Thursday, January 29, 2009

Waiting on the Vote...

I have been glued to the computer all day. It is now 2:53 p.m. and a vote in the impeachment trial is coming close. I can't wait! The computer is the only way I have been able to sneak glances at my husband...watching the trial...seeing him briefly enter and exit the screen. I showed Abbie this picture of her daddy:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-impeach29blago4420090129100041,0,1067874.photo
She's been on the Senate floor before with Andy so she was pretty excited to see daddy at his work. You know, the big building with the 2 flags on top! That's how she distinguishes his State job from his County office.
He's in the background letting Blago onto the Senate floor. She has even sat patiently waiting to see a flash of him on the screen. She did ask where Obama was....sorry Abbie, no Obama!
So this is what we are doing today. We haven't really seen him since Sunday night. He briefly made it home on Tues. night to sleep. We came to my parents yesterday for some long needed interaction with some new faces. Hope to be headed back home once the vote is taken...hopefully soon!

Friday, January 16, 2009

So Proud...

No post about the kiddos today.

Today will be a little post about the other man I love. And though this man isn't quite so little and squeezable, I love him just the same!

Andy has officially started his new position. The following link is to an article about him in today's Alton Telegraph. He was also mentioned briefly in the Springfield paper yesterday, but not nearly as good as this article. Also note that the picture accompanying the article must be from at least a decade ago! He really needs to get them a new pic. He looks so baby-faced.

***A copy of the article is printed at the end of the book.

Anyway, enjoy! We are so proud of him and all of his accomplishments! Today I am reminded of how lucky I am to have such a loving, supportive, smart, and ambitious man as my husband!


On another note, I was able to attend the inauguration for the newly and re-elected Senators, as well as the new Senate President (Andy's boss). Apparently I got my few seconds of fame, as I am told I appeared briefly on the televised coverage of the Inaug., when a Senator behind me was speaking. I have been told I didn't do anything embarrassing! Of course the Inaug. was of special interest since the Governor had to preside over it. It was really weird to watch him preside over Senate members who are ready to impeach him. A few of them made some rather derogatory comments about him. I can't imagine how he felt standing up there. As a bystander, I was uncomfortable for him. It was interesting to watch, nonetheless.

I also got to watch Andy and Molly in action on the Senate floor. Molly had the luxury of escorting in our very HOT treasurer! Hello, his pictures do him no justice! I enjoyed the day, and did I mention....no kiddos....I had peace and quiet the whole day! WOW!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Another One Bites The Dust...and other rantings!

On Saturday Abbie and Andy decided to get a new fish. She is having a bit of an algae problem in her little tank. Andy decided they would get an algae eater, or as she sometimes refers to it, a seaweed eater. They also bought another little fish to replace Cupcake, who has been missing for some time now as you may remember from an earlier blog post.
Saturday afternoon they were welcomed to their new home by Lemonhead and Obama. Andy said all was fine in fish world when he checked Sunday morning.
Sunday afternoon, though, things took a change for the worst. My mom and dad came over, and Abbie wanted to show Memaw her new fish (Memaw has fish, too). She showed her the little fish (which I learned was named Lightning) and after Memaw wiped the side of the tank a bit we found the algae/seaweed eater sucking on the filter. I noticed that Lemonhead was MIA. Oops, found him. Mom swept him out from under the filter. Lemonhead is in fish heaven. Abbie saved him for Andy to see. Under Andy's care, the Fish Angels came and took Lemonhead to heaven.
Sooo.....this morning I do a fish check. Lightning, check. Algae/seaweed guy, check. Obama.....sucked under the filter. I called Andy and informed him in secret code, that the President-Elect of fish had bit the dust. We decided to wait and see if Abbie notices. Andy thinks he can just replace Obama with an impostor look alike. However, since he won't be home until Thursday.....I don't know. The trip to my mom's just may save the day and buy us the time to get the new one in. I'm sure there will be more to follow. We aren't sure what the problem is in our fish land. I guess we should be lucky the original 3 made it a year.
Here's to brighter waters for Cupcake, Lemonhead, and Obama!

On another note, I am still in the midst of the January blues. Since taking this new job Andy has been incredibly busy. There has been much to do with rearranging staff, eliminating staff and hiring staff. There has been much to do with the upcoming Senate President Inauguration, which as new Chief Of Staff, Andy obviously is very busy with. And then there is that whole bit with the impeachment of our infamous Governor, oh yeah. Throw in the beginning of a new Session and well, my husband has been MIA.
Now, I knew 5 years ago when Andy and I started dating that this was the life I would live. It's a small price to pay to spend your life with someone you love, but that doesn't mean a girl can't whine once in awhile. His job has provided a lot for us. The building of a new home, the finishing of our basement, the ability for me to stay at home.....which is a whole other point in itself.
I always thought I wanted to stay at home, but the walls are closing in on me this fine January. Did I mention I HATE January?!?! Everyday I pick up the same toys, yell the same things when the kids fail to listen, I load and unload the same dishwasher, wash and dry the same clothes in the same washer and dryer, change the same diapers, fix lunch and dinner at the same time. The monotony is taking a toll this month. As Aladdin said about living on the streets, and Jasmine said about life in the castle, Sometimes I just feel trapped. I'm trapped in January! Yes, we still watch Aladdin daily!
Do I go back to work? Certainly not full time. I just can't stand the thought of someone else taking care of my babies. And isn't it amazing how when you aren't with them for a bit, you really miss them? Do I go back a few days? I don't know. How do you do social work a few days of the week? It's a tough job to find. Plus, there is still all of the above to be done when I get home from work. Andy certainly helps out, but again during the months of January-May he is pretty busy with Session. Andy suggests I have someone watch them a day a week and have some Me-time. Sounds like a great idea, and very generous, but do I really want to pay someone to do the job I'm supposed to be doing???
So, we are off to my parents for a few nights as of tomorrow, while the Inauguration is held and the impeachment goes on. I'm hoping I at least see Andy tonight. Until then I'm trying to focus on the positives of my life. A great husband, a healthy family, a new baby coming, good friends, you get the picture. Oh, and if you are bored, PLEASE, PLEASE come visit us!!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Back To Reality




Well, our Christmas began on December 20th, and six Christmas' later, it ended on January 3rd! And I must say, next year we need to slow down and enjoy Christmas in OUR OWN home. It's too hard to get back in the routine of naps and bedtime, not to mention the dirty clothes and toys that pile up. That means expect changes next year, as in mom, dad, Drew & Aimee coming here.......I guess we'll see.
So January is a bummer for me. It's cold. It's dark. It's boring. It's LONG. Session begins.....uhhhh. There's nothing to look forward to. Okay, except Andy having MLK day off, plus my cousin Jenny is visiting for a week from Vegas. That constitutes a trip home to Greene Co. for a visit and free child care from my parents. And, okay, the Jon and Kate preview shows they're moving, so that's fun. Oh, and the Hills spin-off has started, The City. The new Real World starts this week, AND the new America's Best Dance Crew begins this month. I guess at least there will be some good TV, but really am I too old to watch these MTV shows?
Let's see anything else new here? Can't think of anything. I hope to post some Christmas pics soon, but that requires moving them from the camera to the computer......and frankly I'm to blah-ish for that tonight. Enjoy just these couple......and thanks for suffering through my January blues!