Halloween 2009

The display on my kitchen table...thanks to PartyLite!

Waiting for Jake at Trick-or-Trunk. I was a "She-Devil". You just can't see the horns.

Jake and I carved "scary" pumpkins this year. His is the vampire on the left. Mine the creepy one on the right. It was fun...another October coming to a close. Tomorrow is the whole kit and kaboodle. More pics to follow. Jake is into being "scary" this year. I'm not thrilled with his costume but he LOVES it...Sigh. It's amazing what you do to keep your kid happy!! LOL!! More tomorrow after the tricks and treats! :)

School, Scouts, & Sun

Well...I haven't had much to complain about which is why you haven't heard from me! :) Just kidding...I know I complain a lot (especially about the weather) but I am trying to get better about that! So, I will begin this post by saying all my earlier whining paid off. The rain went away for a while and we've had STUNNING fall weather. Today it was so warm I could have gone for a walk without a coat. It was just unbelievable. We did have our first "frost" the other morning but it warmed up and has been sunny and beautiful. I can't remember such a nice October and it was so nice to finish up our soccer season on such a dry note. Speaking of which, soccer was over a week ago. We came in 4th out of 6th. We'll take it!! We were all ready to be done but look forward to next season. Not sure if we'll coach or not but I am excited about seeing the kids and watching the games again.

Jacob has been playing "catch up" at school. About 2 weeks ago he brought home a progress report that was less than stellar. His dad has been working very hard at helping Jake make up assignments. He's perfectly capable of getting good grades (as you already know) but has just been a little "preoccupied" with other things. We have a parent-teacher conference coming up so we will get to the bottom of it. Part of it is just staying on top of him and making sure things are getting done and turned in on time. Sigh...when does the micro-managing end????

Work is VERY busy right now. I am in the middle of an audit and it's making things extra crazy. I did get some good news yesterday, however, and that is the fact that we won't be taking over the other mental health agency in town. Not sure if this is public knowledge or not but I'm sure the word is out by now. This is such a relief...I can't even begin to explain how hard it would have been for our entire agency to take on such an endeavor. I am very relieved that I can now move forward and put all that worry and angst behind me. I, for one, was not thrilled with the idea from the get-go. But that's just ME...and the older I get the less I like change. Enough said.

So, I'm not doing well at getting back on my diet!! Every day I try...perhaps it's time to get back on the scale. I know I will do it...of that I have no doubt. I've even finally made an effort to eat lowfat yogurt in order to have another option when I want something "yummy". I've never been a yogurt eater...never liked it. Well...I have discovered "Yoplait". It's been fun discovering all the flavors...Orange Cream and Blueberry are my fave. Lemon is good, too. I feel like I'm really getting something naughty when I eat it...and that's the whole idea people!! When you are trying to be good...you have to find ways to trick your mind into thinking you are being "bad". It's mind over matter when trying to lose weight.

Well...I better go. It's getting late. The last few mornings have come very early and tomorrow won't be any different. If we could get just a few extra hours a day...wouldn't that be awesome?!? Oh...what are y'all watching these days???? One of my faves is Biggest Loser as you know. OMGosh...can you EVEN believe they didn't vote off Tracy last night??? I am still having a fit over that one...SIGH. That woman brings out the ugly in me!!!!!!!!!

Night, Y'all........Love, Nan XOX

Snotty

There are TWO types of forecasts for this area...I am convinced. It's either "snotty" (which isn't the word I *really* want to use but it's a little more "appropriate" for this blog) or there's "not snotty". Seriously, THIS is what we've gone back and forth with for what seems like a while now and to be quite frank...I am OVER it already. We've had at least 3 (THREE!) storms rip thru here with "gale force" winds in like the last week. This *is* still September, right? October didn't sneak up on us without me knowing it, did it?? Hmpf! So much for the "indian summer" I thought we might be lucky enough to get!! Thankfully, however, we are "in-between" snotty at the moment and hopefully (Dear Lord, PLEASE!) it holds off for our soccer game tonight. I am sleep deprived and cranky and really don't feel like standing in a monsoon tonight. And I'm SURE the kids don't want to play in that (excuse my language) CRAP either! So...there it is. What was I thinking when I said "I think I may just be used to it" in one of my earlier blogs?!? You *CAN'T* get used to it...EVER. I don't care HOW long you've been here in SE Alaska. It's been almost 20 years for me and I still HATE it. Now I see why people take off this time of year and go on vacation. It's to extend their summer just a WEE bit longer. Sigh....

Anyway, on a happier note (and I hope she doesn't mind me spilling this on here) but I got some very exciting news two nights ago. My baby sister, Crystal, called me just before I left work on Wednesday. My radar for bad news went up immediately since she doesn't call me that often and it wasn't very long ago that she called when my mom collapsed at work. Sooo...I was on edge instantly when she said she had some "serious" news. Well...SILLY ME!! She was calling to say that her boyfriend of 5 years has finally given her a ring and has asked "the question" she's been waiting for. Yes...she is ENGAGED!!!!!!! She has decided on a summer 2010 "outdoor" wedding and I am thrilled for her. I'm also thrilled for ME (and isn't it all really about *me* anyway? Don't answer that!) cuz that gives ME an excuse to go home next summer (not that I need one but you get my drift!!) LOL!! Since I'm travelling to see everyone in December I really didn't have a plan to make the trip again next summer....well there ya go!! Sometimes you just get "lucky" and fate steps in. :) Who am I kidding, tho? I don't believe in fate. It's a blessing from above and I am ALL OVER IT!! Oh...I left out one little thing, however. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS MEANS????? Yep...have to break up with bacon again. It is seriously time to get even MORE serious about losing this weight. Most of you probably don't know this but when my brother got married in 2005...Y'all...it was a SAD, SAD sight to see at the mall. Let me tell you...I was there for HOURS looking for something cute too wear. Need I say more? Yes...I need to say MORE....let me fill you in. There is NOTHING cute for a fat girl to wear at the MALL. No...I don't care what you say...THERE ISN'T. I ended up going back to Nordstrom and buying something I didn't even like that well and spending WAY too much money for it. It was a very depressing time for me and I REFUSE to go thru that again. Seriously...I *WILL* be cute at Crystal's wedding if it kills me. Let me send a shout out to my future BIL, John!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for kicking it into high gear, buddy. GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!

OK..I am getting out of control. I need to go. Time for a *healthy* snack. I feel my blood sugar dropping. I will say, tho, that I survived the home-buyer's class. It was very good but I am exhausted. We have our game tonight at 5pm then I'm going home, eating a salad and then CRASHING on the couch. I have two hours of TV to watch (Grey's Anatomy...can't wait!!) but then it is off to bed EARLY. We have a game Saturday at 10am I need to be sharp for. Please, Please God...let us have some sunshine on Saturday!! Heck...I'd even settle for "not snotty". Thank you and Amen. :)

Happy Friday everyone!!!!!! Nan XOX

Please Support Scouting!

Here's the website you can click on to support Jacob and the Cub Scouts. I hope it works! Happy Shopping and Thank You very much in advance! :)

TTFN~ Nan

http://www.trails-end.com/estore/home_alt.jsp?_requestid=242804

The Whining Has Begun

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!!! I mean, enough already! I am all for the cooler temps etc. but does it really have to rain so much all of a sudden? Guess this is pay-back for all the sunshine this summer. It was absolutely howling outside night before last but then it cleared up yesterday (just in time for soccer practice, Thank God!) but then it went right back to being nasty today. Hmpf! The commute to work was just awful! I didn't even want to stop and get the mail. Yuck!! Seriously!!! I told you I was whiney!! Oh!! And it doesn't help to hear that it's like 80 in Seattle and 90 in Portland. Not fair!!

Anyway, the rain here is nothing new. But what to talk about then? Let's see...last night was our last soccer practice. With cooler temps and lots of rain lately we are not sad about it in the least. We have two more regular games...one on Friday and one Saturday. Then the tournament begins we believe next week. I think I mentioned that it's a double elimination so we have at least two games to play in the tourney. I hope we win a few more but that would drag out the season so there's some mixed feelings there. We'll see what happens. :)

Tonight I start a two evening class to learn about all things "mortgage". It's put on by the Alaska Housing Financial Corp (or something to that effect) and it goes from 6pm to 10pm. I am looking at 2 very long days (ugh!) It will be worth it, tho, and in the long run when it does come time to buy a house (if we go thru AHFC) it will be a requirement to take it. May as well just get it done now, right? I am sure I am going to learn a lot and I am excited. I'm also very excited at the idea of owning our own home sooner rather than later. I'm thinking next year...we'll see. The rates are so low right now...maybe it will happen sooner than we think. You never know. Perm fund checks come out next month so we will have a little "nest egg" saved in the event we need closing costs. We will be finding out tonight (or more than likely in tomorrow's paper) how much the PFD is. I'm not expecting it to be very high considering how badly the market's been doing but we'll see. Anything is better than nothing. :)

Today is picture day at school. Jake wanted to wear his cub scout shirt but I wasn't sure if that was/is allowed so I made him wear something else. I didn't have time to iron it anyway so it didn't work out. How lame am I? My boy is so proud to be a Cub Scout and I can't get up early enough to iron a shirt for crying out loud! I promised him, however, that we would take some pictures on our own and post them for everyone. Which reminds me...have you ordered some popcorn yet? You can do it online. I'll have to get that website on here since I can't seem to remember it off the top of my head. I'll get it up and running....promise!!! Some of you already let me know that you'd like to order and I promise we WILL be coming by...probably this weekend so dust off your checkbooks!! :)

Well...that's about it for now. I don't think this was a whole lot of "new" info but thought I'd touch base anyway. I know my family likes to keep close tabs on us so there ya go mom and dad!! (Oh...and Rick!!) Love you guys!!!!!!!

Happy Wednesday! Love, Nanette XOX

Hello Fall...Nice to See Ya!

And welcome back if you are reading this blog! :) As I predicted, the weekend flew by and it is now Monday once again. I worked the front desk on Thursday and Friday so I am now catching up on work that went by the wayside last week. Never a dull moment around here! Anyway, the weekend was busy just like I knew it would be. It also poured down rain almost the entire weekend. Friday night our kids played a 5pm soccer game in the POURING down rain. We managed to win our second game, however, so that made up for it. We weren't so lucky on Saturday at our 10am game. We didn't get "killed", however, so that was a bonus. The last time we played this particular team they creamed us 8-0. I think it was 4-1 this time. Not too bad!! We are getting down to the end of the season also so that just shows how much we've improved.

Saturday (after the game) after a short time at home, Jake and I headed to Alec's birthday party at the lake. The rain stopped just long enough to grill some burgers and dogs. The kids had fun looking at the rotting salmon on the shore of the lake (they come up the creek and spawn.) They were especially grossed out by the maggots feeding on them. I told the boys they better toughen up if they were grossed out by that! LOL!! Anyway, there was a little excitement at the party when a black bear got a little too close for comfort. Jodie's dog was there and chased him away but he still hung out just where we could see him. We figured he was waiting for us to leave so he could get his paws on that rotting salmon with the maggots...Yum!! :)

After the party, Jake was still up for skating. Off to the Rec Center we went where Jake worked on his skating skills and I walked the track. Did my usual 3 miles and worked up a sweat. Before we knew it it was time to head out. Back home we went. Just long enough for me to get cleaned up and then it was off to Bob & Bev's for dinner. We had a little "belated" birthday celebration for Shirley (her bday is Sept. 7th). Great dinner and company followed by a very yummy, chocolate cake and vanilla ice-cream (so much for the walk!!). I was exhausted by this point and Jake and I left pretty early. That was enough (too much) for me for one day!! :)

Sunday was very laid back. My BFF was/is in town and I was going to hook up with her but I didn't hear from her. It was absolutely storming outside!! I ended up getting laundry going then headed to town to get groceries. It was a soggy day that's for sure! Fall is definitley here...no doubt about it. I saw someone post on FB that we've had over 9 inches of rain in September already!! I believe it!! Woo Hoo!!! No more worries about water for a while....that's always nice. :) You just HAVE to find the silver lining or you'll go crazy around here!!

The days are getting very short already...I woke at 5:46am yesterday and it was pitch black outside. I was shocked! It is happening more rapidly then I'd realized. I'm not usually up before 7am sooooo....I hadn't a clue! LOL!

OK...I'd better get back to work. Busy week this week. Soccer tomorrow, Scouts on Thursday, Soccer game on Friday. In between all that I am taking a 2-day "class" on Wed. & Thurs. It's a class put on by Alaska Housing....it's a requirement when you buy a house here with an Alaska Housing loan. I want to be prepared in the event we find something to buy. I am always looking. :) That $8000 tax credit sure would be nice!

Have a great week everyone! Nanette XOX

P.S. My love affair with bacon is back on!! Sigh....some things I just can't resist! :)

Downhill Slide

It's Tuesday night. Tomorrow is Wednesday...duh! Where am I going with this? Well, what I'm getting at is how fast time goes and before we know it the weekend will be here. Yep...it will. I promise! :)

We are definitely into fall here with a nice little windstorm at soccer practice to prove it. It was really kicking up and I figured we were in for a very blustery night but it seems to have calmed down out there now. We'll see what happens. I know there is no sunshine in the forecast any time soon (we were lucky to see some on Sunday) so it's probably rain from here on out for a while. This doesn't really bother me for some reason. I think I'm so looking forward to the tourists being gone that the fact I am looking at rain, wind and darkness for the next 6 months doesn't even phase me. Go figure! Maybe I'm just "used" to it now. Nooooooooo!!! Did I just say that?? Well it HAS been almost 20 years people! It's not like I don't know what to expect after all this time.

Anyway, I am finally going to see Julie&Julia tomorrow! I am so excited!!! And then Thursday night is Cub Scouts. Friday is sort of a "free" night..we don't usually do much. Saturday is busy, busy, busy and has filled right up. Which is why I will probably actually be doing things Friday night that I don't normally do...like laundry etc...Or maybe I'll work out! There's an idea!! After watching "The Biggest Loser" tonight I am feeling inspired. I just LOVE that show, y'all. Are you guys watching it? It is AWESOME this season!!! I am so moved by the stories of the contestants. You should watch it if you haven't already. Seriously!! :)

OK...enough random thoughts. It's late and I need to get to bed. Just thought I'd drop ya a line.

Have a good one everyone! Love, Nanette

P.S. Dad...if you are reading this...leave me a comment once in a while so I know you are still alive! Love you!! :)

P.S.S. Did y'all see it's only 100 days to Christmas!!!!! ONE HUNDRED DAYS!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (You can hate me just a little if you want...I understand.)