Wednesday, August 27, 2008
More Sewing!!!
I used a pattern for both, but added a pocket on my own. I can't wait to put them with funky tights!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Mini Vacay
Ryan and I met my parents in PA this weekend. We took Natalie to Dutch Wonderland (from Jon and Kate + 8 fame). It's an amusement park totally for kids. Natalie had a blast! She was yelling 'ride rides' from the parking lot and 'whimmin' because she could see the water slides. She liked the Turtle Whirl, but once it got going about 3 or 4 spins in a row and I thought she might puke. She looked completely bored on some of the smaller rides though. I think we have a mini-Ryan dare devil.
We went swimming in the outdoor pool at the hotel. Natalie is getting braver and would stick her face in the water to practice blowing bubbles. She was a major grump when we went out for pizza dinner. She only napped an hour, instead of her usual 2-3, so she passed out and didn't move once she got to bed. Luckily we stayed in a 1 bedroom suite so we put her to bed and played Rummy with my parents before they went back to their room. It was a fun time!
We went swimming in the outdoor pool at the hotel. Natalie is getting braver and would stick her face in the water to practice blowing bubbles. She was a major grump when we went out for pizza dinner. She only napped an hour, instead of her usual 2-3, so she passed out and didn't move once she got to bed. Luckily we stayed in a 1 bedroom suite so we put her to bed and played Rummy with my parents before they went back to their room. It was a fun time!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
More Job Info
Ryan has applied to apply to about 8 jobs. So far one job (Physical Medicine) is full. Health Management is available. Contracting Specialist is only open overseas right now. We have not heard from three Intelligence jobs or Flight Engineer.
Another opportunity came up for Recruiting Duty. It has some great pros and cons. One is there is extra duty pay of $450 a month. This is eerie because I will not be babysitting this year and I made...dum dum dum....$450 a month. We can also pick where he wants to be, he can't be deployed for the length of the tour (4 years). The downside is you have to meet quotas and work strange hours and weekends. Ryan is leaning toward this right now, but not sure yet.
In the meantime, he has 2 CLEP tests to take and he will have his CCAF (community college of the air force) degree. He can transfer that to any college and be done with everything you would do in the first 2 years of college, so he could start the specialized courses. So he's going to start taking 2 classes a semester again too.
He does not know what he wants a degree in yet because he doesn't know what he wants to do when he 'grows up'. He will be 31 when he gets out, which is not OLD, but a lot of fire departments don't hire after 30 :( He took a career test online the other day and it said his top areas are security/protection, health, or construction. So we shall see!
If you can pray for us...we are just hoping that God will lead us in the right direction for our family. It's really a stressful time for me because I am the type of person who needs to know what is going on, when things need to happen, etc. This all has to be decided by Sept 30th and the recruiter application is due by the 1st so I guess I will know more soon!
Another opportunity came up for Recruiting Duty. It has some great pros and cons. One is there is extra duty pay of $450 a month. This is eerie because I will not be babysitting this year and I made...dum dum dum....$450 a month. We can also pick where he wants to be, he can't be deployed for the length of the tour (4 years). The downside is you have to meet quotas and work strange hours and weekends. Ryan is leaning toward this right now, but not sure yet.
In the meantime, he has 2 CLEP tests to take and he will have his CCAF (community college of the air force) degree. He can transfer that to any college and be done with everything you would do in the first 2 years of college, so he could start the specialized courses. So he's going to start taking 2 classes a semester again too.
He does not know what he wants a degree in yet because he doesn't know what he wants to do when he 'grows up'. He will be 31 when he gets out, which is not OLD, but a lot of fire departments don't hire after 30 :( He took a career test online the other day and it said his top areas are security/protection, health, or construction. So we shall see!
If you can pray for us...we are just hoping that God will lead us in the right direction for our family. It's really a stressful time for me because I am the type of person who needs to know what is going on, when things need to happen, etc. This all has to be decided by Sept 30th and the recruiter application is due by the 1st so I guess I will know more soon!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sewing
I bought my first 2 patterns to make shorts for a boy and a dress for a girl, our friends the Hicks' are starting preschool. I also made another dress for Cait too. I'm really proud of the dress. It has a lining under the bodice and the skirt has gathers. I was so excited to get it done! It only took me 4 hours ;-)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Letter H Playdate
We had a playdate on Friday to celebrate the letter H. We made H masks and sang a song about horses. The kids had a great time dancing along to my, ahem, 'singing'.
Madeline is modeling one of the horse masks we made.
The latest shots of Natalie and her momma...
Madeline is modeling one of the horse masks we made.
The latest shots of Natalie and her momma...
Rides
I took Natalie up to Busch Gardens for the afternoon with Sondra and Madeline. There is a lot they can ride alone, and a few they can ride with the adults. Her favorite, or at least mine, was taking her on the big viking boat. You know, that swings back and forth. We had a great time on that. She kept saying 'YAH!!!' which is what the Backyardigans say when they are Vikings. Or the pirate noise...either way it was still fun.
On Saturday our WHOLE family went to the park. Drake got harnessed to the wagon for a mile walk around the playground first. He was a little jittery at first and took off really fast. The handle of the wagon went forward and clobberd him over the head. He then got spooked and ran around the grass in circles. Natalie said "Silly Dake" as they did donuts across the field. Eventually he got the hang of it and walked in between Ryan and I pulling Natalie in the rear. No tipping over or anything bad, she was buckled in tight! This is quite the feat for Drake, considering his love for running away!
On Saturday our WHOLE family went to the park. Drake got harnessed to the wagon for a mile walk around the playground first. He was a little jittery at first and took off really fast. The handle of the wagon went forward and clobberd him over the head. He then got spooked and ran around the grass in circles. Natalie said "Silly Dake" as they did donuts across the field. Eventually he got the hang of it and walked in between Ryan and I pulling Natalie in the rear. No tipping over or anything bad, she was buckled in tight! This is quite the feat for Drake, considering his love for running away!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Topsy Turvy Tueseday
Wow, these titles sounds as cheesy as a first grade teacher...oh wait...that is who is writing them!
We finally got the bedrooms almost finished. Everything is hung and we only spent $34 dollars. $30 was the room darkening shade for Natalie and $4 was for 2 rolls of ribbion I needed to finish my slip cover for the filing cabinet. I had an old white sheet at home, so I used that for the base and criss-crossed blue and green ribbon on it. It's now the TV stand in the guest room! All I need is the bedskirt my mom has for me, then it's all done!
Ryan just got news that he has to pick a new Air Force Career. We are excited, nervous, and annoyed all at the same time! A lot of jobs in the Air Force have very few NCO's (non-commissioned officers like Ryan) because people serve 4 years and get out, so they always just have the lower ranking people. Thirty people in Ryan's field have to transfer to those other jobs, and if they do not get 30 volunteers, they are going down a list. Ryan is #7 on the list, and that is for the ENTIRE Air Force. Needless to say it's likely he will be forced to re-train, so he wants to do it on his own so he can pick what he wants. First, he has to apply to be allowed to apply for the job (sound stupid? welcome to the military). Right now he has applied for Physical Medcine and Health Services Management. He is excited to try something new, but scared he will not like it. He's also upset that he spent almost 5 years learning this job and now they are kicking him out. But a new job might be something he has always wanted to do, and can do on the 'outside'. I am mad because we only get one Base of Preference and we had picked to stay here for the next four years. I do not know if we will have to move with this job, but it's a possibility if he gets it and there are not openings here for him. To top it all off, he is going to Panama City for 3 weeks in September and will miss my birthday. BOO HOO to me. On a plus, as much as I complain about my health care, I got a 1400 bill for my injection and I pay ZERO. Yay.
If you made it this far here are some cute Natalie stories.
* Daddy watched her last night while I went to Bunco. She threw three handfuls of spaghetti on the floor. Ryan scolded her and she started to tear up. But then she sneezed, said "Bless You Daddy", and he forgot all about it.
*Everytime she sees a birthday cake she says "Happy...To You". At 17 months to know the birthday song means we've gone to one too many parties!
*I recently got a used video baby monitor for Natalie. It hangs on the wall then I can see and hear her on the handheld part. She thinks it's a webcam I guess from talking to the grandparents. She will wave at it and say "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi".
We finally got the bedrooms almost finished. Everything is hung and we only spent $34 dollars. $30 was the room darkening shade for Natalie and $4 was for 2 rolls of ribbion I needed to finish my slip cover for the filing cabinet. I had an old white sheet at home, so I used that for the base and criss-crossed blue and green ribbon on it. It's now the TV stand in the guest room! All I need is the bedskirt my mom has for me, then it's all done!
Ryan just got news that he has to pick a new Air Force Career. We are excited, nervous, and annoyed all at the same time! A lot of jobs in the Air Force have very few NCO's (non-commissioned officers like Ryan) because people serve 4 years and get out, so they always just have the lower ranking people. Thirty people in Ryan's field have to transfer to those other jobs, and if they do not get 30 volunteers, they are going down a list. Ryan is #7 on the list, and that is for the ENTIRE Air Force. Needless to say it's likely he will be forced to re-train, so he wants to do it on his own so he can pick what he wants. First, he has to apply to be allowed to apply for the job (sound stupid? welcome to the military). Right now he has applied for Physical Medcine and Health Services Management. He is excited to try something new, but scared he will not like it. He's also upset that he spent almost 5 years learning this job and now they are kicking him out. But a new job might be something he has always wanted to do, and can do on the 'outside'. I am mad because we only get one Base of Preference and we had picked to stay here for the next four years. I do not know if we will have to move with this job, but it's a possibility if he gets it and there are not openings here for him. To top it all off, he is going to Panama City for 3 weeks in September and will miss my birthday. BOO HOO to me. On a plus, as much as I complain about my health care, I got a 1400 bill for my injection and I pay ZERO. Yay.
If you made it this far here are some cute Natalie stories.
* Daddy watched her last night while I went to Bunco. She threw three handfuls of spaghetti on the floor. Ryan scolded her and she started to tear up. But then she sneezed, said "Bless You Daddy", and he forgot all about it.
*Everytime she sees a birthday cake she says "Happy...To You". At 17 months to know the birthday song means we've gone to one too many parties!
*I recently got a used video baby monitor for Natalie. It hangs on the wall then I can see and hear her on the handheld part. She thinks it's a webcam I guess from talking to the grandparents. She will wave at it and say "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi".
Friday, August 08, 2008
Frantic Friday
Kind of like Manic Monday. It started off with a road trip to Richmond for pictures and shopping with Sondra and Maddie. We had a great time and came back and hung out at the house for awhile.
When Ryan got home, we had a quick spaghetti dinner. Then he took Natalie to Lowe's to get a new room darkening shade for the front room. I'm hoping it will cut down on some of the AC because that room was always flooded with light.
Once Ryan took off with a no-nap-Natalie in tow, I got busy. I moved Natalie's stuff into the front room, and the guest room back to Natalie's room.
Natalie got to keep one chest and dresser from the white and blue set. So now her small dresser moved into one of her closets. The other closet is still storage, but she has plenty of drawers for me to organize and fill!
The guest room now has the full size bed, the dresser with mirror, the nightstand and the filing cabinet holds the tv. I just need a few things to tie the green walls and blue bedding together (not the flowers, a blue duvet I had laying around). It's looking good. I just need some fabric to make a tablecloth to cover the filing cabinet and to make some throw pillows. I will have to buy a white full size bedskirt and maybe search for some more wall decor too.
All in all it only took about 2 hours, cost no money (well, except for the new shade but that hopefully will save us money), and made me happy! Now Natalie has a larger room to play in when I shower or am doing laundry upstairs.
When Ryan got home, we had a quick spaghetti dinner. Then he took Natalie to Lowe's to get a new room darkening shade for the front room. I'm hoping it will cut down on some of the AC because that room was always flooded with light.
Once Ryan took off with a no-nap-Natalie in tow, I got busy. I moved Natalie's stuff into the front room, and the guest room back to Natalie's room.
Natalie got to keep one chest and dresser from the white and blue set. So now her small dresser moved into one of her closets. The other closet is still storage, but she has plenty of drawers for me to organize and fill!
The guest room now has the full size bed, the dresser with mirror, the nightstand and the filing cabinet holds the tv. I just need a few things to tie the green walls and blue bedding together (not the flowers, a blue duvet I had laying around). It's looking good. I just need some fabric to make a tablecloth to cover the filing cabinet and to make some throw pillows. I will have to buy a white full size bedskirt and maybe search for some more wall decor too.
All in all it only took about 2 hours, cost no money (well, except for the new shade but that hopefully will save us money), and made me happy! Now Natalie has a larger room to play in when I shower or am doing laundry upstairs.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Party Time
Random pic of me, I know I don't get many of them up there. We went to Pam's (The Hick's) on Friday for her hubby Jim's 40th b-day. My mom had talked me into this shirt last time I was home, so I modeled it just for her. Ryan spent the night outside playing Cornhole and I stayed inside with the girls and pomegrante mojitos. MMMM! And yummy dips too :-)
Monday Mayhem
So I got the itch to move furniture again last night. This happens to me a lot, and though Ryan doesn't get it, he helped me anyway. We had 2 bookcases in a closet filled with my childhood books and my books from teaching. I decided they would be better used in the playroom so we drug them down and filled them up!
I took some pictures of Natalie eating bagel this morning with her bunny. Bunny has been going to the YMCA, to chuch, to the park, and anywhere else we've been going. It's cute, and it has daddy's voice in it so it helps her when she's left somewhere without us.
I took some pictures of Natalie eating bagel this morning with her bunny. Bunny has been going to the YMCA, to chuch, to the park, and anywhere else we've been going. It's cute, and it has daddy's voice in it so it helps her when she's left somewhere without us.
Friday, August 01, 2008
From The Mouth Of My Babe
Natalie seems to say more and more every day. I'll share some of her latest with my blogging audience. Please to enjoy...
TeeeeVeeeee? (Reapeated over and over everytime we get in the van, thanks Daddy)
Uh Oh Daddy? (Complete with shoulder shrug while wandering around looking)
Nilk!!! (When she wants her drink, AKA cuppy or wadder)
Whimmin! (Swimming)
Sonra, Mae Mae, Chruck (Anytime we are home alone and she starts looking for friends)
Headder (Friend of mine who she suddenly loves too!)
Dake (Her name for the dog)
Mee Mouse or Hot Dog (Mickey, Minnie and the song they sing on the show)
Rone, Ablo, Nika, Shasha, Austin (All the Backyardigans characters)
Hi Mommy (my favorite)
Phone, Hello?
There are so many more and it keeps growing daily. Unfortunatley, our naps are shrinking. Down from 3 hours to 1.5. I even have tried keeping her up to 7:30 so she would take a longer nap. That does not, however, seem to be working.
TeeeeVeeeee? (Reapeated over and over everytime we get in the van, thanks Daddy)
Uh Oh Daddy? (Complete with shoulder shrug while wandering around looking)
Nilk!!! (When she wants her drink, AKA cuppy or wadder)
Whimmin! (Swimming)
Sonra, Mae Mae, Chruck (Anytime we are home alone and she starts looking for friends)
Headder (Friend of mine who she suddenly loves too!)
Dake (Her name for the dog)
Mee Mouse or Hot Dog (Mickey, Minnie and the song they sing on the show)
Rone, Ablo, Nika, Shasha, Austin (All the Backyardigans characters)
Hi Mommy (my favorite)
Phone, Hello?
There are so many more and it keeps growing daily. Unfortunatley, our naps are shrinking. Down from 3 hours to 1.5. I even have tried keeping her up to 7:30 so she would take a longer nap. That does not, however, seem to be working.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)