I love my new home. I am finally settled in. Yesterday we had my husbands family over for this dad's 65th birthday. It was a success!! I thought I would have plenty of room for food and guests, but I under estimated the amount of food Alabamians would bring. And it was all DELICIOUS!!!!
This meant I spent the week frantically painting the house. And boy did it need it. The living room had a baby blue wall, the dining room had one wall that was bright blue and the kitchen had a wall that had been sponge painted, and the entry way was bright purple. Everything is now beige. Ahhhh. I'm sure I'll spice it up with some color at a later date, but now - neutral. Next up will be my office, the master bedroom (which is currently pink and I'm sure my husband is thrilled!!) and bath and the guest bath.
Along with the painting came cleaning and prepping for the party. We were on schedule to be done by the guests arrival. On my list was bathing the twins - but figured I could skip it since time was short. I had put them down for their nap so I could get my shower and get ready. I could hear them start to stir about an hour later. I opened the nursery door and GASP!!!!!!! Much to my horror - Em had stripped down to her birthday suit and pooped!! Luckily, it hadn't made it to the walls but it was on her hands and feet. BATH FOR THE BABIES! They got clean after all. As I was telling this to the in-laws I said "Thank goodness it didn't make it to the walls" to which they replied "it will". Dread filled the deepest pit in my stomach.
I must start training for something. I'm getting a little soft around the middle. The heat of the summer doesn't help.
Life is still good and I am happy.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
I'm finally here.
I'm sitting here in my new office, in my new house, in my new city. It is nice to be here.
After three weeks living with my mother in law it was time for a break. I felt guilty leaving my new home full of boxes for a vacation in Florida but after a couple days there, I realized it was the right decision.
We started by heading to Panama City for Memorial day where we met my mom at my aunts house. We lounged by the pool and ate some good food too. My mom, Peggy and I took the girls to the beach on Sunday. The girls have always had an aversion to sand so I didn't think they would enjoy it much. I had to try though because you can't go to Florida and not go to the beach. One of these days they will like it and it will be good. We arrived at the beach along with every other soul in Panama City with their floaties and coolers and found a distant parking spot. We unloaded the little people and headed to the shore. I truly think the time it took us to walk to the beach was longer than the actual time we spent there. The minute Lily's feet hit the sand - she was screaming. Em wasn't too bad. Neither wanted any part of the sand. Let me also mention that we are a fair bunch. Maybe we are better suited for a lake in Canada rather than the intense sun of a Florida beach. Either way - we quickly left and headed to a restaurant for beer and grouper. Yum. Thanks to Mom and Peggy who indulged me. :)
After the weekend, the hub headed back to Birmingham and the kids and I piled in her car and headed further south. We had a great time at Mom's. We spent hours in her pool which was nice and warm. We went shopping. We went to the local zoo. My brother snuck out of work for a day and came to see us. I haven't seen him in about a year. He's so good with the girls and goofy as ever. The girls loved him. I doubt he'll have children but he would make a great dad.
I now have a tan (if you can call it that), a new haircut, Croc flops, and a relaxed "I'm fresh from vacation" attitude. I hope they all last a really really really long time.
I guess it's time to get back to unpacking boxes.
After three weeks living with my mother in law it was time for a break. I felt guilty leaving my new home full of boxes for a vacation in Florida but after a couple days there, I realized it was the right decision.
We started by heading to Panama City for Memorial day where we met my mom at my aunts house. We lounged by the pool and ate some good food too. My mom, Peggy and I took the girls to the beach on Sunday. The girls have always had an aversion to sand so I didn't think they would enjoy it much. I had to try though because you can't go to Florida and not go to the beach. One of these days they will like it and it will be good. We arrived at the beach along with every other soul in Panama City with their floaties and coolers and found a distant parking spot. We unloaded the little people and headed to the shore. I truly think the time it took us to walk to the beach was longer than the actual time we spent there. The minute Lily's feet hit the sand - she was screaming. Em wasn't too bad. Neither wanted any part of the sand. Let me also mention that we are a fair bunch. Maybe we are better suited for a lake in Canada rather than the intense sun of a Florida beach. Either way - we quickly left and headed to a restaurant for beer and grouper. Yum. Thanks to Mom and Peggy who indulged me. :)
After the weekend, the hub headed back to Birmingham and the kids and I piled in her car and headed further south. We had a great time at Mom's. We spent hours in her pool which was nice and warm. We went shopping. We went to the local zoo. My brother snuck out of work for a day and came to see us. I haven't seen him in about a year. He's so good with the girls and goofy as ever. The girls loved him. I doubt he'll have children but he would make a great dad.
I now have a tan (if you can call it that), a new haircut, Croc flops, and a relaxed "I'm fresh from vacation" attitude. I hope they all last a really really really long time.
I guess it's time to get back to unpacking boxes.
Monday, May 5, 2008
its cinco de mayo....
and where did we go for dinner? Sals pizzeria in odenville Alabama. That's right folks, on the day when it should be mandated that you must have cheese dip and a margarita - I had chicken Parmesan and a diet coke (because they didn't serve wine!!!!). I am saddened.
And if my typing errors are making your brain ache - I apologize. I am staying with my mother-in-law while we wait to closeon our new house. I am here with the hub the twins the two cats and the barking dog. Hopefully in a week we'll be sleeping in the new house. This means that the only Internet access I have is from my iPhone. Thank god for the iPhone!!! My sanity lives.
And if my typing errors are making your brain ache - I apologize. I am staying with my mother-in-law while we wait to closeon our new house. I am here with the hub the twins the two cats and the barking dog. Hopefully in a week we'll be sleeping in the new house. This means that the only Internet access I have is from my iPhone. Thank god for the iPhone!!! My sanity lives.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
I love garage sales.
I woke up this morning and it was raining and cold. I thought our sale was doomed. At 7:00 I opened my garage door and the rain stopped. The first customer was our neighbor who claimed our ad wasn't in the paper. DOOMED I TELL YOU!! Turns out the paper put the ad in the wrong area but it was there. Then another person came. Then several more. Sell junk and they will come. We had a steady stream of people until about 11:00 along with a steady stream of cash. I'm doing this more often. What a great way to cleanse the house and closets. LOVE IT!!!
Now we just have to sell this house!
Now we just have to sell this house!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Just catching up on things...
Long time no write - but I have had a very good excuse. I have been busy. And I don't mean the I had to run to the post office and the grocery store and then cook dinner all while the kids are sick kind of busy. I'm talking about a huge marketing campaign, several web sites, an adventure race and throw in a move to a new city. I'm lucky I still have my hair.
So Christmas was a whirlwind visiting both friends and family. And after the trip back from Atlanta with the girls and the tire incident, I was fed up. The hub and I have always talked about moving to Birmingham or Atlanta to be closer to the family - mainly to have some help raising these two kids. I used to think I could do it on my own but I need help. I want a relationship with my husband again! Well, after Christmas, I mentioned that it was time to start preparing for a move to Birmingham. Time to get resumes in order and start the hunt. I thought if we started now, by next Christmas we would be in Birmingham. What a joke!!!!
It just so happened that the company the hub wanted to work for was hiring two positions that the hub was qualified for. He interviewed and got them both and he got to pick which one he wanted. The job included a moving package (because there is no way in hell I'm moving the 400lb entertainment center!!!). Lucky for me I don't have to pack but I do have to get our current house ready to go on the market.
Now on top of a move, I have to train for an adventure race AND create all the marketing materials for the upcoming literary festival AND complete two web sites AND take care of two climbing toddlers. AND I did it!!!
The adventure race was awesome!! Cold, but awesome. It was held in the North Georgia mountains. It started on a Saturday with a 6 mile canoe paddle in a snowstorm which led to a freezing 1/2 mile portage upstream. BRRRRRR. I think it was about 20ยบ. Then to the mountain bikes. Did you know that freezing cold temperatures and snow will make bike gears freeze up? Not much fun when you're going up hill. One good thing is that it's easy to know where to go when 80 teams are in front of you. It leaves one giant mud puddle to ride through (mud that freezes to the bike, gears, brakes, shoes, pedals, etc.). After the bike leg we were supposed to do a paddle leg, bike leg and hike. By the time we got into the transition area, I had no brakes left and BB didn't have any gears which made any more biking absolutely impossible. And there was no way we were going to get on the freezing cold water. We finished the hike leg (and the race) at about 2:30 in the morning. We didn't get to complete as much of the race as we would have liked but we still finished officially and came in third place in our category. Can't beat that!
It's nice to be home with nothing to do. We have a contract on our house and we just worked out a contract on a home in Birmingham. Now the only thing to stress about is whether or not the people buying our home can sell theirs - in this wonderful housing market.
I'm itching for another race but maybe I should wait until I get to Birmingham before I launch into another HUGE project. :)
Life is good.
So Christmas was a whirlwind visiting both friends and family. And after the trip back from Atlanta with the girls and the tire incident, I was fed up. The hub and I have always talked about moving to Birmingham or Atlanta to be closer to the family - mainly to have some help raising these two kids. I used to think I could do it on my own but I need help. I want a relationship with my husband again! Well, after Christmas, I mentioned that it was time to start preparing for a move to Birmingham. Time to get resumes in order and start the hunt. I thought if we started now, by next Christmas we would be in Birmingham. What a joke!!!!
It just so happened that the company the hub wanted to work for was hiring two positions that the hub was qualified for. He interviewed and got them both and he got to pick which one he wanted. The job included a moving package (because there is no way in hell I'm moving the 400lb entertainment center!!!). Lucky for me I don't have to pack but I do have to get our current house ready to go on the market.
Now on top of a move, I have to train for an adventure race AND create all the marketing materials for the upcoming literary festival AND complete two web sites AND take care of two climbing toddlers. AND I did it!!!
The adventure race was awesome!! Cold, but awesome. It was held in the North Georgia mountains. It started on a Saturday with a 6 mile canoe paddle in a snowstorm which led to a freezing 1/2 mile portage upstream. BRRRRRR. I think it was about 20ยบ. Then to the mountain bikes. Did you know that freezing cold temperatures and snow will make bike gears freeze up? Not much fun when you're going up hill. One good thing is that it's easy to know where to go when 80 teams are in front of you. It leaves one giant mud puddle to ride through (mud that freezes to the bike, gears, brakes, shoes, pedals, etc.). After the bike leg we were supposed to do a paddle leg, bike leg and hike. By the time we got into the transition area, I had no brakes left and BB didn't have any gears which made any more biking absolutely impossible. And there was no way we were going to get on the freezing cold water. We finished the hike leg (and the race) at about 2:30 in the morning. We didn't get to complete as much of the race as we would have liked but we still finished officially and came in third place in our category. Can't beat that!
It's nice to be home with nothing to do. We have a contract on our house and we just worked out a contract on a home in Birmingham. Now the only thing to stress about is whether or not the people buying our home can sell theirs - in this wonderful housing market.
I'm itching for another race but maybe I should wait until I get to Birmingham before I launch into another HUGE project. :)
Life is good.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Whew!
It has been so long since I have been here (on my blog). I guess this is a sign to why diaries never work for me. Thank goodness the holidays are behind us. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE the holidays. It's just that we have to travel to our family and then I added a trip to Atlanta for New Years. It's nice to be home. This past weekend I finally took my holiday decorations down. Now I feel like my home looks like the Grinch just swept through - nothing left on the walls but some hooks and wires. Maybe I'll finally invest in some window treatments.
I have been pretty busy with both work and training (oh...and the BABIES!!!) I have just bumped up my bike rides to 40 miles with hills. This is my second week at this distance. The first week my butt started hurting around mile 30. This week it was 35. I'm feeling stronger each week - thank goodness!! I have been doing 4 hour hikes too. I'm wiped out after those but feel pretty good during - lots of hills too. Maybe, just maybe - I'll be ready for March. My husband also wants to do a 15k run in February. Hey...can't hurt, right?
I did have a great holiday. Christmas was fun. The girls really made out. My Aunt was here for the week prior to Christmas and got the girls a kitchen (stove, sink, refrigerator) along with pots, pans, food, utensils. On top of that she got them books and animals and chairs and a table. THEY ARE SO LUCKY!! She treated the hub and I pretty well too. I felt bad though because I wish I could have done more for her.
For Christmas we headed to the in-laws. Even more presents! This being Christmas - I won't even mention all the delicious food. YUMMY!! After that, we made our way to Atlanta where my racing partner and I went on our first mountain bike ride. We were both sooooo nervous that we had to hit the bathrooms right before we started. I know...tmi. It was awesome though and we felt like it had been weeks rather than years since we had hit the trail. My time in Atlanta was packed with exercise and friends and I couldn't have asked for a better time (maybe if I had been able to do some more shopping!). Ahhh, I miss Atlanta.
On the way home, it was just me and the girls. I had noticed that my car had been pulling to the right and after I had stopped to feed the girls halfway through - it got really bad. I pulled over and realized the tread had started to separate from my front tire. After a frantic call to the hub and a short crying fit - it was time to change the tire. It is at this point in my story that I would like to thank my Dad. Thank you Dad - for teaching me how to change a tire. When there are two screaming children in the back of the car, it's good to know that it will be mere minutes (ok, maybe 30) rather than the hour or two (before the tow truck arrives) before we can get back on the road. Two gentlemen did stop to help (but not until after I had the lug nuts already loosened and the car partially jacked up - the two hardest parts). But I thank you strange men for stopping to help. You'll get some good karma points for sure.
Now my life has returned to normal. I have lots of design work on my plate. My house is a mess. I'm afraid my little ones are about to give up their morning nap. I'm homesick. And I'm terribly bored.
I have been pretty busy with both work and training (oh...and the BABIES!!!) I have just bumped up my bike rides to 40 miles with hills. This is my second week at this distance. The first week my butt started hurting around mile 30. This week it was 35. I'm feeling stronger each week - thank goodness!! I have been doing 4 hour hikes too. I'm wiped out after those but feel pretty good during - lots of hills too. Maybe, just maybe - I'll be ready for March. My husband also wants to do a 15k run in February. Hey...can't hurt, right?
I did have a great holiday. Christmas was fun. The girls really made out. My Aunt was here for the week prior to Christmas and got the girls a kitchen (stove, sink, refrigerator) along with pots, pans, food, utensils. On top of that she got them books and animals and chairs and a table. THEY ARE SO LUCKY!! She treated the hub and I pretty well too. I felt bad though because I wish I could have done more for her.
For Christmas we headed to the in-laws. Even more presents! This being Christmas - I won't even mention all the delicious food. YUMMY!! After that, we made our way to Atlanta where my racing partner and I went on our first mountain bike ride. We were both sooooo nervous that we had to hit the bathrooms right before we started. I know...tmi. It was awesome though and we felt like it had been weeks rather than years since we had hit the trail. My time in Atlanta was packed with exercise and friends and I couldn't have asked for a better time (maybe if I had been able to do some more shopping!). Ahhh, I miss Atlanta.
On the way home, it was just me and the girls. I had noticed that my car had been pulling to the right and after I had stopped to feed the girls halfway through - it got really bad. I pulled over and realized the tread had started to separate from my front tire. After a frantic call to the hub and a short crying fit - it was time to change the tire. It is at this point in my story that I would like to thank my Dad. Thank you Dad - for teaching me how to change a tire. When there are two screaming children in the back of the car, it's good to know that it will be mere minutes (ok, maybe 30) rather than the hour or two (before the tow truck arrives) before we can get back on the road. Two gentlemen did stop to help (but not until after I had the lug nuts already loosened and the car partially jacked up - the two hardest parts). But I thank you strange men for stopping to help. You'll get some good karma points for sure.
Now my life has returned to normal. I have lots of design work on my plate. My house is a mess. I'm afraid my little ones are about to give up their morning nap. I'm homesick. And I'm terribly bored.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Catching up on things.
Man, things have been busy! There's so much that has been going on and I keep making a mental note of "I need to put that in my blog". This is so much better than a diary.
1. Over the Thanksgiving break, I did a 13 mile trail run - I didn't run all of it, but about half. Not too bad! I'm pretty proud of myself.
2. Also over Thanksgiving, I saw my Dad for the first time in over three years. It was a little awkward at first but worth the trip. It is a relationship that I have wanted to mend for a long time now and I'm glad we made the first step. This was also the first time he has met my 16 month old twins. They discovered his Tupperware and had a blast. While I was there, I visited my Aunt and Uncles and their families too - I haven't seen them in over 5 years. Hopefully I will see them over Christmas.
3. Daily moment of happiness - I went downstairs to get coffee one morning and I know the sugar bowl is empty and I know that I will have to delay my first sip in order to fill it. When I lift the lid, I notice that my wonderful loving husband has already filled it. What a great way to start the day. I'm smiling till noon.
4. I rode my bike for 30 miles on Saturday. I thought I would be in so much pain considering my last ride was 20 miles and around mile 15 my back started to hurt. I felt great most of the time although my poor little butt was ready to get off when I got back to the car. I guess that means I'm getting stronger.
5. The race is three months away. I am SO SO SO nervous. I hope I will be ready. I need to get some hill training in on my bike. I haven't even hit the trails yet and I know I'm going to be terrified the first time I hit a rock going down hill. More for Bev to laugh at. I'll be heading to Atlanta for New Years and mountain biking and for that I am SO SO SO excited.
6. A friend told me babies love to groove to reggae music. I thought I would test this theory. Here is the proof - the very funny proof. My husband and I are big fans of "So You Think You Can Dance" and we discuss what styles the girls dance in - maybe contemporary krump? What do you think?
7. My husband bought me an iPhone for and early Christmas present. IT IS SO COOL!!! I'm in love.
8. A woman at a restaurant told me I was a great mom. I don't really know if she said that just because I have twins (and people think its a very big deal and very hard) or if she saw me goofing off to get them to smile and I don't know even why it mattered to me but it did and I still feel warm and fuzzy.
9. After telling my mom about my 30 mile bike ride she proclaimed, "I'm so proud of you!". That makes me feel warm and fuzzy too.
10. My design business has been keeping me very busy and I have about three huge paying jobs ahead of me - all due around race time. It will be nice to have the money but it will be a rough couple months - LOTS to due. I like having deadlines looming - It keeps me focused.
And that is all I have to say - for now.
1. Over the Thanksgiving break, I did a 13 mile trail run - I didn't run all of it, but about half. Not too bad! I'm pretty proud of myself.
2. Also over Thanksgiving, I saw my Dad for the first time in over three years. It was a little awkward at first but worth the trip. It is a relationship that I have wanted to mend for a long time now and I'm glad we made the first step. This was also the first time he has met my 16 month old twins. They discovered his Tupperware and had a blast. While I was there, I visited my Aunt and Uncles and their families too - I haven't seen them in over 5 years. Hopefully I will see them over Christmas.
3. Daily moment of happiness - I went downstairs to get coffee one morning and I know the sugar bowl is empty and I know that I will have to delay my first sip in order to fill it. When I lift the lid, I notice that my wonderful loving husband has already filled it. What a great way to start the day. I'm smiling till noon.
4. I rode my bike for 30 miles on Saturday. I thought I would be in so much pain considering my last ride was 20 miles and around mile 15 my back started to hurt. I felt great most of the time although my poor little butt was ready to get off when I got back to the car. I guess that means I'm getting stronger.
5. The race is three months away. I am SO SO SO nervous. I hope I will be ready. I need to get some hill training in on my bike. I haven't even hit the trails yet and I know I'm going to be terrified the first time I hit a rock going down hill. More for Bev to laugh at. I'll be heading to Atlanta for New Years and mountain biking and for that I am SO SO SO excited.
6. A friend told me babies love to groove to reggae music. I thought I would test this theory. Here is the proof - the very funny proof. My husband and I are big fans of "So You Think You Can Dance" and we discuss what styles the girls dance in - maybe contemporary krump? What do you think?
7. My husband bought me an iPhone for and early Christmas present. IT IS SO COOL!!! I'm in love.
8. A woman at a restaurant told me I was a great mom. I don't really know if she said that just because I have twins (and people think its a very big deal and very hard) or if she saw me goofing off to get them to smile and I don't know even why it mattered to me but it did and I still feel warm and fuzzy.
9. After telling my mom about my 30 mile bike ride she proclaimed, "I'm so proud of you!". That makes me feel warm and fuzzy too.
10. My design business has been keeping me very busy and I have about three huge paying jobs ahead of me - all due around race time. It will be nice to have the money but it will be a rough couple months - LOTS to due. I like having deadlines looming - It keeps me focused.
And that is all I have to say - for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)