More changes for the Lefebvres

Yesterday I was finally offered the job I was waiting for at Susanville Real Estate. I'm going to take over the receptionist position with the intent of boosting their marketing. Marketing is my "expertise" and the way I justify "wasting" 4 years getting an art degree (I say wasting only because there's not much else you can do with art, and I'd like to think that I'm NOT wasting it by using it in marketing). Downside is, Lucy will have to go to daycare. This was an incredibly difficult and heart breaking decision. I don't doubt if I face much ridicule from other mothers at the fact that she is my child and I should be the one raising her. Adam and I truly feel that this is the best decision for our family so that we can appropriately provide for Lucy and our future children.

Surprise, I start today although Lucy is with me. My mom is coming to town tomorrow to watch her for a few hours and all day Friday. Monday she'll start in day care granted I can find one that we like and is in our price range.

This whole process has been exhausting. But I'm looking on the bright side and trying to find a positive. Adam will have Lucy on Fridays (if he doesn't have overtime), and we'll prioritize evenings and weekend fun. I wake up early with Lucy so that we'll have mommy-daughter time before she goes to day care. I keep telling myself that everything will be ok and she'll still recognize me as her mommy.

Newest photos of Lucy

Life in Susanville

Things are good here in Susanville. Adam is still waiting to hear if he's a permanent employee with USFS. I'm getting a new job, but it's status is on the DL and I don't know when I get to start (doesn't that just leave you on the edge of your seat?). I'm totally addicted to FarmVille in Facebook. Pathetic, I know. We had a fabulous surprise visit from my sister and her new hubby Joe, and we'll have more visitors this weekend.

Lucy is now eating whole apples and more clearly saying "All Done," which she's yelling at me at this very moment. She is sleeping better throught the night lately but I've broken one of my cardinal rules out of desperation: I'm putting her to bed with a bottle, and giving her one in the middle of the night instead of getting her out to eat. Although all the baby books warn against this, it has worked well for us. She's not waking completely up by me reaching in and getting her our of her crib and she's only asking to eat about once now instead of 2-4 times. This is a habit I will eventually have to break, but it's a "better" "worse habit" than her still sleeping in our bed or something.

Anywho... I've decided I'm going to go short with my hair again. I thought I wanted to grow it out, but I just end up wearing it in a pony tail and I HATE that. So, off it goes! Just waiting for another paycheck to go down to the salon.

The Jacksons are coming over tomorrow night and that should be fun. We laugh pretty well with them and it's fun getting to know Jessica away from our big group of friends.

That's all for tonight! Thanks for reading...

Our Lord's Land Trip

For about 6 months now, we've been planning this family trip to the Lord's Land near Mendocino and made plans to go with 3 other families. On Friday we headed down with Ryan and Lyndsey Bryson, and Seth, Lynae, James, and Josiah Condit. Saturday we were joined by Logan, Robin, and Cason Wilson. We had a good time--the weather was better than we could have asked for. Amazingly, we all crammed into one cabin--All 8 of us adults and our 4 kids! We alternated with meals; the Brysons cooked AMAZING enchiladas for us the first night, the Condits made some tasty eggs, bacon, and veggies for us the first morning, I cooked boring spaghetti the 2nd night, and the Wilsons made egg and ham "muffins" or last morning together. On Saturday, we met up with the Wilsons in Mendocino and went on a 5 mile hike to the Pygmy Forest at Jug Handle. It was a great hike and needless to say I was quite sore the next day. Oddly enough, I only took one photo the whole trip. It's a silly one too: I don't know why Robin and Logan's mouths are open.
This photo was taken by Lynae and it's of Lucy eating pretzels on the beach.

Adam's SF Trip

For Adam's birthday (April 1, no joke) my parents gave Adam 2 tickets to a Giants game of his choice. He decided on the September 12 game and decided to take my dad. The two had really great seats (just 26 rows up from the Giants' dugout) and had good time. Unfortunately, Lincecum wasn't pitching and the Giants lost to the Dodgers. None the less, fun was had by all.

Lucy's Standing

For a few weeks now, Lucy's been pulling herself up on furniture and walking along the edge of it. It's so cute... and she know's it. We love when she turns around and gives us that grin as if to say, "Look what I can do!"

What I've been working on the last couple of days

Click here to view this photo book larger

Waitings stages...

I feel like we're waiting on a lot of things right now. We really want to buy a house, but we have to wait. We have to wait for Adam to get word that he has the permanent position that he put in for like a month ago. I'm waiting to hear if I possibly have a job. We're waiting for Marian to get park approval for her new house. We're waiting for every paycheck. I'm waiting for fall so that I can actually wear my wardrobe.

I know it sounds like I'm whining, but really I'm just stating the facts.

Most exciting thing right now that we're waiting for is our trip to the Lord's Land. One more week! I'm going to start packing this weekend.

September 8, 2009

Today is Tuesday after Labor Day. Lucy and I are at work, going on 3 hours now. It feels like it's been so much longer. Tonight I'm going to "slow cook" chicken for tacos. I don't have a slow cooker, so we'll see how that goes. Adam will be at a Giants game this weekend, so I'm looking forward to NOT traveling. I don't care what we do otherwise while at home, just as long as we don't have to pack up for an over night. I'm hoping that a friend from Paradise will come and visit. I think I'll indulge on some Pay-Per-View and perhaps start packing for our trip to the Lord's Land the following weekend. I'm VERY excited. We're going to go with the Bryson's, the Condit's and the Wilson's. Hopefully it will be our first annual family trip with these 3 other families.

Our getaway to Lassen Volcanic National Park

September is here and this is the first weekend in 3 months that Adam and I have not been sick or traveled or been apart. We have stayed home and enjoyed each other's company and it's SO nice. I feel like it's been a real re-kindling for us and a reminder that God has given us each other and Lucy because we were created for each other. I don't know if Adam agrees, but who cares what he thinks. Right? Just kidding.
Yesterday we decided to explore our surroundings and made the drive to Lassen National Park.

Here we are lounging at King's Creek after our hike to the falls.Our attempt at a flattering shot.Adam and Lucy at the Sulfur Works. Stinky!Lucy and Bear were so good in the car all day.I kept commenting to Adam on how blue the sky was and how clear the water was. It was amazing.

I highly suggest that all visit and see what the park has to offer.
Next time we go, we're going to drive in to Butte Lake and hike to Cinder Cone and the Painted Dunes, then on to Snag Lake where we'll camp and then hike out the next day.

One month later...

I asked Adam last night, "tomorrow after church, could you watch Lucy for an hour so I can update our blog," knowing that it IS a priority and I can't keep my fans waiting much longer... :)
The month of August was a full one.

• On the 6th, Lucy started crawling. She is now an avid "cruiser" and is working on climbing everything.

• On the 7th Adam and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary at the Hotel Diamond, including dinner at 33 Steaks, Blues, and Booze, brownie dessert from Room Service and "Benjamin Button" the movie from bed.
• On the 8th, Adam bought me a car!!! Yes, a car! We trading in the Jeep (may it R.I.P.), taking advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Social programs like that, although many social programs are abused, were made for people like us--hardworking people who need a little boost in a down economy. Although we loved the Jeep, every other month there was a new $200 issue that needed to be fixed, and the miles it got per gallon of gas was raping our wallets! So we traded it in, got the full $4500 rebate for it (Kelley Blue Book was less than $1500), and purchased a blue 2009 Hyundai Elantra. It's so pretty! And I'm so proud of us. The was also a $2000 Hyundai instant rebate and we sacrificed $500 of it to buy down our interest rate to.... guess!! 0%! 0%!!! We're awesome. Actually, God is awesome, because without the CARS program or the instant rebate there is NO WAY we would have been able to purchase a new car.
• On the 10th, Lucy said her first "Ma-Ma." Shortly following on the 20th she said her first "Da-Da" and now that's pretty much all she says.
• On the 14th I threw my sister a Bachelorette Party. We had a really good time.
• On the 17th my friend from when I was little and lived in Quincy, Robin and I went to IKEA. I successfully spent under $20! Shocking!
• On the 20th, my mom, dad, Catherine, Joe, Adam, Lucy and I all caravanned to Monterey for Catherine and Joe's wedding. I was a whirlwind visit but so worth it. Lucy got to put her feet in the sand and the ocean for the first time (very momentary). I guess this was technically our first family trip. Other than to Paradise and moving.
  

The wedding was BEAUTIFUL and so unique.Needless to say, I cried for the majority of the ceremony.

• Finally, on the 23rd we traveled back home (to Susanville), but only for a short while, for Catherine and Joe's Paradise Reception was to be August 30th at my parents. Again, another party thrown by my mother that "went off with out a hitch." Fabulous party. Can you believe that brings us to September?!