More Pouring When It Rains

Friday has always been my most favorite day of the week!!! Even if I had school or work, it's the anticipation of the weekend. Now...not so sure. I'm detecting a pattern here.

Last Friday was crazy. This Friday is shaping up to be about the same. Jon and Kendall left early this morning to go on Kendall's birthday present trip--Northern CA. Right as they were leaving, Jarren got up and threw up. I thought maybe it was a fluke, but kept him home to be safe. He got sick again a few hours later and I can tell the poor kid doesn't feel well. So....recovering back, no hubby or teenage son to help, and stomach flu floating through the house. Ugh.

May next Friday be better!!! I just know it will be!!!

PS--Just a side note. Jon's new company headquarters just happen to be in the area where they are going on their trip. And he just happens to have a big meeting there next Tuesday-Thursday. So...we had to reshuffle some flights, but Kendall will be coming home alone next Tuesday night and Jon will come home on Thursday. I'm just so glad that we've traveled a lot so he (Kendall) kind of knows what to do and where to go. Otherwise, I'd probably worry. :)

More Changes (Job)

So...in case anyone was wondering, last Friday (September 23) was a very eventful day in our household. New car, back problems, and....Jon's last day at his job. It's crazy how everything happened at once.

Jon was recruited by another company back in August. They were looking for a good fraud guy. The negotiations and contracts and all that took about a month to finalize. He started the new job this past Monday and so far, he is really enjoying the challenges, but at the same time, feels a little inadequate and overwhelmed because there are so many new things to learn. He was getting a little antsy and was ready for a change from his old job about two years ago. This is a good thing, but will probably be a little crazy. Right now, he's working from home, but now that there are two employees in the area, they have the go-ahead to look for an office. Luckily, when we did the basement, we had a really nice office put in. "When the door is shut, dad is working; when it's open, feel free to chat." The other crazy thing is more travel. With the old job, there was about one trip every three months. With this job, there will be at least two trips a month. Yes, Friday was a crazy, crazy day around here.

I feel kind of bittersweet about it all. I'm really glad that Jon's happy in this new, challenging job, yet it's sad to see the end of an era. He got that other job when Kendall was about 18 months--before we had any other kids. He'd been there for over 11 1/2 years. Change can be hard, but it's often good for growth. So...onward and upward!

There's a First Time for Everything

Jon and I have been married for almost 15 years (in November). One thing we have never done, until a week ago--buy a brand spankin' new car!! Jon's been shopping around for something to replace our falling apart 1990 Toyota Camry and decided on a Subaru Outback. The only problem is, they hold their value pretty well and people don't part with them often. So a car a few years old with 24k miles on it is only about $3,000 less than a brand new one. Jon bit the bullet last Friday and bought a 2012 ice silver (color) Outback with 5 miles on it. Yes, 5. :) I would put a picture on, but he pulled in with it about 5 seconds before my first major collapse with my back and then I was down and now he's out of town with it and the camera. So....pictures to come in about a week or so.

Out of Comission

I've been out of commission for almost a week now. But....the good news is, I'm doing much better!!

Just over a month ago, I strained or pulled a muscle in my back doing Insanity. I love that workout!! So, not being very smart, I kept pushing through the workouts, totally pushing myself. We ended the program and all opted to start over, so I decided to do more, do it faster, do it better. After a few short days of that (and of being about a constant 8 on the 1-10 pain scale), I couldn't even stand up straight and could barely move. I ended up have severe muscle spasms in my back that had me on the floor. I am forbidden to exercise for 2-3 weeks and on a muscle relaxant and two pain killers.

Yes, I definitely learned my lesson--or lessons. #1--I'm not 20 anymore. #2--listen to my body. #3--it's okay to just work out and not go crazy with it. I plan on returning to the land of Insanity, but will take it much easier...for sure!!

Flashback Friday

WOW!! Jon and I look like kids! This little family photo was taken around Christmas in 1998. It's fun to flashback to my thoughts then. I thought the hardest part of being a mom was those sleepless nights with a baby; the hardest stage was the terrible twos. I thought once they were out of diapers, they were cheaper. Boy, was I wrong!! I love being a mom, but it's sooo much harder than I ever expected. Ah...I really was naive! :)

Back to the photo. At this time, I was working as a nanny and taking Kendall with me to work. Jon was still in school, pushing through his senior year. We were living near our both of our parents. Little did we know, about a year later, we would be living about 100 miles away with another baby on the way. It's fun to reflect back on how much simpler life was then.

Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday today is from only a month ago. I was going through pictures and realized that I never posted about our trip to see the dinosaurs. Jenna, as I'm sure you all know, is obsessed with dinosaurs!! I found a great deal on the local dinosaur museum, so we headed down there one day before school started--I think it was exactly a month ago today. Of course, she was in heaven. The other kids enjoyed it too. :) We could only take a few pictures because we got a new camera and I thought the memory card was in it, but it wasn't. Oops! Jenna got to bring her best friend with us. I think they had the most fun "digging" for fossils at the end.

The Beginning of the End...

I feel like yesterday was the beginning of the end. Jenna started Kindergarten!!! It seems like just yesterday, I was walking Kendall over for the first time. And now he'll be totally done with school and starting college in 5 years! It goes by faster than I'm liking it to. So...now that Jenna's started on the roller coaster of school, we'll be empty nesters before I know it. :) I know--we still have a few years left, but it feels like it's well on its way. I must admit, as I was walking home alone, I did shed a few tears.

Very excited for her first day of Kindergarten!!!

Being silly in her excitement.

Lining up against the school, ready to go.

Back to school....she LOVE LOVE LOVED it!!!!!! She is so excited to go and do all the things they do at school. She only goes for a half day (afternoons) and all morning has been asking when she can go. Can I just say after the child before her, it's a total relief not to have to battle her?

First Day of School

 8th grade

 6th grade (last year of elementary school)

3rd grade