Recital time again...

Well...today was Paige's Christmas Recital! They danced to "Rock & Roll Christmas"...too cute! Can't believe this dance session is over already...time sure flies when you're having fun! Anyway...the recital was at 3 pm at Memorial Hall and as always...Sarah went all out...just love her stage sets and the older girls and competition groups are just so darn good. Taylor got back from her winter camp in time to go with us which I was really glad about...then of course we had to have a dinner celebration at Red Lobster and Paige had an "Ultimate Feast" and she almost ate the whole thing, LOL...I don't know what it is with my kids and sea food...they just love it (except for Taylor...she is NOT a fish eater). All and all...a very good day and besides, the Broncos beat the Chiefs!!

Our newest addition...

Introducing our newest family member...Miss Lexi Cat! She found Taylor a few weeks ago at the school on a cold, blustery day. I didn't have the heart to take her back...but I didn't want the kids to get too attached to her in case someone was looking for her. So...I checked the newspaper Lost/Found for a little over a week and there was nothing...and of course by this time, she sorta got ahold of my heart as well. She is really mellow and sweet (unlike Jordan who's a bit tempermental and snooty). Where Jordan is mostly white with black, Lexi is mostly black with some white...a perfect "ying-yang" if you will...

The scariest day of the year, 2009...

Well...looks like another Halloween bites the dust, LOL! We actually had two celebrations since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year. Friday, I went over to the school around 11:30 and graded papers for a couple hours til it was time to get ready for the Halloween parade. This year was the first year EVER that they did not have classroom parties. Instead, they had trick or treating during the parade. The whole thing was a bit of a disaster though because they didn't start the parade til 2 pm and school lets out at 2:45. By 2:30...only a fraction of kids had gone around (there were still classrooms waiting for their turn)...at 2:40...the pricipal came over the PA to advise parents parked in the bus loop that they had to move their vehicles so the buses could get in...it was just utter chaos, imo!

After school, we came home and got "Fear Fest" on and started working on the pumpkins. Taylor said I could do hers and Chase and Paige both did their own and they really did a great job. I saved all the seeds (they're currently drying) to roast. After pumpkins were done, we had soup for dinner and watched the movie "Silver Bullet"...it's a pretty good scary movie for kids (it always scares me even though I know what's going to happen next, LOL).

Saturday (Halloween)...Michelle, Lee and Courtney came over for dinner and T or Ting. We had a couple drinks, then Nolan and Michelle took the girls out, while Lee and I manned the door. Chase went T or Ting with Mitch and Taylor & Christie went too (then a couple of their friends came over and before long, there was a full fledged party going on)...We finally got 'em all outta here between midnight and one o'clock...as Paige and Courtney were trying to sleep as they had church in the morning.

All and all...it was fun!

What's new???

Well...here it is the 21st, and I still haven't got around to putting up the Halloween decorations (yikes...my homemaker duties are seriously slacking, LOL)...It's cold and snowing today (started out as a drizzle, then a sleet and now it's snowing)...but it suppose to clear up a bit tomorrow...so, perhaps I'll get it done then.

Had my mammogram this morning and then went over to P's school to grade papers this afternoon and have P's conference. She's doing absolutely awesome...which I expected. She is so easy (at least now...I'll probably be eating my words in about 4 or 5 yrs, LOL)...

Still trying to regroup since our little excursion to Steamboat Springs last week. We had a great time. We got to town around 6:30 and of course, Tim had to get a head start with Clay having 3 margaritas, LOL! I was impressed though...cause we drank a lot thru out the night and he was still standing, LOL. This coming from his once virgin-drinker status only a couple years ago. I'm inclined to say that I "think" he may be able to drink me under the table now (no way he could have 2 years ago)...but wow...and he parties into the night and still is up at 5 am. He's my drinking "hero" LOL! Oh yeah...and in a moment of drinking WTFs...Tim called Scotty...then puts me on the phone to talk to him, LOL! Scotty is soooo cool! Can't wait til we can all party together again!

We spent the evening at the Ghost Ranch Saloon...I knew Tim was wanting to go out Tues. night cause it's County/Western night at the GRS. It was great fun...of course I danced with Nolan (once that I remember, lol ...he's not that much into dancing)...danced with Tim (a lot), with Norwood, with Ernie and with some random guy that asked me to dance. Needless to say...I don't feel like I sat down for 5 minutes the entire night. After we left there, we went to the pub and had a few there. I also played pool with Norwood. We played teams with another pair and then he and I played each other.

Wednesday...Tim bought 2 large pork loins which Clay smoked at the Atmos office. So around 6 pm, we brought the whole bunch (me, Nolan, Taylor, Emily, Erica, Chase and Paige) to the shop to eat. Clay also made beans...it was really, really delicious! But, needless to say...everyone was too tired and trashed to go out...so Nolan and I hung out in our room and just watched tv.

Thursday...we went to Rex's for peel & eat shrimp (me, Nolan, Tim and Clay) and had a few drinks there...then, we headed over to the GRS for more drinks (and dancing of course). They had a blues band which was awesome. Wow...I even got Clay (very shy) to dance with me, LOL!!

Friday...we headed home. We stopped for lunch before we left town and ended up getting home around 6:30 pm...pooped!! It's always fun to go hang out with the crew and party it up a bit!

So...this week it's back to reality (cooking, cleaning, laundry, repeat...)...our next planned excursion is in January to the Broncos vs Chiefs game in Denver. Ahhhh...I hope we can get together before then. Nolan and I have been kicking around the idea of having a little party for all the "gas" guys...I'm up for it, we just need to decide on date so I can get planning. We also need to have Pete and the Tumbleweek crew over for a dinner party. We haven't hosted one yet...so we really need to. I'm thinking since it's football season...we could do a Bronco chili dinner and watch the game. Need to look at my calendar to see what dates I can fit all this in...

Wow...it's nearly mid-October!!

OMG...I just realized it's nearing mid October...already!! Where does the time go?? I don't know, but it sure "goes" fast, LOL!

Maybe it was the weeks of "strep" (starting with T then P got it, then C got it)...but we're just about done with the Rx's (C's got a couple more days left, P &T are done). I still haven't got my Halloween decorations out yet...but it's on my list of things to do this weekend (yeah right, LOL)...

I'm still doing my once a week volunteering at P's school! It's great...I just grade papers for 2 hours and I really enjoy it! I love P's teacher...she is just so "real and genuine" and we get along great!! I do hope though (in some round about way) that my volunteer work will help me get a "real" job in the near future! I figure it can't hurt to get in the school and get my name/face known. In the meantime though...I feel good about volunteering! I know Ms. M is so grateful and I get to have lunch with Paige!

Uhhhh...I woke up with a sore throat and "full" head this morning. I'm hoping it's just "allergies", but Nolan came home tonight with a sore throat too...So, just to be on the safe side, I've been popping the "Soothers" all day. I do feel better tonight than I did this morning though...so that's good! We're getting out flu shots on Saturday, so we all gotta be well, LOL!!

The kids have 3 days off next week, so we're planning on heading up to Steamboat one last time before the end of the year. We're going to leave Tues and com back Friday. Originally, we were planning on leaving after the kids got out of school on Tues., but I think Tim wants to go to the Ghost Ranch Salon on Tues. night (cause it's country/western night)...so we've been talking about leaving a little earlier...like maybe getting the kids outta school a little early. Then, we also have Wed. and Thurs. to deal with as well. One of the nights we're gonna take the crew out and I figured one night it would just be Me, Nolan, Tim and Clay...I guess we'll get it all figured out, LOL!!

Oh...Nolan came home with Bronco tickets today. We got the company tickets foe the Denver/Chiefs game in January! We never went last year, so it out to be fun. I know wants to take Tim and Clay and he's also going to invite Murph & Danielle! Anyway...can't wait...should be a great time! Just hope the Broncos are still doing good by then (or I'll never hear the end of it, LOL)...

I guess that's my "update" for now! Hopefully I'll get some good pictures in Steamboat to post!!

Yesterday was my "first" day of school!!

Well...kind of, LOL!! I volunteered to help out in Paige's 2nd grade class room on Wednesdays (and then I get to have lunch with my little sweetie). I tested the kids on their "star" words and helped a few with their cursive writing...then I got to grade papers (woohoo)...now that's what I'm talking about. Give me "technical" jobs (ie, grading papers, making copies, filing, etc...)! I know this will probably sound kinda bad, but I really don't want to work with the kids (like one on one stuff)...nothing against kids (per se)...it's just after being a sahm for 16 yrs, I've spent every waking hour with my kids (well til they went to school, lol) and I'm just "over" that aspect, I guess. I like to work, I don't mind working and the fact that I'm volunteering (aka: working for free) proves that...but I really like to work "alone"...I'm the type of person who would probably do well in a little cubicle. Give me my assignment, give me my space and I will produce results, period!

Anyway...it was kinda fun working with the kids too (I have to admit, it wasn't "that" terrible, LOL)...and I know that all the while, I'm using and improving my work skills...and I hope that this will be advantageous to my future prospects in employment with the school district (office work of course, LOL).

Seriously...all I can say is my hat is completely off to teachers. I simply couldn't do it and there really isn't enough money that they could pay me to do it. I prefer clerk/office work...it's what I'm good at and while there are many jobs which offier clerk work...my goal is to work for the district so I can keep similar hours as my own kids...because my job as MOM never ends and I still want to make myself as available as possible to my children before/after school, weekends and holidays. So while I "could" probably get an office job just about anywhere...I'm holding out for the district job. I have come to realize that I may need to lower my standards a hair and possibly take on a job in the cafeteria in order to get my proverbial "foot in the door"...and that's okay too (just haven't seen any food service positions open, yet). Hey...I'm willing to start at the bottom!

To love or not to love...

That...is the question! It is true...I have a love/hate relationship with my one and only sister. There's a part of her...that I dearly love. She "can" be good and when she's not lecturing me, judging me or throwing salt in my wounds...I actually like her too. However, more often than not...she is that way and I cannot stand to be around her. I think it's natural to surround yourself with like-minded people and those that present a positive force...on the other hand...we tend to distance ourselves from those that always disagree and present a negative force. Seems everytime I say, "...that's it, I'm never talking to her again..." we end up back together some how. Take for instance this past weekend. Dad was in Boulder most of the week taking care of E while She and her dh were on an Alaskan cruise (courtesy of dh's rich friend who paid for everything). Anyway...Dad had called me and said that he had planned to keep E out of school Friday and drive back to town in the morning (in an effort to avoid rush hour traffic in Denver)...so he asked if he could bring E here (as sis and dh wouldn't be getting home til late Sat. night and he would be bored staying with him at his place where there's nothing to do. So of course I said sure. So Friday afternoon, Nolan, Tim and I met Dad and E at the golf course for lunch. I kept E and dad went on home to Canon City.

E is really no problem. We had our problems with him a few years ago (when he pushed P down the stairs)...I had to set him straight and after that...he seemed to respect my authority and we've never really had any further problems with him...Now, the second my sister walks in, though...he changes and becomes unbearable, iykwim? Well...after my last conversation with my sister (some 2 weeks ago) in which she left me feeling pretty crappy...I swore her off for the last time. And then when dad wanted me to keep E for a couple nights...I really didn't mind that, but I was not looking forward to having to see and deal with my sister in person. In fact...I was dreading it to no end.

So fast forward to Saturday night...we had just got home from a very long day at the office (me helping Tim catch up on the invoices) and were getting ready to deal with neighbors (long story), when out of the blue, in they walked (no phone call to say they were on there way...in fact, dad kinda thought they'd stay in Springs as their flight was pretty late, but apparently, they back sooner then planned...guess it was around 8pm). Anyway...she was very sympathetic about our neighbor situation. She even sat down with us and helped me figure out each and every single charge, etc...and watched our kids on Sunday morning when we went to confront the neighbors. She called this afternoon just wanting to know how things were and if anything else had happened with the neighbors. We actually had a nice visit and she didn't once try to tell me how stupid I was for letting this situation get out of hand with the neighbors. I kind of expected it though...even after our nice visit. The reason being is that she is never critical or mean when Nolan's around...it's usually when she has me by myself (on the phone or in person)...but she didn't today...and even said, "love ya" before she hung up. I was stunned honestly...

So...what to do??? I so want a relationship with her...but seems like everytime I let my defenses down...she attacks...and I never know which sister she's going to be (good sister/bad sister)...it's almost like she has two separate personalities. Does Jeckyl and Hyde mean anything?? I want to love her...I want to like her...I want us to have a sisterly relationship...but I'm scared. Every time I open my heart and begin trusting her again...she stomps on me.

I guess for now, I will love her cautiously...

Time for updates...

Well...school is back in force (started on the 19th). The kids are in 10th, 6th and 2nd grades. Jim is taking a year off college to work full-time and pay off some debt (and because he got NO financial aid this school year). It pretty much stinks that the poor kid has been living on his own for 4 yrs (since he was 19) and yet the gov't is still using OUR income to determine his financial aid eligibility (what a crock). Anyway...Steph should be graduating again from Virginia Tech with her masters degree next May 2010...so that will be nice!

Uhhhh, what else??? Well...Nolan's going back to Durango tonight, yuck...he's been gone so much and I'm sick of it!!! The freakin' VP shouldn't have to be supervising jobs on sight...that's rediculous! But...between him and Tim...there's just too much work that's too spread out and just not enough supers to manage it all. Oh well...whatcha gonna do?

I'm having a major allergy attack (uhhhh, I hate this time of year cause the weeds are outta control and I'm just one, big ITCH, literally, LOL)...I'll keep poppin' the Claritin and Benedryl, LOL...til this season passes, LOL!

I guess Clay got tickets to the Rockies game this Friday, so we're all going (Me, Nolan, Tim and Clay)...no doubt a trip to the Diamond Cabaret will be in order, LOL! I'd rather go dancing, but I'm afraid the guys vote will override mine, LOL!!

Got to have lunch with Dad, Mike and Kenny Saturday at the golf course. That was fun! Dad was a hoot as usual!

I've got a lot to get done this week...so I better get to bed at a decent hour, LOL!!!

Paige's Teddy Bear Tea Party...

Well...we finally got Paige's birthday party done (better late than never, lol)...and it turned out so sweet! We started the party with everyone decorating their white lace placemats. After everyone had finished their placemat...we had lunch which consisted of tuna sandwiches, ham & cheese sandwiches and turkey & swiss sandwiches...chicken salad with croissants...fresh fruit salad with yogurt dip...a vegi tray and ranch dip! After lunch...Paige opened up her presents. She got some cute stuff. A new purse (with accessories)...a High school musical toy...a tinkerbell village...and Michelle sent her the cute little pig that Paige had painted when she took the girls to the paint your pottery place. After gifts...we had a few games of "Hot Teddy Bear" (kinda like hot potato, but with a bear instead)...the bear gets passed around and when the music stops, the one holding the bear is out! It was fun and the girls were all good sports!

After the game, we did sweets and tea! I made apple/cinnamon herbal tea and we had pink and white cupcakes, doughnut holes and oatmeal cookies! All the girls decided to take their tea with milk and 2 sugar cubes (the English way, LOL)...and I acted as resident "butler", LOL!! We also had a teady bear contest...and each bear (stuffed animal) won something and they each got to pick a prize from the prize basket!

After tea...it was time for the main project. I found these really neat "magic" mugs at Bed, Bath and Beyond. They were plain white mugs that came with special markers to decorate the mug however you wanted. After decorating, you simply rubbed the mug with tissue paper and that "set" it! It was very cute!! I think Paige was really delighted and thrilled! It was a lot of work, but so worth it to see her beaming smile from ear to ear!!!

Check out the party pics below:

It's official now...

My son...my pride & joy...my first born...my brown eyed boy...is engaged to be married (hopefully in the fall of 2010). He planned it all out while Steph was vacationing with her family at the beach. So on August 25, 2009...she said YES!!! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law! Steph is one of the most genuine people I've ever known and I'm so proud of her and it just warms my heart how much she loves my boy!! I will post updates as I hear them!!

A very LAZY day today...

Uhhhhhh...those late nights are putting a cramp in my household ambitions! We hadn't planned on going out last night, but I had to meet Marylu and Tricia for a few drinks at the Cock & Bull pub downtown. It was actually not too bad...Tricia was a really nice gal and Marylu was in very good spirits. Nolan dropped me off (cause I didn't want to worry about parking or having to walk to my car in the dark) so...then he picked me up around 8:30 pm and we headed back home. When we got back, Jack and Kevin wanted to go to the Tumbleweed...but both Taylor and Chase were at friends' houses and we had no babysitter. I guess Kevin's gf (aka: common law wife) got pissed at him and took the boys and headed up to Denver. Anyway...we discussed taking the boat out to the lake and having a few drinks, but the external lights weren't working. So...it ended up that Jack took me and Kevin and dropped us off at the TW for about an hour. I really didn't want to go as I knew it was going to be a somber night with what happened to Becky's little boy. It was business as usually for the average person there, but for the regulars that know Becky, etc...there was a lot of tears.

So while I visited with the regs, Kevin hooked up with this gal that he met last weekend (Andrea). We played some darts (while waiting for Jack to pick us up)...and then Andrea ended up coming back to Jack's house with us...oh boy!

After we got back to Jack's...everyone was hungry so ran home and grabbed the stuff to make steak and eggs. Kevin grilled the steaks and I made fried eggs and hashbrowns...it was actually really yummy (at 3 in the morning, LOL)...

After Jack went to bed, Kevin and Andrea came back to our house to listen to some tunes. We listened to a few songs then Nolan and I went to bed and left K & A in the living room. Not sure "exactly" what went on, but from the "sounds" of it...they had a good time. Andrea's a nice gal. Recently divorced with 4 kids...I think she's like 29 or so...but very nice. It makes me feel bad though for Kevin's gf/wife Michelle...she's a sweet gal and I really hate to see her be treated like crap. Last weekend when we all went to the Tumbleweed, Kevin ignored Michelle all night and hung out with that girl...then they had a huge fight after we left the TW. I really like Michelle and I don't like that I even know this kind of information. It's not my place to tell her, but it does make me feel bad. I know she has to know what goes on with Kevin, but it's like she's in denial. She probably doesn't even know that there are decent guys out there that would treat her so much better. It's so reminiscent of my dating Fred (the guy I dated before I met Nolan)...he treated me pretty crappy...but it wasn't til I met Nolan that I even realized how bad it was.

Anyway...no drinks this week. I've gotta get some sleep and get everything ready for Paige's party next weekend.

Lunch with Samila...

Okay...what can I say??? I absolutely love Pete's new girlfriend, Samila (pronounced: saw-Meelah)! She is Persian (aka: Iranian), but has been in the USA for nearly 30 yrs. She has a 28 yr. old daughter who lives in Florida. Samila owns her own Boutique in Seattle. She sells formal wear (mainly for Proms and such). She is very beautiful, intellegent, witty and just fun to be around.

Me and Samila:


Pete and Samila:


So after Pete's dinner party last weekend, she said she wanted to get together sometime during the week. She called me Monday and we decided to have lunch together on Tuesday. So I went to pick her up at Pete's house and she invited me in for tea...Persian tea! Of course I couldn't turn that down.

I learned some new and interesting things while having my Persian tea! First, on the stove she had the samovar.

Samovar:


Pete's isn't exactly like this (his heats on the stove)...anyway, the hot water is in the samovar...then the teapot sits atop it. The tea is very strong...so it's served in a clear cup with about a third of the cup filled with the tea...then the hot water is added until the desired color is achieved.



The persian tea is not served with sugar, but rather with the nabat (nuh-Bot)...which is a crystalized sugar cube which you keep in your mouth (like hard candy) and then as you sip the tea, you get little tastes of sweet with each drink...very interesting!

the nabat:


Anyway...we ended up having a very deep, spiritual conversation and so instead of going out to lunch...we just had leftovers...Salmon, rice, squash, cucumber salad...all prepared Persian and very delicious!

Samila will have to go back to Seattle tomorrow (sunday) and I think then Pete's going out there for a visit later on this month. So...not sure when we'll see her again, but it's so much fun to talk with her and I love her accent.

Paige's 8th Birthday!! 7-23-09

Well...it's hard to believe that my little Paigey-Pie is 8 years old already...OMG, it just seems like it was yesterday that I was pg with her.



She was actually due on July 24th...and the day before, I got up and went about my day as usual. In fact, early that afternoon, I had the carpets cleaned. While the carpets were being cleaned, I took Taylor and Chase over to Tammi's house to swim with Krystal and her kids. When I got there, they weren't there (she had to run a quick errand and didn't have a cell phone)...so I waited for about 15 minutes, but when she didn't come back...I had to leave because I knew that the carpet guys were gonna be done soon and I needed to get back home to write them a check. So...we loaded back up and started the 20 min. drive back home. During the drive, I noticed that I had had at least 3 or 4 contractions (about 5 min. apart)...so after I got home, I called Nolan and said that maybe we should run up to the hospital and have them check me. So...Nolan came home and got me...and I think Krystal ended up coming out to stay with Chase and Taylor (Jimmy was 15 at the time)...

Anyway...we got to the hospital between 4 and 4:30...and I was admitted (at 4-5 cm)...I still was not having any painful contractions...they were regular, but they didn't hurt. My sil, Kathie, met us at the hospital, cause she wanted to be there for the birth (she had been at Chase's birth too)...and my sister was on her way from Boulder (about a 3 hour drive). My doctor, Dr. Tonsing (who was not my regular doctor was filling in cause my reg. doctor was no longer doing OB), came in and immediately wanted to break my water. Ummmm...no! Cause then I'll have this kid in 20 min. with no pain meds and after my experiece with Chase's delivery...uhhhh no thank you. So she called down to anesthesia...they came and got the required blood work and around 5:30, Dr. Wonderful came and placed my very first epidural! It was nice, but you have to realize that at this point, I was not in any pain...I just didn't want to go thru another excruiating l&d like Chase's was. By 6 pm, my contractions had slowed a bit, so they started some pitocin. At this point, the nurse was having me roll from side to side after each contraction. All the while, we were visiting with sil and her dd stopped by as she was in the hospital visiting a friend who just had a baby the day before...so she and her own baby (who was about 5 months old) were there too.

All of a sudden...when I had rolled from side to back...I felt what I thought was like a gas bubble. When the nurse checked me...she started screaming not to move or push or anything. She's calling down to the nurse's station to see if my doctor is still there and thankfully, she was. Doctor comes running in and in 2 seconds the bed's broke down and we're ready to go. All the while, I'm thinking...wow...this is easy...if I'd only known this 4 kids ago, we might have ended up with 10 kids, LOL!!

So I gave a couple good pushes and there SHE was (we didn't know the sex of any of the kids before they were born). Nolan cut the cord and the rest is history!! Even Nolan said, " Uh Uh Plllthhhhh...that's it??"...I said what more do you want?? LOL Guess he was just used to the other births with lots of pain, screaming, etc...I have to admit, it was really nice to just push and enjoy the birth experience instead of being in excruiating pain!

So...our little Paige Marlena was born on July 23, 2001 @ 7:01 pm. She weighed 8 lbs...5 oz...21" long!!












Here's some more of sweet little Paige...

Lunch with Courtney at DCs on "B" Street:


Birthday dinner in Durango (Mom, Dad, Paige, Chase, Tim and Brian):




Holiday and Spring dance recitals:




After riding the Steel eel at Sea World San Antonio:



In Corpus Christi:



Paige in Arkansas last Oct. 2008: