Happy Mass-Hysteria Shopping Day!

I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. We enjoyed ourselves at the Ritz Carlton outside Las Vegas. Now I understand why everybody is so ga-ga over the Ritz. They know how to treat you and pamper you. And oh my gosh, I want one of their down comforters for our bed. Of course it would be totally inappropriate for this house with the cats who puke all over, Jack who does his thing, and the dogs who do their thing. But a girl can dream about having the most luxurious down comforter right?

Anyway, we are back and Jim had to work today. I am contemplating going to the mall today. Yes, you can say it, I am crazy! I had been planning on buying Laura a small tv with the built-in dvd player for her room. I have been looking at them and saw them for about $130 at various places. Of course while looking through the million pages of ads in the newspaper, I saw where Sears has their tv on sale for $94.87. Of course that price is only good until 11 am today AND while supplies last - Ha, all 3 of them probably. I keep telling myself, that once I go purchase that, most of my shopping will be done and over with. I just am scared to face THE MALL on the Day After Thanksgiving. Scary!

So anybody else tempted to get out today and face the crowds and mass hysteria? Or am I the only absolutely insane person?

Tractor Love

We went into this neat toy store in Mandalay Bay. Jack about lost his mind because they also had the Thomas train set up with about 30 engines and cars. The boy's heaven for sure. So while Jack was growing the Thomas obsession/addiction even more, Jim was looking at the collection of toy tractors. He just had to buy this tractor. Now I KNOW it wasn't for Jack at the time because the boy was hypnotized, brain washed with the Thomas set. No, I really think Jim wanted the tractor and was just using the boy as an excuse. But as soon as the boy laid eyes on the tractor, let me tell you, it was LOVE at first sight.



He gives it kisses.



He plays with it outside the hotel.

He sleeps with it in the car.

He sleeps with it in the crib at night.

He sleeps with it AND hugs it during nap time.

Do Ya Think He Likes It?

The No-Cooking, No-Cleaning, Totally Pampered Thanksgiving

We stayed at this place. The Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson. It was about 20 miles from the strip and oh my gosh was it nice. If you want to go to Vegas, but don't want the hustle and bustle of the strip, then I highly recommend this place. For about $30 more a night, you get pure luxury and pampering. And the resort is absolutely beautiful with views of Lake Las Vegas and walking trails around the lake with waterfalls and private beach. WOW!

I didn't get my facial or massage, but oh well. I had the best, most relaxing time in soooo long. It was really wonderful to just get away and spend time with Jim and Jack with no stress.

Oh and Thanksgiving dinner was absolutely wonderful. We went to their dinner in the ballroom. The food was to die for and the whole atmosphere was beautiful. We are thinking of going back again next year! The whole no cooking or cleaning up afterward thing is really really nice!


A view of their Christmas tree and gardens.




They had the most beautiful English gardens out back. At night they had the entire place lit up. I tried to take pictures, but they just didn't turn out very well, so trust me, it was very beautiful.




The resort had a lot of walking trails that we took advantage of every morning and evening. It was absolutely beautiful. It was also so nice to have a place where we could just let Jack run all over with no worry of somebody snatching him like on the Strip.



They had a chair for Santa all set up. We didn't see Santa because he wasn't scheduled in from the North Pole until Friday, but Jack filled in for him.




The view out our window with Jack pointing out the duckies and fishies in the water. You could literally see the fish jumping from our room on the 8th floor! Of course Jim was really wishing he had his fishing pole.



At night, we would take our Irish coffees out on the balcony and they would make Jack a chocolate milk. Here is Jack enjoying some balcony time.




Mommy and Jack in front of the waterfalls at the hotel.




The hotel was sooo cool. It even had its own little man made beach. Of course Jack and Daddy had to check it out.




November 23, 2005. The 3 of us at Luxor.
We did make it onto the strip for a brief time. We went to Luxor, known as "our hotel" since we have stayed there like 4 times.


Jim and I on July 6, 2003. Yep I was pregnant there with Jack, just we didn't know about yet. See, I still havent lost all the baby weight - almost 2 years later! I swear I am going to lose it before his 2nd birthday! I swear!




On Wednesday night we went to Excalibur dinner show - The Tournament of Kings. Jack really got into the whole show and was clapping and cheering just like everybody else. He loved the horsies in the show. The only bad part was at the end when the firecrackers went off. He didn't really enjoy that part. But he sat and watched and cheered and clapped for everything else.



Jack on Thanksgiving Day. You can tell he is just so thrilled to be standing there for yet another picture.



My 2 handsome boys. Don't they look good?




The 3 of us at Thanksgiving dinner.



The Thanksgiving dinner was in the ballroom. And oooooohhhhhhh was it good! Of course Jack got all the attention from the waiters.

Signing off Til Friday

Just wanted to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everybody. I hope everybody has a great thanksgiving, eat lots and lots of great food, and enjoy the day.

We are leaving for out of town for a couple of days. We are going someplace relaxing to spend Thanksgiving. I hope to have a massage/facial before I sign back on!

See Ya!

Flat Tires and Target

Jim's car had a flat tire. I am the one who probably picked up the nail that did in the tire. I am REALLY good at finding stray nails and running over them. I took his car to the movies on Saturday, and Sunday there was a flat tire. So yep probably me. Anyway, Jim took my Rav 4 to work today and I went to get the tire fixed. It was easy enough, except for the fact that I had Jack, the Grumpiest Toddler on the Block. I got that book The Happiest Toddler on the Block. It ain't working folks. So there we were waiting for the tire to get finished and Jack decided that the chairs needed to be rearranged to HIS liking. It didn't matter if there was an elderly gentleman sitting in that chair. No, he still tried to move the chair. Oh and when I told him NO, the tantrum that followed had me biting my tongue and begging for patience. The whole thing only took about 15 minutes, but I swear time slowed down and it really was an hour!

Then we went to Target, the place of all things good. Jim actually told me yesterday to go to Target to get him some underwear. Note - the mission was to get Jim a package of underwear. HA! I came out over $100 poorer and yes Jim got new underwear in case you were worried. But I figure why not get me a new belt to wear in our family pictures we are taking next weekend. Oh yeah and had to get Jack a new Christmas dressy outfit (a vest sweater with trains on it of course), and since everybody has em, some new slippers for Jack. Both Ben and Connor have them, so Jack couldn't be left out ya know. Oh yeah, Jack's are Thomas slippers, of course! Also got the fun stuff like diapers and stuff. Gotta love Target.

Day At The Mall

We did the mall thing today. It was such fun today. We got to the mall early and grabbed coffees at our favorite coffee house which went corporate and turned into a Starbucks. I love Starbucks and all, but they totally ruined this particular coffee house. It just lost its charm and now it is just another Starbucks, one of about 5 within a mile radius.

Anyway, we strolled around the mall drinking our coffees while Jack sipped his chocolate milk. We hit up the playland where Jack as usual lost his little toddler mind. He absolutely loves going there and runs from one climbing thing to another. We also hit up Old Navy where I can never come out of empty handed. This time we ended up buying a sweater for Jack.

We also saw Santa and from the picture below, you can see where Santa was not a hit with the Jackaroo. But I have to say that I love that picture of him crying on Santa's lap. Of course will have to show it to him when he is about 15 years old.

Jack is also extremely cranky at the moment. He slept in the car on the way home for about 10 minutes and would not go down for a nap afterward. So I have a feeling we have about 5 more hours of temper tantrums. Oh Joy!

Picture Says It All

No, Santa was NOT a hit with Jack. But the santa was ALOT better this year than last year. Last year's Santa was downright SCARY! This one had a real beard and all.

What do Life Insurance, Harry Potter and Old Furniture Have In Common?

Our day yesterday. You know when you try to cram too many things into one day and you end up saying to yourself "this was one craaazzy day"?

It all started out simple enough. We went out to breakfast at the local restaurant. This place is called "Annie's" and the owner (yep named Annie) is british and very funny. They have these really silly hats that newbies (those who have never been to the restaurant before) have to wear. And she always gets about 5 people to wear these really silly hats. Well the rules are if one people takes their hat off, then everybody has to get up and dance the chicken dance. Of course at some point, she makes sure that somebody loses their hat and the rest of us get entertainment. It is really cute and fun. And the food is good too.

Anyway, after breakfast, Laura and I decided to go see the new Harry Potter movie in the brand new theatre (we were so small town that we didn't have a movie theatre and had to drive 20 miles to get to one. I kinda liked it). Jim and Jack did "guy" things. Whatever they were.

I have to say that the movie was probably the best since the first one and definitely the scariest so far. In fact, Laura pretty much clung to me the entire time and made me suffer with a full bladder for the longest time before she felt safe enough for me to go to the bathroom. And there were a few times she practically jumped out of her seat. I highly recommend it, but the movie isn't for the little kids anymore. Pretty scary stuff for them.

After the movie, we rushed home because the life insurance agent was coming to the house to talk to us about buying life insurance. The agent was actually the agent that we used at my job and I really liked him. But the man can talk and talk and talk. He got here at 2:00 and didn't leave until 5:00. But we are now covered, both of us. All I can say if both of us die, Jack is gonna be financially set.

During the 3 hours that the insurance agent was here, this house became grand central station! Our house is never grand central station, but for some reason for 3 hours yesterday, it became the busiest house in the neighborhood at least! We had a couple stop by and look at our old furniture that we were trying to sell. They took it - Yay! Sad thing is they recently just had a house fire and lost everything. Sad! We also had our neighbors stop by for a visit. Laura and their daughter Breena are good friends and play together a lot, but we usually don't see much of the rest of the family, until yesterday when we were trying to get our butts covered with insurance that is! And then there was Jack who insisted upon bringing me every single one of his toys during the talk. I kept having to get up and attend to the screaming toddler and of course making apologies left and right. I think I might of said the words "He is not usually like that" HA I am gonna go to hell for that lie for sure!

Jim had to leave to take Laura back to her mothers because of a slumber party the girl had to attend last night. He had to leave as soon as the papers were signed. I walked Mr. Talky Talky Agent to the door and said "good bye" and closed the door with relief. Of course Jack is screaming at the top of his lungs because Daddy and Sissy just up and left him. He was feeling needy - I was feeling exhausted. I heard the car in the garage, so I opened up the door and what do I see? Mr. Talky Talky Agent talking to Jim about how amazing our garage is! Does the man never leave?

So let me sum it up for you - 1 screaming toddler, 1 agent who will not shut up and leave and 1 getting-pissed-off husband because he knows he is going to get an earful from his ex-wife for being late, who by the way called in her oh-so lovely way (insert sarcasm here) to see if Jim was on his way.

We went out to dinner and for the first time in a very long time, was craving any kind of alcohol! I didn't get any, but it sure crossed my mind. But what we did get instead - a banana split! We shared it and Jack took most of it. The boy stole my spoon from me - took it right out of my hand and dug in. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. His two favorite foods - bananas and ice cream in one dish! So it was a sweet ending to one craaaazzzyyy day.

Early Mornings

For some reason, my body still thinks that I need to get up between 4 - 5 am. I don't know what it is, but I just wake up at that time and can't go back to sleep. Usually that is the time that Jim is getting up to go work, but today, he is still sleeping and I am up. But I love these early mornings. It is MY time. Time that I don't have to constantly battle wills with a toddler or worry about anything getting done. I can just sit here drinking coffee and surf the net. Or if I want to, I can sit and watch the tv shows that I recorded while drinking coffee and just relax. I love it! And the animals leave me alone in the morning also - that is once I feed them.

UPDATE - 30 seconds after posting the above statement about the animals, I heard the distinct sound of a cat puking. Scratch that blissful early morning feeling. I just spent the last few minutes cleaning up cat puke and scrubbing it out of the carpet. Oy!

What is up with this weather?

Okay, I know that a lot of you out there are in places where it is not sunny and 80 degrees. Sorry. But we here in Southern California have had the most amazing weather lately. Jack and I just got back from a walk and we were both wearing shorts! In fact, I had to dig out one of his only two pair of shorts that actually still fit him from the summer. While we were walking today, one of the houses we walked by had their sprinklers going. Of course Jack + sprinklers are like magnets. He can not just pass by. Nope, he has to go put his hand in the water and laugh and giggle and pretty soon his feet and legs are in on the sprinkler action as well. It was so warm, I have to admit that it actually looked like fun to run through the sprinklers.

A funny thing happened this morning. I decided to wash a couple of Jack's stuffed animals because they were down right gross. Well Jack caught me putting Doggie in the dryer! He pulled Doggie out of the dryer while I was digging out the rest of the clothes from the washer. I told him that Doggie needed to get dry and took the animal and put him back in the dryer and closed the door and turned it on. Oh My GOD! The look of absolute fright on my child's face was priceless. He thought for sure Doggie was a dead doggie. And the screaming that came after holding his breath for about 10 seconds was astronomical! I was seriously trying not to laugh because I know that it was a very traumatic moment for him, but it was soooo funny. I did open the dryer back up and let Jack dig out Doggie and "rescue" him from certain death. And after that, Jack was NOT letting Doggie out of his sight. In fact, Doggie HAD to come with us on our walk today. And yep, Doggie got to "run" through the sprinkler also.

Christmas Spirit

There is just something about having kids that makes you want to celebrate Christmas. Before Jack, I really could take the holiday season or leave it. Most likely leave it. I was a bah humbug and would laugh at all the fools out there scurrying to get stupid gifts. Well I am still laughing at the fools scurrying, because I still believe that it is too hyped up and too commercialized. I mean really, spend a Christmas in a foreign country and you'll see what it should be like.

But now I admit that I am in that Christmas spirit. I actually have most of the shopping done. And the rest of the shopping, I know what I want to buy, it is just a matter of waiting for paydays. And I am so looking forward to seeing Jack's face when we put the Christmas tree up this year. He is going to love it. We have a Christmas train that we put around the bottom of the tree every year. It makes choo choo sounds and everything. He is just gonna love it. I also can't wait until we get to see Santa. I think we are going back to the train museum where the Thomas event was held. They have "Santa Trains" where Santa is aboard the train and spends time with each child. Of course, I will be probably tearing up as I do.

My family is visiting us this year for Christmas. So having Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Corlinda here for Christmas is going to be really nice. We are going to the see the Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim. It is a really specatular show.

So Happy Holidays to everyone. Yeah Yeah I know its a bit early, but who cares.

No Work = No Brain?

Jim forgot to take his work cell phone with him to work yesterday. I saw it laying there on the kitchen counter all day. I knew that he did not have that phone with him. But that thought did not even enter my brain as I picked up the phone to call him last night to see what time he would be home. And the sad part? As I was calling him, his cell phone did ring and any other person with a brain would of thought "oops that is me calling the cell phone". Nope that was not me. I actually went and picked up the phone to see who was calling! And when I saw the number was mine, even then it took me a couple of seconds to realize actually how stupid I was! Oy!

Shopping

I thought that I would show ya the furniture we bought and will be delivered to our house on Dec 1 (only 14 more days!!).



This is the table that we bought for the kitchen. It matches our cabinets so well. Now I am so going to need to stain the new door that we had installed back in April to match. I just know that it is going to bug me until that is done.


This is the coffee table and end tables we bought. Just disregard the ugly green furniture. No that is not the furniture we bought.

This is the sofa, loveseat and recliner that we bought to go with the coffee table and end tables above. Of course we got the 7 year stain resistant warranty, they will come out to fix if anything happens. With this family, that is a must.

This morning, I have also been paying tribute to the amazon.com gods. I bought Jim's Christmas gifts, a couple of exercise videos for me (Richard Simmons and a beginner Yoga) I have always wanted to do yoga, but I admit that I am so clutzy that I really wonder if I can do that. But we shall see. This is all the "Improve Dawn" plan of action. I also bought the "Happiest Toddler on The Block" book that everybody is saying is a must have. I hope it gives me some help into the constant whining, crying, screaming entity that used to be my happy child.

And speaking of that child, I hear that he is awake. So my early morning shopping spree is over.

Pictures

Below are some pictures of the past couple of weeks that I haven't put on the blog yet. So for the grandparents, aunts and uncles who have reminded me that I have not been posting pictures - Enjoy.



Here is the boy being lazy with the cat while watching tv.




We went to the model train museum at Balboa Park in San Diego. As you can guess, the boy kinda liked the place.

After the model train museum, we went to ride the merry-go-round and for some reason the boy was absolutely terrified of the thing and ended up being held by Daddy the entire ride.

We bought a jigsaw puzzle a couple of weeks ago. I forgot how fun they are to do. Well Jack had to join in the fun of putting it together. He was so cute and soooo serious as he tried to put the pieces together. He also would hand us a piece and say "thank you". We thought for sure that it would get down to the end and we would be missing at least one piece courtesy of Jack, but amazingly we actually were able to finish the puzzle, even after finding a piece in his toys.

My First Day So Far

Well here it is almost noon and I feel exhausted! So far today, I have done 3 loads of laundry, vacuumed half the house, unloaded and loaded dishwasher, cooked breakfast and lunch for Jack and I, went for a walk with Jack and dog around the neighborhood (man this neighborhood is dead during the day), and went grocery shopping where I spent $155!!!. Now I have Jack napping. Phew this stay-at-home thing is exhausting! But so far, I am loving it. Just knowing that tomorrow I don't have to wake up and drive that hour to work and deal with all that stress is soooooo wonderful!

The rest of the day's agenda looks like this - finish laundry, vacuuming, pick up and drop off Jim's uniforms at drycleaners, play with Jack, read books with Jack, and fix dinner. Hmmm, I am thinking pork chops for dinner tonight.

I'm Done, I'm Done, I AM DONE!

Yesterday was my last day at work. It was a really really weird feeling. For the past two weeks, I have felt like that day could not get here fast enough. And then when it did, wow what a strange, surreal feeling. I have been with this company for about 6 1/2 years and struggled with it during bad times and all. But when it came right down to say goodbye to the job that I niched out for myself there, it was very bittersweet.

They threw me a pizza party and everybody signed a card for me, which almost had me in tears. And it was funny the comments on the cards. There is one lady who has been practically dancing for joy ever since I announced I was leaving. She has for all these years been in competition with me - in her mind. I just try to do my job and that job has become more and more "important" to the company and she could not stand to see me gain "prestige" and not have it all for her. Well anyway, she signed the card "Dawn, It has been real". Yeah and she thinks I am the unprofessional one. But oh well, I am above all that.

And now I am free to do whatever I want! Wow what a scary thought that is. My first goal is to get this house in some kind of order and not be so disgusting. I have a list a mile long of projects around the house, that if I just did half of them, I would be proud of myself.

I do know that I need to get a routine going of some type. Before, on my days off, I really didn't have a routine. The routine was try to get 37 errands done in the time that Jack was cooperative to do such errands.

I am committing myself to some type of exercise program right now in front of all of you. I did join Curves awhile back, but just have not been able to get there because I had nobody to watch Jack during the hour of Curves. Jim's schedule has become that he does not get home until about 7pm and they close at that time. So instead of whining about that and in doing that whining, I get nothing done, I have decided to quit Curves and make a committment that I do something at home with Jack. I plan to get a couple of videos. Jim also bought me the bike with the trailer for Jack, I plan to ride that on the better weather days. We have to first dig it out of the garage from the scary depths that is the garage. But, I really believe that if Jack sees me exercising, he will want to do it also and hopefully be a healthier kid for it. You all know that I am just saying this for myself mostly to get myself to believe all this and more importantly DO it. I hate exercise but, I know that the time has come and there are no more excuses, so I will do it!

Well now I am off to enjoy my first day of freedom, which will include doing about 5 loads of laundry, cleaning bathrooms, kitchen and vacuuming. Sounds like a whole lotta fun huh?

The Day Out

With Thomas. We went to see Thomas today in person. I have to first say that I am a dork. I forgot to take the camera. Not only the camera, I also forgot to take my CAMERA phone. So no pictures of Jack drooling over Thomas to be enjoyed. Sorry.

Our tickets were at 8:30 to ride on Thomas, which worked out perfectly. When we were leaving around 11:30, the line up getting into the madhouse of crazed toddlers was very very long.

The ride on Thomas was cool. Jack's face when he first saw Thomas was not the emotion I thought he was going to have. It was one of fear. As Thomas rolled past us, I could almost read his thoughts - "Oh my gosh Thomas is BIG". The ride on Thomas lasted about 25 minutes, which basically was the train going one way for 12.5 minutes and then back for the remaining time. Of course Jack was saying "choo choo" about every other second. His other word he now says is "baby". He points to another short person and says "baby". And there was no shortage of short people, thats for sure.

After the ride, we walked around the train museum and saw all the old engines and railway cars. The place is the largest train museum in the west, or at least what they call themselves. We got to go up into old cars, including an old post office car where they would sort the mail as they traveled. It was pretty cool to see all the letter bags and old mail sitting in the little cubbies.

Then we walked into a building called "Imagination Station" but what I fondly call "Mass Chaos of Crazed Toddlers". It basically was a whole lot of train sets and other Thomas-related play things. When you walk in, it is literally a sea of toddler boys all sitting around playing with trains. Of course, Jack didn't take very long to join the chaos. It was quite amusing to watch the tantrums taking place all around as a mother would attempt to take her Thomas-addicted toddler out of the building.

Which leads me to the next question - What is it with Thomas? I mean really it is the crack cocaine of the toddler set. Claire mentioned this the other day in her blog and seriously, I think there is some sublimal messages being sent out to all our toddlers and the parents to spend more and more money on Thomas-related crap. And of course there was another whole building dedicated to buy ANYTHING you can imagine that has that little blue engine face on it. And the line to buy said blue-engine crap? That was literally out the door! I just want to meet the marketing genius behind all the craziness! And ask for a loan!

But we had a good time. I think Jack was a bit overloaded with all the choo-choos. He was one tired baby when we got home. And of course, barring major sickness, we will be back again next year. The addiction runs deep with this family.

The Thomas Obsession Grows

We are going to the Day out With Thomas tomorrow morning bright and early. We have a scheduled train ride ON Thomas at 8:30 in the morning. To be honest, I have been looking forward to this for like the last 6 months to finally arrive in our area. I will be hopefully posting lots of pictures of the boy and his idol tomorrow.

SAHM or Part-time SAHM???

That is the question. An opportunity has come up that has me seriously thinking about not quitting work altogether. Yesterday I received an email from a friend who owns his own business and is looking for a part-time accounting person. The thing is, he is moving the business and will be about 5 miles from our house! How convenient is that. He was wondering if I would be interested. Again how convenient is it that I will be unemployed after next week?

I will have to talk to him about all the particulars and everything, but I am thinking about it. It sounds like I can even do a lot of work from home. Even better. I told him that I wouldn't be available until after the beginning of the year. I at least want that much time off. I will need it to destress from the current job situation. Of course, I have to figure out the whole daycare thing. Jack's daycare is literally 6 minutes from this job. Hmmm. Something to think about.

No More Pioneering Spirit

We have our microwave back!!! After two and a half weeks of no microwave and having to live like the pioneers in the dark ages, we now can nuke to our hearts content. Phew! I seriously was having nuke withdrawals.