Saturday, January 29, 2011

Spiders, Tears, and Wine. Oh My!

Let me preface this post by saying I have *slight* arachnophobia. And I'm slightly tipsy. Fine. Maybe an entire bottle of wine tipsy. Don't judge. We all have our weaknesses.
This week has been... hectic. And by hectic, I mean, it's been one burn away from hell. Both of my daughters got sick for the billionth time since the oldest started kindergarten in August. We accidentally made two car payments this month because of the speed of snail mail from Honolulu to anywhere else in the world and the bank refused to return our $400+ check. Lots of schoolwork, lots of housework, family drama, etc., and I'm ready to go to the beach just to bury my head in the sand. Or swim to some distant island for some peace and quiet. But I don't want to go to the beach because of my embarrassing paleness, and chasing after the toddler is more of a chore than relaxation. Annnnyway.
I thought things were looking up today, but boy was I wrong. The hubby and I finally got some alone time. Take that as you will. Being happy and tired, I decided to take a nap and leave both children in hubby's capable hands. Well, I had just fallen asleep when he throws open the bedroom door and shouts, "Chels! Come quick, I need your help!"
Now, I'm a housewife that doesn't do much more than sit on my ever-widening ass every day, let alone make the effort to work-out, but I sure as heck jumped outta that bed as fast as I've moved in years, heart pounding in my throat, afraid something awful had happened to one of my babies. I briefly took note of Tony, my husband, holding a broom as I ran past him to the stairs. When I saw my youngest happily playing in the hallway, I stopped long enough to ask what's wrong. And what is wrong? Nothing but a giant, enormous, mutant spider that my husband was afraid to take care of on his own.
I paused long enough to put on my pants and my glasses, hoping my heart wouldn't explode from what he's just put me through.
Now, I really don't like spiders. I once had a pet spider when I was young and naive. She was a wolf spider I caught on my back porch. I named her Exterminator, ya know, because she killed all the other bugs... Get it? Annnnyway.
I'm no longer the "pet" spider type of gal. I hate them. I'm terrified of them. Even the teeny tiny little ones freak me the eff out. And you're probably thinking my husband is a pansy for asking me to take care of this one. Well, you're wrong. He may be a pansy, but not because of this spider. It was freakishly huge. Crouching ten feet up the wall in the corner. Scary as hell. I'd rather face a charging gorilla. Did any of you see the gorilla that walks like a man on the news today? Check out foxnews. It was adorable. Back to the spider.
Honestly, I don't know exactly what it looked like. I wouldn't get close enough to make out details. It was black. It had way too many legs to make me comfortable. And worst of all, it was IN MY HOUSE! I'm afraid I'll never sleep peacefully again. My husband grabbed a broom and knocked it down, then smashed it. When he went to sweep him into the dustpan, the spider pulled some sort of martial arts crap, hopped from his back to his legs, and took off running. And so did I. Towards the front of the house, totally prepared to dash out the front door, jump in the car, and take my terrified self to the beach. Paleness be damned. But good old hubster, he gave the 8-legged freak of nature a few more good wacks, sucked him up with an old vacuum (that will be at the curb for trash pickup come Monday), and assured me he was dead.
I'm sure this all seems awfully dramatic to you. And believe me, it was. I was on the phone the entire time, trying to get a hold of my dad. I think I had a crazy notion of asking him to send me a gun so I could shoot the damn thing. I'm not a sniper or anything, but I would have shot at the spider until I ran out of bullets. Then I would have beaten it with the gun. I ran. I screamed. I squealed like a little girl. There may have been a few tears shed. Lots of tears shed. I'm not proud. But I'm alive. And to celebrate, I got a bottle of wine for my ordeal. And I drank the whole thing. I even kept the bottle beside me until it was gone because I was afraid to go in the kitchen and see Spidey's family, lying in wait for revenge.
And you know what I learned? Wine actually does make things better. And I'm calling a real exterminator first thing Monday morning. And I'm sleeping with a bat under my pillow for the foreseeable future.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Peeking out of My Cave

When I married my husband 6 years ago, I was 18, fresh out of high school, and moved out of state to be with him. Away from my family, my friends, my job, everything I knew at the time. Because of his job in the Air Force, we lived in a little podunk town where the cattle outnumbered the people, and the main place to shop was Wal-Mart. Sound bad? It was. So very very bad. I got pregnant shortly after we married, and I practically became a hermit.
My comfort zone was in my own home, with a couple close friends I made and my husband. I always pictured myself a pretty outgoing person, but I sort of lost all that in the move and ensuing pregnancy. Now 6 years later, not much has changed. I've had another baby and moved even further from my family and friends. I've made a couple good friends where we now live, but we can go weeks without talking and be okay with it. I've been fine with this, but I want to get out more and be more active. I want to do interesting things with my girls and husband, and have things to blog about at the end of the day.
So here are some questions for all of you moms and dads too, especially if you're a stay-at-home parent or military spouse. What do you do with your days? What activities do you do with your kids? With your friends? By yourself? Are you in any groups or clubs? How do you find them?
I'm hoping to maybe find playgroups for my youngest daughter, one or two after school activities for my kindergartner, and something for only moms or parents, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Joovy Scooter Giveaway!

I admit, when my oldest daughter was a baby, I was clueless when it came to baby gear. That's probably why I ended up getting a baby blue stroller with a Peter Rabbit print that I NEVER used. Not one time. I also bought a little cheapo umbrella stroller. It did the job, but neither my husband or I could push it without stooping over to reach the handles, and we always kicked the underside of the seat. I seriously think it was made for dolls.
Now that I have my youngest daughter, I like to think I'm a bit more stroller savvy. I know what I need and for which occasion. This year, my oldest daughter started kindergarten, so I often walk her to school and home each day, pushing my youngest in the one stroller we own. It's nice because it's lightweight and compact, but it's also a pain in the butt because it's lightweight and compact. The canopy is useless, it has no cup holder and a teeny tiny basket, and it's so light that if I even push one wheel through the grass, the darn thing gets stuck. I feel like I need a more substantial yet still easy to maneuver stroller, and that's why I've entered to win the Joovy Scooter from One Savvy Mom.
The Joovy Scooter has ergonomic handles, a cup holder, a roomy accessible basket, a huge canopy, a multi-position reclining seat, 5 point harness, and super durable fabric. It looks like a truly great stroller, and I would love to try one with my little girl. If you're in the market for a new stroller, check out the details for the Joovy Scooter. You can enter to win one of these great strollers at http://savvycouponmommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/only-best-for-your-family-joovy-scooter.html. Good luck mamas!

2nd Literati eReader Giveaway!

Visit Just a Mom's Take on Things for another chance to win a Literati eReader, a great gift for the avid reader in your life, and a great gift to yourself if you're that reader. Just be quick because this giveaway ends TODAY! Hurry, hurry, hurry, and good luck!

http://www.momstakeonthings.com/?p=9417

Monday, January 3, 2011

Bloom Fresco Highchair Giveaway!

Like many of you mamas, I've breastfeed my daughter since birth, so when it comes to feeding her with anything other than, well, what nature gave me, I've been a little clueless. When she was a small baby, I just cradled her and nursed her wherever the need arose. When she was a bit older and just starting solids, she sat supported in her trusty Bumbo with feeding tray. My little girl had chubby thighs though, so that little gem didn't last very long. Before we knew it, we had moved into a new home, selling our own dining set in the process, and alas, we've now got no place for our toddler to sit and eat her solid meals. Granted, she still nurses (almost 17 months and still going strong! Yay!), but she needs to be able to sit with a plate and fork and cup in front of her so she can learn to feed herself. And an awesome Bloom Fresco highchair would be the perfect place for her to accomplish the task! Over on the wonderful blog, Feisty Frugal and Fabulous, one incredibly lucky family has the opportunity to win one of these chairs for the little love of their lives. If you want your chance to win it yourself, head over to http://feistyfrugalandfabulous.com/2011/01/bloom-fresco-2/
to learn how to enter. Good luck mamas!