Getting Ready

I think we're ready for Christmas. I just ordered the last of Chastain's Christmas present. I went over my budget, BIG TIME, with him. But that's okay. I know that they are things he's really wanted and I'd rather buy them for him because if I don't, he's going to buy them for himself!

I sent out Christmas cards last week. We do the funky picture on a greeting card thing. Well, I have gotten more dislikes this year than ever. I can understand why but can't people just be happy with getting a Christmas card from us? Anyways, I was taking the picture for the card and our digital camera literally died. The pictures off the disk were BLACK and when you looked through the viewfinder of the camera, it was black. And yes, I made sure the lens cover was off. Anyho, it died. Not bad for a digital camera that was 7 years old. Anyways, I took a picture of Madison with a disposal camera and the pictures turned out HORRIFIC. When I got them developed I asked Chas which one to use and he said none of them. That's how bad it was. BUT, I'm known to send picture greeting cards and I just had to live up to that. And now, I've gotten more phone calls saying it wasn't Madison's best side. BLAH. To make those ungrateful people happy, I'm going to have her picture professionally done and send out New Year's cards. I hope they appreciate that. Those heathrens.

OMG, we are having our company Christmas party today. And umm, this coworker has his music up way loud. It's Celtic Woman Christmas and oh for heaven's sake PLEASE STOP TORTURING ME.

Alright, well that's all I have for today. When I get home, I'll post the horrific picture okay? Umm kay!

Nothing Really

Not really alot to talk about. We're just bustling around trying to get ready for Christmas.

We have our tree up and the outside decorations done. They are beautiful. I love Christmas lights. Madison will OOOO and AHHH as we ride by them. She'll said CHRISTMAS LIGHTS MOMMY! How pretty! She's adorable.

I need to get her picture taken with Santa or in front of our Christmas tree for our Christmas cards. It's about time to get them out I would say. I think we have most of the gifts bought, I just need to start wrapping. That's going to be a chore.

We have our Christmas program on the 17th and then the Choir's program on the 24th. They are both going to be so good, I'm excited.

I guess that's about it. Maybe I'll take some pictures of the decorations so you can see what it looks like! Until then ... have a great week.

Not really much to update you on. Madison was sick ... again. She had the croup, double ear infection & strep throat. I missed three days of work and that's the only vacation/sick time I had left. That really stinks with the Holidays coming up too. Oh well, I'm just glad she's better and I'm hoping that this phase of her being so sick all of the time is about to end. Now, I have a terrible cold, I think it's mainly my sinuses. Dayquil is going to be my best friend for the next couple of days.

Well, guess I'd better go catch up on some work that I missed.

Update

Yes, yes ... we did the Halloween thing. We went to church to the Trunk or Treat because quite frankly, the kid doesn't get much candy when you visit such a place :). She was the cutest kid dressed up I'll have to say and the cutest Raggedy Ann I'd ever laid eyes on. I wasn't sure we were going to get her to wear the wig/hat thing. She doesn't do well with things on her noggin', but she picked it up and said "STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE HAIR!" So alas, I responded with "Why yes, Strawberry Shortcake". Whatever works huh. She only took it off like once or twice so I was quite pleased.

Chastain is finally down to one job and I can't be more happy. Hopefully now I'll be able to SEE HIM a decent amount of time. The extra income was nice, but the days of not seeing him SUCKED!

I'm getting ready to register for the Spring semester. I'm so tired and don't know if I can do school, work, Mommy, wife thing again for another 5 months, but I know I have to. It's the only way I'm going to ever stay motivated and finish school is to know without the degree I'm not going to get a new job elsewhere.

Anyways, I think I'm going to sign off. Another two hours and it's the weekend for me, YIPPIE!

BRRRRR

I broke down and turned on the heat last night. Not because I wanted to, but because Chas was crying like a baby saying it was cold. We all know that I could live in an igloo and still be hot. But alas, I turned on the heat last night for Chas. Then this morning, he complains it's hot. *ROLLING MY HUGE EYES* You would think that he was woman. So, I turned off the heat and told him that tonight he could just get extra blankets out of the closet because it was October and I wasn't going to roast nor sleep nude to be comfortable feeling. I love to wear my tshirts to sleep in but good golly last night I roasted and I'm not going to do that tonight. So today, I have a headache from the lack of sleep because I was BURNING UP or it could be from me not wearing my glasses for the past five days. They are so scratched up it's not even funny. I can see better without them than I can with. It's pathetic. BUT, I refuse to go to the eye doctor. I hate when they spray air into your eyes to dilate them. It sucks and I hate it and I am not going. YOU CAN NOT MAKE ME!!!!

The trees are starting to turn their beautiful colors. My drive to work is so beautiful. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to work and as the sun is rising, it's breath taking. Makes me want to move to the mountains so bad. If Chastain could have his way, I'm sure we'd live in Gatlinburg. But, it's too far from family for me. It's a beautiful place and in the fall you about could bribe me to move there. If I had a card for my camera, I'd take some pictures of the trees. But, it's just going to have to wait for now.

Well, I guess I should stop avoiding work. The Boss leaves tomorrow for Canada and I hope that the happiness doesn't show too much on my face. Considering the boss is my Mom, I am kinda in a mood for her. She has to move out of her house next week and then plan for another trip out a week after that. Needless to say, she hasn't been the most pleasant person to be around, but that's okay. I understand .... REALLY I DO!

So Foggy ... Kinda Like My Eyes

This picture makes it look like there is something on her cheek, but there's not.

Anyways, last night was night three in "Madison Sleeping In Her Own Room" saga. I have to say, she did okay. Night two was good also, so we'll start from there. On Night Two she woke up at 12:30am, 3:30am, 5:15am, and 7:30am. I'm proud to say, that every time she woke up, she fell back asleep in her own bed. That meant, Wednesday morning she got a sucker! Then, Night Three (last night) she woke up at 3:30am and 6:15am, both times went back to bed and woke up finally at 7:30am in her own bed. Another sucker this morning! Daddy told her how proud he was all morning yesterday & this morning and I told her yesterday evening how proud Mommy was. I'll be doing this the same this afternoon! If she keeps it up until Saturday, we're going toy shopping Saturday afternoon! She's growing up! Such a big girl now and I'm so proud.

I was wanting to go to Scarowinds this weekend, but I don't think I'm going to be able to find two sitters. I know I can find a sitter for Noah, but doubt one for Madison. So, I'm totally bummed.

I've started thinking about Christmas shopping, notice I said thinking, not started. I figured out Santa is going to bring Madison a Barbie Powerwheel. I have no clue what Santa is bringing Noah. The kid turned 9 and it seems that since he turned 9, he's harder to shop for. And, I don't know what else Madison will be getting. Probably some Strawberry Shortcake stuff, Veggie Tales stuff, & if I have to buy the stupid Dora stuff too I will. I'm going to leave the clothes and such up to other family members even though they HATE to buy children clothes as gifts, but guess what ... MY DAUGHTER NEEDS THEM and I want to be the good person giving gifts on Christmas :)! How fair does that sound? I birthed the child, I can give them what I want for Christmas and tell others what to get her. Although, I know that my Papaw, Madison's Great Papaw is getting her a DVD Player for the car. We had one that we got Noah for Christmas ages ago it seems and it doesn't work anymore and no we don't have a warrenty for it. So, we decided to ask someone who could afford a high-tech DVD player for the car and they said they'd get it just because he loves Madison soooooooo much! And now, I have no idea what to get my husband. He's so hard to buy for because all he wants is magic stuff but yet I can't pick that stuff out so he wants to pick it out. And quite frankly, that's no fun. I don't want him to tell me what to buy ... especially when the dude goes to pick out my gifts by himself. So umm, I want to pick him out something too. But, I have no idea what. Everyone else should be pretty easy, but I'm sure the closer we get to Christmas, the more aggravated I'll become and you'll hear all about it!

So until then, audios!

It's Raining!

Finally, a picture where she looks like me!!!

Two posts in one week, wow I think I'm setting a record. Anyways, I just wanted to post about our new adventure with Madison. We're making her sleep in her own bed in her own room, FINALLY! No more of this co-sleeping stuff. She's 2 years old, she can sleep in her own bed. I'm trying to convince myself, can you tell. So anyways, I started last night at 8pm. I put her in her bed with Nemo on tv. She got up a couple dozen times and I kept telling her to get back to bed. We told her that if she slept in her bed all night, she would get a sucker in the morning. After five suckers, she could go to Toys R Us to get a toy. So anyways, I kept reminding her of the sucker. Finally, after 2.5 hours of screaming and tormenting her Mother, she fell asleep. She slept for about 2 hours and was up at 12:30am. I went in, told her she was okay and let her cry for another hour and half. Then, she woke up at 5:15am and the smart little booger brought her blankie and herself into my bedroom. I told her that if she got in bed with Mommy & Daddy, there was no sucker but I was going to get my last hour of sleep! So, she got into bed with us. She woke up at 6:30am and asked for her sucker and I told her no. So, I guess we'll try for a sucker tomorrow morning!

And at any rate, I'm very tired.

Tonight Noah, my stepson, is getting baptized!

I'll check back in later this week and tell you about our night time adventures!!