the latest...

Cal had a field trip yesterday to Old World Wisconsin, this place that is set up as a village from the 1880's. The kids all thought it was neat, but it was so darn cold. You walk from place to place outdoors, and many of the houses/replica shops have nothing more than an old wood stove to heat it up. I couldn't feel my toes! But it was still neat; I'd love to go back in the summer months when everything is open and it's WARM. Cal was happy to have me along, and I took pictures of their day but haven't uploaded them yet. i just have to mention the mom who was chaparoning-I am so intolerable of people like this (apparently way materialistic & incredibly vein) who for this outdoor field trip with 3rd graders on a 15 degree day was dressed like it was Rodeo Drive. A brunette long haired Posh Spice--she had some trendy little hat, her long hair completely curled, make up--and alot of it, her big bug sunglasses (sorry I can't stand those things!! I'm just too simple & plain, or unstylish, whatever you want to call me...), her Uggs, a giant Starbucks coffee in one hand, and her Blackberry or whatever in the other (and texting while on the trip). Ugh. I just don't get it. Just like when I see moms in malls pushing their kid's stroller looking like that...I will never understand the point. Was this gal trying to pick up the Blacksmith?? Maybe the shoe maker??

Today we had a style appointment at the place where we got Kaycey's wig from. It's only 4 months old and alot of hair is very brittle & has broken off, and it's gotten more difficult to style. Back when we got it our stylist recommended we call and complain about the quality (the stylist works for the same company as the guy we worked with to get it ordered and made; so to hear that from the stylist, we figured there must be something not right with the wig itself). I had called back then, the man never returned my voice mails. I kind of left it at that, after multiple attempts at getting a hold of him and he was always busy at the moment...but the past couple weeks it's been more and more obvious that it is a wig and the lacing beneath the hair has become visible at times. I made the appointment in hopes the stylist would help me do something with it to make it look better. She cut short bangs onto the front of it (which I am not a fan of, and I am hoping I can work with them) but they are to cover the line of the wig which is more noticable now. Kaycey seems to like the bangs since some of her friends at school have bangs but I think it looked better the way it was before; I think they'll look better if I curl them or something. Anyhow, she got the head honcho in the room to show him the issues with the wig. He seemed rude and unhappy; BUT he is having a new wig made for Kaycey, free of charge! I don't know if his personality is always like that, or if he's unhappy about forking out this wig for no cost. He maybe was unhappy about the job the other guy did, and about the quality of the product itself. He was shocked at the amount of hair there was on the wig for a 6 year old as well as the color; and mostly that it didn't seem to fit her head quite properly. They took a small chunk of Maddie's hair from underneath to match a good natural color and have it custom colored. So in about 6 weeks, we'll have a new one. I feel a little guilty for saying anything at all. I didn't expect a new wig out of it. (I may complain regularly about stuff, but I am really NOT one to complain directly to the source!).

Well, we didn't get as much snow around here as predicted, but still 5" or 6" on Tuesday. It started with a rain/sleet Monday night and changed over to all snow. It looked like a mess out there...I wouldn't know, I actually didn't leave the house from the time I got home Sunday from Dad & Maria's until Wednesday morning when I went on a field trip with Cal's class. I was partially afraid of getting stuck in the driveway again, and also it was nice to just stay in because I could. Didn't get a whole lot done...3 trees are decorated, with the big one to go, which we will do tonight.

Winter wonderland...

for real! and 6-12 more inches on the way. Wow. Apparently this winter is going to be a snowy one!!

So Wednesday I got stuck in the driveway. Again. Really stuck. Mike spent hours shoveling the driveway and around my car, which was stuck by the bottom of the driveway. Seriously this is going to be the longest winter ever, if it takes only a couple inches of snow to get stuck in the driveway. Much to Mike's dismay, I began looking for a new vehicle online. I looked up what our trade in value would be, and sent him links to the big honkin' SUV I'd be happy to drive through the snow (a pink escalade would nice, hehe : ). I got a big "NO" for a response, and he said that I'll be driving my minivan for 10 years (uh, no I won't). So definitely a long winter...well, I guess Ill either have to drive his truck, or his little Cavalier, which actually handles amazingly well in the snow.

So we got our real tree...well, Mike went and cut one down with the kids yesterday while I worked at the Scrapbook Store. I was a little disappointed not to come and take photos of the process, but I had complete trust in his choice for a tree. We like the big fat trees. It's not as tall as we initially thought we'd get (I thought we'd get at least a 10 footer and put it in front of our big window). But we ended up putting it in the corner where there isn't a high ceiling. It looks great and I can't wait to decorate it. The kids did their (new) tree the other night, and it's in the dining room.

I am living off of less than about 8 hours of sleep since Friday....I went to bed Friday around 1:30am and the kids were up by 6 getting their stockings from St. Nick. Yes, it was still pretty dark out. Then last night some friends and I hit the town (my town) to check out the bar scene. It was kind of lame, but we had fun anyways. They slept over and we were up till 5am, the big dorks we are, laughing and taking goofy pictures of ourselves. So I'm a little tuckered out so I'll leave it at that for now.

Crisis averted

and the snow is falling again... My van has gotten stuck in the driveway three times already. It's going to be a long winter.

Well, I don't know how, but mysteriously 2 boxes appeared in my dining room overnight. (I am guessing Mike drove to his parents house after work yesterday, otherwise it's magic). These 2 boxes contain what I believe is all the missing ornaments. Okay, so I had the bins full of the empty boxes of ornaments, and when we put the house up for sale (last winter) I did something I never do and I didn't pack some of the ornaments back in their original boxes. I put them in another box, thinking I would pack them away later. So somehow all the boxes got separated, and didn't necessarily get labeled and that's how they went missing...that is my guess anyhow. I am happy everything is now under one roof, at least for the most part!!

Bad news...the Christmas tree broke that used to be mine & my sister's for our ornaments growing up (it was now used for my kids'ornaments). It's a little sad, it was so old...I remember it being in our playroom when I was about 7 or 8 with our ornaments and paper chains and lights. I have pictures of it from way back then. But the legs on the stand cracked, and it won't stand up. So the kids need a new tree. Which really is okay, I'd like to get them a much taller (the old one was maybe 3 1/2 ft I think) tree to put up hallway upstairs or maybe in the dining room for all their ornaments. I want a Christmas tree in every room!

I spent THREE hours at Target today. Ridiculous, I know. I wanted to look at the trees, but didn't accomplish much of anything. I vow not to go there with Maddie anymore. I think she played with every single toy in the toy aisles. I thought I'd try to get some Christmas shopping started for the nieces and nephews; and while I walked out having spent over $200, I have no presents yet (Darn you, Target!!!) I bought a curtain rod and curtains for the dining room. I did buy a Christmas dress for Kaycey (she despises dresses). And an outfit for Maddie that was too cute to pass up. Cases of soda were 5 for $15, and you got a $5 gift card on top of that. I should go buy some more. I did get some stuff for the stockings for St. Nick, but not much. We do not go overboard or crazy on gifts for the kids in any way. For one, they have so much stuff the way it is. For two, there are so many relatives who buy for them. For three, it's just plain silly.

Mike has started working with his brother again, which is a little frustrating. There is so much work to be done on our own house. Anyhow...'

The kids have a 1/2 day of school day. Well, they get out at 1pm. They do that once or twice a month on a random day. It's sort of strange and I don't quite get it, but whatever. Cal is going over to his friend's house to play for a few hours, and I was hoping to take the girls to the library. But with the snow coming down, we'll see if I can make it out of the driveway...

Frantic...

Okay so I spent yesterday pulling out all the bins of Christmas decorations. I can't find my ornaments. I am positive I went through everything. I am freaking out. I am talking about thousands of dollars worth of ornaments. I have a particular collection series in which I have every single ornament (25+ years of them). Where could they be???? Mike doesn't think there is any more Christmas stuff at his parents. He's been acting like a turd the past couple days anyways, so he's not much help.

I'll be taking a drive to my in-laws to search (not today, because we got dumped on with snow and my vehicle does not drive well in the snow.)

SNEAK PEEK!!

i don't have time to upload all my pages of the December album seeing as it's dinner time, but here's a little peek : )

THE FRONT:

I have a long way to go yet, seeing as I don't even have it bound (I will use office rings and tie ribbons on them). But I think I've decided to finish it (17-31) without numbering pages, esp. since the last half of the month is much busier than the first half. That way, once I print the pictures and know what I am journaling, I can add the numbers then. I also have some baseball card protectors I want to cut up and add to this book for wallet sized photos.

After the snow today, I am much more in the holiday spirit. Goals for the week: 1) finish Dec. book and 2) pull aside all my Christmas decoration bins in the basement. I should probably get Mike to bring in our tall black bookshelves that are currently in the garage so I have a place to put some decorations!! We have to decide if we are getting a real or an artificial tree, too (we've had a real one since Mike and I got married)

More to come in the next couple days...