I knew we needed a new dishwasher when I walked into my brother's off-campus apartment and saw the exact same model in a place where everything's cheap simply because they know college kids aren't going to be nice to it anyway.
Before that and for a while after that we did put up with the one we had, because on one income you deal with it. Even since we moved in this thing never really got anything clean, and was so obnoxiously loud that we had to have the TV blaring if we wanted to be able to hear it. Also, it's so small inside I couldn't even fit a whole supper's worth of dishes in the thing.
So finally I just got sick of it and we stopped using it. That's not the best case scenario either, so I had the brainstorm that maybe if we just cleaned out a bunch of the parts it would work better. Maybe it would at least get the dishes clean even if I had to run it more. Well, apparently giving it a vacation was a bad idea. Something shorted or came unhooked on it and now it doesn't work at all, not even to spray water.
So I've been washing dishes by hand for a good long time, and we finally decided to ask for help from anyone who was giving us Christmas gifts this year. We payed for around a quarter of the cost with gift cards from family. That was pretty awesome. We went over a week ago and picked one out. Today it gets delivered! I'm very excited. This brand is supposed to be excellent. You can expand it a bit to fit larger dishes in, and it's supposed to be nearly silent when it runs. It also uses less water. So, all good things, provided it works as well as the overly excited salesman said it would.
Thanks to everyone in our family who gifted us with cards toward the dishwasher this Christmas. We truly appreciate it, especially me.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
"Hardcore"
Hehe, my hubby called me this for running outside today. We live in a place where it snows quite a bit most winters. This winter has been an exception, except when it does snow it's always on the weekends. Crazy. So of course there was a snow storm today, on a day when I was scheduled for a 7 mile training run (I want to run a 25k in May).
Anyway, I did run outside today. My husband drove me into town and I had figured out a 7 mile route home from there. The wind was WNW at 17 MPH. I would guess it was gusting to about 25 MPH occasionally but I don't know that for sure. It snowed the whole time. The bike path hadn't been plowed so I was running in at least 2 inches of snow the whole way. We live out in the 'country', with the houses all a bit more spaced out, so as I got closer to home it drifted more and sometimes I was high-stepping it through 5-6 inches of snow.
On the roads where I had to run on the shoulder it was almost solid ice. I spent the whole time on those roads looking for places where the snow had drifted and caught in the grooves of the ice so I could get some footing. Otherwise I was still running in a couple inches of snow on the shoulder when the pavement was just too slippery. I turned my ankles a couple times cause I couldn't see the edge of the road! Nothing that actually hurt though. We'll see if my ankles still agree with that last statement tomorrow.
The worst part was the 4th-6th miles where I went from running in 3-4 inches of snow for a mile and a half to running on ice directly into the wind. It was the only stretch where I took the full brunt of the wind head on but it was made worse by the fact that I had just come off of having to lift my feet up really high to get through the snow. But I kept at it and I'm feeling pretty exhilarated by the accomplishment.
I got home and laughed during my cool down because my pants had snowballs stuck to the bottoms of them, like you see on the bellies of hairy dogs when they play in the snow. My shoes were soaked through, and I was extremely glad I had chosen to wear my thicker socks today! Even those were soaked through.
Thank goodness my hubby thought of driving me into town so I could run mostly with the wind. Running in a circle like my normal routes would have put me head on into that wind for half the route. I don't know if I could have made it with that much of a challenge.
When all was said and done I made the distance in the same amount of time it took me to run 7 miles last week, when the sun was actually out for most of my run. So I'd say that was pretty good.
Anyway, I did run outside today. My husband drove me into town and I had figured out a 7 mile route home from there. The wind was WNW at 17 MPH. I would guess it was gusting to about 25 MPH occasionally but I don't know that for sure. It snowed the whole time. The bike path hadn't been plowed so I was running in at least 2 inches of snow the whole way. We live out in the 'country', with the houses all a bit more spaced out, so as I got closer to home it drifted more and sometimes I was high-stepping it through 5-6 inches of snow.
On the roads where I had to run on the shoulder it was almost solid ice. I spent the whole time on those roads looking for places where the snow had drifted and caught in the grooves of the ice so I could get some footing. Otherwise I was still running in a couple inches of snow on the shoulder when the pavement was just too slippery. I turned my ankles a couple times cause I couldn't see the edge of the road! Nothing that actually hurt though. We'll see if my ankles still agree with that last statement tomorrow.
The worst part was the 4th-6th miles where I went from running in 3-4 inches of snow for a mile and a half to running on ice directly into the wind. It was the only stretch where I took the full brunt of the wind head on but it was made worse by the fact that I had just come off of having to lift my feet up really high to get through the snow. But I kept at it and I'm feeling pretty exhilarated by the accomplishment.
I got home and laughed during my cool down because my pants had snowballs stuck to the bottoms of them, like you see on the bellies of hairy dogs when they play in the snow. My shoes were soaked through, and I was extremely glad I had chosen to wear my thicker socks today! Even those were soaked through.
Thank goodness my hubby thought of driving me into town so I could run mostly with the wind. Running in a circle like my normal routes would have put me head on into that wind for half the route. I don't know if I could have made it with that much of a challenge.
When all was said and done I made the distance in the same amount of time it took me to run 7 miles last week, when the sun was actually out for most of my run. So I'd say that was pretty good.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Oh, What a Difference
Oh, what a difference a year can make. Last year if you had told me there was going to be a snow day, I'd have rolled my eyes and resigned myself to the extra work that comes with having all three kids home all day.
This year, I'm excited. Of course, half my excitement comes from the fact that this way I don't have to go to their classes to volunteer this week. Once every single week is tiring, I think next year I'll stagger it a bit more.
But the other half of my excitement is that I actually like having all three kids home. It's nice to have people to talk to, and the cleaning for today was easier because they all cleaned their rooms. It's fun to listen to them chatter with each other while they were painting, and I didn't have to get anyone out the door at any particular time. I'll have help shoveling later. Lots of reasons.
My attitude has greatly changed. Part of it is that my work at home is no longer exponentially harder when they're all home. Part of it is that God is changing me, I'm growing in patience. Slowly. But it's there. And I'm pleasantly surprised and very, very thankful.
This year, I'm excited. Of course, half my excitement comes from the fact that this way I don't have to go to their classes to volunteer this week. Once every single week is tiring, I think next year I'll stagger it a bit more.
But the other half of my excitement is that I actually like having all three kids home. It's nice to have people to talk to, and the cleaning for today was easier because they all cleaned their rooms. It's fun to listen to them chatter with each other while they were painting, and I didn't have to get anyone out the door at any particular time. I'll have help shoveling later. Lots of reasons.
My attitude has greatly changed. Part of it is that my work at home is no longer exponentially harder when they're all home. Part of it is that God is changing me, I'm growing in patience. Slowly. But it's there. And I'm pleasantly surprised and very, very thankful.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Today
...is going to be a good day. I can just tell.
I got to spend some time with my hubby before he left for work. I like that we're both getting up while the house is still quiet. It's a much more peaceful start to my day than hitting snooze four times.
The scale was very, very kind to me this morning, I finally saw a number I haven't seen in two months.
I remembered today was laundry day before it got too late to get it done before the end of the day. I also remembered something I had to do for the kids' school today before it was too late to get it taken care of.
Tonight my kids get to spend the evening with my husband while I play some volleyball.
The sun is shining for now and we're getting some real winter weather later today. We've not seen much of that this winter and I think it's throwing me off. I like my seasons to actually act like the seasons they are!
I thought I had to run on the treadmill for 45 minutes today, but it turns out I only have to run 3 miles (about 9 minutes less, but still a major plus!).
There are three things I've been waiting on to ship and they're supposed to all get here today.
I feel like I'm finally getting over the sickness I've been struggling with. Seriously, today is going to be a good day.
I got to spend some time with my hubby before he left for work. I like that we're both getting up while the house is still quiet. It's a much more peaceful start to my day than hitting snooze four times.
The scale was very, very kind to me this morning, I finally saw a number I haven't seen in two months.
I remembered today was laundry day before it got too late to get it done before the end of the day. I also remembered something I had to do for the kids' school today before it was too late to get it taken care of.
Tonight my kids get to spend the evening with my husband while I play some volleyball.
The sun is shining for now and we're getting some real winter weather later today. We've not seen much of that this winter and I think it's throwing me off. I like my seasons to actually act like the seasons they are!
I thought I had to run on the treadmill for 45 minutes today, but it turns out I only have to run 3 miles (about 9 minutes less, but still a major plus!).
There are three things I've been waiting on to ship and they're supposed to all get here today.
I feel like I'm finally getting over the sickness I've been struggling with. Seriously, today is going to be a good day.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Yay for Being Mushy in Public Day!
I love Valentine's Day because it's a day when I can love on my husband all over the social sites and not feel like people will be gagging at me. Well, they might, but they'll have to just roll their eyes and deal with it because it's Valentine's Day today, darn it. So there. Actually this is a nice time of year because in just a short month it's our anniversary and I have an excuse to do it again!
I love my husband for so very many reasons. I've written about it on here so many times, but I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. Thankfully today gives me a good reason to write about it again.
I love my dear husband because...
He loves Jesus and strives to follow Him every day of his life.
He gives of himself for me and for our children, wanting us to have the best.
He puts himself last.
He has a wonderful sense of humor and makes me laugh.
He makes our kids giggle, teaches them things, and treats them like little ladies.
He loves and respects his parents, my parents, and our grandparents.
He is willing to better himself and works hard to do so.
He is incredibly good-looking.
He has never stopped telling me that he loves me and why.
I love my husband so. I thank the Lord for him all the time and I can't imagine life without him.
I love my husband for so very many reasons. I've written about it on here so many times, but I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. Thankfully today gives me a good reason to write about it again.
I love my dear husband because...
He loves Jesus and strives to follow Him every day of his life.
He gives of himself for me and for our children, wanting us to have the best.
He puts himself last.
He has a wonderful sense of humor and makes me laugh.
He makes our kids giggle, teaches them things, and treats them like little ladies.
He loves and respects his parents, my parents, and our grandparents.
He is willing to better himself and works hard to do so.
He is incredibly good-looking.
He has never stopped telling me that he loves me and why.
I love my husband so. I thank the Lord for him all the time and I can't imagine life without him.
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