Friday, August 26, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Summer Fun!
We have been extremely busy with all the different summer activities our family has been involved in. This summer the kids went to 3 Vacation Bible Camps, 1 Day Camp, 2 sets of swimming lessons, Soccer Camp, Flag Football Camp, and Little Guards. Not to mentions park days, beach days, swim days and of course Boardwalk days! We have yet to have gone on vacation! Soon we will be going on our annual camping trip to Pinecrest Lake. We can hardly wait! Thankfully since the theft of all our camping gear we have been able to replace almost everything and what we don't have our gracious friends will supply :) I am looking forward to getting away for a few days and clearing my head and the heads of my family! In just a few short weeks all minus me, will be back in school and a new routine will begin. Part of me can hardly wait, longing for sitting on the couch staring out the window, drinking coffee in the peace and quiet of our home...Well we know how long that will last...wishful thinking. I am pretty sure our summer was busier then the school year. This is the first week of the summer we have had nothing structured to do, at first it seemed really nice but here it is only on day two and my kids with all their energy remind me why we have kept them busy all summer long! We have watched tv, played games, video games too of course and rode lots of bikes but it's not quite the same as being out and about. For some odd reason I thrive when being booked solid and apparently my kids do too. Next summer tho I do not think we will do so much, or so that is what I say now while being burnt out.
Respect is earned not given or demanded
On this day I'll give out grace because grace is a gift that can be given freely and you don't have to earn it let alone really deserve it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Theft
If it could happen, it does happen to Jeff and I...this has been our motto, tag line, common joke amongst friends and family etc..Life is not fair! There are no concrete reasons why somethings happen or have to happen. I do not believe in Karma although I can see why people do. Jeff and I have contributed to our own mishapps of course...
About a year ago we finally decided to get Renters Ins. As most of you know we live on the not so desirable part of town in subsidized housing. Outside of a few cars being broken into, wheels completely taken of vehicles on our st and the occasional hit and run vehicle to vehicle accident our neighborhood is fairly quiet. Oh don't get me wrong, we have our fair share of drug and prostitution issues as well as under age drinking and smoking, lol but relatively speaking that stuff does not directly affect us, yet... We opted to finally get ins for the just in case factor. I mean we are living below the poverty level and if anything were to happen to the things we have accumulated we could never replace them. I don't think of myself as a materialistic person, seriously I have like 3 pairs of shoes, and limited clothing options...I am not a hoarder by any means, but if someone should break in and take our less then desirable things we would be screwed.
6 months latter we needed to move our holiday storage, kids next size clothing, camping gear, memorabilia etc out of our family's storage space over the hill. We came across a decent price storage space close to our home, yet a different city :) that offered us a gated parking area, gated building, and a few security cameras. With that and our two trustworthy hard duty fortress locks we in trusted our belongings to a rather small closet like space in this what we thought was a secure location. We declined the ins of the storage place due to the fact we had checked into our renters ins to be sure our things would be covered if something would to ever happen. We are penny pinchers, what can I say. Still processing whether or not we had made the right decision to decline.
After leaving the beach this afternoon with the family we got a cal from the storage facility saying that our unit was open and the locks were off. Yes we were paranoid, thus the having two different locks! They noted they could not close the door because stuff was blocking the way so they gently moved our items in and placed a new lock on there while they awaited our call. Well if you know me, you know I'm not going to call, I am gong to show the heck up!!
While driving there Jeff and I talked about what of value would one actually want of the things we keep in there? We are not fancy people...we don't have valuable things...the first thing that came to mind and actually only thing that did, was our camping gear. Last summer we took an amazing trip up to Pinecrest Lake and camped for a few days. The kids were finally old enough to manage on such a trip. We had just bought all new camping gear We were excited about future trips to the lake...the kids always ask when are we going back and were so looking forward to our end of summer trip back to the lake,
When we arrived to the facility I went straight in and talked with the live in on site manager. it then was confirmed that this was infact a break in still the damage was unknown. As we proceeded to the unit my heart sank...I knew things would be missing, but still unclear what. As our luck or lack there of would have it we were indeed missing multiple containers. All of our camping gear was gone, the kids wetsuits gone, all our swim stuff gone, lake toys/tubes/life vests/water shoes gone, air conditioner gone, Riley's Buzz Camping Chair gone, and our beloved extra large christmas box filled with our special nativity scene by willow tree gone, along with all of our families special ornaments. Every year Jeff and I have been together we would exchange ornaments with each other in which we carried on with our kids. All of their baby ornaments, gone, hand made, from church and school and home gone, all of the little picture ornaments gone, my special bunco and teacher ornaments, gone all of it gone. The sad thing is, is that those hold no value to the one who now holds them...they are probably in the trash now any how... Some things are replaceable, others are not.
As I waited for the police officer to come and take an official report Jeff brought the kids in from the car. As we looked at our pillaged closet of stuff we were saddened by what had happened. Of course crying as I told the kids and Jeff what I thought was missing M my sweet boy began to cry along with me. He knew how special some of the items were to us. Of course R and Z are still a bit young to understand so they just ran up and down the hallways like soaking wet sandy chickens with their heads cut off! It was great entertainment while we waited...
Now we sit and itemize what we think has gone missing. We have to give such details about when, where and cost of each thing missing. How on earth am I going to come up with a price for the priceless items taken :( Seriously not seeing those ornaments again is probably one of the saddest things we have ever had to deal with.
There are video cameras on the outside of the building that will hopefully show someone putting our belongings into their car and with any luck we will see some sort of identifying information. The reality is tho that it had to have been someone with access to the gate and the building. In which would mean they too have a unit inside. Which then brings up that our stuff could still in fact be on site, just in someone else's storage unit...lovely right...
There is still some question whether or not our Renters ins would cover this type of thing but at the time of rejecting the facility ins we had to give a letter stating that our renters ins would cover such a loss, signed by our renters ins carrier. So of course we are hoping and praying it will. But like i started this blog entry, if it could happen, it will happen to us :(
Before
After
I know i am crazy right?!?!? Every time I go to my storage unit I take a picture of how i leave it, who would have ever thought I would have needed it for the sake of counting my losses :(
About a year ago we finally decided to get Renters Ins. As most of you know we live on the not so desirable part of town in subsidized housing. Outside of a few cars being broken into, wheels completely taken of vehicles on our st and the occasional hit and run vehicle to vehicle accident our neighborhood is fairly quiet. Oh don't get me wrong, we have our fair share of drug and prostitution issues as well as under age drinking and smoking, lol but relatively speaking that stuff does not directly affect us, yet... We opted to finally get ins for the just in case factor. I mean we are living below the poverty level and if anything were to happen to the things we have accumulated we could never replace them. I don't think of myself as a materialistic person, seriously I have like 3 pairs of shoes, and limited clothing options...I am not a hoarder by any means, but if someone should break in and take our less then desirable things we would be screwed.
6 months latter we needed to move our holiday storage, kids next size clothing, camping gear, memorabilia etc out of our family's storage space over the hill. We came across a decent price storage space close to our home, yet a different city :) that offered us a gated parking area, gated building, and a few security cameras. With that and our two trustworthy hard duty fortress locks we in trusted our belongings to a rather small closet like space in this what we thought was a secure location. We declined the ins of the storage place due to the fact we had checked into our renters ins to be sure our things would be covered if something would to ever happen. We are penny pinchers, what can I say. Still processing whether or not we had made the right decision to decline.
After leaving the beach this afternoon with the family we got a cal from the storage facility saying that our unit was open and the locks were off. Yes we were paranoid, thus the having two different locks! They noted they could not close the door because stuff was blocking the way so they gently moved our items in and placed a new lock on there while they awaited our call. Well if you know me, you know I'm not going to call, I am gong to show the heck up!!
While driving there Jeff and I talked about what of value would one actually want of the things we keep in there? We are not fancy people...we don't have valuable things...the first thing that came to mind and actually only thing that did, was our camping gear. Last summer we took an amazing trip up to Pinecrest Lake and camped for a few days. The kids were finally old enough to manage on such a trip. We had just bought all new camping gear We were excited about future trips to the lake...the kids always ask when are we going back and were so looking forward to our end of summer trip back to the lake,
When we arrived to the facility I went straight in and talked with the live in on site manager. it then was confirmed that this was infact a break in still the damage was unknown. As we proceeded to the unit my heart sank...I knew things would be missing, but still unclear what. As our luck or lack there of would have it we were indeed missing multiple containers. All of our camping gear was gone, the kids wetsuits gone, all our swim stuff gone, lake toys/tubes/life vests/water shoes gone, air conditioner gone, Riley's Buzz Camping Chair gone, and our beloved extra large christmas box filled with our special nativity scene by willow tree gone, along with all of our families special ornaments. Every year Jeff and I have been together we would exchange ornaments with each other in which we carried on with our kids. All of their baby ornaments, gone, hand made, from church and school and home gone, all of the little picture ornaments gone, my special bunco and teacher ornaments, gone all of it gone. The sad thing is, is that those hold no value to the one who now holds them...they are probably in the trash now any how... Some things are replaceable, others are not.
As I waited for the police officer to come and take an official report Jeff brought the kids in from the car. As we looked at our pillaged closet of stuff we were saddened by what had happened. Of course crying as I told the kids and Jeff what I thought was missing M my sweet boy began to cry along with me. He knew how special some of the items were to us. Of course R and Z are still a bit young to understand so they just ran up and down the hallways like soaking wet sandy chickens with their heads cut off! It was great entertainment while we waited...
Now we sit and itemize what we think has gone missing. We have to give such details about when, where and cost of each thing missing. How on earth am I going to come up with a price for the priceless items taken :( Seriously not seeing those ornaments again is probably one of the saddest things we have ever had to deal with.
There are video cameras on the outside of the building that will hopefully show someone putting our belongings into their car and with any luck we will see some sort of identifying information. The reality is tho that it had to have been someone with access to the gate and the building. In which would mean they too have a unit inside. Which then brings up that our stuff could still in fact be on site, just in someone else's storage unit...lovely right...
There is still some question whether or not our Renters ins would cover this type of thing but at the time of rejecting the facility ins we had to give a letter stating that our renters ins would cover such a loss, signed by our renters ins carrier. So of course we are hoping and praying it will. But like i started this blog entry, if it could happen, it will happen to us :(
Before
After
I know i am crazy right?!?!? Every time I go to my storage unit I take a picture of how i leave it, who would have ever thought I would have needed it for the sake of counting my losses :(
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
First Dog!
Please add this movie to your netflix queue!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOxvgshc-r0&feature=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOxvgshc-r0&feature=share
Monday, May 9, 2011
What the crap!
it's been almost 6 months since I last blogged...life is hectic what can I say. I think I spend most of my time online reading other peoples blogs mostly about adoption, special needs, teen pregnancy and of course derby. Oh well today is as good of a time as any...So lifes catch up is this..
I've been having lots of catch up time with my mom, sis and family. Which if you know me this is HUGE! What a blessing to be where we are today!
Jeff has gone back to work (part time) since being laid off from a church I never want to hear the name of and would still love to punch the pastor and his wife in the face for being the biggest hypocrites I know, (most christians are and I get that). I still need to learn that I have to high of expectations of people and I need to let that go! Working on it okay!
Jeff is also in school full time. Which then between working part time and school full time we no longer have much family time together. Oh did I all ready mention that Jeff broke his leg? Well his knee, back in Jan. It's been a long road but he's back to work and and is moving around fairly well these days.
Derby, after returning form my first injury in the fall I had a great almost three months of skating! Even traveled to Sac for a big scrimmage/tournament called Red Red. Basically a bunch of leagues get together to raise money for a non profit by mixing their players against various teams. It was a lot of fun and of course scary at the same time! Unfortunately 3 days before Christmas I got hurt while scrimmaging...I tore all the ligaments in my knee this time! I took a month off officially from skating and tried to ease my way back into it. Unfortunately for the second time in a row due to injury I was unable to tryout for a team...sigh...I began skating again in March and have been trying to rebuild my strength yet again. The league I skate with has switched things up a bit this year so getting on a team this season just may not happen...There is always January 2012!! In the meantime I am still skating and trying to improve my skills. I am also loving visiting practices at other leagues, some have been really challenging some have not. I just love to skate, always have and always will. Derby is just an extension of that childhood passion coming full circle and full contact!!
The kids! Are crazy and just as busy as ever, oh how I love them! Zoey is such a big girl! She love sot do everything by herself, from picking out her clothes, to putting them on, brushing her hair and teeth and putting her own shoes on, even if on the wrong feet she still must do it all her self. THe last few days have been challenging tho. I think she has been more tired then usual and she can't seem to stop eating, she must be growing! Speaking of growing Riley is!! He is growing in so many ways one of which he is so proud of is that he has grown an 1/2 inch since the fall. Okay that may not seem like a big deal but IT IS! Riley finishes preschool this friday, next year on to kindergarten, can't hardly wait! He has verbalized lately that he is scared to go which amazes me that not only does he know how he feels about it but he can tell me and we can work thru those feelings the next few months. I am stoked that he is out of school a month before Myles and as you may recall Zoey goes year round, for now that is. Riley and I are going to have 14 hours a week with just him and I, it's going to be really good for both us!! Myles is 7 going on 17! I think he thinks he is a grown up at times. he is still very kind hearted and extremely helpful with the other two kiddos but he tends to act more like a parent when conflict arises instead of a 7 year old. He has been doing really well at school and has been enjoying his class. All tho I am not the biggest fan of how our school teaches (lack of science, art, music pe etc) I have really appreciated the technology the kids are getting to use. My kid can't stop reading chapter books either! There are days when he will just bring the book with him where ever we go and will read at any given chance, even in the car, which unlike him would make me sick to my stomach!
Well as summer approaches I am not sure I am going to have much time to "blog" so here's to another wonderful six months of silence!
I've been having lots of catch up time with my mom, sis and family. Which if you know me this is HUGE! What a blessing to be where we are today!
Jeff has gone back to work (part time) since being laid off from a church I never want to hear the name of and would still love to punch the pastor and his wife in the face for being the biggest hypocrites I know, (most christians are and I get that). I still need to learn that I have to high of expectations of people and I need to let that go! Working on it okay!
Jeff is also in school full time. Which then between working part time and school full time we no longer have much family time together. Oh did I all ready mention that Jeff broke his leg? Well his knee, back in Jan. It's been a long road but he's back to work and and is moving around fairly well these days.
Derby, after returning form my first injury in the fall I had a great almost three months of skating! Even traveled to Sac for a big scrimmage/tournament called Red Red. Basically a bunch of leagues get together to raise money for a non profit by mixing their players against various teams. It was a lot of fun and of course scary at the same time! Unfortunately 3 days before Christmas I got hurt while scrimmaging...I tore all the ligaments in my knee this time! I took a month off officially from skating and tried to ease my way back into it. Unfortunately for the second time in a row due to injury I was unable to tryout for a team...sigh...I began skating again in March and have been trying to rebuild my strength yet again. The league I skate with has switched things up a bit this year so getting on a team this season just may not happen...There is always January 2012!! In the meantime I am still skating and trying to improve my skills. I am also loving visiting practices at other leagues, some have been really challenging some have not. I just love to skate, always have and always will. Derby is just an extension of that childhood passion coming full circle and full contact!!
The kids! Are crazy and just as busy as ever, oh how I love them! Zoey is such a big girl! She love sot do everything by herself, from picking out her clothes, to putting them on, brushing her hair and teeth and putting her own shoes on, even if on the wrong feet she still must do it all her self. THe last few days have been challenging tho. I think she has been more tired then usual and she can't seem to stop eating, she must be growing! Speaking of growing Riley is!! He is growing in so many ways one of which he is so proud of is that he has grown an 1/2 inch since the fall. Okay that may not seem like a big deal but IT IS! Riley finishes preschool this friday, next year on to kindergarten, can't hardly wait! He has verbalized lately that he is scared to go which amazes me that not only does he know how he feels about it but he can tell me and we can work thru those feelings the next few months. I am stoked that he is out of school a month before Myles and as you may recall Zoey goes year round, for now that is. Riley and I are going to have 14 hours a week with just him and I, it's going to be really good for both us!! Myles is 7 going on 17! I think he thinks he is a grown up at times. he is still very kind hearted and extremely helpful with the other two kiddos but he tends to act more like a parent when conflict arises instead of a 7 year old. He has been doing really well at school and has been enjoying his class. All tho I am not the biggest fan of how our school teaches (lack of science, art, music pe etc) I have really appreciated the technology the kids are getting to use. My kid can't stop reading chapter books either! There are days when he will just bring the book with him where ever we go and will read at any given chance, even in the car, which unlike him would make me sick to my stomach!
Well as summer approaches I am not sure I am going to have much time to "blog" so here's to another wonderful six months of silence!
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