Three months in... (out?)... and it's Florida outside. *insert humidity here*

It's been a minute since I rambled on about the happenings in my life. Not from a lack of want but rather a lack of opportunity. I might be on a computer like nine hours a day... but your girl be busy!

Life has been chaotic... in the best way possible. We're officially Florida residents now. That's right, you heard it... the Glissons are official.

And we were in our new hometown for a total of six days before we got a court date. That's right, six days in and we got pulled over for a license plate cover. You know, the same one that's been on every car I've had for the past eight/nine years and has traveled from the top of Michigan to the bottom of Florida umpteen times in that allotted amount of time? Yeah, that one. We tried to explain to the officer that we had no idea about that Florida law as we had just moved here six days before and let her know we would be removing it immediately... but she didn't care and threatened (subtly but still) to take my hubby to jail for it.

No worries... I added that little tidbit in there for the plot (even though it's true because seriously, y'all?!) but everything's taken care of... I contacted the State Attorney, provided proof of compliance and explained the situation and they essentially were like... well... you didn't know and immediately rectified it, so you don't have to come to court and everything's dismissed. HALLELUJAH. 

Sadly, my brother is going through something with his dad and I'm trying to be supportive... it's alot but I love my brother and while we don't always see eye to eye, I have always been here for him. I'll continue to be here for him. I just can't involve myself more than I am. My mental health and spiteful core won't allow it.

Other than that, everything's been pretty good.

It took a while to get our lender to send the title to get our plates but once we got that, it's been daisies.

We're staying with my FIL for the time being while we work on building up our house. It's been nice and we all get along beautifully. We've all gotten into some kind of random routine that works for us and keeps everybody happy. 

Our house is coming along nicely. I would love to say it's been no problem since we had the money to put into it from our Indy house... but it's been three months and we have yet to see a dime for that house. Originally, we did some research and fixed up everything in the house to make it able to be sold (under Indy restrictions). Was it perfect? No, absolutely not. But it was a good house that was well maintained and had solid bones. I let *redacted* know we wanted to sell and she was on board. A few weeks into living in FL she called me up and asked if she sent me $25k, if we could call it even (for now) so that my little cousin could move in and take it over... we would revisit the price when she was in a place to be able to afford a house on her own. I was fine with that and proceeded to give them all info to get everything turned over into *redacted*'s name like she needed/wanted. And then weeks went by... so I reached out and *redacted* informed me that she "had to do work on the house and didn't think that should come out of her pocket" and let me know that she would send me whatever was left over after she was done. Don't worry she included an entire list of (COSMETIC) problems that she would be having done. A few weeks later... nothing so I reached out. Another reason. A few weeks after that... I reached out... another reason. At this point it's been almost three months and while I'm not trying to be an unreasonable asshole... BRO, WTF?! Maybe I'm wrong... but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be compensated for the house I put the down payment on, paid the mortgage on for eight years, and maintained han solo. Hopefully, it works out here soon because like most normal people who sell their house... I would like to reinvest my money. And I would hope *redacted* wouldn't be comfortable living with the fact she screwed over legit the only person in our family that's she's helped that didn't screw her over to begin with. I'll tell you one thing though, I'll NEVER put myself into another situation where I take someone at their word. Been there, got screwed over for that. I don't mean to be bitter, but I've done everything right the entire time when it came to that house and at the end of the day, it didn't matter how much I tried to do right by someone. They still did what they wanted with only themselves in mind. 

Sad. Apart from that, life has been happy. 

We bought our house the day after we moved here and they delivered it within a few days. Since then, it's been nonstop trying to get it up and running. We got the insulation done... and let me just tell you, spray foam insulation is a learning curve that me and my hubby had to master real quick like. Ok, "master" is probably pushing it, but we got it done and it works good! Jerm and Cass came up and Dev/Jerm ran our electric (score one for having an electrician BIL). We officially have two ACs set up (one front of house-one back)... we have a window unit and a portable. The first portable we got we had to send back because of the compressor but once we got the new one and Dev changed the outlet... we were all good!

They delivered the materials for our walls today, so we'll be getting that done over the next few days and then it'll be time to get the materials for our ceiling and start setting up for bathroom/kitchen. 

We love staying with my FIL, but we both can't wait to have our own space again! Legit can't wait for decorating and crafts and all the goodness. Cuddles and late-night standup binge-watching and honestly? Just to have all our stuff unpacked again because while it might sound funny, I MISS MY STUFF!

Work has been crazy and I love it. The company I work for was bought by another company in January so we're in the process of transitioning everything over to their systems. It's a lot but your girl likes working remote and staying busy. Seriously... remote work might be my calling.

Do I wish I felt like I meant more to the people we left behind in the North? Sure... but it's not worth my mental health to dwell on it. If they don't want and love me for the person I am, then I guess I just meant how much they proved.

So yeah, that's where we're at. Living our best Florida lives (we had a beach day with his mom's side of the family a couple of weeks ago and had the best time... I haven't had a beach day since I was like twelve) and doing our best. There's so much to go over but I'm running out of writing time. Hopefully, in the next few weeks/month or so we'll have pretty much all our house done, the Indy house will be resolved and then we can get Dev's bike and go back to regularly scheduled programming. 

Because honestly? This life with my hubby and pups is the best thing I've ever had and I wanna keep running with it. Our lives are full of being together, pup loving, Dunkin coffee, boiled peanuts, Texas nachos, laughs, adventures and love. I couldn't ask for nor would I want more.

Until the next time I can get around these parts (hopefully regularly once life is calm again)... xoxoxoxo.

Through dark and dust (and bullshit) here we are. 😶

Remember when I said we had one more trip to FL before our final because I had a meeting in March? 

HA! HAHHHHHAHAAAHhahahaha..... hahahahahahhahaha...... HA!!

One more trip, my ass. We never made it to my meeting in March. Oh, we tried... of course we tried. But the universe wasn't having it and decided to throw us a curveball. And by curveball, I mean... shit got real awful real quick and bitches were about to have a nervous breakdown. 

It's me... and my husband... we were those bitches.

Let's back up a bit. We've been preparing and trying to get things situated so we could make our big move to FL. It's been a... process. While we had planned on being out no later than early February (again- HA!) things kept happening that set us back and it was like with every one step forward there were three back. EXHAUSTING isn't even a strong enough word for it. 

But we figured, go with the flow and do our best. And our best consisted of one more meeting trip before the move. Were we happy about making the trip and then having to turn around and do it again a few weeks later? No. But were we willing to do said task? Absolutely.

And that got us stuck on the side of the Louisville bridge in the middle of the night in rush hour traffic. Yeah, you read that right. There we were, the Friday before my meeting (with every intention of reporting bright and early Monday morning) broke down over two hours from home with our babies in the car. And that's where the nightmare started.

Our Bronco completely died... like we were in the fastlane and all the sudden my husband looked me deadass in the face and said, "our car just lost full power." Not what you want to hear at any point, let alone in that situation. He managed to get us across the three lanes of traffic and to the shoulder, but we were still at the top of the bridge. Was I helpful? NOPE. Why? Because your girl has a thing about bridges and every horrible thought, I could have possibly had happened. I blame all the Final Destination movies of my youth, but I digress. 

It should've just been inconvenient, not life altering. Afterall, we have full warranties and roadside assistance. Guess what? Didn't help AT ALL. Not only did Ford Roadside Assistance leave us high and dry in the middle of the night on the side of the highway but when my husband managed to get our car to a hotel and then to a willing dealership it still was horrible. 

I called multiple people to come pick us up (we were over two hours from home) and was met with variations of "sorry, busy, I have plans" or they didn't even bother to answer. Finally, I got ahold of my brother, and he agreed to come pick us up if we gave him gas money. Fair, it's a rough economy. But then, we had to leave our car at that Ford dealership in Sellersburg for a week for repairs and they did... nothing. Like, absolutely 100% nothing. They cleared the code on the car and then parked it for a week after assuring us Ford would handle it. They didn't. 

We had to go get the car the next weekend and drive it the two hours back dying and revolting the entire time (dangerous, much?) and take it to the dealership where we bought it. They got us in and got us a loaner vehicle (something no other dealership we talked to or the Ford "case manager" helped with) and they had it for a week to do all the repairs it required.

Apparently, it had a recall for the battery (that we never got notice of), needed an update (again, something we weren't notified about), and the fuel pump had to be replaced. Three incredibly important things that needed handled before a catastrophe that we were left in the dark about. Don't get me wrong... cars will be cars. I know that and accept that and understand that a car can have an issue after fifteen miles. I get it. HOWEVER, vehicles are NOT cheap and when you pay the fees to have the service and warranties and you are not only NOT made aware of issues but then you're left stranded on the side of the road with your entire family in the middle of the night in a $50k car that has 26k miles on it after doing EVERYTHING right, you tend to get a little pissy. At least, I f*cking did. 

I love my car... but at this point I'd damn near get rid of it just so I never have to deal with Ford customer service EVER again. The Ford "Case Manager" I had was assigned to me and called on Wednesday (remind you, this happened on the previous Friday) to tell me she was off Thursday, didn't return my call on Friday and couldn't help me come Saturday. She did absolutely nothing helpful or offered good advice and we were not helped until we got it to our dealership and they handled it all. Needless to say, case mangers? A F*cking joke.

Thankfully, we got Trudy back. And she seems to be in good spirits (thanks you mechanic Nick!).

But... that whole situation definitely broke us in spirit. It was disheartening to find out where I stand to everyone close around me. My SIL/BIL were already figuring out what to do with the kids and loading up because they were not about to leave us on the side of the road. They were going to make the nine-hour trip... but some people I called couldn't even be bothered to make the one-and-a-half-hour trip. Really lets you know where you stand with who... that's all I'm saying.  

At that point, we were broken and sad and just f*cking over it. So... I decided to liquidate some shit, we got rid of a bunch more shit (my brother and the scrappers in our alley have made out like bandits), and we scheduled to have movers take our shit.

Why? Because we want out and there's literally NOTHING keeping us here anymore. It's hard to sell a house when I work remote (ie: always home) and you have two pups, so we're clearing out and it's going on the market next Monday. They dropped off our containers last Friday, we packed them up this last weekend, and they'll be picked up this Thursday. We'll be sticking around so I can work on Friday (I took off Monday) and then we're heading out to our new life come that evening.

And we CANNOT f*cking wait. Since I get to stay a remote employee, it opened up some possibilities and we're going to the little town we originally wanted. We'll be staying with Dev's dad until our house is built/ready and then life will be lifing. We're all so damn excited we can't wait. 

We're ready for this life change and are ready to leave all the negative behind. This experience/transition has been eye opening and devastating and exciting and all the things... and it's time. It's time for Katie, Dev and their pups to be South. 

Keep your fingers crossed for us... we're hoping for the best and forcing our way through. This time next week... hopefully I'll be knee-deep in house plans surrounded by peace and quiet... and hopefully some barbeque. And for the love of all that's holy, pray this house sells quickly so we can just be DONE with Indiana altogether.

There so much more I want to talk about... I'm hoping the next update has all sunshine and roses to share. (Work is going really good- but that's for another time). But like I said, this is where we are now. Still playing the waiting game... but with a deadline in our sights. And it can't come soon enough.

You just gotta keep on keeping on... know what I mean?!

Life has been all over the place lately. Between training for my new job and trying to get our house ready to sell... it's been... exhausting.

INTERESTING. I mean, interesting. 

I'm kidding. Life has been good and things are great. We just both really want to be done with this "transition" period and be settled into our new life. But, like all good things... there's bumps along the way. 

Working from home though? I could definitely get into this. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do once I have to go back into an office a few days a week, because getting up, getting my coffee and then just hopping on my computer and doing what I need to do is where it's at. It's a good time and this hub situation I have going on is AMAZING.

The job is going good too. I was a little leery the first couple of weeks... thought I was way in over my head and had made a disastrous mistake. But, everything has evened out and I've fallen into a nice rhythm. Is it alot? Yes. Do I like it? Also yes.

We're coming along on the house (Dev has been working his tail off when given the opportunity) and it's mostly getting rid of trash and finishing up the odds and ends of painting/electric/curb appeal moving forward. We had to wait until the weather broke before we could even start outside though.

Neither of us are going to miss Indy winters.

The pups are living it up and can't wait to go back South for a never-ending supply of biscuits that seem to always be in their grandpa's pocket (like they don't get ALL the biscuits here!).

We're all just ready to be on with it. And we're tired of the back/forth commute. We'll be going down again next month for another meeting I have and while we're hoping to be "ready ready" by then... we're also realistic that this might not be the last time. (Hopefully soon though!)

So yeah, that's where we're at. Still trying to get this new life we want and working our way towards it. A million things to do but checking them off the list as we go.

Wish us luck... we need this to be done! And we want to be settled.

What is it called when you're feeling Bittersweet and Jacked to Jesus?

It's officially here. Today is my last day at my current job. Come 3:30 this afternoon, I will no longer be employed with the company I have put my heart and soul into for going into fourteen years.

And it is... bittersweet. 

I wouldn't know and can't seem to find the correct words to describe what I'm feeling today. Sad for sure... but in a nostalgic kind of way. Yeah, I never planned on leaving and I love my job... but I'm here now and we have to part ways. 

Onwards and upwards and such... right? I don't know... I'm sad and overwhelmed... emotional to say the least. But... I'm also excited and nervous and... well... for lack of a better word... pumped. I'm sad to see this chapter of my life come to a close but I'm excited to see where it will take us.

A few people have asked me how I'm feeling and the closest thing I can come up with is it's like when you're a kid and you have to transfer schools. You're scared and nervous... maybe even a little upset it has to happen. But, then you accept that it does in fact have to happen and the emotions become overwhelming.

That's what it feels like... even though it's much more serious... though it feels equally as serious when you're a kid.

So yeah... feeling somewhere between Stand By Me and Mad Max. 

Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm feeling the most sad about leaving Dani and losing my routine. I'm not gonna lie, at the end of the day and at the risk of sounding like I have emotions... I love her. She's done so much for me as a person and I'm gonna miss having that reassurance of her at my back. The good, the bad, and the ugly... throughout it all, we've been through it side by side for years. I hope we still have a relationship after I'm gone, but this life and change can't guarantee me anything. So hopeful, but resigned. Furthermore, I know this job, I can do this job, and I'm used to this job. I'm confident and capable when it comes down to it.

But after today and come Monday? I'm starting fresh. New. Somewhere completely different with a new atmosphere and a completely different team. It's a shock to the system to say the least. But... I'm excited. Sure, it's pretty likely I'm gonna have to look like a nerd when I go into the office (I can't wait to play that Clark Kent life- ha!) since it's a completely different environment, but it's a change and a challenge and I feel up to the task.

Do I feel like there's going to be a learning curve? Do I think it's gonna be hard and stressful and overwhelming? YES... to ALL of it. And then some. But... I'm also jittery about it. I've been itching for a life change for a very long time. To the point I can feel that shit under my skin. While this is very much not the way I envisioned making the change... I'm also not mad about it anymore.

It literally is what it is and we are moving forward with it.

At high speeds. Screeching tires. With music blared and the windows down. 

I don't know what the future holds. I don't know if I'm gonna succeed or end up living under a bridge. I honestly just don't have answers right now. But, what I do have is an amazing husband and two wonderful furbabies that make life worth stumbling through and that depend on me. I have determination to see this through and find our way to the life we want to live. I have the will to be happy and peaceful and live a beautiful life surrounded by happiness.

I'm thankful for the time with my company. I've grown and learned and gave it my all. But now, it's time to say goodbye, set down my title, and walk away with some dignity and grace. 

So... no... I don't know how I'm feeling. Because I have all the feelings. But, I know that change is here and I'm bracing for impact with Dev, Sparkles, and Steve at my side. 

Because come this afternoon... LIFE IS DIFFERENT.

BOOM Bitch. But also, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!🎄🎄

Ok... this is... a lot. Like... A LOT. So... your girl did a thing... got a thing... something a thing. THE POINT IS our gameplan to move South might be getting a little bit more fast-tracked because your girl got herself a new job. I KNOW.

I never thought I would be here. I literally thought I would be at my current company until I either retired (ha! the dream that none of us ever get) or killed over or they fired me. Something... nothing like getting a whole different job. But now... here we are.

And it is A LOT for me to feel. Overwhelmed... grateful... about to blow the tippy top right off my head. AHHH!! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited, but I'm also extremely nervous and anxious. Nervous that I may be in over my head... anxious that I'm going to screw this up and ruin our lives... but extremely grateful for the opportunity and overwhelmed by the magnitude of which this changes our lives. 

Besides... we wanted a whole new life and nothing says whole new life more than changing absolutely everything about it. Aside from us and our pups, we want to change EVERYTHING else. So... we are. 

I am having so many feelings about everything and just trying to push through them all. They're so overwhelming that it'll be more of an on-the-go layout.

I got the confirmation for my new job on Tuesday and immediately let my boss know. Now... we got two weeks (not including the rest of this weird holiday week) to do what they want me to do and then I'm South bound for on-location training. After that I'll be working remote... until we move to Florida and then we'll (they'll) decide on my hybrid in office/remote roll. 

I didn't expect this to happen. It quite literally came out of nowhere... but who am I to kick a gift horse in the mouth when amazing opportunities fall from the sky?

I thought we had more time... after my job let me know that transitioning to a remote position wouldn't be feasible for me and they wanted me to start training another girl, Dev and I talked about moving up our timeline. Literally the only thing holding us in Indy was my job, so why wouldn't we after knowing it wasn't an option anymore? But... we still thought it would be somewhere between six-eight months. We definitely wanted to be out before next Winter set in... but then this happened and jumpstarted even more.

I will say though, ever since we just became firm in our decision to move back South, it feels like the universe has been pushing us in that direction expediently. Things are falling into place and while it's all still crazy, it very much feels like the right decision.

The progress we've made on our house is insane. We've been needing to go through and get rid of things FOREVER and there's no time like the present, right? And through it we have been. We decided to get rid of all the negativity and bullshit that we've been carrying around for other people all these years and literally start NEW when we restart. No more living a life based on the worry of other people's opinions. If it makes us happy, it's ours. If not? Bye bye. People, places, things. All of it.

Needless to say... we've thrown out A LOT of shit. I was a little sad to see some of it go... but only because I'm a hoarder and so much is changing so quickly that my anxiety is trying to keep up. After it's out of sight though? I'm loving it. The house is well underway to being painted (Eggshell-Gypsum for the clean finished looking win) and then there's just a few more things to do inside and we can switch to out. 

There's still so damn much to get accomplished. We need to talk to AM about selling our house probably this weekend (when it's ready) and get all this trash bullshit hauled off (no idea how we're going to achieve that) and finish painting and fix the fence and do some curb appeal.

Plus... I need to train a little for this new job (I was sent a link with some videos so hopefully that will give me a little insight) and buy some new clothes for it because your girl doesn't dress business... but I will be in this office with the bigwigs. I'll also need to take out my lip ring, hide my green hair, and cover these tattoos. You know... make me look boring instead of the exotic creature I am. All good though... it's all temporary to get where we need to be. 

There's so much to do and so little time to do it... but is that gonna stop us from having a nice dinner and watching Stranger Things on this here Christmas day/evening? Nope. We literally accomplished so much yesterday and earlier today that we're gonna break and eat and watch these little motherf*ckers in Hawkins.

What? We got SO much done in the last two days... time for Dev to take a little nap (before he gets up and makes me that delicious steak) and me to make some mashed taters... and for us to curl up with our babies and cuddle and just be together. 

Life is changing... fast. It's here and we're trying to keep up. At the end of the day, we're gonna be ok. But if y'all could keep some good vibes and put some good juju out there for us... we'd appreciate it. Thanks to all our family and friends that reached out this year for Christmas (even though the Glisson's were super lame this year and got absolutely nothing holly jolly accomplished... there's too much to do!). 

It's been so crazy the last couple of months... let's see where the next few take us. 

From our family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

There's so much to do but I don't wanna do it but there's so little time but I'm still not having it but I'm gonna do it anyway.

Y'all... I woke up in a weird kind of mood this morning. I don't know what it is... clarity... wistfulness... a mental break that I haven't had yet... TBD really. The point is... it's a weird mood. Not bad... just... yeah.

I feel like I have so much energy that I'm gonna bust. Somehow I feel like I could accomplish the goals of five people in a six month period... but condensed into like three hours.

I also feel like I could curl up in my bed with my babies in jammies and not move for the next seventy-two hours. 

Neither of which I can do. Because WTF is even happening right now.

Honestly, I feel like it has something to do with my anxiety and the emotional roller coaster I've been on (against my will BTW... get me OFF this up and down bullshit). I'm neither here nor there but I'm everywhere all at once. One minute I'm perfectly fine with the mindset "it is what it is" and four minutes later I'm damn near hyperventilating and nauseous. I psych myself up even when I'm trying to talk myself down. I know I'm being ridiculous and unreasonable and too much. I'm literally trying to stop it every minute of every day and failing horrifically. Ask my sleep schedule and appetite, they'll tell you. 

Is this a snap? Feels like a snap.

Speaking of snap... there's a freeze one coming through for us. Which probably doesn't help this weird bubble world I'm living in. It's frigid and lifeless outside. Probably because we're all living that penguin life... without the body index to back it up.

It's been so damn cold... and yet I still walked out of my house without my sweatshirt on lunch yesterday and almost did the exact same thing today... how on Earth did I manage that? I even knew I was extra frozen and STILL got all the way back before I realized it... just shows you where my state of mind is.

As in... running on fumes... can't focus or function correctly... basically surviving on instinct and spite. Hopefully, this weekend is productive and cozy and amazing and everything my family and I need it to be (just us with a side of peacefulness).

Really trying to manifest that good life shit but quite literally just taking it one day at a time. That's all we can do, right? At least, that's what my adoring husband says.

One day at a time, baby. One. Day. At. A. Time.

Hopefully, there won't be many more winters spent like this. *siberian*

Has your ass ever hurt so bad that the thought of sitting in a car for another road trip quite literally makes you want to commit a felony? No? Ok... thanks for that... asking for a friend.

This past Saturday, Dev and me loaded our babies into the car and took a little WRTTMM trip. Spending a day with our entire family together is the shit my dreams are made of... but having to sit in a car for like a total of nine hours to accomplish said goals? Exhausting.

I digress... because at least we got the important shit handled and we can move forward. And by move forward, I mean concentrate on renovating our house and staying out of the frigidness that is Midwest winter. 

Seriously... have y'all seen shit out there? Frigid. Unappealing. Bluck!

I only mentioned Saturday to bring up the fact that the temperature started dropping rapidly that day and is in NO MOOD to realign itself. It's been raining since midnight last night and here we are at eleven the next morning... and look at it go... strong and steady. 

I read a report last night that said by this coming Saturday the wind chills would be somewhere around -14° and that's just where we are. That's not counting all the shit we would have to deal with if we go out. Hopefully, we've gotten all our "running" errands accomplished and only small "run to the store to pick something up" errands remain.

Why? Because f*ck this. It's frikkin' freezing out side! If you need the Glissons, we'll essentially be holed up in our little shoebox trying to manage boxes and paint and stay warm... exuberantly planning our future in the Sunshine State. 

Side note: I received a perhaps encouraging message from my MIL earlier... so good vibes and happy thoughts out into the universe for us, please and thank you.

 

I don't know what it's gonna be... but we have all the ideas.

Ever since we became firm in our decision to cut bait with Indy and head South we've been talking about our next steps. Fixing up our house to sell... deciding on future homes... debating our work to life balance and how that translates into our future work load... imagining sunshine as opposed to the frigid death that is currently blowing outside.

Seriously, feels like the movie "The Thing" out there. Frigid and not entirely unsettling. 

Intertwined with all these decisions and unknowns are also a bunch of questions that Dev has been asking me forever but I've never really had an answer for him. Sweetheart, what are your hobbies? What do you like to do? What kind of life do you want to live? What makes you happy?

And honestly? I don't know. And I know that sounds ridiculous because I'm thirty-five so how could I possibly NOT know? And yet, here we are. I've always been more of a "I have to work, I'll get to that later" type of person. Before I stopped going to therapy, I was referred to as exhibiting "hyperarousal." And no, that isn't as dirty minded as it sounds... it means I live in a constant state of "fight or flight." 

Doesn't stop there though... did you know with fight or flight also comes freeze or fawn? It was all new to me and I'm not sure I followed it all as well as I would have liked but basically it shoved a mirror in my face and made me see I was a people-pleasing bundle of nerves ready to crack at the first sign of failure. Apparently when it's "always up to you" to find the solution or your entire family is screwed... and you start that shit at fourteen... and who knows what leading up to that... well... there tends to be some long-lingering side effects.

As in... I don't really know who I am as a person. I mean, I'm getting there and have a better handle on it now than what I ever have... but I'm not really there yet. Deep down? I know who I am. In my soul and how I want to treat people... but the pieces that make up me? I got nothing.

But, I'm trying. And Dev is as supportive and loving as he's ever been with all of it. I could deadass look that man in the face and tell him I never want to work a day in my life ever again and if I really meant it, I truly believe he would find a way to make it happen. He's the first and only person in my entire life to want me to do any and everything I want and to hold absolutely none of me back. Big personality? No problem for him.

He's got that soulmate shit on lock.

So I've been thinking about things I might want to do. Hobbies I might want to try... even if I end up hating them. I want to try things I've never had the opportunity to pursue and find out if I love them or if they're just an annoying little fantasy. I want to do new things and go on adventures and spend as much time as humanly possible with my husband. If we're going to rebuild this new life... I want us as happy as possible for the rest of it.

First things first... we have to narrow down our camper. I think we've decided to go used and possibly buy second hand. We want it to basically function however we need it to start out and we'll do all the upgrades and changes as time goes on. Something nice but not ridiculous. We want to learn how to run everything on solar and learn how to do all maintenance and customization on our own.

And then... I want to fill it with love and music and puppies. Make it cozy and homey but entirely us. 

We both want a massive garden... fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and shrubbery. And then I want to get back into canning and baking and homesteading. Make my own bread and figure out how to use these plants medicinally and get lost in the process of it all.

Books... podcasts... radio... television... social media... firsthand life experience.

Refurbishing that table with my MIL over Thanksgiving was so much fun and Dev and me got lost in the process. It's not something I've ever done but have always been interested in. She explained what I needed to do and when I messed up or wasn't sure, she was patient and understanding. Always has been, always is, and probably forever will be. Dev mentioned it to me when we were talking and said he had never seen me invest in something and it hold my attention to the point I didn't walk away. Which is fair, because my attention span is nonexistent. But... this I liked. And I want to do more of it, I think. I already have ideas for furniture we're taking with us and things we'll want and I can do in the future. Will it happen? I don't know... but I'm excited to find out. 

I want to get my nose re-pierced and get a bunch more tattoos. Green hair? If possible, I want to keep it forever. My SIL (hi, Cait!) insists that she's never met a person in her entire life that looks like they have green hair naturally... but it somehow looks like it should've grown right out of my own head that way. I want to cut the collar off ALL my shirts and wear shoes as little as possible. Like I said before, feral Katie is my favorite Katie.

I want to collect antiques and make them useful again... maybe find an old Singer sewing machine, fix it up and get back into sewing. Clothes and quilts... helpful shit for our lives that can translate into love. Maybe find an old wringer washer and hang up a clothes line. Simple things that people have upgraded in their lives and forgot where it started. 

I want to look into having bees... and learning to weld... maybe take up crazy painting. Learn how to put a lift on and do the maintenance to our Bronco. Build a lean-to and gather pieces of the universe around us to build a sanctuary.

We plan to follow my in-laws around and make them our besties. Dev has missed his family on a level that I could never explain and the thought of getting to hang out with them and have dinners and adventures and family time? Serene. I'm gonna follow my FIL around and make him teach me shit. Hell, you can learn from the man just standing next to him. And while he's talking bikes with Dev... I'll be talking paint versus stain with my MIL. Maybe we'll finally even get around to her putting me on a horse. I mean... they're a horse family and she used to barrel-ride... if anybody is gonna teach me some shit, it would be her.

We want to see our niece and nephews grow firsthand... not just in pictures and video calls. We want to be apart of their childhoods and be known as their "free spirit" aunt and uncle. We want them to know they can come to us and they'll find nothing but love and understanding and patience. We want to grow with them and get to see the amazing people they become. Do I want to pick up your kid from school and be the adult responsible for their well being? Absolutely not. But, do I want to go on that list that says I'm one of the most trusted adults that their lives have to offer? Desperately. Put us on the f*cking list.

And yeah, I don't know how we're going to manage all this or how we're gonna get there... but you know what? We're gonna do it together and get there eventually because it's what we want. Neither of us know what the future holds as far as our jobs... but that's literally the only thing. (Truthfully, when it comes down to it, if we could both work part-time at the same place on the same shift we'd be just as happy as anything else... even though I'm really beseeching the universe to find that remote position).

We don't know what life is going to look like when we get there... it's a new beginning... but we do know what we want to build towards. And honestly? I'll take that over misery any day. Just having a plan and pushing this to be our reality has made changes in the both of us. We know what we want and what we don't want and we can figure out the details along the way... together.

But, if y'all could manifest some ease and sprinkle-sprinkle out into the universe for us? I would greatly appreciate it. Because the fear of the unknown is overwhelming... even though we're working on it.

Hopefully, it's the last long drive before the BIG one.🌞🌻🌞🌻🌞

We spent Thanksgiving week in Florida with Dev's side of the family. We don't usually go down for holidays... we're more of a "come down for vacation once a year and for emergencies and unplanned happy events (ie: weddings and Jelly concerts)" type of folks... but Dev's mom asked us two or three months ago if we would come down this year... and... well... I can't tell that woman no to save my whole life.

Sooo... I worked Monday and then we headed South. (With my trusty laptop in tow because I still had some shit to do for the rest of the week because no rest for the weary and all that).

The trip down was pretty good... we made decent timing and our pups were chill and enjoyed the ride. Sure, it's always alot, but once we're there... we're good to go. You know why? Because we pulled up to my MIL's around nine in the morning... parked Trudy... and didn't start her again until we left out for my FIL's on Saturday evening. When I tell you my in-laws are the best, I ain't bullshitting.

The trip back North? Stupid. Between "Severe Winter Weather" advisories and people not realizing they're operating a vehicle so they should probably be paying attention to that... it was mayhem. We ended up taking backroads for the last forty miles of our trip home, because the interstate backed up and people were acting a fool. 

I digress. Mostly because I refuse to spend anymore time trying to figure people out. At least for the time being.

Our pups were probably the most excited. Between all the attention, snacks, cuddles, and general merriment of their existence, they were living their best lives.

My Gatorbaby? He always thrives when he's home. What can I say? He's a Sunshine State boy through and through. He's never not happy and breathtaking when we're there. He loves his family and the happiness that pours out of him when we're around them damn near brings tears to my eyes every damn time.

Me? I also thrive down South. I'm what my FIL (Pops) refers to as feral... barefoot, sunburnt, hair unbrushed, legs unshaved... it's chaos of the highest order. And I fuckin' love it. So does my husband and his entire family. Peaceful Katie is the best Katie.

With all the changes headed our way... we're hoping the next trip we have to make down South is THE last trip and therefore, moving time. *fingers-crossed*

Life has been stressful and chaotic lately... between life changes and house renovations and pups with skin irritation and frigid weather and people in general... yeah, it's just been overwhelming. So, we needed to get away and have a break and spend some time with people we love the most and love us the best.

We spent Thanksgiving with all the family that got to come over and the rest of our days were spent relaxing, hanging out with my in-laws (and one of my SIL's for a couple days), doing projects (ie: refinishing a table and watching my FIL put together a four-wheeler), watching my hubby do some bomb-ass tattoos on my MIL and SIL, and just imagining and planning our future.

When I tell you I've been a nervous wreck and overwhelmed... I ain't lying. The unknown and instability and changes that are coming have been on my brain and playing on loop for weeks on end. I've driven myself to the brink and back more than once. I honestly thought I was about to break in half. But... when they assured us we weren't alone and were welcome and loved and missed and needed? Something in me calmed and shifted. Sure, this is still scary... but worth it and thrilling. I'm still scared because of the unknown but I feel better knowing my hubby's family has our backs.

And the life we're trying to build and is on the horizon? Riveting.

💕We celebrated the best way we could think of.💕💕

We don't need fancy... we just need us. And we are simple creatures with nothing but love for one another.

Our five year anniversary. Seems insane... like we got married two weeks and twenty years ago all at once. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Ups, down, lefts, rights... through all of life's chaos and unknowns, I never have to worry about who will stand next to me through the storm.

Because it's him. My husband... my person... quite literally the entity in which my entire universe orbits. Sound insane and borderline stalkerish? Don't worry... he feels the same with me. Devoted... inspired... awestruck... OBSESSED. And I am fucking here for it.

In fact... we talked about it the other night and while he always dreamed of having a wife that would rub his feet... I always dreamed of a husband (well... I didn't actually want a husband until him so just a man) that was as obsessed with me as Gomez was with Morticia. 

Devotionally. Eternally.... guess we both got what we wanted. 

(And yeah, why wouldn't I rub his feet? He rubs mine too and even if he didn't eff off).

I took a half day at work so we could spend more of our actual anniversary together. While I would have loved to have stayed in bed and been woken up naturally by the nuzzling of my husband... sometimes being an adult dictates that you have to pull up your big girl panties and do shit you don't wanna do... and it fucking sucks.

I digress... because with a halfer came iced coffee and pup cups for the family, jammies all day for the Glissons (as is our usual uniform when we're together) and then Dev and I decided to go look at RVs (yes, in jammies... no, we don't give a shit). Why? Because we've decided that we're working towards a whole different life and we want to convert to an RV and homestead. Remember that peace I was talking about us craving? Yeah... we want that. And bees... I wanna have fucking bees! So yeah... while I don't have a timeline or really any plan at all... there is in fact a plan. The plan of a happy life.

Neither of us had ever been to look at RVs... hell neither of us had been in an RV period that was commissioned before 1997. The closest we could come up with? Dev stayed in an old school Silver Bullet for awhile in his late teens/early twenties... and I used to live in a tent. So... there's that.

But we told the people at Camping World what we were wanting to do and they took us to fifth wheels and told us to start there. We did... and holy shit. While we've talked about it and believe a destination trailer will be more our speed and style for what we want... we both had to admit... those bitches were NOICE. And now we have at least a general idea of what's out there to offer... what we want and don't want... and it ramped us both up to wanting it right now.

Like I said... it's a process... but we want the process to be immediate. So if y'all could manifest with us for that miracle and sprinkle sprinkle? We'd greatly appreciate it.

After we looked around the lot for an hour or so we headed back to the house (with about five million things to talk about) and decided to do another of our favorites... tattoo. Well... he loves to tattoo, I love to get tattooed, so you know. The tattoo? A naughty Bugs and Lola on the back of my left thigh. The inspiration? That shit is hilarious and we were into it. That's it... that's literally reason enough.

One WRTTMM the next day later and we spent the entire weekend together and making plans and talking and hanging out and just being us. It was incredible... and simple... and the best. Here's to the five and one hundred fifty forever more!

I love you, Gator.

🌻I just grow sunshine in the backyard.🌻🌻And other ramblings.

Life is hectic. And crazy. And exasperating. And expensive. And hard. And overwhelming.

Life is beautiful. And fun. And full. And happy. And wild. And exquisite.

And we're all just along for the ride and hoping for the best. I've never wanted a big life. There's nothing in my personality that screams boss bitch in a Mcmansion with fourteen spoiled children. Never wanted it.

What I have always wanted was a small life. A happy life... stability. And to spend it with someone who chooses me first... every single time... no hesitation.

I found my person... and I'm so lucky and grateful for it.

Our life... while chaotic and hard at times... is ours and we're trying our best. Neither of us have ever wanted big. We've just wanted safe... and ours... and each other.

BUT... if y'all got a spare fairy godmother out there floating around, we'll take one of those too. You know what they say... manifestation and shit.

This weekend was... different. Any weekend I get to spend all the time with my hubby is amazing... but this weekend was weird for us. I don't know why. Probably because we had company on Saturday and then it stormed all day. And then Sunday morning the power company blew our transponder and we didn't have power for seven hours.

So... we did a load of clothes at Bonehead's and hung out. But Dev was sick... so home we went... to dead ass quiet. There was also an oil change in there for Trudy. And our pups went to Bonehead's with us and hung out with the babies... Sparkles loves heights...Steve doesn't do down the stairs. It was hilarious and adorable.

On the plus side? Dev got his tray, fake skin, and new ink. And I got a Tymo. Could we afford it? Probably not. Am I waiting for a miracle to pull us out of this funk and set us into my fantasy? Perhaps. #wishfulthinking

My cup plant though? Thriving and wreaking havoc. I think it might be a bit roid-raged out on motor oil... TBD.

That's gotta be what heaven looks like.

Dev and me travel... a lot. Whether we're driving to another state to visit family or we drive out of the city to get a little peace... either way... we're driving.

Spending so much time in a car is both rewarding and a pain in the ass. Literally and figuratively. Sure, we have to travel to do and get the things we want, but if it wasn't for the fact I get to hang out with my best friend/soulmate... I would riot.

Why? Because while Trudy Judy is a comfy little Bronco... you can only be so comfy for so long with a bony ass. I said what I said.

One of the bonuses for these wide ranging trips though... Dev and me talk about the most random shit. We see some of the most beautiful views. We spend an insane amount of time together.

Give me all of that for the rest of my life.

Friday was one of our travel trips. I got off work a tad early and we left the house around 2:30 or so... and didn't get home until midnight. Because that's how we roll. 

An interesting trip... complete with torrential downpours... an allergic reaction to ants for poor little Steve... a piece of a semi flew off and hit our Bronco (and straight up looked like a bullet ricocheted off our windshield)... and a situation where an asshole van in front of us made all of us merge onto the highway going 27 mph.

Side note: If anybody has any good news... or vibes... or juju... anything like that... we're in the market and will take it. We could use some positivity in life right now.

The positive spin though? Well... besides getting to be together and accomplishing what we wanted to. 

This view. When the skies open up and things feel a little less heavy and a little more clear for a few minutes. And it reminds you what's important. And what's important to me? I had it all right there in the car with me.

Our resilient little troopers.💚💜💚💜

Like I said earlier... life be crazy. And with the craziness that is our lives and the fact we've been in Florida going on two weeks... my stress? My hubby's stress? Astronomical. Our faces are breaking out... our gut health is ridiculous... and honestly? Between his heart condition and my nervous twitches, let's just say... we've looked and felt better.

But, you know who never fails to be the best of the best and make everything better? Our furbabies.

Since we've been here, Sparkles has run this property to his little hearts content. He's usually my sleepy/napping boy, but five acres in the Florida heat? He's in heaven. Watching him gallop and flop around? Good for my soul. Steve has embraced her inner-Tuwanda! (she has a swollen ankle that we're monitoring and thankfully, is going down and ripped off two toenails) and has been going a mile a minute. 

Are they confused and unsure about what's going on? Yep. Do they let it bother them? Nope... as long as they still get babied and snacks. Lots of snacks. They're insane and all over the place and somehow always the calm to our storm. Having a bad day? Cuddle your baby.

Those other mamas are right... it really is the best medicine. Nothing like it.

Life is looking a little crazy right now.

Let me start this by saying... I thought we all agreed that 2025 was going to be a better time. Like... just in general and away from all the tomfuckery that has managed to invade our lives the last... however long it's been. Are we all stuck in some crazy fever dream right now?

I digress. Because if not... well... it's been a long couple of weeks.

Dev and me have been in Florida for over a week now. And while that may sound like vacation fun for most, let me assure you, if this is your idea of a vacation, neither of us EVER want to go on vacation with any of you. NEVER EVER.

A few weeks ago, Dev's daddy had to be rushed to the ER. After a week in the hospital, he was diagnosed with pancreatitis, told he had a pocket of fluid above his pancreas/pushing on the back wall of his stomach, and needed his gallbladder removed. He was sent home to "manage the inflammation" until his doctor returned from vacation. 

Cut to the Friday before last...I get a call at work in the afternoon from Dev telling me his daddy's friend is taking him back to the ER because he's in so much pain. So I immediately call my boss, pack everything I need to work remote, and headed to the house. We loaded up the car and our babies and to Florida we came. It takes us approximately thirteen hours to make it to the part of Florida we need to be. Luckily... this isn't exactly our first f*cking rodeo.

Eleven hours after making it to the ER waiting room, my FIL was finally admitted... and he's been there ever since. I'm not usually one to complain about healthcare. I've worked it... I've lived it... I understand it... I KNOW things can only move so fast and you can only do so much.

But when I tell you this has to be the most frustrating hospital experience of my entire life, I'm not exaggerating. I dealt with a lot of crazy shit when it came to Momma's health... A LOT. But this? Come the f*ck on. He was in the hospital from Friday afternoon (admitted Saturday morning) and they literally did no testing on him until Wednesday. Which is when they did the CT scan... and determined the fluid pocket hadn't gotten better under their "supervision"... it had actually gotten worse... and there were two.

You know what that means? That means his Thursday gallbladder removal was cancelled, and a Friday endoscopy with drainage was scheduled. Should be fine, right? Cool... it happened... they drained, put a stint, had a look around. Cool. Informed us they had to go in and do it again on Monday. Ok... but they don't know if or when they'll be taking his gallbladder. Why? Because they want to see if the inflammation can be managed. You mean the inflammation that had increased by six because this wasn't handled three weeks ago? And then what?

Don't know. We've had three doctors... doctors... not nurses, techs, administrators, case managers, no... DOCTORS tell us THREE different things and while they all start the conversation with "I've conferred with my team of fellow doctors" not a damn one of them seems to have EVER talked with the other two. They're confused, unfocused, and quite frankly, I don't understand how my FIL thinks they're so fantastic when literally the ball has been dropped at every opportunity presented.

He gets a new tray each time there's a meal because they can't agree on which diet he should be on... he was told to tell them as soon as as he feels pressure in his spine because they need to manage his pain for the inflammation... and then proceed to get lost in route to their medcart. And before people get butthurt, YES, I know nursing is a stressful and strenuous job and things happen out of your control. Multiple patients, one of you. I get it and I empathize. You can't drop everything for one person and you're not at their beck and call. I get it. However, when your patient has strict instructions and you leave their room and say "I'll grab that and be right back" and then I have to track you down over two hours later because at this point he's in fetal position pain, that's a f*cking problem. I shouldn't have to find a completely different nurse, ask where she is, get the response "I have no clue where she is" and tell them to find her before I throw a temper tantrum level hissy fit that would make my ancestors raise up and be proud of my level of petty before they assist him and do what the orders say.

COME ON. 

Unless you are working the triage unit of the ER... why the f*ck are you not on your own floor taking care of the patients assigned to you?

I didn't pull this shit out of my hat... they're your rules and guidelines and you're not even f*cking following them? Over two hours later? If your time management skills are that shit, perhaps you should find a new career. This one? Not for you. And I say that holding alot of love for nurses in my heart... this isn't an attack on all nursing. This is calling out one situation that repeated itself more than once and they still can't manage to get a handle on it. 

The entire thing is frustrating because they seem as confused and unsure as the rest of us. Hey guys, it's literally y'alls thing to have a plan. That's the whole reason he came here. For the third time. With pancreatitis. That still hasn't been handled. Because it keeps getting put off. And no one can seem to agree on a f*cking game plan.

Fun fact: this is the third time he's been admitted to this exact hospital for pancreatitis (the first time was March 2020).

Fun times. Hopefully, we'll find out something after the second endoscopy/drainage tomorrow, but with this team of doctors and staff? I'm not holding my f*cking breath. Mostly because I don't trust a damn one of them to know how to get me breathing again once I pass out.

My FIL? Pissed... irritable... angry... all the adjectives that encompass being rude and shit to my husband. And yeah, I understand he's frustrated and at his wit's end and he wants to go home, but f*ck, Dev is literally the ONLY person trying to help and he's getting a f*cking flogging for it. My BIL? Fantastic at being completely unhelpful and self-victimization. So... that's fun. Everybody else? Has an opinion or excuse but no justified reasoning.

And my husband? Bless his sweet, big, amazing heart. He's trying his best and doing all he can. We've been to the hospital everyday to visit, get updates, and cleaned the house inside and out. Cleared land, cut trees, kept the pups on their schedule. And all he wants is to do all he can to help get his dad better... he's not asking for praise or anything else... but not making his life more difficult by fighting, arguing and treating him like shit would be much appreciated. He didn't put anybody in this situation, and he 's doing all he can to help, and somehow he's the bad guy?

Yeah... I'm f*cking over that. My husband has a heart condition and I can't in good conscience let his mental and physical health be determined by shitheads who want to act like children. So... something has to give. Or, I'm going to have to make it give.

Thinking maybe we'll just load up our babies and disappear into the mountains never to be seen or heard from again by any person we've ever come into contact with throughout life.

TBD.

Decluttering our house has got to help declutter my mind... RIGHT?!!?!😬

You ever have one of those days where you're tired of looking at everything around you and you just KNOW it's time for you to change some shit? Happened to me... and Dev couldn't be happier with this little manic moment of mine.

I'm a hoarder. Like... not a I have thirteen flat cats and thirty-six dirty diapers hanging out in a drawer or box somewhere kind of hoarder... but I collect A BUNCH of shit. Clothes, figurines, knick-knacks, photos, dishes. You name it, I probably collect it in some form or another. And I don't set out to have these collections... nor do I only collect certain types of these things.

NO. I have just accumulated all this shit over the years and throughout my life... and from other peoples lives (I was raised on hand-me-downs and still love them to this day)... and I have a real problem letting go of shit once I have it.

What if I need it? What if it's important? What if it's sentimental? What if it belonged to someone I loved at some point? What if someone brings it up and needs it even though it's been hanging out in my shed for like thirty years? What. What. What. If. If. If.

UUUUGGGGGHHHHHH. 

Anybody who says you can't see the state of your mental health by that which is around you... is a f*cking psychopath.

We finally started cleaning out our sheds MONTHS ago but hit a lull because your girl be a real Debbie-Downer when I lose all motivation. Seriously, I always start off with good intentions but I end up stumbling over my own feet. Dev says I just have to do things in my own time... and lucky for me... he has no problem hanging out for however long it takes me to get to that point. Why just hanging out? Because I'll have a nervous breakdown if I just come home one day and everything is different. The man is a wizard at gauging my mental state.

Unfortunately, my husband has done all he can do by way of managing the clusterf*ck that has been created by yours truly, so some changes had to be made. Because you can only have so much shit before you have a breakdown... or at least... I'm going with that.

I've touched on the subject multiple times before... but when we lost Momma, we kind of just packed everything away because I couldn't fathom dealing with it. Over the years (mostly in the last year), we've gone through the shed but we never really went through the house and the shed and the garage and ALL of it. Moved things back and forth... debated and soul searched... but the majority remained as it was.

And honestly? I'm tired. I'm tired of having a bunch of shit that doesn't feel like ours. And it needs to be GONE. Like... buh-bye! 

So... we started decluttering. Like real deep down, soul searching, move shit out with a two-wheeler, throw away things that are there just to exist, no judgment if you want to get rid of it decluttering. And it felt GOOD.

The deep freezer that was way too big and broken? Dev beasted that bitch right out the door to our back alley and a scrapper hauled it off... along with that broken dryer on the back porch... and that old stove in the garage. All at once... years of chaos... hauled away. Made his day too. Two birds, one heavy ass debilitating stone.

Clothes that no longer fit my body or life... two Contractor bags later... POOF. Gone are the mornings of confusion and irritation trying to rifle through clothes and find something presentable to wear to work... and here are the mornings standing in irritation because no matter what I pick it'll fit but its still early as f*ck in the morning o'clock. And sure... now I need new pants in all areas... but I at least know the ones I have hanging out fit... ish.

And yeah... now we've hit a bit of a lull and our house is a bit chaotic... BUT it's our kind of chaotic and it's a process. As soon as a little of that oomph gets back in us... we'll do another room... and then another... until everything from top to bottom has been gone through and decluttered and deep cleaned. 

We're doing it all on our time... ok FINE my time... and I'm not letting any pressure or expectations get to me. Luckily, we both literally WANT to live in the house of our dreams... no matter how weird it may be... if we think of it and think it's cool... IT EXISTS. By the time we're done... we're only gonna have OUR stuff and a home that feels like just us. 

Because two people make a whole ass family... but we have furbabies... so we're a little more special.

🎉Our baby girls first spin around the sun was a threefer.🎉🎉

Today is what we in the world (and by world... I mean at the very least me and my hubby) refer to as a threefer. As in... three holidays in one day. 

Steve Irwin Glissons first birthday.
Easter Sunday.
420.

And sure... 420 is more "holidaze" than holidays but lots of people celebrate it and it counts! Mostly because my baby deserves a threefer instead of a twofer. 

I digress... and get to spend a four day weekend with my babies. Since Dev and me aren't going on any far vacations this year (at least... not in the plans) we decided I would just use vacation days to take long weekends and we would do things around the house or whatever it is we wanted.

This weekend for example... I took off Monday and Tuesday so I could have an extended weekend for Steve's birthday celebration. And sure, it happened to fall on a holiday weekend, but honestly? The traffic yesterday wasn't difficult (after we had to revise our 5AM plan to an 11AM plan... effin Seven Brew) and since we got all errands done between yesterday and this morning... we're home free to chillax and do nothing and anything we want for the next two days. 

And what we want is to spend all the time in the world with our babies and each other. It's a good life.

We're not big on Easter... we both used to celebrate as kids... and Lord knows we love those Reese Easter bunnies... but as far as a celebration for it? Nah. It's not really our thing... in fact, we're strange about alot of holidays. 

Who said you can't live however you want in whatever way you want?

With all that said... LOOK AT OUR BABY!! She's big and loud and funny and such a cuddlebug. Full of love and ornery and definitely the apple of her Bub's eye. (Although Sparkles will never admit it... he LOVES his little sister to the moon and back... she's alot... but she's his alot). I love the snuggles she gives me in the morning and the way her back hair stands when she's overzealous. I never thought I'd be a girl mom... but I gotta say... she's my little demon princess. And don't even get me started on how obsessed her daddy is with her.  All three of us adore the shit out of her and she EATS IT UP.

Such a little ham and cheese croissant she is. I could just eat her up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEVE IRWIN!! We love you and can't wait to spend the next fifty birthdays together as a family.

And in case you're wondering, yes... our family will totally have some cake to celebrate the holiday weekend and wish you and your families the best. And by cake... I mean donuts... because Steve wanted donuts and it's her birthday!

It's what happens when you give a thirty-five year old toddler a debit card.

You ever go to the grocery store with your husband and get super confused when the cashier assumes you have babies? No? 

Happened to me.

Sunday was a normal weekend day for us... tried to get a little extra sleep and then ran some errands. We move slow on Sundays... it's the only day we try to keep for just us. It usually works out... but not always. When it does though, we slow move and spend the day as little goblins doing whatever it is we want... as long as it's slow going.

Last week was crazy and literally the only thing I wanted was... shrimp. Like, could not think of anything else, was craving it, had to have it. The problem though? Every single time I eat seafood in the Midwest, I get food poisoning.

Every. Single. Time.

I honestly don't know if I have an allergy to seafood... if there's something wrong with Midwest seafood (being in a landlocked state doesn't feel water worthy?)... if I'm just dramatic and my body is like let's be a little extra and make you seem like an attention seeker... honestly, your guess is as good as mine at this point. 

The fact is though, it happens. Every time. 

Because of this turn of events (I swear, you vomit on a man on four separate occasions *eye roll*)... my husband has "put his foot down" and has forbidden me to eat seafood unless we're in a "water state."

So there we were... buying seafood in a state that isn't known for its water critters (clearly, that foot was dislodged... I love my hubby will protest but still cook for me so my little heart can have whatever it desires), but we have to go to the big grocery store because it has way fresher food options than... our regular... well... our bit of... sketch grocery store.

We get everything we need... get the things we don't need but got anyways... and off to checkout we go.

And while we were checking out, the cashier rang about five or six items through... stopped... looked me dead ass in the eye and asked, "Oh! Did you need baby formula?" The confusion must have showed on my face... but I went with a simple, "no, but thank you." 

She followed that up with... "Well, did you know we moved it? Are you sure you don't need any, they resupplied this morning and I can show you right where it is?"

Again, I answered, "no?" But, I had to frame it as a question because she seemed so confident I needed it that for a second I thought, shit, did I forget my baby formula? And then I was like, shit Katie... you don't have babies, quit buying unnecessary shit.

This went back and forth a few more times before I finally told her that we had babies at home, but they were the furry kind and not the human kind. SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY.

What was my husband doing the whole time? Fucking laughing... and probably thinking we needed to pick up Pepto for the shrimp escapade.

Once we walked out of the store... with me still being super confused... Dev finally asked if I knew why that woman had so many baby questions for me. I told him no but I thought it was super weird and random. 

He proceeded to chuckle and then informed me of some of our purchases that day... two kiddie plates (hey! I needed new dishes and these have edges for my snacks!)... a double pack of baby wipes (in all fairness, the pandemic broke me, dude!)... a jumbo box of fruit snacks (they're for everybody!)... and on the list went until I realized that yes, it did in fact look like the kids were at Nana's and we were making a family grocery run.

MY BAD. But like... those fruit snacks are SO good.

🖤Apparently things do and don't come with age.🖤🖤

I'll be thirty-five in a few days and I have to say... all that shit adults were talking when I was a kid makes alot more sense now.

Yes, when it rains it does in fact pour. My back hurts for no reason as well. And I too miss the grocery prices of my youth, because paying $102 for hamburger meat and a gallon of milk is ridiculous.

I have a bad hip now for no reason whatsoever... just woke up one morning and BOOM... bad hip. Did I sleep on it wrong? How fucking old do you have to be for that to happen? Did I sleepwalk a 5k? Also, if that happened... when did I get the willpower to actually complete a 5k? Did my pups get together and initiate me into Fight Club? Did I Soulja Boy too hard? Like, what happened?

Eyesight? Failing. And failing hard too, not a little blur or anything. No, like full on can't see shit except when I see three of the same thing that isn't even there type level of failing. Driving to work at 6 in the morning with an astigmatism in both eyes ain't for the weak, dude.

Where did all the vitamins in my body go by the way? I've been Vitamin D/Iron deficient since my early twenties and guess what? That shit don't improve naturally with age. I take vitamins and eat proteins and drink milk... and nothing. My body takes a look at those nutrients and is like PASS. And what's the one thing your body needs to thrive? Vitamins. Ugh. (And yes, I know it takes more than that and water is important and blah blah, let me be dramatic).

I've actually thinned out with age... not that I'm complaining about that. 

What I am complaining about though is the fact I spent the first thirty years of my life looking real Henry VIII and now I'm more on the Audrey Hepburn (in body type NOT glamour, beauty or talent) side of things and apparently there's health problems for both? Like... I was heavy and people were like CAREFUL because diabetes and heart disease but now I'm thin and people are like CAREFUL because osteoporosis and heart disease. 

What. The. Fuck. 

Apparently, all of us have weak ass hearts... looking real Grinch over here.

As a woman, they start telling you about all the things that will start going downhill faster than others: weight management, skin elasticity, wrinkles and fine lines, vitamin absorption, hair/skin/nail health depletes.

Like... it's not good enough I can barely walk and bare weight on my left side first thing in the morning but go ahead and make my hair fall out too? The fuck?

There's things you do to try and counteract some of this nonsense... I put vital proteins/collagen peptides in my coffee everyday. I started taking Mary Ruth's multivitamin yesterday. I use retinol and fancy lotion on my face and I moisturize with coconut oil like you wouldn't believe.

Honestly, I don't know if any of it helps or if my MIL just managed to placebo me into thinking the shit I put in my coffee was gonna make me look killer, but either way, I'm rolling with it.

Why? Because with age might come alot of bullshit (and I do mean A LOT), but not all of it is bad.

I've never been more comfortable with my body than I am right now. Yes, even though we tend to close it for maintenance, it's still the best it's ever been... for me. No, I don't look like I used to and we all know I'm not getting any younger... BUT... I'm comfy. And I'm comfy because I'm just me.

I wear what I want, eat what I want, spend money on what I want, live like I want... and I get to do it all with the other half of me. Because we all know Dev just keeps getting better and better with age.

My husband ages like whiskey and I age like fucking bread.

Seriously though, I would say the best thing about age is perspective. I know the things I've done and lived through... and I know there's still more to come. I've come to terms with not every single person liking me and I've realized that the only person my decisions should affect are me. If living my life to my happiest and most comfortable is affecting someone else that much in a negative way... they should probably get some help for that. Why? Because it's not my problem.

You know what is my problem though? This fucking hip. Kidding... mostly.

A we do what we want kind of weekend.🛻🌲💸😍

This weekend was... eventful. Actually, now that I think back on it, last week was INSANE for all of us. Not just Dev and me, but ALL of us. You, me, and probably the dude on the corner. Seriously, y'all have those weeks, right? Where you're super productive but also it feels like you have a million things to do?

Happened to me. To us. 

We decided to get a jumpstart on the weekend and paid our mortgage on Thursday after work. Smart, right? Would've been if I didn't also get a case of "fighting for my life" but whatever. I also got a little update on my cousin, Shanny, while we were out that way. She's having a second surgery on my birthday and another one in three-four months. Hopefully, everything goes ok with her and she's alright as can be. I should probably call her to check in on her and my uncle.

Even with my gut being an asshole (they were in a fight and yes... pun intended) we still managed to get in a WRTTMM Friday evening and were back home in time to get some rest and prepare for the day ahead.

Meanwhile... our pups were wylin out because that's what they do.

Saturday rolled around and Dev had a tattoo appointment up in Muncie. Like the true daddy he is... he made sure I got Mickey D's breakfast and coffee to fill me up before we made that trek. While it was an all day event, it was a good time and the piece turned out AMAZING. I'm so proud of Dev and the things he's accomplishing. Also... just to put it out there... being married to a tattoo artist? Fuckin hot. Being able to be tattooed in the comfort of my home by the sexiest man I know? Also hot.

His client was actually Macey's bio-dad and since Travis had a piece on her stepmom, we got to meet that side of their family. They were SO nice and he trains Malinois's for a living... so obviously he must be the dog whisperer because Sparkles was all up in his business. Seriously, my grumbly pup that doesn't like much of anyone... ok not true... he just doesn't like men... he's a real ladies man... was ALL OVER this dude. 

It was so amazing to see and actually made me a little emotional, because Sparkles has been real down since we lost Xur-Xur. Like, real down to the point of depression and we can't seem to pull him out of it. But after Saturday he seems a bit more like my old pup and it is without a doubt, more precious than I could describe.

We got home late from that appointment and successfully made our list of everything we needed to get off Amazon... and while the pups, Dev and me are now covered in all our areas... fuckin ouch, dude. Shit be spensive.

Sunday rolled around and wouldn't you know it... there was things to do. Luckily, it was minimal and we had everything done and were back at the house by 10:30AM. We headed out about 9:00AM so we could get Trudy her very FIRST oil change. She's officially almost 5,000 miles deep and it was that time. Technically, she had another like thirty miles left in her, but I'm trying to take care of her to the best of my abilities. Have I mentioned how much I love that truck? Because I do... we really do. Also... shout out to Jiffy Lube! They're not only open on Sundays... but that's where I took Doug Judy... and now Trudy. They had us in/out in like twenty minutes. Fuckin, G's.

After the oil change we filled Trudy up, picked up a few things from the grocery (this gal needed coffee, our pups needed food, and Dev needed burgers), had another Mickey D's breakfast run and hightailed it back to the house before church let out.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out and not doing anything... but I'm still somehow exhausted?

Also, now that Trudy is a bit broken in with a new oil change and a full tank? Pheesh. Fuck out of my way, because she is a BEAST.

So yeah... we had an incredibly busy weekend... we spent way more money than we intended... we're so tired you would think we haven't slept in three days... BUT it was so worth it and I had an amazing time.

I love spending all my time with my family and seeing them as happy as possible. Watching Dev do what he loves is incredible and I'm blessed to be able to share in that with him. The fact we all get to be together and can travel with him (most of the time) while he works is just an added bonus onto the ever-evolving amazingness that I call life.

And now... we start this work week over. It's all good, we're on a mission to be as chill as possible from here on out. The only things we have are my work schedule and Dev's appointments... other than that... home free!

Oh yeah... today is also Macey's birthday. So... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MACEY-JO!!

💕My baby boy is seven years young and I'm sensitive about it. 💕💕

6AM is simply too early for this birthday boy. But that’s ok… I’ll be extra enough for the both of us. Seven birthdays of being the pitifulest little pitty man in all the land. So full of love, ornery, and naps. I can’t imagine a sweeter pup to steal my blanket and drool on my pillow. You make my heart happy. We love you, Bubs!