10.7.09
Life is sometimes just boring... until after the weekend
I don't have much to write today, really because I have promised pix for forever and have not delivered. My bad, don't worry, my facebook page is suffering too. We've been really busy, and by busy I really mean LAZY. No really, we finally moved into our townhouse on June 27th and since then have been rather busy getting our place together. Although, I think our "date" tonight will consist of hanging the pictures that have been sitting in our living room for the last few weeks. At least the basement is organized :P My "McMurray Family Reunion" is this weekend and we are all looking forward to that. We've been trying to get our place ready for our company to come stay, but lets be honest, between Steve and Kalea being sick for the last week, all we've really been doing is a constant cycle of laundry. YUM, I won't give you those details! It'll be a fun weekend and for everyone's sake, I really hope the weather's decent so we don't have to hear/talk about it for the next few years! I'm just excited that everyone's coming up here for a visit for a change. I only say that because this year is one of those years when we really can't afford to go anywhere (our bank account can prove it). We didn't get to do any Stampede stuff this year, which is disappointing. This is the first year since Steve and I have been DATING that we have completely missed out on going down to enjoy our once a year excuse to wear "country" gear without looking like fools! Maybe we'll go grab a free breakfast tomorrow to make ourselves feel better!
15.6.09
With Blessings Come Trials... Or is it With Trials Come Blessings??
Life lately has been somewhat chaotic with a few changes that we were and were not expecting, this is just an update so, I dunno, people know what's happening with us.
We have come to terms with having another baby so close to Kalea in age that it's too overwhelming to think about sometimes. But at the same time, as I hear about people close to me and their struggles to even have one child, I'm reminded of the blessing that it is for us that it's been so easy to start our family when we wanted to. I'm also happy for Kalea that she'll get to experience having a SISTER so close in age- since mine is 8 yrs younger and I have never really been able to relate to the experience of fighting over shoes, clothes, cars or boys with her, sounds like we've signed ourselves up for some really fun teenage years :P
When our little family of 3 was formed last August, we realized that our 3rd floor apartment really wasn't made for a little family of 3 at all! With thoughts of creating more of a home for Kalea and ourselves, we applied for subsidized housing and we were accepted into a unit right away. However, on our walk-through we found a lot of problems, most major, that the management wasn't willing to do anything about. So we decided that we needed to find another option. Steve's parents said that we could stay with them as long as we needed to until we found another place. On the bright side we found a new place rather quickly and were blessed to have called them and asked if their website was up to date, which it wasn't. Turns out we ended up being the first people on a waiting list for a large 3 bdr townhouse, which we move into shortly-the downside is that we've been living with Steve's parents since November...that's almost 8 months!!! But again being here has afforded us the opportunity to build a better relationship with them while also giving us the opportunity to get some debts under control, which has been a huge blessing. But really, I don't recommend 8mths of this to anyone, it is HARD.
Recently my YWs calling changed. A few months ago I was released as the Beehive Advisor and called to be the Personal Progress Leader. This was not a bad change, but I was struggling with the feeling that I wasn't being used- which is fine for some people, but I'd rather be DOING something. So one Sunday I was walking the hallways with Kalea and started talking to the RS President, who used to be in YWs with me. I said something about not wanting to fill the void in the Presidency but that I'd love to teach RS. Apparently I wasn't the first person to have said this to her that day so she thought it was pretty funny. Well, the next weekend rolls around and we get home from being out all day Saturday and find that there are 10 missed calls from a member of our bishopric. His wife happens to be my VT so I figured, meh, no worries she's probably frantic to get out to visit me before the month is over. Yeah... NO. Bro.Crapo came by for a quick visit with Steve and I & I was called to be the First Counsellor (Education Counsellor) in the RS Presidency... Yeah I know, seriously? This means I basically get to deal with all the teachers in RS and make sure that they're on track with things. It's not a bad thing, just not at all what I was expecting.
Along with my calling comes the great responsibility that, should something unfortunate happen to one of my teachers, I would be able to jump in and teach the lesson. K, so this is not an issue, it's an excuse for me to study the lessons better, but I was not prepared to be teaching a blind lesson my second week in RS.
Yes that's right, yesterday the teacher was not at church?!?!
So instead of panicking, we asked any of our usual subs if they had been asked to teach. We then asked everyone in RS if they had had a phonecall to teach and then the room got really REALLY HOT! Karen just turned to me and said, well I guess it's all you!
Um did I mention the fact that I had really only skimmed through the lesson and questions ONCE??? Or did I mention that the STAKE RS PRESIDENCY had shown up unexpectedly in our Ward that day? Or that the lesson just happened to be "The Power of Forgiveness"???
YEAH I KNOW!!!
To my surprise I actually got through it without crying like a baby and feeling sorry for myself, there was just a lot of sweat involved, I'm not joking, yesterday was not a good day to wear layers! All in all I know the Lord was mindful of me and my situation and I'm glad that I listened to that prompting to get up earlier than usual and read through the lesson before going to church. It was really amazing to teach this lesson WITH the RS sisters. I really didn't have to say much of anything because they were so willing to express their feelings about the questions that I asked them. So as overwhelming as it was, it really turned out great. So yay for the Spirit! And no worries, I came home and studied/prepared to teach next week, if something like this should happen again.
What else? Steve has finally put his application in to join the City Police. This is a big deal since he's wanted to do this for a long time. The state of our global economy has really affected the job stability that Steve once had, and we're pretty unsure of how much slower things can get at the shop before his boss starts to really lose money.
We were fortunate to get a phonecall last week asking if Steve might be willing to write the ACT and APCAT tests for the Police Force early, and of course Steve said that he would. I mean the lady that called said that the cancellation happened while she was flipping through Steve's application, so we figured there was a bit of divine intervention in the fact that she thought she should call Steve. He didn't end up passing the tests, and has taken it pretty hard. Which is super hard for me, but I've been able to see the positive in it.
Basically, if Steve hadn't gotten that phonecall he would've been writing the tests for the first time on my uncle's wedding day, which means should he have failed at that time, he would be mopey for our family reunion and I would be stressed out. It also means that waiting another month to write it again would have meant he would be writing in mid August, which doesn't help speed the processing of his application, and he may not be in the Fall semester of the classes he needs. Having failed when he did, he'll have the opportunity to re-write it sooner and hopefully get his file moving quicker, which is a huge blessing. In the meantime, I get to practice the skills I've always wanted to use in helping him to better prepare for the "English" portion of the tests. So it's really an opportunity for growth for the both of us, and I'm surprisingly really looking forward to "tutoring" my hubby. Oh, but if you see him, please don't bring it up, it's not something he is super comfortable talking about right now.
So that is the status of life. We are grateful for the blessings and the opportunities for growth, even if it means struggling a bit for now, but we are really looking forward to the day when some of these things aren't so worrisome. Thanks for reading the novel that is life, oh and don't worry, pix of Kalea are coming soon!
We have come to terms with having another baby so close to Kalea in age that it's too overwhelming to think about sometimes. But at the same time, as I hear about people close to me and their struggles to even have one child, I'm reminded of the blessing that it is for us that it's been so easy to start our family when we wanted to. I'm also happy for Kalea that she'll get to experience having a SISTER so close in age- since mine is 8 yrs younger and I have never really been able to relate to the experience of fighting over shoes, clothes, cars or boys with her, sounds like we've signed ourselves up for some really fun teenage years :P
When our little family of 3 was formed last August, we realized that our 3rd floor apartment really wasn't made for a little family of 3 at all! With thoughts of creating more of a home for Kalea and ourselves, we applied for subsidized housing and we were accepted into a unit right away. However, on our walk-through we found a lot of problems, most major, that the management wasn't willing to do anything about. So we decided that we needed to find another option. Steve's parents said that we could stay with them as long as we needed to until we found another place. On the bright side we found a new place rather quickly and were blessed to have called them and asked if their website was up to date, which it wasn't. Turns out we ended up being the first people on a waiting list for a large 3 bdr townhouse, which we move into shortly-the downside is that we've been living with Steve's parents since November...that's almost 8 months!!! But again being here has afforded us the opportunity to build a better relationship with them while also giving us the opportunity to get some debts under control, which has been a huge blessing. But really, I don't recommend 8mths of this to anyone, it is HARD.
Recently my YWs calling changed. A few months ago I was released as the Beehive Advisor and called to be the Personal Progress Leader. This was not a bad change, but I was struggling with the feeling that I wasn't being used- which is fine for some people, but I'd rather be DOING something. So one Sunday I was walking the hallways with Kalea and started talking to the RS President, who used to be in YWs with me. I said something about not wanting to fill the void in the Presidency but that I'd love to teach RS. Apparently I wasn't the first person to have said this to her that day so she thought it was pretty funny. Well, the next weekend rolls around and we get home from being out all day Saturday and find that there are 10 missed calls from a member of our bishopric. His wife happens to be my VT so I figured, meh, no worries she's probably frantic to get out to visit me before the month is over. Yeah... NO. Bro.Crapo came by for a quick visit with Steve and I & I was called to be the First Counsellor (Education Counsellor) in the RS Presidency... Yeah I know, seriously? This means I basically get to deal with all the teachers in RS and make sure that they're on track with things. It's not a bad thing, just not at all what I was expecting.
Along with my calling comes the great responsibility that, should something unfortunate happen to one of my teachers, I would be able to jump in and teach the lesson. K, so this is not an issue, it's an excuse for me to study the lessons better, but I was not prepared to be teaching a blind lesson my second week in RS.
Yes that's right, yesterday the teacher was not at church?!?!
So instead of panicking, we asked any of our usual subs if they had been asked to teach. We then asked everyone in RS if they had had a phonecall to teach and then the room got really REALLY HOT! Karen just turned to me and said, well I guess it's all you!
Um did I mention the fact that I had really only skimmed through the lesson and questions ONCE??? Or did I mention that the STAKE RS PRESIDENCY had shown up unexpectedly in our Ward that day? Or that the lesson just happened to be "The Power of Forgiveness"???
YEAH I KNOW!!!
To my surprise I actually got through it without crying like a baby and feeling sorry for myself, there was just a lot of sweat involved, I'm not joking, yesterday was not a good day to wear layers! All in all I know the Lord was mindful of me and my situation and I'm glad that I listened to that prompting to get up earlier than usual and read through the lesson before going to church. It was really amazing to teach this lesson WITH the RS sisters. I really didn't have to say much of anything because they were so willing to express their feelings about the questions that I asked them. So as overwhelming as it was, it really turned out great. So yay for the Spirit! And no worries, I came home and studied/prepared to teach next week, if something like this should happen again.
What else? Steve has finally put his application in to join the City Police. This is a big deal since he's wanted to do this for a long time. The state of our global economy has really affected the job stability that Steve once had, and we're pretty unsure of how much slower things can get at the shop before his boss starts to really lose money.
We were fortunate to get a phonecall last week asking if Steve might be willing to write the ACT and APCAT tests for the Police Force early, and of course Steve said that he would. I mean the lady that called said that the cancellation happened while she was flipping through Steve's application, so we figured there was a bit of divine intervention in the fact that she thought she should call Steve. He didn't end up passing the tests, and has taken it pretty hard. Which is super hard for me, but I've been able to see the positive in it.
Basically, if Steve hadn't gotten that phonecall he would've been writing the tests for the first time on my uncle's wedding day, which means should he have failed at that time, he would be mopey for our family reunion and I would be stressed out. It also means that waiting another month to write it again would have meant he would be writing in mid August, which doesn't help speed the processing of his application, and he may not be in the Fall semester of the classes he needs. Having failed when he did, he'll have the opportunity to re-write it sooner and hopefully get his file moving quicker, which is a huge blessing. In the meantime, I get to practice the skills I've always wanted to use in helping him to better prepare for the "English" portion of the tests. So it's really an opportunity for growth for the both of us, and I'm surprisingly really looking forward to "tutoring" my hubby. Oh, but if you see him, please don't bring it up, it's not something he is super comfortable talking about right now.
So that is the status of life. We are grateful for the blessings and the opportunities for growth, even if it means struggling a bit for now, but we are really looking forward to the day when some of these things aren't so worrisome. Thanks for reading the novel that is life, oh and don't worry, pix of Kalea are coming soon!
4.5.09
Bloggers Block
So I'm having a problem trying to figure out what to write about, because, quite frankly, life isn't overly exciting at the moment. I mean it's just normal everyday stuff... And I haven't put any recent pix on the computer... And I dunno, I don't just want to write about Kalea, but it looks like I have no choice... a bit of an update... Kalea is STILL teething with no sign of anything breaking through, although she is sleeping through the night again... She started climbing up the stairs this weekend, I know, she can't be old enough for that yet... Kalea has developed a tantrum back bend that may be lethal one of these days- her poor noggin'... We think she might have hay fever, but since she's teething nobody can be 100% sure yet, she is super snotty which I think is super gross... Kalea has started to twist and turn and run away during diaper changes- good times, especially when she's poopy... She licked my tummy twice today and she was so sneaky about it, I wonder if she had it planned?... Kalea really hates baby food, anything pureed, so yesterday we gave her KD and today she had pieces of cheese- she seems much happier and doesn't spit it out... I am amazed that she can eat solid food with her lack of teeth... She spat up all over Steve's arm in sacrament meeting yesterday- pretty gross- so I got to teach his Sunday school class- is it bad that the Sunday School Pres came in and asked me if I was prepared to teach and I said, "No I don't even know which lesson number they're on" and his response was "Oh [head scratch] well hmm..." then he leaves and brings two kids from another class?!?!?!? Yeah, Steve owes me SO HUGE for that! Hmmm... That's all I can think of... Oh I had a massage and a facial on Wednesday... Pretty much best bday present ever, thanks Steve... And... That's all... for now...
24.4.09
25 and Counting
Well here we are 25yrs after birth, and I'm still here. For those of you that don't know, this is a huge feat, considering I almost choked to death the day I was born. The nurses tried to kill me by not suctioning me properly, too bad for them.
I normally love my birthday day, and usually I'm super excited for the whole week leading up to the birthday day. Not so much this week, and I'm sorry for whining on the blog- very out of character for me. It was just a rude awakening to the fact that life just really does not revolve around me anymore, at all, except for today :D
So Mr. Steve is pretty much the best ever, and I mean this literally. Not only did he hear my cries for a spa massage but he threw in a "luxury facial", which I am very excited about. This means I have to shave my legs- which I think is why he decided to get me the massage, poor guy. He also loaded me up with 24 bottles of Powerade because he knows how much I fear getting another kidney stone with this second pregnancy.*Powerade has electrolytes that help your body flush toxins out, I'm a real athelete* My other awesome gift was from Kalea. She slept all night from 8:30 until 6:30 and she woke up...*gasp* HAPPY!!! She also went down for her morning nap with no problem- not a whine or whimper. This means she still loves me! Oh and, today I don't feel nauseous, so thank you Fetus! AND the SUN is SHINING and MELTING the horrible, terrible, very bad snow! This has just increased my faith exponentially! Happy freaking birthday to me!
I normally love my birthday day, and usually I'm super excited for the whole week leading up to the birthday day. Not so much this week, and I'm sorry for whining on the blog- very out of character for me. It was just a rude awakening to the fact that life just really does not revolve around me anymore, at all, except for today :D
So Mr. Steve is pretty much the best ever, and I mean this literally. Not only did he hear my cries for a spa massage but he threw in a "luxury facial", which I am very excited about. This means I have to shave my legs- which I think is why he decided to get me the massage, poor guy. He also loaded me up with 24 bottles of Powerade because he knows how much I fear getting another kidney stone with this second pregnancy.*Powerade has electrolytes that help your body flush toxins out, I'm a real athelete* My other awesome gift was from Kalea. She slept all night from 8:30 until 6:30 and she woke up...*gasp* HAPPY!!! She also went down for her morning nap with no problem- not a whine or whimper. This means she still loves me! Oh and, today I don't feel nauseous, so thank you Fetus! AND the SUN is SHINING and MELTING the horrible, terrible, very bad snow! This has just increased my faith exponentially! Happy freaking birthday to me!
23.4.09
For Sarah... Because She Doesn't Know What To Get Me
1. Happy, non-teething child
2. A deluxe suite at a deluxe hotel for 2 nights- single occupancy
3. A full gourmet breakfast for me :D
4. A full spa day at a real spa- not, you know, EC where all the high school drop outs earn way too much money for their poor services
5. A trip around the world but only to the hot places with sunshine, where it never ever snows
Ummmm....
That's all I can think of, for now, I mean I technically have until 4:45 a.m. tomorrow to finalize my birthday list, I'm sure it will get longer :P
I hope nobody takes this too seriously...
2. A deluxe suite at a deluxe hotel for 2 nights- single occupancy
3. A full gourmet breakfast for me :D
4. A full spa day at a real spa- not, you know, EC where all the high school drop outs earn way too much money for their poor services
5. A trip around the world but only to the hot places with sunshine, where it never ever snows
Ummmm....
That's all I can think of, for now, I mean I technically have until 4:45 a.m. tomorrow to finalize my birthday list, I'm sure it will get longer :P
I hope nobody takes this too seriously...
22.4.09
Sorry for the complaints but seriously...
So first of all, we had our first ultrasound on Monday. Steve missed it. I won't go into details but I will say that my hormones are going mental and it's best to just hustle when I say hustle. In hindsight, I feel rather stupid and have apologized profusely. I didn't even request a picture- because I'm cheap and didn't want to spend $20 for one picture of a fetus at 12 wks and 6 days old... Apparently from the ultrasound I am now due on Nov.1st, which is 9 days before Nov.10th, and if we're calculating from my LMP then pretty freaking impossible since last time I went 9 days over... Maybe the 20wk one will be more accurate. Maybe this child is just large. Maybe I shouldn't think too much about it. Things definitely became more real seeing arms and legs and heart beating, especially since I haven't been feeling very pregnant- besides the horrible mood swings. I can't even control them and would love to just go away for the next few months and come back with the baby and my normal happy self back.
Next, Kalea is teething. I think we all know what this means. No sleep, no sleep, no sleep, clingy, clingy, clingy, screaching eagle all day long, nothing soothes her. Last night, after a string of bad parenting ideas, ie. bringing her into our bed for a midnight party, I threw in the towel and left Steve to deal with it while I slept in another room. He ended up on the futon, she cocooned in our piece of heaven- NOT FAIR. Next time she stays in the crib, end of story.
Today I was just done. We stayed home. The weather sucks. I at least got Kalea to sleep from 7-10am but only with me holding her. I had a brief, much needed visit from a friend who was uncannily in-tune with the fact that I really needed that ten minute chit chat/escape on the doorstep. Naptime rolls around and Kalea's visibly tired and not feeling well, so I go down to sleep with her. "We" got about an hour... I need about 12 at this point.
I'm pregnant. I'm cranky. I'm sleepless. I need a vacation. I have no idea why we are having another one. Today makes me wonder if the joke's one me or what?
Oh and did I mention I'm turning 25 on Friday? We won't even go there right now.
Next, Kalea is teething. I think we all know what this means. No sleep, no sleep, no sleep, clingy, clingy, clingy, screaching eagle all day long, nothing soothes her. Last night, after a string of bad parenting ideas, ie. bringing her into our bed for a midnight party, I threw in the towel and left Steve to deal with it while I slept in another room. He ended up on the futon, she cocooned in our piece of heaven- NOT FAIR. Next time she stays in the crib, end of story.
Today I was just done. We stayed home. The weather sucks. I at least got Kalea to sleep from 7-10am but only with me holding her. I had a brief, much needed visit from a friend who was uncannily in-tune with the fact that I really needed that ten minute chit chat/escape on the doorstep. Naptime rolls around and Kalea's visibly tired and not feeling well, so I go down to sleep with her. "We" got about an hour... I need about 12 at this point.
I'm pregnant. I'm cranky. I'm sleepless. I need a vacation. I have no idea why we are having another one. Today makes me wonder if the joke's one me or what?
Oh and did I mention I'm turning 25 on Friday? We won't even go there right now.
15.4.09
April So Far...
In Summary:
- Hayden's Birthday
- Playtime with Rex
- Constantly Standing/On the Move
- Lots of Smiles/Talking
- Easter Dress
- The Bunny Came with Treats for Mom & Dad!
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