My decade in review - 2005

FYI - I finally got some pictures up on 2001 (working on the others). Kirsten (and Karen if you ever read this) some are especially for you

At the very beginning of 2005 Bill's unit left for training (in California and North Carolina) and then to Iraq. We'd had lots of unit "meetings" and Key Volunteers was all set up. So all the families were at the reserve center that first weekend in January to send them off.

I can't really describe for you what it was like. You've already had really tough conversations that you just don't think you'll have to have in your 20's - things like - "Where would you want to be buried?" It's already done. Now they are just on their way out. We were sitting in the "gym" chowing down on our last dinner and then they are ushering us out. At least, that is all I remember.

The weirdest thing ever was being awakened by a phone call the next morning from a collection agency looking for William Cox. And at 6 a.m. you are wondering what kind of double life your husband has been leading until it finally comes out that they've got the wrong William Cox. Honestly. (Don't worry they harassed me for like 5 more months. It if for this reason I do not recommend pay as you go phones.)

Back at home I worked part time in the Chemistry department, played in my adult beginners symphony orchestra, reorganized my apartment several times, took trips to see family (in Idaho) and friends (in Salt Lake). At the end of the school year I went through honors convocation (remember I'd graduated in December 2004). For whatever reason I decided not to do the big walk. I'll make up for it later.

Jenna and I on temple square At honors convocation

At the party at my grandparents the weekend of graduation (with Bill's siblings Lena and Ryan)

In the summer - since I had no more work - I went and spent a month at my mom's in Arizona. It was hot, they were in the middle of moving into their first house. It was great to be there and help/see that. When I came home we had a lot of family around for my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

Bill did pretty well - from what I remember. We should probably ask him about it. His unit was amazingly lucky - what with all the traveling they did. We would talk via messenger as often as possible. I really can't tell his end of the story about his deployment. I learn something new every time he talks to someone about it.

I started looking for a job. I actually was hired by LA Weight Loss. You know - I was looking forward to working with them. But I guess I lost my nerve, or didn't feel quite right about the whole thing. So I went back to work in the Chemistry department (which I still love by the way) until Bill came home. It gave me the major flexibility I felt I needed at the time.

They arrived back home in October. This is another experience that I find hard to describe. I drove to Yakima with my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law, Ryan. Ryan and I went back to the car to get the camera and I remember feeling like I had jello legs on the way back so I grabbed Ryan's hand. And we started running. Ryan was our photographer that day.

We all drove back to the Tri-Cities and dropped in on the rest of the family. I think we went out for Bill's dads birthday.

In November we headed back to Yakima for the unit's "official" welcome home celebration in Yakima. It was very fun - and our veterans got treated to a free dinner at local restaurants.

Also that month -right before Thanksgiving - we had our laser eye surgery. We had gone in 2 weeks before to get our eye's examined and see if we were eligible and the next this I knew we were scheduling surgery for 2 weeks away! There is no denying I was freaked out. But things went well and we have great eyesight now. It was amazing!

I don't remember much else about the rest of the year. We had a great time with our family.

I started training to work for Weight Watchers in December to get ready for the big push in January 2006...

Shrimp Boil

So almost 3 months ago now we went to a Mardi Gras party. Food and kids and friends - it was pretty good. But I've been meaning to post about it ever since just so I can show you the pictures of what we ate. It was call shrimp boil (I think) and this is what it looked like.

Woo hoo right? With lost of these:



Yeah....it took me a while to actually TOUCH one of these (they are Crawfish by the way). It took some serious willpower to overcome the initial distaste enough to learn how to pull it apart and eat it. Which I did do. I think I was on the 3rd when they hosts husband said. "You know, lobsters, crab, crawfish - they are all like the roaches of the ocean." I was pretty much done after that.

I'd rather be blogging

I've got a bill (or two) to pay, dishes to put away, dishes to wash, dishes for the Nursery to wash - so they're are out of my way - and other stuff to pick up. Not too bad right? Except it's already 9:30!

I can't figure it out exactly but every day since I've gotten home from vacation has been filled with problems (furnace), phone calls (family), and ....what's a word that starts with "p" that means "cleaning"?

And also - cat neutering. Except for the incessant meowing the night before - in which I was keeping him inside against his will and not feeding him (Dr.'s orders) the experience was really easy. He came home, slept for a good 4 hours and then was ready to go back outside. Because I let him have some of the new Meow Mix (oh wait no I didn't! I discovered AFTER the neutering that in his starvation he had climbed up and chewed into the bag so he could eat. Of course!) - he won't finish out the 5 bowls of cat food left in side the Kirkland bag. Also, after 2 days outside, his newest collar (containing his rabies tab and microchip number tag) is already gone. I think I made the right decision in micro chipping this cat.

You guys, I wanted to cry when I came home after 9 days and saw my lawn. Remember my pile?? - Seemed pointless. So my new motto is "Better living through chemistry." which I picked up from my boss in the chemistry office. I took some "extra" money I had and hired a lawn company to live up to my motto. Right now it doesn't look any better. They said a couple of applications. They better be right! I paid some guys to put down some mulch (thanks to my neighbors for the great/cheap recommendation!) Now I just need someone with a mower to come help me out with the mowing. Until I can afford to get one of my own. Then I just need an extra few hours in the day, a pause button for time, or a clone - so I can mow the lawn myself.

Oh look! Now it's almost 10pm. I'm going to go finish my chat with a friend, check my email again and then maybe get started on my to-do list. Or go to bed and read my book. My date for the gym only starts at 8:45 am.... it Miriam would just sleep until 8...

I am woman

I can cart two (large diaper bag sized) bags and a purse and a child with stroller through an airport.

I can take off our shoes and take out our portable DVD player and arrange this with all previous stuff to go through airport security

I can reassemble bags and child and huff it to my airport gate

I can survive 20 minutes of tantrums on an airplane about not wearing the seatbelt and...whatever else was going on in her brain until we finally took off.

I can hold a sleeping two year old, get a bag out with my foot, find a wallet and pay for a sandwich and eat it all with one hand.

I can dig out a book a read it with one hand - until my other arm fell asleep an hour later and in the shuffle - I woke up the toddler.

I can entertain a 2 year old for the rest of the flight - alright - my new portable DVD player might have helped - but I could have done it all by myself. I'm just glad I didn't have to.

I am mom. I can do hard things

And now I am tired.

I {heart} my gym

The last couple of months I have not been doing well keeping up with my fitness regimen. I've been trying to get into a regular fitness routine, including cardio, yoga, and strength training.

The truth is - I'm getting stuck in a trap of bad weather and not wanting to get up in the morning. Naptimes and after bedtimes I've always got other things going on - or am just plain tired.

Lots of people at church have been talking about one of the gyms in our area - so I've asked a few about it. Turns out - we get a discount! So last week after considering it several times a day - I went and signed up! (I had to pay extra to be able to use the childcare room but what other option do I really have?)

It has been awesome! I feel SO good for doing regular exercise and I LOVE the diffrent classes available to me! I've tried their step class and yoga and went to my first Spin class. It was very HARD. If you like to sweat and burn calories spin class is for you. I thought I wouldn't be able to move my legs in the next two days. Shockingly - I never got too sore. I guess I need to work harder next time -ugh!

The one problem I'm having is Miriam doesn't want to go to the childcare center. We've hung out there and they have toys and a TV and a "big toy" - which I thought she'd love. The girls that work there are really nice. I'm not sure if she's just upset that I don't stay with her??

Well now we're on vacation and I've got a travel pass but haven't made it to the gym yet. Any thoughts on how to make the childcare transition go a little easier. I've got a whole week to think about it.

A big ol' pile of yard work

Today we had an incredibly nice day in the south. An "outside in a short sleeved shirt" sort of day. After I put Miriam down for a nap - I spent an hour outside pulling weeds in my front lawn. This was the result.

(Next to the newpaper - for a size reference.)

It filled 1/3-1/2 of a bag. This was just my front lawn. Not the sides OR the back. AND it was by no means ALL of the weeds in my front lawn. Although I like to think I got most of them. The worst areas though were around one of my trees and the side near my neighbors lawn. (I'd show you a picture of the difference in their lawn...but thought maybe I shouldn't)

Honestly - it's not like my lawn looks awful - but look at all of that!! Sheesh.

I think that perhaps people think I am joking when I say I am seriously considering flying my dad and Dede here for a week to a) help watch Miri and b) help in my yard. But hello! - Did you see that giganitc pile of weeds?

I once asked my Dad what he and his wife use on their lawn. Well, they don't use anything - they just yank them themselves and try to keep up with things that way. They're all natural and environmentally responsible like that. So I thought - maybe that's all I need to try and do. My experience with the fall weeds was crazy though. Like I could pull and pull for 30 minute stints at a time (weather permitting) and feel like I barely made a stint in my 4x4 area.

What now? Working in my yard was really addicting. If I hadn't had to get ready for work I probably would have continued working down the side of my house. But where do I draw the line exactly? How much of Miriam's increasingly limited naptime to I spend pulling weeds? (I pull weeds with her outside too and it's NOT EASY as anyone with a 2 year old in an unfenced yard may attest. Pulling "weeds" like mommy only lasts for so long.) Not to mention in a few months it'll be REALLY HUMID here. I suppose I could pull weeds at 7 a.m. (hahahaha)

So - do I enlist help? Do I truck it down to Home Depot and buy a bag of weed killer? Or do I call TruGreen to learn about their many options for lawn care? Or do I continue to wage war in my yard?

Thrift Stores and Curtains - the horror!

I like these. Really - I do. But I'm not exactly sure how they would look in my living room. I've only got one window that would be getting these. Unless I thought they would also go in my dining room. I've gotten lots of good pointers from friends and good suggestions - like - buy your own fabric and make them.

So far, with curtain/fabric for curtain shopping, I'm feeling a lot like a do about thrift store shopping. Why spend hours going through all the JUNK to maybe find something you might like. So when I see something I think would work, I'm much more inclinded to get it. Rather than shop through more stuff. Even if it cost me 10 more bucks at a regular store. (Side note to thrift store junkies: I've totally gotten great stuff second hand. I'm just impatient. Once I've figured out what I would like to have it's hard for me to spend eons looking for it.)

My curtain shopping mentality is slightly different though in that - I can't figure out what I want/like! So - cheap or expensive, already-done or DIY - I have no idea when I'm looking for exactly! So EVERYTHING feels like I am thrift store shopping. It's all JUNK.

Okay not really. I did see some things I like. (reference above picture) I'm just....???????

NOT an interior decorator. Good thing it's my house.