Merry Christmas

Oops....Wrong Holiday.

But seriously does this statement stress anyone else?

55 more days to go....

Yummy Baby

This might...quite possibly....be the cutest thing I have ever seen!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16178069

Fall News

I had to turn on the heat today. I had vowed to wait until after Thanksgiving to do this, but alas, 28 degrees outside makes for goose-bumpy kids, and icy toes so I had no choice but to bow to the energy gods. Putting aside the terrorizing thoughts of bigger electric bills, the chill in the air makes me very happy. I just love fall.

The kids had their fall break this past weekend so Jeff took off and we took the kids to Busch Gardens. (It was the last time we were going to be able to use our season passes that we got last year, and we won't be able to afford them this year.) It was a great weekend. During October the whole park becomes a Halloween dream land. Costumes, shows, decorations...it was fall-a-liscious! My absolute favorite part was being able to spend time with Jeff. I've missed him lately. With him working two jobs, we hardly see him any more. It was a lot of fun.

I cannot believe Halloween is just a little over a week away. I decided to be lazy this year with costumes. Whatever is in our costume box is what they will have to choose from. I cannot afford new ones for all five kids, and I do not have the energy to make them this year. What do ya do? What are your kids going to be?

So, it looks like we are going to have to put our other house on the market again. (the one my parents are renting) My mom has yet to find a job and I have a feeling they are going to have no choice but to move....so, we obviously cannot pay for two homes. It feels pretty hopeless at this point...I mean come on, who are we kidding, it is not going to sell. I am trying to stay positive...really I am. What is the worst thing that can happen? As much as I love fall, I wish I could just skip winter. Once Halloween is over I think I am going to get under a blanket and cuddle up until the spring. Humans should hibernate.

I'm No Expert

But....I found a few at this website.... allexperts.com

Very Cool, and Helpful.

Emily, Emily, Emily...The Explorer!

Emily is crawling and exploring and pulling herself up on everything in sight. She has even convinced herself that she can climb stairs...AND She isn't even eight months old yet!

Love At Home

Don't ya just love it when they actually get along?

Silver Lining

I think I have heard the saying "When it Rains it Pours" from at least ten different people over the last couple of days. I am kinda sick of hearing it...but, I suppose it is true. Why is it when one thing goes wrong in life it feels like EVERYTHING goes wrong? I do not want to bore you with all the stormy details but I have to say life has been less than sun-shiny around our home this week.

This unstable "weather" has resulted in Nicole Grump Fest-2008! I have not been a very nice person lately. Not to my husband or my kids. I woke up Monday morning VERY grumpy and as of this morning I am batting grumpy 100%....

But ya know what??? It's hard to stay grumpy when you are so blessed, and I am blessed, I know I am. So, starting right this minute I denounce grumpiness! Being grumpy is ridiculous, child like behavior and completely unaccetable! If I were my mommy, I would tell me: "Come-on, Nicole, snap out of it, being a crotchety-grumpy, old-mommy is not how you want to end the week. You need to turn that frown upside down!"

So true! I am officially throwing off the worry cloak and saying goodbye to the chip I have on my shoulder. Grumpiness takes too much effort, too much emotion. I am going to focus on happiness. Ahhhh....Relief. Can you feel it??? Happiness.

Circumstances may have brought in some dark clouds....but as for me and my house I am going to let the SUNSHINE in!



P.S. I am sorry Jeffy, for being a poop! Please forgive me!