We all went to a Halloween party at a friends house on Saturday. We had a great time. Jason and I dressed up after we got there to throw people off. No one could guess who we were. We totally freaked some people out. The best was Jason coming up behind Anita while we were talking and laying his hand on her shoulder. She completely freaked out when she turned around and saw him. Playing with people was a lot of fun but I didn't like it when the little ones got scared. I was quick to come out of the mask if a kid got spooked. I had one little one that I took the mask off for come back up to me later when I had the mask back on and growl at me...that was adorable since the kid was only about two years old and dressed as a fuzzy dragon.
Erin was great at the party. I was so happy at how well he behaved. Plus the fact that I'm sure his medicine was all out of his system by the time we left. He has grown up so much. Erin did better than a lot of kids twice his age...I was a proud mommy.
A few mornings ago I came home from taking Erin to school and heard a bunch of noise coming from the back yard. Since I had seen a flock of what I thought was turkeys that morning in a neighbors yard down the street I decided to video what I found with my camera phone. As I walked around the house the squawking got louder. I was surprised to find a dozen of the big birds in my backyard. They didn't quite look like turkeys but they were as big as turkeys, so that's what I thought they were. I followed them as they tried to get away from me by running around the house. Then I figured I had freaked them out enough and let them go in peace when they ran into the neighbors yard.
I showed the video to Jason and he told me they were Guinea's or Guinea fowl. At least now I know why they didn't quite look like turkeys. :)
Here's the video. I had to set it to music because the sound doesn't work right when I upload videos to You Tube from my phone. I think I picked something decent from what they offer.
Jason and I have been married for 6 months, yesterday. He was so nice and bought me some beautiful flowers. We cooked up a nice dinner, played with the kid some, and were able to spend some alone time together after we put Erin to bed. Here is a picture of the flowers my husband got for me:
Erin is staying with us this weekend even though he was supposed to be with his Dad. We have had a bunch of "attitude" issues with him since the last time he went over there so we thought it would be best for him to stay home this time. His Dad was fine with it so he is home this weekend. It will be a month before he gets to go over to his Dads again, or maybe longer if we can't get him back under control. He is a good kid but we have some kind of issue with him every time he visits his Dad. I wish he could just stay with us all the time...I know it's selfish but I think it would be better for him too. Oh well, there is nothing I can do about it.
Here's a cute picture from Chuck E. Cheese of Erin on his birthday. I think it turned out really well. It think it's great I have good friends that have good ideas at fixing problems. See, I forgot to take our camera to Erin's party. But, luckily CEC has this neat camera/drawing machine. Thanks girl!
We have had another big week. Erin's birthday was Friday of last week. We had one of his favorite meals and invited his grandma and grandpa that live here in town over for dinner. I thought about inviting My Dad but he is always saying now that Springfield is to far for him to travel so I didn't. I made a big dinner of turkey and gravy with mashed (creamed...opps!) potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, green beans, cornbread muffins, and even rolls too. After dinner we had cupcakes and ice cream. The neatest thing about Friday was when Erin came home from school Jason had over 100 balloons all over the floor for him to play in. He loved it. Here check out the look on his face when we got home:
Saturday we had Erin's party at Chuck E. Cheese. 14 other children showed up and Erin had a blast. It was a neat experience but I doubt we will do it again. Next year I think we will just have a party at the house again. I did notice I wasn't as stressed as I was last year when we did have the party at the house. I think it was because I didn't feel I had to entertain everyone and make sure they were comfortable. I liked knowing the hostess was taking care of a lot of the details too. But, I didn't get to socialize with the adults like I would have liked or watch the kids having fun...they kind of got lost in the crowd. Erin was having so much fun that he didn't even open his presents until he got home. He loved everything he got by the way and I plan to send thank you cards to everyone since they didn't get to see how happy he was when he opened them up. Erin has a bunch of tokens still left over as well so I guess we will be heading back to CEC to use them up sometime.
Unfortunately, I got a nasty cold after Erin's party. I am just now feeling better. I'm glad that Erin didn't get sick and no one else that I know about did either. I think part of that had to do with Mickie being thoughtful enough to give the kids a hand sanitizer before they ate. I'm glad she thought of it because I sure didn't.
On Monday we went for Erin's first school meeting with the principal this year. He is doing much better than last year but we are still working with him. Hopefully if all goes well he will have a great school year and maybe he get to come off the medicine...or at least have it reduced. I owe part of the turn around to his new teacher. She is just the kind of teacher he needs. The thing is she reminds me a lot of my sister...but I won't hold that against her, lol. Jason and I both worked on Erin's behavior a bunch this last summer also. I think that has a lot to do with his turn around as well. I don't know what I would do without his help, he is wonderful. I am so proud of my little man he has really grown in a lot of ways these last few months.
We took Erin to the Robertson county fair on Tuesday. We had a good time. Erin road the bumper cars, the slide, and the fairest wheel. He also went through the fun house. We couldn't get him to ride on anything else there. He freaked out a few times because he thought we were going to make him ride something he was afraid of. We aren't that bad though...we did still try to talk him into a few things but he wasn't having it. Erin won a cute Scooby Do doll at one of the games too. He had a blast. Hopefully next year we will get him on some more rides. I really enjoyed the fair too. See this was the first time I ever went to a fair and rode anything. I wasn't allowed to go to fairs as a child. Mom got thrown off a ride once when she was younger and because of it she wouldn't let us go. So I rode the fairest wheel for the first time ever. :)
On Saturday we went to see "Wicked" at TPAC. It was pretty good. Not near as good as the book but still good. It seemed to me the story was dumbed down so that most of the public could "get it". They changed a lot of the story too...but I do understand why. There is just so much you can do on stage and in a two to three hour time frame. I did enjoy it though...it made me want to come home and reread the book again...for the thrid time, lol. Oh, I even snuck a picture of the stage before the play started. It looked so much better in person though.
Today we finally got to meet up with Christy. We met her and her family at a park and hung out for a while. Her foot is doing better although not fully healed. She is getting around on it better than I thought she would be. But, I wish she would take it a little easier on it. I just don't want her to push herself to hard and mess it up again.
Unfortunately my new employers were not willing to compromise on the braces issue at all. I was told either I get them on tomorrow or they would find a replacement for me. I found this ridiculous. I just can not see what the big deal would be to wait at least a month or two. Personally I believe they should wait until the three month probation period is up to expect that of me. If they are not willing to commit fully to me, why in the world would they expect me to commit fully to them. Of course they don't think asking me to get braces is a big deal and something I should be thankful to them for. But, I like my smile and I don't want to go through a bunch or unnecessary pain and discomfort if it's not needed. There was any number of things that could have been done or said that would have relieved some of my concerns but that didn't happen. I asked to wait until after the three month probation, nope. I asked for after two months, nope. I asked for at least a month from my start date, nope. I asked for my three month probation to be removed, nope. The only thing they moved on at all was they said if it didn't work out they would remove the braces and throw in a free set of retainers...but I still had to have them put on tomorrow or I was out the door.
I told them considering the situation I would have to opt out. After I told my supervisor this she said she would speak with the doctor but not to expect him to budge on his position. After the doctor came in they must have spoke, although I was not included in this discussion at all. Right before 5 o'clock I was asked into my supervisors office with the doctor and he told me they would have to let me go, "that they were going in a different direction with the front desk" Ha, whatever. Seems to me they were just not happy with me not bowing to their every little whim and instead of letting it seem like I was leaving on my own free will (which I did) they had to make it look like it was their decision. Pitiful in my opinion. I figured they would like me to stay around to help until they could find a replacement. I don't like the thought of leaving anyone hanging. Oh well, their loss.
Working all week has taken some getting used to. That plus the fact when I get home we have to do dinner, Erin's homework, get a shower, and what ever else needs to be done around the house and still have time for church on Wednesday and Grocery shopping. I spent all day Saturday doing laundry to get back caught up. I know this is what a lot of America has to do all the time but it is new to me. So it's also a little nerve racking at this point.
Jason and I was supposed to go out on Saturday night with my best friend. It was her birthday. We had everything planned and had a babysitter and everything but she ended up hurting her foot at the Wilson County fair. I hate that she hurt herself and I also hate that she had all this neat stuff planned out and instead spent the day at the emergency room. That has got to really stink. I hope she is feeling better next weekend and we can get together with her and her family. I hate that I don't get to see her as often as I would like. But, we have been friends since the 7th grade and we know each other very well...so we both understand when life gets in the way.
I'm supposed to get my braces on for work on Tuesday. But, I am having serious reservations about it. I have talked with my immediate supervisor at work and expressed my concerns. She said she would speak with the Dr. and his wife (the owners) and see if we could work something out. I hope that they will let me wait until my three month probationperiod is up. I just don't feel they know me well enough and I don't know them well enough to commit to three years at this time. See the deal is. They will put on the braces for free. But, I have to sign a contract that I will work for them for at least two years from the time the braces come off. Either that or if I leave I have to pay the full price of the braces, which would be $4,600 within a year. This would be fine if I know I will love the job. But, I haven't been there long enough to know that yet. I guess I'll find out more tomorrow and have to make my decision.
I was told that I would have braces put on for free as a benefit of employment at my new job (they want everyone to have a beautiful smile with perfectly straight teeth). I was under the impression that I would have this opportunity after my three month probationary period was over. Nope, I'm getting braces on the 1st of September. I am pretty nervous. I have never had braces and now I will have them in less than two weeks. I'll post pictures after I get them on. :)
I am afraid I will have to have some teeth pulled to make room, that scares me a little. I have all four wisdom teeth fully in and they have pushed my bottom canines forward to give a slight fang look to my bottom teeth. I'll know for sure by or on the 1st of September I guess.
My new job is going really well. I am still learning but I thoroughly enjoy the work I do, and the people I work for and with are great as well. They have all kinds of benefits and perks too. I found out today that after I have been there for 3 months and my probationary period is up they offer a YMCA membership as long as I use it twice a week. How cool is that! So as of right now what I know is; The pay is great, they offer health insurance, have vacation and sick days, will straighten my teeth for no charge, will offer a YMCA membership, have a spa day every three months, once a year the office takes a vacation together for a dental convention (paid for), and they give me a clothing allowance to buy work clothes that fit the colors of the office, and the cafeteria gives me half off for working on the complex. My prayers have truly been answered with this job.
cheerful
happy
indecisive