of you? Da Butt – EU --hahahahahahhahaha Yes, Yes this is nothing new!
What do you think of your parents? Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin - They live to far away!
What do you think about very often? Sunny Day – Deana Carter – I actually like the rain we have been getting – but I would love a tan!
What is 2 + 2? – Imagine _ John Lennon – I must be feeling pretty introspective
What do you think of your best friend? Defying Gravity – Wicked – MAY WE NEVER SAG!!!
What do you think of the person you like? Rock Me Tonite – Billy Squier – He will be glad to hear this!
What is your life story? I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me – Billie Holiday – Ah, how sweet.
What do you want to be when you grow up? God Only Know- Beach Boys – Aint that the truth?!?!? My Ipod is like the stinking magic 8 ball!
What do you think of when you see the person you like? My Immortal - Evanescence
What will you dance to at your wedding? Girls, Girls, Girls – Jay Z – HAHAHAHAHA Can you imagine dancing to Jay – Z in the church ?
What will they play at your funeral? Black Man’s Struggle – Ludacris – Hahahaahaaa no comment
What is your hobby/interest? I wanna Talk About Me - Toby Keith - - hahaaha aha You can't make this up! This is again, true
What is your biggest fear? Knockin Boots – Candyman - no comment
What is your biggest secret? Centerfold – The J. Geils Band - Umm, Yeah…about that….
What do you think of your friends? Evolution – Korn - Always changing
What will you post this as? Hero – Enrique Iglesias

25 Random Things about me

I posted these on Facebook, but this is for those of you who still don't have a Facebook! I tag anyone who wants to do it

1. I have never eaten a McDonalds Hamburger, Hot Dog or bologna

2. My bedroom growing up was "pepto pink” Pink is still one of my favorite colors

3. Mauve is my least favorite color - it makes me want to gag

4. I am not afraid of needles, shots, giving blood - good thing since I had to do fsh shots in the stomach!

5. Girls Camp 1995 5th year hike we went on a 30 mile back pack - on one leg of the hike we swam in a stream and then hung our bras in the tent to dry - well when I woke up there was a BAT hanging in my bra. The men with us had to inspect my bra and then cut the bats teeth out of the lace! I think it was Kristy Kleinman’s Dad and Heather Clove’s Dad?

I broke my arm in the 1st grade having a jump out of the swing contest w/ my brother….I lost …but that’s when I met Greta we both had broken arms – I think hers may have been a wrist

My top 10 things on my ‘bucket list’ are sporting events – I celebrate Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Playoffs and The World Series like holidays!

The remaining 90 have to do with traveling. After Ava’s in college I want to buy a big RV and just drive all over Country.

I used to think my Dad made us go to Disneyland to torture us. We went 1-2 times a year and we wanted to go to Magic Mountain…no such luck.

I like Disneyland now – it’s different when you have kids and you don’t go all of the time.

I broke my leg while volunteering for the Special Olympics Winter Games near Tahoe – WALKING! Then called myself a retard multiple times before I realized where I was.

I had to have said leg operated on – but made the Dr. wait a week because we had a Disneyland Vacation to get to. I spent Disneyland in a wheel chair – not a bad deal through fantasy land.

I sometimes pretend that I don’t speak English to avoid talking to people.

I had crazy anger issues from the ages of , oh….9-17 and I am totally embarrassed to talk to people who knew me then – so yeah this facebook thing is good for me!

I am a good cook and baker – a crappy house keeper

I love helping people who appreciate your time and effort

I love and miss my family – all the immediate and extended and wish for a big holiday dinner

I am deathly afraid of moths and I don’t like butterflies – pretty much anything that jumps or flies I hate.

I wish all of my friends and family would realize that living in Las Vegas stinks and move up to the Greater Carson City, Reno, Sparks area!

I am allergic to Oxy pimple cream – I used it once in high school and I woke up with a swollen face.

Stephanie Englestead and I pierced our belly buttons using ice cubes and diaper pins – then my mom ripped it out New Years Eve 1994! OUCH!

I am so thankful that my horrible taste in men wore off right before I met Don. He is just the perfect Yin to my Yang

I dig old people – I love listening to stories about the good old days

I have donated my hair twice to Locks of Love

I like to sing and wish I could do it better

APPOLOGIES ALL AROUND

Sorry I flipped and verbally assaulted my friends. I came down with the flu today and I don't think I was of sound mind yesterday. As for my music selection I am still looking for tunes. However, normally I listen to the Wicked sound track or phantom or grease, I have eclectic taste. Just for the gym I need something more motivating.

I think I am over the party ....my pity party anyway. I know it will be fun. sorry for the verbal abuse and pity party!

ps thanks for the comments! hahaha

No love??

First of all ----you all suck!! I asked for some help! I need some tunes! If you are just passing through comment! GEEZ! All the crap I get from you people when I don't post and then when I do no one comments! Geez - no love

In a nut shell - I am always conflicted as to my feelings about Carson City. I love the area, no lie. I love the trees, the snow, the mountains, the seasons, the leaves in the fall, that people here think we live in a desert, and that Lake Tahoe is a stones throw from my house (assuming you can throw pretty hard). I love that Brooklyn has been able to be a part of so many fabulous opportunities - the big fish or even medium fish in a small pond is very much in effect here.
I however, still struggle with the people. I have found it very hard to make friends, now that I am going to school I have become friends with a woman who has a similar demographic, married, kids 30+ and a freshman in college. Outside of her I don't have many friends, although I try the people I have come across are flaky at best. So now I am in a position where I was asked to throw a baby shower for a friend from church. Flash back 17 months or so to my baby shower that was given to me by some friends from church and the 5 people that showed up. I am not bitter over the people that came it is all the fake people who kiss your ass to your face and act all phony to your face and then don't even bother making an appearance at your baby shower and it isn't like I am the girl who is on her 4th and having ANOTHER baby shower from the same ward. - it was my first in 10 years - pretty much I was in need. So I am fighting this bitter feeling throwing a shower for on of the throwers of mine. I am more organized and plan things better, my shower I feel was kinda thrown together, not many people knew about it. So I am fighting feeling bitter, that people will be there, more people will be there then were there for mine. She is going to get gifts that I had to pay for out of my own pocket etc etc etc. And I know this is her first kid in 5 years but still, I am planning like I am going to have fun - but I know I am going to get there and just get my feelings hurt. I know that will be my choice to get hurt feelings but I may not be able to help it. I told Holly, I am going to have to buy myself that $80.00 stroller I want as my late baby shower gift, after this shower!

Don always mentions moving back to Vegas. He wants to. I am the one digging in my heels. We moved here to be close to his kids. Brooklyn has opportunities here that I am not sure she would have down there. I am making friends, just not church people, is this one of those things that parents sacrifice for their kids? Brooklyn has great friends and is involved with everything. Not to mention I don't know what we would do with this house if we moved? I guess after Don's graduation if he gets a job offer in Vegas we will move - ???? I am hoping the Lord knows what he is doing with all of this.

Help!

I need to reorganize my 'gym mix' on my Ipod. Not 50's In da club and Em's Shake That, can ever get old - I just need a little something more.

So this is an all points bulletin what's in your gym mix? I need some up tempo stuff - stuff that makes you want to dance and shake your butt --- which actually today at the gym I was on the elliptical and I caught myself dancing? funny.

Vegas Baby!!

WOOT TEE WOOOT!!!!

So we are coming to Vegas in April! Sweet!! Don't get your hopes up for a lot of door to door visits though. Haha

My poor has endured Vegas with me many times over the passed 4 years - however he has never done anything Vegas has to offer. When we are there it is always all about who we have to visit. So this time we are renting a room just off the Strip on Paradise (discounted by the condom hotel) and I promised him that we could do "touristy" things. The things I always over look doing because I have already. We actually will be driving down Saturday the 11th and staying at Holly's house Saturday. We check into our hotel Sunday and doing the Vegas stuff until Wednesday when we will be going to Utah to visit my Grandma and Parents.

Now, I am not saying that we won't see anyone --- but you know this is supposed to be a vacation! So plan on hanging out with us on the Strip if you want to see us! : )

Jan. 20, 2009

I am finally getting to watch the Inauguration. ( I had class all day)

I am so proud right now. I am proud that I am a citizen of this country. I am proud that I got to witness history. I loved Obama's speech. It almost made me want to change my vote. I feel hopeful. I hope that he is able to live up to what he says.
I loved the look on his wife's face while he was being sworn in, she was so proud and it has rubbed off on me. I want to believe him - I want to believe in him.

Anyway regardless of how the next 4 years go - I am proud to have been witness to this day.

trying to live without pretense!

About 3 weeks ago Holly told me about a book she was reading.
Dave Ramsey, "Total Money Makeover". She told me a bit of Dave Ramsey's story and I wanted to know more. We bought the book (using an Xmas gift card)

I read the book in a day. I stayed up until 3am planning out our financial future applying the simplest principals, that I admittedly have known about and have talked about doing, before. If we stick with this plan we could be debt free including our house and have a ton socked away for retirement in about 21 years. Out of debt in less than 1 and our house in about 15, student loans paid off too!

The concepts aren't rocket science. They are simple. The life style changes are what is hard. When you are so used to getting whatever you want and when you want it you never have to save! Well that is a thing of the passed.

Dave Ramsey's first step is to get $1,000.00 saved. He gives all kinds of ways to get that done.
I began taking a look around at all of our EXCESS!! 3 laptops and 1 computer, 3 cars, nordic track elliptical...etc etc etc. Well, they are all paid for, I say to myself. We DESERVE them, I also say. Then I have the memory of a friend of mine and a quote in the book that keep ringing in my head.
My friend Lindsey (my marathon runner friend), she had a great job, she made great money, she bought herself her dream car, a Lexus. Her husband lost his job, she was pregnant and not going back to work, she sold Lexus and bought a Jetta (or other VW). Still a respectable car. Was it easy? Hell no, she didn't know how to drive a stick for one and for 2 she had to give up her brand new car. I will always admire that. Then the quote from the book, " You can't afford to be pretentious!"

So with that resonating in my head, " We can't afford to be pretentious, we can't afford to put on airs". Don and I talked about selling a car. We chose the Kia, it's the older car and it has had a good run. I listed it on Craigslist Tuesday night. We had a guy call that night to come by Thursday and check it out. He paid cash for it Thursday morning he didn't even try to haggle the price! Now we have our savings and are well on our way to paying off the credit card!

I listed the Nordic Track Elliptical coat rack on Craigslist this afternoon after being unable to sell it at the yard sale and I have someone coming by tomorrow to check it out.

It has been hard to let go of our "extra" car and these other things. (I have listed a ton of stuff on craigslist). I know it's just a Kia yadda yadda yadda however the more crap that you have that you don't need is a sign of success these days. And it's hard to redefine yourself.

We want to live like no one else now, so we can live like no one else later! (another Ramsey quote)

Any way I am excited about our progress that we have made to date and I am excited about our future.

I recommend that everyone read the book, the first few chapters are snoozers - but it does get exciting and motivating!

Just because....

Just because it is sunny outside doesn't mean it is warm!

We have had a very depressing winter. Very little snow or rain. The days warm up to 50ish.

Our neighbor Bill, decided to take advantage of the sunshine and have a yard sale. We thought we could afford to get rid of some things too. We started at 8am. I was up at 7 getting stuff together and organized outside. By 7:14 I couldn't feel the tips of my fingers. It looks so delightfully sunny! Pay no attention to the fact that the thermostat reads 17 degrees.

Ugh. So, pretty much we spent the morning out side and freezing. We did get in a couple of games of Horse w/ Brooklyn during the slow times.

All in all we had a successful yard sale. We made almost $100.00 and were able to go to Target and buy a second car seat. We have been moving this big honkin monster back and forth for 5 months now. It will definitely make our lives easier!