Oak Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon

Description on the bottle:  There isn't one!

Sarah says:  You know how they always say beer or coffee is an acquired taste?  I think I've acquiring a taste for cheap wine.  I got this bottle on sale, it was $2.99!  My frugal side is jumping up and down, that's a deal!  But, my wine opinion giver side is shaking her head in shame.  The sad part is, I like this wine.  I think next time I need to splurge on something a little better.  I don't want to get so used to cheap wine that I start to think it's good wine, although maybe I'm on to something.  Maybe cheaper is better (my normal motto) and those expensive wines have been fooling people all this time.  Somehow, I don't think so.

I'll tell you something else I've gotten used to recently- this little sleep mask.

I actually asked for this sleep mask for my birthday a few weeks ago.  I have a heck of a time getting to sleep at night, especially lately since we've had the fan on in our room.  The fan has this tiny little green light, that no normal person would even notice.  But I notice, and it makes me bananas.  So, I thought I'd give this a shot.  As I type this, I realize Jon is the one who bought me the mask.  I origianlly thougth he was being all sweet, trying to help me with my sleep problems... but now I realize he was probably just trying to get me to stop complaining about the green light.  Jon also bought me an apron for my birthday, I wonder if he's trying to tell me something.... hmmm... a topic for another post maybe, what not to buy your wife for her birthday... just kidding, I asked for the apron too!  And the kids picked it out, so it was cute.

Anyways... I wasn't impressed with the look of it at first, but the inside is quite soft, and it has this big layer of extra padding around my nose so no light sneaks in at the curvy spots on my face.  The first few night were awful - getting used to something on my face didn't happen over night (get it.. over night...).  But eventually, I got it adjusted right (not too tight, not too loose), and figured out how to position it over my hair so it wasn't pulling.  I've slept freaking amazing the past several nights.  I now affectionately call this sleep mask my lovey.  I've woken up to it being on top of my head, and Mary tells me a lot that she likes my hat, I don't care about either of these things, as long as this guy continues to help me sleep.  I don't know if it's the pitch darkness, or the fact that it forces me to have my eyes stay closed that is causing me to sleep better, again, I don't care, as long as I'm sleeping.  I actually don't want to know the reason, once I know that I'll start to over think it, and over thinking usually causes a lack of sleep.  I get to spend the night in a hotel this weekend, and I NEVER sleep good away from my own home.  I'm looking forward to taking my mask on the road and seeing if he helps me there too.  

I'd highly recommend a sleep mask if you have sleep troubles.  That and wine - drinking wine at night helps too!

Goodnight folks!

Rex Goliath Chardonnay Part II

Sarah says:

This glass is pretty much my standard glass to use when Jon isn't home.  Might be because it's a little smaller than the others, which makes me feel like it's more acceptable since I'm drinking alone.  It might be because this glass doesn't have a match - it's a good glass to use for a single person (I think I had a coupon for a free glass! - coupons rocked back then just as much as they do now, only instead of free glasses of wine, now I'm looking for discounts on diapers!).  I think the real reason I like to use this glass, is because Jon and I got it on a trip we took, YEARS AGO, to a winery, for a weekend getaway.  This was a long time ago - pre kids and probably even pre wedding.  I don't even know the name of the city or the bed and breakfast that we stayed in... but I do know, we had a good time.  I think I like using this glass because it's a reminder of simpler times.  Don't get me wrong, I love love love my kids, but sometimes it's nice to remember what it was like before them.  The pic of Jon and I in this pic is us, back in the day!  Weren't we young and sexy?  The flowers were my mother's day present from Mary this year.  Look closely, and you'll see it also included a poem that pretty much declares me as the best mom ever.  It's the best of both worlds right there.

My how things have changed.  Let's see - since that trip - I'm just going to guess it was 2004 - but I really have no idea.... I graduated college, got a "real" job, bought my first car, got married, learned that I'm not a very good cook (but I keep trying!), got our first pet together, bought a house, almost burnt our house down the first week because we didn't open the vent, painted... a lot, got pregnant, made Jon loose the truck and buy a family car, had a baby boy, became "that Mom" that breastfeeds in public, got in the biggest fight of our lives, made up, had a baby girl, became a runner, had my Dad live with us, got tattoos together, had our basement flood... twice, lost our first pet together (RIP Oscar, I still miss you!), started learning about wine, and almost have a kindergartner!

And things aren't done changing yet.  We are apparently moving in August.  We put a deposit on an apartment in Canton.  I desperately want the kids to be in a better school district, and I'm pretty much out of time to make that happen.  I'm remarkably calm about this considering I have no idea (not to mention, no control over) what is going to happen over the next two months.  But, I'm praying and hoping that it all works out for the best.  I really really want it to work out.  There is so much that could be great about this move - the schools, and having our church only a few miles away (instead of 30!) are two of my favorites.  But beyond that - Jon and I have talked about his job.  Living in Canton, but working in Birmingham doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  Jon MIGHT try to get a "regular" job.  For as long as I've known him, Jon has worked the night shift.  As discussed here, Jon and I don't get to see a lot of each other.  We live opposite lives, and there is no doubt that it has caused us conflict.  When people ask, I usually lie and say that we are used to it, and that it makes our time together more special, since it's so rare, we try to make the time we have together really count.  I say that it just works for us!  While there is some truth in that, I don't know if it's something that you can get used to.  It doesn't work for us, we have to make it work.  A more honest answer is that we hate it, and we suck it up.  We do try to make our time together count, but it's not easy.  I'm sleepy at night when he's awake.  I'm jumping up and rearing to go in the morning, when he's groggy and wants just 10 more min... about 8 times. 

Absolutely zero steps have been made in making this potential schedule change happen.  But, just the idea that it MIGHT happen, has me as giddy as my kids when they hear the ice cream man.  I'm so excited.  I want this change more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.  (That might not be true - I saw some shoes at DSW last week that I really really really want.... it's a toss up.)  To be able to see my husband everyday; to talk to him, to kiss him, to sleep in bed with him every night; to be able to eat dinner as a family; to be able to plan activities together; to have normal conversations that can last more than 5 min... every single day?!  It sounds unreal, almost too good to be true.  I've been having a hard time sleeping lately - this happens to be a lot when I'm stressed out.  But, instead of being stressed out, I'm laying awake thinking of all the great things we can do with our new found time together.  Yes, I really want this to happen.  

If it happens, I might be forced to blog less, because instead of spending my nights alone in front of the computer, I'll be spending them with my husband!!  And, I'm ok with that.  

Cross your fingers people, cross them tight.

Go ahead and cross your toes too, I could use it all!


PS. Since I'm finishing up the Rex Goliath wine tonight - I thought I'd update on the turkey situation.  Last time I saw the turkey was when Jon threw Liam's soccer ball at him, then chased him around the yard with a stick.  That was about 48 hours ago.  Liam said he saw Mr. Lurkey this morning, but I never did.  I put the bird food back out this afternoon and still haven't seen any signs of the turkey.  I'm tentatively saying that our turkey troubles are behind us.  At least, our live turkey troubles - one of these Thanksgivings I'm going to have to make a turkey, and that is going to create a whole other load of trouble.

Beaujolais Nouveau Part II

Sarah says:

I'm still not a giant fan of this wine (or all red wine for that matter), but I guess finishing this bottle is just a sacrifice I'm going to have to make.  Jon doesn't have another day off until Saturday and I don't want the bottle to sit for that long and get funky.  (I'm not sure if it will get funky in 5 days, but I don't want to take any chances, I'm just going to have to drink tonight!  I live a tough life.)  Speaking of Saturday, Liam (our son and the oldest of our two) is turning 5.  Sniff sniff, where has the time gone?!  5, I'm pretty sure that officially makes him a kid.  We survived baby, toddler, & preschooler.  After kid is tween... oh my, I need more wine.

Anyways... I was going somewhere with this... ah yes, sacrifice.  Since we are blogging as a couple, why not talk about couple type things.  What a better topic than sacrifice.  If anyone has had a marriage without sacrifice, I lift my glass to you (literally), but I'm pretty sure most relationships involve a lot.  For me, I sacrifice a lot, I repeat, A LOT, of sleep for love.  Jon works nights, I get home around 5:15, just in time for a quick summary of the day (example: "How was your day?  Good, yours? Good.  How are the kids?  Good, they had a snack, peaches, at 4:00.  They are downstairs playing right now.  Great." Kiss, hug, out the door.  It's awesome. (My fingers are crossed tight that this won't last forever, but right now, it's our reality). Jon is out the door by 5:30 and gets home, depending on the day, on average, around 2:00.  When he gets home, he goes to sleep, and gets back up sometime around 7:30.  In theory, that means, I should be getting a lot more sleep than him.  Right.

What that really means is, I'm in charge of all night time activities and bedtime.  (That also means Jon is in charge of day time activities, but that is a blog for him to write!)  That also means, if either kid isn't in the mood to go to bed, I deal with it.  If either kid is sick in the middle of the night, I deal with it.  If someone needs to go potty in the middle of the night, I deal with it.  If someone gets scared of the dark, I deal with it.  If someone needs a drink of water, I deal with it.  If someone has a bad dream, I deal with it.  If someone can't find their teddy, I deal with it.  If someone suddenly wants to tell me a secret at 2 am, I deal with it.  If someone decides to wake up early, I deal with it.  If someone is hungry in the middle of the night, I deal with it.  If someone just wants a hug and snuggle time, I deal with it.  It's odd, my kids have been sleeping thru the night for years, but I can't remember the last uninterrupted night of sleep I got.  It also means, I wake up every night around 2:00 to ask Jon how work went.  We have some of our best conversations laying in bed in the middle of the night because it's the only time we aren't rushed.

So, that's my sacrifice.  I loose sleep, a lot of it, so Jon can have the job he loves, and get what little sleep he can.  Do I get tired and cranky about it?!  Um, yes!  Is it worth it?  Of course.  Eventually, at some point, they are asleep, and I get to peek into their rooms to look at their beautiful, sleeping, faces.  I watch them breathing, the up and down of their tiny bodies, and the fantastic facial expressions they each make.  I never leave those rooms without a smile on my face.  It's absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite part of the day.  They are so happy and peaceful and perfect.  I wouldn't give that up for any amount of sleep in the world.

  Sleeping princess

What do you mean he's turning 5?!  What happened to my kid who just falls asleep all sprawled out?!

That's it for me tonight.  My wine glass is empty and my body is tired.  What's your sacrifice?