Uncle Sam's New Job

It might just be me, but I doubt it is.  Maybe I just doubt it since I want to feel like I’m not the only stupid one out there.

I live under the assumption that when my car starts doing something weird I most likely have time before I need to get it looked at and don’t tend to get it in right away.

About a month ago while driving I noticed that I felt this constant bumping like I was always driving on the bumps between lanes on the road.

I figured I had to take my car in to get the brakes done in about a month so I’d just wait until then.

On December 27^th I was supposed to drive some youth to San Diego with me in my car.  Events occurred where that did not happen.  I say it was by God’s grace those events happened they way they did.

I finally got my car in to see the “car doctor” as we refer to it in my house to help my kids understand what a mechanic is.  FYI I have the most amazing car doctor. Fox Auto Care.  If you live by us you should definitely go to them.

They are honest: like I got my oil changed at a dealership and they told me I needed X Y and Z changed and when I took it to Fox Auto Care they told me I was fine – I just saved $500 in repairs.

They are kind: they always talk to me about more then just my car and ask how things are going

They are a great price/deal: they have facebook, AAA, and coupon discounts!

They produce great work: I’ve never had to take something back after they fixed it.

And they did not pay me or anything to say stuff.  I just love them and wanted to share my love.

I found out that my brakes still had some time, but the bumping was one of my tires falling apart!  What the heck!  And then something else to do with something to do with fuel something.

We got the car back late Monday night which meant Justin was carless on Monday and could not pick up Taylor from school.

Taylor was overjoyed when that meant that Uncle Sam got to pick her up from school.

Taylor: Can uncle Sam pick me up everyday?

Me: No that’s daddy’s job

Taylor: Did uncle Sam come because your car is at the workshop?

Me: Yes

Taylor: Can daddy give uncle Sam money so his new job can be to pick me up?

Who Doesn't Love Strawberry?

I think I’m caught up on things or at least things I can remember at this point.  I do have things to share about celebrating my not so baby girl for her upcoming birthday this Friday, but that can wait until we have ended the festivities.

Can you believe Taylor will be 6 THIS FRIDAY?! 

That’s not why I’m writing though.  I’m writing because of one of those moments I had today.  When something small triggers a sudden flood of uncontrolled emotion.

I’m not gonna lie – that uncontrolled emotion for me is usual anger at some idiot from my past. Today it was not.

You know those small strawberry candies.  The ones with the gooey/chew center and the wrapper is a kind of foil that looks like a strawberry (see picture below).

Well somebody had some of those in our galley at work today.

Those were one of my favorite candies growing up and the person who seemed to remember that the most was my Grandpa Meier.

There was one time we were visiting him and he gave me the biggest bag I had ever seen of these delicious candies with very specific instructions.

I remember it vividly with his beer can in one hand and the smell of cigarettes on his breath as he leaned toward me and said “You better not share any of those.  They are just for you”.

I am neither fond of beer nor cigarettes, but my Grandpa definitely was and I was definitely fond of him.

As I grabbed one of those candies from the galley and popped it and my mouth the familiar flavor came with a tear running down my cheek as I then remembered standing at work in the back office counting cash several years ago and getting a phone call from my daddy telling me my Grandpa had passed away.

We knew it was coming… his fondness for beer and cigarettes for most of his life had been taking its toll for awhile, but when that moment comes the pain is no different.

So this blog is in memory of my Grandpa and an acknowledgement that whenever I eat or see one of these small strawberry candies I will think of him.

It's "Time" for a Fight

If you’ve been married for awhile or probably even if you’ve been dating for awhile you know those fights that are reoccurring.

One of ours revolves around our poor sense of time.

I assume things take longer then they do.

Justin assumes things take less time then they do.

How does this translate you ask?

It means I overstress about how much time we have left to do something or get somewhere so we fight and then if I have my way end up way early.

It means Justin always assumes he has plenty of time left to do something or get somewhere so we fight and then if he has his way we end up late.

Being the good wife that I am we had one of these instances this Sunday where I so desperately wanted to shout I TOLD YOU SO! When he underestimated how long it would take him to get done and I over estimated.  I didn’t.  But I guess I am now and when he reads this he will see my small (yet slightly over exaggerated) victory.

He asked if he could take a “quick shower” before he left for church to which I responded if by quick he meant 10 minutes and not 20 like it usually takes him.

He accused me of over exaggerating and jumped in the shower.

The shower turned on at 6:52.  The shower turned off at 7:10.  If you notice that was 18 minutes.  I say much closer then 20 then to 10 minutes which resulted in him leaving nearly 10 minutes after the time I think he should have left.

Granted the time I think he should have left would have probably made him way early since I am probably over exaggerating the time it takes to get to church and buy donuts, but still.  His “quick” shower was nearly 20 minutes like I said it was and not 10 like he implied.

I win.

Christmas in 4 Easy Steps

I’m going to make this as brief and informative as possible.  Brief: Because I’m sort of lazy today.  Informative: Because that’s what the blog does – informs you of what’s happening in our crazy little home.

Step 1

Christmas Eve: My parent’s house

We headed to my Parent’s house after lunch and spent time just hanging out and chatting before opening gifts.  After the gifts were opened we made breakfast for dinner and ate heaps of French toast, apple pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and banana bread.

Step 2

Christmas Morning: Justin’s Dad’s House

After opening our stockings we ate breakfast and headed over to Justin’s dad’s house.  We grabbed lunch on the way and ate when we got there.  Yay for McDonald’s nuggets on Christmas!  We opened presents where the girls both got a LeapPad and Elijah got a batter powered rideable Lightning McQueen car.  Which in true Elijah fashion he is terrified of (picture below is from a week later and this was as close to the car as I could get him).

Step 3

Christmas Afternoon: Justin’s Cousin’s House

Pack up the kids and new toys and head to Michelle’s for great food and snacks.  Listen to people call Justin Amish due to his horrible face hair.  Listen to Taylor whine about the lack of “bounce house” (the trampoline died).

Step 4

2 Days Post Christmas Dinner: Justin’s Mom’s Boyfriend’s House

Justin and the kids head over for dinner.  Kids get surprised with a trip to Disney on Ice and binoculars to help enjoy the show.  Kids get special goodies while at show.  Kids return exhausted while Justin spends his alone time playing his new Wii U

I didn’t take many pictures because I am bad at that. 

2nd Annual HoliDavis

The original intro to this blog was “Let’s go back in time to November 2012”, however, even though Blakesgiving was amazing (it always is) I don’t have pictures which is really the only reason I’m skipping ahead to HoliDavis.

By the way the idea of HoliDavis was totally jacked from the family that does Blakesgiving every year.

And I’m ok with that.

This year I made my first Turkey (and Gravy)!  My oh my was it dry, but it was not undercooked and not burnt so that’s a plus right?  I’d never made Gravy either and I think I bought the wrong kind it was a little over salty, but made a great combo with the dry turkey.

This was my 2^nd year making Ham and I think I worked out the kinks this time around for pretty nice looking hunk of pig. I heard it tasted good, but since all ham tastes disgusting to me I’ll have to take other people’s words for it.

The spread consisted of my meats, green bean casserole, broccoli salad, rolls, mashed potatoes, and fruit salad.  We ate, and talked, and laughed – all while squished around a table that went from my kitchen to my living room.

After dinner we played a few games.  One of my favorites is where you wrap gift cards up in several boxes with lots of tape and people roll dice to see who gets to try and open it using oven mits.

The kids got along great too with only a few tears and bumps (that’s impressive for 4 boys and 2 girls running around).

These are the only pictures I got, but at least its something!  We ended up having the Newmeyers, Blakes, Registers, Foxes, Sam, and Travis over.  Please note that I was a horrible friend that night when another friend who was supposed to be coming drove around for like 30 minutes lost trying to find our apartment (calling me the entire time) and I missed every single call.  SORRY NEYA!

Where Babies Come From

So Taylor was looking at some wedding pictures and commented on what happened after the wedding.  Justin felt the need to share with me what came out of her mouth so here's how the conversation went:

Justin: Taylor where do babies come from?
Taylor: When you roll around on the bed and kiss.
Me: What?!
Taylor: I learned it from Marley and Me

This happened in the car on the way to an impromptu dinner at Benihana's for Taylor's birthday where she tried a crunch roll and decided she loved it and ate 3 pieces which mean I only had 1.  But it was her birthday dinner so who can complain.  On the way home the conversation went like this:

Taylor: There is nothing that will make me not eat a crunch roll
Justin and I: ::laugh::
Taylor: Except if it has poison in it

At least she makes wise life choices.

The Proof Is In The Numbers

I’m way behind on things like HOLIDAVIS or Christmas in general.  I even just realized (literally as I was typing the word “Christmas” in the previous sentence) that I never wrote about Blakesgiving either!

I’m contemplating on if it is worth it to try and catch you up or just pick up from here.

I took pictures and what are pictures for if not sharing them?  So you will most likely get a few catch up blogs in the week (or weeks) to come.

In the meantime I’d like to share with you what you (the readers) found most interesting in 2012.

TOP 5 READ POSTS

It’s an Emotional Day – 78 Views

10 Things I Love – 77 Views

We Want YOU! (Said in my Uncle Sam Voice) - 77 Views

So Sayith Tay and Jay #9 – 75 Views

The Daring Camping Journey – 70 Views

So re-read them if you want or just take ignore this post completely and know that something more worthwhile is probably coming.