10 Things About Me

Well, a friend had a really cool blog up all about herself. She called it 10 things about me, and tagged anyone who read it to do the same. I really liked it so I am going to do the same. Hopefully it won't be too boring :) If you like it please do the same because I really enjoyed reading hers and I would love to read other people's as well. Here goes it...

#1.) When I was in 6th grade I cut my bangs even though my Mom told me not to because my forhead was too short for bangs....like I had any idea what that meant... and then I realized I didn't like it after all so in a moment of despare I shaved them off! haha Oh yeah baby, I even told a kid who asked me why my banged were shaved that I got hit in the head with a rock and they had to shave them off to get to the wound. (I have since repented;) What a dork. I must say that I understand the meaning of someone's forhead being too short for bangs..a lesson learned a bit too late I'm afraid :)
#2.) I have never had a nightmare.
#3.) I have been known to cover my eyes during scary movies no matter who is around which I believe has helped me keep my perfect record of no nightmares. (I do peek through my fingers though..it makes me feel safer)
#4.) I love card games.
#5.) I have a tendancy to sound like a know it all....I don't mean to be that way, it's just how I am I guess. I like to share my opinion with people and hear their's, but I'm sure that I can come across as being controlling. I never mean to sound like I'm talking down to anyone, I just like a good conversation. I also over explain things. (if you couldn't tell) My sister is lovely enough to point that out whenever she can.
#6.) I enjoy being by myself...more than the everyday person I suppose.
#7.) I like medical stuff...like watching surgery's and other medical procedures.
#8.) I have talked my way out of or run my way out of 3 times as many tickets (automobile) than I have ever had to pay for. (Not recently)
#9.) I use to love to break into old abandoned houses and buildings. Just because I thought they were so freakin' cool looking.
#10.) I tend to have more boy friends than girl friends. Girls never seemed to like me as much. Go figure.

Hymne a l'Amour

It's busy times again at the barrel makers house. Great news for us though, we got an offer in on our house today :) Greg and I had to go sign all kinda of paperwork at then realtors office this afternoon. We're pretty excited & relieved that things are finally going somewhere. The market is just so sucky right now. We are blessed to have this happen, I can't take it for granted. Greg and I are also doing our best to get out of debt. We have arrangements to pay off two out of three of our crdit cards by May. That will be awesome!
I hit 25 weeks this last saturday- give or take a few days. Just over 3 months to go until Aris arrives. We're trying to get in a better place financially so it won't be such a struggle over the summer. We bought our tickets to go back to Maine for 3 weeks in the summer. Greg's brother is getting married and we hope to use this time to set up interviews for Greg. We are hoping to be able to move back there in the late summer.
The pics I added are as of today at 6 months 1 week or so. Everything is going well. Justice continues to love the idea of a baby sister and actually drew a picture of our family during primary at church yesterday and it included baby Aris :) How cute is that? We're still waiting on Justice's glasses to come in. The Spongebob frames are on back order so it may be another week before we get them. I'll be sure to put some pics up of him when we get them. Greg started teaching and is having fun doing it...as much fun as you can have with 4 rooms full of punk kids;) (Thats my quote not his ;)

so let go and jump in...

What a crazy week! Well, I guess most of our weeks tend to be crazy. I don't mind really.. it just gives me something to write about. Let's see... We are excited! Greg got the job at Palo Verde High School :) He was really worried about his interview and as it turns out....as it does in most cases... the woman was right! haha Yes, I knew he got it, they love him there. It didn't make sense that anything else would happen. Tuesday he got a call from the V. Principle offering him the job. He goes to TUSD orientation on Tuesday and then starts his teaching career on Wednesday. He'll be teaching 4 periods of 11th grade American History. Better him than me :)
Now, with that news I was forced into making arrangements for the boys. I will be working until I have the baby so it made me scramble to find something that would work. HOLY CRAP it is so expensive to put kids in day care. I have been so spoiled having my Dad watch them for the past 4 1/2 years. Totally spoiled. Grandpa will be watching the boys, but only once a week now:) On the other days the boys will be going to a friends house. It was quite amazing actually, the way I found her. An old friends stopped in my office to say hi today and during our conversation I explained my current search for affordable day care. He then asked if I would be willing to have them in a home setting. I said that would be fine and he then told me his wife was considering watching some kids during the day. I spoke with her later today and everything fell into place. It was awsome! What a blessing.
Ok, so on with my crazy week. London had his 3 year check up. We ended up taking him to see his wonderful doctor last week since he had been sick for a while only to find out he had Pneumonia. Yeah, that was great. So, Monday he had his regular check up and he was doing great, but after talking to his doctor she decided she would refer him to a speech therpist for a screening. No biggy, Justice is actually just starting speech tomorrow...add another one to the pile what the hay! So, while Dr. Miller is checking London she looks over at Justice and something caught her eye. She stops mid exam and says she needs to check something on Justice. She does and then says she thinks one of his eyes may be turned in slightly so she is going to refer him to a Opthamologist...... oh yeah keep it coming. SOOOOO, I get him in to see this great childrens opthamologist who does his exam and tells us in not so few words that he needs glasses for more than one reason. Well of course he does... it just wouldn't be right if he DIDN'T need glasses. Did he have ANY idea what my last few weeks have been like? Bring it on!
So, after work we took Justice to Nationwide Vision and he picked out some really cute SpongeBob glasses. I told him these were going to be his "magic" glasses. He's totally stoked about these things now. It's great!
Ok, so that has been my week thus far. There are many things that have happened in between the lines that no one cares to have me explain so I won't. It has been fun and it won't be over. Greg has his certification tests to take on Saturday....all freakin' day! Oh joy! Well, I hope everyone is just as busy as me and therefor offers no sympathy what so ever. I really don't mind.. besides if all this stuff wasn't happening how boring would I be? Dare I say VERY? Yes in deed.

Is it time to eat yet?

Hello all. Well, things are moving right along these days. Greg had his first interview today for a teaching position at Palo Verde High School. He did his student teaching there. We're hoping all goes well and he gets to job. It would really help us out. We'll find out next week if he is the one they picked. Greg said he was pretty nervous during the interview, but I feel pretty good about it. They really like him there. The dept. head even recommended him for the position before the end of the last semester. Hopefully things go our way... or should I say the Lords way.
Also happening today was my 23 week ultrasound. We actually got all the measurements when I went in at 18 weeks, but Dr. Dunn did another full ultrasound for fun. She got some really cool pics of Baby Aris. I have about 10-12 new pics to show off. They are a lot of fun. We got some really good ones of her profile and a great one of her face. It was so much fun watching her move around on screen. She is growing like she should. I'm measuring a few days ahead of my due date. She weighs 1lb 5oz already! We are really excited. What's really fun is that the boys are excited too. Especially Justice. He loves to sit next to me with his hand on my stomach and feel her move. He gets so excited about it. This evenening I told him it was good to talk to her so he asked her to please move for him and right after he finished she kicked. He thought that was great.
Along with those fun things London's b-day is on the 18th. He'll be turning 3! I can hardly believe it. He's growing up so fast. I still call him my Baby London. Greg tries to tell him he's a little boy, not a baby, but he insists he is Baby London. I don't help much since I can't stop saying it. London actually thinks it's part of his name :) Oh well.... as long as he doesn't go to high school thinking his name is Baby London Cooper then I think we'll be alright.
Ok, enough long windedness- if that a word- for now. Hope all is well with everyone.

20 weeks & counting

Well, we hit the big half way mark last Saturday. 20 weeks down...hopefully not so many to go :) It's been a busy last couple of weeks for us. Greg's b-day was on the 11th... he turned 28. Greg graduated from the U of A on the 18th. As a suprise Greg's Mom flew out without him knowing for the graduation. She got to stay a few days with us. It was a lot of fun. The saturday after graduation we had a nice open house for him with cake! I love cake :)
The fun didn't stop there. Christmas came and went. We had a lot of fun with the boys and spending time with family. It's been a busy time for us to say the least.The next big items on the list are my b-day on the 5th and then Greg getting to work. He has applied at the high school he student taught at. We're hoping that works out, otherwise he'll do some substitute teaching throughout the semester.
We're really excited about the next few months. We've got a lot of things happening and are looking forward to them....most of all the birth of our little girl sometime in late April/ early May. Hope all is well with everyone else.

Baby Aris

Well guys... as if you didn't already know, we are having a girl! We are very excited. Greg, my Mom and I went to my level 2 ultrasound yesterday. It was really great. Yesterday was also Greg's b-day so things just seemed to be going our way..... that's a nice change :)
So the baby looks great. Everything checks out, everything is where it's suppose to be. We have decided on the name Aris... not sure of the middle name yet. Greg and I are kind of in a haze right now. We were both hoping for a girl this time around, but now that we know we have one it's kind of unbelievable. I'm liking it though. I just have to get use to saying "she" and "her." I think I can do that.
Well, I added the ultrasound pics. We hope you enjoy them. Now we are getting ready for Greg's graduation from the U of A next week. It's just one thing after another. BUT I wouldn't change any of it.

Exciting weeks ahead

It's been a while since I updated this thing. I thought I might write a little bit to bring you all up to speed with whats been going on. We've got a lot coming up over the next few weeks. This week is especially exciting because on Thursday we're going to get to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl :) I have to go in for a Level 2 Ultrasound due to some funny lab results that came back last week. This ultrasound will take an intensive look at the baby just to make sure all is well. My weekly check ups are going good. The heartbeat is strong and the baby is moving all over the place. It's hard to keep track of it when listening because the baby doesn't like to stay still. We'll be sure to pass on the news once we know on Thursday.
Another fun thing thats coming up is Gregs b-day. He will turn 28 on Thursday as well. I even have a babysitter! How's that for planning. It isn't too often we get out without the kids so we'll have fun doing something I'm sure :)
Some more fun and exciting stuff happening in the next couple weeks is Greg's graduation. He will finally graduate from the UofA on December 18. We'll be having a party for him on the 20th at my sisters house. After 4 1/2 years we are less than 2 weeks away! WOW! It's a really exciting time. Greg is hoping to get a job at the school he's student teaching at. They really like him so we're hoping and praying things work out. If an opening doesn't arise he'll most likely substitute for the semester and then we'll know better where we are and whether we'll be staying here or making the big move back to Maine.
The boys are doing great. London just moved up in the world by moving out of his crib and getting into a 'big boy bed.' He has the bottom bunk in his room and he's doing really great with it. Greg and I were surprised. Justice is also doing good. He goes to a speach therapy screening on Thursday morning. He calls it his "fun" appointment. :)
Well, it was a little long winded but now you're updated on whats going on in our world. The boys are looking forward to Christmas. We got our tree yesterday and they had a lot of fun decorating it. I'll get some pics on here soon.