I am so Pissed off!

ok so this morning has been a bit hellish. I slept really badly last night worrying about going to orientation today. Then I woke up with 30 minutes to get ready to go out the door with natasha to take her to a creche before I had to go to the orientation. I missed getting up with alex who politely let me sleep, and was rushing around like a mad woman.

I take natasha to the creche which costs 3.50 an hour and pay a stupidly large amount of money (15.00) GBP for the taxi there and to azda. Only when I get to azda the lady tells me the orientation is ONLY tomorrow and sunday!! What the heck?!?!?!?!


I asked the lady specifically what days it was, and not only was the stupid person on the phone unable to tell me the correct days, she never informed me of what position I got when I asked! To make matters worse, this has been happening ALL week.

I still haven't got my scan for my baby and I have rights dammit. I really angry at the system because I feel like I'm personally being discriminated against in this country simply because I'm american and I sound young on the phone. I've had SO many people ask "Can I speak to your mummy" When I answer the phone. And all of this just makes me blood boil and ARGH!!!

I Am Really. Mad. Today.

End. Rant.

Nursery, Creches, and Playgroups- Oh My!

I am having such a time with finding the right place and spot to put natasha and time is ticking out with having my orientation tomorrow.

Whats even better is that I found this person I really like but they are all the way on the other side of town..if I had a car it would be fine but as it is it's a rediciulous amount to walk. However she did agree to pick natasha up, excluding tomorrow, and so until further notice natasha has found a small creche to stay in.

I will bringing by all the items needed for her by 930am. and then I zip off to work. This should be interesting! I don't know how i'll manage with 2 kids with out a car so i'm really grateful that I am getting a job now and able to help our family get a car >.<

Life is just crazy!

Well I didn't mention that I got the job at Azda but I did so let me back up there. I found out yesterday I got the job only they wanted to do 3 day orientation this week, and I was going to do a lot at church too which is sad because now I have to miss church this weekend :( However my job is only monday's wednesdays and fridays so this won't be a problem most days.

Anyways, life is good and I'm doing well, i just need to work out all the kinks in child care and job stuff and everything else. it's just all so crazy and up in the air right now!

I really wish I knew what to do.

Praying for Answers

There's much news on the family front! Alex and I are officially working on going to the temple in the next 6 months. I know I know, we've been "planning" for ages now, but due to sitautions outside of our control, it hasn't happened yet, but we have Heavenly Father's Blessing on this now, and I'm sure we'll make it this time!

Yesterday I didn't go out because Glen flaked on me, so I went to the park and spent the afternoon at the park with natasha, and I got some adorable pictures too :)

I will post those pictures very shortly but I also wanted to post about my husbands interest in the army. He's always had an interest in the army and decided against doing it after making the choice to marry me instead. But I promised him, and God to help him with his dreams as well as mine. I don't think it's fair for him to so lovingly support me, only to disregard his own desires. So he's looking at applying to the British Army Intelegence Core. He's a very analytical and scientifical/technical person and this is an oppertunity for schooling, security, and oppertunities it would otherwise be impossible for Alex to get into.

I feel ambivailent about the whole thing. Rationally, I know that going into the Int Corp means he will most likely not be in the heat of battle, I can't stop my prejuidice against the army make me dislike it. At the same time, I really really want and will support my husband in the decisions we make for our family. As it is, with alex's new promotion he may doss it off after doing that for the next six months. The one thing we're decided on is that we need to be sealed in the temple before he tries for the army. We also have decided to seek an answer with God with this and work out all the practical implications it means. I would rather alex took this oppertunity than hit 30 yrs old and always wonder "What if?"

It makes me happy he values himself enough to approach me about his dreams and desires, and that we have such a close relationship. Our relationship has been so sweet lately it makes me cry thinking about it. We're so happy.

Driving Backwards and Forwards

A Scenery Shot of Bath..Most of bath is live this. Don't you love the cute little corner Icecream Parlor?

So I'm embarking on the cary journey of learning to drive in england! Really everyone else in the world drives on the left side of the road so why am I worrying?

I also have to learn to use a clutch which although I've been driving sicne I was 16, it's always been an automatic.

So I'm sending the papers in, and getting a provisional drivers licence to use until I get my own. I actually have a leg up on alex who has never really been in a car before. At least, not behind the wheel.

I think we might pay to get on our mother-in-laws insurance as well until I turn 25 because of horrendous amount of money it costs otherwise. Eventually, we're hoping alex will get a company car, after a few years and a few promotions.

Anyways, Today alex left the house at 6 am to go out to a convention near London, something about history, and samurais..wars..that kind of thing. I'm sure he will enjoy himself! :)

I'm hoping to take the day to go outside with Glen and Natasha since it's a bank holiday monday and no one is working! I want to go out sightseeing somewhere..only I'm not sure where to go! Maybe Salisbury?

In any case, I'll take pictures! I also wanted to post pictures from yesterdays adventures :)


Our day out at Bath (behind me is Bath Abbey)

Sunday Blues

After yesterday our whole family was sunburnt and heat exhausted and alex and I barely got 4 hours of sleep each. So we didn't end up going to church, and all of us, including natasha took like 6 hour of naps today. Talk about not putting on enouhg sunscreen and drinking enough water yesterday! We all felt like boiled potatoes and stayed inside as much as possible resting from the sun and our achey skin.

But I have some lovely pictures from yesterday in Bath and I will post them soon...:)

Today has been a very successful day, the house is spotless, and I really mean that! I got a bunch of little crazy items for my family to ship out soonish, and I also got the art supplies I needed for my business...now I just am waiting for some to come in the mail so I can paint paint paint.

I also picked up some art books to study from the masters thanks to the helpful advice my mother gave me...yay.

Alex and I spent most of the day out at Bath and got some touristy bits and bobs for my family.

I don't really have much more to say except I'm excited to get my stuff to start selling art, like my scanner/printer. I just got my money box today to hold petty cash, and I have my art supplies container, I just need my table cloth things, and to make all the prints of my artwork to display :) I also need to send out more art fliers around bath, because when I bought supplies the lady put up my business cards for me, and that was wonderful, I wasn't even expecting that! It kind of came up out of no where..so I'm really thrilled to be getting seen as it were.

I really need to network better as I'm really new to all this...but here goes nothing! I'm just going to give it my all and see what happens!

Yesterday's Hurricane

So yesterday I had a list of about 20 billion things to do, and amazingly I only had three items left by the end of the day!

Andy came over at 8am, and started doing the garden work, then mowed the whole lawn at 9. Natasha had been up since 6 am so I already had her and myself up, ready, and dressed by 8, and she was sitting eatting breakfast at that point. Alex was still home too when Andy came by, and I finished his lunch and sent him off to work.

Then, I started cleaning! Natasha went down for her nap unusually early at 9-9:30ish. so I was able to start laundry, and deep cleaning the kitchen! Then I moved on to the bathroom, living room, and getting the recycling organized and all that. I also reorganized and cleaned natasha's room before she went down for nap. Then I hoovered the whole house. I delt with some financial things on the phone, and by the time I sat down for a break it was almost noon and natasha was awake again!

It was a beautiful sunny day out, and the front lawn and garden were looking gorgeous! I called Andy in and gave him an hour long lunch, feeding natasha myself and him yummy ham sandwhiches! Then after lunch I took a moment to sit down and write my family letters and get their boxes together to send off in the mail today. I had made some pictures recently, and I want to send everyone in the family a little english gift. :) I kept doing more laundry, and then played outside with Natasha for a little while, on the nice cut lawn, and on her little scooter. I need to take pictures of that sometime!

It was starting to get really hot at this point, and after finishing Natasha's bedroom, she was ready to take another short afternoon nap. I put her down at 1:30 and laid down for an hour myself. Unfortunatly I missed Susanne coming by as I was soo tired, I had only had 4 hours of sleep the night before!!

After an hour of shut-eye I got up and helped andy put some items from our garage in the Loft that we've been meaning to do for awhile. It's just amazing what work can get done with 2 people! Andy did the whole garage, took our bike to get fixed, took our recycling out to the dump (rycyling center is right next to it), and did the front and back garden.

Meanwhile the house was starting to sparkle and I felt a deep satisfaction at our hard work! I've never seen a garage so clean before!

At 4:30 I started preping for dinner, cutting up veggies and such, and made roasted veggies, haddock and chips. It was lovely, and I kept andy around for dinner so he could cool down, and take a breather before leaving. Alex was home by 5:15 so it worked out perfectly to have dinner on the table as he walked in the door. :) After andy left alex and I just vegged. We played some Wii for a bit and then I put natasha down to bed, but she had a panic attack at 8:30 and I had to get her out comfort her, change her again, and put her back down around 9:00. Oh I also gave natasha a bath today. I forgot that part. I gave her one in the middle of the day to cool her down and let her run around just in her nappy inside.

Anyways after she was back asleep I passed out myself after scripture and prayer with Alex. And here I am 11 hours of sleep later and groggy and sore from all the hard work yesterday!

Today is going to be just as busy too, with errands to run, grocery shopping to do, the Land lady inspecting the house today, and preparing our lessons for church. We have a lot to get done :)

But before the busy day starts I'm just cleaning and getting a yummy breakfast in bed ready for alex ;) I think it will be a lovely surprise. And natasha takes a nap between 9-10ish to 11-12ish. I'm thinking omlettes and french toast sound lovely!

Eyes Wide Open

So many things to say, and so much I want to express only I'm not sure how to write it out. I am finnally doing my art business that I have been talking about but not actually fufilling because of the small over head it costs to start setting up a stall. Alex is providing me a scanner/printer/fax for my birthday that is absolutly gorgeous and really will be the cinch in my business as I can do my own prints, and be able to put out more artwork since I will be able to make photo quality prints of my photographs to actually paint from. My running list of inventory and taking stock while I get everything set up is not actually as large as I thought it would be and a lot of it is creative thinking on my part in order to get by on the least amount of money. I realize it's only a market stall to some people, but to me it's a personal representation of my artwork and more importantly myself when potential art gallery directors see it.

Granted to start with I'll be in my home town and fairly few people, if anyone, will see my artwork, but I plan on changing that to nearby cities later on. I have my business cards, art pieces, pricing figured out, invetories, silly little items like petty cash lock money box, stands for the tables and even a satin dark cloth for the table. I also will make home made flyers, prints, care guides/rights to original pieces, and laminated page depiciting my sale prices/print sizes.

My most brilliant stroke of genius came from husband who suggested instead of trying to frame and bring every piece, I should scan/take photo of my art work, print it on quality paper and put it in a photo album with a short description. Not only that I will have 3-4 of these displayed on my table. I will have a banner on the front of my table with my company name: Drawings for Life, and underneath will be Originals, Prints, Commissions.

So as you picture this table imagine a dark blue satin table cloth, beside me my art easle, as I will be DOING ART at the place as well as selling. (people love seeing artists work too!) On the front of the table is a stylish caligraphy laminated banner with my Company name and a very basic three options I offer. On the table will be three dark mahagony 4 inch stands holding the best three original oil paints I have to offer, framed and ready to go, from anywhere between 80-200 GBP. I'll have at least 3 black photo albums open and depicting my artwork not with me, and off to my right and the viewers left, will be all the business cards, leaflets, and pricing guides. Only the original pieces will have stickers of prices on them, the rest will be either in the album or worked out via print/size ect.

Eventually if prints become more popular (and I'm sure they'll be what covers overhead..) I'll have a modest display box with print you can buy straight from me, but I need to know first what is popular from my art items and what people are most interested in. Do they want me to sit there and do charactures? Or are they interested in take home oil paintings- originals. Do they want watercolors or drawings? Or a choice of all the above?

All these things need to be ironed out in order to anticipate the buyers wants, and to provide the best services. I will also be offering on this table watercolor postcard sets. My other sets will be in oils, branching off the pear idea of having different fruits made from very small pictures and selling the originals at a modest price and continuing to sell prints as well. All prints will be available for pick up from my home, or waiting until the next week when I open the stall again.
These little projects won't take as much time and will be able to be pumped out by one person realitivly easily.

Other things I have started is having print offers on my Deviant Art web page, getting a free ad in our local yellow pages, and shortly, as I make more art, I will prescribe to one or 2 professional art sites online that sell art originals for you. These won't go to the market with me as most will be bound by contract not to sell prints to anyone else. You just sell through them instead. I have found many good pages that are possible candidates, but I want one with high traffic, and high output. I take my art very seriously now, and will be no more displays of anime, or frilly fantasy art unless I intend to sell it. However themed pieces such as my Egyptian Goddess/mythology will continue to be produced depending on demand.

I have less than a month until Alex switches to his new job, so I want to be up and running by the time he transfers because he will always have wednesday's off and will take care of the tricky situation of taking care of natasha, and by january it will be 2 children. :)

The hardest part of this whole endeavor is not the over head but finding the time between being a mother, getting the house in order day to day, and juggling my artwork. I have to make sure it dries higher up so natasha doesn't get into it, and I also have to keep the room well ventilated, which could be a problem during winter, but hopefully by that time I'll be able to get a studio downtown, they have one at a local art gallery for 100 per month. Which is really really cheap.

Anyways, it's 6am now and Natasha is awake, I need to get up and dressed properly and get the kitchen/living room done firs thing, so when NAtasha does down for her nap at 9 am I'll be able to do some artwork!!

Day Off

I normally let my sunday's be day's off but today has been a classic avoidance of all things exhausting day. I have still cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, but our bedroom has been neglected, and the most strenous thing I plan on doing is laundry, and picking up some parcels from downtown (along with my husband- after work). Yesterday was another busy day filled with tons of things to do, and then I had enrichment that evening, and I just didn't stop, I was out all day running errands in town, and then came home and left 30 mins later. It was amazing I got dinner on the table at all!

So today has been a day I've let my duties slide a bit. But I'll be back on the band wagon tomorrow as I need to make a list tonight for all the different odd and end jobs for our handy man coming by. We need the gardening done, and the garage, and a few paint jobs around the house. None of which alex has the time for, or I can do with natasha/being pregnant. Besides it helps a friend who is need right now :)

Saturday we have our land lady coming aorund to inspect the house, which is why i'm getting to frantic about all the housework and why this week my art has been put on the back burner. Besides I have to tidy it away for Saturday becayse I really doubt my land lady will like the fact I oil paint over the carpet in the bed room,,,even if I do put plastic down!

I also have a few bills to sort out. Yay for that. Ah well, I never officially have a day off when living life, and being a mother!

Pushing Forwards and falling backwards

Today it is only 9 am and I'm already exhausted! I feel tired and burnt out. I think I needed a break and some water! I feel like every day I'm battling dishes and a dirty house, only to see the evening come with more dishes and still a dirty house >.<
I refuse to clean the house more than twice a day. Natasha is getting even more helpful, but at the same time testing all her boundries. And having my friends kids around only makes her act up for days afterwards. It's very frustrating because I love and admire my friend, but I really relaly really don't approve of the way she rears her children. When they were here for the party the other day the little boy tore natasha's room and the living room apart single handed! He was in her crib, climibing bookcases/dressers, on the window sill and tossing toys all over the place! And i had JUST spent that entire day organizing and cleaning Natasha's room.
Now I have to do it all over again...

I dont think I'm going to be the type of mother who throws big parties for my kids, unless it's in neutral territory like a skating rink or a park!

Today however I'm seeing my midwife for my 20 week checkup, and I'm also going to a concert tonight for enrichment activity. It should be lovely and the perfect pick up I need away from the house and natasha. Not that I don't love my family but every once in awhile I just needt o get away or I might scream. Today feels like one of those days I might pull my hair out!

I just don't understand how such a small place can get so dirty so quickly and I really do try to keep it clean! I know I didn't in the past, but I've been working really hard to keep the spirit here by having a lovely clean home.

Anyways, now that I have ranted and had my break I should probably get back to that before I have to rush out the door and go to my appointment! I think I just need to slow down for a minute, say a prayer and then get back to work :)

Busy Bees and Playtimes

After cleaning yesterday the party was a success I think. If a bit of a tight squeeze it was still enjoyable. Today I have visiting teachers over at 10am, and I have been busy busy getting the house reorganized after the party yesterday. Whew. The kids tore it apart and I'm not sure if I am supposed to discipline someone elses child in my own home? Does anyone know anything about that? Natasha doesn't climb up things and try to tear things apart. I can't imagine what some parent's houses look like..and I can only use the excuse of that woman having two children so many times. It's different if she were a single mum and not there all the time, but she IS there all the time. Her way of making up for it however was by trying to take over my hosting bit instead of just enjoying the party haha. I didnt mind really it was just she doesnt seem very comfortable in large crowds. I suspect that she is having TOO much time with just her kids. I know she doesn't really have any hobbies or other things she does besides entertaining her kids.

I am so thankful for my art, and for amother who never gave up on her dreams while still balancing her life with a family. It's given me hope that I can do this too and still raise perfectly healthy children. I do admire my mothers strength of will to get things done and bulldoze her way through life no matter what the obstacles. She would be bored with a life that my friend has with 2 kids and nothing else to do!
I know I would be, and I love my kid(s) dearly. However I have to admit it's hard to juggle artwork, business stuff, house work and a kid. This month I have the new yellow pages coming out and I put my business in the yellow pages, so I'm really excited to see if I get some interest/phone calls!

I realize this whole post is pretty random, but it's been a pretty random morning. Alex woke up with 5 minutes to get ready for work and amazingly I still sent him out the door with breakfast in hand and lunch in a bag. It helps that we had some left overs from the party last night though. :)

Anyways I need to finish cleaning a bit, but I should be posting Scan pictures soon!
I am getting it done very soon since today I am officially 20 weeks along. I made sure I was booked in and had to get rebooked because I wasnt yet. And they need to do the scan between 19-21 weeks. we're also going to find the sex of the baby too, and see if it more than one or not.

So everyone new pictures soon, and lots of love from me! Cheers!

I'm so groggy today after sleeping more than I should have, and having some disturbing nightmares. I had a great time at church yesterday and we didnt get home until almost 2 hours later. Our ride had to talk to the bishop and alex had to stay after to deal with some missionary things :)

We're having a cottage evening/FHE with 12 people tonight and I'm going to make rolls and and pasta salad. So wish me luck for energy enough to get it all done. I have to finish cleaning hte kitchen right now, then clean the bathroom, take apart the table and move it to the garage, clean the hampster cage and move it to the bedroom, and do all that cooking.

Alex has been slacking on his bathroom duties so I have to pick up the slack today and get it done. We're going to spend the evening playing board games and doing a spiritual lesson/message theme thing.

It should be a lot of fun. Hopefully I can get it all done so I just need to get off the computer and go do that now. :)

Early Morning Rantings

Today at 430 am I woke up and was unable to go back tosleep. I tried for 30 minutes, tossing and turning, and then realized it was just impossible. At 5 am I got online and got a drink and then became really hungry. Except in my wierdness I'm craving pretzels, the kind I used to get at the mall as a kid. So I think, hey it's 5 am I could make some for breakfast! I browse online for a bit checking out recipes and read reviews then decided on a recipe and here I am making pretzels at a quarter to 6 in the morning. I'm still not tired and I couldn't sleep if I wanted to. Besides the kitchen needed some last minute cleaning and I just can't stand the thought of going to church then coming home to a messy house.

Yesterday was so much fun however! We went to a party for Paddy's birthday, my father in law. That wasn't the fun part, the fun part was coming home and playing DND with Alex and John. We also had pizza and a really good time! We must have playef from 6 to 9pm and I havn't enjoyed myself like that for a long time! Too bad Pete missed out.

Anyways, I am just too full of beans to sit still! Natasha is such a cutie now, she does the most adorable things...two days ago she started initiating the tickle game, where she goes up to our feet and goes "tickle tickle tickle" while trying to tickle them with her fingers. Regardless wether we have shoes on or now haha. It's like a breath of fresh air and always makes alex and myself fall into a fit of giggles. Latley we've been like that though, giggling and laughing together like little kids! I don't know if it's because of our daughter or just because we're at a really good spot in our relationship but it's so lovely. I think I've just learned to let loose with him. I definitly trust him 110% and I can't say that about everyone! (especially guys!)

I think kids have an intrinsic sense if you can be trusted or not because she adores Pete and John who are so akward with kids but try so hard with natasha to be nice to her, she could get away with murder with those two and they would just smile and pat her on the head. Where as get her with in 5 feet of my father in law and she starts screaming and won't let him touch her. Can't say I blame her, he wasn't exactly (and still isn't!) a good father to alex. Sure he helped fininacially, but as most of us know there's so much more to parenting than just providing monetary needs! I also get the whilies around that guy, he has this annoying pet peeve of blantantly kissing me on the lips when he greets me. Sometimes two or three times. I dont know if I'll ever get used to that culture difference, you just dont do that in america! (and besides he's the only guy I know who tried kissing me onthe lips! Everyone else settles for cheek [or even the hand in some cames!])

But then we all know how highly Paddy thinks of himself when he has 5 birthday parties (3 of those being vacations to different countries) just to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Anyways, the pretzels are coming along nicely and I'm sure won't make it through the morning! And what a surprise it will be for Alex when he wakes up :). I know my daugheter is too young to appreciate that I baked them by hand, but alex always appreciates me and I love basking in his appreciation. It's so heart warming to know how completely adored and loved I am by my family. Sometimes I do feel like a big kid!

Busy Life

Today is filled with lots of little art concerns I need to iron out before Wednesday.
I have to make a matt for one of my pictures, find frames for the rest, set a pricing guide and price for my artwork, and work on some more paintings as well. I also need to find someone to watch natasha for wednesday, so hopefully I can find someone to do that. It'll be too hard for me to do the market with her, but i'm willing to do it if i have to.
I've got to get organized with a lot of little things, and make a care guide for my artwork for those who buy it.

I guess I'll learn as I go along and just try to do more and more artwork.
I keep praying so I hope I can do the best I can!

Art Endeavors, Meetings, and Dates

Yesterday was quite the day for me!
It wasn't a normal day for me and it was so lovely. I went up to Bristol by myself in the morning to go to a Deviant Art Meeting. It ended up only being me and two other guys, since some of the other people had flaked. It was only going to be 6 people in total originally anyway. I met a northern englander photographer named Ami. That's a male french name apparently. And a local Bristol english photographer, Sam.

I really enjoyed myself, and I forgot what it was like to have guy friends, or indeed any art friends who I had a lot in common with. I didnt feel like a pregnant woman, or a mother, but just an artist out enjoying the sights and sounds of bristol with other artists. We went to the Arnolfini art museum and I hung out with them for 3 hours before I was meeting up with my husband in bristol.

I met him at the Odeon Theater and we watched Transformers at 4 pm. My mother-in-law watched Natasha for us since she would be asleep most of the time. But she didn't watch her until alex left to come meet me at 130pm. We then went out to eat and headed home. We didn't even get to see the balloon fair going on, but that's ok because it was still a full day that was very fun!

I would definitly do another Deviant Art Meeting again as I really had a blast, and I think I've just gained two new friends! Ami's partner is an oil painter and I hope next time there's a Bristol meet that she comes along too! I saw her artwork and it's gorgeous.

It was such a refresher to be away from natasha for a day and get my art stuff done, although I definitly wouldnt want to do that more than like once a month or something..I missed my family a lot! haha. Silly but true!
Anyways I need to get going....church today!

Picture Time!

14/15month old little girl Natasha!
These were all taken about a week ago. Sorry for the slow update...

Happy August! Happy early birthday for my mum, and hello to you all!
I've posted new artwork on my Deviantart webpage. Grandma, you'll be interested in seeing hte picture of Joseph Smith I did. If you want a copy just let me know!

I plan on adding pictures of our lovely daughter today at some point, so it's just a matter of time of getting it all set up.

Also my husband got his job promotion! Yay for him :) I am very proud of him, and he's very happy. He'll be gone for 2 weeks training though, right at my birthday, so people need to call and cheer me up at that time cause i'll be very lonely :(

But I can't complain, because really, a promotion is the best birthday gift a girl can get! So, my back pain has reduced enough to get on with daily life, and I am very happy with life right now. I hope things will continue forward, - I picked up some frames for osme of my oil pieces and I just need to matt some of my watercolors ^_^

Then, by next wednesday I should have enough art to take to the stalls. At least that is my hope. I also got everything arranged for my yellow pages, and have a wonderful listing there, that I hope will get me more work! I also have my FIRST student coming tomorrow, the 6th, and I am so excited for that. I have a lot to do and so little time to do it which is why I have lacked in updating this.

So look forward to some pictures fairly soon!