Park Fun!

Don't worry, Heather, I did not post that pic of you on the riding toy! I wouldn't want you to do that to me, so I would not do that to you! hehehe....

Well, this park we found is pretty cool, the sidewalk that wraps in and out of the entire park is awesome. The kids can scooter, heeley, bike, skatebaord, whatever throughout the whole part and we can see them the entire time! J loved it, he took his skateboard, K took her scooter, Emmy went crazy on her Heeley's (she also made friends, and I did'n get 1 pic of her :( cause she was too busy playin catch with their velcro game....)

The boys learned how to slide down the slide by them selves, after being sat at the top of the baby slide, they loved it!!!

We had fun and will be going back!! For now, here are some pics from our day yesterday!!!

Quentin has such a personality. His faces are so unpredictable! 

Big Boy Zach is happy in the swing! 

Kaylee smiling for the camera! 

Jeremy givin' me a quick smile... 

Thirteen Thursday....

I am gonna try and keep this going along with The Martins ..... I like it, I think it's a neat thing to do every week...Come on and Give It A Try!!!!

1. I been off work and loving it since last week.
2. My step-nephew, Craig, turned 18, and we had a surprise party for him here and he loved it... We had a lot of fun!
3. Christmas came and Santa did well with the kids this year!!!
4. Our washing machine hose burst and the garage flooded out and caused me a huge mess. OMG...You should have walked out to what I did a few days ago---all was flooded and I was trying to determine what I should get up and out of the water first....It was complete mess!
5. We got some cool gift certificates for Christmas that we need to go and spend!
6. One of them, A restaurant, so that means me and E will go to dinner alone! You think ths will really happen.....NOT! But it is hopeful for a change that only us two go!
7. The washing machine continues to malfunction...and still has a leak after we replaced hoses.
8. I completed the whole , toy put away process, for those of you don't know what I am talking about, when gifts are opened they are accompainied by those the lovely little coated wires and plastic ties, which take actual man power and scissors and/or a knife to release the toy into into proper possible action.
9. Batteries were purchased and installed in every mechanism needed......
10. Number 9, (above) REQUIRED The of 3 different sized screwdrivers and 2 different sized allen wrenches... which took me a couple days here and there......
11. The washing machine continues to leak and I beg my family to use it sparingly as we are hoping to get a NEW- USED one this weekend from a good friend!
12. I continue to mop up water from the garage floor and hope and pray this problem is solved this weekend!!!!
13. And being off work is wonderful and I don't want to go back!!! If I could afford to stay home, I would!!!!!!

Rest & Relaxation....

Well, yesterday, I did NOTHING!!! I slept and laid around ALL day. And man, did it feel good. Vanessa played with the kids nearly all day while I rested. It was really nice. I wasn't feeling to good, I haven't been taking my iron as directed so last night night I doubled up on my dose and today I do feel better. I don't know if that is reallt the reason, I could have really been exhausted, it could be part of my PMS symptoms, I don't know, But the rest was throughly enjoyed! I really am going to concentrate on taking my iron pills, cause I know it effects me, especially "When Aunt Flo" comes to visit.

Becca, my 17 year old, received a phone call the other day requesting her to come down and give blood because they had a opatient thay was in need and she does have a semi rare blood type. She has given before, many times...Well we went down, of course, but she too, at this time, had too low of a blood count to give that day. I have told her to take an iron pill with her vitamin, but she often forgets as well. I am going to start a new program for vitamin/iron tkaing procedures every morning. It's the only way to keep track!

Then today....I took care of a couple of errands I needed to take care of and Vanessa watched the kids this am then she went to spend some time with gammy, my mom, and I took the little ones to the park for a while! Becca has been at work and Emmy may come and spend the night with Kaylee, they are just dying to play with her dollhouse together...

Burritos and spanish rice for dinner tonite...E should be home soon, so I am going to go start dinner since it is 5:30pm.........

Kaylee Signs The Adoption Papers...

It was so cute.... After opening her Cabbage Patch Newborn- We read over the birth certificate and adoption papers and she signed her life away to Ayanna Clarissa, born in the Cabbage Patch on October 12, 2005! She printed her first and last name on the adoption papers! Then she looked up at me and said, "Am I a mother now?

It was too cute!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

and to all a goodnight... Hope all are having a wonderful Christmas Day! Did Santa fulfill your wishes this year? Here are some pictures from our Christmas morning...The big gifts that the kids got this year, they loved....Kaylee loved her huge dollhouse,-Jeremy his new chopper, Vanessa her sewing machine and Nightmare Before Christmas stuff, and Becca, her CSI season series, and yes, the $300 cold hard cash for her down payment on her jeep cherokee that she is buying from a friend at work that is going into the reserves next week!!! Thanks Nicoli and we'll miss you!

Happy Holidays To Everyone!

What do you think about personalized gifts???

Personally, I like em'. Here are two tote bags I made today for my Aunt for Christmas. She takes her crocheting - knitting stuff EVERYWHERE she goes and I thought this would be a cute idea for her this year...I found the framed iron ons, fabric paint and tote bags at Walmart and used our 2005 family Christmas Pic for one and a pic of us with her from her birthday that was in Oct, downloaded a program to print out the pics onto the iron on and that's it!

What do you think???

Back In Business....And I'm Done With My Shopping!

I AM FINISHED WITH ALL MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING....YEAH----YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY THAT MAKES ME! I NEED TO FINISH WRAPPING AND FINISH UP MY CANDY MAKING- I MAKE PEANUT BUTTER BALLS EVERY YEAR FOR EVERYONE AND IF I DON'T, I HEAR IT, LET ME TELL YA. IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING AND PRICY BUY THEY SURE ARE TASTY.....I WAS ABLE TO GET ME A NEW MEMORY CARD FOR MY CAMERA....THANKS TO MY SOON TO BE FATHER-IN-LAW, BILL...THANKS BILL! AND THANKS AGAIN FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT. IT WAS FUN!

OK HERE ARE A FEW SHOTS OF THE KIDS AND OF COURSE LEXI IN SANTA HATS....I HELPED HEATHER OUT TODAY WITH THE BOYS TAKING PICTURES OF THEM WITH CANDY CANES AND TRYING TO GET SOME WITH THE SANTA HAT ON THEIR HEAD...AND GARLAND AND STUFF- I'M SURE SHE'LL BE POSTING THEIR PICS AS WELL! WE HAD A GOOD TIME! AND SHE GOT SOME REALLY CUTE PICTURES!

Good News and Bad News.....

Well, Good News first, of course. I have solved the mystery with my downloading problem. My memory disk has gone bad. So while I am out today finishing up my last minute shopping (only a few more things to get!!!! YEAH!) I will pick up a new memoery card and I should be back in business!

Bad News: All the pictures on my memory card I have lost. I went and tried to upload just the card at a kiosk station and the machine wouldn't do a thing. So I must get over it and face the fact that they are gone.....

Well I will post more later with pictures I'm sure....I have Heather's gang over now while she runs some last minute errands, then she will take a turn with the kids and I will go and battle Walmart, as quickly as possible I hope!

Hope all are having a good day!!!

Thank You Uncle James!

I received a Christmas card today from my Uncle James (my dads brother) who lives in Georgia. It was very nice to hear from him, as I hadn't in a while. I haven't seen him in a while, actually since my dad's funeral which was last April. He and my two Aunts flew out here to CA for the services and that was very nice. We were able to exchange email addresses (with my Aunt Gail also who now lives in Arizona) and we have kept in touch via emails, cards and letters. I keep in touch with letters and cards with my Grandma also who lives in Arkansas still which is where my dad and all his brothers and sisters grew up. She is 84 now and takes care of her husband, Robert. The one picture is of her, with husband Robert and my Uncle James. I was sorry to hear about my Aunt Patricia Ann passing away in Oct. You all are in my prayers. I hope my cousins, Mark and Scott are doing alright. The other picture is his front porch view, yes wild turkeys and all... Isn't it absolutely beautiful? I would really love to go visit him and Louise (his significant other) I would love to meet her!

Thanks Uncle James & Louise for the pictures and the gift card. That was very nice of you guys! Love You!

What's wrong my downloading?

I am so frustrated with my camera right now. I have tried and tried and tried and tried to download my last batch of pics and for SOME reason, it doesn't do ANYTHING...I plug it in as usual, power up the camera and it says on the screen 'establishing connection' as normal and then about 20 seconds later the screen goes blank but the camera power light stays on and NOTHING HAPPENS. Usually by now the image transfer page has opened up on the monitor........ So I checked out my computer to make sure my HP programs were still in tact and they are and I even refreshed my program with my original system disk...NOTHING.

So then I take my camera and cord to work, where I originally set my camera up and figured, ok no problem, I'll download here and save my recent pics to cd and take them home to save on my home computer.....NOPE! Same thing happened at work......OMG.....What could the problem be???

Anyone have this problem before....any thoughts as to what the solution might be??? Could it be my camera? I just don't get it. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Ho...Ho...Ho...

We went to see Santa on Sunday at the Plaza. The newly remodled Plaza is very nice. There were not many other children waiting in line so J & K were able to spend more time than usual wiht the jolly ole man and had a nice lengthy chat about ...'What do you want this year', and 'I enjoy playing with your toys before delivery' type conversations between them,...It was fun and Santa allowed me to take a couple pictures of my own instead of paying $15 for 1 picture with Santa!!!!

December 1, 2005

Another year is emerging to escape us and in less than 30 days now, we will become THE NEW YEAR OF 2006!!! For me, this year is HUGE and let me tell you why... My baby will be graduating from high school! Yes, Becca will be walking with her Class of 06 with the cap and gown, drivers' license and all I will be in tears! I am so proud of her! She is doing so good in school and keeping her job at Stater Bros in excellent review, I could not possibly ask for anything more from her! It's just... well, I guess I'm kinda speechless! I am just so proud of her!

Anyhow, How is everyone doing with Christmas shopping, decorating, etc, etc.....I am still decorating aroung here! Even wrapped some large framed pictures above our table! I think they look pretty cute!
Here is a pic of J & K while we were decorating yesterday!

Happy Birthday Jon!

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my older brother Jon! He is 37 today! We went to moms and had brownie surprise this afternoon and we took him his gifts! (Happy Birthday to my little brother too, Josh, 26 today-wish you were here to celebrate with us!)

I am back home now and dreading the reality of tomorrow morning, BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL FOR US!

Hope all had an enjoyable holiday weekend!!!

Holiday Weekend Fun!

Friday morning we went out to fight the crowds. Me and my sister and her stepson's girlfriend Vanessa, were up and in a line that wrapped around a Walmart store and continued on down the street. We made it in and got everything we had circled in the ad and then went to Target and spent some more! All done and finished by 9 am- Whew -then my sister, Christopher and Vanessa came over and spent the night with us! James cames Friday afternoon and helped E putting the lights up on the roof! First time decorating this house! Our newest collection to our Christmas display this year is a 6 foot inflatable snowglobe with a snowman inside and snow that blows around! We had a good time visiting and Kaylee and Christopher got to play together!

Sunday is my older brother Jon's birthday and we will go to my moms sometime in the afternoon to take him his gifts and have brownie surpise!

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone!!!

Just wanted to put out a big HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone! Hope all is having a great turkey day! Anyone going out in the early AM to battle the crowds for the biggest shopping day of the year? Still haven't decided where I'm gonna go. Cause you know how it is, you basically hit 1 store and if you try to make it to another one, they already out of the good stuff! Well, I must get back in the kitchen! Enjoy the rest of you holiday weekend!

I PUT MY DAUGHTERS ON A PLANE TODAY....

Becca and Vanessa are gone... Only for a week, thank goodness. I am going to miss them...This was Becca's frist time flying so she was very nervous. Vanessa is used to it, she flys frequently throughout the year with her dad and stepmom. Their flight was only 1 hr and 10 minutes so it wasn't too bad. Becca went to Sacramento to spend some time with her godmother, she has never been to her home before, she has only visited with her in our town. And Vanessa is meeting up with her stepmom in Sacramento to drive to Oregon for the Thanksgiving holiday with her dad and Lise's family. (It's her dad's Thanskgiving this year...And MY CHRISTMAS, YEAH!)It was nice that we were able to book them on the same flight so Becca had Vanessa to fly up with instead of being alone. Although she will be flying back home by herself. I talked to them about an hour ago, (they had just landed) and everything went fine and Becca said that is wasn't that bad. So that is good, they are safely back on ground and I feel better too! Ohter than that, not too much going on this weekend, just trying to relax and watch a couple movies, get some laundry and cleaning done, typical weekend stuff!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!!!

Should we or shouldn't we....

That is the question....We got an offer to go to Stateline this next weekend, two night stay, two tickets to see Country singer Collin Ray and two free buffets. It is very tempting, I must say. And my mom said she would come stay here with the kids for the weekend. I just keep reminding myself that the money we would spend there could go towards Christmas. We have stuff on layway that has to be picked up by the 9th. And I know that we will be sitting in traffic for most of our trip being a holiday weekend. We really could use the get-away. I would have to control E at the craps tables and when our spending money is gone, that's it. That will be fun, huh? NOT! Anyhow, I have a few day to think it over before we have to call and reserve our offer.

What would you do???

LEXI IS IN SO MUCH TROUBLE....

SHE ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK. TO ADD TO MY 'LOVELY DAY' I HAD, I COME HOME TO THIS EXTRA LITTLE DOG THAT E FOUND IN THE ROAD IN ANOTHER CITY DURING HIS WORK ROUTE TODAY. A LITTLE RAT TERRIER WITH TAGS AND EVERYTHING. HE CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE OWNER BUT DID NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM UNITL THIS EVENING AND ERIC WILL RETURN THE DOG THE NEXT ROAD TRIP HE MAKES WHEN HE 'GOES UP THAT WAY' SO NOW THE DOG IS VISITING?
OH HELL NO, NOT AFTER WHAT I JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH.
FOR STARTERS, OUR DOG , LEXI HAS BEEN SO GOOD SINCE WE MOVED IN TO OUR NEW HOME 5 MONTHS AGO, (SHE USED TO RUN A MUCK WHEN SHE ESCAPED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH) AND NOW SHE JUST HANGS OUT IN THE FRONT YARD WHEN WE ARE OUT THERE AND DOES NOT RUN OFF ANYMORE....
WELL HERE COMES A VISITOR, A PLAYMATE FOR HER AND THIS LITTLE SHIT GOT OUT THE FRONT DOOR AND LEXI BOLTED AFTER HIM... OMG... FOR THE PAST HOUR I HAVE DRIVING UP AND DOWN STREETS TRYING TO GET LEXI TO GET IN THE CAR WITH ME AND KAYLEE...OF COURSE SHE CONTIUNES TO CHASE THIS LITTLE DOG TO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND THEN UP ONTO A BUSIER STREET CAUSING CARS TO SKID (ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL) AND SHE ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE WE GOT HER. I ALMOST LEFT THE OTHER DOG BUT DIDN'T, HE IS OUTSIDE IN THE BACKYARD NOW. AND IS GOING HOME TOMORROW.

I DON'T KNOW KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF LEXI GOT HIT BY A CAR, I WOULD HAVE FLIPPED OUT.....

WELL SHE GOT A SPANKIN' AND SHE IS ON TIME OUT ON KAYLEE'S BED STILL.

Terrible Tuesday...

Well today was a tiresome long and extended day at work. We were recently sold and bought out by a much bigger corporation and the changes are now beginning. It's very scary and at the same time a learning opportunity to have to learn and incorporate changes and inherit new policies. Especially when you are one of the people that will eventually be helping staff understand changes and policies and be one of the ones able to ask questions too and make changes with if so desired. Some updates and meetings are not ones that I have been enjoying lately...(like today) and they seem sometimes to last forever. In a big conference with your most 'loved' colleagues sitting all around you discussing major stuff that is happening at work: sometimes these meeting are mediocre and we laugh and have lunch together and some are sit down with your pen and notepad, (no lunch, yet) and listen and make serious decisions at the workplace and the people working there, (like today).

Well enough venting for me, I guess for now anyways. I feel like I've gotten some off my chest!

Kids are having soup tonight for dinner...I am so exhausted and don't feel like cooking and the CMA's are on tonight along with my favorite program, House. I will have to flip back and forth but at least that may cheer me up a bit this evening.

As for the pic I posted, that's obviously how I feel today...

hope everyone else has had a better day....

Another Manic Monday...

It's just another 'Manic Monday'...remember that oldie but goodie! Well, Happy Monday to everyone- Hope everyone had a good weekend. Happy Veteran's Day to those who were able to celebrate it! You can pretty much see & read how my 3 day weekend went.

Anyways...on a good note, E and I shopped and the two younger kids J & K are done for Christmas! YEAH! They are so done for this year! I must stay strong and as I finish shopping for my teenagers, NOT buy anything else for them....DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IT??? I must compose my WILL POWER... Any suggestions?

Well here I am during our Walmart shopping trip on Sat. night....(E just wouldn't stop snapping pictures of me and my outfit he double-dared me to wear!)

I AM JUST KIDDING.....LOL LOL LOL :)

WASTED TRIP...

Well, after driving out to visit my brother and standing in line forever, they would'nt let us in cause Kaylee's birth certificate that I have is the one from the hospital and it isn't excepted there. It has to be the a real copy, stamped and embossed and crap. (Rules & Regulations) Whatever.... Now I have to go to the county clerk's office and pay to get hers.
Oh well, I guess I should have it anyways, huh.
Maybe we'll try again next Sat morning and I'll leave earlier too to try and avoid the lengthy line.

Taking Children To Visit Parents In Prison?

Should we or shouldn't we? Iv'e asked myself over and over again and something keeps telling me it's just not a great idea. Although J & K are aware of where their father is at this time, I don't see a prison visiting area appropriate for children. And then I think, 'What if it were me in there, I would hope that my someone brought my daughters to see me, even if it were only once'. So, I've decided that I'm going to take them tomorrow morning to see their dad. He is my brother, although he has major issues he needs to deal with in life, at least this visit he will be sober and may actaully enjoy seeing his 2 oldest children that I have had legal guardianship of for 3 years now. And then again, that is no justification for my reasoning to take them to see him now, is it? So I'm reassuiring myself that my reasoning will be that he is my little brother and he does have a birthday coming up and then Christmas and he won't be around for any of it, (not that is isn't his own fault, because it is, and not that he really has been the in the past) But I feel a little sorry for him for missing all of it again. (he missed it 2 years ago as well while serving his first term) And on another note, there is no one else paying him a visit any time soon either.

I have read and read again all visiting guidelines, not like I would be breaking anything, but just so I am educated in the whole process. I have never visited at a prison before and I don't know what to expect other than information I have been reading.

So, I guess I'm asking for some prayers and a 'good luck' that our trip goes well and any feedback from anyone is greatly appreciated.

Ok now I'm going to get ready to go Christmas shopping and put some stuff on lay-away! Cause Eric should be home from work soon and Santa Claus is coming to town soon!

HOUSE on FOX (and Hugh Laurie)

I LOVE HOUSE.... Anyone else into House on Tuesday nights at 9 on Fox? There's just something so sexy about him!

DR. GREGORY HOUSE (Hugh Laurie) is devoid of bedside manner and wouldn’t even talk to his patients if he could get away with it. Dealing with his own constant physical pain, he uses a cane that seems to punctuate his acerbic, brutally honest demeanor. While his behavior can border on antisocial, House is a maverick physician whose unconventional thinking and flawless instincts have afforded him a great deal of respect. An infectious disease specialist, he’s a brilliant diagnostician who loves the challenges of the medical puzzles he must solve in order to save lives. House’s roster of medical cases are the inexplicable ones other doctors can’t solve, and he has assembled an elite team of young medical experts to help him in his effort to solve these diagnostic mysteries. House’s team includes neurologist DR. ERIC FOREMAN (Omar Epps), who might have a slightly suspect past; immunologist DR. ALLISON CAMERON (Jennifer Morrison); and old-money intensevist DR. ROBERT CHASE (Jesse Spencer). House also has a good friend in DR. JAMES WILSON (Robert Sean Leonard), an oncology specialist with whom he consults on a regular basis.
There’s also some volatile chemistry at work between House and DR. LISA CUDDY (Lisa Edelstein), the Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator. Cuddy is in constant conflict with House over his duties at the hospital, but even she must admit he may be the most brilliant doctor on the staff. With a patient’s life in the balance, House will do whatever it takes in the race against the clock to solve the case before it takes a life, from sending one of his team to break into a patient’s home in search of clues, to attempting a controversial, high-stakes, trial-and-error form of treatment to see how a patient responds. House’s methods may be suspect, but his results are not.

The Wedding Was Beautiful!

Well they are official now. Mr & Mrs. James & Melissa AhPuck. Everything was absolutely perfect. Christopher had nothing to do with the tux so he didn't walk down with Jeremy as a ring bearer but that was ok. There are so many thank you's to people for helping: Beth & Minnie for all you guys did (which is too much to mention), Melody (all your hard work and decorations were grogeous) Marni-for helping us decorate and helping with Christopher during the wedding! James' dad, Ron for the wonderful food he made! and to Jean for singing for the wedding! Tawnee & Dave: you guys were awesome photographers! And Heather & Steve for' instant' pictures for us! Madonna and Becca for video taping!, Amy for helping with Melissa's make-up, Dilsia for coming down and hanging out with me and helping me and my girls with our hair! I know there are so many more thanks to people so for anyone I didn't mention, THANK YOU!!!! And here are some pics from Melissa and James Big Day!....

Rehearsal and Preparation for Her Big Day!

Reheasal and dinner was very nice...We had fun and my sister got her bridesmaids a beautiful pearl set (necklace, bracelet and earring. We all wore them for the wedding. Thanks Sis! James Dad and his wife joined us after rehearsal for dinner! We went to a steakhouse in Yucaipa down the road form the church! It was yummy! Here are some pics form rehearsal and dinner!