I'M ALIVE!!!

To those of you who have not yet received a Christmas card from us, I apologize. We actually didn't send any Christmas cards, so don't feel bad! Yeah, I'm a little bit behind on a few things (laundry, blogging, sleeping, and the list goes on). So, here's a belated "Happy Thanksgiving", "Merry Christmas", and a "Happy New Year" to everyone! Hope your holidays were great!

We have been busy, as usual. I'm still working 40 hours a week, swing shift, at the cheese factory. Yes, a cheese factory which is quite interesting to say the least. I'm still searching for that perfect work-at-home job but I have yet to find it. Besides the cheese factory job, I'm at home doing the mom and homemaker thing. And I have a really hard time balancing everything else that I would like to do. Hence, the complete lack of posting for the past few months. Things I miss since working nights: spending the evenings with Dave, blogging, graphic designing, photography, crafting, eating dinner as a family, and watching movies, to name a few. Sigh. . hopefully I can resume those things again in the near future.

Dave is getting close to finishing his appraisal training! Yea, happy dance! He is also still going to school. He applied for a couple of jobs and we are waiting to hear back on them. Send all your Dave-will-get-a-job good vibes this way please! In addition to all of that, Dave is going to be finishing our basement in the next few weeks. Yes, you read right. With the help of a very nice neighbor, Dave will be finishing two bedrooms downstairs. I'm quite excited about it!

Emma is doing well. She loves school and her reading has really taken off. She continues to be a great help to me and loves to play with Layla. McKay turned five on January 3rd. He loves to play the Wii and the gameboy. He's excited to go to school in the fall. Sophie is also excited about going to school. She tells everyone that she gets to go to school in two birthdays. I'm pretty sure she doesn't understand that it is still two plus years away. Oh well! Layla is just a delightful baby. She is walking all over and is a very happy girl.

So there you go. An update of sorts. I'd like to say I'll post more often, but I really don't know if I will. I want to post more, but my time management skills are awful. And if anyone out there knows of any legitimate work-at-home jobs, please let me know! I miss being at home!

Eight is Great

8 TV Shows I Watch:
1. Lost
2. 24
3. House
4. The Office
5. Grey's Anatomy
6. Heroes
7. Man vs. Wild
8. Friday Night Lights

8 Things That Happened Yesterday
1. I got enough sleep
2. I went shopping at my favorite craft store
3. I went to work
4. I showered
5. I read a book
6. I got really cold at work
7. I sat on the heater vent with a blanket (one of my favorite things to do)
8. I played with the kids

8 Favorite Places to Eat
1. Rudy's
2. Salsalitos
3. Pei Wei
4. Cafe Sabor
5. Macaroni Grill
6. The Bluebird
7. Cafe Rio
8. Cheesecake Factory

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To
1. Finding a way to make money from home instead of at the cheese factory
2. Having time to work on my photography
3. Christmas
4. Dave finishing his appraisal training
5. Watching Christmas movies
6. Visiting my family
7. Decorating my house
8. Starting some sort of business

8 Things on My Wishlist
1. A few camera accessories (lenses, flash, lightsphere, etc.)
2. An entry table (more specifically the wood for an entry table that I want to make)
3. A wall shelf
4. A playhouse for the kids
5. A finished basement
6. A manicure
7. Home decor
8. Books


8 People I Tag
1. Rebecca
2. Lizzy
3. Carolyn
4. April
5. Marie
6. Julia
7. Peggy
8. Summer

Done or not done

100 things I've done, or not done. The bolded ones are the things I've done. What have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

For all the Star Wars and John William fans out there

Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!

I love themed costumes! And just so everyone is clear: I was Wendy, Dave was Peter Pan, Emma was Princess Tiger Lily, McKay was Captain Hook, Sophie was Tinker Bell, and Layla was the teddy bear or a lost boy.

These pictures are from a Halloween party we went to last Saturday. I had to work last night so the kids dressed up again and Dave took them trick or treating. They also carved some pretty sweet pumpkins. I'm sad I missed it! I also missed Halloween last year as I was in the hospital after just having Layla. Hopefully next year I'll be able to join in the trick or treating fun!

Quick update: I started working full-time swing shifts so I have no time! And the time I do have is spent trying to catch up on household duties and sleep. Layla turned one on October 30th! My sweet little baby is one year old now! Time has gone by much too quickly this past year. I am excited about going on a girl trip this next weekend to Park City. The thought of three days of shopping, no kids, and hanging out with the girls just has me giddy and helps me get through work each day! Other then that, life keeps on moving. I wish I had more time to blog, but you all know how life is. Crazy! Busy! Full of adventure!