School TIME!!!!

It's that time again!!! Back to school time!!! I think I'm ready, or at least I hope so! No thanks to my well-meaning associates who kept me in meeting ALLLLL week. I spent only about 3 hours in my classroom this week, so you can imagine what it looked like when I headed out to volleyball practice on Friday afternoon. Depressed isn't even the word. Fortunately for me I have a SUPER AWESOME husband who sacrificed his Saturday of playing some video games and relaxing (or cutting the grass and taking off the trash) to come help his frantic wife decorate her room. I have to say that Tim has always been my room decorater and organizer and as always, he really came through for me again this year! He's awesome!!! Now my room looks more like a classroom than a prison cell. No, I take that back more like a classroom than a prison cell of an inmate that's only been there a few days, because if you've ever been to prison, those people COVER their walls with stuff they get in the mail!! Hee hee!!

I'll update after the week unfolds. Volleyball is 0-2 with VERY close losses. In fact, we couldn't have come any closer to winning, we lost both matches by 2 points in the last game. :( BOOO!! It's going to come together though!!

Blue-Gold Match

When I evented the idea of hosting our own Blue-Gold match, I had no idea how it would turn out. I thought it might be a lot of work or really stressful. I didn't think the community would come out to watch a scrimmage or even buy tickets to one. I thought maybe we'd try it this year and it'd probably just be another nixed idea.

I am happy to say that NONE of these ideas was founded. It turned out to be VERY little work. I just had to make the tickets, which I did on my computer and get sponsors, which once again, I did on my computer (all but one sponsor responded by email). The girls each sold 15 tickets, most of the girls sold all of theirs and a few came back to get more. The community TRUELY supported our event. There was probably 50+ people there, and if you know volleyball, that's about what game crowds look like on a good day.

We made around 1000 dollars, and if I'm calculating right, we made enough money to order new uniforms, which was my goal! The girls are going to be so excited!! We're definitely doing this one again next year!! Enjoy the pics!

Shhhh!!!! Mystery Shopping

Shhhh!!!! You can't tell anyone! I'm a mystery shopper!! Shhh!!!

I was reading about the middle class disappearing and how daycare costs are killing young-would be middle class families when I saw an article on ways to supplement your income. It mentioned a lady that did lots of little jobs to supplement her income and one of those things was mystery shopping. She made about $2,000 a year, plus free merchandise. So I thought, hey, I need extra money. I HATE to shop, but I'll check it out.

So, I found a few companies that pay mystery shoppers, only one that pays pretty well, and off I search to find places in my area. My first shops were back in July. Basically, you complete this powerpoint/information reading and then answers questions about what you are looking for when you shop. There are very specific guidelines as to what you are looking for and what the sales people are supposed to be asking, etc. Then, you do the shop, and report what happened.

There weren't many in my area in July, but I had to travel from my parents house to Greenville to head to the coaches clinic, and there were a few along the way. I did a Staples shop and 2 US Cellular shops. It turned out to be REALLY easy and actually a little bit of a break from normal life. I don't really like to shop, but it's not really like shopping at all. Some shops you don't even buy anything. I'm a detail oriented person, so for me, the thrill was in remembering the details and seeing if the sales associate was doing their job correctly. (Since I knew, what they were supposed to say.) Also, I am huge on customer service, so it was fun to critique good/bad ones.

Anyway, I picked up a couple of jobs here in Morehead City this week, which it's great that they had some jobs in my area with this company. So far, I've made about $70 and got a box of ink pens and a big writing tablet that I wanted to get for my classroom. (Teachers, this is a good deal if you can do the office supply stores.) All for about 2 hours of my time. EASY MONEY!

Well, I'm off for now. Remember, SHHHHHH, don't tell anyone I'm a mystery shopper!! Hee Hee!

Butt-Naked

After I went to bed last night, I thought, "Man, I should have blogged about Raiden too." So here's his story from yesterday:

We went out to eat after church, and we missed the early service, so we sat at a table while Daddy stood in line with all of the other church goers at Subway. Anyway, this put us home really late, which made Raiden late taking a nap. So after about an hour I heard him throw his empty cup out of his crib on to his hardwood floor and start fussing. This is Raiden's true sign that he wants me to come check on him.

So, I went in there, and the master creator confessed to filling his diaper with a not so pleasant aroma. I took off his cute overalls (Daddy has even gotten Roman into saying that Raiden's little overalls look like he's wearing a dress, but they are oh so cute and this is his last year of wearing anything too cute before he starts having to look tough.) and changed his diaper and decided that since we don't have any A/C today ("the man" is coming to fix it this afternoon, we hope) I should just leave him in just his diaper.

I leave him to drift off to dreamland, very doubtful that he's going to get there because he's jumping around like he just ate 2 vats of double chocolate (I know, studies have shown that chocolate has no affect on most kids). Anyway, roughly 40 minutes later I hear him start fussing again and can make out, in between the announcers of the Olympic beach volleyball match I was watching, that he is saying "Pee pee! Pee pee!" So I decided that since the volleyball match is right at a critical point and the players couldn't possibly finish without my viewing, that I'd wait a few minutes before checking on him, who knows, maybe he'd settle down.

The match finishes (not the way I wanted it) and I lend my ear toward his room and hear nothing. "Hmm, guess he's out!" So I push my recliner back and drift off to dream land. A little while later, Daddy decides that maybe Raiden needs checking on, since he was in there awake for so long and he goes into check on him. What does he discover you may ask??

Raiden decided that he needed his diaper changed, so he took it off, and tossed it over the rail onto the floor. Then, I guess he was just really tired, so he went to sleep. There he was butt-naked in his crib, fast asleep.

Incidently, he slept til almost 6, at which time Roman and I decided to go get him up. Roman thought it was the funniest thing that Raiden had on clothes or diaper on. And fortunately, he didn't even pee in the bed. As soon as I got him up, I took him to the potty (yeah, we're not interested yet) and I put a diaper on him. WOO HOO!! No mess to clean up, but quite a funny story!

Lights out

After putting Roman back in the bed for the 2nd time tonight (he's a great staller, and we go through this every night), I told him not to get up again, go to sleep. Roman responds with, "But Mommy I can't go to sleep!" I said, "Why not?" Roman innocently says, "Everytime I close my eyes the lights go out!" SILLY BOY!!!

Thought I'd share this silly little story. Our air condition went out Friday Night, so we've been sweating it out for the past few days. Thankfully everyone goes back to work and daycare tomorrow, so they can find some cool air. I, on the other hand, am going to hang out here to wait on the heating/air guy. But it's not going to stop me from my exercising regiment. I'm going running first thing in the morning before it gets too hot!

Bye for now!

2nd Weigh-In

First, let me say that this is an unofficial weigh-in. We had to make a slight detour in our contest due to some unexpected issues that arose. Anyway, we are getting back on track. Tim will be able to sign up for the gym this week, and since the boys are back in daycare, as of today, I'll be able to head to school early and work out.

Please pray for Tim's grandmother, Harriett. She fell and broke her hip last Sunday, July 27. The doctors did hip replacement surgery and she spent a few days in the hospital. Now, she is in a nursing home for rehab. As some of you know, we moved down here partly to help out with family. Tim's grandparents live in an adjacent apartment to our house which we share with Tim's mom. Tim's grandfather has Alzheimer's and cannot be left alone, so it has been a tough few weeks for Tim's mom with all of the shuttling him around to different places. They have a sitter coming in tomorrow, so please pray for our family during this transition. We're hoping that the sitter arrangement is an answered prayer and will help everyone.

Anyway, I'm pleased to report that even though I am not officially working out, I have still lost a few pounds and it's been 1 MONTH today since I've had a soft drink/carbonated beverage.

Starting weight (7/5/08): 160 lbs.
1st weigh in (7/20/08): 158 lbs.
2nd weigh in (8/3/08): 156 lbs.

I did get some running in while on vacation, but I'd like to get in a little more over the next few weeks. Next weigh in: August 16.

Hatteras Vacation

We spent the week at Hatteras. We had a blast. Above is Roman and Raiden heading to the water to fill their bucket.

Here's a group shot of the Cobb grandkids. A few of them aren't too happy about photo time. From left to right: Front row, Raiden, Roman, and Lexi, Back row, Tyler, Brenner, Riley

Riley and Lexi jumping a wave.

Some scenery pics I took on the beach.

Getting them to smile was like pulling teeth, but at least they're standing still.

Raiden and Roman playing on the beach.

Mommy and Raiden warming up on the beach.

Hope you enjoyed the pics! More posts to come soon!