Rambles.....

* I would love to have a blog, a blog that no one knew I was the writer, and rant about things that totally annoy me.  I would love to be FREE in my thoughts and words.  I just worry about relationships so I don't, but boy there are times I would love to just let my words fly!!
* I switched Brady back to the smaller room - the room he was in as a baby.  I realized it's a lot quieter on that side of the house at night while he's trying to fall asleep.  I'm very pleased with the move.  I bought a board for pictures and hung that up along with his super cool wire art name and it's just the coziest, simplest bedroom!  He also now sleeps with a stuffed animal - a chocolate lab that we call little Drake.  He wants it every night and carries it with him in the mornings when he gets up to crawl into our bed.  I love it.
* Speaking of dogs, we all want one.  A little yellow lab puppy would be wonderful.  After you are used to the presence and love of a big goofy dog, you just miss it.  It is the right time because I would be home for another year to train it, but it's not a good time because we have no money and I'm not ready to have the anxiety of leaving him every time we go to Carroll or Omaha or even hanging out with friends for the day/night.  What to do, what to do.
* I am surviving Brady being in school.  He really likes it and talks about it with enthusiasm.  My coping mechanism has been to shop though, so it's really been an expensive two weeks!  I do have a list of things I want to tackle though while he's in school for those two hours.  Some new fall decorations (done), finish up fall/winter clothes shopping for Brady (done), I need a few things, I want to check out Whole Foods, I want to talk to the Hy-Vee dietitian and get a tour of Hy-Vee by her, I want to do a real actual paper budget (half done).
* I started Christmas shopping a few weeks ago.  It's nice to have some things here already!!
* This is the most expensive time of year - we have a crazy number of birthdays and the holiday shopping list just seems to get longer and longer.  I might have to have us skip out on food/drink exchanges and some of the kid exchanges.
* Speaking of birthdays, in the last two weeks, Brady has been invited to two friends birthday parties.  This is the first time he has been invited to a "friend's" party.  This is so exciting!!  Unfortunately for both of those, we have different nephews birthday parties.
* I went to sign Brady up for swim lessons at the Y.  Umm no.  They were $65 for non-members.  I don't think so!  I'm hoping a grandma will want to get him a session for his birthday or Christmas, but otherwise I think I'll hold out until spring (right before the summer pool time again).  That is ridiculous how much that costs.
* I deactivated my Facebook for numerous reasons.  Although I have recently realized that is how I stay in touch with playgroups/play friends.  Plus I volunteered to watch a neighbor's kids (she is on bed rest pregnant with twins).  So I might need to check my messages once in awhile!
* We are going on a trip this winter with our group of friends.  With everybody in (7 couples) and an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, we couldn't (didn't want to) say no.  Yes, I know what this looks like - here I am always saying we have no money and here we go.  This could be a topic I could rant about on my anonymous blog (along with the vibe I get from being a stay-at-home mom).
* What's annoying is that our passports are expired so we went to take our pictures tonight.  We had to go to a Walgreens that was not close to our house because of camera issues at ours, but of course, we could have saved $6 by waiting until tomorrow.  Here I was happy we were finally getting them updated after knowing about this trip for months, and if I would have waited one more day.......  I was not going to not pay for them tonight and then turn around and drive out of my way tomorrow just to save $6.  Annoying.
* And what's more annoying?  I ordered a present online (free shipping) because the Super Target I went to did not have it in store.  They shipped it and the box was bent.  So I had them send me another one.  I went to return the damaged one and realized I couldn't return it to the store.  So I had to go buy printer ink (not cheap) to print the return label and mail it back.  I did that, went to the post office and they did not have boxing tape for me.  I finally received the new one, found boxing tape and got rid of that damn gift!!  And guess what?  That next day, I was in Target again and found it on this Target's shelf.  Seriously annoying......

OK, thanks for letting me vent!  It is my blog after all!!  :)

This pic is from earlier this summer - Great Grandma Schelle was teaching him how to use her little slot machine and he loved it.  

Pictures from when my sister and her family were home this summer.  Next time we are getting some of us sisters!!