New Years Eve...

It is 44 degrees and wet and foggy on this last day of 2008... I have the Christmas lights on for one more day... The black-eyed peas and ham bone are simmering on the stove... Will make some corn bread in a bit to go with them... I was up at 7 this morning and started my day on the computer... Hubby was ready for work and we were playing with Holly... We are learning her personality now and she is quite funny... She sleeps most of the day but in the morning she likes to play... I've learned that when she grabs at our ankles it is not cause she is mad but just wanting to play... I have separate bowls set up for her and Raisin but they are worried the other is getting something better so they raid each others bowls hissing all the way... When she is done eating she will pull up/ scratch at the towel I have her bowls on... Don't know what she is looking for... She also likes to pull over my throw rugs too.... She also will not go out to do her business unless someone goes with her, lol... I will pick her up and put her out and close the door... She is usually right back as it is cold out there...


After getting hubby off to work I spent most of the morning and some of the afternoon on the computer just catching up on some blogs and finally deleting the rest of the folders off of Picasa that had come over when I tried to migrate the AOL journal... There were over 150 in October and today I deleted the last 40... Each folder contained 500 pictures... So now I have just the four folders for my blogs and only at 55% storage space.... I couldn't believe the boys slept in til 10:30... and they are still in their jammies now... I on the other hand did shower and get dressed today... I even made son2 a list of chores and gave him all of 2008 to complete them... has he started yet, of course not... he has been working on his paint by numbers he got for Christmas, had a turn on the Internet, been bugging son3 and texting in between... Son3 has been going back and forth between his PBS shows and computer games...

I discovered a real cool feature that Cricket has for the cell phone... I can go to the Cricket web site and text son2 from the computer... I have already used it a couple of times today... lol... For example I reminded him to do his chores... but if he is out and about and I just need to remind him of something, I can just text him instead of calling him... too cool... Just now I texted him to check the mailbox that I already asked him in person twice to do... guess what there he goes, regretting that I found this feature, (insert evil laugh)....

I have made a list of all that I hope to accomplish on vacation and during the month of January... Today I have filled the bird feeders, vacuumed, put away the Christmas movies, cleaned off the island, hung up my new calendar but still need to fill it out, ran the dishwasher and have just looked at my list and that didn't even make a dent, lol... Son2 is now working on his list cause we got Netflix movies and I said he couldn't watch them til his list was done... We got Hancock, the new X Files and a Dinosaur documentary... On his list to do: take out garbage/recycables, check the mail, finish cleaning the top of the dresser and entertainment center in his room, organize the computer games on the shelves, put away his Christmas gifts and watch the first hour of Gone With the Wind, I'm gonna have him watch it with me while he is on break...

Last night we ended up getting Carl's Jr for dinner... I was still on the computer when hubby came home although we just had to heat up our plates of leftovers, but hubby is the one who kept saying should we have a special treat, so thinking he wanted one... So of course Carl's Jr was way yummy and we watched The Game Plan with The Rock... That movie is so cute and hilarious, we all love it....

Some pictures of Holly playing this morning...









































































Son3's breakfast this morning...














Son2's paint by number...










The mini roses are still blooming... To see more from today visit my photo blog: Not Just Roses...








Our gray foggy day...










I'm off to make cornbread....
Happy New Year!!
Happy Journaling...

Vacation!!

I am officially on vacation now... I am so glad to be done with work for a little while... actually to the 11th of January... I'm supposed to work on the 4th to set the ad but now I'm wondering what will happen... I worked all day Sunday, we were so busy... Then I worked four hours yesterday and today four hours again, we are still busy... Customers are not understanding that we are running out of winter boots, sandals are coming now... Anyway I got to work today to a revised schedule and the supervisor not on it... She is going to another store for the rest of the week and staying in a hotel even, with lots of others who are helping this store get ready for a big visit... We too are having a visit on the 9th but I guess not as big... Anyway that means her boss will make the schedule for next week and I don't know if he will put me on the schedule for Sunday to set the ad in the middle of my vacation... So we shall see... I'm thinking if he hasn't figured out by now that I'm the only one that sets the ad then I'm not gonna tell him... My new year's resolution for work is not to tell the managers how to do their jobs any more... I had all kinds of grumbly things to write about work today but now that I am on vacation, I don't want to go there anymore...

I have been quietly letting the rest of the year end... Just going to work, watching movies with the boys and eating Christmas candy... Son3 has already announced he is bored... That's OK mom is on vacation now and we can work on the practice book for school... Right now he is playing Zoo Tycoon and son2 is playing The Hulk video game... But tonight I am just waiting for hubby to come home... I'll heat up ham leftovers one more time and we'll watch movies again tonight... We have seen Horton Hears a Who and HellBoy 2... We did order a pizza Sunday night to take a break from ham... Tomorrow I am going to make black eyed peas with the ham bone for New Years...

Son2 has been texting away all week... His friend that is a girl is spending vacation with her family at their cabin in the snow and wants son2 to come up for a day... At first it was today and so it was easy, um no we have to work... so she changed it to New Years when we are all off, lol... Of course no reason I give son2 of why he can't go is acceptable in his teenage mind... Not, that I don't want to drive three hours up and down a mountain to drop him off and pick him up... but mom you and dad can stay too, um I don't know her parents and we have been trying to plan a day for just us to go to the snow... Finally after all my reasoning of yes I could work it out so he could go but these are the reasons why you are not going, I finally said, wait a minute, you are 15yrs old and you want me to drop you off at a cabin in the mountains to hang out with a girl and her girl friend, lol... one of his boy friends was invited too but he can't go either, ya think.........

We got the boys new digital TVs hooked up and they now are receiving less channels than with the old TVs... even with the converter boxes we are losing channels off and on with the other TVs too... So I told hubby lets get some new antennas since our antennas are for the old analog TVs... so hubby spent $100 on three new antennas specifically for the new digital and we lost half the channels we were getting with the old antennas... So two of the antennas are going back, the one for son3's TV actually helped him get more channels but a lot are still missing since we plugged in their new digital TVs.... Told hubby we will just wait til after February when they turn off the analog signals and are just sending the digital signals... I was researching online and one thing I read said some of the stations are using their lowest signals at the moment.... I'm just afraid come February we won't receive any channels and this whole digital thing will be just like trying to keep our Internet going, lol.... It's not funny..... Scary even...

I have lots of projects planned around the house while on vacation... And getting all organized for the new year.... Hubby is trying to get a couple of days off next week so maybe we can go on some day trips or go to the snow.... We'll see....

Meanwhile he will be home in just a couple of minutes so I should go heat up dinner and clean up the kitchen....

Happy Journaling....

Winding Down...

I just finished watching Mama Mia... What a fun movie! and a bit silly and funny and I cried at the part where she was singing to Pierce Bronson before going up the mountain to the wedding, lol... Son2 watched it with me... One of his girl friend's text him while he was watching and asked him what he was doing and when he told her she said No Don't!, she had watched it last night... He said too late, it's over, lol... Hubby is off at work... The boys are wandering from one new toy/game to another... They need to get in showers soon, they promised me... Seems showers are not required on vacation... Ewwwww....

Went to work today... was not in the mood for it today... still reeling from Christmas... of course we have nothing left that anyone wants... We opened at 7am... everyone came at 10am and were still going strong when I left at 1:30pm... of course the answer to every question was No, Sorry... I am off tomorrow!!! and then hopefully Sunday is a short day, haven't seen the schedule yet, and then just Monday and Tuesday and then I am on vacation... Woo Hoo...

We had a great Christmas yesterday... Everyone got what they wanted and then some... We were woken by son3 at 8:30am with a 'Mom we hit the jackpock', instead of jackpot, lol.... Of course hubby and I have to shower and then fix hot chocolate and orange sticky buns and then finally at 9:30ish we were heading to the opening of stockings... By 10am son1 and girlfriend arrived bearing gifts... So between opening Santa gifts and their gifts and gifts to each other, we finally finished about 1:15ish... Girlfriend almost cried when she opened the TV we got them... Son2 and son3 got tv's too due to the going digital in February... Then son1 and girlfriend were off to see his Dad... So we pulled out the ham and all the leftovers and commenced eating while we watched Ironman... Son2 was programming his new cell phone and texting friends to let them know what he got for Christmas... He has been texting ever since... Somewhere around 8pm the boys went off to play PlayStation and hubby put in Superman Returns and I fell promptly asleep... He woke me up after the movie to put the boys to bed and sigh Christmas was over... I'm having a bit of the after Christmas sadness so trying just to kick back this evening and relax... Tomorrow I'll make a list and do some chores and make some new goals...

And let's see for Christmas I got some bird houses, a hummingbird feeder, lots of chocolate, lots of books, socks, pjs, a watch, snowmen mugs, Sixteen Candles DVD, Tin Man DVD, a vase, a candle holder, a plush snowman, bird decoration rain gauge and some lotions...

Ok off to get the boys in showers and maybe watch Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey...

Happy Journaling...

Christmas Day slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Journaling...

Happy Christmas Eve...

The boys are all tucked in bed, hubby is making pumpkin pies, we are just waiting for Santa to come and then we can get all tucked in bed too... Santa is in Utah right now, the boys have been tracking him on Norad all night... We had our yummy ham for dinner with mashed potatoes and such... We watched Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol... The boys opened their Christmas Eve presents of jammies and the Jeff Dunham Christmas Special... He is so hilarious... We already watched it... lol... Work was a breeze today except for the waiting to go home... We were the busiest from about 10:30am to 1pm but still not that much... If we are able to walk down aisles then that is not Christmas busy... I cleaned out almost all the kids shoes from the stockroom and then went to lunch... After lunch I put up the signs for the day after sale and then I stocked athletics... By 2pm the supervisor and other associate were just chit chatting so I went in the back and worked on opening the last of the boxes... Then at 3pm we three went home and the three closers came in and that was Christmas eve in the shoe department...

Wishing everyone the blessed of Christmases... Hope you get everything you dream of and wish for....

Happy Journaling...

Twas the Night Before Christmas

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Mooreor Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Happy Journaling...

Santa Mouse

Once there was a little mouse, who didn't have a name. He lived in a great big house, this mouse, the only mouse in the whole wide house. He dreamed he had playmates who were friendly as could be. The little girls would bring their dolls, and dress up and have tea. The boys would play at cowboys or Eskimo or Spanish. But when he tried to touch them like a bubble they would vanish. Now through the years this little mouse had saved one special thing. A piece of cheese- the kind that makes an angel want to sing. And so that night as he brushed his teeth and washed his tiny paws. He said my goodness no-one gives a gift to Santa Claus. So he ran to get his piece of cheese and after he had found it, Some paper from some chewing gum he quickly wrapped around it. And then he climbed in bed and dreamed that he was lifted high, And woke up to find that he was looking right in Santa's eye. Thank you for my gift he said now tell me what's your name, I haven't any said the mouse. You haven't that's a shame. You know I need a helper as I travel house to house. And I shall give a name to you, I'll call you Santa mouse. So here's your beard and here's your suit and here's each tiny shiny boot. You mustn't sneeze and you mustn't cough, Now put them on and we'll be off. Then over all the rooftops on a journey with no end, Away they went together, Santa and his tiny friend. And so this Christmas if you please, Beneath that tree that's in your house, Why don't you leave a piece of cheese, You know who'll thank you, SANTA MOUSE!
Happy Journaling...

Making a List....

One more day!! Are you ready.... I am almost... Sunday was a whirlwind of go to work and then come home and bake gingerbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and peanut butter cookies... And I made teriyaki chicken for dinner with mashed potatoes... Hubby and son2 went grocery shopping after hubby made us breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausages... I think we watched The Santa Clause 2 that night... Monday hubby and the boys had the day off and I was back at work again... Hubby and the boys got all their wrapping done and then hubby raked all the leaves in the yard... I decided on Monday hubby needed to go to the deli and get lots of fried chicken and fixens as I was not doing any more cooking, it just made for more dirty dishes, lol... So we had yummy chicken and watched a Futurama movie that came from Netflix... We also finally went around the neighborhood to see lights last night as it rained Sunday night... There were a few houses with lights but not too many... The boys are too excited about Christmas and being on vacation and yet still have time to bicker with each other, which they did the whole time we were looking at Christmas lights.... Today I was back to work again... I just realized today that I have worked seven days in a row, not having a day off since last Wednesday and not being off til Christmas day... I'm pooped... And then I am back to work on Friday and then yay I am off on Saturday and I can sleep in and stay in my pj's all day, lol...

But first there are still things to get ready for Christmas:

Today I need to finish wrapping some last minute presents, put something in the last two days of the advent calendar, clean the boy's bathroom, vacuum, wash the kitchen floor, clean up all the paper piles into another room as we don't want to see paper piles for Christmas, finish off the dishes, cook the ham tonight so we can eat it for Christmas Eve dinner, and make the mashed potatoes so need to peel the potatoes, do a bit of laundry so I have something to wear to work and hubby needs to make some pumpkin pies.... And whatever else I come across that I didn't know I need to do....

Meanwhile son2 is off at a Christmas party... that his friends have been planning since before Thanksgiving... so you would think we could plan it into our schedule... noooo...... For three weeks we thought it was at one friend's house but then they changed it to another friend's house... He just found out on Friday that they were having secret Santa gifts but didn't tell us til Sunday, so hubby took him shopping after the grocery store... then they say it is tradition that they don't reveal the time til the day of the party... what??! so he found out this morning that the party was 3-8pm... I don't even get off work til 3pm.... I didn't expect the party to even start til after 6pm... so figured hubby would take him when he got off work.... anyway he rode his bike there but we don't quite know where there is... so he is supposed to call us with an address so hubby can pick him up.... I don't hear the phone ringing.... I can't wait til he gets his cell phone for Christmas, lol... That's the one good use of a cell phone... to keep tabs on teenagers....

I'm off to tackle my list before it's time to be back at work again... Oh but I didn't tell you... as of New Year's Eve, I am on vacation til Jan 10th!!!

Happy Journaling...

Last Saturday

Yay today was my last Saturday working! Next Saturday I am back to having Saturday's off again and time for cleaning the house and reading blogs... And I day to sleep in... I don't think I have slept past 6am since before Thanksgiving... Today at work I put out almost all the women's fashion boots, stocked the shoe accessories, filled the kid's shoe clearance and almost opened all the last of the boxes that finally came in... Was plenty to do to make the day go fast... Tomorrow I only have to work in the morning to set the ad, so a short day... Then Monday-Wednesday I work full days and finally have a day off on Christmas... I'm hoping tomorrow to get some baking done and clean the kitchen a bit, make teriyaki chicken for dinner and then go look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood with hubby and the boys... Tonight I plan on having a wrapping frenzy and hopefully get all the wrapping done... The boys are off on computer games so they won't even notice where I've gone off to, lol... I'll watch The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant, I don't think I have ever seen it... First I have to put a treat in the advent calendar as son3 keeps opening the door and it is empty, lol... We've all had a bit of something for dinner, I had the sausage experiment from the other night, which was not a success, lol... not enough Bisquick batter to cover the sausage... We agreed on a name for the new kitty... Someone in a comment suggested something Christmasy since she came at Christmas time :), so I was driving to work the other day and wasn't even thinking of it but it just popped in my head and it was similar to Kitty or Missy, son I asked son3 and he liked it, and I asked son2 and he liked it and then I told hubby and he said it was perfect as she is a bit prickly in her personality, she hisses and/or complains with a mew or two if she doesn't like something....... So we've decided on HOLLY.... What do ya think....

OK I'm off to wrap, which Holly will protest as she is sleeping on the bed where I will do the wrapping....

Happy Journaling...

Story of St. Nicholas

Story of St. Nicholas
He was a boy when he lost his parents very early in life. It was an epidemic that took them, but not before he was old enough for them to help him discover the gift of faith. Little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of self-offering, and giving of himself. His life was full of sacrifice and love, just like Jesus. Nicholas lived such a Christ like life that when the town needed a bishop he was immediately elected. Later he was imprisoned for his Christian faith, but released by the Emperor Constantine. Thereafter, many stories of his generosity were collected and they spread from mouth to mouth all through out the lands. It was told how he begged food for the poor and how he would somehow get money for girls to use as a dowry so that they could have husbands. The story most often repeated was about how he would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to the poor children. In fact Nicholas gave away everything he had, plus everything he could get. He died in AD 314; his body was moved to Italy where his remains are believed to be to this day. The story of Nicholas has spread all around the world, and today there are more European churches named after St. Nicholas than any other person in the history of the church, aside from the famous Bible characters. People have done many things to old St. Nick. Clement Moore the poet gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. Artist Thomas Nast gave Nicholas a round belly and a red fir trimmed suit. But those things really aren’t that important are they? What is important is that he lived in the mind set and the life style of Christ. And because he lived that lifestyle, the life of Nicholas touched the whole world and it does to this very day. But here is the really important part of the story. That same Christ like mind set and that life style is supposed to be in all of us and lived by all of us. And that is the true story of St. Nick.-- Author Unknown
Happy Journaling...

Vacation from School

Woo Hoo the boys are on vacation, however we got off to a rocky start... Well son3 anyway... Besides having a rough week of not doing his classwork and bringing it all home to be done as homework and not giving us much time to study his spelling words and then believing him that they had the spelling test on Thursday, which was the practice test and that they weren't having one today and since there wasn't any homework last night we didn't study... So he got mad at himself in class that he didn't do well on the test... And shut down and refused to the next part of the classwork... But that wasn't the worst part of the day, the worst part was when he got mad at his friend and called him sh** and a$$ and the friend said it too and a third friend tried to break them up and they all three ended up getting in trouble... on the last day before vacation... sigh....... So he was on a time out in his room when he got home after a lecture from hubby and then a talk from me and then even son2 wasn't happy that he said bad words so he went and talked to him too... and he was grounded from computer games tonight...

Only four more days til Santa comes... My house is a mess... I need to vacuum and wash the kitchen floor and water the plants and I'm only about 30% done with wrapping, plus I want to make some cookies and fudge and more pumpkin bread, the first batch is all gone... And I need to get the cats on an eating schedule in their own bowls as they have both been begging for food every time someone walks into the kitchen... The dishes are caught up and the laundry is almost done but tons to hang up and put away... But the wrapping is the priority this weekend and then cleaning the house...
I am almost running out of things to do at work if that is possible... Just a few boxes left to open and not much stock left to bring to the sales floor... Lots of cleaning to be done though but that is boring, lol... I work all day tomorrow so will have to find ways to keep busy...
The boys are in bed and I am headed to bed myself and hubby is due home any minute...
Happy Journaling...

One More Week

I can't believe one week from today is Christmas... And that son3 did not have any homework today!! And tomorrow is the last day of school for this year... So son3's first question to me today was 'I don't have any homework so can I play games', lol... So he is playing a game just til dinner is ready... I am trying an experiment: sausage dogs with Bisquick and peas poured over them and baked in the oven... I couldn't find an exact recipe as I was looking through the Bisquick recipe book however, of how much Bisquick vs milk, and how do they not taste like pancakes, lol....

I guess we have a new kitty... She sleeps in my bed all day and sleeps in the garage all night and eats all Raisin's food and plays with his toys, so I guess she has moved in... Raisin tries to say hello to her but they just hiss at each other.... Now we are just deciding on a name... I was thinking Missy or Kitty but nothing for sure yet...

Work has been coming right along... I just keep moving to make the day go along... We have been barely getting any new stock in so we have almost got all the old stock out... And I can't believe how not busy we are so close to Christmas... There is always someone in the store but even on the weekends I am able to stock and not be in any one's way... We shall see if it picks up this weekend... I'm thinking everyone got all their shopping done early this year or are not shopping at all... Tomorrow I get off early as I didn't realize til just this week that son3 gets out early tomorrow for his last day of school before vacation... Hours have been starting to get cut back too so even though I am not off again til Christmas day, I will have some short days I hope, unless I get all the hours and they cut the Christmas help...

Son3 lost a tooth at school this week and the nurse put it in a cute little treasure box so he wouldn't lose it... Here he is finding bubble gum in the advent calendar... I need to put something in for today... Our movie this week was Dark Knight, son2's recent most favorite movie... I'm still trying to decide what I thought of it... I'm partial to Jack Nicholson's Joker although I like Heath Ledger as an actor just not as the Joker... I think we are all caught up on the TV shows except I fell asleep during Terminator and hubby fell asleep during CSI so we have to each watch those... Tonight CSI is a repeat but it is the very first episode so will have to watch... And then tomorrow night is a new Ghost Whisperer and Numbers and then I think repeats on most things til January... We still have a lot of Christmas movies to watch...

OK I'm off to check on dinner, fill the advent calendar and see what I can wrap today to put under the tree...

Happy Journaling...

**Hail**

Monday was hubby and mine last Monday off together again as this is the last Saturday hopefully I have to work... Anyway we got son3 off to school and had breakfast and we were off to Target to officially finish Christmas shopping... We had just got back and had a bit of lunch when the skies let loose with hail... Only lasted about five minutes but it was almost like snow, lol... Actually the snow level is down to 1000ft in the Sierra's... Last night it was only 16 degrees in Yosemite... The sun is peeking out here this afternoon but it is only 37 degrees right now here in the valley of Ca... At work I could see the snow on the mountains out the window of the break room while I ate lunch yesterday.... Brrrrrrrrr...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Journaling...

Decorating the tree

The decorations are officially done, the trees are decorated and the angel sits atop the tree, the Christmas shopping is done, the baking has begun, the cards have arrived at their destinations and several have been received... Two more days of school til vacation, grocery shopping of a ham and such needs to be done and wrapping has yet to be started... All will be done very soon as Christmas Eve is one week from today... Can you stand the excitement... I know the boys can't, lol...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Journaling...

A-Z Photo Challenge S

A-Z Photo Challenge S

To Play visit Martha at Menagerie

S is for Snowmen!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Journaling...

Saturday Rambles...

I am getting nothing done... Spending to much time sitting on this computer when there are things to be done... Work was good again today... Was not very busy, although the other associates kept saying it was... But I didn't think it was even regular Saturday busy, especially since I could get down aisles with my handcart and get all the men's stocking done... Tomorrow there is not much of an ad to set so I'm gonna get the boxes all open and cleared that came in on Friday... Meanwhile hubby got the tree almost finished decorating this morning and moved all of son3's around that were all in the front of the tree at ground level, lol... And the house roof lights will now work as hubby has plugged them into a surge protector so we won't keep popping the fuses... Son3 was supposed to go to a bday party today but with all the school hassles this week that were his fault of his stubbornness, he was grounded from computer games and going to the party... Right now he is singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town and putting more decorations on the tree... Son1 called and has whisked son2 away for some brother bonding... Hubby should be home any second... I'm doing laundry and should be cleaning up the kitchen... I'm trying to decide whether to make pumpkin bread, gingerbread cake or cookies tomorrow after work, or maybe all three... And some chicken with potatoes and carrots... Although I should have done some today, but I worked all day and I am tired... but then I work tomorrow too... Monday I am off, yay, and hubby too... And hopefully we can start wrapping and sorting things for Christmas...
Oh before I forget again... Son2 was watching Funniest Home Videos on Tuesday and he had to come and tell me what Tom Bergeron had said, that, "Christmas used to be everyone getting together and talking, now they just log onto the Internet and read each other's blogs"... Lol....
Happy Journaling...

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? The week of Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year's
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? All of them
7. Hardest person to buy for? Hubby
8. Easiest person to buy for? Me!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Several
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I think I have liked everything I have gotten
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation, but then all the others are second...
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The last of our bdays are at the end of July so anything found after that gets put away for Christmas...
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham and Fudge
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes. Dasher, Dancer Prancer Vixon, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen and of course Rudolph and Olive the other Reindeer
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? The boys open one on Christmas eve and then the rest in the morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not enough time to spend with loved ones
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? All the ones we have collected over the years
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Me, hubby and the boys to have a nice day celebrating together
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Me, I'm responding to Barbara at One Day at a Time
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? I'm sure a few... :)
Happy Journaling...

Koda's Christmas Giveaway...

Koda is giving away some Christmas goodies over at Betty's Blog a corgi in southern california ... Go visit if you want a chance to win, just say Raisin sent ya....
Happy Journaling...

Two More Weeks...

I think it would be better if the kids had the three weeks before Christmas off, instead of after.... The boys are out of school the week of Christmas and then they do not go back til Jan. 12th... But it would be better if they were out now and then go back right after new year's, so we can enjoy the Christmas time, of decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies and baking cookies... Son3 had a very bad week at school, by not doing his classwork, so we had three hours of homework each night give or take... All three boys went to the same elementary school and it is amazing how much changes in the requirements for each of them... I think son2 had a much better kindergarten with all the phonics even though we spent hours and hours doing homework... With son3 kindergarten was much easier, meaning they were required to learn less... And then with last year being a tough year with a teacher who didn't want to teach first grade... and now son3 is not up to par I think in what he needs to know... and since the teacher is not able to give one on one of course to each child, it does not help that most of her class is from the teacher last year so they are all behind... anyway I know son3 can be stubborn and he needs a lot of poking and prodding to get him to finish things, son2 is the same way, and the teacher is frustrated that he shut down and wouldn't do his work, but when I set him down last night and flipped through the pages to see what he could start working on, on his own, there was not one page that he could do without help... and every page was a different topic, so nothing repetitive... from read the story to rewrite the sentences correctly, rewrite the story correctly, underline the nouns, pick the correct words to complete the sentence, circle the misspelled words and a crossword puzzle... Son3's reading has greatly improved this year but he still can't spell... but yet between all the homework and unfinished classwork there is no extra time to study the spelling words... and not to mention our minds are on Christmas, not school....


Meanwhile son2 had foggy day all week with four hour bus delays... so he got to sleep in extra all week....



Plus yesterday son3's teacher got so frustrated with son3 that she called hubby at work and demanded he come in and get son3 to cooperate after she handed son3 her cell phone and told him to talk to his father, which she said he refused, but we are thinking he did not know how to talk into her cellphone... So hubby ran down there and son3 was in the office and they said oh he is fine.... Hubby demanded to speak to the vice principle on why he was demanded to come down so he could be told everything was fine.... He later received a phone call from the teacher apologizing, and a cold shoulder from her today and son3 said she was mad at him all day still.... I told hubby we need an intervention, to make sure that son3 is learning what he should... cause I am tired of he refuses to do his work but he is a great student and very bright... how do they know this if he refuses to do his work... and I can't get past the first letter of a sentence is a capital and don't forget the period... grrrrrrrrrrr.........

Meanwhile work is good, guess the universe has to balance itself... The only boxes I have to open are the ones that came off the truck today and I am condensing down the stockroom as we get all the stock out to the floor... I've been resetting and stocking the men's shoe floor all week... Hopefully I'll be done tomorrow and I can move on to Athletics...



While hubby was putting the lights on the tree on Monday he fell off the stool, he was OK, but when I came home on Tuesday he had called off of work... Said he just needed a mental day to make sure he was OK... He got more decorations up on Monday while he was home... Our house lights are still burned out though, don't think he got a chance to fix them today... I just checked his list and they are crossed off that he fixed them so he is going to be mad when he gets home and they are not on, cause I turned them on and nothing... He dropped off the Toys for Tots, set up the little tree for son3 to decorate and brought son2's Christmas present to get activated... I thought I would just order son2's cell phone online and I could follow the instructions and activate it but noooooooo... lol.... They didn't send me all the numbers that I needed in the email so we would have to call the representative and then still program it our self... So I told hubby just take it in and they can call and look up the info and program it in probably five minutes, lol...



Son3 has been decorating the little tree and the big tree but wants son2 to help... So son2 is finally helping him and they are fighting over who gets to put up what ornament... sheesh....


We are still undecided on what to do with the white kitty... Her highness got thrown out yesterday cause she hissed and slapped the other stray kitty and then she hissed at Raisin and then she scratched me, I didn't even see her move as I walked by her... So out she went... This morning she was sitting at the front door and pushed her way right in, so fed her outside as I was leaving for work... When we came home she pushed her way in again, back out she went... Then just a bit ago she was sitting at the back glass door watching us all warm and toasty in the house and eating... So yes I let her in and she ate up all Raisin's food and is now sleeping on my bed.... Little stinker....



Son1 called the other night, wanted to know if we still had his hamster stuff from the sixth grade, No, why, oh I got a hamster a couple of months ago, didn't I tell you, No.........



Last night I watched CSI and Eleventh hour and did not even fall asleep, of course hubby was snoring next to me, lol, so he missed both of them...


I should go do some laundry and put the dishes in the dishwasher... I work again tomorrow but only til three....

Son3 is singing away and decorating the tree...
Son2 is breathing over my shoulder waiting for a turn on the computer...
Happy Journaling...

More Decorating

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Journaling...

Picture Entry

What season is it... Today was finally clear and sunny, although the morning started out foggy and son2 had a three hour school bus delay... He didn't mind, he got to sleep in...
These trees have finally lost their leaves... Although if you look closely by the bird, there are buds already forming on the tree...






Feels like Winter...
























However these trees are still changing and haven't lost their leaves yet... Is it Fall...








And yet the roses are still blooming... See more roses from today in my photo blog, Not Just Roses... Is it Spring...







We have a visitor... Did someone lose a cat... She has been hanging around for a few weeks, always arrives from the same direction, but we can't figure out if she belongs to someone or not... She is very friendly and just comes right in the house, so she did belong to someone at some time as she is not afraid of people... She is a bit dirtier lately so don't think she is going in a house at night... This morning she was waiting at the back door to come in and went straight to Raisin's bowl and helped herself to breakfast and then went and took a nap in our bed in Raisin's spot... So he napped on the couch today, lol.... We have been feeding her off and on outside with the other stray cat we feed, he doesn't let anyone touch him, and she has been coming in the house for a week or so now off and on... She protests when I put her back outside... I call her Missy as she is so prissy and son3 calls her Snowbell.... This photo is from a couple of days ago, she is not as white today...

If anyone would like a Christmas card, I have plenty left... Just email me your address: fasttrack58@aol.com I have a feeling it's going to be a slim year of Christmas cards... I only have two so far...










The lights are finally on the Christmas tree as hubby had trouble with them not working either... Tonight we may start to decorate and hopefully finish by the weekend... I'm off to make a slideshow of all the decorating so far....









Happy Journaling...

A-Z Photo Challenge-R

A-Z Photo Challenge-R

To Play Visit Martha at Menagerie...

Reindeer
















Red Ornaments
















Red Poinsettias



























Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
















Raisin






























Happy Journaling...