Update #6 - Summer from Hell

Like I said before, this summer has been NUTS. A few of the good, the bad and the ugly updates:

Day-to Day: Work has been NUTS. Mr S and I are so busy - it's a good thing, but it's exhausting too. The other bad thing about being so busy, is not being able to take a little time off and actually take a real vacation. Oh, well...always next year, right?

Flood Fighting: This has got to be the most covered up National Disaster ever. Since the end of May, the whole Missouri River area has been in a flood fight. And why is it covered up? BILLIONS of dollars in lost crops/income, damaged homes/farms, destroyed infrastructure and where places weren't damaged - MILLIONS were spent fighting the flood with new berms/levees, sand bags, pumps, assessment teams and so many other things. Our family was directly affected in many ways including: longer commutes to work since I-29 and I-680 were inundated (and subsequently obliterated) - now instead of getting to work in 40-45 mins - it takes Mr S and I at least an hour to get to Omaha (if we're lucky - it's more like 1.25 hrs or more); I was put on flood watch at work and was required to go to Council Bluffs DAILY at 5:15 AM to track levee assessments/incidents - it was really tough, but as of last Friday, I'm done - I'm SO NOT seeing 4:30 am again for a VERY LONG time. I'm also working on another flood fighting project at our nuclear station - it's really interesting, but I hope not ever have to do this in our area ever again (if I have to travel somewhere else because I now have that experience, fine, but I'll be part of the mob that goes after the COE if they ever flood us again; we were also told that Mr. S's house in the Valley "might" flood, in fact the stupid Army Corps of Engineer's predicted that we would have 4-8 ft of water there! So our stupid renter moved out and left us a HUGE mess and we couldn't get another in with that kind of forecast. What a mess...Probably the only good thing that came out of it was seeing how resilient and how self-sacrificing so many people were. As sucky as it was to work so early in the morning, I was blown away daily by the employees with the City of Council Bluffs at their dedication to their citizens and humbleness to help out how ever they all could.

So sad - so environmentalists, should the stupid birds have their nests (because it's not like they can't adapt or anything) or people lose more homes?

All of the reasons why not having a seond job is good

We've been living our flurried life the last few weeks. It's been really tough to take the time and relax (well at least relax and blog or do "my relaxing stuff").

So what have we been up to?

The older kids came to Take Your Child To Work Day again with me. I actually got to go on the field trip this year - we took a tour of all "Large Engineering Company's" projects around Omaha and then had a really neat tour of the Holland Perrforming Arts building.

Building a bridge out of gumdrops and toothpicks and then testing the load with pennies - they got over $1.00 into the container!

We celebrated Easter with Mr. S's family. The kids had fun, although I think JrMrS was upset that they were hard on him when they hid his eggs. It got to be late and it wasn't the kids that I had a hard time getting out of there - it was Mr S because he was too busy watching all the ins and outs of the Royal Wedding. Seriously? He doesn't even remember what our vows are or what my dress looked like, but wants to know ALL about that? Grr...

God, she's so pretty

Looking EVERYWHERE for his eggs.....

No April Fools Joke ....10 updates for 7 weeks

Where has time gone? We’ve been so busy and moving at the speed of light most of the time around here. I’ve also had a hard time deciding to write because after mine and Mr. S’s fight before Valentines Day – I was supposed to make a promise to no longer put “everything” out there, I’m not allowed to write posts that will make me or anyone else depressed. It really upset me because I feel like this is MY sounding board and his family should stay out of it. Anyway, I’ve cooled off now so I’ll catch everyone up on the last MONTH. Bare with me on this….

1) Jr Ms S’s LEGO League participated in the Nebraska State competition. They were one of only 5 teams that were invited from Iowa. (If you remember, Jr Mr S’s team went to state in Iowa and got 2nd place) It was a very, very cool thing for the kids. It was held at the Air and Space Museum and both hangers were PACKED with kids and their robots. The atmosphere was almost like being at a Monster Truck Rally (not that I’ve ever been to one – but it’s what I would imagine it to be like). They had a DJ going and Time Warner Cable used the big screens so that they could see themselves competing. The announcers and almost all of the volunteers for the RoboExpo made it a really special event for the kids. And it was LOUD…oh my gosh it was LOUD, but in a good way – lots of cheering and screaming for the kids. Her team didn’t end up getting a trophy, but they ranked at 16th out of 60 teams which their coach said was very good for a first year team with 4th-7th graders against mostly Jr High teams that have done this before. It was a great day for them. We’re always so wrapped up in sports that it was great to see an intellectual thing get the same recognition and excitement as a sporting event. They did a wonderful job and I’d love to go back again if we can.

2) Mr S and I were able to make up our Valentines date after the RoboExpo. We dropped the girls off at my sister’s and went to dinner. It was a quick dinner, but it was nice to spend some time together. And I think our marriage is hopefully improving – I think with wrestling over, my quitting the second job (YAY – I QUIT!!), making compromises on my main job and trying to invest more time in the kids and Mr S has helped. I hope so…

3) Jr Ms S’s team got first place in their last basketball tournament - so that was bitter-sweet for them. In addition to that she had her BEST game ever – I don’t know what got into her, but she was HOT that day. And I’m the biggest retard mom and didn’t pull out my camera until the very last game. She had already played quite a bit of the first three so she only played a few minutes of the last one. The other team REALLY wanted to beat us and the fans were SO loud. But we beat them and this is what it sounded like…

(Geez – my ears hurt SO BAD after the last two days)

Awesome, huh?

4) The boys had a few wrestling tournaments to finish of the season (no surprise huh?). In fact, one weekend they had TWO tournaments because Mr S is so obsessed. They’ve done pretty well at them – mostly getting first places. JrMrS only got 5th place at districts though – so we didn’t make it to state. I feel bad for him but I am SO HAPPY for me. Now we’re done until next fall - - THANK GOD!!! (see, I can be positive about wrestling) Now if only he doesn’t OBSESS over baseball (it’s already starting – I can see it – but this sport is a little better because it doesn’t smell like armpits – or worse, I get a tan, and at least you know after about 1.5 hours or 5 innings, you’re going home).

5) We had fun at the school carnival - well, maybe I didn't - I had to work with the balloon clown (I HATE clowns!!!)

6) In addition to participating in Lego League this year, the kids also did chess club again. This was the first time we tried out a tournament though - it was really tough! The girls tried their best though and ended up about in the middle of their brackets.

7) I’ve decided that life ends after 30. This year has been SO rough and going into 31 doesn’t look to hot either. I have never had such bad health and been SO overweight. It’s sickening. To fix the odd “lady” problems I was having, we ended up having to change my birth control pill and it’s some crappy pill that makes my hormones think I’m pregnant (whoo-hoo – cause I loved the emotional roller coasters of that…grrr). On top of that its been one continuous cold after another – yuck!

8) So I turned 31 and Jr Mr and Ms S turned 11. Yay another year and another year closer to them being teenagers (I’m totally being sarcastic – really)

Whoops - forgot to buy candles, but the two candles I did have worked :)

So in total - all the March birthdays added up to 222 years!

yes - she's fake blowing out the candles since I wasn't fast enough with the trigger

9) The girls performed in the Drill Team show at their school. It was such a great program for them and so sweet of the high school girls to take the time and foster this in them – especially since we’re so far away from club cheerleading (I SO wish there was a place close – LMS would LOVE it). I was SO surprised when my tom-boy girl JrMsS decided to do it. She was so cute.

10) We had some weather excitement (and unfortunately some damage) a couple weeks ago. I was racing home from work to get home to leave for parent teacher conferences when a thunderstorm warning hit our area. I could see the clouds getting dark and moving fast in front of me (I’m such a dork I had the whole Twister soundtrack playing in my head – you know the really ominous one right before the tornado hits) Right as I was coming around a curve on the interstate the front hit and I was pushed by the wind! Scary! When I got to town it was only sprinkling so I thought I’d be able to out run the storm – um – no. I got stopped at the third light in town (how crazy does that sound?) and it started sounding like someone was CHUCKING rocks at my car. Then all the clouds opened up and it hailed HARD. I pulled over under a gas station canopy to try to prevent damage to my car and called Mr S. I was listening to the news on the radio but was worried about a tornado as bad as it was. He wasn’t even watching the tv for me – I was freaking out – I didn’t know if I should make a run for a safe place or what when…the tornado sirens went off..here I am under a gas station canopy – probably the worst place I could be other than on the road itself. So Mr S calls me back and says “Well it’s a tornado, but it’s right on top of you, so if you’re fine, just come home”. Um, SERIOUSLY!!! Eh, it’s a tornado, but just drive home – I can’t even see the freaking road in front of me it’s pouring so hard! Grr… So once it did stop I came home. Right before I got off the highway to go down our road Mr S calls and asks if I’d left yet because now it’s getting bad at the house (oh – now you’re worried?). I got home fine and pulled into the garage. By the time I’d changed clothes it was sunny out and the girls were playing in the hail trying to find the biggest ones. We had some vehicle damage, a hole in our siding and some damage to our gutters, but nothing claim-wise at least. Mr S’s stupid ex wasn’t so lucky, her house looks like someone shot it up with a machine gun – sad, but SUPER funny. Too bad she’s such a b!tch and got on the news talking about how the boys “thought they were going to DIE!” Really? If they thought they were going to die, how come they didn’t say anything about it the next day? Stupid…The worst of the damage happened at LMS’s teacher’s farm (they had cows out, damage to their old farm house, and worst of all the grain bin FULL of corn was picked up and thrown 1/2 mile down the road!)

I felt so bad, she pulled us aside and asked if she could do our conference ASAP so she could get home – no way was I making her stick around – I told her to give me the papers and go – if there was a problem I should have heard WAY SOONER than this (we see each other almost every weekend at kid stuff since she has kids the same ages as ours)

So there are 10 updates for the last 7 weeks. I promise not to go so long anymore… I love blogging and I’ve hated being gone.

Catching up

It's amazing how much we rely on the electronics around us (I know I'd be LOST without my Android now). New Years Day our router decided to crap out on us and it took us several calls with the internet company, a new router, and several more calls with the internet provider to finally get going again. So now that we're back in business and I have a free evening, here's what the Snowflakes have been up to the last couple of weeks:

My parents had to go back to AZ :( It was nice to have them around - I feel bad that we hardly did anything, mostly because I felt so crappy most of the time. We did get to have a nice dinner their last night here.

Playing with the panoramic again :)

Missing my Christmas Spirit

I'm not really sure what it is, but I just cannot find it this year. Is it the lack of time? The lack of gift ideas for my friends and family? Getting over being sick/hurt? All of the ex crap? Just stress from work, kids, life? I'm not really sure.

We have been REALLY busy, we are constantly running from one thing to the next. Last night the stars aligned and Mr. S and I FINALLY got to have a date night. Our last one was so long ago, I can't even remember. Between kids things, working, etc, we just haven't had time (and probably won't again for a while). It's really sad...when did life become this hectic whirlwind? We had a nice night, regardless of the frightful drive home and back in the blizzard, a nice dinner and I got to watch HP7 - I'm such a Pot-head.

I know everyone is trying to get through this difficult economy and a lot of people aren't in the best place, but I can't remember the last time I've had such a depressing Christmas. I have no ideas for my husband, my kids, my family. I have three people done out of my list and that it! It's the middle of December and I'm no where close to getting everything done. No one will give me ideas either and I think that's what makes it the hardest. I have too much on my plate right now to be super-creative. I'm sorry...so PLEASE give me ideas!!

Luckly, I am getting better health-wise. My muscle is almost healed (part of it is still tight and sticking out - yuck!) and my cough is just an infrequent annoyance now. I've met my sick quota for the year, right? Next time I promise to listen to everyone - I'm playing the baby and getting the rest I need.

So long, farewell

Not to all of you of course, but to my wonderful friend named....

SPRING/SUMMER/FALL

She is such a wonderful friend. She allows me to wear my flip flops and other cute high heels. I love my little summer skirts and sundresses. The days are longer. I get somewhat of a tan. I don't have to cook as much since Mr. S LOVES to grill. But sadly, she left this week with no hope of return for another 6-7 months :(

This week we not only had to experience the dreaded time change - (I hate that - why can't everyone be like AZ and leave time alone?) - but OLD MAN WINTER moved into the area - he's so cruel.

Thursday morning, I had to drive to work in this...

I really probably shouldn't be taking pictures while speeding down the Interstate at 75+mph in thick fog - huh?

What a difference a day makes

Friday was my day from Hell.  All week I'd been "slow" (not really that I didn't have anything to do - just not at the hurricane pace I'm used to), Friday had a ton of deadlines though. My biggest one was this 6-in thick Construction Quality and Assurance document that has to be filed with Iowa DNR on Monday AM. So between racing to get that ready and needing to go to work at my second job - I was under a lot of pressure. Ultimately, I didn't get my final files until after 3 (I had wanted to leave at 2:30) and still had to finish printing, assembling and burning electronic versions. Around 4 I couldn't decide if I was calling in to second job or not, but no matter what I was working late (my other option was to go in Saturday or Sunday to finish - but in my mind - that was NOT an option) also, my job at Large Engineering firm comes WAY before my second job - if I lost my main one for not completing it (not that it would happen, but..) - second job is NOT going to pay the bills. I finished at 5:35 and was getting nagged by the shuttle drivers to get my butt downstairs or I'd have to walk to my car - not really something I wanted to do with all of the crap I had to carry for the conference today. I made it home, changed and got to my second job by 6:30...of course we were swamped and I think all the waitresses were mad at me.  Whatever....When I got home after 9:30 (over 14 hour day) finally - I was tired, stressed, not feeling good (I've been sick/had allergies or something since Wed night) and I was kind of annoyed with Mr. S (not going to spell it all out here - he was (is) in the doghouse). Anyway...bad day.

Saturday didn't start off very well, I was still tired, sick and stressed out and Mr S started nagging me about getting my car in (it's had a check engine light on all week). We got it dropped off, he made breakfast casserole, we all cleaned house and then went to JrMrS's last football game of the season. I got a call from the dealership about my car while we were watching the older kids play their game - I had a stupid evap warning (basically because Mr S put gas in my car and then didn't screw the cap on tight - the engine didn't like that it didn't have the "pressure"). Luckily it was an easy fix and they didn't even charge me for the time/labor! I have dropped LOTS of money with them - so they're nice and give me breaks every once in a while (nice thing about living in a small town). Anyway, that relieved a TON of stress and I was able to enjoy the game (except for my throat killing me). JrMrS's team won the game and then I was finally able to get some pictures up close in his uniform.

My week in Wyoming

I NEVER pictured myself going to Wyoming (of course I thought the same thing about Nebraska and Iowa and look at me now).  Not that it's a bad place (in fact it's beautiful!), I just never really saw myself going there for anything.  In late June we found out that we won a project for the National Guard.  I and a co-worker were going to plan a training conference for them in Laramie, WY.  It was a scramble for 6 weeks.  We had almost no time to get it all planned and do everything else we needed to.  Remember my post about a bad review?  That was for this project.  Somehow she and I pulled it all off and on the 15th we headed for Laramie to pull off the conference.  What a week.  I worked almost 90 HOURS!!! It was a LOT of work, but we had a lot of fun too.

You know you live in a small town when...

...kids at the community center just leave their bikes like this...

Even in the small town I lived in as a child we wouldn't have gotten away with this - let alone anywhere now in the 2000's.  Gotta love the small town (that and I was so distracted by the unlocked bikes that I left my car doors unlocked with my purse sitting on the front seat for anyone's taking while I took this picture and then went into the pool for about 10 minutes to collect kids) :P

What still surprises you about living in a small town or a big city?

What constitutes a bad week (and a half)?

It may not have been the worst week and a half ever in my life, but when you look back at all that you’ve been through, it just adds up.

Let’s start with July 7th (a week and a half ago). Mr. S’s grandmother passed away after battling cancer for only about 3 months. It came on hard and fast and although she’s in a better place and no longer in pain, it’s still hard for Mr. S’s mom and family. He’s been pretty estranged from that side of the family for years, so the memorial last Saturday was the first time a lot of his family had met LMS (the boys were at a wrestling camp and Jr.Ms.S was at her swimming district meet – Mr. S thought it was more important for them to do that). From the stories I heard about her, she will be a very missed woman. And now today we found out that Mr.S’s grandfather isn’t doing very well now – I guess after 65+ years – you really can’t do without the other.

(grandparents are in the center sitting down)

On July 8th, I took flowers and card to my sister for her birthday. As I was walking into the office building I missed one TINY little stair right before the door (how did I make it up the freaking 20 large ones before that?) and fell hitting my knees SUPER hard, the flowers went FLYING, and I had to walk into the building with blood running down my knees. Ugh, at least HOPEFULLY no one saw me do it – what a klutz I am. The bad thing is that my knees are STILL bruised and now I’m suffering a lot of pain in one when I stand too long (hopefully I didn’t tear something in my knee like someone suggested). (by the way sissy - sorry I didn't do a birthday blog post - I'm so bad and behind - I'm sorry).

Happy Birthday Sissy!!

Last Sunday Mr. S and I fought about PB sandwiches - yeah - that was the stupidest fight of the century.

Why living in a small town still amazes me

My mom grew up in a very small town in California.  The three of us kids and even my dad would make fun of her for this - we were city people and sometimes her "view" of the world just didn't jive with the way things really were in a large metropolitan area in Arizona. I was born in a small town in Southern Arizona and each year for the Fourth of July we'd visit my grandma there, go to the soap box derby races down the mountain, eat ice cream, watch the parade that went down main street and then watched the fireworks on her patio.  That was my "small town" experience growning up. 

Since I've moved to the midwest, I've learned about what we missed out on in my child-hood: everyone has FIREWORKS!  Our towns really sound like some kind of revolutionary war is going on.  How small was my bubble that I didn't know about this?!  In AZ no one is allowed to have fireworks due to the fire danger (even the professional ones set pretty bad fires).

The past few years with Mr. S we've gone to Lake Okoboji for the Fourth.  It's been such a fun experience and the kids have started recognizing it as a "tradition" for us (we need more traditions - it's hard with all the back and forth though with the boys).  This year because of our insane schedules, lack of money and because Crazy is stupid and wouldn't let us have the boys longer than just the Fourth (it's HER week), we ended up just staying home for the holiday.

A Quick 10...

What a week...here's the high-level events that have taken place:

1. Swim team is going strong now.  I think Jr.Ms.S really loves it.  The only bad side I see is that it's SO much like wrestling meets!  Ugh!  At least we're out enjoying the nice weather, I guess, and if you sit close enough - you can get cooler from the water every once in a while.

2.What a nice, relaxing day we had on Sunday.  Because of the rainy weather we got out of going to baseball games.  We just took it easy all day, napped, watched movies - totally unlike our normal schedule.  It was great.

3. Speaking of baseball, Jr.Mr.S's team got 1st place in the tournament last weekend and 3rd in the tournament this week.  His season is over now (YAY!) - great job guys!

4. LMS had her last softball game this week (double YAY!).  She did so great even with the lack of practices and short season.  I'm looking forward to next year when they'll play more serious games and hopefully they give them more instruction.  On Wednesday night she had THREE great hits and played outfield very well.

I'm warning you - don't read if you're not ready for the rollercoaster...

If I had one word to describe the last week (and the week to come), it would be CHAOS - pure chaos. It’s been SO busy and pulled a MILLION different directions this last week. To sum it all up is just going to require a brain dump. Stop reading if not interested…

Last Saturday, Mr. S’s cousin got married (Congratulations B & J!!!) and Mr. S and I co-hosted the wedding. They had a really beautiful wedding and for as many people as they were expecting (over 400), they pulled off a really nice reception. The only thing that kind of sucked was that Mr. S and I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time together at our first wedding as a married couple and getting him to come out of the bar (that was his job) to dance with me was a chore. My job was cutting cake. I’m a horrible cake cutter and trying to dismantle a four tier cake and grooms cake and portion them out to 400 people just didn’t work out very well (sorry Aunt R). Once the cake was all gone – I got to try wine slushies – wait – wine slushy doesn’t exist – trust me. After the cake was all gone, I decided to go to the bar and hang out with Mr. S since he wasn’t going to come out (the man was serious about his job). I found a couple of frozen bottles of wine in the fridge, so we pulled them out to unthaw. Well, the WINE wasn’t frozen, the juice was and since I’m a sucker for slushy drinks, I started pouring it for myself. Note to all of you: WINE DOES NOT FREEZE!! Basically I drank a bottle of alcohol (yeah ‘cause I couldn't stop with the first half a bottle and once I got down to the juice melting, I switched to the other). Bad, bad choice. Anyway, it was a late night and after helping clean up, Mr. S, the girls and I didn’t get home until about 1 am (I'm old - staying up until 11 is a CraZy night).

Sunday was a “recovery” day. Although at least I didn’t have a wine hang-over (those are much worse to recover from – at least in my experience). Geez.. Mr. S tried out his new MONSTER of a grill. I spoiled him last week by buying him a grill that is about as big a grill as I’ve ever seen. It has a cook top, a gas grill, a charcoal grill, AND a smoker. Tell me I don’t love my husband. He was like a kid last week trying to figure out his inaugural meal on it, he settled on grilled potato salad and some kind of fancy strip steaks (sorry I forgot the name – the recipe is on the Williams Sonoma website though).

Wow - what a week...

It's been an interesting/super-busy/rough week. 
It started off last Friday with me taking off work (well, sort of) and staying home with the kids - yeah - it was all about running them ALL OVER the place.  First, I had to run to the rental house in town for Mr. S's deadbeat renter's money (which was not there when I got there), then to the town our kids go to school in for JrMrS's baseball practice, then grocery shopping with the three little ones for the weekend, then home, then back for JrMrS, ran some errands in town, took all five of them to the library, dropped of JrMsS at swimming practice, brought other four home to make lunch, ran back to town the kids go to school in and picked up JrMsS - it wasn't even 1 o'clock yet!!

Isn't she so cute?!

What did the pioneer children do?

Today is the 6th “snow day” in three weeks for my kids. They’ve been back to school three weeks since the Christmas holiday and have only attended 8.5 days (and only one day this week). Due to the ice storm we had Wednesday, the ice covered gravel/county roads and power being out to half the county still, they cancelled school again today (and it only took me two tries to get out of my slick driveway this morning – yay!).

Rain, rain, go away

I think I've changed my opinion on snow.  At least in snow you get some traction.  We had rain today and since we still have so much snow...it froze in a thick layer on my road and driveway.  It took me THREE tries to get up to the house tonight...grrr.

The Snowflake's Ice Rink - open for business

Al Gore had it right...but wrong

Al Gore is absolutely right about climate change....
                                                             ....but in the wrong direction.
We are NOT getting hotter...we're getting colder...
                                                                             WAY COLDER....