Just another day...

So this morning came early for last night was another late night at work. I wake up to Christmas music now because I just can't get in the mood this year for some reason. Might be the economy and the fact that the dining room at the club has yet to get really busy this December. This of course brings up worries of lack of $$. Can't blame me. My friend Tara and I are just DYING for a night where we get our asses kicked and have ten things to do at once when we run into the kitchen rather than just one or two. We are begging for tables. It's sad. And to top off the already dismal Christmas season, the club is going to be renovated in Feb and closing for 2.5 to 3 weeks. Not enough to get a new job, not enough to claim unemployment. Depressing...

Anyway back to this morning... I had to go to the dentist, never a top ten in my book, probably not even in the top 100. I have been known to say I would rather be in labor again then to go to the doctor. At least I get good drugs when I am in labor.

So Chris takes Aaron to Kids Kingdom, I go to the dentist and then go pick up my van from Chris at work. He had taken it in to get the AstroStart on my van fixed so that it runs 16 minutes instead of 4. What's the point of 4 minutes????? I have had the AstroStart for 2 years and every year I ask Chris to take it in and get it changed to 16 and every year the guy at the shop talks him out of it. *sigh*

But he got it taken care of and starts it for me when I am in his office. I leave 2 minutes later and the van is not running when I come down. I start it again with the AstroStart and it starts and then dies 30 seconds later. WTF! SO I start it again with the key and it dies. Try again thinking I don't know what and it starts. I call Chris and tell him this is not good!

So I go over to Target all the while thinking, the van just doesn't seem to be running right. It was kind of chuggy! Make it to Target, try the AstroStart again, same thing.
UGH!

After Target I go to pick up Ryan and try to leave the van running and take my keys out, van dies. UGH! After picking Ryan up we go to Kids Kingdom to get Aaron - he has been a very good boy, no longer clingy when we drop him off - and get ready to drive away. Van dies twice. I call Chris again panicky that something is really wrong with the van and what will we do??? Money pops into my head again. He tells me he will stop by after lunch and take a look.

So I am driving home and the van is chugging again and I am praying just to make it to my driveway. Thankfully I did. I call Chris again to let him know and start making lunch for the boys. Where is Aaron???? Upstairs in my bathroom coloring on my compact with my eyeliner and smashing the rest of my eyeshadow into the counter. Oh and flushing the toilet. UGHHHH!!!

I get the boys lunch, and Aaron start screwing around in the sink. I finally cut his lunch short and put him to bed. Chris comes home and thinks maybe one of the boys reset our trip meter - we use this to gauge our gas since our gas gauge is broken - and we are out of gas. He goes and gets gas, then takes the van to fill it and it only takes 11 gallons. Not empty as we thought. Then it dawns on him, maybe it is the fuel filter. When was the last time we changed that???? Right after the SD trip over 2 years ago. I think we are supposed to change that every year. HMMMMM! The fact that we forgot isn't surprising, it's the fact that this is the third time the van has acted like this since 2000 and changing the fuel filter is always the solution. You think it would dawn on us quicker by the third time around.

Oh and Ryan didn't have a great day either. Apparently he got kicked in the pecker (his words mind you) at school by accident or maybe not by accident. And I just went in the kitchen and found the box with the rest of the pasta I made from lunch in the sink full of water and thus ruined. Thank you Aaron! Oh and there is a hole in my sock!

Merry Christmas! :)

Santa's Village

On Friday I got to go with Ryan to Santa's Village with his preschool. I haven't been since the kids were little so this was a lot of fun.

We loaded the bus at 10 am and took the ride to Santa's Village. Once there we went to Santa's workshop and met with Mrs. Claus. The kids got to listen to a story and dance with Mrs. Claus. They also sang her a song too. Then it was off to see Santa. The kids all talked with Santa and got to yell out what they wanted for Xmas. Ryan yelled out in a loud voice that he wanted a Polar Bear Webkinz.

After we saw Santa we went to see the trains and to donate food to the food pantry. The kids all had a blast throwing their money on the train as well as writing letters to Santa that they got to mail on their way out the door. Then it was off to see the reindeer and they all wondered where Rudolph was. Back to the bus and off to school.

Here are some of the pics from the trip.

Ryan and his friend Sarah


Listening to a story


Dancing with Mrs. Claus


Singing a song for Mrs. Claus


Telling Santa what they want for Xmas


All the kids with Santa


Writing his letter. Chews on his tongue just like his mother when she concentrates.


Putting money on the train


Mailing their letters to Santa

A Very Busy Weekend

This past weekend seemed to fly by and here it is Wednesday already and I forgot to update our blog.

Thanksgiving was great, I went to work at 10:45 and was home by 4:15. I think we made some good money, we shall see when payday rolls around, but I think we faired well. All except for when I cracked my elbow on the window frame in the bar while trying to get by a table. It was the size of a goose egg by the time I got home and took about 2 hours after taking some drugs for me to be able to move it a bit. Thankfully by the next day if felt much better. Being Black Friday and all, I had shopping to do.

Dinner was great, Hornbacher's did an awesome job of cooking our feast. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

Friday I went to Joann Fabrics at 6. Next year I know to grab a number to get my fabric cut as soon as I walk in the store. I did wait an hour to get my fleece cut, but at $2.99 a yd, it was worth it. I am going to make those fleece blankets to donate to Project Linus this year. After that I went over to Gymboree to get clothes for the boys for next year. They offer 30% of the store till noon. I also had a 20% off coupon and then another 5% off with my Visa. If I buy sale items only, I make a killing on clothes for the next year. Then I went to Gap for some sweaters for me and was home by 10. Chris did go out to Best Buy to get new phones for the house and then take the older three to Madascar 2. They loved it.

Saturday night we went to the wedding of my friend Nikki. I met Nikki through the Country Club and she has helped me out a lot over the last couple of years. Watching my kids, and just being a great friend. The girls and I left early for the wedding while Chris waited for the babysitter to show up. At the last minute Ryan decided he wanted to come too, so we got him all spiffed up and he was thrilled to come. The wedding was great and Nikki looked beautiful. The reception was held at the Radisson. They had a photo booth for people to use. You got a copy of your pictures and then another to make a scrapbook page for the bride and groom. If they would have had that when I got married, I totally would have done that. It was really cool. We stayed till about 10:30 when Ryan petered out. He did have a great time though. Loved the punch and the meatballs and laughing at my friends. He was dying to dance but then he got surrounded by the bridesmaids and the bride and just stood there scared. The girls had fun dancing too.

Nikki and Blake Heinz

Coming into the reception

Nikki and Ryan

Most of our family


The girls dancing. For some reason Meghan has NO rhythm


Sunday I had a going away party to attend. My friend Drew who has worked at the Country Club for about 4-5 years now is leaving the end of December to go to Grand Forks for a masters program in nursing. We are very excited for him and wanted to have a party before he left. So we gathered at Tailgators for some drinks and fun. Judee and Kyle decoupaged a old tray for him with photos provided from me and then we all signed it. I also gave him some Almond M&M's, his and my favorite and some Fiber One poptarts that he still hasn't convinced me to try. We will miss him but we are happy for his new venture.
Drew's tray



Drew opening his presents

Drew and his M&M's

Judee and Kyle


Jason, Tara and Aaron

Johnny D - this man could make shoe leather taste good!


That's about it I guess. Xmas cards are almost ready to go out. As soon as Chris finishes printing my letter. He is always the delay in my life. The girls will be shopping at the Holiday Shop at school soon and they are excited for that. Anyway... another day.

Ryan's Turkey

Ryan thinks this is how the Thanksgiving turkey is made.

You get the turkey from the cubby room. You cook it for 10 minutes and then eat it. You have to drink all your milk.

Oh from the eyes of a 4 year old!

Spongebob Birthday!

Ryan had his Spongebob Birthday party this afternoon and WOW, he sure is a ladies man!

When we started talking about his party we asked who he had wanted to invite. Noelle of course because she is his friend from across the street. he also wanted to invite his friends from pre-school. We said Ok, who? "well Sarah and Alex." OK, Is Alex a boy? "NO" ok, so we did. Then he said "who is that girl from Dawg's house?" We told him that was Sydney and her brother Ryan too. We invited them all. DO you see a pattern to all of this? Yes, Ryan is a ladies man!

So today Noelle shows up, then Sarah, then Alex. He takes them all upstairs to show them his room. Places his hand on Sarah's back as he leads them all upstairs. Then, Chris saw this and told me to go check it out. Ryan had put on his bathrobe and was walking around upstairs with all his girlfriends. So we have a little Hepf on our hands. Oh my! He did take the bathrobe off though.

They played hide and go seek, put the jellyfish in the net - like pin the tail on the donkey, freeze dance and drop the clothespin in the jar. They also colored Spongebob pictures. What a blast. He loved all his presents and gave all his girlfriends a hug!

What an amazing little man we have!

Ryan and all his girlfriends -his sisters too of course.

Alex, Sarah, Ryan & Noelle

Playing hide and go seek

Ryan taking his robe off!

Pin the jellyfish in the net

Ryan getting his groove on!

Yes he ended up with 3 girlfriends

Hugging Sarah

Katie dancing with all the kids.

Not so Scary Haunted House...

The boys and I went to the Children's Museum today for their Halloween festivities! Look how much fun we had!

Sneak Peek...

Here is a sneak peek at what the kids will be for Halloween! They had a Halloween party they attended on Sunday. Ryan will be a frog when he goes trick or treating though.

Ryan is a convict

Meghan is Hermione from Harry Potter

Katie is a pop star diva

The chicken is dead...

Ryan not liking how tall his chicken was tonight decided to cut it off. Luckily he only got a little bit of it so if doesn't show too much. Oh well he has plenty of hair to cover up the one spot. Damn Chicken!

Field Trip

Yesterday I went on a field trip with Ryan and his preschool friends to the Firestation. I had a blast but as I found out later Ryan didn't want me on the bus or to come a long. What a Schmuck!

They got see the lights on the truck, learn about the tools that the fireman use, walk through the truck, see the hose room where they clean the hoses and see where the fireman stay when they are at work. The Fireman received a call for a car accident while we were there so the kids watched a video on fire safety and then one of the preschoolers grandpas finished the tour. He works there but wasn't on duty at the time. The kids had a blast seeing him go down the fire pole a number of times. ONe little boy kept asking to see the Chief so the Deputy Chief said "come on" and all 36 preschoolers came after him to meet the chief who wasn't entirely ready for the day and had to put his shirt on. The kids thought it was great.

As we were leaving the two firemen who started the tour came back and the kids got to watch them back the truck into the garage.

Ryan and I showed Chris the pictures when he got home and Ryan told his dad all about his trip.

Ryan not wanting me on the bus.

Fireman Bill telling the kids about the truck.

This is the fireman's key to get into our houses.

Fireman Bill showing the kids how he gets ready for a fire.

Is he ready yet??? NO!

The kids knocking on his helmet! They had permission!

The hose room.

Check out all the hoses.

Christian's grandpa coming down the pole.

The truck backing into the station.