Random observations during the holidays...

While I may not be able to stand flipping on the TV and seeing anymore Christmas stuff, here's something Jason just flipped on that I NEVER get sick of. NEVER:



Seriously, I think I just watched this two times in a row in Seattle too. It never gets old. Never, never. Paper cuts between toes, Steve-O snorting wasabi and puking, eating yellow snowcones...oh I could go forever. Just saw Bam brand his bum with an, ummmm, peenie shape. Jason, Dylan and I are sitting here and cracking up. Yes, I'm the worst mom ever, but Dylan's cracking up and why would I take away a little boy's joy and cheer? Don't worry, he left for his playroom again after yelling "Be careful!!" at the guys on TV. I love it when they dress up like old people and do silly things. Bahaha. It's Jackass (all of them) and South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut that I could watch on a loop and never get sick of.

I'm sooo over the holidays. It's too bad because it's the first year Dylan has gotten it, but I've been out of town too much this month and seriously, I'm not even sending Christmas cards. I'm waving my red and green surrender flag. But I got oodles of new ornaments (we always get one when we go to a new place and I sure traveled!) and did a paper chain around the tree a la Pottery Barn kids with all the leftover holiday paper of years past. So I did channel some spirit into the right things. Here's a taste of it, it's really hard to get the good pics and I've had photo fatigue and simply not wanting to try:







and you must know this is my very favorite ornament, can't remember when I had a little bitty 3 pounder with hands this little. Who knew he'd already be 2/3 my height by now and people would laugh at me when I carry him now:



And in non-holiday news, check out what we inherited from a client's of Paul's - it's a five year old Rainbow swing set! The boys got it up, replaced some wood and now all we need is a good staining for it to look as good as new. Dylan was obviously SUPER excited about it.





Other than that, still trying to figure out the balance between work and non-work, but I will get there. It's almost more pressure to work from home because you feel like you really need to prove you're working hard and putting in the hours, but there's no one to see it. Not to mention I still have SO much to learn and it's always tough for me to not already be the pro. But it's an awesome deal and I am still ever so grateful for the opportunity. It's a gonna pay for the Phase 2 renovations - and just in time! The people who had the fire who we let store all their stuff in our garage got a house, so they are moving their stuff out and everything is just perfect timing. So guest house and frat house, on the way in 2009! Now if I can just get through the holidays...

Who wants an update?!

You all do!! Yay, here you go!

I tell you what. Life is good. I could complain right now. I swear Dylan changed so much in the week I was gone to Maryland. I haven't seen my friends in forever, I can hardly wait to be through the holidays so life can settle back into the routines of Pump it Up with Shana and the kids and Tuesdays with Heather and Meggo. But that time will come soon and in the meantime I've been having some good times. I've been a traveling fool, first with Jason's job, then Thanksgiving, then my work traveling. I've seen a grand total of six states in the last month, from Washington State to Washington DC.

First of all, yes, I got a job. I won't bore you with the details (and CG, if you are googling again here's your shoutout) but it is a fab opportunity and the time I spent in Maryland has me even more excited. I'm in Chicago now for my second bit of training, right now it is 18 degrees and Weather.com says it feels like 10. I can vouch for that. It is snowing right now, which is amazing to me since I haven't seen snow like that in my life minus the year I lived in Plano. I also felt my snot freeze earlier. Seriously. But I mastered the El Train (why, I don't know. It smells like hobos, but I thought it a better option than a shuttle at rush hour when I return Tuesday nights). I was pretty impressed with myself over that feat, sorta feeling like I'm invincible and can take on anything. I won't be doing much sightseeing, esp since me, Heather, Bre and Lisa saw nearly everything when we came here and met up with the Boom Boom girls, but I am within sight of Millenium Park and will have to pass it on the way to work and I will be stopping in there. For now, I am sitting in a badass room in the Hard Rock Hotel (really awesome hotel, btw!) and eating junkfood and watching some Netflix movies I've had forever. Awesomely enough, this room has a DVD player with stereo surround so I am not even bothering to watch it on a laptop. Fun!

But let me go back to last week. Last week I reported for duty in Maryland, flying into Baltimore and I realized I might as well take the rest of my travel day and go to Washington DC. Holy Moly. I don't think I've been as emotionally overwhelmed or humbled like that by a place in a long time. Standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial and then walking along the reflecting pool to the WW II Memorial... it was supremely humbling and frankly I don't get that humbled ever. But especially after this last election and the hope I have for this country I know needs to make positive changes and will... yeah, I got a little misty. And here are some awesome pics:











So in conclusion, I'm busy as heck and ever so grateful for everyday. I feel like I've seen so much in the last month and it's a blast. And yes, I can't wait for it to settle down. For now though, I just want to get home and get ready for Christmas. Decorate our tree, buy some gifts, and enjoy watching Dylan love every second of the season. He gets it this year, finally, and it is so fun to watch his excitement. The next couple of weeks will be magic =) Til next time...