Two Weeks Ago....

Here are a few pictures to help cool you off.

This is what we woke up to the morning I was supposed to have my garage sale. Was I ever crabby!Two weeks ago it looked like this. So if your complaining about how hot it is, be glad it's not snowing. :)

( Sorry about the hodge podge order of pictures, I updated my blogger and this is what it did. I don't like it, and will monkey with it to get it back to normal. Have a good Wednesday!)

Chapters

I believe our lives consist of different chapters. Kind of like in a book. Each big event in your life is a new one. Some are very short, and some are quite long. Last night I finished one chapter, and today started a whole new one.
 
Last night was my final night at Target. I've worked there for almost two years, and they've always been great about working around my limited availability due to Aaron's constantly changing school schedule. And it was easy. Mindless really. I mean, how hard is it to push stuff across a scanner, and let a computer do all the math for you? Not hard. I got rather bored, and realized that we needed something new. Well my CNA certification was due for renewal in July, and I hadn't worked my eight hours as an aide in a nursing home or hospital within the past two years. So I decided to fill out some applications to a few of the N. Homes down here and see what happened. The day I turned one in, I had an interview on the spot and was hired a half hour later. Can't say I saw that happening. This was two weeks ago.

Flash forward to my first shift working at M ( the nursing home) today. It was great! I was so nervous last night about working as a full time mom, thinking of the sacrifices that I feel as if I will be making, But I then rationalized that I probably won't be missing out on all that much. I will work 2:30-10:30, 40 hours a week, and starting in August, I'll have available health insurance. WAHOO! :) That alone will be worth the forty hours a week away from my kids. PLUS, I'll have 40 hours of paid vacation that I HAVE to use before the end of December. I don't foresee that being a problem. That blows my mind. I've never had paid vacation before.... wait scratch that. I did when I worked at The Home for the Aged in high school. Just think, insurance and paid vacation and a big pay raise.  This job is the best thing that has happened for us in a while. It was time. I am excited. I worked day shift this morning, and realized how much I missed it. It's the people you take care of that make your days. I was reminiscing about all the people that have a place in my heart. Many of them have since passed away, but each of them I can tell you a special memory about them that made them so great to me.

I feel lucky to have been able to get a job that will so well support our family while giving us health insurance. It's not easy to come by these days without being so expensive. I'm not worried about the hands my kids will be in, because Aaron will be home with them. I'm thinking of it as a learning experience for both of us. To each see what it's like to be in reversed roles. I'm sure I'll appreciate the things he's done, and hopefully vice versa. He has promised to help keep the house clean, and cook supper for the kids. I think maybe he'll even try to do laundry! I don't mind the laundry, I just don't think I'll be able to be a full time housewife, and a full time mother. I'm sure there are amazing women out there who have to be, but I'm lucky that I have a great man who loves me and wants to make this new transition easier for me.

So... here is to a new chapter. A happy chapter that I'm now after today, really excited about. Lets hope it stays that way. I'm looking forward to meeting all the new personalities, and creating new memories, and to the stories I'm going to be able to share. Wish me luck! I may need it!

Poor Guy!

I brought him in this morning because he'd been running a high fever all week since Monday and has been not his usual happy little self. After I'd called and scheduled his apt., I was second guessing my instinct to bring him to the Dr's and almost called to cancel because he seemed like he was perking up. But I decided to be better safe than sorry. Good thing I listened to my mom instinct! It has never let me down, he's got an ear infection that the Dr described as pussy and bulgy in his ear ( it wasn't even red on the outside, and he never pulled at it to my knowledge) and a touch of bronchitis. So he's on antibiotics for the ear, and an inhaler for the lungs. The pharmacist gave us a tube and mask for him to use with the inhaler so it gets in his lungs right. He thinks it's hilarious! Every time he has to use it, we fit it over his little nose and mouth like we're supposed to, and he gets the giggles. At least I know he's taking good breaths and getting that medicine in him! :) Here's to hoping he sleeps better, and that because he sleeps, that means Aaron and I will get some sleep. With that thought, goodnight!

S'Mores

We roasted S'Mores in our yard fire pit the other night. They were yummy! Totally gave me the itch to go camping as well. Too bad our tent broke with the last snow storm we had almost two weeks ago. :( I might have to post pictures on here just to show you how bad it was here.

Jenna only ended up eating half of hers. She was more interested in roasting and eating the marshmellows.

Logan had a grahm cracker. And loved every bite.

Cooling it off so it can be eaten.

This kid? He mowed down every bite. And was quite the mess when he was finished. :)

A Hiking We Did Go

We decided on Saturday to go for a hike around P. Isle as it was such a beautiful day. I am glad we did it. The kids had a blast, and the many views around the Isle were beautiful.

Jenna and Travis at one of our stops to enjoy the view of Superior.

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It made me nervous to have all of my little family at the top of this rock without me there. But they did fine, and made it down safely.

The water was super clear the entire walk. Combine that with blue skies, it was perfect. We truly do live in God's Country.

Green Bay Garage Sales

So Jennie made it home from Alaska, and just over 24 hours later I swept her away to Green Bay for some garagbe sales. Let me tell you, it was GREAT! We SO don't have sales like that here where I live. I found so so so many good deals! I couldn't believe it. I just kept waiting to hit a dud, but I don't think there were more than three or four sales that we went to that I didn't buy anything and we went to lots. Jenna is now completely set for summer and pretty much for the fall now as well. I still can't believe the good deals I got! She's got pants, skirts, shorts, shirts and dresses. I also was able to add a bit more to her dress up box that we've got started. The girl plays dress-up every day all day long. I also found a bunch of Polly pockets and the clothes that go with them. Needless to say she was one very happy little girl when I got home Friday night.

But my best deal of all had to be the kid carrier backpack I found at a garage sale for 20 dollars and the two Fischer price little people sets I got for 15 together. We actually used the backpack today when hiking around a local park this afternoon. Aaron loved it! All three kids rode in it at some point. We rotated between that and the stroller. It sure made a big difference to have a decent pack for the kids.

I also scored a little tyke slide for the yard and a kitchen set for Jenna's play shed. They could hardly wait this morning to use them! It's fun for them to have more outside toys that are fine staying out there. Also, a good deal I got at the Goodwill down there was a kids size folding table and chairs. Perfect for dinner company with extra kids and for picnics outside.

But I've got company coming over tonight for sauna, so I should go get ready. More on my garage sale trip soon!

Happy Birthday Annie!

Happy Birthday Yesterday to my sister Annie! She turned eleven if I'm remembering right! :) Hope you had a happy day Ann! Love you! I got a full time afternoon position at a local nursing home. I'm VERY excited. The pay is better, I'll have steadier hours and hopefully insurance again. I can't even imagine how much this will make life just a little bit easier for us. I start orientation next week, and I gave my two week notice yesterday.
Speaking of, I need to call the nursing home to let them know when I can start. Later! :)

Pictures of Eleanna Joy

Meet Eleanna. Her mom and dad are Alanna and Tony. She makes niece number 11 for me.

The new big sister. :) Her mom says she's been really good with her! They'll have fun together when they get older. Sisters are a blessing. I sure love all five of mine!

Travis was instantly in love with her. This boy really likes babies. :) He just couldn't get enough of her, wanting to pet her and kiss her cheeks every five minutes. I took him with to play with Teija, but he was more interested in Eleanna instead, little stinker.

Logan's 1st Haircut

I was told by Aaron this morning, that Logan will be getting his first hair cut. He's been saying for a long time that he needs one, but I refused to let him until he turned one. So we put the sauna on tonight, and gave both boys a haircut before hand. I hate first hair cuts. I get a little bit emotional because as a friend of mine said this morning " The first haircut ushers them out of babyhood." And to me, that totally says it all. They aren't acting so much like babies anymore, but little people, and now they look it too.

The back before Daddy brought out the clippers.

He sat still with no problems! If anything, the clippers almost put him to sleep he got so relaxed! I remember giving Travis his first hair cut, and he had to be bribed with a sucker. It was so hairy by the time we were done. :) But not Logan. I was really surprised at how good he was.

And the result: A big boy.

He looks so different! I kept looking at him tonight, wondering who this little boy is and where did my baby go? It took me many hours, but I will admit, I do kind of like it. I liked it long too, but it was getting a bit out of control. It'll grow back, and then I can cut it the way I like it. In the meantime, I'll just get used to it. :)

A Little Bit of This

There are never enough hours in a day sometimes. I'm trying to get ready for a garage sale this weekend ( it's rumored on the news that it's going to snow. I'm refusing to let it. If it snows, I'll be having a chat with the weather man. :) ) and am finding out how much work it is! I've been working lots again, being a mom and wife, and Aaron is gone in the mornings working on his side job. So it seems as if the only time I have to work on getting ready is either during the day with the kids digging in all the treasures that are going in the sale, or in the evening from ten to one in the morning! Throw in donating plasma twice a week into the mix, and that makes for a very busy Me! I'll be glad when it's over.

Travis did just fine with his surgery. His teeth are nice and clean, and it feels like we have a clean slate to start with again. He was a trooper. Slept for about three hours after we got home, and then slept like ten hours that night.

Logan learned how to pull himself up into a standing position this weekend at Grandma and Papa L's house. He's pretty proud of himself. We went up there to see my new little niece, Eleanna. Her mom and dad are Alanna and Tony. She sure looks like her big sister. :) I'll post a picture later. They are still on my camera and have'nt been loaded onto the computer. You forget how little babies are when they are born! I'm so used to my little Logan, who turns out to be not so little after all! Eleanna was eight pounds, so she wasn't a super tiny baby either. But there is just something about those newborns. :) Loretta is next, I'm sure she can't wait, and neither can we!