A Cousin Sleepover

We had a few of our cousins sleep over for fun. We took them to the pool (the indoor pool, due to crappy weather) and had a great time. We were even brave enough to have Charlie come, who is just a year old. He turned out to be the life of the party!

Alec and Charlie at the pool (above). Jack and Abby showing me their googles.

Emily, Charlie and Xadi. Charlie was so ready for a nap, but loved the pool!

When Charlie first got there, he giggled for hours, running from the piano, to playing with the kids, to the dog and around on the grass.

Ready for a nap, Charlie took his blanket and snuggled with Goldie. She didn't hang around long enough to put him to sleep though. She was so sweet with the kids, but took off when she was done being mauled. She made a good chair for Charlie, too!

The other cousins had fun, too. They took turns jumping on the lovesac from the stairs, playing video games, and filling the basement with their sleeping bags. We really enjoyed all of them and had a great time! Thanks for letting us borrow your kids for a day!

My Art Project

Yay!!! Another piece of my bedroom remodel completed! I put this art project together this weekend and I LOVE it. I couldn't wait to share it on my blog. It makes me want to become an artist--but my problem was always coming up with the idea. I was never really inspired by anything. I guess I am not tortured enough. We can thank my parents for that--they raised me to be too healthy and happy :) Anyway, it was really fun and I think I will do more! (I sort of copied this from another artist, so maybe next time I will try to come up with something original)

Still Reevaluating...

Frustrated with so many things...My unfinished bathroom, Dylan having to live in our family room (we really need a couch), and problems with friends. I am using my blog to vent and reevaluate...does anyone ever feel like that?

Some of you know the story of Heather...that I worked for her for several years and when I quit, we did not part well. Our friendship had been struggling, but towards the end we were both feeling like all we did was give and the other person just took. I understand I probably wasn't the best friend to be around. I am not sure how she feels. I don't think she knows how much she hurt my feelings or that she even did anything wrong. So I moved on. Along with all the changes in my life that I have already blogged, I also wanted to change my relationships with others. I want to surround myself with people who are uplifting and caring and supportive. I need friendships that I don't have to defend to others or to myself. I am ready for something different. I have been so happy with my decisions so far. My family life has never been happier! My relationship with God is growing.

But I just got some horrible news...Heather's daughter Lillie has bone cancer in her knee. (She is Emily's age and friend). I am so heartbroken for them. I love Heather's children so much and I don't want to see their family go through this. How devastating! I have tried reaching out to Heather, knowing how hard this must be for her, but I guess it is too late to repair the past. I am praying for them and sending them the best of wishes. I wish things were different...

News like this always makes me appreciate my family and their health. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life. I am heartsick for my dear friend, whom I still care about, but know our friendship is not a good one. Please pray for sweet Lillie, I am sure she needs all the support she can get.

So how am I reevaluating? I am looking at what kind of a person I am, who I want to be, what kind of friend I want to be and how fragile life is. When my sister was my age, she only had 4 more years to live. If I knew I only had 4 more years, what would I do with that time? Who would I want to be at the end of it? If I could do it all again, I would do it differently...I don't want to say that anymore. Just some things to think about...

I got a ring for Mother's Day!!!

A toilet wax ring!!! Well...and a new bathroom to go with it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Our newly painted cabinets and mirror with new countertop and backsplash. I have managed to patch and paint since this picture was taken. And yes, we got rid of our lovely 80's light!

Me, grouting the shower.

Starting the project.

What we thought would just be a cosmetic makeover of our master bathroom of replacing our lovely light blue tiles with wildflowers and vinyl flooring, turned into a major remodeling job. We ended up having to rip the shower out down to the studs and sub-floor. After 5 trips to Home Depot that saturday and Cody renting a hammer drill to rip out the cement floor, we started building it back up again. Now, a week later, we are closer to being finished but not soon enough. Cody leaves to go out of town tomorrow and doesn't come home until Sunday night. Then he will leave again monday until wednesday or thursday, so I might have a finished shower in a week and a half! We tried really hard to get it all done in time for him to be out of town, but realized we wouldn't make the deadline. Needless to say, I had a mini-meltdown! But I have rallied and I will go forth and make the best of it until he comes home to finish things up. We did get the floor done and the toilet back in, so thank heavens for that miracle. I am so excited to finally have this remodel finished! When we bought our house, this was one of the things on our list we knew we needed to change. 14 years later it is now a reality. Word to the wise--check all your grout for cracks and all your caulk to make sure everything is sealed. When we moved in our shower was missing a lot of the grout so we just re-grouted our shower, not thinking anything of it. Now we know we should have ripped it out then because of the water damage. Lesson learned!

This project has really made me appreciate my husband and the skills he possesses. He can do any construction project I drag him into! He was not too excited for this project...his motto is, if it ain't broke, why fix it? What's wrong with light blue tiles with wildflowers on them? But he did it for me because he loves me. He is a great guy who takes such good care of me. And, most importantly, he is sexy in his toolbelt! Thanks baby for the new bathroom!

Jumping in with both feet

Well, I guess I am going to do it--go back to school! I have enrolled with the University of Phoenix for my Master's in Healthcare Administration. After considering all the possibilities, (and believe me, Cody can attest to the fact that I considered ALL the possibilities) I think this one seems like the best fit for me. So now I am just going to jump in with both feet and do it. Despite the feelings of complete inadequacy to be able to go back to school, let alone for a Master's Degree. I have Cody though, who has been a great support to me and believes I can do anything I put my mind to. So, here I go...wish me luck for the next 2 years! (starting the end of May)

I should update my blog...

Ugh! I just went on my blog and saw...seriously, Halloween pictures?

I must write an update! Life has been pretty hectic for me lately, as I delve into life-changing decisions. Isn't it easier to just let life coast by and enjoy it? Isn't it easier to stay in your semi-comfortable life that you have created for yourself? Well, I guess not when you are turning 40. I had a little wake-up call around January when I realized I was turning 40 this year! I actually said those words out loud. I got a little nervous because I realized my life could be half over, assuming that I will even live that long. I also realized that I have been avoiding the question I really (still) don't have the answer to and that is, "what do I want to do when I grow up?"

So instead of ignoring those voices in my head that were getting louder, I have finally made some changes, or life-decisions--whatever you want to call it. I knew I was stuck in a job that wasn't going to go anywhere. With only two employees, how can you move up? And now that I have quit, and I am looking for a new job that might have more potential, I have figured some things out...

1. My degree is kind of worthless, since it is in Audiology and I have no intention to get my master's and work in that field (well, guess what, I have narrowed the field down. I know I don't want to be an Audiologist. One point for me!)

2. The years that I have worked for Heather Brown Photography are worthless. She has asked me not to work for her competition, so now what? My marketable skill is that I know how to use Photoshop CS3! (Also, I don't really want to work for another photographer--they don't pay that great)

3. Looking for a job is like stripping down naked in front of a room full of men and not having any takers. (I don't think that needs any more explanation)

4. I am looking forward to going back to school to make myself more "marketable". Only, I still don't know what that will be. I have narrowed it down to 3 options...ASL interpreter, office assistant training, or something in the medical field (ok, that one still needs a little work--its a little vague) OR maybe I will just get a job at Great Harvest and bake bread all day. mmmmmm

5. But there is one thing I KNOW. I have a wonderful and supportive family. I really appreciate the fact that my husband is such an amazing provider for our family, that I don't HAVE to work, I just want to. My parents are behind me and give me great advice (and, thankfully, my very successful father has given me some names so I can start "networking"). I also know that I am very happy with the direction my life is going. I am excited and looking forward to the journey I am taking. I am confident in myself and love that I have decided to take the risk, try something new and move out of my comfort zone for something better.

6. So, as soon as I can figure out how to write a decent resume--I have one, but I think it sucks--and take a few classes that will make me get into an interview, I will have a CAREER!