lacking

I've decided that job searching is hell. I like to think of it as the boyfriend that you got all gussied up for, put on your best heels, make-up, and clothing, in hopes of the praise that you CLEARLY deserve...and then you are thoroughly disappointed when he says nothing. You want to ask if you look pretty, but that defeats the purpose doesn't it? Who wants to ask for praise, it's not as sweet if it's not offered freely.

However, I've considered doing just that. Calling every HR office that has dissed me in the last 4 months and say "DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING????". I won't though...because I'm positive that it would ruin any future employment opportunities they might offer to me.

I feel like I've put my best foot forward in my resume and cover letters. I have applied to jobs that I think I'm perfect for, to jobs that I think "meh, I could do that". I'm left questioning if my credentials and achievements that I worked so hard for are less than par. Apparently my outfit I wore for my date wasn't as appealing as I thought....

I will continue to put myself out there, because I am hopeful that someone will see the special in me.

Speaking of special. This completely brightened my day. When Liv plays with her toys, she loves to ask "who got dis for me?". She does it all the time. So, yesterday when she got on her horse riding toy (that is too young for her, but I will hold onto forever), she asked that same question.

Liv: "Who is Shannon"
Me: "She is an Angel"
Liv: "An angel? I yike angels"
Me: "Me too, she's a very special angel"
Liv: "She is my angel"

Yes Liv, she is.

I also have some pictures I took about a week ago, we were playing outside, It was beautiful out and we were practicing our jumping :).

a fun evening.

Sometimes evenings aren't my favorite. Well, most days they aren't. I'm not sure what it is, but cleaning the kitchen, picking up the toys, giving Liv a bath, and hoping that bedtime goes off without a hitch leaves me exhausted.

Last night was a surprise. Last night was fun and goofy and Liv was in a great mood. That always helps...the two year old being in good spirits.

Also, if you know my dog...she's bad. She is likes people, well grown people. She is very hesitant around children and Liv is no exception. She has little patience for Liv, so these pictures show her having patience. This is unheard of for her. It was too cute not to capture.

oh the cuteness of lily sitting in that baby stroller...

"THIS IS SO MUCH FUN MOM!"

lily's face kills me ha!

oh and here is liv, after her bath, sitting on top of her dad's hockey bag so he can't get out the door.

It's that time again.

Time to take our first trip to the park this spring. Calgary can't decide if it's spring or not. We went to the park on Wednesday, it was beautiful, jackets optional weather...then Thursday we had a full-blown snow storm. It completely melted today, so I'm still quite confused, but I think this Alberta weather is bi-polar.

Liv had so much fun at the park. It amazes me how much more she can do now and I love to watch her conquer all the obstacles she couldn't last year. She climbed all the way up to the twisty slide by herself, but she didn't prepare herself for how fast she'd shoot out the bottom and landed flat on her bum. She avoided the slide the rest of our visit and before we left I asked her if she wanted to go down the big slide again. She responded with "no, it hurts my bum". I understand Liv, good call.

The only thing I have planned this weekend is to go watch The Hunger Games...again. I will never again attempt to go to a midnight showing after drinking four maybe five beers. It was painful and I spent all my energy keeping myself awake instead of paying attention to the movie. Also, want to like it as much as I loved the books, so I'm going again ha.

Other than that, I spent entirely way too much time trying to give my blog a re-vamp. I've changed things multiple times and will probably continue to do so because I'm indecisive.

Here are the pictures...the plus with the new layout is I can make my pictures bigger! yay!

the colored skinnies slay me.

wind in the hair.

this is Liv's true personality captured in one photo.

insisted on going in the "baby" swing.

ok maybe I have two photos capturing her true self.

Easter 2012

Easter has come and gone. We had a fun-filled weekend full of lots of family/friends, food, and of course, candy. Liv was so excited and it was so much fun to watch her in action. I, of course, didn't charge my camera and only got a few pictures from easter morning, but that doesn't mean I don't have a lot of pictures...I have a problem.

coloring easter eggs. so excited! 

woo hoo!!

using the stickers...of course.

I love how intense she looks ha.

easter egg hunt at auntie donna's

creeping around, hunting for eggs.

easter morning :)

On a side note, I had a preliminary phone interview today! I'm not completely confident that this is the job for me, but it was nice to get some kind of feedback from all of the resumes I've sent out. So, wish me luck :)!

"I get your stinkies out!"

Liv and I flew in late Monday night. We are back home and it feels good to be back to our old routine. Well hopefully we will have a new routine because I will get a job...someday...hopefully.

However, while we are waiting for that to happen, I have a story for you.

Liv and I were sitting on the couch together yesterday morning and this is how our conversation went:

Me: Livi I need to take a shower, I stink.

Liv: you don't stink mama.

Me: Yes, yes I do...I'm going to take a shower.

Liv: (leaning forward with her mouth wide open) RAWRRRRRRRR!

Liv: See, I got your stinkies out mama!

Really kid?! I died. It was hilarious and random. The only thing I can think to blame this on is the Yo Gabba Gabba book "get the sillies out". Clearly her reading comprehension is astronomical, seeing she totally applied getting the sillies out to getting my stinkies out. The roaring, I have no explanation for that, other than she is obsessed with monsters. What two year old welcomes the thought of monsters? Mine :).

spring into vacation

Not that I have been good with updating my blog before, but last Saturday we unexpectedly booked a flight back to Chicago and flew out Tuesday. It's been busy to say the least. We flew into Chicago, stayed with my Dani and Bikey for a day and then Liv and I made the long (9 hour) journey home alone. Honestly, Liv is a really good traveller, so the ride was just long...no major hiccups. Well....she did throw up, but I'm so used to it, because the girl throws up every time we fly anyways. However, this was the first time in the plane that I actually caught her puke. It should be a sport really, puke catching...it's an art. An art that I pray that I've mastered.

We have been here since Thursday the 15th and leave next Thursday to drive back down to Chicago and spend the weekend again until we fly out on Monday.

It's been an unexpected and much needed visit with family and friends. I will leave you with some pictures and hopefully not an empty promise to get writing more. It's hard to figure out what to write when I feel like I'm in such a half-way point in my life. Liv being in daycare three days a week and me looking for a job but not finding one leaves me a bit deflated.

on the balcony in chicago

playing with pippa, catching imaginary butterflies.

new outfit.

small acts of kindness

Or not so small...depending on the person on the receiving end.

I went to a scentsy party on Saturday night. Pat watched Liv and brought her to see the Lorax in 3D. I was home by 10 and asleep by 10:30. Pat and I usually switch "sleep-in" days on the weekend. Sunday was my day, but Liv has a tendency to demand I get out of bed and I usually give in. Not this Sunday though. Pat coaxed her out of bed and I woke up at 9am to a very quiet house....eerily quiet. I just kept lying in bed listening to see if I could hear my family, then I crept out to find nobody. The apartment was empty. I called Pat and he said he took Liv to work with him and they were going to our friend's farm after. It was so relaxing, and while they were gone longer than I would have liked :), I was so thankful.

I don't know if it's my marriage, or everyone's marriage, but sometimes It feels like we live according to a system of tallies.

You did this - check!
Well I did this - check!
Well I did this last week - check!
You haven't done that since then - check!
I cleaned up that disgusting mess - check! check!

My point is, It's easy to get caught up in the "he did/she did" and I wasn't expecting Pat to do that. It made me feel appreciated and made me want to do the same for him. It was so refreshing to feel that way and I am currently swallowing my pride for not being the person to initiate it (I can't change overnight), but that was certainly the budge I needed to put a little more "just because" back into our relationship.