Our day of facials

Aunt Jill, you should be so proud.

My dear daughter is such a helper. Have I mentioned that before? Well I'm going to say it again. She is SUCH a helper. Every day when I put my makeup on she will back up into my lap and help me with it. She loves my eye shadow case and to keep her from getting into everything else I let her have it. This is her creation today.

She mostly likes to put the little wand in her mouth. Good thing I use a brush that she is no longer allowed to suck on use. Isn't she 'So pretty!'?
Then for dinner she wanted Ramen noodles. She loves these things! So, I cut them up and let her have her fork thinking it would be a civil dinner. I was way wrong. I come back in from the other room and there is Ramen everywhere! "I'm so funny!" is this face. Notice that she found her hidden Halloween costume and had to wear it today. So it was a Noodle Amidala for dinner.

This is the "Oh yes, I am going to do it." face. As she nods yes.

The Ramen Facial. I hear it's good for making makeup stick better.

I need to call my builder tomorrow and make an amendment to our house plans. I need the half bath to be Italian style where it is completely tiled and has a shower head right there so you can just hose off. Very similar to the showers in the Maternity ward. Just all open access. A drain in the floor and we're good to go. I'll keep plenty of towels on hand for when Addisassy needs to be hosed off after eating/playing/discovering.

A solid case against the Sassy Tornado

Wait for it.... I cleaned my house today. I hope you were sitting down because I don't want to be responsible for your falling over.

As I wandered through the house putting things away I came across a string of misguided objects. So in following her trail I took pictures to show you the randomness that goes on here on a daily basis.

This clean up turned out to be a scavenger hunt of sorts. I would go to put one thing away and find another thing... Okay, okay...let's just take a look.

First we have a bottle that I watched her throw behind this couch. Not that it would be that hard to find, I just thought it was funny how she thought that that would be the best place for it. And after she threw it, she so neatly stood it up as opposed to just letting it lie there.
Second: I was putting tooth brushes away when I opened the drawer and found her beloved bear and binkey. Not quite sure why, but I definitely know I wouldn't have found it had I not been cleaning.

And speaking of toothbrushes.... this one will definitely be in the dishwasher tonight going through the sanitizing cycle. That is just disgusting. Well- it's actually pretty low on the disgusting meter around here.

I go to put away bath toys into their drawer and I find that she has hidden Brendan's ball of silly bands that he has been collecting. I don't know whether or not Brendan knew they were gone, but Addison was sure happy that I got those out. Hoo-boy, silly bands EVERYWHERE! Hey Addison- I'm trying to CLEAN here sister and you're certainly NOT helping.

After removing the silly bands I turn to get the toys out of the tub and find another toothbrush and toothpaste on the loose. I guess there wasn't enough room in the toothbrush drawer after her bear was in there so she had to put them SOMEWHERE!

This is the trail of findings I see every day. That is why I still cannot find the 8GB memory card that goes to my camera. I finally bought a new one. I just know that when we pack up the house I will find it. Probably in one of my shoes. She loves shoes.

I have no idea what just happened

I hit ONE unexpected button and my whole blog goes crazy! I'll be fixing it soon. I hope.

Giving Thanks

I actually started this post ON Thanksgiving. Somehow I have been once again side tracked and stressed out about everything. So, here I go- I'll post it tonight, finished or not.

Ah, Thanksgiving. Time for being grateful for being alive; for being with family and friends. This year I am so grateful for my family. Not just Jason and my wonderfully imperfect kids, but for my Mom and Dad and my Sisters and their families. For Jason's Parents and his Brothers and their families. We are all on this side of chaos, but we love each other unconditionally and are there for each other no matter what. None of us are perfect. Not even close. But, we don't let that interfere with our love for one another and let petty things get in the way of being together.

I have also been very blessed with wonderful friends too. My friends are the best. We all have the same values and goals and I think that can be one of the reasons that we have stayed so close over all these years. I'll go into a restaurant and see a table of little old ladies laughing and having a great time and think to myself that is EXACTLY what we will look like in another 30 years. Okay, 40. Anti-aging medicines and lotions are bound to be perfected by then!

I have been blessed with two beautiful children and a wonderful husband. Sure, they drive me a little crazy sometimes but let's be honest... I'm already there. They just push me over the edge every day once in a while. At least they love me for who I am and haven't yet wished I was "someone elses" mother. Or wife, for that matter.

I'm grateful that Brendan is learning so much in school. He was just put in the advanced Independent Learning Unit in his class because he was getting bored of the regular work. He is doing so well in whatever he tries, and that makes Jason and me so proud. He is a good kid. So obedient, honest, funny, tender, smart, more mature than I would like and talkative. He literally talks from the moment he wakes up to the second he falls asleep at night. Even his teacher at PTC told us that he loves to talk. Hmmm... I wonder where he got that?

Addison is a spitfire. She is a non-stop whirlwind of go. I affectionately call her "Tornado". No matter what she does she is whizzing around putting things here, putting things there- if you'll remember she has a thing for putting things away. My mom said to me the other day that she found her fridge magnets in a cupboard next to her stove. Because naturally, that's where they should go. There is no point in trying to keep things tidy while she's awake either, because she dumps everything out. She's gotta check out her options. And only things that shouldn't be put away get put away. That girl is so smart. She's funny, caring, sassy, independent, sassy, cuddly, sassy and has an attitude that I can only describe as one that I may have had at one point in my life. Or still. My mom did tell me I had an attitude once. I think I was rolling my eyes at that point. I don't remember. HA! She had a shirt made for me saying "If you don't like my attitude, then quit talking to me!" Boy, are my hands full! love Love LOVE her! Miss sassafras tornado. I'm gonna have to shorten that nickname just a bit.

I'm thankful for Jason's employment status. We are so blessed to have a roof over our heads and a warm bed to sleep in. We are never without food and have never missed any bills. This is a huge blessing in a time of economic uncertainty. Not to say that he will have a job in a year, but his position is pretty stable and that makes me more confident. He's a smart man, that Jason. And we thank the Lord every night that he has a job. I also thank the Lord that Jason is mine. All mine. Most of the time, anyway.

I hope that this next year can be just as fulfilling as this one has been. I have counted all my blessings one by one- and it didn't surprise me what the Lord has done. He has given us so much. And for all of these things I thank Him who gave them to us.

The Universe is screwing with me

You know you have one. Or maybe even two. A drawer full of size (X) jeans that you swore you’d fit into again someday after you've had your kids.

I have recently been on a diet (that I'll talk about soon.) that I have lost some considerable weight. So I delightfully go to said drawers and start trying on all my beloved jeans that were OH SO STYLISH back in 1999. They finally fit- only to be the dreaded MOM JEAN! The Gap 'Low Rise' was still up to my belly button with back pockets that could double as a fanny pack. They were not at all flattering, nor stylish. I am so sad. The best part about them is that they fit. They actually, zipped up and fit without me sucking in my gut. Nor did I have a muffin top, mostly because they were so high-waisted that it was impossible.

So, to the second hand store they go. But will other people love these jeans? Or will they be shunned- never to be worn again. Maybe I’ll keep them and make some kind of denim quilt. Yeah- that’s what I’ll do. Save humanity from the embarrassment of Mom Jeans.

Thanks a lot Universe. Over 10 years of wasted drawer space.

Emergency preparedness

Just in case there is ever a binky shortage. Not even eating apples can make her let go. Priorities people!

Halloween 2010

This was Brendan's first year to be in the school Halloween parade! Not being able to wear masks or hats OR bring blasters or guns made for Brendan's Jango Fett costume look pretty plain. However, I did see tons of kids wearing such contraband, and makes me gear up for a rebellion next year. And no, I didn't dress Addison up for the school parade. I know, minus 10 points for me.

Out of 50 shots, this is the only one that turned out!

Secondly- (not that I had a firstly) MY CAMERA *'ES BROKEN'! The flash doesn't pop up anymore. Not manually or automatically. I'm going to have to send it in to get fixed and I am not happy about that. It is a year ago this month that I bought it, so hopefully it's covered under warranty. I think that's why it's not taking very good pictures lately. Good thing I have my old camera still to be able to take pictures during the holidays. Having to get Addison to sit still for those pictures, however, will be near impossible.

* Es Broken comes from my parents trip to Mexico one year and they wouldn't accept a dollar bill from them because there was a slight tear in it. "Es Broken!" they said. So anytime I say that now, you will know to read it with a Spanish accent. But I digress...

Halloween this year was really rainy. It made for a really poor turnout this year. And by poor turnout, I mean only seven people came to our house instead of twelve. Out of those seven, three were not teenagers. Did I mention that this neighborhood doesn't have kids?? I opted to stay home with Addison instead of taking her out trick-or-treating. It was just too dang cold! She was very upset that Dad and Brendan left without her though and stood at the door screaming.

Jango Fett the bounty Hunter.

In this picture she is crying because Brendan is trying to hold her still. Although before I had to hide her costume she would wear the headdress that came with this costume, she refused to wear it for any pictures. Maybe if I leave it laying around for a few days she'll have me put it back on and then I'll take her picture. She is adorable as Queen Amidala!Then, of course, we had our Annual Nigbur Halloween Party. I finally got Jason to dress up this year by buying him a gorilla costume he has been wanting for 100 years. My poor little 2 year old nephew thought the world was coming to an end. SORRY SAM!! Yes, I did dress up. I wore my 80's gear. I even had big black hoop earings that I actually wore in the 80's. I have a jewelry box full of old jewelry. Hey- it came in handy!

Addison loves the gorilla. She will actually take the mask to have Jason put it on. She loves him!

There is the cookie decorating! Brendan's favorite part of the party- the donut game! This year he didn't have his front teeth to help him out! Addison loved the donut game too! She would run over, take a bite then leave. Repeat. Little Sam in the background still leary of Jason- even though he only has the feet still on.

Now to think of costumes for next year! Brendan actually has his costumes picked out for the next 5 years. I guess Jason does too. The gorilla is gonna last us a long time.

Ain't no camera fast enough

There is no way that she likes to hold still for one minute. This girl is an never ending princess of go-go-go. She LOVES to wear Brendan's Halloween mask. She loved her own costume until I had to hide it because she started throwing fits if it wasn't on. Kind of like the shoes. Or the hair bows. Or the bracelets. She must be adorned with something. I have NO idea where she got that.

Plotting on the driveway

At least I tried to keep her clean by rolling up her sleeves.

Brother pointing out the game plan. Re-arranging the game plan.

Laying on the game plan.
Helping fill in the loose ends.

Taking a break to play in the rocks.

Deciding to eat the chalk instead of play with it. Brendan took it away. That was NOT part of her game plan.

She's a shoe girl

The first thing she does in the morning is get her shoes. Oh- and don't forget the socks. The last thing she wants to take off at night are her shoes. Here, I had to tie her jammie legs behind her so she wouldn't trip over them. I fight her to get them off finally before hitting the crib.

Maybe she would sleep better if I let her keep them on. I would have to cut the footies off the jammies. Hmmm.....

Getting a new address

Since we've told everyone in our family I can finally announce that we are MOVING. The common question when I state this is "Why, you just remodeled your house?" And I say, I know! Now it's time to design the whole house and not just the interior! No, I haven't actually said that. Truth is I love this remodel that we did. We love being close to my parents. We love being so close to Jason's parents too. And it's not like we're moving out of state- just due south about 10 miles. We love the area and we know there are a million kids there. That's why we need to move. So Brendan and Addison can have friends to grow up with. There are no kids here. This is where I grew up, so now all the kids are adults with their own families. And they all live due south! My mom is finally used to the idea. Not having us so close is going to be hard- for both of us. She has been my hero in helping me with my kids. I would have to believe that there is someone down there that will help me out too. Brendan is getting used to the idea and is now looking forward to it. Although I hope the house we're getting doesn't look like it's going to eat us as illustrated...


So, I you've seen me on your street taking pictures of your house, don't worry- I'm not stalking. I'm trying to figure out which color of soffit to go with. My brain is on overload mode as we are having to pick out everything! And I mean EVERYTHING!

Toothless

Brendan's front two teeth have been so loose for so long I can't even remember. Here, in his handsome school picture you can see that they have migrated to the middle of is mouth because they are so loose. I'll be honest. I was dreading the no front teeth picture for this year. I don't know why, other than I had so many teeth issues that I don't want that for my kids. I think this is the cutest picture of the whole school. That was August.

Now, it's October and literally, you could see the top of the tooth he could bend it so much. It was disgusting to say the least, and he was a wimp about us pulling it out at best. Finally after begging, bribing, and showering him with "We'll let you do this...." we finally gave up and did what every other parent does. Sit on him and yank it out while he was kicking and screaming. Although, I use the work yank loosely, because if I flicked it with my finger it would have just come right out. One twist of the wrist and POP- gone. After all the tears he asks "Is it out yet?" Oh yeah! You didn't even feel it. So now that that tooth's crutch was gone the other one was literally hanging on because the other one was no longer holding it there. So now it is in the middle of the mouth looking like Quasimodo. But NO! YOU MAY NOT PULL MY OTHER TOOTH! Bribe after hopeful bribe, the other one was not coming out.

Saturday the Tooth Fairy left a note for Brendan saying that she was so sad to only see one of the teeth and that she hoped to see it that night. Brendan didn't buy it. So after more prepping and bribing- it ended the same way the other one did. Jason holding him down while I flicked that one out. I think he was not wanting to look funny without his two front teeth, but I'll be damned if that kid is not going to sing "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth" this year. I've got him practicing 'Sister Suzy Sitting on a Thistle.' Plus, he looks SO CUTE!

And Jason took him to rent a video game. And a root beer float. So, I guess we gave him some things as a "We feel bad that we forcefully took out two of your teeth. Have some ice cream. Be sure to tell your future therapist about the rewards we gave you along with the abuse. Thank you."

My biggest helper

Addison loves putting things away. The problem with that is I can never find anything. That is good news for me. I am no longer thinking I am going insane. Much. She will take something out of one cabinet and put it in another. Or, she will take hers or Brendan's toys and put them in some random place. I once discovered Brendan's flip flops in the baggie drawer.

Another place she has been putting things is in her diaper pail. I have an old Diaper Champ that she finds fascinating! She has put in and dumped some of her toys in there. Before she could turn it over I would find a shoe, or a binky or a stuffed animal that she had put away. Now, she turns it and it dumps into the pail. I leave them there. There is NO WAY that I am fishing out some lame stuffed animal that now smells like pee.

My pants drawer has been a favorite place for her lately. This was today's find. I only found it because the drawer didn't close all the way. The last time I got in there there was an old wet diaper she had put away for me. Wasn't that nice? Why couldn't she have put that one in the Diaper Champ?

Wigging out

My Father-In-Law found this wig. Addison thought it was awesome! She actually wore it for a solid 20 minutes before we left after visiting. I think she looks so cute! I can't wait for her hair to grow and so I can curl it and make it pretty. Of course, long hair on a baby like her looks ridiculous. I'll wait for her to be at least 3 before I start courses of Rogaine.

The Bucket List

The Bucket List. Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not

Things you have done during your lifetime:
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Donated Blood
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Hugged a homeless person
(X) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays
( ) Been sailing in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Ran a marathon
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
(X) Been Parasailing
(X) Been on TV (you probably saw me in the crowd of the David Letterman Show... I don't know!:)
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't (like- everyday!)
(X) Made prank phone calls (stupid caller ID's now make this fun prank obsolete!)
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Fed an elephant
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Fired a gun
(X) Been to the Opera
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Serenaded someone
( ) Seen a U.S.President in person
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
(X) Been to a Wax Museum
( ) Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
(X) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(X) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(X) Been on a cruise (a day cruise in Mexico...)
(X) Traveled by train
(X) Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horse back riding
(X) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(X) Been in a rain forest (it was raining while I was in Muir Woods... does that count?
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls (dang, mom just was there. Wish I went!)
(X) Ridden on an elephant (when I was little, at the zoo.)
( ) Swam with dolphins
(X) Been to the Olympics (a metal ceremony)
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game (Jason and I try to go to one in every city that we go to that has a MLB team. So, several.)
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Swam with sharks
(X) Been White Water Rafting
( ) Written a book or screen play

Addison Michealangelo

Her first mural. It's no Sistine Chapel, but hey. She must have been thinking about spiders as she was drawing. That, or "Oooo- this is really fun!" She won't be thinking fun if I catch her doing it. She knows she'd get a hand slap. That sly little girl. Thank goodness it was only pencil. I have tried to keep all the crayons and markers locked away. I never appreciated how great of a kid Brendan was until she was born. He NEVER did this kind of stuff. I guess she is just showing her individuality. She's a handful, that one! At least she's a beautiful handful.

This blog is quickly becoming the spider blog

Jason found this beauty while doing yard work. It was OUTSIDE this time. She is bigger than a quarter and all that fuzz on her back? BABY SPIDERS! Wolf spider mama. If you shake the jar 100's of babies scurry around and then climb back onto her back. Brendan took her for show and tell today. Tomorrow mama has something else coming. Jason is taking her to the lab to freeze her in liquid nitrogen. Just for fun. Please don't tell PETA. At least he won't be wearing a meat lab coat while doing it.

A beautiful Labor Day

Last night as we were lying in bed Brendan came up with an idea to go to the park. He had school off for Labor Day you know and so "we should do something awesome!" "And I want (cousin)Brady to come with us! And I think Addison will have a really good time, don't you? And maybe we could take snacks. No, we should go around lunchtime so we can pack a lunch so we can have a picnic. And I want to go to that park with the big castle slide and all the wood. I think we might have to shoosh away the seagulls when we eat our picnic. Mom, don't you think this is a great idea? In the morning I'll make sure that the wind isn't blowing."

Me: "Slow down there turbo! Buddy, that is awesome. But if you don't go to sleep we will be to tired to go anywhere."

I swear if I could bottle and sell my six-soon-to-be-seven year old's energy I'd be a zillionaire. I'd share, of course.

Just relaxing in the swing. Too bad she didn't like the one when she was an infant!

I ordered the color of the sky to match Addy's eyes today.

I would like you to note the black and blue all over Brendan's shins. This is not dirt. These are more school playground injuries. It's just a good thing they didn't require more stiches. I told him he is banned from recess. He just looked at me and said "No way."

They can check in anytime they like...

Welcome to the hotel for spiders. We are finally starting to utilize our basement more. For some reason we have previously just used it as a huge junk-catch-all. I am still needing to paint my sewing room and Brendan has occupied the whole family room down there for his toys. One of the rooms down there we would just throw in our luggage, boxes from electronics that Jason must keep for over a year, old books, scrapbooks, camping stuff, baby stuff... everything! I have cleared that room out now for the kids toy room. Jason okayed the box removal several months early. For some reason this room in particular gets so many spiders! Is it because they love junk? We went and bought some traps and in a few weeks this is what all four of them looked like. I told Jason that many may have escaped for the mere fact that they ran over the top of the dead ones.

Brendan's take: "Mom, that's just creepy!"

Spreading the love

I saw this video on a blog that I follow and I loved it so much I had to share. I love to dance and yes Mom, I do still dance around in the kitchen. (Just in case you haven't seen me do it in the last few weeks.) I wish that I could still get out and take classes. Maybe one day; when my life doesn't feel like it's going a million miles a second.

The Monday from hell continues...

A special I'm sorry goes out to Sherri. I didn't mean to wait so long to tell the last of my tale. I've been busy searching the internet for a new car! And we went out of town this weekend to get some more boating done before the summer ends. But, Joyce had her laptop with us so I continued the search in the condo. Good times!

Last weekend when I went to the dealer to 'look' at the Murano I never told him that I was actually driving down to get one that he wasn't selling me. Is that rude? I don't think so. Like I said, he was very knowledgeable about the car, telling me a lot of things about it that I didn't know. Little did he know that he was doing it all in vain. Another special I'm sorry goes out to Stefan from Bulgaria for wasting his time. To my credit though, I did tell him that we were just looking to see if that is the car we were wanting and looking for. We specifically told him that we were only LOOKING. I'm sure when they go to car salesman school "I'm only looking" means they only ask three times if you want to buy it, as opposed to ten times.

The Sunday before we drove a lifetime away to get a non-car I searched the internet like I do to make sure that was the absolute one I wanted. Yes, I’m that kind of shopper. I inherited that from the Pettingill side. Although, it should be said that Jason will go to at least three stores before he will decide on a pair of sunglasses. But I digress. There was another Murano that had just been posted that was a year older and had a few more miles on it. Ironically it was at the dealer Stefan worked at, but I was sure I wanted the other car. So off we went. On our way home I called Stefan to see if the second choice was still available and that I wanted it. I told him where I was and why and that I most likely would be there with Jason after we got home.

After all of this had gone down I called Jason. I told him the whole story. He ultimately doesn’t care, because it’s going to be my car anyway. I could drive a Yugo and he wouldn’t care, as long as he didn’t have to ride with me. He does give me a little input here and there, but “It’s up to you” is his final answer. So he said “Why don’t you just go straight there with your dad? I can meet you there after work.” Fine.

Something I must interject here is that my whole family knows that if Neil approves of a car, then it’s a go. Neil’s passion is cars. He will sit at work and look online for cars. He bought his BMW after months of searching and happened along a good deal. If you haven’t looked at at least 100 cars then you haven’t found the right one.

Dad and I drove right to the dealer to find Stefan. As soon as we pulled up in the parking lot even before turning off the car, ten salesmen came out to greet us. Isn’t that nice? Half of them dissipate after I tell them who I’m looking for. As we wait Dad and I walk around the lot looking at most of the cars. We finally see Stefan pulling up in the beautiful Murano I saw online. One of the dealers had been using it though and so it had all her junk in there. I’m going to be honest. When I sat in the car for the first time I thought “Who let the bobcat loose in this car?” Dash buttons were all scratched up, the back seats armrest drink holders were broken and I know that it needed to be detailed, but really! By this time it was 5:30. Jason would be off work in 30 minutes and it would give the guy time to start up the negotiations before he got there. I told my dad to go home so at least he could relax. His parting words were “Don’t go above X amount.” I was going to stand my ground.

This is where I’m going to say that I HATE dealing with salesmen. These guys in particular take the cake. Let’s say that the dealerships name was Smith’s Auto Sales. Well, I should know that this car was in the Smith family exclusively. It was a perfect car. I am not going to find a better car than this because Smith owned it himself! I mean, the power and prestige could be at my measly fingertips! It has been maintained perfectly. (besides the whole bobcat thing…)

Nope- not paying a dime more than X. That’s all I’m approved for, and that is all I think its worth, frankly. Actually, less even. Those buttons alone are driving me crazy just thinking about them. And I would see them EVERY TIME I got in the car. Do you know what he did?? He went out and with a black sharpie colored in the cracks. Geesh! Why didn't I think of that? Oh, probably because IT LOOKS LIKE CRAP!

Well, we can’t go below Y, because when Smith traded in his car we gave him top value and a better price on the new car.

Sorry- still not paying more than X. Now, I am getting mad. They send in the Sales Manager to give me the Smith story.

Sorry guys, still not buying it. Now, they send in the General Manager of Smith’s Auto Sales. Only he comes in with printed papers showing the loss he would be taking. First of all, GM, you should be wearing a shirt and tie to make me take you serious. Not some mesh jogging shirt with your sunglasses on your head like you just got done with a run. I mean you are representing Smith now, and because this car is basically made out of gold, you should be making a hell of a better impression. I tell GM that I just got home from a VERY LONG, very bad road trip. It is now 7:30; I’m hungry, tired and tired of the runaround. I left the room for a minute to call my dad. I had gotten about five phone calls from him while in negotiations telling me of better cars that he is seeing online right that minute. He got home and immediately on the computer.

GM, SM and Stefan were all in the room when I lay the smack down. I AM REALLY NOT BUYING YOUR BELOVED CAR. You’d have thought I’d just peed on the Holy Grail with the look that they gave me. GM said "I dare you to find a better car for this price." I didn't tell him that my dad already had online, about five times over.

Stefan walked out with us to our car. He kept trying to have us take it out for dinner and that I would feel better after eating. After we got home he actually texted me probably five times to see what we could work out. I finally told him after four more days of texting and messages that I was going elsewhere to find a car.

The more I have thought about it the more I am positive of this fact: IF this was in fact Smith's personal car; and he runs a VERY successful dealership; I guarantee that he had that car written off the books when he got it. So the very fact that they were trying to sell me the story of losing money when in fact it was most likely 100% profit really pisses me off.

A third special I'm sorry goes out to all those who just read this longest post ever. And yes, I am still searching for that perfect car.

12 hours of my life I'll never get back. Ever.

Part One: I'm having to break this story into two posts. Because lets face it- we don't all have time for a novella.

Yesterday was the Monday from hell. Not just hell, but H-to the E-L-L. Where oh where do I begin??

Right- It was 8:00am. I had just sent Brendan to school and my Mom came over to tend Addison. My dad and I were on a road trip to go buy us a second car. A second car that we have been without since the beginning of man. Okay, only since last decade.

I had only been looking for a new car for a few years! Secretly scanning the ads online while Jason tells me we still can't afford one. He wanted to pay down debt, and that was fine with me. My parents have been very generous in letting us use their third car, which happens to be the 'Queen Mary'. A Suburban that they use to pull their boat. I have only 2 kids. This is WAY more car than I need.

A few weeks ago Jason and I were talking and he said he'd heard an ad about all kinds of deals here and there on cars. My car buying window had officially opened. And I jumped on it. There is a certain kind of car that I was looking at: the Nissan Murano. I like the way they are almost car, but up a little taller. I like the sleekness of them and the features are really cool. Over the weekend we went and test drove one because although I've been admiring them from afar, they kind of look claustrophobic and so I wanted to take the car seats and sit in them. I loved the roominess in there! Surprisingly bigger than I thought. The seller was very knowledgeable about the Murano and I learned a lot of great things about their engines and whatnot. But I digress.

For about six days I had been in contact with a woman who was selling her car because her hubby lost his job. This was in excellent condition, really low miles and a price I was looking for. But she lived 5 hours south of here. She was going out of town and so the first day that I could go look at it and love it was yesterday. The night before we head out she mentions like a side story "Well we'll have to meet at the dealer because I am terminating my lease with them and they said that is the way to do it. I'll pay the penalty fee and then they will sell it to you at the price I advertised." Oh... okay. Dealer. So my dad took off work and we drove down to meet her. We had a great trip with the top down on his convertible and got a tan on the left side of my body. Luckily no animal carrier semis (read at the end of the post) were on the road that day. And I am not to mention about the Ford Fiesta that passed us on the freeway. So I won't.

We stop in a small college town four hours away to have a quick bite to eat. I call the lady to tell her that we would be there in about an hour and she quickly starts to tell me that she had been in contact with the dealer to see what she needed to bring. Well, they start telling her that there will be this fee, and that fee and more yada yada yada. Almost $3000.00 more in yada yada's. She says that she can't pay for those fees and feels so bad. So I ask to call the dealer to see if there was any wiggle room. None. Not an inch. So I called the lady back, who didn't answer her phone so I left her a message saying I wouldn't be buying the car because I'm not paying that much. We hopped on the freeway and drove another four hours home. I was SO SO SO SO disappointed. This was a beautiful car and it was the right price. Or so I thought. She really needs to change her ad.

Because you can never win enough things.

I am entering a contest here:

All Things Thrifty


Because I want this:

Well, not that exactly, but one with my two kids on it. I'm thinking this one:

Retraction

I was wrong. Walking is just a way of carrying more things.

Life's a lake, not a beach

I'm pretty sure I haven't taken this many vacations in one summer since I was in grade school. I promise I'm getting around to writing about them. For now, here is a glimpse of my perfect relaxation. The relaxation I had for maybe ten minutes this summer.

A whole new level of mischief

Addison is completely walking now. She started taking her first steps 2 weeks ago but walking is her preferred mode of transportation. She still looks like a little drunken sailor but is rarely falling down. This last weekend I left her with my parents as the Nigburs all went on a camping trip. (more on that later) When we left she was taking 10 or so steps before falling down. We get back and she walked from my family room to the bedroom on the other side of the house. I guess there are good and bad things about her walking.

For the good; I no longer have to make sure every minuscule particle on the floor is picked up before she eats it. She also will no longer have dirty knees and tops of her feet. I am going to miss her speed crawling. She was a champ! I also love watching her chase after Brendan at a speed slightly faster than a turtle. She giggles and thinks it's the greatest! She also no longer has to carry things in her mouth as she moves because her hands are free. Although, she must have things to carry at all times. Do you see the mischief in her eyes? Such a little sass-a-frass.

There really isn't a lot of bad news. She is now noticing the cabinet door pulls so I need to go buy some locks. She especially thinks the garbage cabinet is fun. I will also miss her mopping my wood floors with her knees and feet.

She is ever the princess too. She loves shoes and hands them to you to put them on her. She also wants her hair done with a bow. She loves to sit with me while I do my makeup and 'do' hers too. And last week she handed me a nail polish to paint her toe nails. She is only ONE people. I have a LONG road ahead. Lord grant me patience.