blues

interview today was ok...I think it went pretty well. The FVP was a fellow NY'er so we talked a little about the differences. It was a behavioral interview ( I hate those!) but I think my answers were ok. Didn't get a real feel of the job because it's a new position. The company is adding this line of recruiters, so the site manager was able to give me some information and background, but more will be released at training. Training would be in Minnesota and they are looking to move pretty quickly---making their decision by the end of the week.

I just was having a crappy style day...my hair wouldn't unfrizz no matter what I tried. My makeup looked caked on, my suit just didn't lay right (it could be that I have AF and I'm bloating BIG TIME this month, so it didn't fit well and the other suit I would have traded to NEEDS dry cleaning too bad)...so I wasn't very comfortable with myself (appearance wise) which can do a number on your self esteem when interviewing. So I should hear either way by the end of the week.

Cough, Cough, Sneeze, Sneeze

Honk, Honk

Now I'm sick too.

AGH I hate this.

On a good note, I have an interview on Monday with Ameriprise as a Field Recruiting Specialist. It would be nice to have a real job with benefits, 401(k) and a pension plan...however, I DON'T WANT A REAL JOB!!! LOL.

Reminder to self---play the lottery.

Easter Sunday

Marissa all dressed up. She loved her dress and looked adorable (if I should say so myself!)



The kids were so excited about Easter, however, Dylan woke up sick during the night and didn't really enjoy the holiday very much.

He was in this position for most of the day.




Turns out that he has an ear infection and strep throat :(

Easter Egg Hunt Pics

I've already posted their pics with the Easter Bunny, but here are some other pictures taken at our Easter Egg Hunt:


Sunflower Cake...Got the recipe from my friend Jenny's blog...yummy..Larry took the picture before I finished and before I noticed that the front two peeps were backwards...OOPS!



Dyed Eggs




Hunting

Noted Authority

did you know that a Noted Authority lived in my house?

I didn't either...well know we all know!

Today Dylan was explaining that he "loves Mommy to the sky and back" and that he "only loves Daddy a little bit" squeezing his thumb and forefinger together so you can see how much a little bit really is.

When asked why he said "because Daddy doesn't take me to baseball games". So the Noted Authority informed him that the reason Daddy doesn't take him to baseball games anymore is because "it's not Baseball Year yet".

So we've been told!

The Great Baby Food Search

I really love my moms group! When one of us in need, the troops really rally around.

My friend Camille has a 7 year old who is autistic and mentally handicapped as well as other disabilities. He has severe food aversions and only eats pudding and one kind of baby food. She recently found out that DelMonte was discontinuing Banana's & Strawberries with Tapioca. The only type that Kai eats. So she posted on our yahoo group to be on the lookout and sure enough mom's around Pittsburgh are posting back that they've picked up 19 jars, 28 jars, 10 jars, etc. Such an outpouring of support is really great.

Here's a video of Kai playing basketball:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

You Call This A Bonus???

well Larry got the info today about his raise and bonus.

Raise is 3% for a whopping $1410 more a year and bonus is 4.3% which is about $2020, of which we'll be lucky to see $1200 of.

First Day of Spring

and WTF frost on the car windows, snow showers overnight and temps in the high 30's/low 40's.

I'm soooo waiting for Spring. I can't wait to put the heavy coats, scarves and gloves away.

This just strengthens my resolve to move this family to a warmer climate. Larry's company's US headquarters are in Plano Texas, that might be nice. We've talked about North Carolina, especially Cary/Raleigh/Durham/Charlotte...some areas where there's lots of IT/High Tech jobs....reality, I don't think we'll make another major move...at least not until the kids are in high school or something like that...we can't afford to lose our support system that we have here.

BUMMER

You Can't Stop The Beat

I love this play!

Last night was the second time I saw it. I saw it my first time on Broadway when me and some online friends met in NYC. At the time, Diana DiGarmo, from AI, played Penny and she was awesome---a true scene stealer.

Last night I saw it in Pittsburgh and it was soooo much fun. Once again, I left the theater singing "you can't stop the beat!"

Bad Mommy

I was just remembering my bad mommy moment:

The kids went to a birthday party a few weeks ago for my friends son, Heath. In the favor basket, the mom put in some miniature Heath bars. Yummy ! One of my favorites.

Marissa doesn't like chocolate so I confiscated hers and I told Dylan that they had nuts in them so he gave me his!

Dylan is allergic to nuts...

Heath Bars don't have nuts...

ooohhhhh

BUNGEE

Our mall has a bungee activity place called Highflyer Bungee Company which Marissa loves. Here's a video of her:

Easter Bunny Time

Yesterday we went to the mall after an early dinner at The Olive Garden.

Dylan wanted to see the Easter Bunny, Marissa didn't (I think she's still scared of some characters).

We had their picture taken. It didn't come out too great:

And the Lam-O Award Goes to

Me! LOL.

When did I become so lame? Must be a 40's thing.

I have a sex dream and it's about my husband---LAME.

I don't know the characters to SpongeBob Squarepants, so when Dylan gets an Easter treat filled with shaped candies of SpongeBob characters, I have to go online to figure out who everyone is.

I plan an Easter Egg Hunt the day before I want to host it.

Being a Working Mom Just Doesn't Suit Me

I'm depressed because I have to work...so I'm in a funk...I feel like I'm lost as to where my kids are in school (even though I review everything with them everyday---it's just an excuse I'm using for not working). I don't have Dylan in any activities, because I feel like we can't fit them in. Marissa is in bowling on Saturdays and Daisy's every other Thursday. In April she will start soccer on Mondays and Fridays. Bowling will be over in mid April.

I feel behind and all because I hate using my time at home housekeeping. Larry's a HUGE help---doing all the laundry, helping with dishes etc. but I'm responsible for all the organizing and I'm soooo not an organized type of person. I do the food shopping and most of the meal planning and cooking. I review kids school work and papers and make sure that we are on top of everything like that. I prepare their clothes everyday and make sure they do/take/are where/what they are supposed to. Alot of it is "mind" work and I guess it's got me exhausted. I know I wouldn't be any less exhausted if I was home all day, not working, because my time would be taken up with other things...like cleaning the house (LOL), volunteering at Marissa's school, taking Dylan to preschool twice a week and speech three times a week and etc.

Oh well, off to find me something to get me out of this funk...hmmmm....maybe chocolate LOL.

Recruiting in a Depressed Area/Market

This week has been a revelation at work for me.

I didn't really pay attention to the sucky job market. I guess since both of us are working and are stable for a while (well as stable as my contract position can be), I guess I didn't realize how bad the job market really is.

But I've received resumes and applications and have interviewed people who have been out of work for months and are so desperate that they'll take a job as an assembler when before their lay-offs they were financial advisor's, mortgage processors, data entry clerks, bank clerks and other white collar workers.

I wonder if we'll ever find ourselves in such desperate times that we would be greatful for a job that pays $8.25 an hour.

Dinner Tonight

I'm always on the lookout for something different for dinner. I've had this recipe for a while, but because it's only for 4-5 hours in the crockpot, I haven't had much chance to make it. So today when we decided to go to the 1:00 movie I knew I had the opportunity, and everything I needed at home:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup butter (I used light spread)
4 oz. onion and chive cream cheese (I used light)
1 package dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 can Golden or Cream of Mushroom soup (I used the cream of with roasted garlic)
1/2 cup white wine or cooking wine
1 package of angel hair pasta

Place 6 chicken breasts in crock pot.
Melt butter in sauce pan then combine with softened cream cheese, salad dressing mix, soup and wine in a bowl. Mix well until blended. Pour over chicken in crock pot.
Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Serve over cooked pasta.

It was very tasty. Larry who doesn't like chicken, used the sauce over the pasta and liked it.

Growing Up

Every day I'm reminded how much my children are growing up. They do things and I think "Oh right she's 6 or he's 3 now".

Today I didn't work so Dylan and I met my friend Laura and her 3 year old Bryce at the movies. They have a Monday afternoon special for $5, admission and a popcorn. So we went to see Alvin & The Chipmunks.

After arguing with Bryce about seating and getting settled, the boys were sitting side by side with their drinks, popcorn and napkins and we were sitting right behind. Laura remarks, "It's a little sad that our little guys are sitting in front of us, all prepared watching a movie. It really hits you how much they are growing up. Usually he sits right next to me." I answered "yes it's sad to see your kids growing up. You are so proud of them, but yet you are sad as well."

It got me thinking of the other things he will be doing soon without me. He currently goes to pre-school without me and we are thinking of signing him up for gymnastics or something and that won't be Mommy & Me anymore.

I didn't have to be sad for long though...about half way through the movie he came back to my row to sit on me!