Old Posts
Back in February, I had a complaint about my blog that I was not including anything on my blog about My Man's side of the family. Because of this, I switched to Vox, as I could post privately and not have to worry about peoples issues with my posts. I was going to cancel blogger, so I copied these over, and now that I am using it again, because I don't care what people think, I am bringing these posts back, so those who are new to reading the blog, they don't have to go to a different blog to see where it all started.
***Pictures have not transfered, so if I get a chance, I will try and readd them.
How It All Began
My Man and I have been married now for just over 5 years, and were blessed two years ago with Miss P Suzanne (Yes, named after a certain football player and Suzanne comes from my mom's middle name and mine).
Our Story all started back in 2000 when My Man and I both served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My Man served in the Philippines and I served on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is where I met his cousin who was also serving a mission. Things happened, people were met, letters were written, and after the mission My Man's cousin J married my brother. All along she mentioned that she had a cousin that I just had to meet. Well that day came, as we were all gathered for a family dinner the night before their wedding, and in walks her OH SO HOT cousin, who of course was late for the dinner because he didn't want to meet the crazy soon to be sister in law of J's. As he sits down all I hear from him is "Eat first, talk later." Wow that was a great first impression, which he will never live down. Over the next two days My Man had taken the "brides maids" out together which ended up with then all leaving and him taking me on a date. So again things happened, emails were written, phone calls were made and we were engaged a few months later and married about six months after that in the Portland Oregon Temple, and have called Washington State home for the past five years. For the past two months My Man has been working in Carlin Nevada for a company named Nylex. They are based out of Denver, and send work crews all over to the different sites. My Man is on a crew who installs wick drain, don't know anything about it, just that he gets to play with big toys putting some kind of plastic tubing in the ground to get moisture out- you will have to ask My Man more if you want to know. He works four weeks on and one weeks off which they fly him home for that week off. It sucks to be apart, but at the moment it is paying the bills.
Why is he doing this and is not at home with me and Miss P, good question, here is the short story:
For the past five years My Man has worked for US Bank, and did well at his job. About six months ago,the branch where My man worked hired a new manager, we were excited as his last manager had her issue of wanting to be a branch manager but refused to let go of the duties of personal banker, so the change was welcomed. This new manager seems nice and very friendly, until the day that My Man told her that he planned on applying for the Washington State Patrol in the near future. Bad mistake, even though she had told him to go and do what would make him happy. After telling her his plans, the next day she fired him. Later we found out that she fired one of the tellers that had been there for a long time and was hired by the last manager. So it seems to look like that she wanted to hire her own staff. I have some other thoughts but we will keep this blog nice.
After pushing My Man to try and fight it, only to find out that Washington is an "At will" state, so they can hire and fire when ever and for whatever reason they want. He put out a ton of resumes, over the next month, with no job offers. One very frustrating Sunday, my amazing husband suggested we fast for help. The Lord truly loves each of us and answers prayers. The next day my dad talked with one of the managers of Nylex, who in turn offered My Man a job.
So without any complaining, My Man accepting the job, and was in Nevada a week later working.
My Man truly is my hero, my love and my best friend. I couldn't imagine life without him, and I am truly grateful for his willingness to sacrifice for our little family, being away from us, working construction again and long hours, so we can be financially stable, until he can apply for the Washington State Patrol. I can't express enough how much I love him and love him for taking care of us, so I can stay at home and raise Peyton.
That is my little rant on my man and that I feel he is the best husband.
My Man's Utah TripThought I would add some pictures of My Man's Utah trip. He had labor day off from work, and since he was only 3 hours from Salt Lake, decided to get away from Carlin, Nevada for a few days and take a trip. Yes, I was very jealous to hear he was going to Salt Lake and visiting my mission without me. My Man is going to have to sign in to the blog soon and give his side of these stories I am sharing.
Hope you enjoy Utah, well Temple Square through My Man's camera!!!
Wow, life has been crazy for us the past month.
My Man flew home on September 15th from Nevada, we picked him up at the airport and went straight to his nephews 9th birthday party at Bullwinkle's. Miss P had a ton of fun, eating pizza and a huge piece of chocolate cake. We took her outside after eating and asked her what games she would like to do. My Man tried to get me
to take her on the bumper boats, no way was I planning on getting wet. Miss P loves cars, (yes she is my girly girl tom boy) she wanted to go on the go carts, and we were in line, until she heard them start up, then there was no way she was getting close to them. She is not a fan of load noises.
So I decided we should do the mini golf, thinking heck she loves balls, and has a plastic golf set at home, she should enjoy it. Wow, that was the longes game of my life. She was great the first two holes, hitting the ball, trying to get it in the hole, well after that for the next 1t mini golf6 holes, she decided to carry her club and ball and just drop the ball in the hole. Of course we had to clap and cheer her on as she was getting "Miss P hole in one.".
Miss P is very much loved by her uncle K and aunt J, and close to the end she suckered her aunt J to take her in the climbing rope maze.(Like the ones at Macdonald's, but much bigger.) She truly is a spoiled and loved little girl.
When My Man came home from Nevada, they had finished that job, so he was told to call Denver that following Monday to see where his next assignment would be. Monday came, he was told they didn't know yet, but call back the following Monday. So we enjoyed his normal week off, spending time buying and installing a new TV, My man has wanted a LCD TV for a long time and I wanted our
entertainment center gone, so my HUGE furniture would fit better in our little living room and then we spent time in Eugene with My brother, Sister in law and their three kids. The Monday the 24th arrived, when he should be heading back our for another four weeks, he called the Denver office only to be told that there was no work at the time and to call back in next Monday. This of course brings on great stress in my life, as I start to think, how are the bills going to be paid if My Man is not working, but decided that we have enough in savings to be ok for a bit. Tuesday morning we were woken up at 7 am to his cell phone, it was the Denver office telling him that he was flying out to Texas that day and they would call him back in a few hours to let him know if flight plans. We got up and had to run and
pick up a part for his computer, by about 8:00am the office called back telling him he would fly out at 12pm. It was a good thing he didn't unpack this last time as he had only a couple of hours to get everything ready and be to the airport. Got to love the construction business.
What a testimony builder to be reminded that our Heavenly Father knows each of us , our situations, and that he truly does answer our prayers. My Man is gone again and enjoying the heat, but not so much the humidity of Port Aurthur, Texas. He was saying a few days ago that there work site has alligators really close. I will have to have him take a picture if he sees any, so we can post them.
My Man has finally been able to apply for the Washington State Patrol. He has been trying to get into shape and loose weight since about June when he decided he wanted to join the Washington State Patrol. He either had to loose about 25lbs or loose 4% body fat before he could apply. He has done such a great job and I am so proud of him.
We had been praying that he would be able to apply this last time he was home in the middle of September, as they are interviewing now for the next class. Well he still had 2 lbs to go, and I was trying to figure out a quick way for him to do it. We stopped off at 24 hour fitness one morning and he had his body fat taken, only to find out that he was at the 20% which was also needed, so he was able to apply that day. Oh yes, he looks great, he is my skinny sexy man, who I love so much. I will have to get a pic of him and post it.
Another answer to prayers, and how much our Heavenly Father loves us. It is always interesting how prayers are answered in different ways then we think.
Miss P, Miss P, Miss P.....
Sunday the 16th was stake conference. It was so packed because the prophet was speaking. Since we were a few minutes late we were sitting in one of the side rooms, thank heavens we were. Our little angel was coloring and making a lot of noise, My Man turned to her and told her to be quiet, well she said very loudly "I WANT TO COLOR", and again he told her to be quiet, well our kid has a funny sense of humor, turned to us and in a deep loud voice "I WANT TO COLOR". Well we both had to turn our heads away from her as we were both laughing, and there goes the disciplining if she sees she has made us laugh or smile.
There are days when I wish My Man was home so I could go "tag your it." But then there are precious moments like that, that make me remember how special she is and how lucky we are to have her in our lives.
Yesterday at church, I went to pick up Miss P from Nursery and was bending down trying to get her to put her shoes and coat on, yes she was acting two and didn't want anything to do with it. We have a young girl in our ward babysit for us, who Miss P totally adores, so I told Miss P," there goes Kylie". Well that made her look up and call for her.
She stopped and started to tell me, that she had walked past the nursery about 5 minutes before and the door had been open, parents picking up kids. Miss P had seen Kylie walk past, and I guess she slowly started to escape Nursery to go after Kylie, and probably would have made it, if she hadn't called out Kylie's name. I think I am going to have to have a security alarm on our place when my child in a teenager and not tell her the code.
Miss P my little talker now. Today we had to go to the stores and everyone she saw, she decided she had to say hi, and continue to say hi until they would say hi back, then she had to tell them that I was her mommy.
Tonight when I was putting her in bed, she was talking to My Man on the phone and he was telling her good night. I had taught her about a month ago to say I love you daddy. I would say one word at a time and have her repeat it. So tonight as I was putting her curtains down, I heard her telling daddy, I...wove(yes she says wove)...you. She was repeating it like we had taught her with the gaps in between. She then was saying it, was wanting me to repeat after her. It is fun to see all that she is learning and how she copies things I do.
Miss P's 2nd Birthday
July 18,2007
Since I had Miss P, I have become the type of person who plans crazy birthday parties, which take a ton of thinking and planning well in advance. Miss P's first birthday was a princess party, with twinkle lights, pink tulle,pink and purple crowns and a castle cake, which I made. I justify because she is my only child and I really enjoy doing it.
I had the plans rolling in my head for the perfect "Mad Hatter" 2nd birthday, for her this past July, until plans changed. This does give me a heads start for her 3rd birthday.My Man was working in Nevada on her birthday and me and Miss P were in Canada with my parents. This year, she got to pick her decorations, and Safeway had the opportunity to make the cake. I am totally grateful for my family, for celebrating with us and for making it a ton of fun. I am also grateful for technology that My Man could be on the web cam so he could be
apart of the party.
Our Summer
We have had a very busy six months. In July My Man started working for Nilex which is a construction company and this required him to travel for work. On July 14th Miss P and I put My Man on the airplane in the early afternoon, went home to finish packing and we got on the train that night around 5:30 to head to Canada to spend the month with my parents.
17 hours with an almost 2 year old on a crowed train. We were blessed to sit next to a lady who was use to children, as she had a young son herself, so Miss P's constant wanting to get up and down and move every where was a familiar thing to her and she didn't want to kill us. After she got off on her stop about 6 hours into our journey, the train attendances were nice to not put anyone next to us, so we could have a little more room to spread out.
Miss P did very well for her first train ride. She did wake up around 2 in the morning and didn't want to go back to sleep, so I took her for a walk to the observation car. Not much to see in the middle of the night, but at least she could move around and not wake others up.
It was really nice to get to our stop and see my mom and sister in law waiting for us, even though we had another 4
hour drive to get to Calgary.
Miss P and I spent about a month in Canada with my family while My Man was working. We had a lot of fun with my family. It was really fun to see Miss P and her cousin P to interact with each other. We were able to go to an Amusement Park with my sister in law C, Cousin P and her family. Miss P's favorite ride was the boats, and that was about the only ride that Miss P wanted to go on.
At that point in her little life, she was not a huge fan of rides.
We celebrated Miss P's 2nd Birthday while we were there. Thanks to Uncle S and Aunt C, we threw together a last minute party at their place. Miss P is such a spoiled little girl, who is very much loved. She received a box of princess clothes from grandpa and grandma, a very cute outfit from Uncle S and Aunt C, which every time she would wear it or see the shirt, she would say " Aunt C's shirt". Uncle C and Aunt L made a dream of hers come true, they bought her a bubble gun and a necklace set. My Man and I gave her a baby doll which I wanted to get for her, since I had seen one which her babysitter has. We call it her "chucky doll". You push the dolls hand and it coo's, if it is lied down it snores, and if you give it, it's bottle it will suck, take it away and it starts to cry. Now I know that sounds normal for a baby doll, the creepy part comes that while it does all of this, it's eyes and mouth open and shut, and it will cry really tears, you have to see it to fully understand. Still today, she loves all the gifts she received for her birthday and still uses them.
We also had the opportunity to help/ be in the way of my parents house reno's. Taking a 2 year old into a house that is being totally redo is not a good idea. Thank heavens it was summer and she could be outside a lot. She helped paint the fence, well painted some of the fence and a lot of the sidewalk.
My parents had pity on me when it came time to head for homes, bless their hearts. Instead of having us take the train home again, they drove us home. I think my parents, especially my mom is never going to be able to watch "Dora the Explorer" again with out making some bad comment about it. I don't blame her though as she sat in the back with Peyton while, my dad and I drove the 14 hours home. Miss P also learned how to say "hamburger" on our trip home, since then we have ate a lot of hamburgers when it is her turn to pick what we eat. Miss P only had a few words, and wasn't talking a lot before we went to Calgary. It was fun to see the words she picked up and how much she learned.
My Man was home for a week and the was back to Nevada for another 4 weeks. Miss P and I stayed close to home this time.
So the last post was getting too long, so I decided to break it up into two parts.
My Man spent a total of 8 weeks in Nevada working with one week off. After the Nevada job finished in September, he came home for a week and then headed to Texas next for another job. We were getting really familiar with the airport by this point from picking and dropping him off. Miss P loved it as she got to play at the play area each time.
While My Man was home in October, in between jobs we decided to head back up to Canada to help my parents finish their reno's. My Man had a week before he had to head back to work, so he did what he could and then flew out of Calgary back to Texas. This was fun as we were able to be in Canada for Halloween.
My man and I take turns each year to pick what Miss P will be. I was so excited when we had Miss P, I love dressing her up and Halloween is so much fun. Her first year she was the cutest Butterfly.My Man had pics on the next year, which she was a Denver Bronco's cheerleader. This year was my turn again, and she was a Duck from the Children's Place. I saw the costume last year but My Man wouldn't let me get it as it was his turn to pick, so I was ecstatic when I saw that they were selling them again this year.
Aunt C and I met up at the mall with one of her friends and we took the kids trick or treating. Cousin P was happy with just a succor, and Miss P the little mommy she has turned into had to get a candy for her and had to make sure that the people in each store gave Cousin P one too.
Later that night, we all went out trick or treating with the kids (Uncle S, Aunt C , My Man, Grandma, Me and the two kids.) It was so cute, we had the kids wrapped up in winter coats, in a wagon with blankets all around them to keep them warm, while we the adults carried the buckets and went to the doors for them.
My Man took off to Texas shortly after that, and Miss P and I stayed in Calgary for three week while My Man worked. While he was gone, I got sick of staying in a messy reno house, so while my mom went to work, I started to clean things up and made them put there house back together.
I was happy that by the time we left the house was almost done. They had all the plastic off the hardwood floors, which had been down for almost a year, they had a living room and dining room, there room was complete and the office just needed the closet door put on and some paint touch ups.
Yes I am a neat freak at times, and it drives me nuts to live in a mess for too long. I would always clean when I was ticked off/angry, it seemed to make me feel better.
My Man drove us home a few days after Thanksgiving and the following day he was driving back to the Spokane area for another job, where he was there for two weeks.
He was then home for Christmas and New Years, which my whole family came down from Canada for. We spent Christmas in Eugene with Uncle R and Aunt J, then every one came to our place for New Years. I will add pic's when I get our new camera cord, as we lost our other one and now our pics are stuck on our camera.
My Man's dream career is to be a state trooper for the Washington State Patrol. One of the councilors in our Bishopric is a Sargent for the WSP, and has directed My Man as he has been trying to apply. He has also set My Man up on some ride alongs, which one was on New Years eve with this Sargent. His wife and I still think the two of them are completely crazy for giving up new years eve with family, but I knew My Man wouldn't have many opportunities to go on ride alongs with him, and they had a ton of fun and came home with lots of stories.
While My Man was home for the holidays, he applied for a job with a Tow Truck company, and was offered the job while he was in the interview. This was a true answer to prayer as we really wanted him to have a job which would allow him to be at home. We have taken a big pay cut, which is worth it as my husband is home with us every day and will help him as he is still trying to apply for the WSP, and needs to be in town for the different interview phases.
We have been very busy these past 6 months, traveled lots and have many wonderful memories. We are grateful to be home, getting back into our normal routines.
We want to thank everyone who has been there for us, and helped us as we were living our crazy life style.
Potty Training
Someone could really make a great business out of Potty Training peoples children. Last week I was being lazy, well I guess a little crazy and ambitious, as I didn't want to go buy more diapers for my 2 1/2 year old, so my husband and I decided it was time she was potty trained.
For many months I have asked many mom's for their wisdom on this subject as this is my first child. Now I must admit that I have been ambitious before with this certain step in my daughters life. It was early spring when she was about 20 months old, it was nice and warm here and one of my friends had told me she potty trained her daughter by putting a dress on her and nothing else in the summer, made it really easy to do her business and be modest at the same time. I thought, heck why not, I could give that a try. Yes at that point my daughter was not talking that much, so good luck on her telling me she had to go to the bathroom. I was a prepared mom though, we bought two potty's one for upstairs and one for downstairs. Well we were upstairs and she was being really quiet, I found her in her closet, and of course told her that she needed to not play in her closet and to come out. BAD MISTAKE. First never leave a half naked toddler alone. She came walking out of the closet leaving little poop steps. That was the end of my ambition to potty train her for awhile.
We are at it again this week. We went out on the weekend and bought her training pants, and candy prizes for going on the potty. We decided to go the almost cold turkey route. During the day she gets to be a big girl and wear her "panties" and at night we are still doing diapers. Monday was our first day, not to bad, she had to go four times on Monday and only went through three pairs of panties. It was progress, she made it to the potty once. We will take it.
Yesterday was great!!! She made it all three times, and I had the thought, heck this is going to be easy. That is even after our trip to the library and her playing "wolf" with having to go to the bathroom.
Today, well today turned out to be a diaper day. We went out with a friend to a play area, and wet two pairs while we were there and the third at home while she was trying to help me make dinner. I guess we can't all have perfect days.
Like I said in the beginning, someone could make a great business out of potty training children. I tried to con so many people into potty training her, and bless Aunt J's heart for saying she would do it. I am off to go put her panties in the dryer so we can have more adventures in potty training tomorrow.......
