Send in the Clowns...

Every year for Christmas, I have hand-painted a clown for my Dad. My Dad is a Shriner's clown, so years ago I started him a clown collection. This year's clown turned out pretty cute. Take a look...

This was the last present that I had to get ready for our big trip home. Every clown that I have painted for my dad has been truly unique and different from the next one. I used colors which are either a shade of blue or have a blue hue to them except for the couple of contrasting colors that I used to make certain elements "pop." I named him "Bluey." What do you think?

All Ready to Go...Are you?

OK, I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but Christmas is just around the corner. Yep, it will be here before you know it. The hustling and bustling of the stores, the bitching and yelling of the customers... Are you planning for it yet? Are you dreading that busy season yet? Are you ready for it yet?

Every year, I make a list every year with everyone's name and what I am thinking about or am getting each of them. I usually shop online because I hate the crowds and the bad attitudes, and let's face it, it is way more convenient, easy, and fast. (Plus, I can shop in my pj's!) This year, I started way early and am DONE!!! OK, OK, OK, stop hating me... I have a perfectly good explanation as to "why" I am done Christmas shopping already. First, I want to take November and December off from working, so I wanted to get things done and bought while I have some income coming into the house. Second, I also have a few birthdays left to buy for this year, one of which is my son's, and had to plan finances to cover these gifts as well as the Christmas gifts. (By the way, I have all of these, including H's, done, bought, and wrapped!) Third, I have to be able to take all of the Christmas presents back when we go to Montana for hunting, which is soon and I am so excited. I have both the birthday and Christmas gifts wrapped and ready to go! The only people I have left to buy Christmas gifts for are my kids and husband, which yep you guessed it, I have already started buying for them. :) I am not done yet, but I will be done Christmas shopping for sure before Thanksgiving.

OK, I'm Bragging...

OK, I have to take time out of my day to brag about my daughter. We just got her first trimester grades, which is like mid-terms. She did awesome!!! She started 6Th grade and middle school this year. Let me run down her super awesome grades!!!!!

PE - A+
Math - B+
Health - A
Homeroom - A+
Language Arts Skills - A
Computers - B+
Social Studies - A

For those of you who know my daughter know that she has struggled in school ever since she started school. School has always been a challenge for her, so to see her grades this good is so rewarding.

I credit the increase in her grades partly because I am now able to be at home with the both of my kids after they get out of school. Of course, the teachers and my daughter had something to do with the good grades too, but her grades immediately went up when I stopped working and began staying home with the kids. I know I made the right decision to stay home with the kids after seeing these grades. The bonus for me is that I can see how great she feels about herself with this success, plus I am seeing her self-confidence increase, which is great!

I know how hard she is working and how hard she is trying in school, so I am happy to see that all her hard work is paying off!!

GREAT JOB, C.!!!!
I Love You!

Ever Feel This Way?

For the last month or so, I have felt like I am running on empty. I have had so much to do that I have not had any "me" time. I have been trying to get all my Christmas shopping done so that I can take it home with me. I have had a lot of birthdays to buy for too, including my daughter's. I have been working more since the kids went back to school AND, I have had to take my husband to and from work off and on for the last month. I have not had time to blog, paint, draw, and have had no energy to workout!!

I am getting things done, as you can see I am back to blogging, at least a little bit anyway. I have all but two Christmas presents ready to go back home the end of this month, if we get to go (more on that later). I have to finish my Dad's present and am waiting for my niece's to come in the mail. I have even started Christmas shopping for my kids and husband, but I am not done with them yet.

My daughter's birthday was small this year. We celebrated it with just us, so at least I didn't have a bunch of 12 year old girls running around. I do have all the other birthdays done, except my son's, which is coming up, and the presents are even wrapped and ready to go.

I increased my days at my temp job so that I am working 20 hours a week. OK, I know this does not sound like a lot of hours, but I run all the errands for the house while the kids are in school. Plus, I take them to school and pick them up after school everyday. I have to clean the house, pay the bills, and cook all the meals. It is a full-time job! My hat is off to all the housewives out there, truly! Currently, I am working as a temp in a company that makes various kinds of nut butters and peanut butter. (Yes Dartman, I have some "samples" for you and the rest of the family to try!) The HR Manager does NOT want to lose me, but I know that there will not be enough work to keep me busy after October 26Th. The HR Manager wants the company to bring me on permanently. She asked me to come up with my "Perfect Scenario" for her to review with the Director of Operations. After reviewing all my demands/wants, she said that everything on it seemed more than reasonable, even the salary I told her that I wanted to be paid and the hours that I wanted to work. I would have to accept the job if they met all of my demands/wants. It would mean that I would be getting paid what I was when I had to leave my last job right before we move to Oregon, and I would still get off in time to pick up the kids from school. I would truly have the best of both worlds.

My husband's truck has been in and out of the shop for a month! We have spent around $3000 in repairs so far, and they are not done yet. Yes, that's right, the darn thing is back in the shop, again! To top it off, the repair is another huge, very costly one. The transmission went out this time. Needlesstosay, I have been more than a little stressed out about money lately!! Now, our vacation is up in the air. My parents said they would try to help so that the kids are able to go home to see everyone, but I hate the thought of borrowing money from them. On the other hand, I know that my children would be devastated if we are unable to go home.

I am finally taking a few minutes to blog, which I have not done in a long time!!! I have missed it very much. I have a problem with my wrist, and the more I use my hand (which is the one I write with) the more my wrist and hand hurt. Sometimes, it hurts so bad that I can hardly move my fingers. :( When this happens, I can't paint, draw, type, or anything. I have to ice it down until it practically goes numb and then put on my brace. Yes, I should go to the doctor, but that costs money, which we have none of right now thanks to all the vehicle repair bills.

Hopefully, as I get more things done that I need to get done, I will find that I have more time to do the things that I love to do like paint, draw, and blog. This is always a crazy time of year for me, but this year is crazier than ever. (and I thought I would have MORE time after I graduated! HAHA, NOT!z0 I guess that is what I get for thinking, right?