What We've Done With No Kids

3 weeks, without either child.   I'm super grateful, as I have had the time to study for an exam without needing to wait until they were in bed when I would be exhausted.  Then, I got to go car shopping without them around (which was amazing, and nice alone time with adam, since we didn't really see each other while I was studying).  We miss the kids now, though.   So here's what went on at the Miller House:




Week 1:
Athena:  Study - every day, no fun
Adam:  Either ran, or played disc golf everyday.  Sometimes both




Week 2:
Both:  Worked on the shelves in the morning room and went to a 4th of July Party. Car shopping.
Athena:  Study - every day, no fun (even left the party early to study), got into car accident, passed exam, painted 'believeland' with my mom,   went to dealership, told a dealer they were ridiculous for trying to sell a particular vehicle at the price they wanted, left dealership
Adam:  Ran and played disc golf. 




Week 3:
Both: Stained the swing set AND the stairs to the patio.  Bought a car, went grocery shopping, went to a concert (Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin), ate dinner at my parents, made Adam's dad a (late) father's day gift. (We had the plans for weeks, but never got around to making it - until 10:15 the night before leaving for Cinci).




It sucked that I had a majority of the first two weeks studying for the exam, but it was nice to have some time after the exam to enjoy being with Adam.   I am SOO ready to get the boys  now.  I'm sure they'll be rough the first few days, but I miss their hugs and kisses and wrestling and laughs.



Disturbed, from inside the pavilion during the storm

The concert (at Blossom) was fun, but a little crazy, as a HUGE fast storm came through.   Disturbed stopped mid concert to tell people to get into bathrooms or the pavilion to protect from the wind/lightning.   After about 20 minutes of the lawn being emptied out into the Pavilion (Yes, 10,000 people fit into the pavilion, haha) they started playing again.  It was awesome, because the lawn wasn't very packed at all, and it was tough getting into the concert mentality, but it got all better once we were squished (but not uncomfortably at all) into the pavilion.   It was also pretty awesome to run into my sorority sister, husband and friend (Jessica, who we both know from different places) and hang out with them for the concert.   Good Times!

The hard part is done, now all I need to do is put another coat or two of stain on.

Much darker steps, very pretty,
they match the swingset now

A New Car! (said in a gameshow voice)

I lived through everyone who has ever taken an exam's worst nightmare.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I got into a car accident (totaling my vehicle) ON THE WAY to the exam.   Panicked, I call Adam, and my mom, but no one answers, so after giving over my information, I placed a plea on Facebook to find someone to drive me to the exam.   The Wiece's came through, and Crystal got me to my exam on time.  Sore neck, wrist bruised and swollen, I painstakingly took my exam, pushing thoughts of the accident aside, and tried my hardest to concentrate on the material.  Not sure how - but I ended up passing. (I mean, I wasn't even passing my practice exam!)  My mom and Adam both showed up to pick me up after the exam, and we went to dinner, then Adam took me to the urgent care, in case I had other injuries "You've got a lot of adrenaline going on, you wouldn't even know if you were hurt".  (BTW, not true.  I already couldn't touch my wrist or turn my head.) 

 

 My poor baby, super clean, super loved, no car payments.  I wasn't quite ready to give her up yet.  I loved this car so much.   Fortunately, we got a nice $6k settlement check from the insurance company, a bit more than I thought I'd get, since it has 236k miles on it, but because mom had it detailed the week prior, it was in  impeccable shape. 

A few days later, I found a new car.  Adam and I walked some lots after hours, (nice not having the kids around for this part) and decided that even though I liked a few other

 

vehicles, safety, reliability, and the options that we want (tow package, 3 rows, tinted windows, etc) the Pilot would be the best option.  This makes me so happy.  I looked at a few online, went to test drive one (left within 5 minutes because of the exterior condition) and then decided on a whim, to drive past the little lot in Twinsburg, because online it said they had a Pilot.   They did.  It was nice.   I looked at it.  Drove it.  Bought it.  Right out from under another lady looking at it, but who wanted to use her credit union and not put a deposit down to hold it.  Oops, her bad.  My car.   So, here's to my new (to me) 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L!   seriously!  Leather, sunroof, Bluetooth, power everything!  So excited, aside from now having a car loan, =(  .    

We pick the boys up on Friday. Hopefully they approve.   I'm totally missing them, and can't wait to see them.  I'm sure they'll be little assholes for the first week (based off of another friend who's kids were gone for a whole month), but I'll be glad to get some hugs and kisses!!)   I also have a surprise for them later.  I want to put in DVD players -  but shhhhh.  I don't want them to know until they're in - hopefully this month or next.

No Kids - Nothing Getting Done

Both boys were dropped off with their Grandparents in Cincinnati this past weekend - FOR THREE WEEKS!   I can hardly get everything I want to get done around the house on a single list!   - And then I had to schedule the first of 3 CIA exams.  I wanted to do it the first week they were gone, but alas, there were no openings, so I had to schedule it for the end of the 2nd week.  I suppose this is a good thing  - as I can't seem to pass the practice exams.  I'm close-ish, like, 68.8%.  They can't say what exact % you need, because the questions are weighted when you take the final exam, but not for the practice exams, so you really need closer to a 75-80% when you're doing the practice ones.  I have a long way to go....   However, until Thursday evening, nothing on my list will get done.  No.Fun.