sometimes, I just don't have a title in mind

I have not done much with the buttons in a few months. I gave my parents all of my buttons and they are helping me sell them, however that left me with no buttons. With Christmas and then working in out house I have not gotten around to making more buttons. I can only put it off so long though, I am suddenly getting orders from some of my customers, so I had to jump back in it. In the last week I have made around 1000 buttons to build up my supply, and I'm currently working with a few new business around here to start some new accounts.
All this button making (along with lots of other things) has my my wrist start to hurt. I wrapped it up in an ace bandage because that is what normally makes it better, well, it didn't, it got worse. my hand started going numb, and it has been that way for a few days. I decided it was time to go to the doctor to get the official diagnoses that it was, in fact, carpal tunnel. I've kinda expected this for a long time because my wrist has been bothering me off and on for a few years. It wasn't ever that bad, but this pregnancy is what set it off.
I went to the hand therapist today and they did a few test on me, mostly poking me here and there (my hand, elbow and shoulder) to see what I cold feel, and if it made my hands tingle more. She did some heat therapy, and lots of paper work. I have an appointment o Wednesday so they can fit a brace on my wrist. I have physical therapy twice a week for the next month. It is super convenient that the the physical therapist is located inside the gym that I usually go to. So Stephan already knows the nursery and I get to work out afterward... at least that is the plan for now.

I'm thinking of selling lot of my scrapbook stuff, I think I'm going to, I just have to go through it. I don't really know what to ask for it, because I have a LOT. I'm not sure what I want to get rid of either. I've started doing digital scrap booking, and I'm going to stick with that for the next few years. I just can't scrapbook with my two little boys around. I figured if it was going to be off limits for the next 5 or so years that I might as well sell it, and restart my collection when I'm ready to get into it again. Honestly, I think my boys will be teenagers before I get to that point. So, in the next week or two I'm going to go through all of it and see what I can stand to part with and what is going to go into storage.
I'm also selling out bunk beds, I put an ad on Craig's list and got several responses, so now it is a matter of who shows up. We are also looking through what else we have to sell... we just have to much stuff that we are not using.

renovations, gym, and family

So, the tax check came in, and now it's gone. I guess that it just how it works though. We did a lot with it this year, and I'm excited for that. This is the first year that we have really put money into our home (we have lived here two years). Before this house Chris never wanted to put money into where we were living because we were just renting, but now that we own this house, he is ok with the idea. So we budgeted out our money, including 1000 for some remodeling for which I am super excited about!!
A few weeks ago we bought a water heater off of Craig's list for $40 dollars. It was about 5 or ten years old but only used for 3 months of the year because it was at a summer camp. We looked it up online and this water heater sells for 500 brand new. We hooked that up this past weekend and it's awesome!! It it 10 gallons more than our last water heater and the water is sooo much hotter. It is also taller and skinner so it takes up less space in our house.
Two weekends ago Chris's dad came up here to help us put in an attic door. The attic door we currently had was about 1X2 foot hole that you could barely look through much less climb through. So we went to Lowe's and picked out an attic door, as we were loading it into our cart, one of the employees mentions they have one on clearance that someone else returned. That saved us 30 bucks! We had to move one of the lights in our house to make room for the attic door, so we bought the cutest light ever to replace it (we just moved it over about two feet). It looks like a lamp hanging down.
So, we got the attic door in, put flooring down in the attic, put in a new light, and moved everything that we have been storing into the attic (like baby clothes). It was a busy week/end. That week we also went out and bought some new curtains (I figured we have been married 6 years, we should have curtains) and some new bedsheets. Apparently we can 't use the sheets at wal-mart or k-mart because for one they just come off the corners and for two, Chris can rip through a sheet.... I don't know how he does it, but the boy literally ripped a huge hole in the flat sheet one night. So we have to same up money to buy nicer sheets... but oh, they feel so good and are totally worth it!
This past weekend Chris's dad came up again and we were able to hang the sheets, put the hot water heater in, and get set up for the next project. The next project is to build a folding table on top of the washer and dryer and put doors over the front of them so that Stephan and the new baby can't touch the buttons. Then we are going to put a closet in next to that. After that we are boxing in the water heater and putting in another closet on that end of the room. Then, we will be able to make that room a play room for the boys.
Soon after that is done, we are moving Stephan's bedroom door onto another wall and building a closet in his room as well. So, we have LOTS more work to do, and it's happening!

On another note Chris and I started going to the gym. I've never liked the gym, so it was kinda overwhelming at first. I went two weeks, then took last week off because of all the work going on at home. But I went back today and was surprised to find that I missed it. I felt really good when I was done. It helps that I finally talked to the doctor about me working out while being pregnant, and that I didn't really have to stress out about it. That allowed me to push myself a little harder than I have been, and I'm going to work up my numbers. Before I walked a mile and then did 1 1/2 miles on an elliptical. Today I pushed it to two miles. Not a whole lot, but really that is all I have time for in my hour of day care.

Today was Monday, and we are trying really hard to have family home evening. It's something that we should have been doing all along, but had trouble getting into it. Now with Stephan, and another one on the way it seems so important. We are working to have FHE consistently. So tonight we went back to the gym and played in the pool with Stephan. He has a swim class on Saturdays now, but the last (and first time) we took him he was scared to death for some reason. I think it was because he was to cold. So we figured we would take him a few other times besides when he class is and get him use to it. So we took him tonight and the boy went nuts. he was still shivering the whole time (he even had a fleece jacket on) but he was laughing and then we let him play on the ramp and he ran up and down that splashing us and giggling.. totally the cutest thing ever! I have so much fun just hanging out with my family!

It's a boy!! and other news.

It's a boy!!! We could not be happier. We only plan on having two kids, and so I wanted them to be the same gender in hopes that they would be closer. I love the idea of them being brothers, of being in scout together, playing sports together and doing all the things that boys do together. I hope they are close, that they do end up being best friends. Of course there will be fights, and sibling rivalry, but I hope that they have a friendship that can withstand that. That is one of my main goals as a mom. I have a million different things that I want for them. I want them to be strong in the church, to be active in the scouting program, to love the outdoors and recognize where those beautiful mountain views came from. I want them to know humor, to be able to always find humor in any situation, but know when to be serious. I want them to be grounded, but to still follow their dreams. I want them to have an education. to know and understand responsibility. To respect others and their property... like I said, I have a lot of things I want for them.
We are working on a name, and I think we have one. It took less than a day for us to come up with a name after we found out he was going to be a boy. I'm excited to share the name... but later, because you never know what might happen, might change.
I'm 5 months pregnant now. I get to feel him all the time moving around, doing cartwheels. I love feeling him. It is probably the only thing I love about being pregnant.
Last time I went to the doctor, I was told that I was gaining to much weight. I have gained 5 pounds this whole pregnancy, which I don't think is bad, but it happened in the last month, so the doctor was concerned. I'm not eating that much more, maybe an extra bowl of cereal, but that's it. Not enough to gain 5 pounds in a month... I think it was just the pregnancy catching up. I talked to another doctor for a different reason, but they said that I was right on target as far as weight gain. However, I know I'm at a point where I need to do something different. but it is hard to find something that works for me that is ok to do while being pregnant. I started going to the gym. I'm trying not to do anything to vigorous. I walk the track, get on a bike that's about it. But I'm pretty sure the doc is going to be yell at me for that too. We will see at the next appointment... then again the doc I went to see also works out in the gym and he didn't say anything while I was there.

So, it's tax time. and I can't wait to get them done... we are just waiting for Chris's job to give us the W2. they wait until the last possible moment to mail them out which is sooo frustrating. It doesn't really matter how much we get back though, the money is already spent. We are paying off some debt, building back up our savings account, and then doing some small remodeling on the house to make room for the new baby.
I can't wait to remodel! We are putting an attic in for storage, which means the storage room will be open for play room, and we are building a few closets in that room as well. For less than 1000 bucks we will are essentially adding another room to the house by using the space more wisely.

My buttons are still doing good. Mom and Dad are selling them for me at their shows which is awesome (thanks mom and dad!) I gave them my full supply of buttons which means that making new wholesale accounts has been put on hold till I can make a new inventory. I'm working on that, but it takes awhile. I also lack a little motivation to put a new inventory together because most of the stores are trying to get rid of stock right now, not buy new stuff. So really it will be march/April before I have any luck with the stores around here.

*yawn* I guess I'm out of things to write for now and I'm sleepy.

Three months and other ramblings

So, I am three months pregnant and it seems like the worst of feeling sick all the time is just starting. About the only thing that seems at least a little appealing is carnation, even though I KNOW that will make me sick, and chicken noodle soup with goldfish crackers... yummy right? I know, it would have been my first choice, but it seems that I am not the one calling the shots right now. The other night, and tonight we had super yummy homemade chili. One of my favorites. I was so excited to eat it, and then it was sitting there in front of me, and I had absolutely no desire to eat it, not even one little bite. I ate it anyways, because supposedly food is good for you (really, I don't think I ever ate before I had Stephan... I am just not a food person) So, I ate it, and then spent the next hour on the couch doing me best not to throw up, which, I managed to do. But only because my wonderfully awesome husband bathed Stephan and put him to bed so I could lay there and do nothing. I am so over this being sick thing.

Onto happier things. We had a GREAT thanksgiving. I love thanksgiving, mostly because we have the chance to get together with family. On this day, I don't even mind the food! I eat till I am full, I refuse to eat until my pants burst because then you just feel awful for the next few hours and again when you step on the scale. I think that is something I learned from my husband. He never eats past when he is full, and I think that is great. I love the traditions that come with thanksgiving. When I was little, my grandmother use to make everything. There were so many yummy things that there was no way you could even try one bite of it all without being full. We each have our favorite things that she made. So now when we get together we make those things. I always bring the potatoes (I think the idea of instant potatoes at thanksgiving... or any meal... should be a capital offense) and this year, after three tries, I FINALLY figured out how to make my grandmothers rolls (they take like 5 hours, you can imagine my dismay when the first two times they turned out to be biscuits *yuck*). I was stocked to have them turn out right! And then since we had two thanksgiving at my house, I had to make a few other of her famous treats. It was fun, to know how to make all those things. I hope that these foods will still be on our table 50 years from now, only it will my kids/grand kids making them.

One of the reasons this thanksgiving was so awesome was that Friday and Saturday we had nothing planned. NOTHING. that never happens. our weekends are booked months in advance, right now, I could tell you what I am doing every weekend between now and new years. I didn't even realize we had a free weekend till halfway through Friday. It was great, amazing, so fun! We went shopping Friday, got a lot of good stuff! then chilled at home and got things done around the house. That night a friend came over and watched Stephan so Chris and I could go see New Moon (which was great!) The next day we just did what we wanted to all day long! Sunday we went to church, and later that night we went to Josh and Deborah s and had a blast playing video games all night. Chris had that night off of work, which means we got to hang out later, and Monday was another productive, and yet lazy day. I think we need to make a point of taking at least one weekend off a month.

Christmas is coming. I love Christmas! It is my favorite holiday for so many reasons! I love giving people things, and this is a perfect excuse to give away lots of things. I love getting together with family. I love how happy people are (unless you are looking at the last GPS/Toy/other hot item and they want it... then they can be mean). I love the music, the lights. I love everything about Christmas. This year we have gone a little overboard on ourselves for Christmas. Usually we spend all the money on other people and then do a little something for us telling ourselves we will get what we really want with the tax check. Well, this year I am selling buttons (which is doing awesome btw) and the buttons are paying for our Christmas... well that and a best buy credit card *yikes*. I discovered this year that I spend all the money, leaving Chris with nothing to buy me a present with. He has always found the money to get me something nice. This year though, I made a point of making sure he had cash to buy presents, and that has been so much fun. he gets so excited with every present that he has gotten. he went out and got me a huge surprise, it lasted 10 minutes once he got home before he told, he was busting with excitement. He bought me something else, that lasted 20 minutes before he told me about it. I think it is too funny. There are still a few things that I don't know about though, so we will see if he can keep them a secret :)

I think Christmas is better with kids! I am soooo excited to see Stephan open his presents this year. he is finally old enough to get excited about the toys, and opening presents. I am so excited to watch his face as he rounds the corner. We have to big gifts for him, one is for his birthday, it is a plasma car (do a google search... AWESOME, for adults too) and the other is a step 2 up and down roller coaster. If you have a younger a kid, that is totally worth checking out as well.

I guess this small novel is good enough for tonight. I really do need to write more often. I suddenly realized I have a lot to write about.

buttons

So, I started a new business a few months ago. I have been looking for something that would work for me since before Stephan was born. There was nothing that really caught my attention. I tried teaching scrapbook classes, but I didn't like having to rearrange my house once a month, plus we were getting ready to move, and really I just didn't like teaching. I tried working with Dad to sell some stuff on eBay, but my heart just wasn't there. The Jewelry business is just something that does not interest me, although I love to wear it!! I thought about the medical transcriptionist, or getting into photography, but nothing felt right. I went to a flea market with mom and dad a few months ago and there was a guy there selling badge ID reels with funny buttons. I love them, I had to buy Chris one. Badge ID reels are those things that hold id badges most commonly worn by hospital staff.
I started looking into selling these badge ID reels and called Rachael, my sister, to get some buttons, she hooked me up with some great buttons and that has grown into my own little business. The first priority was to be able to buy my own button maker which I had after about a month, from there I talked to several business downtown and worked up some wholesale accounts, and I have done a few craft shows with a few more coming up . It isn't a whole lot, but I love it!! It is something I can do without it taking away from my stay at home mommy time.
I've been working to become official, or at least working to look that way. I have cards, a catalogue, and I've been working on an inventory so that I know what buttons sell the most. I'm thrilled at how well everything is working out with it!

day care? i think not

So, it's about that time again, time to blog. This has been a crazy few weeks. I have my sister's kid Jakob with me last week and this week. Then a friend called last minute to see if I can take his kid for week or so. I've had a 9 year old, a four year old, and then Stephan who is 20 months old. On one hand it is easier because they can entertain themselves, but then again, not really. Jakob plays really good with Stephan, but when another kid is thrown int he mix then Stephan has been left out a lot. It breaks my heart when I look in the room and see Stephan off to the side and the two boys blocking him from playing. Then I have to find the balance of making sure I'm not over reacting to Stephan being left out because he is mine. It has been a constant struggle. I've tried to spend some extra quality time with Stephan, take him aside and play with just him. The other struggle that I have is that the other boy, D, has never shared, well, at least he acts that way. He takes everything Stephan is holding, or when Stephan tries to grab something else, he takes that away too, going out of his way to take everything from him. I've been struggling with how to handle this and be fair without overstepping parental bounds. He isn't mine, and isn't related to me, so I'm not how or if I should discipline him when he is being mean.
That's one dilemma, the other one is that he wants me to take D on a more permanent bases after his preschool until he gets out of school. I'm not sure that I want to.D just doesn't match well with Stephan. but this guy has no one else, he just moved into town, so I feel bad telling him no. I think I am going to start looking around for someone else who might be interested in taking D.


On another note one of our old friends are moving into the ward. It will be good to have another kid for Stephan to play with, and another couple our age. It has been a long since we have seen them, so it will be good to catch up.

I've been spending all of my spare time making button designs. I can't wait till I can get the machine to make them, and sell them. I am so excited about the whole button making business. I hope to make enough buttons to start going to craft areas. so, if you have any cute button ideas or pictures.... feel free to pass them on :)

random things/update

So, I've been slacking off on my writing again. I blame it all on the website gamehouse. they give a game away free everyday and I've been playing all their games. I also blame the library because they had a sale the other day in which they were selling puzzles for fifty cents each, I bought 8 puzzles with 1000 pieces each... 8000 beautiful puzzle pieces (minus three missing pieces). I love puzzles! I think they are great! I have not done a puzzle since Stephan was born so I have been loving the opportunity to do them again!

Saturday mornings there is an empty parking lot that fills up with yard sellers.. such a great place! It's not like a flea market where you have the same people over and over. It is just random people coming for the day which means a constant change in things to buy. I have never had so much luck finding good things cheap. One of these things was a train table for Stephan. I have been wanting to buy him one but they are over a hundred new and usually around 50 used. When I saw this one I was willing to spend up to 25 (I'm cheap) and then the lady said she would sell it for 5... I was sold! the best part is that the table has different inserts so you can change the theme... or, for me, take it out and viola, a wonderful flat space to do my puzzles! It works perfectly! The insert is solid wood, so it is strong enough to cover my puzzle and allow Stephan to play (walk) all over it.
We also got a set of almost brand new 400 hundred dollar tired for 60 bucks! Chris also got some tools that he has been wanting and I picked up some clothes and jewelry cheap.

So in other news I have been looking for something that I can do to generate a little extra income. I have seen several different opportunities but none of them felt right to me. Then I ran across this guy who made cute id reels, and I am going to sell some of those, but that led me to the idea of buttons (which he glued on the id reel). My sister Rachael is a button maker, so I gave her a call and we are working out a deal to where I can sell buttons. I was a little unsure, I had thought about it for a few weeks before I talked to her, but after talking to her and working out some ideas I got excited and a little more proactive. last time when I was in town I stopped by the Mast General Store and asked if I could set up a booth and sell them there. They said yes!!! I was so excited! the Mast store is one of my favorite places, but it is also one of the hot spots in this town. I was really excited when they said I could sell them. So, august 29th, I'll be there!!

Stephan is starting to talk a little. He says Hi, Bye, Momma, daddy, he said amen the other day as well as five and six (Chris was counting and Stephan copied). He also meows a lot. It is so cute! He picks up new words so fast. I know that it won't be long until he is constantly chattering away.

Chris's birthday was last weekend and he took a few nights off of work. His Grandparents came down and we had a really good weekend with them. We also went to Splash Country for a day. He said that he had a really great weekend!

Next weekend is our 6th anniversary!! It doesn't seem that long at all. It has been the best six years of my life! I don't know what we are going to do. Usually we end up at the Stake youth tubing trip though, so we will probably do that. I think we are planning another trip to splash country as well (we love that place!)

that's about it for now.