Pinterest Addiction!

My magnetic make up board from my new obsession...Pinterest!

Slacking yet not!

Okay, I've been slacking, but not for lack of activity in my life! Work has been super crazy to the point where I'm going into work after the kids are in bed! Seth has begun the sprinkler business again because we didn't sell it during the winter so he is super busy, which in turn, makes me super busy with the kids. The kids are doing great. Caleb is still sooo active and will be starting Wee Ones at Grace in August-we're holding him back a year because his birthday is so late. Aubrey is crusing right along at 9 months. She is getting into everything! Lastly, and most importantly, we've been fixing up the house to get it listed and on the market to sell and build our house. We put it on the market last Tuesday and got a showing this past Wednesday AND SOLD IT on Friday! So my stress level has just jumped about 100%! We will be closing (as long as their financing goes through) end of May and we have 30 days after to get outta here. Wow..it will be so sad to go because this is our first house we bought 27 days before we got married! I'm hoping to get a crash training in building on a budget and ways to save money! If you know of any, let me know!

State Finals & Magic

Okay, so most of you were probably at the Rochester Boy's Basketball State Championship Game last Saturday, but I feel I MUST blog about it! The last time they won semi-state was like 1937! Seth and I have not taken the kids to a basketball game the entire year, yet we felt this was something that they may never see again in their lifetime. Soooo, off we all went to Indianapolis! I had so much fun shopping for Aubrey's outfit on Ebay-she had to be wearing the Zebra attire to represent! Poor Caleb, the shirt I got for him was like a dress, but he didn't care. The game, from what I could see of it from the nose bleed section, was the BEST game I'm ever seen! I had goose bumps and just felt sick part of the time because I was so nervous! They had that game won and I feel the officials did not help us in ANY manner. They played a GREAT game and I'm so proud of them!

Anyhow, this was a great time with the family-other than Caleb not really wanting to be there. It could possibly also be that he didn't know we were at a basketball game because we were up so high! :) I think the best part of his day was when we went to the bathroom and we were washing his hands. The sinks had the automatic water sensors..sooo cool. Caleb is into magic so I told him to say abra cadabra-(however you spell that) and the water would turn on and we put his hands under there after he said "Abra Cadabra" and I put his hands under the water and it turned on and he just giggled and laughed thinking he had actually performed magic! He kept doing saying, "Alla Kazam!" and I'd put his hands under there again and the water would turn on. Other than the magic in the bathroom, he was less than thrilled to be there.

Aubrey was great the whole day and didn't fuss a bit-we'll give her time though..she just loved being held!

Enjoy the pics!

Sunday Ritual

So everyone knows that Sundays are lazy days..well, for us anyhow. Lately we've been getting Ugalde's for breakfast pretty much every Sunday because I love love love their Denver omlets! Well, Caleb has also found a new love in their pancakes! It's pretty bad when he wakes up asking for his pancakes...and not just any pancakes...he says, "Daddy get me a pancake thiiiis big" as he open his arms as wide as his little hands will stretch apart! It was so cute. So when Seth got home I had to get the camera and take a picture of Caleb with his pancake...and he was so proud to show it off!

Times are Tough

Times are tough for so many people these days. Most of you know my job at the bank is handling the foreclosures and bankruptcies and those are at all time highs! Only my boss and I handle all of First Federal's 6 branches of loans. During normal times we would be busy, but it was manageable, but these times are tough.

It is a daily struggle to handle the massive amounts of phone calls and requests for getting payments lowered, loans modified, or figuring out what the person can do because they think they aren't going to be able to make the payment soon. To the outside world this would seem easy...change the rate and move the loan out to lower the payment. I wish it was this easy..we are bound by so many rules and what the investor requires, it is overwhelming..especially when they roll out new programs but don't really have the "meat" of the program figured out so when someone qualifies you're left in the dark on how to carry out the program.

My job is not black and white, it is so many shades of gray that each person could have their own color of gray. It is mentally exhausting because I feel so bad for some of these people who, out of no control of their own, have fallen upon this horrible economy. I'm so grateful for the job that I DO have and it again reminds me that my 2009 word "appreciate" is so valuable to remember. Appreciate what you have because tomorrow it could be taken away.

There is nothing more rewarding in my job than to help someone save their house from potential foreclosure. They are so grateful for the work that we do for them. I've had the chance to meet some of them and the relief on their face and the thanks they give are why I continue to be mentally exhausted...because there are people that need me to figure out a way for them to stay in their house. I appreciate the leverage that my bosses give me to handle my job and I can certainly appreciate the sensitivity I need to give these customers during these hard times.

Please pray that I stay strong for those who need guidance from me..I feel the weight on my shoulders and seem to be very emotional lately (more than normal anyhow)..certainly signs of stress!

Aubrey tooth update

Aubrey has gotten her second tooth in..it was like 2 days after the first one! It's very sad to see my little girl growing up so fast knowing that I won't be having anymore children (knock on wood since neither of us are fixed..but that's another story)

Updates

Aubrey got her first tooth in on Valentine's Day! I was so excited! I've been checking every day because I could feel the bump and this morning it happened. It was very bittersweet..my baby isn't going to be a baby too much longer! While I can't wait for her to get older so we can shop and talk, I also dread her not being a baby anymore..being able to hold her in my arms and watch her sleep or have her just lay there and look at me laughing and smiling! She has also found her voice! Wow...she just talks and squeals so loud! Yeah, I know, just like her mom! She's going to be a talker.

Caleb is pretty much officially potty trained..with a few minor accidents here and there. Overall, it was worth waiting until he was ready! It went so much faster. Also, Caleb will be starting Wee Ones Pre-School in the summer at Grace. He'll turn 4 in July, but we are holding him back the first year because we want him to be ready. He's excited because he thinks he'll get to ride the school bus and he's been wanting to "go to school and ride the bus"-he says this because he sees the school bus go by the babysitter's house and he wants to be a "big boy" too.

I am appreciating each day with both Aubrey and Caleb because I know that time will go by so fast!