What Where We Thinking?!?!

Sean and I were up at 3:30 this morning to hit the sales. This is the first and possibly last time this will happen. I should start telling this by saying the plan was for me to go shopping before the sun was up. (Sean does not like crowds) I thought about it for a moment and this followed:

• me: "You know, if you drove, you could drop me off, I wouldn't have to find a place to park and I could get done faster"
• Sean: pondering this thought
• me: "Or, you could drop me off so I can get a head start, park the car and join me"
• Sean: look of horror on face
• me: "There are some things that are 'limit one' you know"
• Sean: "They can ring them up separately"
• me: "Uh, I don't see that happening when there are 100 people in line behind me"
• Sean: realizing he is not going to win
• me: "It really won't take that long"
• Sean: gives in to defeat

We went through the ads from the paper and there were four stores we needed to go to. We went to bed with our plan in place:

1. set the alarm to get to the first "door opening" at 4:oo
2. mark stores in order of opening time
3. list items wanted from each store

The first store was to open at 4:00 and we hit the road at 3:40. The store is less than five minutes away, but when we got there, they had opened early. I yelled "drop me off!!!" and jumped out of the car.

The store was packed and way beyond the allotment for fire code. I made my way to the back to get the things off my list. As I was standing waiting for the items, Sean appears and says, "This is nuts!" a lady next to him says, "this is nothing".

I look at him and think to myself, she is right, he has no idea what he has agreed to.

We get in line, it moves fairly quickly and we are out the door and on to our next stop in about 30 minutes. We were lucky that we were able to get the items we wanted. There were others who were not at all happy the store opened early and were out of the things they wanted.

Our next stop was a success as well. The only thing they did not have were pillows and that was just something that fell into the "it would be nice" category. We headed to the front to get in line. I could see just how long the line was, looked at Sean who looked at me. I could tell he was thinking "there will be another sale". I made a snap decision, "lets check out at the jewelry counter" and was off. Good "snap" on my account as we were out of there quickly as well.

Our next stop was the "Mother of All Horrors" Wal-Mart. We could see that people were parked at Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral, Applebee's and McDonald's. I knew there was no way in heck Sean was going in there.

• me: (in denial) "It's not that bad"
• Sean: "Do you not see people parked at the restaurant's?"
• me: "Just drop me off and park the car"
• Sean: "I could go home, go back to bed and come back in an hour and you would still be in line!"
• me: "Just drop me off"
• Sean: "Now, THIS is nuts"
• me: "Just drop me off"
• Sean: "Look at the line of cars to get in here"
• me: "It's not that bad, just drop me off"
• Sean: "Erin, look at all of these people"
• me: "Just drop me off"
• Sean: "I can't believe this"
• me: "Just drop me off"
• Sean: looking at me like I'm nuts
• me: "Just drop me off and go to the next store. I'll be done quick"

Believe it or not, he drops me off and heads to the next store. I was not at all prepared for what was about to happen. I don't think I've ever seen so many people in my life. Out of the things we had on our list to get from there, I was able to get half. I've heard stories of people shoving and grabbing, but I experienced it first hand. I was glad I didn't have a cart, well, they were all taken anyway. I was pushed and shoved. Boxes were ripped, people were yelling. It really was nuts.

Not to mention that I stood for 20 minutes in what I thought was a check out line only to find out I had "cut" in front of about 40 people. As soon as I realized it, I went straight to the jewelery counter (God love them) and was out the door and walked past those who had yelled at me earlier for "cutting" and found that they really had not moved far at all.

It was an experience I'll never forget. I have the bruises to prove it.

I Think I Popped A Button!!

So much for the smaller clothes I bought a year or so ago. I have eaten so much lately, it is sad. Between two Thanksgiving dinners and a day of baking cookies, (not to mention two pumpkin pies and two pecan pies) I have to commit to working out.

I can honestly say when I was working out, I felt much better. Now, I'm just not motivated. I was blaming it on the fact that the DVD I was using for my work out ball was scratched and wouldn't play. I found out I can buy it online, so there goes that excuse.

So, I'm going to order that for myself as a Christmas gift and commit to working out after Christmas. (I wouldn't want to open anything early) I'm going to get back to taking the stairs when I work, walking on days off and doing Richard Simmons. I really like the fact that there are people of all shapes and sizes on his video. My favorite of his is "Dance Your Pants Off".

It all worked once, I know it can work again.

It's Turkey Day!!

Hi this is Noelle again.

Well it's officially Turkey Day (Thanksgiving), and we get to go over to my lovely Aunt and Uncle's house with my Cousins!!!! We already had our other Thanksgiving with my grandpa (Jerry) and his girlfriend (grandma) Edna!

Edna cooked a ham and since my mommy can't eat pork, well we also had turkey. Well today, we get to spend Thanksgiving with my mommy's side of the family. My mom made 2 pecan pies, one cream cheese and the other CHOCOLATE!! She also made a cheese ball.

Christmas is just around the corner, so get out there and start checking things off on your list!

Other Important News:

Noelle: I started reading the Twilight books last Friday and finished it yesterday. I am now on the second book New Moon. I can't wait to see the movie! A really good song that's in the book and the movie is called Bella's Lullaby. It's the song Edward (the vampire) writes for Bella and is such a sweet song here is the link to that song. It's an amazing song.

So, that's what's going on on Turkey Day! Hope all of you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!!

Ta-Da!!!!

Here's the kitchen!!! We have a picture to hang, but mom is going to help me decide where to hang it and what to hang around it. She is also going to help me decide what to do with the windows and the door. I'm thinking of putting up wood blinds to flow with the windows in the living room and den. However, mom is good at making window coverings. I think mom missed her calling and should be an interior decorator.

When Jerry and Edna came over for dinner, I noticed we didn't think to move the fridge, so that means there is still wallpaper behind it! Guess that will be the next thing painted.

Cookies, Pies and Paint~Oh My

Mom, Amy and I had a great time baking cookies yesterday. I missed about the first two hours trying to get shop stuff done. We sold our first car!!! They pick it up on Monday.

Back to the cookies. I don't know how many we made, but they covered mom and dad's dining room table, center island and one counter! I don't think I've ever seen so much chocolate in my life. The three of our could have really had "death by chocolate".

I didn't get the pumpkin cooked town until this morning and am making the pies now. This will put the turkey off a bit, but there is no set time to eat.

Sean painted the kitchen last night. It looks wonderful. I'll post some pictures shortly. It gave me the perfect opportunity to wash everything above the cabinets and all the light fixtures. (note to self, do this more often!)

In Michael news, there is a little girl who calls him almost daily. Today she called from Georgia to talk to him! He was out playing with a friend, so she asked that he call her on Saturday when she is back in town.

Putting Off The Pumpkin

Well, so much for cooking down the pumpkins tonight.

By the time the guy was done with the wall, it was time for me to head to the shop to help Sean detail a Corvette. (yes, it was that exact car, with every option including heads up display, yes, I backed it out of the shop, yes, it was hard not to just lay some rubber and hit the road)

Being that the car was black, the WORST color for detailing, we weren't done until about 4:00. I had to have something notarized. The bank has one notary and he was with some little old lady who was just sitting there talking about her dog. I was second in line to see him and by the time I was done, with that, it was about 4:45.

Seeing as it was a beyond busy week at the shop, (several estimates given, lots of contacts made, people stopping by to say "thank you" for cleaning up the place) we decided to go out to dinner.

After dinner, we went to Lowe's to pick out the paint. One of Noelle's friends had called on our way to dinner to see if she could go skating and spend the night, so we stopped by home, she packed and I dropped her off at her friends.

By the time all of that was done, it was now 7:45 and we still had to mask off the kitchen and paint the primer!

So, Saturday will now be super duper busy. I think I'll just cook down one pumpkin for now and do the rest next week.

I'll be posting pictures of my "new" kitchen. Finally, after six years, every room in the house will be painted!

Painting Away

That's what we will be doing this weekend. Actually, that's just one of a few things we will be doing this weekend.

Tonight, I'm planning on cooking down pumpkins. I neglected to get any this year and will be using mom & dad's. I plan on making pies, bread, and possibly bars. I have never EVER made a pumpkin pie from a can and don't plan on doing that. To me, there is just something about pumpkin pie made from the pumpkin. The recipe I use is one that my mom had. I have no idea how long it has been in her family. I just know that my gramma has told me she can remember making it with her gramma.

Saturday, mom, Amy and I are going to be making Christmas cookies!!! Something I really enjoy doing that we haven't been able to do the last few years. I'll be making pies as well.

Sunday, Sean's dad, Jerry and girlfriend, (aka "super awesome cook") Edna, will be over for a Thanksgiving dinner. I'll be making my "fat free" turkey. (it's best not to ask just how many sticks of butter are used)

The guy has finished the kitchen wall and we will be painting a primer tonight and then paint Saturday night.

Only 42 Days Left & Other Stuff

How can this be? Where has the year gone? My how time flies.

In things around here:

• Noelle: sprained her ankle pretty badly at a school mixer. I think she may have inherited my clumsiness. It was just over a month ago that she nearly broke her left hand on a mechanical bull and had "war wounds" from playing paintball. She is back to walking normally again, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she hurts something again.
• Michael: has soccer practice Monday and Wednesdays and Truth Seekers on Tuesdays. He and his buddy down the street, Cameron, have made a makeshift repelling thing in the backyard that goes from the tree to the fence. They climb up the tree, put some kind of hook/leash thing on the rope and repel down. Boys!
• Sean: officially has a used car lot. You can see the cars we have for sale on our website. We joined the Chamber of Commerce and will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor, we think, December 4th. We are getting a lot of traffic and the phone calls are picking up some.
• Me: I haven't been working much. Ironically, it has worked out well because I do most of the clean-up to the inside of the cars we repair and sell. There is no way Sean would be able to do everything inside and outside to the cars. There have been some long nights for him at time at the shop as well, and on those nights, I've been cancelled and have been able to take the kids to different activities. It's amazing how things work out sometimes.

In other news, our kitchen wall is going to be fixed this week!!!! Sean did some work for someone who lost his job right after Sean finished the job. We still had the parts at the shop and this person felt so bad that he couldn't pay us. Then it came to us, he is a contractor and we have a wall that needs to be fixed. So, we are trading work for work and we will no longer have "nasty wall" pictures in our birthday shots.

Well, I'm off to fish with dad. I hope they are biting.

Thank You, Thank You Very Much

I just love this picture!!!

History Has Been Made

I, along with many other Americans, are excited about the changes coming to our country. It was exciting to watch this historic even with my parents.

Yesterday will be one of those "do you remember where you were" moments.

One of the things I said to my parents last night was "can you imagine how Martin Luther King must be feeling right now". I'm sure heaven was full of song. Loud voices of those gone long ago, black and white, who fought to make what has happened become reality.

I will admit, I often live in a bubble. My sister and I were raised in a house where regardless of your color, sex, or ability, you were equal. During this campaign, I was saddened to see just how much racial tension still exists in our country. I'm so thankful my parents taught us to look at the person inside, because that's what really matters.

Today, for the first time, I watched and read Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. I was overcome with emotions as I saw men and woman of all ages, from different areas of our country listen to this speech.

It has only been 44 years since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While so much has changed, there is still much more to be done.

There were several things that stuck out in my mind as I watched the returns last night, but one person who spoke really touched my heart.

Roland S. Martin, of CNN, spoke about growing up and the dreams he had. How young black boys were told they could not be president and that they would have to make another choice for what they wanted to do with their life. He choked up as he said that now, for his nephews and others, they don't have to make another choice, they can have the same dream as everyone else.

It's about time.

Did You Vote Today??

I did!!! It actually only took me about 25 minutes. I guess I timed it just right.

There is a church just up the street from the shop that is a polling place. People were parking on the street and it was a huge mess. Since we have a large parking area, I went by the election headquarters here in town, explained that we have plenty of room for parking. They were more than happy to provide us with "voter parking" signs to put up. So now, the shop is getting a lot of exposure!

As for helping last at the local Obama office last night, I had a lot of fun. This is the first time I have been so excited about an election. Last night, I made phone calls, counted tallies and filled envelopes with door hangers. This was the first time I've ever done anything like that and it was a lot of fun.

Today, mom and dad are working at one of the polling places by them.

I can't wait to watch the coverage tonight with mom and dad!!

Go Obama!!

Kid Pics

Here are some of the photos of the kids by Landmark Photography.

Important Week

As everyone knows, Tuesday a historic day. Regardless of who wins, (go Obama), it will an amazing day.

Monday night I am volunteering at an Obama office. Tuesday, I'm watching the election results with mom and dad.

Please, everyone, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!!

Thanks To My Wonderful Sister

Sean and I had a wonderful weekend to ourselves!

Sean and I used the gift certificate we got for Christmas from Amy and Jon to Chateau Avalon. They had a special on Halloween so we stayed in a fantastic room for a super discounted price.

As an added bonus, Amy and Jon kept the kids Saturday night as well. I honestly think this was the first time since Sean and I went to Vegas in 2004 that we have really had some time for just us.

One thing we learned is that we need to make more time for us. It was nice to really "get away". Usually if the kids are gone, we stay home. It really was something to stay somewhere else for the night.

I think this may have been the best gift we have ever gotten. I don't think Amy has any idea just how much this give meant to us.