So, I have a fantastic friend who is getting married Ocotber 9, 2010. She had asked me to be the maid of honor to which I was elated to have bestowed upon me. Well, with weddings come bachelorette parties. Since I am not the drinking type so much any more, I volunteered to be the designated driver for those that wished to partake in such activites. This bachelorette party was this past weekend. It all started Saturday afternoon .. . . .
I was in my truck (car, SUV, whatever) with a member of the bridal party on our way to Council Bluffs to go to the hotel and meet a bunch of gals that were going to be part of the party. On our way, my truck starts acting funny. The battery needle/gauge showed it to be all the way to the right and my "check gauge" light came on. Bizarre? Well, I tried to call my husband, no luck. Tried my dad; no luck. Tried my husband again and he answered but by the time he answered, the needle had returned to normal. Ok . . . ? weird. I explained what was going on and we just agreed for me to keep driving because the truck wasn't acting funny in any way. So, as soon as I get off the phone, it goes back up! Then a bit later, it came back down. Then up again and back down. The total amount of times was at least 3 times - maybe 4. It was weird.
Well, we finally make it to the hotel and are the 1st one's there. That's cool. Pam (the bride-to-be) showed up a little bit later and then a few more people after we were in the hotel room. We are hanging out and just talking and finally decide it's time to head to the restaurant.
We had reservations made for 5pm - early yes - but we were informed that there was a large party of about 35 that was going to be taking up the entire dining room but we should be ok. Alright. Well, we get there about 5:10 and are seated right away. We all order something to drink (me with my water!) and wait for one more person to show up. After she shows up, we wait a little bit longer and decide to go ahead and order as it seems as if those that were going to show up were already there. So, we order and it takes a while to get our food. A little while after we have our food, the manager of the restaurant for the evening comes over and says that since it's 6:20 -we need to hurry up and leave because the other party is coming and they need to be seated. WHAT?! You are seriously asking us to leave when we JUST got our food not more than 5 minutes ago?! Oh, no you didn't! And we see a large party of high school students coming in and getting seated. THESE are the people who have the large party?! At the risk of sounding a bit off - there was NO way that those kids were going to be spending the money that we were at that time - not with what was being consumed by our table (not me though!). (wink, wink)
Well, after much turmoil and discussion - we paid for our food and things and left - not without assuring the manager that this type of thing WILL be reported to her superior. All necessary information was obtained - the general manager's name, her name, our waiter's name - who was GREAT! poor guy!, the time of our reservation and the fact that our reservation was ok'd by a manager when the call was made.
We leave quite upset and wondering what to do next. We decide to go across the street to a bar. We joke around with the staff and tell them what just happened to us. They are stunned. We get a place to sit and drinks (and water!) were ordered. We get some chips and salsa since not everyone got to finish their food and start having a good time. More people have shown up while we are having a good time cackling it up like a bunch of hens. Well, a waitress comes over and jokes around about how we have to leave in 15 minutes. We all laugh and then she says "Seriously though, can you guys keep it down a bit?" Apparently a table she was waiting on asked her to ask us to keep it down! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! WE ARE AT A BAR!!!! We tell the manager/supervisor lady working and she thought we were joking! NOPE! She asked who it was and we told her and I guess some fur was flying behind the scenes with that one! WOW!
So, we got kicked out of a restaurant and then told to quiet down at a bar. What else is going to happen?!
Well, we decide to walk around the Old Market of Omaha and are having a good time. We are tying to find a place called Whiskey Tango - I was under the impression it's a country bar. We eventually find it after a brief stint around the area. We have a good time and are there quite a long time. We eventually decide to leave and go to the casino near the hotel. I lost $2 on the penny slots - but i got a free soda out of the deal! We decide we are hungry (seriously - how could we be hungry?!) so we want a perkins. No perkins around so we eat at some restaurant that was part of the hotel/casino. We feel the need to rehash the 1st restaurant experience of getting kicked out and all the stuff we have gone through! Our waitress is stunned, the other is as well and the manager is beside himself with this information.
Well, we make it back to the hotel and around 2 am, we decide to go to sleep.
The next morning, well . . . we all got dressed and ready to go. I am wearing sweat pants and a hoodie with tennis shoes. Well, while trying to go down the stairs, apparently my shoes are getting caught on the carpet and edge of the stairs - - - or the devil took over my body and kept my legs from working properly - - - so i take a tumble down 1/2 a flight of stairs. I end up scraping up both knees, somehow cut a chunk out of my finger and hit my head pretty hard on the wall. I have an instant headache and my knees hurt. After seeing I am ok, my friends are laughing so hard they are crying . . . thanks guys! ;)
Well, i make it home - no truck problems!!!! To make a longer story short - I end up getting hit in the back of the head by Jake and have ANOTHER headache to deal with and then - Jake ends up hitting his head really hard at church and had to be taken to the ER that night! He ends up ok - but WOW!
What a weekend!!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Dont take my toothpaste!
So Taylor has her own special toothpaste . . . not really special . . . just not the same as the toothpaste that Sarge and I use. Well, she seems to have had a difficult time putting it away some time back and I told her that she needs to be putting it away after she brushes her teeth. It seemed that at least once a week I had to reiterate this to her and I had finally had enough! I told her that if she doesn't put her toothpaste away, I was going to throw it away and she would have to use the same toothpaste and me and daddy. Well, I have failed to follow through with this but I think she realizes this fact.
However! She must notice in the morning that she has failed to put away her toothpaste and seems to think that there is some toothpaste fairy (or even I have been accused of this) that comes in and takes it out and leaves it on the counter!
Well, this morning she apparently had enough time to take care of the toothpaste fairy (who apparently can read) and tell her (or him?)
DON'T TAKE MY TOOTHPASTE! AND I MEAN IT TOO!
(if i knew how to put the picture my husband sent to me up here . . . i would. but since i don't . . . you can about imangine!)
However! She must notice in the morning that she has failed to put away her toothpaste and seems to think that there is some toothpaste fairy (or even I have been accused of this) that comes in and takes it out and leaves it on the counter!
Well, this morning she apparently had enough time to take care of the toothpaste fairy (who apparently can read) and tell her (or him?)
DON'T TAKE MY TOOTHPASTE! AND I MEAN IT TOO!
(if i knew how to put the picture my husband sent to me up here . . . i would. but since i don't . . . you can about imangine!)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Am I the only one?
I often find myself pondering this question . . . Am I the only one?
Am I the only one that feels that I HAVE to clean the house on Saturday and ONLY Saturday? Am I the only one that gets so flustered that if I can't get my house clean Saturday morning that I feel like I can't get it done for the rest of the day no matter how hard I try. I liked my routine and I want it back. I liked getting up on Saturday mornings and knowing that I was going to embark on a 6 hour cleaning escapade throughout my entire house starting in the kitchen, working my way to the dining room, then the living room, down the hall, into the bathroom and then ultimately the bedrooms. Dishes, sweeping, mopping, dusting, arranging, tidying up, occasionally the windows, scrubbing the sink, shower and toilet and all of the laundry. I LOVED my Saturdays. I knew what to expect and I was good at what I did. I even have let go of a few things along the way and don't feel the need to dust EVERY weekend so that has saved me quite a bit of time. When the dish washer was working (broke again!) that saved A LOT of time as well.
So I messed up my routine going back to school some 3 1/2 years ago. I tried so hard to maintain my cleaning schedule but the home work got in the way. I had to slowly let go of the things I loved so much. Folding laundry the correct way, hanging up all the clothes just right (lightest to darkest and hanging all according to short sleeves, mid length sleeves and then long sleeves and then the pants too . . . don't forget the pants!) - all of them facing the same way . . . like looking into a store . . . it was a sight to behold. But I let some things go none-the-less. After entering graduate school, nearly 8 months later I had our 2nd child. Well, I had to let go of some more things. . . then I got back into school and kept on truckin'! I was helping out at my daughter's school while trying to do homework and take care of a new born. The baby slowly got older and I just kept going and going and going. Another summer came and went and I was nearly finished with grad school. As I entered what I knew would be my last semester of classes . . . internship still in the air . . . I found out I was pregnant . . . AGAIN?! HOW CAN THIS BE?! Well, I know how it happens . . . but HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! ok, regroup and get yourself together kelli! Well, I got a job at the same place i did my internship and was now working full time, being a mom, wife, chief bottle washer and diaper changer as well as going to school. Am I the ONLY one crazy enough to do this?????? Again i ask this question . . . and again. . . I have to let go of more things . . . this time . . . i began to let go of something i held dear. . . the vacuum. I use to vacuum every week even though i felt that it could use it more . . . but i hate to admit this - but I have gone at least 2 weeks without vacuuming. I use to operate under the viewpoint . . . what if the Queen of England would show up at my house. . . what would she say?! Now, I operate under the viewpoint . . . i have 3 kids, a husband who is a full-time student, I work a full-time job and a part-time job . . . i don't care what the Queen says . . . she gets to have a maid! Am I the ONLY one who thinks like this?!
I have come to realize that I am not perfect and cannot maintain perfection to the degree that I wish. I'm busy, right? But why is there this constant nagging of "Am I the only one" who doesn't like the routine messed up, the house not clean, the flowers dying, the crackers on the table from supper still? I see so many things around the house that I want finished . . . but think . . . am i the only one that cares? I sure as heck know that the kids don't care . . . they don't see what I see. Shoot, Sarge doesn't see what I see! He never will and I am ok with that . . . we've discussed this and in NO way, shape, or form is this demeaning to him . . . it's just the facts (ma'am).
I want to be the person that cleaned every Saturday and got it done and liked it.
i don't want to let this go . . . am i the only one?
Am I the only one that feels that I HAVE to clean the house on Saturday and ONLY Saturday? Am I the only one that gets so flustered that if I can't get my house clean Saturday morning that I feel like I can't get it done for the rest of the day no matter how hard I try. I liked my routine and I want it back. I liked getting up on Saturday mornings and knowing that I was going to embark on a 6 hour cleaning escapade throughout my entire house starting in the kitchen, working my way to the dining room, then the living room, down the hall, into the bathroom and then ultimately the bedrooms. Dishes, sweeping, mopping, dusting, arranging, tidying up, occasionally the windows, scrubbing the sink, shower and toilet and all of the laundry. I LOVED my Saturdays. I knew what to expect and I was good at what I did. I even have let go of a few things along the way and don't feel the need to dust EVERY weekend so that has saved me quite a bit of time. When the dish washer was working (broke again!) that saved A LOT of time as well.
So I messed up my routine going back to school some 3 1/2 years ago. I tried so hard to maintain my cleaning schedule but the home work got in the way. I had to slowly let go of the things I loved so much. Folding laundry the correct way, hanging up all the clothes just right (lightest to darkest and hanging all according to short sleeves, mid length sleeves and then long sleeves and then the pants too . . . don't forget the pants!) - all of them facing the same way . . . like looking into a store . . . it was a sight to behold. But I let some things go none-the-less. After entering graduate school, nearly 8 months later I had our 2nd child. Well, I had to let go of some more things. . . then I got back into school and kept on truckin'! I was helping out at my daughter's school while trying to do homework and take care of a new born. The baby slowly got older and I just kept going and going and going. Another summer came and went and I was nearly finished with grad school. As I entered what I knew would be my last semester of classes . . . internship still in the air . . . I found out I was pregnant . . . AGAIN?! HOW CAN THIS BE?! Well, I know how it happens . . . but HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! ok, regroup and get yourself together kelli! Well, I got a job at the same place i did my internship and was now working full time, being a mom, wife, chief bottle washer and diaper changer as well as going to school. Am I the ONLY one crazy enough to do this?????? Again i ask this question . . . and again. . . I have to let go of more things . . . this time . . . i began to let go of something i held dear. . . the vacuum. I use to vacuum every week even though i felt that it could use it more . . . but i hate to admit this - but I have gone at least 2 weeks without vacuuming. I use to operate under the viewpoint . . . what if the Queen of England would show up at my house. . . what would she say?! Now, I operate under the viewpoint . . . i have 3 kids, a husband who is a full-time student, I work a full-time job and a part-time job . . . i don't care what the Queen says . . . she gets to have a maid! Am I the ONLY one who thinks like this?!
I have come to realize that I am not perfect and cannot maintain perfection to the degree that I wish. I'm busy, right? But why is there this constant nagging of "Am I the only one" who doesn't like the routine messed up, the house not clean, the flowers dying, the crackers on the table from supper still? I see so many things around the house that I want finished . . . but think . . . am i the only one that cares? I sure as heck know that the kids don't care . . . they don't see what I see. Shoot, Sarge doesn't see what I see! He never will and I am ok with that . . . we've discussed this and in NO way, shape, or form is this demeaning to him . . . it's just the facts (ma'am).
I want to be the person that cleaned every Saturday and got it done and liked it.
i don't want to let this go . . . am i the only one?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Happy Anniversary
I remember EVERYTHING about this day. The night before as I was about to fall asleep I realized that my contacts were still in and I should have gotten up and taken them out . . . but I didn't so my eyes were somewhat strained. I got up, took a shower and headed to the hair dressers to get my hair done. I came back to my grandma's house and ate lunch with her and packed up my things and headed to the church. I arrived at the church and it was a whirlwind. Everyone was all over the place and I needed to get dressed and get ready for the day. The guys were all over the place and the ladies were in the bathroom getting ready. I was in a separate room getting everything on. It was almost 2 pm. . . just about time for picutres. We are all ready and Chris walks into the room and its just me and him. I am about to become Mrs. Christopher Pierce. Wow.
We get in the church auditorium and the pictures begin. Lots of standing and smiling . . . but all in all, it went well. It seemed to go smoothly and I was pretty excited. By 3:30 the pictures were finished and we waited in the back for nobody to see me. I kinda had to go to the bathroom, but decided against it because it was almost time to start and i didn't feel like fighting my dress and all the business i had underneath it! So, we press on. The music starts . . . Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd. It's our song.
'It was no accident, me finding you. Someone had a hand in it, long before we ever knew. Now I just can't beieve, you're in my life. Heaven smiling down on me, as i look into your eyes. I tip my hat, to the keeper of the stars. He sure knew what he was doing, when he joined these 2 hearts . . . "
As I hear the music and begin my walk with my dad down the aisle, I see so many happy faces and I am ecstatic! I am GETTING MARRIED!!! And then I see him. Standing so tall and smiling just so. . . not too big, not too small . . . he's just right. The words begin and we do our business. We light the unity candle, we are now one couple with both flames burning together. Chris repeats his vows and I can only whisper mine with tears streaming down my face. I am so in love with this man that the emotions are uncontainable. I am so happy to be able to join my life with his and take a lifetime journey together.
'You may now kiss the bride.' Oh, wow, it's over already! Ok! I gotta get these shoes off! Where are my slippers?! Please, my feet hurt . . . oh, ya, time to sign the marriage certificate and take a couple more pictures. Ok, done. Let's go stand and get ready to greet everyone as they exit the church. Wait! What is that? Chris?! Why is there a limo outside the church? Chris and I are wondering if someone should go tell the driver that he's at the wrong place! Oh, wait . . . nevermind. We were informed that as a wedding present, Chris' cousins and aunt paid for a limo for us to ride around in after the wedding. I am so humbled that someone thought so much of us to do that for us. What an amazing family I have just married into. Wow. Wait a minute! Uh, OH! What about our truck? Who is going to drive our truck to the reception?! YIKES! OH, NO! I don't know what to do. No less than 5 people are consoling me telling me it will be ok and that it will get taken care of. Chris gives the keys to his dad and he says he will drive it. Phew! ok, good nuff. Breath kelli, breath.
Everyone comes through the recieving line and its bubble time! We walk through the raining of bubbles and get to the limo. More pics and its off we go with the wedding party. We drive around and make it to the reception. We have a great time, greeting and then it's time to eat. The food was fantastic although i don't remember much of it. Im pretty sure there were meatballs and that was probably all i ate that night. This part was kind of a blur . . . the speeches, the toasts, the clean up (so I guess I don't remember EVERYTHING - but close!) . It's time for the dance . . . the band played and we had a great time. We closed the place down and I was getting exhausted. We get to the motel and we drop in exhaustion.
I am married. Ahhhhhh, time to sleep!
We get in the church auditorium and the pictures begin. Lots of standing and smiling . . . but all in all, it went well. It seemed to go smoothly and I was pretty excited. By 3:30 the pictures were finished and we waited in the back for nobody to see me. I kinda had to go to the bathroom, but decided against it because it was almost time to start and i didn't feel like fighting my dress and all the business i had underneath it! So, we press on. The music starts . . . Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd. It's our song.
'It was no accident, me finding you. Someone had a hand in it, long before we ever knew. Now I just can't beieve, you're in my life. Heaven smiling down on me, as i look into your eyes. I tip my hat, to the keeper of the stars. He sure knew what he was doing, when he joined these 2 hearts . . . "
As I hear the music and begin my walk with my dad down the aisle, I see so many happy faces and I am ecstatic! I am GETTING MARRIED!!! And then I see him. Standing so tall and smiling just so. . . not too big, not too small . . . he's just right. The words begin and we do our business. We light the unity candle, we are now one couple with both flames burning together. Chris repeats his vows and I can only whisper mine with tears streaming down my face. I am so in love with this man that the emotions are uncontainable. I am so happy to be able to join my life with his and take a lifetime journey together.
'You may now kiss the bride.' Oh, wow, it's over already! Ok! I gotta get these shoes off! Where are my slippers?! Please, my feet hurt . . . oh, ya, time to sign the marriage certificate and take a couple more pictures. Ok, done. Let's go stand and get ready to greet everyone as they exit the church. Wait! What is that? Chris?! Why is there a limo outside the church? Chris and I are wondering if someone should go tell the driver that he's at the wrong place! Oh, wait . . . nevermind. We were informed that as a wedding present, Chris' cousins and aunt paid for a limo for us to ride around in after the wedding. I am so humbled that someone thought so much of us to do that for us. What an amazing family I have just married into. Wow. Wait a minute! Uh, OH! What about our truck? Who is going to drive our truck to the reception?! YIKES! OH, NO! I don't know what to do. No less than 5 people are consoling me telling me it will be ok and that it will get taken care of. Chris gives the keys to his dad and he says he will drive it. Phew! ok, good nuff. Breath kelli, breath.
Everyone comes through the recieving line and its bubble time! We walk through the raining of bubbles and get to the limo. More pics and its off we go with the wedding party. We drive around and make it to the reception. We have a great time, greeting and then it's time to eat. The food was fantastic although i don't remember much of it. Im pretty sure there were meatballs and that was probably all i ate that night. This part was kind of a blur . . . the speeches, the toasts, the clean up (so I guess I don't remember EVERYTHING - but close!) . It's time for the dance . . . the band played and we had a great time. We closed the place down and I was getting exhausted. We get to the motel and we drop in exhaustion.
I am married. Ahhhhhh, time to sleep!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Here I am . . .
I feel like I need to let my faithful followers that I am still here.
I find myself quite busy and wonder if anyone else feels as frazzled as I do with life. When I say "wonder" I guess I probably need to share that rather than just ponder the potential, I really just think ... I must be the only one going through what I am dealing with and I don't know how to do all that I feel compelled or am responsible for doing.
Do explain, for those that are unaware . . .
I am a mother of 3 children. . Taylor - 8, Jacob - 3 and Bradee - 1
I have a husband who is a full-time college student who also does weekend work with the National Guard
We have a dog, Duke (a brittney spaniel who is super great with the kids)
I live in the same home we have had since 1 week before Taylor was born
I work at a small private school affiliated with my church called PeaceMakers Academy. I am the high school teacher and have 11 students who are VERY comfortable with each other. These students are great. I love them all dearly . . . nearly as much as I love my own children and would never treat them any differently. God has given me a heart for teenagers and I love it.
In addition to the family and full time teaching job . . . I also teach psychology classes at a local community college here in Sioux City.
While I love doing what I do . . . I find it quite difficult to juggle all of it. I teach Tuesday nights, church Wendesday nights, Friday night family night and Sunday morning and night is devoted to church as well. On top of all of this, I want to be a good wife and mother. In addition to this. . . please let me explain that I have tendencies that have been described at obsessive.
I hate the house messy. I hate dirty dishes. I hate laundry everywhere and prefer to have things folded a certain way as well as hung all the same way. I hate seeing dog hair everywhere. I have nasty carpet that is ridiulously stained and I am embarassed because of it. The porch and deck to my house are in DESPARATE need of repair and my basement is unfinished but my bedroom is down there in order to give bedrooms to my kids.
Time and money. Two serious resources I feel like I never have enough of. My time is eaten up with so many things . . . mostly work. I would like to not HAVE to work at WIT - - - but, when a family is living on literally 1/2 of the income that once was . . . things fall by the way-side . . . things like finishing a basement, fixing a porch or deck, getting new carpet, getting a fridge that is big enough to buy groceries for a week and NOT run out of room immediately after putting the 2 gallons of milk and fresh veggies and fruit in it, things like being able to pay for new clothes and shoes for my kids without wondering if we are going to have enough money for the electricity bill . . . .
on top of that, soccer games on saturday and trying to keep the house clean and keep up on notes for the class at WIT and grade assignments that were due LAST week!
so with my mind focused on the obligations i have made to employers . . . where is the time for me to spend with my kids? with my husband?
With him home, he TRIES to get homework done, but that's difficult with the little ones running around . . . a baby sitter would be great . . . but that costs money. . . you know. that precious little resource that we don't have nearly enough of.
time and money . . .
I am told to cherish the time I have with my kids now and I really want to . . . I do what I can . . . but I find myself getting caught up in the details of the day that I do not end up enjoying the times I have during the day.
ugh . . .
I find myself quite busy and wonder if anyone else feels as frazzled as I do with life. When I say "wonder" I guess I probably need to share that rather than just ponder the potential, I really just think ... I must be the only one going through what I am dealing with and I don't know how to do all that I feel compelled or am responsible for doing.
Do explain, for those that are unaware . . .
I am a mother of 3 children. . Taylor - 8, Jacob - 3 and Bradee - 1
I have a husband who is a full-time college student who also does weekend work with the National Guard
We have a dog, Duke (a brittney spaniel who is super great with the kids)
I live in the same home we have had since 1 week before Taylor was born
I work at a small private school affiliated with my church called PeaceMakers Academy. I am the high school teacher and have 11 students who are VERY comfortable with each other. These students are great. I love them all dearly . . . nearly as much as I love my own children and would never treat them any differently. God has given me a heart for teenagers and I love it.
In addition to the family and full time teaching job . . . I also teach psychology classes at a local community college here in Sioux City.
While I love doing what I do . . . I find it quite difficult to juggle all of it. I teach Tuesday nights, church Wendesday nights, Friday night family night and Sunday morning and night is devoted to church as well. On top of all of this, I want to be a good wife and mother. In addition to this. . . please let me explain that I have tendencies that have been described at obsessive.
I hate the house messy. I hate dirty dishes. I hate laundry everywhere and prefer to have things folded a certain way as well as hung all the same way. I hate seeing dog hair everywhere. I have nasty carpet that is ridiulously stained and I am embarassed because of it. The porch and deck to my house are in DESPARATE need of repair and my basement is unfinished but my bedroom is down there in order to give bedrooms to my kids.
Time and money. Two serious resources I feel like I never have enough of. My time is eaten up with so many things . . . mostly work. I would like to not HAVE to work at WIT - - - but, when a family is living on literally 1/2 of the income that once was . . . things fall by the way-side . . . things like finishing a basement, fixing a porch or deck, getting new carpet, getting a fridge that is big enough to buy groceries for a week and NOT run out of room immediately after putting the 2 gallons of milk and fresh veggies and fruit in it, things like being able to pay for new clothes and shoes for my kids without wondering if we are going to have enough money for the electricity bill . . . .
on top of that, soccer games on saturday and trying to keep the house clean and keep up on notes for the class at WIT and grade assignments that were due LAST week!
so with my mind focused on the obligations i have made to employers . . . where is the time for me to spend with my kids? with my husband?
With him home, he TRIES to get homework done, but that's difficult with the little ones running around . . . a baby sitter would be great . . . but that costs money. . . you know. that precious little resource that we don't have nearly enough of.
time and money . . .
I am told to cherish the time I have with my kids now and I really want to . . . I do what I can . . . but I find myself getting caught up in the details of the day that I do not end up enjoying the times I have during the day.
ugh . . .
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