Dirty Cat!!

I swear...we should have named Luckee Lou, D.C. (Dirty Cat)...I have actually seen her with my own eyes...go outside and roll in a pile of dirt. I have never seen a cat do this before...but she does it all the time. Now Jordan (our other cat) is so meticulously clean it's hilarious. So here you have it...Dirty Cat:

Turkey Day 2010!!

Can't believe we're past Thanksgiving already and it's less than a month before Christmas! It's been a great week! I got Wed. and Thur. off...I went to the store Monday and finished my TG shopping...Tuesday, I was sooooooo busy at work trying to get everything done in 2 days instead of 4...then Wed., of course, I spent in TG prep...made pumpkin and pecan pies...cranberries...got my yams boiled and ready...and got the stuffing made with the help of Nolan and crew, LOL!

For the first time in years...when I got up Thursday morning...the turkey was actually thawed (that extra day really helped)...got it stuffed and in the oven by 8:45 a.m....

We had a pretty relaxed day...just lounging and watching episodes of Sunny! Dinner ended up a little later than planned, but it was delish!!  Erica and Emily came for dinner too! And...Chase learned how to carve a turkey! Love the Premium Select Turkeys from King Soopers...they're the best! Anyway...after dinner, we watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles (of course...not TG would be complete without watching that movie, LOL)...

The only thing that could have made it better would be if Jimmy could have come home for TG...

46 Big Ones!!

Well...November 19th, marked another year and a fantabulous Birthday "day"!! Started with a Happy Birthday text from Tim (at 4:30 a.m. I might add)...a tad early, but completely expected from Tim, LOL...

Then...I had to meet Nolan at his office as we had an appt with our financial planner at 10 a.m....from there, Nolan took me out for a bday lunch to Red Lobster...it was soooooo good, and they even brought me dessert and sang Happy Birthday to me, LOL!!

After a brief stop at home, the kids and I headed up to see Pops! OMG...I love my dad so much...he is the bomb!! LOL Had a couple beers and a wonderful conversation with him and Kay! It was just the best afternoon ever!! Since I had a couple drinks, I let Taylor drive us home...yikes...that girl has a lead foot, LOL!

After we got home, I barely had time to change before heading off to Pete's for a dinner party. Bless his heart...Pete cooked a wonderful meal for my bday. He had steamed mussels, tilapia, fresh vegies and salad...yummmmmm!!

Oh...and Michelle stopped by earlier (before we went to dad's) and brought me a card and a beautiful autumn bouquet of flowers...and the kids got me the entire collection of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"!!

What a great day!! :)

Ready to Rock & Roll...

Last Sunday, when I got home from church, I stopped in the driveway to pick up the newspaper/mail. Like I always do, I left my vehicle running and the driver's side door open while I ran over to the mailbox. Well, to my surprise when I got to the mailbox, I notices a pack of 4 dogs running loose around the cul-de-sac. They ran past me, but seemed friendly enough and on their way they went. However, when I got back to my car...one of the dogs decided to take up residence in my Expedition...and he was obviously ready to "go"...it was too cute:

Taylor's Cheer Competition!

Here's a few pics from T's cheer comp at the Colorado State Fair Events Center! PWHS took 2nd place! Nolan, I and Paige went over to watch them and they were really awesome! I was so proud of Taylor!! A few pics:

Bible Sunday!

Sunday, November 14th was a special day for Chase and Paige! It was the day they received their first bible.

The week in review...

Hmmmm...well, it's been an interesting week (to say the least), LOL...Things are really picking up at work with the  holidays and Advent quickly approaching and trying to get several different projects off the ground...it's not slowing down anytime soon...but I guess that's a good thing!

Then...we had Paige's debacle at dance class. OMG...if it wouldn't break HER heart, I'd yank her out right now (mid-recital)...but it wouldn't necessarily hurt the teacher, but it would hurt Paige and her class mates...so, apparently, she won't be able to dance with the class next year (school year) as they're all 4th graders and Paige is a 3rd grader and according to teacher, once they hit 5th grade (pre competition)...they're no longer allowed to dance with younger grades. Well...this is all new to me, and I truly wish that teacher would have informed me of this back when Paige joined the class 3 years ago...so there might be one other 3rd grader, but it's a large class of 16 girls and it's so disappointing to Paige (and to me). I think it would be slightly different if the class had been half and half ...where half the class would be moving on and the other half would remain together, but this is just so unfair...so, not sure what we'll do. I did talk to Paige about starting another tap class (of 3rd graders of course) after the xmas recital and take 2 classes next semester...so that when she's no longer in her current class (come next fall), she'll already be established and comfortable with her new class. I'm still pissed at the teacher though...she should have told us!

Thursday night was girls night out with Michelle and a bunch of her teacher friends. We went to Park East and had drinks and listened to live music...then off to the TW! Yikes...it was fun, but I was good and behaved!!

Typical weekend though...except I didn't get much done (around the house)...but I guess that's pretty typical, LOL!! Did get some time to visit my brother and Jean...which was nice! Then today, it was bible Sunday at the church and Chase & Paige got their new bibles today (engraved with their names). It's also Krystal's 37th bday! Nolan and I went to Desert Hawk for sloppers and beers...then he went on to work at the rentals and I went to FPU at the church. After FPU, I came home and caught the last quarter of the Bronco game. Amazingly, they won!! Then...there was the text heard round the world, nuff said!

Over all...a busy week!

Cross roads...

I am definitely at a cross roads in my life. It's mainly a cross roads within myself. I think this has been a long time coming and perhaps I've just been good at denying it. It's a cross roads of my heart. I know what is right...and I know what is healthy and I know what I have to do...but that doesn't make it any easier. I know that this is no way to live and that in order to gain one thing (peace), I have to give up another. I am not prepared to give this up...but I don't really have a choice at this point. The decision has been made for me...so I have no choice but to learn to live with it, cause I'm not sure if I'll ever get over this. I never would have believed in a million years that I would ever be in this position. Can't go back...can't move forward...what do you do? I know that living in limbo is not healthy or happy for me. I know that there's not going back, there's no going forward...so the only thing I can do is move "on"...which is what I have to do. For some reason...I'm pretty good at giving "this" advice to other people...but not too good at taking this same advice for myself. This very thing is creating a major struggle in my faith as well...because I know the two cannot exist in harmony. I need to pray on this one...I need forgiveness, I need direction, I need understanding, I need help, I need God! I've had a good cry tonight...and I'm sure there'll be more as the days, weeks and months pass....Every journey begins with one step and my first step starts today...

Today was a first...

Well...today was definitely a first for me. I bought a car I have never driven and probably never will. Yeah...against my better 'Dave Ramsey' judgement, I helped Jimmy get a new(er) car. He couldn't qualify on his own or even with me as a co-signer...so he asked if I would buy the car in my name. I hope I'm not going to regret this...but I now own a car I will never drive. I did set down some rules though and that is, if he defaults or quits/loses his job, he will have one month grace (to get another job) before the car will be sold. If I'm going to have a car pmt...then I'm going to actually pick out what "I" want and get to drive it too!!

I can dream a little:

Camaro or Challenger??

Challenger or Camaro??

I think either one would be acceptable, LOL!!!

One of these days, Alice!!!

The scariest day of the year!!

Well...another Halloween has come and gone (and I've only eaten a couple bite size snickers, LOL)...I didn't really care for Halloween falling on Sunday this year, but I didn't really have much of a choice in the matter. The kids and I carved pumpkins Sunday afternoon...then Krystal & Rick and their kids came over to trick or treat with Chase and Paige! Taylor and I stayed home and took turns answering the door. I made our usual dinner of chili, hot spiced cider and fritos (no cornbread this year). I was going to make a spice cake for dessert, but I figured the kids would be sugar-ed up on candy and probably not even want dessert! It was a pretty warm night 50s/60s so we had a steady stream of T or T-ers at our house...and while I'm sad that AMC's Fear Fest is over for another year, it was fun while it lasted!

Why can't I follow my own advice??

Okay...I know I shouldn't have...but I knew I would get a text today...and I did. I had my phone off for that very reason...cause I just didn't want to deal with it one way or the other. But...I also knew that Jimmy was going to be calling me sometime today and I didn't want to miss his call...so I turned the stupid thing on. I didn't open it for quite a while though...but then I couldn't stop myself from responding...so just to be a little mischievous, I wrote my response in French:

Plus susceptible de vous une enorme quantite de biere...

Response: what?
Me: oh, you don't speak French?
Response: no
Me: hmmmmm...

I know it was kind of mean, but would it have been meaner to just ignore the text all together?? I didin't set out to be mean...but I guess this is one way for me to distance myself...yet, my own advice (that I've just recently handed out to 2 loved ones) is to just "let it go"...stop contacting...stop responding. Now granted, I have not contacted in probably close to 3 weeks...but I haven't been able to NOT respond to being contacted. I don't know what to do...I wish I could just say what I need to say, but I can't...I just can't do it. Perhaps if I was asked point blank I could, but other wise...not so much.I'm tired...need sleepy! nite-nite!!!