Thanksgiving.

Well, first off I just want to say.

I can't breathe through my nose :( A few days ago it started as just a little tickle and since then has developed into a MONSTER. I go back to work tomorrow (on Black Friday) I hope I survive.

Other than my Thanksgiving cold, the holiday has been fabulous :)

My dad came Tuesday night and after a few hours of playing with the kids a mysterious white garbage bag appeared under the Christmas tree... (my dad got super creative with that one lol)

He said Santa must have made a pre-christmas stop b/c they have been so good. Really, the kids didn't care they were already digging through the bag. There was a few little toys and a connect four game which has been really entertaining for them. Chris and I also got a wall clock from Santa. I hadn't realized until my dads last visit that Chis and I didn't have a wall clock anywhere in the house. We always use our cell phones :/ Turns out the kids LOVE being able to tell the time. lol.

Chris cooked a ham and a turkey Wednesday and I made the fixins: mashed potatoes, corn, shells and cheese, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and crescent rolls. It all turned out amazing and this year I didn't burn the sweet potato casserole :)

The kids had so much fun showing Grandpa Pack the Christmas tree and all the decorations we have put up so far. I'm not finished yet though! You know me.. I'm Penny Pinching Polly, so I have of course gotten all the decorations from the dollar store, thrift stores, or the kids and I have made them ourselves :) I even used a coupon to get the Christmas tree! Judge me if you want. I love being frugal!

Speaking of frugal... Mary had requested a Furby on her Christmas list. I did a quick search on Amazon and saw that they were going for a pretty penny and went ahead and put a red "X" over that one. Not on her list but in my mind :) So, anyways last week we stopped by the Goodwill in Lafayette to look at some Christmas decor and I was letting the kids look at the toys but I told them since it is so close to Christmas there would be no toy buying. Well, whada know, there sits a FURBY in the ORIGINAL BOX. Mary is begging and pleading for me to get this Furby. It's all she's ever wanted. She will never ask for anything else as long as she lives. lol. I am the queen of restraint and said no, but while her back was turned I grabbed it and took it up front and payed for it :) it was 2.99! I figure if it works I just scored the deal of the year, and if it doesn't I'm only out 3 bucks. Do not under any circumstances mention this to Mary if she is around. You will ruin it.

And today was Thanksgiving and we got off to a great start :) met my Aunt Kathy this morning with dad before he headed back home. Then the kids, Chris, and I went to my moms for Thanksgiving dinner :) We were packed in there like sardines but I love being with my (extremely loud) family. Poor little London, even in her unborn state, was terrified to move so I could feel. I suppose this is something she will have to get used to. As I sit here tonight, I really want to have a baby. lol. Who knows what this next year will hold? Maybe, I will have to be content with spoiling my newest niece :)

Onward to Christmas! I'm very excited and it will be here and over before we know it and a new year begins... Where has the time gone? The kids are getting so big and smarter every day... It makes me nostalgic but proud. Sometimes I try to picture how they will be as adults and what they are going to do with their lives... this must be the tryptophan talking...

And to end this blog, an actual conversation between Ethan and Grandpa Pack:
Ethan- When you go to heaven one day who is going to get your cane?
My dad- Well, I haven't really thought much about that. I hope I wont go to heaven for a while longer.
Ethan- Well, I was just thinking one day when I get older I might have a bad leg and need a good cane.
My dad- That's true. I'll keep you in mind.

I love that my dad is getting to spend this time with the kids :) They brighten his day so much and seeing them together warms my heart :)

Well deserved *me* time.

Well, the year is winding down and in a way I wish I could say that my to-do list is.... but as most mothers and wives know it NEVER does. lol.

One thing that I have told my self lately that I must do, is to start finding someway to do something for myself. I spend every waking moment doing for Chris and the kids, or working. My first year of marriage has been a blessing, but one lesson I have learned is that I can't do EVERYTHING.

I am a control freak. I like doing things my way. I'm having to do a better job at letting this go (for my sanity).

Number one on the list is taking better care of myself :) I have started a diet. I downloaded My Fitness Pal on my phone and so far it has been wonderful. I know why I have never counted calories before... b/c after 200-300 I lose count. MFP keeps up with it for me and it also has a large data base of restaurant foods and grocery foods that I can quickly look up. I recommend the app.. It's been a life saver :) So far I have lost 5 pounds. I have always been impatient with weight loss , but this time I am determined to do it the healthy way. So, if that means I lose it slowly, that's fine, as long as I keep it off :)

I went for a walk a couple of days ago and I was really surprised at how out of shape I am. I guess I just assumed that b/c I work on my feet I was in decent shape.... no I'm not. lol. Just walking for 45 minutes was a workout. I've got some improving to do there.

Number two, hopefully I will be returning to school in January. It will all come down to the financial aid. I'm excited and nervous, but I know it will be worth it. I want to do it for me, but also for my family. We deserve some financial stability :)

Also, a little update on my downstairs... I seem to have had two cycles in the past two months. I'm hoping that somehow (maybe the weight loss?) my body is finally getting its hormones leveled out. It would be great :) Right now it is the 29th day of my cycle and for 2 days now I have been cramping... so I'm hoping that Aunt Flo is about to show up. If this is TMI for you, pretend you didn't read it.

Besides Aunt Flo deciding to show up at random my Baby Fever has reared its nasty head again :/
I blame Rachel and my SIL Alicia (who just found out she is having a bebe girl). I just want to have a sweet smelling little bundle of joy to hold... I want a boy b/c they are less drama, but I want a girl to dress up. Eh, well if it's meant to be then it will happen (but that's a hard pill to swallow...).

Tonight was one of the few nights here lately that the kids and I just got to chill. After I cleaned the house up a bit we just relaxed. It was so nice not having to hustle to get homework, baths, and supper done. Or worry about dance practice or cub scouts. I wanted the kids to be involved in something besides just going to school, but MAN I didn't think about how much EXTRA work I was adding to myself. lol.

Well, I'm going to wrap this up :) Can't wait for girls night monday with Rachel :) BD part DEUX!

a quick update on gilbert happenings!

So, I decided I would jot down a few lines before going to bed. I've taken a sleep aid so don't judge me if my typing gets a little slurred as I  go on. lol.

Well, in case you didn't know I had applied for a job with Walker county family and children services. It was something I was really keeping my fingers crossed for. It would have been flexible for my schedule and would have been a steady income which my family desperately needs. Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

:(

Since that didn't pan out for me I have decided to go back to school :) it's something that I have been wanting to do for some time now but for different reasons have been putting it off. No more shenanigans though! I'm going to go hard and get it done. Hopefully, I will be able to go back in January as long as I can get the right financial aid (fingers crossed!). I'm both scared and excited :/

The kids are also doing fabulous :) My dad was able to come stay with us a few days for Halloween and the kids LOVED having him here. Honestly, I think they almost killed him within that short period of time. Grandpa! Grandpa! For once they weren't shouting my name every few minutes. lol.

Last weekend we had our annual family photos made :) Maybe you have seen them on Facebook? They turned out great! Better than I thought actually. It was soooo soooo very  cold that day, and the kids were pretty miserable. Poor Joey is skin and bones as it is, poor fella.

I'm getting reallllly sleepy.....

One more thing! I have started a diet, and so far I have lost 5 pounds :) I'm very excited about it. I've been using my fitness pal for 2 weeks and have steadily been dropping weight, and the best part is I don't have to deny myself anything! I can have a candy bar if I want it, I just have to remember that it is going against my calories. Next week I want to start going walking a few days a week :) I also want to start hiking some. I haven't been hiking in years, but it's something I miss.

Any who, I need  to be getting off here. Update soon!