Change in 2009

I am expecting a ton of changes for 2009. With the help of a loving Heavenly Father we are hopefully going to be shaking things up a bit.

First we hope for Johnny to get in the with Lineman union. He is #2 on the NM waiting list and he interviews at two locations in Texas in January.

Second, if Johnny does get in the lineman union we will most likely be kickin' it in a travel trailer.

Third I will be working from home! YEAH! My employer told me that I was an asset to their company and even though I have only been with them for 6 months they didn't want me to have to resign when we move. The director and my manager have made arrangements for me to work from home. I will be provided a laptop and I will set my own hours Monday-Friday at home with my kids. I already have a tentative schedule in mind. It really feels that I have been working toward this type of position for a long time. When I started my MAED program working from home was my goal. We are so blessed!

Fourth, (and most important) we are going to have Hulse Baby #3 the end of August 2009. Yikes! I am still in shock. I was so hungry for a baby and now I am scared to death! My friend Janelle made me take a test two days before Christmas (I was putting it off). For Christmas Johnny got one gift he really didn't expect! I am so excited to be pregnant with a handful of wonderful friends. 4 of us are all due within 2 weeks of each other. I really want a girl but I would be happy with a boy too! I love my boys and Daniel is excited I have a baby in my tummy!

We have been so blessed. I feel like the Lord knows what we want and need and he is guiding our lives. I know that He loves me and my family. I love my boys! Johnny, Daniel & Jaxon are such a joy to me. I love my life.

BABY HUNGRY!

About 10 days ago my friend mentioned to me that she was going to have her IUD taken out because they were ready to have another baby. It made me start thinking...and now I can't stop thinking! I wish I could shut off my maternal cravings for just a few more months! You see, my friend and I have been prego together both times. We each have two kids almost exactly the same age. I feel like it is some kind of strange bond or connection between us. It is strange but I feel even closer to her when we are pregnant at the same time. We talk about names, clothes, babies, swelling, etc. All the fun stuff. Monday morning I found out she (and another friend of mine) are pregnant! I am such a TERRIBLE friend. Do you know what I said to her? Instead of congratulations I said "how could you?"! I was being sarcastic of course, but I know I am terrible. I am so sorry (you know who you are)! I am SO EXCITED FOR YOU!

I am excited for my friend, but now I want to be prego again too. But, then I walk into a store with Daniel and I cringe! I don't think I could survive another Daniel! If you have met Daniel you know what I mean. He is a wonderful, happy, energetic boy. He just has a little problem with authority and he NEVER stops talking. Jaxon on the other hand is quiet, doesn't say too much and loves to look at books. He will sit on my lap and let me hold him. But, he is starting to act more and more like Daniel. It has to be the age. Someone PLEASE tell me it is just the age. Daniel just turned 3. 18 months to 3 years was a really rough time with him...and it isn't over yet.

Am I ready for another baby yet? I think if it was a girl I would say absolutely! A boy? I am scared out of my mind to have another boy. They would outnumber us. A few weeks ago I bought Daniel one of the Monkey backpacks with a leash, I would need a few more leashes if I had another boy! I would need my own time out room! How did my grandmother survive? She had 3 boys! How did my mother-in-law survive? She had 6 boys. If any of you know Johnny I am positive Daniel is Johnny's mothers revenge on him! Now I am paying the price (don't get me wrong Johnny is totally worth it, but still). Another fear I have is that the next one will have the same condition Jaxon has. If the next one is a boy they have a 60% chance of having EE. If it is a girl it is only a 30% chance.

The other problem is we tried for 2 years before we found out we were pregnant with Daniel. Jaxon was a surprise, but what if we have to go through fertility again? Do I really want to delay getting that going?

The other night I went to bed asking Johnny about baby names...what is wrong with me? Someone tell me how to turn off my hormones.

Potty Break!

Going to the bathroom at work has become quite the experience. Here are the supplies.
Yep, that is a life alert button (think Help I've fallen and can't get up!), a key and a giant mag light! We were told not to push the button unless it is really an emergency because it is a $75 false alarm charge from the Po Po. We are told to go in pairs. It is a hike around the building to the potty under the back stair case. Our office has a community potty. The problem recently is that the outside lights at our building have been off for a week, so even with the mag light it is BLACK! and SCARY! I just hold it! Or, my manager escorts me. Sad I know.

Where do I work you ask? What is my schedule and hours? Right! Like I would tell you if you don't already know. Sorry, but if I am making my potty trek in these conditions that information is classified.

This is a video I made the other night (I was a little bored I admit) but trust me my mag light was on and it was still BLACK! Last week we had a bum passed out on the grass by the men's room and we were told to ask for an escort to the bathroom. Yikes!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family. 13 people in all. I loved the excuse to bring out all my China and polish my silver pitchers and trays. We toasted to family and health and enjoyed playing games. Johnny loved having a chance to play football with his brother in the rain. It was just a great day.

I even dressed Jaxon in his brown velvet coveralls (from my Granny). People at church the week before told me he looked like a Pilgrim! Yes he is holding an old glow stick left over from Halloween. :o) I will enjoy busting this picture out when he starts bringing girls home...

Daniel's Party

For those of you looking for party pictures here they are...

The Spiderman cake.


The Spiderman web slinging.

Eating the cake with friends.

Thank you to everyone who came. It was so much fun and Daniel LOVED having all of his friends over to his house for a party.

Twilight

So I went to see Twilight yesterday. It was just...good. Is that the right word? Maybe not. But, let's face it, it really was no where near the level of the book. I know, I know that is what people always say about a movie after they have read the book. Basically, I didn't feel the connection between Bella and Edward as I did in the book. And I think there was only one or two times in the whole movie that Edward smiled or seemed really happy. He was a little too mopey. As for the actors, almost everyone besides the main characters was sub par. Edward did have an amazing chest and Jacob is a cutie. It was just a little too dark and not as much of a heart thumping love story as I expected. It makes me want to read the book again. It makes me want to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon again! But, that is just me. What did you think?

Where are you on Thanksgiving?

Where do you go for thanksgiving? stay home? in-laws? travel?

It depends. We live near Johnny’s family so for holidays we usually go to So. Cal. to be with my family. This year since both of my sisters will be in Nepal (Diana lives there; Jeanine & Kevin are going to visit her) my parents are coming to our house. We are also having a some close friends over as well. That evening we will go see Johnny’s family at his mom’s house for a little while because we will be in town. My dad, I am sure, will be asleep in our recliner “watching” a football game and won’t even notice we have stepped out.

If you bring something what do you bring?

My mom makes a killer pumpkin pie. I LOVE pumpkin pie and she taught me to make it like she does. I bring the pie and usually the green bean casserole. This year since it is at my home I bought the entire meal (two of them actually, one Turkey and one Ham) from Fry’s. My oldest Daniel was born on Thanksgiving, 10 days late. That is the year I started buying the meal. I had every member of my family at my house for Thanksgiving and I was in the hospital. What else was I supposed to do? Buying it makes the day so much more relaxed. I will not do this every year, but for now I am game. We supplement with homemade items that are really amazing…that way I don’t have to cook a Turkey or a Ham!

What "makes" thanksgiving dinner for you?

Spending time with family is the best part, but I love and eating on China. My grandmother is an antique dealer. She has always had amazing China. I think her napkin rings are each worth a few thousand each. My grandmother and mother started my set when Johnny and I were married. We bring it all out for any holiday. No paper products for us, we even use linen napkins and wear our Sunday best. A holiday is special so we try to set the mood. This is my China http://www.amazon.com/Noritake-Crestwood-Platinum-20-Piece-Dinnerware/dp/B0002PC7TA I LOVE IT! It makes me want to go awwww whenever I see the table set. Breathtaking.

What grosses you out?

The little hairs sticking out of the Turkey skin gross me out! I never eat the skin. SICK!

Gravy preference? Brown? Turkey? Homemade?

Whatever is available. I never make gravy so when someone else does it is great. I just don’t like it clumpy or too salty. Mashed Potatoes? from scratch? or instant?Scratch. Preferably red mashed potatoes with the skin.

Do you actually eat Yams?

NO! YUCK! No matter how much brown sugar or marshmallows they are not edible to me. But, Johnny loves them so I always make some just for him. It is a little ironic that I loath them yet they are the main source of Jaxon’s diet. I make a batch for him a few days a week.

What about cranberries?

In my mom’s amazing candied pear dish, yes. Other than that I only like them dried. They are too sour.

Pie? What is a "must have" at every Thanksgiving dessert table?

Pumpkin & Pecan. Johnny would swear it is not Thanksgiving unless he has a slice of him mom’s cream cheese pie. He suckers her into making him his own by playing the “it’s my birthday” card.

Pies? From scratch? Or store bought?

Filling from scratch, crust from the store. I can’t make a pie crust from scratch to save my life!

Whipped cream? From scratch ? Cool whip? Or from a can?

Light Cool whip.

I would love to hear what you love about Thanksgiving, please share!