What I Expect To Be The Longest Week Ever

Last week was so nice. I did not want to come back into work this morning. But I did and I was on time. I forgot my access card though. My routine is a little off. And I didn't go grocery shopping yesterday like I normally do. I will be doing that tonight. Which is weird. And I will take Jillian. Luckily I have a short list this week.

Instead of grocery shopping Brian and I went Christmas shopping. We shopped all weekend long, yes beginning Friday morning. After a very successful Thanksgiving dinner at our house, which included lots of wine and beer we were unable to sleep. We went to bed early around 9 or 9:30, but we both woke up at around 12:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. Brian got up and browsed the Internet and I did the rest of the dishes from the night before. And then we went shopping. We had a few ideas of what we wanted, but we didn't have to have one thing in particular, which made the shopping experience pretty okay. It was crowded but there is no way I'm going to fight someone over a "good deal". The kids do not need or want anything that badly.

What we actually ended up getting them for their big gifts are things they asked for and we originally said no way. I don't really know how that happened, but I suspect they will be very surprised. I'm so excited.

I know a lot of people "boycott" Black Friday, but since we have FOUR kids, it's really beneficial when you can save a few dollars on each kid. I guess it wouldn't be so important if we didn't have any kids or maybe just one kid. And besides, it's our tradition to go every year. It's the one time of year Brian doesn't complain about shopping and the crowds and we eat breakfast and it's just fun. Of course, I was exhausted by the time we got home. But it was certainly worth it. And I don't know what the difference is between buying the toy you are going to get anyway on Friday or waiting until Saturday, when it's not on sale. It doesn't make sense.

We also went to the tree lighting ceremony in Boise. I thought it was fun. There were a lot of complaints about how long it took and how cold it was and blah, blah, blah. Fortunately for me, kids only remember that they went and their parents took them and possibly when they are older they will think it's a good idea to take their kids and stand in the freezing cold and watch the Mayor turn on the lights. So there! And Jillian loved when the lights came on and was clapping and holding up her candle they gave us. She was also counting down with everyone and singing the Christmas songs. I don't think that sounds like a kid having a horrible time.

A Short Work Week

This year we get the day before and the day after Thanksgiving off. For reasons I don't entirely understand. We changed our pay schedules and now we get two extra days off this year. It's fine by me, I just don't know WHY. We usually get the day after Thanksgiving off, but this is going to be a short week. I'm so happy. Our other extra day is going to be New Year's Eve. I'm so excited since I've already used up most of my vacation days for the year.

You would think that would mean an easy week for me but it's not true. Today is Jordan's 9th birthday so I am making brownies and we're giving him his gifts.

Wednesday we are having a birthday party for him and his friends. We're going roller skating. So that means getting ready for a four hour birthday party, plus that morning I have a doctor's appointment to go to.

Thursday is Thanksgiving at our house. I'm actually really, really spoiled. Brian's mom is doing most of the cooking, we're just hosting. I have to make mashed potatoes and rolls. But getting the house ready can be crazy sometimes. Riley and Darby are spending Thanksgiving with their dad. So sad, but I have them for Christmas this year, so I just have to deal with it. We're also going to be celebrating Jordan's birthday that day with Brian's family so he'll get a few more gifts.

And Friday we will be doing our Christmas shopping. Yes, we go out every year and fight the crowds, but I like it. And I'm not crazy. I won't kill someone over a gift. Plus, we always have breakfast and it's just a fun tradition.

So this isn't going to be an exactly relaxed week, but it will be enjoyable and that does count.

On Wednesday we lost our little friend Lucy. It was so sad. Everyone was crying. She was the best guinea pig. She was cute and sweet and wouldn't hurt anyone. Ever. She loved lettuce but not carrots and she wouldn't eat the green pellets out of her food. Once she was finished with the stuff she liked, she would dump the bowl. She was quirky and curious and I really liked her. And she would greet us with whistles when we walked into the room or when she was hungry.

But for a few days she just sort of sat in a corner and she didn't eat or drink and Wednesday morning I told Jillian she didn't sound very good and Wednesday evening when we came home she was gone. The kids didn't see her. Luckily we came home first and I found her and Brian put her in a shoe box, but when they realized she wasn't there and would never be again there were a lot of tears.

Jillian called Darby who is at her dad's this week and told her all about it and how sad it was and how much she loved Lucy and Lucy was their friend, which made Darby start crying. When I took the phone and talked to Darby I could hear Riley in the back ground yell "Oh my gosh Darby it's going to be okay". He's so insensitive.

Yesterday I couldn't help myself. I had to go look at guinea pigs. I didn't plan to get a new one, I just wanted to begin my search for the perfect new pet for us. The first store I went to didn't have any guinea pigs, just bunnies. The second store I went to had both bunnies and guinea pigs and they were all placed together in the same cages. I found a very cute, very young piggy with the same hair color as Lucy, but it was the crazy hair instead of the smooth hair. I picked her up and she was squirmy and she nibbled my fingers and I didn't really like it. I tried to pet a few of the others but they just ran away.

When I realized the pigs at this store weren't what I was looking for I started to notice the bunnies. The very cute, very little, very mellow bunnies. One of the bunnies was even grooming the baby guinea pig and it was so cute and when I picked one up it just snuggled up to me and let me hold her. The one I was drawn to was small and gray and her ears stood straight up.

I went back to work and told Brian that a bunny might be a good option. They were really cute. He had wanted me to take the kids to a store near our house and I said it would be a good idea to stop by on our way home to see if they even had anything worth looking at before I brought the kids.

They had one bunny. A Holland Lop, is what she is called. She is black and fluffy and her ears lop down. She is very small and at first I just didn't know. I asked the sales people some questions about bunnies and decided I needed to hold her. And that was it. I love her. She's never going to get very big, she can be potty trained to go in a litter box, and Lucy's old cage is the perfect size for her. And she doesn't run when you try and pet her. Her name is Ruby and she moved in yesterday. I feel bad it was so soon. I hadn't even cleaned out Lucy's cage yet and it made me sad to throw out her bed that she loved so much, but I love this bunny. She is going to be a good addition.

Brian said when I was holding the bunny my face lit up like it was Christmas morning. And he sarcastically added that he had actually never seen my face so happy on any of our Christmas mornings together. Whatever, so not true. I'm pretty sure my face is that happy when I get those little blue boxes in my stockings. So there.

I survived Jillian's birthday and the BSU/UofI game. And I did it on very little food. I'm just so proud of myself. Since I'm not able to work out as much during this holiday season and since I've decided that gaining 10 lbs again is not an option, my friend and I have come up with a "liquid diet" for the holidays. You either choose the food or the booze. These two parties I decided to go with the booze.

The game was pretty good and I still talked too much, but so did everyone. And in my defense, Brian's dad keeps my wine glass full and I just think it would be rude to tell him no.

At Jillian's birthday I actually wasn't going to drink anything at all because it's a child's birthday party and we weren't really serving up drinks, but after everyone left Brian's sis-in-law (or rather X sis-in-law) stayed longer and I brought out the opened bottle of wine from the fridge. She doesn't drink. It was just for me. And there is major drama with that situation and a bottle of wine is just what a person needs when confronted with such---DRAMA. But I won't lie. I like to be in the know. And now everyone wants to know what I know. Which really isn't much because some things just didn't make sense to me.

Anyway, Thanksgiving there won't be any drama. So I haven't decided about the food or the booze. I'm just going to play that one by ear.

The holiday music has started. Jillian's very excited so we've been listening to it but I'm pretty sure I'll be sick of it before Christmas. Usually they don't start the music until after Thanksgiving but I guess they want you in the Christmas mood early this year. Whoever the heck they are.

Okay, I guess I better to go to my meeting with my boss. It was pushed up from this afternoon to this morning which is fine by me.

Time To Get Busy

Saturday is the big BSU/U of I game so Brian's brother is having a party for that event. I hope for the Vandals sake it's a good game. Otherwise I'll be drinking too much and talking with the girls the whole time. Sometimes I get some good family gossip that way. And sometimes I say to0 much. Let's just hope it's a good game.

Sunday is my Jilly Bean's 4th birthday. That's right. Four. And I'm so sad. Brian found an old pic of her when she was probably 2 or so and she has this sweet little smile and these chunky, perfect cheeks and I want to kiss her a million times. And it makes me a little teary that my little baby is a big girl who says words she shouldn't say and tells me I'm fat and says that she hates when I'm mad at her and she goes down the stairs as slow as she possibly can when she knows we're running late. And last night, we were all watching the movie Up and she was crying because the old man's wife died. She's a big girl.

Which is probably the reason I have desperately wanted a puppy lately. I know I don't need a puppy and I know I can't take care of a puppy and I know that I'm not getting a puppy, but I look at puppy ads at least twice a week, just wishing for a puppy. And I dream about puppies. And I do have a puppy, well a dog, but she's an outside dog but I want her to be an inside dog so that I won't want a puppy anymore but Brian won't let her in because he says she smells and she ruins the floor. And I tried to put socks on her once so she wouldn't ruin the floor and that upset both the dog and Jillian because they were Jillian's socks and I guess dogs don't like to wear socks.

So, Sunday is Jilly's birthday and since we're having the game party on Saturday I figured we would just have people over for cake and ice cream Sunday afternoon and let her open her presents. Then I thought we would take her skating which is a little more expensive than you might think, but the day before Thanksgiving they're having a discount night so we'll be going then.

And tomorrow I need to get treats for Jillian to take to preschool for her birthday. And Tuesday I need treats for her to take to Awanas for her birthday. And next Friday I need to make treats for Jordan to take to his school for his birthday. And he has decided he wants fudge, but in the shape of a turkey for Thanksgiving. This might be possible. We shall see.

And then it's Jordan birthday. I have no idea what we'll do for his birthday yet. Oh and did I mention we were have Thanksgiving at our house this year? Yep, we are. I have decided that I'm just taking one day at a time. Otherwise, I might freak out.

Well, I'm back at work. Last week I had a few days off. Because I had my surgery. Honestly, except for the first day which consisted of being in considerable pain, not being able to move and vomiting, it was the best week ever.

I had my surgery Tuesday at 11:30 and wasn't able to eat a dang thing that morning. I couldn't even have coffee or put on make-up or wear lotion or hairspray. Nothing. I did, however, vote. In my pajamas. I know. Tacky. Anyway, it wasn't much of an election this year. Mayor, two city council spots and a jail bond. Everyone I voted for won, but the jail bond did not pass, which makes me sad. Because I just don't understand why people don't want the best police protection possible. It was called the jail bond because it would put money into a new jail, but it would also give money for new and better equipment. I don't get it. People are crazy.

Okay, so I go to the doctor's and get all drugged up and I have no idea what is going on but I know people are talking to me and I'm responding, but I don't know what I'm saying. Just rambling. I do remember they could not find a vein for the IV and that sucked and I remember the doctor making marks on my body, which was weird, and then nothing. Next thing I know I wake up and the nurse is zipping up my jacket and she said that she can barely zip it up now and Brian said I looked like a Barbie.

The rest of the week Brian did nothing but take care of me and it was awesome! I watched movies, he made my meals. The only time he was gone was the first night when he had class. My friend came over and fed the kids and gave me my pills and walked me to the bathroom and held the bowl while I puked. She is a really good friend.

Right now things aren't very pretty. I have some ugly bruising and I still have stitches, but the pain isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Brian said I was like a pit bull. :) I'm just so excited. I know it's so unnecessary and a bit superficial but I just love that I could do this and Brian was so great about it. My shirts already look better!

Halloween Fun

Look at that creepy cute face! This is my little vampire bride. A close up of her face anyway, because she was making a vampire face. This was later in the evening. She did have fangs painted on but they wore off. I think she had the best time trick-or-treating. She was so excited. We had such a fun Halloween. I'm glad I invited people over and we stayed home. Lots of fun.
Okay, I'm going to be away for awhile but I thought I would post a pic.