No pictures this month. I forgot to get my camera fixed!
I don't really remember the month of February too much. Can you believe I had to go find my calendar to figure out what we did all month?
This month I've been trying to finish up the worst of the house stuff, so that it would finally look like a real house, as opposed to a storage locker we just happen to live in. I got a storage unit and took our extra stuff there, until Joel gets home and can help me go through it. That involved many many trips back and forth. We had a built-in bookcase built in the girls' room for all of their books. It's adorable. By the end of the month I got everything just the way I like it, which is good. Means we're ready for the next layer of renovation dust, right?
I also spent waaaaaaaaayyyyyy to much time organizing stuff for a baby consignment sale. Basically all of the girls' clothes that both of them have grown out of, and the maternity clothes. Didn't really make that much money, but almost everything that didn't sell I set up to be donated, so at least it's gone right? I'll have another load of stuff to get rid of. By the time we leave Alabama, we'll be so light on our weight limits! (If you're not in the Foreign Service world, that means we're only allowed a certain amount of weight each time we move. And the constant trick is to take everything you need, and yet stay under that number. And if you're doing good, to stay far enough under that number so you can "shop" wherever you might travel!)
The other main thing I've been doing is working nonstop. I worked with a business coach, and we decided my coaching website needs a complete overhaul. So I've been working on those plans, and studying up on SEO (search engine optimization) so I get better traffic going to my website. I know, I know, oh so exciting. Actually, I do find it really really interesting. Completely over my head, but interesting. Also working on other little things to make the business stuff easier and quicker - automating my monthly newsletter, re-setting up my work blog that sort of thing. I've also started two business partnerships. One guy is going to allow me to do guest blogs on his site that will promote my business and link back to my website. The other is http://www.trailingspouse.net/, where I am now kindof like the Podcast Program Director (fancy title, isn't it.) Basically this is a podcast that deals with the work issues of expat trailing spouses (that's anyone that follows the other spouses' job). So far, we're just gotten to the point where we're moving out of the planning stages, so it'll will be fun soon. Both of these are non-paid at the moment, but my hope is that they will start to drive more and more people back to my career coaching business.
(Told you it wasn't very exciting - to anyone that's not me, at least.)
And yes, just to add to the insanity, I started a new business. I'm now a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts. Yup, I'm nuts. But it's a great business opportunity and I really like the bags, purses, and organizational totes, so I just couldn't resist. I LOVE the stuff, and so far it's been a lot of fun. Didn't really need to add that "just one more thing" to my plate though, I admit it. Oh well. I need some fun.
The girls are doing really well. Abby goes to ballet weekly and loves it. She now wants to turn twelve because Ms. Gina told her she had to be twelve before she could dance "en pointe." She's growing like a weed, and I just had to buy her the next size of shoes. She's just gotten so tall (for Abby). Makes me miss my little baby. I said that to Abby, and she told me just go to the store and buy one!
Lily is in the middle of her terrible two stage and so far it's quite comical because her terrible twos are NOTHING compared to what we went through with Abby. You gotta love it when Lily's idea of defying me is taking her shoes off. Yeah, that's it. She will get all angry about something and take her shoes off. Then, if that doesn't get your attention, she will lay down on the floor in the middle of wherever you walk and act like a rock. Me ignoring her drives her bonkers, and is actually quite fun because it works.
On the other side, Lily is potty training at preschool! Oh my gosh, I am loving it! She's probably about 50% there, and would be further, but I'm not in the mood to push it and deal with it right now. After Joel leaves in April, I'll probably cave and start forcing the issue a little more if she hasn't done it all on her own by then. She very rarely has accidents at school, and I've got my stash of M&Ms for rewards at home. But really, just two months in preschool and the teacher is telling me Lily's ready to go pull-up free! How awesome is that!
Joel is still working like a madman. His beard has grown in thick and dark and now looks like he should be in Fiddler on the Roof. He loves the work, but I'm not sure when he ever sleeps.
So that was our fun month of February. I know, it really was a month of drudgery, but needed to have one of those so March could be better. Now, March is gonna be FUN. Mardi Gras, Spring is on its way, Joel comes home just in time for the Arts & Crafts Festival, and I've got a long list of fun activities for the family to do while he's here. So, up until then, I'm gonna toil away, so we can all relax for the three weeks he's around.
Talk to you all soon.
Love,
Julie, Joel, Abby and Lily
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