Long time no see

It's been a LONG time since I've posted. I have so much to say. My problem is then - I have too much for one post and then I put it off. It then becomes even more and then I'm overwhelmed.
I'm going to *attempt* to post daily. The theme on the blogger site is *BEST*. Maybe I'll follow that theme.
I skipped over Thanksgiving all-together:
We spend it with my family first and then head to Jeff's familys house.
It was an ineresting year this year. Not everyone from my family came. Mom tried to cut off her thumb. Someone had been drinking too much. It wasn't as great as it could have been. I won't go into detail because it doesn't deal with me.
We also spent lunch with my grandpa over the break. He came to my brothers house and my aunt came over. I have a hard time with him. I'm pretty angry with him. Him and my grandmother were divorced before I was born. He remarried. Growing up, both him and his wife would come over for Christmas Eve. We would exchange presents then. His wife quit coming after a while. She doesn't like us. That's fine, he used to still come. Then his eyes got bad. He cancelled Christmas. And for a while, my mom would make plans to go get him or see him somehow and he would cancel either the day before or the day of. That's what makes me so mad. He doesn't have to see me. But his 3 daughters? He should want to see them and should make time for them. He should fight to see them! It would make me so angry to see my mom & aunts let down every time.
I know I need to forgive that. He has been coming over the last year or so - more now that he has a great-grandson to visit. Maybe he's trying. I just can't help but remember the past. Maybe I should add him to my resolution list.

I'm gonna be a doctor!!

Well, eventually. Too bad I changed my name - I could have been Dr.Watson :)
But - I GOT IN. Even with me providing 2 quotes in my "on the fly" essay!! They want me to be a part of their program! Yay! Our cohort starts this summer. I can't wait! I will start taking classes in the spring for my principal cert and then in the summer we get into the meat of the education administration doctoral program. YAY YAY YAY.

The ornament debacle of 09

So most days my husband has a list. It helps us both (HIM) remember what all needs to be done. Since he is at home during this time it's mainly for him.
Wednesday was his shopping day. He went to world market for something and to Walmart to get us some more waters. His list said:
walmart
waters
vet
Poopers pills
world market
pistachios
blood orange soda juice
rubber ducky with santa
hat ornament
The list was on a tiny pad. I indented the second line because I ran out of room on the first line.
Here is what he brought home:

I promise I will not be bringing that to the ornament exchange. Scary. I'm surprised he even found anything remotely like that. ESPECIALLY since he was looking for "rubber ducky with santa" and also a "hat ornament". He came in and told me "No wonder we couldn't figure out what a hat ornament was". He's such a goober - that boy! He thought it was two seperate things so I got two seperate things. Eh. Back to the drawing board. And I think I will keep the scary ducky santa ornament just to remind myself why I married him! :)

Christmas time is here

The radios have started playing their Christmas songs! The teacher lounge at school has Christmas tablecloths up! I have my presents bought and wrapped! I'm ready!
A house in our neighborhood has had their lights up (and on!) for about 2 weeks now. I have yet to get a picture of it. I love the first house sighting of the year. Jeff has already told me I could put out Christmas decorations all I want but he refuses to put up the lights until Thanksgiving is over. I haven't gotten my decorations out yet though. I'll wait for him to help me :)
I can kinda understand about "don't ignore Thanksgiving"! But you know what? I can celebrate Thanksgiving even with lights on my house. I can celebrate Thanksgiving with a tree in my house and songs on the radio. None of that hinders my ability to visit with family and to be thankful for all that I have. It really doesn't.
I love everything about the Christmas season. I love the smells (already burning Christmas candles). I love the food. I love the sharing and the caring. I love that people are nicer (usually). I love that is brings people together and we can focus on one common ground - the birth of our Lord. I love that I get to decorate and shop and give presents. I love that it has it's very own songs.
* Except Jingle Bell Rock. I DETEST that song. Who made that? Yuck. *
I love wrapping presents and thinking about what my family and friends will say when they open their presents. I hate filing out Christmas cards, but I love that everyone who gets one from me will know I am thinking about them. And hopefully, for that moment, that makes them feel good.
I love making plans. I love making lists!
I don't love Christmas day. It's been getting better since I am not alot busier seeing Jeff's family as well. Christmas day is hard. We used to go over to my grandma's house. She had presents piled up to the ceiling and a giant tree in her tiny living room. Our family had to find seats anywhere we could. Mom, Marilyn, and I would sit on the floor (we still do!) We would get there at about 10 in the morning and leave at about 5 at night. It filled out whole day. I loved it! Now... it doesn't fill our whole day. Now we have time to think and to miss those not with us. I do not love that at all. This year I am going to miss my loved ones but I'm also going to focus on all the great things. Each year gets easier, but it will never be how it once was.
Wow... I don't want to end on such a sad note.
Here's a picture of my sweet girl.

(once I can get the darn thing loaded!)
And a picture of Raleigh all ready for Christmas. He sits in this basket constantly!

The tile is done!

This is from a camera phone so it's not as clear, but it looks so good! I even had us cleaning up and finishing it up because it looks so nice now. I love it!!



Jeff did a great job! All he has left is to clean the tile off a little better. There is still grout on some of the pieces. He worked so hard and I'm proud of my handyman :)

Tile is mostly done!!

Take a minute

So I wake up this morning still feeling stuffed up. My throat is hurting, my head hurts, I don't want to go in to work. I want to stay in bed and rest until I feel better. I get up and shower, though. I have testing today. I must be there for it! I get to my car and look at the sky. It stopped me. It was so pretty this morning. It made me feel a little better. I would have missed it had I stayed in bed. (not that I won't go directly to bed after work) I feel sorry for all of you who don't have to leave the house at 6:20 AM. You all missed out! Luckily, I took a picture with my camera phone.