Road Trip w/Toddler, I must be insane.

Rant:: The fact that airfare is so indecent is making me so annoyed. Two tickets to Seattle, Washington should not cost almost $700 freaking dollars. I'm just sayin.

My sister is graduating college next month. I checked into the airfare, and thought it shouldn't be that much (4 months ago). I was so wrong it was at $600 for me and Mack. I said that's freaking stupid. Being me and thinking I'm smart, or not so smart, waited and checked 2 months later, and the prices went up. So, lame. 

I have to be there for my sister's graduation. She is one of those grudge holding people that will never let you forget and will always remind you. Ya, I don't need anymore grudges, she still has plenty on me. 

I decided Mack and I will be driving. I mean we have driven to L.A. all the time and she is great. L.A. is only 6-7 hours. Ummm, yeah, Washington State is 11-12 hours. I have a Subaru, so we can make it to washington on about $120 bucks in gas each way. I like $240 oppose to $600. So that's, that! We are driving. 

We leave in two weeks now. Yikes! We have a portable DVD player, so I think it will go smoothly. I plan to depart at around 3:00am so that I can get in a solid 4-5 hours of driving in with Mack still asleep, without stopping. That's a plan that may not be a good one. We shall see. Oh, and the better half is staying home for this trip, just me and mack and 854 miles to Washington. 

This drive should be memorable, chaotic, or just down right awesome with my all most 3 year old. 

My tweets should be just hilarious... I'm assuming. 

Ya, I'm just crazy for doing this. 

Amgen Tour Of California in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe had a great opportunity to host the 1st and 2nd stages of the Amgen Tour. My work was a sponsor, so I was really into it and volunteered to represent our branding and company name up at the resort, North Star at Tahoe. 

So, what happens when I arrive at the resort, snow happens! It was dumping outside. The racer's were lined up in South Lake, Tahoe and well guess what the race was called off due to snow. Both stages of the race were cancelled on Sunday and Monday, due to snow. 

Lake Tahoe is a unpredictable place when it comes to weather, especially in the month of May. It's such a bummer, because it would have been great for the community and a lot of businesses lost a lot of money due to the race's being cancelled. 

I guess there is always next year, or maybe not. I bet they won't include Tahoe in the race next year due to our unstable weather this time of year. Boo! 

Defined:: Code N2

I picked up Mackenna the other day from preschool & I heard the teacher say Code N2. I was like what the heck, are they teaching our kids military ops or something? I thought to myself...preschool, the opportunity of learning even if it's military codes and operations. Maybe they were playing a game, you know using their imagination, which I have yet to do in the last 10 years.

Anyway, I forgot about it. The next day when I dropped Mack off at school, I heard it again.   Teacher.. "we have another Code N2" it's pretty serious. 

I looked at the teacher, I'm sure it was the most weird and ridiculous look ever & the one you know it just looks ugly, ya that kind. I finally blubbered, what is Code N2? You guys playing a military ops game or something. The teacher looked at me, like what the Fluck, military opps, ya with the kids, I don't think so. 

She told me, that they say it to the other teacher's when a kid poops their pants. Code "Number two!" 

ZOMG! I felt Dumb! No the kids don't play military ops games at school, the teacher's use it when a kid shat's their pants. 

So, yesterday I learned what Code N2 is.

Project Life Thursday's

I'm addicted to my new project life by Becky Higgins. When you see something online or things that everyone is doing, you think well it's cool, but do I really need it. I mean I could go to starbucks for a whole week, twice a day even, and get those pair of shoes I've been swooning over the last week instead...

I know, I actually think this in my head.

I starred, thought, imagined of what I could do with this product. Was it something I really wanted? Would I actually use it? Finally, with my girl panties on, click the button and placed the order on Amazon. I mean I have 2 day free freaking shipping, why the hell not. I rationalized with buying, thinking that mother's day was coming up & and saved the hubs the trouble and bought my mother's day gift. What a gal right!?

When that ugly, unattractive brown box showed up on the porch, I was like this is it. I must open it now and decide if it was worth the money before the hubs comes home and explains to me why I should never be allowed amazon.com or let alone a computer. (he is problem smiling right now). 

I opened it and it was in this pretty white box. Let's just say I dove right in that night and well I haven't stopped. I love it, it's easy and it's something that I can have time to myself to do. 

Here a couple of photos of my first few pages. Some are incomplete, but you get the idea. 

Are you swooning for one of these bad boys. Unfortunately the one I have is no longer available. Don't fret, she is coming out with her new kits for school in July and also, new kits for 2012 in October. Stock her blog at BeckyHiggins.Com 

I went onto snap fish and ordered around 300 prints of photo's of Mack's first year. I even made 4X6 collages right on the site as well. I paid $29.93 for 300 prints and collages. If you order now on snap fish use code 2011MAY and you will get free shipping. Perfect right. 

Any of my fellow bloggers that are digging into project life? I would love to know and see your progress and what you have done with your albums.

Child Hood Vs. Adult Hood

I literally thought of this idea to blog about when I was driving home from the store this last Saturday night. I tend to think a lot, too much, about stupid stuff, dwell, stress..etc. I think you get it right! 

Once a upon a time I live in Seattle, Washington. I was born to an OCD father and mother. I didn't find this out until I grew older. 

I lived with my dad full time. My dad was a complete clean freak, and almost to the point where he would drive one crazy. He also was not a morning person whatsoever, and disagree to agree. 

Our rooms had to be clean and spotless. The old argument of "well it's my room I will close the door", didn't fly with my dad, cuz you see the sq footage of our closed door still belonged to him. So, our rooms were pretty clean for the most part. 

Dishes in the sink. We would have to have a pretty good reason why there were dishes in the sink. I.e. the dish washer was either currently running or you were about to say I'm emptying the dish washer now.

If you were late for school or missed the bus. I would A. call someone else and try and get a ride. or B. walk to school and just be late. It was much better to be late for school then wake my dad up and get oscar the grouch on the way to school in the car. Usually he was not happy when he was awoken from his slumber cave to drive me to school if I was late. 

There were times when my dad would tell me no. I couldn't do something I couldn't hang out with certain people, blah blah. The you cannot do list. Which I'm sure all of our parents have. I'm sure we have all thought to ourselves...

When I'm older and have my own place and my own house... I will

A. Buy whatever I want at the grocery store and will not have to answer to you

B. Stay out as long as I want and not have to check in with anyone. 

C. I will leave my room a mess because it will be my own house

D. I will do dishes whenever I feel like it so there. 

E. I will give my kids everything, because I know what it feel's like when someone tells you no.

F. I will not yell or discipline  my kids like you yelled & disciplined me. 

G. I will drive as fast and anywhere I want because I will be paying for my gas and my own insurance. 

This list could go on for like forever.

My point of all of this. When I grew older I became a product of my parents. Geee imagine that. 

I'm pretty clean and I don't like to leave my house or room a mess. I don't stay out late at all. My room can get a messy, but I usually clean it because it's just gross. I do dished if no daily every other day. I do not give my daughter everything, I say no and I don't feel bad about it. I have disciplined Mack for doing things wrong and not listening. I am cautious when driving because I don't want to have to pay money for tickets and higher insurance. 

It's funny when we are younger and think of all the things we cannot wait to do when we get older and live our lives without our parents. Everything I said I was going to do when I got older I don't do. It makes me laugh now about how rough I thought things were. The real world can be nasty and spit you out, but you parents raised and taught us certain things not to make them the bad guys, but teaching you to be realistic. 

I hope I can teach Mack the same things I was taught from my parents. 

Best photo award to mack

This is the best smile I got from Mack on mothers day.

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Happy Mother's Day

Some of my favorite mother quotes. 

" Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. "

 ~Author Unknown

" All mothers are working mothers."  ~Author Unknown

______________________________________

Dear Mom, 

Like I've said before, you are a pain in the ass, advice giver, opinionated, loud spoken, stubborn, always right, loving, always there, did I mention pain my ass. Wasn't sure and I wanted to make sure that made it into the list. Good cook, cancer survivor, loving Grandma, and most of all the best mom. I may not tell you all the time, ok probably never, but I love you and all that you do for me and my family. This day is as much as mine as yours, because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Being a mother is a hard job and I never really understood it until I became one myself. I'm glad you are around and living in the same country, let alone the same state. I know I've been glad to have you around and for you to be part of Mack's life. 

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Love,

Kristina

Happy Mother's day to all of my family, friends and fellow bloggers. May this day be a day about you. You, We, I deserve this day. 

Saving's Account, who needs one.

I'm 24 years old, and yet to ever establish or start a saving's account. It's one of those lessons that I have yet to learn or teach myself. Which is farking stupid right. My thinking of not needing  a savings account is necessary, no matter how much money you make, I only fooling myself. I would love to say we have $5K or even $10K in savings because we are rock stars and that's what we do. We save.

I'm admitting I'm a SPENDER!

Whenever I see that amount after all bills are paid and the groceries are in cupboard I start to get the itch. The itch to buy something, to buy Mack, to buy Ian or something for the house. The list goes on I tell you.

I'm starting to learn that what you have, what's in your house, what kind of car you drive doesn't define you or your wealth. I have a nice car and so does the hubs, but is it worth the $1,000 a month to have those nice cars... no! I would rather have a car that gets me from A to B then have a the latest and greatest. 

Think if I saved $1,000 a month just by not having car payments that would be $12K a year. That would be one good effing vacation or several right? That's how I've been thinking lately. 

I have to be a grown up and just start saving the dough. Automatic transfer money straight from my check to savings. sounds easy right. Saving is hard and it takes some serious discipline and self control. 

Less is more. I'm posting that on my mirror in the morning, along with hey fatty don't skip the gym either today. 

I like writing notes to myself. 

A career in the Army.. My Brother

My brother although a huge pain in my ass most of the time.. ok all of the time, has decided to join the army. Well he decided more than 2 years ago, but he is getting close to enlisting in the next 2-3 months. He took his MSCAT (military) test and he scored a 56. So basically he can have any job in the army he wants and a sign on bonus for his high test score. 

Sweet!

Now, that I think about it I'm going to be the sister of a U.S. Army Soldier.. soon. I remember watching hurt locker or something with my mom and saying " you know when Drae is deployed and over seas I won't be able to watch these war movies anymore." I like war movies, but maybe because no one in my family is currently active in the military or fighting the in the recent wars over the last decade.

I know my brother will be a great soldier and I think it's incredibly selfless to be able to join our "defensive team". Plus he could use the ass kicking from a higher rank. He thought my mom and whoever else in his life was a jerk face, wait till he has a soldier screaming in his face every five seconds. 

Anyway, I'm proud of my lil bro. Even if he is a stubborn and arrogant lil punk. ;)

My Fitness Pal

I've been on My Fitness Pal for quite a few months. There appears to be a lot of us mommy bloggers out there that... well, have it too! I would love for you to leave me your username's or your names you go by on the site. I would love to be friends with you and we can motivate and hold each other accountable. 

Please leave me your Account name in my comments, I can't wait to have you as my friend on My Fitness Pal. 

In just one week of actually counting my calories and watching what I'm eating and working out 3X a day. I've lost 4 pounds. 

I love how easy it is to document and keep track. If you haven't joined My Fitness Pal, you have to join now. 

My User Name: MountainMum

Add me as your friend and we can motivate and keep each other on track. 

If you are new to my fitness pal, then you have to go and check it out. You can track all of your food, exercise and water intake for the day. It's a one stop shop.

For you smartphone users there is an app you can download and have it on the go with you. It really is awesome. I hope to see you on there soon. 

Easter Weekend, Egg hunts oh my!

Easter weekend consisted of way too much candy, easter egg hunts, easter bunny, rain and wind, ham and more candy.

I love Easter and this year as been the most fun of them all. Last year we didn't really partake in the festivities and I'm a little bummed about now that I think about it. This year I went all out and made a lovely easter basket for Mack including: tinker bell doll, Tangled, candy, chap stick, more candy, and bubbles. 

Side note: My kid goes bonkers over bubbles. Its almost ridiculous. 

We went to a easter egg hunt on Saturday at the local park and there were tons of kids. It was raining and cold and mack was so over stimulated she didn't look at the camera once. Hint the nice pic of Ian and easter bunny and Mack looking at the ground. 

Sunday we took a dive in the easter basket, watched tangled and ate candy at around 6am. I'm all about good parenting decisions like feeding my 2 1/2 year old candy at 6:30am. We followed it by another easter egg hunt in our front yard and ham dinner. It was a perfect day and weekend. 

Project Life - My order has arrived

I have been swooning and drooling and perhaps day dreaming of me completing a project for life album by Becky Higgins. 

You have heard of project life. OMGeee... go here now please www.beckyhiggins.com

ok.. I feel better now you have seen it and now you are scratching your head yeah and..

I'm a scrapbooker, yet I haven't completed a damn thing. That is the truth. ok, I lied I finished 1 page. My child is almost flippin 3 years old. One page is pathetic. I'm a working mom, ya I know what an excuse right. But, seriously it's mine. I work full time and some, 50 hours minimum a week, cook, clean, baths, read stories, bake, dance class etc. I do it all. So where in the world do I find the time to scrap book. During my child's 3 hour naps. Ya it's crazy my child still naps for almost 3 hours a day. Yay me! However, during that time I think of other things to do.. like being lazy, catching up on shows, being lazy, cleaning, grocery shopping or just being lazy. Moral of that sentence I've been lazy about scrap booking. 

Anyway, I've seen this product come up time and time again on other people's blogs and I instantly needed to know what the hype was about. I checked out becky higgins website and then I was hooked and ordered my first kit 2 days ago on Amazon for myself for mother's day. I'm so nice to myself I know. 

I just received it today and I'm so excited. It's like the perfect dream for limited time and still have scrap booking, but less time consuming, therefore more time to do other things.. like be lazy. Possibly. 

This is the amber kit/ the binder

First I need to get all my photos printed.. yikes ya like 3 years worth. I plan on getting one book done in the next month and completing the other 1 1/2 years in the next 3 months. The kit is amazing and so so easy. I will be updating every tuesday on my "project life".

Skills I've gained from being a 3 year old mom.

1. on your free time you nap

2. Food, drool, slime and possible snot is part of your daily wardrobe.

3. You sleep on your spare time

4. Cleaning is considered "your" time

5. It takes you 45 minutes to get milk and bread at the store

6. The cat get's kicked off the bed, because you can't give anymore attention to anyone

7. Your child fart's and you both laugh

8. Poop doesn't really smell the way it used too. More mild

9. You can cook dinner, entertain child, and go through the mail at the same time

10. You know all of the pixar movies by heart

I remember thinking that motherhood wouldn't be that hard, it's instinct right, things will just fall into place. I was sort wrong...

I remember the first cold, I rushed Mack (4 months old) to the ER. I didn't even call the doctor I just took her to the emergency room. She had a high fever and a runny nose. I learned then that babies get sick and to watch them and make sure you nurse lot's and they are peeing and drinking lot's of fluids. I learned from my mistake of rushing Mack to the ER.

Teething, I was in for a surprise. It was a lot of internet research, trial and error and sleepless nights. But I made it.

I never realized that nursing would take so much effort and energy. I was completely drained and tired all the time. I wish I was more prepared for that.

Looking back the last 3 years of all that I've done and accomplished as a mother and learned, it's been an incredible journey. and I always think about doing it again... I must be crazy.  

Wordless Wednesday

Pst... my kid is the front of the train

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Click's, weren't they suppose to stay in high school

Mack has been attending dance class for 2 months now. The kid loves it. I mean loves it. She get's to run around and listen to songs and make loud noises with tap shoes. 

However, I regret going every week. 

I love going to watch Mack dance and learn and grow with the other little chickas at class. It's the mom's that come along with there kids. 

Briefing: Lake Tahoe is a mixture of hippies, normal working middle class people (like myself), and stuck up rich snobs. Some of them only visit their second homes a couple times of year and some of the other ones are the douches that live here full time. 

Ok, back to dance class. Usually I can deal with these people and just think to myself, "why don't you stick it where the sun don't shine" and other times, I can't just brush them off. When people don't even say hi to you or even know your name, might I add, it kind of gets to you. 

My daughter is a lot like me. We are sociable and can make friends pretty much anywhere we go. However, this "clicky group of gals" are too cool for school I guess you could say. They are the prettied up mama's with their coffee in hand more worried about their recent gossip and there next coffee get together's rather than paying attention to their jerk of a kid. 

I thought click's were for high school. I guess some people just don't grow up. 

What really get's me is Mack claps and cheers for their kids and we try and be friendly and we get nothing in return. 

I will continue to put up with doushe bags, because my daughter loves the dance class and I'm not going to make her suffer because I can't remember to realize that they are jerks and nothing will change. 

Photo Organizing Project Part 1

Around 8 months ago my computer crashed. Ya hard drive after 18 months on a new computer completely crapped out. Me being dumb I didn't back up any of my photos. I know how stupid of me. It's so simple to do, but me being naive you never think you will loose anything on your computer. Ha. I lossed all of Mack's photos for the first 2 years. Super lame.

However, a friend of mine switched over one of the drivers and ram over to a back up one in the computer I was able to pull off all the photos before my computer took a dump the next day. Super ecstatic. 

I was looking over the photos and I didn't for some reason transfer the delivery photos and the baby shower. poop. I checked out Ian's old myspace page, which he never uses and thank god never deleted. There they were the delivery photos on his page. I quickly snagged them off of his page and I now have 24 photos I didn't think I would ever get back. phew. I mean I sweating bullets and just wanted to cry.

So I now have all my photos on a DVD. There are safe for now. Then I got to thinking my lap top which has been our back up computer for the last year is about 5 years old and I can't believe it is still kicking. literally. So, first order of business is to pull off all my photos from the last 18 months and back them up, before I'm super sad again. You can't get lucky twice in my opinion. 

I have been reading I Heart Organizing blog and Sunny Side up. These ladies/Mama's are pro's I tell you. They have all their books done and photos printed and I Heart Organizing did a month long photo organizing project back in February. 

I thought to myself I must get my act together. 

For the next month, I'm going to be challenging myself to these tasks:

A. Back all photos (1/2 done)

B. Create safe box or filing system for Mack's art work and keep sakes I want to keep and include in her books.

C. Print all digital photos and prepare to do 3 years worth of books. (yikes I'm a slack)

D. Order Amber Higgins book making kit. (amazon.com) You have to check these out it looks so worth the $52 bucks. 

E. Organize photos into the years and stages of Mack's life.

F. Create Books. 

Seems like a simple and short list, but a lot of work ahead of me. Oh, and I will throw in finishing her baby book while I'm at it. Yikes!

If anyone is in similar shoes or behind in these departments, feel free to link up with me as we try and tackle the ongoing projects of photos. 

I'm so excited to get all of things done and making memory books for Mack to have when she get's older. 

Mountain Mum Letter's

Dear Mack: Daddy always seems to go first all the time, So this week you are first. You are becoming more and more testy and challenging with discipline. Mommy doesn't like putting you in time outs and I don't like having to punish you. So, be a good girl this week and listen to mommy. You have completely wow'd me on the other hand with you potty training. You have been doing so well and going poop for the first time at school and at home. Dear Ian: I love our nights on the couch after Mack is in bed and we watch our favorite tv shows. I didn't make it till the end of shows this week without falling asleep first, but there is always next week. Dear Directv DVR: I'm so glad you are there to record our shows, because I would never be awake for any of them. Dear Spring: it's nice to see no snow in our forecast the last 2 weeks. So, please be sure to continue to bring us sun and rain showers only. Dear Mack: I can't wait to go on the easter egg this hunt and have your real first easter this year. 

Men who pee on the floor

I'm warning you... this is a rant. But.. you might feel the same way. 

I can't tell you how sick I am of cleaning pee of the toilet and floor. You would think after 28 years my other half could point, shoot and aim. I'm I wrong about this?

I nag and complain about it, but then it ends in a stupid comment from the other end and then I get pissed and walk away sometimes laughing on how stupid it is we are arguing over pee pee on the floor. 

What do you other woman do about this? Or is your other halves better trained?

I might have to make him sit down on the toilet if no improvement has been made. The one thing that get's me is that they can find a tinier hole at any hour of the day, moon or shine, but yet the huge porcelain bowl is unattainable for them to hit. 

Mack colors eggs

Tonight we decided to boil eggs and get our dye on. Mack had a lot of fun. She loved the sticker idea better the writing with chalk.

Dying eggs is one of my favorite Easter traditions.

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We've gone poop'in

Exciting things happening in the potty training department. Mack has been able to drop a duce at school and at home this week. We are down to pull-ups only this week at night time. What a relief and I'm so proud of my little girl. boy, the sure do grow up fast. 

While we are on the poop subject, have you ever read or gotten your hands on the book called "Everyone poops book" 

It is a strange book, but it's a great book to encourage your little one to poop. Mack loves to look at it on the potty. 

Enough Poop talk for one post.