flighing high

What a great few days I've had.  What a great few weeks to come!  I love my new job, C likes his day care lady R.  I have a plan in mind for September as far as school goes.  Everything is really going good right now.

I know this is short, but we are going to Art Park tomorrow and I am exhausted!

it's good to be employed

Today was orientation at the zoo.  It was great, and most of what they were talking about didn't apply to me at all lol.  Tomorrow I learn how to drive a big passenger van, next Tuesday I have safety training, then Wed I start.  I come in an hour early to learn the route, then it's all me!  So excited to get started.

On a down note, C is sick.  Has a cold or something... woke up with a horse cough and 101.5 temp this morning and when I picked him up this afternoon from R's house (babysitter) he was asleep and lethargic when I woke him up.  I hope he gets better soon poor guy. 

I tried on my uniform shirt (uniform = black pants, black shoes, green polo provided by the zoo, name tag, dinosaur t shirt provided by the zoo that I get to keep at the end of the summer!,  and a half  zip sweatshirt)  anyway I tried the shirt on to make sure it fit, which it does, and C was like if I get lost at the zoo I find you cuz you are a worker.  LOL I was like if you get lost at the zoo you find me cuz I'm you mom silly!

It's not strep this time (stupid throat)

Time for my nearly bimonthly throat problem, this time it's not strep. it's just a sore throat "possibly due to your allergies"  PLEASE, I hate not going in to my Dr and seeing other stupid people who don't know me so don't know my history. PSH!

My Dr. is wonderful, but he didn't have any openings today and I didn't want to wait through the weekend before getting seen, or worse have to go in to urgent care and wait for hours to get seen.

This bout of throat issues is swollen and red tonsils.  Last time I actually had strep (lucky me to get sick when mom is out of town!).  I've asked Dr Grace about getting my tonsils out but he said that as an adult I don't have enough history of throat problems to justify getting them out, if there continues to be problems we need to build up my record and maybe in a year or 2 it'll be justified... UH  OK, BUT MY THROAT HURTS NOW!!!  I don't want to wait a year or 2 and in the mean time continue to have problems....  COME ON!!

Don't get me wrong, Dr. Grace is a wonderful Dr, just on this particular issue he doesn't seem to understand how difficult it is to have a sore throat issue every 2 months or so.  My biggest concern about it aside from my person discomfort is that I don't want C to catch it from me, they say kids under 6 don't get strep, but with him exposed to it so often by me, I don't want to take the chance of him getting it before he is 6, or ever!

Sigh, my throat hurts :-(

A trip to the children's museum

Yesterday we went to the Portland Childrens Museum with E and her daughter S, and S and her son P.  The big exhibit right now is Curious George and this big contraption was part of it.  C was fascinated trying to figure out how it worked, he'd stick one of the black blocks in the slot, turn the wheel till it got to the top then run over to watch it come down the conveyer belt.  So cool watching him try to figure things out.

I'm not sure which room/area C liked best, but he sure LOVED the water room.  He kept taking this watering can over to S who had taken off her shoes and watering her feet for her... well, she didn't like it much lol. 



This was the "dig pit"  it's full of like chopped up pieces of turf or something similar.  Very cool, E said that S probably  wouldn't have played here if not for C.  but they both really seemed to like digging in the pit...  S was cooking pizza and C was filling up the dump truck, taking it over to the scale, weighing it then driving it to the convyer belt and offloading his load lol, such a boy.

This was the "Zoom Room"  not too cool compared to other rooms at the museum, but there was a big wooden train track set, and this ambulance, there was also a bus but C wasn't into it.  I love this picture of S and C how she's all girl waving to people as they drive by and he's all boy talking on the walkie talkie about the paitent lol it's so odd how different their minds work.

I loved the paint your own face area.  S was turning herself into a cat and C was making himself a blue beard with a red unibrow... I'm not sure what he was really making but he was really getting in to it, he still has paint on his face today even after a shower!

To finish up the day we played in the clay room.  C has never really played with clay before but he's done playdough so he knew what he was doing.  He wasn't sure about the texture of the clay, and he kept "painting" the water on it so as you know the clay got very mushy... made it a bit harder to work with then he would've liked, but he worked through it.





The childrens museum was fun for everyone (S & P spent most of their time in the baby garden since he's only 1) but I'm not sure I'd go again...unless I won another pass like I did for this trip (Thank you PDX kid's calendar!)  I mean don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and it's a great place, but it's geared at such a specific age, I can't see C liking it if he were much older.

I'm a rambling (wo)man

Just thought I'd do a bit of prose today, not much photographicly to report (camera batteries died) so here's a run down....

Saturday was National Train Day and it was also Amtrack's 40th birthday!  So we made our way to Union station for some train style fun!  There were a lot of vendors and you could walk through a car of an old school train, like wooden walls when smoking and playing poker on trains was cool.  Bought C a conductor hat.  More for me then for him, but he likes it mostly.  After that we went to the Crafty Wonderland Sale.  That was fun!  Lots of good ideas and fun art.  Bought a card that says WTFWJD!  I love it!  Also got a little note book that is made out of game cards, it has the property card for B & O railroad on one side and St. Charles Place on the other...  perfect since Charles is my dad's name and he has BO  LOLOLOL

As you should know if you have a mom, Sunday was mothers day.  I got my mom a necklace that says "grandmother, mother perfected" and a journal with a couple stickers...  C got me a really nice scarf that's blue with purple circles, and mom got me & C a new tent and airmatress for our church camp out this year, we kinda grew out of the other tent...

Tomorrow we are going to the Portland Childrens Museum for the first time.  E & S and S & P are going to go with us.  It should be a lot of fun, I'll be sure to buy batteries tonight so I can take lots of good pictures!

Art park

Art park happens every Thursday at the Montivilla Community Center.  It's a free art time/open gym time and it's only a dollar for each the art and the open gym so $2 total.  Totally worth it for an hour and a half of fun for C.  Today the art project was mothers day cards.  He made his for Bali.  Lots of feathers and glue cuz Bali likes glue.

After he finished with the card he went to the gym.  He loves these silly fisher price car things.  I don't get the appeal, but it's so cute how he drives aroud honking the little horn at everyone....then he'll come over to me for a kiss stop (pit stop) that's really what he thinks they're called. 

Then after some time in the gym he wants to go to the mat room. Ok, no problem... until he hops up on this here balance beam, probably as tall as my chest, and just takes off on his own no help at all.  Every day I am amazed at what C is doing on his own that he wouldn't or couldn't do before.  I got a racing Wii game for him that he loves and he is such a good driver lol I mean on the Wii at least...  He's so grown, he'll LOVE head start next year.  It'll be good for him too.

in the sUn with my sOn

What a beautiful day it is today in Portland.
I love spring!








Took C to the park today.  So warm out!

We went up to Creston park and played at both playgrounds, the one by the school... 


 C was very eager to try all the types of monkey bars there are at the school playground

Love how this picture turned out, I also got one of him looking at me and smiling. SOOO cool

 This was like a rock wall, he loves to climb, he climbs EVERYTHING

That was a long stretch for him but he made it, barely lol.  This is the main playground he will be playing for the next few years at school.  It's good he gets used to it now before school starts!

Creston Elementary is where the elementary mainstream deaf student attend school and I think it is very cool that there is a sign with the alphabet integrated into the playing area so kids can communicate with eachother, having gone to school myself where there were deaf kids, I really hope C will find the uniqueness of being able to communicate with his hands.  (I was fluent at one time, still am able to carry out a conversation-mostly)

We also played at the "Big Playground"  which is more like Creston park playground

Yesterday when we went to the park C just started doing all these things he's never done alone before, crossing the narrow bridge...

 Climbing up and down the rainbow stairs....















Swinging...apparently it was SSSOOOOO funny mommy was trying to take a picture and swing at the same time.

THE big thing he started doing himself was climbing the really tall ladder up to the big slide.  look at him go!

Love the look of accomplishment on his face, he is so proud he's a big boy and can do big boy things like climbing the ladder.

C tells me as we are walking home, don't step in the garden... I asked him what he was talking about we were still in the park, and he showed me.  Apparently a daisy patch is a garden in his head :-)

All together another great day to be alive in Portland!

The zoo in more then one way

SOOOO  today we went for out weekly visit to the Oregon zoo and what a visit it was!  we didn't end up going with my friend K, she had a change of plans, but C and I went anyway.  First thing when we got there a school group of older kids was busting up the ramp to the entrance/exit and totally ran over C knocking him down without an apology - their adult was still by the Cove area waiting for one other student who was dinking around... I said maybe you should know where all her kids were and got a very blank no one is home look....   oh well, C wasn't hurt and didn't even cry.

The Polar bears weren't in their exhibit, till we were about to turn and leave and one strolled out from behind a rock and proceded to scratch himself on a log  lol too funny "he's butt is scratchin" -C

We went to see packy who was in the elephant house and was getting ready to go outside, and Sam the baby was in the front outside area so I actually got semi good pictures of him!

That's my C.  such a ham lol.

SOOOOOOOO the rest of this post, is..... also about the zoo.... I GOT THE JOB!!  Woohoo I'm so happy, I didn't even expect to get this one when I applied, but yep... I got it.  :-)   I had just laid down for a nap when Dan, my boss, called to tell me which shift I'd be working.

I haven't worked really since C was born since my previous job barely put me on the schedule.  I am happy happy happy!

Zoo today, gone tomorrow

Painted my nails a new color, I figured with the new job, Black might be a little emo for my personality... check it out...

Yesterday was Momtopia at Lloyd center.  It's a once a month thing for an hour at lloyd center near the lower level entrence to Ross.  There is free stuff, an activity for the kids, a story time, and free giveaways.  Yesterday the theme was "all about mom's."  Last month was a bunny hop.  I won something this month!  1 oz of Faith Hill True perfume (retail at kohls $24)

It smells really good, and doesn't bother my allergies bonus!!

Here's some pictures from last month -




Hot dog on the stick girl - he was so shy, this was our first time going to momtopia

He won us lunch doing this lemon walk (cake walk).  I just love Hot dog on a stick not!














So we're going to the zoo today with my friend K who works at Safeway.  I'm excited, we go once a week to the Oregon Zoo but it'll be nice to go with a friend :-) 

SOOOOO  My Grey's Anatomy wii game came in the mail yesterday!!!   It's so awesome, difficult enough not to be lame and the story line is fantastic.  I love it!  best amazon purchase ever!!   It's all thanks to Swagbucks I earned enough gift cards to get the whole order including shipping for free! 

Check back later today for pictures from our zoo adventure

As promised, all about swagbucks

So, Swagbucks is a search and win site that is amazing!  You search, just like you would on google or wherever and sometimes when you search you win!    Once you earn enough swagbucks, you can then redeem them for so many things, I like to get the Amazon gift cards, but I have also gotten shirts, hats, pants (for C), I got a magazine subscription to shape mag which I LOVE.  you should really check it out.  Click here to sign yourself up and start earning today!

Arlington, soldiers, feelings I can't explain

I guess they found and killed Osama Bin Laden today.  these are my thoughts that aren't related to him - all I'll say to him is good riddance sir.  I hope your God is happy with your life. - these thoughts are about my country, soldiers, and how much I miss my best friend B.

This song makes me cry.  It's hard to listen to any patriotic songs when a good friend is overseas with the army, but it's even harder with amazing songs like this one by Trace Adkins.  These are the lyrics, I've posted a video of it below also. 

Trace Adkins
Arlington

I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men,
for a job well done.

There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, 'We're proud of your son'.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, 'Son this is what it cost, to keep us free'.
Now here I am a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
And I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us.

We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we were the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust
Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington.

I don't know if any of you have actually been to Arlington, but it's an experience let me tell you.  All those soldiers.  I was a senior in high school when I went and even now I don't think I grasped the meaning of all those men and women there.  I pray everyday for my friend in Iraq.  I pray for his safety and his quick return home. 

This is my friend B when C was just a baby.  B has been in the Army Reserves since we graduated practically, he has been in Iraq since Oct/Nov. He'll be back Sep/Oct I believe.  He's my best friend, I love him more then he'll ever know. 

God Bless America.

Life as I know it now

I've decided to begin doing some blogging... we'll see how it goes.

HI blog, it's been a really long time. my life has been filled with twitter (@nikipoole) and Facebook. Today is as good a day as any to revive my blog again, May 1, 2011. May day. What is May day all about? I mean I'm sure I learned about it in school Years and years and years ago... but I think it's time for a refresher.

And while I go look up May Day on wikipedia, I might just win me some Swagbucks in the process...... what are swagbucks? well My next post will tell you all about them, I promise :-)

OK, So looks like May day is about workers rights. HUH well I guess that should be important to me since I just got a job!!! Yes that's right, I got a job (as soon as my background and driving record are checked it's official) at the Oregon Zoo driving the employee shuttle from the parking lot to the main gates during the summer. The employees have to park about 2 miles down the road due to busy/full parking lots. Basically it's a princess job lol I get to drive a van for however long my shift is. I mean AWESOME!!

I love the zoo. I take my son C there once a week. Something about sharing the things with him that I loved to do as a kid. Sigh. He's growing so fast. Tomorrow we're going to the momtopia event at Lloyd - the first Monday of the month is an hour long children's thing - last month was a bunny hop, Easter themed, and this month it's "all about mom's" C really seems to like the events once he steps out of his shell and stops being so shy.

We are sooo excited in my house, the Farmers market opens up again for the season on Thursday!! It's located on 20th ave off of Hawthorne in the parking lot of Hinson Baptist Church and we LOVE it! It is so amazing to eat fresh produce regularly. The biggest reason I dislike winter is the lack of fresh - now don't get me wrong, I know it's worse in the Midwest, but it's really awful not to be able to eat fresh tomato's or corn on the cob or blueberries fresh off the bush omg I can't wait till Thursday!! *Drool*

OK, enough for now. Don't worry, I'll remember my promise and tell you all about Swagbucks in my next post. :-)