Vacations and new job…

Well Phil is leaving his big corporation at the end of May. He will take about 1 month off or more. We plan to take an early 15 anniversary trip by going to the Carribbean!!! Woohoo…I am excited. I have spent oodles of time researching deals and have found some great ones through www.applevacations.com . I had to go and apply for my passport yesterday and hopefully it gets here soon so we can make reservations.

Caleb is dealing with a case of strep throat. He missed school yesterday and that put my work schedule back a day. I forgot that I was helping at another store today but that was changed to Thursday, which was good because I needed today to do some of my own! Tomorrow is going to be a killer if I try to do too much so I might leave a store for Thursday after I help at the other one. I should be done helping early enough that I will have time to go finish my stores. Ugh. I almost thought Jake was staying home today but he got up and Phil drove him in to school. I guess he was on time. Caleb managed to finish all his “make-up” work and his “gifted homework” in school today. Whew, that’s good because tonight is scouts and that means busy.

I did plan a menu out for the week and did some orderly food shopping. I haven’t done that in weeks and it has been hurting us. So tonight is sloppy joes, beans and salad. Wed is breakfast for dinner. Thursday Jake turns 13 and he requested burgers, fries and root beer floats! lol…Friday is undecided but Saturday is pizza and chips and snacks for Jake’s laser tag party. At least I have most of the week done.

I got to chat via the webcam last night with Brit and the babies. Elizabeth is still doing the “I coulda had a V-s” head slap my brother taught her at Easter. Asher can lift his head up when on his tummy. They are just so adorable!

Yesterday, while getting my photos done for my passport, I shopped at Walgreen’s. I bought a Ped-Egg for Phil to give me for Mother’s Day! I requested one and figured I would pick it up for him while I was out. He later told me he had plans to  get one for me. LOL…figures, just when I help him, he has it all under control. I think he and the boys are getting me a bunch of flowers to plant for MD.

Ok that’s it for this week. Busy busy busy. Better get cracking on those homemade sloppy joes.

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey

1/2  vidalia sweet onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic

1 bottle chili sauce

1/2 bottle water

Brown meat, onions and garlic. Drain fat and add chili sauce and water. Simmer for 30 min. or more. You can add in salt and pepper if you like. Or more garlic! Serve on buns w/cheese if you like it like that. Seems like my crew does.

Did you miss me?

I hope so. I  know I have a few faithful readers. I am so behind in blogging. I am too tired to think, on most days, about what to blog about. I still like my job. Phil is going to hear some big news about his job today or tomorrow so I will blog again when we know something. In any case, it means big changes for us. The boys are doing great. Lauren feels good and the baby is moving around, almost to where we can feel him move from the outside. Jake loves to feel her belly. I know that I still think adoption would be best but I am certain she is going to keep her boy and raise him. It will be hard and I am not sure of how my support will look like in the future but for now, I am here for her. Life has been easier since she moved out. We get along better because both of us don’t expect much from the other any longer.

I am going against etiquitte and planning, with help, her baby shower. The first plans for one fell apart due to the dysfunction of the girl who was planning it. I knew from the beginning that it was a mistake for S to plan a shower. Her whole family is a bunch of drunks and they are violent at times. It’s not the place for a baby shower. So it’s being planned for sometime in June and I will just do it. Who cares about manners at a time like this?

I had a great visit with my mother in law and dh’s grandma, who is 88 BTW. It was a fun trip out to see Brit and family. The babies are so adorable. Elizabeth just loved on me and she always remembers me when we visit. Asher was a pip! He was a crabby butt so we didn’t do too much loving on each other.  Brit and Jonathan gave me my mother’s day gift early. It’s a webcam! Now I can talk and see them and they can talk back to me and see us and all that fun. Today we hope to hook up and talk. Caleb really misses them and wants to be able to see them and chat. See, Brit just logged in! lol…

Ok, I better go. I have some grass to rake. Our riding mower is getting repaired and Phil push mowed the back 40 and the cut grass is everywhere. I need to help him out a bit and rake. Yuck!

If anyone knows how to post pictures on here, leave a comment. I don’t like the new changes in WordPress when it comes to uploading images!

Proud momma moment…

Last night my son Caleb earned his Arrow of Light award, the highest award in Cub Scouts. He then crossed over into Boy Scouts, joining his brother, Jake, in the local troop. He is so proud and so am I and his father. That boy worked hard! He earned it in about 5 months instead of about 2 years. He was in Webelos I in September but because of issues involving the den leaders and others, he was ready to quit. We got permission for him to join the Webelos II den and move up, since he is 11. It was in that den that he worked like crazy to complete all the requirements to get his AoL award. I will post a picture or two later. I am waiting on some through email from other parents who had cameras. We have yet buy a new one! That is coming soon.

I am loving my new job even though I am still in training. So far it’s easy but lots of headwork. I have to use my brain a lot to work this job. I am still asking myself the questions out loud while I go through a store and all it’s different displays that I have to scan. I think once I get my rhthym down, it will be easier and I won’t be asking all the questions out loud. They will just come natural.

Tomorrow is spring break for the boys. Yippee! No more getting up super early for me! I am not working again till next Thursday. Phil and I are getting away for a few days next week. The boys are visiting Brit and going to help her with the babies for a few days. I know they will love it. Maybe I will post a Thursday Thirteen later. Right now I have to make a snack for Caleb’s class since it’s my turn this month. Green rice krispy treats!

Happy 40th to my best friend…

Phil. He is 40 today. He is my best friend and lover. He is my husband and father to my children. He is everything I ever wanted in a mate and friend. How wonderful it is to enjoy time with him on his special day. His parents sent him a gift card to the Macaroni Grill and we went and had lunch today. I must have the Italian influence on him, as he isn’t Italian! lol…

Here he is with his huge piece of birthday cake, provided by MG. Thanks!

New widget!!! Come to the party!!!

Be sure to check out the new banner to the right. There is going to be a huge blog party starting March 7-March 14, 2008! Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the fun and win prizes as well. It’s a great chance to find new and exciting blogs to read. I can’t wait!

What a day!

It’s been busy and hectic. First we started our morning off with an ice/rain/freezing rain mix that caused 1/4 inch of ice on everything, including my van. Then I had to go to my first in-store training session in that weather. I had to scrape off ice from the windows so I could see. Then I took my life in my hands and drove the 30 min. to the store to meet Mary.

We spent 2 hours and 10 min. just going through 2 stores and talking about the job. It was tough on my back, that is going to be an issue for the first few weeks or so. I will have to get used to all that walking and stopping. Mary says it’s gets easier once you have a pattern in each store, so that’s good to know.

Then after I came home, Jake came home from school so defeated. He had 2 assignments due tomorrow and was in no shape, brainwise, to complete them. So off I sent an email to the teachers asking for the first extension I have asked for in months for him. I am sure they will give it to him. He was student of the month for January!

Seeing as how the weather was not letting up, we decided to stay home. Good thing because we discovered our roof was leaking. Water was coming down onto my bedroom carpet from the ceiling by way of the ceiling fan. Phil checked in the attic and found 5 leaks. He put buckets and a pot under them. Hopefully we can get it all worked out soon and not cost a lot of money.

Weather worked weird on our behalf today. We stayed home from the choir concert and scouts and my class was cancelled because of weather. But the same weather caused our roof problems. We did gather as a family and pray for the house and invited “heaven to invade earth” like Bill Johnson says in his book. We took possession of our house for the Lord. I pray this rain/sleet/ice mix lets up and we can sleep peacefully.

Sunday news

I haven’t felt like doing my normal blogging this week. Not sure why. Anyway, today I am home from church as I did not feel well. And tomorrow I am meeting the guy about a job. So I want to be well.

Last night was our last Blue and Gold Cub Scout banquet. Caleb crosses over to Boy Scouts next month so this was it for us for the B & G’s. Caleb and I worked on a cake for the dessert contest. His idea was to make a cake and decorate the top to look like the cross-over ceremony. So we found pictures of his Cubmaster and his new Scoutmaster, cut them out and taped to popsicle sticks. We mad a bridge with the Arrow of Light symbol on it. Here is the picture. Oh yeah, he won Judge’s Choice! Way to go Caleb!!!

   Click for a larger view.

We had to take a picture of Caleb for his stick to go on the bridge. Well we didn’t know it was an anonymous contest so Phil covered Caleb during the judging. He was very proud of the job he did. He did a lot of work with me.

So I got an email on Friday about a job doing data collecting for AC Nielsen. I hope I get it as it’s something I want to do and something that has flexible hours I can work into my schedule. I called the supervisor who emailed me and from the way the conversation went, it sounds like I have the job if I want it. That’s kind of cool. I was going to apply for 2 different library positions last week but found out that the deadlines for applications had passed. And one job had over 70 applications alone! I knew it was hopeless.

I guess we will find out if I can hold down a job and will it work for my family. Stay tuned.

Friday’s Feast

Appetizer:How are you today?
I am excited. Phil has an interview and I got a call back from a job I applied for.

Soup: Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis.
CSI:Las Vegas, Numb3rs, news

Salad:What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced?
A tornado touching down about 3 miles from my house.

Main Course: If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be? Italy

Dessert:What do you usually wear to sleep?
T-shirt and undies….I can’t believe I told you all that!

Thanks to Friday’s Feast for hosting. Visit them to start your feasts!