Happy New Year!

I know it's Wednesday already and I haven't posted yet this week!

It's a busy week making returns, shopping, reading new books and playing with new gadgets.

Oh yea, and that company did make me an offer but as I suspected I'm not real excited about it. Now I'm in the process of negotiating with them to see if we can get it a little closer to what I want.

I'd be interested to hear what others think of the current state of the economy and trying to find a job... Should I settle for this or keep looking? Is it only going to get harder to find a job in the new year?

Happy New Year

and I'll be back soon with some good posts!

10 Things I Love

A little over a month ago, ">Michelle gave me a letter to participate in this meme. You list 10 things that you love that start with the letter you are assigned.

Of course this some how got lost in my inbox (I think it was around the time of my last giveaway) and I'm just now uncovering it - so here it is! Sorry Michelle!

My letter was "P":

1. Peace and Quiet. Which generally only happens after the kids are in bed.
2. Pizza. Just regular old cheese has become my favorite lately.
3. Pictures. Of the kids, of my family, of SF.
4. Potatoes. Any kind - fried, mashed, scalloped.
5. Parenthood. It's amazing and really can't be described unless you've done it.
6. Pass the Pigs. It's a game I'm hoping to get for Christmas.
7. Phone. When SF is gone, this is the thing that keeps me connected with people taller than 3 foot.
8. Playing Soccer. I know this one is stretching it - but "P" is a hard letter!
9. Presents. I actually love to give presents more than I do receive.
10. Procrastination. Okay, I don't actually love it...but I sure do seem to do it A LOT!

If you'd like to play along, just leave me a comment and I'll assign you a letter.

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having a great day and I can't wait to hear what everyone got from Santa!

More Christmas Stuff

Friday night I signed Girl and I up to make gingerbread houses at the youth center on post. I decided I would leave SF at home with the boys and her and I could spend some "mommy and me" time together.

She had a lot of fun. After making a mess (me) and eating more candy than possibly went on the actual house (her); here was what we had:




I think it turned out pretty good. Of course now it's a feat just to convince her that it's okay if we eat it!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Girl!

I can't believe that you are 8 years old already!

It's amazing how the time has flown by!

You are such an amazing person! You are a wonderful daughter and an amazing big sister. You have such a big heart and you would do anything for anyone! I wish you could stay this age forever...but I know that you are growing up to be an even more amazing person - and I can't wait to see what the years ahead bring.

More Whining...

I went on another interview today. (The one I said was in the pipelines here.)

It was okay. I wasn't really impressed as it's not exactly what I want to be doing - but I have a feeling they'll make me a offer.

Of course I don't know if their offer will even be for what I deserve to make or not - but we'll see.

At this point with the economy the way it is and there being so limited jobs available, if they make an offer - I'm half tempted just to accept it until something else comes along.

At least I'll be working that way. Of course I still have the business but again, with the way the economy is going that is suffering as well...

I guess only time will tell...

Wishbone Wishing

My sister and I had this tradition every Thanksgiving of breaking the wishbone when we were kids - and actually even a couple years ago for that matter.

But I decided that I had to grow up and pass this tradition onto my kids this year.


After I explained the rules, they were set and ready to go.

(**Don't mind all the green paint on Boy 1 - he is 5 after all**)

I'm not real sure what happened as this was the result:


It had cracked into 6 pieces! I have never before had or seen this happen. They were both pretty bummed when I told them that no ones wish was going to come true...

Has this happened to anyone before or know why it would happen? Did I do something wrong? I'm thinking that they may have been so excited that they pulled incredibly too hard...is that possible?

I guess we'll have to try again next year....

OhNo - More Cookies!

Needless to say - after the bad news this morning - I wasn't in the best of moods.

So I figured cookies would make things all better! 5 dozen of them actually! (In addition to the 3 dozen we made last Friday....which mind you are just about gone...)


After putting the first batch in the oven I sat down to relax for a few minutes. When I looked down I saw this:


I couldn't help but laugh. I thought I had done a pretty good job of keeping all the flour in the bowl this time since I had no little hands helping. But apprently I was wrong - as it was all over one shoe (yes, only one - I don't know how I managed that) and even some specks on my pants.

At least I can still make myself laugh. (On a side note -maybe it was just from pure exhaustion that I thought it was so funny.)

On a brighter note - I have another job possibility in the pipeline already. I'll update you on that when I get more information. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Continuing the Hunt...

Just so everyone knows - I didn't get the job.

Please don't ask me about it; as I really don't feel like talking about it now.

Bratz No More!

No, I'm not talking about my kids. I'm sure they will have many, many more brat moments before they grow up.

I'm talking about this:

The end of these awful dolls are in sight! Woo Hoo!

I've never cared for these dolls - I mean just look at them! These are dolls that are aimed at children, ages 4-10! Why in the world would any child need a doll that is slathered in make-up, puckered lips and sexy clothing. And better yet, what parent would even buy this doll for their child!

I could summarize the whole story but you might as well read all about it here if you haven't seen the story already.

I'm just glad to see them go!

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine....

Because this week isn't already f'ed up enough - you know with wrestling practice Monday night from 6-8:30 and then my interview tonight and then wrestling practice tomorrow night from 6-8:30; now Boy 2 has to up and get sick and now I have to find time to fit a doctor's appointment in sometime tomorrow too!

Why is it that whenever SF goes away - something goes wrong or someone gets sick!?!?

**At least I have my cookies to eat :-)**

It's Cookie Time

We made cookies Friday night with the kids. Girl and I made chocolate chip cookies and Boy 1 and SF made oatmeal raisin cookies.

In keeping with our tradition we made a large cookie (actually 2 this year) for Santa to enjoy on Christmas Eve.


As always, SF forgets how to take pictures. Or maybe he forgets that we have a camera altogether. Who knows! Non the less there are no pictures of Girl and I making cookies but here is one of SF and Boy 1.


And while I don't have one of Girl and I, I have one of our cookies. And let me tell you - they rock!

Ornaments Galore

I'm not sure what others trees look like - but mine is a hosh posh of ornaments. Stuff that the kids have made, stuff that I made as a kid, stuff that other family members have made and then the store bought stuff that has been given to us over the years.

One of my favorite things about Christmas is decorating the tree and remembering the stories that go along with each ornament. So many of them have a special meaning behind them.

This year, Boy 2 actually helped in decorating the tree so it wasn't the peaceful memory filled time that I enjoy so much. Instead it was filled with:

"Don't pull the ornaments off the tree!"
"Stop pulling the metal clips out of the balls!"
"Don't throw the ornaments!"
"SF, get him!"
"Boy 1 - you can't reach that high. You're going to knock the tree over!"

You get the point. I think I have a few more years before I can actually enjoy the tree decorating like I use to. Now, don't get me wrong... we had fun and the kids really had a blast.

I just can't wait til they get a little older and I can pass down the stories behind each of the ornaments to them and eventually pass those ornaments onto them as they were passed to me.

Fortunately, SF and I had a quite night without the kids this weekend and I did all my reminiscing with him. I'm sure he gets tired of hearing the same stories year after year, but every year he acts like he actually cares and listens intently :-)

Here are a few of my favorites:

This one is a mailbox that my grandmother made for me in 1982. In side this mailbox is a letter. I love to read this letter every year!

Dear Amy,

Merry Christmas! You're a very speical little 1 1/2 year old girl, who has a beautiful little smile. We enjoy being with you and watching you grow.

We wish for you a beautiful, happy, healthy year ahead. it will be a busy one for you as your words increase and you discover the world around you.

We love you very much. Love, Grandma & Grandpa Murphy



I'm not real sure why I've always loved this one but I know this was the first one I picked when ornaments were handed down a few years ago. Dad actually made this. The bird feeder is made out of felt and an old pill bottle with bird seed inside. It's always a challenge to get the bird to sit just right next to the feeder!






This is a new one on our tree. I bought this one last year for SF. It is the lamp from A Christmas Story, SF's favorite Christmas movie of all times! This movie is on in our house nonstop starting Christmas Eve until we leave the house Chritmas morning.




Then of course there is the ode to the Cowboys! The first one was actually mine before we got married. The next two were SF's that he brought into the marriage and the last one is one I bought for SF a few years ago. (Santa wearing Cowboys gear on the rooftop - priceless!)

There are many, many others but I would be here all night writing the stories behind all of them. So I'll leave you with one final picture of our tree.



Do you have any favorite ornaments? Post about them and then come back here and leave me a comment so I can come visit. And if you don't have a blog that's ok too. Email me a pic and I'll post it here on my blog!

It's That Time Again...

SF is gone again! This time only for a week though :-)

I'm sure I'll be fine and make it through without any problems but this week is gonna be hectic.

Boy 1 has wrestling practice Monday and Wednesday evening from 6-8:30 and then of course my interview on Tuesday.

So wish me luck on getting through another chaotic week!

**I promise I'll have some thing worth while reading in the near future!**

Third Times A Charm **I Hope**

Just in case you're wondering about that job interview I had on Wednesday.....

I'm still in the running. Out of 130 applicants, it's now down to me and one other person.

I got a call back today for a THIRD interview with them on Tuesday.

Wish me luck! AGAIN!

Did/Did Not/Kinda

My sister sent me this meme and I figured I would play too. (And the fact that my life is boring and I have nothing else to talk about helps too.)

Want to play along? The basic premise is that you highlight what you have done, italicize what you kinda did and just leave the stuff you didn't do alone.

I did this.
I didn't do this.
I kinda did this.

Ready?

1. Started your own blog:You are reading it right now. Duh!

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii: that's where we honeymooned.

5. Watched a meteor shower: I've seen a few of them. The one I remember the most was the one where I had to get up at 3am to watch!

6. Given more than you can afford to charity: If you ask TJ the answer would be yes.

7. Been to Disneyland: does DisneyWorld count? Cuz I've been there.

8. Climbed a mountain: I'm pretty sure we climbed a couple mountains while we were in Yellow Stone.

9. Held a praying mantis: I'm not really sure but I think so.

10. Sang a solo: Not me. I don't sing!

11. Bungee jumped: I will one day.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea: TJ has but I can't say I have.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch: I'm sure I've taught myself something - I just don't remember.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning: Nothing I had to be hospitalized for.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables: Yup we've grown tomatoes and cucumbers back when we lived in a place that got sun during the day.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked: I'm not stupid.

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill: Of course!

24. Held a lamb: I've pet a lamb - is that like holding it?

25. ? (not sure what 25 is, this is how I found it)

26. Gone skinny dipping: I plead the fifth!

27. Run a Marathon.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset: both

31. Hit a home run: baseball/softball was never my sport.

32. Been on a cruise : Not yet.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person: I'll get there one day.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language: After taking Spanish for 4+ years I still don't know it. Let alone be able to teach myself a language!

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied: Money isn't everything. I can be satisfied without money.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing: Do those rock wall things count?

40. Seen Michelangelo's David.

41. Sung karaoke: once while drunk and never again.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted: are those caricature things considered portraits?

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling: We went snorkeling in Hawaii and I also went in Key West.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater: Nope the one around here is never open when I look for what's playing.

55. Been in a movie: I've been on TV - does that count?

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business: Yup - that's what I do now.

58. Taken a martial arts class: I took Karate when I was a kid and then in college I took Tae Kwon Do.

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen: It wasn't called a soup kitchen - but I've served food to the homeless before.

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies: I've eaten plenty but never sold any.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Got flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma: Donating plasma was how I earned money while in college.

65. Gone sky diving: Also on my list to do.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp: I've visited the museum in DC....that's probably as close as I'll ever get.

67. Bounced a check: I guess not really. I've had debit stuff bounce but not really a check.

68. Flown in a helicopter. No but a little plane - yes!

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy: I have a couple and then there's my blankie that I still have.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Cavia: Yuk!

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House: yes, as long as "visit" means walk by it and not go inside it

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had chickenpox: Twice!

89. Saved someone's life.

90. Sat on a jury: Unfortunately I did for a WEEK. And then the case was settled without us getting to enter a verdict.

91. Met someone famous: Are professional baseball players considered famous? What about gold medal swimmers? If so - then yes.

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit: kind of sort of - but I don't want to talk about it.

98. Owned a cell phone: Who doesn't?

99. Been stung by a bee: I think only once in my life.

100. Read an entire book in one day: Yes.

Now you go play and come back here and leave a comment so that I can come visit you.

A Hunting I Will Go....

A job hunting that is. I know this is the first I've mentioned it here but I've been looking for a job for the past few months.

(Yes, I still have my own business and like working from home, but I'm not making anywhere near what my earning potentials are in the "real world". And since I want a new house - I need to make more money!)

Anyway, I've been looking for a while now and with this sucky economy that we have going on right now there hasn't been anything too promising - therefore not blog worthy. Yea, I've had several phone interviews and a couple face-to-face interviews too but like I said - nothing promising.

Today I had a face-to-face interview with a company that I think may be promising. (I also had a phone interview with them last Friday.) I liked them and I think they liked me but I'm never a very good judge at that.

Anyway, wish me luck as I should hear back from them by the end of the week.

She Thinks We're Old

At dinner tonight we were asking Girl what she wants for her birthday which is coming up on the 23rd of December.

Girl: Well since Santa doesn't have a whole lot of money I'd like you guys to get me the dog.

(What dog - you ask? This one! The one I convinced her Santa wasn't going to bring because he had to make toys for all the other kids and couldn't get this and everything else she wanted on her list.)

Of course we told her that Mommy and Daddy don't have that kind of money either!

We continued this conversation hinting around about a new bike (which is what we planned on getting her) but she never really caught on.

Her next suggestion - a Nintendo DS.

(I'm sure most of you know what this is, but here it is just in case you don't. Yet another $120+ gift.)

We then went on to tell her that she already has a Leapster and she wasn't getting another hand held video game system. We also told her how when we were kids we didn't have any type of hand held video games - and we played with actual toys. Not TV and video games!

Her response: You guys didn't even have cable when you were kids!

Wow! She must think we're ancient! And to think we use to think that our parents only had black and white TVs if they had one at all.

My how the world changes with each generation!

Thanksgiving

So now that everyone is done telling their Thanksgiving story - I'm ready to tell mine!

We actually kind of boycotted Thanksgiving this year. Our intention was to go out of town for the long weekend - we even sent the kids to the grandparents house!

However, our plans didn't quite work out that way. I mean, yea we were still kid-less but we just didn't make it out of town like we planned.

Since we were home though and had already told all the family that we wouldn't be in attendance, we decided to cook our own Thanksgiving dinner. Okay -really, SF cooked us Thanksgiving dinner. (I would of been happy just finding a restaurant and going out to eat. But not SF. He wouldn't have it!)

Here are a few pictures of our dinner:


Doesn't that turkey look awesome!



And here are the mashed sweet potatoes. (That I actually tried and kind of liked.)


And of course the pies. (As you can see from them, SF was a little impatient and had to try each of them out - hence the little holes in the middle of them.)

I didn't get pictures of it all but we had turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls and two pies - all for just the TWO of us!

It was actually really good and besides the pies, SF made everything himself. And I didn't even have to help! It was awesome! I don't know which was more awesome - that it was so good or that I didn't have to help!

Hope everyone else had a great holiday as well.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Big Sis, Sha-Sha! She turns **OLD** today!

(That's her on the left and me on the right)

Love ya and hope you have a great day!

Quickie Friday - The SmartAss

The other night I had a craving for chocolate covered pretzels, which of course we did not have. I tried to get SF to go to the store but that didn't work. Here is what I got instead:

You gotta love him! One of the many things he does to make me smile :-)

[Edited: Those are soft pretzels under the chocolate...hence the chocolate covered pretzels.]

Memories

April 2, 1912 - November 14, 2008

That's my Pop - Clair (Pete) Leroy Hallock.
Sadly after 96 wonderful years - Pop passed on.
(Obituary)

Pop lived an awesome life and had many, many stories that he shared with us on many occasions. Like the story of his first car. He bought it from a friend who had gotten some girl pregnant and needed money. It was a Ford Model T that he bought for $20! Could you imagine?

My sister and I went to Clearfield to visit just 2 days before he passed and while he was not doing well he was still telling stories. He was still telling stories with his hands and doing his classic tapping of his hand. (It's very hard to explain but it is something I will never forget.) He was very hard to understand but I still sat there and listened. I thought I could understand words here and there but at one point I know I was able to understand him saying "and you cried and cried and wanted to go home". At that instance I knew exactly what story he was telling and I cried and laughed all over again.

When I was about 7 or 8 Dad took Shannon and I up to stay with Granny and Pop for a week. I cried the entire week because I was home sick and wanted Dad to come and get me. I didn't care that Dad had to work - I wanted to be picked up! I did eventually make it through that week and by the time Dad came to pick us up; I of course didn't want to leave!

Grandma also shared a story with us that day that I had not heard before:

When Pop was a young boy (he doesn't remember how old) he was taking the cow out to the pasture and had just staked the cow when he heard this rumbling that he had never heard before. He didn't know who was more scared - him or the cow.


Over head he saw the noise - it was a plane! The first plane that he'd ever seen. In fact it was one of the first planes ever! And it was landing in his field! Come to find out the pilot had run out of gas. He got out of the plane and asked Pop where the closest gas station was.


Pop was old enough to be able to tell him how to get there and gave him directions. The pilot picked him up and sat him on the wing of the plane and told him not to let anyone touch his plane and he was off.


Pop says there were many people that came from all over to get a look at this plane. And he sat there on the wing of the plane and shouted, "Don't touch the plane" "Stay away from the plane".


The pilot returned some time later, filled the plane with gas, sat Pop back on the ground and had a few men help him spin the propeller and he was off again.


How awesome would that have been to have lived through. He definately saw many awesome things during his lifetime and he will be greatly missed. I am thankful that I have his many stories to be able to pass on down to my kids.

If you would like to read more you can here.

(**On a side note - we asked my Grandmother (his daughter) where he got the nickname "Pete" and even she didn't know. She knew who called him that and who started it but didn't know a reason behind it.)

**POOF** And then she returned.....

Just in case you were wondering... I was abducted by aliens with no internet access for the past couple weeks! (And that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Things have been pretty hectic since SF got home (that's for you Dad;-) - you know with aliens and all how can it not be hectic!

There's a lot to catch up on and I'm sure I'll be doing that over the next couple days. Until then here is a list of things I missed while SF was gone. Some of them I had forgotten about and some of them I knew I couldn't wait to have back!

1. The smell of his cologne that hits me in the face when I get home from the gym - long after he has left for work.

2. The relax time after dinner where we just lay on the couch and talk while the kids occupy themselves.

3. Not having to make dinner every night of the week.

4. Not having to do all the laundry. (Yes, SF generally does the wash and folds it and then it sits there until I put it away.)

5. Snuggling in bed, on the couch - wherever.

6. Seeing AMSA 83 come across the caller ID. (His number at work.)

7. SF calling in to check on me 3 million times a day. (yes, he really does do it that many times some days - and you would think it would get annoying -that is until you don't have it)

And then of course there are the things that I forgot how much I couldn't stand too. Like:

1. Bottle caps laying around all over the house.

2. Socks that didn't make it into the hamper - lying right next to the hamper.

3. The cup on the coffee table EVERY morning that I have to take up to the kitchen.

4. The stealing (okay maybe sharing) of MY GPS unit.

5. SF waking me up in the middle of the night singing some song in his sleep.

All in all we have adjusted fairly well to being a "whole" family again. It has been difficult to adjust to no longer being a single mother and oddly enough I almost feel like I have less time these days (hence the lack of blogging).

I guess it follows that old saying "Give the busiest woman something to do and she'll find time to fit it in" (okay maybe that's not the actual saying but it goes along those lines.) With less things on my plate I can't seem to fit them all in anymore. Weird isn't it....