October is for moving.

We moved from our apartment into a rental house, but not until we spent WEEKS fixing the place up. Let me explain. The house we just moved into is Ben’s grandparent’s place. They use it as a rental to supplement their retirement. They dropped the price for us, and we fixed it up in return. I’ll post more on the house in another post, as I want to include a photo tour, and there are still boxes everywhere.

October is for leaves, and a LOT of them.

We had to rake the yard badly. You couldn’t see where the path in the back was anymore.  Alyssa and I had a hayday playing in them today.

Yes, the pile is that big. It comes up to my waist, and there is a second one about 6 feet away.

Alyssa kept pointing to the trees and would say ” Uht OOOOO” (like she does every time she falls)

Just when Ben and I finally feel like we are geiing our break, We have yet another downturn that may be sending us right back where we started.

Today we found out that Ben’s employer, Unisys (Yes, you HORRIBLE company I am rating on you!) is changing his pay from hourly to a set rate 15% lower than he is making now with a “chance” to make up the difference in performance reviews. We know that isn’t going to happen. Ben didn’t get his last raise until a year after he was supposed to get it. We are losing our good health insurance for a crappy plan and we can’t afford to buy our own. Ben’s life insurance has been cut from $50,000 to $10,000.  There’s more but I’m too upset to even remember what they are.

I just can’t believe that we can never get our break. We always get to a point where we think we can move up, move on and go to better places, then our dreams get smashed into millions of pieces every time. I don’t even know if we are going to be able to afford the rental we are going to move into now. I feel like I may have to quit MOPS because we may not be able to afford it anymore.

I think I know how Job felt. Having everything ripped out from under you and not knowing why. I feel like I’m being punished for no reason.

Alyssa is walking!!!!!!!! She found her bravery yesterday and started zooming around the living room ON HER OWN!!!!!!!!!!

Only in our world could someone in thier 20’s not be embarassed about both their parents being on Facebook.

I kid you not. My Mom and Dad both have one now!! I have to be the only 21 year old that isn’t freaking out about their parents being friends with them!

As many of you may know, my Grandpa just passed away. You can read my mom’s tribute to him here.

I can say that I’ll miss him everyday. I hated seeing him ill, but I’ll never remember him that way.

I’ll remember the look on his face when he saw me get married.

I’ll never forget the joy he had when  he first held Alyssa.

I’ll remember how happy he was when I saw the doll house he built for me as a kid, or even the one he built for Alyssa.

I’ll see his face every time I look at the necklace he gave me as a teen (He said it was to remember him by when he passed.)

I’ll never forget his sarcasm, his love and his laugh.

I’ll never forget how happy he was every time we came over for a visit.

I’m sad that Alyssa will never really know her Great-Grandpa Earl, but She’ll see how much he loved her as she grows up. She’ll know who he was, and why we loved him.

I love you Grandpa. I can’t wait to see you again someday!

I’ve watched his comedy show on the ION worship channel. He is a clean, christian comedian. I introduce you to Jeff Allen!

Alyssa is having one heck of a week. Tuesday she got to play in the pool with a ton of friends, but Wednesday, she had a Dr appointment. 4 shots later we have one VERY angry baby. She was happy when her new Dr gave her a pink plastic squirrel to take home.

Now today started out great. We headed to the Berry Patch Farm to go pick some black raspberries and carrots. We even got a tractor ride around the farm! All was good until we went to pay for our fruit. Bethany noticed that Ally looked like she had been crying, hard. She never did. Alyssa’s eyes were really swollen, and her face was super red. She is ok now, but very cranky.

You can see how her eyes are still a little swollen, but the Benadryl is helping.  Bethany is my savior today. If it hadn’t been for her, i would have been freaking out all the way home. She has her Peditrician ready and asked her how much Benadryl to give Alyssa and even got a list of things I need to look out for.  I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.

My Mom and Dad (Ben’s parents) JUST got into town!!!!!!! I get to go see them tonight!!!!

~I’m not excited at all!!!~

Ally somehow got ahold of my wallet. How, I will never know. It was in my purse on the kitchen table, and my purse is still upright! I think she wants to go shopping!

This one in hanging outside our apartment by the security door. At least the arrow is pointing the right way! (I did send it into the Failblog. It was too funny not to!)

We went to the family cabin with my Mom, Dad, Steven, Aisling and Roddy. Here are my favorite pics from the trip.