Phase One Complete... Now on to Phase Two

I feel so awkward admitting this outloud (I was really scared to tell my sister, but she took it pretty well and I'm pretty sure she still loves me.)... I just finished selling most (that's right, I said "MOST") of my stamps. And for those of you who aren't familiar with "stamps", I'm talking rubber stamps, not postage stamps.

Well, something was going to have to change... we need a nursery! And that meant either losing my craft room or the playroom. Let's see - the playroom gets used... oh just about everyday, where as my craft room... hmmm... have I even USED it since I've had it?!? Sure, it STORES stuff - but it's all stuff I never use! So it was pretty obvious that the craft room would be the new nursery. And the next question was, where would all that "stuff" go?

Like I said, I never use it. And that is the sad truth - I NEVER use it! I haven't stamped for pleasure in over two years! No kidding. Yep, this is still me, Sariah talking. And I, the once stamp-a-holic, Stampin' Up! demonstrator, got my mom and all my sisters addicted to stamping, even signed one of my sisters as a SU! demonstrator under me - I have not stamped for over two years. Yet, I have purchased stamps in that same two years. Stamps that have remained unmounted, sitting in drawers with other stamps that are either unmounted, or mounted but haven't been used more than once.

I had felt this coming on for a long time - even before the pregnancy. So, when the realization came that there needed to be a change, it really wasn't that difficult of a decision to make. I was ready to sell my stamps. Ryan discouraged me at first, knowing how much I used to enjoy them. He told me it was the "hormones" talking and he would not allow me to make such a decision in "my state". But eventually I convinced him that it really is OKAY and he let me make that choice.

So, several weeks ago I went through ALL of my stamps. I have no clue how many I owned. It was alot. ALOT!!! But I did decide to keep a few. (Several really, and if someone who didn't know me saw my collection that I have right now, today, they would say, "Wow, you have a lot of stamps!" But the truth is, what I have right now, is a small fraction of what I had last month.) My criteria in keeping a set of stamps were - 1) Could I use it for scrapbooking (as this is the ONLY craft I intend to continue pursuing at this time)? and 2) Would I REALISTICALLY use it for scrapbooking? Yeah, lots of them passed question #1, but most of them failed on question #2.

And now what was 50 drawers of stamps is now about 13 drawers. (See, I told you it's still alot! But it feels like so little!!!) And I think I will no longer have my "drawer" system. They will just go in a big tub and get stored either in my closet or in the garage. The rest, along with many supplies I would no longer need were put up on e-bay. Yep, e-bay. And ya know what? I did good! I more than doubled my goal of what I wanted to get for all of it! And all the money will go to getting ready for Eärendil.

That was "Phase One". "Phase Two" will be purchasing a nice (my mind just went blank... what the heck is it called?...anyhow) piece of furniture for the family room, where I will keep my scrapbooking papers and supplies from now on. I will also need to move all of my candles out of the craft room, most likely into my bedroom closet. I haven't figured out where I'll keep the "gifts" I purchase throughout the year (and then hide until it is time to give them)... but I'll figure it out. The rest of the stuff in there, truly is "junk" and will most likely get trashed. And then, the craft room will be vacant and ready for the next phase (Phase Three)... Becoming a nursery!

I went "window shopping" to see what is out there right now for baby furniture. I am so excited! I cannot wait until I have that empty space to fill because there are just so many nice things now!!! And it's more affordable than I expected to get what I really want! And I really can get whatever I want since I did so well on e-bay! So... yeah, I am looking forward to Phase Three!

I have to mention (if you are still reading this, lol) how grateful I am for all the Lord has and is providing for us! We are starting from scratch, but He has provided us with the means and ability to get everything we will need. I am so glad that when I first began my hobby of stamping that it was a hobby which would later turn into an investment. Just think if my hobby had been something not tangible and not resellable (is that a word?). What would I do now? We would still be okay, but now I feel more than "okay". I feel ready and safe and prepared.

Green Eggs and Ham

As you may or may not know, Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss' birthday!  So, the schools in our area have been having "Green Eggs and Ham" breakfasts for the first graders this week.  Some of Cadi's friends from our ward who attend a different school had theirs yesterday.  Hearing the moms talk about it got me excited for ours!

This morning Ryan and I took Cadi to school and we all had breakfast with The Cat in the Hat!


Yes, we really did have green eggs!  (I should have taken a picture!  I can't believe I didn't think of that.)
First, Acadia was given a hat to wear (and keep!) and then we (the parents) were given a raffle ticket to be used later.  Then we collected our Green Eggs and Ham (plus an apple or banana, some yougurt, and juice) to take back to our tables.  Cadi's best friends had saved her a seat so the Three Amigas got to sit together.



Ooh, if you look - I did get a picture of the green eggs in that shot!  Uh... yeah... I meant to do that! lol
While we were eating, the Principal told the kids that they would each be receiving a free book when they got back to their classroom!  Then they had the raffle.  The raffle was for $25 gift certificates to Beaches, a restaurant downtown.  Beaches was one of the sponsors for this breakfast and they were the ones providing and serving the food.  (The other sponsor was a credit union, I believe they are the ones who provided the hats.)  Anyhow...

We won one of the gift certificates!  And right after us, one of Cadi's best friend's dad won one too!  It was super cool!  We haven't been to Beaches, but the dad who won says they love it there - they go almost every week!  So, it must be good!  Hey, if they can make green eggs edible, then it can't be bad! lol
Before we left, I got a picture of Cadi with her teacher...



Tomorrow all of the students who choose to buy lunch can choose to have Green Eggs and Ham.  Acadia is planning on it.  I told her that the lunch tomorrow would be a little different (it would be from the cafeteria instead of a restaurant) but she doesn't care.  I hope it's just as good tomorrow!

There are only a couple more pictures that I took (nothing exciting but), if you want to see them, check out our Photobucket account.

Scary!

Last week I saw on the news about a lady (who lives fairly close to me) that answered the door to find a man posing as a newspaper salesman. She told him she was not interested and then he pulled a gun out and tried to force his way into her home! This happened in the middle of the day!!! Fortunately, she was able to force her door closed and he did not get in!

Then, on Sunday my hubby got home from bishopric meeting and told me that the woman is a member of our ward! Not that it really changes the situation at all, but it makes it feel even closer to home!

After the news report, I had decided to always keep my door locked and not to answer it (even in the day) if I wasn't expecting someone. Very scary stuff! Be smart, people... Be safe!

(Our peep hole is too high for me to see out of easily, so we are lowering it to a level that is easy for me to use. If you don't have one - get one!)

RELATED... On the Today Show this morning, there was a segment about how easy it is for someone to pose as a utility worker or such and then be allowed to enter a home - in the middle of the day, with no spouse home! They said to never let anyone in that you don't know. You can call the utility company first to confirm the situation, you can flat our refuse to let them in when you are home alone, just don't let them in if you don't know them!

It's the old saying, "Better Safe than Sorry", and the new one I heard today that I liked was, "Better Rude than Wrong!"

Meet Angel

I just realized this morning, that I never posted a picture of Angel.  So, here are a few...



And here is Angel in action, "Run like the wind, Angel!"


This is my favorite pic so far. She was on this blanket, on my lap, and she fell asleep... Awwww!


And now for a couple of Cadi-isms...

Cadi: We need to make a list tonight.
Me: Okay, what do we need to make a list of?
Cadi:  I don't know... just a list.

Cadi: His shoes are just like mine! 
Me: Oh really?
Cadi: Yeah, except they don't light up, they are different colors, and they are definitely NOT the same style.
LOL

My husband is awesome!

Okay, so I know it isn't going to sound like anything big or special but my husband made Cadi a sandwich this morning.

Yep, that's all it takes to make me happy. lol

Cadi buys lunch at school on average about twice a week, the other days she takes a lunch. In the last several weeks, Ryan has made her lunch for her (or at least her sandwich, which is really most of the work) so I wouldn't have to worry about it. I usually keep track and let him know which days we need a sandwich. The last two days, Cadi bought lunch which means today she was going to bring lunch. But I completely forgot! That is until 5 minutes before it was time to go out to the bus. I rushed to start putting her lunch together and there was her sandwich made and in the ziploc, sitting in the fridge.

He remembered to check to see if she needed to bring a lunch and made the sandwich without me asking or reminding him. And today that was all it took to make me think, "My husband is awesome!"

Proud Mom

To start... I've been feeling Eärendil move. :) Not anything anyone else can feel yet, just movement inside. Fun! Usually at night or first thing in the morning, when I'm in bed. That's normal. I am looking forward to when Ryan and Cadi can feel it. But then, that means the "kicks" and such will be stronger... that's not always a pleasant feeling, lol.

Also... Acadia has been doing a few things that just make me proud. Last week she learned a new song and then sang it in front of all the Primary kids and then in front of all the young women at church. It was a duet. This was her first time singing in front of people, aside from all the times that ALL the kids in Primary sing to the congregation. She did such a good job! It was awesome!

She has also been reading so well! A long time ago she asked for a Book of Mormon of her own. We gave her an inexpensive copy (we'll get her a nice one when she's just a little older). She often takes it to church with her. She sometimes reads it at home. Awhile ago I found it in her backpack. I asked her about it and she told me that she likes to read it on the bus going to school. I am so happy that she loves it and that she is self-motivated to read it on her own. She is only 6 and can't possibly understand all of it. That is certain. But she loves how it makes her feel. Now, I had to suggest to her not to read on the bus because she had been getting sick at school everyday after getting off the bus. She was hesitant because she loves to read the Book of Mormon at that time. How do you argue with that? I told her that it was up to her. But I did tell her that because she was getting motion sickness, it would help if she just looked straight ahead at the road while riding the bus. (We had already moved her from the back to the front of the bus, but that wasn't enough.)

Acadia has also been reading a verse outloud each night when we read scriptures before bed. I am amazed at how much her reading skills have improved in just the last couple of months. She can read most of the verse by herself, even tricky words. She's sounding them out and getting used to the rythem of the scriptures. It has helped her with other books too. She can read Dr. Seuss books by herself now. I keep telling her that she is getting ready to read to her baby brother or sister.
Good stuff. She's a good girl, she'll be a great big sister!

24 Hours

Yep, that's about how long the boxes of Girl Scout Cookies sat before I finally gave in and opened one. Hey, at least I only opened ONE box!

So, for those who don't know... my husband is a professional dieter. Or a perpetual dieter. Or a On-the-Wagon/Off-the-Wagon dieter. Or however you want to look at it. But he is almost always starting a diet. And to his credit, most of the time he succeeds with the goal he sets. He just immediately turns around and ends up back where he started - thus the next diet.

And imagine this - he is starting another diet! *gasp!* So, when I placed my order (not a small one, mind you - 10 boxes!) for G.S. cookies, his response was, "What? Just 10 boxes? Oh, we'll have to get more than that!"

So, when my order came yesterday I had to place an order for another 8 boxes. Yep - for my husband who is on a diet.

Yeah, I love that man.