Post #101.......have I really wasted that much time blogging?

101 posts.....can you believe it? How I have waited for this day to come.....and yet, now that it's here I'm not quite sure what all the hype was about. I had planned on compiling a list of "101 interesting/fun things about Melanie" (or something else of that nature) but have decided that I don't have the energy or brain power or even care to take on such a daunting task so...........I won't. Happy 101 to me! .......... may I find many more things to waste my time blogging about! Now you can enjoy some cute pictures of the kids playing outside on one of the few sunny/semi-warm days we have had here in the eastern half of WA. Yes..........that is dirt coming out of Mini Rob's mouth. He didn't even bat an eye until I told him it was yucky and to spit it out.

Little Red's always finding something to fill with dirt and make a muddy mess. This day it was the abandoned doggie dish.

G-McBabe in la-la land......as usual!

Playing tag with Rob. I even played for a little while too.

Here they are playing freeze tag (their cousins were here too).

We're praying for lots of good weather (I seriously prayed that day it would be nice and warm so that we could all enjoy some time outside and....my prayers were answered. YEAY!). Either way, rain or shine, the kids play outside almost every day. I just prefer they not freeze to death.

Surprise...........we really DON'T hate you!

We had an interesting thing happen this week. Really interesting.

Rob has been interviewing with a company in Irvine, California. He flew to Cali last Monday to interview with 4 people and had a phone interview on Friday with an office manager that was out of town on Monday. They said to wait and we would hear back from them this week. So.....we waited.....

Monday night Rob received an e-mail that basically said "nice try---we'll keep your resume on file." You know those ones.......the very general and impersonal ones. We were both a little irked at that because it was SOOOOO impersonal. He wasn't just some yahoo that had shown a little interest in their company. He had already had three interviews with them and had met SEVERAL of their HEAD HONCHOS. The least they could have done is called, RIGHT?

So....needless to say, despite our nervousness about moving to southern California, we both were a little downhearted at this news. Rob thought he nailed his interviews and was fairly confident he would/could get the job. We just want to be done with this whole "unemployment" issue as well.

Total BUMMER! So....in an attempt to make ourselves feel better we spent some time listing all of the reasons why it was good that he didn't get the job. It did help....a little.

But...............this morning the phone rings......it's for Rob.

It's #2 Head Honcho from Said Company......

They wanted to apologize for sending the e-mail to him. Fact is.........it was sent to the WRONG person. That e-mail was never intended for Rob. Rob is still very much in the running for the job. In fact, the front runner at this point (they have already turned down two others).

#2 Honcho guys said that they REALLY liked Rob ("were very impressed with him"), think he interviewed REALLY well, and that he would be a great fit for their company. They have two more people to interview and they will let him know........ by next Friday................ via PHONE CALL either way.

Rob was beaming when he told me! In fact, he still is. He was so discouraged and had spent the last few days wondering how he'd screwed up (like I said before.....he thought he did an awesome job). It's was great for him to receive confirmation from "HEAD HONCHO Dude" that he did, in fact, blow them away with his mad interviewing skills.

Whether or not he actually get's the job (remember.......it's really all in the Lord's hands) he now has been given a huge boost of confidence ("They like me......they really like me").

Despite all our fears/worries that are associated with moving to Southern California, we know that if this is "meant to be" everything will work out and we will be alright.

Sometimes having faith is really hard............but sometimes it is the ONLY things that keeps us going.

Didn't you know I was a DIVA in a different life?

On Saturday I participated in our wards annual lip sync contest (you do know what a lip sync is, do you not?).

What fun and rapture it was..........after it was over!

Believe it or not...........I was really nervous. (Me! Me! I know. I don't understand it myself.......I do stand in front of a whole room of people and "perform" for a living, don't I?)

Last year I participated in a group of four. We did a Beach Boys song and because I was one of four and merely back-up, I didn't care so much. We ALL looked and acted like idiots.

This year I decided if I was going to do it, I was going to do something a little more "me". Something I could REALLY get into and enjoy. So.....after hours of contemplation (seriously) I chose RESPECT by Aretha Franklin (which, ironically was actually my FIRST choice).

What, you didn't know I was a DIVA in a different life?

I found a wig (a nice, NEW, afro-y one) at a local store, and an awesome dress at Goodwill. The dress was only 3 sizes to big but using my super awesome sewing skills (cough, cough...sorry something stuck in my throat) I was able to hack away at it until it looked like a dress instead of a mumu. So....other than not actually being black (in fact quite pasty and freckly) I totally looked the part! I had a great back up singer too. Thanks Val.

The kids loved it. Gabe thought I was "AWESOME" and kept yelling "GO MOM!" What a sweet and encouraging child he is.

I'm going to try to get a copy of the performance and post it.......until then you will just have to enjoy a few dark, and completely out of focus pictures.

(Me......black wig, green dress)

Super Sassy......check out that hip action!

Yowsers! Check me out!


Yeah......I know. I DO have super buff arms (and very proud of them....obviously)! I'm an aerobics teacher......it's in the job description!

Now I know you are more excited than ever to actually see the whole thing. I don't blame you. I would like to see it as well.

I want my children to have memories (or actual hard evidence) of their mother laughing and smiling and having a good time. These times are rare.

So.....I guess I must have done it for posterity's sake......yeah, that's it!

An answer to a prayer......Chuck E Cheese, here we come!

I know that from the title of this blog you are expecting me to announce that Rob has FINALLY found a job. Well.........no such luck! But we DID get to go to Chuck E Cheese (for an explanation on how these two things could possibly relate to one another, click here.)

They just opened a brand new Chuck E Cheese not to far from our current (temporary) place of residence.

Last Fast Sunday Gabe and I both bore our testimonies. In mine I mentioned the kids strong faith and their prayers for Chuck E Cheese (again, click here if you don't understand). We got a call the next day from Gabe's primary teachers in our new/old ward. They said that their mother worked for someone who knew "the someone" who opened up the new Chuck E Cheese and they had a pass for a free pizza, soft drinks, and tokens to celebrate the grand opening. They weren't going to be able to use them and wondered if we wanted them.

Our initial reaction was to say "no" because we were supposed to have a job FIRST......THEN go to Chuck E Cheese. We were worried about how we would explain it to the kids. We came to our senses and accepted their offer, using it as a great teaching experience for our kids on how to accept service and be grateful for others generosity.

In the car, on the way there, Cael says to me, "Mom......we can't go Chuck Cheese.......Daddy no have job." "Daddy get job first.................THEN we go Chuck Cheese."

and Gabe says, "So do we get to go again when Daddy does get a job?"

Kids.................

Cael dancing with Chuck E himself (Gabe's there too, of course...you just can't see him)

Gabe "in jail"........"trapped forever"................if only!


Isaac with his lovely head band. He was just chillen', eating ice. Then he would spit it out and throw it under the table......EVERY PIECE!

We did have a good time.....a nice night to just kick back and forget all our woes. Gabe, Cael and Isaac each took turns writing a nice thank you note to the ticket donors and learned a good lesson in kindness and service. All in all....a good experience.

When Rob FINALLY does get a job, the kids will get to go back to Chuck E Cheese....on our dollar.

Rob and I, on the other hand, are hoping for a weekend away..................far away!

Doors have been shut.....just waiting for that window

So life keeps moving forward......day by day.

Many many doors have been shut but we are confident that when the right window is presented to us......it will be opened................WIDE...............and a LOVELY breeze will blow through it.

(WHAT? WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?)

Anyway........

Rob had a job interview in Irvine, California on Monday (Orange County area). It went really well. He is really growing confident in his interviewing skills (practice makes perfect). For that I am grateful. Whether or not this is "the job" for us it's important to both of us that he walks away knowing he has done his best and feels good about the job he's done.

He has a phone interview today with one of the Senior Managers who was out of town on Monday. After that.......it's just a matter of waiting. Fortunately it won't be a long wait, or so they say. After a short office pow-wow of sorts, he should know early next week.

California you say.......CALIFORNIA. Well, it certainly would not be our first pick of places to go but we are open to the Lord and willing to go where he wants us to go. Who are we to deny him the opportunity to help us grow into the people we are meant to become (Deep, I know). Besides, this firm has SEVERAL offices in the Pacific Northwest (including Spokane) and after 2-3 years Rob may have the opportunity to transfer. So.....it's an "IN". All we need is an "IN" and will be so grateful to have one (as long as it is not in ALASKA).

We are so grateful for all of the help we have received from family and friends. You all show so much concerned for us and willingness to help and we are so thankful for you. For this particular job, a shout out goes to TARA AND PHIL. Thank you guys so much. Tell you what, if he get's the job.......we're taking you guys out for dinner. :)


On to other things..............

Isaac got the staples out of his head. He was scared and screaming at first but did really well once they clipped the first staple. He decided it wasn't so bad and stopped crying. What a trooper.

Blogging is hard......or it has become so lately.

I have a lot on my mind..........unfortunately I can't seem to put it into words (or shouldn't.......) so for now consider yourselves updated.

I will leave you with this...........

SPRING IS COMING..................warmth, sun, job, freedom, hope, LIFE reborn........it's coming.

........AND that is something worth getting out of bed for.

Six staples to the head..............and the winner is.............

MINI ROB! Poor, Sad, 18 month old Mini Rob. With three boys, we were sure our first trip to the emergency room for injury would have happened a long time ago. But alas.....no. Sure we've been there for croup, RSV and other breathing issues but this was the first trip for INJURY. Check it out!

Even closer (for dramatic effect, of course) Makes you kinda whoosy huh? You should see the chair......oh wait, I'll show you! See the nice dent (it's the shinny white part)!

So here's how it happened (all by word of mouth....I wasn't home. I was on my way home from the gym). One minute Mini Rob was on his knees rocking back and forth on the rocking chair ottoman. Then, he is on the floor SCREAMING. Rob picks him up (concerned because he is SCREAMING much harder than usual), puts his hand on M.R.'s head and, after pulling it away, notices that it is covered in blood. Rob finds a clean cloth to cover it with (of course it is pouring out blood....it's a head wound...they're like that) and calls me, a bit frantic like ("I NEED YOU HOME.....NOW!"). I'm almost home...........it's a good thing. I take Mini Rob to the ER. He does a pretty good job. He screams a bit when they stick a needle in his head. But really, who wouldn't? When it was all said and done........he ended up with six staples and a pretty nifty head band. We are given instructions to keep a clean wrap on his head for 7 days. What?.....Are you kidding me?!? How the heck are we supposed to accomplish that nearly impossible task? On an 18 month old? So far it hasn't been TOO bad (dripping with sarcasm). We've only have had to re-set it or replace it 10 times, or so (the materials aren't cheap either).

After taking it off a few times, he finally fell asleep. This morning......after a bath (which still left greasy antibiotic ointment all over in his hair).

Just chillen' with his bro!

Rob thinks he looks like a injured war hero but he reminds me more of Martin Short (and the lead actress, whatever her name is) at the end of the movie"Pure Luck." "Are.....Are you Valerie?" "Valerie? Valerie?............Yeah, Valerie!" Anyway.....good movie. So.....we have to wait a week to have the staples taken out. Rob thinks we should just take some pliers and do it ourselves (since our DR's office won't do it........seriously, what are they good for?). I think that idea is disgusting and unsanitary. Besides, I know from personal experience (with a c-section) that they don't just pull them off, they clip them in half and the pieces are picked up by a magnet on the tool. Seriously......men are disgusting. Always looking for a reason to use their tools. Barring infection the worst is over. Until the next time............... It's inevitable now.