Muddling Through

For big, happy announcements, Saturday was Anniversary Day for me and my HC. 6 Years! Crazy! On Friday we had an appointment to have the kids' pictures taken, for a Child Abuse Task Force fundraiser. Antiquities: Unique Portrait Fundraiser. They dressed the kids up and had the neatest props. Got some really sweet pictures. For our $10 donation, we get the sitting and a free 10x12 of the kids posed together. Then for an extra couple hundred dollars, you can get all the poses and a few pictures. But they are really wonderful pictures; just wish we could justify the expense! I'll be going back on the 30th for our "portrait selection appointment."
Since we were in town for the portrait sitting (my HC met us there in his unit), we decided to have our night on the town a day early and save some gas (Tahlequah is a 45 wind-y, long drive from home). So we went out for Chinese! Woo hoo! It's been a Looooong time. It was a little tricky with the kids' allergies, but Ian loves boiled shrimp and fruit and rice, so that what he loaded up on. I couldn't peel shrimp fast enough for him. Erin was not hungry, having enjoyed her Burger King french fries from earlier that afternoon. Ian was too busy on the playplace and the slides and tunnels to think about eating, so he was ravenous for dinner. (We can't go to Tahlequah unless we stop at the BK play place; it's a Rule. There will be mutiny otherwise and who can pass up a chance to expend all that energy?)
So we had our chinese....mmmm.....culinary delight. My HC took cranky Erin out, so he didn't get his seconds, but it was good enough (and inexpensive enough) that we have plans to return. High praise indeed from the selective HC. I love chinese food....sesame chicken. Mmmmm. And the dumplings with spicy sauce.
Then I got to pick out my anniversary present: a new sewing machine! Woo hoo!



Had an old one, but with bobbin case difficulties. Ended up being unrepairable. So I've been diddling with my new machine. HC got a new drill, so the loose siding is fixed on the house and some other odds and ends on The List are taken care of. Who knew all we needed was a drill to complete these onerous tasks?
Meanwhile, we are proceeding with our homeschooling plans for next year. We've checked the state laws (surprisingly lax, compared with Florida), perused curriculum, and will start homeschooling this summer (lightly, don't worry) when kindergarten is finally over. I am optimistic and confident about our educational future.
My HC is also looking at pursuing a degree as well. We are currently talking to admissions, etc, trying to see if it's something that's realistic for us right now (or should I say, him, since he'll be doing all the work). We are grateful that he has an employer that is excited and very encouraging about further education and is willing to work with his employee/students. HC was very impressed with a coworker in his 50s who just completed his Bachelor's degree.
My HC is taking it slow. No commitments yet, but we're just checking it all out.
Prayers would be great, especially about finances. I am hoping for a bunch of student aid, since he's working full-time and we's po'!
Still waiting for house to sell, though there is genuine interest from people moving due to road construction and widening. The gov't is buying their houses to tear down for new lanes and they are relocating, hopefully to our house! But first they are waiting on state to pay before they can buy. Who knows how long that could take? But it's good enough to keep our hope alive!
That's about it. We are pottytraining at our house. Having graduated the dog, we are working on the ErinNoodle.

4 years ago today...

...Chris and I were on our honeymoon, freezing away in Cedar Key. Eating some REALLY spanking good seafood and getting great views of the Gulf. And freezing. And nibbling on great leftovers from the wedding supper. And freezing some more. But it was beautiful and one day we will go back when it is not freezing and do all the fun things that we would have done had it not been 35 degrees the whole time. Like chartered boats and fishing and lying on their beach in the sun. Sigh!

Still hoping for nibbles on the house so we can experience that chilly Florida brand of winter (if we were to go today to that same previously chilly weather, we'd probably BE on the beach because it wouldn't feel that cold to us after all this time in OK).

But our big anniversary fun was grilling some steaks (even though it was 20-something out), sticking Ian in bed early and watching Mr. Bean's Holiday (Erin didn't feel like going to bed early). We laughed and laughed and laughed. I really like Mr. Bean.

Chris got called out this morning to assist with a pursuit; so much for sleeping in.

As for anniversaries in general, I had always thought that it was between the married couple unless your kids throw you a 25th party or 50th or whatever else. I cannot tell you how many MySpace comments and emails and phone calls we got yesterday (yes, phone calls!) to congratulate us. So far we have not gotten any cards yet, but we got 3 last year. I am still mystified about this. This is clearly a "Dear Abby" question that has yet to be addressed.

And for the curious, Chris got me a waffle iron (chill out, I asked for it! I LOVE waffles!). Because now is not a good time to get a dishwasher...he he. I asked him what he would like and he answered very simply, "Waffles." Men are so funny.

Chris's hours are changing again, due to some upheaval in the department. One officer is going to CLEET (we'll miss you Jeremy!) for 3 months and another officer is pregnant and on dispatch until who knows when. So we are down to skeleton staff AGAIN and Chris will thankfully be going to straight 3-11s. We are not complaining (much). We are too grateful that he's not being stuck on night shift again. Our friend Google has been promoted from dispatch and Reserve Officer to Full-Time and we are all happy for him. Since he was already a dispatcher, he does not have to take a paycut to $7/hour (the norm for uncertified officers), so he is happy about that.

And me? I am busy trying to keep the house clean to Get Outta Here! But until then, we are enjoying life and love and the pursuit of pottytraining. :)