It's in the Adventure

"Tales of a Slum-Lord"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:49:00 +0000

If you read my last post {here} than you may know what this one is about... WARNING: Picture Heavy Post Ahead

After finishing our 79 hour/4873 mile road trip we were back in my hometown preparing to send my husband to Montana where he would pack up the UHAUL and move our entire lives to Wisconsin. I was prepping to stay behind to work on our rental units. Prior to our road trip I had heard a few rumors about our tenants and the "extra curricular" activity that had been taking place so when we stopped at the beginning of our trip I decided to drop by and check up on the place... I won't go into great detail but I will say that I decided to begin evicting the upstairs unit completely oblivious to the problem downstairs.

Upon my return, the tenants were forced off our property and I went in to asses the damage... HOLY SH*T. I never imagined people could live in such filth but people surprise me everyday. The garbage had NEVER been removed rather piled in the corner and the pets (which they were not allowed to have) defecated ALL over the house. There my father and I stood, rubber gloves on hand and began to work. The husband would be busy with moving and work for the next month so it was up to my family and I.

Little did I know that I had become a slum-lord over the last 8 months... YEP not even a year!!

UPSTAIRS BEFORE:

These Carpets were brand new

Broken Window

Add caption

A HALF ton of garbage removed, ton's of demo work, massive cleaning, 9-9 shifts, ridiculous amounts of labor (we did all work ourselves) and gallons of paint... we were finally ready for new tenants, except these ones would be filling out an extensive rental application.

UPSTAIRS AFTER:

Re-tilled Yard

Thank You Pinterest

While working on the upstairs apartment I witnessed some "extra curricular" activity taking place in my lower unit as well. So, of course, I decided to assess that unit as well and lets just say I was once again in shock and the eviction process began. ANOTHER MONTH of 9-9 work was in my near future.

DOWNSTAIRS BEFORE:

The Tenants had torn the carpet out due to pet Urine.

Another Broken Window

Missing Door

After extensive cleaning, new flooring, paint, demo, repair and ridding the place of flea infestation we were ready to rent it out again with an extensive rental application required.

DOWNSTAIRS AFTER: Coming Soon

Before finishing the downstairs unit I had to make it to Wisconsin (where I had only been for a week but lived for 2 months) since I had a job interview for a Marketing Director position. Fortunately, I returned the day before my interview, dug out my dress clothes annnnddd.... NAILED IT... I got the job!!! Now to start making some money to recoup our losses on all the damn repairs.

"Posty Posty"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:48:00 +0000

OK... I have been ridiculously busy the last few months, hence, my lack of posting but I will try and sum it all up in two posts so I can get back to posting on a regular basis... That's a whole lot of Post for one sentence, sorry : )So many things have happened since we began our little (long) road trip which began as a 2 month adventure and ended after four... in a state other than Montana.

Following our trip to Atlanta {read here} we continued on to Massachusetts on a fairly uneventful trip, until hitting New York at least. Now, I've heard plenty of stories about New York drivers but have never really experienced them until driving through the Bronx. Nine hours into our drive we crossed into the Bronx and were quickly welcomed with a near side swipe by a mini van. It was late at night, the little man was sleeping and I began to freak out in the front seat as I watched, what was now, two mini van's infront of us begin to drive side by side on the two lane road. I watched as one van seemingly tried to push the other into the guardrail, break-lights flash and the other van push back. Assuming I was about to witness something out of a movie, I turned to my husband who pointed out an exchange between the two vehicles... That's right, a drug deal. These two mini vans where making a sale in the middle of the night, in the middle of the road and nearly running one another off the pavement. That's when I decided the rumors where true... NEW YORK DRIVERS ARE CRAZY and I wanted away from it all!!!

Eventually, we ended our drive after 12 hours in a small town in Connecticut. Thankfully the baby was AWESOME. I highly recommend when driving that route you plan a stop before hitting New York since finding a hotel under $200.00 a night is impossible!!! Not to mention a small tv for the little one.

We reached Plymouth, MA the following day and began our visit with the husbands family. This trip was full of fun things we could do with the little guy and his grandparents, who, were meeting their grandson for the first time. We went to the Aquarium, our typical visit to Faneuille Hall and Boston's North End. We also had a chance to visit Salemn, MA which has been on my eventual list. History and Witches... what could be more appealing. I drug my husband through all the silly museums and historical points... and being the trooper he is, he even walked through the old cemetery with me.

First time seeing the Ocean

While in Massachusetts my husband was offered a Head Coaching Job in Wisconsin which had some pretty good benefits including being closer to family. Since living in Montana the closest drive to family was 24 hours... in Wisconsin it would be 9... shortly after having Vanek we decided it would be good to get closer to family if possible and thankfully the opportunity presented itself, so my husband decided to take the job. This was when I discovered our trip would not be ending in our Montana apartment, rather a new one in Wisconsin. Shortly, after taking the Head Coaching position we packed up our car and began our trip to Michigan where I would stay with family while my husband flew to Montana to pack up and move our apartment. Oh and did I mention, I would be evicting both of our tenants from the duplex we own in Michigan as well {read here}? FUN... FUN!!! Being a landlord SUCKS!

On our trip home we decided to stop in Niagara, as we usually do and show the little guy around. We planned to make it there early evening however a flash monsoon derailed us near Seneca Falls, New York for nearly two hours.

My First Visit to Niagara Falls

We finished off our fun filled road trip in my hometown with family. Thank god for them because for the next 1.5 months they would be watching Vanek as the husband moved us from Montana to Wisconsin and began Scouting... and I began redoing our now destroyed apartments.

Salem, MA

Playing with my Best Bud... Sid the Science Kid

Fun at the Beach with my Cousins

Silly Faces with some of my Cousins

"Ridiculous Temperatures and Mommy Duty"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:57:00 +0000

We started the second leg of our trip with a weekend stop in Grand Rapids, MI for some scouting with the husband. Thankfully, my sister and her family joined us so I had a few shopping buddies throughout our time there. The husband and I don't spend much time together when he is recruiting because much of his time's spent at the rink, so I do my fair share of shopping. Let's just say our son has a pretty extensive wardrobe.

At one point, I stopped by the rink and had the opportunity to meet one of his ~~stalker~~ adoring type fans. Now, on a few occasions my husband has a fan (or two) who simply gives me the hee-bee-gee-bees... and lets say she was a little beyond my comfort zone. Sketched out and chuckling at my husbands face I walked away and left him to fend for himself. Besides, I love hearing the stories of the fans who take it a little to far and how my husband reacted.

I've met many fans and often enjoy their company. Most respect our space, but on some occasions we meet the fan who knows him as the player and sees nothing more than that. They forget that he has a life beyond hockey, that on occasion he takes of the skates and comes home to his personal space. These are often the fans who feel that their entire world is for the public, granted we have some fans who have become friends and we do share this with, but when the skates come off and the appearances end his world is his own. This was one of those fans, one who spoke as if they were friends for years, old teammates meeting up. She knew his hockey life and only associated him with that life and when she finally met the wife... well, let just say the mean muggin began.

The looks are nothing new for me. Often you meet the women/girls who simply want a hockey player no matter if he's in a relationship. I have had women buy my husband shots and stare at me as they bring them over. I have had women/girls make comments about my husbands lack of interest because he is married as I stand next to him and I've had women send him letters on the bench during warm-up expressing their "interest". My reaction... smile and walk away!! On the occasion's with the shots... I cheers and smile... FREE DRINKS. My reaction is because I trust my husband and truthfully the thought of them thinking they can steel him makes me laugh. This particular fan was one of these with a hint of fatal attraction!! Smile and Walk Away... SMILE and WALK AWAY!!

After a rink-a-dink hotel, a little money thrown at the mall, a ~~stalker~~ adoring fan, a night of the porcelain god (I am now lactose intolerant since having Vanek) and we were finally on our way to Atlanta.

We made the drive to Atlanta in two days. While driving through Kentucky we were faced with my old nemesis... Tornado Watches!!! If you don't know the history of me, tornadoes and my overwhelming fear of them, I suggest you read my previous posts. Stuck in traffic near Lexington, KY when the radio announces Tornado watches as a severe thunderstorm roars our way. Immediately, my palms start sweating and my stomach gets upset. I buried my head into the seat and eventually we were moving. Thankfully, nothing came from the watch but it was a single reminder of why I hate traveling through tornado country during tornado season.

We reached Atlanta after staying the night in Knoxville, TN. Waking to the southern heat reminded me of Mississippi and how much I miss the ole' stomping grounds. Atlanta was just as warm but less inviting as we pulled up to our run down motel located right next to the highway in Kennesaw, GA. Living the life of a hockey wife and traveling with the husband has made me less picky about hotels/motels... as many of you know, we have stayed in some pretty low level places and this one was just another for the list, granted it wasn't at the top... maybe 3rd! but when on a two month road trip you do what you can to save a little money and this place was only $50 a night.

$200 dollars thrown at our Motel and we were ready for the wedding. Vanek and Daddy looked daper in their duds and I was feeling pretty good in my dress UNTIL I realized the nifty little backless bra I purchased was slipping from my sides in the 90 degree heat. I had purchased a cute dress at the Mall of America that was backless and silk. Great idea at the time... UNTIL I realized a sticky bra and 90 degree heat does nothing for either the dress or the bra!!

After reaching the wedding I drug my husband in the bathroom after acquiring some duck tape and desperately tried to TAPE myself into the bra. Countless efforts and buckets of sweat later I finally said screw it annnnddd... x marks the spot (women you know what I mean). I shoved the bra in the diaper bag and was on my way... THAAAAN the god damn heat hit, the sweat dripped annnnddd the spots began to show!!! I was a fricken MESS!!! Not to mention the slobber from my son and the wipe I sat on while changing him. Every mishap left perfect little stains in ALL the right places!!! Not only was I lactating but apparently my ass was sweating and my boobs where smiling. Here's to looking good in ridiculous temperatures and on Mommy duty!! Lets see what kind of impression I can leave on Massachusetts.

" Happy Easter "

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Happy Easter from our family to yours!!!

"Remember to take some Pictures"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Little has changed in our world... besides our growing boy and the mileage on our car (I'll explain later)!! Bozeman is getting warm and the community (including myself) are ready for summer to begin. Winter was nothing to write home about since we severely lacked snow which put a pretty big damper on the ski season and I was often relaxing at home with our little one!

Vanek is now 5 months old and still the cutest thing imaginable!! He thoroughly enjoys the bouncer, apples and oatmeal and sticking anything and EVERYTHING in his mouth. He has the sweetest personalty and is quick to flash a smile. But getting the little stinker to laugh only happens on rare occasions. He's interested... a little entertained... but often not amused!! Takes after Daddy.

I know in a previous post I stated we would have some news coming soon and never followed through with an exciting post... this is because our adventure had fallen through. My husband was once again asked to come out of retirement and play throughout the playoffs. We discussed the option (in depth) and decided if this was what he wanted we would make it possible and began preparing to head out after his coaching season had finished. However, things had fallen through and we never made the trip, which is fine since I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason... and this time proved to be no exception.

I guess the most exciting thing happening in our little world is our 2012 road trip. ROAD TRIP... HELL I thought we were over all the DAMN driving... PLEASE!!! This particular trip consists of 6,101 driving miles, 100 driving hours, 2 months travel time and 18 state views... AND we have only finished the first leg.

We started our trip last week and have managed to stay the night in Minot, ND... Visit the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN... Scout the National Tournament in Rochester, MN and are currently visiting family in Michigan (the Husband is in Chicago Scouting). To say the least we are on a roll and Vanek has been doing AWESOME on the long rides. He LOVES Sid the Science Kid, which is constantly playing on my Kindle, and is pretty content playing with his toys. We try to break up our travels into 8 hours so he isn't sitting in the seat too long. He's already a well traveled man!!

My first swim

You might be looking at the miles/hours and think CRAZY!!! I AGREE but we have good reason. Much of our family has never met Vanek so traveling to see them is a must, plus, we have Weddings in Georgia and Massachusetts, Friends in North Dakota and Scouting throughout the East. Flying would have been convenient but would cost a fortune considering ALOT of our travel will be for my husband to scout at weekly showcases. Since our families live in states with tons of showcases, being centrally located only made sense. We would cut the travel cost in both flights and hotel stays and visit our families as well... Killing two birds with one stone!!! WAA LAA... CRAZY but smart!

Our first leg of the trip was pretty uneventful. We traveled through the country roads of Montana and North Dakota to be greeted by towering oil rigs and make shift hotels in and around Minot, North Dakota. The Northern portions of North Dakota are currently over populated due to the oil. I have to admit I was amazed at the massive amount of campers plopped anywhere they would fit and the make shift hotels that resembled barracks. My husband laughed as I mentioned how we could purchase some land and rent it out to those staying in campers, but I was serious!!! Driving through you would see people sitting on the makeshift decks of their makeshift homes drinking beers and reflecting on their day. Hard work, with exceptional pay... ahhh the American Dream... if only you could have the cake and eat it too! Minot has no housing for those interested in relocating but a massive amount of jobs... $17.00/hr to work at Papa John's... WHAT!!! That's INSANE but where the HELL would I live?!? Its pretty crazy to say the least and I can only admire the dedication these people have.

We continued through to Rochester, MN after staying with some friends in Minot and having lunch with some other friends in Bloomington, MN. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. Vanek and I helped Daddy scout, did some damage at the Mall of America and Babies-R-Us and enjoyed relaxing in our Hotel room.

Playing with my Gym

Currently, we are visiting with my family in Michigan until the end of the month when we will begin the second leg of our trip. In the meantime, the Hubby is traveling from showcase to showcase. I'll keep everyone updated on our travels and remember to take some photos!!!!

Sitting Up

"Little Bunny Vanek"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:06:00 +0000

*Note: If you follow my photography blog you may have already seen this post.

Today I did a photo shoot with Vanek for his Easter pictures. I struggled to get a smile from the little bugger since he was ready for his nap but I managed to capture a few cute ones... Despite Daddy's objection to the bunny ears : )

Besides getting his FIRST Easter photos done, Vanek has been growing soooo fast. Tomorrow we go in for his 4 month check-up and second round of vaccinations. There have been so many exciting things happening with him and it's a blast to watch. For instance, he has stared sitting without us holding him up (although he falls over after a few minutes) and the cutest thing is that he's discovered his feet which results in him bringing them up to play with ALL the time... SOOO cute. Placing him in his exersaucer is always good for a laugh since he instantly freaks at the sight of the lion puppet that sits on the brim. His feet start to kick, his eyes widen and he stares in amazement. I laugh every time as he tries his hardest to reach it.

Again, things are changing in our world... but I'll save that for a later post.

Sitting up!!

My First Cereal!!!

"Breastfeeding and Pinterest"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:07:00 +0000

Vanek has finally hit the big 3 months and is growing like a fricken weed!! I hear ALL the time what a BIG baby he is but personally I don't see it. Perhaps, its because hes the only 3 month old I have to compare him too. Sure, he has his rolls, but what baby doesn't, he still fits into some 0-3 month clothing and looks like a healthy little boy to me. He's happy and doing everything he should be so I wonder why his size is the first comment I get from people? Maybe this is a normal conversation starter for those with a baby, however, I feel like they are secretly judging me as a mother... I'm sure I'm only being silly though... and is it weird that it only bugs me when coming from strangers??

Vanek was not a small baby at birth (8 lbs 5oz) and he was two weeks early so he was above the norm right out the gate. He has also been a very good eater and sleeper. In fact, he has been eating 6oz every 3-4 hours for awhile now and has been sleeping through the night (10pm - 8am) for nearly a month. He seldom cries and loves to cuddle so the fact that he is "apparently" a big baby is nothing I'm concerned with considering he is Healthy and Happy. But I still wonder why this is one of the first comments I hear? What about his massive amount of hair?? Or his huge blue eyes?? or the fact that he is just so damn cute?? Perhaps I'm overreacting, but judgement as a new parent seems to be constantly lurking around every corner.

I also want to touch on the constant questioning of breast feeding. Not only do I get this question from complete strangers but I get the immediate assumption that I am. I choose not to breastfeed for multiple reasons and I often feel as if I need to defend that decision. Throughout my pregnancy I was constantly pushed to breastfeed with information, recommendations, and studies continuously shoved in may face and I have to say I was pretty upset. I often felt as if I was considered a bad mother for not breastfeeding and came out of many childbirth classes extremely angry. In fact, I wasn't even asked about formula when admitted into the hospital. I understand that breastfeeding is good for the baby however, I think society has begun to shun those who are choosing different and are often not acknowledged. Still, I stand by my decision and am happy with the choice but I hope people will try to have an open mind to decisions that differ from theirs.

Other than feeling as if I am always being judged, I have found a new love that has kept me from blogging like I should... PINTEREST. Now, I know this has been around for some time but I have recently joined and become OBSESSED with all of the DIY projects but I promise to do better on keeping you all updated especially since we will have some new news coming within the next month... AND NO I'M NOT PREGNANT!!!

My DIY Blanket: Click here to make your own

My DIY Drool Bibs. Click Here to make your own

"Smiling"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Vanek is now 2 months old, as of 1/4/12, and I can't believe how quickly hes growing. He had his 2 month check up and shots this past week and I have to say he did pretty well. We had a little fussiness throughout the day but nothing a little snuggle and some rocking couldn't handle. The pediatrician refers to him as the little linebacker since he's a whopping 14 lbs and measures only 23 inches... BIG BOY, is what everyone else says, but as long as hes happy and healthy he can be my little chubber butt all day long.

His newest thing is going crazy under his play gym... flay-ling his arms like a fish out of water, doing a riverdance on the piano and laughing at his own reflection gets him pretty excited. It's so fun to watch his reactions to such exciting things now-a-days.

He's also decided that, on occasion, he wants to fight his sleep which consists of him crying, daddy holding the bottle in his mouth (that he does not eat but flips when its taken out) and Mommy soon taking over. This typically amounts to him falling quickly asleep on my chest... little buggers already getting his way. Of course that adorable pout lip, that you could hang a bucket from, doesn't help much either. Mommy's already a SUCKER!!!

My recent adventure is trying to get him acquainted with his crib, since he started sleeping through the night, but I'm finding it difficult, at times. On occasion he will wake and cry as soon as he discovers I am not there. Throughout the day I have been putting him in the crib during naps but I am not sure if he is ready to sleep there throughout the night... or maybe it's Mommy who isn't.

Here's a Little Video I created of my Little Man and his many smiles!!! I hope he brings as many smiles to you as he does to me... Enjoy!!

"Lets Get Formula Drunk"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:43:00 +0000

Life has been rolling right along for our little family. Our first Christmas ALONE (without teammates or players) was wonderful. We both opened our presents and the gifts we purchased for both Vanek and Eddie. I was bound and determined not to purchase any clothing, shoes or hats for my husband since he has a massive amount and I must admit that I did pretty damn good besides the golf shoes, Columbia Jacket and Montana State hat, I tried. Instead I replaced the typical dress clothes, ties and shoes with a Membership to the beer of the month club (A real man gift, AHR AHR), a custom made "Daddy" necklace, and four seasons of The Big Bang Theory... among other things. Although I'm happy with the items I got him I have to admit finding things for under the tree other than the staples was a bit of a challenge.
I also gave my husband the undertaking of avoiding these items since:
     A. I still have some weight to loose in order to reach my pre pregnancy weight
     B. None of my shoes fit anyway (still hoping this will change)
     C. I have a SHIT LOAD

He did a good job at figuring out alternatives... after hours of complaining and moaning. All and all I walked away with a Kindle Fire... and a new car!!! WOO WHOO!! OK, OK... We actually purchased the car the day after my birthday due to our Suburbans multiple attempts to keel over. Not an expense we could avoid since we're planning another 3,000 mile trip this summer and both of our vehicles have been begging for a break since the 120,000 mile mark. So we purchased a Chevy Traverse, aka "the mommy mobile", as I call it. I love it thus far and feel more comfortable with our little guy in the back seat of this small tank rather than my wobbly Nissan Murano, aka "the pumpkin", whose tire is slowly falling off.

Other than our small family christmas we spent some time, via skype, with both our families. We had a "few" drinks, shared a few laughs and watched the nieces and nephews (granparents thier grandkids) open thier gifts. Christmas (hell... most holidays) is always an adventure in my parents house. With 4 children, thier spouses, and 9 grandchildren the crazyness only subsides around 11:00 - 12:00 am. The men typically run for the basement and the women try desperatly to get all the screaming kids to join them. Truthfully, its those moments that I miss the most over the holidays. Not to mention, mom getting plowed on the unknowinly spiked egg nog that she continues to add booze to, getting yelled at for shooting the christmas lights off Moms angle that sits on the deck, skating on the outdoor rink Dad slaved all winter to create and watching the older kids ride around on the snowmobiles... Needless to say Christmas is more eventful with a big family and I wouldnt have it anyother way.

New Years was pretty uneventfull for us. I think as you grow older the crowded bars and drunken idiots seem to lose thier appeal. My husband was out of town so I toasted to Vanek who continued to get formula drunk and pass out shortly after the ball drop. It was the perfect way to ring in the New Year that could have only been better if the hubby were home.

Vaneks first Christmas!!!

"Merry Christmas"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:27:00 +0000

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!!

"Tis the Season of Giving"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:46:00 +0000

I am not sure how many are aware of the new series 24/7 Flyers/Ranger: Road to the NHL Winter Classic that is currently on HBO, so I thought I would share... besides, "Tis the Season to be Giving", right?!? Its a great series and the INTRO SAYS IT ALL!!!

24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic Ep. 1

"HO HO HO"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:25:00 +0000

This week I managed to take some photos of Vanek for his first Christmas. He fought with me the whole time making me believe he is going to be just like his father... STUBBORN!!

Hope you enjoy!!

"Everyones a WINNER"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:49:00 +0000

WINNER...... WINNER....... Everyone's a winner!!! Even if you lost... came in dead last... or gave your poorest effort... you'll be rewarded. WHY?!? Well, because it boosts self-esteem, silly. BLAHHH!!!

Over the past few years I have noticed a growing tradition in sports that awards every youth participant for simply showing up. Win or Lose... everyones a winner, talk about a contradiction, and I can't help but wonder whats the purpose. I've asked a few friends and they say it builds confidence, HUH?!? What about sportsmanship, pride and all around life lessons??

How can a child learn good sportsmanship if they never have to shake the hand of someone who beat them in a championship game and now holds the trophy?? How do they learn to take pride in themselves without getting an award to say here is what you should be proud of? Shouldn't we teach them that real effort often goes unnoticed but is still something to take pride in? Isn't it the parents job to tell thier children... Good Job!... Nice work!... You'll get'em next time!?

I only ask this because at one of our Youth Tournaments we awarded the winners tee shirts and later asked why everyone didn't get one. Doesn't this teach the child that they are entitled to something no matter the outcome of thier efforts? Now, Im not saying that those who came in second, fourth or thirtyith didnt put in as much work or heart... I'm simply saying that by awarding a team no matter what, fails to teach them what the REAL world is like!! Not eveyone is awarded, no matter the effort, no matter the passion!! A job applicant who fails to get the job will not walk away with a mug saying "NICE TRY"... so why do we make our children think this way?

When I was young and played in competitive sports if you lost, YOU LOST. I remember losing the championship game at the State tournament and walking away with nothing. We watched as the trophies where handed out, shook the other teams hands, said good game and skated away with tears in our eyes. Thats the way sports are ment to be!! No matter the age they are ment to be competitive... A winner and a loser... not a winner and a bigger winner. They are ment to teach life lessons... how to accept an outcome and walk away (maybe defeated) with your head held high holding nothing more than what you came in with. They are ment to teach you how to compete and do your best even if you may walk away with nothing. To congratulate the one who has what you want, build confidence in defeat and strive to get where you want to be.

They aren't meant to teach you that settling for last is alright, you'll get a trophy anyways, sure it may not be as big but it still says you WIN!! SORRY... That's not the way the world works. In my opinion, this mentality is only preparing our children for feelings of entitlement and a harsh reality that they will only be disappointed in. I may be wrong but this is the way I see it and the youth should know that the world doesn't always give you a reward for your efforts, that sometimes someone simply does better... harsh but its REALITY!!!

What are some of your thoughts on this?

"Our NEW NORMAL"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:26:00 +0000

We have been home with our little guy for over three weeks and things have been going wonderfully. The thought that I really am a Mommy and that this little guy is now here is still something I am getting used to... largely because because he is so calm and the feeling is absolutely surreal.

My first Mo-Hawk

I must admit that I have been keeping him fairly sheltered due to the whooping cough that has been going around here. Paranoid... MAYBE... CRAZY FIRST TIME MOM... ALMOST CERTAINLY!! but if it keeps him healthy than I'm alright being that overly obsessive mom who asks everyone to sanitize their hands before touching. I think a "Please do not touch" onesie would be good... Does that make me weird and where can I find one?!?

Vanek has been growing so quickly, in fact, at his last appointment he weighed in at 10 lbs!!! HOLY CRAP he's going to be a big boy!!! Daddy says he'll be playing in the show by the age of 10... Is that the quintessential hockey Dad speaking? My husband used to make it clear that our son would not play hockey, prior to birth... now... I catch him talking hockey with Vanek ALL THE TIME, watching Miracle, and even trying to purchase specially made baby sized goalie pads, which apparently can be done, WHO KNEW?!? So much for past revelations.

I LOVE seeing my husband take on the Daddy role!! He does such a great job and seems to revel in the moments... including getting peed on multiple times. I also like seeing all the things our son does that are undoubtedly his father, such as snoring... Ohhh yea, at 3 weeks old our little guy can snore with the best of them!!! My favorite moments are when he is sleeping and he laughs... this may be due to gas but it is the cutest thing... Daddy does the same thing (definitely because of gas) but it's not as cute : )

Our house is a mess and constantly smells like baby poo, I have done the dishes more in the last three weeks than I ever thought I would, I have managed to catch urine in my hand and was surprisingly not grossed out and manage to function on less than my normal 10 hours of sleep... and I have to admit... I wouldn't change it for the world because I am loving our NEW NORMAL!!

A few photos from the last few weeks... including his first visit with Santa!!!

Curly Hair Just Like my Daddy

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Visiting with my Auntie!!

My first visit with Santa!!

Our Bean has Sprouted

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:02:00 +0000

After a long awaited 9 months and severe lack of posting... The husband and I have finally met our Bean... remember the one growing in my belly???

He came as a bit of a surprise, a welcome one, after being put on strict bed rest for Pre-Clampsia/Hypertension and being told we would be induced no later than 38 weeks. Fortunately, he decided to start making his appearance two days before the induction!!! After 3 hours of hard labor (12 total) our little man was finally here!! I won't speak of the pain because as many know... it is ALL worth it once you get to finally hold such a tiny miracle!!

Vanek William

11/4/11 | 12:12 am | 8lbs. 5oz. | 21 inches long

Of course I had to set him up for his first official photo shoot. He did such a good job!!! I will update soon on how things are going now that we are home.

"I call them my THANKLES"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

We are a little over 36 weeks now and everything is going GREAT!! Once again, my life has been pretty busy so I have been slacking in the blogishere but soon it should slow enough for me to catch my breath!! PLUS... I have some really exciting news coming soon, at least I am pretty excited about it and can't wait to share with everyone... something other than our bean!!

Besides my upcoming news, the little guy has been moving and grooving with fluid movement that often makes me giggle as my belly flips and flops. The husband looks on in amazement whenever the baby is poking out on one side and makes goofy faces when he tries to figure out which body part is where. Which is always entertaining!! AND... he finally got the chance to feel the baby's hiccups which have been an (almost) daily occurrence, typically after hearing a loud noise. Funny but a little repetitive after awhile.

The Belly on the Big Screen during our virtual shower!

We have discovered (according to the doctor) that our bean is now head down and in position... which explains why breathing has been much easier over the last month, to bad I can't say the same for the carpal tunnel or the swelling of the feet!!!

The carpal tunnel has moved (mostly) into my thumb and now causes my tendon to get stuck when moving my thumb to far in any direction. I often think I have popped the thumb out of place since when it does this (its painful) I have to physically push it back... OUCH!! This, as many of you know, has been the most difficult part of my pregnancy... but I'll take it!!

and the newest symptom, in the arsenal of hormonal changes and baby growing, is the unbelievable swelling of my feet!!! Now, my feet flattened early in my pregnancy which made my flip flops the only shoes I could fit... but now, even those give me pain. So I have moved on to shoes that are two sizes bigger than my normal and I still fill them by the end of the day! I now refer to them as my Thankles!!! My Thigh, Ankle and Calf all tied into one!! God love the beautiful symptoms of pregnancy : )

YES... These are my feet!! And this was on a good day!!

" I think I need to read more"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:06:00 +0000

Day Seven: 4 books

Well this one is going to be a little difficult for me since I am not a HUGE reader... but I will surely do my best.

1. The Twilight Series... OF COURSE!! Sad to say I did jump on this bandwagon but I LOVED IT... and good for me for only counting them as one : )

2. "The Art of Racing in the Rain" - This is a great book for the animal lover... but WARNING it will make you cry!! It's the story of a dogs life through his eyes and his longing to be human!!

3. "Ogilvy on Advertising" - This book is all about advertising and the (innovative) work of the late David Ogilvy. Since I am a Freelance Designer and have a passion for advertising this book was a great read!

4. "Now Eat This" by Rocco Dispirito!! Now I know this isn't exactly a brilliant piece of literature but I have to share this AMAZING cookbook with others!! The food is AMAZING and all under 350 calories. It has GREAT recipes for the foods we all crave such as mac and cheese and hamburgers!! I know I sound like a spokesperson but it really is that good!!

" It's ALL CRAZY"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:34:00 +0000

Things have been CRAZY busy, CRAZY expensive and a little overwhelming this last month. Which has resulted in my mind being in 50 million places at once, my fingers consistently on a key board and our paychecks steadily flowing out the door... and the worst part of it all... I'm not sure if our world really has been this chaotic or if its the 32 weeks of pregnancy that has my mind thinking it is!?!

With the lack of preseason training, camps and the DREADED packing up to move for 6 months, I thought our lives would become more simple with the husbands retirement. However, with him coaching, and preseason in full swing, we hardly get a moment together without his team somewhere close by... curfew calls, car accidents, roster changes!!! Every season my husband inherits 25 (or so) sons, and let me say I have never seen a coach more dedicated to his players. For example, after returning home from a road trip, we received word that one of his players cars was involved in a high speed chase... along with a former player of my husbands... after frantic calls my husband went to sit with the player whose car was involved until 5:00 am when the police finally came to take a report. He finally returned home and slept for 2 hours only to get back on the bus for another early morning game. Needless to say this was a LONG night of both worry and frustration for us both. My husband had managed to get the former player (the one in the high speed chase) a professional contract in which we hoped would bring him overseas where he could pursue a college degree... and to hear that he had made such a decision (for reasons unknown) was shocking, disappointing, and terrifying all at the same time!! Thankfully, he gave up (with minor injuries) after running into a tree and totaling the other players car! But my husband has taken it pretty hard, considering he feels he was smacked in the face... which I agree, but I know he did the best he could to try and help this kid gain a better future. It's funny how a single moment/event/circumstance can change your entire perception of a person and atler thier entire future!

Aside from the chaos of criminal activity, preseason games have begun (they are 3-0-1) and my husband has also been asked to write an article for a Minnesota Junior League that will become their goal tending guidelines. For those who are not aware of hockey in Minnesota, it's kinda a big deal there!! He is extremely excited and flattered that they approached him with such a great opportunity. I on the other hand, am SOOO proud of how much he has accomplished (aside from his playing career) in such a short time as a Head Coach!! Everyday I become more and more amazed at how passionate he is with EVERYTHING he does!!

The preseason has not only begun for my husband and his team it has also begun for me... no, not just because I am the coaches wife... because I am also the registrar, administrative assistant, and concessions coordinator for our local Adult and Youth programs!! Registration has begun, which includes me assisting/recording 700+ members with USA Hockey registration, online registration, program questions and entering them into the USA Hockey Database. Updating the website for the new season and preparing our concessions for the first home game... which is fun since we are remodeling it! The begining of the season is always a CRAZY time of year for me... making sure proper forms are completed, birth certificates are gathered, coaches are screened, rosters are verified and so on...needless to say it manages to keep me on my toes!!

And.... amongst all of the preseason activities, mother nature is also bringing us a new season... FALL... now what exactly does that have to do with my busy world?!? Well, with a new season brings change, which means a new catalog and look for The Pass Christian Soap Company (job #2). That's right, I am also in the process of designing the fall catalog with fresh photos that represent fall on the Mississippi Coast. I am hoping to have this finalized by the end of the week, so I can begin changing the feel of the website and blog to correlate... It's a good thing I LOVE what I do... or these sore fingers would have be running for a vacation!! but I can't complain to much since graphic design is one of my passions and The Pass Christian Soap Co. is an AMAZING company!!

Now you may be thinking wow that's quit a bit on the table (or not) but on top of it all I have finally hit the nesting stage!! Cleaning and re-cleaning, organizing and re-organizing, un-cluttering and uncluttering... every free moment I have has gone to this!! My husband looks at me like I am crazy when I am rehanging the same shirt I have hung THREE times because its hanging funny, or when I rearrange the items on top of the baby's dresser for the FIFTH time because it just didn't look right!! Naturally I am a person who likes things put away... everything needs a place or I feel like there is too much clutter... but this is ridiculous!! When a simple, picture frame leaning to much to the left can drive me NUTS... I know I have lost my marbles!! BUT the room/and house is looking very well put together, which has been great preparation for our Virtual Baby Shower next week (I will talk more about this in a later post).

Now that pretty much sums up the CRAZINESS my life has consisted of for the last month, aside from having to deal with my two tenants moving out and two new ones moving in (which is always a good time). But thankfully this crazyness has offset the ridiculous amount of money we have thrown out the door this month alone, $1800.00 to be exact and that DOESN'T include everyday expenses and monthly bills!!! HOLY HELL!! But thankfully this is only an occasional blow to the account... so the shock seldom hits!!! THANK GOD!! I could think of elsewhere to spend the cash... say a down payment on a new car...

And since I have been so tied up with everything going on, I suppose I should continue the 10 day challenge which has out lived its title by far to many days... but I refuse to not complete!!

Day 6: Five Foods

Now, I am not sure if this is supposed to be five foods I LOVE or five that I HATE so I am going to mix it up a bit and throw both in... just for good measure!!

1. I LOVE Salt and Vinegar Chips... I think this comes from living on the boarder of Canada... the Vinigar thing anyways!!

2. I LOVE french fries with Vinegar... yup, definitaly a canadian thing.

3. I LOVE peanut butter... I can eat it by the spoonful and the fact that this is one of my pregnancy cravings doesnt help.

4. My ALL time favorite dessert is Strawberry short cake!!

5. I HATE seafood!! Never had it but I have decided that anything that smells that bad should never go in your mouth!!

" I DREAM A WORLD "

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

In remembrance of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 I simply wanted to post a manipulation I did a few years ago...Sure, I remember every detail of that day... the weather, the phone calls, where EXACTLY I was sitting and the emotions but my heart doesn't break for those details... it breaks for those who lost their lives, their loved ones!! The ones who chose to risk their lives for strangers without a moments hesitation.

I will say that this tragedy truly showed the strength we have as a nation!! Throughout the panic, chaos and fear... we banded together and supported one another. We gave for those we had never met, cultures and races different from ours... truly creating a united nation free of discrimination.

I DREAM A WORLD

by Langston Hughes

I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind-
Of such I dream, my world!

Just a Brilliant Commercial!!

" Take me There... PLEASE "

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:36:00 +0000

Day 5: Six places

I know, I know... I'm dragging this out!! Did you really expect anything different from me : ) Not that I procrastinate or take my time... I just like to keep everyone waiting in suspense ; )

1. Italy... and NO not because of the ol' GTL crew, silly... because of the history, architecture and the fact that my husband is Italian!!

2. Africa... I have always wanted to go on a safari!!

3. Ireland... It looks absolutely GORGEOUS and I have some Irish in me...

4. Alaska... Not sure why!!!

5. St. Lucia... Do I really need to explain why?!?

6. Greece... Again, the history and architecture is sooo appealing to me. I would be that dork walking around with the travel guide, going on all the Tours.

" Condolences "

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:06:00 +0000

Rather than doing day four of my challenge, I would like to send my condolences to the families and friends of those involved in the Russian Plane Crash which claimed the lives of 43 victims, a majority of which were members of the Kontinental Hockey League club, Lokomotiv . It is always a shock to the hockey community (any community) when such tragedy strikes... and unfortunately this summer has brought multiple devastation's to the hockey world. My thoughts and prayers to the families and friends who are suffering from such heartbreaking loss.

As I have said before, the hockey world is small and you always know someone who knows someone... or crossed paths with one another at some point so you can't help but feel the heartache when something hits so close to home.

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love."

~ Washington Irving

" I WANT IT ALL"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 16:43:00 +0000

Day 4: Seven Wants

REALLY... I have to choose only SEVEN!!! I could go on for DAYS of things I would like/Love to have.

1. An Infinity FX50... Fully Loaded. It's only an estimated $70,000 vehicle!!

2. A NEW 17" Macbook Pro with an additional add-on that prevents the computer from ever crashing and has a lifetime guarantee!!

3. Again... A figure that strongly resembles Jessica Biel!!

4. A money tree that grows in my back yard and never withers!!

5. The fountain of Youth to run through my kitchen sink!! and move with me no matter where I go!!

6. A transporter that will bring me anywhere I want to go in a matter of seconds!!

7. A LIFETIME of health and Happiness for my family and friends... and a strong healthy baby boy who will make his appearance in November!!

I think that pretty much covers everything!! I did much better than I thought I would : ) Selfish, I know!!

Day One: Click Here

Day Two: Click Here

Day Three: Click Here

" FEAR THIS"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Day 3: Eight Fears

Day three of this 10 day challenge, that will span a little longer, and I am ready to enter the world of my fears... Careful now... when confronted with my fears I tend to swing : )

1. I am affraid of Heights!! I think this is a pretty common fear however, most people have a reason... a tramatic experience... I on the other hand just discovered the fear on day!! I manage looking down however, I am sure to keep a good amount of distance!!

2. SNAKES!!! I am absolutely terrified of snakes!! I can't watch them on television without quivering and typically run through the reptile section of Zoo's!! This may be one of my most noticeable fears!! In fact, I recall walking my dog, years ago, and almost stepping on a garden snake... I screamed, jumped back and walked to the other side of the road to get away from it!! I most also admit that I looked behind me the rest of the way home to make sure it was'nt following me!! eehhhhh!!

Not Gonna Lie... Looking for this picture gave me the Shivers!!! GROSS!!!

3. DEATH!!! Yep, death!! This is something that has scared the HELL out of me since I was a child. It began after my Grandfather passed when I was little... This was the first death I had experienced... and had spent many nights crying myself to sleep thinking about it. I think it is the actual thought of eternity that scares me.

4. LABOR!!! Yep... this is not a NEW one since the pregnancy!! Honestly, is any first time mother not scared of this??

OUCH!!!

5. Disappointing my family. I would never want to disappoint my family (again)... I think this stems from the massive amount of disappointment I forced on them through my teens.

I am sure this crossed his mind many times when I was a teenager!! SORRY DAD : )

6. Tornadoes... If you have been following this blog than this is an obvious. If not, click here to read more. This truthfully comes from a tornadoes touching down outside our home while my husband was at practice!! Scared the HELL out of me!!

7. The future!! I look forward to it... but fear it all at the same time. Does that make sense?

8. Driving long distances in bad weather!! This fear began after I flipped (in the air) our Grand Cherokee while driving home from College in a high wind area, on ice covered roads. Thankfully we landed in deep soft snow that kept us from rolling. THANK GOD no one was hurt (besides whiplash) but Eddie (our dog) ended up with a scar on his head from hitting the roof and getting thrown in the back... My pooor bubbers! Since then... I have panic attacks if I am not driving.

Day Two: Click Here
Day One: Click Here

" A Story of Nine Loves"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:57:00 +0000

Day 2: Nine loves

It's Day TWO of the 10 day challenge (which will probably be longer than 10 days) and today I will tackle the 9 loves (in no particular order) in my life... Shhh... don't tell the husband!!

1. FALL... There is something about the Fall that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. The crisp air, the smell... everything feels so fresh in the fall. Not to mention I am a dork when it comes to Halloween!!

2. A current LOVE of mine... thanks to the baby belly... is Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!!! Well, maybe I should say ANYTHING consisting of Peanut Butter!! MMMM!!!

This would be PERFECT!! Maybe filled WITH Peanut Butter!!

3. SHOES!!! I LOVE my Shoes and am willing to spend a little more on them... which is why the 3rd trimester swell is a bit depressing since I can't fit a single pair of them. AHHHH Hell!!! Who am I kidding... I also love PURSES and Winter Coats (good thing I live in a cold climate)!!

4. Another current LOVE of mine is running my hands under freezing cold water... WHY, you might ask!?! It feels AMAZING on my carpal tunnel effected joints : )

Not my Hands!! But they feel like this sometimes!

5. David Beckham!!! Not because of his humanitarian efforts simply because of his looks!! But my husband loves his wife (tries to deny it) so it evens out!!!

Maybe not the speedos... but seriously!!

6. When not pregnant.... SALTS!!! I am a salts girl... please pass the chips, specifically with Vinegar!!

7. My Family!!! Immediate and extended... did you think I would leave this one out!!

8. This BAND and this song (since it was our wedding song)!!!

9. My rapidly expanding BELLY!! Not because I feel beautiful (please) or because I LOVE being pregnant (get real) or because of the beautiful short and stubby look I now represent but because of the little guy whose incubating!! The kicks and pokes and the future it represents!!

For Day One click here!!

" Shhh... its a Secret"

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:18:00 +0000

Since my world has been pretty uneventful, outside of work, swollen feet, fingers and carpal tunnel... while roaming around the blogishpere I came across a little challenge that fellow hockey wife over at "Tales of a Hockey Wife" has been doing... and I thought, WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!

*Note: Tales of a Hockey Wife is a hilarious blog!!

This will keep me posting (for awhile) on things other than my job and 3rd trimester swell : 0

This is a 10 day challenge where each day brings a different theme:

Day 1 = 10 secrets

Day 2 = 9 loves

Day 3 = 8 fears

Day 4 = 7 wants

Day 5 = 6 places

Day 6 = 5 foods

Day 7 = 4 books

Day 8 = 3 films

Day 9 = 2 songs

Day 10 = 1 picture

I hope you all enjoy and learn a little more about me : )

_______________________________________________________________________

DAY 1: Ten Secrets

1. I secretly wish I had the figure of Jessica Biel... Maybe not so secretly since after the baby is born her picture will be hanging on my fridge.

2. I am secretly (outside my family and close friends) addicted to water... TRUE!!! I panic as soon as I discover I don't have my water bottle which is why I always carry one. I have been this way for years and HATE flying because I can't carry it through security!! WEIRD... I KNOW!

3. I secretly HATE cardio and despise people who can run miles on end... BRATS!! I struggle to run 3 and cuss at myself every minute of it!

4. I have secretly always wanted to be a gymnast but never really had the option available. They amaze me!!

5. I secretly want to be a surf chick but am to damn scared of sharks to really attempt it. I refuse to go out if I can't see the bottom.

6. I secretly LOVE listening to Big Hair Band Love songs... most likely because my sister used to blare them while driving me around as a kid... Slashing Ashmun!!

7. I secretly love watching Ghost Hunter and Paranormal things on the Sci-Fi network while my husband is gone... probably because I believe ghosts exist.

8. I secretly believe Nessie and Bigfoot exist!! New species are discovered everyday... I am just waiting for scientists to acknowledge them!

9. I secretly believe I get messages from those close to me who have passed in my dreams!! In fact, I have dreamt of most my sisters/sister-in-laws pregnancies and told them they were before they actually knew it. NO JOKE...

10. I secretly hate having my feet show if I am wearing pants!! My pants need to cover my feet or I will not wear them... Not sure why?!?