looking on the bright side

It seems like with every not so good, not so planned situation, you can look on the bright side of things, at least that's what I try to do. I think back to two years ago when we thought Aaron would be starting his job training in Wyoming. In the back of our heads we wanted to stay in North Dakota, but, to look on the bright side I remember saying "It'll be an adventure to live somewhere new for a year. We'll be close to Colorado and I'll be able to live by the mountains!" Well then, Aaron ended up doing his training here in North Dakota...and so everything ended up working out in the end! (and I was even a little bummed! I was looking forward to that adventure! :) )
And then came my teaching job. I interviewed, didn't get it, but instead of getting too depressed I thought subbing won't be so bad. I can sub the days that I'm around and I'll be able to visit my sisters more freely. But then it turned out another teacher at the school retired and I ended up getting an offer for the job. Another time things worked out for us!
And yet again, thinking back to my kindergarten class this year. It has been tough. I won't go into details but there have been times I've almost gone off my rocker. And then there have been times I've come home crying. BUT, to think on the bright side, I have learned so much about teaching and about kids this first year and I know I'll be able to use what I learned in the future.
And one more time, our puppy. Uff, this was a hard blow for me; partly because I have been looking forward to this pup for over a year. Our puppy was supposed to be born the beginning of February and we would have been able to bring him home towards the end of March. The momma of our puppy ended up needing a c-section and only one of the puppies survived. Now we're on the list for a puppy due April 3rd. Looking on the bright side, when we bring him home I'll be out of school for the summer and he can get the attention he'll need.
Just a few thoughts I've had for awhile! Happy March (tomorrow)!
I find it hard to look on the bright side, though, when Thea doesn't use her litter box. >:( If someone can think of the silver lining in that, I would love to hear...!! :)

Stitch Fix #2

Today I received my second Stitch Fix! I've only been looking forward to it for a month! There were some keepers in the box, as well as some sender-backers. I got the first outfit tried on but then my photographer a.k.a. my hubby decided to go play in the garage. Oh well! I guess selfies will have to do.

1st item: Necklace - returned

2nd item: Blue/white maxi dress - kept! Finding dresses that are long enough is sometimes hard to do and this dress was definitely long enough. I know it will be worn lots this spring/summer/fall. (Jean jacket from last Stitch Fix)

3rd item: Skinny jeans - returned. They were really comfy, but, I already have a pair or skinny jeans (I don't wear them all that often) and the price was just a bit too high to keep them.

4th item: Grey cardigan - kept. I really have gotten into sweaters and cardigans this winter but this cardigan is thin enough I can wear it into the summer. 

5th item: Light blue blouse - returned. Just didn't like it on me! 

March Stitch Fix, I'm already looking forward to ya!

I think one of the hardest things about growing up is seeing your grandparents getting older, getting more frail, more forgetful, slowing down...You want to just think of them as they were when you were 5 or 10 or 12, but, time keeps moving forward.

This last weekend we were at the funeral of my husband's grandpa. It was a wonderful reunion of relatives and friends all remembering Vernon and his life.

Eileen with her kids

The grand kids with their grandma.

PC Week 14

Flowers from Vernon's funeral

Grandpa Vernon

Yesterday we said our good byes to my husband's grandpa. A Norwegian who farmed, milked cows, and raised six children with his wife of 64 years. He set a wonderful example for his kids, grand kids, and even great grand kids on what was truly important in life and even into his 90's he could still "kick himself in the hind end"! 

At my own grandpa's funeral, the song Precious Memories was sung. As I listen to the memories my husband and his family have with Vernon, the song repeats itself in my head.

Precious Memories how they linger, 

how they ever flood my soul...

PC Week 13

Bismarck Trip

My sister-in-law, Heather, and I have almost the same taste. As we talk about getting things for our homes, we find ourselves saying, "oh that's what I was thinking!" or "I love that!" (and we actually mean it!)
So when we decided to head to Bismarck last Saturday, I was so excited. Boutique shopping was on the top of the list, with Menards not even on the list. (We go there way too often with our husbands and not to mention the "You save big money, you save big money, when you shop Menards!" jingle is starting to really irritate me...)
The morning of I moussed my hair, put on my new tunic I had just gotten in the mail, and was headed out the door when I hear Aaron from the bedroom, "Hey Laura! I'll text you when you get to Bismarck. I have a few things I need you to pick up at --" Don't say Menards, don't say Menards, I thought in my head.
"-- Menards."
Shoot. Oh well, I remember reasoning to myself, if he needs something to finish the garage,  I'll get it for him. He's been working so hard on it. Should be easy enough to just pick up quick, right?
Wrong. Turns out what he needed was 11 2x6's 10 foot long. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) we had my sister-in-law's suburban so they would be able to fit.
So, at the end of our fun shopping day, we stopped at Menards, got the ticket, headed back to the lumber yard part of Menards and drove slowly until we found the boards. Turns out they were on the second level, not near the steps, and there was not a Menards employee in sight to help. Heather and I chuckled a bit at our situation, talked about the best way to tackle the situation, and finally decided that I would try to hand the boards down to her through the railing. I took off at a jog towards the steps that would bring me up to the second level while Heather waited below.
I grabbed the first board, careful not to touch the board to my new tunic. After all, I didn't want it to snag the thin material and rip a hole! Well, after the 7th board I decided to give up keeping my tunic safe from snags or dirt. These boards were heavy and not only that but they were cold! We were about to find out just how cold when we got the the 10th board and found out that the rest were frozen together.
I heeved, pushed, struggled, pounded, and tried to lift but nope, they wouldn't budge. They were firmly frozen together. I thought I had tried everything until Heather decided to come up and try her hand in getting them apart. Now these boards were about waist high so I was impressed when Heather, skirt and all, decided to give a mighty kick.
"Kicking sometimes does the trick!" She told me and sure enough, after two big kicks the boards were loose and we were able to proceed in picking up the last two boards.
I must say, I have been to Menards a lot in the past two years, but the trip with my sister-in-law has probably been the most memorable.

The picture above is of me and my sister-in-law. I think it's the only one I have! Shortly after it was taken I posted it on facebook...and these were a few of the comments:
"There's trouble in them thar hills!"
"Oh boy - look out world! Two women with a gun! Lock your doors NOW!!"
"First time a thought of a gun ban being a good thing crossed my mind."
People think they're so funny. :) I'm thankful to have this lady living 20 miles from us!

building my immunity

I had just finished brushing my teeth and was crawling into bed when Aaron looked over at me, with a puzzled expression, and asked "what's that noise?" I froze, listening, and sure enough, there was a slight scraping/tinkling sound. I quickly turned on my phone's flashlight and scanned the room, not catching anything. I then scanned the bathroom and that's when I saw her, the culprit. Thea was sitting contentedly on the vanity, licking ferociously at my just used tooth brush.
"Oh that's a little bit nasty," Aaron commented before I yelled "THEA!"
She quickly hopped down and scurried out of our room. We're not sure if that was the first time she has done that but we are kind of guessing it's not. I guess some extra cat germs are good for immunity, right?
**Extension to this post: Last night Aaron gave me the last Oreo. I put it on my night stand because I wasn't really hungry for it. Well, just now I decided to head in there to eat it - my mouth watering slightly because I haven't had breakfast yet and that chocolate cream filled cookie would really taste good. This, below, is what I find. Thanks, cats. {I guess to look on the bright side, the cats prevented me from eating chocolate for breakfast..!}

PC Week 12

Cat Toes

If you were to glance into our abode these past January and February evenings, there's a good chance you would see Aaron fiddling in the garage with a few "new" old fourwheelers. I would probably be either sitting on the couch in our living room, checking for updates on our soon-to-be-arriving-into-this-world puppy or else lesson planning and prepping for the next school day. The cats would be chasing each other, full speed, back and forth from our bedroom to the living room - their little paws causing quite a thundering noise.

There aren't too many exciting things happening during these winter months. Just the excitement of a warm, 30+ degree day. The excitement that we hit our 100th day of school and there are only 75 days left until summer break. The excitement that my step-sister is expecting a little baby boy due any day now.  

Of course I'm looking forward to spring weather and all the things that go along with it, but there is something nice about these predictable, low key, winter evenings where nothing is planned and you can wear sweats from the time you get home from work until bedtime. 

These days have caused me to feel settled in our town and in our home and at my work,  and it's a great feeling.

PC Week 11

hobby of my hubby