Sometime in the fall of 2008, my husband (Steve) witnessed something that touched his heart and we've changed how we buy presents for each other since..
Steve was in our local Walgreens. It's when the economy started going south, we were both worried about our jobs, aware of those around us who were starting to be impacted, etc..
A little boy and his father were walking down the aisle together. The little boy was carrying a hot wheels car that his dad was about to purchase for him. He was so excited that we wasn't paying attention to where he was walking. Steve was touched by the fact something as simple as a hot wheels car could make a child soo happy.
Steve came home and declared, 'I'd like us to take the money that we'd use to buy gifts for each other and buy toys for Toys for Tots instead.' How could I saw no after the story he told me and admitting we don't really 'need' anything. I thought it was a great idea...
The day after Thanksgiving that year, I headed out at 5am to get toys at 50% off (and another 10% off for opening a store credit card), which meant twice as many kids would get toys. It was worth the bleary eyes and lack of sleep. I did get many odd looks when I was pushing around a large amount of toys in a shopping cart. When people ask, I would just tell them what they are for. You could see the judgment change to surprise in people's eyes.
This year, we decided to do the same thing and probably will for many years to come. It was Steve's turn to brave the crowds the day after Thanksgiving, what a different experience for him. We think it's going to be a great lesson for our girls to learn. We want to teach them to be thankful for what they have and to give to those who are less fortunate.
I just wish I could see the look on the children's faces who are going to get toys this year, when they otherwise might not have. Just thinking about it brings happy tears to my eyes.
Happy Holidays to everyone....
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Best Part of my Day!
The day started off not so great, but it recovered very quickly and I am thankful for my life and the little happy moments I can share with my family...
I switched jobs at the company I've been at for nearly 4 years a few months ago. My new position affords me the ability to work from home more which means stealing moments with my 2 year old daughter here and there.
Today I picked Abby up from school. She goes 2 mornings a week and the school is a mere 2.5 blocks from our house. In an effort to tire her out before her nap I walked to the school and let her walk home like a big girl. My husband has been working with her on identifying a curb, the street, cars coming, waiting for the cars to pass, etc. His work is paying off. Abby got to the first curb on our venture home, stopped and reached up for my hand. She then looked at me and said 'cars coming'. I melted.. I picked her up and walked her across the street because it happens to be a somewhat busy street (for a 2 year old to cross) and explained to her it was a 'big street'. We got to the next curb, she grabbed my hand again and said 'little street, cars coming?'. She knew the difference and we walked across the street hand in hand.
I'm fairly certain I'm under market in terms of pay at my current company. These are the priceless little moments you can't put a monetary value on and ones I would not get to experience if I worked a lot of other places.
I switched jobs at the company I've been at for nearly 4 years a few months ago. My new position affords me the ability to work from home more which means stealing moments with my 2 year old daughter here and there.
Today I picked Abby up from school. She goes 2 mornings a week and the school is a mere 2.5 blocks from our house. In an effort to tire her out before her nap I walked to the school and let her walk home like a big girl. My husband has been working with her on identifying a curb, the street, cars coming, waiting for the cars to pass, etc. His work is paying off. Abby got to the first curb on our venture home, stopped and reached up for my hand. She then looked at me and said 'cars coming'. I melted.. I picked her up and walked her across the street because it happens to be a somewhat busy street (for a 2 year old to cross) and explained to her it was a 'big street'. We got to the next curb, she grabbed my hand again and said 'little street, cars coming?'. She knew the difference and we walked across the street hand in hand.
I'm fairly certain I'm under market in terms of pay at my current company. These are the priceless little moments you can't put a monetary value on and ones I would not get to experience if I worked a lot of other places.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Progress and Set Backs
We continue to make progress on our to do list. Perhaps it was a bit too ambitious and we are paying the price for it?? I'm not sure, but the past couple of weeks have been a bit difficult.
Shower Door Guy: I could have killed him, not literally, but I'm still trying to find his business listing on Yelp so I can post a review. He shows up unannounced, ready to install our shower door in our new bathroom. I clearly say "we are not ready to have that done today, there are still some things that need to be done to our tile first". He tells me "I'm just going to drill the holes", stupidly I believe him. Then he walks in with the actual shower door and I saw "I thought we weren't installing this today". He replies with "I'm just going to see if it fits". Total BS, because he installed the door, left without saying anything, and I was beyond livid. I called Steve at work, not like he doesn't have enough going on trying to learn a new job, dealing with my to do lists and occasional outbursts when I get overwhelmed.
Steve, who is generally mild manned, even keeled and an overall nice guy (we're a nice balance) was furious, mostly because the shower door guy completely disrespected what I had said. In hind sight, I should have kicked him out or called our contractor, but who would have guessed that someone would be so unprofessional and blatant about their complete disregard of my request. Writing this gets me all heated up again about it.
Then, come to find out, tile guy told us to enhance and seal our tile in the wrong order, so I love the tile, but it's not the color I wanted. Oh well... And our new couches were delivered yesterday and the delivery guys could not figure out a way to get them in our house. The only way possible (lifting over the fence) was out of policy. The couches went back to the warehouse and we are trying to figure out next steps (refund, forfeiture of sizable deposit if they can't deliver them, etc..). Poor Steve took the old couches out to the garage with his brother, who got a flat tire from the curb that jumped out in front of him while parking in front of our house, and brought them back in with our neighbor later in the day. At least we were able to really clean the floors under the couches and the wall behind one of them. And, on Saturday morning, the 1966 MGB left the premises and is no longer ours :)... Good things are happening, and I need to make sure to take the time to acknowledge and appreciate them.
All this with about 7 weeks to go until this baby is born. Possible sooner if I keep up my stress level, she is going to want to escape my unhappy body and I don't blame her. I actually think things will calm down once she gets here, b/c whatever is still on the list will have to wait, priorities will change.
In all of my drama and ranting about it, don't get me wrong, I know there are a lot of people out there who have bigger issues than dealing with new furniture delivery glitches, a bathroom remodel that seems like it's never going to end and shower door guy. We are just coming off an 18 month period of Steve being out of work for 11+ months of it. To some degree, I understand what others may be going through. We feel confident enough in both our jobs, at least for now, to tackle some long awaited for projects before # 2 arrives. We certainly did not leave ourselves enough time...
Shower Door Guy: I could have killed him, not literally, but I'm still trying to find his business listing on Yelp so I can post a review. He shows up unannounced, ready to install our shower door in our new bathroom. I clearly say "we are not ready to have that done today, there are still some things that need to be done to our tile first". He tells me "I'm just going to drill the holes", stupidly I believe him. Then he walks in with the actual shower door and I saw "I thought we weren't installing this today". He replies with "I'm just going to see if it fits". Total BS, because he installed the door, left without saying anything, and I was beyond livid. I called Steve at work, not like he doesn't have enough going on trying to learn a new job, dealing with my to do lists and occasional outbursts when I get overwhelmed.
Steve, who is generally mild manned, even keeled and an overall nice guy (we're a nice balance) was furious, mostly because the shower door guy completely disrespected what I had said. In hind sight, I should have kicked him out or called our contractor, but who would have guessed that someone would be so unprofessional and blatant about their complete disregard of my request. Writing this gets me all heated up again about it.
Then, come to find out, tile guy told us to enhance and seal our tile in the wrong order, so I love the tile, but it's not the color I wanted. Oh well... And our new couches were delivered yesterday and the delivery guys could not figure out a way to get them in our house. The only way possible (lifting over the fence) was out of policy. The couches went back to the warehouse and we are trying to figure out next steps (refund, forfeiture of sizable deposit if they can't deliver them, etc..). Poor Steve took the old couches out to the garage with his brother, who got a flat tire from the curb that jumped out in front of him while parking in front of our house, and brought them back in with our neighbor later in the day. At least we were able to really clean the floors under the couches and the wall behind one of them. And, on Saturday morning, the 1966 MGB left the premises and is no longer ours :)... Good things are happening, and I need to make sure to take the time to acknowledge and appreciate them.
All this with about 7 weeks to go until this baby is born. Possible sooner if I keep up my stress level, she is going to want to escape my unhappy body and I don't blame her. I actually think things will calm down once she gets here, b/c whatever is still on the list will have to wait, priorities will change.
In all of my drama and ranting about it, don't get me wrong, I know there are a lot of people out there who have bigger issues than dealing with new furniture delivery glitches, a bathroom remodel that seems like it's never going to end and shower door guy. We are just coming off an 18 month period of Steve being out of work for 11+ months of it. To some degree, I understand what others may be going through. We feel confident enough in both our jobs, at least for now, to tackle some long awaited for projects before # 2 arrives. We certainly did not leave ourselves enough time...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Status Update....
We've been working hard, really hard over the past few weeks to get some things crossed off our list. The status update is below. Things are coming along nicely, whew!! But, I think I've been doing too much, couldn't shake a cold so it turned into a pretty massive sinus infection. Meds are kicking in and I am on the mend..
1.) Buy shed for back yard (ideas of building on ourselves have long been thrown out the window), tuff shed here we come! (check - purchased and installed)
1.5) get rid of the 65 (?) MGB in our garage, would be a nice project car for someone, any takers, real cheap? (seriously, anyone want this, REAL CHEAP!!)
2.) Clean out the garage, yes this project was started in January is still a very pathetic work in progress. Some items from the garage will go into the shed. (not yet started)
3.) Install new shelving in garage and put down carpeting. Move items from our third bedroom, otherwise known as the 'office', into the garage. (not yet started)
4.) Get half Jack and Jill bath converted to a full bath, closing up the bathroom door to the office. The office will become Abby's 'big girl room'. We need to settle on a layout, buy a vanity, pick out tile and fixtures, but most importantly, pick a contractor... (should be done late this week, early next week, yiipppeee. Fingers crossed, but everything has gone well, no surprises in our 60 year old house when they opened up some of the walls)
5.) Paint Abby's new room and purchase new big girl furniture for her from Pottery Barn Kids. All of her stuff is on sale right now, yippee... (almost check - furniture purchased, painting will be done tonight)
6.) Paint master bedroom since a closet door will be closed up (gulp, we are losing one of our closets) and we'll have some brand new drywall that needs painting. (check - done)
6.5.) Buy new TV for bedroom. Steve hates this idea, but it will provide me with much needed escapism and downtime. (check - I'm still not sure Steve likes this idea, but he purchased the TV)
7.) Purge, purge, purge all the stuff we don't need and haven't used for years. I've already started this, but it will take some time. Many trips to goodwill are in order for sure. (still working on this one, not sure I'll ever get to say 'check')
8.) Get Abby's old clothes down from garage rafters, wash, sort through and get ready for baby # 2. (waiting for all the furniture to be delivered before I can start moving clothes around)
9.) Have baby (thankfully this hasn't happened yet, 30.5 weeks today)
10.) Figure out where Abby is going to go to school full time starting in the Spring. (started working on this, have some appts setup, working on getting others set up as well)
11.) Pray I don't 'lose it' during all this chaos... (I've come close, but still managing day to day)
Some additions:
12.) get to the point where I don't have to visit the plumbing supply store anymore. Since I am one of the few and possibly only females that has been going there on a regular basis lately, they know me by name. (only 3 more things to come in, nothing that will stop our bathroom project).
13.) go on a business trip later this week. Thankfully it's only driving distance and just an overnight trip.
14.) make Abby's Fairy Halloween costume. perhaps I'll take it with me on my business trip, lock myself in my hotel room at night, order room service and get it finished.
15.) take a trip to a day spa to recover....
1.) Buy shed for back yard (ideas of building on ourselves have long been thrown out the window), tuff shed here we come! (check - purchased and installed)
1.5) get rid of the 65 (?) MGB in our garage, would be a nice project car for someone, any takers, real cheap? (seriously, anyone want this, REAL CHEAP!!)
2.) Clean out the garage, yes this project was started in January is still a very pathetic work in progress. Some items from the garage will go into the shed. (not yet started)
3.) Install new shelving in garage and put down carpeting. Move items from our third bedroom, otherwise known as the 'office', into the garage. (not yet started)
4.) Get half Jack and Jill bath converted to a full bath, closing up the bathroom door to the office. The office will become Abby's 'big girl room'. We need to settle on a layout, buy a vanity, pick out tile and fixtures, but most importantly, pick a contractor... (should be done late this week, early next week, yiipppeee. Fingers crossed, but everything has gone well, no surprises in our 60 year old house when they opened up some of the walls)
5.) Paint Abby's new room and purchase new big girl furniture for her from Pottery Barn Kids. All of her stuff is on sale right now, yippee... (almost check - furniture purchased, painting will be done tonight)
6.) Paint master bedroom since a closet door will be closed up (gulp, we are losing one of our closets) and we'll have some brand new drywall that needs painting. (check - done)
6.5.) Buy new TV for bedroom. Steve hates this idea, but it will provide me with much needed escapism and downtime. (check - I'm still not sure Steve likes this idea, but he purchased the TV)
7.) Purge, purge, purge all the stuff we don't need and haven't used for years. I've already started this, but it will take some time. Many trips to goodwill are in order for sure. (still working on this one, not sure I'll ever get to say 'check')
8.) Get Abby's old clothes down from garage rafters, wash, sort through and get ready for baby # 2. (waiting for all the furniture to be delivered before I can start moving clothes around)
9.) Have baby (thankfully this hasn't happened yet, 30.5 weeks today)
10.) Figure out where Abby is going to go to school full time starting in the Spring. (started working on this, have some appts setup, working on getting others set up as well)
11.) Pray I don't 'lose it' during all this chaos... (I've come close, but still managing day to day)
Some additions:
12.) get to the point where I don't have to visit the plumbing supply store anymore. Since I am one of the few and possibly only females that has been going there on a regular basis lately, they know me by name. (only 3 more things to come in, nothing that will stop our bathroom project).
13.) go on a business trip later this week. Thankfully it's only driving distance and just an overnight trip.
14.) make Abby's Fairy Halloween costume. perhaps I'll take it with me on my business trip, lock myself in my hotel room at night, order room service and get it finished.
15.) take a trip to a day spa to recover....
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Progress
We are making progress on the very long to-do list. Especially today...
All items for the new bathroom have been purchased with one exception. The 1/4 trim for the bathroom tiles. That is what happens when you hit the tile store at 7:30am with a 2 year old and you are trying to make sure she gets to pre-school on time and I start my work day on time as well. I'll be heading back later today to see what they have....
Right this very minute, our house is in full chaos mode. The bathroom contractors are here, starting on week 2, and the first inspection for plumbing and electrical is later today. The HVAC company is here, installing a new vent in the new bathroom and another one in our living room and the Tuff Shed guys are here installing a new shed in our back yard. Things are progressing, very quickly... We ran into some issues with getting a new title for the 66 MGB (again, any takers, great project car), Steve is heading to the DMV today to try to get it sorted out, wish him luck...
I'll be posting some pictures shortly of the work in progress on the bathroom and the finished shed :)... Ahh, the craziness of getting all these things started has been a bit overwhelming, but the end product will be worth it!!!
All items for the new bathroom have been purchased with one exception. The 1/4 trim for the bathroom tiles. That is what happens when you hit the tile store at 7:30am with a 2 year old and you are trying to make sure she gets to pre-school on time and I start my work day on time as well. I'll be heading back later today to see what they have....
Right this very minute, our house is in full chaos mode. The bathroom contractors are here, starting on week 2, and the first inspection for plumbing and electrical is later today. The HVAC company is here, installing a new vent in the new bathroom and another one in our living room and the Tuff Shed guys are here installing a new shed in our back yard. Things are progressing, very quickly... We ran into some issues with getting a new title for the 66 MGB (again, any takers, great project car), Steve is heading to the DMV today to try to get it sorted out, wish him luck...
I'll be posting some pictures shortly of the work in progress on the bathroom and the finished shed :)... Ahh, the craziness of getting all these things started has been a bit overwhelming, but the end product will be worth it!!!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Full Steam Ahead...
I was awake from 3 - 4:30am this morning with so many things running through my head. I never thought my husband starting a new job last week (after 6 months of not working) would be more stressful than him being out of work. Maybe I am doing all this to myself, but we have a deadline, exact date unknown as it's the birth of a child, which according to my Dr. will be born in approx. 3 months.
I was trying to sort out all of the things that need to happen in my head at 3am. I really should of gotten up and written it down, instead of letting it swirl in my head with no order for 90 minutes...
We need to tackle the following in the next 3 months (sequentially in this order, at least for now):
1.) Buy shed for back yard (ideas of building on ourselves have long been thrown out the window), tuff shed here we come!
1.5) get rid of the 65 (?) MGB in our garage, would be a nice project car for someone, any takers, real cheap?
2.) Clean out the garage, yes this project was started in January is still a very pathetic work in progress. Some items from the garage will go into the shed.
3.) Install new shelving in garage and put down carpeting. Move items from our third bedroom, otherwise known as the 'office', into the garage.
4.) Get half Jack and Jill bath converted to a full bath, closing up the bathroom door to the office. The office will become Abby's 'big girl room'. We need to settle on a layout, buy a vanity, pick out tile and fixtures, but most importantly, pick a contractor...
5.) Paint Abby's new room and purchase new big girl furniture for her from Pottery Barn Kids. All of her stuff is on sale right now, yippee...
6.) Paint master bedroom since a closet door will be closed up (gulp, we are losing one of our closets) and we'll have some brand new drywall that needs painting.
6.5.) Buy new TV for bedroom. Steve hates this idea, but it will provide me with much needed escapism and downtime.
7.) Purge, purge, purge all the stuff we don't need and haven't used for years. I've already started this, but it will take some time. Many trips to goodwill are in order for sure.
8.) Get Abby's old clothes down from garage rafters, wash, sort through and get ready for baby # 2.
9.) Have baby
10.) Figure out where Abby is going to go to school full time starting in the Spring.
11.) Pray I don't 'lose it' during all this chaos...
And, I officially started my new job at work last week, finally transitioned out of my old one so no longer doing 2 jobs, whew! That should free up some much needed time.
I was trying to sort out all of the things that need to happen in my head at 3am. I really should of gotten up and written it down, instead of letting it swirl in my head with no order for 90 minutes...
We need to tackle the following in the next 3 months (sequentially in this order, at least for now):
1.) Buy shed for back yard (ideas of building on ourselves have long been thrown out the window), tuff shed here we come!
1.5) get rid of the 65 (?) MGB in our garage, would be a nice project car for someone, any takers, real cheap?
2.) Clean out the garage, yes this project was started in January is still a very pathetic work in progress. Some items from the garage will go into the shed.
3.) Install new shelving in garage and put down carpeting. Move items from our third bedroom, otherwise known as the 'office', into the garage.
4.) Get half Jack and Jill bath converted to a full bath, closing up the bathroom door to the office. The office will become Abby's 'big girl room'. We need to settle on a layout, buy a vanity, pick out tile and fixtures, but most importantly, pick a contractor...
5.) Paint Abby's new room and purchase new big girl furniture for her from Pottery Barn Kids. All of her stuff is on sale right now, yippee...
6.) Paint master bedroom since a closet door will be closed up (gulp, we are losing one of our closets) and we'll have some brand new drywall that needs painting.
6.5.) Buy new TV for bedroom. Steve hates this idea, but it will provide me with much needed escapism and downtime.
7.) Purge, purge, purge all the stuff we don't need and haven't used for years. I've already started this, but it will take some time. Many trips to goodwill are in order for sure.
8.) Get Abby's old clothes down from garage rafters, wash, sort through and get ready for baby # 2.
9.) Have baby
10.) Figure out where Abby is going to go to school full time starting in the Spring.
11.) Pray I don't 'lose it' during all this chaos...
And, I officially started my new job at work last week, finally transitioned out of my old one so no longer doing 2 jobs, whew! That should free up some much needed time.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Preschool Already?
I dropped Abby off at preschool today, for the first time. She’ll be 2 years old in a few days and we wanted to get her in an environment of increased socialization and with a wide variety of activities. I thought it would be easier than it was. I leave Abby with a nanny every day, so I thought this wouldn't be much different. I was wrong.
I had a hard time sleeping last night and kept dreaming of things I forgot to pack for Abby for her first day of school. Bleary-eyed, I took her to the school this morning; she was very clingy at first until she spotted the train toys (she loves trains right now). She slowly warmed up and then I was politely asked to leave. I was okay with this, I understand longs good-byes are not good for anyone.
An hour later at 10am, I called to check up on her and the director’s response was “Abby is doing great, there have been a few meltdowns, but not from Abby. They are starting circle time, so I would recommend if you come get her, 11am would be best.” I am counting the seconds until 11am when I can pick her up and see her again! Tick tock, tick tock…
Well, I picked her up. The little ‘Duckies’ class was going from the inside to the outside play area, and Abby was first in line behind the teacher with a huge smile on her face. She appeared to be very excited to be going outside to play. I must have surprised her because the moment she saw me, she started crying, then I started crying, we were both a mess. I couldn’t pull myself together enough to ask what she did that morning, I left her sippy cup there and forgot to pay the school. It will take a few weeks to get into the swing of packing her for school, remembering to collect all her things and check and see how her morning was. It was crazy today, but all in all a good experience for her. I’m hoping Thursday goes even better, especially since it’s her birthday…
I had a hard time sleeping last night and kept dreaming of things I forgot to pack for Abby for her first day of school. Bleary-eyed, I took her to the school this morning; she was very clingy at first until she spotted the train toys (she loves trains right now). She slowly warmed up and then I was politely asked to leave. I was okay with this, I understand longs good-byes are not good for anyone.
An hour later at 10am, I called to check up on her and the director’s response was “Abby is doing great, there have been a few meltdowns, but not from Abby. They are starting circle time, so I would recommend if you come get her, 11am would be best.” I am counting the seconds until 11am when I can pick her up and see her again! Tick tock, tick tock…
Well, I picked her up. The little ‘Duckies’ class was going from the inside to the outside play area, and Abby was first in line behind the teacher with a huge smile on her face. She appeared to be very excited to be going outside to play. I must have surprised her because the moment she saw me, she started crying, then I started crying, we were both a mess. I couldn’t pull myself together enough to ask what she did that morning, I left her sippy cup there and forgot to pay the school. It will take a few weeks to get into the swing of packing her for school, remembering to collect all her things and check and see how her morning was. It was crazy today, but all in all a good experience for her. I’m hoping Thursday goes even better, especially since it’s her birthday…
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