The Time Has Come -- Almost

I can't believe it, but the time is almost here. I'm leaving at sunrise on Saturday to meet my friend from Kalamazoo (that's such a fun word to say) and then it's on to Chicago for TWO Bon Jovi concerts. One Saturday night and one Sunday. If I could've swung it, I'd be going to the one on Tuesday night, but I'll just have to suffer only going to two. I haven't read any good reviews on how well the camera I have works in the concert setting, but I'm hopeful. It has to be better than my film camera where you could be two feet away from somebody and it looks like you were twenty. I'm sure I'll have more to post on Monday, when I finally get home. Poor Jason, here by himself with all four kids!

On the Job Front

I realized I haven't updated anyone on what's going on with the jobs. Jason has decided to stay at TOFG and take night school to get certified in Oracle. Don't ask me what that is, I just know it has something to do with computers. The only thing I know about computers is how to get to the web, which really, is all I need. His classes are a "work at your own pace" kind of thing, but he should be done by next April. I must say, I haven't seen him this excited about anything in a long time.


I applied for a job at Caelyn's school as a Media Tech, which is just a glorified librarian. I got a call from the high school that they wanted to interview me. Then Caelyn's school called and also wanted to set up an interview. I thought both interviews went well and was worried about having the high school call me before the intermediate school, which was the one I really wanted. Guess I didn't have to. I got a letter in the mail from the high school. Well, they're not going to send me a letter to tell me I have the job. Not ten minutes after reading that letter, the phone rings and it's the principal from Caelyn's school. Okay, I know my oldest isn't the one who's going to get in trouble, so I know it's about the job and can barely contain my joy. Until he starts to speak and explain they were looking for more of an IT person at their site. Well, crud. So I go from being the most popular girl at the prom to being the wallflower nobody wants to dance with.... Oh well, leaves more time to goof off! :D

Stay away!

I don't think you can catch human viruses over the computer, but you can't say I didn't warn you. About two weeks ago, Wyatt came home from school coughing. I let him go the next day, but by the time he got home he was wheezing. So I kept him home the rest of the weekend, giving him time to get over it. Well, he didn't get over it and instead decided to share it with the rest of us! Larkin has had the cough and runny nose for about the same length of time. I've decided there are too many places they could have picked it up. So this week, Wyatt's cough wasn't bad enough to keep him home, and he wasn't acting sick anyway, so I sent him. Then yesterday, we went with my parents to pick up their new trailer. Wyatt fell asleep on the way home. We stopped at McDonalds for lunch and he hardly woke up for that and didn't even touch the fries. Now I know he's really sick, if he won't touch fries! We got home and he fell asleep on the floor for a little bit, but then decided the couch would be a more comfortable place. He was burning up when he woke. One hundred and two temp. Then this morning, I looked in his mouth and he has white blisters on his tongue. Great, strep?? And fever is still here. Unfortunately, if you try to give him medicine, he throws it back up (and Larkin wants to investigate -- ewwww!) So, getting him to drink all his juice with the medicine in it is a challenge. Going to take him to immediate care tomorrow to get tested for strep. Caelyn is the only one who doesn't seem to be sick at all. I think we're all just passing it back and forth. Maybe we should just spray Lysol on EVERYTHING!

And on top of this, I had a tooth pulled on Wednesday, and now it's infected. (Gross, I know) The doctor can't get me in till Monday and won't call a prescription in without seeing me. The only dentist I know who won't do this. It's not like I'm asking for Vicodin. Actually, I have plenty of that, thank goodness, as this "tooth" is bothering me somethin fierce and now I have a fever, sore throat and cough. So, anyone want to miss work for a week, come visit.....

We're on the hunt

Jason came home last Thursday and told me that he was quitting his job. Umm, what?? He does realize he is the bread winner for this family, right? His boss was out of town and Jason hadn't told him yet, so I spent the whole weekend trying to convince him to stick it out just a little longer. That didn't work. He read through all the classified ads over the past week. Searched on the internet. Even applied somewhere. I have applied at the library and for a position out at Caelyn's school. They are both part time jobs, but I don't know if I'm ready for a full time job after being at home so much. Grandma has graciously agreed to watch the kids, saving childcare expenses, which would negate any money I might make anyway. And here I thought I was just going to wait until my modeling career took off. :D

Anyone know of employment opportunities? I'll take anything. No, not really. Although, the free coffee for Starbucks employees sounds really good......

PBA take notice!

For those that don't know, Jason can bowl a pretty mean game. Me? I could bowl a 300 if you added five of my games together. Around here, it seems as if everyone is on a league. Caelyn's friend's mom asked me if I thought Caelyn might like to join her daughter on a bowling team for a short season. It only runs from Jan through April. Caelyn seemed pretty excited about it, so I decided to sign her up. And then I thought about Piper, who seems to be feeling left out of a lot of things lately, so I asked her if she would like to do. She was also very enthused. I was hoping to get Piper onto a team with other eight or nine year olds, give her someone her age to play with. When we got to the bowling alley Saturday morning, we had to fill out some forms to register, took fifteen minutes to get the right bowling shoes (apparently Piper has weirdly sized feet that don't fit in bowling shoes), and got sent down to a lane. Caelyn, Piper, Caelyn's friend Lexus and a friend from school Ty were all on one team.

Around the third frame of the first game (they play three every Saturday), something became very apparent -- Piper has never bowled without bumpers before. That poor girl hit the gutter for 20 straight balls. There were a couple of times I thought she might have the strength and roll to knock at least one down, but she got a big ol' goose egg for her total. Off course, it's hard to throw straight when you're crying. Plus, the ball is a quarter of her weight. I will give her points for bowling the whole first game. One of the alley employees was trying to give her pointers, but it didn't help much. Piper decided to sit out the last two games and instead used that time to beg me for money to use in the arcade. Finally gave in and gave her two quarters, one of which she spent on candy. Next time I'll remember to take snacks. So, the nice alley lady said there was no reason that Piper couldn't get "bumped" down to the bumper bowler league. The age limit is six, but at least she'll knock some pins down!

Caelyn did pretty good. Now, I should've qualified this by saying that really, this is only the second time these girls have bowled. Around here it seems as if these kids are born with a bowling ball on their tiny hands. (Probably felt like it to their moms, too!) Caelyn even got a couple of strikes, or at least they would have been if she hadn't sunk the first one into the gutter. For some reason they call that a spare. Whatever. :) I could tell she was losing steam in the third game, because it started to look like Piper bowling up there with all those zeroes. I think her last game she bowled a fifteen. The first game was a forty-eight and the second game was a fifty-six. I thought she did pretty darn good. Of course, add all three of her scores together and it still doesn't add up to what Ty bowled his last game.

Caelyn was having fun and that's all I can ask for. I think Piper will have more fun next week when her ball stays on the lane. The girls are already visiting the pro shop and picking out which balls they want.

Rockstar Family

It was a good Christmas here for us. I got that wonderful new digital camera (thanks mom and dad!) and have enjoyed taking tons of pictures. Not to mention a couple of movies. Larkin's gotten over the "froggy" dance, though. Sorry, Amanda. I guess you'll just have to see her headbanging.

Since Jay and I decided that my two February Bon Jovi concerts were going to be my Christmas present this year, he decided he needed something comparable. So, he got an XBOX 360, plus the Guitar Hero III game. He tried to get me to let him open it before Christmas, but I wouldn't let him. Hey, he could have to wait another two months for it like I have to! If Jason hadn't set up the 360 downstairs, I'd never see him. He loves playing Guitar Hero. For those that don't know, you have a play guitar with 5 buttons that correspond to notes coming towards you and you have to play along. So much easier to watch than play. I have tried my hand at it. Definitely need more practice. Maybe if they'd add some Bon Jovi songs I'd get better at it quicker. Maybe I should write to Activision and suggest it......

The two older girls have gotten into it. Caelyn actually did a pretty decent job this morning on "Hit me with your Best Shot." Piper didn't do so well, but I know if Daddy ever gives up the guitar to them, I'm sure they'll make a career out of it. I think Larkin's getting into the act. She loves to headbang (literally) on the sofa and she loves to dance around. And she's got the attitude, too. See?



I think the hair and the sneer just emphasize the rocker in her. Hannah Montanna, watch your back, cause this little one's gonna knock you offa your throne!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Y'all!! I was just trying out my new Christmas present today and thought I would share the results:




Isn't she pretty? So, if you didn't figure it out, I got a new digital camera. Nice, small, has a zoom and is capable of taking more than 4 pictures at one time. Better than Superman! Can' wait to use it when I see Bon Jovi in Chicago in February. Maybe I'll actually get some decent pictures.

So, this was just a little note to wish you a wonderful Christmastime. I hope everyone had fun today and got and gave everything they wanted. Unfortunately, there was no brand new car with a big red bow and my name on it in the driveway this morning, but now I have something to hope for for my birthday. :) Merry Christmas and God bless you everyone!