Where does the time go?

Time has just flown by! One minute i was celebrating the coming of the new year and now the first month of the year is already gone!

Is anyone seeing a better year yet? We have already hit some bumps in the road of 2007. A major one is taxes. I owe the state for the first time in my life a great deal. All because cashing in Frank's 401k didn't take any state tax out. Also Unemployment is investigating a couple of weeks of checks, all because the company wrote the wrong things on their paper. I know i am being very vague, all because it's all personal, but i wanted to share the stress that i am under.

Just got Amber's report card and she is on the honor roll for the second time this year, she says that if she does it for a third time she will be invited to a pizza party! I haven't got Darin's report card yet, I will be getting that tomorrow. I am not worried but he is a little worried about social studies. I'm sure he will still be on the honor roll.

Amber will be starting her dance classes again on the 5th of Febuary, she is so excited! I hope that now she kinda knows everyone that she will do even better than last year. I wish Darin would show some interest in something sporty. I am pretty sure that the next flyer i get about a family bowling league i will sign us up on it. That's the only thing that he was actually into.

My job is sucking more and more everyday. Lately i have come home drained! They want you to be able to work miracles in a couple hours. I've still been applying online for jobs. But i really feel bad for Frank. He HATES his job!! I hope that he will be able to find something in a little cleaner place, making a bit more money and with benefits.

Well now that i have fully bummed you all out. I am hitting the hay.
gnight'

GOOD RIDENCE 2006!

Amber and Masen(my freind Barb's boy)
don't they make a cute couple? He's destined to make 6 digits when he grows up. He is the smartest kid i know!











My bestest friend in the whole world who left me to move 3 hours away to open her own farm...lol I miss her! I am so happy that we got be with each other for the new year.





Hello 2007! Since there is a 7 in this number i am hoping for a better year than 2006!
We celebrated with my best friend Barb and her family and my mom popped in to rush in the New Year!
We had some snack items, did some dancing to the radio on channel 95.5 was playing some of the best songs to dance to. Then we played some card games while the kids were in the rooms playing games, having pillow fights, and whatever else they do to occupy their time.



Frank does not drink anymore, just a beer every now and then, so he decided that he was going to get himself drunk. He really regretted it around 12:30 am. when he started to throw up everything that he drank, ate, and then some up. I was happy with my one wine cooler :)

Well HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! I pray for better things to come in 2007!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and I hope Santa was very kind to you all!

I was woke up at the butt crack of dawn by 2 children that will remain nameless ahemmm(Darin and Amber) begging for me to wake up and watch them open presents. You should have heard them when i told them they were going to open them after dinner at my mothers. You would have thought the heavens were going to open up and lightning was going to strike down on our house. lol Of course i was kidding! I set up the camcorder and the ritual began....each gets a gift opens it then the other opens theirs and so on and so forth. Clothes discarded like mistakes under the tree...while toys and games and anything really cool, got opened and examined like disease under a microscope..lol

Amber favorites were the nintendo ds lite and her eeyore fleece! I got that fleece for a major bargain! regular 30 dollars on sale for 12.99 and i ended up paying 9.99! She loves eeyore and for the life of me I don't know why ....we never watch winnie the pooh...??? go figure.

Darin favorites of course was the nintendo ds lite and the jewelry he got. I got him a skull necklace and ring, i also got a necklace made out of horse shoe nails that one of my customers make for the holidays and money goes to "toys for tots".

Of course their most favorite gift was what they got from Grandma and Grandpa! Spending money to get whatever they didn't get from us. Darin spent the day today looking for games to play in his system and Amber was pretty conservative today. She did buy a game and a couple posters and she even bought a haircut today when i went to get mine.

They still have money ....but want to hold on for other things.
I took some of my money and got my hair done and bought some really needed socks and undies. The things that i put off buying for myself.

Christmas was wonderful, and i think the best ever, if i could erase the 5 hours that i had to work. This year there was no 2 car hauling of gifts from Grandmas and Grandpas house to mine. Finding a spot for every toy, no assembly of toys, no batteries recommended. No headaches what so ever!

Mom did a fantastic job of dinner! Everything was great as ever. I went over on Sunday and helped prep Christmas dinner, whatever she needed a hand in, i was there. We had stuffed cabbage, italian sausage, polish sausage, ham, potatoes, corn, biscuits, all the vege trays, cheese trays, pies, cakes etc. etc. etc. she did outdo herself. :) Thanks MOMMA ...LOVE YOU!

I scrubbed the bathroom down for her, thankfully my sister did a great job of helping with the rest of the house for her. I aprreciated that!

Today was an off day for me, so shopping was done, hair got done and believe or not...ALL the Christmas decorations down and put back in the garage....I love getting my house back to the way it should be after Chritmas. Plus, just in case it decides to dump alot of snow on the ground i am not stuck with the decorations forever and not in bitter cold!

I pray that the New Year will bring better things to come for everyone!
Merry belated Christmas and if i don't get back on here....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

one more meme for Christmas

Thanks Momma's corner for the meme's! It was fun.
1. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not going to answer this one on the grounds that it may incriminate me. lol

2. Two weeks before Christmas you win $1 million. You have to spend it all by the end of this year and you cannot buy anything for yourself. How do you celebrate the holidays? Send as many friends friends and family on a vacation! since i can't take myself...hopefully they will bring me a souvenier.

3. Do you have any family traditions? What are they and do you continue the tradition in your own household? - Other then going to my mothers for dinner, that's about it.

4. What is your favorite smell from this season? I usually bye the spice apple scents for the outlets in the house. It really smells great.

5. Do you regift? (That’s when you get something you hate and give it to someone else on another Christmas later) - no, If i don't want, no one will! someday it will end up in the trash.

6. If you have kids, how hard do you try to preserve the myth of Santa Claus? What do you do to keep the Fat Man “alive?” I tryed really hard the younger they were. But now at 11 and 12 they were starting to piece things together. Also for them to have an understanding that we are not financially sound, I will try to make every effort to get what they want...but if i can't ...i can't

7. When do you decorate your house and tree? When do you take everything down? I put it up as soon as i have a day off right after Thanksgiving, and i take it all down the day off from work after Christmas. I'm anxious to get it all up...but right after Christmas i am done with them and want my space back in the living room.

8. Do you sing along with the Christmas muzak in the stores? What’s your favorite Christmas song and which is the one that you hate so badly that you go postal and run amok in the aisles of Walmart when you hear it? - Of course i sing to music, "it's beginning to look alot like Christmas" the one that i hate is "grandma got run over by a reindeer". Just tired of hearing it.
Thanks again momma's corner.

Joining in the fun of Christmas!

Time for a Meme. Let’s do one about Yuletide. This one has been bouncing around on various sites so I figured I’d do it:

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I like them both, but if i had to pick, hot chocolate

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? both!

3.Colored lights or white on tree/house? No white lights here! more color the better!

4.Do you hang mistletoe? No, I'm going to greet every person with a kiss anyways!

5.What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? My moms stuffed cabbage! I look forward to Christmas just because of that!

6.Favorite holiday memory as a child? The fact that we did not get much during the year, but on Christmas we always got what we asked for and then some.

7.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I started to figure it out when everything we asked for was in the buggy at stores, mom and dad would say they were for so-and-so but we never visited them, but on Christmas it was under the tree.

8.Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When we were really young we would, but as we got older it was always on Christmas Day and after dinner.

9.How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? After putting it together i string on chasing lights, followed by red garland, then gold and red beads , then the kids put on the ornaments that have been gathered thru the years.

10.Snow, love it or dread it? I love snow! but hate ice!

11.Do you know how to ice skate? Not very well, did it alot when i was a child, but now i would not put skates on at all.

12.Do you remember your favorite gift? I would have to say back in "93" when i found out i was pregnant and finally got my engagement ring.

13.What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with my kids and my folks.

14.What is your favorite holiday dessert? Homemade cookies!

15.What is your favorite holiday tradition? getting up to watch the kids open their presents before the butt crack of dawn.

16.What tops your tree? I have a beautiful fiber optic angel that moves her arms.

17.Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love giving gifts that really mean alot, and very suprising.

18.Favorite Christmas Song? "It's beginning to look alot like Christmas"

19.Favorite flavor of Candy Canes? peppermint is the best.
I got this from Momma's corner...thanks for letting me join in.

Dancing in Silver!

As you all know my daughter has been going to hip-hop dance classes. Well for the past two months they were doing a routine to prepare them for a dance competition that they just had on Saturday. We had to drive 1 1/2 hours to Lansing for this competition. We had alot of fun watching all the kids doing their routines on stage. So many talented kids!

Amber's team did really well for only 4 students showing up! THEY GOT SILVER MEDALS!
I'm so proud of Amber and her team mates! She is thinking of continuing classes and trying out for the next level of dance class.






Amber is in back on the left...performing












Amber in back and on the left.













Amber and her teacher Miss Alexis(in the camoflauge outfit)...Amber is looking down at her Silver medal she got.





You go girl!

We lost a good man

John Viterbo1933 - 2006
John Viterbo age 73 of Port Hope passed away Sunday, December 3, 2006 at Harbor Beach Community Hospital. John was born on October 19, 1933 in Pennsylvania to the late Anthony and Jenny (Jako) Viterbo. He then married Marjorie Bagnasco on November 7, 1954 in Detroit. John was a member of St. Germaine Catholic Church of St. Clair Shores. Surviving is his wife Marjorie, his son Anthony Viterbo of Port Hope, and his daughter Marjorie Viterbo of Macomb. 2 grandchildren Cindy Korber and John Viterbo, and 2 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006 at 11am in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach with Fr. T.J, Fleming of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Chruch officiating. Burial in the New River Cemetery, Huron City.

This was my Uncle...Apparently he was getting some firewood outside and when he did not come back in my Aunt found him laying on the ground. She did all she could to revive him but was unsucessful. Doctors say it was a massive heart attack.

My mother and I drove out this morning to his service and gathering. We started early because it was a 2 1/2 hour drive to Harbor Beach Michigan for us. It was a beautiful drive up, we got to see alot of Lake Huron on the way up. Thank God the weather was not bad for the trip.

My memories of my Uncle John that keep stirring in my head are of him sitting at a huge table that he had in his family room. He was a very scary looking man, if you looked up mafia in the dictionary, his picture would have been there. Well anyways, he would look at you, and say in a very deep voice "come here" we would say "NO". He would say "I said come here!" My sister and I would be scared to death! But we did what we were told. When he got us in reach, he would grab us and lick our faces!!!!!!!!! OMG the torture. It was his fun to torture the scared children...lol As we grew older he was much more easier to talk to...and he didn't lick our faces...lol

God love him and accept him!

Happy Thanksgiving

The morning started at 5 a.m. to get things packed up for the downtown America's Thanksgiving parade. By 6 a.m we were seated and enjoying our donuts and hot chocolate waiting for the parade to begin. The weather was gorgeous! Was not cold at all while we waited for the parade start another 3 and a half hours later. The parade was one of the best i have seen in while.

But when the parade was done i had to go to the bathroom in the worst way! It hurt so bad just to move. Thank God Starbucks was open, but the wait was almost unbearable.
*Mental reminder* no hot chocolate or water during the parade.

When we got home which was pretty early, we pulled out some christmas lights for the cutter. Frank always gets on the roof and does that part for me. Since he will not be here to assist with the other decorations that i will be working on Friday. *It's beginning to look alot like Christmas* is running thru my mind when i see the lights.

So around 1:30 in the afternoon i went to my mom's for dinner to see if she needed me to do anything. I had went over there on Wednesday and helped with the cleaning the house, chopping all the veges, making my special cheese dip for the crackers and i made the deviled eggs that really went over well.

We had so much to eat,
Turkey
stuffing,
mashed potatoes
cranberrie sauce
all kinds of veges
corn
green beans
rolls
sweet potatoes
deviled eggs
cheese and crackers
pies
cakes

It was sooooo much to eat, but the best stuff was the stuffing! Mom's stuffing really was the best she had made ever. She did make it a bit different this year. All i have to say is " do it again, do it again"...lol
I hope everyone had the greatest Thanksgiving ever.

TADA....Amber the Magnificent!

Amber's D.A.R.E. officer Mrs. Walny.













Amber and her teacher at the D.A.R.E. graduation.










Amber is now a proud graduate of D.A.R.E!
She worked really hard for 9 weeks and is now pledging that she will not do drugs, smoke, or drink!

My only hope is that she don't fall to the wrong crowd and break that oath!
I'm already worrying about my kids and what they will put me thru the next few years.


If you look closely at Amber's hair you can see the highlights that i put in her hair the night before. I put caramel highlights and they look FABULOUS on her.
It really shows off her face in person.



I'm really proud of her! She really wanted me there. I had to switch my shifts to be there for her. My life is my kids, and my kids are my life :)

Halloween coverage!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!
I was lucky to get to dress my daughter up for Halloween and go to her school and see all the wonderful costumes. The school has a parade for the parents and other students. I took my mother to the parade and we enjoyed all the new and original costumes. This man is Mr. Turner, my daughter's teacher. He came as Fred Flinstone, he almost looks like him with his stubble on his face.


































My daughter chose to be a hippie this year...I absolutely love the costume! She loved it too! I drew a peace sign on her left cheek and i drew Love on the right cheek in bubble letters. She got rave reviews at school. She won second place for costumes in her class. I guess a princess beat her this year. Last year Amber won first place with her skeleton pirate.















The glasses had little peace signs on the lenses. So adorable!


















Well I really got depressed about not being able to take Amber trick or treating. This was the first year that i was not able to walk at least a hour with them. I had to work! I know she did fine with her dad...but you know how it is.

____________________________

I got a pre-test from a hospital and apparently i passed it because they emailed me saying that i move on to the next phase. (what ever that means)...I would love to get into a hospital, more job security. Their will always be sick people. The bad thing is that i have applied to so many of the hospital jobs i don't know what they are interested in hiring me for. I'm sure whatever it is i will be able to do it just fine.

I'm still looking for a full time job with benefits. And my husband is still looking. Until i get his license fixed, he can't be too serious about it at the moment. I payed his ticket and i have already mailed the money to reinstate is license in New Jersey...then i just have to see what else i have to do.
____________________________
Well report cards are coming soon...i am totally confident that my kids are doing great!
Darin has brought home A+ progress reports to most of his classes...It doesn't leave much for the teachers to talk to me about except how nice my son is. Darin is getting an A+ in algebra, I had a hell of a time with that...but he is getting it.
Ambers grade does not send out progress reports, other than a weekly not saying if they have late assignments or their behavior in class. But so far their are no bad marks against her. I do know that she is not doing so great in math...and that is/has been an ongoing battle.
_______________
Well i'm off to bed...

A TALE OF CAROLINE

All i can say is it's really interesting this week.
I left off with breaking my finger...that is now feeling way better and i am able to type without pain again. That was so much fun and my finger turned so many pretty colors of purple.

Just 2 days after all this my daughter started complaining about her ear hurting her and it turned out that she had a bad ear infection..She is much better now with a weeks worth of antibiotics in her system.

This Sunday my son was jumping on the trampoline at the neighbors and did something really stupid landing his full weight on his ankles. The way he was acting you would have thought it was broken, but I knew it wasn't ...it was not grossly swollen and no black and blue...so the only thing it could have been was a really bad sprain. But just in case i rushed him to our doctor and confirmed it was badly sprained and he was issued crutches because he could not put any weight on it. But today you wouldn't know that anything was wrong with him other than a small limp.

The good news is i am finally caught up with my bills:)
I got a new washer machine and dryer...but that is another story...here let me tell ya it.
Friday Frank and I went to ABC warehouse to purchase a new washer and dryer because my dryer just refused to dry anything anymore and the washer machine was borrowed from the neighbor and he was telling us that his machine was acting up and he would need his back when his broke down. Well Frank took the old ones out and Saturday they delivered our new ones....Soon after they left my husband noticed that the dryer had a pretty big dent in it....well we paid for a brand new dryer...soooooo i have not done laundry since last Thursday...And the new one will be delivered on Wednesday. You should see the mound of clothes that i got to do as soon as i get it hooked up.

I'm still looking for a different job. I wish that i didn't have to, i really did love my job. But these days it's just unpredictable. Frank is going to apply after work at another job tomorrow. Cross whatever you can that he gets it...it's more money and great medical insurance!

Amber has been taking hip hop dance class...and she is really getting good at it. She is excited about it, she wants to sign up to do the dance competition on December 2nd. It's going to be in Lansing. I've already put my day off at work to go and see it.

On Thursday i have to take my truck in to get the windshield wipers fixed...they won't work on fast speed at all. This won't be good if rain and snow is coming down to hard to see thru.

The only way to end this tale is to say
THE END :)

Even GOD has a sense of humor

Ok...so being behind in bills, Frank working the most crappiest of jobs, and Me working at a job that i don't know if I'm going to work full time or part time. They paid my vacation hours off, which means that i will never have another paid vacation again. Which means i will probably go insane in the next year, if all this was not funny enough, He thought it would be funny to break my left, middle finger in a garage door.

I was shutting the garage door and my fingers got caught in between 2 of the garage door sections. OH MY GOD THE PAIN! Right away dark blue across my finger nail.....60 seconds later it was followed my gushes and gushes of blood. I thought i would have to go to emergency because i did not think it was going to stop. Well i at least got it to slow down, I showed mom and she wanted me to go to the doctors ...I did not go. I did not think it was necessary because it was the tip of my finger, all they would do is put a popsicle stick and give me pain medicine. I can splint it if i have to at home and the pain, i've had worse pain with a c-section. And it would rack up a $400 dollor bill that i don't need right now. Soooo here i am trying trying to not type with it. Work is hilarious...lots of ouches get said.

Soooo much fun to live my life.
We finally broke down and cashed in Frank's 401 k so that we can catch up on things around here....Also did I mention my clothes dryer took a crap! Yep ...so we are going to be purchasing another one as soon as the check clears.

I haven't even mentioned that my husband lost his wallet ummm about 2 weeks ago and when we went to get a new one for him we found out that he has a suspended license in New Jersey with a ticket in the amount of $248 that he never paid 20 f***ing years ago. So i have to mail them a money order to pay that...then they will mail me a reciept...then i get to pay $100 dollars to the New Jersey DMV to reinstate his license...then they have to clear it up in lansing and then we can get his license. fun, fun, fun.

This is all the stuff that i did not want to mention while trying to keep an up mood during Amber's party.

But it all can't be happy endings in 30 minutes or less...
i'm getting tired..and my finger is killing me...
so g'night all

Introducing our snake

This is Darin's pet snake Fang!
Darin got this snake for his birthday 3 years ago. I have to say that taking care of a snake is easier than taking care of any of the other animals. Fang is a Ball Python and a very nice snake. Last summer i took it to the pet store and the man was able to sex Fang and tell us that she was a girl. Then wanted to mate her, because it is very rare that a pet store gives up the girls for mating purposes. I told him that i would think about it, but i decided not too. Right now Fang is about 3 1/2 feet long, and can eat a medium size rat.

Thanks mom for all the pics that you sent. I gave Fang her 10 seconds of fame. :)

Ambers Birthday Party

This is Ambers best friend Lisa





















My girl, is 11 now :)















Isn't she cute ?

Happy Birthday Amber

Amber's turned eleven on Tuesday! Time is flying! It feels like yesterday i had her..
The other day I was looking in the photo albums for pictures for Darin to use on a Autobiography for school project. Looking at all those pictures sent me into memoryville. It still amazes me that they were that small at one time. I started to think of all the cute things they used to do. I remember when Darin was 3 and 4 he would put socks on his hands and pretend that he was a boxer and want to fight daddy, it was so cute. Amber had a high pitch squeaky voice and would holler for Darin in the cutest of ways. I remember that we had the hardest of times to keep clothes on the girl! She would strip down to her diaper every chance she could get!
Awwwww memories!
Now she is eleven and she is going thru so much so fast, with puberty, her acne problem, and the girl is really developing if you know what i mean. Baby girl has curves!
Since i did 12 reasons i love Darin on his birthday, i think i better do Amber's 11:
I Love:
1) that she is able to speak her mind
2) that she wants to help others all the time.
3) when she tells me she loves me.
4) that she loves animals.
5) that she already knows what she wants to be in her life.
6) that she loves to listen to music and can name the song and the title.
7) that she can make me laugh.
8) that she is so adventurous.
9) that she tries hard in school
10) that she can make friends very easily
11) I LOVE that she is mine.
_________________________________________________________

As you know on the 17th was my anniversary, well on Sunday i was woke up by my son standing in front of me holding a plate with a egg sandwich on it. He said "would you like a egg sandwich mom? I made it for you". I was shocked, I asked "what made you do this for me?" he said "because i didn't do anything for you anniversary". Then he told me that his sister helped with the little breakfast in bed thing. Isn't that the sweetest thing in the world?
___________________________________

I'm not going to talk about all the crappy stuff that's happened this week, it will only take away from all the nice things that i have said...i will write about the bad stuff next time.
You all take it easy..

Happy Anniversary to us.

Frank and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on the 17th. We have been together 14 years almost to the date. We have had our good days and of course right now we are going thru our bad days. But hopefully things will be right again soon.

We didn't do anything special because i had to work in the evening, but i was suprised at home with a card and a rose. Times are tight, so to get that was just enough....the card was really nice. Just to put the card in a nut shell, it says that he LOVES ME. And my card pointed out how lucky i am to have a man like him in my life.

Although I have told him that i sacrificed myself and married him to save all the women. In return he says that he saved all men from having me..lol just our little love words..lol
_____________________

Amber started hip hop dance class today and is really excited about it. I figured in junior high and high school there are so many dances that at least she may be comfortable if she had some neat dance moves. The classes are only $7.00 a week for 15 weeks. I should be able to come up with that.

Darin wants to go on this field trip to washington d.c., he would see zoo's and museums and i'm not really sure what else until the meeting on the 28th. The teacher said that the price is going to be $600 dollars. Thankfully we can make installment payments on this. He really wants to go and of course i want to be able to give him that.

A lady at work calls me super mom, I don't think i am that...i just want what all mom's want their kids to be happy and experience new things.
_________________

Because i work in a Video store you would think that's all i would talk about right?
Well i really haven't been keeping up like i should be..
But here i go.
On Tuesday
"Stick It" -----If you have teenagers...this movie is highly recommended..It's about gymnastics with a comedy twist to it.

"Fast and the Furious tokyo" -- you know who i recommend this too...to the men! Fast cars...everyman will be glued.
ok...
movies that are already out
"Brother Bear 2" I actually thought it was cuter than the first one.
"Sentinal" was great from what i heard.

I will try and keep up with my movies ...I might have more time to watch them now that i am not working so many hours.

_____

Still looking for a job here...I will take anything at this point full or part time to make up the difference in hours...
I hope that all is well with you all and that all of you are happily working :)

Anyone hiring?

Well, sorry it's been so long, but it's really hard to keep updating when your looking for work. While i am on vacation i was informed that when i get back my hours are going to be cut in half! My vacation that i earn will be no more, i have exactly one day left after this week. And even better they are taking away my health insurance.

Panic started to set in! And i am still nervous, but with every bad thing has a good thing. Today Frank put an application to a factory and they hired him on the spot. It's great news butttttt....He's not making nearly what he was making, but it will be 40 + hours. Which he is not getting any from his current job. When his job calls, he is going to inform them that he found full time employment elsewhere. He will be getting benefits hopefully in just a couple of months. Now it becomes my turn to go half unemployment. But at least i can look for a job with or without insurance.

I am looking for a full time job, but i will probably stay working for Blockbuster 2 days a week to supplement the loss of wages. I did make a resume..And i was going to post it on here..but it won't go on here for some reason...oh well i tried...

One last bang for the summer

On Thursday was a beautiful day! It was my day off, and i thought what a great day to be walking around the state fair. I couldn't get it out of my mind. I managed to say screw it again and squeeze enough to go...(i know i will regret it) but... I really wanted to go, Amber would love being around the animals. The kids would really enjoy the rides. And it was not so unbearably hot that i would not be able to walk around the fair.

We all had fun, i wished the kids rode a few more rides, but they were afraid of alot of the rides.
I love walking around the craft building, people are so creative! I wish i had half the creativity as some people. Amber loved petting the horses and goats and pigs. She got to pet a baby pig and a baby chicken. Frank loved looking at the police officer working with his attack dog. He also liked looking at some of the new trucks that they had on display. It only cost $80,000! That's a freakin house!

Well as of today at 5:00 pm. i am officially on vacation for the week! I'm not going anywhere, just staying home and listening to the quiet in the house when the kids go back to school! No more sleeping in for me ..which is a very sad thing...but maybe the fighting between them will start to calm down.

well i'm going to bed now...take care all...

Sometimes you have to say screw it

The title means that i did get to take my kids up North to see my best friend and her kids and all the animals that she has gathered in 2 years. My kids had a blast feeding the turkeys and the goats and the pigs and chickens. In her garage she has 11 rabits and and one barn kitten. The house had every indoor animal that you could think of! She has 6 dogs and I don't know how many cats...because I am allergic she made sure to keep those out of my sight. The snakes, birds and (daygus?it's kinda like a squirrel). were all over the house.

Every morning all the kids woke up to watering and feeding all the animals! This takes about an hour with 5 children doing it. They were excited to have Amber and Darin helping them do all this for 2 mornings. After all the animals were fed, all the children were fed their breakfast and were able to play with the animals or walk around the area. We even took them into town and walked around a couple stores. I got to see a store that carried horse saddles and bridles and all kids of feed for different farm animals. You don't see that around here.

I did take pictures, but it might take me a month to finish the camera to get developed. I have some pictures developed that i will be posting just as soon as i get to moms and have her scan and email me them.

Friday and Saturday was so wet and muddy out there in Lupton. It was pretty cold up there also. We were planning on letting the kids go swimming walking the goats and doing all kids of stuff, but the rain did not permit anything like that to happen. We did manage a night time walk by a cemetary...umm don't ask...lol I would not go in, but i would not have minded walking in it in the day time..i like looking at old head stones. The plan was to scare some of the children...yeh...kind of cruel...most of the kids were not phased. It was just some excercise for the kids. We were checking out the stars and hoping to see some deer walking in the roads.

Sunday we got up early to go up to the high school to see some of the children do their cheerleading for the football games and one of the kids was in a game of football. Three football games later and one bad sunburn to the face it was time to head home! Yeh..the last day up north and the sun finally showed up! Sucks! Funny thing is, by the time i got home its been doing nothing but raining here! Geesh!

Times are tight, which sucks, but what can you do. I still don't know what they are going to do about my job. They have snuck some hours away from our crew to give to me....but if they get busted on it i will be going down in hours. I have been looking everyday at other possibilities...if i do get another full time job i am going to try and keep blockbusters part time. Every penny helps ya know. Frank worked 3 days last week and he did work today and we know he is working tomorrow, but other than that its a who knows kind of thing.

Next week i am on vacation for a week! I like to take the first week of school off so i can take care of anything that the kids need in the first week. I got everything on Amber's list of things for school in her backpack and ready to go. Darin did not have a list, so i got him what i know he will need for starters, like pens, pencils, erasers, compositions books, paper. Anything else will have to wait and see what he is going to need. Amber's list had baby wipes and antibacterial wipes....i can understand the antibacterial wipes...but why the baby wipes? I will have to see what Amber says they use those for.

Well...I am getting tired...and i have to get up early for work.Later all!

I want off the ride

I finally have a day off, I just worked the hardest 6 days straight! On Saturday they even had us come in at midnight for a mandatory meeting, then lucky me got to open the store the next morning. :P At least i am still working, but not sure how long. I talked to my district leader and she says the only thing that will save my hours and my benefits is if i moved up to Assistant Store Manager. I am not too crazy about all the responsibility that comes with. Mostly more paper work to learn about, but not much more than what i am doing already. Unless i can find a job that will help me like soon i am not sure what else to do. I have to make a living.

Frank's job works him so sporadic that it's getting ridiculous, some good news maybe is that my neighbor knows someone hiring and is going to put a good word in for Frank. It is a guarantee 40 hours a week...so let's all hope.

The kids are not looking forward to school in just a couple weeks, although i think they are just a little bit bored. On the 25th i am taking them up north to Lupton, Mi. to visit with my best friend and all the animals. I am hoping that i can make that possible.

I went to the Salvation Army and bought Amber some clothes for school, we looked at alot of jeans and pants. I actually found some with tags still on them. I walked out with 5 pairs of pants and 2 shirts and 2 belts for only $22.oo. I am getting a lay-a-way out at Walmart for socks and underwear and a couple outfits on Friday, so at least my kids will have some clothes when school starts. I was really worried about Amber because she is growing like a weed and none of her clothes that fit her last year will fit now. Darin's still wearing the same size pants as last year so he still has some...but i wanted him to have a different variety this year...you know how kids are with the trends.

I have alot of the kids school supplies already put up. I caught alot of good deals, like notepads for a dime and colored pencils for .88 cents markers for .88 cents and crayons for a dime.
Amber also needed a tri-fold presentation board for a science project, i found that at the local dollar store for $2.50 instead of $6.00 at the local office max.
Somehow i find the way to make a twenty dollar bill feel like a fifty...lol

I helped mom pack away the swimming pool since noone seems to be using it. I can see why she did it because it does cost alot to maintain it.

My son turns 12 on Wednesday the 16th! Time flies! Darin was born at 10:29 in the morning weighing in at 9 lbs. 11 oz. and 21 inches. Now he is 5'4 and I won't say what he weighs now..lol That will only embarrass him. But he is difinitely built for football. He does not know what he wants for his birthday. At first he wanted a new game but now he says he's not sure. So he has until Friday to figure it all out. Yeh, i know he has to wait for his present and all. Well that's what happens when you live from paycheck to paycheck.

Well goodnight all...take care