I'm lucky he loves me...

Sunday Fun-Day in the Totten house. Jarrett went to Wal-Mart & bought a much needed file cabinet. The girls thought the huge empty box was fun to play with. Jarrett & I laughed that we should just nail it to the back of the house & call that our addition, then we could just be done with that. (Oh planning to build on to our house is so much fun & stress.)

First, we put Rachel in the box to scare Olivia. It worked out awesome. I was laughing so hard, I couldn't take any pictures. Now when Daddy got in the box to scare Rachel, it was too good not to capture photographic evidence. He was stuck in the box.

He was stuck in the box. While I was laughing so hard that I could hardly breathe, I did what any good wife would do....tipped him over. And I laughed & laughed & laughed. Olivia was laughing too. Rachel, not so much. She was scared that Daddy was going to be stuck in the box forever. But, as luck would have it, since it was made of cardboard - he tore his way out. Because, I of course, was too busy laying on the floor laughing to help him. Unfortunately, no pictures of this chain of events.

gettin mah hair did

It was time for a change. As I've said before, it's an epic battle of me vs. genetics.



pretty awesome, huh?





much better, I feel like myself again



Crafty Talk

After a rather lengthy hiatus from all things crafty, I'm getting back into the swing of things. I started off small. I saw a subway sign at Wal-Mart. Sorry, I can't find a picture of it. But I loved it & knew I wanted to make something like it.

Nothing to spectacular, but I love it. I bought an unfinished wood frame at the Hob Lob & some scrapbook paper. I love how it turned out.

This isn't crafty, but I had to show off my favorite Christmas gift. Jarrett got me the Dad & 2 girls Willowtree. I love it!!!

sometimes...

Sometimes, I upload pictures from my camera to my computer that I know I didn't take.

Sometimes, it's a photoshoot of my favorite 4 year old, taken by my favorite 7 year old.

ok, so...

It isn't all bad...

We had a blast playing out in the snow for about an hour yesterday afternoon. A huge snowball fight, girls vs. boy. And we kicked his butt. SnowAngels, Snowballs, jumping in the snow, snow adventures. The girls certainly enjoyed themselves. And I enjoyed watching it all & hearing all of the laughter.

it's beginning to look a lot like...

a huge pain my ass...Winter that is. How foolish I was to think we would sneak out a winter free of snow, ice, salt, drifts, etc...

Don't get me wrong, snow is definitely pretty - from inside, all warm, free from harm, & all cozy like in my snuggie. (see below) And I think I would have maybe been able to enjoy it slightly if we had a white Christmas. Or if it hadn't been 50 degrees the day before it snowed & blowed all the live long day.

it's even leopard print...be jealous


Anywhoooo, we weren't so lucky yesterday. It snowed & the wind blew all.effing.day. Me being a pansy, did not want to drive home in this in the dark (I think I made the right decision) left work early. In town, roads were HORRIBLE. On the interstate - not too shabby. Visibility was the definite issue with the 40 mph winds. (see below)


I do not condone taking pictures of the snow blowing across the interstate while you are trying to drive. But I did take this picture yesterday on my way home from work. You're welcome.


Once I got the girls & went home we were in for the night. Which meant, I skipped my FAVORITE night of the entire week - Thursday Night Bowling with mah BFF Haley.

Here is a vital part of this story. When I arrived home with groceries & children, Jarrett was home already. Our driveway was one ginormous snowdrift. He says, just park here - here being in the yard beside the driveway. I'm like, ok. Assuming this was short term & he would be shoveling or getting tractor out to plow out the drive later. Well, that never happened.

Important note, I don't blame Jarrett for the snow, or drifting, or inability to park in the driveway. We both equally hate winter weather.

The weather did not improve over night. Jarrett leaves for work no problem. We heard the snowplow come down our road around 6:00 am. Jar tells me, it looks pretty decent out now. And, happily reported that there was no drift behind the car so I shouldn't have a problem getting out. I'm thinking, sweet!

I go about my morning as normal. I get ready to go, start the car to warm up a bit. Then have the girls loaded up & ready to go at 8:00. Which is my normal time. Olivia has to be at school no later than 8:30, I have to be at work at 10:00 today - we are going to be golden. I can even get McDonald's for myself after I drop Rachel off....oh foolish foolish Natalie.

I put the car in reverse, nothing. Ok, I've played this game before, I should put it in drive & see if I can go forward a bit, nothing. Lather, rinse, repeat about 10 times. I text Jar - "ZERO traction in the yard. The egg is stuck." No answer....I'm growing more & more agitated. I get the shovel scoop what little snow is in front of & behind my wheels out. Let's try this again, nothing. I even get gravel from the driveway put it in front of & behind the wheels, nothing. I unload the girls, take them inside. I call Jar - no answer. I text Jar again rapid fire style - "I'm going to have to take your truck", "or do you have any other suggestions", "this is getting ridiculous".

I figure I will give it one last try before I fire up the diesel truck. And I had success. I about clipped my picket fence in the process. I slung mud all over the front of the house. I rutted the crap out of the front yard. And I most definitely side-swiped the bushes in front of my bedroom window. But I made it onto the road. Albeit, the opposite direction from which way I needed to go, so we looped the section because I'll be damned if I have to try & turn around on this little country road.

Our road, inevitably sucked. Drifts plowed out but still snow-covered. The drift at the end of our road is always ridiculous & it was no different this morning. You can see nothing but snow piled taller than my car. It's pretty awesome. The highway was fine. In town, a different story. It looked like nothing had been done.

way to be small town - so happy you were able to get the plows out in the am for folks travelling the roads

Olivia made it to school right at 9:00 - a half hour late, sorry. I made it to work, without McDonalds, unscathed. And I parked in a 2 hour limit parking spot, been there since 10:00, sorry.

in which i am a complete & total hypocrite

hypocrite: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings (aka: Natalie Totten)

Olivia had a dentist appointment today...for a filling. {wah wah waaaaah}

I know, I know, shame on me for my child having a cavity. I felt so horribly guilty. But, before I go through that spiral of shame again, I feel I need to state my case. Its a defect in her tooth. It wasn't caused by poor dental hygiene. Her tooth didn't form properly, evidently, and it left a little spot uncovered by the (insert correct scientific word for it - it's not enamel but kinda like it). Anywho...after her check-up in September we were told she needed to have 2 fillings done.

Enter dental appointment for Olivia. It didn't go well. Shots. Drills. Entire Experience. Horrible. I know this, you know this.

I HATE the dentist. I hate the dentist (well not the actual dentist, she's a nice lady). I hate the work they do. Teeth cleanings. Fillings. Anything where I am sitting in that green chair with the bright light shining on my face with my mouth open to the point of pain. Being forced to carry on a conversation when someone's hands are in my mouth. I have a near anxiety attack before every single appointment. I'd rather go to the lady doctor every day of the week than ever have to sit through another single dental exam. I hate it that much.

So how on earth am I supposed to tell my daughter not to worry. Be brave. It won't be bad. In my head it's like ::DANGER DANGER DANGER:: alarms sounding & I have to be this complete & total hypocrite. Then I turn into the "do as I say, not as I do" mom.

Well, Olivia has always loved the dentist. I have tried so very hard not to push my fear off on her. I play it up, "Yay, we are going to the dentist! I can't wait to see how shiney they can get your teeth!" Every appointment has gone fabulous for her. Until the dreaded 1st filling. I prepared her the best I could. Yes, there will be a shot. Yes, it will hurt for the time they do the shot. After that, you are numb. It ain't so bad. You can do it. You are so brave. It will be over quick as a flash.

She had a less than positive experience at that appointment for the filling. I don't know, maybe I didn't prepare her enough. She didn't enjoy it. She cried. They were going to do both of the little fillings in that one appointment, meaning shots on both sides. After they got one side done, Olivia didn't wish to proceed & the doctor referred her to a different dentist. They told me & I quote "we want her to have a positive experience at the dentist". In my mind, there is no such thing. But what do I know...

Olivia did go through with her appointment today for her 2nd little tiny filling. I stayed in the room with her. I stared at the ceiling the entire time & broke out in full body sweats when the needles came out. And the drill, oh the drill. I hate that noise. Olivia, evidently, also hates that noise. But we made it through. Her in the chair with her little fists clenched with a death-grip on the iPod. And the music so loud I could make out every single song. And me, in the corner also with my fists clenched. Sweating. Staring at the ceiling. Trying to not be a hypocrite.

I cannot believe you are making me come here for this appointment.

I'm so relieved that is done & over with.

Year End Review

It's hard to believe another year has come & gone. 2011 had some major ups & some major downs. It was an interesting year, to say the least.

The girls each had surgery. I did a stint in the hospital. Jar wrecked his truck. Those are the downs...

I am pleased to say, the ups were much better than the downs. We are all healthy & well at the close of this year. And we are very much in love. I'm in love with my wonderful husband. I'm in love with my beautiful girls. We make each other mad, but we also make each other so very happy. 

Our girls...What can I say about our girls? They are my life. They are the reason, I live. I know that sounds very cliche, but it is so true. They make me want to be a better person. They drive me crazy at times, but that is their job as kids. Luckily, they make me blissfully happy more often than they drive me crazy.

They have changed so much in a year. Let's look, shall we?

2010



2011

Again with the bunny ears, geesh Olivia...I digress.

Welcome, 2012! We are going to make the best of you.

I resolve to take time to enjoy my life. Enjoy my girls & the funny things they say. Enjoy my husband, and all of his wild antics. Enjoy my family & friends. Enjoy my house. Enjoy my job. I resolve to find joy in all things this year.

My Grandma made me eat a bean on New Year's Day to ensure I have a "prosperous new year". So we shall see...

2012, what do you have in store for us? I can hardly wait.