Something exciting

Well something exciting to me anyways, however most of my family isn't to excited. A month or so back I found my cousin on Facebook just by some weird chance he was recommended as people I may know. Anyway I wasn't sure it was him as I hadn't seen him in 15 years but went ahead and added him to my friends. We have sent several emails, texts and had a few phone calls since, he had told me he was planning a trip home after the first of the year. Well last week he messaged me he is coming home this weekend from Thursday night til Sunday evening! He hadn't told any of our family yet as he wanted to be sure I could arrange for a sitter so we could hang out and catch up. We were always close while I was young and well we have lots of years to catch up on. I hung out at their house for several years and helped watch his little boy who is now 16 (first time I really felt old is when I realized he was 16 and I watched him as a baby and toddler)
He has only made a handful of trips home since rejoining the Navy partly due to being so far away and had been on submarines for long periods of time and partly due to the fact our family is strange. I am overly excited about the weekend ahead and we are even going to try and plan a run together which I am partly afraid of dying during.
He has asked me to go see my Great Grandma (his Grandma) with him on Saturday and I have to admit I don't go see her nearly enough but no one in my family is excited for us to go see her to bad, because I am her only great granddaughter and I am pretty sure he ranked pretty high in the line of grand kids. I hope to get some good pictures this weekend to post next week.
I wish I had a picture of us together when he still lived here but I don't since it was well before digital cameras but here is one of him all dressed up in his Navy uniform and he looks totally different.

I am sure Blake will be excited to meet him as he is fascinated by people in the military and will probably ask him one million questions. Not sure what Nathan will think but so far he hasn't found a stranger yet.

Annual Dinner and fun for Blake

Last night was the Vichy Volunteer Fire Department Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. I had not planned on going as I knew Kenny was trying to get the steel tied in our porch so the guys could pour it early next week. The thought of taking two kids to a big dinner with a large crowd scared me. But yesterday afternoon I talked to several people and eventually got talked in to attending. I knew that there would be plenty of people to help me with the boys (mainly Nathan) but I am stubborn and don't like to ask for help with my kids I feel I should be able to be super mom and do it all.

We arrived at 6 and was able to get a good seat and save enough seats for the rest of our group. Blake was happy to see Dimisha and they took off playing, Nathan was a little confused by all the people but he recognized Don and Brenda and gave them huge smiles and "talked" to them. Going thru the food line was a bit awkward carrying Nathan but we managed and thanks to Brenda for helping me scoop food on my plate I survived. I wish I would have took a picture of Nathan shoveling mashed potatoes and mac n cheese in he had it everywhere but was a very happy boy.

When the dinner ended it was time for the meeting and electing of new board members. One board member was a founding partner in the Fire Department in 1977 he had been on the board ever since but has decided to step down this year. They had a very nice plaque made for him and the President gave a nice speech. Then they did the elections for the two open spots and I heard it was a very close race between all who ran. As I was sitting there I kept hoping no one would nominate me, well I was wrong wrong wrong! I over heard Don saying something in regards to I would make a good secretary for the Fire Department and the current Secretary was resigning this December. I wasn't sure what to say but inside my mind was yelling no no no won't happen won't do it. However I kept my mouth shut and thought well if its meant to be then it will happen, so I heard this morning I may be the only candidate for the position. The executive board members will be the one to vote in the new secretary and most of them know me and have known me since I was a little girl so my chances of getting it are pretty good. Especially since the Chief is the one who nominated me and I doubt anyone would second guess his opinion on who should take over. I however am a bit terrified as I will have to sit up in front of everyone with the President, Vice President and Treasurer once a month for a one hour meeting. Totally out of my comfort zone but I think I am ready to give it a try. I haven't told Kenny I was nominated yet figured I would wait until I knew who all was running against me. Not sure how happy he will be about it, but he seems to be fine with me volunteering to help with the auctions.

After the dinner and elections we were getting ready to leave and Blake noticed the door to the fire bay was open and he could see the trucks. He immediately asked me if I could take him to look at the trucks, I hesitated and tried getting him to go ask Mark to take him back there and instead Don told him to follow him back there. We spent an hour with Blake and Nathan back there with Blake asking tons of questions and sitting in every spot on all 5 trucks and then climbing up in the back of most of them. When Don told Blake that his mommy was a fire fighter Blake looked puzzled and said no you weren't. I snapped these two pictures with my phone while we were back there.

Here was Blake sitting in one of the bigger trucks pretending to drive. Blake had me climbing up on all the trucks with him asking tons of questions, I had wore my brown dress boots with a 3 inch heel defiantly not the thing to wear to get in and out of trucks.

And I can't leave Nathan out, he crawled all over the fire bay and tried climbing up on all the trucks with his big brother.

Halloween 2010

Halloween weekend was a very very busy long weekend for me. Friday Blake had his party at school and thanks to Ashley being the great person she is she snapped this picture of Blake at the party.

Friday night the kids stayed with my in-laws since Kenny and I had to be up super early the next morning. I had to arrive at the Fire House to load up for the auction at 6:30am! Way to early to be out doing something on a Saturday morning. I worked at the auction until 6pm when I left to pick up our babysitter Ashlyne and then to pick up the boys for a Halloween Party at the Fire House.

Here is Blake at the party with two of his friends Elizabeth and Cadey. They have been around each other since they were born. Blake sits next to Elizabeth in class and from what the teacher says they are quite the buddies.

And here is Nathan and our babysitter Ashylne. It was the first time she watched both boys, but she did great and everyone was still happy when I returned home Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning I had to get up early once again and be at the Fire House to reload everything and work the second day of the auction. Everyone was moody on edge and down right grumpy. So I stayed to myself and kept out of of the arguments. Returned home at 5 to get the kids ready for trick or treating. Lucky for me Blake is quite satisfied with going to grandparents houses, so we went to his Great Grandparents house, then to my parents house and then to Dwayne and Connie's.

Here is Nathan at our first stop, he was happy to get there as he hasn't seen his great grandparents in a couple weeks.

Blake trying to decide what candy he wanted and of course since he is the only great grandson and I am the only granddaughter we ended up with the whole bowl of candy!

And this was the face Nathan made when it was time to leave Connie and Dwayne's. He hasn't made this face again, I think he missed them and wanted to stay and play longer.

I took Ashylne home and finally got the kids home and in bed around 9, was a very long weekend but it was a good weekend. We now have a new sitter that loves the boys and has the energy to keep up with them all day. I was almost happy to return to work on Monday to rest!

A little background

I sent a friend an email in repsonse to her comment on my last post, explaining my background on why I liked helping with the benefit dinner and now with auctions. She suggested I post that email as a blog entry, as other readers may want to know how I got to where I am now.

When I was a kid from about age 7 until 13 or 14 my mom helped with every dinner and event the Vichy Fire Department had. Since she was a single mom I always tagged along and so did many other kids from the community. Of course as kids we thought it was fun that our job was putting ice in cups and putting slices of pie or cake on plates. I remember being at the fairs and getting to ride rides all day and night while my mom helped with the food stands and remember the fun times at the Extravaganza each year. Then one year my mom just decided to stop going to dinners stop helping and pretty much stop talking to everyone, I never asked why and by that time I had got a four wheeler and had more fun riding it day and night. I did miss all the people as most of them were like family to me.

Then my Junior year in Highschool I had enough credits I was able to take a class at Rolla Technical Center, a friend of mine said she was taking Fire and Rescue (mind you she just thought it would be an easy A and lots of cute guys) so she talked me into taking it. I was very interested in the class after the first day and knew it was something I wanted to stick with, however my friend dropped out the second week. I was the only girl and the smallest person by far out of the whole group. I didn't share with my friends or family what class I was taking. I did tell my dad finally as I was not sure on his reaction, but he wasn't surprised as I had grew up around it. My dad was a volunteer fire fighter when my mom and him were still married, my mom's best friend was on the fire department and she was like my second mom and then there is Don who is the Cheif of the fire department and like family to me. Pretty much those were the only people who knew, I was to scared to share with my friends at school about my class knew I would get made fun of and teased. Our teacher was a total jerk and not long before state exams came around he pretty much quit and left us on our own to study and learn.
I knew that I wanted to pass the class and return for the second year but I also knew I needed help from someone who knew about fire fighting and could help me study. I called Don and he was very happy to help me study and we spent several evenings a week studying and preparing me for my finals. I did pass all that I needed to for that year so I could go back the following year. It was the first time I had been back around the fire department since my mom and I quit going and it was quite an odd feeling being there, but it also felt like home. I had decided to become a volunteer fire fighter, but Kenny wasn't a fan of it and so I eventually returned my gear and quit. I went back to class my Senior year had an awesome teacher and passed the rest of my state exams.

Over the years Kenny has gotten to know Don, his family and some of the others better and while he isn't warm and fuzzy with me being a volunteer fire fighter, he said it was ok for me to help with auctions. So in my mind right now that is as close as I can get to being a volunteer fire fighter. Don is happy that Kenny has came around and letting me have this part of my life that I had closed off so long ago, and I am pretty darn happy about it to. Its a lot of hard work and getting up super early on Saturday morning isn't real apealing I am happy when the day is done.

Last night I took the kids to the fire house and helped everyone fill candy bags and set up stuff for the annual Halloween party they will have Saturday night. I plan on getting done with the auction changing clothes getting the kids ready and heading up there. I haven't attended a party since I used to help set them up when I was a kid. Blake is excited especially when he saw what toys there are to win as prizes and already has his eye on a toy bow and arrow. I hope to get some pictures from the auction this weekend of me grilling and then some of the kids at the Halloween Party to post next week.

Comfort Zone

Have you ever had to jump out of your comfort zone? For me its not fun at all, makes me nervous, scared and a ball of nerves. But I have lept out of mine twice now two weekends ago and this past weekend.

Two weekends ago I volunteered to help with a silent auction and benefit dinner. At the end of the evening there was a pie auction. It took a lot of courage to even offer to help and even more to get out of my car once I got there. Well I stayed outside helping grill the meat most of the day. Then when it came time for the pie auction I some how ended up standing in front of the whole crowd holding the pies that were being auctioned. I am NOT one who likes crowds of people and defiantly NOT one who wants to stand up in front of people. I always worry if they are looking at me judging me or making fun of me. But I stood there the whole time while they sold 50+ pies and cakes. After it was over a few people said they were proud of me for standing up there the whole time as they knew exactly how shy I am.

Then I decided I would help cook for auctions that the Fire Department follows. They have a trailer that is like a concession stand and a huge grill they take to auctions. We sell pork steak, whole hog sausage, hotdogs, hamburgers, soda, tea, lemonade, chips and candy bars oh and coffee and hot chocolate. I had done dinners at the Fire Department in the past with my mom but that was a very long time ago. I had never been to an auction and had no clue on how it worked or where I would fit in. I got there at 7am to help load the trailer and I just felt my way around and ended up carrying stuff out and letting others put it where to go. I didn't want to make anyone mad or step on any ones toes as I could tell they have a system and certain people do this or that. We arrived at the auction and started to set up and I was handed a pair of tongs, I have bbq'd before just enough for us to eat not in mass quantities and never grilled whole hog sausage. I knew I had to prove that I could grill and hold my own and not wimp out, even though I was super nervous and still not sure of my place. I can't even count how many things I cooked on Saturday it was a 12 hour day. Lots of hard work but I really enjoyed it and enjoyed everyone else that helps. I felt a little better by the end of the day and felt like I fit in.
So Sunday I didn't have a babysitter for the boys and decided I would try taking them with me. I packed Nathan's stroller, walker, pack n play and lots of toys and snacks. I knew Blake would be fine as he occupies himself, but was worried about Nathan being quiet and good. To my surprise they both did great for the 9 hours! I was totally amazed and everyone complimented on how well behaved they both were Blake had fun watching the guys do the auctioning and then watching all the people walk by. He socialized with all the helpers and Nathan smiled at anyone who would look his way. However that all came to a crashing halt when we returned to the Fire Department to unload everything Blake got moody and Nathan was tired and wanting to crawl around. I held it together and finally got the kids to the car.

The weekend was good however not sure if I will ever get the smell of bbq smoke out of my hair, but I enjoyed cooking and getting to know everyone. Yeah I guess I am weird as I am the only girl out of the group who will cook or maybe I am the only girl that is allowed to. But I would much rather stand at the grill than deal with the crowds of people trying to buy the food!

I think that next weekend I really need to find a sitter for both kids on Saturday as I know it will be a super busy auction day and then at least have a sitter for Nathan on Sunday.

Three Day Weekend

Had a 3 day weekend which is usually nice gives me Saturday and Sunday to do weekend stuff then Monday to catch up on anything else. However this past holiday weekend was crazy.

Friday night we decided to take the kids and go eat at our favorite Mexican Restaurant after work. Nathan loves the rice and Blake likes the cheese dip and chicken strips. We hadn't been there in a few weeks which is unusual for us normally we are there at least once a week, but with being so busy with the new house we don't have the time or extra money. Then we headed to a friends house to pick up a truck Kenny was to work on Saturday. However the people weren't home and the parts he needed wasn't in the truck, so we wasted a 20 minute drive down all gravel for nothing (not to mention I had just washed my car)

Saturday morning both kids were up way to early which I knew would be disaster later for Nathan. We headed to town to change my oil and decided to go get breakfast. Nathan was getting a bit tired and fussy and we waited an hour after ordering our food and people who came in after us were getting their food and some had already ate and left we didn't order anything different or strange. Nathan had enough and was in need of a nap so I took him out to the car and finally ten minutes later Blake and Kenny come out with our food. They ended up giving us our food for free since we had to wait so long and our order got pushed back and never filled. We then headed back to our friends house to get the truck and Kenny headed off to fix it. I took the kids home with me got Nathan to take a partial nap before Blake woke him up and we headed back to town to get groceries. The whole day was out of whack our plans had been to get all the stuff done in town with one trip and be done by noon. So by 7 Kenny had finished the truck and I was headed over to take the kids to my in-laws for the night then head back to our friends house to pick Kenny up. While we were there I got a text from friends of ours asking if we wanted to go out and eat with them. It was already 8pm but we hadn't ate and decided to go, its not often that we have a sitter for our kids and they have the same issue and for us all four to be able to go out and have an adult meal with no kids is unusual. So we went had a good time visiting with them and got home around midnight.

Sunday we had every intention of attending Old Iron Work's Day's with Blake but we still had several things to do get done. So we headed to our friends house once again (the one 20 minutes down gravel) to mow their grass and borrow their cement mixer. We get everything we need and proceed to our new house. Well I had to pull the trailer behind my car with the new lawn mower and borrowed cement mixer and I am not a trailer puller and was a nervous wreck. On top of that I had a massive sinus headache and felt horrible. So I mustered up the energy and strength to help mix and pour concrete in 6 holes for our porch posts to rest on. By dark I was wore out exhausted and  in the time we were pouring concrete we had to go pick the kids up make a trip to Lowes for more premix. The kids were tired fussy and hungry and we still had to return the mixer. I was so glad to get home and shower I had to wash my hair twice to get all the concrete dust out of it.

Monday I had hoped would be a great day I knew I was going to be super busy and crunched on time as I had a lot to take on. Nathan and I drove to St. James to drop Blake off at school, we had to park quite a ways away and by the time I carried Nathan to the school and back out I was already tired. Then Nathan and I headed to the ped office in Jeff City for his one year checkup and shots. Get there with 15 min to spare and notice  he had spilled milk on his shirt and pants so had to change him in the car which is never fun in a public parking lot. Get inside and of course the nurse practitioner is running behind so after spending 1.5 hours in the office trying to keep Nathan happy and awake long past his nap they discover he had the start of an ear infection. News to me as he had no other symptoms other than a low grade fever when they checked his vitals when we arrived. So no shots have to return on Oct. 22nd, they called in meds for his ear. The lady we saw is not his regular doctor, which is usually not a huge deal on a well visit. However she was very concerned that his weight hadn't changed much from 6 months as he is barely 20 pounds and his height hadn't changed either (I beg to differ cause his 6 month pants are way to short) but 12 month pants are way to big everywhere.
We leave there head to Target to grab a few things and his medicine he is still not a happy camper with not having his nap he took a partial nap while I held him at the dr office and then slept from the office to Target. Luckily we got everything we needed before he really had a tantrum. I decide I need a tea and a 1.00 burger from Sonic on our way out of Jeff and boy did it taste good! We got home with 40 minutes to spare before having to be at Blake's school to pick him up, once again carry Nathan into school and back out. Before we left St. James it was sprinkling and then rained hard on the way home and quit. I wondered if Blake would have soccer practice, which would be another trip to town but luckily it got cancelled. Blake was upset but daddy made that better when he called and offered to bring home Taco Bell.
Nathan slept alot yesterday afternoon and then slept good last night and woke up happy today, which I was so glad of. Maybe his ear won't bother him to much before the medicine takes care of it. Blake has never had an ear infection and this is the first for Nathan so I guess out of two kids and 5 years one ear infection isn't to bad.

I really hope that the rest of the week goes smooth. Blake has his last fall soccer game tonight and pretty sure that's our only evening plans. I have a benefit dinner I would like to attend and help with if I have sitter on Saturday. But right now that seems like a long long time away.

Random Thoughts

I haven't really had much to post about lately so I decided to make a post of random things running through my head.

First off Blake is really starting to get into soccer and catching on to the way the game is played. I was not a soccer player so I am of no help in that area. However if my school would have had soccer I think I would have tried out for the team its a fun game.

Nathan is starting to look more and more like a toddler and not a baby, while part of me is sad the other part is happy to see him learning and growing. He loves milk but I have yet to find a sippy cup he likes which frustrates me to no end. Blake was off formula and bottle two days after first birthday. Nathan will hear the door open at daycare when I arrive and even without seeing its me he starts chanting momma momma so cute. And when we are at home and he hears the door open he starts hollering for dadda or bubba.

I am adjusting to the wonderful fall weather we are having however the allergy part could have left me alone very much dislike the itch scratchy throat and drainage but thankful that its waited this long to hit. Now if it could stay this weather for a few months then turn winter I will be one happy camper.

Debating on a new cell phone I have an older Blackberry Curve and its about to crap out on me. I love the phone and have had it for over two years. Just not sure I want to spend 100 or 200 dollars on a new phone. I am eligible for upgrade but the new Blackberry Torch and the iPhone is my two options. I figure if I have to pay for internet I want a phone that has a big enough screen to see it on and not be squinting like I do with my current phone. I am scared of the iphone because I am not a tech savvy person and afraid I can't work it or I will break it. Heck I just found out a month ago I could do a voice recording and send it via text. Which I did with Blake singing his favorite song Big Green Tractor which he requested be sent to "his" April. I will let you all know what I decide on this debate.

With fall upon us I need to start planning for fall family pictures that will be used for Christmas gifts and our holiday card. Lucky for me I have a good friend who is willing to take the pictures for us and since both boys love her they will hold still and pose. Unlike they do for me which is make funny faces or throw a fit! I still need to arrange outfits for the four of us.

Started Christmas looking yesterday have several gift ideas that I will start ordering in the next week or so. Halloween costumes are ready. Blake will be a bullrider once again (4th year in a row) and Nathan will be a cow. I found a super cute costume at Walmart that will keep him nice and warm. I bought Blake a new long sleeve cowboy shirt for his costume which he will love cause it has snaps and not buttons.

Oh and on Facebook I ran across my cousin whom I hadn't seen or talked to since he and his wife moved away when I was 13! Wow he has changed alot, he is a Chief in the Navy and stationed in Silverdale Washington. We have sent several messages thru Facebook and I learned that he rarely comes home but plans a visit soon. His dad is our next door neighbor at our new house (his dad and my grandma are brother and sister) we also decided that we would spend some time together and get some workouts in. Which scares the bejibbers out of me! He is crazy with workouts so I better step mine up and get in to good shape before the beginning of the year so I can keep up! When they lived here I spent tons of time at their house and helped to babysit their son who at that time was a baby. I thought I was super cool getting to hang out with them and their friends, heck I spent more time there than at home!