I Love My Dentist, But...

Tomorrow I have to have a cavity filled. That is pretty much the only bad part of going to the dentist, when that kind of stuff happens. I've only had about 4 in my whole life, which compared to most of my family is pretty dang good, but it still sucks. I hate the initial novacaine shot, and even though you're not really supposed to feel pain or anything, it's still uncomfortable and weird and usually cold and generally un-fun. The best part of having to get it filled though is that my awesome sister Gina is also my dentist, so that is a definite bright side. In fact, I actually don't mind going to the dentist at all normally. I don't think the regular cleanings are really painful, I leave with my teeth feeling really clean, and I get a free toothbrush and floss. And that is all before you factor in that it's my sister which is an added bonus. Plus, let's face it, after not seeing my dentist sister in the dental chair for almost 2 years, getting away with only one cavity is pretty amazing. And even though the novacaine shot sucks, it's a little bit funny to spend the next hour or so biting your lips and putting on chapstick without being able to feel half of your mouth. I guess it won't be so bad...except for the half an hour of actually having the tooth filled.

Photo Op

Eric and I are trying to get Charlotte's one year portraits set up and we've mostly just been looking around at places like Target and JC Penny. Actually, we've pretty much decided on JC Penny. As we were comparing the prices/options of the two, we noticed relatively quickly how similar their websites are. In fact, everything is nearly identical: the portrait packages, prices, styles, enhancements, collections, even their coupons are the same. I don't know if one store copied the other, or if they have the same person running both portrait studios or even if the corporations are in league with each other, but I find it amusing that they don't even try to distinguish themselves from one another apart from their store name. Part of me feels like we should go somewhere else a little more individualized, but at the same time, with coupons, the prices are fairly reasonable, and we did a short Easter photo session at Target this year and they turned out really nicely, so maybe in the future we'll try something else, but for now, this is going to work for us.

Blah Blah Blah

There is too much going on in my life right now to write about it in one post. Plus, everyone else would probably think it's boring. Just work, end of summer, school year start, blah blah blah. But I feel like I have to write a blog about something since I haven't since before vacation.

Vacation was good, I'm bummed it's done. I wish every week was vacation and I only had to work as often as I currently get vacations. That kind of life would be much better, if much less practical for the world.

Charlotte turns one in less than 2 weeks, which is super exciting, and our daycare co-op starts around then too. Oh, and I went to the dentist today and had one cavity. Aw man. Now I have to go back next week. At least I have a good dentist.

Vacation!

It's finally here! A week of no work, no worries, nothing I have to do at all. Just relaxing, fishing (can you believe it, I'm actually excited to fish! It always surprises me when that happens), swimming, playing with Charlotte, eating, hopefully getting Charlotte to walk, etc. On another note, after getting ready for 3 people for one week away from home, I just have to say, I am not ready to move again, and am already dreading that day. Luckily it won't be for at least a year because we just renewed our year-long lease. It's going to be worth it though--nothing can bring me down on this vacation. Honestly, I don't even care if it rains most of the time. Which seems unlikely, the weather people are predicting fairly decent weather all week! Vacation, here I come!

Looooong Week

Normally I only work 2 days a week. Full days, but still, only 2 days. Well, since I'm going on vacation next week, I have to work 3 days this week and 3 days following vacation. Which means I still have one more day of work left this week. As if that wasn't rough enough anyway, I had 2 evening meetings already this week in addition to my daytime hours. Plus, Eric has to work the next two evenings. Today is really our only day to get stuff done and ready for vacation and we're both exhausted. I have to pack all my stuff and Charlotte's stuff on Friday and Eric will have to pack his stuff when he gets home, then Saturday morning we get to finish all the rest of the stuff. It is just a crazy week. I think that happens a lot before vacations. At least we get to go on vacation at the end of it! This is really our only vacation this summer, and kindof our only vacation for the year (unless you count when I/we are going to go visit my sister in Chicago when her baby is born) so we are both looking forward to it so much. I'm so happy it is a relaxing vacation and not a tourism vacation. Plus, Charlotte loves the water so it is going to be so much fun to play in the lake with her. We have a floaty for her and I am so excited for her to use it! I just really want this week to be over already so we can go! I haven't been this excited for a vacation since we went to Italy 2 years ago!

One Week

One week of work and Eric and I are going on vacation! I cannot wait. Seriously, I have been looking forward to it for so long I'm a little surprised it's almost here. This week is going to be crazy busy too, which I am not looking forward to, but there is a wonderful light at the end of the tunnel. A whole week on vacation, no stress, no worries, nothing that we have to do at all. Just spending time with our family, fishing, eating, swimming, playing with Charlotte, playing shuffleboard, and just relaxing! It just figures that this week is even more busy than usual though. I have to work an extra day plus I have 2 evening meetings this week, and Eric has some extra work that he can't do until Thursday and Friday evenings, so packing and getting ready for our trip is going to be a little crazy, but once Saturday gets here, it's vacation central for a full week!

Things Going On In My Life

I don't really know what to write about today so I will be boring and write a general summary of things going on in my life.

1. Work. Mostly planning events and getting things geared up for the school year. Even though it's a month away, I know once it starts my time to plan and organize stuff will be minimal so I'm trying to get ahead and really get things figured out. I'm even planning 2 meetings, plus I'll have to do a training for my leaders. I feel like a real grown-up almost. I think I would feel more like a grown-up if most of my leaders so far didn't all have kids in the program (or older). Still, my youth works in my favor when working with teenagers. That's what I'm going to keep telling myself.

2. Charlotte. She still refuses to walk, she's very stubborn and used to getting her own way and I think Eric and I spoil her too much and it's starting to show. Now comes the fun part of parenting and telling her "no" sometimes and actually enforcing it and not giving in to everything she wants. Yay.

3. Vacation. In less than 2 weeks my whole family is going on a vacation! I'm extremely excited since this is pretty much the only real vacation Eric and I get the whole summer. We're renting cabins up near Alexandria for a whole week and it will be very relaxing and stress free. Just sitting on the beach, playing in the water, going fishing (even I'm looking forward to that!), and of course, playing shuffleboard.

4. Planning parties. Charlotte is turning one in one month from tomorrow, and we have to plan her birthday party. So far we don't have a lot planned because we don't quite know exactly where it will be, but we're hoping to do it at a park near our apartment that has a splash pad. I'm also planning my sister-in-law's baby shower which isn't for 2 months but which I need to get going on because these things have a tendency to sneak up on a person when they're not looking.

5. Babies. 3 siblings are having children in the next few months, and that is very exciting and worth blogging about. That's all I have to say on that.

6. City of God. I started it yesterday and made it through 1 book (about 40 pages). It's slow going but so far interesting. The first book was pretty much about suicide which was intense and unexpected and makes more sense when taken in the context of why he is writing in the first place. More on this book on my book remarks and theological thoughts pages to come.

7. Life in general. Even though it is summer, since I started my job early in the summer I feel like this is the least relaxing summer I've had since I got married 4 years ago. Things are mostly just busy with normal life stuff and I'm still kindof getting used to just having a job and figuring things out with that. I at least feel mostly settled into my position though, enough that I can actually work ahead and not constantly feel like I have a million things to do/figure out. Otherwise it's just normal life stuff, being married, having a kid (when I'll get used to that I'm not entirely sure, I can't believe she's almost 1 already!), spending time with family, etc.