Where Can't You Go

because you'll see an ex?

I was listening to the radio the other morning and they asked this question...along with like 30 other ones..right in a row. It was really strange.

Why are you asking all these questions that could have great answers and not letting your callers call in? Clearly I missed something vital to their discussion. Anyways, they asked, "Where can't you go because you know you'll see an ex there?"

My instant response was "Richland Center" and then I laughed.

Yes. I like to avoid Richland Center all together. I only "dated" two guys from there I think...but man would it be awkward to run into them.

I know it was like 10 years ago...but still. I feel like every time I go to Walmart with my mom I am on high alert. Scanning the crowd like I'm an FBI agent or something. Getting ready to full body dodge into an aisle and pull her with me. Yes mom....I wouldn't leave you alone in that awkwardness....even though you never met these guys.

If I had Thane with me though...I would loop arms with him and proudly walk by. I might even smile and say hi. My husband is super hot. I'd be all like, :Oh hey! How have you been the past 10 years? I got fat, but have you met my uber hot husband? Isn't his beard sexy?" Ya....I would. 

Whenever I think about this stuff it makes me even more thankful for Thane. I can't even imagine where I would be in life if I hadn't met him. Which never would have happened ..because we were supposed to meet each other.

The fact that he came into my life a week after I swore off pointless "relationships"...and not the night 2 weeks before that we had talked on the phone for like 45 seconds...is amazing to me. He came into my life when I was at my strongest, when I felt that I didn't have to settle. He was exactly who I needed in my life I just had to wait until it was the right time for him to be in my life. 

I just tried to find the blog of how we met...I have a LOT of posts. Couldn't find it. You should go back and read some...they are all pretty good. :) 

I love hearing how people met. Our story fits us perfectly.

So I found this...and found it hilarious because of a story a friend just told me.....

It's a Train Damnit.

So. Parker's birthday is tomorrow. He is turning 2.

TWO.

I don't really understand how we got here so fast. I'm not sure I like it.

But anyways. We aren't having a party until later this month for a few reasons, but one main one is that I want to spend the day with him. I don't want to share him with anyone but Thane. :)

We are going to go to the Children's Museum and maybe the Toy Show. Nap and Packer game allowing.

So I went to Wal-Mart and bought this:

yummy. Simple. Pisbury Dough Boy- you can't go wrong with him. It's just a simple cake because it will just be us 3 eating it. He will have a cool one for his party...I hope. 

So I turn the box over to see what I need. Thank God we actually have eggs for once. I would have been really annoyed if I had just eaten the last of them for breakfast and Thane's phone is dead so I can't call him to go get some at the gas station for like $6/dozen. (I wish I was exaggerating) #smalltownliving. So then I get to this part:

Hmm..so many options. I was just going to use a 9x13 pan, but hell...let's do a bundt pan! K..where the hell is my bundt pan? Believe it or not...I haven't used it since we moved in. So I take a guess as to which are of the kitchen it will be in and I start digging. I stuble upon my bread pans and think, "wait a minute....I should make P a train cake! He would love that!"

Then I think, "Really Pam? A train cake? You only bought one mix...and you don't make cakes like that." So off to Pinterest I went. 15 minutes later I think I found something I can make....

I mean, this kid looks pumped...P will be too! I look at the directions. I think I may be able to pull this one off...buuuuuuuuuuuuuut I only have one cake mix. So, he will just have the train! Next, you need mini loaf pans. Ya...don't have those. So Let's hope this works. 

I mix it all up, pour it in two bread pans and hope for the best. 

The glass one has way less batter in it. My idea is use that one to make the cab of the train. I may have to cut it up and stack it.

I'm getting more nervous about this looking like a train. 

At least I have the Oreos for the wheels...if I stop eating them while I type that is. 

So, it's 10:30 and I still have a cake to assemble. Thankfully I have Thane and Grace here to keep me not bitchy and I got to work. 

Now to make the train. First I did this...and I didn't like it. 

 Then I did this...and it was ok? but not quite right...

then Thane came over and turned the short piece of cake...and VOILA! Thomas was born. 

 then I realized that I probably don't have enough frosting, but I'm in luck because I do have an extra can in the pantry. It's from Valentines day, but I was crossing my fingers it wasn't pink. 

Awesome. 

Then I realized I could just use the pink to put the pieces together and you would never see it. I'm a friggin genius. 

So I made some blue for Thomas and got to creating......

I'd say it's pretty close!!

I think he even knew who it was supposed to be!! He gasped when he saw it :) 

PMS Junction

So, I work with like 800 other women. 

Ok..that may be exaggerating..it only feels like that sometimes. In reality its about 50? women and like 6 men. 8 if you count the IT guys. 

I am not sure how we don't all pms at the same time. I see many of them almost more than I see my husband, you'd think we'd all be nuts the same week every month. That whole syncing thing...its real people. 

They all seem to be able to handle their mood swings just fine. I don't ever hear an annoyed tone in their voice. Maybe I'm the only one with mood swings? I mean, I am a pretty emotional person as it is...so why wouldn't I have crazy swings? If we ever have a girl, I should probably just stay away from other humans. Extra estrogen? Awesome. 

Last month I was so crazy I started to cry and Thane had had enough of my day and my stomping around and goes "WHAT is wrong!?" "I doonnn't knoooooooooooooow!" 

No. I'm not pregnant. Seriously. Just crazy hormonal apparently. Oiy. 

I wear my emotions on my face in general. 

The biggest compliment a coworker once gave me was that she knew inside I was fuming, beyond fuming..about to lose it, but she said she couldn't tell. I kept my cool on the outside while inside I was throwing snarky comment after snarky comment. I'm pretty proud of that moment. Maybe I am making baby steps towards becoming a more rational thinker/reactor? Slowly I'm becoming a real grown up!

 I am an emotional thinker. This is important to know if you work with me...or if you are within like 30 feet of me. 

If I'm stressed out..give me time. Don't throw things at me. 

If you make me mad...walk away before I lash out. I tend to say..no snap..something and then think obsess about it later. 

If you change my plans last minute...tell me and then walk away and let me process them. These tips will make us get along better. 

I am almost 30. Ohmygod..I just typed that. Sigh..I AM 30. I should have this shit under control by now.

So anyways, fair warning for tomorrow. I'm in bitch mode. I can't help it. 

I'm not pregnant Lindsay. 

S50 to last....

for two weeks.

I posted that Thane and I are each getting $50 every two weeks to spend on whatever we want.

So today, 2 days after I got my $50...I have $24 $23 left. I forgot I got a Dt Pepsi today.

Thane....well he has $49.

He is going to have such an easier time with this than me.

Although, this budget saved us money and me calories today!

 I went to the gas station on the way to get Parker and I hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet so I was drawn to the deli area. I looked at all the sandwiches and thought, "2.99? I need to print like 6 pictures and buy cardstock yet...I think I'll pass."

Sadly, I didn't think "$2.99 or 299 calories?" That should be my mentality..buuuut it's not.  Yet.

I should really get back on track with that though. Starting with ya know...digging my gym bag out of my closet before I go to bed. I'm kind of wrapped up in the Ghost Whisperer though...

Resolution 2015

It's that time of year again. 

Resolutions. 

How can I make myself a better person? How can I make this the best year yet? What can I do to make my family's life better?

So here it is: Take control of our finances and own them. Don't let them own us. AND pay off a student loan. Just one of them. Just one. 

I am so sick of being stressed out because I don't know where all our money goes. and then Thane is all like..Have you SEEN our account?!?! Ugggh. Yes dear I have. Don't remind me. 

I'm sick of that. 

This is the 3rd time I have tried to figure our money life out...and I think I finally got it. 

The other night I stayed up til 1:30. Yes...1:30, but that is because it took 2 hours to put Parker down. Anyways, I stayed up til 1:30 figuring out our financial life and making our Family Budget Binder. 

It sucked.

I looked up ALL my loans. That sucked.

I wrote down all our bill on a calendar and when they are due. That sucked.

I wrote down our pay days and how much we roughly make. That sucked. 

I discovered that all we need to do to get in control of our bill is....win the lottery. 

Then I stopped daydreaming and found a handy sheet off of Pinterest to keep track of all our money in each account. We have a few accounts, and money in each for several different things. I had been keeping track of deposits on a piece of notebook paper, but if you know me...that was super annoying and not pretty enough. So I paid $2 to download this:

I'm sure you could easily make this, and not pay $2, but at 12:45am I didn't want to. If you like this you can find it here: Bill Tracker

I also decided that I need to keep track of our doctor visit bill this year so when it comes time to do my FLEX spending for next year I have a better idea of what we spend. So I found this:

Which you can find here: Dr Visits

I then dug through all my college crap resources and found some old binder dividers and set up my binder. I love binders. They make me happy.

I think I will put us on an allowance. $50 every 2 weeks. I haven't run that one by Thane yet. I'm sure he will be thrilled. 

So I know it's just a binder full of our bills...and I haven't actually set a budget yet...but it's a start! and it's only the 1st. Geesh...

Maybe I will try to read a book this year too. That seems like a good idea.....

NYE

The last few hours of 2014 are upon us. 

I am sneaking in a few minutes to blog because it is Thane's night to put P down. So lets be real...I have like 30-40 minutes to blog. 

A LOT has happened this year. Parker turned one. Tanya got married. We sold our duplex..that we have been trying to sell forever. I was able to live with my in-laws and get to know them better...and have my son spend more time with them. Bought a house. Katie got married. A few people I know got knocked up..and I'm ecstatic for them. Parker got a big boy bed, because you know..we need the crib.

For whenever the next kid comes along. HA! You thought for like 3 seconds I was going to say I'm pregnant didn't you? Heehee. Nope.

Thinking about getting pregnant for the second time is terrifying. Almost as scary as the first time around. It's amazing how many things change, and how quickly. I know people say you are never fully ready for the first one. Well, are you ever ready for the second one? 

Not that we don't want more. My second kid is going to read this blog in like 11 years and be bawling thinking we didn't want them. We do! We do! You are just really really scary hunny. Mommy loves you. 

So anyways. 2015 should be interesting. Already have some great things on the books. 

Parker turns 2. TWO. What? 

I have my first Pinterest Saturday coming up. Stoked.

A little thing called....SARA AND DOUG'S WEDDING!  Also stoked. 

You may be wondering how or why I am blogging at 10:03 on NYE. Well. Let me tell you. We have already had our excitement for the night. 

We went to US Bank Eve at the Terrace. My lovely coworker went to the one at KEVA but I was skeptical and said "no no..the one downtown will be WAY better Amanda."

Man I hate when she is right. (said with love.)

We should have gone to KEVA. While the one we were at was great, I feel like it was for older kids. 

We did try the bouncy house. P was pretty jacked up to go in. Jumping and laughing while we waited in line. He stepped foot inside...aaaaaaaaaaaaand lost it. Terrified. Screaming. Sobbing. 

So, that ruled out the other 5 bouncey houses they had. 

The train! They had a train. This kid loves trains. 

Ya. "Children Only." 

Oh ok....guess not. 

There was a Bubble Show. This is what I was excited for! In my head I pictured like 70 bubble makers in a room just blasting bubbles. Parker was going to LOOOOVE it. Hell, I was going to love it.

Sadly, it was nothing like my imagination. It was a man. With some bubbles. Who talked. A lot. 

There was a DJ..who I loved. He played "What Does the Fox Say?" and then "Shake it Off." right in a row! If I got married again...he'd be my guy. 

Parker? Not so much. This is where he hung out the whole time...

All about the water. I picture him being that kid at a school dance who spikes the punch. Sigh. 

We even had to have a picture with the water glass. 

So after we danced...I danced to a few songs we decided to go. 

but then Parker decided he need a few more rides and booked it for the escalators. 

and we rode them up and down about 10 times. At least.

Then we did a lot of this...

We figured, Hey..if he is happy riding the escalators and running down the empty hallways..shit. It's New Years Eve...let's go crazy!

So to recap. There is a lot of room to run at the terrace. The water coolers are fantastic. The escalators are thrilling. And bouncy houses are scary.

P's favorite parts:

Hope you all had/are having a fantastic night!!! 

Happy 2015 to you and yours. Hope this year is great too you!

The Adventures of the Big Boy Bed

We got P a big boy bed for Christmas. He is almost 2, we felt it was time. No we are not pregnant. Yes, we think he is ready for it. No, it's not too early.

I had talked to another mom at work and she wished me luck. She said the first 2 weeks were easy, and then they figure out they can get out..then it's downhill.

Great. I was banking on him getting out of bed right away, while I was off of work and could lose sleep, and us teaching him he has to stay in it. 

Christmas morning he opened some sheets for his bed on Christmas morning and I said, "They are for your big boy bed!!!!" Which I pointed to and apparently he hadn't seen it because he squealed and ran over to it.

Ya....I can see how he missed it.

So fast forward to the 26th at night. After 2 days of crazy Christmas time, and going to be at like midnight the night before, we decide its the perfect night for his first night in the big boy bed!

Well, first he had a nap in his bed and nailed it. Weird. He was exhausted. he barely made it to 2 before he passed out. High hopes for bedtime.

Well, he napped for like 4 hours.

Ya...that was dumb on our part. 

So we read a story in bed, kiss him goodnight, and walk out.

We walk to the couch and minutes tick by. Maybe we will make it! Maybe he will just be a natural!

All of a sudden he shows up in the living room. Obviously I knew he would get it, but it was still a shock to see him standing in front of us with a *gigantic* grin on his face.

Great.

So I walked him back. Tucked him in bed. Told him he had to stay. Gave him a kiss and walked out.

3 minutes later. He is standing in front of us...grinning.

So I walked him back. Tucked him in bed. Told him he had to stay. Gave him a kiss and walked out.

*repeat like 25 times*

Then I gave up. I laid next to him. Don't start. I know. I know.

I laid next to him for about 20 minutes. He was out. I slowly got out of bed and snuck out.

2 minutes later he is standing in the living room grinning.

He punked me.

Now when we went to get him, he dodged us and ran to the play room.

So I stayed with him longer this time.

Next night, repeat everything from the first night but now its a game. 

I would take him in, do all the stuff, walk to my room and watch part of netflix. When I heard him get up, I would go in right way and put him back in bed. Except for the time that he was in stealth mode.

I didn't hear him until he was standing in his doorway, poking his head in to see if I was looking. We locked eyes, he started to squeal and took off to his playroom. 

Which wouldn't be funny, but he runs so fast and then he tries to turn the corner. It's like watching a cartoon. He kind of bobbles on one leg on the corner but then catches and takes off...only to do it again in the kitchen. Which about 80% of the time, he wipes out in the kitchen. Oiy. 

He is also waking up at night. He has been for a while now. Just once, but he usually ends up in bed with us. So just to make sure that I don't miss him getting up I have created an obstacle outside out room in the form of a laundry basket. I figure if he runs into it I will hear it and wake up, or it will stop him and he will come in our room. 

Ya, I was awake last night to see him disprove my theory.

He ran out of his room...stopped just before he hit the basket..skirted around it and booked it for his playroom. At 1:30 in the morning. 

Sweet life. 

It is getting better. It only took me 20 minutes to get him to sleep for nap today. And bedtime last night only took 30 minutes vs 2 hours. Yes. 

2 hours. Thank god....well hopefully...that is over!