California Rest In Peace

Sam sounded a little bit discouraged this morning. Tire problems kept them from getting good practice times on Thursday. Yesterday was long and boring with nothing to do while it rained. This morning he get a call that they are short 2 over-the-wall guys (he hires guys from Nationwide/Sprint teams to do their pit stops). Due to not qualifying or having owner's points from last year Scott will have to start the truck 31st. All typical kind of stuff I reminded him. "You're only defeated when you admit defeat" I told him "never give up".
I think exhaustion has alot to do with it. I tried to get him out of the shop early on Tuesday, but no luck. The guy is working 12-16 hour days 7 days a week! Sam says it would be nice to have some time off, but there is too much to do. He is working so hard to keep this team going and make it competitive. Have I mentioned I'm proud of him? =)
He did say he had a nice dinner and some fun at a go kart track last night, so that was good to hear him laugh about!
The race will be on soon, so tune into fox at 12:00 (ET) to cheer him and the 29 team on!

**********Well, that could have turned out better, but it also could have been alot worse. I hope the guys can say RIP to California Speedway, keep their chins up and get 'em in Atlanta.**********


On another subject, I'm chipping away at the to-do list below, yea!

Zero Motivation

Seriously, I have been soooooo lazy the last 4 days I'm starting to laugh at myself. I have left the house, errr apartment, 8 times so far since Tuesday for a total of about an hour between dropping off and picking up the kids. Not such a big deal if I didn't have things to get done or have been busy inside. But I have hardly done anything aside from takle the ginormous pile of laundry that formed by being gone for 4 days. I was determined today to go after my to do list with a vengance. Weeeeeellllll, it's didn't really work out that way. With Sam gone I think the lack of someone to hold me accountable allows me to wear sweats and sit in front of the computer all day. So, in an effort to be held accountable I'm posting my to do list here and will up date the progress.

X1X. Pick up package from office. It came on Tuesday and it's from NASCAR. Since Sam's not here I haven't been in a big rush to go get it. Except last night the office called to remind me about it so I better go get it. CHECK

X2X. Pay rent while I'm there CHECK

X3X. Oh, and ask them why my gas bill has doubled, but there is never enough hot water to finish a shower and the hot water heater is the only gas appliance in here. CHECK, I guess our heat is gas too. That explains the bill.

4. Wash the Expedition. I've been driving it this week while Sam's gone and I didn't want her sitting all alone at the airport. I miss my girl, but the kids hate the cold/hot leather seats so I drive the Chevy so I don't have to hear them whine about another thing in the morning. Anyhew, after driving her to FL and back she needs a bath.

X5.X Fill the Expedition with gas - You see, there's this phenomenon that occurs where anytime Sam gets in the driver's seat of a vehicle I have been driving, and it's out of gas! Wild huh? Anyway, the car wash and the gas are a token of my respect for how busy he's been. CHECK

X6.X Look at houses - Waiting to hear back from the realtor. CHECK Struck out again. We just want something that's $100k more than we have to spend *sigh*

X7.X Make deposit - It's nice to not worry about depositing the paycheck the minute it arrives.

X8.X Do payroll - The pay period ends Sat and I need hours from the travel guys, but they won't be home until Sunday. CHECK

X9.X Mail mail - SENT SOME FROM FL, SENT BLAKE WITH SOME YESTERDAY, BUT HAVE ANOTHER BATCH CHECK!

X10.X Take clothes to Goodwill - I have 2 bags of clothes I cleaned out of Emily's closet about a month ago. The original intention was to give them to a neighbor girl, but we never see her anymore. I've been toting these bags around for nearly 6 weeks. How hard is it to drive up, toss out the bags, and drive away? LOL CHECK

11. Return candle holders - Not the right color, too shiny. Am I the only one who buys things, gets them home and decides they don't work? Sam thinks it's amusing how much I buy and end up returning.

12. Exchange Heeley's - Sorry mom. She got Blake some kickin' Heeley's for Christmas, but they need to be exchanged. Yes, I know Christmas was 2 months ago.

X13.X Take trash to dumpster - We pay for a service where some guys come by and pick it up at the door, but only Sun-Thur. Today is not a pick up day, but I've got a bag full. CHECK

X14.X Get film developed - I haven't used the film camera in forever, until Daytona Beach.

X15.X Clean out Chevy - There was luggage, bags, food, souveniers, trash and more in there when we got home Monday night. CHECK

X16.X Do laundry - Holy cow! There's a lot of laundry to do when 4 people are gone for 4 days. CHECK

X17.X Put laundry away - Sam pretty much just repacked his clothes once they were clean and the kids put away their own. I, however, have a 2'x4' pile on the closet floor that needs put away. CHECK

X18.X Shampoo carpet - The animals were alone inside for 2 days, 'nough said. CHECK

X19.X Clean toilets - Weekly thing. CHECK

20. Scrub tubs - another weekly thing

x21.x Clean countertops - Daily thing. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

X22.X Clean glass - Weekly thing, or more depending on the amount of toothpaste sprayed on the mirrors or the number of doggie nose-prints on the door

X23.X Vaccum - I washed Emily's down-alternative blanket and now there are fuzzies all over the place. CHECK, sort of. I think it's time for a new vac.

X24.X Dust - Yea, the two wooden tables we have. CHECK

25. Hang Emily's canopy - She says the cat pulled it down, suuuuuure.

26. Change light bulb in hallway - Uhhhh, did we bring a ladder?

27. Organize garage - I'm always getting things out of there and not putting them back in the right spot. Doh, Sam left the Chevy at the airport and the garage door opener is in it.

28. Organize pantry - Kinda goes like the garage

29. Update grocery cost list - Every week I go through the adds and record sale prices. This way I know not to spend $4.99 on chicken breasts. I loathe buying things that aren't on sale.

30. File coupons - I also clip coupons and organize them in a binder that I never seem to have with me when I'm at the grogery store.

X31.X Register for tennis - I've tried to get the kids to take tennis lessons for years. It's a big thing back here and when Emily saw a pink racket and balls at Target she finally agreed. CHECK

X32.X Check house listings - Every day.... CHECK

X33.X Contact Carolina Auto - Got a letter from the DOT saying the paper work for our registrations wasn't complete. CHECK They say they got it handled.

X34.X Download pictures - Got some good ones in FL. CHECK

X35X. Make slide show - Too many pictures to post one-by-one. CHECK

X36.X Update blog. CHECK, CHECK

37. Make master ToDo list - Things like Martha's monthly "gentle reminders".

38. Work on budget plan - I know what it should be, but how to stay on track is a whole nuther thing.

X39.X File reciepts - They constantly pile up. Maybe #39 should be cut up bank cards. CHECK It's so nice when the table is clean.

X40.X Plan Blake's Birthday - Can you believe he's going to be 11 in 3 weeks? CHECK Made reservations at NASCAR Speedpark!

X41.X Clean out litter box - Why I do this I'm not sure. It's Emily's cat. CHECK and Yuck!

X42.X Brush Boogity - You have to brush these dogs all the time CHECK

X43.X Bathe Boogity - Again, I don't know why I do this. Blake should do it or pay to have it done. CHECK He's soooo soft and fluffy now!

X44.X Watch CTS qualifying - Fri 3:30pm CANCELLED

X45.X Watch CTS race - Sat ? CHECK

X46.X Find out what time the CTS race is on, lol CHECK 12pm (ET)

WHEW! I have no business being on this computer. I'm going to go do #44 in front of the tv! =)

Additions

X47.X Email Mom some pictures CHECK

X48.X Call inlaws CHECK Yea mil's appointment went well!

X49.X Get some plants and planters CHECK Got a planter, violas and jasmine!

50. Plant plants

Disney World

Unfortunately, Sam had to head home to get the trucks finished and the transporter reloaded so the driver could leave for California on Monday. The kids and I, however, stayed in FL and drove down to Orlando on Saturday evening. We found a hotel, grabbed some dinner, talked on the phone to Sam a bit, and crashed. Sunday we got up and went to The Magic Kingdom at Disney World! It was very warm (about 82) and we had a great day! Lucky us!

Daytona International Speedway

Friday we made our way to Daytona International Speedway. We were able to walk around the infield and Sam got us credentials to go in the garage area too! We watched Nationwide qualifying, saw some NASCAR inspections done, checked out Victory Lane, listened to live music and comedy, looked in the garages, walked across the grass and up the front stretch, stood front row for driver introductions, watched the race .... really, too much to even list. Wow, what a dream come true for Blake! Even Emily enjoyed herself. She said she wants daddy to keep this job 'cause it's cool! Sam gave Scott a truck that was able to post the 2nd fastest time during practice and a 13th place qualifying session. Scott drove the 29 truck to a respectable 16th place finish in the race. We are so proud of Sam and his crew!

Roadside Stop on A1A

Thursday and Friday we stayed at a hotel in Flagler Beach, FL. We drove A1A from there to Daytona Beach and the kids HAD to get out, so we pulled over on the side of the road for a few minutes. They could have stayed there all day!

Ready To Race

The Current Object Of My Affection

Well okay, ONE of them, lol!



Sam's not a big fan of the house because it's not brick and doesn't have a front porch. I admit it's not perfect, but there aren't many opportunities in our price range to live 2 blocks from this:




This house is in a very nice neighborhood and feeds to an excellent school. It's about 2200 sq ft and has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a bonus room, living room and family room, a breakfast nook and a dining room and a sunroom off the back. The lots are wooded (this one is .31 acre), yet it's minutes to the freeway. It even has a view of the water! Home owners can purchase a boat slip at the neghborhood dock and there is a fenced storage area for boats/trailers. That building to the right is the pool house for the community pool that overlooks the lake!
*sigh* I love her....
I was hoping to get Sam over to look at it (he's only seen the pictures), but there wasn't time before he left and I doubt he'll have time before he goes to Cali. I guess if it's meant to be it will still be on the market in two weeks. Time will tell.

I've really got our house hunting area narrowed down so that's helping the search. I either want to be in northern Denver or Mooresville. Sam and I both really like brick (brick veneer front is what most actually are) and front porches. We need enough space to, at the least, be able to have a 3-wide driveway (can you belive Blake will have his own car in 5 years?!). This house had a contract on it the day after I looked at it. *Hmmph*



2500 sq ft 4br/2.5ba .56 acre


Most houses that fall into that category and within our price range are in eastern Mooresville, but still have good schools. Here are a couple:



That's a pond back there and makes me think, BUGS! 2600 sq ft 4br/2.5ba .37 acre




3000 sq ft 4br/2.5ba .20 acre


Those are farther from the lake (but closer to the race shop) and don't have community pools. I could live there and be happy (with our own pool and a cabana boy to take care of it, lol), but I'd be REALLY happy being able to walk to the lake!

Anyway, that's an update on house hunting. Hope you enjoy getting to see what we're looking at!

"It Don't Get No Better Than This"

Way to go Jr!

Blake of course now wants to change his number to 88 and paint his car metalic green, white, flat black, and just a strip of silver, lol!


Sam left this morning and is all signed and settled in at Daytona. He fired the truck up at the shop Sunday when the kids and I were there and now I'm itchin' to go to the race. What is it about that sound, smell and feel? It's about an 8 hour drive to Daytona from here. How can we not go when it's that close? Would I be a horrible mother if I pulled the kids out of school for NASCAR? For some reason I don't think I'd be the first. Hmmmmmmmm....

Here We Go!

Blake is so excited he can hardly contain himself! It's a good thing the people in the apartment under us moved out 'cause he's making laps around the living room!

Friends are priceless

Thank you to my great friend Karen for making the new header! She's been so motivated and creative lately she's serving as my inspiration to get busy! I started the day with a list of about 20 things to do today and after adding a few more I've crossed off a total of 17 so far! WOOT! It feels so good to have a productive day.
Thank you Karen, for everything!

Living The Dream

Sunday the kids and I went out to the shop to help Sam out a bit. While I was working in the office Sam came and asked for the camera. I had to run out to the car to get it and when I came back, this is what I found.








It's surreal. One moment it just feels like getting ready for any other race. Then it hits you. These are Craftsman Trucks! And that motor is going to power a truck around Daytona Speedway! And how many kids can watch the race next week and say "Hey, I put the decals on that truck" or "my dad runs that team"? Wow, this is really the big time!

It's been a huge struggle to get here and alot of sacrifices have been made. I'm sure there are more to come, but WE DID IT! We are living the dream!

God is good! Please keep us in your prayers as we keep you in ours!

Found It!

I found the USB cable this morning, yay! It would sure help if we had a normal desk in here instead of the card table that is piled on and under with schtuf! I really do try to keep it organized, I do.
Anyway, here is that picture I took yesterday of the storm coming in. Kinda freaky huh! Thankfully the storm rolled in and out pretty peacefully! Bless all those that weren't so lucky though.

It's all good!

The kiddos are both feeling better and in school this week, thank goodness!

Monday Blake saw the orthopedist again. The x-ray shows calcification around three sides of the broken bone, so he was able to get the fracture brace off! His little arm is so skinny you can feel lumps where it's calcified. Weird, but the doctor says it will go away within 6 months to a year (when the bone is actually healed together). He doesn't think you'll even be able to tell the bone was ever broken years from now!

So far we are riding this storm out just fine. It's windy and rainy occassionaly, but nothing major. I took a picture at about 1:30 when the storm was coming in, but I can't find that dang USB cable again. Anyway, there was a distinct line of darkness across the sky, pretty cool. I'll post it when I can.

The kiddos are hungry, so I'm going to go feed them, but wanted to let you know it's all good here!

Sick Kiddos

I thought that we had avoided most of the winter germs. Other than a stuffy nose here and there, we have all been pretty healthy since moving here. But last Friday it hit. That evening Blake was complaining of a headache. The next day he had a raging fever and said he had woken up feeling "woozy" in the middle of the night. The fever lowered, but lasted through Monday. He had a headache the whole time too. Add in a sore throat and a nasty cough, and you've got yourself three days out of school. I finally got him back on Thursday. I had so many errands to run after being stuck home the past 5 days. I looked at a few houses in Mooresville and was just pulling into the Best Buy parking lot to research a new printer when my cell phone rang. It was the school calling to say that Emily was in the health room complaining of a tummy ache. Accck! When I got there she looked terrible and she went straight to bed when we got home. She was sick to her stomach a few times, but thankfully is feeling much better today. I had pre-ordered tickets to the Hannah Montana 3-D Concert Movie for 3pm today. Hopefully they can exchange them for another day, because she's not quite up to that yet. She is, however, hollering at me right now for some applesauce!
Here's hoping that you anf your families are all feeling well and staying healthy.