Much needed coffee break

This time last year my sweet friend of many many many years and I were meeting for coffee at least once a week. It was a great time for me to get away after V had been put down for the night and what girl doesnt need regular girl time (not to mention regular starbucks) For many months this was our ritual and once spring hit we got out of the habit and with summer, forget it. But, we met up again to night and let me tell you what a joy and a relief it is to have such awesome friends. Feels like no time passed at all. It is very refreshing to meet and talk with a friend who knows you well and is always on the same page as you. Makes my week a little brighter. I always feel refreshed. We dont talk about anything profound or anything, but its just good chat time....I love it and hope we continue the tradition for years. Molly, your awesome and am SO glad to have you in my life.

My birthday was this weekend and went well. I love birthdays- for other people but never put too much thought into mine- which is weird since its the day you came into this world- but its always so busy. Friday night rudy and I went to Joe's crab shack. I love that place. Nothing like some good Crab Legs to put someone in a great mood! It made me miss NC since I ate crab Every. Single. Day there. (but NC crab tastes much different and much better) We did a little holiday shopping for Vaughn too.

Saturday we went to town early, got paint and christmas lights for the new place and then spent the day doing yard work, painting, etc. I got to stop at BBW and get some sale items and later went to Old Navy and got some new tops for work. WE met my brother, his gf and her friend from WI at Outback and got to eat some awesome food. It was a good day overall. My mom and Vaughn made me a root beer cake which may be a yearly tradition now. Man, that is some GOOD CAKE!

We have another mouse. This guy is SMART. we have set every trap we know how to...including trying to burn him in the oven and he manages to escape and hide. Its so disgusting. I cant wait to be out of here! I HATE MICE. Alfie has managed to hurt his leg in his attempt to catch the nasty thing....it drives him crazy. Us too.

my place is in massive disaray right now trying to sort through things, throw away, pack...its really rediculous and is stressing me out! I hate clutter- though you wouldnt know it- it makes me crazy. I dont like not having a calm place visually...or mentally for that matter. This week my goal is to make it through every room and clear out. We definetly dont have room for "extras" in the new house- simplify simplify simplify! Any ideas on organizing send them my way!

Trick or Treating as minnie mouse. she had SO MUCH FUN and keeps asking to go tick or tweeting again to get some "chocate!"

catch up time

I appologize to those of you who read my blog and have had to see the same post over and over lately. I have been in a rut and not felt like writing....things have been so busy that writing it all down seems very teadious. so I wont try. But I will try a little catch up. We bought a house- here in Adel and are officially homeowners. This weekend we are going to do some painting and outside work and are hoping to be moved by the end of the month. Though, I have not started packing yet because I wont lie, I am holding out for a shiny something for my finger prior to me moving. If I dont hold out- it wont ever happen. Thats my story and Im sticking to it.

I have FINALLY gotten a new vehicle, a shiny Buick Rendezvous crossover and I CANNOT tell you how nice it is to be able to get in my car in the morning and not have to worry about it starting, not have to worry about it breaking down on the side of the road, its comfy, its luxurious (it has heated seats- it doesnt take much for me to think its luxurious.) I just love it.

We have another mouse in the house....can I tell you how well I am NOT sleeping due to this? Everytime I fall asleep I dream of a mouse eating me or laying babies under my skin- its rediculous. I am ready to move!!!

I am getting sooo excited for the holidays. Vaughn has been singing about Jesus and Santa and pointing out everything red and green. I am waiting to move to decorate but am soo pumped. I have a large majority of my shopping done and am ready to enjoy the food, cookie exchanges, wrapping parties etc.

I have to share a sweet story- My point of this blog is to preserve the memories i have of V at every age and so, I have to share this- for my own memory...

While laying with V at bedtime, she nuzzled up to me, said "close your eyes mama" and then sang me "you are my sunshine, my onyee sunshine, you make ma happy when skys are CRAZY. You never know DDEEEAAAR how my mommy loves me, peeese dont take my sunshine awaaaaay." Then she kissed my chin and said "love you more mommy!" OHHH...what a dear!

She is starting to really love to pray. many a time while in the middle of a breakdown or when she is getting in trouble she will tell me "we need to pray." or if I am getting after her she says "its okay mommy, i pray for you." What a little stinker- but you cant resist a child in desire for prayer. She's just so precious. I used to dread bedtimes but they are so much fun now becuase she tells me stories, who got in trouble at daycare....last night at dinner she said "torin in timeout mommy. Torin Spit. I dont spit mommy. Boys spit. Boys NASTHY."
and she sings me the itsy bitsy spider, says her abcs (all the way through) she sings twinkle twinkle. I will have to get her on video sometime. She melts my heart and enriches my soul. She's my bestest.

Vaughn has come down with a bizzare rash. she has big spots....that to me look like chicken pox....and she is itching like crazy. Pediatrician thinks its a virus coming out through her skin instead of manifesting in her. Its now spread to a few on her legs and arms and up into her scalp. Very weird. she goes to her 2 year apt friday and they said they'd take a look but assured me it didn't "sound" like anything to worry about. I will post pics tomorrow but left my camera at work. they prescribed benedryl so she has gone to sleep 2 nights in arow in less than 10 minutes. I dont know what to do with all the extra time i have:) maybe i should work out or clean. haha.

we got her kitchen set put together that we got her for her birthday, she loves it....but we need to get some food cause its kinda boring without all the fun stuff.

I am SO ready for Friday. This week has gone fast but i am ready to get some stuff done. I am getting super excited for the holidays and LOVE this fall weather, cool, rainy...bright orange trees....just beautiful! Our year gets insane from here on out. V's bday party with my fam this weekend, next weekend is halloween and rudy's birthday, then Gabi's birthday, then my birthday, then thanksgiving and black friday, then dads birthday, then Christmas parties for work, then Christmas! I just love this time of year! Got a good start on my holiday shopping and am about half done or so....thats really good for me!

I got my car back...finally and its already acting up again. I am looking at a new vehicle tomorrow so we will see how that goes. hopefully I get this one traded before it ends up back in the shop. I am sick of it and ready for someone else to have my crappy car!

off to find ice cream cake recipe for V's party...MMmmm

Color Drive

Just a couple hours ago we got home from Illinois- it was cOlOr DrIvE Weekend which is my favorite weekend! We had so much fun and I had prayed all week that we would just be able to kick back, relax and enjoy the trip without being stressed about anything having to do with travel. God answered those prayers:) This was Rudy's first color drive and i thought FOR sure he would be annoyed by the driving and viewing of the leaves and stopping at a million garage sales etc...but he LOVED it. We got lost and ended up an hour and a half from our destination and he just kept saying how beautiful the "mountains" were... (mountains equals rolling hills) and we stopped and took pictures and if Vaughn hadnt been asleep in the car we would have stopped at the local restaurants and had a drink or pie and talked to the locals.

While we had a great time, we were also all sick. Myself and some of the kiddos with the upper respiratory stuff, fever, chills etc. Rudy and some others were sick with the stomach flu. Blah.
V and I opted out of the hay ride not only because of how late it ended up being but because of the cold...and being sick...didn't sound like a great combo. We really had so much fun this weekend....the drive home (8 hours with the stops) took it all out of me!

Its always sad leaving my sweet grandma. She has to be so lonely there and she just loves talking to people and telling stories and we do cherish every single time we get to see her and spend with her. I wish she lived closer!

This week is another long M-F and then I have a tupperware party on Saturday (exciting!) and Vaughn's 2nd birthday party on Sunday (super super exciting)
We still have not put together her kitchen set (epic fail on our part) but there are a jillion pieces and Rudy wants some assistance so we will have to wait until some night this week to do it. At this point V is content playing with the metal sink that came with it and the pot holders etc. She's a sweet girly and so smart....it was so fun listening to her sing and pray and count and say the "abcdeg's" in the back seat. sweet sweet little lady with a strong strong will.

I gotta go to bed....gotta get rested since I am out of sick time at work. Blah-- its so lame to give paretns the same amount of sick time as those without kids...you should get twice as much. Mine has been used up by Vaughn- her sitter being sick/gone and the few days I used for myself. I hate that!

pumpkin patch bust

looks like Gabi is trying to warm those hands!

looking at the goats.....

Gotta love gords!

*** THIS PICTURE CRACKS ME UP*** this was the mood of the day. Vaughn: You gotta be kidding me....THIS is what she was talking about? Andre:Im gonna run over there and steel that boys gloves! Gabi:This is rediculous.

Amanda and I have been single over the weekends lately and decided to take the kiddos to a pumpkin patch. I had built up the excitement in V and she was so ready to go. Why did we pick TODAY to go? Its maybe 47 tops and windy. As you can see in the photos...the kids less than enjoyed themselves. We got a few pumpkins but were there no more than a half hour...and that included porta potty break. They had some super neat pumpkins and I wish the weather had been nicer and our men could have gone and I would have come home with a truckload....we'll have to try again in a week or two.

Frustration

Frustration is getting the best of me...both with Vaughn and with my house. If I have to stare at another white wall or space that is cluttered with junk I will scream. I feel like, being stuck between this place and a house, i am hesitant to hang things or decorate or do much of anything feeling like I will have to tear it all down in a month.

Vaughn....the sweet girl she is has sure turned into the terrible twos. She refuses to fall asleep and its been taking me a min of an hour to get her to fall asleep at night, she screams and cries and throws fits, she is sassy, demanding and just mean sometimes with her hitting and hair pulling. I love her to pieces, and I feel bad for getting frustrated with her but lord help me! She is just so whiny all the stinking time. I know she picks up alot of bad stuff at daycare from some of the boys there and is always telling me who was naughty or who the sitter yelled at that day. and I know part of it is her age. either way- its beyond frustrating. I feel like i if i were home with her, id have more time and more control to reverse these issues. She was doing so well with sleeping, we didnt have to lay with her etc, just take her up there and lay her down...2 min and she was out. Now, i dread bed time the entire day. its not fair to her to go to bed upset and its not fair tha i have to dread that should be sweet time with her.

on top of all that we have a mouse problem. Knock on wood we havent seen one in at least a day now so hopefully they are spreading the words that those that come in dont come out..but we'll see.