Time to get to work...

That's right you read it right WORK...

Talk about being completely excited...Month's ago a friend mentioned a company called "West @ Home". Of course I was skeptical at first and looked it up online and she even said one of her friends worked for them for years. So I applied, couldn't hurt right? I would work from the privacy of my OWN office, on my computer, and using the phone. I would be contracted out to fortune 400 companies and do customer service basically. I get to select my OWN hours, not to mention I dont have to get out of my pajama's if I don't want to and when Elora starts Kindergarten it will be the PERFECT job for me.

I got the acceptance email Christmas morning and can't wait to get started. Back to some much desired extra cash and help build some in savings. Couldn't be happier about it!

Survival of the fitest...

::Whew::

As you can see we made it there and back in ONE piece. The drive to AR was a long and grueling 13 hr drive which let me tell you, you couldn't PAY me enough to live in Alabama...talk about BACK woods man...you can hear the song from deliverance in the background.

Our visit went fine.

The great grandparents ::LOVED:: seeing everyone and we are glad it made their time. We were there from December 20th until December 29th. The drive home was much better and a bit shorter since we didn't go through the long haul of Alabama...

We survived the cold temp that only occured ONE night which honestly was quite laughable. It got to 17 and then most of the time was in the mid 60's to low 70's talk about disappointment in the weather.

The kids were nice and happy. Santa brought them lots of toys and fun goodies to play with and keep them occupied while we were there. We also got to visit with a couple of Mark's high school buddies that we still keep in touch with which was really great and we thank them profusely for their hospitality.

I have TONS of pictures to go through and actually filled up my memory card and didn't bring the 4 G with me lol. I am currently going through 256 pictures and rotating and all that and will post some of Christmas day ect.

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and have a happy and safe New Year!!

December is in the air

It is definately getting closer to Christmas and almost in a state of panic! Still haven't finished Christmas shopping, thank goodness my cards were made back in Oct or I would of said forget it and sent regular cards haha. Two more weeks and we're off to Arkansas (eek) to spend a week with Mark's Grandparents, the children's GREAT grandparents. This should be interesting to say the least. The last time we saw Papa was summer 2005 so it's been a while. We wanted to make sure we saw him in good spirits while there was still time left. This next week should breeze on by I know this past week sure did.

Did great on some Ebay listings, much better than I had originally anticipated. That will be a nice cushion for us on our trip and we are planning to go to Tampa when we get home. I am so excited about Tampa. We've never been there before and it will be our first time going to the Busch Gardens Africa there. We will take a few days and do Tampa for a day, drive into Orlando (think it is an hour away or less) check into our hotel, then go to Sea World and come home. Island Adventure which is the water park in Tampa isn't open right now which blows my mind being in Decemnber its 90's out there! Crazyness!

Next friday the kids have their "holiday dance" too cute. Both boys want to go so they are doing that. On the 9th Elora's class will be singing for the base during one of the holiday festivals. Thursday they took pictures with "Santa" at Elora's Ballet studio and those pictures will be in on the 16th.

The kids get out of school for winter break starting the 19th of December and we are leaving the 20th.

A bit of an update on school reports...Caleb made honor roll which we are extremely proud of him. He had 2 B+'s and an A and got awards for good citizenship and grades. Well we just got another progress report this past week for his 2nd 9 weeks and he has pulled one of his B+'s into an A!! He is on his way to making the straight A honor roll which we couldn't be any prouder of him! He is doing awesome! He is one of the best readers in her class and thriving on his learning enviroment. Andrew's first report card didn't do too well but he has brought his grades up and with help from Mom and Dad, his teacher and trying to get him more services on his IEP we are working on improving his grades and getting him the attention he needs.

Where did November go?

I have no idea where this month went! We got report cards last Friday...We had seen progress reports so no surprises there. Caleb made honor roll for having an A/B report card so he will be mentioned at the ceremony tomorrow!! We're excited to see him get his award. Andrew is still struggling even more so since now he has 7 teachers. He is in an inclusion class and it isn't helping him at all. I have a meeting Dec 1st to get some things taken care of. I think it is just too much for someone like Andrew to deal with 3 teacher's amongst his other teachers for art, gym, and music not to mention his speech teacher. Well they didn't want to help until after the 9 weeks and until he was failing well guess what both has passed. He is failing the two classes that he switches to when it should be 1 teacher and he has admitted he is scared of both of them and it is showing. So I have some things to discuss with his home room teacher. I have been helping him as much as I can and his tests are coming up to A's and B's so hopefully we're pulling his grades up.

Tomorrow "twilight" comes out. I really want to see this but it might have to wait until Sunday *sigh*. I was going to go in the afternoon but then I was informed that Caleb's ceremony was going on and Mark's flight leaves at 7:55 pm so Im not sure how much time I have inbetween lol. He has to be at the airport probably around 6:30 ish. He is going to AR to visit his friend Lewis and Saturday they are going to the Metallica concert and then Sunday he is flying home early in the morning lol.

Can't believe that next Thursday is Thanksgiving already. Ever since moving here it feels like I blink and time just lapses so quickly. I've got SOME Christmas shopping done but not all. Not getting too much since we have to haul it to Dermott, AR. Hopefully things go as planned.

Feels like Fall Finally

Took some pictures and the lighting seemed gracious and enabled me to get some great pics of the kiddos.

November already

Wow! November already. Seems ever since we moved here to Jacksonville the time just wiz's on by so quickly. Already in November, we've lived here 4 months which seems like a life time away already. Guess you guys can tell we like it here rather than counting down our days till we move like we did in VA lmfao. Halloween was fun. I passed out Candy until we ran out and the kids and Mark walked around the neighborhood trick or treating. Unfortunately I think I caught a cold rather than some ghouls.

Mark had duty this weekend but unlike what we are used to he only had to go in if he had a watch and he did this morning from 12 am until 7:30 am and now he is home sleeping lol. Our plans seems definately for xmas now. We are traveling the 6+ hours to Dermott AR and spending a little less than 2 weeks there at Mark's grandparents house. It may very well be the last time we see his grandfather alive. Mark thinks that us visiting is the only thing keeping his grandfather alive. It is very sad to think that way but we also must prepare ourselves as well. Thankfully the therapist Mark dragged us to agree's that we don't need his Mother, sister, and niece there this round being things are still very tense and nasty between us (meaning them and me). I wasn't looking forward to going with them being there and me having to hold my temper to not ruin our potential last days with his grandfather.

So starting to get ideas for Christmas presents and need to get a tote and try and fit it all in there and hide it away so the kids don't find anything they aren't supposed to. That might be tricky but Im sure I can conceal it hehehe.

Here are some photo's of Halloween:

The children ready to go T0T

mark dressed up too this year

Halloween 2008

Finished!

Well that didn't take long now did it lol. I'm finished reading "Twilight" eager to see the movie and thirsty for more to come...Tomorrow I will be buying the rest of the books so I can go on with out inturruption! I can't wait. A book hasn't made me feel like this in a very long time. I felt completely addicted and consumed by Edward and Bella, hoping for more, not being able to rest until I've read the last page with high anticipation for what is to come.