7 Years!

Today is my 7 year anniversary to Mr. Eric Droke. We were 22 and 21 when we got married. Since then, I've finished my bachelors degree, we've adopted a cat-may she rest in peace-, had a little girl, had a car accident, had a baby boy, moved a few times, battled a near death, unexplained illness, and adopted a dog.

I appreciate and love this man more today than ever in my life. A marriage-therapist-friend told me that there is a significant change in the marriage relationship every 7 years. I would agree with that. Over the last year, our marriage has changed, but in a good way. I have a greater respect for him now than ever in my life. I've learned to at least try to see the best in obnoxious people. I've learned to at least try to give troublesome people the benefit of the doubt. I've learned to at least try to shut up and listen in a confrontation. I've learned what true character acts like. In short, I'm a much better person than I was when he married me 7 years ago, because of his example. Of all the men in the world, I'm so glad I picked him... he just thinks he picked me....

Family Video

Ok, so I've never done this before, but I'm planting a BIG FAT ENDORSEMENT on my blog. Family Video is AWESOME!

This afternoon, I bundled up the kiddos, and headed down to Blockbuster to rent the new Harry Potter movie. (By the way, I was renting it for me and Eric to watch sans kids... it's a little too scary for them, for now.) Well, I got there and Blockbuster had about 12-15 copies, and they were all already checked out. I was bummed. I said something to AbiLyn about them being out. Well, there was a man standing there that told me that the Family Video down the road still had about 70 copies available! I told him thanks and headed out the door. He and a man with him left the same time as me. When we got outside, he handed me a free rental card for Family Video and told me he'd call them and tell them I was coming.
I got there, and it turns out he's a regional manager for the place. The manager sought me out and gave me the store tour, which they do for all new customers. It's great! They have a pretty big section of FREE movies for kids. Free, whether you rent a movie on that visit or not! They have 'nearly new releases' that are $1 for a 5 night rental!
The only down side is that the New Releases are only 1 night rentals. New Release prices range from $1 to $2.59 depending on how new they are... but they DID have the movie I was after... and as a bonus, I got 2 free movies for the kids! Also, new customers get 1/2 price rentals for the first 30 days. I'm so excited about an affordable video store option!

Really? 8 Hours?!?

My daughter, AbiLyn has been having an earache lately. Since she's had tubes put in, twice, and has had her tonsils and adenoids removed, she generally doesn't get ear infections anymore. So, we now buy earache drops to help get her through any discomfort and don't take her to the doctor unless she starts running a fever. Well, anyone that has ever used ear drops knows that room temperature drops in your ears just makes them hurt worse.
So, anytime AbiLyn tells me her ears are hurting, I've started putting the drops bottle in my bra for a few minutes to heat them up while I do other things around the house. It's usually not a super urgent complaint... Once they've warmed up, I put the drops in her ears.

Well, today while she was stalling at naptime, she said her ear was hurting. I grabbed the bottle and put it in my bra to heat up while I finished whatever chore I was working on... okay, okay, while I finished my train of thought on Facebook.

She never went to sleep and it was time to get the kids up from their non-nap. I had to get them dressed and ready to meet my family at our favorite Mexican restaurant before the Christmas Tree Lighting on the square, here in town.

Well, as you might imagine, I forgot about the drops bottle... and didn't remember it until tonight when I needed them again for her at bedtime. The ear drops warmed for like 8 hours! I totally forgot they were there! Needless to say, they were plenty warm when I needed them for her again. It simply amazes me how much self awareness I've lost since becoming a mom!