Pinky toe drama

Apparently the pinky toe is very important and has many nerve endings…. Yesterday in the evening we were attempting to put away some Christmas decorations. I was wearing flip flops and just ran up the stairs to put away some crap, and was on my way back downstairs. Dave and the kids were right near the stairway. Suddenly I just slipped and fell down the stairs. Dave was on the phone and hung up on whoever he was talking to, Laura found it hilarious and said “momma fall down, haha” I just sat there and cried and my poor pinky toe started bleeding enough to make me feel sick from seeing the amount of blood. Dave’s reply to my crying was “you just can’t keep a pedicure can you?” I had just gotten one the day before, and it will probably be a while before I let anyone touch that toe.

The sucker hurts still I tell you. After some first aide from David, and some examining I must have ripped the toe nail somehow. The nail is still there but its been bleeding off and on even today a little bit. I don’t see a cut or anything so who knows what the heck I did. I can move the toe so I doubt it’s broke, but the sucker still hurts, and at work today I still managed to some how stub my toe and I wore crocs today trying to be careful. That caused me to make quite the vocabulary impression on my patients. At this point I am ready for someone to just amputate the toe and be done with it.

Oh to be a Campbell...

Today was the annual Campbell Family Reunion held at my great aunt Julia's. Picture a crazy amount of Campbell's backed into a small house. It's crazyness as we are loons. My Aunt Julia is the queen of knick knacks, she has more crap then my mom and that really says something. This meant I had to chase after Laura and remind her a gazilion times not to touch. The highlight of the affair was my youngest nephew Justin asking my mom in front of everyone what a "Diry Sanchez" is.



So New Years Eve Dave and I are going to head to dinner somewhere which will probably end up being Plaza, and then we are going to go bowling with some friends. Don't joke on bowling- its so much fun, and its been a good three years since we have been able to go. SO that's going to be our big New Year's Eve outting....

Laura's Inner Evil Knievel

Croc crazy!

Laura's impressive Croc collection. Pretty crazy.... But she loves them!

The gift that keeps giving...

We are all sick. It started with poor Rachel who woke up Christmas Day with it, and when we took her in to the doctor the next day she had a temp of 104. She has a cold and a ear infection, and over the last few days shes passed it on to Laura, David and myself. We were going to try to go to Appomattox today to see Dave's grandmother, and even yesterday Dave was set on going, and was getting frustrated with me as I said I was going to stay home with Rachel, and he was dead set on taking her. I was not going to budge. This can been a common theme with him as a week or so after I have birth to Rachel he wanted to take everyone up to see his grandmother immediatly as she was very sick and ill and not going to be around much longer. I refused to go as I had just had a c-section and my freaking incision was open, and Dave pouted like a baby. But we went have been to see her several times since then so I am not trying to prevent him from going or actuing like this out of evil, I just want everyone to be healthy and I like to be present when we do these trips.

I was feeling like crap yesterday and it was obvious Rachel still was feeling yucky, so I was a bit happy when Dave woke up sick today and decieded it would not be a good idea to make the trip. DUH! So the trip is postponed for a bit, but eventually we will all go, and we will all go in good health so we don't end up getting her sicker then she already is. I seriously just wish they would move her down here where everyone is. There just comes a time you have to step up and say enough is enough, and I know Dave's mom and aunt have got to be just plain tired and burnt out.

A few days earlier we ended up finally picking out a mattress. We get it delivered Tueday and I am super excited, as it felt heavenly when I was rolling around on it in the show room. We ended up getting it from Mattress Discounters as my sister recently got her a new one from there and had shopped around and done some investigating on them. Never just go in there and buy what the sticker says. If you sit around in there for a while the saleman gets overly dramatic when you try to leave and makes these phone calls to see how far he can come down on the sticker price, and apparently he can come down pretty far. But like I said my sister filled us all in on this, so we got a good price, free delivery and removed of old mattress and he even got us a matress pad cheaper then what the sticker price said for just the mattress.

Adventures in brushing teeth....

No this blog is not about brushing my kids teeth, in fact its my own personal experience. One of our gifts we got this year was the Ultra Sonic electric tooth brush thingys. I have never used anything but basic tooth brushes and apparently such a concept is a bit over my head. I didn't read any directions as I thought I would be smart enough to figure it out- I was wrong. I started with putting a glob of toothpaste on the brush and then I pushed the button on and then put it in my mouth. The vibrations scared me and I was certain I was going to chip my teeth or shock myself. I was scared to death while I did it, and I came out in the den to do this while attempting to watch something on TV so this amused David watching me. When I was done I came back in the den and Dave pointed out that I had a glob of toothpaste on my shirt as I turned the thing on before putting it in my mouth resulting in me slinging the toothpaste. I amused David with my antics at least.

T'was the day after Christmas

Well Christmas has come and gone, and even without as much running around it was still crazy! BUT it was wonderful and magical and all of that oosshyy goooshhyyy stuff. Christmas Eve was spent at the inlaws and that was the first round of the spoiling. The girls got so much stuff. Laura was still not interested in opening present this year, we sort of thought she would be more into it, but she was more interested in prancing around, which was fine as having us or others open rather then a 22 month old or 10 month old makes the process speed up some. The big hit for Laura Christmas Eve was her table and chairs that she was crazy about. Big hits for Dave was some golf pass thingy, and golf shoes. For me it was kitchen stuff- I got my Wok and a panini maker.

When we came home we let the girls open a present under the tree which was new PJ's, and Laura did help open them up at least. They were ready to crash soon after that as they had a super long day as they had gone to Richmond with Dave's parents to a party earlier.

So then "Santa" came and boy was Santa busy. Santa even wondered for a split second if he had brought enough which was silly, but still he wondered, so then Christmas morning I got up SUPER EARLY. I don't know what it is, but I am still like a little kid on Christmas morning. I used to get up so freaking early when I lived with my parents, and I guess its just carried over. I hate to admit this, but I actually got up at 4:30am, yes I know, but I couldn't fall back to sleep, so I just got up and prepared for the day by doing some cooking for breakfast. Each year I make a breakfast casserole. Dave loves those, and I never make them except on Christmas. I also did a little more straightening and then I tried to keep busy without waking up every one else. Dave woke up about 6am, and soon after Rachel started crying. She however, woke up sick. Poor thing... first Christmas and she is sick. She had a runny nose and was pulling on her ears some. She did perk up a little after some food and some Motrin, and was ready to go back to sleep. Dave and I decieded to go ahead and exchange, as I was by this time dying to start opening gifts. Santa was very gracious with what he left in my stocking. I got lots of gift cards, and can't wait to use them.

So after stockings I let Dave open his gifts from me and the kids. His big gifts where a golf driver that must have inside diamonds or something for the amount it cost, and the North Face coat. He also got a ACDC CD set, and some other little stuff.

My big gifts from Dave and the kids was a beautiful Coach purse and wristlet, that he picked out by himself. He said the sales ladies where he bought it at are like car salemen. I also got a new ipod nano in baby blue! I also got the Magic Bullet blender things I had been wanting and some tupperware stuff I needed.

About 7am we heard the Laura and Rachel stiring so we brought them down to see what Santa left. Laura went straight to her kitchen set and started checking it out. Rachel also got to try out her car, and Laura decieded she like that too. They really seemed to enjoy their toys and were soon making a mess. My parents then popped in to see what Santa had left, and thats when we gave my parents their gifts. My dad is really hard to shop so I usually get him gift cards to Bass Pro Shop and Green Top in Richmond, as he loves going to both places. I also got him a shirt and some CD's he wanted. He's been on a CD kick as he got a Bose stero thingy a few months ago, and ever since hes been Mr. Music Man. I find it hilarious as when I was younger and bought CD's he would tell me I was wasting my money on that S!*%. I got my mom a Coach purse which she loved, a vera bradly book cover, some Mathew's County sign thing, and a sunflower garden decoration thingy. They also got the scrapbook on the girls that I worked on for freaking forever, and they got the picture of all their grandkids that we nearly killed us with that experience.

About the time they were done opening up, Dave's parents popped in to see what Santa brought and to see the kids before they left to head out of town, but just as soon as they came they left. I know it must be hard for them to be away from their kids and grandkids on Christmas.

We got the girls dressed and then headed next door to my parents and then got to open our gifts. Christmas with my parents is always over the top and crazy. They buy a crazy amount of gifts, and my mom spends forever wrapping them beautifully with perfect bows, and baking every kind of cake and cookie you can imagine, and then preparing a feast. Seriously, she's freaking Martha Stewart Jr. They spoiled us silly again. Dave's big gifts were a Bose Radio CD thingy, a pressure washer, and some crown molding kit he wanted. My big gifts were a Dooney bag, a cool scrapbook tool called the Silohette, and a bunch of every day dishes by Longaberger, and a gazillion other stuff.

The kids got a crazy amount as well, and soon "santa" was not feeling like he should have brought more, and left Dave and I wondering where the hell we were going to put everything. Laura was all about this leapfrog laptop she got, and Rachel was all about her Elmo Chair.

My nephews were a trip. My 13 year old nephew got some crazy pogo stick from his Dad. It doesn't have springs, it operates by air you put into it with a air compressor, and its made for adults, and apparently the more air you put into it the higher you bounce, and if your a pro you can jump over cars. Jake brought that over and was showing that off. Hopefully he doesn't kill himself on it, but it looks like some fun, and I am going to try it out hopefully today if it quits raining.

Justin got this motor scooter, and I got to try it out. Picture this, me on the scooter all dressed up riding down the street like a crazy lady. To top it off a house on the corner got sold and our new neighbors were picking Christmas Day to move in which was odd, but I zoomed past them while they looked at my like I was nuts and yelled Merry Christmas. Dave and my nephews were cracking up at me, and said they think the neighbors think I am mentally retarded.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Ok so counting is a bit more involved then I thought. There's a gazillion items to count, as well as a gazillian medications. But its over, and I get to do it all over again monday, every monday I guess, and the last day of each month, until Crystal comes back. It's actually not so bad but stuff is a bit disorganized and spread out everywhere. But I can't complain as we got it done and entered in some computer program, and I went to lunch and left for the day.

One of the many cool things about being a parent is that Christmas gets magical again. I thought it was so cool to play Santa last year for Laura, and I spoiled her silly. I attempted to scale back this year as my kids have everything already they could possibly need, but I some how managed to get a ton crap anyways. Laura will be more excited this year getting her gifts and may even open a few this year lol, but she is still a bit too young to understand whats going on. Rachel will be clueless of course but I bet she will enjoy all her new goodys.

Merry Christmas!!!

It's Christmas Eve and I am at work. Yes I know... tell me all about it. Normally I would be at home, BUT our unit is open cause people still have to get dialysis. I am here though cause like some idiot I agreed to learn how to do inventory today. Our super secretary had her baby, so she is out on maternity leave, and she normally does them. So two techs here were put in charge of it and they are not liking it to well, and there have been some major mess ups. My Secretary at my other clinic is filling in some to help us out with secretary stuff, so I am going to have her show me how to do the inventory. I don't think it will be all that hard- I mean isn't it just counting what you have? I can count! So today of all days has to be the day I learn to count supplies.

I seriously have nothing else to do until then, so hence that is why I am on. As soon as I get trained and do it I shall be going home. My kids are heading to Richmond today to visit their great grandmother and great aunt and uncle- Dave's mom and Dad are taking them, and of course I am a wreck as they are traveling a long distance without me. I know they will be fine but I still worry cause that is what I do best. They never get to see this side of the family (Dave's Dads side) so it will be good for them. Dave's dad's family is from Appomattox as well, and his aunt lives in Richmond. I think its really weird that we never see them. When we go to Appomattox its always hang out at Dave's moms parents house the entire time and then on the way out stop by his Granny Sarah's for 5 min or less. Seems odd to me, and a bit unfair to her. So that is why I did not protest and let the kids go.

I do not plan on going back to work until Friday I guess. Dave judt dropped the news to me we are going to Appomattox on Thursday to see his other granny.

Dave is going to come up and have lunch with me today, and then before we go to his parents house to do Christmas tonight we are going to Plaza, so just call me a big fat pig right now. I have to admit I really like Dave's parents doing Christmas the day before cause it will make Christmas day easier for us. Not so much running around and chaos, and his aunt pissing me off, as we wont even have to see her!

Ghost tour

So Friday night we went to dinner in Williamsburg at the Polo Club. It's like a Ruby Tuesday or something like that but its not a chain, and its owned by some family locally. It was pretty yummy, and I was ate lots of horrible fatty things and I enjoyed every bite. We then went on to Colonial Williamsburg and walked around while we waited for the tour to begin. There were about 15 people as well that took the tour too, but we were the only local ones. Everyone else was pretty much from out of state. You meet in front of the bookstore and then you walk down to the William and Mary Campus where they tell some ghost stories about the President's house. Apparently the president's house is really really old, how old I can't remember, but it's old. Anyways, every president and there family has had problems with a particular door staying shut in a room. Even if they would lock it or put furniture against the door the door would still open. Well 42 years ago a President living there decided that it had to be something with the structure and made some workers look into it, and under that very room they found a skeleton under the door, and ever since they removed the skeleton the door behaves itself. They told another story about the house, and then we walked down to Bruton Parrish Church and he told stories about the graveyard and sightings around the church, then we went to the Wyeth house and he told another story about Lady Skipwith and that her ghost is sometimes seen or heard there. After that he just told some historical stuff. It was sooo freaking cold that night, and the tour lasted about an hour and a half. I would rate it so so. It would have been cooler if they took you inside some of the places at night. Dave ditched our group and went over to the graveyard at the church to take pictures like a goof. He took a ton of other pictures on the tour and after we looked at them and didn't see any caspers so no ghosts lol.

I hear Richmond has a ghost tour as well and I wouldn't mind going to that either sometime for fun. I know I am a huge nerd, but I have always liked scary movies and ghost crap.

Super Sunday

I can't believe Christmas is just a couple days away... I am officially done though with shopping and wrapping which is good. Like the world's biggest idiot I went to the mall yesterday around noon. Yes I braved the mall the last weekend before Christmas. I only did it as Dave has been hinting around about that jacket some more, so I went ahead and splurged and got it for him, which involved the mall trip.

It was way worse then black Friday in my opinion. I almost gave up on finding any parking space and went home, but then I cut off two people and found one. I am completely against shopping this late in the season as its jut too crazy and dangerous out there. One of my bosses had told me on Thursday she has not started shopping yet, and I wanted to ask her if she was retarded, but I guess that may not be the best thing to say to someone with authority over you.

So I got the jacket, and had planned on getting a birthday gift for my niece, but instead of getting a certificate somewhere I am just going to put some money in a card. Her bday party is today which means we are going to the "other sisters" house which is always interesting!

I will post more stuff later with a recap of the ghost tour!

Friday!

So yesterday I got to pick up the clothing and toy items and the rest of the food stuff for my patients, and it wasn't too bad. BUT, I left work at like 3pm and when I almost was home my boss called saying the Salvation Army also had a bike for one of my patients kids, and I needed to get it by Friday. I was not about to turn back around and go back to Williamsburg so I went this morning with the kids to grab that on my day off.
I ran it by the unit for my patient and she didn't even seem to care, she was basically trying to ignore me, shes the one that drove off when I went to help her get the Thanksgiving food in her car. I know her kid will like it, so I just bit my lip to keep from flipping out and left.

Dave is playing golf today with Stevie, and later on tonight Dave and I are going to dinner and then the ghost tour in williamsburg. I am super excited and Dave has been joking on me all week, asking if we should watch Ghost Busters before just in case. Whatever, I know were are not going to see anything- it just a historial tour and some spooky stories.

Work has been good besides all this damn do gooding crap I have done all week. The drug reps have been very good to us with lots of food and free crap with the drugs names on it, so I have stocked up on pens, and all sorts of stuff, and I have eatten way to much. I am not even going to weigh in this week its been that bad. I will weigh in the next week, and I will start working out again then I promise.

We decieded to hold off until after Christmas to get the TV up. Our friend came by and he and Dave worked out a game plan for filling in the cubby area so we can put our TV over the cubby. I know its just killing Dave to have the TV sit in the box, but if we wait we can repaint the room and everything and not worry about a mess here on the holidays. My sister Becky has her TV up and in action. She had the cubby thing in the wall too, but her cubby hole was small enough where she could hang it over the hole and you not even know the hole was behind it. My other sister probably wont even get a TV she came and grabbed the cash when it was being dubbed out, but she probably is going to do something else with hers which is fine, but I bet it ticks my dad off.

I am just glad it worked out this way though as I know Dave was days from just buying one himself, and I wanted to use that money for a new bed and mattress so now we can get the bed and matress and everyone is happy. We have a queen size bed but the mattress is really really really old, and we agreed to go for a King when we got one. I am still trying to figure out what kind of bed I want. I know I want a cherry finish, but I don't know what style. I used to love Sleigh beds, but now I am not so sure. I went and looked around at Haynes but honestly I didn't like any of there stuff, I am going to check around at Haverty's and some other places for the frame, but I think we are going to get the matress at Matress Discounters. They have really good prices on their stuff.


So Christmas is going to be here soon. Christmas Eve we are going to spend it with Dave's family as his mom is going to go out of town to take care of Dave's granny. Sucks we can't see everyone for Christmas, I know his granny is sick and they want to be with her. So Christmas Dave and I will do our thing with each other and the girls, and then spend the day next door at my parents house.

The Dean and Don spooky experience...

Ok so I was asked about my spooky experience at D &D and though having every male country bumpkin family member hit on you is a bit unnerving, that wasn't it.

It's not really that interesting I guess, but there was this woman that worked there and had been working on and off there for a long time. Her name was Beverly- she was telling me that she had seen the ghost of Mr. Parrish, who was the original owner who had died I guess in early '97 right before I went to work there. I can thank Katy for calling me and offering to get me a job there. Thanks bitch! I am just kidding.

Anyways, Bev swore when she was in the back doing butter bean duty, she had seen his ghost. Bev was a bit nutty, and had a story for everything and anything, so I still don't know if she was being serious or not. Anyways, I worked there a bunch of summers as a slave, and I did take part in some not so kosher activity while on duty-whethere it was spiked Slurpees, or other matters, and were always horsing around when we could. Anyways I was on butter bean duty myself, and I was in a bad mood as the beans were really nasty and it had been raining so I was covered in dirt, and cranky from working like a mexican migrant work for hardly anything. When you shell the beans its a process of sorting through them before they go in the sheller and after and its not so much fun, so I started cheating at the process by just dumping them in the sheller, and I even threw one batch in a dumpster without shelling it as if I finished shelling all we had I could just go home. Yes I know terrible as the butter beans are the holy grail there, but its gets old I tell you, and don't judge till you work there. So I throw some away, and I swear to god something pulled the crap out of my pony tail really really hard,not just a piece of my hair but the whole pony tail, and noone was there. So yeah granddaddy parrish got abusive on me maybe. Scared me enough where I tried to do the beans the proper way after that.

Wednesday crap

Argg I am a grinch today... I had to go and get Christmas food baskets for my some of my needier patients today, and it was not as organized as Thanksgiving was. I knew they would let me down. I only got half of them and had to drive all over town to get them, I get the rest tomorow and I get toys and clothes for those who have kids or grandkids in their household. To top it off, they sent cards to my patients telling them to pick it up, so that caused a bunch of confusion as some people went after I picked them up and were told it was already given away. I hate unorganized crap- I know they are all pretty much volunteers, but seriously its plane rude to be disorganized. If people want to put stuff off and be messy and scattered they need to not effect other people. Other people don't have time for that crap.

After my stressful day I stopped in the outlets and went by Gymboree. I didn't see anything exciting, but in the clearance racks I found some shorts for .99 for the kids to wear. Sock are never even that cheap at that place so I bought what I could find in my kids sizes, and then went back to work.

Dave and I are planning a date night for Friday. I think we are going to go to dinner and then we are going to go on a Ghost tour in Williamsburg. Ghost stories have been my obsession lately. I like getting scared, and reading about stuff like that, especially local stuff. I have all of those Virginia Ghost books, and I have been watching Ghost Hunters on SciFi. I have never seen a ghost, but I did have an erie experience once at my work when I worked at Dean and Dons. My sister had an experience herself. She works for as a government contractor on base at Ft. Eustis, and many many years ago she was working nights at Ft. Monroe, and got the crap scared out of her. The door at her work opened and this man walked in uniform- she could hear him and see him and he walked in and vanished in front of her and some other people working there. Scared the crap out of her. Dave swears she must have been on drug, as he doesn't believe in that mess, but I believe her.

Christmas gift from Employer.....

Drum roll please...We were given the choice of either new scrubs or a lab coat that has the logo on it. Each new employee get this already when they get hired, and trust me there not that nice or even that great of quality. Guess a new lab coat is coming my way. Wish it was another Target gift card like last year, but I guess this is my companies version of coal.

Tuesday Heffer report

Well this mornings weigh in went better I guess. I lost the 2lbs I had gained the previous weeks, so I have least gone down some during the holiday season, so my total weight lost is still -3.4lbs from when I started. Of course the holidays are not even over yet, and I have been cheating, so all and all I can’t complain but so much. It sure would be easier if Dave was dieting with me. He says he will after the holidays. Last night I had some chicken I wanted him to grill, and he refused saying it was too cold outside, and I didn’t want to bake the chicken, so I settled for sending him out to get subs, and of course he comes back with some foot long sub for me, I only ate half but still it was a steak and cheese so I know it wasn’t as healthy as the grilled chicken. I told him he was going to have to freeze tonight though, as I we are eating the grilled chicken, and its supposed to be even colder =)

Everyone is just going to get coal....

Welp… Like I was afraid there was some silly thing on his contact where he can’t do any upgrades until spring, so if I purchase a phone I have to buy it at retail cost, and for the price that that costs we could go on a freaking vacation to Cancun, so Dave will not be getting a phone this year from me anyways. Maybe father’s day or something…. But for now it looks like Dave is going to get a pretty golf club and some odds and ends… He did buy me a North Face coat the other day, and then afterward mentioned he wouldn’t mind having one, so maybe I could get him one as well or something… If I get him the same color we could be twins.

Ho Ho Ho....

The weekend has blown by for me....It was an interesting weekend for us. Friday I was off, and Dave was off as well, so we were going to finally venture up to Richmond to see the "real santa" at the Children's Museum. We were up bright and early, the kids were dressed in their Christmas dresses, tights and shoes on,everything was ready, and then Laura did her best reenactment of the movie The Exorcist. She had some congestion, and she decided to throw it all up on herself and David. It was not a pretty picture, so we called off the trip then and there and just hung out all day. Laura was acting better in the evening so our major outing of the evening was to go by this neighborbood in Hampton in which one house always goes all out with decorations. The house is just insane, and we make it a tradition to go each year.

Saturday we got brave again, and got the kids up and ready to see Santa. When we got there they have a note on the door that it was currently a 90 min. wait to see Santa. We went earlier in the year last year and we litterally just had to walk in and sit on the mans lap, but not this time. I made a mental note to never come this close to Christmas again. But the wait wasn't so bad. They gave people pagers so if they wanted to you could just tour the museum and stuff and then they would beep you when it was getting close to your turn which was cool. I guess we waited almost an hour, and finally it was our turn to go see the Snow Princess who gets your info from you like your name and what not, cause she passes the info to Santa who calls the kids by their name. Rachel did fine, and was in a daze about it all, Laura however pulled a Brandon. I say pull a Brandon as he was my cousin who passed, and my mom and his mom always took us to see Santa every year in Richmond and he never did so well. My grandmother had a collection of framed pictures of us with Santa, and in all of mine I am smiling and just talking Santa's ear off. Brandon's are quite the opposite. In one Santa has him in a head lock, in another my aunt is the picture trying to restrain him, and then in one he looks terrified and he always hand wrote a letter to Santa rather then said what he wanted, as it was just too scary for him I guess.

So yes, Laura pulled a Brandon, and I have quite the picture in my possession. I will have to get my mom to scan it. Oh well, maybe next year she will be ok, she did great last year, I think she was just too tired after waiting in line and the long ride, and we were in the middle of nap time as well, so all and all it was just not the best planning. But I have a picture to preserve the memory.

So since we were already in Richmond and the kids were napping, Dave stopped me by the awsome scrapbook store for me to treat myself to more crap that I hardly get to use anymore. I have finished the albums for our parents though at least. Well...its only done up unto Rachel's baptism, but I think all I am going to add is some Christmas pics, and I can't really get those together until Christmas so I will just give them to them, and then give them the Christmas pages later. I bought a really cool Ribbon Organzier for my scrapbook mess, and I got some cool paper for me and my sister. The paper was for her as she babysat for us later that night at our house so we could have a dinner with some friends.

We got our TV, and its presently in the garage. When we built our house the in thing was to have a built in hole in the wall thing for the TV over the fireplace, and the hole is pretty big so Dave wants to fill it some and then put the TV up. A good friend of ours is coming over who does sheet rock to see what we need to do. He might do some of the stuff tonight, but the part I am dreading is we would need to paint, and we don't have any leftover paint to match what we have now, and the contactors did it when we built the house, so we have no idea what they used as we have forgotton by now. So this TV project is going to require a bit of work and painting is something I don't want to do this close to Christmas. My sister is going through the same thing as she has the hole in the wall too. She just painted her wall though and just did that one wall so be kinda a accent color as everything else is a different color, so if Dave and I wanted to be slackers we could just do that wall, but then I would be such a copy cat, as if I did it I would probably use the same color, so hence I don't know what to do, but I don't want to tear the house up painting right now. We might just try to get as close as we can to what we have now, and then later on repaint it all.

I think I know what I am going to get Dave for Christmas finally, but my idea might not pan out. He's been talking about wanting a black berry phone this week, so I might see if I can get him that, but I don't know what kinda of contract he has with Verizon, and it seems like theres all kinds of silly rules about that stuff or they make you pay extra, but I am going to try to look into it. If it doesn't work out I will just get him the golf club hes been wanting.

Pushy Mary Kay Lady

I have always liked those silly at home parties and the Makeup sales people like Mary Kay. I think Pampered Chef products rock, and I have had just about every little party under the sun to earn free products or whatever. I have to say though that some of the sales people are just so damn pushy and sometimes rude. My sister being the exception as she does Longaberger, but she mainly just takes orders from her friends and family.

So flashback to about 2004 or so when a coworker has her MaryKay lady come to our work to buy some Christmas stuff for herself and kids. I let the lady into giving me a "facial" right there at work which is pretty much when you wash your face with their products and then she puts all kinds of makeup on you. I really liked the cleanser stuff so I ended up buying some stuff. Then the stalking begins.... She tries to get me and my coworker to sell it, and we resist. Then some new cool product came out, and she invited me to come with her to try it out at her meeting that they have once a week. I did get to try the new product, but they then try to brainwash you into joining up to sell, and the other consultants were all dancing around to music and telling you just how cool they were for being Mary Kay consultants. When I left they gave me a CD in which some lady tells her story how Mary Kay changed her life. I was pretty turned off by the ordeal in general, but I still liked the product, so when someone else at work was selling the stuff I let her have a party at my home, and then I had pretty much what I wanted and I just started avoiding when the other lady that would try to pop in at work. The lady that had the party at my house changed jobs so I never bought from her again.

But I don't use just one product, I always try other brands out, so when my crap ran out like hell I was going to call the stalker. I just went with whatever else I felt like spending my money on at the time.

Soo about a month ago or so I was at work and in walks the stalker again, and she breezes right past me to set up shop in my bosses office. My boss had called her as some contractor we use at work for supplies wanted something for his wife, so my boss hooked him up with her. I cringed thinking she would try to get on her soap box again about getting me to sell the crap again, so I hid out from her. In the mean time she harassed every other coworker, and then asked where I was. Guess I couldn't hide forever...I said hello and she was acting cool about everything and wasn't so pushy. She left a book for me to look at, and that was that, and I was impressed she was leaving me a lone.

So anyways I saw some stuff I liked, and figured I would get a few things, wouldn't you know when she dropped off my crap she got on me again about selling, wanted me to come to some meeting to try out a new product. Like hell. So I vow never to buy from her again, no matter how much I like the stuff. What's even funnier is she says she doesn't "bug" people about selling or having a party, but seriously she's the worst I have ever seen. Guess she wants the pink car or something...

He cracks....

Dave sent me flowers to my work today trying to get on my good side, so I am going to give in and be nice now. =)

Gymboree Line coming out soon...

http://junkjungle.com:80/121207m.html

Trip pics

We left friday morning, and headed out of town. Our first stop was in Stauntan, VA at the Cheese Shop to get bulk spices and snacks. Such a neat shop. The we went on to Roanoke where we had dinner in Catawba, VA at the Home Place where they serve all you can eat comfort food to your table. This is where I lost my mind and forgot all about my goal to not gain weight on the trip. We then drove to Rockymount about 45 min away and checked in. The Bed and Breakfast was beautiful. Our room was really pretty. Lot's of antiques and charm. We were the only folks staying there so it was pretty cozy. We then ventured to Ferrum which is 15 min away I guess and walked around campus at night some and checked out the new stuff. We ran into the old owner of Fud's. Fud's was this gas station right there at campus which didn't look like much but it could be a fun place to eat and hang out. The owner remembered us and talked to us for a while. He had sold the place and its now called Happy Pappy's.
On our way back to the bed and breakfast we stopped at a new mexican place near campus for some drinks before going back to call it a night. One interesting thing about the bed and breakfast was there was a grave yard behind it across the street. Kinda creepy, as it was a very old grave yard.

The next day we had a yummy breakfast, and then we went back to Ferrum to poke around some more. Saw some old professors and people which was nice, and we also got to go in the bookstore as it was open for a open house they were having.

We then went back to our bed and breakfast for a while, and the owner said we could stay later rather then check out at normal time which was cool. We still ended up leaving a bit early as we wanted to go to Roanoke and wander around there. We went to Macadoos for lunch and I enjoyed some shots. Yes shots at lunch time, but hey I was pregaming for the wedding. We then went back to Rocky Mount for the wedding which was beautiful, and so good to see some old friends. The reception was awesome too. I saw some more friends there, even one from school that was working there.

This is when I get pissy. We were going to stay in Roanoke at the Marriott after the reception and then take our time going home the next day. Well the reception was a bit out of the way so we talked about maybe stopping in Charlottesville or Lynchburg instead. Dave thought we might as well just come home, and I thought this was a bad idea as we never get the change to just get away, and we would get a chance to sleep in. Also it was the 7 year anniversary of our first date, and I wanted some romance damit. Dave never says no to me ever, as he usually knows better, but this time he lost his mind and drove on home, which infuriated me to no end, but of course when he asked me over and over if I was mad I would say no. We got in super late, and I was super pissy. The kids were still at his parents, but my nephew came over early and woke us up so still no sleeping in...

So yeah I am being a bit bratty, but whatever. He says I will get over it soon enough, but this was a big deal to me, so I am holding out.

Tuesday fatness....

Fat girl gained 2 lbs after the trip- go me... oh well its back to the diet now and no more excuses.....

A short rant....

This will be quick. We (David) deceided to come home after the reception rather then spend a night away, go to bed at a descent hour and have some romantic time. Instead it made much more sense to drive home completely tired and get in at 1:30am with out even stopping when I had to pee.

THEN in the evening to leave your wife to go to Hooters- which I normally have no problem with when I can come along too, but its fine to leave me and go off and drink for 3 hours after no romantic time.

Yes this is me being a brat.

Finally home...

The trip was amazing... we had a great time and I will post pictures and stories later.

But for now reason 50089709 why my dad rocks. This morning he rounded up me and my sisters and hes getting us all flat screen TV's. Yes me and my sisters are now the awesome owners of big ass Tv's. Dave is pretty excited anyways!

Roanoke bound.....

So Friday is finally here, and in just a couple hours Dave and I get to leave for Roanoke and Ferrum for Rob's wedding. Seriously, the two of us are so excited you would think we were going to Aruba or some crap. But hey, Roanoke seems to be the furthest we have been able to get by ourselves, and I am still excited as can be about it.

Yesterday during my lunch break I got my ornament for my sisters party Sunday in the event we are home in time. I found it at The Mole Hole, and they even wrapped it up for me and everything. I think if I don't make it back I will just give it to someone for Christmas lol, since its already wrapped! Another exciting moment for me yesterday was I found out there is going to be a crop at a hotel in Williamsburg in January, and I have already booked my spot. Some lady in Yorktown has put it together, a butt load of people are going. It's Friday night -through Sunday, and I am going to spend the night two nights and scrapbook my little heart out. So I have another get away planned, and I can actually work on my own stuff other then these albums for family. Can't get any better then that!

The low point of yesterday was a conversation I had with the dietician I work with at my work. We have become pretty good friends over the years after sharing an office together and working at the same two units. We seem to have a lot in common as well, and we tell each other a lot of personal stuff, and can ask each other some personal stuff. Well yesterday she asked me if I had the lap band. It came about as we were talking about a patient who had it placed a few years ago, and it obviously didn't work for her, and they think it snapped. She asked if I had it done after I had Rachel. UMMMM no- for starters if I did I would have told everyone and their brother as I have told everyone and their brother about my future plans of getting a tummy tuck, oh and the boob lift- can't forget the boob lift. Both are crucial after kids, and if you don't think so - consider yourself blessed. I didn't even breast feed folks, and I have granny boobs now. Great mental picture I know!

Anyways, the weight loss I had after Rachel was like 20 sum lbs, and I would hope to god the band could do better then that, cause I am still fat. Seriously I was just eating better, and much more active with chasing two kids around. I am just doing the weightwatcher thing for a boost, and to try to get the weight loss going again as I pretty much just hit a plateau. I was pretty shocked though by her comment, but it gave me a good laugh.

Anyways, I fully intend to gain a few pounds while we are gone on our trip, but I will get back on the plan come the time we get back. It's pretty hard this time of year, our clinics get so much crap from other companies, and people. It's hard not to stare the Harry and David Chocolate tower and not stuff my face. Yesterday my mom baked fudge and cookies and sent them over in gallon ziplock bags and I didn't eat even one. I did put my head in the bags and inhale all the aromas though, and I probably will do a taste test if they stay around my house much longer!

We got our portraits back from the photographer that came to the house to do a family pic and kids pics, and there just awesome. The Christmas cards look really cute, and I am just ecstatic. I got a big one of all of us and have it framed already in our Living Room. I also scanned the hoo-hoo out of a few of the kids and framed them up. I know I know, but seriously a freaking 5x7 is $50 so your crazy if you think I am going to buy multiples of a pose and then just give them away. My mom has a new scanner/printer that is awesome so I gave it a good work out. I guess I am cheap like that. In my next life maybe I will be more ethical.

So I guess no more posts until I get back! Hope everyone has a good weekend!!!

Almost the weekend!

Not much new going around here. Just trying to get ready for Christmas, finish up some shopping, and wrap everything. I try to get presents on my way home after work or just whenever I can get out, I just have little stuff to get, except for Dave of course.

Last night I got a small gift for my mom at the pharmacy where I live. They carry a nice selection of Vera Bradly. It's just a paperback book cover, but I think she will like it. She's a reader like me. I almost bought the lunch bag for myself, but then I scolded myself reminding that I need to finish up on everyone else. I then stopped in the nail place there too to get an eye brow wax. When I left I noticed next door a new Massage and Yogo place had opened up. I wanted to go in an get a brochure, but when I get my eyebrows done, I like like a crazy person, for a few hours before the redness goes away. Yes a few hours. I love that nail place. It's called Nail Luv and its owned by you guess it, a nice Asian family. Usually those places are a bit sketchy. But this place is different I swear. They speak English, and English only around the customers, its very clean as well. You can even buy your own kit for manicures and pedicures so you don't use other peoples stuff. Their prices are always very reasonable too, and they do waxing in the back! They were thinking about starting Massages, but with the place opening up next door I don't think it would be a good idea.

I am going to to go back to the massage place and get a certificate for a massage for Dave as a stocking stuffer. He's a girl like that.

I packed up the kids stuff last night in their new bag I got from Bizarra Bazzar. I hope they behave while we are gone, and I am going to miss them like crazy, but boy am I excited about our getaway. I am also excited to see a few people from college. Rob was such a good friend of ours, and I am really happy for him and his wife to be.

Weigh in Report for Fat Girl

Fat girl weighed 171.6 today, sooo I lost 3.4 lbs which I am proud of. However, its going to be a hard week with our trip as Dave has planned out already where we are eatting, and folks its not good... Our bed and breakfast is going to give us a breakfast in the morning which I know will be mega points, and Dave wants to go this place called the Home Place which is in the middle of nowhere, and its deep south favorites. Think all you can eat comfort food brought to your table. It's super yummy though... and of course we are going to Macadoos as it was our favorite hangout in college. Sooo I guess my goal for the week is save as many points as I can for the weekend, and just hope not to gain this week....

Just another manic Monday...

The weekend was nice and low key, our only outting pretty much was the company christmas party for the staff and patients at one of my units. A few more patients came then I thought, but guess what? After my running around for every freaking water bottle Target carries my boss didn't even hand them out. She wants to wait and see what the company gets them first, as she is scared they might get them the same thing. I doubt they will, but I worry that if for some reason they do, she will send me back to return an ungodly amount of water bottles.

I have cheated some on the diet I will admit, but I have kept it under control considering all the food that has been around. We shall see tomorow. I have weighed everyday pretty much though so its not going to be a big surpise or anything I guess tomorow when I weigh.

I did get to scrapbook for 2 hours when we got home from the party last night which was nice. I will be glad when I am done with the books for my parents and in laws, so I can scrapbook my own stuff. Christmas is creeping up way too fast for me. I still need to get Dave some stuff, I think his big item is going to be some crazy golf club. I am just at a loss for anything else. I know he would love a new TV but thats way out of budget for Christmas.

I am sooo looking forward to our trip this friday. Who would have thought going to Roanoke would be so exciting.

Friday...

I have a confession. I bought a Dooney for Laura. Yes I know. What a terrible mom I am for making her all about labels at a young age. Let me try to reason it though. I got an email today while I was at work saying the outlet was having a mega sale, and there would be a surprise bag marked down to $75. So I went after work today, and the surprise bad was a awesome, its huge, croc embossed or whatever they call that mess, and it was pretty, BUT the color choices sucked. Then I saw the BIN, and in the bin were tons of the Bitty Bags just stacked up, marked down to $30, and so I gave in. So shoot me. I am going to hold it back until her birthday though.

I bought a bunch more adult bags for every other female in our family for my mom, as the sale was just that good, and my mom had enlisted my help to get my sisters, myself, and her a Dooney. There so gorgeous let me tell you. So I have to wait to Christmas now before I can get my hands on my bag. Laura's bag is the bitty version of the one I have which is cute. Now I have guilt though as I didn't get one for Rachel, so if I got back and they have any left, I will get her one.


We finished up our plans for travel for Roanoke. We are leaving Friday morning and the first night we are going to stay at a local bed and breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA right outside Ferrum. It's called the Claiborne house. Should be fun! We plan on going to the campus to wander around and see how much has changed in the area. The wedding is Saturday evening, so we will go to that, and then we are going to drive to Roanoke and stay at the Marriott. We have a gift card to use there our friend Aaron gave us, so we are looking forward to putting that to good use. We are coming back Sunday at some point, but I am just so excited to get away without any kids, but at the same time I know I am going to miss them like mad, and wonder every second what they are doing, but I plan on still enjoying my time with the husband too!

We had a low key Friday night. Went to a quick dinner, and then ran by the funeral home as a friend of Dave's sister had passed away unexpectedly, so we went and visited with the family. Very sad.

Not much going on this weekend, other then one of my units is having a Christmas party for the staff and patients, so I am cooking some BBQ for that. My standard meal for crowds. My boss had me on a wild goose hunt chase for gifts for the patients. The company gave us a budget for a party, and for gifts, and somehow I got elected to find the gifts. My boss wanted to get water bottles so they can also get a lesson on how much water a day they can drink. Wonderful gift you know. I personally think it wont be much of an educational tool, as our dietitian stresses it every month with them, and they still guzzle like theres not tomorrow, so in fact we are just giving them another guzzle tool.

Apparently trying to get water bottles in winter is a bit tricky, especially when you need 42, and you can't go over $5.00 a patient. I had to mix and match them which I am sure is going to cause problems over who gets what color and crap, but I got them after annoying just about every employee in Target to please check the back again for me. Then when I get back my boss wants me to put ribbons on them... yeah ok. Right on that. I just left them in the Target bags in her office, I wasn't about to go out and find ribbon and we obviously just don't keep some around the office. She's spasing out about getting the gifts ready for the party, and I bet not even 10 of them even come to the party. They come three times a week as it is, so some of them rather not see us on a day they don't have to. Who can blame them?
I just feel a bit overwhelmed with getting my own crap done at home for the holidays then worrying about putting ribbon on bottles at home in my voluminous spare time.

Bah hum bug!

Weight Watcher progress...

I thought I would share my Weight Watchers progress to give me some countability.
Based on my age, height, and current weight, I am given 23 points a day. Different foods have different points, so I am not supposed to go over 23 a day. BUT they give you 30 some free points to use in the week if you need it. I need it for Plaza splurges, and not to go insane. You also need to have so many fruits/veggies, and dairy products within the points a day. Veggies are zero points. It's not that hard though to keep track, as I still have my books from when we did it a few years ago, and the website has everything on it as well, as I am just doing it the website way rather then go to meetings.

Well today I started off on the wrong foot for sure. It was a special day though with Biz. Baz. craft show and all though lol. I had a freaking drink from starbucks and a damn muffin. I knew it was bad. But I figured I would work it out somehow into my daily points. Well little did I know the damn muffin was 11 points, and my drink was 9. I also had a stupid sandwitch for lunch which was 6 points... so do the math... I have used 26 points... yes the day is not even over yet and I have gone over my points. Guess its veggies for me tonight for dinner...I do have 30 points for the week remaining I can pull from from my free points, but it needs to last me through Monday, and I know we will probably go to dinner this weekend at some point. But never the less it is working. I am drinking more water, and I even snuck myself on the scale and have gone a little already. I know I am not supposed to weigh again until Tuesday but I have a bad habit of weighing myself all the time.

So I am totally outing myself right now but here was my weight when I began last week----> 175. Yes mam, I am officially a whale. But sadly enough thats down from where I was before I had kids. Yes before kids. When I actually joined Weight Watchers originally Feb 2005 I was freaking 198.9. When I saw that on the scale there I about killed everybody I came in contact with later that night as I was traumatized. I did drop some weight but then I got pregnant with Laura, and alas you gotta gain when your pregnant.
So according to weight watchers, they want me down to at least 148.8 which seems crazy, as when I was 130 my senior year highschool/freshman year of college I looked like I was 100 and I had a eating disorder. So now I am supposed to get down to at least 148 and it seems impossible.
So I will be now posting my weights on Tuesdays in hopes to make myself stick to the diet especially around the holidays, so please yell at me and call me fatty if the weight starts to creep up.

We came, we saw, we spent....

Bizaare Bazzaar started today, and mom and I went up to Richmond for it today. I enclose a picture of my loot. I got a travel bag for the kids which was a steal for when they spend the night elsewhere or for when we go away. I had previously bought a Vera Bradley bag for Laura a year ago or so, but I kinda ended up stealing it for myself to take when I work out. This bag is big enough for both of them for a few years anyways. I also go a cute foo-foo shirt and pant set for both of them, some coasters to give his cousin, a bunch of frilly momogrammed coozys for random people, a VT cup for Dave, and I got myself the initial drink mug for myself. I got another mug with a polka dot pattern to be my secret santa gift for someone at work. I think I am going to give his mom a coozy, and my boss a coozy. The other one has a "R" on it so thats mine two of course. I also got two shells. Random I know, but they were pretty and will look cute in the bathroom. Oh yeah, the black tote thing with a palm tree on it is a ice bucket thingy that doesn't sweat. Laura of course had to try it out by climbing in. I also have a sign not picture that I forgot to put out. I don't know right now if I should give it to my mom or my aunt. It says "Welcome to Mathews", which is the town my mom and aunt grew up in. Weird enough we still exchange christmas gifts with her. Grant it we don't talk or see each other, but we leave gifts for each other. I also get a birthday check from her,and my kids do as well, BUT when my kids were born I never got a card, a phone call, much less a gift. Well I have to admit at Laura's baby shower she gave me a hat and a blanket and signed the tag from her and my granny. Not knocking the gift, but my granny would have gone all out on probably furnished the freaking nursery had she not have Alz. I know this is a petty for me to write, but for ther record I ohhed and ahhed over the damn blanket and the hat and wrote a gracious thank you note to my aunt, so I didn't act like a total selfish brat or anything.

But enought of my family drama.

It was a blast. My mom bought a boat load for the girls that they will get at Christmas. We ran into the sister I get along with and some of our scrapbooking people, my boss from work, and some other friends. One thing I didn't get was a ornament for the Ornament Exchange party my sister is having again this year. I don't know if I can even go as we will be coming back in town that day from Roanoke, so it depends on traffic. So I need one on hand just in case. Nothing struck me though today or they were either way to expensive for me to want to give away.

I am already looking forward to the Spring show....

Quick post before bed...

My newest quest was starting to diet again, yepp, I joined weightwatchers again. I tried to do the Jenny diet but apparently theres not a Jenny place anywhere around here anymore, so I settled for this. I started Tuesday, and I did so-so that day, today I did very well with it but I want to eat my arm right now. It will get easier though I guess... maybe..

Dave is doing fine- not really eatting anything other then milkshakes still but whatever.

My boss has invited me to go to the Poconos with her in a few weeks, not sure if I will go- there is some conference meeting a bunch of people are going to and it would be fun but its right at xmas and I hate leaving the kids... and that would mean leaving again as we have plans to head out of town sans the kids here soon for a wedding.

We shall see though, wouldn't mind seeing if the Poconos have anything more besides tacky hotel rooms with heart shape beds...

Tomorow mom and I are going to Bizaar Bazzar in Richmond! So excited!!! Ready to spend spend spend...

I leave you with this- a link of a new gymboree line coming out but its just girl stuff, the boy stuff isn't up yet but will post that later when it comes up.

http://junkjungle.com/112707m.html

Such a trooper

Dave was a trooper today. His teeth actually were impacted and not through like he had thought, so this ended up being a good thing with our insurance as it covered it all, if they were already through all the way then insurance would only pay half, so Dave's teeth being impacted was a good thing for me anyways as it will allow us to finish our Christmas shopping now... haha.

My mom ticked me off today, as I needed to go pick up Dave's meds and get some more friendly foods for him, and she had watched the kids while I took Dave, when I dropped Dave off I ran in to check on the kids. I had previously told her a dozen times I would be dropping Dave off and then running to the store down the road to get the drugs and needed food stuff. Apparently she failed to remember this, and had picked today to do some bank thing, that she had to do, and wanted to do it before my dad came home, god forbid she have to leave the house after he came home. So that made me annoyed, and being the ill tempered person I am I ran my mouth to her. Ever try grocery shopping with an infant and a toddler? One child, not so bad at all, but two makes it impossible to put anything in the cart as Laura has to sit in the front as the local grocery stores carts will not hold Rachel up front so by the time everyone is in the cart, where do I put the crap? Throw it on Rachel, or give it to Laura to throw at other shoppers? Or do I put it underneath and randomly lose my groceries as we wander the store for our goods. So yeah this is why I do my shopping solo in the evening alone or with one child. When Rachel is out of her carrier it will be a little easier as then she can face me up front and then Laura can sit in the ones that look like a toy car is in front- that is if she will sit in it rather then jump out and make a run for it.

So I talked my mom to taking a kid with her to the bank, and probably made my mom feel about the size of an ant. I feel pretty crappy for my outburst now, but she is so forgetful these days. I was complaining to my sister about it when she called to check on David, and my sister then ticked me off as when I was bitching about it, she said that I really just need to give her a break, and that its time for me to just take the plunge and get someone else to watch my child. First of all- excuse me but didn't she have my mom watch her kids for what 10 or more years????? She never went with someone else, she just waited until they were old enough to be home alone, so I thought her advice was interesting. Second of all, I really appreciate my mom watching them- I really do, but I don't work on Friday's, I am usually home Early, and don't leave for work very early in the mornings either- and I never have them watch the kids while I do anything fun- its only for work or things like today that popped up, I work about 26 hours a week give or take. AND Dave has a schedule in which hes home some in the week so that takes some hours off right there. So it's not like I am working her like a slave, and I also give her random stuff like either gifts, gift cards from time to time. She wont accept cash from me and says not to pay her, so the only things I know to do is get her little gifts now and then.

SO yes I am appreciative, but I am not ready to use non family childcare on a regular basis. I have 2 non family babysitters I trust with my kids, and thats the extent of that. If my mom says its too hard for her I would jump ship then, but I ask her on a regular basis to be honest with me and tell me if it gets rough, and she never complains, and actually acts less stressed with them then I do at times when their behavior is less then impressive.

So can you tell I am PMSing? I am ready to just snap at anyone that talks to me right now, by tomorrow though I hope to be a bit more positive and less mad at the world.

So anyways- Dave is doing fine- has some pain but its manageable, and he was a riot when he woke up from sedation. He attempted to sing to me with gauze in his mouth in recovery the following "I'm a little chipmunk short and stout" yes his own version of the teapot song I guess.

Christmas Spirit!

Apparently my husband was in the Christmas spirit. He came home from work, and was able to get last night off so he stayed up and went crazy putting more Christmas decorations up. I had put a bunch up a few weeks ago, but had left the big stuff for later on. We always put a lighted tree in the middle window ledge thingy and its a pain in the but as we have to get a ladder and then almost kill ourselves climbing up with a big tree to get it in the middle and centered. He also put all the candles in the front windows and brought down the Christmas tree stand.

We also went and got our tree in the afternoon. Ok OK, I KNOW I vowed to not by my tree from Dean and Don's, from my crappy BFF and her loser cheating husband but guess what. WE did! I know I am completely all talk and no action. So my parents bought their tree Saturday morning from the enemy, and I yelled at them and gave them a bunch of crap for doing so, my dad said he didn't care as he got a discount, and figured the money would help take care of Tiffany and the baby as he gave the money directly to her in cash, so she could just put it in her pocket if she wanted to. Nice dad, nice. My mom said she talked to her and she said she was not at my childs baptism as she was "busy getting her life back together". And that was that.

Dave was guilted me yesterday before we went by saying their trees were prettier then others he had seen. Seriously- a tree is a tree right? You would think. So I give in and we go. We find the sacred tree and I go to check out with her, and Dave and HIM go to load the tree in our truck. She didn't offer any excuses or say anything at all about anything- we made small talk, and I guess thats going to be the gist of it. I will never be there for her again if anything should happen as she has never been there for me, but I will be mature about things and at least be civil. Apparently Dave and the crappy husband had a long talk, and he says hes remorseful, and can't believe he did what he did now. But he also said if their daughter wasn't in the picture things would be different. He says her parents hate him, and her family in general has not spoken to him, and are giving her a hard time about getting back with him. He said he went over to her grandparents for thanksgiving and noone talked to him. It's kinda sad and funny at the same time, as he deserves it. I mean, he's got to prove himself now again to everyone and its not going to be easy. But he did apologize for coming over to our house like a crazy man to yell at me, and said he was sorry for talking crap. Whatever. Total liar. Dave did tell him his wife pretty much has just wanted to be a part time friend of mine, and hes tired of seeing her do that crap to me. He didn't say anything to that. I guess to sum it up, shes the one who has to go through this and live with his actions, but its not up to her family or me anymore to pick up the pieces this time around, so if it happens again I will just be blunt with her. It's just a fact were just not close anymore and I guess that just happens.

So we got our tree and got it set in the room. It's still "naked" but we will probably start decorating it this evening maybe. So after getting the tree Dave's parents watched the kids while we ran around. We went to a few stores, and then Hooters for dinner. I freaking love their wings! We ate our tails off, their wings are sooooo goooood. We then rode down Crawford Road lol. Anyone else do that crap in this area in highschool?? It's this road in Yorktown with this bridge thingy, and apparently lots of crazy spooky stuff happens there. There's storys of slaves being hung off the bridge back in the day and seeing their ghosts now, and all kinds of crap. One of my friends says she saw and Klans man at night when she was out of her car on the bridge. And someone else says she say the parkway murderer guy there or something. I used to go in highschool and I never saw anything. But my friends and I would scare each other silly. SO we went and nothing happend. Much like the trip Dave and Aaron and I took to Old House woods in Mathews County!

Dave and I then ran in Walmart as Dave is still in his christmas spirtit and wanted to get lights to put outside the house!

So today we are getting Daves wisdom teeth taking out and we are leaving like now, so I will post more later!

Saturday

Saturday I went with my parents, nephew Jake, and my girls to Portmouth. When I was a child growing up every year about this time, it was a family tradition for us to go to Coleman's Nursery and Mike's Train Land to see the Christmas displays, and what not. It was always really fun. We would always get dinner over there, and have a blast.

Coleman's closed for good 2004, and Mike's Trainland closed before that. The last year it was open we went over and took lots of pictures and I bought an angel to have as our tree topper, and a bunch of other special ornaments. One was this crazy priced special addition ornament to honor Coleman's years they were open and of course it got broken last year, which was a major bummer for me.

Anyways, all the Christmas stuff Coleman's had displayed went to this Museum thing in Portsmouth. They display the trains from Mike's trainland at the Kids Museum right across from the Christmas wonderland stuff. So we all went over there to see it all. It was fun! The Kids Museum was really neat, all kinds of stuff to play with. I did this thing where you put your self in a bubble. You stand on a plat form and pull a rope and it makes a ring pull up that has soaked in a bubble solution, so a bubble surrounds you. It was pretty neat.

My dad and Jake went across the street to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. I would have loved to have seen that, but Laura was having to much fun playing with all the stuff at the kids museum so I just hung with the kids. Laura was pretty spent after playing so hard.

We left and went back to Newport News and went to dinner at Kelly's Tavern. Laura slept through the ride and dinner. My mom held her while she was just passed out.
I think we have a new tradition started, hopefully Dave can go next time though. He had to work the night before so he was passed out himself!

Happy Shopping day!

Hope if anyone went out into the crazyness in the shops they got some killer deals for all their trouble!!!

I had heard about the crazyness, but I used to go to some craft show show with my family the day after thanksgiving for years and years, so I was a bit sheltered from the madness. Fast forward to the I believe 2002, year- Dave wanted some video game system that was a hot item, and I saw this great deal in the Toys R US add. I deceided to get up early to be there when they opened to grab it. I arrived about 20 min before the opening and a line was about a mile long to wait to get in. My nephew had spent the night and had come along to grab some toy he wanted and we were both in shock. We froze our tails off waiting, and then when the doors swang open we were practically trampled to death as we fought for a shopping cart. One lady kept hitting the backs of my legs with hers, and I made the mistake of saying something to her, which caused her to go off on me, I quickly ran away with my nephew. He ran to get his stuff, and I got the game station and then waiting in line for freaking ever to check out. I swore never again.

Today I got up and headed out to work very very very early... I wont even tell how early, but I didn't stay long, I just cleaned some stuff off my desk, and left just as soon as I got there. Something in my head said to go to Michaels, so I braved it, and it wasn't that bad... they had been open for almost an hour so it wasn't a mad dash. I ended up getting a frame for a picture and a gift for a niece. Got a great deal, then I deceided to check out what was going on in Target. It was pretty packed, but I found a great parking space and I decieded to go on in. It was pretty crazy, I wont lie, but it was doable. I went past electronics as it was too difficult to even attempt, and the toy section was off limits as well. I noticed everyone had these huge boxes with some video chair thingy in them. Seriously, that was the thing to have in your cart. While wandering around, I found a pallet with a few more left, and it was dirt cheap- really really cheap. So I grabbed one figuring Dave might like it or someone else in the family might. I finally got in line, and the lines were not too bad. When I got closer they had a bin of stuff people put in from where they changed their mind and decided they didn't want it anymore, and they had a bunch of dvds and a few toys. I grabbed two dvd's and a leap frog toy, which were all awesome deals. The DVD's were 3 bucks or so. One of the DVD's I got was the Goonies. Such a awesome movie from my childhood!

SO that was pretty much the extent of my black friday shopping. I did go online yesterday to Gymboree's website, as they were doing their early bird sale, and I got a ton of cool stuff. With the 30% already off and a coupon I had I got cool thing! Most of it is stuff for later in some bigger sizes. I even got a freaking bathing suit for the kids. Good deals I tell you....

SO this weekend we are going to try to get our tree, and get it up. Maybe we will do that tomorow evening

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone ate lots of yummy food and got to spend time with their loved ones!

We had lunch at my parents with the whole family, and then we went back over for a late dinner cause leftovers are the bomb, especially Thanksgiving leftovers!

My mom always cooks her tail off but we all try to bring something, usually a dessert or something. I had hoped to make something, but instead the above pictures were my big contribution.... Looked impressive in the bowl anways =)

Laura and Rachel enjoyed the meal, and Rachel who is my big eater probably out ate us all...

RACHEL was so hungry she ate her foot

Permantly banned from the Picture People

Tonight we had our group picture at the Picture People at our local mall. In the picture was just going to my kids, and my sisters children- so that made 6 kids total from ages 9 month- 13 years. We did one last year, but of course since Rachel came along it was time for a updated one. I dread pictures these days with oldest, as shes right at the Terrible Two's. Terrible Two's are not a myth people. They are real. Yes I was one of those that would look at ill behaving children and think to myself- "my child will never act like that". Well my little angel was the spawn of Satan tonight.

I met everyone there as I had to work, and my oldest sister Charlotte had asked everyone to dress in jeans and a red top- just like last year mind you. I thought it was dumb to do the same thing again, and personally I wanted to do something different or just have people wear what they want, but I complied. My kids arrived wearing the red, and so did my nephews, but my oldest sister kids (the one who set up the dress code) had her girls in non red items. This meant my nephews had a cow for being forced to wear the dress code, and one had to do a dress change before the picture could be taken. My nieces ages 11 and 7 had to primp their hair and makeup. Yes makeup. They also had head band issues. I didn't even know head band issues exhisted, but they do.

We get to our room to start the picture process, and they give us some new girl and its her first day on the job. That's when I knew we were in for some trouble...She placed them all in their positions, but before she would take the picture she would pause for like 30 seconds, I guess to try to get the biggest smiles possible. With six kids and my demon child wanting to break loose and run towards us, you just have to hope for them looking in the direction of the camera. So my sisters and Dave and I are jumping around trying to wrangle Laura to behave, and the rest of my nieces and nephews start fighting as they don't want to stand too close to each other or touch each other god forbid. Laura then has a melt down as she sees one of my nieces damn purses and wants it in the f^&*& picture. Told you she was a purse freak. The poor photographer looks like she is about to cry, so she leaves and gets back up. She comes back with another photographer to help her figure out some poses, and ways to restrain Laura. The process took a good hour. It was seriously the most stressful thing I have encountered in quite a while. Part of the problem was Laura got an ear infection and I had to take her to the Doc the day before, so she wasn't feeling good already. Clearly Laura's modeling career has hit a bump in the road. We also got in trouble during the session for using props improperly. I had taken some horse stuffed animals and pretended I was riding a pony around the store in attempts to get a smile out of the kids for a damn picture, and some workers didn't find me amusing.

So after they finally gave up on us, and ended the session, we waited for our pictures. We knew it was going to be slim pickings, and we had a good laugh while watching the slide show from the proofs. Seriously send me your email in the comment section, and when they email me the link tonight I will let you see our horrible pictures . We had a few so so ones, I personally wouldn't hang them on my wall, but hopefully grandparents and great grandparents will have bad enough eye site to love them anyways. One of the better ones Laura has a damn purse in the picture but it was the only way she would cooperate with us.

At least we wont have to do pictures again for quite some time now. I don't think they will let us back anyways.

My advice is take lots of pictures before they are near the Terrible Two mark as its not a myth.

My best friend Oprah

Did anyone else see yesterday's Oprah? Thank god for a freaking DVR as I record every episode and then watch it in the evenings or weekends. Yesterday was her Christmas favorite things show. Seriously, it was the funniest thing ever watching the people in her audiance freak out about all the cool things she was giving away. I thought some older ladies were going to stroke out. Even Dave got the giggles, and he rolls his eyes when I watch Oprah. Everyone got awesome stuff. She even had a freaking pink kitchen aide on there, and thats one thing I have been wanting, but I wasn't in the audiance so I didn't get a pink mixer. The biggest gift was a stainless steel fridge with the tv built in the front of it. It does everything you can think of as well. Seriously though, who needs a freaking TV on their fridge? The thing even had a DVD player. Ok it sounds cool, looks cool, but would someone really use it? You could also get it to run a slide show of pictures, so if Oprah ever gives one to me, maybe thats what I will do with it, so I don't have pictures all over the fridge, thats the only SENSIBLE use out of it that I could think of.

So yeah her show was crazy. I loved the watch she gave away, its called Toy Watch I think. A cute brand that a lot of celebs are wearing. It's affordable and sounds like a cool watch. I went online in an attempt to get one of those suckers and wouldn't you know there out of stock. Guess all the Oprah followers got their own ordered as soon as the show was over, and since I Tivoed it I was a bit late.

Maybe when she brings by the fridge by my house I can get her to give me her watch too. Heck I rather have the watch, and the pink mixer of course.

I am done with my do gooding

Every year about this time I get tense about a certain task I do at work. Please do not think I am bah hum bug, or snotty before I begin my story. The local Salvation Army in the area that I work provides holiday assistance to needy individuals for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For the dialysis units they allow me to take their applications to my work, get some filled out, and then I get to go and pick up the items to take back to my units to give out to those that qualified. Sounds simple enough and very rewarding right? Wrong of course or that wouldn't be interesting enough to blog about.

First of all, getting the patients to provide me with all the information is a nightmare. If they need toys for kids I got to have the child's Social Security number which usually results in a huge ordeal, and some people just never get it to me, so that means they don't get a toy, and that makes them a pleasure to deal with. Then once I get the applications to the salvation army, I would have to stalk them to find out when and where to pick up the food items. They usually get a box of food, and a voucher to Farm Fresh to get a turkey or a ham, or sometimes they go crazy and have the actual Turkey there for me (then I have to store them all over town in other peoples freezers until I can get them to my patients). You just never know.

Once I finally get the time for pick up, I am told I get to come to the front of the line given I have so much to collect, and load up. This results, in the other people waiting impatiently to throw verbal threats my way, and then they make a comment given my appearance that I have no right to be as I look like I can afford it. There have been times in which they say, for my patients that live in certain counties I have to go to a different location and so on, so it might take days before I have all the food for my needy patients found. On some occasions they have ran out of vouchers, and told me to go to the Salvation Army office to get them directly, and when I arrive at the office the workers look at me like I am liar, and a thief, and refuse to give them to me which causes a week long battle to get the vouchers until after the holidays. That has gone over really well with the patients too mind you.

Also, mind you, I have been 7-8 months pregnant for the last two years when I have had to do this. And part of the reason I did not like being pregnant (grant it I liked parts of it, tiny parts though) was because I did not get the royal treatment from strangers with helping me with heavy objects, or holding doors open for me. So with Laura I had to load 20 boxes of heavy food items in a car,and unload them, and I was not delighted. I called in sick the next day as my back hurt.

Last year when I was pregnant with Rachel, Dave came up to help me, and he thought I was over exaggerating the horribleness of my Salvation Army dramas. Very quickly, he told me he couldn't believe I did this crap. That was the year they shorted me on boxes and vouchers.

This year, I was cringing at the thought of going through it all again, but excited to not be pregnant, and I was ready for some heavy lifting.

I turned in the applications for 15 people this year as that was all they gave me, and they surprised me with giving me a special card, and special time to come and pick up. I had to be there Monday morning at the crack of dawn at some outlet mall, as they were going to set up in a vacant store. They promised it would be swift and much easier this year for me. Guess they caught on to my grumbling....

I doubted them, I really did. I just knew it was going to be awful anyways. I arrived, and couldn't find a freaking door open. The mall didn't open until 10am, and here I was peering in the doors. After trying out every door at the mall, I finally found the special door. I guess they keep one door open for walkers to enter, and it was the last door I tried of course. So I was rattled, knowing, just knowing it was going to keep going down from there. But to my amazement, I got all my crap, and they loaded it in my car for me, and I had everything I needed.

I was amazed, and almost upset with myself for doubting them.

Then I had to go to my units to pass them out. You would think that would be the fun part. To see the greatfulness from the patients. As I have learned, most are not greatful, but some are. They don't even use the food for the holidays most of the time. Some usually get other stuff with their vouchers besides the turkey or ham. Heck one year one lady gave it someone for cash so she could get cigaretts. This year my excitement was carrying out a box for a patient to their car, and she just drove off with me standing there with the box. I thought to myself, well maybe shes going to pull around, or maybe she just really needed some food from McDonalds. No she just left. I sat there with my mouth wide open for a good 5 min.

Then of course I hear crap from my bosses. Love them. I do. Really. BUT i hear "why didn't so and so get a box", or a wealthy patient will see the boxes and me carrying them out, and want one and not understand. I don't give them to the patients all out in the open hoping to avoid that, but its hard to hide them when they leave and need my help.

So today one of my bosses says shes upset one didn't get a box, and I explained I was only allowed to get 15 and that certain patient didn't turn in his stuff in time so I couldn't include him. So she give me money and sends me off to Farm Fresh to make a personal box with him, and for the record I had to use my own money as she didn't give me enough. Normally I wouldn't mind, but I left my check book at home, and so I had to use my lunch money. So I am starving now. This patient better enjoy this food. So I just can't make everyone happy I guess. And guess what? I get to do this all again in a month. Any volunteers if I call in sick?

Deck the halls....

It's been a pretty busy around here. But I have come to the conclusion that its just the way my life is now. Friday I had fun getting together for lunch and some shopping with a friend, and later that day Dave let me escape from the house again to get a pedicure, which is my idea of heaven.

My nephew Justin plays pee wee football, and his team were season champs this year, so they got to go the "SuperBowl" which means they played against another season champ at this stadium here in town where the highschools all play out. They had a sports announcer and everything. So I took the kids along, and we all froze our tails off for his benefit. It was really cute though seeing the kids all excited thinking they were cool stuff. His team won as well, so for being Super Bowl champs they get these special jackets. What no ring? He's just on top of the world let me tell you.

I have been trucking along with my Christmas shopping. It's getting harder though as I always put off my dad and Dave until near the end as they are the hardest. I have a few gifts wrapped, and I think each night when I can sneak up in the room I have everything in, I will just wrap one a night or as many as I can before the kids get curious in where I am.

I need to get a list together of stuff for the kids and for us. My mom has done most of her shopping already, and has most wrapped, as she Martha Stewarts clone. She gets lists from all of us so we make it easy for her. She does get a few surprises, which makes it all perfect. One thing I asked for was some every day dishes. When Dave and I got married we picked out a fancy wedding china, and I love it, and I try to use it as much as I can, but as far as every day dishes go, we just got some el cheap 'o set at some random place to hold us over. I have been looking everywhere trying to figure out what I like, and I have gave in, and I am going with the dishes from Longaberger. My sister sells Longaberger and I have always loved her dishes, so I am going to go with them. So I am hoping my mom will get me a few pieces from that. I am asking for the dinner plates, and these square luncheon plates that they have all in Ivory.

This morning we did our Christmas pictures. I will not get to see them until tonight or tomorow at the latest, but I think they went well. He came to our house, and we did some of the kids together and seperate in their dresses, some he did in front on the fire place, and the others he set up in the living room. We then did some family pictures outside. This will be the first family picure of all of us we have done. Hopefully it turns out ok cause I want one of all of us really bad. Of course by then we were trying from rangling the kids into position, so we were tired and beat, so maybe there not so good lol. My hair looked great at 9am but not so much by 10am Oh well we tried at least. We are doing pictures with my sisters kids Wednesday evening so I am sure by then they are going to be over having their picture taken, but then its all over with for a while anyways. 'Tis the season.

I have had way to much fun this week but we all have to unwind at some point I guess. I will spare everyone the details....

Things are going to get really busy here soon. Sunday we are doing Christmas pictures, and Tuesday evening my kids and my sisters kids are getting a group picture made. Booking that has been an ordeal let me tell you. I am pretty laid back with setting stuff up, as my kids are too young for various activties, but good lord it was near impossible to get a date for all of us. My "difficult" sister that I constantly have issues with can only have one event a night, so if her kids have a girl scout meeting, she wont consent to doing the picture afterward as she says it just too much for them and they need to get to bed by 7:30pm. Mind you they are not babys but rather a 5th grader and a 1st grader.... My other sisters kids have pretty busy social lives but shes cool about working in whatever in between, so after a gazillion emails back and forth about a date, in which I was the go between person I sent them both an email asking them to settle on a date together and then just tell the date. Of course now my "difficult" sister wants to all wear matching outfits, which is near impossible. I don't mind coordinatiing but she actually suggested denim tops and black pants for everyone. My older nephews scoffed at that idea as you can imagine. Last year we went with jeans and red tops, and black shoes. Yes because shoes mind you are just that important I guess that we have to match them as well.

It's a freaking picture for our parents and grandparents, not some huge portrait to hang on the wall with a light over it. I say just dress the kids in something cute to show their different personalities, or pick 2 or three colors and go with it.

I need to do some more Christmas shopping. I still have no idea what to get Dave. I got him one thing so far, but no big gift just yet. One thing I know he would love would be a big 'ol flat screen TV. Since my dad got his, Dave wont shut up about it. We have one of those holes in the wall higher up that we have a decent size tv in now. Mind you that TV isn't that old and works just fine. By now Dave wants to cover up the hole with sheet rock, which then we would have to paint again and spend a crazy amount on TV. No exactly what I want to spend hard earned money on. I say wait until the TV goes bad then go for it. Of course not though! As that would be the logical, responsible thing to do. Hopefully I will get a new bed and mattress before then. Maybe I should bite the bullett and purchase that so money wont be there for the TV haha.