The Reveal

Our final projects are DONE. That is right folks, D-O-N-E DONE! All of our major remodeling projects are complete. Now there are only minor little things to do--IF--and when we feel like it. I am so happy with how everything turned out. The kitchen was not as time-consuming as the bathroom was last year, but I think it is even better!

Do you remember what our kitchen looked like originally? Let me remind you....we painted it awhile ago, switched the stove but nothing too drastic was changed...

Well, let's just let the new pics tell the rest of the story...

(cabinets splitting the two rooms--UGH!)

Our hired plumber :)

AND THE FINAL PRODUCT, complete with new sink, counter tops--with an extended bar that you can actually use, tile backsplash, some new cabinets, CAN LIGHTS (that we absolutely love), and new small chubbers ceiling fan. And best of all, we actually eat in our kitchen now.

(new cabinets under the bar!)

We love it!

Running...out of time

Sometimes I wonder why the time at work goes by so slow, like you are watching every moving part of the clock slowly rotate while you are trying to pass the time. While on the other hand, there is not enough time in the day to get the things I want to get done at home. What is the deal?


Here is just a fun pic of Clayton and I at my brother in laws 40th birthday party. Uhm, we were the only ones who got the memo that it was 70's theme. We felt a little bit out of place ;)

The last few weeks we have hardly made it to bed before 12 am. We were preparing for & starting on the kitchen remodel. We were painting the cabinets (me at home painting—yes with all the doors and windows open for ventilation--while Clayton was at work spraying up the doors and putting the cool edge on them), taking down the old cabinets above the stove, taking off the countertops, removing the sink and parts of our flooring. On Friday the 23rd, we got the countertops and the extra cabinets installed. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I love our new large sink, bar and the open space without those ugly upper cabinets. We are not finished, but probably 85 % done. We aren't going to post many pics just yet :)


We found this fantastic tile a few weeks ago. It was a mosaic tile with natural stone and glass tile squares. They were browns and tan. Perfect, we bought them and planned on doing a full tile backsplash. On Friday, we pull out the tile to put it against the cabinets and countertops. I stood back & looked at it; Clayton did the same. Then we looked at each other and said,“I HATE IT”. We had taken a door sample and countertop sample with us when we picked it out, but seeing it in person, we hated it. I was relieved we both didn’t like it. The tiles were too amber-brown and looked hideous. Since we want to save money where we can, we decided to only do a halfsplash which will save us about $300. We went to Lowes, & Home Depot (several locations cause for some reason they all carry different tiles).We found three that we liked. One of which was the exact same as the original ones we bought but with blacks & tans instead. IT MATCHES PERFECT.

Last Saturday we put up the tiles and grouted them. This weekend we will seal them; I can’t wait!! We should have most everything but the can lights done by Sunday. What I really can’t wait for, is to get everything done and then clean the entire house. We have done so much work on it that we will finally be able to sit back and enjoy it! All of the projects we have left are minor that will take a couple hours here or there (re-finish the crib/dresser, re-grout a little crack in the shower, adjust the blind lengths, paint one wall in the living room a darker color, remove two screws sticking out of the concrete outback, etc). It is so nice to see everything DONE instead of this idea or task on a list TO BE DONE.

My plumber dog

Before....well we took down the doors before we took the pic, OOPS

The upper cabinets still in place...

And they are gone...

And that is all your are going to get!

What about kankles?

Besides enjoying the kitchen, it will be really nice is to not have sore, swollen feet. Just climbing up this two step ladder to put stuff in and taking it out of the cabinets left me with VERY SWOLLEN SORE feet. I brokea few blood vessels in them from being on them too long. Last Sunday I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a train. My entire body was aching! So was Claytons. We have ran to Lowes almost every day—multiple times--for one thing or another, returned several items that we changed our minds on and ate fast food all week because we couldn’t cook very easily. And honestly, who feels like cooking a meal when you are already tired? So I can’t wait to enjoy my lovely kitchen and get back to watching my game shows every night!

As for the baby—she is doing great! My belly button is almost flattened which is much more flattering than the Pillsbury dough boy look. She is kicking like crazy and Clayton loves to say good morning and good night to her. He is really sweet and is getting anxious to meet her. We ordered a really cute crib set on ebay for only $50! I thought since it was a bid item that in the last couple minutes we would for sure lose the bid—but they didn’t change the price. I was looking forward to it until I got it in the mail and found it was a piece of JUNK. We returned it and now are back on the hunt for the set of our dreams. I have made a few blankets for baby showers recently too. I can't wait to have some time to make them for my cute little one!

Baby at 22 weeks

Baby at 26 weeks (the doc said this looks a little bigger than it is, but I sure hope she has those cute lips)

I am feeling really good and enjoying not being so sick. I still get a little nauseated if I wait too long to eat, but I am not puking my brains out which is fabulous. I had a lady at work the other day say something kind of funny/rude. At first I wanted to punch her little face and then just realized that she must have slipped or not realized what she had just said. She said, “Wow, it looks like you have the entire basketball team under your shirt. Before you weren’t showing and now you really are”. Hmm, really, the WHOLE team hu? Are you sure you didn’t just mean to say a basketball under my shirt? Cause I am pretty dang sure I am not that big, but thanks for the compliment, I guess. LOL. Most people are really nice and make me feel good but there are some days that I feel HUGE. Like when I go to put on a pair of pants that fit me a week ago and now they are so tight I can’t do up the button. My cute sister-in-law & sister gave me a bunch of darling maternity clothes that have helped the wardrobe. Especially for work—who wants to get dolled up for work when you are tired and everything is too tight in all the wrong places? Not me, but with the new additions to my clothes I am set. Thanks gals!

Sweet Kicks

I have been able to feel the baby kicking a LOT. It is so sweet and crazy at the same time. Finally, after many failed attempts, Clayton was able to feel her little kicking on Saturday. I love feeling her move, but it is still a little strange to think that my growing belly is housing a baby. I don’t know if I am recognizing it more or if she is moving more but the last couple of days it has been pretty constant. It is so fun to think a little girl is in there just waiting to come out and meet us! I had a dream that I delivered a sweet little chubby face baby with tons of hair....hmmm by looking at Clayton and I, it probably won't be too far off the mark.

I feel like my belly is just getting bigger by the minute. I feel like I should be able to still just hop up on the counter to reach the top shelf with the flour, but even stupid little movements are seeming difficult. Ha,ha, I am not even that big, so I can’t imagine what it is like at 8-9 months along. I have gained some weight the last few weeks, so I am now back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Funny as it is, my clothes still don’t fit even though I am now at the weight I started at. I can eat an entire watermelon by myself in about a day and a half. That is one thing I am LOVING. Give me a watermelon and a little salt and I am a happy camper!

We were OVERLY busy this weekend. I don’t know that we had 5 minutes in between activities—they were all fun, it was just tiring. Friday night we went with my fam out to dinner for Father’s day. Saturday we took Clayton’s car to get detailed (his father's day present), finished working on our front door, did laundry, went to a baby shower, swim party and then an old work party that evening. Sunday we went to church, came home and cleaned the house, went to my nephews ordination and a little dinner, then to the hospital to see Mindy. We didn’t get home until almost 10 pm! I am completely tired…and today it is just back to work. A extra day of rest in there would have been great. I am looking forward to the holiday next Monday when we both get a day off—but my Mom will be in town for my sisters baby blessing and next weekend is filling up like the last….so I will just have to keep waiting for that “day off”. On the plus side I can’t wait to see my Mom and go pick up some more stuff for the baby’s blessing dress she will be making. YEAH!!!

Work has been going good—I was just moved from an office to a cubicle out in a little area and then moved again into full on CUBIE LAND. I have never had to work in an area like this and I don’t know that I like it. I don’tmean to be an office snob, but it is hard to make phone calls to clients when 500 others are on their phone or chit-chatting. Some peace and quiet would be appreciated. Not to mention everyone’s conversations are to say the least interesting. You would think that since everyone can hear you,you might not tell ridiculous stories or personal info…oh no. I get to hearit all. I try to just keep my ear buds in, but honestly I would just like a little office. Put me in a corner, I don’t care, this cubicle land is driving me nuts. However, I am super lucky to have a nice boss who I can send funny IM’s to, saying “save me, please call me into your office” or“Your office with a view sucks compared to my cubicle”. He usually just laughs or plays it up. It is nice to have a boss you can joke with (like calling him a wuss, creepy or old man (when he is only 35)) and actually enjoy their company. I know a few of my previous managers should take some lessons from him. So I guess I should not worry about the cubicle and just enjoy my super nice boss and the fact that I have a job.

And since I can't really say when I will be posting again until after the holiday......HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!

No Soliciting

Ok, although it may a faux pau on my blog, I am going to put this out there anyways.

It is semi-official. I have started a business. I have my name registered, I got my business license; bought the software and coolest piece of office machinery (my beautiful 10 key). Now I am going to be looking for some clients...so if you know someone who would need a bookkeeper, send them my way ;). I will be offering accounting services and payroll services (accounts receivable/payable, bank or account reconciliations, preparation of financial statements, processing payroll, quarterly filings, W-2 and 1099's). They can email me with questions, set up a free consultation or request my resume & references.

Thanks for letting me sell my services here...while keeping my clothes on. And a special thanks to whoever made photoshop--I can have hours of fun making cool stuff like my logo or digital scrapbooking pages, or editing photos that were not quite up to par. Thank you cool designer folks.

Names

Well--for Christina--here is my belly a couple weeks ago(16 weeks). I will post another pic after I take my 20 week photo this weekend! I can't believe I am almost 1/2 way done!!

We have been looking at a name book and there are some interesting names out there. We haven't picked any out for certain but I do like more unique names that are feminine. Not some crazy off the wall names, just pretty ones or ones that won't have 15 in a single class room (like Madison or Brooklyn--even though I love those names).

My family lives by nicknames--so I need to keep that in mind when picking a name for our baby girl. What will we call her? Does the nickname sound just as good? Silly but true. No one goes by their real names around our houses. My Dad would really like it if we named her Velda just so someone can carry on the V (his name is Verlan). Nice try Dad, but I don't think so on this one. Violet maybe, but no Velda.

We have laughed super hard with some of the names and their meanings in our book. The best was a name that meant: beautiful; like a creeper. Really? Like a creeper hu. I don't really picture any creeper beautiful. It was an indian name and I can't remember which one it was--but if I find it I will let you know.

Here are some names that we laughed at. Nothing tops beautiful like a creeper though. How endearing.

Brunhilda: armored warrior.

Bum: duty; fragrance. (very interesting)

Anuhya: something pleasantly unexpected. (oh so an OOPS baby)

Anais: gracious. (not the first thing that comes to mind)

Clearly we haven't gotten too far in the name book. I will try to keep a better list of the laugh out loud names so we can all enjoy.

The verdict is in...

We are pleased to announce our little bundle of joy is made with sugar and spice and everything nice. It’s a GIRL. Clayton was right and can’t wait to have a Daddy’s girl. I was secretly hoping I would have a little girl to dress up. We are both very excited!!!

We had our target ultrasound yesterday. Everything is looking great. The baby is about 8 oz and 5 inches long (crown to rump). The lady doing the ultrasound said, “Well here are the legs and feet and oh here is a perfect shot…..what do you think it is?” I stared for a moment and Clayt said, “It’s a girl!” “Yes, it is a girl indeed. No doubt about it.” We got some cute pictures of her precious little face. She had her hands up next to her face the whole time. She was crossing her legs and they took a cute picture of just the bottom of her feet.

After our doctors appointment, we ran to all-a-dollar and made little baskets with boxes of sugar and spice and a little candy (everything nice) with a “It’s a girl” balloon. Then we delivered them to our parents. Everyone is excited for a little girl! On my side of the family, I have two sisters that just had baby girls—so they will have little girl friends 6 months apart. On Clayton’s side there are two boys on the way and one born a couple months ago so she will have some boy cousins close in age as well.

Now for the shopping, craft, bow and blanket making! I am so excited to use a pattern I bought on sale a few weeks ago to make a big blessing dress out of the train from my wedding dress. Well not me, but my cute Mom will make it for me ; ). I will keep to the simple stuff that is ok to mess up—but not the blessing dress.

Another rundown

Do you ever wonder what you should title a post? Of course you do. What if I titled a post RUNDOWN last year or something…what if I start using the same ones? A repeat. I don’t know if anyone cares but I want my titles to be clever or unique. But for the life of me, I don’t know what to title posts these days and there is nothing creative about them.

We went to the doctor on Wednesday. Our caterpillar is now a BABY!!! Hooray. I don’t think it is a lump of chub anymore. It was really sweet tosee the baby kicking and moving around like crazy. I just sat there and smiled because I don’t feel anything, so it was nice to get somere assurance that there is a growing baby in there. Maybe the baby was moving around because I had just eaten a Lynn Wilson Beef & Potatoe burrito. I know I was excited to gobble that goodness down. Or it could be,a happy baby, due to a happy Mom, who is able to hold down small amounts of soda. You read right, I have finally been able to drink a little soda. It is not my daily breakfast of champions like it used to be…(although I must confess, today it was—thank you McD’s)...but I can have a little here and there without throwing up. I have finally stopped losing weight and am now beginning to gain a little back. I lost 9 and have gained 2 back. So atl east I am still under my pre-pregnancy weight (although I feel like my belly just looks chubby).

I have a little appetite back and am feeling MUCH MUCH better. There are still times I get a little sick; if I wait too long to eat or if someone discusses fish. Kind of funny but even the thought of the SMELL of fish about sends me over the edge. I don’t like it when I am not pregnant and I really don’t like it now. Clayton thought I was kidding when I asked him one day to stop talking about a fish story from work….some co-workers were eating salmon eggs or something—and I finally had to put my hand in frontof my mouth and say, “Seriously honey I am going to throw up”. Ha, how stupid is that? But then again to me, fishy smells are awful any day of the week.

Back to the baby—we were hoping to find out the sex at Wednesday’s appointment but it was moving around and the doc didn’t really say much. I really want to know though! Next month we have our big ultrasound and they will tell us. I can’t wait! Several people are thinking it is a little girl. I really don’t know. I don’t know how to even feel or guess at what I think it is. I would like a boy for the mere fact that we have a ton of boy stuff from my sis. But with my heart, I would love a little girl…however Clayton already is surrounded by girls in our house (with Chloe & Izzy) so a boy would help even it out. He thinks it is a little girl. I just don’t know. I haven’t had any dreams about a baby. I used to….I have had several dreams with the same little girl in them named Jordyn, but I haven’t since I have been pregnant. I have had some funny dreams but none about a baby, labor or delivery, etc. I haven’t really had any cravings either, besides when I was waiting for the day that I could have some de-licious soda.

Aside from the baby, Clayton got a raise at work! Hooray. It isn’t enough to solve our financial situation when the baby comes, but every little bit will help. We still don’t have a solid plan for what we will do inNovember, but everyone keeps saying, “Something will work out”. I have began filling out papers and setting up an accounting business to start on the side. I am hoping and praying I can get a few clients this summer and then maybe make something work when the baby comes. I am anxious because I hate not knowing the outcome. I know I can do the work but it is getting and finding good clients (that pay their bills ON TIME) that make me anxious. I wish I were a little taller too. People seem to take taller people more serious. For me, I can blend in with elementary school kids….and that doesn’t always have a great first impression. Maybe if I wear RED, a power color, it will do something for them. I am hoping that if I send my resume to them first it will speak more about what I can do than how tall I am. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is a concern of mine. I am a nervous nelly; always have been, always will be. Now if I could just predict the future that would be fabulous and maybe then my mind would rest.

We replanted our backyard again for $15(darn thing always dies in the winter) and we have GERMINATION. I love seeing the beautiful bright green stubs sprouting up. I am sure the pups will be in heaven when it all comes in nice and thick. Now, if we could just move out of a condo and into a house with a large backyard….I would be in heaven.

Ultrasound

Here is our little guy/gal. I started laughing when they pulled it up on screen. Doesn't it look like an over-fed caterpillar? So he or she is chubby, who cares :). Not really, the doc says everything looks good, I just can help but chuckle when I think of this pic compared to my baby pic fresh out of the womb (see below for a VERY good laugh). I may have only been 7 lbs 6 oz, but it was all face. I will try to scan a baby pic of Clayton for a little comparison. He was a skinny little guy.

Do you already see a similarity here....

Pics

I took a few pics of my sister and her fam this weekend. She is going to have her baby any day now. A couple turned out way cute!! (If you click on the pic you can see them better)

(these two are my fav)

The first few weeks

Well, now that you got the big news, how did we find out? What were reactions? Etc?

Wednesday March 3 I was a few days “late”; not that it is really unusual for me. I grabbed a pregnancy test thinking, just like every other month, the result would be negative. I sat there impatiently waiting and PREGNANT popped up on the screen. I was thinking there was a mistake. NO WAY!!! I am going to have a baby. All of this time I have been worrying; now here we are, pregnant.

Clayton had been watching a basketball game downstairs and didn’t even know I was going to take a test. I sat there for a moment in shock. For some reason those past few days had been rough at work for both of us and neither of us were in good moods. I walked downstairs and Clayton hadn’t taken his eyes off the TV. So I just put the test in front of his glasses. He read it, “Honey, really? Are you sure?! Wow!!!!”. “Well, I am not sure sure, but I can take another one in a little bit”. We both sat there feeling shocked; excited; nervous; happy.

That is how it began. The next few weeks were filled with family parties--which it was hard not to say anything. Especially to my sisters. I call them everyday and it was so hard not to give them the news. We even threw Sheryl a surprise baby shower during that time and I couldn’t say a word!

We made a doctors appointment for the 17. I was nervous that I was going to have a chemical pregnancy (the kind where your body displays the signs of being pregnant but you really are not). When the doctor walked in, he said, “I told you it would work (the medication he gave us a few months ago)! Now, what worries/concerns do you have?”. I said, “That I am not pregnant or am having twins or something”. Jokingly he said, “Oh you are pregnant the question is how many is there”. He did an ultrasound and there on the screen a little blinking bean showed up. I looked at Clayt. There was our proof—the little flashing heartbeat. It was amazing. I didn’t know I could see the heartbeat at 6 weeks. CRAZY!!!

I hadn’t felt any real symptoms besides being sore and feeling tired. Then a few days after the appointment it hit; constant; all day; all night—SICK. Nothing sounded good. Nothing tasted good. I had a metal taste in my mouth. One of my favorite things in the world, Coke, made me throw up. Now, three weeks later has it changed? No. I have lost 5 pounds and can hardly make it through a meal. I really would love a great big coke but can’t. I would love to eat my favorite meal from Ron’s house…but can’t. I am just hoping this goes away in another 2-3 weeks. It has been really hard not to be pessimistic about feeling like crap. I have never felt so awful in my entire life. I am SICK of being SICK. I am really sick of throwing up (especially at work where how many hundreds of people use those toilets—GROSS). And you better believe the minute my taste buds & stomach are back in order, watch out McDonalds $1 Cokes. I will be pounding you down like none other.

But the good news….we have told our family & friends. It exciting telling people the news and seeing their reactions. We both come from such big families that another baby is really no real “news” but everyone was so nice and excited all the same. My Mom was over for a weekend and we said we rented a movie. We played the ultrasound for her. She immediately smiled and said, “Congrats”. Then I couldn’t wait to tell my sisters. I had my Mom call Sheryl and see if she was home. We drove up to Perry to just stop by. We told Tate to come with us downstairs for a second, “Tate, we have a secret for you to tell Mommy. Can you tell her Aunt Emily has a baby in her belly”. He shrugged his shoulders and ran upstairs. “Mom, Mom come here, I have a secret,” as he whispered in her ear. She was so excited!! Then we went to Jeanie’s. We tried to do the same with my niece Hailey, but she had just woken up, and didn’t want to tell a secret. So Jeanie said, “Should I just guess?” And she did. She didn’t expect she would be right...but she was. She started crying (as usual :) with good news). I was so relieved to finally have them know. Now I didn’t need to keep it a secret why I was sick, tired and not feeling like doing much of anything.

We asked my step Mom and Dad out to dinner. She sent me a text, “Honey I have a feeling you are pregnant. Are you?” I texted back, “No. Nice try”. So we met up for dinner and just before my Dad started eating I said, “Before you get your hands dirty take a look at this” as I tossed him the ultrasound pic. Pam threw her crackers at me across the table, “I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU. I just felt like you were.”

And now that you are all getting bored of how we told people, I saved the best for last. Clayts family. We had a family dinner on the 28th. He asked his Dad if he could give the prayer. I was so nervous when he started the prayer. I was shaking—so was he. In it he blessed Lyd with her new baby, then asked to bless Mindy and the twins. Then right before closing he said, “Please bless my wife with our first baby that everything will go well…in the name” then everyone started screaming and jumping. We had thought of so many different ways to tell everyone and this one was Clayton’s idea. I think it was perfect.

Actually—I am forgetting my favorite. When I told Jeanie, Justice was at the skate park. Jeanie had called him to tell him to come home. I asked if I could tell him on the phone. When I did, he said, “What the heck has Uncle Clayton been doing to you”. I laughed and said, “Come home and ask him”. LOL

And my two little furry friends…they both are doing great! I am sure they will be excited for a little baby to come into our home (or in Izzy’s case someone else to lick). I think they know I don’t feel so well, cause they have been extra cuddly and actually allow me to take more frequent and longer naps without whining for me to walk them or play with them. Getting their dinner has been interesting...half the time I have to hold my breath cause it stinks so bad (especially since they are spoiled and we warm it up for them hahahhahahah).

Both little dogs love cuddling on the couches...even when there is no room :)

So, there you have it. We are very excited and still in shock. I can’t wait for our next ultrasound on the 14th. I never knew how fast these little babies developed. It should have arms, legs, fingers, toes and a nose when we go back. That is CRAZY. I can’t wait to find out what we are having (I know, a few more weeks to wait)!

Big News...

Clayton and I are having a BABY!!! I am due November 8.

Why life is so hectic...I don't know

In my last post I said December flew by. I don’t want to post the exact same thing but honestly I don’t know where January or February went! I really need to post more often. I have written a few entries and then deleted them before posting. Lame I know; at least it is lame for those of us who still check blogs. I had a really funny post created for a little “standoff” I had in the ladies room last Friday—but I wasn’t sure if I dared post it. Maybe I will re-work it up and post it.

Let me see if I can remember anything fantastic in January…uhm nope. February is a little more fresh on my mind. Valentines was fabulous--Clayton got me photoshop elements which I have been dying for and a big boquet of flowers. We went out to eat with Mike and Lydia at Gabore Brothers (the best place in town :). And most of all WE GOT NEW CARPET. It is the biggest change in the house. I LOVE IT. At least once a day Clayton mentions, “Have I told you how much I like the new carpet”, “I love our carpet”, “Come sink your toes into this great carpet”. I love that it is new, clean and I am not afraid to lay down on it. The old carpet however was a different story. I didn’t take pictures of the entire transformation but here is the final product. Isn’t it wonderful!?!

We did it all in one weekend—it made for a tiring weekend but worth it! In order to get the carpet installed we had to move everything out of the upstairs. We borrowed my Dads enclosed truck and basically “moved” for the weekend. We just loaded everything in the truck and waited until carpet was done to unload and put everything back together.

Here is my little pouting jail bird :)

The dogs had to be locked up in the kitchen while we worked :)

Here is the quick rundown—Friday after work we moved everything out and began pulling up carpet. Our bed was moved into our living room for the next two days so the dogs were in heaven because they got to sleep with us. Saturday—we pulled up staples, swept the floors and put up new basemold. Sunday—we painted the basemold and all of the doors upstairs. We decided if we were going to paint the doors why not get new dark hardware on everything too. Monday we both took off work and at about 8 am started ripping everything off the stairs. We left them for last because we didn’t want to be walking on tack strip all weekend (or the dogs). They had more staples in them than the whole upstairs. They were a pain in the behind! Our carpet was installed that day…and that evening we moved everything back in. Phew! Thank goodness we had my brother-in-law Jeff’s help. Our installer was hilarious. He was an older guy not much taller than I, grey hair and at least 60. He had little stubby hands and perfectly combed hair (well to start out with). He was a machine! He carried everything upstairs himself! Those rolls of carpet were HUGE but he wouldn’t let us help. I asked if we could get him a drink he said, “Oh no. I just went out to my truck and got a HIT off my Mountain Dew”. A hit, really? Ummm. Clayton asked if we could buy him lunch and he said, “No thanks, at my age after you eat you take a nap and I don’t have time for a nap today”. Sweet old guy. He looked like one of Snow Whites little dwarfs, not to mention he sang and talked to himself the ENTIRE TIME. Clayton and I had to hold back our giggles downstairs as we heard him upstairs.

I know, I can’t exactly sit still for too long, so I can’t wait to finish the kitchen and be done remodeling stuff for a little while (well I say that now but just ask Clayton—I am sure I will think of something else we can do).

Some more good news?? My sweet Mom is in town!!! She is here helping my sister who cannot seem to keep a bun in the oven until it is done. Sheryl is on bed rest and that is about impossible with two toddlers. So—lucky for all of us, it brought Mom out from Cali. The last time I saw her was last summer in July. That is the longest in my life I have been away from her. I miss her and love that she is home for at least 2 months!

P.S. I AM SOOOOO GLAD AVITAR DID NOT WIN BEST PICTURE! Hallelujah. And Sandra—you looked terrific! And Survivor—wow, this is going to be a great season.

HoLiDaYz

The holidays flew by! They came and went too fast. I must say I am a bit disappointed, it didn’t feel quite like Christmas. For two adults it was a little anti-climactic. I worked Christmas Eve until 3 and then we went to my Dads for the evening. Christmas day we got up early, opened our gifts and went to see Sherlock Holmes at 10. I loved it!!!! It wasn’t quite what I was expecting (but I can’t really describe what I was expecting either), but it was great—just entertaining. After the movie we traveled around visiting family. Saturday, the 26, we had a family breakfast at Clayts Dads. It was sooo tastey; I love any meal with them, they are great cooks! Then we went with Gary & Marylin to see Avatar. Unfortunately, I did not like the movie at all (loved the company but the movie was just not my cup of tea). It reminded me of fern gully vs. alien. I actually liked the movie Fern Gully better.

We made some gifts for family that turned out delightful. I forgot to take pics of them though. Clayton made plaques at work with glazed edges and I put vinyl on them. They had lyrics from our favorite hymns. They turned out super cute! I made some picture frames and edited some pictures of nieces and nephews for a few gifts too. Here are a couple of the pics:

As for our main gifts I got Clayton some drum pads so he can play in our condo without disturbing our neighbors. They are still loud but not nearly as loud as they were. He got me an Ipod! I love it!!! It holds so many songs, pics, etc. I love, love, love it!

The whole month of December seemed like a whirl-wind. I didn’t get any vacation besides Christmas day off—maybe that is why it didn’t quite feel like Christmas. Unfortunately with only 2 people in our department, coupled with me being the low-man on the totem pole—I was stuck working.

I did get New Years Eve & New Years off. HOORAY! Clayton and I enjoyed a nice long weekend together before he started another semester of school. It was so nice to just spend time doing whatever we wanted, no work—no homework. I loved it—I wish everyday was like that.

We also had a bowling night with my sisters family, AKA the Bosens: Haily got a princess crown, earrings and shoes for Christmas. Has she taken them off since? Not really! She is the girlie-est girl I know...and I LOVE IT!

Thursday was Chloe’s 3rd BiRtHdAy! Happy Birthday to the cutest black dog in the whole world! Here is to the best snoring, lil’ chubbers belly, sexy leg dangling, food beggin, lazy, walk loving, snorting, fetch master, bunny hopping lovely little dog. I LOVE HER!