Photo Op

I've changed. Sometimes I catch myself doing something I thought I would never do. Or saying something I never thought I'd say. I guess children will do that to you.

Brynlee is 2. That is for sure. I'm told 2 and 1/2 is the hardest toddler age... I hope they are right. This kid is crazy nuts! She is super super active. I see people with children that will just sit still. She never stops, and keeping up with her is tiring to say the least.

Tonight she said she wanted to watch Barney (curse that purple dinosaur, curse him!). I put Barney on in my room and Jimmy and I came out to the living room to watch the football game. I didn't hear from her for a while. I should have known. When toddlers are quiet, you know they are into something.

Maybe some kids will sit still and watch Barney, but she won't. So I was only semi surprised when she came out of my bed room covered from head to toe in Vaseline. Mmmm... I guess she thought it was lotion? She is obsessed with lotion. I have to hide them all from her because she will keep putting it on until she makes lotion soup. Well tonight she made Vaseline soup.

I should have taken a picture, but I didn't. I never think to do that at the time. My first thought is always ( Fail!) when she gets into something like that. Jimmy gave her a bath, but I think she will be pretty well moisturized for a while.

I didn't get angry, which is funny. I think a few years ago I would have gotten upset about that. But not now, because I've learned a form of patience I didn't think was possible. I haven't mastered it yet, but I've come a long way. Turns out while I'm teaching Brynlee, she is teaching me too.

Getting it Together

I'm not what you would call an organized person. At all. I'm basically the opposite. I lose everything. I can't keep anything straight. I forget to return phone calls, emails, text messages. You name it. I try to remember important events, but sometimes I forget those too.

I didn't used to be this bad. But recently I feel like I'm moving from being a lovable ding dong to just plain flakey. And no one likes a flake.

I've tried several different things to keep organized. All have failed. Not to blame shift here, but Jimmy is just as bad as I am. So you put the two of us together and we are a mess.

It's like when I have a missed phone call, I usually see it at an inconvenient time. And I think, " Oh I'll call them back later". Then I forget and never call them back. Bad. I'm old fashioned in that I think it's rude to be on your phone all the time. Sorry if you are like that, but I don't like it. I don't answer my phone when I'm with a group of people. Like they want to hear my conversation. Or I'm not responding to my emails while hanging out with someone. I like give the people I'm with my full attention. They deserve it after all.

So, my time to correspond with people is somewhat limited. But I know that is a crappy excuse. I have a phone that can keep track of all sorts of things for me. But if I put an event in there I forget to check it.

My question is this. All those people out there who are organized, and who don't forget everything. How do you do it? What method works best for you? I really want to get it together. I feel like my forgetfulness sometimes hurts peoples feelings, and I really don't

Tis the Season

I love this time of year. Have I mentioned that before? Oh, about 10000 times. Oops. Well I'll say it again. I love it. :)

I love pumpkins. The way they taste, smell and look. I was recently given the easiest pumpkin muffin/cake/cupcake recipe. I can't believe I've never heard of this before. It's genius. And it tastes like little bits of heaven.

Magic Pumpkin Muffins:

1 box of yellow cake mix
1 15oz can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

Blend together and put in a lined muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min.

Voila! Yes you read correctly, 2 ingredients. These things are so moist it's not even funny. And, bonus this is a weight watchers recipe, so they can't be thaaaat bad for you.

Next time I think I'll put cream cheese frosting on them. Mmmm.

It makes about 16 or so. I made them this morning, and now 4 remain. No, I did not eat them all by myself. I could though. Believe me, I could.

There you go my faithful readers. Happy baking!

Time for Change

Sooo we are moving. Soon. End of this month to be exact. Just across Simi Valley for now, but early next year we are really moving. To Arizona. The big out of state move. It's very bitter sweet for me.

I'm not great with big changes like this. I keep thinking about all the things I'm going to miss and I end up just wanting to hide in my bed. Our families are here. Our friends are here. Our lives are here. But we can't stay here anymore.

We've tried to make it work in California for almost 7 years now. 7 years of up and down, scrimping and saving and barely getting by. We kept hoping opportunities would open up for us here, and that we'd be able to stay in our hometown. But we can't wait anymore. How long is one family supposed to live in a room for goodness sakes? Or with 30 something male roommates.

We came to the Arizona decision by making a list of pros and cons. Jimmy's brother is out there and he has offered to let us live with them for a while. Which is amazing and such a blessing. Jimmy can transfer his job out there, making California money in Arizona. It's not that long of a car ride from Simi Valley. The big con...it's hot. Really really really hot. That is probably the main one. I hate heat. My first summer in AZ is going to be a miserable one, I'm already well aware of that. Somehow people live out there and like it though. I guess you just don't do anything that requires you leaving the house during the day. Like vampires almost. I like Twilight just as much as the next person!

Lately I've been sitting in my house and trying to take in all the memories here. We've been here for 4 years. We brought both Mitzie and Brynlee home in this house. I love it here. But it's time for us to move on. Our family is changing and this living situation can't accommodate us anymore the way it used to be able to. The guys will be staying here, so while we are still in CA I'll be able to come back and visit. If I want. I'm not sure I'll be able to do that right at first. It will make me too sad.

As school is coming to a close Brynlee and I will have a new schedule. She started pre school this year, so I don't want to pull her out of that. So she will go to school Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hopefully on those days I can work lunch time shifts to be home with the family during the evenings. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll have her home with me. I'm excited, and kind of nervous. It's going to be a lot of time together. I hope I can entertain her! I'll have to get creative about it, like all those fun stay at home Moms do!

So here is to some changes. Hopefully for the better!

I Remember

This day is special to me. This day makes me sad. But it makes me happy as well. And so amazingly proud to be an American.

I can't believe it's been 11 years since the September 11 attacks. In a way it feels like yesterday. I remember where I was when I found out it happened. I remember what I was wearing. I remember how I felt. I remember not really understanding what was going on. Until the endless media coverage gave me a first hand look.

I had no idea what the Twin Towers were. And no idea how many people worked in them. Or how much that day would affect our country as it has these past 11 years. Once I understood the severity of the situation I remember feeling depressed. And helpless that I couldn't do anything to help anyone. And scared that I would be next, that my school would be attacked, that my family would be attacked. I felt relieved that I didn't directly know anyone affected.

The weeks that followed were full of emotions for me. I wore red, white and blue. I participated in candle light vigils and I donated what meager money I could being 17 and working part time. I wrote letters to teenagers whose family had been affected to let them know that they were not alone.

September 11th has become like the Titanic, Pearl Harbor or the Holocaust to me. Whenever there is a TV special on any one of those things I have to watch. I'm fascinated. It's almost as if if gather enough info about these things I can understand why they had to happen. And it makes me feel better.

However September 11th is the only one of those I lived through. So it hits a little closer to home. I can't seem to make it through a TV show about it without crying. The same way I can't listen to the song " I'm Proud to be an American" without crying.

One of the many TV specials I've watched recently followed a few survivors from Sept 11th. It told of how they survived, and how they have gone on to live their lives. One survivor in particular is still working and living in NYC. One of his current co workers made a comment to him about how he is always in such a good mood. He told him that unless a plane is flying into your office building, you are having a good day.

I keep thinking about that. And how true it is. Each day is a blessing and a gift.

Some of the images will never leave my head. The first tower actually collapsing when no one ever thought it would. The sound of bodies hitting the ground as helpless people jumped to their deaths rather than be burned alive. The fear and disbelief on the faces of those who managed to make it out. The wreckage of the plane that didn't make it to it's intended destination because of the brave passengers on board.

But I also remember firemen from all over the country answering the call and going to help out. The rescue efforts that continued days and days after the attack, in attempt to give family members some sort of closure. The way we banded together as a country. I remember September 11th and the heroes that came from it. And will be forever grateful for their courage and example.

Senioritis

I'm graduating in about 1 month. It's nuts! This year flew by, and I knew it would. I was terrified I wouldn't want to graduate. Because I, unlike the 19 year olds I go to school with know what is waiting for us after school. Hard work, tough reality and a bad economy. Not an ideal time to start a new career. Well I do feel terrified. But I'm excited too.

I've come a long way in 1 year. I still have a long way to go, but I'm continuing to improve and that is all I can ask for. I love the girls I go to school with, but I'm getting tired of being there allll day long. My class definitely has a case of senioritis. It's like once the end is close, a switch flips and all anyone wants to do is sit around all day. We moved seats and I'm now in the waaaaay back. It has pros and cons. Pros being that I really could sit around all day and no one would probably notice. Cons being that my elderly clients have to trek a long way to the shampoo bowl. I always joke with them and ask them if they wore their walking shoes because we are going to get some exercise!

I love my school. There are some bad things about it, for sure. I only paid $5k to go there as opposed to other schools which are up around $20k. And it shows. The budget at my school is not great, and we are packed like sardines in there with minimal staff and minimal supplies. But everyone does their best and I feel so blessed to be able to follow this dream of mine. I'm a lucky lady, and I'm working hard on not forgetting it!