Update

I realized today that it's been quite some time since we have had a post. The reason: nothing is happening worth talking about. On the 17th we were supposed to go camping with my family in Rock Creek for the weekend. I say supposed to because we didn't end up going. Tanner had a ton of homework and since it's all online, he couldn't exactly take it with him. It was a tough decision, but we are glad he got the time to get some work done. It wasn't tall work though...we watched a couple of movies. We went to Autumn and Reed's for a short bonfire on Saturday. Apparently we missed the perfect camping weekend and they all had a lot of fun. I think we'll catch up on our camping another time.

This past weekend wasn't all that exciting either. Tanner continues to do homework like it's a full time job, plus some overtime. We watched a couple more movies, mainly because I was bored. We had planned to spend time with friends on Friday at a bonfire but the weather didn't cooperate. Instead we stayed inside and watched it pour. We went to some garage sales on Saturday. I love garage sales!! We then met up with my parents and went to Red Robin for lunch/supper and a few store. Tanner also got glasses. After months of reading with one eye closed, I finally convinced him to get his eyes checked. Although he doesn't have much of a prescription, he still had enough to need glasses. He is still trying to adjust to them and hates not being able to wear his fancy sunglasses. I'm also still adjusting to seeing him in them. (I'll take a picture of him now and post later).

Sunday we got to see two of our nieces unexpectedly. Taya had to work and Tyler was out of town, so the girls came over for a short while. We had fun drawing with sidewalk chalk, riding bikes, blowing bubbles and eating chicken nuggets. We were sure glad to see them! It's probably the most exciting thing that's happened to us in a couple weeks.

So we start another (boring) week. Again, we don't plan to accomplish anything major. Tanner is working on finishing up a couple of classes this week. Just in time for him to hopefully cram in one more class before school starts (when he will start yet another class). If you look at the credits, he will be half way done already. Tanner has his last softball game tonight (and I have my last episode of the bachelorette). Hopefully this weekend we can have some time to do something fun together.

Cows, Baby and Cubs

Already approaching another weekend and I realized neither of us had written about last weekend. Thursday Tanner and I, along with the rest of my family, went to the Iowa County Fair to see Payton show his bucket bottle calf. It was the first time he got to show a calf at the fair. Although his was the biggest in group, he didn't win overall. He did, however, do a really good job!! The judges interview each kid about how they have cared for their calf. Then they walk them around the show ring and are judged on showmanship. Payton wasn't happy that he didn't win, but we were all very proud of him. I used to show animals when I was in 4-H as a kid, so this wasn't anything new to me. But it was a first for Tanner. I'm not sure what he thought of it, but I'm pretty sure he felt like a hick.


On Saturday we celebrate the soon arrival of Travis and Kerry's baby by having a shower for them. It was held at Tasha and Kyle's house in the afternoon. As always, we ate good food and sat around. We played a few games and got some great pictures of people with "dirty" diapers in their faces.

We stay Saturday night at Tasha and Kyle's and got up early on Sunday to head to Chicago for our Cubs make-up game. In April, I purchased tickets for Tanner's birthday, however 15 minutes after we checked in to our hotel, the game was canceled. We were lucky that the make-up date worked for us. We made it just in time, and are reminded every time how much we love our Garmin (or Julie as my parents call it). We watched a really good game and, of course, they won. We realized we haven't been to a baseball game where our team hasn't won. Maybe we are the good luck charms. We got a couple of pictures as they were kicking us out. This time we didn't spend the night and headed home right after the game.

It was a busy and yet fun weekend. Looking ahead to this weekend, which I guess is tomorrow, we are going camping at Rock Creek with my family. This will be the only weekend that we all go camping together (unfortunetly Travis and Kerry can't come). I can't wait until we have a weekend of nothing going on so we can get some things done around our house and relax!

Our weekend behind and ahead.

Last weekend was just an "okay" one for us. We spent some time going to garage sales, but didn't end up buying anything too exciting. Then Friday we went to the Res to camp one night with my parents. They were staying Thurs-Sunday, but we just wanted to stay one night.

Of course it rained on us for something like 17 hours even though it was only forcasted to last a "short while". And yes, our tent leaked again. Again, all of our bedding, clothes, towels, everything got wet. I actually heard Tanner say "I think I hate camping now". I know he doesn't mean it...I mean, who wouldn't hate camping if all your stuff got wet every time?! So we spent a lot of the time in my parents' camper playing cards/games. We stuck around for a while on the 4th, but then left in defeat and went home to dry comfy couch. We didn't even go to fireworks, but instead just watched a movie.

This week Tanner and I are keeping very busy. Tanner is teaching a summer camp at his school this and next week, so he is working 8-4 M-F. He also had two more college classes start this week, which he spends time in the evenings on.

Tonight and most Tuesdays I have YPN (Young Parents Network) which I am a volunteer facilitator for. On Thursday evening we are going to see Payton show his calf at the county fair- his first time. I'm sure it will be quite a learning experience for both Payton and Tanner. Friday night I have a work event I have to work at 4-8pm. Saturday we are headed to Tasha & Kyle's house to host a baby shower for Travis and Kerry- due Aug 26.

Then Sunday we are headed to Chicago for a quick one day trip to see the CUB. We had done the same trip in April for Tanner's birthday but the game ended up getting rained out. Rain is forcasted again for this Sunday so we're keeping our fingers crossed that it isn't canceled for a second time.

There's no good title for a bunch of rambling.

As you can see, the results of our recent poll shows that the majority of people agree with me, that we should take "one last" vacation before kids. (Tanner voted which threw off the "no" responses). Yesterday I found out that I have 6.5 vacation days that need to be used by the end of the month. I'm ecstatic! It's is honestly going to be a little difficult considering I'm already only working 4 days a week. I can't even believe this is my biggest problem right now...boy I have it easy. When I found out about all of this time off, I immediately asked Tanner if he would agree to take a short/cheap vacation. After doing some looking and some thinking, we decided (against my deep desires) to stick to the original plan of being more active all summer long, versus taking one bigger vacation. I'm the kind of girl who thinks I should get a vacation every year, so it's been a struggle for me to stick with the plan.

The main reason we made this decision is because of money. We have worked so hard to pay off debt and have accomplished paying off $22,000 in about 7 months. We've nickeled and dimed (sp?) so much, clipped coupons, and found deals. It's tough to then consider spending $600-$1000 just for a few days. Beyond that, summer is the time for us to all get our medical things out of the way...so paying for vet visits x 2, plus flea/tick/heartworm treatments x 2 for the year, dentist visits, doctor visit, eye exams and glasses (and Tanner is probably going to need them for the first time too). It all adds up and it's all going to happen over the next 30-60 days.

Enjoying our vacation to Ixtapa- July 2008

In my post today I also wanted to address my recent job change. I read Belinda's post contemplating a job change and started to comment, but I ended up writing a novel. So here is how I respond to her decision:
Recently I changed positions within my agency. I was Development Director of Recruitment (DDR) and now I'm Development Associate (DA). Yes, that was a demotion by choice. The DDR position was HORRIBLY designed. Actually I don't think it was designed at all, instead it just happened. There was one person in the position before me who's personality was not one to speak her mind. Well I speak my mind. And when I tried the position for a year, I started talking to my boss and others at my level about the issues. Of course they had no idea how we were going to fix it. Then in December our agency started to experience the need for changed based on economic forces, and needed to downsize. And in the mean time, I had gotten married, which gave me something so much better than work to think about all the time. I no longer enjoyed working all the time with an unknown schedule. Work to live, don't live to work.

I was one of four leaders involved in the decisions for the agency. I saw the downsizing need as prime opportunity for me to change what I was doing. Long story somewhat short, I created a new position (DA) as a fix for the agency's issues and for mine.

Now I only work 32 hours a week compared to previously working up to 60, which means only 4 days a week. And I'm paid hourly, which I love! I actually make more per hour now then I did when I was salary. This position is by no means the perfect position for me, and I was afraid of that when I was considering the change. But what I've learned is that my time at home and with family is so much better now! I'm not longer missing out or late to things because of work. Tanner doesn't have to hear me complain all the time about work. I work AT WORK. I'm no longer spending time with one of my best friends (who is also a co-worker) talking about work, we can now enjoy our friendship. My happiness outside of work has increased so much that it makes up for the slightly less than perfect job. Especially when we have kids. I can't imagine wanting to spend an hour longer at work and away from my kids than absolutely necessary. I may be making less money, but my time with my family is worth more than some of the luxuries I would buy with the additional money.

Belinda, I think it sounds like you know exactly what you want to do, and I support you 100% in you decision- either way.