post script oil update

Quarles was on time and we got our tank filled yesterday!  I had our annual girls Christmas dinner at my lovely friend Kara's house, so I was about an hour away from home when I got a text from Stefan.  Electricity went out.  Just when the radiators had gotten nice and warm and began the process of heating the house... bam!  Poor Stefan was at home with no working electronics (which I think may have been the end of the world for him, he can certainly power through the cold, but no lap top GASP!)  To pass the time Stefan prepared a cozy romantic fire for him and the dogs and took a nap in our fireplace room, not too bad.  The fine folks at VA Dominion were able to restore power by 9 and by the time I got home around midnight the house was nice and warm.

Oil Heater 3, Me 0

I'm going to back this story up a bit in order to give you a better understanding of the war that is currently raging between me and my oil heater. Back in October it got cold and my procrastination got the best of me. We found ourselves with no heat, and the house was about 48 degrees.


Battle #1, Winner: Oil Heater
There are two companies that deliver oil in our area Quarles and Petro. I called both and Quarles was not able to make a delivery for two weeks, but Petro said they could come out in two days. Well three scheduled deliveries missed later (and three very cold weeks) Petro finally realized they actually don't service our house, and this is why the truck was never stopping to deliver the oil. We did get a few emergency deliveries scattered within those three weeks giving us a few days of heat, but it was more of a tease than anything. By the time they realized their mistake we had all had it, Lyric's room was about 38 degrees and she had moved into our room. We were all walking around with space heaters, not fun. I finally called Quarles and they were able to successfully fill our tank, ahhhh heat.

Battle #2, Winner: Oil Heater
About three weeks ago we started to smell this gas like smell, it started out as just a hint in the air and then one day we came home to a smell that would burn the hair off your nostrils. (I guess there is a theme forming with this new house, Yankee candles are a must). Stefan went to check the oil heater and yep, we had a leak. I walked downstairs to see a puddle of oil forming around the heater. Actually what I saw was dollar bills just seeping out of my new enemy. Mr. Al saved the day and was able to get someone in right away so at least the problem was solved, for now.

Battle #3, Winner: Oil Heater
That brings us to today, foiled again! I called last week to schedule our re-fill delivery (I really thought I was on the ball this time). Nope woke up this morning with no heat, we have run out of oil :(. So far the house is maintaining its heat, and the delivery should come Wed, but the oil heater always seems to find a way of defeating me, so we may be moving into mom's house while we impatiently await our oil delivery!

We survived Christmas

Christmas is over and all the presents have been unwrapped.  Santa was very good to all in our house this year, we feel very blessed.  I got my Nikon DS3000 and am trying to make my way through several digital photography how to books.  Lyric got an art table, jeep and lots of other things, she was pleased.  It helps to be nesting during/after Christmas, by 9:00 all the presents were opened, by 10:00 the entire house was cleaned and new stuff put away in its proper spot!  Lyric is at her Grammy and Umpa's house for the week and I miss her already!  Although, it will probably  be our last kid free week for quite a while so we are trying to take advantage of some peace and quiet.  I even went out to the bar last night and stayed until 1 am!   Now that NOVA  bars are smoke free, giant pregnant women don't get too many sideways glances trying to enjoy a drink free night out. :)

Mullets are the new black

I woke up this morning to a nice early Christmas present, Lyric decided to give herself a haircut.  For those who don't know, I am very particular about her hair.  To give you an idea it is in my divorce settlement that no one is to cut her hair without written permission from me.  She had the most beautiful curls that are now transformed into a horrible, horrible mullet, waaaahhhh :'(.  Stefan suggested that I chop off the rest of her hair to teach her a lesson.  She was acting like the whole thing was no big deal until I told her that was what I was going to do, so I guess it is the one thing that will really get through to her.  I really hate punishments that punish me as much as they punish her.  I'm trying to get up the nerve to drive her to the salon and get the mullet fixed.  We'll see how it turns out!

If you decide to drive after it snows....

Clean the flippin' snow of the top of your car!  As much fun as it is to dodge the clumps of snow flying back onto my windshield, I would prefer not to risk my life due to your laziness.  TYVM.

Blizzard of 2009

This weekend we had record breaking snow fall, about 24 inches!  I must admit that watching the snow accumulate Friday night sparked a little excitement in me, however waking up Saturday morning and realizing all the to dos I had put off killed all excitement.  My car will not be moving for a while due to the fact that  there is currently about 2 feet of snow on top of it (even after being cleared Sat. morning).  The huskies loved the snow and can't get enough of it.  Diego isn't a fan, the snow is taller than him making taking care of business a bit difficult.  One thing I do love however, is that I have an excuse to make Stefan drive me around to take care of my errands :)

Some privacy please!

A few things you give up when becoming a mom: energy, an active social life (or at least one that involves bars and such), blowing loads of money on frivolous things just for you, making a bowl of cereal for dinner and calling it a day and privacy! My latest invasion from my mini stalker:


My back hurts, my feet are swollen, it is a lazy Sunday afternoon (Lyric is somewhere playing something quietly), perfect opportunity to grab a book and take a nice long hot bath. (Not so much). About 10 minutes into my bath a little monster comes barreling through the door wanting to know what I'm up to. "Ooooo a bath! I want to play!" Next thing I know I have a mermaid Barbie joining me in the tub and a four year old hanging over the side. But apparently that wasn't enough....

Lyric "I'm just going to stick my feet in, OK?" *climbs up on the side of the tub feet in MY water"
Me: "umm ok I guess" *continues reading, trying hard to ignore*

Of course the invasion doesn't stop here.. a few pages later Lyric is in her birthday suit and almost finished with the full bath takeover. She looks up and says to me:

"You know mom, there really isn't much room in this bath for two people, you would probably be more comfortable reading on the couch downstairs."

Point taken, I retreated, she wins again :)

Pregnancy so far

Boo Hoos

• Terrible headaches (ended up in the ER not fun)
• Morning Sickness (Lyric would get so mad / grossed out and slam the door shut so she didn't have to hear)
• Soooo tired

Boo Hoos

• Restless leg syndrom
• Back pain
• Heart burn

Things I miss:

• My jeans
• Vodka
• Smoking (yeah I know, I know)
• Energy
• A good nights sleep
• Shaving without issues 
• Heels

Braelynn's Safari Themed Nursery

Easy recipe that tastes good

The thought of cooking every night while pregnant exhausts me so I'm always on the look out for easy recipes that don't leave me standing in front of a stove for an hour.  (Plus my family is sick of spaghetti and meat sauce I'm sure) I made one last night that was very yummy so wanted to share.

What you need: box of stove top stuffing, chicken, a can of condensed chicken soup

Pre-heat the oven for 400
Cut the chicken up
Make the stuffing
Pour the can of soup into a glass square pan
Put the chicken and stuffing in
Bake for 30 minutes

Partner with a side of instant mashed potatoes and gravy and enjoy!

Hickory, Dickory, Dock....

Moving to an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere (kind of) was always a dream I had, which came to fruition last June. I didn't realize how reliant I was on modern technology until getting settled. (I had a hint when my sister took one look at pics of the new place and started laughing at the thought of me living in a place with no central air, but I shrugged it off as usual).


Anyways the lack of dishwasher, central air, abundance of bugs, and issues with the oil heat tank, all of these I could deal with just fine. But the latest charm has just about sent me over the deep end. Our new roomies, the mice family. I am generally good with creepy crawlies and such, but the thought of a mouse jumping out at me was just too much to bare. Not to mention the fact that they took up residence in our bedroom, making late night appearances waking me up with their squeaking and shuffling. Stefan was told to get rid of the mice, no matter what it took (estimates were at about 5 - 7). He put out poison like a good obedient fiancé and eventually the late night visits stopped, I was happy. Until about a week ago. Apparently the poison worked and the family of mice is now dead...... in our bedroom wall.

I have never smelled anything like it in my entire life. The smell of these mice left my bedroom uninhabitable for a good three days. So now I'm 7 months pregnant (already hormonal and cranky) forced to sleep on the couch. Stefan, like all good captain, decided if the ship was going down, he was going down with it and he stayed in the bedroom.

I'm now back in the bedroom, but still suffering. I'm not sure when the smell will leave but for now I guess I just have to suck it up and deal with it. I still love my house and it certainly could be worse.

Rewind: What made me, me

2003: Graduated college, getting married, we're pregnant!

February 13, 2005: The day that changed my life forever. My booger bear was born:

Lyric Marie

Flash forward two years, divorced, single, working, mommy in grad school, exhausted.

2007: Moved to Atlanta, it was just Lyric and me.  We met new people, I re-discovered myself, life couldn't be better.

2008: Move back to Virginia refreshed and ready to see where life takes us.

2009: Met Stefan, fell in love.  ZOMG we're pregnant!  Life happens for a reason and all those silly cliches, we've had our ups and downs, mistakes and wins, at the end of the day I know I am right where I'm supposed to be, finally! 

That brings us to today.  Living in an old farmhouse in Leesburg, three dogs one 4 year old, and an amazing 5 year old soon to be step son Austin in MS and our little monkey Braelynn on the way (due February 21, 2010). We have put the work into building our chaotic, awesome, fun, fantastic family and I am so excited every day to see what new adventures will be thrown my way.