It's been a while!

Wow!!! 2009 went by like LIGHTENING! So in the past week we have had my mother in law visit, been snowed in, had basketball games cancelled, school cancelled, a Little Gym show, and work, work, work.

The news of the day is that I am a genius. I have diverted TWO crisis this week and it's only Tuesday! I can remeber when a major crisis meant that my white knee high Danceline boots had not been cleaned from the last game or that I didn't have ponytails to use for 50's day Homecoming week. Times they have a changed

FIRST CRISIS!

The BIG BLIZZARD OF 2010 left the Madison area with an astonishing 1/3 inch of snow on the ground. That's right people. School cancelled. Gym cancelled. Roads closed. Basketball cancelled! All for 1/3 inch of snow. Now I am as much a fan of safety as the next but come on! Now I have gotten off subject.

Caleb, 9, is in fourth grade and they are doing a "Vocabulary Parade" Friday. Every student was to choose a word from their "Robust Vocabulry" list. They were to turn in an index card with their word, definition, and sentence on Friday, Jan 8, for the parade that is Jan 15. In the week between students and parents are to design and make a costume that represents the Word they chose. Now, back to the Blizzard of 2010. There was no school on Jan 8 and through the busy weekend I forgot about the Vocabulary Parade (GASP!!!). Not thinking much of it I watched a minute video sent to us Monday evening from Caleb's teacher and said to myself, "You are a genius! Caleb can use the word "fanatic" and dress as an Alabama football fan." I had done it! Found a word and a costume in mere minutes and we were set. That is until I announced my ingenius plan to Caleb Tuesday morning before heading to school. His response to my smarts? "Since I didn't turn in a word Monday my teacher assigned me "fluke".

How on Earth do I come up with a costume for Fluke? No, my brilliant idea was not going to be shut down like that. I got myself and Ryan dressed, Caleb and Drew snacks packed, and with index card detailing "fanatic" we headed out the door to the school. I walked in to Mrs. Whitenacks room and politly asked if the word for the parade had to be from the "Robust Vocabulary" list. She informed me that it did. Now I have never seen this list so holding my breath I asked Mrs. Whitenack if we could change Caleb's word and if "fanatic" , by the Grace of God, was on the list. She said "YES!" Whew! Crisis averted


CRISIS 2

After a very busy weekend and tons of laundry, Sunday Jeremy and I notice that our washing machine is no longer spinning the clothes out. I thought this to be no big deal b/c I have the most amazing husband who was raised by the most amazing father and he had been taught to fix ANYTHING!!! After many different attempts at fixing my 20 month old washing machine Jeremy threw in the white flag. He had surrendered to the washing machine. Jeremy had determined that the motor was the problem. After looking around on line he found that a new motor would be $200. That's half the price of a whole new machine. Outraged I proceeded to find a customer service contact for GE and emailed them to say that our washing machine was a mere 20 months old and that it was absurd that we would have to replace the motor in that short amount of time. I added that I would NEVER buy another GE appliance again!

On Monday we contacted a local appliance parts dealer. We were advised to call GE and explain the situation to them and see if there was any kind of discount they could give us on a new motor. Jeremy called me that evening at work to tell me that GE had agreed to send us a new motor at no cost!!! Woohoo! Now the catch. We would have to pay $70 for a GE certified technician to come to our home and inspect the machine. Then after inspection if he called GE back and verified that it was the motor that was bad they would send out the new one. The entire process would take about 2 weeks. I have 3 children. The idea of having to use our apartment's laundry facilities with a 3 year old in tow in the middle of January was irritating to say the least. I was happy that we had the option and now were going to save $100 by doing the repairs this way, don't get me wrong.

Tuesday morning rolld around and I decide that since there is only one clean towel in the house and the weather had warmed up to a blistering 20 degrees, Ryan and I would head to the Carrington Cove Laundry Care Facility (a.k.a the apartment laundramat). I finally convinced Ryan that if I paused Handy Manny he would not miss the tools singing and I head to the laundramat armed with four quarters, a basket full of towels, my cell phone, my 3 year old, and detergent. Once I've gotten everything out of the car, Ryan decided to help me by shutting the car door. I would have appreciated that help much more if my finger had not still been in the door. (In now have a big blood bllister on my ring finger) This experience is not going well. We get to the door and it wasn't until that moment that I realized I need a key to get into the place. I load everything back into the car and drive back to our apartmetn and get the key to the laundramat. Needless to say we did get that one load of towels washed but I decided no more laundry trips until J got home.

Around 3 p.m. I sat down to check my email and noticed a response from GE. I was fully prepared for one of those "We're are sorry to hear this but your warranty id only good for one year. We would gladly give you a 2% discount on a new GE washing machine. " Instead I get this...

"Your drive system may simply need to be reset. To do this unplug the machine for 60 seconds. After that time plug the macine back in. You now have 30 seconds to begin lifting and lowering the lid. Once you begin lifting and lowering the lid you must do this 6 times up and down in 12 seconds. You must raise the lid at least 2 inches and close it completly to ensure the magnetic reaction is interrupted."

You are kidding right? It sounded like rub your tummy while patting your head upside down in water but I was sure going to try whatever I could to keep from spending $100 and going 2 weeks with no washing machine.

After following the directions to a T I crossed my fingers and put the machine on the spin cycle.

voila!!!!!! It spins!!!!!

Crisis averted!
Now hopefully it won't be another 8 months before I blog again and the next Blog won't be a mile long :) We can all hope right?


Mrs. Fix it

Relaxing week, for us anyway

So, this week seems pretty slow, as I predicted. Today I went and got a manicure. Sounds relaxing until you add in the fact that I had all 3 boys with me. Wanted my nails done before we left for the concert onight. Me and Nicole Pope are hedaing out in a few minutes for the New Kids on the Block concert in Nashville and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Yum-o! Pics to come .
Talk to you soon
Kim

Another week gone by

We made it through anotherr week. Not nearly as busy, but hectic none the less. Monday I was so sick that J had to come home from work. We went to Drew's Kindergarten show that night. Tuesday I was a little better. (Well enough to take care of Ryan without help.) I went to Hunter Homes and met with the financial councelor. Good news on that front- we should be in the house by mid-November. WOO HOO!!! Wednesday was quiet until Drew started showing signs of another Sinus infection. Thurday I kept Drew home from school b/c he was up a couple of times in the night throwing up. So around 10 a.m. on Thursday the school nurse called and told me Caleb had 5th's disease. I went and got him and Jeremy came home so I could take Drew to the pediarician. He has a sinus infection and now needs to go to an Allergen immunologist. Friday came and went withour event and today I worked 10-5. It's about 8:30 and me and J are about to watch Hancock.
Next week should be fun. Monday Nicole and I are going to Nashville to see New Kids on the Block.
Talk to you soon
Kim

Weekend over!

We made it! The weekend was full and the weekend was fun! Caleb had 4 friends over Saturday night for his birthday and the kids made thier own pizzas, cookies, and snack mix. They also played the Wii and beat each other with balloons. He got alot of legos, money, a Wii game and other stuff. It was a success.

Sunday we woke up to snow and the boys all played in it. Jeremy got pelted with alot of snowballs between all 5 boys. (They were told not to throw it at me because I had the camera!!)

We left the house around 10:30 Sunday, went to Steak and Shake and on to the circus! It was alot of fun. All three of the boys (and me, Jeremy, and mom) really enjoyed it. I must give some advice about the circus! If you go take alot of cash!!! If you though $20-47.00 for tix to the circus is rediculoous get this- $12.00 for a plastic Tiger cup with snow cone in it. $12.00 for a bag of cotton candy! $7.00 for a box of popcorn! Seriously?

So tonight the boys have thier awards ceremony for Basketball. Otherwise this week seems to be calm.....so far.

Talk to you soon

Kim

Busy Weekend-Part 1

Ok so we made it though Friday, an achievement for us. Caleb had his Blue and gold banquet and it was really nice. It was held at Asbury United Methodist Church. The banquet was catered by Smokey's BBQ, yum! We ate dinner and then the awards were given out. Two tigers, 17 Wolves, 27 Bears (that's us), and 38 Weblos!! What a large pack!
We also got to find out that since Drew will have completed Kindergarten before Cub Scout summer camp begins he can go to camp as a Tiger Cub. Yipeee! He has been really looking forward to getting to do all the scout things Caleb gets to do. The campout is May 1-3 and Summer camp is in June. So be on the lookout for pics of that this summer.
Today will be eventful as well. Caleb turned 9 today and his party is this evening. Mom has been in Huntsville for about two weeks and she is leaving Monday :( so me and J are taking this afternoon to ourselves to enjoy a quiet lunch.
Talk to you soon
Kim

Feb 27, 2009

This is my very first blog so I guess I should give a little background. My name is Kim Lawson. I am 28 years old and am married to the most wonderful man on Earth, Jeremy. We have bee married since July 16, 1999. This summer we will celebrate our 10 year anniversary, which is unbelievable to me.
We have 3 beautiful, healthy little boys that our the joy of our lives!! Caleb (Tay) is our oldest son. He will be 9 tomorrow! Again, I can't believe it! Caleb is a big teddy bear. He is 4'9" and weighs 110 lbs. (Big guy!) He is extremely smart, goes to gifted classes and enjoys reading and playing with Legos. Our middle son is all of the middle child cliches and more. His name is Drew (Drew bear) and he turned 6 in January. He is mischievous, funny, and always up for anything. He's daring and stuborn. You never know what you'll get with him. Our smallest one, the baby of the family, is Ryan (RT). He will e three this summer. He is definitely the baby of the family.
Jeremy and I have been through alot together. We got married in 1999. He was 21 and I 19. In Feb. 2000 we had Caleb and in May 2000 we found out that I had Hodgkin's Disease (Lymphatic Cancer). After Chemo and Radiation I was cancer free in November 2000. In May 2001 we were told that my Dad, Earl Faust was dying of Lung Cancer. 9 months and one week later on Feb 25, 2002 Dad passed away at the age of 46. In Jan 2003 We welcomed our son, Drew. Less than two months later, while I was in the hospital with Meningitis, Jeremy's father, David Lawson, died suddenly of a massive heart attack at age 53. In 2006 we welcomed our third son, Ryan. Did I forget to mention that through all of this Jeremy was working as a supervisor at Phifer Wire and trying desperately to finish his degree in Electrical engineering at the University of Alabama?
In Dec. 2007 Jeremy finally did graduate and within three months we were moving from our hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Huntsville, Alabama. We are still living in an apartment in Huntsville and working on getting into a house (with four bedrooms) by January.
I don't know if anyone will even read this or what it will say when I do blog but I plan on keeping everyone up to date with what's going on with our family and tell stories of love, heartache, life, death, family, and overcoming obstacles. Hopefully people will enjoy it.

It's Friday!!!! Wow, we are getting ready for a really busy weekend. Tonight is Caleb's cub scout Blue and Gold banquet. Caleb is really excited about getting his bear badge tonight. I went to the doctor this morning and I felt like I was 8 years old again when the doctor told me that i have two ear infections and strep throat. I don't think there could have been a worse weekend to get sick. We have a ton going on. Talk to you later
Kim