Hello 2008!

Happy New Year, everyone! I have great expectations for 2008, I think it's going to be a great year. It started out great, as we had a few friends over to help us bring in the new year together. It was the perfect mix of new friends and old. What a great time. I didn't know if we were going to do anything, as Big D lost his job last week. I was a little upset, but now look at this as a fresh start. We know the company wasn't going to back him up on anything, and he was going to leave them anyway, so it just happened a little sooner than we had anticipated. Some highlights of the evening were: * Julie learning how to play pool * Ted doing his 'grinding' thing * Roger, Debbie and Wayne actually showing up! * "Who sprayed the fire extinguisher on his ass?!" And now for the lowlights: * Coming back from the store to find Julie and Kramer looking for Rolaids * People stepping on poor Spotsy * Finding the bottle of JD empty, and knowing exactly what that meant * Finding out who sprayed the fire extinguisher on his ass Yes, it was a great party. Please don't ask about the fire extinguisher. I think it's enough to say that my parties are always fun, and usually very entertaining, as well! Here we go, 2008. I hope you're a better year than 2007!

Goodbye 2007!

2007 has been a very challenging year, to say the least! Here are 10 things I have learned (and blogged about) this year: 10. How to deal with a Toxic Boss. 9. The damage that a microwave can inflict upon your sponge. 8. Taking Claritin D equates to some of the old days in high school. ;o) 7. Just how cold (and HOT) it can get on a motorcycle in the desert! 6. Finding out your hubby is in jail feels like being on candid camera (without the laughs)! 5. How to put together the many pieces of a very complicated secret-marriage puzzle. 4. Rogue waves in Virginia can cause serious injuries! 3. People will not steal your SlimFast from the company fridge if they are wrapped with creamed corn labels! 2. I look HOT in chaps! :o) 1. I am so blessed to have such a great husband, family and friends! Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2008 is more interesting, and maybe a bit less challenging! ;o)

My Little Christmas Tree

Today Vicki's school 'theme' was dress like a Christmas tree. She wore brown pants (for the stump) a green shirt (the only one she had) and we put garland (beads) and ornaments and a stocking on her. We topped her off with a Santa hat and a candy cane in her stocking!

Hubby's Christmas Party - Updated with Pics

So, D's company's party is tomorrow night. We're going to dinner at The Fox and the Hound, and then to a bar. So, Daryl said that he wanted to take the bike. I told him, we'll see how cold it is on Saturday.

Well, tonight, we went out to dinner at Top Shelf (great Mexican food!) and on the way home, I noticed it was freaking cold out! When we got home, I turned on the heat and threw a blanket over me. D said, "So are we taking the bike tomorrow night?" I could not believe he had to ask me. I was freezing just sitting in the house! I told him this, and he says, "Why don't you try on my chaps to see if they fit you."

So he brings them in from somewhere (I didn't pay attention to where he went) and drops them in my lap...they were freeeeeeezzzzzing! Hello? So then I tell him that they will probably be too short (yes, D is about an inch shorter than me). He tells me they might be ok, and to just try them. He got pretty insistent, so I agreed.

Now, please understand that I have never owned a pair of chaps in my life, so it took me a few moments to figure out how the hell to get them on. So, I struggle with getting them on the right way. I'm thinking, these are really heavy. I don't remember his chaps being this heavy. So I get them on properly and buckle them up. Then I realize that the length is perfect. I look at D, and he's smiling and shaking his head. That's when it finally dawned on me that these were my chaps! I was concentrating so hard on getting them on, I didn't even realize they weren't his! They are very nice insulated chaps, so now I won't freeze tomorrow night!

And while I did ask for chaps for Christmas this year, I didn't think I would get them until January, because they're pretty pricey. So I couldn't be more surprised, and thrilled! Thanks, Babe! ILY!

Note: I will update this post on Sunday with pictures!

Which Reindeer Are You?

You Are Blitzen

Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa. Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying! Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Sounds like me, doesn't it? ;o)

I took this from Ruth Ann, thank you!

A New Family Tradition?

This elf yourself thing is really catching on! This is my son Rex, his wife Deja and their friend Jason. Rexxy, I love your picture...you look so HAPPY! ;o) So here's the link. Jennann, sorry, but it's still brought to you by OfficeMax!

I Just Couldn't Resist!

It's a good thing I know my husband loves me, because I think he might be a little bit upset when he sees this! Click here to see us as elves! It takes a few minutes to load, but it's funny! Enjoy the laugh!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish all of my friends on blogger a very happy Thanksgiving. May all your turkeys come out moist! This is the first Thanksgiving in three years that I'm not dreading the holiday. Three years ago on Thanksgiving 2004 was the last time I saw my Dad before he passed away. We knew he was dying, so I spent a lot of quality time with him. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with the whole fam damily! We went for a ride in his truck to Dunkin' Donuts (his favorite coffee, too). We sat and talked. We sat in silence. I cried, a lot. When I left for the airport to come back home, saying goodbye to Dad was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my adult life. I knew it would be the last time I hugged him and it broke my heart. After he passed away in January 2005, I thought I would be ok by the holidays. I wasn't. The following June (2006), I started taking anti-axiety medications. I am happy to say that this is the first holiday that I have been "off the meds" and I am feeling good. I am able to have happy memories without crying for the first time in a very long time. This year, the holidays will be great again. So, again, I hope all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving, because I truly will this year.

Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day to all! Celebrate our great nation's independence with gusto today! It's going to reach temperatures of 117 here in the Valley of the Sun, so we'll work on staying cool. Our gusto: probably alternating bottles of beer with glasses of ice-cold water!

Hope everyone has a great day! Be safe!

How I Celebrate Mother's Day

This year, I am going to celebrate Mother's Day by sipping drinks by the pool all day. While I am doing that, I will be thinking about the following:

• Rex and his fiance Deja who are in Virginia, in the Navy. They are getting married in June, and then will be stationed in either Guam or Hawaii (come on, Hawaii!).
• Eric and his wife Toshia who are stationed in Korea for a year, at two separate bases 4 hours apart. It will be a tough year for them, but they will persevere.
• Samantha who is also stationed in Virginia, in the Navy. She's out on her first cruise on her ship as I write this.
• Vicki who is in her final days of the 3rd grade, with quite possibly the absolute worst 3rd grade teacher in the world.
• Big D - who gave me all these wonderful children to love and worry about.
• My Mom, whom I consider to be one of the luckiest women alive for being happily married to my father for so many wonderful years, and to have 3 beautiful daughters like us.
• My sisters, who both have great families.
• My niece who is expecting her first child; a son.
• My friends that have been through hell with their kids, and have finally gotten them on the right road; and the ones who are still fighting.

These are the people that will be in my thoughts on Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!