Always My Sisters, Always My Friends

Just because I love and miss my lovely blisters sisters!

When mom and dad don't understand, a sister always will.
~Author Unknown

             Sisters don't need words. They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling.
                                                             ~Pam Brown

We may look old and wise to the outside world. But to each other, we are still in junior school.

~Charlotte Gray

                                                   I love you guys!



Workin' Nine to Five

I'm the girl of many jobs, so I figured I'd share with you the places that I've worked.

Baby-sitting

Okay, baby-sitting wasn't a "real" job, but it was my first way of making money. I actually started baby-sitting a month or two before I turned 11. The thought of a 10 year old watching kids scares me a little now, but I was a responsible chica. Within months, I was THEE babysitter everyone called. I always liked watching the kids across the street from us because they paid more than what I charged. (I charged a whopping $2.50/hr). I learned a lot from baby-sitting though. Things like, you should definitely remember to take the foil wrapper off of something before putting it into a microwave. Oops. I learned how to take control of a situation though, and learned how to lay down the law so that kids would listen to me. I actually babysat up until about the time that I met Jacob. Of course, by that point people were paying me $10/hr!

True Value

I got that job when I was 14. A man at our church owned the store and asked my parent's if they thought I was responsible enough to have a job and if I'd be interested. I thought it was pretty cool to have a real job. I pretty much only worked on weekends. I was a cashier. I enjoyed running the register, but hated having to stand all day! It was a pretty fun job though. I met lots of people...some quite interesting. There were the regulars that I got to know by name and they got to know mine too. There were 2 managers, Mike and Dick. Mike was everyone's favorite and I got to know their family very well. Dick was a cranky old man! I thought he hated me and dreaded calling him up when I needed something, but in time I actually ended up learned how to joke with him and I think I was the only cashier who actually liked him. I loved when it was slow and I got to go put the returns away or stock the spray paint. Seriously. On my lunch break I would walk up to Burger King. I remember one winter I was walking up there and I slipped and fell on the ice. I popped back up hoping no one saw me, but a couple guys at Jiffy Lube were standing there applauding me. Oh brother.

Hy-Vee

Eventually I was tired of smelling like fertilizer and I don't think I was getting many hours, so I got a job at the Johnson Ave. Hy-Vee. I was 16, so I got to work the register there too. I was just glad I didn't have to be a bagger and run the drive-up because I did that one night and hated it! I liked the job for awhile and then started dreading it. I was having problems with my foot (the one I later had surgery on), so standing for 8 hours was brutal. I loved the customers who were friendly and talked to me. I hated the ones who complained about things ringing up wrong. One old lady complained to my manager that I didn't offer her drive-up. She had 2 bags. 2 BAGS, PEOPLE! I would also like to add that she had 2 hands. Some people.

KinderCare 

I wanted out of any job that had to deal with customers. It was just not for me. My first daycare job began in January of 2002. I only worked at this job for 5 months, but it got my foot in the door for daycare experience. I actually kept my job at Hy-Vee until April and only worked there on weekends. I worked at KinderCare for 2.5 hours every day after school. I floated to whatever room needed me. My favorite rooms were the 1 year old and 2 year old rooms. I never got to work in the baby room there. I hated working in the school age room, but got stuck in there a lot. I did have a few kids in each age group that I got attached to, but I had to find a job that could offer me more hours in the summer and they couldn't promise me any more.

Morning Star Christian Daycare

I worked at Morning Star from June 2002-August 2003. I still think this was my favorite job that I've had. It was a small center. It was actually a house that had been renovated into a daycare. There were about 18 kids ages 2-5. For quite awhile the kids were all combined. Later we divided them so the 2 year olds were in their own room. I was the Lead Teacher in that room and loved it. I had 8 kids and planned out activities for them each day. My favorite thing that I did was have a Teddy Bear Picnic. I read the book to them and had them all bring their favorite teddy bear from home. We spread out a table cloth on the ground and feasted on Teddy Grahams! Potty training was crazy...but I got them potty trained. I was VERY proud of that accomplishment. Now just the thought of potty training that many kids exhausts me! I got very close to many of the kids there. Of course, there were trouble makers too! I remember one time telling a little boy he couldn't play in the water on Water Day because he'd been in trouble to much and that little booger grabbed the hose when I wasn't looking and hosed me down! I think I loved that job so much because I hadn't experienced any kind of burn out yet!

Wascally Wabbits/Building Blocks

Well, this was probably the stupidest decision I ever made. My boss from Morning Star decided to start her own daycare and I decided to go with her. She started it in her home in August of 2003 and eventually bought a building. Hence the 2 names. She changed it when she got a center. I really only went because I wanted to work with babies and she was going to put me in charge of them. I have to say, I LOVED many of my kiddos, so in that aspect I don't regret changing jobs, but her drama and the way she ran things were just not worth it in the long run. A friend of mine who had also worked for this boss was working at another daycare and really wanted me to come join her. She knew it would be a good opportunity for me and I needed out of where I was. In fact, when I gave my 2 weeks notice, my boss, who claimed she was my friend, refused to talk to me for my last 2 weeks and left without saying goodbye on my last day. Although my favorite family had me in tears as they said goodbye.

5 Seasons Learning Center

Best job I've ever had. Morning Star was my favorite, but this was a close 2nd and really was the best for me. I was thankful for my friend for putting in a good word for me. I started working there in February of 2005 and worked there until April of 2009. I grew so much as a person while having that job. Although there were many changes over the years (some that I liked and some that I hated) I always made it through them and learned to accept them. I LOVED my boss. She is an amazing person. She was someone I could go to about anything. She got to know everyone on a personal level, but maintained her position of authority. She could tell it like it was and I respected her so much. In July of 2006 I was made the Assistant Director. It was something I never had really thought much about until they came to me and asked if I would interview for the spot! Me! I was 22, so I figured that they would offer it to someone with more experience. I was thrilled that I got the job and loved the position (for the most part) for the next 3 years.

Lighthouse Learning Center

My current job. I've been there since August of 2009. I can't believe it's already been over a year. I miss my old job a lot sometimes, but I've grown to enjoy different aspects of this job too. It took awhile for me to not be bothered by the fact that I felt so lowly after having a bigger amount of authority at my old job. It still bothers me that I make so much less where I am now, but I am thankful that I have a job. I've grown to love my little munchkins here too!

I didn't realize this post would grow to be so long. Maybe I should have made it a 2 parter. I've had a lot of jobs in my life and yet sometimes I feel like I haven't done much. A couple things I know though...I never want to work retail again and I know more about babies that a lot of people do!

Growing Up and Moving Out

I'm going for another "All About Me" prompt tonight.

In the spring of 1984, I graced the world with my presence. I was born at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA.

I lived in our 18th Street house from the time I was born until the fall of 1990. I can still the remember the house fairly well. Pictures have helped that memory, but I really do remember things from back that! I'll share a few of my memories.

*I had a play area in our basement. My horse, "Blacky" was down there. It was one of those rocking horses on springs. I loved that horse. I had a very creative imagination...I bet you can guess what color the horse was. It also had my rad kitchen set (which happened to be Emily's kitchen set that her dad gave to me!). Plus it had my checkout stand and cash register. My dad actually built the checkout stand for me and it really beeped when I ran items over it!

*I enjoyed taking the cushions off the couch and jumping on them. Hanging upside down of the couch. And dancing around the living room to my Psalty cassettes.

*Laying in bed with my dad and having him teach me the names of the planets and continents.

*Playing doctor and having my parent's realize that my "owie" that I wanted a band aid on was actually the start of my chicken pox!

A couple pics from that era:

We moved to our Eastview house in the fall of 1990. That's where we spent the rest of our childhood.  I loved our house. My parent's somehow conned me into taking the bedroom in the basement. I'm glad they did because I ended up loving the privacy as I got older.

There are way too many memories in that house. We've had laughter, tears, fights, and everything in between. We always ate supper together as a family. We enjoyed watching TV together. It was always a treat when mom and dad would agree to have a game night! My favorite was Monopoly because it meant that we would get to play longer. Plus I knew I could kick butt at that game! There were nights of hanging out on the deck. Playing lawn darts. Launching rockets. Fires in the winter (which almost always ended in the smoke alarms going off because the basement would fill with smoke). Lying in the dark at Christmas with just the light of the Christmas tree and listening to Christmas music. It was nice when we got to share happy times as a family.

(We totally had a pink house!)

In 2003 it was time for me to move again. This time I was moving on my own. I was 19 and ready to get out and prove to the world (or mostly to my parent's) that I could make it on my own! I went with my mom and looked at an apartment that was only about a mile from their house. My mom kindly paid my deposit... and made me sign a 6 month lease in case things didn't work out. They worked out.

I loved my tiny little one bedroom apartment. I had freedom. I could come and go as I pleased without anyone asking me where I was going or when I was coming back. I got to grocery shop for food that I wanted! Believe me, it was NOT healthy food! I bought anything that I could microwave or frozen foods that I could just pop in the oven. I had one of those tiny ovens which burned everything on the bottom and didn't finish cooking on top. Every time I made pizza the smoke alarm would go off! I had a tiny little TV with giant rabbit ears. No cable for me for awhile! I didn't have a computer for the year or so until Keith gave me his old one. Thinking back I have no idea how I made it that long without a computer!

My living room and door.

My kitchen. Yup...it was that tiny! That little piece of counter top WAS my only counter top.

My bedroom

Eventually I outgrew my apartment. I accumulated a lot of stuff and couldn't wait for my lease to be up. Of course, it was a 1 year lease by this point and I had just resigned it about a month before I got it in my head that I was ready to move. That made for a long 11 months!

Packing up!

I found my next apartment and of course fell in love with that too. I wasn't sad to leave my first place...although I had to tell it goodbye. Ha ha! I moved in on Memorial Day weekend of 2007. I was so excited! I had a fireplace, a huge living room, 2 bedrooms, 3 closets, a dining room and a regular sized oven!

Signed the lease and got the keys!

Living room/ dining room.

That apartment was good to me. I had a great landlord too. I actually felt like a I really had a home. It was so cozy and warm.

My dad told me when I had moved into my last apartment that he wasn't helping me move again until I got married. I stuck to that promise! I met Jacob, fell in love and got engaged. It was time to move again! This time away from my hometown and to a brand new state. There was lot of stress in finding a new home, but we found it and I couldn't be more happy! I packed up and moved to Illinois on Memorial Day weekend of 2009!

I'm sure it's not that last time I'll move, but until I do, I plan to make more memories of my home now.

10 Things About Me

I was struggling to come up with things to blog about, when I stumbled upon this. All About Me. I think some of these topics will be fun to write about, so on nights where I don't have anything exciting to share from my day, I will fall back on these.

10 Things About Me. You may already know all of these things, but I'm going to share whatever comes to mind.

1. I am an Iowa Hawkeye fan. Obviously you all know that! I really don't know how long I've actually been a fan though. As a child I couldn't have cared less. I can remember in elementary school our gym teacher would set up obstacle courses and at the end we had to swing on a rope and yell, "GO HAWKS!" Well, first of all I was quiet. I wouldn't yell it at all. Second of all, I didn't care about the Hawkeyes. (Gasp!) I think I started watching Iowa basketball with my dad 11 years ago. There was nothing on and so I caved and watched. I was hooked. I started off with an Iowa hoodie and my wardrobe has expanded from there. Watching the games with my dad made me a fan though. I didn't enjoy football though. Mostly because I didn't understand the game. I knew what a touchdown was...but it sure took forever to score points sometimes! I became obsessed with football 3 years ago. My dad got 2 free tickets to an Iowa game and the rest was history! Once I set foot in Kinnick, my life was forever changed.

2. Ice cream is my favorite sweet treat. Chocolate too. But I think ice cream wins. I love it. Chocolate, vanilla, cookies 'n cream, cookie dough, Oreo, Reese's, birthday cake, coffee, caramel. It's all good my friends.

3. I can easily become frustrated with myself and come down on myself pretty hard. I get upset when I don't understand something new right away (which happens often). I'm forgetful, and become annoyed when I can't remember something.

4. I'm addicted to Facebook. Addicted is probably an understatement. I know I spend too much time on it, and yet can't get enough sometimes. I apparently like to know what everyone is up too. At least I know I'm not the only one who lurks around on there all the time. I suppose that doesn't make it better, but whatever.

5. The way that I feel closest to God is by singing and listening to Christian music. I know there are some people who don't enjoy the music that I do, but that's usually the way that I can hear God speak to me. I do a lot of my singing in the car.

6. I like to daydream. I've daydreamed ever since I can remember. It's my escape from reality.

7. I love reality tv. People amuse me to no end on these shows. I want to go on The Amazing Race. I would probably end up getting hurt in some ridiculous way, but I think it would be so cool to get to travel to so many different countries.

8. My favorite past time was cruising around Cedar Rapids with my sister. I can't imagine the amount of gas money we wasted driving around aimlessly for hours, but I would never take it back. We laughed over things that  no one else would ever think was funny. Vented when we were mad at people. Sang at the top of our lungs to the most random music ever. Chased the ice cream man. Had fights. Scared each other by blaring the horn at the other one. "Partied with Yo-Yo" (HAHA...I totally hope she's reading this). Drove over a laundry basket. Went back to check on a "dead dog" which turned out to be a big black garbage bag. Sat in parking lots trying to decide where to eat and then ending up at Las Glorias EVERY time. Good times.

Most ghetto car picture of us ever.

9. I don't like to have things sprung on me at the last minute. I like to plan things out in advance and have a hard time going with the flow. Occasionally I'll agree to do something on a whim and I usually end up enjoying myself. I need to learn to let myself go sometimes.

10. I like themes. I have an Americana theme in the living room and sunflowers in the dining room and kitchen. I love decorating for holidays too. I have indoor decorations for almost every holiday. My favorite one to decorate for is Christmas. I also love my fall decorations...especially my Pumpkin Spice Yankee Candle.

National Blog Post Month

Here we go. 30 days of blogging!

I had no idea what to write about because my day has been fairly uneventful.

I started thinking back to when I started to blog. I started my Xanga Blog on June 16,2005. I've been at this for over 5 years now! I started blogging for fun because a lot of my friends had started one as well.

I decided to check my archives and this post is my 949th blog post since I started back in 2005! I just may hit 1000 by the end of the year!

I sometimes feel like the forever faithful blogger. Many of my friends have blogged over the years and moved on, or only post occasionally. I know they have busy lives, but I love being able to keep up with people. I considered quitting a time or two myself because I felt like no one read what I wrote anyway. It's always amazing to see the commenter's come crawling out of the woodwork when I say I'm going to quit though. All of my lurkers (you know who you are) ask me to stay. Haha!

I started thinking to myself, why exactly do I blog?

I blog because:

* I enjoy it. I like to sit down and type out my thoughts. Even if it's just to recap what I did during the week. It's easier for me to type all of my daily activities into a blog than it is to sit down and write them into my personal journal.  My personal journal is for my own private thoughts.

*I like to have it to look back on. I don't have the best of memories, so it comes in handy when I forget when something important occurred. I can just look back and find exactly when it happened. I love to go back and read over posts from my past. It's amazing to go back to those first entries and being able to see just how far life has taken me in 5 years. My life has changed a lot!

*I like to stay in touch with my family and friends. There's always Facebook for that too (which is probably why I don't blog as much as I used to), but it's a way for me to keep in contact. I love that a couple of my Iowa friends and family keep their blogs up to date and share pictures. It makes me still feel a little bit in the loop even though life there has moved on without me.

Here's to many more blog postings in the years to come!