Part 4: Travel Gone Awry

Remember that we weren't able to get our luggage?

That was a blessing.

We arrived back at the Charlotte airport on Sunday morning to catch our flight to Philly. We could barely make it in the doors of the airport it was so packed. Lines extended everywhere. Good luck finding the end of the line. When we first saw those lines we just had this sinking feeling. No way would we make it through those lines and make our flight. BUT, since we didn't have any luggage to check we were able to bypass that mess and head straight for security. At that point I was so grateful that our luggage hadn't been pulled the night before.

We got on our flight to Philly - finally! We had to wait for about 1 1/2 hours though before taking off. Philly airport was still closed down and until it reopened, we just sat. And then we sat some more for luggage to be put on (at least that's what they said).

We landed on a very snowy runway in Philadelphia. We were there! We deboarded, and headed for baggage claim where we were assured that our luggage would be - seeing as we were the first flight from Charlotte to Philly that day. And they assured us our luggage would be on the first flight from Charlotte to Philly.

The kids and I headed to baggage claim. Chris headed to the car rental. We were worried that they wouldn't have any cars for us. We had a reservation - but with the canceled flights and being over a day late picking up the car, we were worried that our reservation wouldn't be honored. Thankfully it was! And Chris was able to get a bigger car. A little luxury that was most appreciated.

Meanwhile in baggage claim - we waited and waited and waited and waited. Finally the announcement was made that the luggage would appear on Carousel A. We rushed over there and waited. And waited. And finally . . . about 5 pieces of luggage were spit out onto the carousel. Another announcement was made that that was all the luggage there was! If we did not have our luggage we were to go to baggage services to file a claim.

That line was about 2 miles long. By this time Chris had come back from getting the car and he waited in the line. I took the kids to get a little something to eat and brought back a hot dog for Chris to eat while he was waiting. And waiting. I'd say he was in line no less than 2 hours. They had no clue where our luggage was - 2 suitcases (with Christmas presents in them) and 2 car seats.

We waited for a few more flights from Charlotte to arrive, hoping against hope that our luggage would show up. It never did. There was this neat "marble run" type display right by the baggage claim. Colt was happy as a clam just sitting there watching it. At one point he got his travel pillow and blanket out and lay down - positioning himself so that he could watch the balls go their various ways.

We finally gave up waiting for our luggage and piled into the car for the 2 hour drive to my parents.

Of course we left at exactly the same time that a pro football game let out and sat in traffic for an hour.

Good times.

But, finally we were well on our way to my parents and arrived without incident around 11:30 pm. No luggage, but we were safe.

My parents had scoured the house for clothes that we could all use. She came up with some hand knit sweaters that my grandmother had made for my brothers when they were little. It was cute seeing Colt and Jonathan wearing them.

Our luggage didn't show up until the evening of the 23rd. A full 4 days after we left on our trip. But it arrived just in time. Chris did take a run to WalMart for necessities for us all to tide us over. The airlines will be picking up that tab as well as the car seat rental.

And that about completes our adventure. We're thrilled to be here, even if we all did come down with colds and getting here was a mess.

Part 3: Travel Gone Awry

There we were dumped in Charlotte, North Carolina. In order to get us to our destination, we (Chris) had to wait in a line a mile long to get us rebooked on some flight, any flight. I hung out with the kids while Chris waited. As we were waiting I remembered that perhaps Charlotte had a flight to Scranton - which would be ideal since our original plans had us flying into Philly, renting a car and then driving the 2 hours to my parents. But if we were able to get to the Scranton airport we'd have only a 30 minute drive. I checked the departure board and noticed a flight leaving in about 2 hours to Scranton. It was in Concourse E. We were in Concourse B or C (I don't remember). Either way, it is a trek to Concourse E where Chris would again encounter really long lines in Special Services in hopes of getting us on that flight.

Colt wanted to be with Chris while he ran to Concourse E. Jonathan, Carena and I decided to just mosey there, since we'd just be waiting in line anyway. As Colt and Chris took off running, I noticed Colt's shoes were untied. I should have said something.

This next part - please do not talk to Colt about it. It's a very sensitive subject. So, Jonathan, Carena and I moseyed to Concourse E. As we were going down the escalator to E, I noticed Chris and Colt off to the side at the bottom of the escalator. Colt was sobbing. Just sobbing. We deboarded the escalator and went to see what the problem was. Colt's lip was huge and bleeding. Chris was frantically tying Colt's shoes. The story is that Colt's lace got caught in the escalator!! Since it was stuck and Colt was trying to get off the escalator, he fell - face first. Chris immediately saw the situation and just yanked that lace out of the escalator, freeing Colt.

I took over with Colt and the kids while Chris continued his run to E. Colt's lip was bleeding, but thankfully, not too bad. I had a towel in my backpack that I put cold water on and gave to Colt. We then slowly made our way to E. We didn't go very far when Colt told me he thought he was going to be sick. We ran to the nearest bathroom and he starting getting sick. We hung out in the bathroom for about 10 minutes before Colt felt ready to move on.

Finally we make it to E, where we met up with Chris who was in a line, a long line, but not as long as the line he was just in. So that was positive.

I took the kids to get something to eat and we just really hung out. Finally Chris made it through the line and was able to get us on stand-by for that flight to Scranton.

Sadly, the flight was full and we didn't get on that flight. We then had to rebook on a different flight - one into Philly THE NEXT DAY. We asked the booking person if we could get our luggage so we at least had it for the night. She told us we could pick it up at the luggage carousel. Down to baggage claim we went. We waited and waited and waited and waited. No luggage. Chris then waited in another insanely long line to find out where our luggage was. He finally made it to the counter - they told him that with as many canceled flights as there were, they weren't pulling ANY luggage, but assured us it'd be on the next flight out to Philly.

By this time it was getting late - 11 pm. We were tired and the baggage claim area of Charlotte airport stinks like exhaust. Chris decided to see if he could find an airport hotel that we could hunker down in for the night.

All the airport hotels were booked. Arg. He then decides that we'll rent a car and drive to the nearest hotel. We got a car and drove and the first hotel we come upon is a very nice Hampton Inn. We got a beautiful comfortable room and within 30 SECONDS of turning the lights off, the kids were asleep. Ahhhhh.

The next morning we partook of a most fabulous continental breakfast that consisted of fruit salad, yogurt, hot chocolate, WAFFLES, various juices, eggs, sausage, and danishes. It was all wonderful and a great way to refuel for the day ahead of us.

We headed back to the Charlotte airport . . .

Part 2: Travel Gone Awry

So, all of the flights except ours to Philly were canceled. For some mysterious reason they decided to make a go at making it to Philly.

The flight crew wasn't so confident we'd actually make it to Philly. The captain told us, "I guarantee that we'll get you there sometime before Christmas." Then he laughed. The flight attendants were bustling around trying to get the plane in order because "who knows where we're going to end up." They made sure the plane was stocked with snacks and drinks.

A bit before the plane was to land in Philly, the captain told us that Philly had shut down and we were being diverted to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Travel Gone Awry - Day 1: Part 1

I love this news piece. I loved how the reporter just roamed around the airport looking for a story while wearing her shorter-sleeved shirt and looking pretty and well-put together. I loved how she approached the kids and I asking if we had been "stranded" in Phoenix due to the weather back east. I loved the look of disappointment on her face when we told her we were just leaving on our trip and were not in fact stranded. "Oh," was all she said and walked off. I told her to come back later when I was pretty sure our flight to Philly would be canceled. In fact, she did come back, probably because she couldn't find much of anyone else that was "stranded" and that could tell her the atrocities of traveling through a blinding snowstorm. Instead, she settled on us. Oh how I wished she could have followed us the entire trip to see first hand all we went through. She got her story, sauntered off, without a care in the world and we were left to our own adventure.

We're Here

It took us 2 days, but we got here. Fun stories of canceled flights, shut down airports, snow storms and lost luggage to come . . .

Food for Thought

Do you know what this is? This happens to be the most delicious fruit on the face of the earth. It is a mango.

Did you know that mango contains urushiol - an organic oil toxin found in plants such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, as well?

Did you know that contact with the skin of a mango can cause Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis?

For years I've known that I could not eat the most delicious fruit on the planet. Every once in a while I'd cheat. And I'd pay for it with an itchy swollen type rash across my face, so infuriating I'd just want to claw my face off. Pretty picture. So, I've been more careful about staying away from the most delicious fruit on earth.

Last week Jonathan saw some beautiful mangoes at the grocery store and begged for one. I caved. A few days later, after it had ripened, I cut it up for the kids. Since Christmas was coming up and I had a lot to do, I decided to pass on ingesting the most delicious fruit on the planet in order to be functional - and not have to deal with the pain, itchiness, and ugliness it causes.

I DID NOT KNOW that just cutting one up would wreak the havoc it has. I did not know that the urushiol was contained in the oils of the skin of the most delicious fruit on the planet and that I should have scrubbed my hands raw after I handled the most delicious fruit. And, I did not know that it was the same chemical found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.

At this point I wish I had eaten some of the most delicious fruit on the planet to make this rash worth it. But no, I never got any joy out of it because I thought that you had to actually ingest it for it to cause problems.

I've researched online some "cures" for this. But alas, there really seem to be none. It's a waiting game with some reporting having the rash for up to 3 weeks. Oh joy. In the past, I've suffered up to 2 weeks. And nothing really works at relieving it except time.

Sigh.

The Death of Hermie

One of Colt's hermit crabs died today. Sad sad. Chris did the honors of flushing Hermie. In an effort to console Colt, Carena said, "At least he's in Heaven now." To which Colt replied (in all seriousness), "Does the toilet take you to Heaven?"

A Post With Pictures!

I've noticed that my posts have really lacked pictures lately. That's gotta be boring. So here are a few to make up for it!

Colt was a sheep in his class play:

Colt with his scarecrow that we made together in class:

My birthday (those candles are wrong: I'm only 25)

Or, according to Jonathan's card to me, I'm 5

Light Amid Despair

As I was out running errands yesterday, I came upon a rather run-down and dilapidated home. The front yard was nothing but dirt. The house in shambles. A window was broken, but towels were shoved in the space to keep out the cold. The front door was dirty and dented. The trim around the doorway was non-existent. There were some old rusty and broken patio chairs sitting by the front door.

Seeing that house, I wondered about its occupants. I wondered about the desperation that seemed to emanate from that home. I wondered what it would be like to live in fairly obvious poverty, where you are not even able to fix a window, but instead had to make do by shoving towels in drafty places to keep the (Arizona) winter out.

But yet, as I looked closer I noticed that a strand of Christmas lights had been put around the door.

Even though the house is terribly run down, someone still cares. It may look like a house in shambles, but it is someone's home. Just like the rest of us getting ready for Christmas, these home owners decorated too! They, too, are getting ready for a holy time of year and took the time and effort to express that, despite their hardships.

Seeing this small strand of lights around a broken and dented door really touched me. This home and its simple strand of lights summed up the Spirit of the season perfectly for me. Amid the despair was hope, and when the night comes - a little beauty, despite the home's day-time imperfections.

True Love

We don't do Black Friday. I don't do Black Friday. I have enough anxiety just going out on ordinary days - but to tackle Black Friday?!? I'd most surely die. And to get up in the wee hours of the morning?!

But this year . . . there was this certain item that a certain little boy has been asking for for almost a year. Said item was on sale at WalMart for Black Friday. It went on sale at 5 am. It's a high demand item meaning that there would be a line for it and it would sell out in a blink of an eye.

Chris, my lovely wonderful husband, got up at 1:30 AM and stood in line at WalMart until 5 am when he could buy the item. He was fourth in line. He said by the time he left WalMart (at 5:20 am), the item was sold out.

He's my hero. And he's a hero to a certain little boy - who may never know the sacrifice his amazing father went through to get him exactly what he wanted.

Missed Opportunities

Just last week a friend of mine moved to a land far far away. It just about broke my heart and when I think about it, I tear up.

I first met her at church a few years ago and instantly liked her. She's beautiful and funny. At the time she had just had her first child and I had just had my second. I was so excited to get to know her.

But life got in the way and I kept thinking, maybe we'll get together next week or next month when things die down a bit. I remember thinking constantly, I need to call her, I need to get together with her.

And then she had her second child. And then I had my third child. And then she had her third child.

All along I put off getting together with her because life got in the way. Oh, every once in a while we'd meet up or get a chance to chat at church or some other activity.

But I took for granted that she'd always be close, that in time we'd actually be able to get together consistently.

I didn't mean to put our friendship on a back burner, but I think I did - because life happens, because kids get sick, things get busy and all along I was thinking, perhaps tomorrow.

Tomorrow is here and she has moved. And I miss her.

But, I did learn my lesson - that tomorrow may not come - that I need to do my best today to let people know how much they mean to me because tomorrow they may not live around the corner anymore and I won't have the chance to really get to know them and be a part of their everyday lives.

"About three things I was absolutely positive"

First, our smoke detectors work even at 2:30 IN THE MORNING (and for apparently no reason).

Second, Chris is fast when woken up by the smoke detectors at 2:30 IN THE MORNING.

And third, Colt and Jonathan didn't stir. Carena only put a pillow over her head.

Good Tuesday morning to y'all!



(title of the post is from Twilight)

Super Saturday

I am grateful for:

Jonathan sleeping better last night than he has in a week.

Holding Jonathan's hand all night.

Another overcast day.

Colt putting his arm around me.

The opportunity to go grocery shopping today.

Carena.

Homemade donuts.

RAIN!! IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!!!!

Freaky Friday

I am grateful for:

Colt being better enough to go to school today (although I missed him all day long).

Jamba Juice.

An overcast day.

Doctors' offices that have evening hours.

An awesome surprise in the mail today.

Two reimbursement checks that are going straight to the "fix Chris's car fund."

Yummy smelling household cleaners. Probably toxic fumes, but at least it smells nice.

Naps.

Vacuuming.

Opened windows.

Thursday Thoughts

I am thankful for:

The time Colt and I got to spend out and about yesterday (he hadn't been out of the house in a week, I hadn't been out in 5 days).

My collection of sharks' teeth (yup, Julie, it's mine).

Chicken with rice.

CVS so close.

Phone calls from my family.

Lavender.

Stories that I write in my head.

Sharks' Teeth and Gratitude

One of my all-time favorite activities is walking the beach searching for sharks' teeth. However, just looking down and coming across a shark's tooth is not always easy. Often they are tiny and mixed in with shells, ocean debris and other beach stuff. But, once you know what you're looking for - the smooth black, the triangle shape - it becomes easier. The shells, the beach glass, the seaweed, all those distractions just seem to fade away as you are focused on spotting the sharks' teeth amongst the debris.

In my collection of sharks' teeth I have super super small shark's teeth that at first glance look like a small smooth pebble. But upon further inspection, you can see that it is in fact a shark's tooth. It really is like a needle in a hay stack . . . but once you know what to look for, it becomes easy and the non-sharks' teeth fade to the background so that the sharks' teeth are glaringly obvious. I also have some pretty big sharks' teeth that you just can't miss . . .

Liken this to gratitude and blessings. Lately I've been consciously listing the things I am grateful for. Sometimes it takes a little work. Sometimes I feel like I have more to be ungrateful for. BUT, with focusing on the good all that other bad stuff just fades to the background and I'm left with my gratitude and a long long list of blessings. All that other stuff doesn't even register, just like the non-sharks' teeth stuff. Sharks' teeth equal my blessings. In focusing on finding the sharks' teeth (blessings), the beach debris (rotten stuff going on in our lives), although still there, isn't in the forefront so much.

So, I'm trying to focus on the good. And that other stuff can just fade into the background as I pick up my little treasures along the way of life.

Wistful Wednesday

Today I am grateful for:

VETERANS, of course!

Selective hearing. What? Jonathan's yelling at me!?

Pseudoephedrine.

Breakfast.

Cool breezes.

A loose tooth (Colt's, not mine).

One Day

Tuckered-out Tuesday

Day 5 of the flu. Colt's getting better. Jonathan is still suffering. Carena just got it yesterday.

Despite that, I am grateful for:

A friend who made dinner for us last night. It was dang delicious and what a relief to not have to worry about dinner! My words don't justify the gratitude I feel.

Fresh air.

Hand sanitizer.

Thoughts of Christmas.

Naps.

Chocolate.

Catalogs.

My computer.

Beef jerky.

The Face of the Flu

So, this is what the flu looks like . . . only it's 100 times worse in real life.

Manic Monday

I am thankful for:

Carena's health. (Never mind . . . just got a call from the school . . . Carena's sick)

Colt getting a little bit better.

Jonathan telling me "I love noo (you)" even though he's got the flu now too.

Disposable diapers.

New Moon. yup, read it again.

The birds singing in my back yard.

Cozy blankets.

Friends willing to help.

Popsicles.

Kind words.

People that inspire me.

Warm milk with a little bit of honey and cinnamon.

My love of baking.

The 'S' Word

On Thursday afternoon, all of a sudden, Colt started complaining about a sore throat. He said it was bad enough that he didn't want to go to karate (red flag!!). About ten minutes later . . . he was complaining of a headache. Ten minutes after that, he had a fever of 101. In the middle of the night, he came into our room and told us he needed a bucket. He was sick all night long. And the fever stuck. Friday morning - still sick, but able to keep some soup down. His newest symptom was congestion, stuffy nose, and a terrible cough.

Last night he had a fever of 104 that wouldn't budge even with motrin. He was pretty uncomfortable all night long. This morning I tried the motrin again, and thankfully the fever went down to 102. He's no longer sick to his stomach, but all the other symptoms are really wreaking havoc with him. But, wow, what a trooper he is. He's handling it well.

This morning I called his doctor. I explained his symptoms and over the phone they confirmed that yup, it's the flu. However, there was no mention of the "s" word associated with the flu. I didn't bring it up and the doctor's office didn't bring it up. But I think we are both aware of what it could be.

For now, we're treating his fever with motrin every 6 hours, pushing fluids, and treating his cough, congestion, stuffiness and sneezing. If he's not significantly better by Tuesday we'll take him into the doctor.

See you all later. . . we're headed toward quarantine!

Fabulous Friday

I am grateful for:

Our one running car (although it is now making a mysterious ominous sound).

An hours sleep last night (although I would have preferred 8 hours).

Jonathan and Carena's health (although I would prefer if Colt weren't so sick).

Being able to take care of Colt today.

That donut sitting on the counter CALLING my name. It's seriously a beautiful donut.

Funny jokes in the Reader's Digest.

Flat pillows.

Not having to make Carena's school lunch - she's having a pizza party instead.

Carena's excitement over having a pizza party at school.

Chris being able to work some overtime.

Chris having a job.

Jonathan's unintelligible sentences - he tries so hard!

A cool morning.

Saving $5.00 a month.

Ideas for inexpensive, yet thoughtful, Christmas gifts to give others.

Cloth diapers.

Tea tree oil.

Not having to rush this morning.

Being able to stay home all day today.

Jonathan telling everyone "Happy Haween" every day.

Jonathan calling Halloween candy, "Happy Haween candy."

Cool washcloths.

Motrin and Tylenol.

Our Wii.

Holiday movies on Lifetime.

Guess Who? game.

Little people who play Guess Who? with me.

Carena's love of reading.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for:

Twilight - I just read it for the second time and it was still amazing.

Jonathan's preschool

Chocolate chip cookies

Colt's karate class

My only girl

My messy house

Clean laundry

Season Premiers

A comfy couch

Halloween candy

Don't Ask!

Wonderful Wednesday

I am grateful for:

The health of myself and my family

A roof over my head

Flannel sheets

The delicious dinner I will make tonight

Books

Romantic movies

My family

Airplanes

Email

Curly hair

My treadmill

Smiles

SpongeBob

Hugs

Clothes

My lime tree

Hot baths with yummy essential oils

A working vehicle

A FREE bus pass provided by Chris's work

Bliss (what a great word)

My upbringing

Friends

Pumpkin seeds

A guy with a shaved head

Flowers

Herbal tea

Pierogies

HALLOWEEN!

The Halloween festivities began with a Daddy/Daughter prom night. I hear that Carena stayed in character almost the entire night!

The kids were allowed to dress up as a storybook character for school. Carena is one of the Three Musketeers (THANK YOU AMY!!!) and Colt is Mr. Bump.

Pumpkin carving!

So, Saturday afternoon we go outside and find this giant cardboard pumpkin just sitting in our yard. JACKPOT! Now, it looks like we're actually into Halloween with our massive pumpkin. Thank you mystery persons who helped make us look a lot cooler than we actually are!

I'm pretty sure Colt will take any chance he can to wear his karate uniform. He was so excited to be a karate kid!

Carena finally got to be a vampire!

Jonathan wanted to be a "kee cat." We had this lion costume from when Colt was this age. We convinced Jonathan that he was in fact a "kee cat." Technically, he is, you know. Lions are cats. And the costume was a hit. People thought he was cute and gave him HANDFULS of candy.

I am not a big fan of Halloween. And this year seemed to be extra excruciating. It seemed like it went on FOREVER. I never remember "celebrating" Halloween for over a week. And I hope never to do it again. All that work and I didn't even get my own bucket of candy!

It started out with the Daddy/Daughter prom. Carena wanted to be a vampire, but since I put the makeup on too thick, she resembled a mime instead. So, ta da! I was pretty impressed with Chris's willingness to be a mime as well.

Then . . . the kids were to dress up as storybook characters for school. Carena wasn't interested in being Dracula for that, even though I insisted that it was a book character. Instead she was a Three Musketeer. Colt went as Mr. Bump.

But wait . . . there's more! I helped out in Carena's classroom for their Halloween party. It was an awesome party. I was glad to be part of it, even if in a small way.

Oh wait . . . the fun continues . . . that night was our church's Trunk or Treat. But, it's more complicated than that - we only have one car and Colt had a birthday party to go to. So, Chris dropped us off at the Trunk or Treat and then headed to the birthday party with Colt. I felt kinda lame not having a trunk to be part of the festivities, instead we just "treated."

It's not over yet . . . Saturday (ACTUAL Halloween) we were FINALLY able to carve our pumpkin. We had not had a spare moment before then to do it. And then! THEN! FINALLY!!! It was time to dress up and go trick or treating. FINALLY!

The kids got a ton of candy - and truth be told, they're being a little stingy with it. I mean, who gave them their sweet tooth to begin with? You think they'd be a little more generous.

I thoroughly enjoyed Halloween night. It was fun and simple. How fun was it to just wander the 'hood reconnecting with neighbors and meeting new ones? And then to watch the kids run up to each door - with Jonathan trying frantically to keep up - and declare, "trick or treat!" The best part though was coming home and having the kids dump their loot out onto the floor to inventory the goods.

And this morning . . . let the trading begin! I'll trade you my peanut butter cup for your pixie stix!

Glad it's over!

Guess What?

Last night I put the flannel sheets on the bed.

And this morning . . . .



It's been chilly! I love it. However, looking out the window you'd think it was just another warm sunny day here in the Valley of the Sun, but ha! ha! it's cooooold.

Yesterday - between throwing up - Jonathan said to me, "I happy." I asked why and his reply was, "because it's 'code' outside. I frow nobas (snowballs) at Nee Nee (Carena) and Tolt (Colt)."

Now . . . if we could just get the sun to tuck itself in and give us a few gloomy days (y'know just for that allusion of the possibility of snow, heck, I'll even take rain!).

Enjoy your sweaters!!

A Little Clarification on the Stay-At-Home Mom Degree

Regarding the earlier post - The Stay-At-Home Mom Degree:

I feel like I didn't really explain myself very well. I hope I didn't sound whiney or that I didn't value getting an education or that I feel down about this particular issue. There are a lot of things (financially - beyond being frugal and budgeting) people can do even if they are a stay-at-home parent. I felt throughout my life that my desire to be a mom was swept aside and ignored rather than embraced.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A mom!
No, really.

How awesome would it have been if my guidance counselor gave me a list of occupations that would be conducive to staying at home. I think of my friend who is an accountant and is able to keep her foot in the door by working from home. How come no one told me that was an option? Or how about the friend that is an awesome hair stylist and is able to work from home, when she wants - if she wants. There are so many occupations like that! I wish there were a list of all those occupations and skills that, when times get tough, you can fall back on to MAKE SOME MOOLAH! I love that I have some education in criminal justice, and there are qualities of that education that have made me a better person . . . but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the ability to make some money. Right now my criminal justice education isn't making me squat. That's not to say that it's not valuable to have or that I'd trade it - I just wish for SOMETHING that brought a little cash flow in for when times get tough. I am so not crafty - so I can't make awesome shirts to sell, my cooking isn't worth writing home about, let alone selling, I can't cut hair, I can't fix my car, I can't fix your car. I know it's not a talent contest and that I have other attributes and talents. But, I can't make money off of those talents. I have been told that I'm a good listener - anyone wanna chat while I charge you $25.00 an hour? And that's just the beginning rate.

I don't expect or want to get paid for doing my motherly duties. I love staying home! It's what I always wanted to do. And I have found a lot of relief these past few days realizing that I actually did achieve what I always wanted to be!

I know I have gained many skills during my lifetime, including formal education, that have prepared me to do what I am doing and has made me a better mom and wife. If I could go back in time, I would have worked so much harder and would have finished. One day I will.

BUT, knowing that I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, I wish I had figured out a career or set of skills that would compliment my staying home in order to bring in a little bit of side money from time to time. Haircutting is a great example. I AM NOT SAYING I WOULD FORGO THE FORMAL EDUCATION - this would be in addition to getting my degree. Perhaps I should call it a "minor" to your "major." That you would get your major degree and then minor in hair cutting or car repair.

I don't want to seem like I'm ungrateful for all that I have and all that I have learned. And I don't want to trivialize the vital importance of getting your education. Getting your education should be a top priority. BUT, personally, I would have liked a little "heads up" that along with my degree I might benefit from learning something that was complimentary to being a stay at home mom - whether it be learning how to cut hair or going into a field that allows you the flexibility to work from home from time to time or an occupation that didn't require full-time - instead you could come in once or twice a week - to keep your foot in the door for when the time comes that you could work full-time, if you chose.

So, I guess what I was trying to say with this post merely, "I wish I had some money making skills. I know I have many other important and wonderful skills and for those I am truly grateful - and so are my children and husband. Those skills don't have a price tag. I wouldn't trade those skills and experiences for anything. I know the importance of being a stay-at-home-mother. But, I also would like to make some money."

The Degree would take into account the fact that ultimately I want to be a stay-at-home mom and would address the fact that sometimes things get financially tough and a degree in criminal justice isn't going to help me out financially if I plan on staying home BUT here are some skills (haircutting) that I could use WHILE STILL STAYING AT HOME and still bring in some money. And perhaps that degree in criminal justice will get some good use once the kids are grown.

I 100% encourage anyone to get a full degree, if possible, when they can - and to make it a top priority. I think it is so important to have - that if you were in the situation where you had to get back into the workforce that employers look favorably on someone having a degree in something - anything.

So, I hope anyone wasn't offended by my posts or that I made it sound like the degree and the experience behind the degree was anything less than awesome. I also hope I didn't make it sound like I am struggling with being a stay-at-home mom. I'm not. I love it. This is where I want to be. I am very aware of my value and the value of my experiences and learning as it pertains to my family.

I just wish I could make some money.

The Stay-At-Home Mom Degree

I love this little "button." No, I'm not saying that I've made another person, I just like it.

I've struggled throughout my life trying to figure out what I want to do when I "grow up." Not finishing my criminal justice degree has been this dark cloud over me.

In the middle of the night last night, after being woken up by a wee one that had a bad dream and then proceeded to wiggle his way into our bed, I had a "revelation."

My mom was great at saving school and church work that we did when we were little. Many of those worksheets asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was almost exclusively "a mom." But, for some reason, that doesn't count. When visiting with the high school guidance counselor I was encouraged to find a career and when I couldn't come up with something, I was given some career counseling. It matched my personality with a suitable career.

No joke - the "test" ALWAYS matched me with being a Funeral Director or Mortician. No joke. I guess the "test" couldn't figure out that I really didn't like people or interacting with them so decided to surround me with dead and alive people. Yay!

It all came down to wanting to be a mom, though. Then I was thrust into college where I had to declare a major. I was frantic to find something ANYTHING that I could later use as a career.

But I wanted to be a mom. So, I decided on criminal justice. I'm not sorry I chose that. It's a big part of my personality and I learned a lot. But really, I wanted to be a mom. So, perhaps that's why I never finished, because how the heck am I going to use a criminal justice degree when all I wanted was to be a mom? Although, I must say it has come in handy when watching episode after episode of CSI.

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A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend whose last child just started all-day school. I asked her what her plans were (if any) now that all the children were gone a good portion of the day. She looked at me and said, "I have no idea." She continued to explain that she would like to go back to work in the field she had her degree in, but that she hadn't stepped foot in the field in 10 years while she was a stay-at-home mom. She would have to go back to school and essentially get another degree since her field had changed so drastically since she left. What a shame! All of that previous effort, work and money now down the drain! And now she's left with that "deer in the headlights" look and very few options.

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Back to my revelation that I had last night . . . I have truly struggled with what I want to be when I grow up. But last night I realized that all this time I had become what I always wanted to be! A MOM!! But it seems society (?) doesn't really count that as "being something" or something to aspire to . . . something to work toward . . . something to be good at. No, instead we should be aspiring to be doctors, paralegals, managers, landscapers, engineers, etc.

Now, I am NOT discounting getting an education and finding your own career path, but I am perplexed that being a mom doesn't have a degree associated with it. Of course, you don't NEED a degree to be a mom, but there are some skills I would desperately love to have - skills that could be bundled up into some sort of degree program . . . skills that would help the entire family, skills that would make me a better mom. I get that there are "homemaking" type degrees, but they seem to not give you the skills to be successful at being a stay-at-home mom that is even able to contribute financially to the family income without having to leave the home. I often feel badly that I can't contribute financially (even in a small way). These are some skills I wish were offered in the Stay-At-Home Mom degree:

1. Haircutting. What a genius skill! Not only could I cut my own family's hair, but I could cut other's hair as well and make a little money doing it! I saved by cutting my family's hair and I made money selling my service to others. How is that not just awesome?

2. Car repair. Can you imagine the savings if I knew how to fix cars? We would have 2 (maybe more!) working cars right now instead of one. Also, there's a huge savings in doing the maintenance work myself - oil changes, what not.

3. Teaching. I like the idea of being a teacher because once your children are in school, you could go ahead and be a teacher - keeping the same hours as your children.

4. Music lessons. How about teaching piano or guitar from your home? How about being able to teach your children so you don't have to pay for lessons?

5. Anger management. You know. . . just because.

6. Fielding questions from left field gracefully (Do monkeys eat ham?).

7. Dealing with marriage stresses.

There are a ton others, too. I wish that when someone says they want to grow up to be a wife and mother, that those desires are taken seriously and the that individual is then given the skills necessary to be successful, instead of asking, "no really, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

**I totally understand the need for an education, however, it's such a shame that after the kids are in school, you're left empty handed because you've been out of the work force so long that you'd have to relearn everything. It's also a shame that we tend to get degrees that interest us (as it should be) but have very little effect or skill set that will help us in our current situation. I mean, seriously, what would I do with a criminal justice degree? How does that help me now? How would it help me when the kids are in school (because I'd really like to keep the same schedule as the kids so I'm home when they are).

Also, I know of friends that have degrees that actually use them now. Their line of work is flexible enough that they are able to keep their foot in the door. I think that's awesome. It doesn't mean they're working all the time, but perhaps can work from home, going into work once or twice a week, but essentially keeping that option open for when a time comes that they will be able to work more in their field or for some reason have to.

**I'm just saying - there has to be a better way. There has to be a way to have the skill set for being a stay-at-home mom and being able to create a little income or be able to save scads (by fixing your own vehicle, for example) and then once your children are up and gone to then be able to go out in the work force without having to redo your degree or without being the wrinkly old lady who sweeps up at McDonald's.

More Laughs (and a few tears)

Tonight I got a call from Chris - who should have been home from work by that time. Guess what?!? His car broke down on his way home from work. As I was backing out of the driveway to go pick him up, my awesome neighbor was just walking toward our house with a plate of cookies for us! I told her where we were headed. I then added, "What would a week be like without one of our cars breaking down?" Her response was, "boring."

So, we make it to where Chris was - he was able to limp his vehicle into a parking lot. There really wasn't much we could do but leave it there and head home and decide what to do. Since it was dinner time, and since I had been taking care of a sick Colt and nursing my own migraine the entire day, we didn't have any dinner prepared at home. We decided to eat out. Chris asked, "McDonald's or Wendy's?" Carena and Colt in unison yelled, "Wendy's" while Jonathan yelled "McDonald's." Chris replied, "Wendy's it is!" to which Jonathan started sobbing. SOBBING. Chris then said to Jonathan, "I know how you feel Jonathan, my car just broke down and I might have to start riding a bike to work!" Jonathan yelled at Chris, "I KNOW!" He then continued to sob and tell us how he wanted to go to McDonald's. Ahh, to have the problems of a three year-old - when the biggest disappointment of your day is that you have to go to Wendy's instead of McDonald's, when you have to get a Frosty instead of a milkshake, and you couldn't care less if someone has to ride a bike into work. And what is work anyway?

I wonder why I'm not as upset as I think I should be about another broken down vehicle. Maybe I'm just used to it. Really, it's been at least every other week that we only have one vehicle working. I'm quite grateful that the times that the vehicles have broken down, the kids weren't with us and that BOTH cars haven't died at the same time.

A Few Laughs

Because I don't want to be a Debbie Downer ALL the time -

Windshield Wiper Ramblings

I was watching a little tv today and one scene showed a person sitting in their car while it was raining out. They had their windshield wipers going.

That got me thinking about the last time I used MY windshield wipers - which I can't remember, because it's been a LONG time.

That makes me sad.

Weather really affects me. And Arizona's lack of weather (I think Arizona weathermen have the easiest job on the planet) brings me down. Day in and day out of blue skies and warm weather. Sounds like heaven to some (especially during the bitter cold) but to me it's just hard.

I was talking to a friend the other day about Halloween and she mentioned how much she loves it. I will probably offend many when I admit that I kinda hate Halloween. I used to love it, though. Halloween had been synonymous with autumn, the turning of the weather, leaves of colorful brilliance, the anticipation of the first snow-fall, a gloomy day here and there, and cold rains. Halloween meant change. Halloween meant autumn. All it took was to step outside and feel the crunch of the fallen leaves, to feel the crispness in the air.

Now I hate it . . . because, although we do get a bit of a reprieve from the overwhelming heat, there is no crispness, no crunchy leaves, no smell of burning leaves. I can't just step outside and FEEL the change, feel the autumn - I have to purchase it.

I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and bought a little pumpkin sign to hang on our front door. We needed to announce to the world that AUTUMN was here! And the only way to do that was with a sign that said, "Happy Fall!" I walked the aisles of Hobby Lobby just feeling like it was the biggest sham . . . purchasing things to feel in the spirit of a season. It felt so wrong to me. To me, autumn is not about the cutesy little signs and the fake pumpkins (because the real ones rot and dry up in like a day in this heat). It's about the nature, which is so lacking in my little world.

I wonder if I had been better off not knowing and loving nature like I do. There is that age-old saying, "It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." Really? Great little saying, but the torture of having loved and then losing and living without really puts a damper on life.

There's really no purpose to this post, only a bit of venting and a wish that my windshield wipers will one day be used.


http://maqtanim.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/rainy_day.jpg


http://blog3ponto0.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/rainyday.jpg

Should I Do It?

A few times a year I get this intense urge to get my hair cut really short. Of course I always chicken out and this time will probably be no different . . . but it's something fun to think about. What do you think? Should I do it? Is my face too fat for it? Will people laugh at me? Will YOU laugh at me (even if you're laughing at me behind my back it still counts!)?

Anyway . . . part of me wants to do it just to prove to myself that I'm not chicken. But what if I hate it and look horrible? Hair takes a long time to grow in.

Any thoughts? And be honest!!

At Least We're On The Same Page

Before I take the kids out to various places, I always debrief them on how I expect them to act at said place. For instance, if we're going out to eat, I remind them before we get there how to act at a restaurant: polite, quiet, "please" and "thank you," sit in your chair and eat your meal, no fussing/yelling, etc. I will then ask them, "So, how do we act at a restaurant?" To which they will summarize what I just told them. I do this for pretty much wherever we go . . . restaurants, church, grocery shopping . . . and coupled with that a warning that if they don't behave, that there will be consequences (having to sit with mom or dad in the car while everyone else finishes their meals or standing in the corner).

I do this so that we are very clear about what behavior is expected.

Yesterday was Colt's karate. Before we went I told Jonathan how he was to act while we were there watching Colt. I told him he was to either sit on the floor, my lap, or on the bench, he was to be quiet, if he needed to talk he was to whisper. He was not to fuss or be loud. No running around.

I then asked Jonathan, "how do we act at karate class?"

His reply: "do nothing!"

I looked at him, he looked at me. He was so right! I'm so glad we're on the same page.

(I do allow him to bring a car or a small quiet toy to play with . . . so please don't think I'm horrible!)

Take Me Home

When is Enough Enough?

It seems that the past year - and especially the past few months - it's been one thing after another with our minivan. Little things, big things, every thing, it seems. I had hoped to be happy in this mini van for the full 10 years that I expected to get out of it. But at about year 5 it started going down hill and it's been gaining speed.

The newest problems are 1) the fuel pressure regulator - it's leaking and I've been advised not to drive it until it gets fixed, cuz you know - leaking gas + spark = KABOOM! Thankfully this isn't a super expensive fix (however, they can't get the part until Tuesday). But then, there is 2) both front bearings and hubs need to be replaced. That fix alone is $1,000. That makes me want to barf.

I just don't know if we should just give up or get it fixed. The cost of repairs is super high and the value of the vehicle is super low. When is enough enough? And how do we survive with only one car? I know people do it, but . . . how?

pic from here (I don't know why the link says "Sedona hero" - ours is more like a Sedona villian: http://www.autocity.com/latam/reportajes/img/03-sedona-hero.jpg

UPDATE: We've got our fingers crossed that the hubs and bearings will be covered under the 10 yr/100,000 mile warranty. We've talked to 4 different Kia places - who pretty much gave us different and conflicting information as to whether it's covered or not (and what would qualify it to be covered). We talked to Kia directly who said that it is covered. I'm not holding my breath though. It's now at a Kia place in Phoenix (there's nothing like going through Phoenix highway traffic when you're worried sick your car is going to fall apart at any moment). We'll get the verdict on Friday.

Autumn Break

I need some ideas on how to fill our Fall Break. What are your plans? I'm hoping to make the week "fall-ish" somehow. Any ideas? We'll most likely be sticking close to home since I don't trust either of our vehicles for any road trips.

pic from http://www.bluejake.com/images07/2007_11_leaves.jpg

Autumn

pic from graphicshunt.com

It's That Time of Year . . .

I was reading some posts from last year and came across one that stated one of our autumn traditions is getting sick. True to form and tradition . . . we're all sick.

Not to fear, though - we're stocked up on Tylenol, NyQuil, Pseudoephedrine, and yes . . . Vicks infused tissues.

The Year of the Tiger

This year Colt is involved with Tiger Cub Scouts and is a Tiny Tiger in karate. This past week he earned his first awards in cub scouts AND advanced in rank in karate! Woo hoo Colt!!

Pack Meeting:
I got to pin Colt's Bobcat badge on his shirt:
Karate. Colt receiving his orange belt:




*as a side note - the day of Colt's karate advancement was not without its drama. Jonathan, in true Jonathan fashion, decided to do a BIG JUMP out of the van when we arrived at karate. When he landed, he lost his balance and fell - hitting the back of his head on the asphalt. Who knew such a small gash could bleed so much. But it did! I was super thankful for the extra cloth diaper I keep in the car that acted as a bandage. After about 10-15 minutes of crying he finally calmed down and the bleeding stopped. I was able to watch the first part of Colt's advancement. However, Jonathan started falling asleep with me holding him (he never does that) which got me worried. So, I decided to run him up the road to urgent care. Chris, my brother Chris, and Carena stayed to watch Colt. Thankfully Chris had the video camera and my brother had the digital camera. Jonathan continued to be sleepy and lethargic on the ride to the UC. I had to yell at him to keep him awake. I was pretty scared. However, once we go to the UC, he was perky and talkative. Of course. It's like when your car is making a funny sound and you take it in to the mechanic's and it sounds just fine. The doctor suggested we keep an eye on him and to wake him up every 2-3 hours that night to make sure he's ok. We were then sent home. He's doing well now, but he can't lie down on his back because it hurts the back of his head. That makes diaper changes quite difficult. He's on Tylenol to help with the pain, but otherwise is quite fine. No stitches or staples were needed.

So, I missed Colt's rank advancement but I don't think he really noticed - he was just thrilled that his Uncle Christopher was there (as was I since he really took over with Carena and Colt as I tended to Jonathan). As soon as we got home I watched the video of the advancement. He did wonderfully.

My Tiger is awesome!