bullet points...

-got a job lead
-had a horrible interview
-felt totally uncomfortable and turned off after the interview
-got offered the job
-took a few days to think about it
-decided to take it
-regret my decision
-want to work for the census as it will allow me to still be in school (which will allow me to eventually work from home next spring), still be home with Vaughn, be outside, make my own schedule, pay is better
-90% of the people told me I should have turned the job down and waited for the census
-the 10% that think i should have take it think the census is a horrible decision.
-Im tired of doing what everyone else wants me to do.'
-regardless of what everyone else thinks, i WANT to be a stay at home mom. THAT is the most important job in the world to me
-Becuase I will be working VE will have to miss out on her classes and activities that she enjoys through the week. That kills me.
-The condos i have been wanting to live in for 2 years are offering a great move in special with free rent until April. I might move there March 1st, waiting to hear back on that.
-Im ready to move on with my life. Get my own place, start making my own decisions, get married, do whats best for US.
-I am sick about taking VE back to the sitter. Sick.

GREAT Saturday

It was a great day yesterday! Not only was the weather a refresher I was needing (I mean common, can we say GORGEOUS!) but the day went smoothly and went off without a hitch. VE and I spent the day playing and hanging out, met Rudy for lunch at pancheros (HIS favorite!) and then we all came back here and hung out together until I left for church with molly. Church was great. I feel like I am learning so much more than ever before. I love how he doesnt only talk about the Bible in a "these people who do this suck and are going to hell, only us good people are going to heaven so never mess up...!" type of manner and instead really TEACHES. We talked about Paul last night and after going to church my entire life I never really got who paul was, I didnt know that he used to be a pharasy, I didnt know that he wrote most of the new testement while in jail, I didnt know his relationship with people and it was so clear last night...like a very well explained story and I was amazed that I had heard Paul be talked about in church my whole life but NEVER did a pastor take 30 minutes to give the history and "backstory" about it. I guess I need that because it makes the sermen that much more meaningful for me. The pastor was talking about nero (whom I had never heard of before. Maybe I just suck at listening?) and how he hated Christians so much that when he would have a huge party he would dip Christians in oil and hang them in cages from his ceiling and use the burning Christians as lighting for his party. The way he explained it just gave me chills and realized how far Christians have come in the years past. Another thing I love is that Pastor also talks about his own sins. Its not the basis of his lesson by anymeans but he does use them as examples so instead of using "other sinners" as examples he will say like " a while back i was struggling with this....and I didnt want to listen to God...and this is where it got me...etc etc." Its just neat to feel like he is teaching and not lecturing. I dont know- Im just super glad we are going. Like a million people have approached us about joining a Bible study with them so it might be something we try otu this week..,.

anyways, today we are meeting Rudy's sister and bro in law (pretty mcuh) for lunch at PF changs. MMMM love that place. Alright, gotta go tend do the little one.

Have a great weekend.
PS Thunderstorms in the forcast for Tomorrow....AWESOME!!!

TGIF

This week has been long and hard. I have just been in a big slump. I hate weeks like that. Today is feeling better. My sister gave me a long much needed pep talk/get real talk. I definetly needed it and it helped my attitude alot. Today Amanda watched VE for a few hours while I went to an appt and ran a few places with Rudy. It was nice hanging out with him and it being just us. I missed Vaughn like crazy and actually told rudy we should just skip the errands and go get her. I HATE being away from her. I know she had fun though, she always does with aunt mimi and the cousins. I love that we are close enough to share that time. I owe her a free day to herself and will gladly do that anytime. I love hanging out with the niece and nephew:)

Tomorrow we are hanging out with Rudy and I am going to church with molly while rudy and VE get some one on one time.
Is anyone else IN LOVE with this weather? Oh my gosh! I did not know how much the gross cold winter weather would/could effect me. But this year, I have really struggled, Ive just been in a slump. I trully wish winter was 3 weeks long, December 7th-30th. That would be it for me, enough enough, no more! i am so excited for easter (you all know how I love to plan holidays) and even for Valentines day (as long as the weather stays nice.) I think rudy and I are going to get dinner and go to a movie. We havent done that....alone...in....at least two years. he doesnt really enjoy going to the movies but he knows I love it so today he asked me if i would like to do that. My sister helped me realize last night that those things are his way of showing his love. I never thought of it that way and always get mad that he doesnt send me flowers or write me nice cards but she was telling me that its not that he doesnt show he loves me, he DOES show it...alot...its just in his own way and that should be even more special than the cliche flowers and cards. it really took 6 years of being with him for me to get it. Thats nuts.

i have been picking up little things on sale for VE for summer/ spring clothes. Its so fun shopping for your kiddos. Its crazy though becuause I am buying 24 months (some things 2T!)) CRAZY! I never thought I would get to the point where I would be buying 12 month let alone 2T! She is growing soo fast. I cannot believe it! Today we were hanging out in the kitchen and she pointed to a book and said "row row row" and it was the row row row your boat book. How did she know that?
Another thing that is totally shocking to me...she loves to sort things. Isnt that weird for this age? I loved to do that when I was like 6. She will go through my box of our shoes and find the matches and put them together, or in the bathtub she will sort her yellow toys and put them on the ledge, her pink toys in one corner of the tub etc. Its crazy to me to watch her little mind work like that and she is accurate. Funny/genious kiddo!

Have a brilliant weekend in this brilliant weather!

Dancing Dancing Dancing

Today was Vaughn's dance class again. She is just loving it. And its so fun to see her out and interacting with other kiddos! She was so well behaved and followed all instructions and sat on my lap when she was supposed to. It was so sweet, they turn the lights off and want you to just snuggle your baby while they play a song. Vaughn typically would never go for this, but today she just curled up in my lap and snuggled so tight. It was the sweetest thing EVER. Man I love her! Rudy was so excited to hear about how her class goes. I am glad he gets excited about her learning and having fun. Its sweet. Today just consists of errands after nap time and nothing much else. Should be a laid back kind of day.

I went to BRAVO with Molly last night- my favorite restaurant. Delish. It was a good time. Cannot go wrong with a little gluttony. :)

Its supposed to be a beautiful weekend and I am looking for ward to getting out in the fresh air! Hopefully it melts the snow!

Last night is a blur. VE was up every ten minutes. No exaggeration. I finally put her in bed with me and that didnt help either, but at least I wasnt having to get up and hold her. She would just start screaming. My parents think its because i gave her some of my potatoes from my soup last night that were a little spicey. I dont think so becuase she's the same way today. Grr. I hate these kind of days! WE got up early and went to Rudy's though so I could veg out and get a change of scenery for her. She loves going over there. Her old bedroom is now her playroom so she likes having a place to go hangout like that. Its cute. Its neat watching them really interact. He adores her and she him. I dont have a ton to write about. Her eye is getting better. Scabbed over now but not puffy like it was.
I think I am meeting a friend for dinner tongiht. That will be nice! My parents are going to Illinios this weekend. I know she'll miss them and will be anxious for them to get back.

PS. My soup last night tasted exactly like olive garden. Im amazing! haha.

ROUGH day!

Sigh! Today I asked rudy to come over early ( i wanted him to come at 6:30 and take VE for the morning so I could sleep in and then catch up on some cleaning.) he came at 7:30, but I went back to bed regardless. About 9 he came in and poor VE was crying and bleeding from the eye! Apparently she had tripped on the rug downstairs and fell eye first into my finance book for DMACC. its a hardcover book and the corners are pointy. It was sitting on the coffee table... Poor sweet baby! Its just getting worse. this picture was taken after it happened but its worse...her eye is super swollen and bruised. Her tear duct was hit too and its bloodshot. makes me sick. i put medicine on it and Im hoping that helps. I cannot imagine how badly it hurts. Needless to say the rest of the morning she's not been feeling the best. Tylonol and TLC will be much needed today. Hope you all are having a better day.

On a good note- its my night to make dinner and Im throwing together a Zuppa Toscana soup (a take on the olive garden version- my altime favorite soup ever. ) Ive never made it before but have it in the crockpot and should be delish.

OK, after looking at this picture again I am realizing how much worse it is now than it was...yikes. Now I feel even worse.

A hotel weekend.

My Movie star!
Pre-swimming pictures

There was some dancing show on and she was shakin it!

loving her beautiful self!

We went to the quad cities this weekend. To avoid the details, I am glad to be home! The good part was that Vaughn-elise and I stayed in a hotel and so she was able to go swimming. That was fun. She had fun in the hotel on the big beds and dancing in the mirrors. She was hillarious. After swimming she stood in front of the mirror butt naked and boy did she get down. She was shaking it and then would turn around and shake her booty and watch it in the mirror. Hopefully this phase ends before she gets into too much trouble with it! haha, she was soo funny though. She was dancing like a wild women and saying "hello, hello! hello!" Too funny. She loved loved the pool and would push her legs out and kick. A swimmer? hopefully! It was good to get home and we watched the superbowl with matt and maria. It was fun...

I forgot to mention it was Rudy's mom's birthday! happy 70th birthday lucha! We went to Olive Garden for her birthday. We had an hour wait and then the food was very slow getting there....and it was Vaughn's naptime so it was a crazy mess! food was good though!