We have been back from vacation for a few days now and are finally beginning to settle back into our normal routine. It seems like life has just been really crazy lately. When I picked Jacob up from daycare yesterday he stated, "It is going to be another crazy day today. Isn't it Mom?" Here are some highlights from our lives the last few days.
-The biggest project I have going right now is trying to clean my bedroom and get laundry done. One of my cats had an emergency while I was gone. My friend found her and we were able to get her medical care so that she is fine now. Before she was found, she managed to urinate in my closet, laundry basket and pull everything off of my dresser and out of my closet. It was a huge mess to come home to. I decided it was a good time to do a very complete and detailed cleaning since everything was torn apart anyway.
-Jacob had another dermatology appointment on Wednesday morning. We were the first appointment of the day at the surgery center. That allowed us to drive to where I will have an interview for an internship. The internship will be in child protective services and should be a great experience. Jacob and I found the place without a problem. On our way home, we stopped for ice cream and a hair cut. We also picked M up from daycare and ran a few more errands.
-I returned to work on Thursday. I was planning to go home after work and try to tackle some of the laundry and other chores from vacation yet. Instead, I received an email from M's social worker. She was working on a report and wanted to see him. I agreed that she could stop by that night. She ended up not arriving until 5:30 PM and left around 6. I decided it was way to late for grocery shopping before dinner so I took the kids to Taco Bell. By this time, I was exhausted so we stopped to say hi to my dad on the way home. It is an easy way for me to get some help entertaining the kids and a chance to relax a little bit without worrying about all of the unfinished chores.
-Yesterday we saw P again. You may remember she is my little sister through Big Brothers/Big Sisters. We hadn't seen her in about 3 weeks because of vacation. I still haven't made it to the store so we went to Noodles and Company for dinner. From there we went to the park and then just hung out until it was time to take her home.
-My brother was at my parents house last night so we stopped there. It was late but we had a very overdue birthday present to give him. The kids were having so much fun and behaving so well that I was really enjoying the visit. We ended up staying until almost 9:00. That meant hustling home and to bed since we had to get up early again today for work.
As you can see, I just haven't had much time to do anything lately. I still have unpacked suitcases and laundry to do. We are hoping to attend a birthday party for a little while tonight. After the party, we will have to stop at the grocery store and then head straight home. I am hoping to get at least a couple loads of laundry done and the suitcases put away before bedtime tonight.
I am beginning to think we need another vacation just to catch up from the last vacation.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
We Are Back!
We are back from vacation. We actually arrived home last night. It has been a whirlwind of activity.
The last week of vacation was absolutely wonderful and very busy. We had a great time visiting with my wonderful relatives in Greeley, Colorado. I always wish I was able to just pack up and move there after a visit. Maybe some day we will. Or maybe it will remain one of those fantasies that just never seems to have the right timing or be the right choice for us.
I hope to post a lot of pictures in the next few days. Today I just don't have the time or energy to find the camera. It's still buried somewhere in our luggage.
I had hoped to get a lot more done today than I did. Jacob had another dermatology appointment this morning. We had to be at the surgery center at 6:30 this morning. That meant that M had to be at daycare at 6:00. About 1 1/2 hours earlier than we have been getting up while travelling! We all made it though and the kids had a fairly good day. Jacob chose a pink airplane as his toy for after the appointment.
I also drove to the building where I will have an interview for an internship next week. I am pretty sure that I will be working there and the interview is mostly a formality. I am looking forward to getting it completed and everything ready for the next semester.
I also have 3 vet appointments (one needs to be rescheduled), another interview and a home visit with our foster home consultant next week. They will all occur on my three days off. Between now and then, I need to finish unpacking the car, unpack the suitcases and do laundry, pick up the house and prepare for the interviews and school. It will be a busy first week back.
I promise more pictures are coming.
The last week of vacation was absolutely wonderful and very busy. We had a great time visiting with my wonderful relatives in Greeley, Colorado. I always wish I was able to just pack up and move there after a visit. Maybe some day we will. Or maybe it will remain one of those fantasies that just never seems to have the right timing or be the right choice for us.
I hope to post a lot of pictures in the next few days. Today I just don't have the time or energy to find the camera. It's still buried somewhere in our luggage.
I had hoped to get a lot more done today than I did. Jacob had another dermatology appointment this morning. We had to be at the surgery center at 6:30 this morning. That meant that M had to be at daycare at 6:00. About 1 1/2 hours earlier than we have been getting up while travelling! We all made it though and the kids had a fairly good day. Jacob chose a pink airplane as his toy for after the appointment.
I also drove to the building where I will have an interview for an internship next week. I am pretty sure that I will be working there and the interview is mostly a formality. I am looking forward to getting it completed and everything ready for the next semester.
I also have 3 vet appointments (one needs to be rescheduled), another interview and a home visit with our foster home consultant next week. They will all occur on my three days off. Between now and then, I need to finish unpacking the car, unpack the suitcases and do laundry, pick up the house and prepare for the interviews and school. It will be a busy first week back.
I promise more pictures are coming.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Yellowstone
We are enjoying our final evening in the Yellowstone evening. I promise I will post pictures soon.
The trip so far has gone very well. We left Thursday night and drove about five hours. Friday morning we drove about 3 hours and stopped at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. We then drove about 5 hours and saw Mt. Rushmore. We were running a little later than I had hoped so we stopped at Quiznos for a quick dinner. We then drove the rest of the way to the hotel.
On the way to the hotel we saw several antelopes and buffalo. I wasn't sure what the antelope were since I had never seen them before. I knew they didn't look like deer but wasn't sure what else they could be. A quick phone call confirmed what I had guessed that they were very beautiful antelope. The kids and I all really enjoyed seeing the animals.
Saturday we finished driving to Yellowstone. We arrived at the hotel fairly late and just decided to spend time there. After two days in the car, Brooke and Jasmine really needed teenager time away from young children and old ladies (me). The boys and I enjoyed a nice dip in the hotel swimming pool before going to bed.
We spent the past three days hiking and driving around Yellowstone. We saw more buffalo, mule deers, elk and mountain goats. I really enjoyed the boiling mud pools and the geisers. We got some nice pictures.
As you head into the park, there are several signs telling you to stay away from the animals. The park guide states to stay at least 500 feet from all animals except bears and wolves. Then you need to stay 300 yards away. That is great except when the animals won't stay away from you. We had a family, including babies, of buffalo pass right in front of our car. I admit I got a little nervous when the 2000 pound male stopped and looked right at me. He was only inches from my front bumper and no more than 6 feet from me. Of course, I was in the car but that wasn't much comfort when his big horns are aimed right at me and he is looking directly at me. We did get some good pictures of him though.
Tonight we are swimming and then packing for the trip tomorrow. I plan to leave by 7 AM and begin the drive to Colorado. We should reach our hotel in the late afternoon/early evening tomorrow depending on how much we stop and if there are any delays.
Pictures coming soon.
The trip so far has gone very well. We left Thursday night and drove about five hours. Friday morning we drove about 3 hours and stopped at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. We then drove about 5 hours and saw Mt. Rushmore. We were running a little later than I had hoped so we stopped at Quiznos for a quick dinner. We then drove the rest of the way to the hotel.
On the way to the hotel we saw several antelopes and buffalo. I wasn't sure what the antelope were since I had never seen them before. I knew they didn't look like deer but wasn't sure what else they could be. A quick phone call confirmed what I had guessed that they were very beautiful antelope. The kids and I all really enjoyed seeing the animals.
Saturday we finished driving to Yellowstone. We arrived at the hotel fairly late and just decided to spend time there. After two days in the car, Brooke and Jasmine really needed teenager time away from young children and old ladies (me). The boys and I enjoyed a nice dip in the hotel swimming pool before going to bed.
We spent the past three days hiking and driving around Yellowstone. We saw more buffalo, mule deers, elk and mountain goats. I really enjoyed the boiling mud pools and the geisers. We got some nice pictures.
As you head into the park, there are several signs telling you to stay away from the animals. The park guide states to stay at least 500 feet from all animals except bears and wolves. Then you need to stay 300 yards away. That is great except when the animals won't stay away from you. We had a family, including babies, of buffalo pass right in front of our car. I admit I got a little nervous when the 2000 pound male stopped and looked right at me. He was only inches from my front bumper and no more than 6 feet from me. Of course, I was in the car but that wasn't much comfort when his big horns are aimed right at me and he is looking directly at me. We did get some good pictures of him though.
Tonight we are swimming and then packing for the trip tomorrow. I plan to leave by 7 AM and begin the drive to Colorado. We should reach our hotel in the late afternoon/early evening tomorrow depending on how much we stop and if there are any delays.
Pictures coming soon.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
I love this "stop"!
This picture was taken a rest stop in Wyoming. I loved the way they had a special area set up for pets.
Great Shirt!
I loved this shirt. We found it at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. It states
I didn't do it.
Nobody saw me do it.
I want to speak to my Gradpa.
This shirt is perfect for a little boy who idolizes his grandpa.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
To Do List
School starts in just under 6 weeks. We leave for vacation in 2 days. I was feeling very overwhelmed at the end of last week with everything I had to do. The good news is that I am almost done.
I have finished making all but the last hotel reservation. I am waiting to decide how far we will drive on the way home from Colorado until I see how we are feeling. It is a 14 hour drive so we will be stopping somewhere I just don't know where for sure yet. If we are tired, we will stop in Lincoln, NE. If we are doing well, we may decide to go to Omaha for the night.
I still have several loads of laundry to do. My efforts have been hindered by house breaking accidents, two little boys making baby powder snow shower (or really a blizzard) while I cooked dinner and a few extra changes of clothes after accidents with the hose. That hose really needs to learn how to avoid spraying people.
The house is finally clean thanks to our fabulous house cleaner who came over today. It really needs her talents every week but my budget can barely cover her every two weeks. I love sitting in my clean house after she leaves.
I can't find the air pump for the air mattress so I will be taking a trip to the store tomorrow. Hopefully, I can find a good one that doesn't cost much.
I still need to go to the grocery store after work tomorrow and pack our suitcases. I also need to clean out the van and put our bags and the cooler in it.
I still have a lot to do but am off to a great start. It will get done by the time I go to bed tomorrow. Then we just need to get through the work/school day on Thursday and we can leave! We have a hotel reservation five hours from here for Thursday night so I am hoping to be able to leave home by 4:00 PM.
Vacation here we come!
I have finished making all but the last hotel reservation. I am waiting to decide how far we will drive on the way home from Colorado until I see how we are feeling. It is a 14 hour drive so we will be stopping somewhere I just don't know where for sure yet. If we are tired, we will stop in Lincoln, NE. If we are doing well, we may decide to go to Omaha for the night.
I still have several loads of laundry to do. My efforts have been hindered by house breaking accidents, two little boys making baby powder snow shower (or really a blizzard) while I cooked dinner and a few extra changes of clothes after accidents with the hose. That hose really needs to learn how to avoid spraying people.
The house is finally clean thanks to our fabulous house cleaner who came over today. It really needs her talents every week but my budget can barely cover her every two weeks. I love sitting in my clean house after she leaves.
I can't find the air pump for the air mattress so I will be taking a trip to the store tomorrow. Hopefully, I can find a good one that doesn't cost much.
I still need to go to the grocery store after work tomorrow and pack our suitcases. I also need to clean out the van and put our bags and the cooler in it.
I still have a lot to do but am off to a great start. It will get done by the time I go to bed tomorrow. Then we just need to get through the work/school day on Thursday and we can leave! We have a hotel reservation five hours from here for Thursday night so I am hoping to be able to leave home by 4:00 PM.
Vacation here we come!
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