Well today I had to go grocery shopping, so I left the kids with mom. I got the groceries and made a few other stops. It always amazes me how crowded everywhere is right after Thanksgiving. I did manage to get some stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, bows, tags and tape. Tomorrow we are going to Columbia. We are taking the kids to see Santa Claus and they are sooooo excited! Now the real question is will Kaylee get up on his lap? I really hope so...but I do have my doubts. Last year the first time the kids saw him she went right up and sat on his lap. But the 2nd time we went back she was crying and didn't dare get up there. So we will see. I am hoping by me telling them that they have to sit on his lap and tell them what they want, that they will.

Black Friday...

Well to start off Thanksgiving was so nice! It was very relaxing and just nice for a change. Normally Thanksgiving is very stressful for some reason. Mom cooked the usual turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green bean caserole, deviled eggs, noodles, dressing and made banana cream pie, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Grandma brought pea salad, fruit salad, some kind of pie and key lime desert. We were short several people...but mom, dad, grandma and grandpa, Suzanne, Jordan, David, Skyler, Kaylee and I were all there. Ashtyn got sick so her dad stayed at home with her, Tootsie and Bill went to his brothers and then Kelley didn't show up till late. The kids and I stayed at mom and dads so I could get up at 3 and go hit the sales.

I didn't sleep to well last night...but when the alarm went off...I got up. My first stop was Kohl's. I was thinking that since it was Kohl's there wouldn't be many people...man was I wrong! You almost needed a ticket to park. I was so far back in line I was thinking I am not going to get Kailynn's My Little Pony toy...but to my suprise in I went and 5 mins later out I was with the toy. My next stop was Toys R Us who opened at 5. I waited in line, but I wasn't too far back in line, for 30 mins in I went and I was out in 5 minutes with Skyler's Lightning Storm. So my next venture was to go to Wal-Mart...ha! I could hardly find anywhere to park. Then I went inside to get the Crayola Glow Station for $15...but they were completely gone. But I have NEVER EVER seen anything like this! And yes, people are CRAZY in the way that they act. In seeing the line when I first entered, I looked over and saw that there were people already in the check outs with buggy's FULL and when I mean FULL...I mean over flowing. It was only 5:10 at this point. So I got in my car parked a mile away from the store and headed to Target and got in line to wait an additional 30 minutes in the cold. I really like how Target respects the people that have been waiting in line. They park buggy's in front of the door and have security out front and let the ones know that they will have to wait as others have been waiting. I got in and got Skyler's Leapster games then got Kaylee's Baby Alive doll and did get the Glow Station there...for about $10 more. But I do have to say a little evil came out. I was trying to get out of the toy section, and let me describe it. They have the main isles down the stores, well Target puts huge bins of toys on one side of the main isle and then they expect you to get up and down in carts. I was trying to go between two carts, which wasn't much space and this woman kept pushing me in the back and I had enough. I turned around and not in so much nice manner said that if she didn't stop pushing me she was going to wind up on the floor. I got in and out of Target in 20 minutes, and was at moms to pick up the kids by 6:40. This was an experience I will never forget. Next year I will bring David if I need reinforcements.

I did hear today unfortunely that a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death. This is so sad. They had let a few customers into the store and told the others that they weren't going to let any more in for a little bit, the customers got ticked and said that they had been waiting in line for, not quiet sure how long, and that they were coming in. From what I understand the guy may have been trying to lock the doors and the customers stormed in taking down the doors and bending the frame on the door way and killed him in all of this. A woman who was 8 months pregnant was hurt as well as several others. What is wrong with people? Seriously over electronics or specials is it really worth taking an innocent persons life, who is only doing his job that he is told to do? They did say that the authorities are investigating it and try to identify people and if they do they may face criminal charges...which they should. The governement needs to try to find a way to fix this economy and create new jobs instead of sending them over seas. People are going nuts trying to get a bargain, that they don't care who gets hurt. This scares me. I guess another depression is creeping up on us slowly...but soon.

Above is a pic of the kids from yesterday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is here already. From tomorrow it's only 4 weeks till Christmas! Just so hard to believe. It really does seem like this year just started. There is a lot that I am thankful for. Mostly my family and friends. Without them...life just wouldn't be worth it! I am so thankful for my kiddos! They are so funny sometimes, and the things they come up with. I hope each and everyone of you have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Just a normal Sunday...

Today wasn't too bad weather wise. It was 46 and nice for a change. Kaylee and I went to Columbia today. Target had just put her Fancy Nancy doll on sale that I got Friday so I went back to get the difference. And also they had another thing that I wanted to get for her for Christmas...but she doesn't know it was for her. Then we headed over to Toysrus and found another piece to her dollhouse that we have been looking for. We also headed over to Kohls to get a few things. We found something else for Kinlea...so we took the other gift for her back and got these. They are too cute!

Skyler was with Grandma Susie this morning...so we went over to my grandma's house to pick him up. She gave me money to get him something from her for Christmas as well as Kaylee. So I think I am going to get the Lightning Storm and a tinkerbell doll and let her give those to them for Christmas. I think I was bah-humbug about Christmas...but am now starting to get into the spirit. I like shopping if not a lot of people are around. I think the day after Thanksgiving that morning...it will be fine. I remember going a couple of years ago and getting in and getting out. I think once 6-7 hits that is when a lot more people will be out. I figured the last gift that Kaylee is going to get so that is a plus! By the end of the first weekend in December it should all be done! The only thing that I don't like is wrapping the gifts!

This week is going to be out of wack for me. It's a short week...but not really.

It's beginning to feel like winter

Man is it ever cold! And it got cold quick! I was looking at the black friday ads online and I saw somethings that I want to get...but don't know if I will be able to! I know that I don't have Kinlea on Friday...but not sure about Kailynn or the other two boys. However, if I do David gets off at 6 in the morning...so he should be home to watch Kailynn and if I make it to Columbia and back I will be back by the time the boys get here. I will just have to let everyone know. At Toys R Us, who open at 5 am, they have the Lightning Storm that Skyler wants for $15! That saves me $15. Then Target doesn't open until 6 am but they have leapster games on sale for $15 each. This is a huge savings of $10/game! So I will be going to get that stuff for sure! I think I will ask mom and dad to keep the kids Thursday evening. Also Wal-Mart has a Crayola Glow Station for $15 and it saves $10. Skyler saw that and said that he wanted it. But I figure both kiddos can use it/share it!

I finally found Kaylee's Fancy Nancy doll. So I am very happy about that! Today we stayed in and I took some more pics of the kids. I hurt my wrist and it is swollen. I am not sure what I did to it. Kaylee got a new hat, it is a kitty cat hat and it's too cute as you can see in the pics! She wears it non-stop. I was going to get a penguin one for Skyler, but they didn't have his size.

Just another day. Today was kind of blah! Skyler says now that he doesn't want the big dinosaur...but instead he wants the big Wall-E that you can control. Well I have been reading reviews on it and it's not too good. The movie comes out tomorrow and he is super excited about it. We are going to get it for him. But anywho I have looked online at the other Wall-E robots they have and they tend to have a lot better reviews, and they don't cost too much. So Skyler will be getting the Handy Manny truck, the screaming Banshee, Cars Mega Blocks, Lightning Storm McQueen, and some kind of Wall-E. But I have coupons so I will be doing smart shopping and saving as much as possible!

I have found the cutest doll for Kaylee, instead of Tinkerbell, it's called Fancy Nancy! The doll has curly hair like Kaylee and is just the cutest thing! So she will be getting her doll house...and to see the dollhouse in person is just truly amazing, and some of the people that go with it, a Fancy Nancy doll and something else. Stockings I am stumped with! I am putting Tinkerbell underware in Kaylee's to entice her to go on the potty more often! And Skyler's getting some more underwear. They are getting a few pieces of candy but I am going to get some little toy to go in their stockings and don't know what yet!?!? Santa may or may not leave slippers for the kids, may or may not leave blanket and pillow combos or possibly coloring books and colors. Still not sure yet! Of course you ask David his opinion and guess what...he doesn't have one.

I think the hardest person to shop for his my dad. He has everything he needs/wants. And if there is something that he wants he just goes and gets it. Last year he told me to get him jeans. But I want to get him something more meaningful. I asked David what we where getting for his parents and he doesn't know.

But let me tell you about Skyler...this kiddo just blows me away! We were sitting down doing "homework" and he had one that he had to do that had shapes of a diamond, star, oval and heart. Then it had the words written out and he was suppose to connect lines from the word to the matching shape. So I thought let me ask him what this word says...I pointed at diamond and asked (thinking he doesn't know) and to my suprise he said "diamond" and he did that with every word. And I asked him today what the words were and he said the same thing. He is recognizing what the numbers and letters look like. He is doing really well. And sissy is amazing as well. She is learning so much from him!

A full Saturday!

I for one have realized why I get my shopping done BEFORE Thanksgiving. Today was such an awesome answer that I was wondering about a few days ago. I have always gotten my shopping done before thanksgiving and asked myself why...why not wait...well I found out. It is 6 weeks from Chistmas and a little less than two weeks away from Thanksgiving...I was in the mall today and I have never felt so much like a sardine in my life! And it's only going to get worse. So I asked my dad today what he wanted for Christmas and he said he wasn't sure...I gave him a deadline (or I will let Skyler pick out something for him) of 11/21/08. I completed the tasks of getting Trey's, Kailynn's and Kinlea's done today as well as mom's. Woo-hoo! Only a few more for Skyler and Kaylee, Dad and then the two picks from my moms side of the family. Now don't get me wrong I love the holiday's but I hate how packed and how crazy people act in the stores! I will be having our Christmas card done this year. I am not going to get the kids pictures taken, but have someone make me a Christmas card from the pictures that I take. And the wonderful thing is I know exactly what I am looking for...just to find someone to do it.

I took some super cute pictures of the kids today, and they might be a possiblity to use the pictures.

TGIF!

Oh could those letters leave such a nice feeling. Today wasn't too bad. We did the usual. Kids here till about 3:45 and then I went grocery shopping. I went to get Kaylee some diapers and of course they were out of her size all together! Wal-Mart is famous for this! Hopefully they will have some tomorrow. I didn't get to do all that I had to do b/c David went with me and of course, he is always in a hurry! I was going to look for Kinlea's and Kailynn's Christmas gifts that the kids are going to get for them...but no such luck with my husband! Then we need to look for Trey's, and my dad's gift.

You know I never knew how funny it was and how tired a parent can get of a kid saying "I want that for Christmas". Skyler and Kaylee say that at what they like on tv, see in a magazine or see in the store. Well Skyler and I made his Christmas list for Santa today and he had that he wanted:

• Handy Manny Truck
• Screaming Banshee
• Lightning Storm McQueen
• Spike the Ultra Dinosaur
• and Disney Car Mega Blocks

So not too bad. The first two I have gotten for him, and Toys R Us has the Lightning Storm on sale for $20.99 and I have a $10 off coupon. So I will be getting that tomorrow. And I know what blocks it is that he wants for Christmas which are not too bad in price. But that Dinosaur is $129!! That is a little out of our price range. He really likes it...but I do have a pretty awesome coupon to use at toys r us that I haven't used yet...so we will see. And I do keep reminding the kids that Santa can't get everything their little hearts desire, and to be happy with what he does bring them. Cause I sure know that Santa is not rich this year!!

Kaylee and I have made her list...and we got the Caring Corners Dollhouse at just an awesome price and have gotten some accessories to go with it. My sister is picking up a couple for her for Christmas as well. There are just two more that I need to get and they are not too much. And when I ask her what she wants I mostly hear: TINKERBELL! Everywhere we go and she sees Tinkerbell I think she wakes up the whole neighborhood. But she keeps tell me that Santa is going to bring her a baby. She loves the Baby Alive doll...but Santa can not afford another $60!!!

They came and drew my blood yesterday. And I got a call from the social worker at the dr office and she said that the Mayo clinic had it and was analyzing it today. So that is very good news. It made it there in one piece and this will be sucessful! Woo-Hoo!! I am guessing that either Monday or Tuesday I will get the final verdict of wether or not I will have to have my spleen taken out. I am sure that it will be yeah...since I am losing so much blood.

Such a HORRIBLE Day!

First let me start by saying how the day started. I didn't get up till 6:30. My alarm was set for 6 and I am thinking David turned it off. So Kailynn normally gets here at 6:30 and luckily I had just came down the stairs when she got here. I should have known by this how the day was going to go.

Skyler from the time that he got up has been so defiant! It is getting worse day by day, and I am at the point that I don't know what to do anymore. I have felt like pulling out my hair all day. I had him down for a nap and of course David got up and everytime David gets up Skyler is so bad! So naturally he didn't take a nap. I am so thankful that he has preschool tomorrow!

Then about 2 pm I get a call from my dr office, thinking that I will have an answer for sure. But quess what?!? They messed my blood up once again. My dr had no apologies that we needed to draw more blood, and that these things just happen. So I told him that I wasn't even going to worry about it anymore! I am tired of people messing up things and then having no apologies. So I hung up on the dr, well what made me hang up is David. The dr wanted to talk to him and David said that he was to busy...so I just hung up. I was so mad at David that he couldn't even take a phone call and show that he cared.

Then a lady from the dr office called back, one of their social workers, and let me tell you she was so sincere! If it hadn't had been for her I wouldn't of called back to the dr office. She apologized for what was happening. And she has gotten me to agree to take the blood again and she will be the contact person on my blood all the way through the process. She is going to be the one calling me to let me know either way. I told her that I did not want the dr calling back because I felt like I was just another paycheck to him. It's a shame that I feel that way with the medical field...but it's just a fact anymore. I feel like all they see is dollar signs when someone calls to make an appointment and see more dollar signs when someone walks through the door. She even apologized for the way my dr acted. She said that she had asked him if anyone apologized to me, and his response to her "these things just happen", so naturally that is a big fat no. She described how I was feeling...like a guinea pig! But she was so sweet and I told her that if it hadn't been for the caring sound in her voice I would not have returned her phone call. She gives me hope that their are some people with compassion in the medical field, and your compassion for your patients and their well being should be what drives you...not the money.

Up above is Kaylee from yesterday pretending to cook!

New Face Lift!

Ashley at SMG made me such a fab new blog! They are just awesome over there! They offer blogs and myspaces for free as well as siggies. I think that I have decided that I am glad that I am taking care of kids. Why you ask, well let me tell ya:

• I get to wake up in my bed and get up and not have to go outside
• No starting the car anymore
• I don't have to get dressed up for work
• I don't have to get the kids up, dressed and out the door by any certain time
• I can lounge most of the day

Well those are my reasons anyways! Grandma Mary got the kids a cooking set for Christmas a real one. It is from Bed, Bath and Beyond and it comes with an apron, baking sheet, baking pan, rolling pin, wooden spoon, and cookie cutters. It is miniture sized. So I let the kids play with it today and they had a ball. Kaylee let me take pictures of her with it...but Skyler let me get a couple regular pics. I can't believe that Christmas is only 6 weeks and 3 days away.

We have to buy a new tree this year. Ours last year had it. So I am going to get a cheap one from Wal-Mart this year and then next year I am going to invest in a tree. I am only going to decorate our outside door for Christmas this year. It is way to cold to hang lights and stuff. So I will have pre-lit garland around the door.

Still no word on my test results. Hopefully I will hear something in the next couple of days. They ran the blood tests just to confirm that I will have to have my spleen out. Thanksgiving week will be a short one for me...so I am hoping that they do it then.

A quiet Sunday...

At least that is the way it feels to me. Mary and Richard left at 8:30 this am, and after they left it was just an weird silence. We had a good time and hated to see them leave. We really did enjoy ourselves. They got in Thursday and I still had kids here. They all left at 3:45 and I fixed shrimp and chicken alfredo. On Friday we went to Columbia and ate at TGIFridays. It was so good. I also did more Christmas shopping. The kids went on the carousel at the mall grandma and grandpa rode with them. We had Jambalaya for supper and my mom made pecan pie! And it was all very good. The kids really had a good time with grandma and grandpa and Skyler said some of the funniest things! Mary asked Skyler on Thursday evening if he had a mirror in his room (and he doesn't) he replied by saying "Yes grandma", he then took her in his room and pointed to his window. It was so funny. Then, yes my mother in law talks a bit, Skyler came down stairs yesterday morning and said "I am tired of grandma talking, tired of it!" both Richard and I looked at each other and started laughing. Kaylee for some reason has to get use to Richard for a couple of days. Well Friday after they got off the merry go round she was holding his hand walking in the mall. All of a sudden she asked "where's pawpaw at?" and I smiled cause I knew she didn't realize she was holding his hand. I replied "Your holding his hand sissy" she then stopped in her tracks looked up at Richard, her eyes got big and came running beside me. It was too funny. She just didn't realize that she had a hold of his hand. I wish that I could say that I took more pictures, but I didn't. Mary took a ton. But I did get a few.

The In-Laws are coming tomorrow!

Well Richard and Mary will be here tomorrow and of course the house is not totally cleaned. David always waits till the last minute. My tasks are done except putting the sheets that are washing on the bed. I hope the visit goes nicely. I have a bad cold which I can thank to this weather, Kaylee has it as well. And poor little Kinlea has it and so does Kailynn.

Well I got a call from my dr yesterday and the lab that my blood went to didn't freeze it, so Friday I have to go and get more blood drawn. I don't think anymore blood can come out of me! I had 5 tubes that that lab wasted and now 5 more have to come out.

Yesterday was I think the worst day ever! And I am not just saying that. It's one of those days when you finally realize either something is going to have to give, or your world is going to break apart. And now I can say with a sigh of relief it's going to get better from here.

Well Sunday the season finale of Army Wives was on. I must say that I am bummed out! It is by far my favorite show...but I didn't like the ending.

A little bit to blog about...

Well that is to say the least! First let me start with yesterday. And extra hour of sleep cut short by Kaylee. On the weekends she will wake up at 7:30, well yesterday she was up at 6:45 (which old time is 7:45). But Aunt Kelley took the kids with her and she had them from about 11 to 4:30 and it was so quiet around her, oh man it was nice. But I had to clean up. The in-laws are coming up this Thursday so that means extra cleaning. I am taking care of everything except the laundry room and our bedroom. I told David that is his areas to attend to. He had three days off last week and didn't do a thing, and I told him that I was not doing it all this time around. But yesterday was relaxing...that is until the kids came back and as soon as they are back, you know it! LOL

Also I was excited to find Kaylee's doll house that I wanted to get her. ToysRUs has been sold out of it for awhile. And by luck they only had ONE on the shelf and I snatched it up today! The dollhouse was originally $80, but on sale for $70 and then I had a 20% off coupon so I got it for $56! A super deal if I do say so! Then I got the free gift set of the parents to go with it and on top of that I got her two sets to go with it and since I spent $75 I got a free $10 gift card! Whoo-hoo! But I was really starting to worry that I wasn't going to find it. Every where has been sold out of it for awhile now.

So now for even bigger news! They figured out why I am losing blood. I have spherocytosis. And I was born with it. It is inheritated. So my parents and sister need to go get checked out. But on the down side of this...my spleen is going to be removed. So this means surgery for me once again! I am really starting to hate hospitals. I am not sure when I will have the surgery but I would say the next month to month and a half. So Christmas may not be too exciting around here. They did another test that will confirm that I do have this and then I will go see another doctor that will remove my spleen.

Halloween!

The kids had a good time yesterday. Kelley and Taylor went Trick or Treating with us for a bit. We went down to grandma Suzie's first. She loaded them up with candy and then we went to great grandma Gerry's. She kept putting candy in their baskets! I didn't think she was ever going to stop. And after that we hit up the houses. We had to dump the kids candy because it was getting too heavy for them and then went back for more! Skyler had the Trick or Treating part down pat....but Kaylee would not say it for the life of her. And then on top of that they were wanting to get into the people's candy bowls. I had to tell them several times to get out of them. But there seems to be fewer and fewer houses that give out candy each year. I can remember when I was little every house would be lit up. But after all that the kids baskets were filled to the brim. So we did good. And on top of that we were only out for about an hour and a half.

Cooking with the kids

So there is going to be two posts tonight...got to catch up! Yesterday with all the kids I made cupcakes. Needless to say it was quite interesting! Skyler wanted to do the eggs and I told him no. I didn't want egg shells in the mix. But they each got to put some of the water and vegetable oil into the mix along with the candies that went into it. And then I put the frosting on top of the cupcakes and had them spread it on it...probably wasn't my brightest idea! And then the put the sprinkles on top of them. They all were very proud of themselves. Skyler had fun at preschool and did well at the nursing home. He came home with quite a bit of candy from school, and then Kailynn and Kinlea brought candy as well here. Up above are pictures of everyone before we started, Skyler and Kaylee helping stirring the mix and then the finished product of what we made! My dad came by yesterday and was such a life saver and picked up my new license plates for me! And he had to laugh when he came back...all the kids were on the chairs with their eyes wide open watching everything. We had a good time yesterday.