Weekend Recap...

...woo! It was a busy weekend! Let me try to recap it for ya:

Friday
I left work early to go to Haley's school because she had a classroom play. It was one of those days where I left work later than I wanted, traffic was horrible and as soon as I walked in the room, my work phone rang! Needless to say, I missed the first showing. Luckily, a lot of other parents did too so they did an encore performance. H was the Guardian Angel and was actually the female lead! She neglected to tell all of us that but keep in mind it was a 10 minute play. I actually left right after the play because I was not feeling great so I went to my sister's and laid down until her, H and my grandma got home.

Then we had homemade meatballs for dinner-yum and lots of pretzels with icing! H and Grandma played beauty shop which ended in finger nail polish remover all over the floor and that game ended quickly. We then did our coupon cutting and planned out our game plan for the next day.

Saturday
After a quick (well not really quick) breakfast at IHOP, we went to use up our coupons and finish up our Christmas shopping. Haley used a coupon to buy Matt an Axe gift set for Christmas with her own money; I usually get him one every year so he'll be very excited. FYI-we have Axe out the ears at our house right now.

I then headed home to find our Christmas cards had arrived-yah!!! Unfortunately, someone had pregnancy brain when making them and wrote "edition" instead of "addition" so I had to handfix all of them before mailing them. Oops!

Then I headed to work the gate at the local light display to raise money for the American Lung Association.
This is also where Matt works part-time and had worked all day from 8-5pm. I gave him Super Husband of the Day because he came home, ate dinner and went back up to help us work. It was insane! I think something like 700 cards came through and I witnessed a verbal fight because one car was mad the other car couldn't turn off his headlights...how's that for the holiday spirit?

Sunday
The night before really took it's toll on me. I stood outside for 4 hours and didn't get to bed until after 11pm so come Sunday, I had a killer headache which caused an earache which caused Crabby Alyssa. Other than almost crying twice, I think I actually did pretty good not being crabby. We had Matt's mom's side's Christmas yesterday which included 4 children and a flutophone and I didn't even ask to lay down. It was funny because his 6th grade cousin and I found we had a common love for "The Hunger Games" and spent quite awhile discussing it.

Monday
I took a vacation day today. I had to use it before the end of the month. Unfortunately, I had to go in yesterday to take care of some things at work and I had to go in today. It's nice to have a lot of time off at the holidays but at the same time, it's kind of crazy because all of this stuff has to be done before the end of the year.

I had to get up early and take Matt to work because he truck has been in the shop the past week. Apparently, a screw fell out of the bumper and went through all the gearshifts or something. We're going to pick it up today after work...and pay $3,100.

So that my friends was my weekend, it's almost noon and I've done all my errands for the day and I'm back in my pajamas now! Hope you had a good weekend!

Misc. Monday...

 ...UGH! As you can tell from the title, this was SUPPOSED to post yesterday! When I scheduled it on Sunday, it said scheduled and then when I just saw it didn't post about 10 minutes ago, I logged on and it said draft. Blogger keeps doing that...any ideas??? Now on to the meat and potatoes!

...hey all! Hope you had a good weekend! This is probably the only post you're going to get from me this week. This Saturday is the MIA Conference so I'm busy, busy, busy gearing up for that. I'm super excited about what all it has to offer and the speakers that are going to be there but I'm even more excited because I get my guest room back! It's currently been storing giveaways for 200 attendees. So on to the miscellaneous, shall we?

*I was thoroughly looking forward to a weekend of nothingness. Well, I was well on my way to that at 4pm on Saturday when I was still lounging around the house in my pajamas. Then my husband called to inform me that he had a blow out in his truck just west of Columbia. He was with three other guys as they'd been at a paintball tournament. I quickly threw on some jeans and jumped in the car (sans bra, thank goodness its oversized sweatshirt season!) and drove 2 hours to pick up the guys and drove them 2 hours home. We got back to STL around 8:30 and the tow truck had JUST arrived to pick up Matt. To say I was upset would be a MAJOR understatement. Once I got home and calmed down, I realized I'm very thankful the guys didn't get hurt and I sent up some major prayers for that.

*FYI-Matt knew he was in the dog house. When I got to the exit they were at (might I add this was the creepiest, most desolate exit EVER), I offered him a cookie and he said, "No...I feel bad." I responded with, "You should but you can still have the cookie." You might be asking WHY Matt was in the doghouse since a blow out wasn't his fault. WELL, my lovely husband told me their tournament was in Columbia when in reality it was halfway between Columbia and KC. He also "forgot" to tell me that he was even driving. These things, coupled with his family calling me every 5 minutes while I'm trying to get him a tow truck and our conversation less than 24 hours prior about him making more wise money choices and stressing me less equals Matt in doghouse.

*We did not "grow" a garden this summer/fall. A garden kind of grew it's self. Sunday both Matt and I laid down to take a nap so we didn't feed the dogs at their precise time. I woke up about 30 minutes later than we normally feed them and they were both snacking on baby tomatoes straight off the vine!

*Due to the conference this weekend, this is the first time since we've been married that I will NOT be attending Opening Weekend for hunting at the farm. I'm okay with it but very sad. I told the ladies that are helping me with the conference that we need to pick a different date next year.

*Holy moly! Can you all believe Thanksgiving is in 2.5 weeks and then Christmas is a month later?! Seriously, time is FLYING! I'm usually an overachiever and done with my Christmas shopping but I just started this past weekend. I know some people are all about Black Friday and going to the stores but please give me online shopping and I'm a happy girl!

That's all I've got for now. If I have time to post again this week, I will but if not, I'll be sure to post on Monday about the conference...only the highlights like Dr. Hottie who I'll FINALLY meet after a year!!!

Tuesday Tidbits...

...it's a slow week so not sure I'll have much to blog about.

*Matt's shifter on the truck broke in half Friday night as we were getting on the highway. He was able to "suicide shift" to get us off the highway to the garage that we always take our cars then his sister picked us up. We're supposed to pick it up today, dreading the final amount.

*I am TOTALLY pumped about "Hungry Games" the movie coming out in March 2012. In the books, I'm a totally Peeta lover but Gale is WAY cuter in the movies. I'm just hoping that the acting doesn't suck like the "Twilight" films or my heart will be broken.

*Mr. and Mrs. Cash Cowan helped me buy a new laptop this past weekend. I took it to work yesterday to have the IT guys install all the stuff they wanted me to add on at the store. I'm patiently waiting for it back since I'm still propping my old one up just to stay open.

*This week is cray cray busy at night! Master the Met meeting last night, work tonight, Wednesday bikram, Thursday bikram and pottery then Friday night a CLIF bar photo shoot for work-whew! I hope the week goes by fast.

*I've lost my love to run. More on that tomorrow...will discuss "the wagon" later this week.

*I'm trying not to spend any more money this week on stuff other than necessities including ice cream. How sad! No more ice cream in August-the hottest (well second hottest) month of the year.

*Looking forward to 5k on Saturday and tri on Sunday-wish me luck on both!!!

If It's Not One Thing...

...seriously, then it's another! Really? I don't think Matt is ever going to be allowed to buy a truck again. We bought this new, well new to him, 2008 Ford F-350 back in March after the other truck rolled down a hill and hit a tree, remember all that drama? The new truck is fine other than the fact that I can't haul my big butt in it sometimes without working up a sweat. Then we found out that when it rains it sometimes leaks in the front window on the passenger side AKA on me. Then the radiators in that model got recalled so we just spent $1600 on a new radiator Wednesday-sweet! Because we have all sorts of money to be spending right now-not!

Last night, Matt goes to lock up the parks and calls me because he pours in radiator fluid and it just comes right out. Awesome...$1600 for nothing! So I call AAA to have it towed and head to get him around 8pm, as I'm driving and on the phone with them, the lady tells me that my plan doesn't cover a 350 because they'd have to get a super duty hauling truck. Really?! Are you kidding me? I mean I guess I never asked but seriously? I head back home then some random number calls me...its Matt from the guy's phone at Autozone because his phone won't turn on. He tells me he's going to call the super duty hauling truck and have it towed to the garage and then I'll have to come get him.

As I'm sitting at home waiting for him, his dad calls saying he saw that Matthew called. Well, yes, because this weekend is the men's retreat for church. They've all been super pumped about it for WEEKS! His dad is on the phone with me trying to work out details which I have no idea, I'm trying not to cry thinking of all the money we're about to spend and just waiting...

UGH! Finally about 10pm, I go to get him. When I get there I see the AAA sticker on the tow truck's bed. I get out and ask him if this is the same truck they'd use for his 350 and any other car. He said yes, grrr!!! We then start discussing AAA, turns out my plan only covers up to a 250 even though it's the same freakin' truck that pulls a 250 or 350!?! I'm going to call AAA tomorrow, not only because of this but because last year when I mailed in my credit card number to renew, it got stolen. I sent it to a FL address and it was stolen and used in FL...Anyways, we're hoping that the garage will reimburse us for the tow since it was less than 24 hours since it had been "fixed" and Matt had only driven the truck to work and home and to work again. We'll see, knowing our lucky...probably not.

I have to work Friday night and the one nice thing about nights is sleeping in...um, not so much for me since I have to take him to work at 6:30 am. I'm debating letting him drive my car to his work then running there to get it before breakfast with Angie and Aimee. It's only 5 miles which is exactly the run I need and this'll make me do it or else, I'll be walking to breakfast and then to work!!!

Seriously though, if its not one thing then it's another, let's not mention that I missed all of Grey's! I also apologize if there are any Fs missing in my post, my F button randomly decides when to work. Have a good weekend...I hope mine is better than my Thursday night!

The New Truck...

...sorry when I posted about the new truck, I forgot to include a picture! This isn't the best but it was cold and raining when I finally remembered to take this pic on Sunday AM. It's a 2008 Ford F-350. As I said before, I really like that it's not white because I can pick it out in a parking lot.
Seriously though, this thing has no steps. I have to grab the "Oh Shit" handle, lean back and CLIMB in. I told Matt if I get any fatter, I won't be able to get it, he'll have to give me a boost. He's going to go price running boards this week...thank goodness!

New Truck..Finally!!!

...as of Sunday evening, Matt finally has a new truck which means...NO MORE CARPOOLING!!! I know some of you out there LOVE carpooling with your husbands and I am just.not.oneofthem! I love my husband but he is the worst morning person in the world and sitting at work waiting for someone to pick you up well after hit 8 hours when you are thinking of 500 things you COULD be doing, well...it's just not as glamourous as it sounds. So more power to all of you that love carpooling, it's just not for us although we did enjoy saving the money.

I knew when the old truck sold that we were gonna fight, we were gonna battle when it came time to buy a new truck. Why? Well, because Matt is the wisher in our relationship and I'm the dream crusher. Matt sets his hopes high and I set mine realistic. Matt says, we can afford this and I point out that we can afford it if we give up this, this and that. Matt says his price range is this, I say it's $5,000 less than what he states. SO as much as I wasn't enjoying carpooling, I was NOT looking forward to shopping for a new truck...AT.ALL.

We both agreed that we wanted to have the new truck purchased by March 8. Originally we said March 1 but when I found out I was going to conference last week, we pushed it back a week because why would we need two cars when one would be sitting. I told Matt to find 2 or 3 trucks that he wanted while I was gone and this past Saturday we'd go look at them, I'd crunch numbers and we'd purchase. Matt threw a fit because he wanted to walk in, find the truck he wanted and walk out...not dilly dally for a couple days. Fine, whatever, at this point, I don't even care...go buy your truck, he's making the payments, not me, right?

So I'm gone and he goes to look at trucks but doesn't find one he likes. Thursday night he casually mentions that he might have found one on Craigslist, which is totally NOT his style to Internet shop. I ask questions and he says he doesn't want to jinx it and he'll tell me about it when I get home....okay...so Friday I get home and turns out he finds this truck in DALLAS!?! So we're going to buy this truck without seeing it!?! Hmm...

Fast foward to Sunday because the logistics are boring but to summarize, it's his "dream truck" and yes, we paid $1,000 over HIS price range but the monthly payment is in the range of what I was okay with it...some compromise, right? The truck was being delivered sometime Sunday, kind of the like the cable guy-you know, we'll be there between 8-5. Well, my birthday dinner at his parents was supposed to be Sunday night at 5 and the guy hadn't gotten here yet!?! Matt calls and agrees to meet the guy at our house at 6:30pm.

We get to his parents' house and Matt goes to the nursery with his brother to drop off the work truck and his sister was going to give us a ride back to our house because hubs couldn't plan in advance. During dinner, Matt's mom looks at me and says, "Why do you have to be home by 6?" Hmm...good question, Matt, thanks for letting me in on that. We'd been trying to keep it a secret because we hadn't even seen the truck yet and were a little concerned about the whole situation. I look at Matt and he stares at me blankly...what am I supposed to say? I tell him, fine go ahead and tell them in which his sister is really excited and his parents are skeptical since we hadn't seen it...the whole reason we were trying NOT to tell them until we did see it.

So we head home and his sis stays to wait to see the new truck. The guy arrives around 7 (so we didn't really get to look at it too much in the dark) and Matt goes outside to meet him. I hang back in the house because I know he'll be mad if I'm all up in his business but his sis heads out so I join. The guy is telling Matt all about it and I'm trying to listen closely then Matt climbs in the driver's side and his sis climbs in the backseat. The dealer guy jumps in the front seat and closes the door. My heart sinks...I'm left in the cold, dark front yard outside the new truck. I head back inside to hide my disappointment. I know this sounds silly and petty but this was OUR first major purchase (minus the furnance), it was our first married vehicle...I wanted to be the first, the first one to sit in it with him, the first to go on a ride, I wanted to share that excitement with him...just me and my husband and that moment was hijacked. Gone...shared with someone else all because I was trying not to be the smothering wife all up in his business and trying to give him space. UGH!

So the dealer guy leaves and then Matt, his sis and I go on the first drive to his parents. His family freaks out over the truck loving it and go for a ride around the block. Then his brother comes in and says to Matt, "We're totally going out Wednesday night in your new truck." His mom says, "No, Alyssa is doing something with Matt on Wednesday." I'd just finished telling her how Wednesday was my only free night this week. His bro then goes on to QUESTION what we're doing and blah blah blah...I snap, I can't handle it anymore, he questions everything. Hi, hello...I'm his wife, remember me? The wife, me? So we head back home, the whole new truck moment ruined for me but I try to let Matt enjoy it. I'm so glad this whole truck ordeal is done and over with but I'm even happier that Matt got what he wanted and LOVES his new truck.

Sorry for the kind of Debby Downer post but I had to get that all out. I think the new truck is pretty too and I'm happy that it's dark blue (midnight blue in my mind) and not white so I can pick it out easily. OH! Did I mention that it's a manual which means I won't be able to drive it? Which is totally fine with me because this thing is HUGE!

Happy Friday everyone! P.S. Tomorrow's my birthday!!!

Bye, Bye...

...as I type this, Matt is showing his truck to it's new owner!!! Yes, we FINALLY sold the truck! Just in time because the license plate was due next month. Matt didn't want to sell it but I finally told him that every time we took it to the shop and spent $1,000 then that was $1,000 off a down payment for a new truck. AH! I hear the truck starting up...

...okay, I'm back now. Matt and I sat in the front window watching the new owner get all situated in the truck, checking out the inside and lights and everything then we watched it drive down the street and then it was gone...I know Matt was sad, I got a little teary-eyed too. So many trips in that truck, so many conversations, so many times I'd look back and smile watching the doggies enjoying the ride in the back. We got in the truck after we got engaged, we rode together to our wedding in that truck, we freaked out that we lost our marriage certificate less than 24 hours after we got married in that truck. I remember when we first started dating, we went on a camping trip and I took a picture of the truck all nice and shiny and gorgeous and now its gone. For as many times that I bad mouthed that truck, I should be happy its gone but I do feel a little sad, like one of our family members is gone. Have a good life truck, enjoy your new family!

For the next month, we're going to try to tough it out with one car. We figure that'll give us time to get a small loan paid off, save us some insurance money and a month's worth of car payment. February isn't a crazy, busy time for either of us at work so working the same hours shouldn't be bad. Then in March, we'll get a new truck...that should be a fun time time making that decision! At least I have a month to prepare and work on patience. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and prayers when the truck was in the accident and for getting it sold. It's a good thing I know, its just bittersweet...