Top 10

I seem to have less and less to write about in the past months. Does this mean I really have no news going on in my life? On the contrary! We have been so busy with the everyday buzz of life, that I don't think I have taken the time to update nearly enough. While I don't have anything incredible or groundbreaking to share, here are the top 10 thoughts in my head tonight:

1. I am training for a triathlon. It is in less than a month. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I have to admit that I am feeling great about my personal training. I love how I feel physically and mentally when I am training for some kind of event.

2. Josh and I ran the Earth Day 5K last weekend. It was fun. We had the munchkins with us and it felt pretty cool to zoom past hundreds of people while pushing 65+ pounds of kid and stroller. We finished in 30 minutes. Not bad if I do say so myself.

3. I have also committed to yet another physical testament. In August I am going to run in a race called Ragnar. It is a race from LaCrosse, WI to the Cities (~200miles) and I will run 3 different legs of the 36 leg race with a team of 12 strangers with the exception of my college roommate, she invited me onto the team, so I am really excited for something so new.

4. We continue to struggle selling the house. With, a disappointing, 6 days remaining on the "first time homebuyer" credit, we are feeling a little stressed and quite discouraged about selling our house soon. We dropped the price (again) about 2 (or so) weeks ago, and since then have not had a single showing. How frustrating!

5. After the news of our "dream house" selling, we started to revisit the idea of building. We returned to see the land we fell in love with last summer and found that our heart still skipped a beat with the thought of living there, so we are having house plans drawn up by an architect and we are chomping at the bit to see them.

6. I bought an ipod nano last weekend, and I am loving it. I just need to add music--a lot of music! Maybe I will ask for an iTunes gift card for Mother's day.

7. In anticipation of Joslynn's 3rd birthday we went shopping last weekend to look around. Our plan was to buy her a bike, and we were so excited that she showed so much interest, that we bought her bike early and we are amazed when we watch our baby girl riding her very own "big girl" bike. My, how the time flies!

8. We are needing to find a new daycare (in Sartell) and the thought of starting over with that process is already starting to stress me out a little bit.

9. I just completed another one of my masters classes and start a new one on Wednesday. I am surprised at how this process has flown by as well. Before you know it, I will have another degree and be moving up the pay scale (hopefully).

10. A lot of new adventures could be heading our way. I am thinking that with our luck, everything will happen at once. While I dread the thought of being any more busy, I secretly hope that all our wishes start to fall into place.

It's Like Dating

I know, I know...it's been a long time since my last post, but I am without a doubt an emotional writer, so I tend to write when I really have something on my mind. (As you can see, things were pretty dull upstairs for a while; time to clean out the cobwebs.)

Yesterday, I got a call. It was Josh. He told me that our dream house, that we have been fantasizing about for the past 7 months, the house we had planned to spend the next 30+ years in, the house we had already become emotionally attached to, had sold. I was kind of in shock.

First, I cried (which is why I was glad I was at home alone when he called). Then I took a hot shower and cried a little bit in there too.

'It's just a house.' I told myself. 'You shouldn't be so upset over something you never really had!' But I was.

I have concluded that buying/selling houses is like dating. You put yourself "on the market" by looking at houses and by trying to sell your own. You look and sort, and sift through the possibilities with a fine tooth comb. Is it big enough? (no pun intended) Will it suit my needs? Can I picture spending the rest of my life there?

Once you think you have those questions answered, you put in an offer, which is kind of like an engagement. You promise that the house will be yours forever just as soon as the time is right, but not all engagements make it to the next stage. The real commitment!

I was (am) very sad that I didn't get to (officially) promise to love and care for the house like I had planned, but as with many things in my life, it wasn't meant to be. "Everything happens for a reason," has been my motto for about the last decade of my life and I am trying to look at the situation in that way. It's just hard when I was prepared to start picking out china patterns together.

Now, here we are, single, available, vulnerable and back on the market in search of a new place that we will love even more. Tonight, we looked at four houses and I felt like I was cheating on the other house, but then I had to remind myself that it was no more. We are trying not to rush into anything too fast; we are totally on the rebound.

I bet you never knew that dating and house hunting were so closely related!

Took a little trip today...

Joslynn and I needed to get out of the house today so we decided to go on a little trip.

PhotoBooth will forever be my belly-laugh inspired friend.

Jammies

I was standing in front of the mirror the other day looking at my pajamas as I stood brushing my teeth.

'Hmmm. I wonder what other people wear to bed.'

This got me thinking about what I was currently wearing and made me wonder if I am in need of a "jammie-makeover."

I was wearing a large, v-neck, extra long, t-shirt that had been stretched out from my previous (very) pregnant belly. It is a plain, single colored, faded shade of red. Along with my plain-jane shirt, I was wearing a pair of simple, brown, cotton shorts.

'Man! I am such a loser!' I told myself.

So, out of my own critique of my bed-time attire, I am dying to find out what everyone else heads off to dream-land in. Do you wear formal pajamas that have a matching top and bottom? Do you mis-match? Do you wear pants, shorts, shirts, night-gowns? Or perhaps you wear something a little less comfortable...if you know what I mean? If you feel inclined to share, please answer my poll or feel free to respond with something I have not included.

Sweet dreams!

Strange

Is it strange that I just heard a helicopter over my classroom, as I sat working at my desk, and felt a sense of calm? I think it just might be...

An Amazing Find

I was on my merry way to my parent's house with the kids this morning and as I turn off the highway, just about to turn onto their road, I spotted something!

'That looked like a $100 bill!' I said to myself. I drove over it, but then my brain quickly reviewed the mental picture of what I thought to be Benjamin Franklin's sweet face.

I slowed down, put the van in reverse, "Mommy will be right back" I told the kids. I stepped out into the frigid cold and walked toward the treasure sight.

'It can't be...' I said to myself.

As I approached, I couldn't believe my eyes. Three beautiful Benjamin's were laying on the frozen ground. At first I couldn't believe it, then I thought, 'They must be fake,' but with a closer look they seem legit.

THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS!

I feel kind of guilty because that means that someone lost this much money, but this amazing find couldn't have come at a better time.

I have a lot to say!

Hey all,

My mommy has been helping keep track of my words that I know and so we thought we would share them with all of you, because surprisingly, I know more words than everyone thought I did! Here they are...

1. Mommy (Although I haven't said that as much lately because Daddy brainwashed me to say Daddy; now I just call Mommy, Daddy).
2. Daddy
3. Joslynn (sounds like Jos-yinn)
4. Lily (girl @ daycare)
5. Jodi (daycare)
6. Mindy (daycare)
7. Booboo (bear)
8. Moosie (He's my new snuggle-buddy)
9. Eat
10. Please
11. Thank-you
12. Potty
13. Car
14. Choo-choo
15. Owie
16. Kitty
17. Puppy
18. Horsie (hee-hee)
19. Duckie
20. Hippo
21. Book
22. Moon
23. Blankie
24. Orange
25. Apple
26. Manna (banana)
27. Pizza
28. Noodles
29. Milk
30. Water
31. Cookie
32. Cracker
33. More
34. Snack
35. Hello
36. Hi
37. Bye-bye
38. Sock
39. Boot
40. Hot
41. Cold
42. Baby
43. Poopie
44. Chair
45. Up
46. Down
47. Open
48. Door
49. Movie
50. Belly
51. Pretzel
52. Truck
53. Tractor
54. Fishy
55. Monkey
56. Piggy
57. Moo moo (cow)
58. Star
59. Muffin
60. Shark
61. Stuck
62. Flower
63. Nose
64. Coat
65. Hat
66. Alligator (doesn't sound perfect)
67. Frog
68. Cock-a-doodoo (crocadile)
69. Tree
70. Bottle
71. Spoon
72. Done
73. Teeth
74. Hug
75. Auntie
76. Picture
77. Eye
78. Bowl
79. Me
80. Doctor
81. Ball

Those are the ones we have actually had a chance to write down...but we know there are more. I am learning so much, so fast, that Mommy and Daddy can't even keep up.