Oh girls! This is a prelude to a significant post I will write in the next couple days. I have bathroom pictures and stuff, but I've been more busy than usual and finding it hard to get motivation to write on the blog when I have other stuff to do! Quick updates though:

The last week and a half I've had jaw pain in my right jaw. Went to the doctor yesterday, I somehow sprained my TMJ. I think it stands for temporomandibular joint? Angela will know. Anyway, I'm not supposed to open my mouth wider than the width of my index finger. So basically I can't chew or sing or yawn or laugh and I can barely talk! Poor Joe is so tired of oatmeal and canned soup and bean soup since I can't chew. And I have to take ibuprofin constantly, in fact I need to take some now.

No news on the house front, I'm emailing our agent today.

I have quite the messy house but Joe encouraged me last night and said to spend a certain number of time on school, then be done with school, then work on the house. So I've done about 45 minutes of hardcore school this morning and gotten a lot done! Now I'm going to give my TMJ some TLC (haha), take medicine and, yes, go back to bed since I got up early to make Joe lunch. I bought myself tapioca the other day so I'll make myself some pudding with my lunch!

Okay, the doctor said I have this jaw thing because I get too anxious and stressed out. And I know it but I don't know what to do about it! I grind my teeth all night - I grit my teeth while I'm falling asleep - I dream all night about the stuff I have to do and keep waking up. It's only been like this for a week but I don't know why! Even relaxing things I do, I'm clenching my teeth and I can't focus because I'm compiling my mental to-do lists. I broke down in tears last night because of all this weirdness. Oh, and I've never liked cleaning but this last week it's been like pulling teeth to get myself to do it. It takes so much willpower just to force myself to get up and unload the dishwasher, and sometimes I don't even finish unloading it. What is my problem? I know I have to do it even if I don't want to, but why do I hate it so much?

Basically, I don't enjoy anything anymore except going to the gym, probably because it gives me endorphins. I don't enjoy watching tv or playing games or anything. But maybe it's just a phase of this week - ? I don't know.

Thanks for listening to this incredibly hormonal post (which it shouldn't be).

Love you girls.

Well, I'm going to catch up on my sleep with a sweet little cat.

feeling like its easier to breathe

ok I'm pulling an Amber and posting twice in a day!  I think I deserve it after all I accomplished today!  I am actually pretty proud of myself for saying I was going to get organized and then DOING it.  (Amber, I think your comment about getting all your papers organized helped motivate me a little bit, too!)  I have a lot more projects to tackle as we pack, but I am super happy about getting this done!  This is what our "office area" looked like this morning:

This was just the beginning.  See the stacks of hanging folders in the top left corner?  Yeah, doesn't look too bad in the picture, but thats all our papers from the last 4 years, plus some that we individually had before we got married.  I printed out a list from online about when to get rid of what documents and started sorting my piles by the types on the list.  I started a recycling pile, and a HUGE shredding pile (I didn't take a picture, but I have a diaper box full of paper to shred next week).  In the end, I got all of our regular yearly statements that we shred annually into this file box (top right with red top) with some room to spare:

This box will probably go somewhere tucked away, because I don't need to get at those documents on a daily basis.  The box to the left has weekly folders for me to keep track of incoming mail and bills:

My cute binder from walmart with all of our family information also sits in this box.  I finally compiled all the information that when I need I spend too much time searching for.  I put a page with all of our past addresses (for some people, this might seem like too much, but this will be our 7th move in 4 years!), and past employment information (I switch jobs a lot, too). I also put our christmas mailing list and a copy of our card from last year (so I do something different!) and a file for each member of our family with our birth certificates/current photo/other ID.  We should probably have it in a box somewhere, but this will do for now and I know exactly where it is.

see my cute binder?  it makes me happy to pay my bills!

I did spend about $7 on this box from Walmart, because I wanted a small box to keep all of our taxes together in.  I might put cuter paper in it someday, but theres probably not really much point.

And this is how it sits on our desk for now, with our receipt folder for Jeremy's work expenses and another small folder for coupons (which I am determined to start using this year).  My planner is also handy right underneath them.

Ha, sorry for all the pictures, but I was just so HAPPY to have this organized.  It has been only slightly organized since we've been married, and I finally feel like everything is contained and easy to find!  When we move I'm going to have a desk JUST for mail/paying bills/writing center, and it will be so wonderfully neat and  hopefully make it easy for me to continue with this system!

Oh and here is Shea with his haircut.  I just cut the back and sides but left the front long..I think he looks a lot older with it though - or maybe he is just growing up right in front of me!

He was having fun snuggling with his dad, but cried every time I tried to take a picture

And after his bath tonight I let him run around the house naked.  He was having SO much fun, I took a 5 minute video. haha, I'm sure I will be blackmailing him with that some day.  But he just cracks himself up when he's naked for some reason.  I guess because I don't let him just hang out that way that much - too scared he's going to pee on something.  I'd show you some of the other cute pics, but they're a little bit x-rated :P

We went and put our deposit down on the house today and walked through it once more.  I love it even more and am SO excited!  They even painted the upstairs since we had been there and it is way nicer looking.  Can't wait to share pics with you girls when we move in!  I can't believe its only 2 weeks away!

BURST!

AAH!!! (that is a squeal of delight)  I am super busy right now tackling a huge project and have been emailing back and forth with someone and had to just share this with someone!!  Our taxes are totally OK and WE'RE MOVING INTO THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  On the 21st!  I am about to scream with excitement!  I can't even believe this is working out like this.  I feel so undeserving because I was so preoccupied with it and God had it all worked out.  I mean, really, there were so many things that had to work out for this to happen, and it ALL did!  And, its even better than I thought it could ever work out.  


haha I am so happy.  And not even entirely just because we get to move to a big cute house - I am just so happy because God takes care of us and even cares about my simple desires.  I mean, I don't need to live in a comfortable house, but God knows how much we desire it and I just don't know why we are so blessed.  They're even taking the house off the market - so if they don't get an offer in about 6 weeks, we can sign a lease and maybe get to stay there for Christmas!    I'll have to tell you girls about all the crazy stuff that worked out just in the past 48 hours to make this happen, but Shea is sleeping right now and I must take advantage of this precious time to get stuff done.


But before I go, I'll post the before and after of my hair cut!

Oh how I loved washing my hair this morning and how light and healthy it feels now!  I bet this post is full of typos, because I am just too happy to care or be able to type! :D

satisfying day

Hi girls!  I actually got some things done, so I thought I would share them!


Yesterday after work it was so nice outside that Jeremy and I took Shea across the street to the baseball field and track (we have a middle school across the street), and let Shea just go wild.  It was so much fun to see him run and explore.  I don't know why I didn't think of taking him over there - it is totally safe and enclosed and Jer and I can sit on the bleachers and talk while he runs around when we get tired of chasing him.  No one is ever over there.  It was especially fun to see him try to climb up the little hill. The first two tries he tumbled over backwards, but then he kept trying and figured out to lean forward while walking up.  So amazing how he can learn things like that!  He is getting such a personality and has started making little jokes in the past few weeks too.  I'll have to post a picture of him now, because I just cut his hair yesterday and he looks so old!


Anyway,


yesterday I also made some of my homemade granola, baked some mini-quiches and froze them for Shea (I thought it would be fun for quick breakfasts), and baked some pumpkin-oat muffins.
We didn't feel like doing anything after Shea went to bed, so we made a bag of popcorn and watched the latest episode of The Office online.  Then I took a bath, which would've been much nicer, except all I could think about was how badly I needed to clean the bathrom...then we went to bed.


Today, I:


- applied for a job (tell you more about that later)
- made Shea breakfast
- went to work
- cleaned the house (my wonderful mom washed most of my dishes for me!)
- baked a lemon loaf
- worked out for 40 minutes
- made a big pot of chili for dinner


and in between baking a lemon loaf and working out, my friend Susan came over to visit for a couple of hours.  It was so nice to just sit and talk, and Shea was in a playful mood as usual, so it was fun and relaxing.


Also, we decided to sign another 6 months lease here at our apartments.  There are lots of reasons for it, and the house we were looking at isn't available anymore anyway.  I'm not really too disapointed - I really don't want to have to move right now.  And, even in the past week I have seen a lot of reasons why God wants us to wait.  But I have decided that even though we're not moving, I'm going to kind of act like we are.  I want to clean the kitchen out and go through the closets and really get things actually organized.  I found this website  and got inspired to get all my paperwork in order and get a system down for this year that is slightly more well kept together.  And make things look cute while I'm at it.  I already bought some cute clearance binders/folders at walmart, and am going to start reorganizing things during my mid-winter break from school in the next couple of weeks.


Ok, I'm waiting for my hubby to get back from working out and then we're going to do the dishes from dinner.


I'm SO ready for the weekend!


Oh and I think I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow!  I'm exciiiiited!  Except I had a good hair-day today.  Why does that always happen right before I want to get it cut?  oh well!

It's been a good, lovely week.

On Sunday I went shopping with Amber, it was a glorious day. Then in the evening Paul and I were watching Man vs. Food and they were eating Ice cream, we paused the show at that spot (hence the picture) and drove to McDonalds for some delicious dessert! Vanilla dipped cones are my absolute favorite, and they are way better at McDonalds than at Dairy Queen!

Paul put up with a lot of pictures that night, and even though he groaned when he saw me bringing the camera, he will like it one day when he can see how we were young and free!

I hung pictures throughout the entire house! The closet is finally organized to my liking, the bathroom has pictures in it, and actually the believe sign is hung up now!

What I wake up to every morning to, and isn't the jewelry box the greatest?!

The hallway, and the awesome picture that our friend Kayla took when Paul proposed! She was hiding and I didn't know she took it. :)

The guest bathroom! I made this poster when I was in college and have always loved it.

The guest bedroom painted and with new comforter and sheets. Oh and the other um, empty bedroom. The guest bedroom will have a headboard soon, my mom is bringing it when she comes up!

My craft room, I LOVE it. LOVE. I love looking at the neighborhood kids playing basketball and thinking one day my own will be out there, I love having room to craft, to be creative, even though all I have done so far there is organize and pay bills. I love having a room where I can hang as many pictures of Paul and I up and he doesn't think I am overtaking the house with pictures of us. I love having a "me" room.

Our fireplace definitely needed a big picture above it, but big pictures are expensive, and Paul said it had to be something meaningful. So I had this frame from Ikea that cost like 4 dollars, I used some scrapbook paper and whipped this baby together in like 15 minutes. (Amber I didn't spell forever wrong...I forgot what my own poster said. Haha)

My laundry room. With as much as I have posted, I know you guys know I love pictures and photography. I is in every room of our home, yes, even the laundry room. It makes me happy to go in there. :)

Down in the living room, I told Paul that one day it will be pictures of our kids everywhere. :)

The kitchen. I have had these rose pictures for a couple years now and they have been hung in three apartments and now they have a [more] permanent place in my kitchen, I love how they look with the yellow! Oh, and the pictures in the frame by the sink are going to change...because they have nothing to do with Paul, but for now I like them. :)

Today I made banana bread and it was super delish!

After baking I organized some more in my craft room. Meet Alex, the white organizer. I love him. A lot.

Becca inspired me to keep under our sink looking nice and pretty. I no longer just toss the bottles of cleaning solution and stuff into the basket, I make room for them! Haha. Oh and I did the dishes today, oh and I um, woke up at 11:45 (after getting home at 2:45am) and so I stayed in my pajamas until 5. Felt so good!

So there is the beautiful part of my crazy week. The not so beautiful part?

• Monday: Two admissions at work (they take forever); got home at 3am
• Tuesday: One admission;got home at 12am and it felt sooo early
• Wednesday: Two admissions and one death; got home at 2:45am.

And now I have two days of rest! Well, one of them is almost done with. And I will have to show you pictures of the yummy dinner I made too!!

Early Valentine's Day

Joe took me out for an early, non crowded Valentine's Day dinner surprise! We went to probably one of the nicest restaurants I've been to, in Des Moines on the marina. I had lobster for the first time in my life! It was sooo good. And Joe had made a reservation for a table by the window so we got to see the sun setting over the water! We were on the top floor of the restaurant. It was so fancy and nice! And then we shared creme brulee for dessert (my first time having that as well) and it was SO GOOD I can still taste it! Terribly overpriced at six dollars, but I would buy another one next time, that's how good it was.

We went to the liquor store so we could mix some drinks for ourselves tonight. I always feel self conscious, afraid people are judging me and thinking I'm going to get drunk or have a big wild party. I know I shouldn't care what they think but I do. The guy who rang us up asked what we were going to make, and we said "oh, we'll look up some recipes, we're kind of new at this and it's just a little hobby". He said "That's okay, just be careful with alcohol". I said "Oh yeah, it'll just be the two of us and we'll be at home - no wild party." He looked at our ID's and said "Are you two married?" We said yes, and he nodded approval and said "good, that's the best way to do it" and started talking about how he and his wife had been married for forty years, and they had fun together just like us before kids came along, and told us to enjoy this time before children.

Long story short, I left feeling very happy. I know no one was judging me, but I still feel good having defended myself and having met with approval.

Today: I had won a "free consultation" at an acupuncturist's office so I went just to learn things. It was very interesting and a very nice experience. They bring you tea while you're waiting! And in their bathroom they have rolled up hand towels in a basket so you can dry your hands on a clean towel and then put it in a basket under the sink when you're done! I guess they do some kind of fancy pulse evaluation because the acupuncturist did one on me. In about twenty seconds he had informed me that I have anxiety, digestive problems, fatigue, and forgetfulness - and it was almost scary because he was right. I guess those are pretty general things, but for example, forgetfulness - I've been feeling so stupid lately because I can't seem to remember anything. I forgot our PIN at the ATM the other day and looked like a fool, standing there, staring at the PIN pad, mouthing numbers and trying to remember. And fatigue? I am the world's best oversleeper. I usually get more sleep than Joe in a night, and then I often add a nap to that. It's kind of hard when I'm at home all the time and my bed is right there. And hello, anxiety. You all know I've had problems with that.

Anyway, I'm not going to start going to an acupuncturist, but the experience was very interesting.

Then we went to pick up two toilets from my aunt who is remodeling, so we have some nicer toilets for our house now.

Then we worked out. I ran a mile without stopping, which is a HUGE accomplishment for me, especially because afterward I wasn't completely dead. Oh, and I ran the mile after doing half a mile on the elliptical! And after I ran the mile I fast-walked another half mile just to make it an even two miles total.

Let's see...then I showered and, I admit, took a nap (but just a short one) and then we left for dinner!

Okay, my poor husband is waiting for me to spend much deserved time with him.

Monday Morning

wow.  Its 6:57am and my son is still asleep!  He woke up last night at about 2 in the morning - i think he had a nightmare because he sounded so scared.  We just cuddled in bed for a little bit and then he went back to sleep just fine.  I woke up at 3 because of a dream too - which doesn't happen very often for me - and I could NOT stop thinking about it, even though it was the most ridiculous thing that would never happen.


Anyway, here I am at about 7am drinking a cup of coffee and eating a leftover pancake with yogurt and dried fruit on top.  Yum.  I'll prove it:

And this is how I feel about my hair today:

I really want to chop it off.  Ok not super short, but like, maybe 5 inches or something...I don't know!  I am just so sick of dealing with it every morning, because it is getting so thick.  Today I didn't want to take a shower, so first I tried to re-vive my curls, and that totally did not work, so I straightened it, but I didn't take very much time on it so its still very kinky...and yeah...I think I'll ponytail it.  and then CUT IT OFF!!!

Ok, happy Monday!  This post had like ZERO content in it, hahaa.