Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Moving Day

Yesterday was moving day.  It went well as far as I could tell.  Nothing got broken except one wheel on a rolling storage cabinet thingy.  I for the most part tried to keep my kids out of the way.  It was hard because they were so excited.  You would have thought it was them moving into the new house.  Picking out their room, begging Pop to put their beds together, and inspecting every part of the house.  And yes, they did ask to spend the night there.  We said no.......

We haven't been back over there today.  It's sort of strange knowing my in-laws are this close.  They have always been 6 or more hours away.  Now they are less than a minute away!

They are having a couch, dining room table, and a refrigerator delivered today.  So at least now Nana can buy groceries.  Tomorrow their phone, TV, and internet get turned on.  Then they'll really start to feel normal again!  Finding doctors will probably be the next big thing on their list, a doctor for them and a vet for the dogs. 

I really hope they like it here!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

They're Here!

Nana & Pop arrived safe and sound Thursday afternoon.  They were tired (Pop said he felt like he had ridden a horse all the way here after driving the U-Haul for close to 6 hours) but all-in-all they were in good spirits.  Their two dogs have also settled in nicely. 

They close on their house Tuesday.  We will be helping them move-along with some guys Brad has enlisted for some help.   For now we are all staying in our small abode...poor Pop has to sleep on the couch.  I'm sure he'll be happier than anyone to get in his new house and get back into a bed. 

And to all of their friends and family in Alabama who have been calling and texting, they're doing fine - we are taking good care of them.....so far!  

Thursday, February 18, 2010

They're (Almost) Here.....

After a year or so of talking about it, it's finally happening.  Brad's parents are moving to Mississippi, to our city, and in fact, to our neighborhood. 

How do we feel about this move you ask?  We are excited, nervous, happy and a little anxious all rolled into one.  Brad and I have never in our married life (over 12 years!) lived in the same town, let alone the same neighborhood, with family.  When we were in Louisiana my family was 4 hours away and his parents were 8 hours away.  Then we moved back to Mississippi where my family was only 1 hour away and his parents were 5 hours away. 

They are moving from Scottsboro, Alabama, a wonderful small town nestled in a valley alongside the Tennessee River.  That is where Brad was born and raised, and his parents have lived there for all of their lives.  Brad left Alabama to come to college at Mississippi State which is where he met me and has never returned to live in Alabama. 

This transition will change the lives of everyone involved.  For Heaven's sake, I'm about to have babysitters!!!!  Just kidding - I have promised not to take advantage of them.  But it will be nice!

Many of you understand the aging parents thing.  And I definitely understand them wanting to be closer to their son so he can take care of them in their aging years.....

They should be arriving in a few hours.  They (them and their 2 dogs) will be staying with us for a few days until they can get into their house. 

I can't believe it's really, really happening!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Our Day Trip

Poptart and I went to see my college roommate and her son on Saturday.  Fortunately, she lives in our college town and works on campus.  So she has to put up with me coming to her house every now and then and taking a stroll down memory lane.  She gives the best tours of campus and most every sentence spoken starts with "Remember when....."

Her son and Poptart are five days apart in age.  We've got pictures of them together since they were babies.  Even though we live 2 hours apart, we have managed to get together fairly often. 

Mississippi State has changed alot since I was there.  Those students do not know how good they have it!  I could tell them a few things about how it was in the "good ole' days!"

Monday, February 15, 2010

That's Me You Hear

I have two posts coming later...one about a day trip I had visiting a good friend and the other about a big move coming up.  No, it's not us who are moving.  I'll tell you all about it.  Later. 

Right now I have a doctor who is trying to catch up from last week.  So far today he's dictated three days worth of patients...can you hear me screaming?????

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Snow and School

I only have a minute, so I'll make this short and sweet. 

It may snow here tonight. 

But I want you to know I'm not getting my hopes up.  The last time I did, I received a text at 6:00 a.m. stating there was in fact going to be school, and I don't know who was more disappointed....me or my kids. 

So I'm not thinking about it, can't you tell?

*******

In other unrelated news, I am going to register Poptart for Kindergarten this afternoon.  I can't believe it!  I'm about to be FREE!  FREE!  FREE!

Just kidding, I am a little sad about her growing up so fast....I do know how fast the years start rolling by once they start school.  But I am excited about having my days to myself (except the three days I will still be spending with a room full of 4-year-olds.  Oh well). 

I had to explain to Poptart that just because I'm registering her doesn't mean she starts there tomorrow.  I could see a breakdown coming, so I explained she still has to turn 5, have a summer break, and then she will start big school.  Breakdown averted. 

*******

Until next time,

Amy

Monday, February 8, 2010

This Will Just Hurt A Little

With the title of this post, you may think I'm going to tell you about taking Poptart to get her shots for Kindergarten, but you would be wrong. 

This post is about watching my son watch his Colts lose in the Superbowl.  It was heartbreaking. 

Gogurt wore his Peyton Manning jersey to school Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then wore it to church Sunday morning and Sunday night.  He left no doubt in anyone's mind who he was pulling for.  And last night he said, "I think I shoulda played it a little quieter at school."  Yeah, that's a lesson learned. 

I tucked him in last night with him fighting his tears....he couldn't cry over a football game could he?  He wanted to, and I told him it was quite alright if he did, but he fought back the tears like a stoic, determined man, and that made his Momma cry. 

He was concerned about going to school today and facing all his Saints-lovin' classmates.  He even wrote a note to the most outspoken one (apparently this other boy and Gogurt have been at it all week).  He said he would just walk up, give him the note, and walk away.  The note said something like this:  "Yes, I know the Saints won. I'm proud for them.  P.S.  Wait 'til next year."

Every now and then life throws at us mothers wonderful opportunities to teach life lessons.  Sports is one of the best ways I know to learn those hard lessons.  If you follow sports and especially if you play sports, you will experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  Gogurt was experiencing the latter last night. 

So, as proud as I am of the Saints (by the way, I was the only one in my house that picked the Saints to win), I am holding back on the I-told-you-so's and the Who Dat's.  I don't want to pour salt into anyone's wounds. 

I feel sorry for Peyton, and I told Gogurt last night that as bad as he was feeling, Peyton is feeling a hundred times worse.  But that's how it goes.  You win some-you lose some.  And there's always next year. 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I'm Glad My Bathroom Is Small

The painting is done--thank goodness!  Now Brad finally gets to begin putting down the new floor.  That's the part I'm excited about...I think the floor will really pull the whole bathroom together.  This project has really tired me out (insert post title here), and I have been threatened with my life if I start another project anytime soon.  No worries there, I'm too tired to even think about it. 

It has rained ALL day here which means we were inside ALL day at school.  And on top of that ALL the kids stayed ALL day.  (The moms have the option of picking them up at 12:00 or bringing a lunch and letting them stay until 1:30.) I suppose the moms didn't want their kids at home with them inside all day either.   I don't blame them though, I would have done the same thing...

Poptart's dance teacher brought their costumes for the recital today.  Too precious!  Poptart has never had anything like these costumes in her life.  So girly.  She has already tried both of them on.  She loved one, hated the other.  Said she wasn't wearing it in the recital.  But then again, she says she is not going to be in the recital at all.  And I sweetly tell her after I've paid all this money, she is going to be in the recital.  We'll see who wins.  The recital is not until May so I'm not stressing over it (too much) yet. 

Gogurt has participated in his first fundraiser for school - selling cookie dough.  I usually do not "do" fundraisers....if the teacher needs something I will try and get it for her.  But I don't like bothering people for money all the time.  Lord knows I have turned plenty of kids away in this neighborhood trying to sell everything from magazines to candy bars. And I don't want my neighbors to slam the door and close the blinds every time they see my school-age child walking toward them.   Gogurt was very shy at first.  He didn't quite have the nerve to go up and ask anybody to buy his cookie dough, but he's gotten over that now.  I don't foresee a salesman job in his future (that would be for the neighbor friend down the street---he's been helping Gogurt sell in the evenings), but I am proud of him for doing as well as he has.  Of course, he's really doing it for the prizes.  Which, if I must say, are pieces of junk.  But if he wants the calculator that smells like chocolate, I say go for it. 

I must get busy on my second job.  At least I sit down doing this one.  Have a great day and thanks for reading.....

Monday, February 1, 2010

What a Shower Curtain Can Do

We are waiting on a box to send the laptop to HP to be repaired and sent back to us.  No luck on the money-back or new computer options.  Now we would just settle for a working computer.  But on to more things....

Back in June I received birthday money and with some of it I bought a shower curtain.  (I know, weird.)  It is the fanciest shower curtain I've ever owned.  It's cream with a gold border and a monogrammed "S" in the middle.  I told ya it was fancy.  Fancy Schmancy. 

So this shower curtain has become the catalyst for my new tile, which I bought with Christmas money.  (I love using other people's money! Thanks, mom & Nana!)  The tile has a little gold in it and will look good with my new shower curtain. 

Before I put down the new floor however, I need to paint first...which means I have to rip off the old wallpaper first.  Then I can put down the new floor which will look good with my new shower curtain. 

So Saturday we started removing wallpaper which if you have ever done this you know it is from the devil not pleasant.  I am just finishing up that process today and am beginning to wonder if I might not could just live with bare, scraped walls. 

But no, we will press on.  My kids are excited to paint, and I'm excited to paint too because then I can put down the new tile which will look good with the new shower curtain.  Which is the entire reason I started this process in the first place. 

Brad mentioned something about new faucets, etc., and now I'm thinking about checking into how much countertops cost.  I'm sure there is a countertop out there that would match the tile that is going to match the shower curtain that I bought with birthday money. 

I'm starting to think I should've bought something less labor intensive with my gift money.  

Instead of that blasted shower curtain.