Sad

After a very rough weekend, Bailey passed away yesterday morning. We had decided to have him put to sleep as he was very ill. I held him and cried tears on his little furry head, before leaving for work. Kevin made the difficult trip to the vet with Bailey, but when they got back to the exam room, and Kevin laid him down, Bailey passed away on his own. My poor sweet baby. I miss him terribly but it broke my heart to see him so sick and suffering.

Kevin brought him back home and buried him in the backyard where he liked to run (away). I can still see my mom chasing him last summer across the backyard, yelling (cussing)his name even though he couldn't hear a thing. Bailey always knew the way from our house to Mom and Dad's and would go straight there when he got out. He would visit for awhile and then head back home. I have a million George Bailey stories but suffice to say that he was loved and he will be missed.

You're Invited

This is as close as I am going to get to sending out Kate's invitations this year, I am afraid! If you are reading this, consider yourself invited. Except where the invitation says 2 pm, it really means 6 pm because I forgot that Kevin works on Saturdays. Duh!

Happy Birthday Kate

It's my baby's third birthday today. Kate was due January 1, but a scheduled C-Section brought her into the world on December 28, 2005. The doctor thought she was going to be too big to deliver naturally but she ended up being the exact same height and weight that Kaelyn was. 8 lbs. 11 oz.

Kater, as we call her, is so different from her sister. She is more reserved and has a very strong personality. She can scowl one second and then her face will light up with the prettiest smile and the biggest dimples the next. She is independent and fun. She has completed our little family perfectly. We love you Kate. Happy Birthday little girl.

And now we are off to Chuck E. Cheese to party like three-year olds!

George Bailey

George Bailey came into my life ten Christmas's ago, on December 22, 1998. He's a wire-fox terrier (terror) that turned my life upside down. He was my best friend and now it doesn't look like he'll make it through the night. There is nothing I can do to help him, the vet thought it was likely that he had cancer. I opted to not have him biopsied because of his other problems: he is deaf, blind, and epileptic. Kevin said it best last night, "Despite humping stranger's legs, peeing and pooping on the floor, scratching all night in bed, scratching up the antique doors in our home, tearing down our mini blinds, despite all that, I liked the little guy." So did I and my heart is breaking.

Christmas Jammies

Starting my own little family made me consider Christmas traditions, old and new, that I wanted to implement for my children. One of the traditions I had as a child, that I have continued with my children, is the opening of one present on Christmas Eve. The first catch is I get to pick the present out. The second catch is that the present contains Christmas jammies for my babies to wear on Christmas Eve to make the visions of sugar plums especially sweet (and yea, to make for adorable Chrismtas morning pictures.) Here are the Christmas Eve pictures for the past three years:

2006

2007

(they were a little would up this year and I never did get a good shot of them)

2008

Christmas is over and I am back to work. It's quiet around here today and I don't have much to do.

I got good news yesterday and have to say a huge THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for this answered prayer.

We had a wonderful Christmas eve and Christmas day. The girls were thrilled with their presents. Kaelyn and I played her new games all evening and it was so fun, now that we can do stuff like that together. Kate isn't too good at games yet. I will post pictures soon.

Kate's birthday is Sunday and her party is January 3. I need to do a few things to get ready for that but am going to keep it simple this year. Or more simple.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

I thought I would take a quick break from the crazy that is my life and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. It's been a year of change for us but it's been good and we are very thankful for all of our blessings. We will have a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas day with our little family. Next weekend, my entire family will celebrate Christmas together so I will enjoy the quiet this weekend! The girls are so excited about Santa Claus coming tonight. I am too!

I got an early present that I bought myself...a new digital camcorder so I will have video of Christmas morning to share! Everyone have a wonderful day!

Angel in Training

Today was the Christmas pagent at church. Kaelyn played an "angel in training" meaning she didn't have a speaking part and just followed the lead angel around. She did a great job during the play but once home, I quickly realized that she needs more training. And don't even get me started on her sister. She can't even go to church, she's so rowdy, and had to stay back with her Papa.

Christmas Pictures

Foto Friday

Here are the girls and Kevin on his birthday. Kaelyn helped him blow his candles out and then we had to relight them so Kate could help blow.


Our Christmas tree.


Kate decked out in her snow gear and eating a popcicle! That's my girl!

Strep Throat

Let's just say that it has been a long week. We had our CARF survey at work. For those of you not in the know, that is a big deal where people come to your agency every three years and check everything out. I have to say that this was a million times less stressful as an HR Coordinator than as a Program Manager. We came through it with flying colors and everyone is breathing a huge sigh of relief that it is over and done with for another three years.

So, along with that drama, Kaelyn starts feeling sick Sunday night. I had to be at work on Monday, no ifs and or buts and had to be there extra early. I took Kaelyn to Mom and Dad's and she went on the school at 8 am. At 3:15, I get a call from the sitter that Kaelyn is crying, saying her throat hurts and burning up. I head home to get her and as soon as we walk into the house, she is throwing up. This continued for the next five hours. The throwing up eneded but she ran a fever on and off through last night. I took her to the doctor this morning and yep, she has strep throat. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in fast.

During my hours at home this week, I did manage to get some stuff done and we may have a Christmas at our house after all. That is, if the expedited shipping I paid for from Toys R Us, J.C. Penney's, and the ebay folks pays off. I got my Christmas cards ordered and picked up. I haven't had time to take any Christmas shots yet so I had to use some unconventional pictures on the cards. I think they're cute and that is what counts!

Fighting the Crowds

Went to the mall today. And now I know why I prefer online shopping. I just went to have lunch with some friends, didn't even try to shop. It was crazy. I can't tell that this recession is stopping people from spending. Looked like a lot of spending going on to me. And the parking lot...it took forever to find a spot. I had both girls with me, so I stuck them in a cart to make sure they didn't get ran over in the lot. It's just not worth it.

Sleigh Ride

My favorite Christmas carol:

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
and friends are calling "Yoo hoo,"
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.

Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
it's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
of a wintry fairy land.

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
and comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.

There's a birthday party
at the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
we love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch
the chestnuts pop. Pop! pop! pop!

There's a happy feeling
nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate
and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print
by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
we remember all through our lives!

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
and friends are calling "Yoo hoo,"
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.

Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
it's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
of a wintry fairy land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
and comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.

After Picture

I am still sick. I stayed home today and spend the entire day on the couch. I did catch up on some TV: three episodes of The Office, one Desperate Housewives and two Grey's Anatomys. Have I mentioned that I love my DVR? I was awake all night coughing, coughing, coughing. I am going to try to get into a doctor tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the dining room floor. I am so happy with it. I need a rug now for under the table but it's going to be hard to find one in my dining room colors of blue and yellow.

Sorry So Short

Sorry I have been missing in action this past week. We have been working furiously on the dining room floor. I had to threaten to skip decorating for Christmas unless the floor was done first and it must have worked because the floor is done and the Christmas tree is up. What a relief!

Things are hectic at work as we prepare for the upcoming CARF survey. Plus I am on the planning committee for the holiday party next Friday. I had new employees to orient last week and also an eight hour class. And on top of everything else, I have been sick for what feels like forever.

But enough of the whining, time to get my big girl to bed.

Serendipitous

I am not really sure if the following story is "serendipitous" but I like the word and it's not one you can use all that often so that is the title and I am sticking to it.

Here is the story: We took a rental car to Oklahoma. It was a really, really nice Buick Lucerne. It has heated seats, and a heated steering wheel and a million other buttons that I had fun playing with, but I digress. Kevin returned the car to Enterprise on Tuesday after supposedly unloading it. I coudln't find my check book Tuesday morning and I needed to pay our babysitter but I was in a hurry so grabbed a new set of checks, made the payment and went on to work. I didn't think another thing about it.

Until Saturday. My mom called me and asked if I had ever found my check book. I said no, but that I hadn't really looked for it and that I was sure it was around here somewhere. She replied "I don't think so". It seems that my babysitter had called her and told her that when they had went to return THEIR rental car, she had checked the glove box and lo and behold, my check book was in there. That is more than a coincidence! Serendipitous, I tell ya!

We live in a small town of 200 people, about 40 miles from the Enterprise rental place. There are three Enterprise rental places in Columbia that she could have went to. What really are the chances that she would rent the same car, immediately after we did, and then not only know who I was, but someone that she sees every day. Strange...enter freaky Twilight Zone music here...do do do do, do, do, do do.

She told me yesterday that it was just by luck that she even had that car. She said they already were doing paperwork on another car, when she happened to ask about the Buick's. There were five of them on the lot, and she was told she could upgrade for an extra $3 a day. They popped the trunk on this one to show her how much room it had, then told her to pick the color. She really liked the white, thought about the purple for a second, then just went with the one with the trunk up.

Regardless, I was so happy to know that my check book was home safe and sound, even though I didn't know it was missing.