Highland Fun!

For those of you that read this, you know I have not been keeping up with this blog lately. Partly because one, I don't have time, life is pretty darn busy when you work full time, have a toddler, and your husband is hardly home, and second, because I am pregnant again and I can barely stay up to Gracei's bedtime these days. Anyways, we journeyed down to Highland last weekend. We were planning to go anyways because we always get our taxes done down there and it just so happens that we also went to share some good news! Last Saturday, Chuck went out golfing with his dad so Gracie and I got invited over to Chuck's cousin, Derek and Jill's house. They have a two year old named Sydney and she is a little darling. Gracie was shy to begin with but Sydney was sharing her toys and showing her around. We had fun. Sydney's friend Kaylee (not sure of spelling) came over too. The girls had lunch and apparently yogurt was the big hit. We also played outside because it was nice out unlike this past weekend, snow? Yuck! Gracie was more interested in going down the slide, her favorite playground equipment, while the other girls played in the sandbox. It was so fun to be outside and it was so fun to get together. I'm hoping that this summer, Gracie can have more playdates. Thanks Jill for inviting us. We had a good time!

Surprise!

Well, it's been a week of shock for the Weiss family. I found out last week that I am pregnant! While it was not planned, it is a wondeful surprise. When Aunt Flo never arrived, I started thinking hmm.....Well, as you can go back to my blogs and read when we thought Chuck had a promotion....well, he got a different kind of promotion now! We are excited though of course. We were telling Gracie how she is going to be a big sister and so I ordered her a shirt with a little cupcake on it that says "this little sweetie is going to be a big sister." We had her wear it at my parents one night to tell them the news. They were pretty surprised but excited as well. Auntie Amy already helped pick out a Christmas stocking! This past weekend, we went to Highland and surprised Chuck's fam with the news too. Again, we had Gracie wear her shirt but she wore it for almost half and hour before Uncle Corndog finally came and read the shirt to everybody. Now we still are in the early stages and so far I feel good. Pretty tired but then again I usually am. I go to the docs in a couple of weeks for the first ultrasound so I'll be sure to post pictures. Now we really need to figure out some stuff like where are we going to put the baby? I am not due until November so we have some time. So that's the update. Chuck and I are going to be parents, again! And since, this baby was a surprise, we will let the sex be a surprise too. So, yay, surprise everyone!

We're back and So is Spring! (hopefully)

Thank you to all who left messages about this blog. I appreciate you reading this. It's been a crazy couple of weeks and I hope I can get back on track. I do enjoy it and am using this as a base to write a book. Anyways, it finally is starting to feel like spring. Yippee!! I actually could leave my house just wearing my sweatshirt! Anyways, to mine and Gracie's surprise, we found a playland in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard today! Apparently this was bought just after Christmas by Gracie's daddy at, where else but Menards (who I still despise in case you are wondering) and I guess it's an early birthday present for Gracie Girl! Let me just say that she LOVES it. It has a slide which is her favorite playground equipment, 2 swings that can be interchangeble with other things and a little fort/playhouse underneath the slide. It even has a little door! Too cute! She struggles a little to climb the slide and that's because it's pretty tall. She can slide down all by herself and we catch her at the bottom. Then she likes to walk up the slide rather than climb the ladder again. She also knows how to hold on to the ropes of the swings but I am not willing to let her sail solo yet. I can see the hours of fun ahead of us with this one. She also has a picnic table and seesaw ready to go as well! And then Grandma even told me there is a water/sand table that still has yet to be put together. Wowza! You know, Santa's Village was always a favorite when we were little. I think the park just moved to my parents house on Clark Street!

100th Post!

Yeah! I made it to the 100th post! I"m not sure if I am going to continue with this since I have no followers and actually aren't sure who even reads this thing besides my mom. If you enjoy reading this, shoot me a line and let me know. Lately all you have heard is my complaining and have probably come to the conclusion that I have issues. So even though I still have a mouthful to say, I am too tired from another exciting Monday that all I really want to say in my 100th, and possibly final post, is that I have the most beautiful daughter in the world. Look at her! Meet Miss America 2025!

Work Sucks!

So ignore what I posted yesterday. Apparently Chuck's boss is a big ball of crap and there will be no promotion. I hate his boss. I hate Menards. No one shop there anymore. Our finacial situation was actually going to be looking up but I guess that was too good to be true. Goodbye middle class. Hello poor house! (and we do live in what feels like the projects). That's all I have to say today.

Daddy Loves Menards!

For those of you that don't know, my husband, Chuck works for the Menards chain. Well today he got some pretty big new; he got a promotion! He had interviewed last week and wasn't sure because the headquarters dudes were giving him the run around. You know how those business men are. Anyways, turns out he will be making more money and he only has to move to the Joliet store to get it! Currently he works at Crest Hill. The store is still fairly close to home which is a plus. He will be working with his old boss who he loves too. He is super excited and I am proud of him. The thing with working in retail, is that they sometimes want you to relocate. And be relocating, I mean out of state. They offered him a promo in Indiana but he turned it down. He has turned down other out-of-state promos as well. Who can affort to move with this economy? Unless Menards plans to buy our house, we are staying put. Plus I really don't see us moving out of state anyways. Why would we do that? He had maade several moves though with the company and they should be thankful for that. He started his career with Menards down in Champaign right after college. Then he got to move up here to Naperville. After that, he moved to Glendale Heights and then Homer Glen before moving to Crest Hill. He is a supe-hard worker and was actually just rated number 1 front end manager in ALL of the Menards! He kicks butt! So this will be great too. Now it will be an adjustment because his hours will be a little more than what we are used to plus his whole schedule will change too. I have always hated his schedule so that's nothing new. Is this promotion enough for me to quit my job? Not just yet but maybe we are making progress. At least I won't have to teach summer school now! We'll get used to it and having the extra money will surely come in handy! Congrats Chuck!

Somtimes you just have to be Crazy!

Gracie certainly is my pride and joy and even though I can't be the mom I want to be for her, she reminds me that' s ok to be funny and crazy once in awhile. As you have heard many a times before, I see my little girl for only a few short hours a day and since I am tired and crabby from my day because I deal with punks who shall rename nameless, I am sometimes not in a fun, playful mood. (Sometimes I think I might be bipolar but that's another story). Anyways, Gracie can make me smile anytime. She knows just what to do. She knows enough now to come sit in my lap or walk over and give me a great big hug. Even by just being her silly self, she is the key to my happiness. I love her so much and I thank God for everyday I have her in my life. My babysitter is lucky that she gets to spend a lot of days with her. I just love working fulltime! My job rocks! And sometimes I just have to be crazy there.

Biggest Loser!

So if you want to call me anything, just call me the biggest loser! That's right. I have been carrying around this mufin top for some time now and I can no longer just say "I had a baby" because my baby is 20 months old. Last week at parent-teacher conferences, I had a parent come in and she said "Can I ask you a question?" So I said "Shoot." She actually said "Are pregnant?" I said "Uh, no" and then I guess she didn't believe me because then she said "Well are you and just not telling people?" I instantly covered the muffin top and once again gave her a "no." Seriously people! Besides she asked me in front of her daughter and even IF I was, I wouldn't admit it in front of her! Then the mom said she had a C-section and still had her gut. Well lady, I didn't have a C-section and got no little tummy tuck which I swear C-Sectioners get. I pushed an 8 pounder out of me and my stomach just chose not to deflate after. Also, a few weeks ago, while on my routine visit to the dentist, the dental hygienest asked me how far along I was. I kind of looked around and realized she was talking to me! I said I wasn't and she laughed and just said "Oh, I shouldn't have asked." That's right bizatch! You know fat people have feelings too! So all of this has inspired me to really watch my weight yet again. I did well last spring and summer and then let myself go. It's so hard to make it to the gym but I am just so tired at night and plus Chuck has to work some nights too. So at school last week we met to set up out Biggest Losers contest. We are on groups and had to weigh in on Friday. The scale was tipped but it wasn't too bad. Although when I went to the Biggest Loser website, and I typed in my info. it did say that I was overweight so I played around with it and if I can be 5 pounds lighter, it says I will be in my "healthy weight." Ok, so that's not so bad. So starting today, the diet thing went into effect. I can honestly say that I am so sick of eating Lean Cuisines because I had so many of them last spring and summer so I will be searching for other things to at least bring for lunch. Anyone have any ideas? I am not joining Weight Watchers officially, although I may join online but I am trying to count points. So I have until the end of May before I weigh in again and I am determined to lose weight. As for my gut, I am not guartenteeing anything but if I can get rid of the neon sign above my head that says "Please ask me if I am pregnant" it will be worth it!

Happy Birthday Auntie E!

Well, it's official: another friend of mine has turned the ripe old age of 30! Even though Erin turned 30 last Monday, last night we had a surprise party planned for my BFF Erin. She had no idea and it was so much fun. Awhile ago she asked us if we wanted to go to Vegas to celebrate her birthday. Well, no one could really affort it so we deciced to bring Vegas to her in Amy's basement. We got super cool casino decorations, put up a poker table, set out some plinko machines and decks of cards, and of course beads. A lot of people came and Erin was totally surprised! I made Erin this awesome scrapbook in which I included my top 30 BFF memories! I think I have now made all my friends at scrapbook now! It's my turn now! We ate, had some cake sang kareoke, and Elvis even made an appearance to sing "Happy Birthday." I knew that man was still alive! Everyone had a great time I think and I am still recovering. Gracie enjoyed the beads at cleanup this morning and had more bling around her neck than any rapper I've ever seen! Let's hope she doesn't continue to wear all of her jewelry at once!

Best Mommy Award #234

Over the past 20 months, I have had more than my fair share of "best mommy" moments. Sure when Gracie was a baby, I put her on the couch and she rolled off, sure I had her at the pediatricians office eveyday for the first month of her life, yes, I sit her in front of the tv when I need to get something done, and sure enough, I embarrassed myself when my daughter tried to steal of box of Rolo candy from Jewel because I wasn't paying attention. Ahh..yes, the list could go on and on. Well the most recent "best mommy" award has been earned due to this little story. The other day while getting ready for my joyous job, I went outside to check the weather. I look over and Gracie was sliding on the kitchen floor because she likes doing that now. All of a sudden, I look over because Chuck is banging on the sliding door and I see him pulling, like grabbing both legs and pulling, because Gracie's head was stuck in the kitty condo! I ran inside just as Chuck was pulling her out. Of course she was crying but she was ok so I continued to go about my business. Great mom huh? Our kitties, Hazel and Millie don't even use this kitty condo unless they occasionally jump on it to get to their kitty tower which is next to this but you can't see yet. Yes, they have a similiar contraption except it is taller than me so in otherwards, it's a kitty skyscraper. So now we have to turn this condo thing around. But you know, because kids Gracie's age don't always learn from the first time, yes it has happened again. There you have it-Best Mommy Award #234.

Too Tired

Gracie and I are too tired to post. I have nothing new to say. Same old. Same job. Same stress. The only new thing is that I taught Gracie how to use a fork today. If anyone reads this, you'll have to find something else to read today. Goodnight!

Little Miss Clean

I love Swiffer products! We have a ton of them at home here. The other day I decided to sweep, well Swiffer, the kitchen floor and guess who wanted to help? Little Miss Gracie! She saw me get the Swiffer Sweeper out and of course I had to do a quick run through. The floor was pretty disgusting filled with cat hair, pieces of food Gracie had thrown on the ground, leftovers from Valentine's flowers and just other crud. I quickly swept up the junk and then let Gracie go to town. She kept busy for awhile doing it too. Now I must say I don't like cleaning. I do it but I don't like it. Chuck I am pretty sure doesn't like it either. I'm thinking she inherited the trait from my dad. He is obsessed with the shop-vac. He vaccuums the basement stairs at his house probably almost everyday! In fact, when Chuck came to ask his permission to marry me, he had to wait for my dad to finish vaccuuming the stairs before he could ask him! Although Gracie enjoyed sweeping, she has not yet learned to pick up her toys. That would really be a big help and we will have to work on that. But hey, if she is willing to sweep the floor for me, it's a start in the right direction!

Grandpa's Girl

Today I realized how lucky Gracie is to have such a loving grandpa in her life. She is such the twinkle of her Grandpa's eye. I realized the importance of just how special their relationship is when I was standing in a long line at a wake. My BFF Erin's Uncle passed away the other day.

He was a funny guy and growing up, he was sort of like an uncle to me. We went to Wisconsin a few times with her family and Uncle Dick had a lot of laughs at my expense. Anyways, he left behind some grandchildren. Each of them had a memory board dedicated with pictures of thier "Papa" and them. The older granddaughters had written letters on thier boards saying "I love my papa" and that just pulled at my heartstrings. Now I don't know if they know or understand exactly the extent of thier loss. I lost both of my grandpa's when I was older and understood it and still was had a hard time. I see how much my dad adores Gracie and how much she adores him. She even has recently started calling him "Pa." I enjoy watching them together and hope that they have many more years of Grandpa-Gracie fun ahead of them! Love you Gramps!

Happy Birthday Scott!

Happy Birthday Scott! Gracie's boyfriend Scott is turning one today! It seems just like yesterday that this little guy was born. It seems like yesterday all of Gracie's friends were born. It's hard to beleive that Gracie will soon be two! Gracie has had quite a few playdates with Scotty through his first year. We've been to the park and to each other's houses and even had a Christmas party. While these pictures were taken about a year ago, they are my favorite of the two. Gracie actually sat still and even pulled the "Come here you big teddy bear" stretch. Now that the kiddos are gettind older, we need to schedule more playdates together. Interaction is good. They'll have fun this summer at the park and swimming together I'm sure. Scott's mommy, Jessica is a photographer and has the lucky job of taking newborn pics of babies for the Bella Photography at the hospitals. She also has website and will come take pics of your little darlings as well. Her website is http://www.jessicajill.com/index2.php. You can also view her blog of little Scotty at www.andscottmakes3.blogspot.com. Sorry we can't be at your party Scott! Happy Birthday! Love ya!

It's Hard Being Super Mom!

So if there is an award for "Super Mom", I think I should get it. Here is why: I am a full-time working mom. So I work about 9 hours a day so that's like 45 hours a week. Here are just the many jobs a full-time working mom does during a day. My day starts after I hit snooze about ten times because I am so tired from the previous day. I get up and sometimes have to get Gracie ready because Chuck is already at work. I have to trap her in my room with an Elmo movie so I can get in the shower. Then I eat some breakfast, feed the cats, get dressed, get Gracie dressed, make a lunch and leave. I always have to take Gracie to the babysitter because who knows what Chucks hours are. Then I head to school where (after I grab a rather large cup of coffee), I check to see that I am up to date with my lesson plans. Then I have to check my email because sometimes parents feel the need to communicate. Then I either have to copy papers, make something (that's an elelmentary thing), do some lesson planning, meet with other teachers, meet with my committee, have a faculty meeting, call a parent, try to file the stack of papers that is neverending, hang up the next holiday decorationsblow the dust around on my desk, find books, write a journal on the board, grade papers, and then get another cup of coffee. And then the kiddos come in and I check in homework, grade homework, go over lessons, check for understanding, yell at kids, give tests, pass out bandaids, lecture on responsiblity, possibly make a craft, go to the library, read with kids, go over packets, encourage the struggling, enforce rules, pass out homework, go over notes, sign notebooks, discuss what' s right and wrong, remind themt to play fair, play games, sing songs, yell some more, move desks, type notes home, fill out paperwork, do assessments, clean up,lecture on how to be quiet, and then grab another cup of coffee and yell some more. Then the kiddos leave so then I can grade some more papers, copy some more papers, call some more parents, make lesson plans, etc. Then I leave and pick up Gracie. We drive home and then I immediatley make her dinner and usually myself a salad. Chuck works some nights so salads are easy enough. THen I clean up the dishes, wash off the table, wash off the highchair, wash of Gracie. THen I finally have time to spend with my own child. We do puzzles, read books, color, get a bath, jump on the bed, play catch, etc. Then I put her to bed so that I have time to myself to post blogs like these and then check facebook. Somtimes I will even look at realtor.com and pretend that I can afford any house I'd like. Then I get mad because I know I can't and so then I might have a drink. Then I get ready for bed so that I can do it all over again when I wake up. And that's just during a day. I save all cleaning of the crackerjack house for the weekends. Being that I maybe get 3-4 hours with my own child a day, I choose not to clean during the week. And of course sometimes CHuck works on the weekends so I get to do laundry, dust, vaccum, clean bathrooms, clean kitchen, grocery shop, run errands, and try to plan some quality fun time with Gracie. Do I want your pity? Nope. Just had a bad day and am questioning life. I do feel extremely busy and feel it's unfair to Gracie, the amount of time I spend with her. I hate having to come home full of germs and stress from other people's children. I need a break! If you read in the paper someday soon that a teacher lost her job over some sort of physical action, it could very well be me! I think I might snap! Seriously!