3 years...WOW...

I just realized today, that I have been blogging for 3 years now. It really doesn't seem that long ago...

We had a great Christmas! We spent Christmas eve, and most of Christmas at my parents house. Shawn's Grandma Mary came over and had Christmas Dinner with us. Then we headed to Shawn's Nanny and Pawpaw's house and drove around looking at Christmas lights and when we got back we played Spades. We were exhausted by the time we got home.

Friday night some friends of ours that live in Houston came up to see our house. They brought two huge 24" pizzas (there were tons of leftovers!). It was nice to see them in person and catch up! Oh and Meghan was staying the night on Friday, and ended up staying on Saturday too. Shawn got up early yesterday and took her home so she could get to work on time.

We aren't really doing anything exciting to bring in the New Year tonight. Shawn has to work tomorrow so he will probably be in bed by 9:30 and if I continue to feel the way I do I will probably go to bed early too. I woke up yesterday with a scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and a horrible cough. I was in bed by 8:30 last night. At 8, I took one Tylenol Cold & Sinus. Which I am glad I only took one, because with two I am usually out the whole next day too, and this morning I got a call asking if I could watch B because they weren't able to get a hold of their other sitter. Speaking of her, she has awaken, and I better go get her before she gets really upset!

Happy New Year!

Fun weekend!

Our weekend fun, started Friday night, when Shawn's grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins came up to our house for a night of games. We ate, exchanged gifts, and played loaded questions. We originally had three games planned, but since Shawn had to work on Saturday we only played the first one.

Saturday, Shawn worked and I ended up watching 5 kids. I got a phone call Friday afternoon from one of the mom's whose boys I watch occasionally and she was wondering if I could watch her manager's children on Saturday. I told her sure just have him call me, thinking he would call me sometime Friday, seeing how he needed me for Saturday. He called Saturday at 10:30 asking me if I could watch them from 11 to 5. I told him that I could. So he drops them off and off to work he goes. This is not the first time I have watched kids with out the parents taking the time to ask me a few questions to find out what kind of a person I am. It drives me crazy, that people just drop their children off with out wanting to know one thing about me or even inspecting my house to make sure it is safe for their kids. Don't get me wrong, I think I am a wonderful sitter and I know my house is a safe environment for children, it just bugs me that they just think because of Shawn's career (sometimes) that I am a safe person to leave their children with. I said sometimes because one lady who I sit for had no idea about Shawn's career. In fact she pretty much did the same thing as this guy, called me asked if I could watch her sons for a couple of days, I arranged a time for her to come by that afternoon so I could meet them and so she could see where I lived and stuff, she never showed up for it, but then showed up knocking at my door the next morning, dropped them off, and left. At least the dad yesterday, knew a little bit about me before hand. Although he seemed a little frustrated when I asked him to fill out a form I have for all of the kids I keep. All I want to know is emergency numbers and if they have any kind of allergies.
LOL sorry didn't mean to go off about that, anyway I ended up having lots of fun with his kids. We did lots of crafts. They made Christmas cards with card stock paper, foam Stickers, and markers. The girls (there were 2 girls and 3 boys) made necklaces and the boys made snowman and penguins. We ended our day with watching Veggie Tales: The Toy that Saved Christmas and Firehouse Dog.

Tonight, when Shawn got home from work I told him we were going on a date (sort of). He thought I was crazy, because I was making us hot chocolate and warming up the left over mini tacos and taqitos (sp?)from Friday night. At first he thought we were going out to eat, so he didn't know why I was warming that stuff up. Then I told him we were going to drive around and look at all the pretty Christmas lights around town, plus deliver the last of our cookie tins. I thought it was lots of fun for a spur of the moment deal. This is a picture we took tonight just before we left. The last picture is for our nephew A.C. (Britt's oldest). He was telling Grandma that he hasn't ever seen snow or touched it. So, Uncle Shawnee took a picture of the snow. Sorry we can't send you some to touch and feel, but hopefully one day, when you move to Texas you will be able to play in it. And we can throw snowballs at Uncle Shawnee and build a snow man, but until then maybe you could talk your mom or Grandma into getting you some of this stuff.

Sorry your uncle and Minnie just had to walk and run through it.

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

More pictures....

Kitchen/tv area

My Santa Chef. Isn't he cute!!!

I got these this year and put candles in them.

Top of the entertainment center

On top of the tv....

End table by the couch

Great Story

The girl "M" that I watch during the day, loves to listen to His Kids Radio while she plays. This week for some reason it has been down, but you are still able to listen to different radio story (episodes). It is suppose to be up and working by this afternoon. One of her favorites to listen to is Paws & Tales. I discovered you can listen to all past episodes here. This morning we listened to this one again... and I thought it was a really good one. It is called True Riches and ... "M" loves Goose (I think that is her name) which is a character in the story. I think the story is close to 30 minutes long. Another great one is The Perfect Christmas Gift.

A few pictures

I finally got pictures taken of our tree, a few ornaments, and the crazy garland lamp end table. First like most of the time, pictures do not do our tree justice. I love our tree!!! I love the brightness of the ornaments. This year we found garland that matches the colors of theornaments. I don't think the camera really captures it. Anyway here are a few pics....

Our Tree

These are the 5 main different ornament types besides the plain same type colored ornament balls (not sure if that is what they are called???) Each ornament set has the same colors...I hope thismakes since....




Here is a close up of the Nativity Set- (It's my mom's)
The end table that I have a love/hate relationship with LOL! I don't think the picture really shows you the red and green garland....

Our regular ol looking stockings and 3 of my fav. ornament's Shawn and I recieved our first Christmas.

Maybe tomorrow I can get some pics of the kitchen and tv area.....

Marvelous Innocence

I got this in an email and I thought I would share it! Hope it brightens your Monday!


It was the day AFTER Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking at the manger scene, when he noticed that the baby Jesus figure was missing from the cradle. He immediately turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon walking down the street. And in the wagon, was the figure of the infant Jesus.

So he walked up to the boy and said, "Son, where did you get that little baby Jesus that's in your wagon?"

The little boy replied, "I got him from the church."

And why did you take him?" asked the pastor.

The little boy replied, "Well, about a week before Christmas, I prayed and I told Jesus if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride in it!"

Busy Busy Weekend!

This weekend has been a very busy one! Friday night (my mom's birthday (**click to see what we got her), Shawn and I took her out to eat and to go see Alvin and The Chipmunks Movie. It was an awesome movie! My dad is working out of town right now, and we didn't want her to spend her birthday alone. We stayed the night, and then Saturday morning, my mom and I began baking and making all kinds of goodies (white chocolate dipped pretzels, cookies and cream, cherry mash, chocolate dipped peanut butter crackers, etc...). We did that from 10:00 am to about 5 pm. That is when my dad arrived home for just the night. We ate supper and then headed home. I think I was in bed and asleep by 10:00 which is really early for me.

Today, Shawn and I wrapped presents, finished Christmas Cards, baked cookies, and packaged boxes that have to be mailed in the morning. I hope they make it in time!!! We baked 120 chocolate chip cookies, 64 Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chunk cookies, and 64 Macadamia nut cookies. It was a lot of cookies, but most of them are now in tins. The cookie/goodie tins is something we started last year and was a big hit with the Shawn's Shift and others at the Police Department. The people on his shift get a medium size tin and then others get a small one.

I do have my mom's camera, so I plan on taking pictures of our tree, the crazy end table, my one Santa Chef (mom, Shawn really wanted one for his birthday, he was just too embarrassed to admit it :) !!) , and other Christmas decorations. If you are blog friend (we haven't met) and would like a Christmas Card..email me with your address! Well that is about it folks! I am worn out and off to bed I go!!

I thought I would be done with school today, but my final that was scheduled for 6:00 tonight was cancelled because of the weather. Which is okay with me, because I really didn't want to drive on ice tonight, especially with the way my cell phone has been acting up.
I was hoping to get all of the gifts we are mailing out in the mail by Friday, but 2 things I have ordered have yet to come in :(. Hopefully they will soon!! Other than that, there isn't much to blog about. Not that this stuff is even good stuff to blog about lol! Have a great week!

Ha

So what happens when your house is a wreck and unorganized and you are suppose to be studying for a test? Well lets see first it was oh I will put a few ornaments on the tree (most of them are on there now). Then it was lets clear off the top of this for the Nativity Set. Third, I looked at this cheap end table we have in our front room and for the billionth time said that I hated the lamp shade (really I hate the whole thing, eventually we will get a new end table). Then I saw this left over red and green garland so I wrapped the lamp shade in it. I wasn't sure if I liked it, so I called a few people. Had a friend stop by and look at it. She thought it was cool looking. I still don't know if I like it or not. We will see if Shawn notices it :). Needless to say I haven't even started studying yet.

I thought by putting up some stuff it would take away some the chaos, but I think I just added to it, because inside the bins are boxes and those boxes came out, while I was looking for other stuff. And now I really need to study for a quiz I have tomorrow and for my final on Friday. I wish my camera would work. I don't know what the problem is, we have changed the batteries and the little light flashes green but it won't actually turn on.

Ugh- Random rambilings

You wanted an update.... and finals start on Friday.......hahahaha, but the good news is that on Monday I have my last 3. So by next Tuesday I should be back to my normal usually happy self. :)

I got a hair cut and its to my chin. (It was like 1 to 2 inches past my shoulders) If I had a working camera, I would take a picture, but I don't. I didn't see it until it was finished so I was a little scared, but I LOVE IT!!!! We did our Christmas shopping this weekend and got all but 3 people bought for. Do you ever wonder if the people you buy for will be disappointed? I do, but Shawn says if he hears of one complaint then they get nothing next year. lol My house is a wreck and I hate it!! It is mainly decorations waiting to go up. The tree is up and the lights are on it, but that is about it. I have stuff that needs to be wrapped in my living room, the kitchen has boxes and storage bins every where. My kitchen table is full of my stuff I am making Christmas cards with. I am in the process of putting up all of my fall stuff and taking out my Christmas stuff. It is driving me nuts, but once everything is out and up it will look great!!!! I saw a Santa Chef I want at the Holiday Shop except it is 160.00, but it is oh so cute.

Have a good week..... by the way where are the links of the elves.....