OUT with the Old.....IN with the...uhh not so Old.

This is our old fridge.
It has done a good job for us over the last couple years. It has kept out milk cold and our ketchup frozen. It has endured our squeezing and squishing everything inside it just to get the door closed. It was brave when it was time to defrost the shoe-box size freezer. At which time I would literally hammer and pick the ice inside to make the process go faster. It has been the best it can be.




This is our new fridge.
Let me tell you all of its amazing features. First please notice that all the stuff in the new fridge was packed tight in the old fridge! I got it all in there and was like "I have to go shopping we have nothing to eat! It has a place for all of the condiments. It has ample room for 2 jugs of milk and with even more room for juice! I can put my butter in the door along with who knows what else! A bin for meat/cheese items. And then 2 bins for produce of all sorts! But the absolute best part..... is
The Freezer! We have a freezer. I had to go buy a huge thing of ice cream just to feel the joy of putting it in there.


See how excited Savannah is? This is a big deal at the Stanek house!

Happy Halloween

We had a fun fun fun Halloween....I'm so tired of costumes now...Savannah was something different every day that week! I'm only showing you actual Halloween day costume choice. She was a witch one day. Then she was Jessie the Cowgirl, then she was a princess, and lets not forget the princess clown. And then all the days in between a strange collage of all of them! Chase was a pumpkin I thought his stout little cheeks lent themselves very nicely to the part. He was such a good sport about the whole thing. He is such an easy going baby. We love him so much. We trick or treated at both Grandparents houses and went to the Halloween Parade downtown Hamilton. Big Day! Grandpa Stanek and Uncle Dusty even dressed up!

How do you get video's to upload??

Okay so, I'm annoyed. I have all these cute video's to share with grandparents in other parts of the world and I cannot get blogger to upload my videos. AND I know people do it....cuz I've seen them. So I did a little digging to figure out the problem and apparently its an issue they are aware of but have not resolved. The most recent update on the matter is from 2 years ago!!?? I guess what bothers me is that they are still offering it as a feature on blogger. Yet they haven't been able to fix why it sometimes works, but mostly not. I feel silly whining about this...I'll be honest. But right now, exactly right now...I just don't feel embarassed enough to stop venting about it. **SIGH** I'll be fine. Afterall 20 years ago video cameras were a novelty....I should be grateful.

Ode to our Wagon!

We love our wagon! We have put some serious miles on it this summer and fall. I've been thinking of a way to measure it...does anyone know how to do that? We take it with us in the grocery store, to the park, to our friends house, across small streams, to the library! I was desperate one day...we needed a bathroom and the library was very accomodating all except for the "easy access" for the handicapted and stoller/wagon weilding mothers! If you've been to Hamilton library I'm sure you can imagine me dragging this wagon up those ridiculous switchbacks just to go to the bathroom! Some of you may be saying "why didn't she just leave the wagon outside?" Because the wagon is a very important holding device for brand new babies while the mommy is frantically pulling her daughters pants down before we have "a acc-ne -dent" Thank you Wagon!

"Oh you chitty chitty bang bang! Chitty Chitty bang bang we love you! Bang bang Chitty Chitty bang bang our fine four fendered friend!" Thats how we fell about you wagon! I love that movie! And the soundtrack is one of a kind "Truly Scruptious", "You're my little Teddy bear"

Has anyone seen that movie?? I give it 5 stars!

BUMMER!

IneedaJOB!!!
Unfortunately even Stanek Masonry has been affected by the sorry state of our economy... and so it is time for me to re-join the work force. If anyone has any info about jobs I'd love to hear about them!

7 Random Things about me

So Heather tagged me and in keeping with the rules shown below here is her blog http://familyofhatchlings.blogspot.com/
So my 7 random facts about myself are....

1. I encourage myself to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle with a sticker chart much like my daughters potty chart. At the end of the day if I have followed in pursuit of the goals I have set which are 1. Eat all meals before 6pm 2. Drink half the recommended amount of water per day (because I am having reasonable expectations of myself and will work up to 8 cups eventually) 3. Write in my journal at least weekly about my life and my progress 4. Work out 5 days a week 3 of them are areobic and 2 are strength training. 5. Eat at the kitchen table, then I get to have my sticker. It has been strangely motivating....and when I don't get a sticker at the end of the day I've committed to not have an all or nothing attitude and try again the next day.

2. I am one of a kind... I have no whole brothers or sisters. But I have 4 half brothers, 4 Step brothers, 3 half sisters, and 1 step sister. Crazy huh! For the record though the 3 brothers I was raised with I don't think of as half brothers....they're my brothers through and through!

3. I involuntarily squeal when I'm excited. During my childhood my mom noticed that when I was watching an exciting part in a movie or about to go do something fun, Christmas it happened a lot, I would let out this squeal of excitment. As an adult I have been able to control it a little better. When I feel it coming on and I'm in a place where its not quite appropriate like Church, or in the grocery store...I can make myself squeal on the inside rather than letting it out audibly.

4. I rub/itc the right side of my forehead/eyebrow with the palm of my hand when I'm frusterated, overstimulated, or tired. Its one of my "tells"!

5. My favorite kind of jokes are PON (Play On Words)jokes, according to my husband, he discovered he consistently gets a laugh out of me with this kind of joke.

6. I get road rage at slow drivers. I can be in a perfectly lovely mood but if I come aross someone who is going slower than the speed limit I feel deep deep anger at them! Then I go on a tirade (in my head) and what I would say to them if I had the chance. I've imagined even fashioning a sign to look very much like a speed limit sign with a popscicle stick handle to have in my car and shake at them as I pass by....once I can finally pass them.....curse you 2 lane highway!

7. I hate forwards in email. They are a waste of time and effort...I have dial-up internet so if I'm going to take the time to wait for a page to load, it better be good, it better be something that someone wrote to me for me.

THE END

Hubby Tag!

1. Where did you meet your husband? I met him at a Know your Religion in Stevensville, MT before he was even really investigating the church. It was the first time he's ever gone to anything LDS. He worked for my old YW leaders husband and was wearing the company logo I had designed on his coat... I'd never seen it used before....it was a sign!

2. How long did you date before you were married? Almost a year to the day...we started dating on leap day 2004 and were married Feb 25th 2005

3. How long have you been married? 3 1/2 years

4. What does he do that surprises you? He likes Opera! He came home one day and said did you know _____ died? ( I don't remember his name.) you know, of the 3 tenors? I said no I didn't. And then he replied "I'm really sad." I started laughing cuz I was sure he was being sarcastic....he wasn't.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? I love his man hands and blue eyes and his Fred Flintstone feet! (I'm so serious they look just like Fred Flintstone which is funny because that company logo I did was a cave man modled after the flintstones)

6. What is your favorite quality of his? He is very self motivated. Hes always making goal lists and plans. Notebooks and notebooks of them. I found that very promising when we started dating. And he doesn't mind being silly around me....note the pictures... 7. Does he have a nickname for you? When he wants somthing he wisks me into his arms and holds me close and traces tiny cicles with his finger on my back or shoulder and says "Whose my cream puff?"

8. What is his favorite food? He loves Stir-fry and mashed potatos...long story....

9. What is his favorite sport? Right now its UFC (Ultimate Fighting Club)

10. When and where was you first kiss? At the back door of a friends house we kissed goodbye after a dance party. Could you resist that?

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We like to watch movies together...its all we can afford and we love it Yay for Netflix!!! No late fees!

12. Do you have any children? 1 girl 1 boy

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He is crazy good at fractions...yeah like math...yuck! And he is all about history...everyday I get a history lesson of some kind. He just somehow remembers it all.

14. How old is he? 28 but in his heart I think hes still about 5

15. Who said I love you first? He did

16. What is his favorite music? He likes noise...thats what I call it. And he loves the soundtrack to Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia

17. What do you admire most about him? His commitment to always better himself in someway, or learn something new.

18. What is his favorite color? Maroon (not red, yet not black...he wanted me to specify)

19. Will he read this? I hope so.

20. Who do you tag? If you are reading this I tag you.

Wasting Time....

This is me waisting time

I have been sucked in. So a friend of mine invited me to view some pictures of her on facebook and I haven't seen her in a long time and I was really excited to see what she was up to now. So I had to join facebook to see them. And then you won't believe the assault that followed. I suddenly get like billions of emails saying so and so has added you as a friend and then you need to confirm that they are your friend and then on and on until you've seen and read everyones pictures and profiles and have a totally dead bum cuz you've been sitting there so long. *Sigh* Really I'm so happy because I found some long lost friends of mine from like elementary school and junior high! Amazing... But my children have suffered the consequences of neglect. Savannah just now got panties put back on after running around in the buff for most of the morning (she is dressed now) and Chase was soaked through with slobber and beside himself with teething discomfort. Then theres like these games people were inviting me to play and I don't know what I'm doing... someone ducked me???/what? Yeah like duck duck goose....and other friends of mine have their own mafia....I just feel like this is making my A.D.D.worse (not that I actually have it) but I think I'm gonna get it...there's all these places to click on stuff and then people are clicking on you and writing stuff on your wall....(panting) I'm out of breath. Oh jeez, I went on there for like way to long, talk about a run-on sentence. I think the whole experience was worse because Joe and I refuse to join the rest of the world with high speed internet. Thats right folks we are on dial-up...so be patient I can't play duck, duck, goose or help you take over any kingdoms until I attend to real life.

Please note the heaping laundry basket in the background of this one.... and there I sit.....I am such a brain washed zombie!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Can't believe my baby girl is 3! She had a fun birthday and a few days of celebration. We had a party for her and invited all of her friends. Originally it was going to be at the park but it was a rainy day so the gym at the church was the final location. I decided all you need at a birthday party is lots of balloons and a big area to run. That was a big hit! It was a costume party so that was pretty entertaining too. She is growing up and learning how to pronounce words like "truck" which for so long has been pronounced with an "f" at the beginning instead of the "tr". She loves to tackle her little brother...it sounds cruel...but she really is very soft with him and the tackling makes them both laugh so hard. Someday though its gonna cause tears. She loves to sing songs now. That is a new thing. For most of her speaking life if someone (mostly me) sings to her she holds out her little hand with authority and shouts "No! Stop!" This really hurt me actually...I sing alright I would tell myself. Surely if I had a repelent (sp) voice my Choir teacher would have let me in on it in High School. I was glad to find out that others had also experienced this with her (sorry grandmas'). She knows her own mind and once its made up well thats the way she feels. Anyway, singing is a good time now...she used to love it as a baby...I thought....

I really didn't mean to get lost on that little tangent. My own insecurities surfacing.

So yes that is me in a Rainbow Bright costume for her birthday party. Savannah was so happy I broke it out just for the occasion. My mom really deserves the credit for the amazing costume. Thanks Mom! She made it for me in college.

My favorite things she has been expressing are:

-when offered something to eat...."No, I good." using my own words against me when I tell her "No, you're good, you've had enough juice."

-"Moos-kick" for music

-(whispers) "I tinkerbell" because tickerbell doesn't talk she only twinkles.

Happy Birthday my darling girl!OliverTylin

Jacob

Adam

Brynne

Kelsie & Lauren

Matthew

Ella

Why all the pictures you ask??? Because they wouldn't hold still for the group picture and because I'm nuts!

"Arting"

I recently completed an art project. I haven't done anything really technically challenging in a long time. And I found myself a little rusty at first but after a while I got my groove back... I haven't had it in a while (like 4 yrs). I have lame excuses for not keeping up with it but the truth is I really need to be doing a little "arting" all the time. So I have committed to myself to make sure I always have a project in the works. The one I just finished was a sign for my parents that has been in my head for years and finally I just had to do it. It was a gift to them for being my wonderful parents yes...but also because they just bought their first home and I'm so proud and happy for them! It is going to hang from the front porch of their beautiful home. I made it from a cupboard door that used to be in my kitchen. Joe and I did a little demolition when we bought the place to make room for a refrigerator in the kitchen. Before that it was in an adjoining room (so silly we thought) any way but I asked him to save the doors so that I could art on them when I got a few free minutes. The door was perfect because it was kinda knotty old ply wood but the edges had been beveled so it gave it a little character and I wanted it to look old because it was going to hang on an old house. Below it says "Welcome Home" the picture doesn't quite do it justice.And the colors were simple they were fall colors which my parents both love and they have recently become infatuated with copper so I decieded to showcase it a little in there name. It was really fun to personalize it to there specific taste. I haven't had so much fun in a long time with art. This felt like a little safer indeavor to dive in after an extended vacation from any serious art. Some time soon I'll start drawing my favorite subject... people. But for now my new project is painting some of the furniture in my living room. I found this way cool article of a woman who decorated her home with all kinds of colors none of them really matched but the way she used them with eachother made the whole thing make sense. As soon as I saw it I was so excited. The article quoted her saying "For many designers there are rules, for me there are none." And I tell you she was speaking my language!

I've got some tweaking to do on the little end table I painted but when I'm satified with it I'll post a picture.

2 months later...

So time went by fast and now the summer is over. I actually had to turn on the heater today. It was so chilly. We've had a good summer though. Chase is 7 months old now (I can't believe it!) and Savannah is getting ready to be 3 years old. They are so fun to watch grow up and interact. I'm so proud of my kids, they love eachother so much and that just makes me so happy.

So hmm... to catch everyone up...Our computer crashed. We lost everything on our hard drive. Which was very sad and stressful. I had the task of putting it all back on the computer which proved to be too much for me. So we hired a new book keeper. She was Joe's old boss's wife who did the books for their business. So she already knows the business and will be able to give us great insight. We're really excited. We've partied it up we went to a luau and a couple parades and the fair and now we're ready for fall.

Chase was our family's Big Kahuna at the ward luau.

Savannah watched the water balloon fight in disappointment when her water balloon broke before she could get in on the action.

They also had their very first bath together and it was quite an event. Savannah was so excited to have a buddy in the tub with her. Chase wasn't quite prepared for her enthusiasm but as often is the case he tried his best to be a good sport as she squealed and splashed. Adorable!

Last night we went to Music in the Park. Every thursday at 8pm at Claudia Driscoll park they are having a band of some kind play. Its so fun! Its been so fun to get out and feel part of the community I live in. Last week the Bitterroot Band played and this week the Kent Curtiss Band played. Savannah loves it she flits and dances all over the place and I even got up and jammed with her for a while. Chase loves it too he likes to stare off at the sky and listen. I think hes gonna be a deep thinker. We took our fun wagon and walked to the park and met some friends there and had some snacks. The kids wore themselves down and by the time it was over they were pooped. So on the walk home (they were in the wagon of course) Savannah and Chase wound down and were all ready for bed. It was a great evening....all except for one part...you know those fireman poles at play grounds that you slide down? Well there was a little boy in front of Savannah and she saw him step off the edge and go down. But I don't think she understood he was using the pole to slide down. She must of thought he just floated down somehow. Because she stepped off the edge didn't reach for the pole and landed on her back and bit her tounge. Oh she cried! And I was clear across the park feeding chase when it happened. I felt so bad.

Turning a new leaf

It has become apparent that there simply is not enough time in the day. Duh! Of course you already know this. I've been in denial for a few months. I was sure I could accomplish all I had to do with smile on my face and energy to spare by the end of the day. After failing time and again I decided to look at when my day started....8 am most of the time. And I decided there is a whole world out there of people getting up a few hours before that. Maybe they had the answer to my problem. So last week I gave it a shot. I woke up at 6 am giving myself two extra hours a day for a total of 14 extra waking hours a week. I tell you I am a new woman. Not only do I get things done I also have time to work off my baby chub since the gym is just a couple blocks from my house which increases my feel good hormones (so the researchers say puts you in a better mood.....and it has!!!) and I have 2 hours a day that I am awake that I have time to myself! My house is still a heaping wreck but now I have these two hours to think on how I'm going to change that. And the best part is the rest of the day I can be the happy mom and not worry about the stinkin dishes.

Pass it on

I am always frusterated because it seems I can't find what I'm looking for online in the time I have to find it. Often this problem comes up when I am researching parenting questions or health concerns or whatever. Stuff that mommies need to know. So I have found a great resource in my friend Lindsey who does research on that kind of stuff for a living while raising a 2 year old boy at the same time. She has started a blog on her findings and I love it! She has it all organized and linked to her sources and her writing is a hoot to read. So informative as well as funny....can't ask for more. The link is http://mommy-multitasking.blogspot.com I highly recommend checking it out.

Savannah running for Mayor

Got a deal on pictures for Fathers Day and thought hey why not. I'm pretty happy with them so wanted to share. However I feel that this will be the last time I try to go without some back up. Savannah bless her sweet heart was bored to tears. The picture taking process is really not a problem because she can be the center of attention. But when that part is over and its time for Mom to pick out what picture we want Savannah went to great lengths to entertain herself....
Chase, my sweet boy, was smiley and happy and more than willing to cooperate during the picture process too. He did a great job! I really was expecting more of a struggle with him but again the picture taking process was good...

So we went and had lunch after....the studio requested a few minutes to get everything ready to show us. When we got back there were people everwhere. Standing room only. Okay maybe thats an exaggeration. So we wait another 45 minutes (that is not an exaggeration) in this little tiny waiting room with 3 other families. My stroller is constantly in the way because Savannah is trying to take it for a walk. And my son is ready for a nap and I'm thinking I'm gonna leave... you people suck. But I didn't want to do that because its not like I can just run back over when its convenient. Its an hour drive from Hamilton. Not to mention the whole reason we went was to give a picture to Daddy for Fathers Day and that wasn't going to happen if I left. So I stayed.


Sigh.... Then Savannah started to meet the people. I like to call it "Running for Mayor" because she turns on this charm and will not relent until they have been charmed. Which they all think is really cute and stuff but it makes me crazy sometimes. The waiting room of Sears portrait studio is more like a very small section of the store. There are no doors to close to contain my 2 and half year old. Across the way is the infant section of the store where Savannah thinks it would be nice to go shopping. And there is also an exit to the parking lot right next to where I'm sitting. So people are walking in and out of this door all the time. She is welcoming these people in, she even gave a couple little girls a hug just for visiting sears that day!
Her crowning achievement was when a family with a little almost 2 yr old boy came in and his daddy was in a wheel chair. And Savannah made fast friends with them by playing ring around the rosy circling the wheel chair. They went in to take their pictures. in the adjoining room....again no doors....nothing is holding her back. And of course she is curious. So she peeks in and I'm telling her "Its there turn to take pictures now, you need to stay right there." Okay Mamma is her reply and she seems content just to peek in. And by this time the stinking sales lady is ready to talk to me about our pictures...so I'm doing the head bob trying to give my attention to both events. Savannah really was a good girls for most of it... I'm just relating the "social" encounters she had. So after a while I feel confident she is going to stay still and just watch. As I'm making my final selections I hear this "Vanna's turn now!" (she calls herself Vanna...Savannah is hard to say) and she climbs over the daddy in the wheelchair past the photographer and parks herself right next to that little boy in the middle of taking pictures. What can I say...they all thought it was hilarious...so no harm no foul. But I sure was happy to have everyone in their carseats and driving home.