Countdown

I meant to do this post at the beginning of this month. Must be a good thing that I haven't gotten to it yet because that means the month is going fast. What am I talking about??
The countdown is on until our big ultrasound! I am just so excited! It is scheduled for Aug. 3rd at 3:00pm. Not only am I excited to *hopefully* be able to finally find out if this baby is a boy or a girl but to also see the little squirt. Last time I saw "Wee" he/she only looked like a little bean. Anyways, to help me get through this month quickly I set myself "legs of the race" being events, tasks, appts, etc. that I have to get through before our big day finally arrives.
So I can keep up with this mental list I'm going to list it on here.

Week of work-complete
4th of July weekend in Sumter-complete
8th of July-meeting Liz and family-cancelled
Week of work-almost complete...one more day
14th of July-16 wk Dr's appt.
Week of work (that consist of the NCUA auditors being there)
Another week of work that consist of another big annual audit....Ugh, two weeks in a row!
30th of July-Amy's birthday
Week of work
1st of Aug-playdate with Nicholas and family at Discovery Waterpark
DAY OF!!!!!!:
8:00am Dentist-blah!
about 5 hours of work until I am finally able to leave for my appt!!!!

Not too bad! I should be able to survive all that!

Looking for a good book to read

A few that I've seen suggested are:
Consider Lily
The book of Jane &
Emily ever after.
All of these books look like simple little summer reads and that's exactly what I'm in the market for....

Which reminds me, I need to bring a book back to work to return to a friend....hmmm.

Headache of a Monday

In what could have been a headache of a Monday...It actually turned out to be a really good day.
I got zero sleep last night because I was too worried about the Gaffney Killer out there. Luckily his luck came to an end today when he was shot and killed. I don't normally wish that on anyone but he had what was coming to him! I pray for all the families that have been affected by this and I hope that everyone gets a good night sleep tonight!
I am also really excited about our dinner tonight. We are yet again cooking from our garden! It has given us so much food and is just so exciting to go out each day to see what we have that is new. Yesterday we cooked some of our cabbage and it was to die for!
Thats about it. It was a simple day but simple days are what I like....Work can be a drag but coming home makes the day all worth it.

I feel like with this pregnancy I have become extremely anti-social. I just find that putting on the smiles and carrying on conversation is becoming more strenuous than its worth...That's sad. I need to get my act together. I've got a lot going on this month and with each addition that gets added to my calender I feel my mood dropping lower and lower....
I'm working on it though. I know its all me and not the people around me. I need to straighten up before people just start giving up.

Animal Planet

Tonight we were sitting here watching Animal Planet. I thought it would be a great show for Keagan to watch. He loves learning about the animals and I was half surprised that as soon as he saw the animals he told me that was Africa....
After watching it for about 15 mins. the speaker was talking about the lions. He was explaining what they were doing and said the lions were waiting patiently for some buffalo to eat. As soon as Keagan heard the word buffalo, he looked up from his dinner and said, "huh, where's the butthole??"
Aaron and I cracked up. I know we shouldn't have and we did warn him that butthole was a word we didn't say...But how could you not!

Preschoolers Chore Chart

I friend of mine mentioned something that was kind of like this and then I found this idea on a really cool website-simplemom.net

I think we're going to give it a shot!

The chores we’ve started with are:
~help make my bed
~empty silverware from the dishwasher
~take my dishes to the kitchen (after breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and
~pick up my toys (before her quiet time and before her bed time)
When she accomplishes a task, she gets a sticker in the alloted square for that day. At the end of the week, we count up her stickers. For every sticker, she gets a nickel (well, this country’s equivalent of a nickel).
She has three jars to put her money – one for giving, one for saving, and one for spending. 10 percent goes into each of the first two, and the remaining 80 percent goes into her spending jar. If she does every single chore for every single day (which she has yet to do), she’d earn $2.45 a week. That’s $127.45 for the year. 80 percent of that is $101.96. Not bad spending money for a three-year-old, I’d say. (More about the “why” behind our reward system tomorrow.)
So far, this system is working beautifully. She’s excited to do her chores because she likes getting to pick out which sticker she puts on her chart, and at the end of the week, we count out each nickel one by one. For the concrete, visual processors that preschoolers are, the pile of coins is thrilling.

Keagan's first dentist appointment

I am so glad to have this behind me. I have been worrying myself sick over whether Keagan would have a cavity or not. I'm not quite sure why its such a catastrophe to me but it is. And he did okay as a patient. At first he was very leery of some strange lady sticking a mirror in his mouth. And then the tickle machine to wash the "sugar bug poop" off his teeth wasn't a favorite either. Finally he did come around though. And I even think he eventually started enjoying it when the water sucker came into play.
Needless to say, I'm glad its over with and we're done for another 6 months!

This afternoon Keagan rushed off to the bathroom. When I walked by he was going, "Aaaaahhhh."
I asked him, "Baby, do you feel better now?"
He answers, "Mommy, my peni feels so much better!"
lol, I love him so much!

Proverbs 10:19

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Did you know the word, gossip, is used 34 times in the new testament as the name for Satan??

ICE BOUND: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole

I am reading a great book right now! It's a true story of a Dr. that volunteers to go to the South Pole for a year. During her stay there she discovers a lump in her breast. She tells her story of the discovery, the diagnoses, and the treatment she gives herself since she is the only Dr. there.
Dr. Jerri Nielsen is an incredible woman. She did eventually lose her battle with cancer on June 23, 2009.

OK, I've been avoiding posting because I haven't posted in a while and the longer you wait, the harder it is! So much has happened..well, not really, but it seems that way when you sit down to blog!

First off, I'm exhausted from this pregnancy...I wake up most mornings sick. That alone is enough to wear you out. I work all day and then come home to an active and wild 3 year old and a husband that of course wants and needs attention too. It's no wonder everyone says that the second pregnancy is nothing like the first. I can think of so many things that I need and want to do but there just aren't enough hours (or energy) in the day.

As far as this second baby goes, all the dr. appts. continue to go well. We have the ultrasound set up for Aug. 3rd (which I am so excited for!) and we're still fighting over names. :)

As far as Keagan goes-he is growing and learning more everyday. He is a little person now and can carry on a conversation as if you're speaking to an adult...Okay maybe not an adult conversation but you get my drift. He gets very proud of himself and came home the other day and told me that he got to be the door holder. He was so proud and so was I until the very next sentence he said he got put into time out for throwing sand. :( I told his teacher the next day that he told me about his time out and she laughed and said he takes it very seriously because he rarely gets put into it...When he does it really makes an impression.

And Aaron and I....Well we're doing well! We've also been busy. Today we finally finished a project that I've wanted done the entire year and a half we've been here. The backyard area right at our house...What a mess. There were bushes that were half dead from the previous owner...Ugly, ugly...And because we didn't know what we were going to do there-well we just did nothing there. It became a home for loads of weeds, grass, and Keagans dirt hole to play with his trucks in. What an eye sore! Finally today I had had it and went out there and thought I would at least start weeding. I had no clue we would get it all done today! It looks great. We found bushes on clearance at Lowe's-bought 5 of them along with some pinestraw and it looks like a whole new yard! I'm just feel so accomplished!
Anyways, I'm going to try and get back in the habit of posting again. We'll see how that goes.
G'night.

Good Day

• Woke up at the crack of dawn but was able to sneak a well needed nap on the couch while the boys watched fishing.
• Went fishing. Didn't catch anything but had several bites. Also managed to get some sun and good pictures.
• Cleaned most of the house
• Packed a good bit for the trip coming up this weekend.
• Made Nanna her wheat-free homemade cake. Let Keagan handpaint her a bday card and decorate the cake.
• Grocery shopped for the week.
• Checked and rechecked my garden. I love that thing!
• Did all the laundry
• Keagan is already bathed and in his pjs at 6:15!
• Good, good day!

End of the "tubes" Era

Keagan was born with ear infections. I was out of work at least once a month because of his ears the entire first year of his life. At last on May 29, 2007 we had tubes put into his ears. We were warned of the statistics of the tubes falling out too soon and having to have them redone and we were also warned of the statistics of the kids who still get ear infections but we were never told about the kids who beat most odds and their tubes never fall out! Well I must say, the tubes have been a miracle. In two years he has had two ear infections. (yes, he was one of the kids that fell out of the high rate of children who never get an ear infection again) And now two years later our Dr. and the ENT Dr. said it was time to take them out.... I've got mixed emotions on the whole thing. Of course I don't want to damage his eardrums but I just pray that once removed the ear infections won't start back up again.


Anyways, today was D-day. My first biggest fear was how to get him out of the house without any milk. That turned out to be easier than I thought. We hid the milk and then made him go look for himself when we told him the milk was all gone. I also had him pumped up to go to the Dr. He couldn't wait! He kept telling me that he had boo boos in his ears that the Dr. had to fix them with a bandaid. ;)


So we get there, fill out the paperwork and go back to pre-op. This seemed to take forever! I did however manage to take two little pictures of my sweet boy in his surgery gown waiting for his turn.

He wasn't the happiest little boy but he did enjoy watching veggie tales and dora the explorer. He was also a little charmer and shook the Dr's hand when he came up.

When it was time to go back to the Operating room, Keagan took it like a big boy. He went in the arms of the Dr. while I went the opposite way to the waiting room.

It was really quick. By the time I sat down, pulled my book out and really got into it, I was being called back. My first view kind of took me off guard. I expected him to already be waking up and not to have oxygen and machines hooked up to him. I did feel blessed though to be able to sit there with him and to let him know mommy was there when he did finally wake up.

The waking up process wasn't fun and neither was the car ride home. He got sick all over himself on the way home but I was prepared! Something told me to bring an extra change of clothes.

By the time I was pulling in the drive way he was sleeping peacefully and is still sleeping nicely in his cozy bed.

And finally here is a picture of the culprits of the day. I like to call them the $1,000 blue tubes. After paying for them being inserted, removed, and all the medicine I think a $1,000 is being conservative. I can only think about how much pain, money, and agony they have probably saved us the past two years though!

To watch a 3 year old learn is amazing. I learn something new that he has learned everyday. This afternoon he kept asking me what his name was. I would answer back, "Keagan." He asked me 3 times and I answered the same everytime. Finally he looked at me and said, "Mommy, my name is Keagan Schrock!"
Oh! Sure did surprise me!
Then Aaron asked Keagan what my name was. He looked at me and said, "Pretty Girl Schrock." Aw, thats right! What a sweetie!

I love how my baby has turned into a little boy.
I love how I can ask him what movie he wants to watch and it's like watching the gears in a clock spin while he thinks of which movie to pick.
I love how I can sneak back to his room and watch him reciting the words to parts of the movie that he has already memorized.

Now it's time for me to go lie down and enjoy some TV while Aaron is playing softball. I'm looking forward to this alone time. About the only thing that would make it better is a good book to be reading but for tonight TV will have to suffice.

Speaking of good books, a good summer read that I would recommend is: Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
A beach house, two sisters, a friend, pregnancy, infidelity, cancer, sex, and a rollercoaster ride for these three girls as they live out a summer in Nantucket.

Okay so I can officially say that I'm jealous. Not in a bad I hate you kind of way....Just in a way that makes me wish I had followed my dreams and finished school to become what I have wanted to be for as long as I can remember....A teacher! I used to dream of the days when I would be grading papers, decorating my room, teaching kids subjects that I always found so intriguing, working great hours, having time off on every holiday and summer to be with my family...It just sounds like the perfect job! And I have too many friends who are teachers to count and I'm watching them live out my dream. Don't get me wrong. I know its not all roses! No job is perfect. Dealing with the kids that you can't drill anything into their heads or even worse, dealing with their parents, having to take the work home with you because there simply isn't enough time in the day, dealing with the drama and politics that I'm sure there is working in a building full of women...
I think I'd enjoy it though...I just don't think there is time left to pursue that dream. I'll be 28 this year, working full time, taking care of two kids....4 years of college and starting school all over-I just don't know when I'd find the time or energy....Hmmm.

Tops and Bottoms

TOPS:
1. I asked Keagan what today was on the way to school today and he replied, "Today is Friday." (Smart Boy!)
2. I surprisingly got to leave a half hour early from work today.
3. I've made a new recipe tonight and haven't tried it yet but it sure looks good. (Who knew squash could be grated???)
4. A big storm looks like it is brewing outside.
5. We may have come up with a dogsitter plan for our trip to Myrtle Beach in a few weeks.

BOTTOMS:
1. I woke up sick for the 3rd day in a row...and stayed sick for quite sometime.
2. Today was payday and I feel like the majority is already spent.
3. The house is a mess as it is after a long week (every Friday).
4. The storm seems to be blowing over as I type this.
5. I didn't win the Rachel Ray cooking set that I would have loved.

I thought it might be time for an update on just my life in general. I've been so consumed with being sick, being tired, work, family, etc...that I haven't found time to come on here and write about anything. First and foremost, our little Wee Schrock is growing just great. I've taken my first belly picture and while I just feel like it must just be a product of over-eating I can assure you it's not. The random daily reminders of waking up sick and the constant feeling that I'm going to fall asleep any minute in the middle of the day are pure facts that this little baby is growing and consuming my body just nicely. :)


Another excitement in my life is my garden! I just get so excited by watching these plants grow. It's so rewarding when you plant a seed the size of a small bead and a few weeks later you have plants that are just huge! Pretty soon all this TLC I've given to this garden of mine will thank me in return with providing food for my family.





Pictured in order are: Tomatoes, squash, apples, carrots, and lettuce. We also have some zucchini, cucumbers, cauliflower, and cabbage.

Keagan is doing great and growing like a weed. We've gotten his room painted and switched and he is just loving it. He is getting so big and says the cutest things ever. We've also started saying our prayers everynight before we go to bed. That is certainly one of the highlights of my day.

Aaron and I are just fine. We're doing quite well actually and are gearing up for our short vacation in Myrtle Beach coming up in a few weeks and then trying to plan a "last" vacation for the family of three sometime this fall.

Don't need no five star reservations
I've got spaghetti and a cheap bottle of wine
Don't need no concert in the city
I've got a stereo and the best of Patsy Cline
Ain't got no caviar no Dom Perignon
But as far as I can see, I've got everything I want

Cause I've got a roof over my head,
the woman I love laying in my bed
And it's alright, alright
I've got shoes under my feet
Forever in her eyes staring back at me
And it's alright, alright
And I've got all I need
And it's alright by me

Maybe later on we'll walk down to the river
Lay on a blanket and stare up at the moon
It may not be no French Riviera
But it's all the same to me as long as I've got you

Struggles

I'm struggling tonight. All negative thoughts keep clouding my mind. Everyone else seems to have it all together....I think about our lack of money and even more lack there of when we're paying $14K next year for childcare. I think of our lack of friends because we stay in a place long enough to make friends and then we move. I think about our lack of organization skills and how I feel like my house is always a complete disaster. I think about my lack of cooking skills, even though I try so hard...and yet again have burnt dinner tonight.
I'm sure all of these feelings are exaggerated in my head tonight and things aren't so bad. I just need to pray for the strength to overcome these negative thoughts. Its not like me to be this way.

As I type this I'm listening to Aaron and Keagan singing in the shower together. So cute! I need to remember the small things that matter the most.

My top 10s for the first part of May

1. I got to see my sweet little ones heartbeating at 138 bmp.
2. I had a wonderful Mother's Day.
3. My garden is growing so well. We'll have lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, brocolli, and squash in no time.
4. We sold our camper. This is bittersweet to me but the fact that we needed to sell it and did it within the first week of listing it is a blessing.
5. We've officially started doing the "must" of upgrades to our home before the baby comes. This includes changing keagan's room and replacing our floor in the guest/kids bathroom.
6. It has rained, and rained, and rained! And I love the look of my nice green grass!
7. My morning sickness has subsided drastically.
8. Aaron and I still have jobs.
9. I can see my little belly starting to get the oh so perfect pooch from a baby.
10. Hearing my son say to me, "I love you Mommy."

Life

I know I haven't written anything in a while. I come home and I'm just so tired lately that I feel like anything I have to write wouldn't be worth the time. I was sitting here just now wondering what I could write about and thought I'd go visit a friend of mine's blog just to see what she was up to. I learned that I didn't even know she was pregnant but to make matters even more of a shocker, she was due around the same time I'm due and she lost the baby. I know this happens. I can name at least three very close people to me who have lost a little one in the first trimester....and it is heartbreaking! I know pregnancy is a long journey of around 40weeks....but from the moment you know the news your life immediatly starts to take its new course. Aaron, Keagan, and I have already gotten so use to the thought of us being a family of four and we are so excited! We've already started buying diapers for our Wee Schrock and painting Keagan's new "big boy" room so we can make way for the new one. I just couldn't imagine if all of this came to a screetching hault. It brings me to tears with just the thought...and my heart goes out to all you mother's who have ever had to experience such a heartbreak.

Navigating the Road of Motherhood

Myths of Motherhood along the road we travel.
BUMP or CURVE: "Good moms look good all the time"
STOP SIGN: "Good moms keep everybody happy."
NO SHOULDER: "Good moms instinctively know what their children need."
YIELD: "Good moms have an answer for every question."
WRONG WAY: "Good moms take responsibility for how their children turn out."
REST AREA: "Good moms don't admit their feelings of guilt or anger or fear."
DO NOT ENTER: "Good moms keep a hot meal on the table, a clean house, and unlimited time for family and friends.
ONE WAY: "Good moms always have the right words to say, know the right thing to do, and have the right prayer to pray."
NO U-TURN: "Good moms never pull over, never turn back, and never accept defeat."

We're not perfect. We're not always strong, we don't always know the right things to say or do. But we are Mother's. That is a hard job and I know through all my mistakes I'm still doing the best I can do. I feel privileged to be a mom. When I left church today I felt like today wasn't "My day!" It wasn't a day that should be spent in just thanking me for everything that I do. It was a day for me to thank God for giving me the awesome chance in my life to become a mother. It's the best thing in life I could have asked for! For that I am blessed!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU AWESOME MOMS OUT THERE!

My oh my how my taste have changed....

Well we're about two months into this pregnancy and about the only change I see or feel so far are my taste buds.

Things I just can't eat/drink anymore:
Coffee...I can't believe this. I used to live on my coffee in the mornings! I can't even stand to make it now.
I all of a sudden I despise the smell of beer. Aaron won't even come close to getting a kiss if he's had a beer.
Pot Roast
Hamburgers on the grill. Hopefully this will change soon!
Cottage Cheese....
Meatballs


Few things that I can't get enough of:
Chocolate Milk
Fresh Pineapple
Fruity Pebbles
Subs with lots of vinegar
Salt and vinegar potato chips
anything with lots of salt!

Tonight's menu item is a loaded baked potato. Yum!

I wish I didn't inherited the stress gene. The worry gene....
This summer it felt like we were on top of the world. We had all of our credit cards paid off, we were renovating the bathroom, we both had new cars, we got a new fence, we were just happy and in control. Now I feel like everytime I turn around we have a new expense, I'm watching our savings dwindle and I can see in the future a slew more of new bills. I just found out today after paying the ENT Dr. $120 for 15 mins of his time that Keagan needs his tubes removed. That surgery is going to cost us around $500. We just bought that camper and yes I love it but now we're trying to stash every extra penny we have on it so its paid off before this baby gets here. I don't think that's going to happen!
I learn that my deductible with this baby is $3K! Keep in mind I paid $20 for the entire 9 months of being pregnant with Keagan. $3,000 is a whole new ballgame. With all these new expenses adding up and then the thought of having to pay two daycares and yet another health insurance in just a few short 9 months....Totally has me stressed to the max.

Whats it going to be.....

With 2009 being the year of the Ox and the babys due date teetering between SAGITTARIAN and CAPRICORN we could go either way....

SAGITTARIAN OX
These Oxen have Sagittarian vision. They are born with luck and are prone to take unnecessary risks. They are quick to read a situation and use their talents to accumulate great wealth and status.

CAPRICORN OX
Capricornian Oxen are made of true resolute. A sustained effort allows them to achieve a very comfortable way of life. They are conservative and responsible and will work long hours to provide their loved ones with security and comfort.

The sagittarian ox would be cool. I'm a sagittarian and Aaron is an Ox so this little one could be a mix between the two of us.
I guess we'll have to see.

Bailout on Fear

Church was good today! We hadn't been in a few weeks and of course our first week back I feel like Pastor Hub is speaking straight to me. He was speaking of how out of all the creatures for Jesus to name us he names us sheep. We are his heard and he is our Shepherd. Sheep are prone to be insecure, shy, fearful. They have to feel loved and protected. It was all pretty interesting. He said just like a flock of sheep if one person hears some bad news all of society will take off running and 75% of us don't even know what we're running from. We get so caught up in our fear. He used for an example maybe the doctor finding a lump. Rather than thinking that it could be something small and curable we go straight home and start planning our funeral for tomorrow. I was doing just that this morning. I am so excited about this baby but yet I am so worried. I worry about money and I was upset telling Aaron that I fear that we just aren't going to have any money anymore to do any upgrades or repairs to our house and we're going to end up living in an old run down shack. Why am I thinking this?? Where is it coming from?? Fear. The unknown. Of course we're not going to end up living in an old run down shack. It's going to be hard with another child but we've managed before with Keagan and we'll manage again. Pastor Hub reminded us that life is full of valleys. If it weren't for shadowed valleys then one would never grow. Jesus, our Shepherd, isn't just leading us to these valleys and then dumping us off. He's leading us to these valleys and then helping us through them to get to the reward on the other side.
I really enjoyed todays message. I'm glad we went and we almost didn't. It's so easy to find an excuse but this message was for me today. I'm sure for several others sitting in that church too.

Baby #2!

Surprise!!! Aaron and I are so excited to announce that we are bringing our second baby into the world. How nervous, excited, speechless, we are! I went to the doctor today for my very first checkup and everything went great. I think I'm really going to love them. They didn't rush one part of the appointment. They sat you down and spoke with you about everything as if it were your first pregnancy. And part of me feels like it is. When three years goes by you tend to forget all the small things or of course you don't know all the new things.
They had speculated that I was 6w4d and that my due date was Dec. 20th. Once we had my ultrasound though we all found that I was no where near as far as we though. I'm looking at about 5w3d. Who'd have known. All my symptoms seem to be starting so early this go around. I'm already checking out routes to the bathrooms incase of a morning sickness attack! With the new gestational age that moves my due date back to Dec. 28th. I will admit. That is about the only day in the year I would have asked not to have. That is the anniversary of my horrible robbery and also the anniversary of my mom's funeral. The 28th has proven to be a tough, emotional day. I was upset by this news at first but now have seen the bright side of things. I shouldn't dread any day of the year and if this baby just happens to come on his due date then it will give me a positive reminder at how special each day of the year really is. Maybe its my mom's way of telling me that she's still looking out for me.
With all that being said the next step is to go back to the doctor in two weeks. Since I was so early and they couldn't see his/her tiny heart beating they want me to come back and have a second ultrasound. I'll keep everyone up as I grow with each month. Below is a picture of our little pickle in his baby motel. :)

Three Bear Chili....What!?

What in the world was I thinking tonight....I was looking for a cheap easy dinner and I saw where this new chili was buy one jar get one free. I was thinking to myself that I had never hear of "Three Bear" chili but okay. I even thought the label was kind of cute with the two bears on it....
A little bit later I get home and picked the jar up again...Got to looking and finally the puzzle piece fell into place. It's not THREE BEAR chili....It's THREE BEAN chili! And those aren't bears....They are people! How did I get this so wrong, lol. It would be no harm, no foul except for the fact that Aaron really doesn't like beans. I might be able to get away with a One Bean chili but certainly not three!....

The Peni talk....at two years old

So we're on our way back from Table Rock today and we're all tired, irritable because we're starving, and just ready to get home. All of a sudden Keagan says, "Mommy, you don't have a peni." "You're right, Keagan-I don't" I reply...A second or so later he says, "Me, Daddy, and Boodro have a peni" At this point I'm wondering what in the world....So I asked him where on earth he got all this from and he sits there thinking for a minute and then says, "Ummmm, I bumped my head!"
:) Such innocents.

Camping in Table Rock

We're back!!! This was our first time in Table Rock and also our first time camping in our new camper. The trip went great! I have to admit when we showed up on Friday evening I wasn't too happy. We get there and had one of the worst sites in the entire park! That's what we get for reserving ahead and not knowing. When we went to check in we were also informed that we weren't allowed to have a fire because of the wildfires burning in Myrtle Beach. Apparently all of our firemen are there. So I was a little peeved. Things did get better though. They allowed us to drive around and find a site we liked and let us move without charging us a fee. So I then was happy! Friday night was basically setting up and going to bed because we got there so late. Saturday comes and time to get out and see what Table Rock has to offer. First plan....Lets go check out the hiking trails. Oh man, great, great, great idea! We had so much fun and Keagan was such a champ. We hiked a mile up the mountain and Keagan hung in there the entire way. We passed so many natural waterfalls and beautiful trees and flowers. After a while we stopped for a snack and with a full belly and a mile uphill behind him-Keagan fell asleep and we carried him taking our time getting back down the mountain. Later on we decided to rent a canoe and check out the lake. We fished but never caught anything. ;P Still fun though. The view from the boat was amazing! After our busy day we went back to the campsite and pretty much just hung out the rest of the time. We made due with no campfire....even though that was missed! We packed up this morning, headed out, stopped for our famous BIG breakfast, and made it back home all in one piece. The camper held up like a champ! And the entire weekend was great. It was really neat seeing the differences of camping on a lake and in the mountains. Such a different atmosphere.

Happy Earth Day...a day late. Let Everyday be Earth Day!

This year marks the 39th celebration of Earth Day, a holiday that brings focus to all the positive things people are doing to help the planet survive and thrive. It is a single day of celebration and activism, but it has the power to spark long term commitments to improve our daily habits, our communities, our world. Green isn't just a trendy term anymore, it's how we all need to live to ensure our survival - and Earth Day underscores that living green is not only important, but also fun, easy, inspiring, and entertaining.

Exhausted

Busy, busy, day....busy busy week... We decided yesterday at the last minute to go camping also this weekend. I think it sounds like a blast and I am excited. We're going to table rock, which I think I've been there maybe once before. So long ago that I don't remember though.
But knowing that we are leaving right after work tomorrow has made today a living nightmare. First off I was super busy at work. Don't get me wrong. I'd rather be busy than not! Then I come home, pop our camper up, pack it, do three loads of laundry, clean, water the yard...the garden, give Keagan a bath, do all the dishes, cook dinner, clean the bathrooms, livingroom, and the kitchen....I'm just done!
Anyways, I hope to have a great camping trip! And I hope to come back with some great pictures! It's our first trip in our new vacation home. ;) And the weather is supposed to be perfect. Highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.... I think they are calling for scattered T-storms Saturday afternoon....oh yeah, be we have a camper now... hehehe.

Like Father like son....

Keagan and Aaron went to the store. So I thought at least...I'm waiting, waiting, waiting....
Finally they return and Keagan comes running in really fast. "Mommy, Mommy-Daddy's truck is dirty! Daddy's truck looks real good dirty!"

You've got to be kidding me. I send them to the store for sauce and they come home with powdered donuts and a muddy truck. ;P

WORK, PILATES , MOWING,....OH MY!!!
No one can say I am scared of a little physical activity. :) I have worked my butt off today and I am exhausted. After an 8 hour day of work, an hour of pilates, and then mowing a half acre with a push mower...I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow. :D

The Morning Ride

We're on our way to school this morning. Keagan is slightly fussy because he had 4 days off from school and isn't too excited about getting on the go so early in the morning. He starts mumbling something that I couldn't understand and I look in my rear view and he's holding his belly. I said, "Keagan does your belly hurt??" "NO!, " He says. "MY PENI!!" "Your Peni, I say....Whats wrong with your peni!?" "My peni, my peni!!!" At that time I was starting to worry. I'm wondering if he needs to pee and it burns or what's going on...So I ask, "Baby, whats wrong with your peni??" His response, "The dinosaur ate it!"
Oh, ok...That explains it all...

Camping Trip 1 of 3 2009 Dreher Island

We're back! It was great!! Much better than last years camping trip even though not as many crazy stories to tell. The weather was perfect. Cool at night and sunny and warm during the day. It only started raining on the morning we were packing up. We did all the typical camping activities: Road bikes, fished, roasted marshmellows, hiked....
Two small things did happen and I knew something would. It wouldn't be a Schrock vacation without a little action.
The first morning we woke up there we decided to have eggs, sausage, and some beanie weenies for breakfast. I threw the can into the fire like Aaron had instructed me to and wasn't thinking anything about it when BOOM, it sounded like gunfire, I look up, see a metal can flying, hit Keagan in the head, Keagan goes down, and then I hear him screaming! It scared the crap out of all of us. Literally, the beanie weenie can exploded in the firepit, sent a pour down of beans everywhere and the can had hit Keagan. He was bent down so we didn't know how bad it was at first. Luckily it could have been a lot worse. He has been left with a knot and a bruise but we'll all going to be okay!
Then the very next morning there I wake up at about 5:45. It's still dark out but I really need to go use the potty. I couldn't take Aaron to the bathhouse with me because Keagan was still sleeping. I was a little freaked out because of it still being dark but I thought since it was morning surely everything would be okay. I get to the bathhouse, see the lights off, open the door and the automatic lights come on and I was thinking, "whew, I'm by myself!" I get to my stall, still freaked out, mind you, and go to shut and lock the door and there is no lock. I have to admit that my imagination went flying. I can't lock my door next thing you know everyone is going to be reading a headline that says, "Girl killed in bathhouse, etc." I proceed to sit down, look to my left and there is someone in that stall. I see feet just sitting there. How can there be someone in here?? The lights were off!!! How long would they have had to sit here before the automatic lights turn off on them. Surely a good little while! I bolt up, not even sure if my pants are buttoned, take off running out of the bathhouse, back on the road, down the street, constantly looking behind me....I make it to the campsite and of course I'm okay because I'm sitting here typing this but I still wonder what that person was doing in there....
Regardless, we've all three made it back in one piece and we're looking forward to our next camping trip coming up in May in the Pisgah National Forrest.

Keagan's Second Camping Trip...

And we're off.....We're heading to lake Murray for a two day camping trip. We are super exciting! Wish us luck and great weather!!! For those of you that don't remember our last camping trip-let me repost the blog from last May....hahaha, it was a mess but it made great memories. I'll let everyone know how this camping trip goes when we get back!
Happy Easter Everyone!!

Rewind to last May:
What a bizarro camping trip we had this weekend. We decided since we both love to camp and we've never taken Keagan that this weekend would be perfect so off we go to camp. We have about an hour and a half drive to get there and when we were about 10 mins away from the site all of a sudden it dawns on us that we forgot ALL of our blankets and pillows-so to walmart we go to spend an extra $60.00 that we shouldn't have had to spend. I'm sure you can only imagine my mood at this point. When we finally got there and pull up to our site it sucked! I was even more mad but luckily the statepark ranger was super nice and three hours later hooks us up with a spot that we loved. (So it took awhile but he went out of his way so I can't complain there) We get out, unpack, set the tent up. Lovin' it! Keagan is having a blast. We're right on the water and we're fishing, swimming....It's just great. Night starts to fall and we start a fire, roast some "cold" dogs (we have to say that because if we call them hotdogs keagan thinks they're too hot to eat, lol) grill out some steaks, roast some marshmellows. Life is good!
Finally bedtime comes and once everyone gets in and settled I could not sleep to save my life. I swear I heard something that sounded like animals carting our grill away. About 3:00 Aaron wakes up and says he hears thunder and I kid you not no more than a few seconds later a loud clap of thunder comes, lightening is making it look like it is daylight outside and the rain is coming down in buckets! And of course I remember my cellphone is outside on the picnic table. Aaron's response was that it was already raining and how long could it last.... Well 5 hours later we're still dealing with severe storms and tornado warnings and of course my phone is dead. :( UGH! It's finally daylight outside and we stick Keagan in the car to play while Aaron and I pack everything up in the pouring rain. We're soaked!
Just as we think our camping weekend can't get anymore exciting we decide to stop at a place for breakfast and discover when we're ready to leave that we locked our keys in the car.... I'm thinking to myself-WHAT A MOTHER'S DAY!!!.... About $60.00 and another hour later we're on our way back home!
Even with all the events, we had a blast! Keagan did great! He is a camper for sure! And we will go camping again but for now I'm happy to be home with my bare feet on my soft carpet watching the rain come down from inside! I also have tons of pictures to follow this. We ended up taking about 150 pics so in a bit I'll go through them and get some posted

Aaron the MVP

Well Aaron has without a doubt improved with his softball skills since he's started softball. He had not played in about 7 years and the first couple of games it showed....Not hitting the ball, playing outfield and not catching the ball...I was actually starting to feel bad for him but yet he continued to have a blast. I guess the positive attitude and the natural ability to play sports finally kicked in. Tonight he was the MVP of the game in my opinion. He scored half the points that his team scored and they moved him from outfielder to second baseman...I was so proud! Don't think for a minute I wasn't hootin' and hollern' when he would come in for a score! Or get the other team out!

Keagan also had fun. I think he enjoys watching his Daddy out there playing not to mention the popcorn, candy, and drink he gets to ingest-oh and the wonderful playgrounds. :D

So we've finally gotten a schedule and it looks like Aaron will be playing every Tuesday and Thursday night until the middle of June. Gosh that's a lot of games! Not sure if Keagan and I will make it to all of them but we'll certainly give it a shot.

Boring Week

I haven't forgotten about my blog this week....It's just been such a boring week. Works boring, home is, well calm...lol. I guess that's a good thing. Nothing to complain much about. I think what the problem is...I'm just not feeling it. We have a camping trip scheduled this weekend and I am so ready to just get away....To go somewhere but yet not to someones house where you are the guest. I guess we will be the guest in the woods and I may wake up scared like I did last time we camped because I could have sworn the raccoons were carrying our grill away....but still~That's different and I just can't wait!!! We actually have three camping trips scheduled. This weekend coming up at the lake. In May we're going to the mountains of Asheville, and then in June we'll be heading to Myrtle Beach for a nice warm camp out time with my sister and her family.

Other than that things are just dandy. Keagan is catching on to bike riding like a champ and he likes to ride our entire neighborhood every chance he gets. We've actually met two neighbors in the past week that we never met the whole first year we lived here and would probably continue not to meet them if it weren't for the bike. He did crash and burn this afternoon because he likes to ride up on the curb....But he picked his bike up and hopped right back on. That's my boy!

Aaron's Song...I swear this was written for him!

This song sounds like a quote straight out of his mouth! And yes, I love him the most too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlCGnGLlu64

Our Big weekend.

Gosh what a busy weekend we've had. We decided since we're going camping next weekend to go ahead and do Keagan's birthday a week early and also have the Easter Bunny come a week early. No big deal you would think....Well it's also the first pretty weekend that we've had a chance to get anything done so we've been NON stop. Friday night we did Keagan's birthday. It was a hit. He loved his cake and his presents. The main present was a new bike and we've been on it almost nonstop since then. Today we woke up super early and moved our garden from one side of our yard to the other. Also we went and bought new bushes for the front of the house, new pine straw, and I also planted 75 new bulbs around the yard! I thought I was never going to be done. Then of course since our Easter Bunny is coming a week early at our house since he won't be able to find us in the woods-we then dyed 18 pretty eggs and we're getting everything ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a big day with Keagan's Easter basket, church, and then a big egg hunt. I'm really excited!!! Also we bought Keagan a new t-ball set this weekend so in between any spare time that we've had, we've been playing baseball. :P I have tons of pictures of course but I'll wait to post them tomorrow after the Easter bunny comes and visits us.

Our Fence

Okay, so maybe I got a little happy with our new privacy fence....Yes, I have it blurred out for a reason. I totally shocked Aaron, pulled off all my clothes, and went running, prancing, dancing, all over the yard because we finally have some privacy. We have wanted this for a year! As most of you know...our neighbor is out of control annoying. When the fence guy came tonight to collect payment he said over the weekend he had 31 calls from him. The neighbor! Yes, the guy who isn't even getting a fence!!!Anyways, with the fence finally done, I guess I'll post a picture finally that you guys can see! It is very excited! And Boodro and Keagan love it too! The dog doesn't know what to think! I think he may just be the happiest of us all.....Or maybe not! :D (***not sure why my pics say Schrock Masterbath either...I'll have to look into that***)

Relaxation

I feel like today is a Saturday night. Okay, maybe a Friday night because I still have the feeling of getting up at 5am and working all day. Regardless though, it's been an entertaining day with good or exciting news and a relaxing night. I come home to find that the fence people have started! YIPPIE! All of our post are up! We should officially have a privacy fence by the weekend. Then I take an hour or so and go and get my hair cut. I went to a beauty school to have it done and no, it's not my favorite haircut I've ever had...But it'll do. Hey, for $5, I'll take it. Then I get home and get a call about Keagan's birthday cake for this weekend. She went over all the details and it just sounds like it is going to be soooo awesome! I'm just so grateful that a friend of mine offered her sister's services. :D Now I'm here, getting tired, all alone because Aaron is at another softball game, Keagan is in bed, and I'm watching biggest loser. I'm not having to carry on conversation, watch something on tv that I don't want to, or stay up any later than I want too...
March has been a good month! It started with a nice snow storm on the first and a nice calm, relaxing night on the 31st.

Baby Blue

Now after a series of me playing around with the faceinhole website I thought I would post a real picture of my beautiful baby boy! We had a lot of fun today. We decided to go out searching at different campgrounds for the perfect place to camp...I think we found one about an hour away that we're going to try and hit up either Easter weekend or a weekend soon after that.
This was us on our way home trying to keep each other entertained beause it was turning into quite a long day in the car. We played muscle man, we played tickle me, tickle you, I sang and sang my ABCs and Bringing home a baby bumble bee...And each time he would laugh and laugh. It's amazing how such small things entertain these little guys. Right after this shot was taken I squeeze his cheeks and when they made the funny noise that it makes he had another laughing fit over that....I love it!

The hunk I married!!

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Buddha Kid

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Wicked Witch of the East

Create your own FACEinHOLE

War of the Fences

Have I mentioned that I can't stand my neighbor!!! My Dad sent me an email and it was a picture of a for sale sign that said, "For sale by owner...Because my neighbor is an asshole" I NEED THAT SIGN!

So rewind a little, we are getting a privacy fence next week (mainly because of my neighbor, mind you) and it just so happens that the people behind my neighbor are also getting a privacy fence next week (shouldn't that tell him something??) Anyways, he keeps bugging me about where we are going to put the fence and I know why...He wants our fence to match up with the fence to the neighbor behind him. Bill (my neighbor) was saying that he's already spoken to the fence guy and he said he could make it happen no problem. Well of course Bill wants that! He already has a fence on one side...This will be the two other sides he needs to get a fenced in back yard for FREE! All he'll have to put up are the gates in the front.

Today I'm bringing in groceries in the rain and he stops me and asks AGAIN where we are putting the fence. And finally I said, "Bill, I am not worried about whether my fence connects with the other guys fence! I think it is great if you get a free fence out of this but I am not going to go out of my way to make it happen." And all of a sudden he says, "Well you know those branches to your trees are over on my side of the yard and Aaron has begged me not to cut them. If I have to put a fence up myself then I may just have to cut them." I immediately cut him off and called him out on it and told him that Aaron would not be caught dead begging him to do anything! If he wants to cut our branches on his side then go right on ahead! I told him though that if he wants to play games, I can play games! I told him it was War!! And I said how about this, "You go right on ahead and cut those branches....We don't care! But you know what, all of a sudden I'm not feeling so nice anymore so I don't think I'm going to let you connect the front of your gate onto my fence. How does that sound for games...." He then asked me when Aaron would be home. I told him and he said he'd talk to Aaron and walked away.

What an Ass! I'm sorry...This man knows just the right buttons to get my blood boiling! And this fence can not come soon enough!! I think we need to put up a sign on our fence that says, "Beware of Bill" instead of Beware of Dog....

Cake Walk

Why does it have to be so hard to find a cake.....I recently found out that the person that was going to make Keagan's cake for his birthday is going to be busy out of town. I knew Easter weekend would be tough... but I didn't think it would be that big of a deal that she was busy because I would just get a bakery to make him a really neat cake....Well I can't find one...I don't understand! Someone in Greenville/Spartanburg must make cakes around here...Don't they?

My week

I feel like my week has just started today! I'm back to normal. I'm the cheerful person I normally am. I think I just needed a good night of sleep. Last night I finished a great book. This morning I woke up in a good mood. Went to work and had a pretty good day...came home and grilled out nice, fat, really good looking Tbones and enjoyed the 70 degree weather before it starts to rain for the rest of the week....Man, its just been good.
I'm getting really excited about Aaron's first softball practice tomorrow and I also found out today that he signed up at Church for the Christmas in April program. I wasn't able to sign up for it because we don't have a babysitter and he must have done it while I was picking Keagan up from Sunday School. But its awesome....On April 4th (Happy Birthday Dad) Aaron, and several others from Church, will be going over to an old widows house and doing all sorts of repairs. Yard work, bathroom floor work, roof work, etc. The list goes on. They needed several volunteers and it was a nice surprise tonight to hear that Aaron had signed up to do it.

Roots

It is supposed to be 71 and sunny here and I should be feeling sunny and cheerful inside but I'm not. Instead I've been up since 3:30 this morning thinking-Heck I'm sitting here blogging and my clock doesn't even ready 5:30am yet... I just need to de-stress. We've been so busy working on the house, or entertaining guest at our house (we've had company the last three weekends),and working, working, working, and I don't think we're taking anytime for US! I think we're missing something and need to get back to the roots of our relationship and what makes us happy. I don't feel like I've had a good gut-wrenching laugh in weeks and I feel like Aaron and I are fussing at each other way too much lately. I think its time we just get away. Maybe this weekend would be a nice chance to go to Asheville. My Mother in Law is supposed to be here again this weekend but I don't think it would be rude to say, "here is a key, make yourself at home." Do you?? I think it would be good for Aaron, Keagan, and me. I think its what we'll need to get the root system of our family of three back in order.

Bathroom Pics

So I am finally posting some pictures of the bathroom. We still don't have a mirror up yet because, well, we can't agree on one. I think we need a nice new framed one and Aaron thinks we need to save $100 a take the one we have....So as for now-we have nothing. These before and after pictures will give you an idea of what we started with and what we have now...

To list a few of the changes:

24 year old laminate floor changed to slate tile

24 year old flowery wallpaper (which I don't have a picture of) changed to green beadboard and cottage white walls, 24 year old lighting fixture changed to a nice new modern fixture. We also replace the vanity, stained the cabinets, put new hardware on, a new faucet, and all new baseboards. It still has some touch ups I want to do and of course come to an agreement on the mirror. I also want to get a new door. I want one of the doors that has a nice full length mirror built in. I want to get one of those curved shower curtain rods to make the shower feel bigger and so many other things....But this gives us a great start!

A tragedy hits the town of Moore....

So we got word last night from a neighbor that a little two year old not far from us had wondered away from home and was still missing. I immediately turn on the news to find out that a mom had left her son in the backyard "for just a few minutes" and when she came out she saw that the back gate was open and the little boy was gone. I know her sense of panic. I'll admit. I'm guilty of that. I've left Keagan in the backyard playing in dirt for just a minute while maybe I go stir dinner or I go to the bathroom and I've come out and not seen him and my first reaction is panic! The news was asking for any and every volunteer to please come out and help find this little boy. Aaron, Keagan, and I hopped in the truck without a second blink. We get there and I really couldn't be much help because they needed trucks and folks who could go in the woods and in the dark with MY TWO YEAR OLD I didn't think that I was meant to be there. Aaron came and dropped me off and back out he went. He said it was amazing. The whole town practically pulled together and showed up to help find little William. He came home later in the evening with no luck or good news in saying that the boy had been found.

All day today I've been checking the news via their website. Almost every hour on the hour and finally new information had emerged. They found him. They found him dead in the river that runs straight through our town. They said they saw the little footprints on the bank and what looked like he must have slid or tripped down and ended up in the water. I couldn't help but to start crying. I cried my whole way home from work. My heart literally aches for this family! My heart aches to know that some precious innocent little boy the same age as mine had to live through such hell. Imagining the guilt that his mom will have to live with for the rest of her life is almost unbearable. How quickly a few minutes can change the course of the rest of your life.

On a positive note it showed me how awesome my little town is. A lot of times you don't think about my area being small because we're right outside of the hussel and bussel of Greenville & Spartanburg but on the brink of a tragedy we all pulled together like we were family. And that's what we are. This whole town is mourning tonight.

Go Green

So day #5 in my 101 ways book is called "Celebrating the Little Things." This could not have fallen on a more appropriate day then St. Patty's Day, or as Keagan so confidently corrected me this morning, St Potty's Day, since this day is known for celebrating. We may not have enjoyed our day with green beer or a night out at an Irish Pub but.... as the book says, a family should get into the habit of celebrating the little things in life such as the first snow of the season, the last day of school, etc...

So we went out and celebrated in honor of our famous "Green" day-Our green grass on a gorgeous 70 degree day. The green on the trees as the little leaves start to sprout, the green marshmallows in our lucky charms, and pointing out how many green cars we saw on the road on our way home.

I thought the tip to celebrate the small things was a great idea. Doing fun little cheap things like having a picnic by the fireplace during a storm or handing out Hershey kisses to the family at dinner time, just because you love them, is the perfect way to find joy in the unexpected places.

High in the Air

How can I not love these boys....? This is a normal night at the house. Aaron is so good with Keagan...And Keagan just loves him! How lucky I am!!

Day # 3 of my 101 ways book....

Cultivate Quiet Moments.

This is something that I don't get that often!!! The book talks about how people and kids are bombarded with a constant bugging of cell phones, video games, tv, radio, toys that talk and buzz, squawk, & wail. Constant company and activities going on~Well children as well as adults need the peace that is found in quiet.

Today has not been that day for me. It started at 12am when Keagan decided that he needed to get up 3 times in the night for whatever reason was waking him up. Next on to a playdate with a friend of his to Monkey Joe. Those of you who don't know what Monkey Joes is...It's an inflatable slide park that is super fun but has kids running around screaming constantly. Then on to McDonalds for the boys to have lunch and a stream of conversation taking place between us and the other couple.
We get back to town and go straight to looking at houses for my Mother in Law and the next several hours is spent with "house" talk and whining from Keagan because he never got the nap he needed.
Now we're back home-it's getting late, I have the background noise of the washer, dryer, & dish washer going...A movie that Aaron is watching way too loud. No clue what it is but all I hear is screaming and gun fire and Keagan and Boodro running around playing, screaming and growling.
If I could just put ear plugs in my ears and have FIVE minutes without a word, a cry, an appliance, a movie I think I would be a new woman. Tonight about as close as I'll get to that though is when I finally surrender to the day and go to bed. My nice cozy, quiet, bed...Until the next day hits and I do it all over again.


ssshhhhh....

Soundstracks of Life

So all these notes and quizzes about music have been showing up on myspace and facebook. I haven't done any but its really made me think about what music has influenced me in my life and what a variety there is. Everyday on my 45 minute drive to work and home I hear certain songs or groups and it makes me think of certain times in my life or certain people....I just thought I would share a few.

Growing up as a young child: Bruce Springstein, born in the USA, Juice Newton, Angle of the Morning, Bon Jovi.
Living in Camden with my mom: Metallica, The Black Album
Living in Myrtle Beach with my Dad & Linda: Phish
Living in Charleston: Hootie and the Blowfish
Living in Georgia: Red Hot Chili Peppers and a song by Kenney Chesney, Have another beer in Mexico. We used to sing, "Sit right here and have another beer on Lake Lanier.
My Mom: Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over Trouble Water
My Dad: Aerosmith, Ragdoll...I remember him jumping around the livingroom to that song
My "Other Mom" Linda: Garth Brooks
My sister Jacq: Most 80's rock, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Def Leppard
My sister Heather: Queen-Bohemian rhapsody
My brother Michael: Kid Rock
My Mother in Law: a song called, "Find out who your friends are..."
My marriage: Any song by Brad Paisley. I can name so many-Get a little mud on the tires, she's everything, I'm still a man, just about every song he has come out with!
Aaron: A couple of songs by Tim McGraw-"Just country boys and girls getting down on the farm." "I'm a real bad boy but a real good man." " Where the green grass grows"
Keagan: Rodney Atkins song, "Watching you"

There are so many other good artist and songs! When I hear a song it acts like a timeline to me. Most cases I can remember a time and place when I heard that song and a memory to go along with it.

Toothpaste Incident

YUK!!! So tonight I was cooking, a dinner by the way that I've never cooked before but that I am super excited about, and Aaron was outside rounding up Boodro because he had gotten out. I thought Keagan seemed mighty quiet but sometimes when Spongebob is on TV that holds his attention enough to where I don't have to worry about him for a while.

Well Aaron walks in and all I hear is, "OH NO! I think he got into your lotion." Turns out the closer we get to Keagan the more we can smell the stench of mint. And for those of you who don't know...I despise mint! Every thing that has to do with mint! I make my poor husband use cinnamon toothpaste because I can't stand the thought of having to smell the smell. Where Keagan found this mint toothpaste, I will never know! Maybe Aaron secretly brushes his teeth with it when I'm away. :) Anyways, turns out Keagan was trying to brush his own teeth and I suppose that got a little boring so he went about putting it on his whole body! On his face, belly, hands....What a disaster! Fortunately enough for me, I didn't have to clean it because Aaron knows I wouldn't be able to handle the mint! So I was in the clear! But what a mess it was.....and my house still stinks from it! :(

101 ways....

So I bought a book today. I spent all of $0.30 on this special book and not only bought it for myself but bought it or something like it for 3 other girls at work. It's called 101 ways to be a great mom....No, I don't feel like I need a book to tell me how to be a good mom. But I picked it up and started reading a few of the ideas and they are actually really neat. So I decided that I'm going to read it. I'll read one idea a day (Its really hard not to skip foward and read the whole book in like a day) and then I'll try to practice whatever idea it give me. Idea #1 was kind of eye opening. It was called, "Walk a mile in your children's sneakers." It told you to ask yourself whats important to you, as an adult. Then picture yourself being a child. How simple their minds are and try to think of whats important to them. I started thinking about Keagan. Importance: milk, mimi, trucks, his movies, etc. It went on to say that empathizing with your child's joys and sorrows will deepen your insight and expand your patience with them. I've been practicing this tonight and it really is kind of neat how it helps. I started trying to pick my battles rather than win everyone.

On another note, those of you who have been keeping up with my stapler ordeal...It's now over. Long story but my stapler has been returned back to it's home. :) Other than that...Things are just crazy. I feel like my life is a whirlwind right now. I have so much on my mind and the pretty weather isn't helping. I get home and have so much to do and all I really want to do is enjoy myself in the outdoors. I have however started some of my cooler weather plants for my garden which is exciting. Spinach and cabbage. YUMMY! I hope to be able to grow enough in our garden this year to actually be able to go out and pick enough to make our own salads at night.

What a Monday...

Wow, where do I start-I woke up hard because not only was I exhausted from my weekend away from home but then my body was still adjusting to missing an hour of sleep. I had set the coffee pot on Sunday night not knowing that the house had lost power over the weekend and Aaron set the clock back right on it but not the timer-so I had ice old coffee because the coffee brewed at midnight. I get to work about 10 mins late because of some reason and I still can't figure out what went wrong there. Work was going okay but then somebody stole my stapler....Better put, they traded it in! For those of you who don't know-this seems to be a history as of late. My bike when we first moved into our house was traded in. The person who stole it left me their piece of crap bike in trade for my nice one. Well that's what happened to my stapler today. They took my NICE, full of staples stapler and left me their empty piece of crap...I'm still hot over that. I leave work and spill my left over cold coffee all over my white shirt! Grrr...And then I get to daycare just for his teachers to tell me that I can no longer send him there with flip-flops on. Which I still don't understand. He wore flip-flops there everyday last summer. Back home, I'm so happy to be home and then Aaron puts his feet up (while he still has his dirty boots on) and I accidentally bump into him and dirty diesel fuel rubs all over my work pants. I AM HOT!

But then something happened. We started talking. We haven't had a chance to have a conversation without our company all weekend. It was great. He started telling me about the church service I missed and how he couldn't wait for me to watch the DVD he ordered. He started talking about the parking job that he helps out doing, and how he can't wait to start softball with the church....Going to buy the cleats, bat, helmet, etc.... He was telling me about how he was stuck in traffic today and he was right behind someone with a sticker from our church on his car. He just kept going on and on and I could hear his excitement...It made me forget all about every crappy, stressful thing that had happened today and made me realize what an awesome Monday I was having. I have laughed so much today. I cracked up over my stapler even though I'm still peeved. I had lunch with three girls from work-which is a splurge for me because I never do that. I got so much accomplished and I also found out that my mortgage department just got some of the best new in the history of the credit union....Today is a good day!!! And I just want EVERYONE to know!

Letting it go...

This weekend will be a very interesting weekend. I've decided to leave town and go visit my brother for a couple of days while Aaron and his Dad finish our bathroom. For me, this is hard. I like to have some sort of control! I have no clue what I'm going to walk back into on Sunday morning. All I know is that my bathroom should be pretty much done. If they decide to put the bead board up that I bought then great, if they change out my mirror...well then they do... We'll see. I'm sure it'll be great. Aaron's dad has tons of experience with putting in tile and redoing rooms so I think its a positive thing. It just makes me a little nervous.
In the mean time Keagan and I will be enjoying a nice weekend with my brother and his family.

Shower

Such a small task for such a little boy. Keagan has decided that he no longer wants to take baths anymore. He has now graduated to a big boy shower. I remember when my Dad used to fix for me a "Bower" it was a mix between a shower and a bath! And I loved it!!! Of course Keagan couldn't go anywhere without his trucks and after he got out, my little tadpole turned into a big mean shark!!

21 Questions about Aaron

So many of you only know parts of Aaron so I thought I would do a little Q & A tonight....

1. Your spouse is sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Sports, or CMT
2. What’s one food your spouse doesn’t like? Seafood
3. You go out to eat and have a drink. Either a beer or if he is really feeling frisky a margarita
4. What size shoe does he/she wear? 10
5. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? He collects any junk he sees sitting on the side of the road.
6. What is his favorite type of sandwich? tuna, lol...kidding...Roast Beef
7. What would this person eat every day if he could? Steak, taters, and salad
8. What is his/her favorite cereal? Boring ole' rice checks....or maybe some corn checks. Whatever happened to Lucky Charms??
9. What would he/she never wear? sweaters…tighty whities
10. What is his/her favorite sports team? Go Dawgs, of course
11. Who is his/her best friend? I would have to say me. When do everything together!
12. What is something you do that he/she wishes you wouldn’t do? I'm sure snapping at the drop of a hat would be one of them....but I think he would rather that then me hold on to grudges for weeks at a time.
13. What is his/her heritage? His dad is Amish (German??) and his mom is adopted...so really not sure. (American?)
You bake him/her a cake for his/her birthday; what kind of cake? He's boring. He doesn't eat cake...
14. Did he/she play sports in high school? He ran cross country track
15. What could he/she spend hours doing? anything using tools.
16. What is one unique talent he/she has? He has incredible mechanical skills. He was born to fix anything and everything!
17. Does he/she prefer to drive an automatic or stick shift? stick shift.
18. Given a free trip anywhere in the world, where would he/she choose to go? any island. He would love to move there for good one day.
If you spend a lot of money on a special gift for him/her, he/she would like? 50 acres with a bunch of cows, a black fence around the whole property and a Barn with all the bells and whistles….a big wrought iron gate at the front of the property with an Arch that says “Schrocks Farm”
19. Is he/she near-sighted, far-sighted, or neither? Neither. He is colorblind but otherwise has perfect vision
20. If he/she had to choose a different occupation, what would it be? Farmer and I think that would be cool myself!
21. What is most attractive about him/her to you?
His dependability. If he makes a commitment with you he will do everything to keep it. His unconditional love for me. I'm a difficult person...Not to say he isn't but he has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. He was born on Easter day and I think that is a special symbol of the person he is, in its own way.