I opened my car door this morning to get the car seat in, and I was greated by a RAT.  I felt every single hair stand up on my body.  Yuck.  He was scurrying under the seat.  It was the most disgusting rat with the longest tail I’ve ever seen.  Mickey Mouse here was probably just as scared as I was.  But I’m sorry, he just can’t make a home in my car.  We spent 30 minutes trying to catch it with a broom and a trash bag.  Ewww.  Yuck.  NO luck.  So Seb sent me off to Home Depot to get a sticky mouse trap. 

Even though we caught it, I think I’m still traumatized.  I feel kind of grossed out getting into the Prius now.  

I also googled “rats in Prius”,… and apparently other Prius owners have had the same problem.  Wth?

So I’m packing my son in our little, white Prius soon and taking her back to Monterey Park. Mom called and said she’s coming over with my aunt and going along with us so we can go out and do some shopping.  Sounds like a good plan to me, except that I don’t want to spend too much money.  Buuuuut, it is after all nearing the holidays.  I’ve also been wanting a Karaoke system for some time now.  The kind where all the songs are already preset into the Karaoke box and it comes with a song menu in leather bound three ring binder.  I guess even if I don’t buy it, it’s still fun to go check it out.  We’ll see. 

Caleb slept with us last night and woke up around 6:30 this morning.  Of course the 1^st thing he wanted to do was play.  But I still wanted to sleep.  I tried to make him snooze, like the alarm clock.  But that didn’t go very well.  I think he got louder.  I brought the bottle upstairs with me last night along with his formula.  That way I can just give it to him and steal another oh 3 minutes?  Eh. 

We got out of bed around 7:00, dressed Caleb, dressed myself.  Mornings are chilly now, so I turned on the heat for a bit.  Caleb was still hungry, so I made him some french toast, healthy style.  Used one egg, added a little milk, dipped my homemade bread in it on both sides, sprayed the pan with some PAM (olive oil spray), grilled up the french toast, sprinkled a tiny bit of white sugar on it, and cut it into little squares for the little boy.  His favorite.  My favorite too.  My mom used to make this for me when I was little.  I used to add a TON of sugar on it, and just lick off the sugar.  LOL.          I love how little things here and there with Caleb brings back so many memories from my own childhood.  Then followed with a little bit of sadness how fast time passes.  In a way I kind of feel like this is my second chance to enjoy the things I took for granted in my earlier years.

I have decided to start a new project; thanks to fortheloveofblogging.  She has inspired me to start my own control journal.  With a plan, our home divided into zones, and a little time each day, I can start taking care of clutter and other things that we often forget about. 

Most of the time I’m overwhelmed with everything that NEEDS to be done everyday, there’s no way I have time for things that can definitely wait.  But I know, for the rest of my life, I’m always going to feel like I never have time for everything.  Between work, taking care of myself, family, baby & kids stuff, making sure we have everything we need in the house, grocery shopping, bills, baby stuff shopping, household stuff shopping, and the list goes on. 

So…. Fortheloveofblogging has given me some pointers and inspired me to start my plan.  I created my control journal last night, and today was the first day of putting a little bit of it into action.  And I’m happy to report I’m enjoying my first day’s work, I’ve discovered quite a bit of clutter/trash that has been taken out to the trash bin, and I’ve also cleared out most of the clutter that doesn’t belong in the formal dining room.  I’ve found a place for the boxes of baby wipes and diapers that’s always just sitting along the wall till they’re all used up.  So refreshing to see everything gone from this space. 

I have to head out now to get my car from the dealership.  On my way back I just have to stop by 99 Ranch to pick up some groceries and I’ll be home.  This evening I just need to spend another 15 minutes in Zone 2, aka kitchen, and start decluttering.  And one last 5 minute room rescue in the room that no one ever gets to see!  Well, I have 2 of those rooms, I’ll start with the one I use the most often.

Today is our 2-year wedding anniversary!  And 6 six years of being together.   Doesn’t seem that long, but we all know how fast time flies.  So I cherish every second I have with the people I love.

We’ve had so much fun together over the last six, and so much has grown from our relationship; our understanding, patience, love, and the most amazing thing of all is our little family.  Corny.  I know.  But I’m just amazed we’ve become parents.  Parents(!), people who are responsible for another life being; to love them, take care them, and make sure they flourish in life.  I love and treasure all of it.

To celebrate how far we’ve come, here are some pictures…  Six years…. and many, many more.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie.

Seb and I finally took Caleb to the Tustin USPS on Saturday to get his photo taken and turn in the application for his passport.  It’s almost time to take my little man back to Taiwan for the first time.  I’m so excited.  Can’t wait. 

Seb and I also had a really nice Saturday evening for our 2 year wedding anniversary that’s coming up on the 8th.  We were going to go to Vegas for the weekend, but ended up deciding to stay in town.  So Seb got us tickets to watch Peter Pan; really cute, really enjoyed it.  Afterwards, we had a nice little dinner at Charlie Palmer in the South Coast Mall. 

Growing up I always thought I would only be happy if my future husband spoiled me with surprises and romantic evenings for every special occasion.  Sure I still love a nice surprise every so often, or plan for romantic getaways.  But now I know being content around each other and just happy to be together is another kind of delight, the kind where at this moment, you want nothing more.  I like this feeling.

I’m working on paperwork for a client, it’s called the Accelerated Death Benefit.  It is a rider that is added onto a life insurance policy at the time of issue.  Different riders have different requirements that need to be satisfied in order to be exercised.  For this particular one, the insured needs to be terminally ill and their doctor has advised them they have less than 12 months to live.  If they meet those 2 requirements, the insurance company will accelerate their life insurance money and issue them a check while they are still alive.

It makes me sad one must bear this kind of news; how it must feel.  I keep thinking about it a lot recently, how most of us take our life and health for granted.  We “expect” to live until we’re 80+.  Most act as if it is our right not have bad news fall upon us.

But I feel everyday we are healthy, happy, and free from sickness and pain, …is a blessing.