Copy Cat

So, I thought I'd copy Kim and Jenny and do this little thingy....

this is me then

20 years ago I...
1. was in second grade
2. had moved to Silver Bay at the end of the school year
3. was writing sentences in Mrs. Bruzawitches class for swearing (thanks Lib:))

10 years ago I...
1. bought my first car, which looked identical to Leah's (thanks for letting me copy, Leah)
2. was working at Cove Point Lodge
3. gearing up for my Senior year

5 years ago I...
1. was living with Eli's parents
2. visiting Eli in GA and WA while he was in the Army
3. got a DUI (did I really admit to that??)

3 years ago I...
1. i was buying my first house
2. living in WA State and hanging out with other Army wives, like Jana!!
3. was pregnant with Naydine

1 year ago I...
1. found out i was pregnant with Dane. shocker.
2. remodeled my first house.
3. went on a vacation with friends that started the downfall of that relationship

So far this year I...
1. Gave birth, again..... owwie...
2. herniated my L-5
3. STARTED A BLOG!!:) hehe

Yesterday I...
1. went to a Wellness Center in Wayzata for my back and sat in traffic already at 1:30pm
2. had Chinese
3. had a long, nice chat with my sister

Today I...
1. had pancakes for breakfast
2. am icing my back religiously
3. am going to try and revive my suntan

Tomorrow I...
1. want to buy a sewing machine
2. want to do something fun with my kids
3. maybe spend some time with Eli???

In the next year I...
1. would like to get in my own house again
2. no, i WILL be in my own house again
3. will probably make another move across the country

You know, after you do a little quiz like this, you really learn how creative or boring you are. This is an eye opener. I need to DO some stuff!! HOW FUN ARE YOU?!?!

I know this is not good photography, but I love these shots. I don't know why....

And I better get to icing and reading my book. A shower would probably be a good thing too.

Question....

Has anybody used a nursing breast pad as a coaster?

It works great.....

Herniated L-5

This is just ridiculous. Thanks for all the nice replies, I really appreciate it. These are the 2 culprits. That and my poor form. I really have tried to use good form but, I guess I must not know how. Which..... somebody needs to teach me. ASAP.

Ice, stretch, move around. Ice, stretch, move around. That's the routine. Don't be lifting this little tub. Which, by the way, he can sit up now. Cool, huh?

Today, it looks like I'm going to be playing Barbie with Naydine. Libby got her this fun Barbie for her birthday and we are playing with it right now. Man, I need to take a fashion lesson from this Barbie. She's a hottie!


Here is Naydine going potty for the very first time on the BIG potty. Thank God.... because dumping pee and poop from the little potty into the big potty is almost worse than changing a diaper. We are definitely making progress here!!



I guess Tate (the company Eli interviewed with) is supposed to be calling today with an offer. Supposedly, the 2 locations available are Spokane or Alabama somewhere. I don't even think he's going to take it but, we'll see after the call. I don't even know if it's good money, but I know they have great benefits. Which counts for a lot. But, we'll see. I'll keep you "posted".

Have a great day and remember, use proper lifting techniques. Your kids need you:)

Step on a Crack....

Break your mother's back.

Ok, not literally broken but I am LAID UP. I guess I've over worked my lower back muscles. I couldn't walk, couldn't sit, couldn't pee. These back spasms are right up there with labor. It's ridiculous and very embarrassing. I've never had anything like this before and I am feeling really bad for all those people out there who have chronic back pain and back surgery. How do you people get anything done in life? I'd be drunk and high on Vicodin to deal with the pain.

Since I'm not able to do anything, Eli is starting to get the idea of parenting alone. It sucks. And I thought that I would be able to lay here on the couch and read my book but, the Vicodin knocked me out. Which rocked, so no complaints there. This wasn't the mini vacation I was looking for.

So the moral of this story is to use proper form and not over do it when lifting and caring for your kids.

I'm having a hard time gathering my thoughts. I'm going to regret this drunken post later:)

My Little Guy

Is not so little.

He wasn't even little when he was first born. So I can't say that I miss the smallness of a new baby. Good thing I had that with Naydine.

I have been a slacker at taking pictures of Dane. I'm always taking pictures of Naydine because her personality is so strong at this age. Dane is such a good baby..... I have NO complaints. And it's a good thing he's such a good baby because Naydine needs CONSTANT attention right now. She's going to make me lose my mind. But she's a doll too..... Where'd she get those legs?? Not from her mommy, that's for sure.

The sad thing about this weekend is that we are getting a glimpse that summer is going to end soon. I know that we have a few great days left but, it was 48 degrees and raining all weekend. What??!!?!! I swear, I almost went and bought the sewing machine today:) What a fabulous day to spend indoors. But it is taking it's toll on Naydine. OMG..... Thank God for bedtime.

At least Eli is home now. The interview went ok, but we do not know the outcome yet. No later than next Friday I guess. A few prayers would be great!

New Interests

So I've been thinking about a few things that I want to do before.... well, before I realize I'm a loser with nothing to do.

Anyway, here's my small list.

1. SEW

I'd like to re-learn how to sew. Sorry Mrs. Yoki. I just don't know how to sew anymore. And I want to be able to make some of my own things. Nothing big, maybe some accent pillows or drapes. Who knows. I just am finding myself looking for very specific pieces and can never find exactly what I want. Or, if I do, it's probably out of budget. Not that I'm real cheap or anything but, I have to draw the line sometimes. I've been looking at sewing machines. I think I can get one that's decent for $200. I'm sure this will be a phase, like when I said I wanted to start running again about 3 weeks ago. The outcome being 3 walks and a 1 mile run. That is NOT considered running again.

So my aunt Becci gave me a sewing machine about 4 year ago. I think I still have it, in storage of course. But I don't know how to even thread the damn thing. Probably 3 years ago, I tried to look online to get some sort of instruction and didn't find anything. So, I figure this new hobby is going to take a new machine (with user manual) and possibly a class or two at JoAnn Fabrics. Or, maybe Eli's aunt could give me a few pointers.

2. Take nice Photos

This is going to require a new camera. The one we have is nice. We spent decent money on it. But I'm ready for something with a lens.... oh yeah. Which means, do I need to find that photography book? Well, I can't get anything too complex though. I don't have a lot of time to learn. I just want a decent camera that produces fabulous pictures. Hehe.....

3. New Business

I want to start a catering business called Nayders Caders. I have to give Eli the credit for that name. Isn't it great???? I want to just start super small by doing lunches for a company that Eli works with. It would be fairly simple and I would still be able to stay home with the kids. Maybe I would just stick to doing the lunches but, I could branch out.... couldn't I? I love food.... so, would I like to put together food for large quantities of people? I don't know yet. Is there any money to made in catering? See.... I still have research to do.

So, the one problem with sharing dreams and goals to people is that you kind of feel held accountable. I learned this while working with Bankers (the insurance company). It's all part of being self-employed, which really means self-motivated. Which is hard. So if you tell people your goals, then you feel like you HAVE to do them. Right???

I'm not really bored. I just feel bored.

Reese's Peanut Butter and BANANA

Yep, you read it right. Banana is not a typo. Have you tried these??

So, I try not to buy too much candy and junk for the house. However, when Naydine is potty training, Momma Jill feels like we need to have a few treats around. Which is great, IF I DIDN'T LOVE TREATS MYSELF.

So I mosey on downstairs to get a nice glass of icewater (working on those last 5 pounds of babyfat.) And there I see these new candies. I've got to try them. Yes, I like them. I like PB and choc with anything, I think.

There is one other piece of junk food I need to write about. And if these have been out for a year now, I'll be embarrassed. But.... Dorito's has this new bag of chips called collision. For example, the bags I bought were, Hot Wings and Blue Cheese. Taco and Chipotle Ranch. Are you drooling? I like this type of junk food too. I guess I need to practice moderation if we are going to be stocking these foods at the house.

Has anybody brought their child to a chiropractor? Well, I've brought Naydine twice now to see if it'll help her sleep better. Her left hip has been out both times now. What the heck?? And while I'm there, I get adjusted for "young mom syndrome". It's more like, "95th Percentile Son syndrome". I can barely carry the carseat around anymore. Which sucks because I am not ready to upsize yet. I can't afford to upsize yet! I just need to consider it my workout since going to the gym hasn't been an option. Plus, if I did have any personal time, I probably wouldn't spend it at the gym. Which reminds me to cancel my membership after throwing all that money down the drain.

I better get outside before this blog diminishes my suntan.

Patiently waiting

So Eli has been gone since Tuesday, 4am. He flew to Spokane for a 3 day interview and won't be home till Saturday. I feel like when he's gone, I get so much more done around here. How can that be? I have less help with the kids but I can make my bed and start a blog? Yeah, it's because when Eli is home, I go from having 2 kids to 3. Ladies, you know how it goes.

So this interview is like nothing I've ever been to before. Psych eval, testing, presentations. I'd blow it.... Good thing I didn't have to interview for "Mom of 2". By default, I got the job. The hardest, most time consuming, fulfilling job I've ever had. I love it, but at the end of the day, I'm wiped out. And y'all know how much Eli is home. Not much lately. I feel like a single mom some days. Not something I signed up for. But better than being in the Army again. Which, thinking back, the Army wasn't all that bad. At least I had health insurance. Granted, they almost killed me after delivering Naydine but..... I'm still here now, aren't I?

Ok, so let me tell you how sick I am of this small town. I went to the Post Office today at 4:30 and they were already CLOSED. What in the world??!?!?!! Besides not being able to mail my package, it was a progressive day. I took a shower. Yeaahh!!! With good shampoo. And I waxed my eyebrows. Nice. Now I need to sleep. I've got a blood spot in my eye, I'm that tired.

I just wanted to post my favorite pictures of the kids lately..... Aren't they cute???

Naydine thinks it's hilarious that Dane is tipped over and can't help himself up....

Change is good.....

Ok, this is a huge step for me. I swore I would never do MY SPACE because I would get way too addicted. Waste my time. Never change my kids' diapers. Only cook Mac N Cheese. Blah, blah, blah. And I am terrible at updating, so will I ever be able to maintain or read anybody else's blog?? Probably not. But I'm about to expire on my kids' cheezy babysites and I'm ready for something, should I say, a little more "customized" or mature?

Some of you out there have some great blogs. I can barely stand how good some of the photography is...... I'm just going to put pictures of my adorable kids on here. Never mind how terrible I am with the camera. Oh, don't get me wrong. I'd love to be that good with the camera. I swear to you, a few years ago I bought a book on photography. I have no idea where that book is now but I should try and find that sometime. I should have read it when I first bought it. Dang it.

Alright, I went through the archives in search of a few pictures where Naydine and Dane look like twins. Because they sure look like it to me. And I come up with these 2 pictures. And now that I have them on here, do they even look alike? Help!! Do you know how long it took me to put this on here? Yeah... like 2 hours. That's the crap I'm talking about..... WASTING TIME. I could have showered!!! It's been 3 days since I've washed my hair.

That's another thing I want to talk about. How some shampoo/conditioners are just better for your hair than others. And I'm talking comparable priced products. So, I've been using Pureology for serveral years now and have been very happy with the results. But, I thought I'd give the Arbonne shampoo/conditioner a chance because I liked their facial products. Talk about hair falling out. It was sick. Every time I looked at Dane he would have hair curled around his fingers and fat rolls. Naydine was trying to spit my hair out of her mouth. So, back to Pureology. Which, doesn't work for my sister-in-law, Amy. So.... something to be said about shampoos....

I'm going to bed way too late. DANG IT!