Whirlwind

So, the last month has been a bit of a whirlwind. Time sure has flown. I embarked on my new journey as a staffing consultant at Express with three of the best coworkers ever, duh! It sure is a new and excited career I must say. I never ever thought I'd be helping people find jobs but i've enjoyed most moments thus far. Some days are challenging and some people that is for sure, but learning the ins and outs of the industry and trying to be the best that I can be. I still have a lot to learn and have a good coach.  I'm totally thrilled and excited to be working with people, learning more about them, and learning new things myself.

On a family note, not a whole lot has changed at the homestead. We got a new car for me. Saving gas and money. So thats fun. Um, ohhh, and Holden graduated from high chair, to big boy table. Its so cute to see him eat. Such a mini person. How I love him. My love just grows, and grows, and grows for him. He is starting to say and use more words. He's been saying uppy (puppy) and cheese anytime i ask to take his picture or just give him some cheese. LOL. He loves trucks and thinks all trucks are his, and him and Gracie (our cat) are becoming the best of friends.

Lastly, We are going to visit my mother in Austin in less than two weeks! Yay! If anyone has travel advice for a 1.5 year old little boy let me know. I'm sure we're up for a big challenge or suprise. I'll post more pics next time. xoxo

Dog Days of Summer...

Woooooooooweee, Man do I love air conditioner. This heat "dome" needs to melt off of us and go away. I am so ready for fall. I've been melting for what seems like months. Why bother even trying to straighten my hair because we all know by the end of the day I'll look like Mufasa from the Lion King-such a lovely fro of a mane.

So, things have been pretty normal here. Well, as normal as they can be with a 1 year old :). Just been doing the same daily routine, daycare, work, eat, sleep and repeat. However my little guy sure has a personality. He still is trying to learn his words he's saying "up" when he wants up all done when he is finished eating, and "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" when he wants everything else. OMG. I can't wait til he can say, "Mother , i would like a glass of milk please" and I totally just wrote that in a British accent in my head. No clue why, sounded fancy. He is really a fun little guy though. Just learned to eat corn on the cob. He loves it.

And Yes, he had two pieces. LOL

Official last Thursday I accepted a new position. I know I've been exploring options for a few months, and I finally had an opportunity that came my way that I could not pass up. I will be working at Express Employment as a staffing consultant. I'm totally pumped. I'll be working with a small and motivated team. It is going to keep me busy and motivated and I'll be helping people find jobs! I think days will be hard, but I think it will be very fulfilling and I can't wait for this new adventure. So, if anyone is looking for a new position, a career change, or wants to have us keep their resume on file (it never hurts to look) feel free to contact me. Or if you work for a company that doesnt use a staffing agency give us a call so we can give you the benefits of doing so....(how am i doing boss? :)

Happy Monday everyone, this is all for now. Until next time. xoxo

Garage Sales

Today was our neighborhood yard sale. How fun is it to go through other people's junk to find your next treasure. I scored a great pier one picture that I'm going to paint and put in our guest bedroom. Totally psyched. Holden got a new hat and a work bench. He is avidly pounding away with the hammer and turning the screws.
I love how these neighborhood sales allow you to meet and interact with new people. Its fun people watching. Just to see what they'll take of yours and to say goodbye to things that were once treasures. I often find myself looking through the things for sale and sneaking them back in to the house. "I will totally wear that again, duh!" My husband will probably shoot me if I bring one more thing back in the house.
Tonight is Nick's first Alumni football game. Wish him luck. I'll post pics if I get some good ones. Kennedy vs. Jefferson at Kingston. I can tell Nick's so excited and nervous. I hope he does good. Maybe some NFL scouts will be there and scoop him up LOL. At least thats what I keep telling him will happen. Heck, a girl can dream. Tomorrow we will clean up from this sale and I get to paint my guest bedroom. yay! we obviously can't keep busy enough here. Always doing something, wishing and praying for a free weekend and then when it gets here we are bored. I dont know how we'll ever retire someday. Nick for sure.  Off to sweat some more, sell some things that were once treasures to us and now will be to someone else. Xoxo

4th of July Weekend

Hello, happy belated 4th of July to everyone. We had a very eventful weekend. One of the best in a long time. I was lucky to have a four day weekend and it was so hard to come back to work. Friday started off with a visit from Shannon, Taylor, and Dad. We grilled out and played Gin. My family is a little obsessed with card games. Saturday after the girls left we went to the Gehrls for a BBQ. It sure was fun. Holden and Nash even took a bath together LOL. It was nice to have a relaxing time with friends and catch up. I loved watching the little men Nash, Carter, and Holden interact, as well as, the big men beat a giant tv to pieces. LOL.
Sunday we had a nice family day-organized for our neighborhood wide garage sale that is July 9th. Come one come all. Lots of kids in the neighborhood and babies, there may be some great finds. On the 4th we went to Belle Plaine. For some reason small town festivities make the holidays seem so much more fun and memorable. The whole town was out for the parade and our family even drove a firetruck. How exciting. Holden got more tootsie rolls then he could eat in a year. Then Nick, Tod and I went golfing. I love it! I want to be pro and get super good. Thats my goal. So if anyone wants to buy me clubs I'll take them! Its relaxing and yet gives me some sort of drive and determination. I love learning new things.


Ya, I'm so cool!




Walking around at Great Grandmas house



Nick and Holden at the parade.

Yesterday was my first "Mommy" day in a long time. Nick and I took a six mile bikeride. (I dont know how my friend Nate rides more) or how Ragbrai riders ride across the state, as I was so exhausted after LOL. I fell asleep for like 2.5 hrs. So i give you all props.
Short work week, can't wait for the weekend. We're always busy doing something new. This weekend Nick is in a Kennedy vs. Jefferson Alumni game. Go Hlav! Come watch if you're bored. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Happy hump day!

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

This weekend was such a great time. Holden met his Aunt Taylor and Aunt Shannon for the very first time. He really did enjoy them! He got to go to the airport and pick them up. At first he was shy. He did start to smile a little in the car as Shannon started to tickle him. We went to the grocery and got lots of yummy food to make for dinner. MMMMM. Brats and Burgers. She brought us lots of cute presents too. Thank you thank you Shanny Pants :)

Then Shannon made her famous cookies. Yum and Yummier. We had cookie and ice cream for dessert. Needless to say I'm still stuffed from Saturday. Yesterday Shannon helped me make and decorate cupcakes for a baby shower. I dont know how I would have done it without her. I'll post pics later. But we made chocolate and cherry chip and I even showed her how to make homemade frosting. Yum, I love almond extract. Mmmmmmm.

The weekend flew by. Ugh. I wish every weekend was a three day weekend. I always seem to need that extra day. LOL. Well, this week is pretty eventful. Life is never slow anymore. Sheeesh. Tonight I have Dawn's baby shower, Tuesday Nick has football practice (come to his game at Kingston July 9th 8:00pm), Wednesday we have family time, Thursday Nick has softball, Friday needs to come fast, and then I took an extra day off and have a four day weekend yaya! Lots of Mommy and Holden time. Headed out to Belle Plaine to golf, play bingo, drink a beer, and relax. Happy Early 4th friends. P.S. If you're looking for a great funny movie rent "JUST GO WITH IT". Freaking loved it.

To be or not to be...that is the question???

In my journey to find out what I want to be when I grow up I have come to the realization that I am so confused. How is it that I have a teaching degree, worked at US Cellular for 7 years, am now working at the Gazette. I am so confused. I find myself toying around with different ideas lately. I'm creative and love to decorate, yes...I love to do hair and nails and cosmetic stuff, yes...I totally respect and love the medical field i.e. nurses , xray tech etc. , yes. Why can I not take a leap of faith and do something different that I love...MONEY.
Why does Money have to be the reason for not fulfilling my dreams. What are my dreams? I'm toying with the idea of doing in home daycare. I figure if I have 4 kids plus my own i can bring in just as much money as i'm making now but not have to pay for childcare. Plus i could be with Holden and other children. Nick is supportive, my whole family and so many of my friends are too. I figure I could try it out for a year and if it doesnt work out either go to school or back to work, right?? So I am going to start researching and put together an outline of pros and cons as well as needs to do this. I will have to register, take a cpr / first aid class and make sure that I am fully prepared. I think the days will go fast, we will have fun, and i can make a positive impact by teaching children. So we will see. I'll keep you posted. This is my idea in the works. Got to iron out details and make sure its realistic and what I want to do.
Been a pretty boring week, my sisters are coming to town this weekend. They will be meeting Holden for the first time. Yay. I'm mostly looking forward to the fourth weekend. 3 days off woot woot. We are heading to BellePlaine for a parade, bingo, and beer. LOL. should be fun. Adios for now. xoxo

Holden's 1 Year Pics

This is classic Holden, belly laughing

Happy Family

Following in Daddy's footsteps

Lovin' Life and Cake

Best friends Forever we will be

My absolute favorite.

Just Had to share Holden's Pictures from NinaCecilia~Creative Spark. They do such an amazing job.

Well, life hasn't been to different or extra exciting this last week. We hung Holden's swing from our deck and now it's hard to get him to want to stay inside. He is finishing his last week at Yvonne's house and going back to his original daycare Dana. That will be a new change for him next week. I hope he adjusts well.

Tonight I'm going to get a new Tattoo. I am getting a heart with an H in the middle. It can stand for Holden or Hlavacek. But I'm getting it on my wrist as a symbol of love of my family and how family and Holden have taught me patience. Everytime I feel lost, anxious, or happy or sad I can look down as a reminder that I have lifes greatest blessings. I've wanted to do this for some time and tonights the night.
I'll upload a pic soon. xoxo