Sky Watch Friday

In my book, there's nothing like a good sunrise...

I do find myself increasingly frustrated with 'the city' interference on my photos! I see a terrific sunrise or sunset, and then I have to drive to a spot where no buildings, signs, or electrical wires will interfere with my photo. I have found this to be a great spot...a McDonald's parking lot across from a corn field...no interruptions, no intrusions...just a beautiful sun rise... To see other skywatchers from around the world click here. I love love love skywatch Friday and here's why...today I toured the world while sitting at my desk! I added two new blogs to my blogroll...both destinations I either am traveling to (Sanibel Island) or want to travel to (Alaska). I love to get the 'locals' viewpoint on my travel destinations. Take a minute today and travel around the world with Sky Watch Friday!

The kick butt laundry challenge

So far not so good. One of my readers commented that 20 loads a week wouldn't be too bad since that's only 3 loads a day. Here's the problem...I did 5 loads on Monday, 0 Tuesday (when I worked 14 hours), 0 Wednesday (when I worked 15 hours), and so far today, yep, you guessed it...goose egg. Today I only worked 12 hours, but then I had an errand to run with my daughter and now I am just too exhausted. So...here I sit, only 5 down...15 to go. Tonight my precious one said...gee...maybe I should help! Now we're talking. So...to meet my goal I'll have to do 15 loads on Saturday and Sunday. Possible...very possible.

Now...on to the latest with the job search. I had my 4th interview on Wednesday (because after all I am interviewing to be the CFO of microsoft...no wait I'm not...I'm interviewing for a plain old educational coordinator position that is beginning to seem like something much larger) -- anyway they believe I need to come back yet again for one more observation on Tuesday. I told him...that was the last time I was stepping foot inside the building without an invoice in my hand. I would be submitting a bill for my time in the future! I mean really! 5 interviews?!? Personally, I think interviewing people is like throwing mud against a wall...some sticks, some doesn't. I have hired people that have interviewed beautifully that turn out to be the biggest flakes of all time, and others whose interviews were a bit questionable have turned out to be fabulous employees. So...pulllleeeeezzzz Mr. interviewer, could you possibly make a decision so that I might get on with my life? He assures me I will know if I got the job before the Thanksgiving holidays. Then...of course there's the 60 day notice at my current job, lots of training for my replacement, saying goodbye to a job I absolutely love and I may end up at the new joint say by Feb. Unbelievable. And then, even if I get the job we still have to negotiate salary and benefits. How the heck long do you think that may take? I might not start til June! Oh alright...perhaps I am exaggerating just a bit.

On a more serious and less petty note...I spoke to the mama today and her angiogram went well yesterday and she was quite chipper and bubbly today. She has a few more procedures coming up over the next month to clear some blockages in her carotid arteries, so please keep my mama in your prayers. Hopefully she'll be feeling like her old self or her new better self by Christmas :) Love you mama!

Retail Therapy -- The next generation

Last Sunday I had the precious baby girl at my house. We had a lot on the todo list that day, which included going to the mall for new clothes. We all slept in (even the baby girl) til 9:30! which was really awesome in my book, and then we were off to the mall. I love that she is two now and can wander around with us...stroller free. She had quite quite quite the good time at the mall. First, she did a lot of exploring! Who knew there were so many fun places to crawl into...
and to sit... at A&F? I guess when you're under 3 feet tall that store offers a completely different view! After A&F we were off to Hollister where the baby girl enjoyed some good Surfing magazines...
and so did Honey!
After they were done reading their magazines, he followed her around the store, helped her climb onto the couch where she sat for at least 2 nano seconds, and generally let her explore to her heart's content. After we were done at the checkout, she claimed this bag as her own!
A sure sign of things to come! There was no getting that bag away from her and wherever we went she brought the bag along with her.
Next we were off to Aero. She found a terrific place to sit while the girls searched through the clearance. Notice her tight little grip on the Hollister bag! In every store, she showed a bit of her Grammie by stopping to admire the jewelry. In Aero, she told me all of the colors of beads and all of the shapes of the charms on the necklaces. At one point, she laid down on the floor to get a closer look at the necklaces on the bottom rack! Aubrey picked up her bag and we were off to American Eagle. Aubrey sat on the floor near the jewelry to admire the latest fashion trends. She had her shopping bag close by. When Kevin looked down at her he noticed she was dropping necklaces into the shopping bag one by one! Oh no little one...no shoplifting on our watch! Kevin put all of the stolen goods back on the rack and we were off again. As we were leaving the mall, we went by one of those kiosks that sells 'bling', you know? She had to stop, put her hands on her knees and bend down for a closer look at the necklaces! Too funny! After all that shopping we stopped to have some Kobe's (yum.my.) and then her mama met us at the mall and it was time for us to go pick up Brennan.

It's been a long time since I've been shopping with little ones and of course when mine were little I am sure I didn't let them explore the store and sit where they like, carry the bag, or pose for pictures. Those joys are saved for shopping with the next generation! I am sure my children would have been strapped into the stroller for safe keeping :) It's very different shopping with one two year old, two teens, and two adults. When I headed to the mall in days gone by, it was usually me, and three little ones under 5. Very different indeed! I'm glad I've learned to let go a bit and enjoy the moment. It sure was worth it!

Here's the funniest thing of all time. My big girl is currently grounded from the computer due to her delay in chore completion. Be sure to note who the first comment is from on this post...the grounded one!

The kick butt laundry challenge

What is that one thing in your life that is NEVER caught up? What two words do not belong in the same sentence? For me...they are laundry and done. When my friends say they finished their laundry...I sit and wonder Really? Hmmm. Let me see. Nope, can't really recall a time when the laundry was 'done'. For fear of setting off some health department alert I can't really post a picture of my laundry pile here. Let's just suffice it to say that when I was making my todo lists the other day, laundry was at the top of the list. You see, every once in a while my laundry used to ALMOST be DONE. Those times included 1) when my mother came to visit and 2) when my basement flooded the day before we left on vacation and my mother in law washed ALL the laundry that was in the basement. Every time it has ALMOST been done, I make some willy nilly promise to myself to keep up with it. Alas...tis not so. There must be, let me not exaggerate, 50 loads of laundry in this house. Now...first you're wondering, "HOW ON EARTH CAN THERE BE 50 LOADS OF LAUNDRY?!?" Do they have a special wing at their house for the dirty laundry? Why yes...yes we do...it's called the basement. So...hang with me here...what in your world needs the kick butt challenge? For me...it is for sure the laundry. So...I have committed to washing 20 loads a week in addition to the 70 hours a week I work. k? 20 loads. Let me see...today I have done 2. Hmmmm, far from 20. But...I plan to post my progress here...and I'll let you know how the pile is looking. When it looks like a pile instead of the basement floor, I may actually take a picture. But for now...I'm off to do laundry!

I do commit to post my progress each Tuesday for my Tackle It Tuesday Challenge! Won't you join me?

The beginning of the end...

First and foremost...let me congratulate Heather from the short bus for winning the petty request contest. If you haven't stopped by the short bus, you really must. I fell in love with Heather's blog when she began sharing her experiences as a preschool parent. As a preschool directer, I love to hear the parenting perspective. Heather writes with the best sense of humor, and seems to have just as crazy things happen to her as have happend to me when the Ruchus was little. Heather won a $50 gift card to Borders or to Barnes & Noble (whichever store is in her neck of the woods) just for reading this blog, voting, and leaving a comment! Hooray for Heather! Hey Heather...email me your snail mail address and I'll send your gift card right off...happy shopping!

Ok, now onward...

My friend Carlene and I ... had our very last registration for grad school...hence the big cheese smiles! Even though this picture with Tasha, Carlene and I isn't super clear and even though we have gum in our mouths...it is simply the best feeling to be filling out those forms for the last time...

As much as I have loved school, met some super great people, and learned so much...if you have been a reader of this blog, you'll know that I have absolutely not enjoyed the time away from my family and the sacrifices my children and husband have had to make over the past three years. As of today we graduate 6 months from today and as you well know, I can't wait!

An update on the job front: I have my fourth!!! interview for the new job I have now been applying for for the past 3 months. They tell me this is the final interview. So I will soon know whether this is the job for me. As I frequently say...time will tell. Please all you prayers out there, keep a good thought for me on Wednesday at 10:30. Hopefully there will be no mufflers falling off of my car that day!

Stay tuned this evening for the weekend update...

The Drum Roll Please...

Stay tuned today for the winner of the Petty Request Contest...

I have decided that it is time to make some lists. Yesterday I made the following lists...

Homework list (much too long!)
Cleaning list (looking for someone to give this list to!)
Christmas gift giving list (nothing but smiles on my part)
Christmas card list (a work in progress)
Remaining bills to pay list (this list is also up for grabs!)

And the final list...what Christmas cookies to bake list (hope to pour over recipes today and finish that one up.)

With only, yes ONLY 3 paychecks til Christmas (is that crazy hard to believe or what?) and a trip beginning the day after Christmas I am feeling the need for serious organization and budgeting on my part. Neither is my strong suit but I'm willing to give it a go. What lists are you making?

I am up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday waiting for my baby Aubrey to arrive. It is still dark out and yes snowing here which I think is wrong on many levels. Later today when I get my photos downloaded I can share with you Brennan's bowling experience yesterday with his play group and Stephanie's play last night. It was a super super busy week that finally caught up to me Friday. I left work at 9AM and came straight home and went to bed. I though an hour of sleep might help. An hour turned into 6 hours and I felt a bit better when I got up. The lists also helped put into perspective the overwhelming to do's that sometimes overtake my life.

My children have desperately needed clothes. I swear if I see them in the same 5 shirts one more day I'll have to disown them...kidding of course. Yesterday I finally took Brennan shopping. I gave him $100 for which he bought 6 pair of socks, a pair of jeans, two hoodies, a pair of pajama pants and 5 shirts. Pretty darn good huh? He's a shopper after my own heart. He also is too much like his Dad. I told him that winter is here and he needed some long sleeve shirts. Nope, not a chance. Instead he opted for short sleeve shirts and hoodies (or sweaters as he calls them) -- We struggled over the million shirts with skulls on them which I don't really appreciate, until finally he picked out a hoodie with little skulls on it, to which I gave in. I really don't appreciate it and his dad appreciates it even less. I'm looking for opinions here. Does the 'skull wear' grace your teenage boys (and sometimes your girls) or is it banned in your house? I clearly told him he couldn't wear it to church and his sisters were mortified that I let him buy it at all. So...time will tell I guess on the skull hoodie. Looks like it's the only skull item he'll own. Psychologically speaking I know you are supposed to let kids express themselves in their teen years as part of their experimental who am I phase, to enable them to grow into well adjusted adults. I have been able to do this much easier with my daughters which I think is a bit odd. They've picked out most of their clothes for some time, yet this is the first time I've actually taken Brennan shopping. Of course the only way they learn is by doing and the boy has to learn some fashion sense while he's still under my roof. He has new clothes, now if I can just get him to shower and change his clothes!

Today it's the girls' turn. We're heading to church this morning, then to lunch. After baby Aubrey goes home, we'll head to the mall where I am certain my girls will get fewer items even though they have larger budgets. My precious one yesterday said...she is going to buy accessories. Um, No. Your. Not. You are going to buy clothes, because really the accessories don't do much if you have no clothes to wear with them!

Those are my random blatherings for this morning. I'm off to catch up on my blog reading, read the newspaper and snuggle up that sweet baby girl!

Rockubama

My little friends Zoe and Jason cracked me up! Of course they voted in their kindergarten classes and came home to ask their mama who she would vote for...John McCain or Rockubama?

Isn't that classic? Obama definitely did Rock us! Along those same lines, I wanted to share an email that I got on election day. I found it quite moving. From my friend Carlene..."So I went to vote at 6am. Can you believe there was a line out the
door? But as I stood there and connected the arrow for presidential
nominee Barack Obama I knew I was part of history. I pray that the
change this country needs is right around the new year."

History in the making...in our lifetime...and we are all a part of it. Part of the United States of America.

Rockubama!