Yes, I am alive!

I know it has been a ridiculous amount of time since I have written a blog.  For those who have noticed the absence, I am sorry.  I hope it makes you feel better to know that Brian has been hounding me to write one since July.  :)

So, you are probably wondering what life has been like since Brian has been off Break-In.  To sum it up...busy!  He is loving his job!  He has been working weekend graves, and it has not been that bad.  It is a little harder to make plans with friends who work "normal" hours, but it is not impossible.  I feel like we are getting used to this schedule, and of course that means that it is changing soon.  In October his office is switching to ten hour shifts and Brian will switch to swing shift.  Brian is happy about this change, but to be honest, I am not so sure.  Like all shifts, it will have good things and bad things, I am just hoping the good is in a larger quantity.  I know I shouldn't worry.  Especially since I know at the end of October it will hit me that I am surviving the dreaded change.  I will say to myself, "Huh, I am living through the dreaded change. Guess it was not that bad".  Yes, I talk to myself, usually in my head, but not always.  Don't judge. ;) 

The girls are doing great!  A just had her 8th birthday, and invited all the girls in her class to the party!  It was CRAZY! There was also a slumber party, but with only five girls. (THANK GOODNESS!!)  She is now a big 3rd grader!  H just started 1st grade, and is, so far, loving it.  M is going to all day preschool two days a week, which leaves me childless two days a week!  The first day is already filled up with working at the Pregnancy Help Center.  The other day happens to be one of Brian's days off, which means DATE DAY!!  Date day is sometimes spent doing not so "date" things, like cleaning out the garage, but still, NO KIDS! :) Both A and H are playing soccer, luckily on the same team.  Brian has only been able to make it to one game, but he takes them to practice the majority of the time and let's M tag along.  Which is nice, because it gives me a break and him Daddy daughter time.  My girls have such a great Daddy!  :)

As for me I am as busy as ever. Besides all the normal stuff and being a taxi for the girls, I have been working more at the PHC!  I also met a new friend a couple months ago who just happens to be a Chippy wife!  She fits right in with the BFF and Bestie at the play dates and movie nights!  My kids love her kids! Our husbands have stuff in common.  So her family has become apart of our family.  Both Brian and I feel very blessed to have the friends we have, and we are happy to have them join the family.  Plus, it is nice to be able to have "my husband is working/ the kids are driving me bonkers/ I don't want to be by myself" play dates with her.  I really feel it was a God thing that I met her.  I was beginning to think I was not going to find a friend that was 1) in the CHP family, 2) was local, and we could actually do things together, 3) had similar beliefs/ lifestyles.  Don't get me wrong, I love my friends that I already had.  Each one is special, amazing, and unique; but, according to the books and the people who ran the spouse panel, it is important to have friends inside the CHP.  I already had my friends I made during the academy, but none of them are near me.  When I mentioned to Brian how I was feeling, he told me to pray about it.  The next day she came into the PHC to interview to be a volunteer.  COME ON! Isn't that awesome!  It is not often that I get and answer to a prayer that quickly!  THEN, a couple weeks later, I ran into a friend from high school who is also a CHP wife!  Now she comes to the "my husband is working/ the kids are driving me bonkers/ I don't want to be by myself" play dates. I don't know if you can tell but I feel very blessed lately!

That is about it!  Things are going good.  Blessed and busy!!  Hopefully, I get the chance to write again soon.

Blessings,
~Cara

Bye Bye Break In!!

Today was Brian's first solo day!  Friday was his last day of Break in, and after ten months, the training is finally over.  He made it with out any extensions!  Woo-Hoo!

I was going to write during fourth phase, but it was only a week long.  Plus I had M's birthday party to prepare for, so time was very limited.  For fourth phase Brian went back to the day shift.  Which means his commute home is crazy long.  When he is on graves his commute is opposite of the heavy traffic, but on days, he is in the heavy traffic.  He will finish out the month on the days shift and then he will be back on graves, so he only has to deal with the traffic a few more times.

Someone asked me how I feel about the shifts, days vs. graves.  So I thought I would do a pros/ cons list for both.  I would like to say that I am new at this.  I might feel very differently in a couple of months. :)  Also I am not including anything about safety/ dangers.  Just my opinions on daily life stuff.

Graves:
Pros:

• Commute.  Brian is in a much better mood when he has not been sitting in traffic for two hours.
• I feel like I get more things done at night.  Mostly because 1) the girls are asleep, and 2) I get bored so I might as well do something productive. I have no one needing my attention.  Plus I can watch whatever I want on TV!
• I feel like I talk to Brian more.  This is because we talk a lot on the phone while he is commuting.  Hands free of course!!  We get to have our "how was your day?" conversation.
• From 10 pm on, he has a partner.  (Okay, I guess this could be counted as a safety thing. Oh well.)
• Brian is able to get a quick work out in before going to bed.  Workout lowers stress = better moods.  Plus, it keeps Brian in his current size so we do not spend money on new uniform pants.
• When I leave the house, I don't have to lock the dogs out.

Cons:

• His first day off is spent sleeping.  He gets home around 8 am and then sleeps until 2 pm.  Makes it hard to plan anything on those days.
• If he gets off late, the girls (when in school) do not get to see him.
• We have to go into quiet mode during the day, at least upstairs.  Makes it hard to do any cleaning.

Days:
Pros:

• His first day off is actually off.  He wakes up with the rest of us and we can have the full day.
• I get to see Brian more, even if he is getting ready for the next day.
• When he gets off on time (and traffic allows) he can see the girls before bed time.
• I sleep better when Brian is home.
• Easier to clean upstairs.

Cons:

• Commute.  Seriously.
• No quick workout for Brian.
• Night time productivity is at an all time low. Unless I stay up super late...like tonight.
• No phone conversations.  I am asleep on his way to work, and on his way home I usually busy with dinner and bed time prep.
• When I leave the house, I have to lock the dogs outside and they tear up my yard.  They dig in the flower beds and vegetable gardens! Grrrrr! 

I think that is it.  That is how I rate the shifts.  :) I guess I can keep you all updated as my opinions change, but for now I need to go to bed.  I have a play date at the park in the morning.  :)

Blessings,
~Cara

Sicky Poos and More... :P

Once again, it has been awhile.  Since my last post we have celebrated H's 6th birthday, Mother's Day, and other things.  As a family, we passed a around a nasty cold.  Just when we all recovered from the cold, H came home early from school with a fever last Tuesday.  She really had a fever and spent the day sleeping, watching TV, and looking like a zombie.  Then Wednesday morning M came down with the a stomach bug, so I had two sickies on the couch vegging out.  Both were fine by Wednesday evening. So Thursday morning, H went back to school, until I got a call from the school that she had a stomach ache and fever again.  I picked her up, but she did not seem that sick. By the time we got home, her fever was gone.  She played normal and ate normal the rest of the day.  She was fine Friday and over the weekend.  No stomach issues and no fever.  A, however, tossed her cookies while at the park Saturday evening.  Her fever did not hit until Sunday morning.  And it was a doozy!  All day Sunday and Monday she had a fever and laid around looking like a zombie. Yesterday, Monday, M had a doctors appointment for her preschool physical, so I took her while Brian stayed home with A.  On my way to the appointment the school calls and said H was in the office complaining of a stomach ache and had a fever, again.  And again, once I picked her up she was fine.  No fever and full of energy.  Stomach ache my tush, she downed her lunch and asked for more.  The doctor suggested I make H stay home from school today, just in case.  A's fever was gone this morning, but she was still a little sluggish, so she also stayed home.  Tomorrow, both will go back to school and hopefully they stay there all day.  Or so help me...

As for Brian, he is doing well.  He is still in third phase.  For him, fourth phase is being postponed (NOT EXTENDED) a week.  His FTO for fourth phase (same FTO as first phase) is taking the Sergeant's test the week Brian was scheduled to have fourth phase.  So he will just have and extra week with his current FTO.  Brian also received a subpoena for his first court date next month! Kind of exciting now, but I am sure it will get old real fast.  :) Other than that, just the normal DUI, tickets and reports.  Lots of reports.

That's about it.  Nothing really interesting.  Which makes me think once Brian is done with Break-in I might retire from my blogging career. :)

Blessings,
~Cara

Update! Phase 3 Starts This Week!

Can you believe it?!  Phase three...time is flying.  So far Brian is doing pretty well on the job.  His daily scores have been decent.  He is feeling more and more comfortable with the area. He is still learning a ton.  He always has a story to tell me, and I have been brushing up on my 10 codes so I have an idea of what the story is about.  At home, we have all settled into our schedules and our routines.  So all is well.

Okay now that the update is out of the way, let's talk about driving.  This is my way to give you all a fair warning.  So you cannot say you were not warned.  Before the Academy, Brian was a pretty safe driver.  Nothing crazy! Used his blinker; made smooth stops; moved at the speed of traffic; overall a safe nerdy driver.  During the Academy, he drove a little faster and showed off a little.  It made me a little nervous, but whatever.  Now he has been out on the road and has had two different FTO's give input on his driving.  Now he drives like a maniac!  I kid you not!  No more smooth stops.  Getting off and on the freeway is a terrifying experience!  Blinkers are no longer used.  He is that guy who makes you think "crazy driver".  Seriously, my stomach spends way too much time in my throat.  DUDE, where is the CODE 3?!  (Like how I did that?)  I know I am not alone.  Other wives have shared in my terror.  To top it off, as we go down the road (at break neck speeds) he points out all the violations.  Example: "Tags", "cell phone", "riding to close", "unsafe blah blah blah".  I know Brian would not do anything unsafe with us in the car, BUT it still does not feel so safe to me.  

It is funny; however, when we are driving along and Brian notices a violation and he forgets he is in our car.  :P  He gets all frustrated because they are talking on their cell phone right in front of him and not even trying to hide!  Then he remembers that 1) he is not on duty, and 2) he is not in a patrol car.  So of course they do not care if he is right there.  :) 

The rest of daily life is as busy as ever.  Busy, but running almost smooth.  No illnesses, no major drama, just normal everyday stuff.  :)  Brian is pretty excited to have some newer newbies joining him at the San Jose office when the next class graduates! ;)  Congratulations to all who made it!  :)

Well, I think I will call it a night.

Blessings,
~Cara

Half way Done with Phase 2!

I know it has been awhile.  Last week was pretty full.  We had something going on everyday!  AScentsy/ Grace Adele party, movie night, PHC, MOPs, and the normal everyday stuff.  Friday night we had a super fun double date night with my BFF and her hubby!  Saturday we decided to take a day trip to Columbia State Historic Park, which is something we do at least once a year.  Usually we drive up a way that is not super curvy, because H and I tend to get car sick.  This time however, we went a different route, because we knew there was a big to do in one of the towns and traffic was going to be bad.  So we thought we would be smart and take the other way up, even though it is a bit more curvy.  Everything was going okay.  We were about five minutes from Columbia and I was just starting to regret going the curvy way, (but was still okay) when H says "I don't feel good...I think I am going to throw up".  Before I could remind her of all the hidden throw up bags near and around her, or before Brian could turn into the gas station parking lot, A announces that H is "throwing up on the floor".  Poor thing.  So Brian pulls into the parking lot, I get and open the back door... yeah, at that point I knew I would not be helping Brian clean up the mess.  Luckily we had a change of clothes for H.  I cleaned her up and changed her clothes.  By the time Brian had cleaned up the mess in the car, everyone was feeling better.  Needless to say, but we went home the other, less curvy, way...with the windows down.

Last night Brian started his third week of  phase two.  Graves are so much different than days.  During phase one, Brian mostly issued tickets.  He had a few accidents, stolen cars, but it was mostly tickets.  During the last two weeks, it has been mostly DUIs.  Although, last night it was a pot hole that took up the most time.  A very angry vicious pot hole, that caused damage to over ten vehicles that dared to take it on.  Sounds like a fun night.  So far graves have not been too bad, which is somewhat of a surprise.  Brian comes home most mornings just before the girls and I head out the door.  The girls get a chance to love on Daddy before going to school.  Brian and I get in a short conversation (and some lovin') before I have to turn into drill sergeant mommy to get out the door on time.  Once we are out the door, he crashes.  For the most part, when he is upstairs sleeping, we just pretend he is not home.  I can't make the girls be silent as monks, but they understand that Daddy needs to sleep, so they keep it down.  Plus Brian can sleep through anything.  I will say, his three day (night, you know what I mean) weeks are so much better than his four day weeks.  Not a big surprise.  :)  That one day does make such a huge difference.  This week is a four day week, so he will come home Saturday morning and then be dead to the world for half the day.  So we have Saturday night, Sunday and Monday.  Tuesday he sleeps and then goes to work.  On his three day week, he is dead to the world half of Friday.  So we have Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday he sleeps.  It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it really is so much better. :) It looks like he will be staying on his current schedule for phase three, but that is not set in stone.  I wish they would hurry up and set it in stone.  H's birthday is next month and I need to know when to schedule the party. 

Speaking of H's party, I need to go and get some work done on her scrapbook so it can be ready for her party.  :)  Good night!

Blessings,
~Cara

Phase 2 and Grave Shift

So tonight Brian started Phase 2.  It is also his first shift on graves.  His new FTO still remained somewhat of a mystery when he left today.  He had not officially met him.  None of the other trainees had him for phase 1, so it will be a surprise!  To make sure he started his week well rested, he stayed up until 2:45ish this morning.  Sounds backwards, but then he slept until noon.  The girls and I stuck with our normal schedule.  A quieter version of the normal schedule.  My goal was to allow Brian to sleep, undisturbed.  However, when I came home from taking the girls to school, the lawn care guys were here, and I had left our bedroom window open!  I felt so bad!  I hurried into the house and ran upstairs, only to find Brian sawing logs.  He didn't even notice the lawn mower, weed whacker, and leaf blower outside our open bedroom window.  I guess I will put off buying some ear plugs for him.

Brian left for his shift the same time I was leaving to get the girls from school.  A and H were a little bummed that they missed seeing Daddy today.  All three of them were crying at bed time, "I miss my Daddy!", but I am pretty sure that had more to do with them getting in trouble for the state of their bedroom.  No joke, I could not see the floor, not even a tiny bit.  Needless to say, they will be cleaning their room instead of playing tomorrow.  Or else the bad cop (aka Mommy) will be back!

During dinner, H told me she played bad guys and officers during recess.  She told me all about how she arrested her friend with pretend handcuffs.  :)  She is a mini Daddy, and proud of it!

As for our back yard, we pretty much finished it.  Just need to get the grass to grow and add a few finishing touches.  Overall, not bad for our first landscaping job!  

Back fence...

Side fence...

New box and path.  Brian made the box!  It is amazing!

 Hopefully, I will be able to keep everyone updated on how phase 2 is going.  It should be easier since Brian won't be home to distract me.  :)  For now, I need to go to bed.  Being the bad cop, wears me out.  Good night!

Blessings,
~Cara 

Look What I Did and an Update :)

During the last week Brian and I decided that it was time to tackle the backyard, hence the pretty flower.  When we moved in last year the backyard was a disaster zone, and it has remained that way.  Gophers, a giant cactus, patchy grass, and weeds ruled the backyard.  I already wrote how I started destroying the cactus.  Well, it is no more!  I showed that cactus who was boss.  Well I did for the first 98% of the job, then Brian finished him!!  Then, on Saturday, Brian made me a planter box for a veggie garden.

Does it not look awesome?!  We cleared the ground together, but he made the box.  That baby is sturdy!  :)  We planted two zucchini plants. The third as supposed to be bell peppers, but I grabbed the wrong one.  So instead we have a caliente pepper, which are MUY CALIENTE!  So if any of you likes the feeling of your mouth being on fire, please let me know, I have some peppers for you. :)  Not bad for our first project!  Brian is making another box this weekend, but it will be bigger then this one.

One Monday, I started "our" second project.  I cleared the ground for another flowerbed.  Then on Tuesday, after A's dentist appointment and two trips to Home Depot, I finished the project.

First half...

Second half.

Not perfect, but come on, I did it all by myself!  Yes, I did hurt myself once.  I smashed my finger between two of the cinder blocks.  It hurt really bad.  I was thinking a lot of bad things, but only managed to say "OH! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!".  Then I practiced labor breathing techniques.  It still hurts.  Today, after taking the girls out for breakfast and the mall for our super fun girls only time, I cleared the ground for the second box and a pathway. Since that is the project for Saturday, I thought I would get a head start.  It feels good to get stuff accomplished, but I am sore!  I will get a rest tomorrow, since it is Thursday and I have other things on my plate.

Tomorrow is Brian's last day of phase one.  Next week he starts phase two and switches to grave shift.  It should be interesting for all of us.  Brian has not met his new FTO and is both nervous and excited for the change.  At home, we just got use to his current schedule.  He is gone before we get up and gets home (if he comes home) right before bedtime.  Now he will be leaving just as I am leaving to pick up the girls from school, and coming home (if he comes home) just as we are leaving to take the girls to school.  There is a chance that, even if Brian makes the commute home, A and H will not see Brian at all on the days he is working.  It is just another new normal for us, and we will have to get use to it.  And we will, just in time for it to change again.  ;) 

Well I should get to bed.  The girls are on Spring Break this week, but still want to wake up at the break of dawn.  I can only ignore them for so long before they attack me.  Tomorrow they will be especially excited because we will be getting ready for our big trip on Friday.  On Friday we are going to the San Francisco Zoo with Brian's academy roommate and his family.  We have not taken the girls to San Francisco yet, so we are all pretty excited.  Plus, Brian and his roommate can refresh the BROmance. ;)  Good Night!

Blessings,
~Cara