The past few days....

So, I kind of slacked off since Wed. I'll tell you why in a minute. First, the No TV week. I would say we were 90% successful. The kids watched a movie yesterday afternoon *gasp*. I know. Oh, and they played their DS's for an hour. But all in all, we were able to get through a week with VERY little TV. For me it was quite an accomplishment, I never thought we'd make it. Sometimes though, the kids just need to CHILL and that is why they watched the movie yesterday.

Anyway.

The reason I was slacking is that Pete was laid off on Wednesday. Totally out of the blue too. They laid off about 9% of the company, I think around 200 people, 10 or so of which were in Spokane. Oddly, Pete feels liberated. He has been really stagnated there, but it was too cushy of a job to do anything about. So God did :)

We aren't too worried, but the reality is that there is exactly ONE prospect here in Spokane. So we are looking at other options. Like Pete working in Seattle M-F and coming home on weekends. Or me going back full-time and him starting a business. Or him doing contract work. Last option would be renting out this house and moving for a year or two somewhere else, possibly back to Vegas. Time will tell, we'll just see what God puts in our laps the next few weeks. If anyone hears of any software engineering positions, let us know!

I actually wrote a resume and cover letter and applied at Sacred Heart. I don't really want to go back to work but we are trying to be pro-active. The departments I would work in (I applied for ER, PICU and NICU) are all 12 hour shifts. So it would only be 3 days a week. About 25% of me wants to, but the other 75% doesn't. It would be hard on the family.

So please be praying for us. We have some tough decisions to make and we will need God's covering. He has always taken care of us, and we have no doubt he will this time. You know, funny thing, when I told my dad, he said something about the first reaction being fear. Fearful of how we will make it. But honestly, I have not felt fearful AT ALL. $ wise we will be ok for 8-9m if nothing changes (not that we will wait that long). I think that is a huge part of why I'm not afraid, because that would have been my first worry. I know my husband is a stud and handsome and smart and a good worker and he knows his stuff. I confident he'll get a job. And whatever situation we land in, even if its difficult (ie being a single mom for 5 days a week), it won't be more than God knows I/we can handle.

The good news is that thanks to my stockpile, we are able to pare our grocery budget WAY back! Yay, coupons!

Chester No TV Week - Day Two

Day two is almost over. This is a LOT easier than I thought it would be. We did bend the rules a little bit. When Aaron gets up at 6:30am, he is allowed to watch TV as well as anyone else that follows. I sure am not going to get up at that hour to dance around and entertain them. So basically, its from 7:15 or so on. Maybe 7:30.

Honestly, I don't really even know for sure, because I have no clue when Pete gets up. I am sleeping. Call me lazy, but why would I get up when I can't get in the shower yet anyway? Yes, folks, I am THIRD in line for the shower. Get that? THIRD. First Pete. Then Abby. Then I get the leftovers. Although I don't think I've ever had a cold shower so I won't complain about the extra precious minutes of sleep that charges me up to wrangle children all day long.

This morning Aaron and Matthew and I went to a friend's house. It was fun, I always am a fan of sending kids to play while we eat and drink and talk. Such an important thing in the life of a spoiled stay at home mother. Oh, by the way, all this was being done while my house was being cleaned. Yep, I'm spoiled. I'll admit it.

Anyway, we picked up Ty and I noticed on the way home it was 50 degrees. So we decided to walk to the bus stop. Matthew was wearing shoes and it was really his first time walking outside. Usually we just sit in the Suburban parked at the bus stop to wait. Karen, the fabulous bus driver, loved seeing the boys. They are normally in the car, so she's never even seen them. Maybe Tyler but not the younger 2.

When we got back, the boys were delighted to go play in their CLEAN rooms and Matty and Abby and I stayed outside waiting for Pete to get home. Matthew is such a Boden boy. There is something engrained in the gene pool that says 'when you can walk, you push a truck at all times.' His first time playing outside and that's exactly what he did. He had a ball pushing the big Tonka trucks around. It was cute. And fun to go up the driveway chasing after him 20 times since he doesn't know the rules yet.

Abby had her post op appt with the hand surgeon and got her stitches removed. Abby and Ty and I played a game and then they read some books. Its fun to hear Abby read and even Ty is trying to sound stuff out.

Anyway, Pete and Abby are now off at gymnastics and Tyler is having a silverware fight with Aaron so I better go intervene.

Chester No TV Week - Day One

Abby's school sent home a challenge for the week: No TV or video games in honor of Dr. Seuss week. Well, as nutty as we are, we thought we'd give it a try. After all, the principal will be calling random students each night and if they are caught reading, they get a treat! So of course, Abby thought it would be WAY more important to read instead of clean her room. Not so fast, you little schemer.

Anyway, its been slightly challenging, which has propelled us to challenge the kids. Go to the playroom and find a toy you haven't played with in a long time and play with it. That kept the boys busy for a little while. They have gone outside to play in the rain twice. I told the boys to go find 5 cars each; of course they came up with the largest monstrosities they could find. I'm talking a 4 foot long firetruck, people. In my had I had pictured them coming upstairs with 5 little matchbox cars. Uh, wrong.

We decided we are doing the kids a disservice by 'allowing' the cleaning lady to clean their rooms. Abby protested cleaning her room today because 'it's their job!'. Well, little Missy, I have news for you. From now on, they will not be touching the kids rooms unless they are cleaned up. So that's what we did this afternoon. Tyler cleaned his room (meaning stuffed his toys into the changing table that is in there), helped Aaron clean his (doesn't everyone need a closet full of toys?), and then proceeded to help Abby with hers. In the meantime, I did stuff down here. My husband is going to love me. Well, he does anyway, but he will be glad to not have to spend a Monday evening cleaning up for the cleaning people. Oh and he's going to come home to a roast chicken in the oven. Aren't I just the bestest wife EVER? Um...yeah. Anyway.

Matthew and Aaron are down for naps. Abby and Tyler are sprawled in front of butcher paper with watercolors. I can't wait to see what they come up with! So far, Tyler's says Tyle and Abby has the beginning of a house scene. Oh, and did you know, if you drink water out of a cup with your tongue, you turn into a dog? And if you drink out of the milk one, you become a cat? That's what Abby just told Tyler. I never knew!! Did you?