Copycat

                                                                                                Obviously and old picture, but one of my favorites!!!!

I stole Amanda's idea, and decided to interview my kids. It was fun to ask them the questions and to hear the different responses that they gave me.

1. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Chloe: A scientist and a vet and a mom.

Janey: A mom and a teacher.

Nolan: Spiderman or Ironman.

2. What is your favorite animal?

Chloe: Panda and dolphin.,

Janey: Puppies and Cats.

Nolan: Spiders

3.  What is your favorite thing to do?

Chloe: Spend time with my family and read.

Janey: Play with my friends.

Nolan: Work.

4.  What is your favorite song?

Chloe: My Savior, My god and So What(nice combo, huh!)

Janey: I 've got to move on and Hot N Cold.

Nolan: Thnks Fr th Mmrs and Back in Black

5.Favorite movie?

Chloe: All High School Musicals

Janey: Spectacular

Nolan: Spiderman and Ironman

6. Favorite color?

Chloe: blue

Janey: all the colors of the rainbow

Nolan: Black

7. Favorite food?

Chloe: Pizza and popcorn

Janey: chicken

Nolan: chicken

 First of all, the girls are indecisive and can't pick one of anything. And well, Nolan his answers pretty much describe where we are now!

Day 3

I am on day 3 of single parenting, and it isn't fun.  I don't sleep at all when Tom is gone and I am dealing with the kids being sad over his absence. It really is quite ridiculous since he will be back Friday evening.  I guess the kiddos really love their dad. Can't say I blame 'em!!  

I am really wanting to get back into blogging with some regularity, but to be honest, I find it hard to know what to type over here.  I feel that words are a lost cause for me right now.  It must have something to do with the vitamin D that I am lacking from not seeing the sun and also to blame is the white crap on the ground that won't melt and is returning today in a supposed Winter Storm! Oh joy. 

So until I find some words to say over here, I leave you with some much needed updated pictures of the kids:

edited to add.......blogger wouldn't let me post images. I will try later.

where I have been....... Oh

Well, well. Many things have happened in the Carson home since September. I did attend school Autumn quarter, and I got a 4.0 and was put on the Dean's List. Wowza!! I NEVER could say that when I attended Ohio State the first time. But unfortunately, I am no longer a student. I wasn't happy with Nolan's preschool and I really wanted him to attend the preschool that Janey did. In order to do that I couldn't do traditional classes. After talking to a neighbor friend, I started the process to take my GEC classes through Columbus State's Distance Learning, making it so I wouldn't be leaving the home for class and Nolan would be at the preschool we wanted. After speaking to my financial aid advisor, I learned that I was not eligible for any grants since I graduated from Columbus State in 1997. So therefore I am not taking any classes and I am happy with that. I did some soul searching during Christmas break, and I am supposed to be a wife and a mother. As much as society makes me feel that being a wife and mother isn't enough;I am happy, my kids are happy and Tom is happy. We are fortunate that we don't need an income from me, and probably won't until the kids are much older(their college expense will need to be paid!!) and me staying home is what works for our family. So even though I did well in school and impressed even myself, it was the beginning and end for me with school.
Christmas was great and we had a wonderful time with each other and our families. The kids are great. Nolan just had a birthday on Sunday and turned 4! I can't believe it. Time just flies by. We are entering a whole different type of parenting with the kids being 8,6 and 4. And as much as I love babies and the way they smell and feel in my arms, I am really enjoying mothering older children. They make me proud and happy. I am so blessed.
In other news, Tom received a promotion at work and is actually headed to D.C next week for a class. So I will be doing it on my own for week. So not looking forward to that!! I will need to eat my Wheaties to make through the day!
Oh, lastly.......I turn 33 today. Funny, I think I am okay with it. I feel good, I have the best husband and kids in the world, I feel the world shifting to be more optimistic and positive, and it feels everything is going to be fine. Wonderful even. Now if this snow would just melt!!!

I'm Baaaaccccckkkk!!!!

Okay, I have been a terrible, horrible blogger!!! Between kids, and house and work and Summer and all the stuff that falls in between I let go of blogging for awhile. We had a great summer. We didn't do much, but is was a nice time. Tom installed a stone patio all by himself. It is beautiful and I am very proud of him! The kids are all great. The girls did the YMCA summer camp this summer and they LOVED it. Every day was an adventure with hiking, swimming, making crafts and new friends. And a weekly Friday trip to the Roller-Rink was the icing on the cake! They started school a month ago with Chloe in 3rd grade and Janey in 1st. They are really liking their teachers and classes this year. I worked throughout the summer at Huntington, but things have changed for us recently. I gave them my notice the last bit up August and continued to work until this last Tuesday. Yesterday, I started a new chapter in my life...........I am now a college co-ed again! I am excited and nervous and anxious and everything rolled up in one!! I am a junior and my major is Middle-Childhood Education. I have three years to go to get my Master's from Ohio State. My first day of classes were yesterday and I am taking Human Geography, Political Science and an American Literature English class. I am the OLDEST in my PoliSci class. My professor was a DJ in the 70's and he had Bob Dylan playing at the start of class, and after our break he mentioned playing something for the ladies and put in No Doubt's 'I'm just a girl'. After it started playing he said everyone in the class was 8 years old when that song came out, to which I replied, "Actually I was in college the FIRST time when this came out!!!!" Yeah, I felt old. During our class discussion the Lucasville Prision Riots came up, and he asked how old people were when that happened in 1991. SO many people said 1 or2!! WTF!!! Holy Crap I AM OLD!!! Regardless of my age, I am excited to be embarking on this new chapter in my life. It will be a lot of work, but I have confidence in myself that I can do it and do it well. My classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:25-12:25, 12:45-2:45 and 3:00-5:00. During that time Nolan is in the preschool there on campus and is first day was yesterday as well. He did great which shocked and pleased me to no end!
I promise to be a better blogger in the days to come. I can't say it will be everyday given all the reading and work I have to do, but I will be back more often with new pictures of the kids!

A rundown of sorts

Yes, I am back. Boy have I missed blogging!! I am so surprised that the world has not stopped since I haven't been putting my boring day to day activities out for people to read!! Amazing. Nonetheless, we are good. We ALL have spring fever, but are good. This is going to be a short and to the point entry sans pictures. I have some, just too crunched for time today to included them. This is what we've been up to;

• Working. My job is going really well so far. The hours are GREAT (11-3) and Nolan seems to be enjoying his change of scenery for those few hours!
• Sickness! Blech. Chloe had a terrible ear infection last weekend that is still making it hard for her to hear. Me, strep AGAIN!!!! This makes the third time since Nov. What the hell!?! I hate strep.
• A blizzard last weekend. It was kinda fun being snowed in for a couple of days. It was cozy and the kids liked all of the snow. BUT, I am OVER IT!!!!!! I hate winter too. Please come a little faster Spring. I heard talk of more snow this weekend though. $%*# You Old Man Winter!!!!!
• List making of all the things we want to do on the house this Spring. Dreaming is always a good time!
• Paying $3.50/gal. for gas. I guess we won't be taking some of those weekend getaways we had talked about for this summer. Stick it where the sun doesn't shine oil companies!!

Well it seems as though I am in bitchy mode today and this has all turned into a complaint session! So sorry. I promise days of witty, interesting and funny blogs w/ pictures soon.

Checking In

Yes, I am still alive. Barely, but anyway..... I started my job on Monday and it is going well. Lots of reading, training and paperwork blah, blah, blah. I am so tired by the evening, that I have been in bed at 9:30 and quickly off to snoozeland. I am adjusting, we ALL are adjusting. I miss my kids. I am doing full-time while training, so I am anxious to begin "working" in my position with my normal hours. I will be back with more interesting stuff when I get a moment to think!!

Silence

I have been feeling quiet lately. Honestly, I feel like I don't have a whole lot to blog about that would be worth reading. I have a major case of the winter blahs. I am finding that every winter that comes, I hate it a little more. Tom has been teasing me that in a few years he will be able to go anywhere for a job within the government. It is sounding more and more appealing. I know our families and roots are here, but I am so sick of cold and snow and sleet. Winter can kiss my (thanks to lack of sunshine) white ass!!

Like I said before I did get the job that I was hoping to get. I start on Monday. I will be working at a local Huntington Bank as a Customer Service Representative, a glorified 'teller'. I have a good bit of experience in banking and I have to say that I am excited to start. The hours are 11am-3pm during the week and 8:15-12:15 on Saturday mornings. I may have Mondays off. Still don't know for sure. Tom's mom and my mom have agreed to watch Nolan while I am working and he will start preschool in the fall going from noon until 3:15pm. It is perfect for our schedule. My mom or Tom's mom will take him to school and I will pick him up. We are looking into the YMCA summer day camp for the girls this summer. I know they would love it; it's just getting them enrolled and paying for it! Not cheap!!!

So, in a nutshell that is pretty much it for me and us here. I told you that things have been uneventful around here. Hopefully soon I will feel more inspired and creative. But for now all my energy is trying to beat off the winter hum-drums! Please Spring, come soon!!

Hearts, Flowers, Candy and L.O.V.E

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hope you all get some lovin'!

xoxoxoxo

Flashback

I had to go over to Columbus today for a drug test.(yes, I got the job-more to come later.) Usually when I am in the car I am listening to the i-pod, but today I left the house and forgot to grab it so I was left with the radio. One of the local stations has a lunch hour flashback and I was JAMMING and loving it!! I jammed to 'Rock With Ya', 'Pump Up the Volume'(totally drived-danced with that one) and MANY more!! I love all that cheesy pop stuff from the 80's and 90's. Reminds me of good times! And I remembered ALL the words to 'The Humpty Dance'. Do you? Yes, I am a dork. But it was a great way to pass the drive on a cold, nasty winter day. At least the sun was shinning!!

Put the needle on the record. I'm outtie 5, G!!

Please quit stopping by....

I am sick again. Everyone else has seem to have a stomach bug that has lasted 24 hours. Could I get that? No. The strep buggies had to come a knockin' again. I just had strep right before Christmas. All in all I have had strep three times in the past year. It sucks. Strep throat completely knocks me on my butt for a few days. I can't function and I am worthless to the world. Thankfully, I have three doses of Zithromax in my body and I am finally feeling a little better.

On the job front, I had a phone interview on Monday and Friday I interview in person with the hiring managers. I hope something comes from it!!

I am still not feeling stellar, so I leave you with some overdue pictures from Nolan's birthday party.

A few of MY favorite things.....

Taking inspiration from Amanda I have decided to post what I am loving right now.

• Half-Price Book Store

Before our dinner out last weekend for my birthday Tom and I stopped into one of the stores in Columbus. I LOVE bookstores, I especially love to spend time in them when I : A) Don't have my kids with me and B) they are all much cheaper than the price at Barnes and Noble. Who cares if they have been read. They have jsut been loved and enjoyed by others. I have been reading a lot more than usual especially because of the strike and how crappy tv is! I picked up 'Middlesex', 'Emma and Me' and for a whopping buck, I bought 'Sex in the City'. Yes, I have seen every episode umpteen times, but I thought for a buck it would be enjoyable reading!

• Nolan going pee-pee in the potty consistantly!

Yes, consistantly is the key word here. He still won't poo in the potty. But we can go virtually all day with no pull-ups and he goes into the bathroom when needed without me asking every 10 minutes! I see a diaper and pull-up free life in my very near future!

• The idea of warmer spring weather on the horizon.

Yeah, I know it is only the first day of February( one of the shittiest months ever, only to be out done by March!) and being that we live in Central Ohio and will probably see cold and snow and sleat until late April sometime. But the thought of Spring is what gets me through the next couple months of winter. It helps me, so shut up about the fact that it is only February!

• The prospect of a job soon!

I don't want to jinx anything, so I am not saying much. But it is something that I like, I am good at it and the hours can't be beat! 11am-3pm Monday through Friday. Occasionally a Saturday morning. I can deal with that!! Keep all fingers crossed for me!

• The great news we received last night at our parent-teacher conference!

Janey is doing great and is learning to read and seems to be a little leader in her class. But Chloe amazes me!! She is now reading at the begininng of a fourth grade level. If you don't know she is in second grade. I am so proud of her!

• Buffalo Chicken Dip

I am sure this stuff is so fatty boom batty, but it is delicious!! I have made it for the National Championship Game, New Year's and now I am making it for the Super Bowl. Try it, it is so good!!

Are you lovin' something today?!?

Too bad there isn't such a thing

Today Tom starts his new job(Good Luck Honey!). He had his box of things from his old desk to take today for his new location. He had lots of odds and ends in the box, and Janey was watching him go through it. The conversation went as such;

Janey: "Do you still have to have cough drops Daddy?" (he has had terrible cough that has lasted awhile)

Tom: "No, I don't think I am going to need them anymore."

Janey: "You NEED to get stinker drops."

She had me cracking up at 7:00 this morning. We might have a budding comedian on our hands!

Happy Birthday Nolan!!

Today Nolan turns 3! He is such a wonderful little boy. Ornery, but very sweet when he wants to be. My favorite thing about him right now is that he likes to go around the house naked and wear other peoples shoes. The choice as of late, are Chloe's boots. Isn't his little hiney so cute!! Weirdos stay away!!!!

He has been doing great going potty. No number 2's, but he will come around! I 'm not stressing about it too much, afterall he is my baby and my last.
He loves his sisters so much, and he loves it when they get off of the school bus. He has missed them so much! But he is normal, and it doesn't take long for him to start fighting with them!! He completed our family and I am forever thankful for him. How could you not fall in love with that face?!


Happy 3rd Birthday Nolan. I hope someday you will know how much you are loved. May you grow up to be a strong, caring, loving, sweet and kind man. Just like your Daddy. I love you my little man. *kisses and hugs* to you Bubby!!

Ho Hum

I had an interview today at the hospital. Actually, I had three consecutive interviews for a position at a physician's office. I initially had an interview scheduled with HR, but I guess things went well enough that she sent me over to the hiring manager for an interview. After meeting with her, I had to interview with the physician. It went well and frankly, it is a job that I would like to have. It doesn't hurt that the benefits seem great(FREE dental for the whole fam!!), plus 4 weeks of paid time off per year. It is the hours that I am struggling with. I was hoping to start work at 8:30am, so I could at least get the girls off to school. Unfortunately, the hours are M,T,TH and F 8-5 and on Weds. 7-12, sometimes 5. It is a rotating schedule on Weds. I am brainstorming and trying to come up with a plan so that if the job is offered to me, I will have a plan for the girls. I would love any insight from you readers!! Not much else is new around here. I do have a new 'do'. Trying to get used to it. Don't tell Tom, but I really miss my blond hair. I am telling myself to keep it this way until spring. I just hope I can hold out that long, so I don't have to hear "I told you so" from Tom.

Chloe has started basketball and made her first basket in a game this year last Saturday. She seems to love basketball and is doing great this year. Sorry the pictures are blurry, but as I was trying to take them Nolan was climbing and pulling on me! Story of my life!!

Speaking of Nolan, he turns 3 on Friday and we are having a party for him on Saturday. We are doing the whole 'Cars' theme and he is super excited for his cake!! I can't believe he is turning 3 already! Where has the time gone.

Holy Mother

I have a hangover! I am too old for this crap! Yes, it was fun while we were at the winery tasting and drinking with friends. And yes, it did seem like a good idea to walk over to a local historical landmark watering hole and continue the chatting and drinking. But when you can't remember coming home and you still feel like dog doo at 11:30 the next morning, it is time to call it quits!! I am done. No more can I treat my body like this. I am getting old. Crikey, I will be 32 in about a week and I think my mind and body are finally speaking to me and saying, "We have been putting up with your shit for a long time now, and we are taking a stand! We will make sure that you will feel like this every time you decide to over-indulge in spirits!" So I have decided to listen. As I said, I am done. Now I need to spend the day trying to detox myself of the poison running through my insides. I wish I could take a nap..... for like the rest of the day. Tomorrow is a new day, one that I will begin treating my body nicer.

Weekend Recap

I know that I am probably way behind most of you, but Tom and I saw a great movie this weekend. We saw 'Reign Over Me'. Now I have seen lots of tear-jerkers in my day, but this is the sadest movie I have ever seen. Don't get me wrong it was a great movie, but really sad. It is one of those movies that makes you think. What would happen to me if everything that means anything to me and everything I love suddenly wasn't there anymore. If you need a good cry, rent it. We also rented 'Zodiac'. It was good too. Creepy, but good. Since the holidays are over, Tom and I are back into movie rental mode. Although, not tonight. We will be watching the big game! Oh, how I hope our Bucks will pull through and win. Not to be a fair-weather fan, but I am not holding my breath for a win. I know, I know, what kind of fan am I?! I just hope if they can't win, they will put up a fight!

Tomorrow I have my first interview! Yay!!! I have an initial interview and testing at State Farm. They have a regional office here and I am really hoping it goes well. Anybody who wants to cross their fingers for me is more than welcome to do so. I will keep you posted! Oh, Go Bucks!!!

Merry New Year

Oh, where to begin! We have had a fun-filled, busy but relaxing couple weeks. Christmas was great-Santa came, left goodies, ate his treats and everyone was happy! Thanks to my hubby, I will be enjoying an hour long relaxing massage from a local spa here soon! Thank you so much honey! The kids got everything they asked for and then some. I have such great kids, Chloe only asked for Coconut(a dog for her American Girl doll) and a National Geographic Solar system Janey asked for a crib for her Bitty Baby and a candy cane, and Nolan asked for a firetruck.
The following two pictures are when the girls came around the corner and saw that, yes, in fact Santa had come during the night! Aren't they hilarious!

We did Christmas with my family the Saturday before Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve, we celebrated with Tom's family and went to church. On Christmas night I cooked dinner for my parents and it was low-key and relaxing. I really like being able to stay home on Christmas. It makes for a nice day and the kids get to play with their toys all day.

We stuck with tradition and did nothing on New Year's. The kids stayed up a little later and then Tom and I had our game of Trivial Pursuit and drinkies. We rang in the New Year with some champagne and a kiss. I think 2008 is going to be a great year. A year of change, but a good one too.

The girls were excited to go back to school today. Actually, they were ready last week! Today is an exciting day for them; they get to go to a brand new school! Our district has been building and renovating schools and their new building was completed right before Christmas break, so during break the teachers and administrators moved from the old building to the new one. I took them to school today so I could see it and it is amazing! Next Thursday night they are having the ribbon-cutting and Open House, so I will get to see more of it then and Tom will get to see it too!
My little blog break was nice, but I am ready to post more regularly. No news on the job front for me yet. Tom will most likely start his new job the last week of January. I have submitted my resume to a few companies, so hopefully something comes through before he starts his new job. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Happy New Year to all, and may this year bring us all, health, happiness and peace!

Christmasy Stuff

Our Christmas card pic of the kids, which most of you received!

We have been up to all things Christmasy lately. Shopping, driving around listening to Christmas songs and looking at the lights, baking cookies, making chex mix, making these yummy treats, having grown-up treats in the evening with a fire in the fireplace. I look this time of the year! I do feel a bit behind because I haven't wrapped one present, and we are celebrating Christmas with my family on Saturday. That is one my agenda for today as well as going to the grocery. I could use some ideas for Christmas dinner. We always have my parents over for dinner on Christmas evening and I ALWAYS fix my lasagna. It is really good, but I want to fix something different. I am open to any ideas you can offer. Also, I need a new mixed drink to fix. It is a tradition for Tom and I to make a mixed drink and enjoy them while we are doing "Santa" things on Christmas Eve. We have done cosmos, old fashioned's, rum and cokes, appletinis and these (which are delicious by the way!) just to name a few. So again I am open to ideas!!

For the kiddos and Santa

For the grown-ups!

I might be posting before Christmas, it really depends on how much time I feel like I have. If I don't, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Holiday or a Nothing ~whatever your thing is!

Indecisiveness

The girls have a wonderful and exciting way to make any decision. It is the wonderment and unpredictability of eenie-meenie-minie-mo! No matter if they are deciding what cereal to eat, shoes or clothes to wear, movie to watch, color of crayon to use or book to read. The power lies in the hands of the eenie-meenie-minie-mo gods. It is so damn annoying!! I know I did it as a kid, but not to this extent. The funny thing about Janey is, it doesn't matter where her finger lands at the end of the little rhyme, she still picks what she wants. Therefore, making Tom and I wonder why we had to listen to it for the thousandth time when she made the decision regardless of what the E.M.M.O gods had to say. Gotta love having school-aged little girls in the house!

In other news, Tom has recently been given a wonderful opportunity for a new job and has decided on taking it. He won't start for another month or so thankfully, because it does involve a temporary pay cut. He will be a Contract Specialist with the government. He will be using his degree plus the room for advancement is huge, unlike the company he is working for now. This brings me to finding a job. We can't make our budget with this pay cut, so I am pounding the pavement looking for a job. This was a hard decision for us but knowing where Tom could be at in just a few short years made the decision sway to him taking the job and me finding a job. We didn't want to put Nolan in daycare, nor the girls when they are out from school for breaks and what not. Unfortunately, I am not willing to work evenings and weekends and never be a family either. So I am at a crossroads at what to do and what would be better for my kids. I did interview for an Office Manager job at our local Montessori school. The hours are good and I could have Nolan in preschool there and be in the same building as him. The hours are 10am-6pm making it so I can get the girls on the bus, and Tom will be home to get them off of the bus. The pay is not too shabby and more than I had anticipated. I wasn't sure how I felt about the job when I was headed to the interview yesterday, but now I am thinking it may work for us. I do have to admit the idea of joining the working world is appealing to me, I just don't want to upset my kids. I know they are resilient and kids have both parents working all the time, but it was important to OUR family and to Tom and I that one of us would always be here for the kids. Again, as a parent what do I do?

Sorry for the absence on my part with this blog, but my mind as been on the job situation for awhile now, and I just wanted to think about things and pretty much worry myself sick that we won't be able to make ends meet. I know we will and it is just temporary, but still hard nonetheless.

I have no pictures to share today. We have been all over including the Zoo for the Wildlights and I haven't taken one picture. We picked out our tree and decorated it, no pictures. I am a bad memory maker!! One more thing for my kids to be angry at me for when they are older. Not only did I return to work, but I also didn't take enough pictures. Their childhoods are ruined and my therapy bill just went up!

I've been a bad blogger!!

Yes I have been a bad blogger, and we have been up to a lot this past week and a half! I will give you a quick run-down of what those things have been;

• Great Thanksgiving and anniversary. I got one of these from Tom.
• Homemade soup from leftover turkey. YUM!!
• Movie day with the girls. We saw this.
• A new car to replace Tom's old beater. We got a Ford Five Hundred. It's nice and we can all fit so we don't always have to take the minivan wherever we go as a family. Boohoo to having a car payment again!
• Christmas decorating, putting up the outdoor lights, wreaths, candles, stockings and anticipating cutting down our own fresh tree. (We haven't had a fresh tree since having the kids!)
• Coffee, coffee and more coffee!
• Heated mattress pads turned to high.
• Seeing Santa
• Looking forward to a trip to the Zoo this Saturday to see the lights and reindeer.
• Sweet sentiments from Chloe this morning; "You are such a good Mommy. You take great care of all of us!" Funny, I think they all take great car of me. I don't know how or why I got so lucky...
• A promise of new things on the horizon.
• Being excited to watch the Bucks in the National Championship game!!
• Trying new recipes like homemade cheese enchiladas and tried and true ones like pot roast w/roasted veggies.
• Looking forward to holiday baking with the girls. You HAVE to make these!
• Trying hard not to put on 5lbs while eating new delicious recipes and holiday treats.

Well that's it in a nutshell. I guess nothing overly exciting happening, but our life none the less! I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!