New job

I've been working at my new job for almost a month now. I love it so much. I like the people I work with a lot and the work is really fulfilling.

For anyone who doesn't know, I am a caseworker/staff assistant for Senator Tom Harkin. I've always been a big fan of his and this was just such a great opportunity.

Basically what I do is help people with their VA, Medicaid/Medicare, SSA and immigration claims. I also help people with Insurance issues and travel issues. I have a huge case load and sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but all in all, I feel like I'm doing good work.

The girls are well. Searching for daycare is hell. Everything is so expensive and we don't qualify for any sort of day care help, so paying out of pocket is kicking our asses.

Eric just got some great news on the job front. He'll be a camp counselor for Rock Camp's last session starting next week. I'm really proud of him, I've been thinking it was something good for him to get into for awhile now. PLUS- HE GOT HIS LICENSE BACK! WOOT!! I'm super excited about that too. It's fantastic!

Walking

My baby is walking. *sniffsniff*

She's getting so damned big already. I can't believe she'll be one next month!!!

She walks like she's had about 3 whiskey sours too many. It's adorable!!

We will be having a Wonder Pets themed birthday party, as Linnie, Tuck and Ming Ming are her best friends, after all. She loves the Wonder Pets and, while we hate their songs (they get stuck in our heads), we love the fact that she gets so excited about it.

Aspen is about to finish 1st grade. Speaking of getting big...holy crap. She is almost 7! I can't believe that, either! Time goes so fast. She's reading on a 3rd grade level (at least). I think it's higher. For example, she was reading me something the other day and didn't even stumble over the word "bouquet"! She's an awesome kid, for as bossy and argumentative as she is! lol

God, my girls are getting so big. I'm so lucky!

101 in 1001 Update #2

I have received A Clockwork Orange. I will be watching that very soon.

I'm on day 2 of my week without candy. I'm making Aspen do it, too. She kinda hates me right now.

On Wednesday I will be applying at 2 restaurants that are hiring servers. Hopefully I'll get #1 crossed off my list!

On and unrelated topic, Aspen lost her 5th tooth today. During breakfast. And woops! She swallowed it! Oh well, the tooth fairy will still visit!

I'm going to get this list done, I promise it!

My progress on my 101 in 1001

Well, I said I wanted to update this blog every week in my 101 in 1001 list. In addition to that, I wanted to say that I moved A Clockwork Orange to the top of my Netflix cue. I'll be able to mark one off the list very soon!

I also put in my resume for a job I'd really like to have, so if I get that one, I'll be able to mark off the number one thing on my list! Yay!

Otherwise, unemployment blows. I hate it. Aspen goes back to school tomorrow after what seemed to be an ungodly long weekend. I had to escape to the mall for a few hours today so I could take a break from the kids. It was much needed, let me tell you.

Here are a few visual updates:

Me and MuAspen "chillaxin"
Eric's New Toy

That's the update for now. Hope things are well in your world.

My 101 in 1001

So there is this project some of my friends are doing. I thought I'd be a follower.

It's called 101 in 1001. It's 101 things you want to do in the next 1001 days. Here is my list. My start date is 1/20/2008, so my end date is 10/17/2010. I hope to have accomplished all of the following:

1. Get new job
2. Get an Ipod
3. Start walking Aspen home from school when it gets warm
4. Watch A Clockwork Orange
5. Plan a wedding
6. Get married
7. Get pregnant again
8. Plan super cool birthday parties for each of the girls
9. Have an amazing 30^th birthday
10. Plan a party for Eric’s 35^th birthday
11. Baby- proof the house
12. Go back to school
13. Get Master’s Degree
14. Take a road trip, just Eric and Me.
15. Lose 100 pounds ( 0 of 100)
16. Vote in November
17. Go a whole week with no candy
18. Take Aspen and Amelia to Gumbo YaYa
19. Learn to play bass
20. Take the girls to the Botanical Center
21. Have a monthly get together with Michelle and Kelli
22. Try to form a better relationship with Gail (MIL)
23. Pierce my nose
24. Get a tattoo
25. Plant a vegetable garden
26. Make fresh salsa with ingredients from my garden
27. Plant flower garden with Aspen
28. Visit St. Louis twice (0 of 2)
29. Get to know Moria
30. Treat Dean and Kelli to a night at Comedy Sportz
31. Get a dog
32. Get a pedicure
33. Make Christmas cookies with Aspen, Amelia and my mom
34. Go hiking
35. Go camping in Wisconsin
36. Get so drunk I puke (or at least want to)
37. Donate 4 bags of clothing to Goodwill
38. Wear make up everyday for a week
39. Have weekly game night for a month
40. Teach Amelia to count in English and Spanish
41. Get a new car
42. Get life insurance
43. Get renters insurance
44. Go to the dentist
45. Donate to Locks of Love again
46. Have a Lemonade Stand with Aspen
47. Send out Christmas cards. All of them.
48. Max out my Rep on BG’s for a day.
49. Read 20 non political books (0 of 20)
50. Buy new pots and pans
51. Go Vegan for a week
52. Volunteer at the DeLaCerda House
53. Have movie night once a week for 2 months with Eric
54. Paint Aspen’s nails
55. Take my mom to dinner and out for drinks
56. Go a week without TV
57. Join a gym
58. Actually go to said gym
59. Go out of the country
60. Get a passport first
61. Get new glasses
62. Make 5 new IRL friends
63. Buy new bras
64. Buy a dress and wear it to a nice dinner with Eric
65. Enroll Aspen in classes or lessons of some sort
66. Move out of Iowa
67. Go to 2 national act concerts (0 of 2)
68. Go on vacation to Oregon
69. Get into therapy
70. Have my mom teach me how to make her fudge
71. Knit something practical
72. BF Amelia to 18 months
73. Plan a day with Jessi and Sheridan
74. Send out 10 greeting cards to 10 different people for no reason (0 of 10)
75. Get a job on a political campaign
76. Color my hair a funky color
77. Get my legs waxed
78. Make compost pile
79. Try 10 new restaurants (0 of 10)
80. Have a game night with Marissa and Scot
81. Have a game night with Erin and Scot
82. Get a real Christmas tree
83. Go a week without eating out
84. Transition baby into her own room
85. Pay off 5 old bills (0 of 5)
86. Convince Eric to tell Leo about Amelia
87. Go to Waterloo to see Nikki once every 6 months
88. Go to lunch with Wicked Liz
89. Go to lunch with Carolyn
90. Update Photobucket every week
91. Put flowers on my Grandma’s grave
92. Take Aspen (and maybe Amelia) to 4 plays or musicals (0 of 4)
93. Take belly dancing lessons
94. See a professional sports event
95. Update my blog once a week
96. Coach speech
97. Keep up on the girls’ baby books and journals
98. Take an art class
99. Find a home for Butterfly
100. Mail a postcard to postsecret
101. Accomplish all the things on my 101 in 1001 list

GHOST!

My home is very old. I don't know how old because I don't know where to look for that information, but it's old. It is currently split into 2 separate units. We live in the bigger side.

Anyway, I swear we have a ghost. I hear breathing and occasionally what sounds like a really low voice on the baby monitor. I see things out of the corner of my eye. These things happen all. the. time. Sometimes when I'm sitting in the bedroom and it's dark, I see a shadow move in front of my bedroom door.

I don't feel really scared by it or anything, and I almost think it might be my grandpa. I didn't notice it too much until I had a dream about him and then it seemed like it either started happening or I started noticing it, not sure which.

I hope that he's nicer in ghost form than he was in life.

Bligity bligity blog

So much to say, but it's 3 am and I'm exhausted. I just baked dozens and dozens and dozens of cookies. 3 different kinds and some bars. They are all delish (of course). I found the BEST sugar cookie recipe (I don't even like sugar cookies, but I like these!) and used it. YUM!

Aspen lost another tooth. Thats 2 in a week. She freaks the fuck out when they get to that really loose almost falling out stage. She doesn't like losing teeth, but she likes the tooth fairy (a dollar for each tooth this time).

Amelia started sitting unassisted on Saturday morning. She's also creeping. *sigh* my baby is growing so fast. I can't believe how fast. I'm so in love with my kids. They seriously are my everything.

I have to find another job. Mine ends the day of the caucus. I'm sad because it's such a big change. Where will I work? Will I make the same kind of money? Will I be able to stay in my field or am I going to have to take something in retail or something equally nauseating? What about daycare? On one hand I don't want to put Mu in daycare because kids get sick all. the. time. in most daycares. She hasn't been sick yet (knock on wood) and I would like to keep it that way as long as possible. But she's also super attached to me and doesn't like to be with anybody else for an extended period of time (even her dad). That makes it tough for me to get much of anything done.

I'm so gonna crap my pants over this.

So much more to say, but now I'm going to fall asleep at this computer!

G'night!