Looking for a covered wagon

Yesterday I was in a bad mood all day. Here is why:

Our 1996 Volvo that my parents gave to us a few years ago has been on the fritz lately (OK, for about the last year). It never starts on it's own (luckily we recently invested in a gizmo that allows you to jump your car without the use of another car. Lifesaver!) and the car frequently dies while driving, especially braking. After having to get out of the car at intersection, twice, to jump it, I finally decided that maybe it was time to take the car into the shop. Again. It's been in the shop two other times for this same probably for at least a week each time. Of course, just like a child, the car never acted up for them, so they could never find the problem. Well, the third time is a charm, they finally found the problem. The alternator needs to be replaced because it can't keep the battery charged. And, of course, like any scamming car mechanic, they found many other things that are cracked, leaking, torn, or otherwise failing. And me, being a completely dumb female when it comes to car knowledge, can't just drive the car around now knowing that other things might go wrong. So here's the breakdown:

Axle boot replacements (2): $467.36
Alternator replacement: $792.00
Serpentine belt torn: $37.00
Radiator hose leaking: $358.01
Front Sway Bar Links replacement: $133.95
Brake fluid flushed and refilled: $124.46
Rotate tires: $45.80
Upper Tork Strap bushing replacements: $192.02
Wiper arm replacement (on headlight, ha ha): $126.87
Antenna mast replacement: $101.09

Grand total: $2010.90

Anything else you would like to add to that, Mr. Car Mechanic? How about that pack of cigarettes? Or that greasy burger? Go ahead, just add it to the tab.

But this is not so much why I was in a bad mood all day. Mostly, it has to do with the fact that today marks the start of our search for a new car. Ugh. Not excited. Since we will not be putting 2 grand into a car that has given us problems from the get go, we have to find something else. In fact, the trade-in value of the car is about as much as it would cost to fix it so it's definitely out of the question. We were really hoping to make it through residency (only 2.5 more years!) without a car payment but now it looks unavoidable. We were all set to somehow cram three kids into the back seat (no this is not an announcement) but now, since we are looking, I guess we will find something bigger and more accommodating for a growing family.

So, here we go. Wish us luck!

Just in Case...

Many of you probably already know, but google reader will allow to you list your friends' blogs and see an overview to check out which blogs have been updated. It's a nice feature, especially for those of you with lots and lots of links. My knowledgeable and very creative friend told me about this when I first started blogging.

Yesterday...

...We played Uno. Destroy is slowly learning that it's OK to lose. He's also trying his hardest to be happy for the person that wins. I get the "good job, Mom" with a scowl when I win. We bought card holders for the boys which has made playing games much more enjoyable for everyone! We rented movies from Family Video. They have a big kid's selection and the best part is that kids movies are free! You can rent a bunch and keep 'em for five days. We also made yummy chocolate granola cookies.
Then we finger painted. Let me rephrase that. They use the finger paints but only for something fun to drive their cars in. They slowly transform giant globs of paint into race tracks on their paper (which is taped down inside a cookie sheet). Nothing artistic usually comes from these painting adventures other than a vast array tire tracks. By the end, the yellow, red, blue and green have all reincarnated into a murky brown. But they love it, and that's the point. This was the first time that I was able to get Destroy to actually use his fingers in the finger paint. I know, go figure. He thought writing his name was pretty cool. Wow. Who woulda thunk it?
Focused, intent, determined. Checking out if his race track is up to par like "my bwutha's".
My favorite pic
Aaron and I have been working out. We like this program because you don't have to buy loads of equipment and it doesn't take much time out of the day. I finally did a pull-up last night! I haven't been able to do one since the kids were younger when I had to pick them up all the time. My arms have slowly de-toned as the kids have become more independent but I'm working back up to it! But for the rest of the work-out I have to resort to jumping pull-ups. Mr. Muscle can do quite a few more than one.

The kids like to do squats with us but they mostly just like to do some garage sabotage while we are busy. They are also competent at killing the Volvo battery by leaving doors open, lights on, etc.

That was our day!

Happy Birthday to friends!

So here's a tribute to Mica and Lacey. They both had birthdays this last week... so I dug up some pretty good grub. Mica, I don't have a ton of pictures of you because most of them are in my scrapbook. I guess I could try scanning those in, but it might look odd. Lacey, I have tons of pictures of you because of high school and college (there are a lot in my scrapbook of you too :) Out to dinner. I think we were actually out at Brick Oven celebrating your birthdays! Lacey and I took a couple trips together right at the end of senior year. This one was to San Fran where we stayed with her Aunt and went to Great America. This picture is taken at the Golden Gate park. We rented a Surry but we kept calling it a Scurry. Remember that, Lace?

Here we are senior year with a whole bunch of other date-less girls at Homecoming, I think. No, it was not a disco dance. We just decided to make it one. Aren't we sexy?
This is the picture I was hoping to find of Lacey! We were on another senior trip, this time to the nice cold Oregon coast. We were riding with these two guys and we decided to play truth or dare on the way back. We made each other do weird things like put our toes in our mouths and crawl into the trunk while driving. I hope this doesn't embarrass you too much, Lace :)
Lacey was the only person I knew when I moved to Medford as a junior. She was a really good friend to me but I sadly ditched her when I started dating a guy. Sorry, Lace. look, Maria was there too!
On a family trip to Sunriver with my family senior year. Our friend Ethan came too but I think he was taking a nap. I guess we wore him out :) What ever happened to that guy?
Senior All Night!Brooke, Mica and me in Las Vegas. Did we go with Bryce and Mike that time? And Scott? I think that's when we went to Arches too. We were in love with Ben and Jerry's during college. Well, I'm sure we still are but probably consume it in moderation now. Right?

Here are me, Lacey, and her little sister Misty after playing football on thanksgiving. This was junior year in high school. Me, Lace, Mica and Ruthann on a trip up to Rexburg. I think.
Same trip to the coast. It was freezing and raining but we still went in the ocean.
Who knows when this was.
Senior pictures. You like our hats? My overalls?

Brooke, me, Mica. I think we were at Scott's family's time-share or something in St. George???
Brooke, Mica and I went to get pedicures/manicures right before Brooke got married.
Lacey, Mica, me, Ruthann, Katie skiing at Jackson Hole, right??? We went with the boys who lived in Rexburg too (Alex, Ethan, Josh, Jeff?) And I think Bryce and Brandon came too.

Anyways, that was a fun walk through memory lane! Thanks for being such great friends!

Nickname Extravaganza

I have been thinking lately about all of the different nicknames that I've had throughout my life. I feel pretty competent that I could not be outdone in the large number of nicknames that I have. Care to compete?

Megan - mostly people I have just met or people who I don't know extremely well.
Meg - super close friends, family, Aaron
Megalina - What my Grandma, Amoo, calls me
Monkey Maida, Sweeta Potata, the list goes on - names from my mom.
NutMeg - high school name
Megera- college name
Meggiemads - a friend from Irvine
Megatron - name growing up. Actually, I think that's what my brother's friends called me.
Smeg - Aisha and Beth
Megs - name growing up
Meggie - Mom, Dad, Brooke
Meggie Loo - that would be Brookie Cookie :)
Meggie-Poo - brother Jake
Megster - Jake again
Slayer - (maiden name Layer) high school boyfriend. So endearing.
Meegan, MegHan - telemarketers who are about to be hung up on.
I won't tell you Aaron's other nicknames for me :) JUST KIDDING!

I think that's about it!

I finally did it!

I have finally fully stepped into the blogging world and posted a video. Although, I kind of cheated because I did it from my webcam. I still have issues with the other camera. Maybe another day. But for now, I will celebrate my success by posting a cute video of the kids singing. Sorry about the tone-deaf-singing-child that you'll experience. I don't think singing will be one of Destroy's strengths. But he's cute anyways! Search can carry a tune, but he just can't keep up. He'll get there.

Spring is Springing!

It's amazing! We can go outside without a jacket... and not just to get the mail! Sunday was nice and warm (in comparison) so we got to go break in the backyard for the spring. But evidently until we get some new sandles, snow boots are still our shoe of choice.
Watch out, it might stick!
My youngest currently lives in flood pants. The kid won't stop growing. My oldest currently lives in pants with holes in the left knee (all of them, in the left knee. Any guesses?) Spring can't come any faster, because with spring comes shorts. With spring comes throwing away holey pants and packing away ones that are too small. Destroy, look up! Surprise!
Yesterday was just a taste of the weather to come because tonight we are supposed to have snow. But, it was a nice appetizer!