Elf in our house...

Mack heard about this book from a friend and after we read the story at the bookstore we were sold. It is essentially a "where's waldo?" The elf is watching the little boys and girls and reporting to Santa nightly on their behavior. Then in the morning he is in a different place in the house and the children are supposed to find him. Joseph named our elf, ELF. Last night he found him sitting on a photo ledge in his bedroom. This morning he hasn't yet found him...but he's watching him from the top of the hutch in the kitchen. The story goes that on Christmas Eve he goes back with Santa until next holiday season...great idea.

Ho Ho Ho

Fortunately Santa wasn't creepy this year...and we got JMS to smile!

Blogging Abscence

I apologize for not blogging lately. There have been a combination of issues going on...the touchpad on our new laptop was too sensitive...so everytime I touched it while typing it would transport me to a different window or screen and I'd lose my work. That is fixed now. (Hug Hug...Kiss Kiss for my wonderful hubby.) With this being said...many have asked what type of laptop we got. It is a Dell Inspiron 1545. No, it doesn't have Windows 7, yet...but it will soon.

Part 2 of my list of excuses...it is the holiday season and I work retail. Need I say more? Well...yes, I should. I interviewed on Friday 12/11...with the regional VP and he signed off on my to begin my Store Manager training. I'm slotted to take my own store as early as February 2010! Yes, very excited, but it has been down-played by all b/c of how busy this time of year is for all of us.

Part 3...I've been doing my holiday "to-dos"...shopping...wrapping...shipping...making...earning my elf ears. :) We got the gifts in the mail today that needed to go out of state...this year they will make it before Christmas. Yeah!

Part 4...I've been accused of being a Facebook addict. Ok...so I play this farm game on the program with my son...I'm sure its teaching him several things...money management...how to plant seeds...how to pet animals...and how to use the computer...Ok...so I'm into the Facebook stuff...but, my reason for joining the program still stands: I'm keeping up with my brother's activities while deployed. And, he is doing well. He received the mini tree we sent, and has since decorated it with all of the ornaments everyone sent to him. Now I'm thinking up a few more activities we can do as a family to keep in touch with him.

Part 5 JMS is now very interested in the computer and pushing its buttons. We've let him play a game or two on PBS.org...so now when I sit down he tells me he wants to help me with my "log"...aka Blog. :) And, he is the extra special helper everyone always dreamed of...today he "matched" all of our shoes. Our closets have never looked so organized. He likes to help me cook...try cracking a hard-boiled egg...haha, he nearly tore the thing in half. But he is a good stirrer...and did a great job with mixing corn bread(an activity mom used to have me do at her house). [Laura, the Easy Brownie Pan made perfect corn bread squares too!]

Part 6...not really an excuse...but definitely something we've accomplished in the past 60 days...JMS is wearing underwear and using the "potty" like a big boy!!! This was one of the most dreaded activities for me with regard to parenting...but I'm sure other parents will tell me that there are many more to come. (driver's education etc...)

To make everyone feel better...now that the computer is more user friendly...I'll post more.

Will's Tree

It might be a small picture...of a small tree...but I wanted to thank everyone who sent mini ornaments to my brother while he is deployed.

Dinner

We have a new computer and I do not like where certain buttons are located...I've had to retype this about nine times since the function button depresses when I hit the shift key...Ahhhh. I'd rather go back to the computer missing the button heads...

Fish tacos:

Mix this ahead of time:
4 cups coleslaw mix
1/4 cup mayo
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp zest of lime
lime juice (whole lime squeezed)
1/4 thinly sliced red onion

Bake: 6 breaded popcorn shrimp per taco

Taco shells or soft tacos...assemble and enjoy.

Wow...how time flies

It actually has almost been a full two weeks since I last blogged. What have I been doing? Well, I've been figuring out all of the finer details of Facebook. It is amazing how much I've learned about friends and family in just two weeks. I guess stuff I wanted to know...and other stuff I wish I could delete from my visual memories.

We also had visitors from Tennessee, worked quite a bit, had another interview (postponed) and now are fighting a cold...well, JMS has a full blown cold and the rest of us are deflecting minor symptoms.

In regard to the visitors from Tennessee...a huge thank you to Kim and her little troopers for making the trip...in the dark...and cold...and staying with us for a few days. JMS is still talking about Joshua and Baby Zoe. When it was time for them to leave, Kim's car battery was dead, so we had to tap into our old survival skills...these two ole girls jump started a car and headed to Auto zone. :) No one said we had to be creative.

As far as working...'tis the season...from now until Christmas I will be at the store every single weekend. This past Wednesday I worked until 2am getting the store filled for today's big sales. Hopefully it is going well...I don't go in until later today to clean up the mess.

I was scheduled to interview for promotion this past Tuesday, but it was postponed due to two funerals in our region that the Vice President wanted to attend. The interviews are now scheduled for Dec. 11. Sometimes I feel like this process will never end. I'm sure my loyal readers feel the same way...I've lost count of how many times I've interviewed now. And, all of them have been progressive. Can you imagine if I had to repeat rounds due to something not going my way? Yikes.

Lastly...JMS is sick. He's been home from "work"(a.k.a. the babysitters) all week. He calls it work because he gets to "pick toys." Hopefully he can get through this without a trip to the doctor's office.

Displays are displays

So...for all of you holiday shoppers...leave the displays alone. They are not for sale and most of them do not function. Please leave the displays alone...ask for help if you don't see the item you absolutely must have for the holidays. Please do not touch. :)

I was walking by the crockpots today and a customer was taking my display. Then she says..."hey lady, I'd prefer one in a box if you've got it." I said, "well, let me get someone to help you since that one doesn't work and ISN'T for sale." Was that rude? Me or her?