tugandregina

updates

2011-09-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

i guess i need a new header:

the gymnast decided to quit. she said it wasnt fun anymore

the swimmer switched to diving. both older girls are diving and playing soccer

the tennis player is playing tball and loves it

the ballerina still wants to be a ballerina

the baby is a toddler. . . and, unfortunately, she's sick right now (just a cold)

hello out there

2011-09-07T23:47:00.001-07:00

just thought i'd say hi

it's hot in az

we live in az now and have for a few months

it's been hot each and every month

Gymnastics check in

2011-01-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

whoooo hooo, the season has kicked into gear. . . are you excited?

this meet we have:

vault: 9.3 (HER FIRST 9+, in the interest of full disclosure, the judge was scoring very high on vault)

bars: 7.8, over-rotated her mill circle-bummer!

beam: 8.9

floor: 8.7, she got her back handspring. head not close to the floor AT ALL. so proud of her!

don't click on the 'related videos' it shows after you play these. anyone know why photobucket does that now and how to change it??

Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

First 'real' meet

2010-12-14T16:43:00.001-08:00

{r} had her first swim meet this weekend (this summer was a just for fun league, this is real swim team now). She swam the 25 free, 25 back, 50 free, the free leg of the 200 medley (so another 50 free) and a leg of the 200 free relay (another 50 free). She didn't win any of the races but she was pretty close in all which i hear is pretty good for her first time. When watching the videos, i realized her starts were awesome. . . now she just needs to perfect the stroke and she would zoooom to victory.

Proof of the good starts:
huge lead popping up to start the 50 free. . . came in last.
slight lead to start the 25 free (closest lane), came in 3rd out of 3.

another good lead to start the 25 back. the girl in the closest lane had already taken two strokes before {r} popped up. the other girl went on to win, {r} was 2nd (out of 3).

here she is going in on the medley relay.

and going in on the free relay.

Again, if she could just get that stroke down she'd be golden! ~~I'll post videos soon.~~ video in post below

video of meet

2010-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

technically, i know nothing about swimming. here is {r}s 25 free--in my untechnical opinion, she needs to not twist her body so much while swimming. there are times you can see the side of her leg, when you should only be able to see her butt, i think. she is in the closest lane, aside from the boy in the closest, closest lane. they don't swim against boys, he was just the only boy for that event so they combined the events to make the meet go more quickly.

and on to her backstroke. in my uneducated opinion, she needs to get her legs up and out of the water more.

is this thing on?

2010-12-03T00:12:00.000-08:00

ahh, the old stomping grounds. how i have (sort of) missed you. i am far too busy nowadays to come up with blog posts.

tug travels A LOT (out of 18 days, starting 11/30, he will be home for 3) so i have a lot of kids i have to watch.

and i work a lot (type, type, type).

and there's facebook which lets me check on everyone and i only have to come up with a sentence every once in a while, not a whole post. so, if you want to find me, facebook friend me.

on a funner note (no, funner ain't a word), my younger sister-in-law (the only one younger, the other two are older. WAY older) who has a cutsie lil' 3 month old challenged {c} to a 'biggest cheeks in the family' contest. We took that challenge.

How could we not?

You don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

My sil conceded, {c} wins! (all 3 pictures are of {c} since I didn't get my sil permission to post pics of her lil' one)

See y'all in about 2 months (unless you are my friend on FB)

7 nov 10 gymnastics meet

2010-11-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

Lucky for you guys there isn't another meet until next year. {l} went up in score on each event except vault, but she was doing a harder vault (with an extra 8" mat, so we can't really compare those scores). On floor, her coach asked {l} if she wanted her to go out on the mat during the back handspring. {l} said sure, but didn't realize it was a 0.5 point deduction. Had she actually touched {l} and given her a spot it would have been a full point.

vault: 8.75

bars: 8.25

beam: 8.20

floor: 7.90

first level four meet

2010-10-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

{l} had her first meet yesterday and aside from a bobble on her bars (back hip circle connecting to and including the dismount) and losing her balance on beam (and jumping off) she did really well!!! oh, and she is still working on that back handspring--despite the look, she assures me she did not hit her head. I forgot her scores but I think it was 7.8 on floor and bars, 8.0 on beam and 8.8 on vault.

and, just to not play favorites, here is {r} from the last swim meet during the summer

while daddy was sleeping in denver

2010-09-30T00:44:00.000-07:00

away on business, daddy is sleeping in denver

the kids decided to build a fort in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy is sleeping in denver

the kids decided to sleep in the forth

they built in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy is sleeping in denver

at midnight, {s} got a stuffy nose

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

{s} started crying

from her stuffy nose at midnight

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

{j} woke up because

{s} started crying

from her stuffy nose at midnight

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

{j} then went pee because

he woke up due to

{s}'s crying

from her stuffy nose at midnight

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

{c} started crying from being awoken by

{j} going pee because

he woke up due to

{s}'s crying

from her stuffy nose at midnight

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

mom then got up to check on {c}

who was crying from being awoken by

{j} going pee because

he woke up due to

{s}'s crying

from her stuffy nose at midnight

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

and so here mom types

with {c} on her lap

and {j} and {s} in her bed

thanks to a stuffy nose

while sleeping in the fort

they build in {j} and {c}'s room

while daddy was sleeping in denver

Where've you been?

2010-09-17T10:02:00.003-07:00

Long time no type.

Actually, I've been typing a lot, just not here.

Here's a video of {l} doing a round-off back handspring. She is still working on perfecting it. She also informed me that she did not hit her head while doing it, though I thought she had.

Pretty in pink

2010-08-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

isn't she. . .

well, most the time.

oh yeah, ijealous no more, cuz i gots my own itoy!!

ijealous

2010-08-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

with tug's new job -- hmm, did i ever mention tug got a new job? i think i did. didn't i?? if not, tug got a new job -- came a new car. a company provided car. a car we don't have to pay squat for. AWESOME. not so awesome, tug already had a car. a car we had to pay squat for. a car we were paying too much squat for. so, we got it paid off and offered it to those in our homeschool group for pretty cheap. we also listed it on craigslist for $1000 more than we did to the homeschool group. we got an email inquiry from craigslist and one from someone in the homeschool group. we ended up selling to the homeschool group family which we were really happy about.

tug got a new toy with some of the money.

it'll come in handy for all the plane rides he is/will be taking. hmm, a brand new car AND a new toy. i think he likes the new job!

it's a family tradition

2010-08-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

If at first you don't succeed
try
try
again

bubbles under water

2010-08-04T23:56:00.000-07:00

the girls' last swim meet (possibly, might be one more) was this past weekend.
and nothing says swim meet at the end of july like a blanket.
it was cold.
i digress. {r} worked up the nerve to go off the blocks.
she pretty much went straight down though so there was a lot of underwater swimming just to try and resurface.
based on her age she should only be swimming 25 meters, but she likes to swim up a level to do 50s. on saturday she threw in her version of a flip turn. tug and i had a good laugh about that.
she is now saying she wants to drop gymnastics to try and be on the swim team at the Y.

and she wants to do tennis.

and dance.

and soccer.

and. . .

here's {j}.

and {r}
and {l}. that {l}, she doesn't want to do any sport besides gymnastics. i did get her to admit tonight though that swim team has been fun.
she even worked up the nerve to go off the blocks.

so what if i coaxed her.

coaxed means bribed.
all it took was telling her they could pick up food for lunch (ie: fast food) and she could get a movie to put on to her ipod. oh, and all it really took was a fellow friend saying she'd go off the blocks if {l} did.
that friend is the one still sitting on the blocks while {l} is already diving in, catlike reactions that one. the other girl still beat her in the actual swim.

and, here's a wink from {s}.
do you smell what the {j} is cooking??
and cute little chicharone as we usually call her.
WOW, two posts in two days. dont call it a comeback.

Tennis

2010-08-03T18:31:00.001-07:00

i don't think i ever said here that regan got dropped (AGAIN) from her gymnastics. as part of a 'clearing out, let's try some new stuff' campaign (how i got her to drop baton) i said she could try some new sports. she decided on tennis. then she started gymnastics at a different YMCA (so she could still try the competitive route). tennis never happened. now she says she wants to drop gymnastics altogether and try something else. i said no dice. i will let her drop gymnastics but she has to finish out the month so she isn't making the decision on a whim.
i did finally let her start tennis though. When we were ready to leave {l} decided she wanted to give it a try.
that's {j}, then {l}, then {r}, then some random little girl. i should stop forgetting my zoom-ish lens.

unfortunately another coach came and took {l}, {r} and two other kids who showed up late outside therefore i have no photos of them. so, you only get a shot of {j} with a swing and a miss. . . notice the ball behind him.
i think one of {j}s favorite things was picking up the balls.
{r} and {j} gave tennis big thumbs up. {j} just yelled, "I LOVE TENNIS. i want to do it forever. . . except the nights i am doing hip hop." oh, he starts hip hop dancing next week.

not surprisingly, {l} gave it a big thumbs down. she is the type who if she isn't good at something, she doesn't want to do it. i've already paid for three additional lessons so she has to give those a go, then she can quit if she wants.

hope i can get some pictures of that hip hop!

Baby books

2010-07-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

I am not a baby book type person. The eldest four do have baby books and first year calendars, but they are rather lackluster. Lots of blank pages.

tangent--I tried to be a scrapbooker, too. I bought lots of supplies. I have maybe 15 pages total, 10 of {l}, 5 of {r}, a big goose egg for {j} and {s}.

I didn't have a baby book growing up and didn't need counseling for it, so I never really thought they were a big deal. For each of her four kids my sister-in-law (the rancher one) would write in their baby calendar daily. DAILY. Something written in each day.

"Sucked on my boob again today, good boy."

I don't think she ever actually wrote that.

The kids, though, like looking through their mostly blank baby books and first year calendars so I figured I should at least buy them for {c} -- because it is totally apropos to pay $64 for something you will leave mostly blank.

Here's what I got (minus the baby on the front):

Advice please

2010-07-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

oh wise ones who have kids older than mine and have gone through this before, what advice do you give to a child when people she considered friends decide not to really be her friend anymore??

i did the usual, "be nice no matter what, don't exclude people, try to branch out to make new friends." easy for an adult to comprehend, hard for a heart broken kid to.

any advice??

How many licks does it take

2010-07-27T11:38:00.001-07:00

to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
A ONE. . .
A TWO. . .
A THREE. . .
Happy 3rd birthday to our tootsie pop loving little {s}.

replace tootsie pop with the word gum in that last sentence.

and just for fun, here she is with her sisters.

Racer

2010-07-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Decidedly not speed racer though. {r} decided she wanted to be on our pool's swim team this year. She has never been on a swim team. She doesn't even know how to do the required strokes (aside from freestyle) but, luckily, this is an entirely 'for fun' league. Her first swim meet was this past Saturday. She came in last (including relays) in all but one race (finished 3rd out of 4) but she had a great time (she swam 25m free, 25m butterfly, 25m backstroke for the medley relay--no one wanted to swim backstroke so she said she would--, and 50m free for the 4x50 free relay). She was afraid to go off the blocks but Tug worked with her later on dives and I think this weekend she might give the blocks a go. She is in lane 4.

{l} didn't want to do swim team but I made her sign up so she could get the workouts in (I make her go to the half hour daily practices, but told her she didn't have to do the meets if she didn't want to). After seeing this meet, she has decided to give it a try next weekend (I think she was nervous she wouldn't do well but after seeing people cheer on even the last place straggler, she now realizes it is just for fun).

And, just to give you some pool relief, here is {c} sleeping. . .
Back to the pool we go.

This is where we are spending most of our days (in between breaks to go to gymnastics--and breaks due to rain). Hope you are all having a great summer!

Fourth fun

2010-07-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Here is {c} in her bouncy seat while the others were outside (too cold to take her out there). . .
having lots of fun with sparklers . . .
pretending to play the guitar (notice the flag that she drew and taped on her shirt). . .
or fly rocket ships. . .
and imaging herself playing drums. . .
and it was all great fun. . .
until daddy lit a firecracker that made noise. . .
and then two decided to watch from indoors.

Decade

2010-06-30T23:52:00.000-07:00

not the bead kind, the age kind. In my blog negligence, i neglected to wish our daughter {l} a happy 10th birthday.

good thing i did in real life!

Don't wait until the primaries. . .

2010-06-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Vote now

click the box then, once on the page, click 'vote for this charity' on the right **EDIT-oops, click the green 'vote now' button which is just above the 'vote for this charity' on the right. for those who don't know, ggyr is a nonprofit horse ranch founded by tug's sister and her husband (i think most of you know her blog but, if not, click here to be taken to it).
much obliged.

Things that make you go

2010-06-11T09:30:00.001-07:00

YIPPY. . .

{c} has slept from midnight until 8ish for the past three nights.

{s} has kept her pull-up dry at night for the past few nights and last night she was dry again just sleeping in regular panties. no more buying pull-ups.

today is supposed to be nice so we are hoping to spend it poolside. . .

after getting the house clean (not yay) because tug gets home tonight (super yay).

Smile

2010-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

or toot. . .
or perhaps poop?. . .
or give an old man impression. . .
or say, "Whatchu talking about Willis?". . .
or smile. . .

yes, smile!

A long, long time ago

2010-06-04T21:27:00.001-07:00

i can still remember when

i used to update this blog.

and i knew if i would just write

and share with all in my delight

then maybe you'd be happy

for a while.

anyone know the actual lyrics to the song i changed up there? i think i mentioned long ago that i had actually completed a knitting project. i never came back to show you what i made. they aren't really suspense worthy, but they are cute. {r}'s First Communion teacher gave me around 4 pairs of booties and a hat that her mother had knit for her future grandchildren. unfortunately, she knit them in pink and the teacher is expecting a boy. i thought i would make her a pair, to share the hand knit love.

aren't they cute? now, if i was a good blogger i would tell you where i got the pattern. i am a bad blogger. i do know though that i originally saw them on throughtheloops. perhaps if you go through some of her posts you will find the link to the pattern. or, if you are patient, i might update this post in another month or so with the link.

now, i am off to don the coat that i borrowed from james dean to sing for the king and queen since i am a jester--stay tuned for a post with pictures of {c} smiling.

All done

2010-05-19T16:44:00.001-07:00

We made it through the weekend. My Mom, Great Aunt, Sister, Brother and nephew have come and gone. We were sad to have them leave, but glad that they left us a new Christian
And a new First Communicant.
After uploading the pics, I just now realized we never got a picture of {r} just in her dress (they all wore robes over their clothes).

so much to say

2010-05-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

I actually do have a few things to tell but won't be doing it today. Oh, and I actually have done some knitting. But instead of showing that, I will show what the kids did this weekend. It was beautiful out!

The babe? She was (once again) doing this:

Yoddle

2010-04-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

sorry, not much going on around these parts. well, actually a lot going on. some stuff i can't yet divulge. some you know about like baby and my working. i actually got a pay check the other day and so far it hasn't bounced so i guess the new job is legit. i like it. a lot, actually. the house is a continual mess and i am continually behind on laundry. nothing new, really.
honestly though, all i want to do is this:

Eight

2010-04-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

Whoopsie.

Yesterday was Regan's 8th birthday, but I forgot to post it. Luckily I didnt forget the actual birthday.

We had a few friends over then went to the nail salon to get their toes painted. Nine girls at a nail salon, they had fun!!

Happy Birthday Regan. We love you! I think you are finally growing into your cheeks.

First Bath

2010-04-14T13:21:00.001-07:00

Finally an update with some pictures. {c}'s umbilical cord fell off two days ago so she finally got a bath yesterday.
Not a fan. . .

Getting better. . .

All done.

Easter 2010

2010-04-05T11:36:00.001-07:00

The group picture is seriously lacking (including lacking a child, whoopsie) and {r}'s hair looks terrible (not that {l}'s is that great either, but at least she tried).

Girls Rule

2010-04-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

I guess I do know how to go into labor all on my own. Shockingly my water broke yesterday morning and little Cecilia Grace was born last night weighing a measly 8lbs 9 oz. All is well and we are home now. Thanks for all the prayers!

Her hair looks light in this picture, but it is actually pretty dark.

Nothing doing

2010-03-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, had another dr. appt today. He said I was completely closed at a zero so no induction date set. Thursday I will be 39 weeks. My next appointment is next Monday. He also said he thinks this babe is less than 8 pounds. That would be nice!! Guess I am gonna have to go into labor on my own. I am not sure I know how to do that-nerve wracking!!

She's going to Hollywood

2010-03-23T12:59:00.001-07:00

and I'm going to the doctor. Hope to find out today if I will get induced next week. Still need a boy name!

Update

2010-03-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

We found out from her coach today that {r}'s baton team got first place. I think it was a first place out of two teams, but first nonetheless.

Ice Cream Freeze

2010-03-20T21:48:00.001-07:00

{r} had her very first (and hopefully last, twirlers are an odd bunch) baton twirling competition today. She is still new to the sport so doesn't do those amazing things you are probably envisioning. Basically they have a team dance type thingy then they have to march. They do a basic march twice and a military march once. She got first (basic), second (basic) and second (military). I don't know how the team did because we didn't stay for those awards (they award for march right after it is done).

Her winning basic march.

Her military march (started about a half beat late).

Yes, that is a boy next in line. Who knew boys twirled? I sure didn't. Tug looked at {j} and said "When we get home we are going to do some boxing."

And team. Her coach added everything after the handstand yesterday which explains why they look as though they have no clue what is going on.

Hair by {l}

2010-03-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

attitude all his own

The Office ruined my life

2010-03-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

Seriously Jam, seriously?? Cecilia Marie Halpert?

Seriously?!?

Guess it is back to the drawing board for girl names for us! Though Marie and Halpert were never truly in the running. But why did you have to go with Cecilia?

You're breaking my heart!

ch-ch-ch-changes

2010-03-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, how boring am I?! Been awhile, huh? Things in the new house are going fine. That darn neighbor girl still rings the bell pretty much every day. I usually send her away, then she comes back. I am trying to limit her to playing only between 4 and 4:45. The girls have activities in the evening so it is easy to say, "Time for you to go, we have things to get ready for." She only comes over to jump on our trampoline (apparently she has been banned from another neighbor's trampoline for breaking the net or something). Her brother and some of his neighborhood friends ding-door-ditched us yesterday. Tug happened to be pulling back into the driveway at a great time and caught them. I am thinking having old people for neighbors wasn't so bad after all. They certainly don't ding door ditch you (though that would be hilarious!).

change 2: I actually did get a job doing the typing thing. It isn't medical transcription. It is working for a company that contracts out with most of the railroad companies when there are claims. They record what is said in the meeting, then I have to type it out. It is actually quite nice because the one thing I didn't really like about medical transcription was the medical part :) So far it has been about 2 weeks and the work is steady (though I get to just pick how much I want to work each day). I'll let you know if I actually get paid. It won't be much, but a couple hundred dollars a month extra would be nice.

change 3: We had to get a new washing machine. Ugh. That's all I have to say about that.

change 4: We have new friends. At the gymnastics competition I met one of {l}'s teammate's mom and she lives very close to us now. They came over last night for burgers and just to hang out. Next time we will teach them Euchre and Settlers of Catan. We are planning a mom's night out. A REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS MOM'S NIGHT OUT. I can't wait, it has been a LONG time! Now go away Erin (friend's name, not you my sister-in-law).

Now for some pictures because my mom is having anxiety attacks. . .

{l} on beam, this is a picture from the video so it is poor quality.

{s} caught with something in her mouth she shouldn't have been eating.

And after I made her spit it out.

What the girls were doing in their room with their friends last night. Apparently Bendaroos stick to the wall.

And the winner is. . .

2010-02-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

We don't know. They didn't award medals based on scores. Based on Communist principles (Tug's contribution to this post) everyone did get a medal. I think {l} got it for nice arms and hand position.
On beam she got a 9.45

Bars 9.6

Floor 9.5

Vault 9.0 (video of the better of her 2 vaults)

And, to clarify, they no longer use the 10 scale for the Olympics or for elites, but they do use if for lower level gymnastics. She had a great time!

Perfect 10

2010-02-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

Ready for today's competition.

She says she is excited, nervous and totally freaked out.

GOOD LUCK {l}!!

new friends

2010-02-15T20:47:00.001-08:00

In our old house we had no neighborhood friends. Now we have an 8-year-old little girl that lives next door who has rang our bell at least 5 times since we moved in. Today was the first day she actually played with the girls (all the other times were bad timing). Is the neighborhood friend thing a good thing? I like the friends from a distance thing. The type you are friends with but live further away and you have to invite them over.

I would show a picture of something. Anything. We don't know where the camera is.

All the boxes are unpacked except around 5 that are all Tug's for his office. We just got a new bookshelf so those boxes should be unpacked sometime this week. Hopefully the camera is in one of those boxes. Fingers crossed.

And, speaking of Tug, he was just awarded Specialist of the Year which is like Awesome Dude of the Year at his company. Only one person gets it per year. Hip hip hooray for him!

{l} has a gymnastics meet on Saturday. They don't normally let her level compete since she is pre-team but decided to let them do this competition. She is nervous.

Hope you all had a wonderful V-day. My sister came into town yesterday so she stayed with the kids so Tug and I could go out to dinner. Thanks for the gift certificate mom!

blocked

2010-02-10T10:52:00.001-08:00

i've noticed my spam comments have increased recently. i have also noticed my followers has increased and some of those followers were owners of somewhat unusual sites. sites that made me think 'why would you want to follow me?' so, i blocked those new followers. if i blocked you, and you were legit, just leave a comment saying you're legit and i will unblock you. i don't know if there was a correlation between the followers/spam but whatev.

more progress. . . all the boxes (except one that goes in the girls' room) are unpacked and everything is put away. unfortunately there are a ton more boxes in the garage that we just dumped there the last day of the move instead of bringing inside. off to finish up the girls' room and get busy unpacking those last boxes. hopefully by friday all will be done!

this is the back living room that we will use as a playroom/school room/office. it is more crowded than i had hoped, but it will do. the box in the picture is the one that has to go into the girls' room. i am not sure why {j}'s underwear are on the table.

an update

2010-02-08T10:36:00.001-08:00

so much for that clean room.

progress is being made upstairs (except the girls' room. ohhhh the girls' room, what to do with all their crap. mom, PLEASE quit buying them things!)

everything from the other house is HERE. YAY. now i have to go clean the other house and empty the fridge there. can't go until comcast gets here.

still waiting on comcast.

oh.my.word

2010-02-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

our phone still isn't working. i called comcast this morning and guess what

A TECHNICIAN NEEDS TO COME OUT. you know, one of those guys i sat around and waited for on friday from 8-12 who never came. turns out they need to. mother of pearl. i think i might have to look into qwest high speed internet/phone service.

the good news is my room is clean again

(the basket is clean, waiting to be ironed, clothes)

the bad news is we are going to be moving more stuff from the old schoolroom over which means this room is going to be a disaster again.

progress?

2010-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

this morning this room was pristine. it was NOT empty. my computer (mac) and that other thing (pc) were set up, the chair was there inviting you to sit, the table was there and empty, my desks were squared away. everything in its place.

this evening we have this. . .

at least a picture made it up on the wall!

we got a lot accomplished today, but not everything. we still have roughly half the kitchen, half the schoolroom and tug's office. we should be done by tomorrow, then i have to clean. can't someone just wake me when the move is done??

you have got to be kidding me

2010-02-05T12:26:00.001-08:00

on monday i spoke with comcast and they said a technician did not have to come out on friday to install our phone/internet/cable tv.

look at the previous posts to see the problems we have had with phone/internet/tv.

wednesday a technician called to say he would be here friday between 8-12. he didn't know why they said no one needed to come out.

thursday i called comcast to verify that a technician would/needed to come out. they said yes, he would be here between 8-12 friday. she said if it were just internet they wouldn't have to come out but since there is phone service too they needed to come out.

i waited at the new house today until 12:10. i called comcast to ask if someone was still coming out. they said no one needed to come out, just plug the modem in and the internet should work fine. i plugged the crap in and, sure enough, the internet works. the phone should start working in TWENTY-FOUR TO FORTY-EIGHT hours. i asked why they never said there would be a lapse in phone service. he didn't know. i asked why they said someone needed to come out. he didn't know. i asked why i wasted my morning waiting for someone who never planned on showing and why they never called to cancel even though they called to verify and i called them to verify. no answer.

COMCAST SUCKS!! but at least i can get on the internet.

so much to do

2010-02-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

and no motivation to do it. {s} was up from midnight until 5 am. She would stop crying for about 10 minutes then start up again. She does have a bit of a cold, but I thought she was just being rotten. Finally at 5, while on the couch, I noticed her hold her ear (she is verbal, she never complained of it hurting). I asked if her ear hurt and she said yes. Tylenol down the hatch and off she went to sleep.

Tug surprised me by upping his flight home and arrived at 5 this morning.

I surprised him with movers who were showing up at 8:30. Needless to say we are both exhausted. Thank goodness I decided to pay people to come and move just the heavy stuff. There is still PLENTY for us to do, but at least we won't have to move couches.

I am coming down with the cold that {r} started. I was coughing so hard this morning I threw up. Off to the new house to watch the guys unload and wait for DirecTv to show up.

I had a picture of pathetic {s} to share but just realized the cord to plug the camera in is in a box.

Oh, our call waiting and email is not working again.

Comcast sucks.

directv it is

2010-02-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

continuing the comcast saga. . . on monday when i called to get new service on friday i added cable tv to the mix. we have directv (have had it for 10 yrs) but with comcast's package it was going to be cheaper to go with them (since we have telephone/internet with them). on monday i was told their technician did not need to come out to set up service, we could just plug in to the wall and be all set. they were concerned that the dvr wouldn't arrive by friday since they would be mailing it so i was going to go to the comcast store to pick it up. yesterday a technician called saying he would be there friday. i called comcast today just to verify what was going on. she said a technician did need to come out. i asked if he would have the dvr with him. she said we weren't scheduled to get cable tv, just internet/phone. she also said we would have to cancel our current appointment and do another appointment to include the cable and she couldn't guarantee we could get it on friday until she cancelled the other appointment.

i called directv. they will be there tomorrow.

have i mentioned comcast sucks?

comcast sucks

2010-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

moving sucks too, but comcast sucks. trying to move things with 4 kids while 7+ months pregnant and an out of town husband REALLY sucks, but comcast sucks too. I called them today to have our internet/phone moved to the new house as of Friday. Tug tried calling and it went straight to voicemail. I tried using the phone and there was no dial tone. I called comcast. Apparently they transferred phone service already (though the internet still worked). After over an hour on the phone the guy couldn't get it to work. He said he would have to do something or other and it would be working again in a few hours. Eventually the phone started working again.

Voicemail is not working. I called comcast again tonight. She said she would have to do something or other and it would be a couple of hours until voicemail started working again. Fine. Then I remembered I couldn't access my comcast email online with my password. She said she would reset it for me. She gave me the new password and asked me to see if it worked. It didn't work. She asked if I would mind if she would try it. She tried and it worked. I tried and it didn't work. I said the email address again and she said the same email address but with a 2 at the end. I said my email address does not have a 2 at the end. Apparently they already transferred that email address to the new home address account but since it would not be activated until Friday I couldn't access the account. They are trying to transfer it back over to our current address now. Who knows how long that will take.

Comcast sucks.

calgon

2010-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

We should be in the new place tomorrow. Well, we should get the keys to the new place tomorrow-we won't be in until who knows when. Hopefully next weekend.

Now that they have (finally) been mailed and received I can show you what that odd picture was. These (pattern)

and I sent along this too (pattern)

The booties are too big, the hat too small (which I knew it would be since I made it for newborn and the poor girl is over a month already). Other problem with the hat is the yarn is cotton so it doesn't really stretch. I am making her another one, this time bigger and it will likely be too big, but that is okay.

Again

2010-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yet another pair of fingerless mitts. These are for a mom of one of the little girls in judo. I used Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red (I think that was the colorway). The thumbs are too tight and the tops (towards the fingers) are a bit too long because I think I did an extra repeat, otherwise they are nice.

Evangeline: Now has a price for the download but I am pretty positive it was offered free somewhere first because I would not have paid for the pattern.

New house

2010-01-22T08:51:00.000-08:00

We got the news yesterday that despite my husband's criminal past, we did get that other house. We will be "moving in" next Friday. Really I will just be cleaning it next Friday then on Saturday Tug will go over and set up bookshelves so I can move stuff in (little stuff, little by little) the following week. We probably won't actually be living there until mid-February or so.

Our new house is the untitled placemark :

2010-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

Stealing this from Aubrey since I have nothing better to talk about. Oh yeah, except that I am apparently married to a criminal. Or at least someone who failed a criminal background check. Or at least someone who had something pop up on a criminal background check. And, just for your information, if you ever have a criminal background check run and something pops up from the state of Oregon stating "violation of basic rule" on a criminal background check that has been run as "open" (so a criminal background check run online with your social security number and not fingerprints) it is in fact just a traffic violation though the person running the criminal background check says traffic tickets don't show up on criminal background checks. If you need to get it verified that "violation of basic rule" is simply a traffic ticket (from nearly 4 years ago) email me and I will give you the number to call (so you don't have to call 5 other places first) since traffic tickets shouldn't generally appear on criminal background checks. So, with that being said . . .

Where is your cell phone? purse
Significant other? tug
Your hair? up
Your mother? awesome
Your father? spermDonor
Your favorite thing? sleep
Your dream last night? none
Your favorite drink? drPepper
Your dream/goal? sleep
What room are you in? school/play
Favorite hobby? knitting
Your fear? illness
Where do you want to be in six years? alive
Where were you last night? ymca
Something that you aren't? thin
Muffins? muffinTop
Wish list item? sleep
Last thing you did? iChat
What are you wearing? clothes
TV Program? intervention
Pet? woody
Friends? few
Your life? simple
Your mood? tired
Missing someone? family
Drinking? water
Your car? odyssey
Something you're not wearing? bra
Your favorite store? oldNavy
Your favorite color? red
Where do you want to go over and over? bed
Your favorite place to eat? out
Favorite place away from home? restaurant

on the market

2010-01-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

we received an email yesterday from our landlords. the house we are currently in will be on the market as of 1/23. THAT IS THIS SATURDAY. craptastic. we didn't want to be in a house that was on the market. i have lived in a house that is on the market 3 different times. twice they were our own homes we were trying to sell, once was a rental. the first time we only had {l} and she was all of maybe 6 months. keeping a clean house was NO problem. the second time we had {l} and {r}. both girls were relatively young, it was a small house and my sister-in-law lived across the street. keeping it clean/finding a place to go was no problem. the third time {l} was in school all day, {r} was in preschool 2 or 3 days/week for a few hours and {j} was a baby. i loved that house and pretty much always kept it clean. plus, it was our house and we were motivated to sell. having it on the market was no problem.

NOW we have 4 kids who can all make messes who are home all the time. keeping it clean is a problem. keeping it 'show ready' is a HUGE problem. i have noticed that this area of the country doesn't seem to care as much about a house being super clean when it is on the market. very odd! the landlords aren't even planning on painting this home before putting it on the market (per realtor recommendation).

luckily we think we have found a new place to live. it is close to where we are, it is big enough, it has a big backyard and they will let us keep the dog. we are going to try to be in as of next friday so i can clean it up. tug will be out of town the first week of february so we won't actually be living there, but i will move whatever little things i can while he is gone.

we found it on craigslist so i am a bit skeptical still. i really hope it works out! hopefully we will find out today.

Cuties

2010-01-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Love these new hand warmers!! They are for {r}'s gymnastics coach. I made her some for Christmas (Seeta pattern) and she asked if I would make her some green ones to match a scarf she has. In payment, she is giving the girls a free private gymnastics lesson. Good deal both ways.

And, while these are super cute, I doubt I will make more with this pattern. Super cute, but time consuming (stitch used plus 3 yarns) for being hand warmers.

As for moving, we think we have found a place that totally meets our needs and Woody would get to stay! Problem is they want us in by Feb. 1 (concessions being made for us to be able to keep the dog) but Tug is going to be out of town until 2/5 which means double rent payment for the overlap in February. Hopefully my mom is coming to the rescue with some money to lend until we get our tax return money (if Obama doesn't keep it to pay down the deficit).

lookin

2010-01-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

for a new place to live. UGH.

We knew it was only a matter of time until we would have to move out of our current house. Unfortunately the time is coming sooner rather than the later we had hoped for. While they aren't making us leave that soon, Tug and I don't want to live in a house that is on the market so we will likely be out by March 1.

Moving in all my pregnant glory. . . should be fun!!

Sad news is we are likely going to have to get rid of the dog. I have found a total of ZERO houses allowing a dog over 50 lbs. Good news is we know 2 families that would want him, so if we do have to get rid of him it will be to a good home.

We are hoping to stay in the same area we are currently in, but are having a bit of a hard time finding something within our price range in this same area (not many areas of our current city are super great so that limits us a bit). I am at the Y 5 days a week so staying close to it would be nice. Of course I could drive 25 minutes each way and have a view like this.

Of course we can't actually afford that view. The view we can afford is more like this:

Yes, no view. Tug is also going to be out of town the first week of February for work (going to Alaska) so that should make things doubly fun! Oh and the kids are already crying at the prospect of giving up the dog.

Fun times all around!!!

not a professional

2010-01-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

I have made 2 different pairs of hand warmers for the girls. The first pair ended up being given to a friend who liked them. The second pair were given to their cousin. I have finally finished up a pair for the girls. After all the leg warmer love, I would feel remiss not to tell you the truth.

I am not a great knitter.

Proof? Looky here. . .

Oh sure. All looks fine in this picture. The magic of cropping! Here is the whole picture.

Notice the difference? Yup, the right hand mitt is way longer than the left hand mitt. Here is the problem.

I might go back and fix it 1 day (which would mean unraveling everything on the right hand starting at the top end [wrist] of 'too much stockinette' and going back to the beginning of the mitt, towards the elbow.) I might not since that part would be covered by a sleeve anyway. Ah, the joys of handmade!

warmers

2010-01-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

Here are the leg warmers I have been working on for the girls. When they go to gymnastics they rarely wear anything over their shorts, and the shorts are little more than just a bit more material over a leotard. While it isn't Midwest freezing here, it does get a tad bit nippy, so I decided they could use some leg warmers. They totally dig them.

The end ones are just basic tubes with buttons on top, no pattern. The middle pattern can be found here (rav link).

But, those aren't the only below the knee warmers I have been working on. I don't want to give too much away now, but I can say they are crochet. Boy has it been a long time since I crocheted!!

Lost in translation

2010-01-11T22:31:00.000-08:00

Whoopsie daisy, I forgot to go back and add comments to that last post. I didn't get a chance on Friday then spent Saturday at work and Saturday night/Sunday at a gymnastics competition. Waiting so long kinda made the article lose its luster, but here are my problems with this article:

* JLo. Speaking on morality. I certainly wouldn't put her at the north end of my moral compass, but that is just me.

*"In reality, if God didn't want you to have kids then he wouldn't have these opportunities available." Um, hello, does this gal realize how idiotic this statement is? I guess God wants us all to become heroin addicted porn stars. After all, becoming a heroin addicted porn star is an opportunity God has made available to us. Just because something is out there, doesn't mean it is sanctioned by God. All it means is that he has given us the free will to choose whether or not to partake.

*"God helps those who help themselves." Not exactly. Sometimes God's answer to your prayer is to not answer it.

*"I am Catholic. . . We had faith in what we were doing, and IVF was there to help us." More accurately, "I identify myself as Catholic, but I am not a practicing Catholic." The Church does not recognize IVF as a valid, moral means of conceiving a child. Look, either you are Catholic, or you aren't. It really is that simple. Don't lead others astray!

*". . . I believe in life if you want something, you have to make it happen yourself regardless of whether you believe in God." I want it now, I want it right now. How long until we all turn into big blueberries???

*Aside from the above Catholic remark, the thing most annoying to me is the fact that people are no longer entitled to their opinion, unless it is the politically correct one.

The whole thing really is idiotic.

Offensive

2010-01-08T09:09:00.001-08:00

I am in a hurry (have a Dr. appt) so comments to come but I ran across this article this morning. . .why does everyone in this country think others should align to their belief? So annoying!! I am sure you can pick out which sentence really irked me in this.

Jennifer Lopez stars in the upcoming movie "The Back-Up Plan" about a woman who conceives twins using artificial insemination.

But Lopez told Elle magazine in their February issue that she decided to forgo in vitro fertilization treatments while trying to get pregnant herself.

“I … believe in God and I have a lot of faith in that, so I just felt like you don’t mess with things like that,” she told Elle. “And I guess deep down I really felt like either this is not going to happen for me or it is. You know what I mean? And if it is, it will. And if it’s not, it’s not going to.”

Lopez, 40, ended up having fraternal twins Emme and Max in 2008 through natural methods.

However the pop princess’s opinion that IVF is “messing” with God has irked some who underwent IVF to have children.

“She’s saying that if you deal with fertility issues then it’s because God doesn’t want you to have children and that’s offensive. In reality, if God didn’t want you to have kids then he wouldn’t have these opportunities available,” Jennifer Katz, who underwent IVF treatment in 2007, told Pop Tarts. “It’s not ‘messing’ or intruding in God’s plan, you go after things in life that you want and don’t sit back and wait for things to happen. God helps those who help themselves.”

Jerome Ballard, whose wife had IVF, said their decision to turn to reproductive assistance only made their faith stronger. “I am Catholic, but I believe in life if you want something, you have to make it happen yourself regardless of whether you believe in God,” he said. “We had faith in what we were doing, and IVF was there to help us.”

Numerous blogs have also attacked Lopez over her comments. However, two IVF proponents contacted by Pop Tarts stand by Lopez’s right to her opinion and principles.

“I can't speak about her personal choices, but I think that we live in an era of reproductive freedom and everybody is welcome to reproduce in whatever way they wish,” fertility specialist Arthur Wisot of Reproductive Partners in Southern California told Tarts. “If (Jennifer Lopez) isn't accepting it, then it may impair her ability to have children in the future, but it's based on her own moral and ethical principles.”

The American Fertility Association also stood by the starlet.

"[Jennifer Lopez] has stated that she would never consider in-vitro fertilization as an option since she is a traditionalist,” an AFA rep said. “We at the American Fertility Association, support Jennifer Lopez's right to not use in-vitro fertilization or any other form of assisted reproduction in the creation of her family, just as we also support another person's right to use this same technology."

A rep for Lopez did not respond for comment.

Tidbits

2010-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

*Thanks for the curriculum thoughts/help (especially you Michelle, you are so thorough!)

*While putting him to bed the other night, after a shower, {j} said "Mom, smell me." "Oooh, you do smell good!" "Yeah, I smell like Dad." "You are right, you do." "Yeah, and Dad smells like. . . Dad."

*That same night while putting him to bed {j} said "Mom, when Dad is done vacuuming, can a grown-up come and say my prayers with me?" "Well, I am a grown-up." "No, I mean Dad. Can Dad come say prayers with me, please?" Guess I know who the preferred parent is.

*All around the house, any time she needs something {s} can be heard yelling 'sisters'. "Sisters, I need to go potty." "Sisters, I want snack." "Sisters, nap time." "I want milk sisters." I think it is a learned action. . . she knows where her bread is buttered. "Sisters, I need my bread buttered."

*If you would be so kind, hop on over and leave some encouraging words then say some prayers for Nikki. She is due on the 29th of THIS MONTH and her husband and daughter left today for China (pretty sure China) for THREE WEEKS (cutting it pretty close) to pick up their (adoptive) son.

Curriculum thoughts

2010-01-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

Next year I am thinking of going a different route with homeschooling and could use some help. Do you know of any good, SECULAR curriculums/books for grammar, reading, science, spelling, US history and handwriting??

Hands hurt

2010-01-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

Goodness gracious, I HAVE BEEN KNITTING. . . and boy are my hands sore. In roughly 2.5 weeks (maybe closer to 3) I have made 3 sets of fingerless mitts (2 of these**, 1 of these), finished this scarf for my mil, made a hat for my nephew and another for {j} and 3 sets of leg warmers for the girls. Of all that stuff, I only have pictures of the hat for {j} and the leg warmers (because all of those are actually in the house). Technically that last statement is false. I currently don't have any pictures of anything, but I do have the potential of taking those pictures. I will save that for another post. For now I am off to bed—back to school tomorrow. {r} will be moving on to 3rd grade, {l} continuing 4th and I have not done an ounce of planning for any of it (good thing I follow a curriculum!)

**with 2 less stitches per thumb since the first time I did this pattern the thumb was way too big.

O-H-I-O

2010-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ready Freddy

2010-01-01T11:00:00.001-08:00

Go BUCKS!

10 years ago

2009-12-31T22:05:00.000-08:00

I don't really remember many New Years. We don't really do anything on New Years to be memorable (like tonight. . . wonder if we will actually be awake at midnight?!?) I do remember New Years 10 years ago though. Tug and I were living in Albuquerque. We were newly married. I was pregnant. We tried to go out to dinner with Max, Michelle and Brooke. . . the restaurant was super busy (Great American Land and Cattle Co.) so we ended up at Furr's Cafeteria instead (yum). We then went back to their house and (likely) played games. 6 month old Brooke was asleep until her mom woke her up at midnight to take a picture in front of the ball dropping on the TV. I wish I had that picture but that was before the age of digital (to think we had to use film back then, gasp).

Now we are 1455 miles away and I have no idea what the Wades are doing tonight (they never even called us back to wish us a Merry Christmas, assholes.) Anyhow, I am not sure why I remember this night, it sounds pretty boring. I just can't believe it was 10 years ago. WOW, a whole decade has come and gone. My how time flies! Good thing the whole Y2K thing didn't pan out!

OH yeah, another thing I remember from that time was the incessant playing of

two-thousand zero zero, party over

oops out of time.

so tonight we're gonna party like its nineteen-ninety-nine.

Happy New Year!

We are at home, but I hear there is a huge party going on just up the road.

Firsts

2009-12-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

Last night the girls had what I believe to be their first sleepover (with friends, they have had cousins sleep over before). Their bff's live over the bridge and I often drop them off on Saturdays to play while I am at work since I work over the bridge (how awesome is their mom, Tug LOVES her!). Yesterday I picked up the kids and brought the girls back home to spend the night. I think a fun time was had by all (though I warned them that my house was NOT a fun place to be).

Another first. . . a FIRST BABY (different family). I don't know if they are telling non-family/close friends (though none of their non-family/close friends read this blog) so I won't spill the beans (unless she spills the beans in the comments) as to who is expecting BUT yay, yay, yay we are soooooo excited for them (it is about time).

Feliz Navidad

2009-12-24T19:20:00.001-08:00

Wishing you and yours a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

From us and ours.

Back up plan

2009-12-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

For the past several months Tug and I have joked that our backup plan should he lose his job (or take a severe pay cut, or we decide this area is just way too expensive) is to move "home" with my mom. Home for her is El Paso, TX. Tug calls it north Mexico.

Of course this isn't really what we would want to do. I grew up in El Paso and NO WAY IN HELL do I ever want to go back there. Joke's on me though because guess which city was just ranked by Forbes as the #1 city where Americans are getting richer. According to the article, good old north Juarez is the city where incomes for educated workers are growing fastest. Of course if you actually read the article you see that the median pay rose by 19.4%. NINETEEN POINT FOUR PERCENT. . . huge jump—all the way up to a whopping $49, 100. Guess we will be staying put after all!

So sad to be missing out on the amazing scenery!

Oh, speaking of my mom. . . mom, we got more boxes, though we are still missing 2.

Disinheritance

2009-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Someone clearly wishes to be left out of the will!

Selfless

2009-12-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

{j} running into the office with a package:

{j}: Mom, is this for me?

me: No, that is for someone else. I have to mail it off today.

{j} running into the office with another package:

{j}: How about this one Mom, is it for me?

me: No. Those are all for other people and I have to mail them.

{j}::sigh:: But I want another package. When will I get another package?

me ::ignores him::

{j} I know, how about you send the package and we follow to where it goes and the person opens it and then we share what is inside.

i need an answer

2009-12-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

during school today {l} and {r} (9 and 6) asked:

But why did Woody have to get neutered. He can't have babies because he is a boy.

I just laughed. What would you have said?

ragamuffins

2009-12-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

I received an email today:

There are some new photos of the tree on the camera. Why don't you download them and do a new blog post for goodness sake.

Love

Tug F*****, CSI, CDT

Certified ******® Specialist

******* Products

Cell ***-914-****

How nice of him to sign it so personally huh! (For those who don't know, the email is from my husband.) I should have replied "If your children didn't look like such vagabonds perhaps I might."

I was at work during these photos. I think I was at work. Maybe I was asleep on the

couch.

We have 2 couches, clearly I wasn't sleeping on that one. The kids decorated the tree entirely by themselves and I think it looks good enough for me to not try to change any of it.

And, for a family update:

*{l} hurt her foot yesterday during judo and says it hurts to walk. Funny thing is she hurt it doing roundoffs. We have been icing it and might give it another day before we deem it doctor-needs-to-see-her hurt.

*{r} now won't be going to rec gymnastics. Her coach has decided to place her in the next lower level class that is still pre-team. I have been trying to get her into that class but was told by another coach that, while she is young enough for the class, she was too tall for it. Her coach decided that the things she needs to fix are things they don't focus on in rec (hello, I have been saying this all along) and that if she went to rec she wouldn't be able to grow the talent she does have so they are just lowering her pre-team level. {r} is totally fine with it since it is still pre-team. Gymnastics really feels like an episode of As the World Turns!

*{l} has a consultation on Friday for braces. Apparently her bite is off and they need to fix that with braces at the ripe old age of 9. Why are kids so expensive??

*Off to get ready to go to Mass. . .

Tortilla

2009-12-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't been too inspired to do blog posts lately. I really think I am going to stop doing actual posts and just start putting pictures up of the kids for family and knitting whenever I actually complete something. Don't hold your breath.

'round here:

*we always stay up late. I really need to get to bed before 1 AM. Last night it was an intriguing episode of Hoarders keeping me up. Any time you feel like you are a bad housekeeper, just watch that show. Dumb thing is we have DVR and I could just record it and watch it another time.

*I am still sick, though getting over it—I think. I usually feel relatively ok (not good, but ok) during the day, but come evening/first thing in the morning I feel completely terrible. My eyes are better (might have just been drainage, and not actual pink eye) but this cough is really kicking my butt.

*Her coaches are again talking about moving {r} back to rec gymnastics so today she starts some private lessons with her coach. If they do move her it will be at the end of the month. For those who know her, she doesn't yet know so zip it.

*Late birthday presents are fun. {j} received a package in the mail yesterday from his Grandma Juju (Tug's mom) and he thought it was completely awesome!

*What kind of morally repugnant family would help someone on the run who killed 4 police officers for no apparent reason? Disgusting!! I am glad to know they 'caught' him.

*I am glad Notre Dame fired Charlie. Maybe now I can like them again. Tug is hoping they hire Skip Holtz.

*Ohio State will play the winner of the Oregon vs Oregon State game this Thursday. We are hoping for Oregon State (since I think Oregon would beat us).

*Today is the long day at the Y. . . 1-2 girls homeschool PE; 1:15-2 {j} gymnastics; 4:15-5 girls ballet; 5-5:30 girls private gymnastics ({l} will be taking 15 minutes until ballet session ends so {r} can have a snack between ballet and gym); 5:30-7:30 {r} gymnastics. {j} also usually has a swim lesson from 5-5:30 but the Y is fixing up the pool so it is closed until January (hallelujah).

Off to grab some lunch, do a math lesson then head to the Y. Yippy!!

Turkey

2009-11-28T08:38:00.001-08:00

It's been a while, eh? Sorry so lame about the posting lately. . . currently I am thankful that, though I am sick, it is just a bad cold. It could be much worse.

Oh yeah, and pink eye. How can I manage to be thankful for waking up this morning with pink eye?

45-0

2009-11-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, finally getting around to talking about the game. I know how anxious many of you have been!
When our family godfather Dan found out we were going to be going to the game he hooked us up with his brother-in-law who owns Plank's Cafe. They charter a bus from the cafe to every home game and have a designated parking spot in a tailgating section (oh and for those of you who are local, tonight they will have members from TBDBITL playing at the cafe, as they do every year, every Thursday before the Michigan game-get some pizza, it is good!) Dan is from Columbus but currently lives in Las Cruces and we know him because we worked for him when we were in college. He also sent his nephew some NMSU gear and he proudly wore it (for about 30 minutes).
unstaged photo. . . we were taking the picture of Matt to send to Dan when the next person walked on the bus and started choking him.

The bus has a PA system and John (Plank's owner) gets on it occasionally to say things like "It's 9:24 AM" and the rest of the bus says "and Michigan still sucks" or he says "Ann, what are we going to do today?" and she yells in a heavy smokers voice "We're gonna kick some ass!" This is Ann, though I don't actually remember her name.

This was our bus. Plank's doesn't own it, they just charter it.

Here is a shot of the parking lot. Apparently during conference/bigger games it is much more full.

Some of the other buses.

They had lots of beer, lots of brats and it was lots of fun!

Once it was getting close to game time we headed to the stadium—we didn't want to miss the band taking the field. Here they are getting ready to go in. . . you can barely see the green of the field at the end of the tunnel.

And here they are taking the field. . .

with Brutus waiting for them at the 50 yard line (we took our small camera which the kids now often use. It appears they have messed up the zoom.)

The start of Script Ohio. Tug ended up taking video of it so no more pictures of it.

The fuzzy team taking the field.

A picture of the entire stadium (from our seats.)

Though there weren't many, the Aggies actually had a few fans there. Apparently their backup QB is from Ohio and he got quite a few cheers when he took the field. I didn't know why people were cheering but heard later that they were cheering for him, and he promptly fumbled-poor guy!

First touchdown of the game. You can see our QB running it in for a touchdown. There were quite a few more as the Buckeyes won 45-0. Our alma mater did us proud though and held the Bucks to a scoreless first quarter. Tug joked before the game saying it was a win-win regardless of who won. I said, "Yeah right, if the Aggies win you are going to be happy?" I think he said something about hell and no and the Buckeyes better win.

Overall it was a fun time! If we are ever able to return I think I would rather go to a better game. . .perhaps a lower level in-conference game.

Fingers Crossed

2009-11-18T11:47:00.001-08:00

I never got around to showing pictures of the fingerless mitts I made for the Ohio trip. Believe you me, they came in handy!! I ended up not taking my scarf along. Well, I did take it to Ohio but didn't take it to the game. We went to the game on a tailgating bus and when we got to the meeting point it didn't seem that cold. Once tailgating at the game though, it was relatively freezing (even the natives were cold). Tug's teeth were chattering! I wasn't that cold though and I think it had everything to do with my hands being warm :)

Fingers crossed in the picture for a possible job opportunity. I got a call this morning from a lady I used to work for in NM. She is a psychologist and owned her own practice and I did her billing for her. She ended up closing up shop and moving to OK to be closer to her family. This morning she left a message to see how I was doing and to see if I wanted a job. I left a message back for her so am not sure what she is looking for though I think it would be the same thing which would be totally awesome. Fingers crossed that it works out.

For those wondering, I am still planning on doing the MT thing. I haven't applied to many places. . .I had planned to get on the job hunt once returning from Ohio but haven't really. If I am able to do the billing thing I would still look for MT work since the billing thing would be very part-time.

pattern here

I am speaking English

2009-11-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

Come on guys, it isn't that hard. It is even easier now that we beat Iowa. We are guaranteed a spot in the Rose Bowl and at least a share of the Big 10 title. If we beat Michigan this upcoming weekend we will be outright champions. If we lose then we will share the championship with any other team that has 2 losses in conference (currently Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin). Every one has 1 more game so if we lose AND all 3 of those teams lose then we will still be outright champions (because we would have 2 conference losses, they all would have 3). If we lose and they all win then there is a 4 way tie (because all would have 2 losses). Either way, we get to go to the Rose Bowl because we beat Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin in head-to-head competitions. Of course we still want to beat the hell out of Michigan!

photo from espn

Keeping you in the loop

2009-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

since I know most of you aren't. Of course, most of you don't care, but you really should so here is the breakdown.

The top 3 teams in the Big 10 this year are Penn State, Iowa and, of course, Ohio State. Now, Penn State lost to both Iowa and Ohio State so they are out of the running for the Rose Bowl. [Oh, I guess I should tell those who don't know, the winner of the Big 10 gets an automatic trip to the Rose Bowl (unless they go on to the National Championship game. Ohio State hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1996 because we have been to busy going to [and losing] National Title games when we win the Big 10.)

Iowa lost to Northwestern last weekend.

Ohio State lost to Purdue a couple weeks ago.

[Another tangent, for the conference title your out of conference wins/losses don't matter.]

Today Ohio State plays Iowa at Ohio State. Whoever wins this game will get the automatic bid for the Rose Bowl.

[Last tangent, whoever wins today gets to go to the Rose Bowl, but isn't necessarily the outright Big 10 Champion. If Ohio State wins today AND wins next week against Michigan they will be outright champs. If Iowa wins today AND wins next week they will be outright champs. Now, if Penn State wins their remaining games, Ohio State wins today and loses to Michigan and Iowa loses today but wins their last game, OR Iowa wins today and loses their last game and Ohio State loses today but beats Michigan then there would be a 3 way tie for the Big 10 Championship and Penn State, Iowa and Ohio State would all be co-champions since they would all have 2 losses. In those instances the tie-break for going to the Rose Bowl is whoever won head-to-head. Penn State has already lost to both Iowa and Ohio State so it is left to today's game for deciding who plays in the Rose Bowl. Oh, and in the Rose Bowl they will play the winner of the Pac 10.]

[Final, final tangent. Iowa is currently #10, Buckeyes are #11. However, we are favored in this game because Iowa's starting quarterback and running back got hurt last weekend against Northwestern. Oh, and because our defense is awesome.]

Did you get all that? Moral of the story,

GO BUCKEYES.

picture from the game 2 weeks ago.

Tis November 10th

2009-11-10T15:03:00.001-08:00

And nary a day has passed since October 31st that I have not had a piece of candy. ummmm.

In other news, for those who saw the devastation post, devastation has been postponed. {r}'s coach has decided to keep her until at least December. We will re-evaluate then and she will either stay pre-team or move back to rec. I think her coach forgot she is 7 when she said to move her back down (well, her coach said she forgot she was 7 when she said to move her back down). Compared to their cousins, my kids are shrimps. Compared to others in her gymnastics class, {r} is a giant and her coach thought she was older. So for now, all is right in the household.

And here is an old picture of her from her first, and so far only, judo tournamentwhere she got a bronze medal (because I heard posts without pictures are boring).

Done deal

2009-11-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

me: I don't want you to get bigger. Can you stay little please?

{j}: But I want to get bigger. I want to get as big as Daddy.

me: No. I want you to stay littler than Daddy. Stay little.

{j}: Please can I get big like Daddy. Please?

me: What if I make you a deal. You can get big like Daddy as long as you promise to still love me and let me cuddle you.

{j}: Deal.

Good thing I made that deal yesterday because he got bigger today!

Happy 4th birthday James.

We love you!!

O-H

2009-11-06T12:25:00.001-08:00

Finally getting around to saying something about the trip. . . IT WAS TOTALLY WICKED. Tug was giddy the entire time, it was really cute! We stayed with my cousin, whom I haven't seen in nearly 20 years, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Thursday we went trick-or-treating (actually, our very FIRST stop on Thursday was at Chick-Fil-A. I love that place). Friday Tug and I walked around campus. Crazy to think I almost went there!!
This is heading across the Olentangy River onto campus. . .
Part of campus, near Eddie George's bar where we stopped and had some nachos. . .
Tug at Mirror Lake, which I kept calling Mirror Pond which is Tug's favorite beer. . .
The Ohio State part is part of the stadium and the glass stuff/cement in the foreground was some sort of student workout center that looked pretty awesome. . .
The Horseshoe (just for you Barb)
How sweet of them to put up a sign just for my kids!!
This is one of the entrances to the stadium (pretty sure it is on the North side). . . look familiar??
The triangle thingy is a tribute to Jesse Owens. My cousin's wife's father (so my cousin's father-in-law) worked for Ohio State as a planner and had some sort of influence on this memorial.
We saw a lot of band people going to practice. As we made our way around the stadium we saw the drum majors leaving. I should have made Tug take a picture with them. (fyi, this is not a drum major.)
After walking around the stadium (we never did make it to Buckeye Grove), we stopped at St. John Arena (I have never seen a basketball arena with seating going up so high) and saw pictures of all the old teams from various sports.
And once leaving SJA, we walked down Lane street and ran into this guy. I saw another one (dressed in fatigues) on our way in but didn't see him while we were walking. I was so bummed to find out these statues are no longer 'on parade' and are instead strewn about the city.
Tomorrow (or eventually) I will post pictures from the game. I know you are all dying in anticipation!

Halloween

2009-11-04T09:30:00.001-08:00

This is the first year (in a long time) we have been completely uncreative and just bought store costumes. We didn't get costumes until Tuesday night which meant slim pickings.

{s} as Dorothy

{j} as a Power Ranger

{r} as some sort of Diva Soldier I guess

and {l} as a Glam Genie

And here are our pumpkins. . .

I don't know why we didn't take any pictures in the dark of the pumpkins. My mom was sweet enough to take the kids trick or treating on Halloween. We were kinda busy at a football game. We did get to go trick or treating though because certain parts of Ohio have some crazy tradition where they go trick or treating on a day prior to Halloween. It sounds like most of the Columbus area does that (my cousin's city, Dublin, did it on Thursday night), but Cleveland does it on Halloween (not sure about further south). Tug and I were both disturbed by this tradition.

Quickies

2009-11-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

We got home last night and are just getting around to thinking of getting caught up (though it probably won't start until tomorrow so I can spend time with my mom today). I will give proper updates later but here is a quick funny for when we find ourselves in this all too often conundrum. . .

Tug's uncle: You guys know what causes that don't you (of course talking about being prego with #5)

Tug: Yeah, being Catholic.

I laughed so hard when he said that. Classic!

older

2009-10-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

by 1 year she is. Happy Birthday Auntie Shell!!

Devastation

2009-10-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday night we had it! {r} learned that she was being moved out of preteam gymnastics and back down to rec. She isn't advancing as quickly as the other girls so they want her to go down to rec and work on the little things she needs. . . hopefully she will get it and move back up to preteam soon (basically body awareness; ie: don't arch her back, don't stick her butt out so much, keep a flat belly). She was completely devastated. Not only because she was being moved back, but because just the week before her coach said she was progressing which is all they look for so they would be keeping her (basically the surprise plus the sadness = devastation). Really, it isn't so much that she is advancing more slowly than the other girls it is just that they are finally at a point where they are picking it up and advancing and she isn't. All the other girls have been in this class since June, she has only been in for 3 weeks so that is pretty much to be expected. She will be in the preteam class for 3 more weeks, until the next rec session starts. Her coach did say though that if things all of a sudden started to click with her then she would likely just stay in preteam. One thing her coach mentioned was her needing to get better at her back handspring. She needed a lot of spotting when doing them and she was keeping her back straight instead of arching . . . until today!

I have been telling her for weeks to try the back handspring by herself but she has been too scared. Today she asked if I would help her, so I told her to go clean off the trampoline and I would spot her. When I got out there she was already trying to do it by herself. After about 7 tries, she got it!
Mom, I know you won't be able to see the video so here are pictures showing what she is doing (to tide you over until you get here Tuesday and can see for yourself).

What is that smell??

2009-10-24T21:03:00.001-07:00

I think I am coming down with something. No, not the pig. Feels like a head cold, which is usually the kind of sick I get. I don't want to be sick since we will be leaving on Thursday to go to Ohio. On FB, I saw some friends commenting about another friends 'don't get sick' tonic. I sent that friend an email asking him what this tonic was all about. He said he would send me some in the mail. Turns out it is grated ginger root, grated horseradish root, grated fresh garlic, grated onion and cayenne pepper (equal parts of all) in apple cider vinegar. You let it fester for at least 2 weeks then strain it, then drink the liquid (1-2 ounces at a time). Well, I REALLY don't want to get sick so I am giving it a go. I had some last night. I made the mistake of smelling it first. If you get some, DON'T smell it first (open the bottle at arms length). Honestly though it wasn't as bad as it sounds, and I think I am feeling better. Time will tell.

And, speaking of the Buckeyes (yes, I was speaking of the Buckeyes, way up there around the 3rd line). I am off to scout next week's opponent. GO Bucks!

10 years

2009-10-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Today is the day. . .the BIG 1-0. Happy 10th anniversary Tug. In those 10 years we have: had 4 different dogs, 4 different kids, lived in 4 different cities, 3 different states and 7 different homes (no, we aren't military). I wouldn't trade living the gypsy life with you for the world! I love you Tug!!

Grrrrrr

2009-10-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

How cute is this guy!! Are any of my nieces or nephews into Wild Things? Oh, I could make him and him with the book for Christmas. . . though everyone has the book. Still cute. LOVE him!

pattern here

; picture is NOT mine, click the link!

And now I can breathe

2009-10-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Back in February I enrolled in an online MT (medical transcription) course. I actually signed up for the course around 4 years ago but never finished (because I ended up getting a job and figured I wouldn't be doing MT work within a year - most MT companies want experience or for you to have taken a course within the past year). I submitted my final on 10/4 and just got the results saying I PASSED. Woooooo-Hooooo! Now to find a job. . .

Word

2009-10-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

received via email from tug's uncle

Counting down

2009-10-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Only 10 more days until we leave for Ohio. I am figuring it will be at least a little chilly so I made myself a scarf.

I am pretending the honeycombs are little block O's. Tug says not a chance. Off to make some hand warmers.

scarf pattern here, though mine is much smaller and plain

See. . .

2009-10-16T21:32:00.001-07:00

all the cool kids like the Buckeyes!!

WORD

pictureless

2009-10-14T11:36:00.001-07:00

I have realized that I rarely post pictures anymore (my bil complains that a blog post without pictures is like reading a book ~ he isn't much of a reader I guess). It is just too much work. Think up a good blog post. Drum up a good picture to go along. Too much thinking. My mom likes to see pictures of the kids so here are some random, relatively recent ones. . .

With a judo friend. . .

Dad teaching them how to skip rocks. . .

quick recap

2009-10-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

1. work was fine, though super boring. I didn't get to watch the game because it wasn't being televised on regular ESPN here. this upcoming weekend i work 8-1; buckeyes play at 9. typical.

2. {l} lost the 2 matches she fought. There were 6 girls in her division but it is double elimination so, since she lost her first 2 fights, she didn't have to fight again. i think it unlikely she will win much this year. she is in a higher age/weight division and has to fight a girl that won nationals last year and another girl who she has yet to beat. they both turn 10 before her so once they move up she might have a chance again (near the end of season).

3. {r} got bronze. there were only 3 people in her division which means she lost both her matches. she was pretty happy to medal though. i doubt she will win this year either because she too has to fight a national champion (the sister of the 1 {l} is fighting) and another girl in her division is someone who beat {l} twice last year.

4. my sil michelle is saddened i haven't commented on the nobel prize. i didn't want to say anything, but since she asked. . . tug was awarded the nobel prize, deservedly so, for his high bejeweled blitz score.

first day jitters

2009-10-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

no, i dont have any. seriously, this job is as easy as it gets. worst thing we have to do is send people over to membership when their account is flagged for some reason. oh, and try to get people to take their picture for their card (not displayed on the card). . . apparently some people have a problem with doing this.

{l} and {r} have a judo tournament today. this is {r}'s first tournament so i am kinda sad to miss it. kinda. judo tournaments can be LONG and BORING. fun while your kid is fighting but that lasts all of 2 minutes and yet you sit there for 5 hours.

i work from 11-4. the buckeyes play from 12:30 to (likely) 3:30. super sad to be missing it. actually you can see the tv's from the welcome center (where i work) so i will just have to make sure 1 channel is on ESPN. . . hopefully i don't forget my glasses. oh, and hopefully i remember not to yell too loudly ;)

boys night out

2009-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Tug doesn't have many friends. It isn't because he smells or because he is an oaf, he chooses not to have many friends. Last night was the first time in a long, long time (in fact, I can't remember him actually ever going out with just the boys) that he had a boys night out. He went to a local high school football game with out landlord. Our landlord who is 69 years old. Fun times!

Actually, Tug said it was fun. He had 2 funny

quotes from the night. . .

LL: This crowd needs to liven up. Come on, let's do the cheaters never prosper cheer (Tug said he didn't then actually go into a cheer)

Tug was sitting between our LL and one of our LL's friends who went to school with him. The game was between the high school they went to (public) and the school our LL's son went to (Catholic). At one point, the friend leaned over to Tug and said "You know [LL]'s a Lutheran right? I've got the pictures to prove it!"

So funny! The team they were cheering for (LL's old high school) won.

suck-o-rama

2009-10-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

I told you I have been knitting again. This year has been a slow one on the knitting front. I had other things going on keeping me occupied, but now my time is once again my own and I have taken to the needles. Unfortunately I don't think I will have time to get Christmas knitting done, especially since I have now decided I need a scarf for our Ohio trip. It is likely to be cold in Ohio on Halloween, right?

So, I found a scarf pattern I liked and started working on it last night. This morning I realized the section I thought was the contrasting color is actually the main color which means I casted on with the wrong color. Initially I decided to just go with it. After about 1/2 a round I decided not to go with it and ripped it all out. Back to casting on. . . all 400 stitches!!

Oh and the red isn't the right color red but it is a pretty red so it is staying.