Drama Queen

Hailey signed up to be in the end of the year PTO play. This year it was titled "Got To Be Seussified". She received one of the leading roles for the third graders. She was Sheila McMonkey McBean, who is the character in the Dr. Seuss book called the Sneetches. They practiced twice a week after school for a month and a half. I have to give her credit, because she was so good about being to every practice. I didn't realize what a big deal the play was until it was time to perform. She was very nervous the first night and forgot one line. But the show went on and no one even noticed. She did awesome! I'm so proud of her for sticking it through. For her it's a big deal. :) So maybe one day she will be my little actress and make millions. And if not, she is still the best actress I know! Great job Hailey! PS, the pictures are off of my phone so they may not be the best.

Getting older...

This last week was graduation for all the surrounding schools. My oldest niece happened to be one of them. Can I really be old enough to have a niece graduating from High School?? I guess the answer is obvious, but I sure don't feel like it. It feels to me like it was just yesterday that I graduated! Anyhow, Ashley is a beautiful young woman now, and it's sad for me to see her all grown up. But congratulations to her!

Just Deal With It!

This morning as I was dropping the kids off at school I got thinking. It has been a whole year since Keith has worked. When it first happened I thought how in the world are we going to survive. But in the end I realize you just figure it out. We tightended up on everything! There has hardly been any extras or fun activites. Definitly no movie night, no expensive dinner dates, no shopping sprees, you get my point. And when taxes came in, there were no big purchases, like a new deep freeze and cow that I wanted so badly to get. It was all catching up on bills and staying that way. And today all I could think was how lucky I am that I didn't have more things to worry about. My kids are all healthy, I have a roof over my head, basically everything I need to survive. Sure I would love a new outfit, and maybe some steaks for dinner. But I have had a year to get used to the idea of hotdogs and casseroles. I used to love to go into town for a day of splurging 20 dollars here or there. Now the idea stresses me out! My kids have done well with all the adjustments. Sure Hunter needs baseball cleats and some baseball pants, and Hailey could use the same and then some, Tyghelyn seems to always be happy with what she has, so all in all I'd say we are just fine. I think we sometimes think we have to have more than we need. I'm fine with having the necessities. But now things are turning scary at work for me! I have the next two weeks off because there is nothing to do. Normally we would just work with another crew or stretch out what little work we have so that it lasts till the next job. But anymore things are being cut back and we aren't able to do that. I'm worried for my job and what it will bring this year. I have no ideas or prospects for anything else. I dread the idea of sitting at a desk answering phones, or god forbid flipping burgers! But if that's what it takes I'll do it. So here's hoping that things will start looking up! And if it doesn't, then guess what, we'll just deal with it!

Mother Trucker

So just to recap...For the last month or so since I went back to work, I have had to face the fact that I am required to get my Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for work. This has been a HUGE challenge for me. I've had to study a book about things like air brakes, tankers, general knowledge, and trailers. Things that I couldn't give two craps about (sorry for the pun)! It has been one of the most challenging things since High School that I have had to put myself through. Needless to say, I had to figure out how to study and absorb useless information again. It makes me feel sorry for Keith having to enroll in college! But after all the reading, I passed the air brakes, tankers, and general section the first try. The part about the trailers took three tries, but I made it through that. Then there was the driving test. I was sick for two weeks over it! Finally Friday night at five o'clock I passed with flying colors!! I'm so glad it's over with and really feel proud for being able to do it!

Cabin Fever

So it hits again... Every year I get to be laid off in the winter. I say "get" to because after working almost twice as many hours as a normal person during the summer months, it's usually such a nice reprieve. This year however has been a little harder. It may just be my frame of mind, but I have been bored bored bored this year. I know, "Find something to do you say!" Well I have done a few things that I have enjoyed. First off I did work longer than usual, which was a really big help! But I made a commitment to myself to make a conscious effort to hit the gym. After all, I pay for the membership year round and don't use it at all in the summer. (Which I have also made a goal to continue going during the work season.) I haven't made any weight loss goals. I know I'm a few extra pounds more than I should be. But most importantly, I wanna feel good about myself. I wouldn't say that I have low self esteem, but I want to be an example for those around me with it. I'm trying to show that there is something you can do about it. There is no point in moping around feeling sorry for yourself. I really dislike self pity.
Anyhow, besides going to the gym, I have really tried to do a few more things for my kids. For Christmas I sewed Hunter some Pittsburgh Steeler drapes. He has a newfound obsession of football. Especially for the Steelers. He hopes to play this coming fall. I think that is one of those steps as a mom where I have to step back and let him do his thing. It mortifies me that he will get hurt. What's a mom to do. He is my special boy, and I get to be a little protective of him.
For the girls I have just tried to spend more one on one time with them. A couple of weeks ago I had some grocery shopping to do. Not the funnest thing, but I had just Hailey come with me. We did the grocery shopping as fast as we could, and then we shared a fun lunch together. One of my favorite things are sweet pork burritos from Cafe Rio. They are GIANT! So Hailey and I shared one. We got to talk about things she's doing and other girl things. It was special for me and I hope she liked it just as much.
Tyghelyn and I shared a day of reading and hanging out last saturday. She earned a reward from school for meeting her reading goal, and got to get a prize out of the treasure box at our local King's. We made caramel corn and watched a movie. I think we had a blast!
I have really tried to be a home body this winter. I usually find a part time job to go along with my unemployment. But this year I really wanted to show to myself that I don't HAVE to go to Idaho Falls everyday. I don't know that I'm a compulsive shopper, but if I do go to town, I spend money. So in the long run, I'm spending a lot less by not having a job. It may not make sense to anyone else, but it does in my little head.
Keith is still without a job, but desperatley looking. I admit I get frustrated, but I see him trying and he is making steps to move forward. We have started the process for him to go to school. I hope he can stick with it and be something important when he grows up.
As for everything else, we have spent a lot of time with our best friends this year. Tyghe also works for HK and gets laid off in the winter. We have watched their little one year old several times. She is so full of energy and is a bullet, shooting from one thing to the next. Her mom says she is a mix of Evel Kanevel, and Dennis the Menace. But we really have fun with them! My patience is soon to be tested again. They are leaving on the 17th of Feb. to go to Hawaii, and we are watching their two girls for 9 days. So we will have 5 kids. Wish us luck!
As it is, I can't wait to get back to work. I love love love my job! I'm looking forward to getting back to work and doing something productive. I never thought I could like going to work so much. I learn something new everyday. I'm good friends with all the guys I work with and we all get along so well. I think that's another part of why my job is so fun. Enough for now, I will post again soon....