I'm alive!

I feel really really good about the morning session. In the first two rounds, I felt like I maybe got half the morning right. This time I only starred 5 problems to review. And in talking to people after, I kind of think maybe I got another 1 or 2 wrong, but 32/40 is excellent. In the afternoon I felt awful, but not as awful as I felt the last time. So we'll see. I expect results in early June.

To answer mama's questions. I'm not shutting the civil pe prep blog down. In fact, I'll probably post something similar to this over there today. And then I'll post again in June to say whether I passed or not. If I did pass, I'll leave it up for sure, but I don't know what else to do with it. I suppose if people wanted to ask questions, I could try to answer them. If I didn't pass, I will revive it. I felt so well prepared for the morning session, that I will be aiming to be more prepared for the afternoon next time. (We'll see if I get any questions about a dino set and i-shirt, and also I still owe you a dino bib...I just have to find the time to put it together!)

We didn't take any new pictures this weekend. Partly because I was just trying to hang out and not do anything at all. And partly because Landon's cough added a rash. And who needs a picture of a little person and his rash. (He's fine.) But here's something from the files. (Fear not bad mother and health police, he eats the equivalent of 2 or 3 tablespoons and moves on with his life, no need to finish a cone the size of your forearm.)

And of course, when you're finished dancing in the store, you should take a break.

Third Time's The Charm

I hope.

So I definitely feel better about the test this time. I changed my study policy (procedure? plan? approach? yeah it's approach.) I actually reviewed everything in the breadth section and as much as I could for the depth section.

Although, as always as the test date appraoches, I start freaking out a little bit about what I don't know.

The change in the test (addition of the construction section, reduction of environmental and water resources) means they will probably take longer to grade them this time. Their grading system is weird - from their description of it, it's a curve, but they are adamant that it is NOT a curve. They're pretty vague about it, but from what I've gathered. They basically grade everyone's test (scantron) and then if a bunch of people got one answer wrong they go back and look at the question to see if there's a problem with the question (i.e. parts are unclear, assumptions can lead to different answers, etc.) If they find the question to be the problem, they throw it out. Now for the people who got the question wrong, this is great...but for the people who got it right - it sucks, because they may have gotten other questions wrong and this one right and it doesn't even help them. They also do some analysis on questions the first time they are put in rotation (like all the construction questions). THEN (and here's where I believe the thing to be a curve) they pick a number of questions to be answered right to achieve a passing score, assuming that the past percentage of people passing should remain relatively constant and grade based on that number of questions being a 70%. So while there are 80 questions total, and in a straight out situation you would need 56 to pass, you may only need 45 or 47 or 50 depending on their analysis. Anyway, I think it may also mean I have a better shot at passing. Hopefully. I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic. It's hard. It's not my forte.

Landon has a cough. It sounds like he's got a little congestion in his chest, but nothing gooey is oozing out of him, so hopefully, my being loaded up on vitamins and Zicam, I can survive without getting sick before the test.

I am taking tomorrow off. I am not studying or cramming tomorrow. I know what I know and I don't know what I don't know.

Wish me luck!

Did you pick the right faucet?

One of the many many many projects we did with our income tax return was to replace the kitchen faucet.


We have hard water, and there was so much build up of calcium deposits and stuff that you had to turn the faucet off in a specific way or it just dripped and dripped and dripped.


So we picked a new faucet with the many features we prefer. It's taller, it has 2 handles instead of the one lifty thing on top (that's a technical term). But if there was any doubt as to whether we picked the right one or not? It was gone when I read the instructions for installation.


How could a faucet installation guide which includes cursing not be the clue that you got the right faucet?



And also the encouragement to spit and take a break! And some warnings you'll never find in most of the bland faucet installation instructions.


And here's where I turn into a big tease, because I took pictures of the new faucet...and they're no longer on the camera. I have a whole "where'd your income tax refund go?" post to do, but it'll probably be early next week.

I'm gonna apologize right up front

So this week.

This Friday.

Is my test.

And that's where my mind is. I'm taking Thursday off, so i won't be posting Thursday, and well, my posts are going to be pretty dull this week.

We didn't do much exciting over the weekend, but you know sometimes, you're walking through Garden Ridge and they have those platforms that they use to hold pots, and sometimes they don't have a lot of stuff on them, and sometimes the music just grabs you? And you have to dance.

Monthly Newsletter #18

Dear Landon,

Today you turn 18 months. This month has come with some most excellent developments. I believe Linda and Noah have taught you to “Hulk up.” And you often will do it on command. It's quite possibly the funniest thing you do right now. And while you will do it on command, we can't seem to get a decent video of it. That or your dance moves.

Your sense of where things should be is possibly at it’s highest level ever. You do not like change. So much so, it’s bordering on OCD. Things must stay in the same place, except if you move them. Because if you move them it’s ok. Like riding the bathroom trash can around the kitchen like a horse. That’s ok. Emptying it in the larger trash cans when it is full without your permission is NOT ok.

You have an odd sense about these things. Last night we went to visit your new second cousin Jonah in the hospital. He was less than 24 hours old, and doing something you never did at that age. Sleeping in the Tupperware container on the cart. Oh sure you slept, but you demanded that someone (me) be holding you while you slept. Putting you in the plastic bin was OUT OF THE QUESTION.

Anyway, when we got there he was sleeping peacefully, and although you had trouble passing the part in the floor where the design and color of the wood changed, once you finally saw Linda and the baby you were ok. Linda gave you a little plastic toy, which you gave to the baby. All was well…until he woke up. And Linda had the nerve to pick him up. We had no idea that was the problem. It took, seriously, like 30 minutes to figure out that you wanted him to be back in the box. The box where he clearly belongs, people! You’re going to have to adjust to him though, because he’s going to be around for quite a while.
I want to thank you for making your shoes last the 2 months I asked. It looks as if you are holding true to the 2 month mark though, because I see shoe shopping in our near future. It makes me think I should have asked for three months, but I guess that's water under the bridge at this point.
Your words, when I’m super-duper in tune with what you’re up to…they kind of are, sort of like, maybe, possibly, on the edge of English. And I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. Your continued effort in this area will be sincerely appreciated.



Love,
Mama

Be still

I just went through all the pictures I took this weekend. 95% of them are either blurry or the back of his head.

I totally forgot to take any pictures on Saturday, so you missed out on some ratchet wielding, but here he is boat "cleaning."


And wagon lounging. The wagon may possibly be the best thing we hauled up there.

We ran the electricity for about half my Dad's shop and fixed/adjusted 3 garage doors.

The girls had a great time running around the property, in fact this morning they still look tired. And I think Scarlett and Dos may have even come to a truce.

So far behind...

I'm telling stories from 2 weeks ago. One day I'll catch up.

One of the decisions we made early on with Landon is that rather than try and occupy him with something else while we do housework or yardwork, we want to include him. The theory being that if he helps now, he'll just know that he should help later on. Or something naive like that. Things are so much more clear to you about raising kids before they're actually here - debunking your theories.


Anyway, as you know he currently already feeds the cats everyday, and "helps" when we clean the pool.


A couple weekends ago we changed the plugs and wires on the truck. (Among other things.) And of course, he was there to help.
After having changed the plugs and wires and shocks, we took the truck in to our regular mechanic to change the tires, balance them, do a wheel alignment, replace the brakes, adjust the parking brake, have the oil changed and apparently I had a turn signal out, which I didn't know before, but they also fixed. We spent a gabillion dollars on the truck for the tune up.

So on Friday, while I was driving around I went through a construction zone to pick up a Girl Scout book from the Girl Scout office and I hit a pot hole. Of course, because you can't spend a gabillion dollars without ruining something right after that also will cost a gabillion dollars.


So my truck started chirping. Like those bird whistles you put water in. It was only doing it at 40+ mph and when I made turns. I called Clint and he said it could be a wheel bearing so I took it straight over to the mechanic's shop. I was so pissed that after spending that gabillion dollars we'd have to spend more and probably have the alignment done again.


So I went in and told my story and they sent a guy out in my truck to listen to the sound.


He was gone, maybe 5 minutes. Maybe. Probably not even that long.


He asked if I was talking about the high pitched noise at higher speeds. Yes.


"Well, I just rolled up the window on the passenger side, and it's gone now."


I had hit that pot hole so hard, and I have crank windows, so it just bumped the window down enough to whistle, but not enough to see that it was down.


Good news? It was a free fix. Bad news? I felt like a moron.


I was also treated to the story of a woman who brought her car in like 4 times over a period of 3 months complaining of a noise, that they eventually found was the water jug she carried with her. They couldn't find it because everytime she left the car with them, she took the jug with her, until one day she came in and it was making the noise and she wanted them to drive it right then.

Ridiculous

These are the codes and books I have gathered thus far to take my test on the 11th.

I still have 2 at home and 4 that a friend has to copy. And I'm leaving out 4 that I couldn't find without paying big bucks.

Granted 3 of these binders and some of the books are not on the list, but I think they will probably be more helpful than any of the codes I may have to look something up in.

2 weeks to go.

The rest of the day

There were horses. Aunt Kelly introduced Landon to her 2 horses. He was less than impressed at the time, but when she brought out the rocking horse for him, he pretended to feed the rocking horse just like Aunt Kelly had fed the real horses.

Grandma had brought everyone a soccer ball. Each kid had their own size. There was some kicking. And some running.

And some general cousin bonding.

And then there was the trampoline. And while the trampoline was kind of scary at first, what with the bounciness of it, eventually Joshua had him walking across holding his hand.
If you ask Joshua, he was asked to make 14 eleventy billion trips back and forth. Not that he was complaining or anything. Just, uh...do you think he could do it by himself yet?

And then.

All of the sudden.

Joshua wasn’t right there to hold his hand.

And there was some hesitation, but once he figured out he could do it all by himself – he could have run circles around Joshua all day on the trampoline.

And then my camera died.


It was shortly after the trampolining that we headed home for fun filled evening of screaming.

I want candy!!

So Easter #2 took place at my sister’s house.

We gathered all the kids in the house while the big guys hid the eggs. The big kids were instructed on which eggs they were not to mess with. And hunt began!

And then, since he knew there’d be candy in each egg, after gathering about 5 or 6, he stopped!

Who needs more eggs when you know your mom is only going to let you have so much candy anyway.

See all the eggs in the background? The big kids were told not to get those, but Landon refused to hunt any more. He'd rather sneak up on the already gathered eggs and see what he could get.

So he stopped hunting and ate all the candy he could get his little hands on.

Something we paid for dearly that evening. (And Monday morning apparently)

He was so tired, but couldn’t sleep. And refused any other kind of food.

And here is the only picture of all the cousins at once! Sure, it's the back of Brianna and Landon's heads, but they're there! (During the give me all your hard boiled eggs phase!)

Easter Eggstravaganza

On Sunday morning, we woke up a little later than usual. The Easter bunny had almost missed us.

I brought Landon downstairs, and we went to let the dogs out. And found the Easter bucket that had been left for him.

It had bubbles and colors, and a little parrot and a Buzz Lightyear cell phone. And a chocolate bunny!

We ate breakfast, got dressed and then we stepped out into the front yard.

The Easter bunny had hidden 12 eggs in the front yard.

With no instruction what-so-ever, he took one step out the front door, spotted an egg and he began the hunt.

He hardly even needed any hints, and he found all 12.

We discovered the tasty yumminess hidden inside the eggs, and after eating one egg worth of candy, the rest were ceremoniously emptied into a gallon baggie.

And since you can’t have a holiday without multiple celebrations, on this blog? It’s Easter all week long.

Sugar Hangover

My camera is dead, we took so many pictures this weekend, that it died. And of course I forgot to charge it last night. So this week will be pictureful - but not today.

Nearly everything I was going to talk about deserves the pictures that go along with it. Faucet installation, Azalea planting, and of course Easter.

Landon had a bit of a sugar hangover yesterday evening.

After having discovered the tastiness that is contained inside those plastic eggs, he was NOT going to eat a hot dog. Or a chip. And only grudgingly drank a bottle of milk. He also only took a 20 minute nap between 7:45 am and 5 pm.

Of course, he was also out by the time we reached the corner after leaving Aunt Kelly's house. And when we got home, he went back to sleep for another hour and a half. And woke up and yelled at us and yelled at us - because I assume he had a sugar hangover, so I gave him some Tylenol. He ate 2 bites of eggs, one bite of oatmeal square, and drank another bottle before deciding to fight sleep for another 2 hours. Oh the dramatic squirming that occurred!

Dear Universe

Dear Universe,

Please quit giving me the finger.

When I logged on to check the years for the codes I needed for the PE exam yesterday, I was totally not expecting to find out that - while I had gone through all the chapters in my study book that I deemed necessary for the exam, I was not finished. You changed the test so that what had previously been 40% is now 20% and the other 20% is a construction section - on which I have very little guidance.

Previous to this discovery I felt really good about where I stood study-wise for this test. Now I am freaked out because I don't know what the heck you want me to study and the idea that I need 2 different codes about concrete formwork freaks me out.

Also not cool is the fact that I now need to haul around several extra 6 bazillion page codes, and while I know, that I will probably not use them, I don't want to be without them, just in case. You will get the bill from my chiropractor.

If I get a 67 again because of this crap, I'm coming after you.

Smooches,
Kristine

22 days to go.

Routine

As anyone with a toddler knows, routine is key. So every night after work, we get home, we eat dinner. We clean the kitchen. We feed the puppies and the kitties. We put on pajamas. We warm a bottle, and then we head upstairs to do a little playing. He has his night cap.

And if all goes well, eventually gets tired enough to actually close his eyes - preferably at 8:30, but even more preferably before 11pm, and before we start closing ours, but not always. If something else is happening, he of course needs to help. Like when last night I decided to make a search for the 2 elephants that went with his Noah's Ark.

Of all the developments this month, I think my favorite so far is that whatever we're doing? He wants to help.

Elephants are still missing. If you see 2 elephants wandering around, please send them home. I have a feeling they're hanging out somewhere with a couple bottles and maybe even some socks.

Disclaimer

The approach for getting your parents in the pool in February - didn't work in March. (yet)

Win some, lose some, I suppose.

Pool Boy in Training

We had beautiful weather this weekend. Although there was a small shortage of naps.

Landon always insists on doing what we're doing.

So if we're cleaning the pool? He wants to clean the pool.

So first, you get instructions from your dad.

Then you push.

Then you observe all the stuff you just pushed.

Then you pull.

It looks easier when other people do it, when you get the stick all to yourself, if might be a little heavy.

I've been sitting here for 30 minutes

looking at a blank screen.

I do have an invitation to order 12 issues of Playboy for $12. Sent to Landon. I'm sure they don't realize they're marketing their porn to 17 month olds. But, I'm pretty sure they got the names from Hot Rod Magazine, and I doubt they thought a 17 month old would be subscribing to that either.

UGH

Scarlett ate a Roundup laden leaf and we've been dealing with the ensuing crap from that (pun intended) ever since. FYI, if your dog eats a leaf on which you have sprayed roundup - it is not poisonous. But it will upset their gastrointestinal workings. And you may have to clean their crate 2 nights running (possibly more, it's just that we're only working with 2 days worth of data here). And throw away 2 blankets and a towel. And wake up at 3 am, when they urgently need to go out (or alternatively you can clean up 2 piles of runny poo and 2 puddles of pee the next morning - your choice.)



I think we're on the backend of this illness (pun intended again.) Thank god.



And now that I've grossed you out, here's cute picture to tide you over until I think of something less gross to write about.



(I heard on the radio this morning that kids are starting to like classic rock because of the game Guitar Hero...classic rock like Pearl Jam...Pearl Jam is considered classic rock now? How old am I?)

Gertrude

I guess I should start this by giving the poll results - 2 of you were right, except one of those 2 was Clinton, so that's cheating. The "other" vote was for "You should see the other guy!!" But the reality is that I dropped a car part on my head. Specifically, I dropped my babysitter's exhaust on my head.



Our babysitter’s suburban was acting all weird – like the transmission was going out, and the check engine light came on. So her husband went and got the codes read. The list was everything from plugs and wires, to a mass air sensor, and the catalytic converter. He did everything that was relatively cheap. And it still ran like crap. The last thing on the list was the catalytic converter. And it was doing exactly what mine did on the Pontiac when my catalytic converter was clogged.

So Clinton and I spent Friday morning working on her suburban.

First thing is removing the old catalytic converter. Which meant unbolting it and then discovering that we had to cut it out. (This is just 2 of the three pieces after we cut them out.)

The new part came in two pieces and we thought we could just slide the one piece past the transmission cross member. Not so much. We wasted about an hour trying to push it past that member, thinking it would be a lot of work to unbolt and rebolt the transmission cross member. Luckily it wasn't as much work as we thought and once we gave in and unbolted it, it slid right back in place and bolted right back up.

At one point I was holding up the exhaust and Clinton got up to get something - a crow bar or something - we were still trying to push it past the cross member and it wasn't going. And the exhaust seemed to be stuck in place. And I had no blood in my fingers. So I let go. Oh, hi Gertrude! Nice to meet you.

Anyway, 3 hours and one trip to the auto parts store later, our babysitter’s suburban “runs better than the day they bought it.” The good news is that when/if my truck catalytic converter gets clogged, we know exactly how to fix it, and we know that we should just take the cross member down and save time.

Clinton threatened that I would have to wear a hat for the rest of the weekend, that he thought people would think he beat me. To which I said, I’m not trying to hide it, they might think that if I was trying to hide it with make-up or something. But I am totally telling anyone who asks that you beat me with a ratchet.

We actually accomplished the entire repair without incident. Well, there was cussing. But not at each other. And Gertrude seems to have packed her bags, only a small scratch remains, and well, it's still bruised, but not so much red or swollen. I'm working on my inner Harry Potter.