Dave and I decided that we wanted to have another mural in Caiden’s room, like we did in the old house. We searched for the perfect mural, and finally came upon this picture of a man throwing a little boy up in the air at the beach with a woody on the sand.
Well, we have actually gone to the beach with Dave throwing Caiden up in the air, and I was standing there taking pictures of it. So we enlisted the help of our friend Teri who painted this amazing mural. I asked her if she would add me in there taking a picture which she did (and she made me thin!!!! *artistic liberty I’d say*). It has taken about 2 months to complete as Teri is meticulous and thorough. She has become our own resident artist. It came out great. We are SO happy. Take a look at the journey.
Thank you Teri...it is perfect!
About Me
- Mel
- California, United States
- I'm the wife of a firefighter, a mother of two wonderful kids and a full time employee with a crazy busy life. But hey, at least I'm not bored :)
Since Teri was over here painting Caiden's mural (you will see in the next posting - it is AWESOME!!! So much better than we ever anticipated), her husband Kent came over and decided to challenge David and Josh to a friendly game of poker.
They played for quite a long time and all seemed to have fun. I'd like to say that of course all of the guys were winners, but hey...this isn't kindergarten anymore now is it?
There were definite favorites…luck favored a few players. I will leave it up to your imagination to figure out which.
So I have been still having some problems with the whole miscarriage thing. You see, my mind wants to move past this, but my body is protesting. I had to go BACK to the doctors, they are considering me for that surgery (DNC), but I am trying to avoid it at all costs (needles, hospitals, anesthesia, did I say needles?). I was taken out of work the past two days, am now on medication for “excessive bleeding after delivery” and some antibiotics that are the size of horse pills – all of which make me dizzy and sick. I guess it's good that I was taken out of work though because I tried to work from home on Friday, but got halfway through the first conference call and had to run to the bathroom. I had the conference call on speaker (but mute, so I could hear them, but they couldn't hear me - I didn't want to miss something important), so I could get sick (thank you fun pills for the nausea and vomiting). I know...too much information, but I am just so frustrated and tired. I am tired of being tired. Dave is tired of me being tired too...I'd write more, but what's the point.
This is no fun. To top it all off I had planned on doing 4 hours of S factor (to finish the make-up classes for those I missed while on bed rest) and was so looking forward to it. To add insult to injury...this was the last class for level 4. I start level 5 next week. I really wanted to go to class, but I just don't have the energy.
Additionally, we were going to have a field trip to a strip club that I am also missing out on (to watch not to participate…I know what some of you were thinking? Wipe that smug look off your face…didn’t anyone tell you…I’m a good girl *said in the sweetest possible voice*). I really did want to go. I guess next time.
*Sigh* This stinks. *Sigh* Ok. Well, I guess I am done venting for the moment. Trying to be positive, but having a moment. *Sigh*
Last Sunday, Caiden and I decided to go visit Dave at work. He is working with a new captain and crew, as well as a new station,so it was my opportunity to meet them and see the new digs.
We joined them for lunch and then got the grand tour. Afterwards, Caiden played on the fire trucks until Dave had to teach a class. The captain allowed us to stay for Dave's class so I was able to see him in action - I have to say I was really impressed. He did a great job at the presentation...sounded intelligent, energetic, and knowledgable.
After the class, the Engineer gave Caiden a lesson in being an engineer. He pulled out the water truck and let Caiden have a go at the the water line. It was really cute. I have a video about it.
The captain on duty (all the other firefighters were captains, so this was just the one that was captain for the day) caught a hummingbird that had tired itself by flying around the fire station (it got stuck and couldn't seem to figure a way out. It had zapped all of its energy). The Captain gave the hummingbird some sugar water and it went about it way. It was cool for Caiden and myself to see the bird up close though. It's not often that you get that opportunity as the little birds are usually so quick. I never realized how many colors the birds had. They were neon even. Really pretty.
Anyway, I think this last visit SEALED Caiden's decision to be a firefighter. That's all he talks about. He loves going to visit Dave at the station, and play on all of the equipment. Here are some pictures of their adventures. 
Ok, so one of the basic rules that men learn (or are supposed to learn) early on in their marriage is that "women are always right". Say it with me now..."Women are ALWAYS right".
However, there must have been a shift in the planetary alignment or something because by golly, I think my husband may have been right. That's right...read that sentence very carefully. Notate the date if you must because this is a groundbreaking announcement.
How did I come to this epiphany, you ask? Well, the other day Dave and I were at the store. He said that we needed peanut butter. I told him…”don’t worry about it. I bought some.” When we got home he looked in the pantry and much to his dismay, I had bought what I called peanut butter (Peter Pan Peanut Butter to be exact), but what he referred to as “crap”. He continued to hound me about how I bought this crappy peanut butter and “what was I thinking”. Honestly, I was thinking that I like the way Peter Pan Peanut Butter tasted over Skippy. 
If I took the “Pepsi Challenge” I would choose Peter Pan. I made a big deal of it. I tried to tell him to live with it. It’s JUST peanut butter. Next time I will consider buying his brand, but knowing deep back in the recesses of my mind that I would not be buying Skippy. I would again buy Peter Pan Peanut Butter.
Then all of a sudden the world changes. Up is down and down is up. I see a sound byte on the news that there is a recall of Peter Pan Peanut Butter. I cringe. This cannot be, I cry. But alas, it is so. So I do what any person would do. I call my friend Josh. The conversation went a little something like this:
Josh: Hello
Mel: Hey Guess what?
Josh: What
Mel: Dave made a huge deal about me buying the wrong kind of peanut butter and I made an even bigger deal about how it’s just peanut butter and it doesn’t really matter. I just saw on the news that the peanut butter I was defending is being recalled. It made a bunch of people sick.
Josh: Don’t tell Dave. (laughing the whole time) He’ll never let you live this one down.
Mel: I thought about it, but I think I have to…I mean, he’s right and I made a huge deal about it.
The next day I come home from work, and the Peter Pan Peanut butter is sitting on the coffee table. I panic...what do I do? I nonchalantly tell Dave that I may have heard something on the news about Peter Pan Peanut butter. Dave smiles and says that he knows. He checked the label and there was a certain pattern of numbers on the can that notates the affected peanut butters. Luck of all lucks, of course I bought the tainted peanut butter. Not only did I buy the tainted peanut butter, but I fought for and defended the tainted peanut butter.
Needless to say, Dave is reveling in his short-lived superiority and I promptly found the proper home for my peanut butter…the trash.
Now I try to be very professional and business-like while I am at work, but I was trying to explain something to one of my co-workers today that struck him as kind of odd. I was talking about how some people become obsessed with power and want to take over the world (so to speak). You know the kind; they get a taste of a little bit of power and then are consumed and become this...well...apparently a plankton. 
Yep, you heard me right. A plankton. Which leads me to my first comment.
You know you are a mom when you are using SpongeBob SquarePants and the evil Plankton as an analogy for an event at work.
On the flip side, you know you're a dad when you understand my analogy completely and without hesitation. :)
I love getting new shoes. What girl doesn't? But this is even better. I got some new shoes for my pole dancing/striptease class. Yes they are 6 inch heels, and to be perfectly honest...very comfortable. Hmm, maybe I can actually wear these out in public - of course there is the problem of me looking like a giant. The name of the shoe company is called "pleasers" and the shoe name is Fetish. Yes, I guess there is no mistaking that I was shopping in the stripper shoes department. :P
They do take a bit of time to get on as they lace all the way up and then buckle too, which for a girl like me (who missed the day that God was handing out patience) is a bit frustrating. 
Dave calls them my "Matrix" shoes. I don't think he is a big fan of these shoes. I think he thinks they are too complex or complicated or something. I kind of like the dangerous, don't mess with me look to them. When I wear them, people will know I mean business...or at least they will know that I'm around - who wouldn't I'd be like 6'3" tall. I apologize about the crappy pictures, but it's hard to take a picture of yourself wearing shoes. Try it. I dare you.
Now my only dilemna is what to wear with my new shoes. I had an outfit ordered, but apparently it is on backorder and so the store canceled it. :( Any suggestions? Better hurry and get in those suggestions, I have 4 hours of class tomorrow.
As many of you know Dave is quite the handy man. We have been looking for a hamper to match Caiden's room, but haven't quite found one that is fitting (and within our budget...seriously $300 for a hamper is ridiculous - I'm serious we found those prices).
Anyway, Dave decided that it couldn't be that hard to make one...so he surprised me! David was really disappointed in this work. It took him 8 hours (I think that is what he said) to work on it because he said that everything that COULD go wrong...DID go wrong. I still think it turned out great. I'm impressed. It's nice to have a handy man around. :) I'm thinking that I want to get some fabric and line the inside. What do you think?
Anyway, I came home from work and Dave surprised me by making a hamper for Caiden from scratch! I like it. We are going to get some rope and starfish and stuff to make it look more beachy, but not bad.
Caiden couldn't wait to try it out...literally. Here is a picture of Caiden IN the hamper...
and then of course a few of him using it for the appropriate reasons. 
Since Dave's good friend was in town from Colorado, we had to take advantage of the opportunity to get Gavin and Caiden together. They are less than a year apart. On Tuesday night we went out to eat at Red Robin. We had so much fun. 
Caiden and Gavin enjoyed stomping on the TV on the floor...
Playing video games (race car driving)
Caiden even did a nice little crash and burn airplane sequence in the car that had Gavin cracking up. So cute. They really seemed to get along nicely. Caiden even shared his toys and helped Gavin play when we were at home. They seemed to bond in the car - even holding hands. 
We had a good time and really enjoyed seeing Rob, Bridget and Gavin. We can't wait to get together again. You guys are welcome ANYTIME!! :)
Last Sunday, one of Dave's good friends (John Wilson) married the sister of one of Dave's other good friends (Rob Hulse - sister is Jennifer Hulse). I was excited to go, and really looking forward to it. I love weddings. They are beautiful, and happy and loving, and...well, they are weddings. I normally become mush as the bride walks down the aisle to her husband to be, and spend the remainder of the wedding in tears. Thankfully, I was able to control myself this wedding. It was beautiful. They had the ceremony in a Chapel in Old Towne Orange (very close to where Dave and I used to live). The Chapel had beautiful stained glass windows that said "Hope", "Faith", "Peace". 
Dave looked good in a green suit, and I wore a new brown dress that I purchased a few months back, but had no excuse to wear. Caiden of course wore his Firefighter jacket and his snow boots (which he calls his “fire fire boots”), as frankly we couldn’t convince him to wear something else. At least we were attending the wedding of a firefighter!
It was a beautiful ceremony where the groom's father presided over the special event, and the bride and groom wrote their own vows. John was so sweet as he carefully helped his new wife down the Chapel stairs, the love in the air was palpable. What a cute couple. The newlyweds walked out of the Chapel to the sounds of a bagpipes played by a man wearing an authentic kilt. Very nice. Good thing it wasn’t windy. 
After the ceremony, David and I decided to walk down to “the Circle” and get a cup of coffee prior to going to the reception. This is where the fun part of the miscarriage took place. I will spare you the details, but I will say that the whole event of leaving the Chapel was both a relief, terrifying, humiliating, embarrassing and forced Dave and I to rely on perfect strangers to assist me so that I could compose myself. Let’s just leave it at that. Needless to say, we did not get coffee, but we did end up going to the reception (after I was able to compose myself…I knew how much this wedding meant to Dave and how important it was that he be there).
The reception was beautiful. We were not able to stay for a long time due to the more graphic events that occurred while walking out of the Chapel, however we were able to see the couple have their first dance, have a nice dinner, and Caiden even found a girlfriend. There was this really cute little girl that kept trying to kiss Caiden and dance with him. It was so cute. 
Caiden and his dancing partner
The bride and groom (Mr. and Mrs. Wilson) and Dave and Caiden
Rob, Bridget and Gavin Hulse
Caiden, Dave and I