Suddenly Quite Busy!

Blogging is a funny thing..

I can post funny stuff, awesome stuff, serious stuff, snarky stuff ect... But I never know what kind of traffic any certain post is going to get. I wrote a serious (for me anyway) blog about moving and the new things happening around for our family and it got a crazy amount of traffic. Nearly as many hits as my apparently controversial post I wrote after Loopy quit his job. I wonder why that is? Maybe because I titled it Changes and people are inherently nosy and have to know what's changing as opposed to the usual banter? Who knows. Either way, if you are reading, I am glad that you are here. It makes it feel like perhaps I'm not just talking to myself.. which I still do often. I wish could know who is here, start leaving comments people! 100 hits a day and no one has anything to add? Maybe I AM talking to myself and you are all just listening in...

"This Swip Swap Thing"

If you live around here and know me, you may have met me through the wonder of swip swap. If that is the case you can just nod and laugh along here. Almost exactly a year ago I joined an online group of around 1000 people who participated in an online garage sale. Well it is incredibly addictive! Imagine walking into a store and EVERYTHING YOU LOVE is 80% off. Also, you start to look around your house and see what YOU can sell so that you can buy more awesome stuff. (without your husband finding out) You get the idea, anyway, we used to swap at people's houses, like craigslist. Loopy would come home for lunch and 10 people would stop by in that half hour alone to buy or sell in my driveway. Then things got crazy and the group grew to 4000-5000 members. So many people were running in circles trying to set up times to meet that we started to meet in LARGE groups in parking lots. 

Our biggest swap was more than 80 cars in the Kohls parking lot. Rumor has it the manager got pissed and told us to knock it off. I suppose that is understandable. I stopped going INTO stores unless it was for groceries. 

We tried a couple Swip Swap garage sales. They weren't profitable for me, but it was fun anyway!

Most of the time we just met in parking lots to buy, sell and trade whatever we had stuffed in the trunk that day. I don't know who bought that black swirly thing, but I really still want it. 

This is how we try on clothes in the parking lot..

Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that when you are on a site like that all the time you learn a lot about people. You learn how they treat strangers. You learn what their tastes and personalities are. You learn who you can be snarky with and who just. doesn't. get. it. Some of the most awesome friends I have met in the last year are from swip swap.

This wall has changed quite a bit..
I'll have to update this pic later

People laughed at me because I was on there CONSTANTLY. My best friends had recently started working full time and it gave THIS stay at home mom something to fill the days and grown ups to talk to. Even when I stopped posting and buying for several months.I still hung out and kept in touch with some awesome women... and I usually HATE hanging out with females. AND I redecorated my house for next to nothing!

Bought everything in this room
but the bed and night stands on SS

Everything in this room but the furniture for around $50

There are now 8323 members and about 100 spin off swap sites for specific items. That shit got outta control. I recently started swippy swapping again because we are moving and I need to get rid of the things we aren't using. I posted on my FB wall: 

Just a heads up, I am moving soon. That means I am selling lots of stuff on SwipSwap (online garage sale) I made another profile so I don't clog up everyone's news feeds but sometimes I forget which one I am on cause I jump back and forth a lot. Bear with me.

 And two things happened. 1st people from up north were like I wanna do that! How do I find a local one? and 2nd people were like WHAT!? YOU ARE MOVING!? WHEN!?!

I thought you knew!

How could someone NOT know? It has not been a secret. Oh yeah, other people have lives and don't just sit reading what I do at the computer all day. I had assumed that the same people who comment and talk on my FB page were the same people who read what I write here on the blog. Apparently not. I was bombarded with messages and texts from rather shocked friends who hadn't gotten the memo that we are leaving town. People I haven't seen or heard from in a while (and the ones that I see often) are starting to get a little panicky. Suddenly my days are booked! Every day for the last week I have had a breakfast or lunch date with someone (or a big ass group of people). While I'm out doing that I stop in the old parking lots for swaps and make a little cash. (over $100 this week, by the way) Just a couple weeks ago I was dropping Logan off and school, coming home and lounging on the couch for HOURS then going to pick him up from school and maybe the occasional playdate. It was getting boring (figuratively speaking, it is RARELY boring here) I am NOT complaining. Most people know that I LOVE being out of the house and doing things. It makes me feel loved that people want to see us and catch up before we go. Even if it's only an hour away.

Busted.

Kendal would love it if we could just go back to snuggling under Care Bear blankets until noon. Sometimes she gets up before me and takes my picture.






Ok, enough about that. Now when I mention swippy swappy, picking up awesome bar stools for $30, or stopping at Kohls real quick you'll know what I'm talking about.

Next time....

I'll go back to the usual stuff, but I sort of got off on a tangent there and now its 3am. I have to get up in 5 hours and attend an epic coffee/breakfast meeting. G'night! 

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Did you sing that title? Cause you were supposed to.

2012

A lot of stuff happened last year. Which was really only a couple days ago. But I like that calling it last year makes it seem like a long time ago. I honestly don't remember the first half the year. It happened. I have all the pictures and such to prove it but it seems insignificant when all that other stuff happened late in the year. Stuff that I will never shake from my memory. I will never be able to forget everything that happened in September and October. That was such a crazy couple months. I am grateful that I can go back to the bloggity blog anytime an reflect on it all. The good and the bad. 

I still can't wrap my head around 'the bad'. I can't envision a world with out Benji. Its not so much that he was a huge part of my life. He was everything to the people I love and my heart hurts knowing that life for my best friend and god daughter has to go on without him. I hate that his parents have to deal with unimaginable loss. I wish there was more that I could have done. I am grateful that I was able to go up there and support them all when I could. Its still just a movie that plays in my head. 

My 2012 goal of improving our family life was accomplished so I am ready to let that part of the past stay there. Just let it go and enjoy everything that we have to look forward to. That isn't easy, I am still angry about a lot of things things but it's exhausting to hold grudges and I have never been one to do that. All I can do is look back and smile. That is a great feeling. Sometimes I still rant. But I like to rant. 

2013

For the record, I typed that date wrong 3 times. It will take some getting used to. 

Relocation

So we have been talking about when we are moving to Lake Mary. I think we have officially settled on moving in the end of March. I originally wanted to wait until the end of the school year.

(Hold on, Kendal is beating the new nook with a dinosaur.)

But my friend Claire suggested we move when our lease is up to a)avoid issues with extending a lease b) make new friends before summer starts and c)avoid all the extra cash we are shelling out on gas and fender benders because of the commute. I totally agree with these things. Logan is a pretty social guy and shouldn't have any trouble at a new school. Kendal could care less as long as she has her toys. I actually enjoy the purging and packing/inventory that goes along with moving. House hunting is my favorite! 

Let the search for a new place to live begin! First we have to make a list of things we want and or need in a house. 

1. At least 3 bedrooms, none of us want to share rooms if we don't have to. An extra "play room" again would be nice... 

2. A decent preferably fenced in yard.

3. At least the same square footage that we have now. Its nice to not HAVE to see eachother all the time.

4. Close to the new job and decent schools.

5. Another raise is likely coming soon but we would like to pay about what we are now for rent.

bonus points if:

1. It has more than one story, Logan wants stairs.

2. A fireplace, so I can stop making s'mores in the toaster oven.

3. NO TILE!!! That stuff is impossible to keep clean.

4. Logan would like to live next to a nice skate park (sigh)

5. Kendal would like a pet alligator since dinosaurs are hard to come by.

6. A pool. I can dream, right?

7. Loopy would like to have all that and pay as close to nothing as possible (HA!)

(hold on, Kendal needs me to build an angry birds castle)

Many of my friends have issues with me moving. I understand that. I will miss the convenience of being close to my friends here. I'll miss having people to kid swap with. I will miss having people that will go drink coffee with me at midnight just so I can get out of the house to enjoy adult conversation. There are A LOT of people I will miss for various reasons. I've always been good at meeting people and choosing the good ones, so I am not worried about it. To all of you who are panicking and or pouting, its only an hour away. I'll meet you 1/2 way.. or better yet, at Disney!

Loopy is excited to live 10 minutes from work again, however he has REALLY been enjoying the drive and listening to music as loud as he wants with the AC blasting. The idea was that the drive would be a way for him to settle down and clear his mind before he gets home to the family.. that hasn't been necessary. He loves everything about his job and is excited to come tell us about it every day. 

About that new job...

Loopy emailed his recruiter on New Years Day to tell her he'd like to take a full time position at the new company so they can get that paperwork started. The first weekend with them was rough but that problem has been fixed and he was reassured numerous times it won't happen again. He is starting to trust what people tell him. 

(hold on, Logan got the blue screen of death on the computer again)

The managers are taking his suggestions and using them. They congratulate him daily on a job well done and are encouraging him to take control and even hire people if need be to help with the website he is in charge of. Most days he comes home and tells me it doesn't feel like work, he is having a great time. Therefore the rest of us are incredibly happy. I had missed his smile, silly antics, and lovable personality. 

Resolutions?

Nah, I am not a fan of resolutions. I have never met anyone that followed through for a whole year on a resolution.. ok, maybe one or two, but I know a LOT of people, so the statistics are not good. There are a few things I'd like to improve on. 

I'd like to quit smoking. I have been a smoker since I was 16 and I'm sort of over it. I won't tell people when I am going to quit and I won't set a date that I will be "DONE" I don't want the pressure from others and I don't want to be disappointed in myself if I don't meet my own deadline. I hate deadlines very much.

I'd like to get back into decent shape. I've become quite lazy. I have a million reasons in my head that I can't get up RIGHT now and get that ball rolling. I used to exercise to excess. I went through an anorexic stage in life and in my mind I know that it would be easy to hit that mental switch again. Gotta find a balance.

(hold on, Kendal wants Fruity Pebbles)

I'd like to be a better mom and find more patience. That will be hard with that quitting smoking thing.. I suppose they all tie in, huh? I'll try to get up and play with them more. I'll try to be more active with them. That's hard because they never want to go ANYWHERE. I guess home is just too awesome. 

(hold on, Kendal just spilled her Fruity Pebbles all over the couch and my phone is exploding and Logan is asking me to make some dinner)

I'd like to blog more. Yeah, I do it a lot, but it gets the thoughts out of my head and cures insomnia. I'll try to be careful and not allientate people. No promises though. What sort of stuff do you want me to write about? 

Change is good

I'll embrace it. I like adventures. I like new things and new people and new experiences.I think this is gonna be a great year! I have to go make tacos.

So Long 2012!

End of the year... picture style

We've been busy over Christmas Break and I didn't have a lot of time to post here, So I'll  paraphrase with some pictures, memes, and kid-isms.

The first Monday after the CT school shooting was Logan's class party. So many people were nervous that it would go poorly, the teachers would say too much, or there would be copycat episodes. I was afraid a kid (probably mine) would blurt out what s/he heard on the news or his/her parents said over the weekend. It was business as usual for a class of rowdy 1st graders. I read them How the Grinch stole Christmas and we all made crafts. The teacher was visibly relieved that it went so well.

Heh... Guilty Conscience collection. 

Logan: If everyone's phones just stopped working that would be bad. We would have use those big flat things with the long string in the back... and the spirally spring connector piece... 

Me: You mean a telephone with a cord? 

Logan: Yeah! one of those big telephones with bumpy buttons. 

Random thought from Kendal: Books are the best thing EVER!!!

This is how Kendal feels about ANYTHING healthy. Especially vegetarian sausage.

If you haven't watch TED talks, you should. I found this series and I LOVE IT!! (Mind you I read psychology textbooks in my spare time) There is amazing information in here about everything from schizophrenia to aspergers to Alzheimers. Just amazing stuff for my fellow psych friends. 

I always said that someday when my kids are older and hate me (teenagers) I'll go back to school for psychology. I just thought of the best stress relief during therapy ever: Bubble wrap. Big rolls of it. You can choose any size bubble sheet you like. This way I will instantly know if a question or conversation makes the person nervous or angry. Over time I will be able to tell more about them by what size bubble wrap they choose. I prefer the big ones. You can plug the first hole and pop those bitches again if you want!

 I'll have the coolest psych office ever. 

This would be my coffee table book in the waiting room..

Done.

I bought Logan the last Diary of Wimpy kid book. He sat in the cart and read while I shopped. When we left the store he was on page 32. When he went to bed he was on page 100. This morning he woke me up at 10ish to tell me he was done with his book. NOW what am I gonna do? That was supposed to keep him occupied for at least a couple days. He is currently re-reading his favorite parts. 

Logan found the Harry Potter wand he got for his birthday. I am trying to clean the house and get ready for some grocery shopping and he keeps hitting me with "confundus and "Petrificus Totalis" makes is REALLY hard to get things done. I was going to lock him out of my room but he also knows "Alohomora" I give up.

One night I met some friends for a candle light vigil down at Flagler Beach in memory of people who were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. It was really very beautiful. All the names were read and a short biography about each person. They weren't just names, they were women and children. That is how they should be remembered. 

The paper lanterns were beautiful

Bags and candles left on the beach.

One of the good things about Christmas Break is plenty of free time to spend with friends. We met up with Susan, Nick, and Mia and headed out to Matanzas National Monument. It was the look out tower for the St. Augustine Fort. Anyway. The kids were super excited for the boat ride (pontoon across the river)

Mia: Oh Mom, Look, there is the castle where the princesses live!

Kendal: Oh Mom, Look, it's CAMELOT!! Lets go in and get that grail. 

On Thursday night before break a friend was panicking a little because her kid (Logan's age) didn't have anything dressy to wear for his Christmas program. Since my kid loves to dress up I figured I'll just get something that BOTH kids can use. I found a super cute 3 piece suit at wal*mart and dropped it off for her to use first. When she brought it back, Logan started handing out books and ran back inside to INSTANTLY get dressed up. He thinks he's all grown up now and looks pretty damn handsome!

Loopy got selected for Jury Duty last week.When he told his new boss he was worried that she would tell him to make up the time or just come in later. But she just said "wow, that's a drag." And dropped the subject. Then he was chosen to be ON a jury. (again, shockingly, it was not an issue for his employer) The only downside to this is trying to talk to Loopy after he spends the day in a jury box. It is irritating. He cross examined me about a conversation on conspiracy theories and gun control. We were agreeing but he totally lawyered me. Hand in his pocket, gesturing.. I told him to go away. 

A friend posted this fantastic video on Facebook. It has been in my head for about a week now. Here you go. 

I saw this picture on FB for how to keep a cat off the computer. I have always said having cats and kids is pretty similar. Here is an example.

Loopy was having issues with kids on the laptop while he was tinkering on facebook (OH YES, we found a way to suck him in) So he suggested we find boxes for the kids to get them away from him Worked like a charm. 

See? Happy kids in boxes














The size of the box really doesn't matter, they are happy to climb right it.

I got pulled over on the way home from the grocery store on Christmas Eve. First thing I do is make sure my seat belt is on. The first thing Logan does is UNBUCKLE and jump out of his seat to see the cop standing at his window. I got out of the ticket and Logan got a long lecture from the police about always wearing his seat belt. (which he ALWAYS does) He was trying so hard not to cry and explain that he just wanted to see and dropped his paper on the floor. I nearly went mamma bear on the cop for going a little too far and scaring him to the point of tears. Logan honestly did nothing wrong. He is still upset about this a week later. After the cop walked away Kendal let out a nervous giggle like she just got away with something.

Um Yeaaaaah, I'm gonna need you to go ahead
and come in on Christmas tomorrow... 

Loopy left work at 3pm Christmas Eve and headed to pick up some stuff at Target and he was still home in time for dinner on Christmas Eve. This has not happened without repercussion in years. 'Real World' for the win.

Christmas Eve Loopy was passed out on the couch while I wrote a little poem.

Me and Logan left out the milk and cookies for Santa. Yeah, in a Corona cup, guarded by Tiki Guys. It's Florida, what can I say.

Merry Christmas!!

I 'Mustache' you a question. 

Getting down to business!

LOVES her dinosaurs!!

I got a SKATEBOARD!!!

Yeah we got the pads, but he didn't have time
to get dressed or wear shoes.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

Hungry Hungry Hippos and Mouse Trap!!

Kissing dinos

Hugging Dinos

Logan got THIS awesome shirt from Aunt Kris.
And also did his own hair. Wowsers.

Using his new electricity kit. It works,
the hair is also working for the scientist look. 

Look mom! I have an idea!

Logan was MOST excited about his skateboard. Obviously. He was riding it back and forth in the house for 7 hours. SEVEN. HOURS. Gotta say his balance was way better than it was this morning. 

Kendal was most excited about her dinosaurs and new squishy animals. That went about the way we expected. My parents got her a doll in attempts to not limit her toys. It stayed on the floor where she opened it for about 3 days. I finally had to move it to the playroom yesterday cause it was creeping us out. I kept thinking there was an unconscious child on the floor. (I think she was using it for wrestling practice with Logan today though, so don't worry grandma, its getting used)


The day after Christmas was incredibly mellow. The kids were happily playing with their new stuff. Logan was working on creating a permanent groove in the floor by the sliding doors while practicing his balance. Adriana and Sean came over in the afternoon to hang out for a while and exchange presents.



Loopy came home and said his day at work was also "Fun and Relaxing" I love that he is all smiles and laughing with us, cracking jokes. I wonder how long this "Moment of Sanity" will last? No complaints here.

Friday was the first time Logan tried to skate at an actual skate park. He is such a lady's man. The girls were lined up at the fence to cheer him on! Some of the older kids were really nice and helped him get more comfortable on the ramps and learning the basics. He REALLY loves this sport!

Also, Kendal LOVES to swing.

Other than time at the park, the kids have been finding new places to keep their new toys. Mostly on, under, and near the couch. Smaller items and skateboards are kept directly in walkways.

Luckily I have great friends, so this also applies.

Friday night I went out with Karry. We stayed up drinking coffee, shaking, and talking until the UPS trucks showed up in the Bealls parking lot. Gotta say she is one great coffee buddy. As for this ----->
That happened when I got over zealous in conversation and spilled my coffee everywhere. That was about 2 hours and unknown cups into it...

Coffee time is ALWAYS my favorite. 

Saturday was spent sleeping in and playing with our new toys. Loopy took Logan to the skate park for a bit to practice. Later that night I was bored and suggested we head up to St. Augustine to see the beautiful lights on the Christmas train. This is what I had envisioned.

And we did ride the Holly Jolly Christmas Train, but Loopy got a wicked bad case of indigestion from his new meds, Logan got in trouble for being incredibly annoying, Kendal had to pee and everyone was really really cold. It was beautiful, just a little stressful. I am happy to say they ALL fell asleep on the way home and I enjoyed the silence.



Today we slept in some more, played with our toys and I took Logan to a new skate park. This place was great because I got to sit in the car with the heat on and read while he scooted around and watched the big kids. I love that the big kids are so nice to him and try to teach him new things. Lord knows he won't listen to me and gets really frustrated if I suggest anything.

Maybe I'll write something reflective and deep tomorrow. Depends on how much wine I drink. We aren't goin' anywhere so we'll see what happens. If I don't get back to this before then:

Happy New Year!!