Progress

Progress as in getting pictures uploaded! I think I have been subconciously putting off the pictures because it is such a pain in the patootie to edit and resize pics on my laptop. I don't have a decent program on here for such things. I have paint, but just to resize takes forever, not to mention I can't figure out an easy way to crop.

But good news, in cleaning out the bottomless pit (a.k.a. purse) I found my thumb drive! As I am posting this, all the pictures from our camera are being transferred to that. I can resize and crop pics on Ty's computer! You know, his has all the latest animating programs, so that means I can actually edit pics in under 5 hours. Ok, the 5 hour part is a bit sarcastic...but not by much ;)

So, Floridian family, not much longer!

As I noticed...

that my Floridian family is enjoying warm and sunny 74 degree weather, I decided to check how warm it is here today.

It is a balmy 3 degrees with a wind chill of -6. At least it is warming up, last night it was -20! Oh well, at least we only have 3 1/2 months of winter left. Oh wait! Winter doesn't officially begin until the 21st...so it's not even winter yet.

I think we need to plan our trips to Florida during the winter, so we can migrate for awhile!

I am counting my blessings though. At least we do not live anywhere where they get ice storms that do this.

Last night I worked the closing waitressing shift, and this is what I came home to.







Poor Gracie has started teething again (does it ever stop?), now she is getting her canines. She has been really tired and clingy lately. This was last night, not sure what time, its just too cute not to add!

bo bo bo!

In Grace's language, bo = no. So when she trips over her own feet, orrrr runs into a wall because shes not looking where shes going, she picks herself up and says "bo bo bo!" All while pointing her finger at it too. It's hilarious! She tells whatever she ran into or fell on, no! I wonder if I can catch a video of it...

Favorite Boots

Many thanks to Grandma Carrick for Grace's new favorite item, snow boots! Grace cannot spend one waking moment without them on. She puts them on herself and actually gets the right foot in the right boot about 85% of the time! They are so cute and of course by Carters!



She fell asleep during dinner last night...

Update on us

I haven't posted in a week; I'm kinda surprised that this is the first time its happened! I was never much of a journal or diary keeper growing up...

We had a good Thanksgiving, lots and lots of food and hanging out with family. It was definitely bittersweet with my immediate family not there. But we were glad to spend it at the Ballinger's and are definitely grateful that my family is safe and sound in Florida! ...except for the car accident part!

I have been working as much as possible at Hunan, which is part of why I haven't posted in a week. My job is going well, I am one of Danielle's favorites right now (that can always change at the drop of a hat!), so I have been getting the good shifts. Oh, she and George are leaving me in charge on Sunday so they can have an afternoon off together! They used to do that before when I worked there, but apparently have not done so since Sally, Chris,(other responsible girls I used to work with) and I have left. The only days off they ever have together are Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the restaurant is closed. So, I am happy to help them have some time to just be with eachother and not have to worry about work :)

Even though we forgot our camera on Thanksgiving (sorry!), here are a few recent pics of the cutie pies!

Zane getting tickled!




Daddy's little princess watching the Little Mermaid while sitting in her princess couch!




Grace asleep on Ty's shoulder at Noah's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.


Apparently Zane and Noah were inseparable...go figure!


Zane sacked in the car


Not sacked!

Lunch

I just had to share an awesome twist to my usual turkey sandwich! I put sweet red pepper jelly on it instead of mayo and it was mmm, mmm, good!

ok, back to work :)

To Do List

Isn't there always a to-do list the day before Thanksgiving?

1. Do laundry (wait, don't I do that everyday!?).
2. Make potato roll dough.
3. Bake 2 pumpkin pies.
4. Take a shower and get ready for work.
5. Go to work.
6. Love on my kiddos and husband as much as possible in-between.

I better get off the computer and get to work!

Early Happy Thanksgiving!

Baby Snazz contest!

Whats Baby Snazz you ask? It is a neat online store that sells some pretty nifty baby and toddler leg warmers, among other things. They are having a contest right now to win 20 free pairs of baby leg warmers. If your interested enter here:

Win 20 Pairs of Baby Leg Warmers from babySNAZZ!

Gracie would look sooooo cute running around in these! You can also put them on baby's arms while they wear a t-shirt. Maybe I don't have to put all those summer clothes away that she still fits! Not to mention how handy they will be while potty training her...

Anyway, I am excited and hope I win some of these. Even if I don't, I will probably order some if Grace gets any Christmas moolah ^_-

Forgot to mention

That Zane is fine now. He had just a fever for about a day with no other symptoms. So he is back to his goofy, hyper, fun lovin' self!

Is it just coincidence...

that when Grace wants to nurse she says "moo?" 0_0

Many of my online friends are teaching their baby to say "num nums" or "nummies." Since I believe that babies are much smarter than people give them credit for, I feel that it is a small injustice to dumb nursing down that much. I am trying to teach Grace to say "nurse please," ...it comes out "moooo." I guess she figures that I have earned the nickname "moo mom!" (inside joke thanks to Uncle K! -_^ )

And to some, a toddler that can ask to nurse is bizarre, sick, and wrong. I don't nurse in public anymore, since we only nurse 1-3 times a day now, but I still can't figure out a proper response to this. Children this young cannot remember it and it is the best, most healthy snack a growing body needs! I personally believe it is due to how idolized the female body has become, so some cannot see it for the beautiful thing God created it to be. You know, in the "old days" before refrigeration and formula, most children were nursed until about 3, since that is how long children NEED whole milk nutrition... *getting off soapbox.*

Sorry about that tangent! Now the good part, pictures!

A rare sucker allowance!




After I got home from work the other night


Grace likes to pretend she's playing the game too!


What are you doing Zane?


I better do it too!


And an older one, just cause it's so darn cute!

Zane...

is fighting some sort of infection. He has a mid grade fever and wants to do nothing but sleep and lie on the couch watching movies. He was up 3 times last night too... We are tired today!

I have been working a lot at Hunan since I started and am working a waitressing shift tonight. It is going well, and it is something that I enjoy so it has been ok for me :) I am making pretty good money too. I made $65 in tips last Friday, an average of $20 an hour!

Well I must go take a shower before Grace wakes up. I know this was a wimpy update but an update nonetheless!

TTFN!

Out of the mouths of babes.

Zane: "Mom, do you remember in Batman when the shark bit his foot on the helicopter?"

Me: "Yes, that was so silly."

Zane: "Yeah, but I think we should get some shark repellent just in case we are ever on a ladder on a helicopter and a shark wants to bite our feet."

Me: "..." (at this point I am rolling on the floor laughing!)

Promised Pictures!

We went to the Carrick's last weekend for breakfast and hanging out, and it turned out to be a nice 65 degree day! I took some fun pics of the kids at home and in town and they turned out great :) Oh, and we have our appointment for Christmas pictures at the JC Penney Portrait Studio next weekend. I wisely scheduled it for morning rather than evening (like last year), in hoping the children will be a bit more cooperative!

Maybe its just me, but Zane is a bit reminiscent of John Shepherd on Stargate Atlantis in this one.


Grace's pig tails!




I AM STRONG!!!!


Gracie's famous silly face...a bit mischievious and up to no good!




Zane likes to stick his tongue out at the camera now...


Grace didn't like being held in one place


He climbed this tree by himself!






A future Calvin Kline model? Lets hope not.


Grace had a blast "mowing the lawn!"

I added a gadget!

Just to let everyone know, I added a sudoku puzzle at the bottom of my main blog page. Just scroll to the bottom to play! I am seriously addicted to sudoku... ;)

New Job

I have been looking for a new job lately, but have not found anything. A few weeks ago I had applied and interviewed for a job with PVH's ER as a Patient Service Representative. I met all the requirements having just finished taking (and acing) a medical terminology course, and having worked in a hospital setting in the past. They told me I would find out about a week later whether I got the job or not. It is now two weeks later with not a peep from them, even after I had left two messages!

So, Danielle from Hunan Chinese Restaurant, my old boss, called me and offered me a job. I accepted! I am excited because the shifts start between 4:30 and 5:30 and are only about 4 hours long, so I can still see my family and make decent money! It is very important to Ty and I that one of us is always taking care of the kids, so I am only working evening shifts. And the best part? I can still work on Kozy Kanga and homeschool the kiddos!

I start tonight as a hostess, so pray that everything comes back to me quickly and goes smoothly!

Pictures from the weekend to come...

Getting back to normal

I haven't posted much because I have been trying to get the house back in order, laundry done, and certain surfaces sanitized after a very eventful week last week! We all had the flu...the whole nine yards of it. We weren't even home for a few of those days, while helping Mom and Dad get packed and on their way.

So this week is catch-up week :) ...fun! And some recent pictures of the kiddos:

A rare smile for the camera...usually it's a goofy face!


Awwww, isn't this a sweet face?


Grace hardly ever looks at the camera. Like her hair-do? I've putting her hair in pony and pig tails more often now, I love having a girl!


And this one is trying to show off Zane's goose egg and cut on his head. The night after Mom and Dad left, Ty was drying Zanes hair from his bath, and Zane started crying that Ty was hurting him. We felt on his head and he had a huuuuuge bump accompanied by a nice cut! When asked what happened he said that he hit his head on the headboard of his bed when Gramma and Papa were here. The drawback to having such a tough kid is that we didn't know about it until almost a day later! Yikes!

D-Day

Well, Mom and Dad pulled away a few hours ago. It was emotional. I can't remember ever seeing my Dad cry, but we all did today. Ty felt like crying too, except he had to be my rock so he forced himself not to. Zane and Grace didn't really understand what all the fuss was about, Zane kept saying "It's ok mom, we'll visit Papa and Nana in Florida, so please don't cry!" My little sweetheart, just like his dad, doesn't like when people cry! They just want everyone to be happy :) I couldn't figure out how to get all the pictures in a nice order, but you get the picture (no pun intended)! The last pic is me trying to distract myself after they left.