So, the mechanical condition of my escalade has been going down hill for about a year. It has needed a new water pump and theres a great built in feature that I'm sure no other escalade came with-when you're at a stop and take off, it sounds like the horn honks!! So, last week Rob told me that he was going to take the escalade in to get a new water pump and it would cost about $400-I told him to go ahead and do it because we still owe on it and plan on keeping it for awhile so we need to take care of it (not his specialty!!) So we dropped it off sunday night. Monday he called me and asked me if I wanted them to fix the rear axle too (that's what was making the horn honking noise when you take off) I said YES!!! Just let them look over it and fix whatever they need to. He told me it would be about $1300. I said that's fine. On tuesday, he called me and said they found some other stuff wrong and it would be about $1600. Again, I said that's fine, just do it. This is a friend of Rob's that he bowls with so I figured he wasn't messing with us and he would do a good job. We went and picked it up last night and the total was $2000. It's kinda funny how it went from $400 to $2000 in less than 5 days!!! They printed out everything that they did to it and it was 2 pages long!!! It needed it bad and I was feeling ok about the price. That is until I looked at the labor price and the parts price. The labor price was $1400 and the parts were $600. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! I figured that if they worked on it for 40 hours straight (which i'm sure they didn't) that's $37 an hour!!!! WOW!!! I'm in the wrong business!!!

Anyhow, it's running like a champ and we're taking it to springfield this weekend so we'll see if it was worth it!!

Last year before I made the decision to become an insurance agent, I thought maybe I should check into getting my life and health license-just because-maybe it would make me look good!! So last July I took the 2 day long course that cost $215. It was horribly boring. I studied real hard for a few days and then stopped. Then I decided to become an agent, With this you have to pass your test no more than 6 months from the day you start. I took the 2 day class again and February, studied for a few days and then stopped. I couldn't bring myself to even look at it, I didn't have any interest in the concept. So then it became April.... I started getting a little nervous (I had to have my license by May 1st!!!) I considered taking the class again and figured I really didn't want to put myself through that again!!! When I was a sales coordinator I saw EVERY SINGLE PERSON I TRAINED fail the life and health test over and over again, These were people with college degrees. I passed my property and casualty test the first time back in 1998 but I was still so freakin scared to take this stupid test!!! My manager has been trying to nicely remind me that I REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS!!! So last week I got online and scheduled the test. I didn't tell anyone about it because I didn't want to fail and have to answer to everyone!! So I went and took the test this morning and I PASSED!!! I am very excited and so relieved that I don't have to think about this anymore, I called my mom and told her and she said "Why were you worried you've never failed a test" I guess I haven't but I didn't want to walk in there and just assume I would pass. I'm very proud of myself and I think I might tell Rob he should take me out to dinner for it!!

We had a very busy weekend. Friday I left work a little early and Amber and I went to Blanchette Park and McNair Park to check them out as far as a place for her to get married. She really liked Blanchette park. We were walking through the garden at and Amber said "I hate bugs" I started looking around and I didn't see anything so I said "Where do you see a bug?" She said "What do you mean? Can't you hear it buzzing in my ear" Anyway, she loved the garden and it's a definite possibility. Saturday morning I had to work at the diner, as soon as I got home Amber wanted me to go running around with her, she then decided that we were going to have a BBQ and invite some people over. I was exhausted by the end of the night. I didn't do too much on Sunday, Amber was working and Rob was bowling, me and bryan talked about doing something all day but we never actually did, I had to bowl Sunday night. Yesterday I took the day off and Alivia and I went to the zoo with Jenny, Jack, Amber and Brayden. It was a perfect day for it. The weather was gorgeous and there was a light breeze. We had a really good time, I had to buy a disposable camera for $15 so I will post pictures as soon as I develop them. When we first got there of course we were all hungry so we sat outside and ate, some ducks came up to our table so the kids were feeding them, it was pretty funny, Amber said "Do you think ducks would eat chicken if i gave it to them?" I think she just gave them fries and she said to the ducks "Are you allowed to have ketchup?" She's retarded. Then we went over to the sea lions, Alivia went crazy-she LOVED them. They were pretty active and we got to see them eat, she kept saying "I SEE 'EM, I SEE 'EM, MOMMY, I SEE 'EM!!!!) Every time I go to the zoo it's too hot and all the animals are hiding in the shade but they were out and about yesterday, it was so nice. Rob and I are going to Springfield, Mo this weekend, he is bowling there. I love going to Springfield, they have alot of malls and really good restaurants. That's all I got for now...

Thoughts.....

THANK GOD SANJAYA FINALLY GOT BOOTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I really was starting to feel bad for him. I got on Howard Stern's website yesterday so see if what I had heard about him rallying to keep Sanjaya was true and it was. He was campaigning to keep Sanjaya on American Idol because he sucked. It's sad that he has that much influence over people. I'm glad that america finally got it right!!

I was watching the news last night and they did a dedication to all of the people that lost their lives in Virgina this week. They showed pictures of the victims and I happened to notice that there was no rhyme or reason the the type of people that were killed, there were women, men, students, teachers, caucasions, african americans, asians, a german teacher, a russian teacher and a french teacher. I just thought that was strange.

I don't really have much else going on, I've been sick for the last two weeks and finally starting to feel better. Things have been a little slow at work but I think they're picking up. I'm writing a HUGE house next week so that makes me happy!!!

2 more weeks of blog material....

We were sitting at breakfast the other day and Amber leaned over to Bryan and said something kind of quietly.

Amber: I need to ask you a question, but I think it's kind of dumb
Bryan: (rolling his eyes) What?
Amber:But I think it's dumb
Bryan: WHAT?!?
Amber: Do geese have pockets for their legs when they fly
Bryan: WHAT?!?!?!?!??!
Amber: Do geese have pockets to tuck their legs into when they fly? Because they fly for days and their legs would get tired
By this time we are all laughing hysterically
Bryan: First of all they DON'T fly for days at a time, they take breaks. And no they don't have pockets.
Amber: Well I just didn't know what they did with their legs when they flew.

They move out in two weeks, what will I write about then?!?!?

Lots of things going on...

Amber and Bryan are officially homeowners! Here's a pic of their new house

They move in at the end of this month! On Saturday we went out to Mt. Pleasant winery to check into Amber and Bryan getting married there, It's very pretty there and ironically it's off of Jackson St!!!!! Amber thought the "grape trees" were cute! She's hopeless.

Alivia got her first haircut on Friday. I really did not want to do it but, it was getting pretty bad. I had to fix her hair every morning which I LOVE to do, but if her ponytail holder or barette would come out during the day the babysitter wouldn't fix it, she would just let her run around with hair in her face so I figured I would just do it. She did really good, we went to amber's work and amber gave her a sucker and she let amber cut her hair, she didn't, however, want to put the cape on. But it looks very cute and she did very well.

I think the terrible twos are starting already. She has become very independent lately. We got into a fight last week because she wanted her sandals on and not her tennis shoes. Now she wants to pick out the food she eats and I have to show her several options before we can sit down to eat. I have to hold things up in front of her and she wants to pick everything out!! Last night she didn't want to put her pajamas on. I'm not sure I'm strong enough for this!!!

Jenny and I are starting to plan Alivia and Jack's 2nd birthday party. We are going to do a circus theme at a park. It's going to be so much fun, I can't wait. We are renting a sno cone truck and we bought popcorn boxes.

That's about it for now!!