Boots for Christmas

There were these boots I was going to ge for Caroline for Christmas.  They were just some black dress boot from Payless.  I was going to get them online and have them shipped to the store, but I thought I would just go to the store and buy them...  well, of course they didn't have them.  So I  got back on  the computer and decided to go with my original plan because I have this coupon and I want to save every bit that I can.  They are all out online now!  I was just going to buy them yesterday!  What is up with that?  So now I was scrambling looking around to buy some from somewhere else.  Of course EVERYWHERE  is sold out.  I can get some at Sears or JC Penney, but they are going to be $10 more than they would have been at Payless.  I am not happy about this at all.  Caroline has been difficult to shop for this year.  We are not getting a lot for the kids this year because we bought them one really big present.  So I can't spend too much.  Of course, being 10, all the things that Caroline wants are electronic and lots of money.   But I will find something for her.  Something.

My new job

In January I will be an adjunct instructor at BYU-I.  I am going to be teaching a dialects class in the theatre department.  While this is an exciting under-taking, it is also frightening and paralyzing.  I have not been to school in 10 years.  I haven't taught in 10 years! (And that was ESL...  so most of the students hardly understood me.)  And I have not done any theatre in 10 years.  While dialects come quite naturally to me, the teaching of dialects is a little more tricky.  I have to review the IPA or International Phonetic Alphabet.  This is what will help the students know how to pronounce things.  They have to be pretty familiar with this alphabet in order to be able to do this class.  It has been 15 years since I have studied this alphabet!!!  And it is complicated.  Not only this, but I also have to know and teach certain mouth positions.  This is going to really be difficult.  All for a 2 credit class... which means hardly any compensation.  What was I thinking?  Why did I think this would be a good idea?  But I always feel like I should be contributing to the household financially since I am the one who spends all of the money.  But I am in this now.  There is no backing out.  I can do it.  I am an intelligent woman.  I just need to be prepared.  But I would much rather be reading novels than text books.

Christmas tree

This is the first year Lorelai was able to put decorations on the tree.  She had a great time putting them all on one branch.  I had to do a little rearranging later.

 

The completed tree.  There will be quite a bit of rearranging this season, I am sure, but I don't mind.  I just really love our beautiful tree.  And now with our nice high ceiling in the corner, it is really the perfect place for it!

Thanksgiving 2009

This was the Thanksgiving spread this year.  Justin's mom came up, which we were very grateful for.  I did all of the cooking, as usual.  Which I do not mind at all.  I would much rather do the cooking than the cleaning up!  We had turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato stuffing, asparagas and Justin's mom made strawberry jello.  We were still recovering a little from the bug we had on Sunday and so none of us really ate a whole lot, but we sure have a lot of leftovers!

This is my good china and crystal.  A lot of people won't let their kids use their good china, but my mom always let us.  So the kids know to be very careful and we have not had a casualty yet.

Lorelai just got a haircut.  Isn't she cute???

Snow: The Day after Sick Day

This was the day after Justin and I spent the day in bed with the stomach bug.  It had snowed all day that day and the kids were itching to go outside, but it was Sunday... and we were sick...  so the next day they played and played.  Lorelai never felt the cold.  Even when she was eating the snow.

Black Friday

I went with Caroline to Wal Mart this morning.  I was glad to have someone to help me carry stuff since there weren't any carts left, but I couldn't buy anything for her! 

I was surprised at how busy it was, but the wait was only about 30 minutes compared to a couple of hours last year at Toys R Us.  There was only one thing on my list that I didn't get, so I was very pleased about that.  I did most of my shopping online this year.  That is what you have to do when you live in Idaho.

Now I am ready to put away the fall decorations and put up the Christmas tree!  And no cooking today!  We have plenty of leftovers from yesterday.  My mother-in-law and I might go to Porters a little later.  But we shall see. 

All in all a very successful morning.

Sick day

After an entire day of Justin and I taking turns worshipping the porcelain god, this is what the house looks like. On Friday, Hilton came home early from school sick. He got sick at school and then kept getting sick all afternoon and evening. He was pretty much fine on Saturday except for a fever. But the fever kept us all in on Saturday since Justin didn't have the play and I didn't have any pressing errands to run. Then I went and picked up McDonald's for dinner. At 7pm is when it hit me. It went on and on about every half and hour until 7am. Justin started at 2am. We were sick all day Sunday and Caroline took care of the entire household. She fed the baby, changed her diaper. She made us tea and gave us refills on our ginger ale. She made grilled cheese for lunch and ramen noodles for dinner. She was a great help. Since Justin and I couldn't make it out of bed. Except to the bathroom, of course. There was one point where I had to change Lorelai's poopy diaper, but I wasn't going to make poor Caroline deal with that. In the 17 years I have known Justin, he has never thrown up. He has had times he thought he would, but he never did. Yesterday was the exception. That must have been some bad bug! I am still very weak since I haven't eaten anything in a day. But the tummy ache is tamed and I am ready to go see New Moon tonight... come Hell or high water, I will go to see it tonight!

Miche Bags again

So remember when I told you about those Miche Bags? Well, I am posting a link to them again in case you might be interested in buying one or a few. If you mention my name when you order, I will get a discount! So order away my friends! Think of Christmas for yourself!

Sense of Humor

I took this picture of Lorelai because she was sitting there watching "Little Bear" on tv and cracking up! I think Duck was acting like a cat or something and she thought it was the funniest thing. I love when babies start to laugh at things on their own. When they develop a sense of humor without watching others. She is getting so big! She will be 2 1/2 next month! She has quite her own personality now. And she is very opinionated. The terrible twos have definitely arrived!

Jack O' Lanterns.

I know I am a little late... but here are the Jack o' Lanterns that we made for Halloween at FHE. The kids cleaned out the guts, and then drew what they wanted on the pumpkins, and I did the carving. I think I did a pretty good job of carving exactly what they wanted. Lorelai was upset because she didn't have a pumpkin to draw on... I guess she is getting to the age where she needs to have her own stuff. I have to buy her her own happy meal at McDonalds now. So I guess we will have to start buying all of her own stuff.