The Perfect Night

There are a lot of ideas of what a perfect night is, I know I have a few different thoughts on this. But tonight is a perfect ending to a week of broken items around our house. I am sitting here surrounded by laundry; washing, drying and folding. Now normally this would not excite me, but tonight it does.

I have not been able to do laundry around here since last Friday. It is consuming our house in all rooms, piles, piles and piles. I have to say too that with all of Bryan's work stuff....it starts to stink after sitting around for more than a day. As of tonight, we are the owners of a new washing machine (from Cotsco this time so we can return it if it breaks) and the laundry has begun. I am currently in the middle of load number three with many more to go. I will let you know how many it takes to get through Mt. Washmore.....as my friend puts it.

So as I sit here listening to the sounds of the wash bin filling up, the spin cycle and the clang of the dryer......I smile. For tonight, never ending laundry is the perfect night.

The End of and Era....

Yesterday was a day for fixing and we were not too successful. We found out that the washing machine was going to be a mess to fix and keep giving us problems. So today we have spent looking around at all the stores for a decent low priced washer. We are still looking and in the mean time we are being creative with our outfits to conserve clean clothes.

Then there is the truck.....oh the loving Expedition. I got a call from our mechanic and found out that almost every essential part of the car was broken and would need replacing. YIKES! I think the cost to fix it was close to three times the value of the car. So today we began a quest, a quest for some thing that would hold the family (which is NOT going to grow anymore unlike all my friends), is going to be fuel efficient so I can fill up on one transaction, and also will be easy on the bank account. Bryan was a champ and got a great deal and they even took the expedition. Well they didn't really take it....more like towed it. I have to say I am a little on the sad side though. I have had that car for 6 1/2 years and I have had some memories in there. Here are a few that came to mind as I drove off from it for the last time.

1. Brought Chris home from the hospital in it
2. Drove up to our first house we bought in it.
3. Took the kids on their first camping trips in it.
4. Brought Dani home from the hospital in it.
5. Crammed the Madamba's, Romeril's and Barke'rs all in for a trip to House of Prime Rib
6. Road trip to San Diego for the '05 Marathon
7. Trips to Tahoe with the family
8. A memorable flat tire on the way to Big Bear Camping.

Those are just a few I thought of. I will miss my truck after almost 7 years and 180K miles. But we have a new member of the family now and her name is Nissan Altima. I think she will be great for the family and I will be able to fill up in one transaction.....PRAISE GOD!

Oh that third thing that was on the list has not been fixed yet, the Christmas tree. Actually we have been too busy with the other two to call. I think the character of the unlit portion of the tree is growing on us. Maybe next week.

I have added a picture here of a new member of the family. Meet Mr. Espresso Machine. If you know anything about Bryan and I you will know how often this will be used. Our friend got us a killer deal at the Starbuck's friends and family sale. We have welcomed him into our family with open arms.....and mouths.So it has been quite the week and it is only Tuesday. The nice thing is that hopefully the worst is over. But we are thankful for the way we were provided for and how everything worked out. Our week will be a success when we have a fully lit Christmas tree.

A day for fixing

Today is Monday, normally this is a relaxing day with not too much going on. Today is different. Bryan is home and it is now a day of fixing.

The first item is the Christmas tree, we took it out of the box last night and noticed that there is a strand of lights that is not working. We checked all the plugs, checked the fuses, and still no luck. Next step will be to call the 800 number for help. If all else fails....return to Costco.

The next item is a little more tricky, the washing machine. An essential item in a household with children under the age of 5. The drain is clogged and we are truing to fix it ourselves without getting Sears out here. Note: If you ever take apart your washing machine....be prepared for a horrid smell. Sad since this is a machine that cleans clothes.

Last but not least.....MY TRUCK. Yes, it is broken again. I know I know, kick that thing to the curb and getting something more reliable, it is a Ford. We are trying to hang onto it for a little bit longer. It died in Moraga on us yesterday and we had it towed to our mechanic in Livermore. We are currently waiting the diagnosis, but it does look good.

So it is fix-it Monday around here and we are trying to have a good attitude about it.

That time of year....

All right it is Black Friday, the day that marks the beginning of the holiday season. The crazys that were waiting at Kohl's, Mervyn's and Wal Mart at 4am are probably already in bed, but I am sure they feel good about the $5 they saved on those gifts. I did hit the shops today, but I rolled in around 11:30. The CRAZY thing is I still got what I wanted, at noon they had the same $10 Old Navy fleeces that the people at 5:00am got....and I was well rested.

In the spirit of the season I had Jennisa pimp my blog to the holidays (she rocks!). This weekend we will pull down all the boxes and start prepping the house for all the trees, candles, garland and pine cones. Bryan will even get to partake in his favorite event of the year. Hanging all the Christmas lights on the house. He does not know yet that it is what he GETS to do on his day off. I think we are going to shoot for a new goal this year on getting them down. Last year was a bit embarrassing considering he was up on the roof the weekend before the kids birthday party taking them down, keep in mind my kids were born in May people. My goal is Valentine's Day this year. I make no promises.

So enjoy the holiday season my friends. I am off to go play with the new espresso machine we just got.....LOVE IT!

Search for green beans

This Thanksgiving I am not doing dinner at my house, no cleaning, no decorating, no last minutes panics and no cooking. Yet here I find my self waiting for the turkey in my oven to get done. Turns out I am cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for all the guys on Bryan's team that are working tonight. To me though this is what I prefer, I get to cook, serve others and not have to have a ton of people at my house.... the food isn't even consumed here.

This week was crazy and I totally forgot to shop for this lovely dinner until 7pm last night. I knew what I was getting myself into, shopping on the busiest day of the year, not a guarantee that everything would be there. I was actually rather successful, I got my turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie and all the utensils for the feast. But no green beans, that place was cleaned out. I asked the produce guy if there were any left and he said they were cleaned out and that a truck should be there later that night or early morning. A few minutes later there was a woman ranting and raving at a manger that they were out of green beans and that this happened last year. What kind of store was this, was she going to have to take her sopping somewhere else? Now here is my question....if you go to Safeway the night before Thanksgiving, you are going to run the risk of possibly not getting everything you need. Well at least that is the thought of a logical person. So I left with out green beans.....but I would be back.

On a side note I left the store and headed over to the gas station since I qualified for my 15 cent discount. I started the pump with the hope and prayer that with the discount I might be able to get a full tank before getting cut off....waiting.....waiting.....stop. Again I get cut off at $75, this time 2 gallons short of a full tank. I am open to a new car for Christmas if anyone is offering.

I was finally successful on the green beans this morning, and they are patiently waiting for their turn to be cooked. Back to the kitchen for me now.

For the 5 people that actually read this, have a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends. I feel very thankful to have all the things in my life that God has blessed me with.

A day with good friends

Saturday I packed up the kids and went to Turlock to spend the day with my friend from college Jenn and her two boys. Isaac and Chris had a great time just being boys in the back yard and playing with his collection of trains, cars and trucks. This left Jenn and I the freedom to catch up and hang out with the babies while the boys occupied themselves. Dani thought that since baby Josh had a pacifier it would be fun for her to walk around with one. Luckily this was something she only did their and did not want to take home with her. I forget sometimes when you have not been around friends for a while, how great of friends they were and still are. Jenn and I had a great time and realized this is something we will do more often.

Chris and Isaac with their sticks.....it's a boy thing.

Isaac was king of the table.

Dani driving the jeep with the pacifier? looks a little silly at this age.

That's better

Josh was just as mellow as can be enjoying some lunch.

It's a sad day

It is a sad day when you go to the gas station to fill up the car and you can't.

Not because they are out...NO, because the gas pump cuts you off at $75.00.

Seriously people all I wanted to do was fill up my truck and now to accomplish that I need to do two transactions or just be happy being 3 gallons short of a full tank.

I love my truck, but I think we may need to soon part ways. After all we have been through 180K miles, a new transmission, 6 new sets of breaks, 2 sets of new tires, a new alternator and most recently a new transfer case. And those are just the major things I remember over the past 6 years.

Oh to live in the days when I first got my license and I could fill my suburban with a $20 bill. I miss those days.

I should know better.

Do you ever do things that you know the outcome will NOT be good, but you still do it. I realized just now (after doing one of these things) that I think we do this more then we realize. Or maybe this is just me :)

1. Open a hot oven (preferably over 400 degrees) with your face right there and then get annoyed that it is hot on your face.......my face is still hot after just doing this. My house smells like really good muffins though.

2. Taking a sip of a really hot cup of coffee and again being annoyed that you just burned your tongue. Like you did not realize that the lady at the Starbuck's just poured that coffee at about 200 degrees

3. Knowing that you smell a dirty diaper on one of your kids....yet you still hold their bottom up to your face to check. This is quickly followed by being absolutely repulsed by the smell that is coming from your sweet darling baby.

4. Going to Costco on a Sunday afternoon for one or two items and being completely annoyed that there is a huge line. Like I actually thought there would be no line after church when our church is across the street.

5. Or my favorite....being annoyed that your kids wake up early after getting them to bed late the night before. I don't know about your kids, but mine do not equate staying up late with sleeping in. We are working on it.

My poor princess.....

I realized something tonight while in the playroom with the kiddos, and I felt like I had failed my little girl. There were NO girlie toys in the room. We have a great train table, a lego table, every Lightning McQueen car, all the tractors and every sort of firetruck that they make. But not one purse, doll, crown , or even barbie. I don't think Dani seemed to mind, after all she is my daughter :) But now I think I know what we need to get her for Christmas this year.

Just like her mommy, she likes to drive the big trucks!

This made me so proud, we may have another builder in the family.

She loves this garbage truck since it plays music and she dances while putting blocks in back.

My babies...

This weekend we had some family pictures taken. Chris is at the age where he actually does a great job.....hence the fabulous picture. Dani on the other hand turned into another child as soon as the camera was out. My good friend Sara always takes amazing pictures of the kids and did not fail this time. She was able to get a good picture of Dani even though she wanted NOTHING to do with the camera. Thanks Sara, I love them.....