thequagmirechronicles: 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Black Friday

I love Black Friday - it is quite possibly my favorite day! Each year I try to ignore the calling - claiming that I don't see any deals or don't have things to get and it always turns out that I can't resist once I hold the circulars in my hand on Thanksgiving day. I searched and searched for something I would need that would justify getting up early and spending money I didn't have. Almost talked myself into getting a new tv, but decided that was a big crazy this year. It is just in my blood to shop and the saving money is the gravy! I also love being around so many other true shoppers too - I feel connected to them in some way.

I woke up at 4:00am, brewed my coffee and headed out in the cold rain to Walmart (first stop). Quickly figured out that Walmart let everyone load up their carts early, but wouldn't let them check out until 5am..darn. I did get my camcorder I went for though. Then I headed off to SuperTarget and waited outside in the cold until they opened the door at 6am only to find out that the item I went for (the item will remain nameless since my daughter reads my blog if you get my drift) - they never received a shipment of...what the %^#&? I did find a very cute lime green puffer vest for me though...only $9. Left SuperTarget to head off to Sears...surely they would be less traveled and have my sought out item and they did however more expensive than Target. Just by chance I stopped by the hidden Target behind Lowes to see if they may have my item and THEY DID! All of the getting up early had paid off...thank you!

Now here is the really, really great part of this morning. After I had my item in hand, I waited in line chatting to the woman in front of me. She was on the phone with her daughter from time to time seeing who was getting closest to the register to check out since the line was winding all throughout the store. Her daughter called and said that she was at the register and to walk fast. The woman asked if that was my only item and I said yes. So she said to come with her so I could check out with them. Super , super cool! You don't usually find that on Black Friday. Well we walk up to the register and it is register number eleven!! I never check out of a register number eleven, but this morning was a turning point. Perhaps it was to show me that goodness can come from the number eleven, who knows. I must say that it did make me anxious and would have loved to see my face when I saw that number! And it even got better - since the gift card that I was supposed to get with my purchase didn't activate the cashier just gave me that amount off of my total...YOU ROCK TARGET CASHIER!!!

Blog Tag

I have been tagged by Linda and Maria...so long ago that they may have forgotten! And since I am even later to the party than Heather there is no one left to tag. So here goes!

Here are the rules of the game:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write 6 random things about yourself.
Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Here are six random facts about me:

1) I am terribly superstitious and have a number phobia. Whenever I pass a broken down car or accident while driving I have to touch the cross hanging from my rear view mirror or I believe it will happen to me. I used to touch the cross and knock three times on my wooden key chain, but the key chain broke so I have eliminated this step...so far, so good. My number phobia is of the number eleven (I am actually nervous just typing it). Anyway, I do not stop at number eleven gas pumps or cash registers and do not let the total dollar value have an eleven in it. Never schedule appointments on that day unless unavoidable and never have eleven dollars or just eleven cents in my wallet. It all started with my mom's death on December 11 and has just manifested from there. I just am spooked by that number now and believe bad things happen around that number. The above post shows that I am making tremendous progress though!

2) I have traveled around the entire eastern half of the United States, but have never been west of Kingman, Kansas and that was for a funeral.

3) My dream job as a child and even still today was to be an overseas correspondent for CNN. I watch the reporters in Iraq, Bosnia and other war zones with great envy. Some days when I am feeling invincible I still think it is possible! It was a choice a long time ago of how I wanted to have a family and raise children. Things are pretty awesome, but I often wonder what if.

4)When I was thirteen I was in a bicycle accident that scraped the entire right side of my face and caused me to lose consciousness. I have not been on a bicycle since. My front tire of my ten speed went into a slotted drain as I was rolling down hill and stopped me cold, flinging me face first into the pavement. I blacked out for awhile, coming to with my friend Sarah and a passer by looking over me. I could not remember my name of where I lived so my friend instructed the woman that stopped to help where I lived so she could drive me home. That was such a fun day. The whole reason I went up to the local drug store that day was to get a pair of pink jelly shoes that I had saved up for. Not only did I not get back on a bike, but I didn't wear the shoes either.

5) I am freaked out by elves and the nutcracker. During the Christmas season I just try and focus on the warm and fuzzies like Santa, snowmen, angels, etc. All elves are so creepy looking with their pointy ears and shoes..ahhh. The nutcracker looks like he is a cannibal waiting to happen - who the heck thought of that was messed up.

6) A few years back I tried being a real estate agent - turned out it wasn't for me. I was an agent for Prudential for two years. They were super kind letting me part time it with my day job. The day I passed my exam to get my license was September 11, 2001...maybe it was a sign.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Build-a-Bear Workshop

Quinn and Zoey the High School Musical Bear

Aidan and Jackie the Hockey Playing Elephant
(Aunt Debbie and Sherry would be so proud)

Like I had mentioned we went to Build-A-Bear Workshop on Halloween since Quinn was out of school that day and I had promised it for over a year! She has had a gift card from Aunt Debbie to use and we just never made time so this was it...the day. We went after Aidan's four year checkup so I figured with the shots he received that he should get to build a bear too.

Clearly they were not expecting company that day because there were boxes everywhere, but the kids got a personalized show because of it. First you pick a bear or animal out then they fill it with the stuffing. I got to tell you that this machine took on a new meaning for me recalling the Nip/Tuck episode where that crazy old lady stuffed an actual guy with the same machine...freaky. I miss that show! Anyway, then you pick out a heart and do this ritual which I can't quite remember, but something like hold it to your forehead because you will always think of your bear, touch your back because you will never leave your bear behind...etc. then warm up the heart and place it inside your bear/animal...pretty cute. Aidan was more into it than Quinn...she just wanted to get to picking out Zoey's outfit! The animals are then given an air bath - don't quite know why, but those were the rules.

Then to Quinn's favorite part...picking out the outfit/outfits. She picked a very Quinn like outfit for Zoey, a breast cancer ribbon t-shirt and a witch Halloween costume. Aidan started with a construction worker hard hat, but then ended up with a hockey player ensemble. It was a great time and with a drive thru McDonald's we had quite a day!

Quinn getting her bear stuffed

Zoey's first air bath...awwww

Aidan getting his elephant stuffed

Holding Jackie's heart to his forehead

Placing Jackie's heart inside the stuffing

Jackie's first air bath

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Pumpkin Carving

This Halloween was definitely a slap dash last minute effort for us. I took the day off of work and crammed all of the activities into one day...whew. After Build a Bear workshop we carved our pumpkins on Halloween afternoon - just in time! Aidan did an amazing job scooping out his pumpkin and instructed me on what kind of face his pumpkin should have. He wanted two mean eyebrows so that his pumpkin could be very scary. Quinn decided to carve her own and did the ever fated accidental removal of the teeth...darn, I hate when that happens. You spend all that time carving teeth and then you cut straight across and wham they are gone...all that work for nothing. I carved the momma pumpkin and since Thom could not be with us we made his pumpkin the silly one - couldn't be more true to life!

Aidan scooping out his pumpkin

Quinn carving her pumpkin...I can't watch

Left to right...my pumpkin, Thom's pumpkin, Quinn's and Aidan's

Trick or treating was pretty uneventful this year. We made our usual trip to Grandpa and Grandma's and Tim and Emma's then headed back home to scour the neighborhood. Aidan was mostly afraid to go up to the houses especially if they were decorated, but Quinn was the brave one and probably got more candy because of it. We ended up in a kid-friendly housing addition close to our home and with the weather so nice I just parked my car and walked with the kids. They ran from one door to the next with Aidan screaming "Mom, can we go to another house?" as he ran by me to the next house. I guess it was a rhetorical question. After only thirty minutes Quinn said she was done and wanted to go home...what?! I guess I can't blame her - we used to be in a group of our friends...no parents...much more fun. Too bad times have changed! Both Quinn and Aidan immediately ripped off their costumes and went to looking through their candy so I did not get pics of them in costume. The costumes were not that different from last year though - Aidan was Spider man again and Quinn was a Bat Girl which looked just like last year's Spider Queen just replace the spiders with bats. Here is last year's photo anyway!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

First Dentist Appointment

On Monday, Aidan had his first dentist appointment. Now I know he is four and you are supposed to start taking them to the dentist at three years old, but with the second child you just don't go by the book. It was all good...no cavities!

He didn't quite know what to think and thoroughly studied me when I was getting my teeth cleaned. When it came time to hop in the chair Aidan was scared, but the hygienist did a great job putting him at ease. She described everything and let him touch the equipment. It didn't hurt that she was using cookie dough tooth paste to polish his teeth either! At the end of his appointment he chose a new tooth brush and got a bag full of goodies which he loved however he thinks the dental floss is to clean his tongue. And if that wasn't enough, Aidan also picked out a toy from the treasure chest for doing such a good job!

Is this going to be messy?

Getting his teeth cleaned

Dentist checking out Aidan's twenty teeth - the hygienist counted them for him which he thought was cool.

Open wide!

Picked out a race car...surprise, surprise.

Happy 1st Birthday Natalie!

On Saturday, sweet little pumpkin Natalie turned one year old! Natalie is the daughter of my very good friend, Amy. I was on the road to my Dad's 70th surprise birthday party last year when Amy went into labor - just my luck. Thankfully Jenny and Kendra, also Amy's bestest friends, called me periodically with updates of how Amy was doing. My entire eight hour drive was filled with play by play of Natalie's birth. It drove me nuts not to be there, but I was so fortunate to have Jenny and Kendra keeping me informed - they were the best! It made a long drive seem not so long. I know Amy probably didn't feel the same way!

Sunday was Natalie's first birthday party at Exploration Place. I really can't believe that she is one year old already! Everyone enjoyed the exhibits until it was time for pizza and cake. She was too cute as she studied the cake and then went in for the kill!! So much fun and a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Thinking...

In for the kill...

Satisfaction!

Amy with her brides maids and the tired birthday girl

Baby's God Momma, Jenny

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

This past Friday Aidan and his preschool class took a field trip to a pumpkin patch. It was a lightening fast trip so much so that I forgot what was done until I looked at the pictures! When we arrived we had a quick dos and don't speech, jumped around for five minutes on some hay bales, walked through the corn maze, fed the farm animals, picked up a pumpkin and hopped on the hay ride back to our cars to leave - all in one hour. Aidan wasn't really into picking out a pumpkin that morning either. I don't think it was living up to his expectations and he just kept obsessing about going back and jumping on the hay bales...I know, I know, he is definitely my child. I picked out two good looking pumpkins though and it was nice to spend some time with Aidan and his classmates and it was super nice weather for October!

Aidan with his handful of food for the animals

Feeding the goats

Aidan and his good friend Johnathan
(Aidan won't look at the camera anymore...sorry)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Fall Festival

We had our Fall Festival I kid you not...a month ago and here I am finally posting the pics! Oh well, life goes on. Anyhoo, the theme this year was Fire and EMS so needless to say LOTS of fire trucks and ambulance vehicles were in the parade. Aidan was in totally delight over not only the many fire trucks, but the enormous tractors too! Aunt Debbie would have love the tractors too...all John Deere. Aidan cleaned up with too much candy again.

Quinn was part of the Girl Scout float and was in charge of holding the state flag. In the picture below she doesn't seem too excited about it, but I assure you when she was asked she screamed. Some of the things in a parade are always a little scary - take the Shriner Hobos for example. Grown men dressed in crazy outfits not looking very excited and throwing candy out to our children...hmmmm. Aidan hid behind me when they sauntered by.

After the parade there were activities in the park to go along with the Fire EMS theme. They had a house that filled up with smoke and the children were supposed to practice staying low and getting out in the dark. And soon every child that you saw had some horrible bloody injury...luckily the EMS was just having some fun...whew! All in all a very nice Fall Fest - the weather was amazing and not cold and rainy as in the past which always makes for a record year at the liquor store too! Woohoo! :)

Aidan picking up some candy - he had to compete with the aggressive girls that were standing next to us!

Fire trucks, fire trucks and more fire trucks!

Quinn on the front of the girl scout float holding the state flag

Scary hobos!

Quinn and Tori having a little slide action

Aidan found the sun a little too bright so we bought him what he calls his Hot Wheels glasses

Aidan trying out to be a train conductor after every ride he exclaimed "THAT WAS SO COOL!"

Quinn and Tori on the Sizzler

Quinn escaping the smoke filled house safely

Thank God these aren't real! Yikes!

Future fire man checking out his seat

Thom and I took a picture of ourselves just to prove we were there...sorry this was the best we could do!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Race for the Cure

This past Saturday was the Race for the Cure run/walk. In the past thirteen years since losing mom to breast cancer I have made it a point to walk in her memory. For the first time in a long time I was going to skip it this year until one of my very best friends, Amy asked if Quinn and I wanted to walk with her and her daughter Natalie. I am so glad that she did - it was a beautiful morning and so nice to see her and Natalie! When Quinn and I headed out for the walk there was a hot air balloon overhead which I have always found exciting...just something out of the ordinary I guess.

Not only is there free Starbucks coffee at the Race for the Cure, but many other free goodies. Quinn got a balloon animal made as well as a pink ribbon painted on her face. And here comes the drama...there was a woman spray painting hair pink so Quinn of course jumped right in line. It was taking forever and the walk had started so I told Quinn no and ushered her to start walking. She proceeded to stomp along about 100 feet in front of Amy, Natalie and myself for most of the race because she was ticked about her lack of pink hair. As Amy and I watched her up ahead we just had to laugh because she is so my daughter...no pink hair and her day has been ruined!

After her anger and many trips to the Radio Disney booth, Quinn watched the survivors release their pink balloons into the sky. That is always very emotional to watch - part of me thinks why couldn't that have been mom and the other part wishes so much that research will pay off so that no more have to die. Anyway, it was a great walk!