Whats new with me

• I am in potty training hell with my oldest who should be trained by now, any suggestions are welcome. She freaking screams when she sees me break out the big girl underwear.
• I am running in a freaking 5K tomorrow and its going to be 30 sum degrees. WTF I would totally bail out on it if I didn’t have a friend doing it with me. I hate running and I hate cold weather, the combo can’t be good. Maybe I will fake an asthma attack or something.
• I am in the middle of shedding like a dog from the previous pregnancy. God help me if I am forced to do a comb over.
• My face is breaking out like I am 13 years old from hormone crazyness from said pregnancy
• I started putting away my Christmas decorations and it sucks, putting them up is never as fun as putting them out
• Emily rolled over for the first time a few days ago, I am so proud of her
• I am seeing a movie tonight with my husband on NYE and I am sooo excited to have a date with him.
• The hubby is getting his vasectomy the day before Valentine’s Day, how funny is that?
• I bought a super cute dress from Ann Taylor loft on sale plus an extra 50% from coupons and promotions, the damn thing better fit and look cute
• I can’t seem to drop anymore weight, its funny that I am even surprised considering how much crap I ate over the holidays, but I am still popping Alli so I think that’s at least preventing me from gaining.

Yummy

I made a crock pot version of Brunswick Stew tonight, and it was yummy.
Ingredients:
Leftover BBQ
1lb frozen butterbeans
1lb frozen corn
2 regular size cans of diced tomatoes undrained
2 regular cans chicken broth
1lb diced refrigerated potatoes. I didn't even know such a thing existed, I found mine at Harris Teeter near where the cream cheese is.

salt and pepper to taste

I dumped all in crockpot on low for the day. The bbq I had leftover from our Christmas party, but I am guessing you could use store bought or even shredded chicken. It was really good and super easy, and of course nice to come home and just eat after being at work.

Family Reunion Campbell Style...

My Great-Aunt Julia has a family reunion every year after Christmas, and this year was no different. A lot of people came this year. My family usually just hangs out in the den and hides. I prefer hiding rather then someone grabbing me and asking me who I belong to. My Aunt Julia is one of my grandfathers sisters. He was one of 10 kids. My grandparents do not go for some unknown reason/grudge. Anyways, this year we did a picture of the grandchildren and great grandchildren. My dad had three girls including me, and my uncle had two boys and girl. Then we did a great grandkid pic, and I think the 6 of us have sprung 13 total. Two were not in the great grandkid picture, as they didn't come, but its as close as we could get it!
I am the baby grandkid.

New Love

Do you drink coffee? If you do you must have one of these bad boys... Let me introduce to you the Keurig. It's the bomb. It's a single serve coffee machine, that makes coffee in record speed. Dave got one for Christmas and we are obsessed with ours. It came from Costco of course, as they have the best deals going on them compared else where. You can buy the special K cups in the coffee brand you like at Costco or online through Keurig's website, OR if you just want to use any other coffee/tea or cocca, you just put it in the K-cup filter thingy that comes with it, so if you don't want to buy the special single serving things, your still good to go. Just trust me on this one, and buy one, from Costco of course.

See I am not alone...

Christmas Pictures...

So here is a slide show of Christmas Eve- Christmas Day pics. They are out of order and some are sideways, but oh well you will get the point. Same pics as I have on my myspace if you look at those.

Yes my kids look rought on Christmas Eve, and Laura didn't even have a shirt on, but hey they were all sick with ear infections, colds, and some throwing up for good measure. In fact we had wash their Christmas PJ's that they opened as they got barfed on after we got them put into them. Fun time!
Yes that is a real pink gun my kids are holding.... sigh... my dad thought a .22 pink rifle makes an appropriate gift for a 2 year old. Don't worry though it will be many years before we let her shoot it, if ever.
Yes I look like a bum on Christmas Day morning, but whatever =)

Christmas recap

Christmas was wonderful, but lord, it was crazy too.... Next year I will make sure I take some mega vacation time around this time. I go back to work Tuesday, but I need more time to take care of things. I got up at 6am, to cook a breakfast caserole, and Dave and I always exchange with each other before we wake the kids. It's always nice to have some calmness before. I got the Kindle from Dave, which rocks. I have not downloaded any books yet, but I already have a list a mile long that I want to read. He also got me a Nike Digital watch that I wanted for running when I resume this Coach to 5k thing I want to do that I have had to put off. It's a cute watch, from Costco of course! He also got me a white down vest, and a Underarmour workout shirt, so if I can't run well, at least I will look the part!

After the kids wake up and they see their Santa stuff my parents came over to check out want Santa brought them, and I give my parents their gifts. Dave's parents swang by too for a little bit, and then we went next door where things got nutty as we opened everything from the parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. My parents always out do themselves on Christmas on everyone. My mom surprised me with a Bernina sewing machine, and some sewing accessories. I don't know how to sew, but I want to learn, and I can't wait! I really want to learn to make some cute things for the kids. Like I need another freaking hobby, but at least it will serve a great purpose. I am going to call the sewing shop to get some lessons that come for free when you purchase a machine from them, and I also hope my mom will help me out as well with some learning.

After we do my parents house and have lunch we go to Dave's parents house where his side of the family is and do everything all over again. Everyone got some great stuff, and with all the food at the different houses we stuffed ourselves silly.

You know every year when Santa sets up the girls stuff, Santa panics for a little bit thinking he should have brought more, and then by the end of Christmas Day, Santa wonders where the heck all the new crap is going to go for the kids! It's just always insane... The girls love the jeep they got, and the Elmo Live was a big hit too. Seriously, if your kid is into Elmo, get one, its well worth the price. It even entertained me for a while.

I will post some pics later!

AHHHHHHHHHHH I signed up for another 5k on freaking New Year's Day! It is going to be soo freaking cold, and I have not exactly been doing the couch to 5k plan as I have been busy with life... don't think I will be improving my time at all...hoping other slackers out there were dumb like me and signed up so I wont come in last place... yikes!

In better news I bought some sweet hooker boots last night for myself, and I'm rocking them today!

I know this is random, I hate Spencer Pratt, but he did a good thing yesterday in the Hill's episode, and I am proud of him.

I think this sums of my feelings about childbirth....

My new friend... www.scrapblog.com

Its a new digital freee scrapping site... it rocks.... I also just learned it might just be possible to print your creations through other means such as Costco....maybe not be legal but I didn't say I did this, it's possible though.... just saying....They aren't big pages, think the size of a xmas card or so... which means its possible to create them for bday party invites as well....not that I plan on doing that... cough cough.... check it out! It's super cool!!!

Flash Back Friday... a day late

*** I am in a better mood today. Probably since I am home away from leeches, sorry for giving yet again a best dramatic actress performance***

This flashback friday are pics from a crappy scrapbook page I did when I was first learning. These pics were taken I guess in 2002. Dave and I used to fish all the time. He worked at a local marinia summers when we were home from college. When we would get off of work we would go to the sea wall at his marinia and fish until late at night. It was so fun just to sit there talking and goofing off waiting for a bite. We were really into it, and had a lot of fun. I even got a nice fishing pole and rod for my 21 st bday from him, and I was crazy excited about it.

Deep breaths....

This is going to be a bitch session post, so stop reading if you can't handle it. I gotta vent though. It's my blog. Work just plain sucks right now. I have been back since December 10th. This has been a harder adjustment for me then the times before I had to go back, and I am a bit off guard about that, hence my need to vent.

I wake up at 5 something every day so I can get myself ready, do a few chores, and then get the kids ready to go to my parents. This means dressing all three kids, brushing hair, brushing teeth, getting jackets on everyone, etc etc. I do this alone every day as the hubby works nights, so I am on my own if anyone wakes up, and doing the morning bit so I can get to work. Sometimes when Dave is off any home I can slip out while everyone is still asleep, other times when he is off but has court I still have to do it on my own as he sleeps until the last minute. Irritating...

So then on to work. Since I have come back all these new procedures have been implemented. While I was out this time no social worker was covering for me, as before. Though the units did do a lot of stuff that I normally do, I am still way behind on some things. It could be worse I guess. I have to do new assessments on every freaking patient we have, and then treatment plans on them. We had some of these due this week. One of my units, God Bless them, took it upon themselves to do my part of the assessments and treatment plans for those due this week, and those due previously. They didn't have to do this, but it made things easier for me. The other unit didn't have to do it, and hence it wasn't done but I still had to have them done this week. These things take a long time to do, and since I have not been there in freaking 12 weeks to know what the hell is going on with the people, I honestly was just either putting what I remembered what was going on with them 12 weeks ago and took some wild guesses. Yeah those assessments and Treatment plans suck. Now with the treatment plans we then have these mandatory meetings with the staff and patient in which we are supposed to present the treatment plan. I was told not to stress them since I am having to catch up, but I don't think they really meant it as when it comes time to my part I end up looking like a dumb ass. Sorry I don't know what the @#$$ is going on with these people currently, and this whole flipping procedure is new to me.

Then while I have busted but to get these assessments and TP's done, everyone and their sister is throwing requests at me. "So and so is leaving a nursing home and doesn't know where he's going to live", "So and So ride isn't coming on time", "so and so isn't quite managing their money right", "so and so lost their dentures", "so and so needs to travel in a couple of days and nothing is set up", "so and so is pissed at the Social worker for having a baby and not being here to get food baskets". Then because the unit closes down for Christmas, schedules at one unit need to be re-worked out for patients to come on different days. Basically, I am just not able to get it all done within the 6 days I have been back, and people are seeming to be expecing it and I want to throw things at them.

Factor in also I work between two units, and it always seems someone needs me at the other one. Also, girlfriend is PISSED that a great deal of these TP meetings are done on fridays. I put Laura in preschool on Fridays so I could take her and pick her up. But if a TP is scheduled I have to be there. I also have scheduled doc appointments for kids on fridays, and as her preschool has to have aparent helps in the classroom I have to be there on certain days I have signed up for. I still only work 4 days a week, but I always took fridays off, and set up my life to run that way.

Because I am stressed to the max at work teeny things are plucking my nerves... I am also sick and tired of nurses to expect the social worker to make life changing differences in the patients. I can make suggestions, give them advice, but ultimately they have to follow through. My job is not to counsel. I know that sounds crazy, but no I am not going to sit down and have a flipping therapy session with a patient. I AM NOT A THERAPIST AND PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN THE DIFFERENCE. I am not qualified/licensed to do that. That is what a freaking therapist is for. My whole freaking job role is case management. This means I am just trying to hold the person together if they need it. Make sure insurance is as stable as can be, make sure you get your meds, make sure if you need help, you know what your options are. Basically, I am there to give options, and push someone in the right direction. But since some of my patients would rather lick poo then do anything to help themselves even that is a struggle. Ultimately if you got some mental issues, you need to see a therapist, or try some new drugs. I might get that printed on a t-shirt.

I am hoping things will chill out once I am caught up on all the new procedures, and have adjusted. I will say my days go by fast though. No down time at all anymore. I have not even had time to really even catch up with co-workers, and I consider some of my co-workers to be my closest friends, so that's sad for me as I haven't even been able to catch up with them yet.

So then I go home at the end of the day stressed from the day, and I come home to my crazy household. I cook dinner, attempt to do some chores, attempt to play with kids, attempt to get Christmas stuff done, and about 11pm I can finally sit down. Despite all this running around, my house still isn't clean, I am not caught up yet at work, and I am not ready for Christmas, I don't get to enjoy my kids when I am home, and I basically just want to cry. And guess what idiot decieded to do a freaking holiday party at her house for family tomorrow... yeah I planned this before I went back to work, last thing I want be doing right about now...wont be happening again so hopefully everyone will take pictures so the record shows I had a holiday party in this lifetime.

Despite how frantic I may seem, I am actually a lot calmer which is scary, and is exactly why I am going to hit up my doctor to get on something. I think I need a combo of Speed and Zoloft, and gun to shoot the idiots in Washington for coming up with these new regulations at work.

Santa Picture!!

Tonight my sisters kids and my crew headed to the Picture People to do pictures of the grandkids for my parents and grandparents. Those experiences are always painful, wonderful. Every year we say it's the last picture, and then wham, I get knocked up again, and we need a new pictures with the new baby girl, or so it seems. Anyways, we lived through it, AND the local Picture People in my neck of the woods had a Santa tonight on hand for pics. He was pretty nifty looking I thought. Anyways, my oldest two are not fans of Santa by any means as our prior two attempts this year resulted in panic attacks and lots of tears. We were at the place long enough though, and Santa was relentless in getting them to warm up to him. He was determined to make a good impression by giving my girls crayons to color while we were waiting for the photographer, and he kept talking to them. He just was not going to give up. What a trooper. Either that or he gets a commission for every picture with him in it that you buy....

Anyways, we did the pictures of all the kids with each other, and then Santa wanted to do a picture with them. Of course all the older kids tried to act all cool by refusing for a while to do a picture. God forbid some tweens get their picture taken with Santa. HA I am going to post the picture on their myspaces now. After their mom's threatened to take their cell phones away they complied, and as you see here we have a non-crying picture with Santa. Whatever works.... The fact these young kids have cell phones is another story...Seriously, WTF

Photobucket src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f48/Gilesr1/robyn-1.jpg" border=0>

Paper Tree Project....

I know all of you are super jealous of my paper tree, it rocks....and was really easy. My friend Sarah found out how to make them from THIS LINK I didn't buy the cardboard cone though, I just made a cone out of card stock which was a pain in my behind, and I didn't have a lot of paper so I it's sparse tree. Well I didn't have a lot of Christmas colored paper put it that way... I then stuck a small ball ornament on top with some hot gun glue. The hot gun glue is the best invention ever!

Take this job and.....

I tell ‘ya what…. if I need to hit the lottery I’m quitting my job. Every year I get the needy patients food baskets from the Salvation Army if they qualify. Some years they ask for proof of income, some years they don’t. I don’t even freaking have to do this anymore, but I do it to be nice. I may not be nice anymore. Well this year I went out on leave before they would take applications, so obviously I wasn’t doing it this year. Those that got them last year would still get a notice through their mail from the organization letting them know when to sign up, the only thing difference was I wouldn’t be doing the applications for them and turning them in or picking up their stuff and getting it to them since I was out. They still had the opportunity though to do it if they stepped up. Last year we had one lady who isn’t what I would call needy, sign up and she did it on a year they didn’t need the proof of income so I guess they took her word she needed it, and she got it. I don’t think she was honest in her application for it, but that is besides the point. Well this year no one has really breathed a word about me not doing it while I was out having a baby, except, you guessed it, Miss Entitlement 2008. Apparently she’s hating on me quite a bit from the notes I have read. (giggle) First of all, I don’t feel sorry for her as there are far more people in town who need the items more, and obviously I didn’t have the baby and go out on leave just leave my needy people high and dry. Second, when I started doing this I actually thought people would be all excited and grateful. Nope, doesn’t happen. EVER. Third, no one uses the items on the actual holidays cause I’m nosey and always ask. Fourth, it’s seriously not an exciting food basket. We are talking a couple of canned goods, maybe some dry beans if your lucky, but they do give a $15 voucher for food to a local grocery store. But let’s face it, $15 doesn’t go far. In fact after I give them out each year, instead of thank you’s I get complaints ‘cause the baskets "suck". Just what I want to hear after I wait in long lines and take time away from work to get them. And finally since they contact everyone by mail that gets one in years past she could have stepped up and mailed it in herself. Opportunity was there for her….But apparently, according to her I had my baby this year so I could just stick it to her. Should be fun times when I see her for the first time this week. For the record, I wont be doing them again. EVER. You can quote me.

Weekend highlights....

It was a busy weekend for us between a birthday party, a work party, and some last minute Christmas shopping. At my work party we played Bunco, it was my first time playing, and I really liked it. It was fun, or at least I think I did considering I had a lot of punch... haha. I am dying to play in a group. Doubt my neighborhood will be starting a group anytime soon as my neighbors are old as dirt for the most part. But if anyone has a group and needs another player, hit me up. Or if you know a lot people that want to play, start a group and invite me! I'm desperate like that. I am guessing you need 16 people to play as that is how many were playing at our party. I even won a snow globe last night cause I got the most Buncos. Please, no haters, you know you all want cool snow globes like me too.

I ran today. Well kinda... I am sure my running partner, Sarah thinks I am the most out of shape person ever... She can probably walk backwards with her eyes closed and still beat me while I run. I am attempting to do the couch to 5k program...Of course I went about this all backwards, as I did the 5k on Thanksgiving. I walked a lot of it, and my time was sad, so I don't know if I would even count it.... Anyways, today was my first time doing the Couch to 5k program. For the first week you do a 5 min walk and then run for 1 minute, and then walk for 90 seconds and you do that for 20 min. It sounded like it was super easy, but I was pretty spent by the time the 20 min was up. You are supposed to do this two more times in the first week. I can't remember what week 2 is, but I gotta get through this week first. I just googled couch to 5k and found the plan that way. I freaking still hate running, but it's too hard for me to get to the gym, and the Wii fit will only do but so much for me. I still love my Wii fit though! Gotta love the step class and yoga. I am also going to sign up for the New Year's Day 5k in Hampton. Hey at least I get a T-shirt for signing up. I also am going to add into the mix of my running workouts some work outs on TV. We have digital cable through Cox, and on demand they have different workouts you can do on their health/fitness on demand. I recently did the Biggest Loser Cardio Max work out, and let's just say I felt like a loser when I was done lol. It kicked my hiney. I actually thought it wouldn't be that bad as the people Bob had with him doing it were fat, so I had high hopes for a minute, but the fat people put me to shame. Seriously it hurt to sit down or walk for a day or two.

Sadly enough I doubt I will be able to lose any weight until after Christmas despite all this crap I am doing, because I can't stop eatting all the the lovely holiday goodies I am surrounded by. You better believe I am still popping Alli though. Maybe after the holidays I will see some results. I am determined though to drop two more clothing sizes.

Dave and I broke down and got a battery operated car for the kids. I actually decieded I was going to wait until next year as I have so much for them already, but Toy's R Us had the two seater Barbie Jeep on sale, and I had a 20% off coupon. So I saw it as a sign and gave in. We got the last one tonight, and it's super cute. I know they are going to love it! I can't wait to see Laura and Rachel's face on Christmas day. I figured I would just hold back a lot of the other toys I bought, and give those to them during Laura and Rachel's bday in Feb, and that way Bday shopping is already done.

Gingerbread house and real house

So... I have not made a gingerbread house since I was in 5th grade at Trinity Lutheran, and I thought it would be fun to do one with the kids as a family. I bought a cute kit at Costco. It came with everything and all you have to do is put the house together and then decorate. Sounds simple enough right?

So this is what my creation is supposed to look like according to the kit:

So please tell me why ours looks like this:

Umm I wish I could tell you that my kids made this, but in all honesty, they weren't that interested, and just wanted to eat the candy, so in fact this is a creation made my Dave and myself. God forbid I ever have to decorate a cake... The one I made in 5th grade was much better that much I can remember.... It was still fun though.

I took some pics of our actual house a few days ago messing around with my new camera. I love my camera and I am so glad my parents got it for me. Dave is only able to shoot with it in automatic as he's not interested in reading the massive manual. In all honestly I need to read up on the functions some more, but I am getting the hang of.

This is a picture taken outside at night on Auto with a flash

This one I took with out a flash and adjusted my ISO up all the way. I think it's so pretty!

As you can see I left the boot hanging from the wreath. I just didn't know what else to do with it honestly, and it's grown on me. A delivery lady dropping off some Christmas presents I ordered today told me loves it, so I guess it's not so bad.

Flashback Friday

This is a picture of my Poppy (moms dad) and I am not sure how old I was, but he passed away October I believe in 1982, and I was 2 when he died. I look pretty close to two in this pic. My mom told me that Monday would have been his 90th birthday. He passed away due to Cancer. I actually kinda remember him which I know may seem crazy, but I do have a few blurry memories. I remember him coming over close to Christmas. Which means I wasn't even two, so maybe its just a dream or something, but seriously, I remember my mom wrapping presents on the kitchen table, and him coming over by himself in the middle of the day just to visit. Maybe my mom and confirm for me, so if she's reading leave a comment for me on here. I also remember his funeral. I know that memory is real, as I remember a lot of details from that. I remember the carpet in the funeral home was green, and I remember my dad holding me while we looked at Poppy in the coffin, and how I was confused and thinking he would just wake up, and then sitting during the service and wondering why my mom was crying. My other grandfather told me at my grannys funeral this past Feb. that he had he took me outside during the funeral for poppy as I was upset, but I don't remember that. You know now that I think of it, I remember meeting some lady many many years ago, and she introduced herself and said she took me outside and watched me during that funeral as well, so I wonder which one was right, or maybe they both are?

So I have survived my first days back... I am off tomorrow, and actually next Monday, so I get a nice 4 day weekend. Thank the lord...Work has been stressful for me because there are A LOT of mandatory changes that the lovely government is having us do, so I am attempting to catch up from just being away, and then comply with these changes that affect every freaking thing/person and then some. We have all these mandatory meetings as well, and since I work between two different units I have to figure a way to get everything done and attend all these meetings. This means I wont have every friday off from now on because some of these lovely meetings take place on my sacred fridays. That bites as I put Laura in her school program on fridays so I would be off, and I would be the one taking her and picking her up. I also scheduled in advance many doc appointment for Fridays. Lovelyness. At least every friday wont be impacted,and when it is I just will figure out another day in the week to take off, because home girl is not working more then 4 days a week come hell or high water. Actually, I think only 1 or 2 fridays a month will be impacted by it. I know I will get caught up eventually, and I know I will get the hang of the new procedures in time, but I just hate feeling lost. It can only get better. If not I think I would make an excellent Costco employee. I have door greeter written all over me =)

Want to know how my first day back to work went? Let's put it this way... I called the husband who was off and at home, and told him to put my Sweet Tea Firefly vodka in the freezer...

Stranger Danger

I go back to work tomorrow. That has me upset enough. Strangers keep ringing my door bell freaking me out, upsetting me even more. Yesterday some guy selling frozen meat/chicken out of the back of his truck came over while Dave was napping and I seriously thought he was going to murder me and my family. Not. Even. Kidding.... He made me feel really uncomfortable, and would not take no for an answer when I wouldn't spend several hundred on his crap. I kept plotting in my head how I would attempt to beat him up. Seriously, I was scared to death, and when I finally got him to leave, I ran and woke up Dave and made him find him to see if he was legit. I had it worked up in my head that it was some guy Dave had arrested in the past and he was coming over to kill us. Dave confirmed later after finally finding him around the corner that he was legit, and just a pushy sales guy, while I stayed at home making sure all windows were locked, and pondering if I should learn how to shoot a gun.

Then this morning our neighborhood was attacked by Jehovah's Witnesses ringing my door bell like 10 times. I refused to answer it and made the kids sit with me in the den until they went away.

Please people do not ring my door bell if I don't know you. I don't want any freaking meat, or to hear about how I am going to hell. Seriously....your giving this girl a ulcer.

Christmas...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping paper, and putting on big pretty bows, BUT sometimes it's too hard to wrap something, and heck with three under three sometimes I just throw it in a bag more and more these days... by the way any suggestions for wrapping a riffle???

2. Tree--Real or Artificial? both, the pink tree is of course fake, we have fake tree with just lights on it in our window above the door (plant shelf or whatever you call it) but our main tree in the living room is real. Real trees can be a pain in the butt, but they smell so good and are worth the extra hastle...

3. When do you put Christmas tree up?honestly we try to shoot for the friday after thanksgiving but with Dave's schedule it doesn't always happen that way. The pink tree went up really early cause I was really excited when I bought it...

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometimes New Years Day, sometimes a few days after.

5. Like eggnog? I hate it. The husband loves it, but doesn't like it spiked.

6. Do you have a nativity scene? I used to but I think Laura broke it her first Christmas. It was an el cheapo one I picked up at some place going out of business. I really should get another one.

7. Favorite gift received as a child? Original Nintendo with the duck hunt game and the power pad. I loved that thing...

8. Hardest person to buy for? parents, they have everything

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. It's so much fun.

10. Worst Christmas gift? a precious moments soccer figurine from a neighbor. Don't worry I acted all excited. I just hate precious moments anything, I think they are tacky, the big heads scare me. I also have a love for every sport except soccer. Seriously, I would boycott it in gym class. My dad always said soccer is for the kids who got cut from baseball lol. With that being said, watch all my kids want to play it soccer. Or worse yet, hate all sports.

11. Mail or email a Christmas card? Mail.... please tell me no one emails them out...

12. Favorite Christmas movie? All of them. Elf is pretty cute though.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long I do it. Whenever I find something cute or a good sale.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? It's possible...yes that is tacky, but I mean if you know someone else will appreciate it better then you, why not pass it on?

15. Favorite food to eat on Christmas? all of it, but as far as a drink goes, my moms slush punch for sure....

16. Lights on tree? who knows... We just put them on until we reach the end.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? All of them

18. Travel during Christmas or Stay home? Stay home... I have never traveled away from home on Christmas

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, & Rudolph

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? We have an Angel

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? one, and its always PJ's

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic, crowds

23. Favorite ornament? I have lots of favs...

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Kindle, and a few odds and ends.

Home made ornaments...

I saw how to make the cutest ornaments on Kelly's Korner's blog, and I have copied her. Click Here to see her post Super easy and cheap to make. I am going to give them out at my Christmas party we are having, and I have decieded to give them to my co-workers as well. I have a bunch of co-workers since I work at two units, so it's cost friendly, and who doesn't like getting a ornament? I just have to try to remember all their freaking names since I have been away from work for 3 months lol. In all honesty, I just made a few for some of my fav co-workers, and then decided I better just make them for everyone. I might need to be in good graces since I am sure work is going to be stressful for me at first. Might also help me avoid a few stink eyes from cranky nurses...

I bought the glass ornaments at Joanne's, but pretty much any craft place sells them. I got a box of 4 large ones for $2.99 Then I put inside of them the shredded paper. I bought this at the dollar store. I also got this shredded tinsel (same aisle at dollar store) stuff that looks cute in them too. I tied ribbon on the tops, and then put on stickers for the monogram. I have a bunch of alphabet stickers in my scrapbook stash so it was nice to use some of that up. So simple, would be a great idea for a project with kids too. I actually saw some kinda like this at the craft show I just went to with a price tag on it that made me want to ask the seller if she was smoking reefer. I wanted to just stand there and tell people to save their money and make their own. That's one thing I love about going to craft shows, or heck even browsing on Etsy.com. You see so many ideas that you can make yourself.


I didn't take any pics of the ones I have made 'cause some people who are getting them are probably reading so I have to leave some element of surprise you know?

Cute Bow Holder

This is the bow holder I got Thursday at the show for Laura.. I love it! The lady has a website too I think- I will update with the web address when I find her card. The MIL bought another one in different color fo Rachel as she went to the show today... I am going to make Emily's.

Fertility Statues....

I sure as heck wont be touching these puppies...funny enough that they are going to be in Williamsburg down the road from where I work... Click Here

Flash Back Friday....

Vanessa is probably cracking up right now if she's seeing this. This picture was taken spring 1998, my senior year of highschool. It's a pic of my highschool best bud and I. I played softball for my highschool and for a ASA team. I grew up playing baseball and made the switch to softball when I was 16. My senior year of softball was a blast. I can't even really describe it, but it was just awesome. Our team was excellent that year, seriously, I think we had the best talent, and I can't remember stats, but we did great, and should have been 1st place, but I do know we weren't, but we were pretty close, and we deserved it. Seriously, one of the best times in my life was playing highschool softball. Our team was like a little family, and I wish I could go back in time and spend a day on the field with everyone from the team again. I had planned on playing in college, but I never went out for the team. I said I was going to take a year off, and well that turned into 4 years off. I regret it in a sense, but then again, the extra time on my hands allowed me to focus on my grades which rocked in college, and of course allowed me to gain a crap load of weight from not being physical. I started playing slow pitch softball in 2007 after I had Rachel, and got to play with some people on my old team and people we played against. I love it, but it's just not the same. I don't have the crazy competiveness, and good lord, I am actually afraid of getting hurt at times now, and I was fearless then. Guess that's part of getting old!

I went to Richmond today to the Bizarre Bazzar craft show. They have two shows a year, one in the Spring, and one before Christmas, and the one before Christmas is always the best... I got lots of cute things. They had tons of adorable ornaments, I could have bought 100 ornaments as they just had the cutest ones. I ended up with a Scout bag. I have been eyeing them every year, but just not sure what to use it for as I have a million bags...I got one this year, and deceided it would make a fun diaper bag as it has great pockets for bottles or sippy cups, plus it wipeable if there is a spill... yet again another reminder of the mother in law ruining my coach diaper bag without so much as I'm sorry or a replacement. Bitter subject with me still. Sigh...

I got these cute personalized placements for the kids that are plastic , a dress for Rachel, and a tooth fairy pillow for Emily. I now have tooth fairy pillows for all the kids, and I doubt we will be using those for quite a while, but hey, I'm prepared...I also got a few Christmas presents for some family members. My favorite purchase was a hair bow holder that looks like a tu-tu. I will post a picture of it later. It's super cute, and very afordable... I only got one, but that's because I saw another bow holder on Etsy that I am all about, but its pricey like $52. Home girl is not going to pay that much for a flipping bow holder- sorry... Anyways, I know I can make the same holder like the one on Etsy for probably no more then $10, so in time I will give it a try for the other two kiddos.

So I have my cookies ready for the church bake sale... and guess what... I didn't make them, the husband did! I joked on him that he would be making them, but didn't mean it, but hey, he saved me some time. He's all proud of himself too, and I am as well. This is why I married him folks...if only I could some how get him to do the rest of the cooking...

Favorite Ornaments...

I love ornaments... I think it's fun taking them out of storage and hanging them on the tree. It always makes me remember when I got it, etc etc.. Here are a few of my favorites..

This one I bought at Bizarre Bazzar, a great craft show held twice a year in Richmond... in fact their Christmas show is tomorrow-Sunday, and I am going tomorow... I put last years Christmas pic of the kids in it...

My sister Becky made this one... She has a ornament exchange party every year, and she made these for all of her guests...

This one I bought at a craft show the year we got married...

My dad bought me this hand blown glass one at a festival several years back. I have a few of these in different colors.

The field hockey player I got in highschool,and later in college I bought two more to give to my college coaches as gifts with their names on it. Coach Annie, and Coach Andrea... I wonder what they are up to now...

My mom bought this one for me when I was in college at Ferrum, I dig the guys fro

I am so glad I bought this tree for the playroom for the kids. I know it's a bit tacky, but I think that's just another reason why I like it. This is the view of the tree from when you walk in the playroom.

I love the ornaments I have scored for the tree already this year. They have been fun to buy. This one I got at TJmaxx

This one was a present for the kids from Sarah and her mom, Candy

The feather one was in my swap package from my partner, she sent me some really adorable ones for my tree but this one was my favorite. The other ornament is one Candy had made for Emily. For each of my baby girls she gave me an ornament with their name, birthdate, and birth stats on it.

My vera bradley ornament goes great with this tree as well!

Today I went to put lights in our front windows, and this year only one was working, even despite trying new bulbs. So I had to go out and buy new ones, and scored them at the dollar store. While I was there I saw this cute felt tree, and got one for me, and one for my mom. Super cute, and well worth the buck.

I also bought some things to make ornaments, but I am not going to show them on here just yet, because I have not made any yet, and I plan on giving them to people at our Christmas party if they turn out ok. So stay tuned! I am copying another bloggers idea, but I will give her the credit when I post.