Adventures in Life

I don't really have any cool pictures to post with this entry. This is unfortunate, because I am not a fan of blog entries without pictures. The reason for the lack of pictures is we didn't do a lot this weekend. We managed to knock the "to do" list down from around 120 things to about 60 or so, so that was an accomplishment.

Oh, I did get a new phone. It actually came in the mail today. My contract was up and this one is a pda too. This is a very good thing since my palm pilot has been on the fritz lately and had managed to loose all of my data twice. The last time it reset back to 2004. I gave up on it at that point and started using paper to keep track of things. I *might* give it another chance later on.

Another thing we have been doing a lot of lately is figuring out travel/vacations. We booked our cruise to Alaska on Norwegian Cruise Line. A little extra searching and Gabe found an even better deal on Celebrity. The overall cost is about the same, but the Celebrity cruise was a nicer one (it was 40% off). We haven't cruised on Celebrity before and it was primarily due to the price. So, we booked the Celebrity Alaskan cruise and canceled our Norwegian cruise. This changed our departure port from Seattle to Vancouver. We also managed to find first class tickets to Vancouver using our frequent flier miles. This is a really good thing since the tickets are around $2,300 if we purchased them. Just in case you are wondering, if we had to purchase them we would definitely buy coach!

Dancing with the Stars is back on for the eighth season starting tonight. I wonder how Steve-O managed to snag a shot on the show. Anyway, I am looking forward to the show.

American Idol is really starting now. The final contestants were chosen and this week, in my opinion, the real competition starts. Danny is my favorite. I must say I am glad that Tatiana is not going to be joining the show this week. Her drama was too much to handle.

Alex is going to the doctor today. It is time for the 4 month shots. I hate the appointments when he has to get his vaccinations. I know they are necessary, so I make Gabe come along to those appointments. While I am thinking about it, I am going to grab the baby Tylenol and throw it in the diaper bag...be right back.

Did you miss me while I was gone? That took a little longer than I expected. In addition to the Tylenol I also took out the trash, did some dishes, replaced the car seat cover that I washed, and cut myself a piece of chocolate cake that I made yesterday. I still need to grab the laundry.

Anyway, I just wish that I could explain to Alex what was going to happen at the doctor's office when he receives the vaccinations. I would feel so much better about the entire situation if he could just understand what is going on.

Posted by at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Last night, while Gabe and Alex were sleeping, I made the curtains for our bathroom. I have had the material for a couple of days, but I haven't found the time to make them. I decided that it really needed to be done so I could shower and bathe and definitely NOT flash the neighbors. Gabe was convinced that the windows were too tall for anyone to see anything while getting in and out of the shower or bath, but I just feel better with curtains.

All three bathroom windows with curtains

A closeup of a window. The curtain is hanging in an odd manner, so the bottom doesn't look even (it is even).

I doubled a sheer material to make the curtains since both Gabe and I like the natural light. A single layer of sheer didn't inhibit the view into the bathroom from the street as well as I wanted, so I doubled the material. Originally I was going to cover the entire window, but it made the bathroom feel smaller. So, I only covered the lower half of the window to keep open feeling of room.

I am copying this idea from Nicole's blog. I wanted to do a newborn picture and then take a picture every month with the 12 month outfit to monitor his growth. I was a little late taking the pictures and posting them.

Alex 1 Week

Alex 6 Weeks and 2 Days

1. Update Magazine Addresses...I am up to date!
2. Start packing. I have a feeling this will be a multiple day process. Umm...I tried and Alex kept waking up. Basically, I ordered him some more warm outfits. I am really going to start packing today! After I post this entry...and find my camera.
3. Work on room downstairs. If we ever get our house together I will post pictures. I am hoping Gabe and I can get started tomorrow. If I finish packing I will start this today too.

There are a lot of other things on my list that I don't post on the blog (ex. return Wal-Mart and Fry's items...I did both of these yesterday). So, even if I don't accomplish my blog goals I still do things during the day :)

Posted by at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We had the 30 day walk through on our house last week. Technically we haven't lived here for 30 days, but they wanted to get it in before January. Basically, we have spent every free moment working on the house and it is looking much better. I wanted to have it completed by January, but that isn't going to happen. Maybe by March 1st.

Gabe and I watched The Dark Knight last night. Christian Bale was an okay Bruce Wayne (I like Michael Keaton better) but I did not like his Batman. Heath Ledger did a good job acting, but I think he was better in A Knight's Tale, The Brothers Grimm, and Casanova. While watching the movie I worked on finishing up Alex's quilt. I started it while we still lived in Illinois and I hadn't worked on it since living in our house. So, instead of checking my email or writing a blog entry while watching the movie, I finished his quilt. It is just in time to take it to Illinois.

Alex's dog quilt

Alex hanging out with the quilt

1. Catch up on email. Check!
2. Make a Menu Check! (I even made January's menu)
3. Grocery Shop Check!
4. Mail USPS Packages Check!
5. Update Magazine Addresses...umm I have a couple left. Darn time zone differences.
6. Send my mom her recipes Check!
7. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20) Check! Well sort of...it expired.
8. Order Wedding present for a friend Check!

My Goals for Tomorrow
1. Start packing. I have a feeling this will be a multiple day process
2. Work on room downstairs. If we ever get our house together I will post pictures.

Posted by at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

1. Finish the Christmas Cards Check! I even mailed them!
2. Mail the 6 packages (at least 3 of them). Three go to the post office and three are UPS. 1/2 Check...the post office was closed by the time I made it.
3. Pick up the entire house and laundry. Check!

My Goals for tomorrow.
1. Catch up on email.
2. Make a Menu
3. Grocery Shop
4. Mail USPS Packages

My Goals for Thursday
1. Update Magazine Addresses
2. Send my mom her recipes
3. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20)
4. Order Wedding present for a friend

I have always been a list maker, but now I am forced to accomplish my goals if I publish them on my website ;)

The dentist was okay. I still like my previous dentist better. It always feels weird to eat for the first time after a cleaning. It just seems wrong.

I meant to post this in my previous entry, but I didn't for some reason. So, I almost had to buy boxes to wrap Christmas presents, but I didn't. I became really creative. I used a Triscuit box, an Opti-Free box, a diced tomato box, and a corn box. These were in addition to some other boxes. Note to my family...just because your gift is in an Opti-Free box does not mean you are getting contact lens solution for Christmas.

Posted by at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Alex did not have to get a shot on Wednesday. We decided to give it with the other shots at the 2 month appointment instead. Basically it is given with another shot, so if we had opted to have it at the 1 month appointment he would be getting and extra stick with the needle overall.

I managed to mail a couple of packages on Sunday. I believe the baby announcements were mailed on Sunday. I have been working on the Christmas cards and I believe I have around 7 left. Hopefully those will get mailed out today with the 6 packages that are hanging out in the family room.

So, my goals for today
1. Finish the Christmas Cards
2. Mail the 6 packages (at least 3 of them). Three go to the post office and three are UPS.
3. Pick up the entire house and Laundry.

My Goals for tomorrow.
1. Catch up on email.
2. Make a Menu
3. Grocery Shop

My Goals for Thursday
1. Update Magazine Addresses
2. Send my mom her recipes
3. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20)
4. Order Wedding present for a friend

We will see if I actually accomplish my goals. I will be really happy if I can get each day's goals completed. It is much harder to do things when Alex is awake.

I have to go to the dentist today...fun, fun, fun. That is going to be an adventure.

Oh, these packages that I am mailing require boxes and packing paper. The Christmas presents need boxes too. Well, when you move you have plenty of boxes and packing paper, right? Hmm...we threw ours out. The irony in the entire situation is we almost had to buy boxes and packing paper. I managed to scrounge some up from the packages that we have been receiving in the mail. I also started opening the boxes that managed to find their way into closest in search of packing paper. I found two sheets.

Posted by at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I was a little overzealous in what I was going to accomplish yesterday. I did finish the baby announcements, but our bedroom is still a mess, the Christmas cards have yet to be touched, and the packages that need to be mailed and their contents are spread all over the floor. Maybe today I will get the packages done. I really need to get them mailed. Some of them are already going to be late. Basically, look for your baby announcement in the mail. They should be on their way today (a mere 5 weeks after his birth).

For anyone keeping track, the high today is in the 70's. Ahh, the benefits of living in the middle of the desert in December. Talk to me in August and I might not be so accepting of the desert climate.

Posted by at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We had our orientation session to our house yesterday. I say yesterday because it is past midnight here. After our orientation Alex and I came back and Gabe had a meeting to attend. I started going through things on the desk in an attempt to organize them. I have things down to a small pile (I made a lot of progress). I also managed to catch up on writing thank you cards. I was just a little behind. Heck, I am behind on a lot. My Christmas cards are usually stamped and ready to go by now, but I haven't even ordered the picture yet. To be honest, we haven't even taken the picture yet.

I finished Twilight a couple of days ago, actually it was the day I posted that I found the book. I am looking forward to seeing the movie. It is going to be released November 21, but I am not sure when we will make it to the theater to watch the movie. We have to go to Tucson tomorrow to do some stuff for the house. We are going to stop by the bookstore so I can purchase New Moon, the next book in the series. I am a little behind in the series (there are four books), but as long as I stay ahead of the movies I will be okay. I am assuming that they will make another movie, but I really don't know.

I am looking forward to tomorrow, well today, being Friday. Things just seem more manageable on the weekends. We should probably start packing/cleaning this weekend. If everything goes like it should, we will have the keys to our house at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. I am not 100% sure when our stuff will be here, but that is another story. I am going to attempt to get some sleep.

Oh, before I head off to enjoy my nightly slumber, I am considering making the majority of the Christmas presents for next year. instead of buying them. I know this is a little early, but anyone else want to join me?

Posted by at 4:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

One more day until a day off! I have not been keeping up with my to do list today though. I have been getting up earlier in the mornings to get a few things done. Today I managed all of the laundry and picking up a few rooms.
Clara has not been the best dog lately. This past weekend, while my parents were visiting, Clara decided to eat the food left out on the counter in the kitchen. We have left food on the counter before and she always left it alone. She basically had to stand on her hind legs to reach the counter with her head and front legs. She managed to eat about two dozen cookies, an entire package of valentines candy (including aluminum foil), Godiva chocolate covered raspberries (I bought them for Gabe for our anniversary) , and some other things that I can't remember. She threw it all up in a pile, red aluminum foil and all, that my dad described as "a three inch tall pile". We hoped that she had learned her lesson. So, today when I went to work I decided to give her another chance and let her roam free around the house. That was my mistake. When I came home tonight, Gabe informed me that Clara ate a package of chocolate covered blueberries, fudge, oatmeal cookies, sugar candy, and a cookie from Ron Paul. She must really like chocolate, cookies, and chocolate covered fruit. Somehow she managed to stand up on her hind legs enough to remove a bowl with batter out of the sink and then proceed to lick the batter out of the bowl.
We just finished watching American Idol. I am getting tired of the auditions. I think that they are getting on with the "real show" next week...at least I am hoping. Currently we are watching Welcome to The Captain. It is different. I will probably give it another week.
I just finished P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. It is about a girl named Holly and her ability to cope when her spouse is taken from her by an illness. She must put her life back together. It is not my normal type of book, but it wasn't terrible. I will probably watch the movie to see how it compares to the book. It will probably be a renter since I doubt that Gabe will be too interested in watching it. Cecelia Ahern is also one of the creators of Samantha Who?, a show that I like. Well, maybe I should get back to my list.

Posted by at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My parents went back home today and I left for work. Only two more days until I get a day off yippee. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my days off? I will be meeting a friend for lunch and then running a few errands here and there. I have started making a detailed list of things to take on our trip maybe I will finish that on Thursday as well.
We watched the Superbowl last night and the game was great, but I felt that the commercials were lacking. There were a handful that I felt were actually Superbowl worthy. One of them was the Planters Cashew commercial. It cracked me up. I am sure that you will be able to find it on YouTube if you missed it last night.

Posted by at 10:29 PM | Permalink

Friday evening Gabe and I went to my office Christmas Party. It was at a sushi place called Tsukasa. It was very good. The party started at 8:00 p.m. and we closed down the place. We stayed until around midnight (they closed at 10:30 p.m.). The drive home was around an hour, so I was pretty tired for work on Saturday...and boy were we busy.
Yesterday (Saturday) night we went to Gabe's office's Christmas party. It was at Dave and Buster's. We all ate and then broke apart to play some games. Gabe and I played the Jurassic Park game (we played it last year too). This year we beat the entire game...hmmm...what are we going to play next year?
Friday we ripped up carpet and I started pulling staples out of the hardwood floor in our bedroom. Initially we were going to replace the flooring with another hardwood floor, but the condition is better than we expected, so we decided to keep the current floor. The trim has been replaced and most of the things are back in their respective places. There are a few small things that need to be done in both our bathroom and our bedroom. I almost think that this point of redoing a room is worse than working on major projects in the room. It bugs me when we are so close to completion, but there are a few minor things that still need to be done here and there. I can't officially mark it off of my list until EVERYTHING is done in the room.
Today we woke up early to go to Ikea for breakfast. Then we went to the "As Is" section and purchased a leather couch at a significant markdown ($328 off). We had been eying it for a couple of days.
After running errands we came back home and built a gingerbread house. Clara (one of our dogs) liked it when we dropped candy on the floor and ran around licking it up. It is well after midnight and I have to work tomorrow (or technically today), so I am going to bed.

Posted by at 12:32 AM | Permalink

Today has been a day of running errands non-stop since 8:30 a.m. This is the first time I am taking a few moments to breathe before continuing on with my "To Do" list. Gabe and I need to make a trip to Menard's later on tonight. There are a few items that we need to pick up (we always seem to need something from a home improvement store). I have about 5 more things that I would like to do before he gets home tonight. I am not so sure that they will all get done by around 5:00. Well, I guess I should get started. Oh, before I go, lately I have read Devil in the White City, Step on a Crack, and finished up the Shopaholic series. I am finishing up Next. Out of all of them I would only recommend Step on a Crack and the Shopaholic series. I think that James Patterson is going to have another good series on his hands with Step on a Crack.

Posted by at 4:04 PM | Permalink

Let's see, I went to the grocery store last night and returned home around 12:30 a.m. I put all of the groceries away while Gabe packed his bags. He left for California at 5:00 a.m. today. He is going for a work conference. This morning I got up and went to my doctor's appointment for a flu shot. Then I headed to the town hall to buy garbage stickers, the library to return a book, and the post office to mail a few things. So far I have done 6 loads of laundry and I would say that there are 4 or 5 more loads, but hey, we have towels. Now I have to get ready for work...I need to leave in about 15 minutes.

Posted by at 9:57 AM | Permalink