Sunday, July 31, 2011

Blessing in disguise?!

Okay, so I'm really, really nervous about this new job move.  I totally have it made in the position that I am in.  I hate walking away from a job that I love!  But after days and days of mind boggling thoughts, I believe the pros out way the cons!
Pros.
  • Only working 3 days a week - Saturday, Sunday, Monday
  • Having 4 days off with Jerry - currently we have no days off together
  • More time with my kids.
  • Shorter commute to work - less gas
  • Off by 330pm on the days that I do work
  • Off for doctor's appointments
  • Off for most Girl Scout events and meetings
  • Available for Chloe's school parties and field trips
  • Jacob can go to preschool - simply wasn't an option before.
  • Available for Jacob's school parties and field trips
  • WAY more money!  Over $800 a month more.
  • No responsibility - do my job and go home
Cons.
  • Giving up a job I love for one I'll probably hate
  • Working in the freezer - negative 52 degrees!!
  • Stuck in the same position for 6 months - at least!
  • Giving up my weekends off - no trips to Iowa once the kids are in school
  • Being at work at 4am - Ugh!
  • Jerry and I overlap an hour and a half Sunday and Monday morning. . . have to pay a baby sitter
  • Jerry and I work opposite shifts so the 3 days we do work are going to be VERY long days
  • Still only have 1 working vehicle.
I could probably go on and on forever but I don't think I have to.  One of the things I am most proud of and one of things that just wasn't an option because of work schedules and money - sending Jacob to preschool!!  I am going in tomorrow and registering him for Thursday-Friday Preschool Classes.  It was a lot of money that I couldn't justify with three kids and the rising cost of gas, rent, and car payment.  But now that I will be bringing in quite a bit more, it's totally justified.  Plus, I will be off those days and able to take him to and from school!  I am so excited, it's something I started doing with Chloe three years ago but Jerry had to take over once I got the Department Manager position.  So starting in Mid-August on Thursdays and Fridays from 8am until noon, Jaxen will be the only kid at home!!

Also, today we went and registered Chloe in cheerleading. . . so I am officially a cheer-mom!  She is totally stoked, she got to try on a uniform {for sizes} and everything!  So my schedules getting full again!!  Starting tomorrow - Monday and Wednesdays until school starts - Chloe has Cheer practice on the school football field.  Once school starts practices move to Tuesday and Thursday - which are better for us anyways!  Only have to figure out how to get her to and from the games that fall on Saturdays. . . because Jerry and I will both be working.  Hopefully, another mom will help me out with that. . . if not oh well, it's just for fun anyways.  :-)

So begins my crazy, busy life as mommy!!  Wish me luck. . . I will have 2 kids in school!!  Splitting my time between work, preschool, first grade, mommy, cheerleading, girl scouts and wife!  Poor Jerry's gonna get left out I'm afraid!  Oh wait!!  We will have Thursday and Friday without 2 of the 3 kids!!  :o)

Saturday, July 30, 2011

2 week Update. . .

It's been a LONG two weeks and I'm so sorry for the lack of updates.  I've had a lot of things going on!!  Like kid/scout stuff and inventory stress at work.  Plus Jerry and I have had a lot of major decisions to make.  I've been wanting to update for days now, but my minds just not been into it.  Hopefully, I can get you caught up a little bit tonight.

Monday, July 18th
My littlest niece turned 4!!  Happy Birthday Emily!

Tuesday, July 19th
???  I have no idea what we did this day.

Wednesday, July 20th
I got to work and Jerry started spasing out my cell phone.  So when I got a chance to call him back, he had great news.  The Walmart Distribution Center called and they had a job position open and they needed my transfer request before 3pm.  I went straight to it and had my personnel office fax a copy of my transfer request to the DC.  However, according to my personnel manager, the fax wasn't going through.  {I feel she was sending to the wrong number on purpose because they got the first transfer request just fine.  But since that one was expired, I had to send another copy.  And since they had a position for me, all of a sudden the fax wouldn't work.  Very suspicious!!}

So after fighting the personnel office, I gave up, had them give me a copy of it and I drove it down to Harrisonville on my lunch break.  The personnel manager was very nice and took the time to talk to me.  It was a very positive meeting and she promised to call me by Monday.

Thursday, July 21st
After work, Jerry and I looked at a house that we wanted with a realtor.  We both really liked it and set things up for a meeting to make an offer.

Friday, July 22nd
It was a long day of shopping and packing for me!!  Chloe and I had Girl Scout Camp!!  I'm planning on sharing a bigger seperate post to this event so watch for it on another day!


Saturday, July 23rd
Girl Scout Camp ended at noon and when the parents arrived we had a short flag, awards, bridging ceremony!  The girls and I had a lot of fun; hopefully, next year will bring even better camping adventures!


After camp, we went to David's Bridal to pick up Joanna's wedding saches.  It was a long couple of days and I was happy to be home with my boys!!


Sunday, July 24th
Had a meeting with the Realtor to do house paperwork and make an offer.  We got a lot of good information from this meeting but also got a feeling that this house wasn't going to work out.


Jaxen learned to stand up in his crib!  And he decided to play instead of going to bed!!

Monday, July 25th
??? Besides going to work, I have no idea what we did this day.

Tuesday, July 26th
Jerry's 30th Birthday!!  It was a good day, we celebrated Daddy!!  He got spoiled with presents from the kids and ice cream cake.
 

But on his birthday, we got bad news from Realtor. . . the house that we made an offer to wasn't going to work. The seller actually decided not to sell at all. So back to square one on the house hunting. . . :-(

Wednesday, July 27th
Day before Inventory. . . worked 7am until 10pm {14 hours}.

I hadn't heard from the Walmart DC yet so I called them on the way to work.  The lady I needed to talk to wasn't in the office and they took a message for her to call me back.  14 minutes later, she called me back.  And the news was great. . . she was faxing me a job offer.  And let me tell you, it was a total shock because once my transfer request is sent and I job comes open, I am to be interviewed for the position and then offered a position.  I never got an interviewed, I skipped right to the job offer!  :-)

And truth be told, I was nevous about the job offer, ideally it is NOT what I want to be doing but it is a good raise and better hours/days off!  And the new position requires us to have a babysitter. . . because Jerry and I overlap by an hour and a half.  They offered me Frozen, Dairy, Deli Replisment Lift Driver working Saturday, Sunday, Monday from 4am until 3:30pm making $17.00 an hour (I only make $11.15 an hour now, working 7am - 4pm five days a week).  So roughly it's $340 more a paycheck working less days and hours!!

Jaxen's first taste of Chicken, too bad it was from a dog bone.  :-(
Jerry and I spent tons of time weighing the pros and cons of my job offer.  I hardly slept a wink. . . the stress of making the wrong choice was killing me.  I'm really good at supporting other when their plans don't go as planned but I'm not good at being the one to make those decisions!!

Thursday, July 28th
Walmart Inventory. . . worked 6:45am until 6:10pm {10.5 hours}.  And for my Walmart friends, our Inventory was .72 which was up from last years .57.  However, this year we were only a 9 month Inventory so it was going to happen.  The Toy department and Furniture department did better than years past, so that's all I'm worried about!!  In fact, it's the only numbers I can control!  So, Go me!

My sister-in-law called around 9pm and said she would help us out and watch the kids for us, so that I could accept  the job offer at the Distribution Center.  I didn't sleep at all!!  Still tossed and turned about my pending decision. . . didn't even eat dinner because I was stressing!

Friday, July 29th
Day after Inventory. . . worked 7am until 5:30pm {9.5 hours}.

After a lot of thinking and talking to friends and family, I accepted the job offer at DC.  I felt a thousand times better once the fax was sent. . . I am going to miss my friends and job now but I think in the long term I will be successful and happier at the Distribution Center. . . sure my weekends are gone, but I get to spend 4 whole days off with my husband and kids!!  Jerry and I get NO days off together unless I take a day off during the week.

Saturday, July 30th
Today, I've relaxed and watched "Bring It On" movies with Chloe.  She's really into cheerleading, tomorrow's the day we go register her for cheerleading.  I'm nervous as to what her schedule and my new working schedule will bring us, but like all things we will take it all one step at a time!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Testing Mobile Posting

Now I can post blog updates on the go! This new phone is awesome!!
Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.3

Sunday Update

It's been a crazy week!!  Let's see how much of it I can remember!

July 17, 2011
HAPPY 7 MONTHS, JAXEN RYDER!!


July 16, 2011
Saturday was my domestic chores day!  And Jerry started his work week.
  • Laundry
  • Vacuum
  • Dishes
  • Cook Lunch - Maid-Rites and homemade fries
  • Updated Jaxen's Baby book
  • Started packing for GS Camp, AGAIN!

July 15, 2011
Family Night!! Friday night was by far my favorite night this week. I came home from a hard days work and out of nowhere Jerry wanted to go to the movies. So after a nice relaxing shower and some clean non-walmart related clothes we took the kids to the movies. We left the house thinking we were going to see Transformers 3 because Harry Potter was selling like hotcakes around here. But when we got to the theater they still had tickets for the 3D showing. We were there early enough to get great sets and a couple tubs of popcorn and sodas. The kids loved it!! **Chloe was super happy because she didn't want to see Transformers, she wanted Harry Potter.** The movie was AWESOME!! Totally loved it. Some parts scared Chloe a little, like when the snake looks like it jumping out of the screen at you! But all in all, we all enjoyed the movie and all the kids quietly sat through a 2+ hour movie!

**One a side note, Chloe's first movie in the movie theaters was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, so it just seemed fitting to take her to this one! lol**

After the movies, we headed to Walmart for milk and baby food. And picked up McDonald's for dinner. It was a fantastic night, fun had by all. It's not every day that I can get all three kids to behave during an outing. Someone always has a moment, there were no moments Friday night which made it fun - instead of being mean parents we were able to spoil them a little!


July 14, 2011
Thursday night, I came home to everyone in a good mood. Jerry had a headache and took a little nap to make it go away. I gave the kids a small snack when I got home so I could make lasagna. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take to make and bake. We ended up eating around 7ish - good thing I gave the kids a snack!! The kids gobbled it up after I assured them that I wasn't feeding them cat food. {Too many Garfield cartoons?!?!}

July 13, 2011
Wednesday night after work, we did yard work. It was by far the coolest night of the week and the grass needed cut badly! I mowed the yard and Jerry weed eated, while the kids played and watered the plants. It was a lovely family evening outside and I'm so glad we got it done before the 100+ heat came back!



July 12, 2011
I can't remember what I did Tuesday. . . Darn.

July 11, 2011
Typical Monday Madness around here.  Me work.  Kids.  Jerry work.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Good, No make that GREAT News!!

Okay, so I know my facebook friends have found me randomly posting odd, happy, lucky-changing statuses on my account.  And after months and month of hard work. . . it's paid off!!  I am so proud to announce OUR GREAT NEWS!! 


How awesome is that?!?!  I can't believe we got our official approval letter in the mail Thursday!  Now the real work begins with actually purchasing a house!!  There is one we like and are in the process of setting up an appointment to see it.  Jerry's been on the phone non-stop contacting and getting quotes for land surveys, home inspectors, etc.

We haven't gotten a house yet and are still in the early stages of all this, but our luck has turned and life is finally looking good from where we are sitting.  {Not that life was bad, but Jerry and I have been handed our fair share of curve balls in our 7 years together!} 

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayer as we continue on this crazy journey!!  I will update you all as I see fit.  Definitely don't want to jinx any of it!    :-)

Crawler Extraordinaire!

Crawler Extraordinaire!

Wowza.  I can't believe it's been a while since I last updated!  A lot has been happening around here and before the month is up, a lot more will happen.

First and for most, we have a crawler in the family!  Jaxen has been cruisin' for a week now but he's finally got it down.  With this accomplishment, Jaxen has become my earliest crawler.  {According to the baby books. . . Chloe - 7months, 11days ~ Jacob - 7months, 23days ~ Jaxen - 6months, 24days} I think it's time to start baby-proofing the living room!! 


Other than crawling, Jaxen has been adding a lot of other "firsts" to the baby book.  He's diet finally consists of more food than formula.  Which is a major pain some days when we are on the go-go-go, no longer will just packing a bottle do.  I am lucky that he is such a good eater.  I don't think I've found anything he refuses to eat. 



We've also started him on snackie stuff that teaches him how to chew.  These Graduate Puffs are awesome because they dissolve in his mouth, so if for some chance he swallows it before chewing it completely he doesn't get choked up.  And they are by far, Jaxen's favorite food.



So here he is, the man of the hour.  Tomorrow he will be 7 months old. . . Doesn't. seem. possible. at. all.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Welcome to the family, Brixton!

I just had to post this - many of my friends and family believe in the power of prayer.  And a few more prayers can't hurt. . .

My cousin Faith had her baby this morning, four and a half weeks early because of complications with preeclampsia.  Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and major swelling.  The only cure for it is the delivery of the placenta.  It is the most common of the dangerous pregnancy complications; it may affect both the mother and the unborn child.

Faith went to labor and delivery at 5:30pm on Thursday for a 24 hour observation.  By noon on Friday they had induced labor and broke her water.  Brixton Keith Jones was born Saturday, July 9th at 3:34am, weighing 4 pounds 9 ounces.

Last I had heard, Faith was in mandatory recovery and couldn't have any visitors for 24 hours.  Brixton went to the NICU and at 1pm - according to Daddy - he's "looking great and doing better".

I ask everyone to please keep their family in your prayers! I know exactly how she's feeling, it's so hard to have your baby in the NICU.  Hopefully, I will post a picture of momma and baby as soon as Faith is feeling better and able to post one!

**Get Well Soon Faith and Lil' Brixton!!**

Fresh off the press. . . Brixton Keith Jones!

July Calendar

Sunday, July 3rd -
Monday, July 4th - Independence Day
Tuesday, July 5th -
Wednesday, July 6th -
Thursday, July 7th - Payday
Friday, July 8th - Girl Scout Camp Part #1 - "Preparing for Camp" 10a-4p // Oil Change 5:15p
Saturday, July 9th - Welcomed another baby boy to the family. . . Brixton Keith Jones born at 3:34am, weighing 4lbs 9oz.

Sunday, July 10th -
Monday, July 11th -
Tuesday, July 12th - 
Wednesday, July 13th- 
Thursday, July 14th - 
Friday, July 15th - 
Saturday, July 16th -

Sunday, July 17th -
Monday, July 18th -
Tuesday, July 19th -
Wednesday, July 20th -
Thursday, July 21st -
Friday, July 22nd - Payday
Saturday, July 23rd - Girl Scout Camp Part #2 - "Daisy's 1st Campout" 4p-Sat 1p

Sunday, July 24th -
Monday, July 25th -
Tuesday, July 26th - Jerry's 30th Birthday
Wednesday, July 27th -
Thursday, July 28th - Walmart #0319 Inventory Day
Friday, July 29th -
Saturday, July 30th - VACATION STARTS!!  07.30.11 - 08.07.11 {9 Days!}

New Phones!!

Yay!!  I'm so excited. . . I got a new phone today - I'm still waiting for my number to transfer; hopefully, by tomorrow my new one will work!!  {Last time it took 5 days to transfer my phone number.}  Jerry, however, walked out of there with a new, working phone since he didn't have one before and got a new number.  {If you need or want his number, text message me and I'll send it to you.}

Our new phones are Motorola Cliq XT with MotoBlur.  It's amazing, it's Motorola's version of the iPhone.  I absolutely LOVE it!!  I can do everything - call, text, pictures, video, facebook, Msn Messenger, Picasa Web Albums, and even BLOG on the go!!  {Can you tell I'm excited?!?!?}  So it basically replaces my phone, camera, video camera and computer!


The only down side is that I do not get cell service at my house.  Boo!  But I guess that's what I get for country living.  So once the new phone activates, my old one will quite working and you'll have to call if you need me instead of texting.  Or there is always facebook!!

Girl Scout Camp Part #1

I survived part #1 of Girl Scout Camp!!  Chloe and I had a blast!!  Okay, EVERYONE had a blast.  The girls were not ready to clean up and go home once 3pm rolled around.  They are all super excited to return in two weeks to actually stay the night!  I'm sure that will be a whole other experience but one that I am excited for.  I took as many pictures as I could.  There are several things I missed, like the flag ceremony, because I was part of it. . . not a bystander.  Since I have so many, I'll tell you the highlights in pictures!

Chloe making her very first sit-upon.

Making the sit-upon was the activity that most of the girls were excited about.  Every girl scout must have a sit-upon!!  They all turned out great. See, here's the girls using them. . . :o)


We had 5 out of 7 girls show up to camp, and in all reality Miss Cynthia and I had to get them all there.  Most parents had to work on Friday, which is understandable, but two days before I was calling parents to find out how many girls I would have and majority couldn't come unless they had a ride.  So Miss Cynthia and I squeezed and tugged and got all the equipment and girls into 2 vehicles.  I was a little annoyed with the situation but it was all worth it. . . these girls had fun!!!

Cali, Chloe, Ty, Samara, and Kiarra.

It was interesting, but I FINALLY got the rope in the tree to have a flag ceremony.  Couldn't do it perfectly because we didn't have enough hands but we made it work and the girls enjoyed honoring the flag with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise.




This is one of my favorite photos of camp.  So simple and beautiful.


The campsite was awesome.  The weather was suppose to be 88 degrees with a heat index of 94 degrees.  Add in the Missouri humidity and it was suppose to be miserable.  I packed tons of water and ice, I figured I would have a hard time keeping the girls cool.

The campsite was so shaded that none of us broke a sweat.  The only time I got extra warm was when Chloe and I walked all the girls down the hill to meet parents and then back up the monstrous hill.  I got pretty lucky with our campsite.  Check it out. . .

Fire ring
Our camp site. . . :o)
View after walking up the hill, the campsite is behind my car.
Chloe is tired and waiting for me... I was a little slower than her.
For lunch we had hot dogs and chips.  Each girl at 2 hot dogs and a least one bag of chips - if not two!  I used a cool way to start a chemical-free fire with a bag of Doritos and some charcoal.  Lunch was delicious.
 

And if our campsite wasn't already amazing, it came with a tree house. . .


The girls were ecstatic when they came across the tree house meeting place.  I totally knew it was there the entire time. . . **wink, wink**


After making Sit-Upons, First Aid Kits, and Bandanna's, learning a flag ceremony, the buddy system, rules of camp, and all kinds of FUN. . . the girls DID NOT want to go home.  But alas, it was time to clean up and pack the car.


Another lesson learned. . . A Girl Scout always leaves a place better than the found it!

Overall, me and my girl had an amazing time.


We even had to stop for a train on the way home!!  The train was going a million miles an hour, I was surprised I got this shot!!


July 22nd is our first official overnight trip. . . Be sure to check out all the pictures from camp on my Picasa Web Album.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Let Freedom Ring!

4th of July Pictures, Graphics, Images, CommentsHappy 4th of July!!
It's been a beautiful day!!  It's hot as heck outside but we've been having a blast!  Jerry surprised us all and got the day off of work!  The kids and I were so happy!  (I took them outside last night, but I am a total chicken when it comes to fireworks and my kids - so we stayed with the little things little Morning Glories and Smoke Bombs.  Our neighbor's were out and help Chloe and Jacob shoot off some fun stuff for a while.  Sp that was nice of him)  But now that Daddy's home tonight we will get to shoot off the more exciting stuff, like strobes, Roman Candles, and those crazy bumble bees that set my hair on fire a few years back!!  The kids are ready for nightfall!!  I'm so happy that they are okay with staying home and shooting their own stuff off instead of traveling to a fireworks display around here where it's going to be busy and crazy!  (Although, we are thinking about going into Harrisonville to watch there fireworks show, my neighbor's said it was AWESOME last year.  The neighborhood as been setting things off all day long, I can only imagine what tonight will bring.  My poor dogs are already going crazy!  Lol.  

This morning we grilled out for lunch (because I still thought Jerry had to work tonight), I made soy chicken, potato salad, and corn.  It was delicious!!  The chicken marinated for 2 days, I was in heaven!!  Even Chloe and Jacob loved the chicken and believe me, it's hard to get them to eat meat period.



After lunch we headed off to the fireworks stand to buy some fun stuff for tonight.  It's so fun going to one of them, my husband and kids are in heaven!  I am so glad we only go in there with x amount of money because we could easily spend a whole heck of a lot!!  :o)

Here's my little firecracker ready to watch. . .

Jacob and Daddy

Jacob and Chloe

Watching Daddy. . .

Chloe lighting a smoke bomb.

Jaxen's first 4th of July!


I hope everyone is having a wonderful time!!  I'm sure I will have more to update after the fun tonight, so keep an eye out for more pictures.  I have to work 3 days - and then I'm off for 3 more!!  So with this update I leave you with a picture of my kids.  Happy Independence Day!!


Taken with my cell phone. . . my little cuties!!


Sunday, July 3, 2011

Saturday Whatnots

Dang! It's been another routine week here at the Daily Ranch.  Really nothing exciting to report!  I have no idea what we did this week... I can't even begin to give you a day to day update!

Monday 27th - I know I didn't get to bed until really late Sunday night - In fact, I seen 3am Monday!  I couldn't sleep, it's that way now, I can't seem to sleep if Jerry isn't home.  I stayed up late on the computer getting everything finished up for Girl Scout camp.  I ordered my patches and the rest of the craft projects that we needed.  When I finally got to sleep, I basically had to get up and go to work.  I knew it was going to be hell. . . it's always hell on Monday. . . and even worse after a 5 day vacation!


Tuesday 28th - I don't remember anything. . . my facebook quote was:  I have had a, "I'd really like to punch you in the face" kind of day.  I'm thinkin' that pretty much explains the day!  :o)

Wednesday 29th - Wednesday must have been just as good as Tuesday because I didn't even write a facebook status!

Thursday 30th - *Happy Anniversary to Aunt Karey and Uncle Alan!*  Ah, Thursday.  Thursday was a toughie.  I had to work and Jerry had a seminar he went to with a friend from work.  I didn't want him to go because I had a horrible, exhausting day and just wanted to curl up and sleep!!  But he went and was gone the whole evening.  My facebook page said:  Ugh. I'm mentally done with this day...  I was exhausted once I got the kids put down, I barely remember Jerry coming home. 

Friday 1st - I was SO glad to leave work.  I came home from work with a HUGE stress headache.  I had put a pork roast in the crock pot the night before so we could have a nice family meal.  I barely got to enjoy it because my headache made me nauseous.  I fought the headache all night but I was able to get some quality family time in outside. . . Chloe and Jacob chalked on the sidewalk, Jaxen sat in his strolled watching, Jerry weeded and weed-eated the yard, and I mowed the grass.  After the yard work, we let the kids ride their bikes until the street lights came on and then we all loaded up in the car and got some Dairy Queen!

Jaxen got his first taste of "real" food.  We gave him a small plate of crock pot cooked potatoes. . . he loved it!!  He was so excited just to lay in it!  It was fun watching him explore the feeling and texture.  I was able to get a few pieces in his mouth, but for the most part all we did is play in it and throw the plate on the floor.

Saturday 2nd - Today's been weird.  My Dad called and asked us to look around in junk yards for a spare tire for his truck.  Most places closed early today because of the Holiday weekend. . . so we ran around to 2 different auto salvage places to check out their lots.  Of course, we didn't find anything useful.  On the way home we had Burger King for lunch and stopped by Price Chopper for sodas.  We've been home ever since, just chillin'.  Kids have played games, watched movies and I have gotten some Girl Scout financial forms finished up and ready to mail.  All-in-all it's been a good day.  I need to finish some things up around here.  Jaxen just went to bed.  And the kids and I are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house in the morning to pick up somethings I need for Girl Scout camp and get a little swimming in!