My Husband, the Writer

Big changes coming for the Mercado Family!
Last May, Daniel graduated from BSU with a degree in Creative Writing. Since then he has been working, but not writing. This has been difficult in many ways. First of all, Daniel is a good writer and he loves it. But he had to go from writing all the time to having no time to do it at all. Second, even though Daniel's job was a good job, it wasn't one that he liked. And when you don't like your job and you have to be there almost more often than you are with your family that makes life pretty rough. I can't imagine going to my job everyday and not liking it, but I can tell you it sucks when your husband has to do it.
So by the middle of September, Daniel will be home full time. He will have to somehow manage his schedule to allow him to take care of a toddler and put several hours a day into writing. I'm glad he is very determined and disciplined because I think I would spend all day in my jammies playing with the baby! But I have so much confidence in him. Even though he is a fiction writer he will have to start by writing non-fiction essays and magazine-type articles. He may be able to submit some short stories, but when you're starting out it is much harder to get fiction published. Hopefully after he gets a good portfolio put together he can put more time into the writing he loves.
We're both a little nervous, this is a really big step. But I know Daniel is a great writer (that's the reader in me talking, not the wife) and he will work really hard! If anyone can do this he can. And to prove it I am certainly willing to eat Top Ramen every night for the next several weeks....or months....
So cross your fingers for us, say a little prayer, and maybe buy us a bag of groceries. Just kidding! I'll keep updating to let everyone know how he's doing and of course to let you know when his first book signing is!!

Is It Always This Crazy?

We have had the busiest summer! Don't get me wrong...I would rather be busy than spend my time twiddling my thumbs--but Holy Cow!
We have been so busy. We have spent every other weekend out of town since the 4th of July. It is almost Labor Day and we still have one more trip planned. It has been so much fun but I would have liked another day or two to just relax.
We spent July 4th in IF with Grandma Turnage. Showing the kids what I used to do for the holiday and going to my 10 year High School Reuinion. Not too long after that we spent a weekend in Utah, going to Lagoon and visiting with family. Daniel and I also spent a weekend in Las Vegas and now we have spent a weekend camping and have another one planned.
Now CJ and Caleb start school on Monday and the summer is almost over! It was nice while it lasted! Even with the busy schedule we have gotten a lot accomplished. We have spent time with family, Daniel and I have spend time alone together, and we have made it on the first of two camping trips! More that we got done last summer! But I don't know if my goal for next year should be to "out-busy" this year! A little calm would be nice. But I do have a feeling that it is just the beginning.

As the boys get older they will do more, they will become more independent and I will try to do more for myself. But for now I will try to appreciate the fact that CJ and Caleb still want to kiss me good-bye. They don't want me to drop them off a block away from the school. And they still tell me they love me whenever they want to...not when it is "safe". I know that will all end soon, so I will try to appreciate what I have now. Because I know some day the boys will avoid me. They will roll their eyes. They will blush and be embarassed by something I said. But until then, I will take the busy schedule and the feeling that I have no time to relax...and I will try to hold on to that. Because I'm sure that some day I will be bored! Yeah, right!

Camping

 

We just got back from a weekend in the great outdoors. We went camping with my family. We found a great spot on the north fork of the Boise River and it had everything you need for a good camping trip. There were tall trees for lots of shade, the river was nearby so the guys could go fishing but not so close that we had to worry about the little ones falling in.
We had great dutch oven food and smores of course. The guys didn't do too well when it came to fishing, but catching fish isn't always the point, right? There was even a little stream that ran through the campsite. It was only about 5 inches deep so the kids were able to wade through it and use cups to play in the water. They kept calling it "the lake"! They all got good and filthy--which is kind of a requirement when you're camping.
We had so much fun and it was so nice to get up in the mountains and spend time with family.

Downtown!!

Later this month I will turn 28. I know that is not old, and not that I am feeling old, but I am realizing that I am not the spring chicken I used to be. I remember when I was the youngest person in my office. When I first started (5 years ago), the other girls would ask me how old I was and after I told them they would go on about how young I was. Needless to say, that doesn't happen anymore. We have a few girls that have celebrated their 21st birthday and we get to hear stories about their late night shenanigans. I honestly don't think I could keep up with them.
But I did brave the downtown scene this past Saturday night. It was a couple days after my sister's birthday (I won't tell you how old SHE is), and it was the first time I would be able to see my very best friend Jody.
Jo and I have been friends since we were 15 years old. We graduated high school together, went to our first semester of college together, and lived in our first apartment and house together in Boise. In May she moved to Hawaii. She had just graduated from BSU and was looking forward to spending time with her sister and the sunshine. She moved back last month after finding out that her sister and brother-in-law would be stationed elsewhere after he got back from his deployment in March.
To get to the point, I was so excited to spend a girl's night downtown with my sis for her birthday and to see my friend who I had been missing for the last few months.
The last time I had been downtown was almost a year ago for Daniel's sister's bachelorette party and before that it was a few months earlier for my brother's future wife's bachelorette party. As you can tell, I was a little rusty.
But I did have fun! It was great to see Jody and we did get to dance. The club played a few(older) songs that I knew.
My favorite part was seeing a man (about 45 years old) who was wearing a "Still Pissed At Yoko" t-shirt. It didn't feel so old after that!!
We had a lot of fun. I still think I prefer a nice dinner with a nice bottle of wine where we girls can chat, but I can let my hair down every now and then and go dancing with the younguns!

Vegas Trip

As you all know, Daniel and I took a trip to Las Vegas for our anniversary. We had so much fun! We didn't go to any shows and we didn't see any exhibits. We just enjoyed being together without any appointments, commitments, or distractions.
On the night of our anniversary we had dinner at a restaurant called Mon Ami Gabi. It is a French restaurant in the Paris, where we were also staying. We had such a nice meal--steaks and wine, and we had a great table. We were seated just inside the patio area, so we got the benefit of the air conditioning with the view of the Bellagio and the fountains. It was beautiful.
We did a little shopping and some gambling. We didn't win a big jackpot but we did pretty well at the Roulette table, so that was fun.
It is always so nice to get away for a few days. Daniel and I never have a hard time entertaining each other. We always laugh and have fun!

Boise Hawks Baseball Game

Daniel and I spent Friday night at the Hawks Game with Ali and Juan, and Rob and Tina. We had so much fun. Tina yelled her head off, the boys had a few brews, and the Hawks won 5-3. There was also a fireworks show after the game. It wasn't nearly as good as the IF 4th of July fireworks show but if was fun too.

After the game, we went to Old Chicago with Juan and Ali. We talked sports (well the guys did) and Ali and I chatted too. It is always fun to take a night off and hang out with friends! Especially when they are family too! We hope everyone else has a good weekend too.