Graduation!

Well - Buddy, Brutus and Titan all managed to perform well enough to graduate. Em got to come with me to class tonight since Mom & Dad were at a wedding. She was having fun with the whole thing!

Christmas is pretty!

Here is a peek at my pretty place - with the flash on and with it off. What fun. Em helped me put the ornaments on the lower part of tree after she got up from her nap. She calls it a Chee-chee-tee. It's cute listening to her try out all these new words.

A time for giving thanks!

It was a wonderful day of time with family and being very thankful for family and God's faithfulness. I delivered a meal to an elderly lady in my church for her and her 99 year old father. The went to the home Kevin & Jenn were housesitting for. All the Rockhold's were there plus Ruben, a friend that is in ministry with Kevin & Jenn. We had such a fun day together. It was nice just relaxing and enjoying all the family fun. I got home around 9pm. Then I spent most of Friday with them (noon to 9pm). We literally shopped until we dropped! Saturday and today I decorated for Christmas . . . but that's another blog!

Good idea - Bad idea

Do you remember the old good idea - bad idea segments in cartoons? Well I discovered my own. Good idea - a stick of lipgloss beside the computer where it is convenient. Bad idea - a glue stick right beside the lipgloss. Moral of the story - look before you lip!

Em at Gramma's

I got to take care of Em today. She was so tickled to see Gramma when I picked her up. That makes it extra fun. After her nap we were going to take a walk. So I bundled her up as you can see. And took a flashlight since it was pitch dark at 5:30pm. But it was way too windy ('winny' as she says) and cold. So all we did was walk to the mailbox and back. But Buddy and Brutus were glad they at least got out for a few minutes! The rest of the evening after dinner we played - a craft, then play-doh, magnifying glasses to look through, a DVD of Curious George with Brutus at her side and 'Buddy repelant' in her lap! Never a dull moment. She puts 2 and 3 words together now. When we were playing on the stairs she wanted me out of the way for coming down so she said 'Go Mama'. She tickles me!

Good news!

I went to the chiropractor yesterday. I had not been in 6 weeks. He had recommended monthly, but the last time I went 5 weeks without any problem so I decided to try 6 weeks this time. I started Curves just after my last appointment and he did not know that I was going to do that (neither did I at the time). A few months ago I had tried doing some resistance with 1, 2 and 3 pound weights at home. My next visit to the chiropractor my back did not look good and I had noticed my pain increase. Prior to Curves I used Aleve at least 2 times a week to make sure I got a good night sleep. Since I started Curves I have not needed Aleve at all and I sleep like a baby. When he put me on the ProAdjuster yesterday he could not believe how good my back looked. He agreed that I only need to come every 6 weeks. Curves is a great addition to my health regime! I heard it said that you can take time for your health now or time for your illness later. I'm choosing to take time for my health now!

My week

I had a very different, but enjoyable week. I worked Mon - Wed. Then did continuing education for work Thurs - Sat. The seminars were great - the speakers all local. Many were from Presbyterian, some from UNM and Lovelace. We really have some tremendous, knowledgable people here in Albuquerque. Then, since I also managed to get 3 questions done for school I treated myself to a movie with a friend. Stacey and I saw Mama Mia at the dollar theater. I'd have to say the movie was exactly like the Broadway show, but more enjoyable. It was fun seeing it in film. They did a great job with it.

Today was church, grocery shopping and dog classes - we've completed 6 of 8 now. So tomorrow it is back to work and schoolwork. I'm ready!

My boys

I have decided to start taking the first Friday of each month off (instead of Thursday that week) since I have a missionary prayer group that meets at my house that evening. I think my boys enjoyed having me home yesterday. The photo of Buddy is him watching me make chocolate chip pumpkin bread for the people coming over. His patience was rewarded. He got to lick a beater. And then there is my funny Brutus. I wish I had seen how he got the pillows like that. I don't know if he planned it or it just happened while he was schooching around in the pillows on the couch. But it appears that he is quite 'comfortable' with the result however it came to be!

3 down, 7 to go!!

I turned in my 3rd course today. I have 7 courses left to write plus my internship and Master's project. When I set up a plan 5 weeks ago for finishing I decided to write 2 questions each week, which would take me 6 weeks to complete each course. I did this one in 5 weeks. I am going to attempt to do them in 4 weeks - 3 questions a week - from here on out. If I speed it up to 3 each week I could graduate Sept 2009 instead of 2010. I'd like that a whole lot! So pray for me that I can keep my nose to the grind stone and keep cranking out essays - fast.

A different start to my Saturday

Variety is the spice of life they say. So today must be spicey! I had my usual quiet time and cup of coffee. Then I headed to Kaseman hospital since they were giving employees flu shots today. Got that little duty done and then enjoyed breakfast in the Kaseman cafeteria while I treated myself to a chapter in a just-for-fun-book. After that it was off to Curves for my 3rd workout of the week. I am using the "Curves Smart" computer program now. It gives me instant feedback with each machine, then an overall update when I am done with my workout. I am progressing nicely and making good improvement on 10 of the 13 machines. Yeah! Back at home I rinsed off my patio (which must be done once in a while thanks to my little boys). I found 2 pretty budding roses on my favorite bush, perhaps the last of the season. So now my 2 bud vases grace my table with beauty amidst my amazing collection of birthday cards from family and friends. I took a shower, fixed a cup of coffee and here I am at the computer. Once I publish this I will spend most of the rest of the day on homework. By the end of next week I will be able to turn in a completed course!
Ok - so the day doesn't sound real spicey, but I'm going to enjoy every minute of it anyway! Hope you have a beautiful Saturday too!