Merry Christmas!

Well, not exactly, but very soon. We've had a rough week here. Last week a pipe broke under our kitchen sink while we were not home. Water ran into our living room and basement. I know things can always be worse and I am thankful it was clear water and not gray or black. Regardless, it is no picnic. Our floors on the first and second floors had to be removed. Yes, the ones Victor spent his vacation last year installing. The basement sustained the most damage. Phoebe's room sits underneath the kitchen, so you can imagine. We have insurance and they have been terrific thus far. The new floors are being installed as I type.

Besides the bad news we are keeping our spirits high. Santa is coming tomorrow night and the kids couldn't be any more excited. We haven't exactly made any definite plans, but we will be celebrating as a family.

I am on winter break from school, which is going terrific. I took some time off from work for Christmas. After New Year I am taking an additional two weeks off form work to get things together around here.

Phoebe flew out Saturday :(..
I hate to see her go everytime. She was excited to see her Dad and other relatives in Miami. Victoria is going to Florida on the 27th, to visit her Grandma. She is celebrating her 12th birthday Friday. When I first started dating Victor she had just turned 2! It doesn't seem possible. The years fly by us and we don't even take time to stop and smell the roses.

Madelynn and Colin are doing great as well. Colin amazes me (as much as all of my kids do). He has a "workshop" that I bought him for hus 3rd birthday. He plays with it alot. Although he doesn't bang on the hammer or use the battery operated drill; instead, he puts the foam "wood" pieces together. Yesterday he made an actual boat. He has the ability to create things that I wouldn't have the sense to build. Puzzles that just give me a headache, Colin manages to put together. I think we may have an engineer or architecht on our hands.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Eleven days Until Christmas

We've been super busy around here. Thanksgiving came and went. We had a great holiday and are thankful for each other. Christmas is right around the corner. I've completed my shopping with the exception of some stocking stuffer items. The kids are so excited and just can't wait.

Madelynn and Colin had their last day on Friday. I am looking forward to take them in the morning. Phoebe and Victoria have 4 more days. Phoebe has been working on a few papers that are due this week. Victoria has a book report she is working on. Between the kids and I, someone is always working on something. It keeps us young, I say. They both are heading to Florida for part of their break. Phoebe will leave on the 20th and Victoria on the 27th.

Work and school for Victor and I are going smooth. I will have a winter break for 10 days. I look forward to my break very much. It is the only break all year. I don't mind going straight through, I want to graduate before I'm 50.

Have a great week!

38 Days until Christmas

I know Thanksgiving is next week, that doesn't even see possible. We have a lot to look forward to around here. My birthday (not) is Saturday. Victor and I are going to try and hit up a pretty cool place in Atlanta for dinner. I am only working one day next week, as the kids are out of school. Heidi, the boys and mom are coming in the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. They are staying through Saturday. Madelynn and Colin haven't stopped talking about Grandma here lately. They are so anxious to see her. They are equally excited about seeing their cousins, Christian and Matthew. We are planning a few activities to keep them busy while they're here.

My classes are coming to a close; this is my last week. No break, I will jump right into another set of classes. I look forward to completing my paper and powerpoint, ugh. It is not so bad juggling it all now, as I am working 3 days a week.

Madelynn and Colin both have their "feasts" at school this week. Madelynn brought home her songs to rehearse for the Christmas program. She is playing Mary in the performance. I will begin helping her recite her lines. She is receiving her report card this week as well. She is doing fantastic with her reading. I am happy to see her excited about learning.

Phoebe and Victoria are hanging in there. they are anxious about there upcoming week out of school. Who could blame them? We all need a break from time to time.

Have a great week!

Happy Halloween 2008

We had a great week! The little kids had parties at school and stayed well all week. Wednesday we carved pumpkins, our family tradition. This year we carved four. Madelynn really enjoyed the carving very much. Colin fell asleep before the fun began. A friend of mine let us borrow a cow costume for him to wear this year (thanks Heather), and he has worn it every day, even sleeping in it! It will be a sad day for Colin when it is returned.

Phoebe and Victoria had a good week. Victoria continues to get better and better playing her trumpet and went to a couple of parties last week. Phoebe was accepted into the Coweta County Youth Leadership Program, "Way to go Phoebe!" Victor and I will be attending the welcome dinner with her on Monday.

School is coming along for me. In three weeks I will start two new classes. Work is going okay, I'm still hanging in there. Victor is taking some time off this week. I will have to get the honey-do-list started, just kidding!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Another year

Victor and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday. We went out for dinner and a movie. We then came home and watched another movie, can we get anymore boring? We skipped the gifts, well I did, Victor brought me flowers and a sweet card. I sort of already bought myself a new purse, which wasn't cheap. My paternal Grandmother, gave me very good advise. She told me to always take time for myself, and also to treat myself once in a while. For those of you who know me, I rarely purchase "things" for myself. I like to buy the kids "things" and I like to buy "things" for my home. I don't ever buy expensive clothing, shoes or anything for that matter. I try to keep it simple. So, I decided that I wanted a nice purse, so i bought one.

Victor took Victoria and Phoebe for new glasses. Victoria looks very sophisticated. Phoebe's glasses weren't ready. They explained that the prescription in the glasses wasn't exact and they needed to remake them, whatever! I will pick them up today. I will take a photo of them wearing their "new" glasses.

We went Halloween costume shopping yesterday. Madelynn just needed cat ears. She is wearing an old costume of Victoria's. Victoria is going to be a dead bride of some sort. Colin, here is the real kicker. I picked out a firefighter costume because Colin LOVES firefighters, fire trucks, you name it. So, we put the costume on and he looks SO CUTE. I walked him to the mirror and he said, "I don't want to be a firefighter (removing his hat), I want to be Colin!" He killed me. I thought I was going to die. So, I guess we'll think of plan B, whatever that is. I'll keep you posted.

Oh yeah, school is going fantastic. Work, well it's work. But like Victor and I say, at least we still have our jobs and they aren't being threatened, some folks won't be so lucky.

Have a great week!

Words from our Daughter

I want to share with you a couple of paragraphs from Phoebe's "Family History" paper; this paper was written for her AP History class. She worked very hard on it, interviewing her Grandparents, Great-Grandmother, Great Aunt and parents. At its completion, the paper was 18 pages. Ever since Phoebe was very little, she always had a special way with people. She is a giver and not a taker. She makes her father and I proud to call her our daughter. Enjoy!

When it comes to who is most influential in my life that is a hard question. All my family has been there for me since I was born. They all influenced my life in one way or another. They all cared for me, and they all gave me the necessities. I think when in comes down to it though, it has to be my parents.
My mother helps me everyday, and I admire her tremendously. She has four children, goes to school, goes to work, has her own business, but somehow she still makes time for me. She tells me she is proud of me and loves me everyday, which I think is most important in a child’s life. She gives me great advice and talks to me about things I need to know. She doesn’t keep me ignorant, and she allows me to analyze her obstacles from her teenage years. My mother pushes me to be my best and her wisdom makes me sensible about my choices I make in life. She has formed my more caring and loving side. She is my motivator, my friend, my guide, my caretaker, and my mother. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.
My father doesn’t live close to me, but he is what makes me want to do the best in everything. I love to make him proud and happy. He is a smart man, and I admire him greatly for it. In many ways I’m like my father such as his sense of humor, his confidence, and his ability to help people. For this, I am grateful. My father is such a responsible man. He also has four kids and works a stressful job, but somehow he knows just when to call and give me the boost I need. My father converses with me on an adult level, and he has since I was younger. I think this made me more of an intellectual today. He has developed the more liberal side of me, and he teaches me to create an opinion on things going on in the world. He is my coach, my comedian, my role model, my teacher, and my father. Personally, for being so much younger than most of my friends’ fathers, he seems more logical than them. I am proud to call him my father.

rain, finally

We have had the most gorgeous weather the past couple of weeks. Today it is raining, and we need it. I spend a lot of my time indoors taking care of household chores and schoolwork. I try to make time each day to take the kids out. Victoria is very good about going to play outside with Madelynn and Colin.

We are all doing about the same. Madelynn must have picked up a virus at school. She ran a fever for 2 nights, but is much better today. She is active and playing wii as I type. I will send her tomorrow to school. Colin is running around, as usual. He has ALOT of energy. I wish I had some of it.

I took the kids to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua last weekend, it was cute. If you can tolerate 1 1/2 hours of talking animals, then you will enjoy it. George Lopez is the voice of one of the dogs, we love George Lopez in this house.

School is going well for me. I have gotten in my groove. I try to complete the weeks assignments on my days off. It is working out great. Work, well it's work. I am still not sure if I like the 40 hours, as I like being home more with the kids. I will give it a little longer. I may be part-time by Christmas, who knows?

We are looking forward to Halloween. The older girls want to dress up, imagine that. Madelynn is going to wear one of Victoria's costumes from the past, a cat. I haven't gone to look for a costume for Colin. Will do next week.

Have a good week!