My very last post for this year! =) I have been a busy little bee today! I added several new adoptions to my adoption shoppe...some really cute ones! I hope that you will all stop by and check them out.

I am looking forward to the new year. I have set some goals for myself for next year. I am trying to refrain from setting "resolutions" because that never seems to happen. Therefore, I am setting "goals" for 2003! I have lost a lot of weight over the past several months and my goal for next year is to firm it all up! I am the proud owner of an 8-Minutes Abs & Buns video and I am going to use it...religiously! I am going to have to make the time to walk and lift the dumbbells to get rid of the flab on my arms. Do you have any goals for the upcoming year? Share them with me!

Hubby and I are throwing a big party tonight. I am looking forward to that. This will be the first time we've entertained in the new house. There are several of our friends coming over so that should be a lot of fun. I have started a list of things that I need to stop and get...I just hope I don't forget anything! I want to wish all of you, my blogging buddies, a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. Be safe tonight and have a great time bringing in the new year! =)

Wow! It's been a while since I've blogged...I don't think I've ever waited that long. The holidays were great, I enjoyed spending time with my family, and the kids really enjoyed it. But, I'm glad it's over. It's just so stressful. Should it really be that way? I've taken the Christmas decorations down, all the new gifts are put away, and life is slowly getting back to normal. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well. The boys had a wonderful Christmas, as always. It's funny, I don't remember getting that much stuff for Christmas when I was a kid! LOL They were really excited to get the puppies. They are just so darn cute! Austin named his Ozzie and Tanner named his spot. Now we are in the process of building a pen and a dog house for them. They are going to be big dogs, and they are already growing quickly, so we need to get that done!

I added a New Year's adoption to my Adoption Shoppe. ::Click here:: to stop by and take a look. It's a cutie!! I've also had several new people join our Bloggin' Moms clique. I think it's going to go over well. If you'd like to join us, ::click here::I'm in the process of having a new custom blog set made now that the holidays are over. I can't wait to get it so that I can re-decorate!

I guess this will be my last week of freedom. The new semester starts Monday. This is it...after this semester I will have a college degree! Just an Associates, but it's a degree! I will have about 18 more months after the upcoming semester to completing my Bachelor's. I absolutely cannot wait! I could not have done it without the support of my family and friends. I think I've probably got the best friends in the world. They are so quick to offer to pick up the boys if I need them to. They never ask questions, they just do it. Isn't that great?!?

I've got to get back to work now. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday. =)

Well, it’s Monday and only 2 more days until Christmas (if you count today)! It's sleeting outside, so the roads are liable to get bad today and tomorrow. I hope not, as that would prevent me from going to see my family for Christmas. It has been a busy weekend. I finished up some last-minute shopping this weekend and did a little cleaning around the house. There is still so much cleaning left to do! It’s a never-ending thing. Do any of you seem to have that same problem?? Surely I can’t be the only one that has all this cleaning to do…holidays or not…it just never goes away!

This will be the first Christmas without my Grandpa…he died this past June. It saddens me to know that my Granny is going to have to be by herself all the way down there in Georgia this Christmas. She was here for Thanksgiving, so she won’t be able to make it back to Arkansas for this holiday. I’m sure she’ll be fine, but I wish she didn’t have to stay in that house all alone. She’s got her mom, but she is staying in an assisted living home and isn’t actually there with her. I am sure that some of our other family will be there…I guess it’s just not the same. At any rate, life goes on, as it always does. Knowing that Papa is in a better place makes it a little easier, I suppose.

The boys are really excited about Christmas…we are getting them each a puppy this year. Boy, are they going to be excited! =) Tanner has been asking for one for quite some time so he will just be thrilled! My husband is on his way now to pick them up. I cannot wait to see their faces when they get them Christmas morning. Tanner told me Friday night that if he could only have one gift, that is what he would want.

My husband and I haven’t been getting along all that great for the last few days…I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because of the stress of the holidays, maybe it’s the fact that he hates his job, who knows. I just hope it passes soon. I hate arguing…with anyone!

Well, now that I’ve complained a little today, I guess I’ll stop now. I am not sure if I will be able to journal tomorrow or Wednesday, so if I don’t I want to wish each and every one of you that visit me today wonderfully happy Christmas and to remind you to enjoy this special time of year.

Merry Christmas Friends!!!

Good morning!

I hope you are all doing well today. I am still very tired, but I plan to take care of that problem this weekend! Lots of rest for me!! Hubby and I did a lot of gift wrapping last night...it was fun. The boys were so excited to wake up this morning and find all those gifts under the tree. I think they were starting to get a little worried because I hadn't wrapped anything yet!

I've been trying to add all the new gifts that I have received to my site...I'm getting there, slowly but surely! I did add a new adoption to my adoption site. Be sure to stop by and visit:
::Click Here::
I also added a mailing list so that everyone can be notified of new additions to the site. I'm hoping that the adoption site goes over really well because I have certainly enjoyed making it and buying the adoptions!

I've got to get back to work, but I'll try to come back and journal some more tonight. I've got a lot on my mind, so I am sure I'll have a lot to say! Have a great day. =) Oh, here's my Friday Five...

Friday Five

1. What holiday or holidays do you celebrate this time of year?
We celebrate Christmas.

2. What was the best gift you have ever received?
The best gift I have ever received would have to be my children. They are a gift from above and I am so very thankful them and the happiness they have brought into my life.

3. What was the worst gift you've ever given?
I'm not sure...I'm sure I have given someone a bad gift somewhere down the road, but it certainly wasn't intentional!

4. Where will you be celebrating the holidays? Are you hosting? Going away?
Looks as though we will be staying home this year...the weather man is calling for some snow and ice and it will make travelling to my mom's difficult. I hope it waits until after the holiday.

5. If you could spend the holidays with someone who isn't around, who would it be with? Why?
I would want to spend the holidays with my real dad just once. He lives in South Carolina and I am in Arkansas. I have seen him one time in the last 17 years. I have no real memories of spending Christmas with him as a child, although I am sure that I did.

The Ballet & Chicago!!!

Happy Thursday friends!!! We have finally returned home and things are starting to settle down a bit. The ballet Saturday night was fabulous! It was as good as I remember it being when I went as a little girl. The Nutcracker has got to be the best ballet I have ever seen. It is just so relaxing and fun to watch. I had to jostle hubby a time or two to make sure he was awake, but oh well…I had fun!! =)

Chicago…well, well, well…where do I start!?!?!? We arrived in Chicago at 3:00 Sunday afternoon, rushed to the apartment, changed and then headed out for a night on the town. We had dinner at this great little Italian restaurant called Danny’s. It is just a little ‘hole-in-the-wall’ type of place, but it is owned and operated by Italians and the food was absolutely fabulous! I think I had the best Chicken Parmesan I have ever had! After dinner at Danny’s we headed to a little tavern called Mr. C’s. Mr. C’s is where all the pilots and flight attendants go to hang out while they are in Chicago…it’s a great place! We played pool, visited, and had a couple of drinks. I met some really great people there!

Monday morning we got up and headed to Michigan Avenue…the Magnificent Mile! OH MY GOSH! Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Neman Marcus, the stores were great! I saw a coat in Saks that was $22,000. Can you believe that?!? I can think of better things to spend $22,000 on!!! LOL We had lunch at Hard Rock Café and walked ALL day long…it was great! Later that evening, we went to the John Hancock building and had a drink up on the 96th floor in the lounge. We could see for miles across Chicago! It was nighttime and the lights and buildings were absolutely striking. I was so amazed at the view from up there. After that, we headed to the Bulls game!!! 2nd row seats, our own waitress, a ride home by the announcer of the Bulls, we made national television, and the hot dogs were great (even though they were $4.50)!! After that, we went back to Mr. C’s to hang out and we didn’t get into bed until 7:30 the next morning (what’s the point of going to Chicago if you’re going to sleep, right?!?).

Apparently, the weather was bad in St. Louis (which is where we had to change planes before coming into Little Rock), so our first flight was cancelled and we were moved to a different flight. Then that flight was delayed for 1 ½ hours. Luckily, the flight that we were supposed to catch in St. Louis was still on the ground from delays as well, so we were only 45 minutes behind schedule coming home. Amber and I still had a 2 hour drive from the airport, so we were thankful for that. We got home about 10:30 Tuesday night and I have yet to catch up on my sleep, but I’m getting closer!! =)

Thanks to everyone that stopped by to say hi while we were gone and all the wonderfully friendly e-mails that I had in my inbox. Things are back to normal now, so I should be able to start making my rounds daily again. Have a great afternoon! =)

Good Sunday morning friends! I have a few minutes before I need to get ready to go to the airport, so I thought I would journal a little. Mom, Amber and I are getting very excited about our trip to Chicago! We are going to the Bulls game tomorrow night...2nd row seats (courtesy of Red Kerr, who used to play for the Bulls and is now their voice/announcer). My Mom is personal friends with him...pretty cool! =) The Oprah show isn't looking too hopeful, but we are going to try.

I miss my boys and my hubby already! Tanner couldn't figure out why I was going out of town without his dad! Austin...well he just couldn't care! LOL He is just at that stage to where he is too cool to care! LOL

I slept in this morning, which was nice, so I better start getting around. I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend. Have a radiant day! =)

T.G.I.F.

Oh my gosh, that had to have been the hardest test I have ever taken! There were 30 algebra problems on the test and it took me 2 1/2 hours to take it...can you believe that?!? By the time I got out of there I was so tired I hurt. But, at any rate, it's over and I am now on Christmas break! Woo Hoo! Thanks to all of you for the encouragement on my tag board and in my e-mail. You are all a wonderful bunch of friends. Now if I can just get this next semester under my belt, I'll have a college degree to hang on my wall (an Associates, anyway). I will be so glad to get my Bachelor's and get this done!

Tomorrow is a big day for me...going to the ballet!! I can't wait. My hubby isn't really looking forward to it, but he knows that I am so I guess he is going to tolerate it. I told him that he would be a cultured man after attending a ballet! :o) After the ballet, Amber and I are leaving for Chicago! WOO HOO! We are going to try to get in to see the Oprah show, but I don't know if we'll be able to swing it or not. We are going to a Chicago Bulls game, going shopping, and some other fun things. Mom will have her laptop, so I should be able to journal a little while we're there to let you know how it's going and how COLD it is!

Back to work! Have a wonderful Friday!!!

My apologies for not journaling yesterday...I've been getting ready for finals and today is the day! I will finish this semester up tonight! Woo Hoo!!!! I've also been busy opening up my new adoption shop. Click here to visit...I hope you'll like it. There are only a few adoptions available thus far, but I will be adding more soon. Let me know what you think!

A friend of mine and I are flying to Chicago this weekend to hang out for a day or two. I am in great need of a mini-vacation and it is going to be so much fun! I have never been to Chicago before...I'm sure there will be lots to do while we are there.

Gotta get back to work! I'll let y'all know how the final goes tonight. Thanks to you all for the good luck wishes! Have a radiant day! =)

Will you vote for me again? I would really appreciate it! Click here. Thanks! Here's my Tuesday This or That...

Tuesday This or That

1. Real or artificial tree?
At the moment, I have an artificial tree. I'm a little nervous about using a real tree because of the threat of it drying out and catching on fire. (Strange, and maybe a bit anal, I know but that's just me!)

2. Real or artificial wreath?
Real wreath...on the front door.

3. Open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (or do you do another holiday such as Hannukkah)?
We open gifts on both days, Christmas Eve with one family and Christmas Day with the other (inlaws and such).

4. "It's A Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street"?
"Miracle on 34th Street"

5. Outdoor decorations, or just indoors?
Both! I have tons of lights on my house and tons of decorations inside!

6. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" or "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"?
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"

7. Miniature lights or the larger ones?
Miniature lights

8. Store-bought or hand-made ornaments?
Both! I love making crafts and I love the ornaments that my children make each year.

9. TV Specials: The Grinch or Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown

10. Will you be staying at home for the holiday, or going visiting?
Going visiting! My mother lives about 2 hours away, so we will be going to visit her on Christmas Eve. My husband's family lives right next door to us, so we will be spending Christmas Day at home with them.

Hello friends! I had to take a break from the books for a bit and thought I would check my sites and my mail. I've had just about all the Algebra I can stand for a day!! I gave my speech Friday night, and did quite well on it. I made a B. It's not the A that I wanted, but I guess it'll do! I have to take my final in my Music class tomorrow night and then my Algebra final Thursday...it's almost over!!!!

It's been a quiet day around here. The boys have been outside playing most of the day...the weather has been nice for this time of year. I think it is supposed to turn off cold tomorrow, so they'll be glad they got to play outside. Hubby and I did a little house cleaning this morning and I've been studying ever since.

Tomorrow is mine and hubby's anniversary...7 years! It doesn't seem as though we've been married that long. I don't think we are doing much tomorrow night, but he did buy tickets to the ballet. Who would have thought the MY hubby would take me to the ballet! I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!! We are going to see the Nutcracker. It should be a lot of fun. It is going to be at the new Performing Arts Center at the high school that I graduated from...it's a very nice facility. Click here to see it...beautiful!! I absolutely cannot wait!!! Now, if I can just talk hubby into wearing khaki's...LOL. He hates to dress up almost as much as he hates going to the doctor! =)

Well, it's almost time to start dinner, so I better get off here. I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend...

Geez! I just couldn't find the time to get by here and do my entry today. It has been a crazy mess here at the office all day long. I am so glad it's Friday! T.G.I.F.

I have to give a speech tonight for my speech class and that will finish me up in that class. I'm a little nervous about it. I'm not very prepared right now, but I am going straight to the library after work so that I can polish it up a bit before I have to give it. I went to my last official class for Algebra last night...now I just have to go back to take my final next week. I guess we all know what I'll be doing this weekend....studying. But that's okay because it is almost over and then I'll be off for a month. WOO HOO!!!!

Both of my sons rode in our local Christmas parade last night, so I rushed back from school so that I could watch them. Tanner rode the float with his day care classmates and Austin rode in the fire truck with his best friend. They loved it! They looked so cute. Hubby drove one of the local queens around in the vette...he loved that! LOL I watched the parade with my best friend (one of them!), Amber and her daughter Cambrey. We had a really great time! And boy was it cold!!!

Well...gotta get back to work so that I can get out of here on time and go work on that speech. I will try to journal some this weekend...I got some pictures back that I need to add to my site too. Have a great afternoon!!!!!!!!! =)

Good morning! Gosh, it sure is cold here today! We had some snow yesterday, but it wasn't enough to stick...sadly enough. We don't get much snow here in Arkansas, so we usually look forward to it!

It's busy here at work today...not much time to journal. I did create a new clique for all of us bloggers last night. I thought it would be fun to make my own. It's called Bloggin' Moms. I would love to have you join if you're interested. Click here if you are!

I also added a new adoption to the Adoption Shoppe at Wilkins Lane. Be sure to stop by and check it out...it's a cutie!

Would you vote for me again today? I would really appreciate it! I will be back later to write more. Have a radiant day!

Good morning friends! My goodness is it cold here this morning!!! Arkansans up north from us got quite a bit of ice/sleet last
night, so there are several schools closed up there. No such luck down here in the valley! My kids were so disappointed to hear that they still had to go to school today! Not much time to journal today...I have to go to a funeral so I need to get some work done. A very good friend of mine lost her dad Monday night, so I will be gone for a bit. I hope that you all have a radiant day. Would you vote for me today? Thanks!

I thought I would share some of the pictures that we took on Thanksgiving while visiting my family. The aren't very close-up because my dad was standing so far away...I will share mine with you when I get them back later this week. =)

My Boys (Austin & Tanner) & Me

 

My sister Casey and my niece Kaitlynn

 

My Mom & Dad

 

My youngest son Tanner and my niece Kaitlynn

Wow!  Look at what I found in my inbox after the
Thanksgiving holiday!!!  I am so blessed to have so many friends on the
net!

Thanks
so much Erika!!!

And here's another!

Thanks
so much Jen!!

Now that Blogger is finally back up>>>Good morning friends! I think I am finally getting back into the swing of things...I hope you are all doing well today and enjoying the joyous holiday season. I know I am!

I found the perfect gift for my son this weekend. I was so excited! You see, my son is an excellent baseball player and when he played in the USSSA World Series this summer, we promised him a first-baseman's glove (it's a big thing for ball players). I have been on the hunt for one ever since. It amazes me that most first basemen throw left-handed yet it is so hard to find first basemen's gloves that go on the right hand...rather strange, isn't it?!? Well, I found one this weekend...woo hoo!!!!!!!! Austin is going to be absolutely thrilled when he opens that gift this Christmas. AND it's a Nike glove, which is really cool....when you're 9 years old!

While we were in Oklahoma City for the World Series this summer, I saw a lady that had the cutest pair of shoes on and I just had to have them...I searched and searched to no avail so I finally gave up. Well I found those this weekend too! I was meant to have those shoes...I just know it! They were the last pair, they were on sale, and they were my size!!!!! LOL :o)

Well, I suppose I have rambled on enough this morning...gotta get back to work. But before I do, could I ask you all to vote for me again? I would really appreciate it!! Click here if you think my site is worthy of the vote. Thanks so much and have a radiant day! =)

Good Monday afternoon!!! Boy what a weekend we had! I had so much fun with my family...it was so nice to see everyone. My grandmother is on her way back to Georgia and we are all back to our normal routines. Now if I could just get caught up...that would be even better! This four-day weekend is going to kick my tail this week! =)

I would like to thank everyone that has sent me blog awards and winter greetings...I will get them all added tonight. I am going to send winter/Christmas cards out to you all, but I need to figure out how to add text first!! LOL Poor, poor me...I am just ignorant when it comes to this graphic stuff!! Maybe someone will feel sorry for me and do it for me! (just kidding) :o)

Well, I must get back to the grindstone and get some work done. I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon! =)