Just a little Xmas cheer

That s our Gingerbread House.

Small but cozy.

We got the tree decorated today.

Not really any shopping done or anything.

Cheeks was a bear. I mean really this was probably the worse day in his whole 15 mos.

He cried, whined, thrashed, screamed & that was all before breakfast.

Sigh.

Nothing a Mikes Hard Berry isn't fixin!

Woops out~!

Update on Nose & Other Things

1st things 1st.....
The nose is in pretty good shape.
I can see a slight purplish tint & slight swelling but if you didn't know I got slammed in it, you wouldn't have the faintest idea anything was wrong.
It's a good thing!
Altho. I did tell my sister & girlfriend that after having it hurt so much & bleed so much, I at least deserve to bruise so perfect strangers can go "OOH! AAAH! Im sorry" Ya know, a little sympathy...LOL
It does hurt to touch so I try not to touch it.

Erin decorated outside the other day. She did a really great job!
I like it!

Now we have to do the tree.
Got it today.
Decorate it tomorrow.
When we were bringing it in, Cheeks just looked at us like "WoW! They are bringing the outside in!"
So stay tuned for the updates of us saying "No. Get away from the tree", "Don't go near the tree please", "Didn't I tell you not to go near the tree", "Give me the ornament". Yes I can see into the future.

On that note.........
Woops out!

Are things getting better for me?

You tell me.

I have a 6ft long folding table propped up against a wall. I borrowed it from a friend & it hasn't gotten returned.

Well this evening I went to move something in front of the table.
The movement must have angered the table b/c it came crashing down and decided my nose was the place to land.

Thankfully Cheeks was in the playpen & my sister was here b/c I pushed it back out of reflex, then my hands flew to my nose.

Yep.
Blood.
Lots of blood.
I mean I think I need a transfusion.
There was a pool of it on the kitchen counter & in the sink.

Thank GOD for my sister. She cleaned up the blood on the counter, then swooped Cheeks up, who was upset at seeing his mommy bleeding, & took him upstairs to get ready for bed.

At this point, I was bent over the sink, talking to Bobster to ask him how I could tell if it was broken.
Fortunately where it hit & the fact that I could touch it w/o being in agony let Bobster figure out that it wasn't broken.

So after holding frozen carrots on my nose for about an hour, I looked in the mirror.
O...Pretty!
It is swelling nicely on right side & is bruised under my eye.

I fully expect to wake up tomorrow with black eyes.
Bobster has had many a broken/bruised nose & most likely I will get the black eye.
My mom & dad confirmed this.
Right now I just have a headache & can feel my nose swelling.
The bleeding has stopped.

Yep.
Is my luck improving?
You tell me.

Woops out!

You can barely

see my double chin or my chipmunk cheeks.

You can, on the other hand, see my thinning hair.

O well. I took this and a few other pics to send to Bobby awhile back.

So let me fill you in on my luck, lately.

Last week I got a call from the fraud dept @ Chase Manhattan. It appears my Amazon.com credit card (that I love!) had been compromised, so they had to close it. AKA...someone stole my cc number.

NICE!

Then I order a Xmas gift via Ebay.

I get notified that it ships.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

I get the the track info, track it, call Fed Ex & find out that the shipper had it returned claiming I canceled the order.

Um, no!

I got to Ebay.

The shipper/seller has closed shop.

Another NICE!

So I had to file a dispute with paypal.

Then in the 4 weeks I have been at my new job, they fired the Director of Sales & the temp who has been there forever was let go, even tho. they promised her a position. My boss is saying how bad things are & he can't believe he was allowed to higher two people. Now there are only 5 people in this office. Rumor is, or the feeling is, they are going to close our office or lay people off.

I can't catch a break. I will just wait it out.

Still need to get my tree. Everytime I go to get it, it's wet out. I don't fancy bringing in a wet real tree into my living room. Hopefully Saturday.

Nothing else really earth shattering to report.

If you are reading my blog, could you post a hello...especially if you lurk.

I would love a little holiday spirit/hello from my readers...all 4 of you! :>)

Woops out!

Finally got around to that RAK

First, went a lil old school with that pic.
Looks like Cheekers, no?
That's Aunt Erin when she was a baby...how cute & a dead ringer for the Cheeks.

Anyway finally got to pic the RAK for my 200 post....it goes to Michelle!
So Michelle...send me your addy for a little surprise in the mail.

How is the shopping going?
Me, oiyve! Not so good.
I only get a 30 min lunch & there is nothing close to me....I mean I work in the boonies. It's helping me save on buying lunch out tho. Altho. Monday I ran to Wawa...it's at the corner so I was there, filled up the mini, got lunch & was back in 10 mins. Of course they are somewhat limited on what they serve but Wawa has got to be the best convenient store EVER!!!! For all of you that read outside the Delaware Valley...you are missing out!

It snowed today.
I think we got a 1/4 inch & it only laid on the grass etc. Will most likely be gone by morning.

Well, I'm tired so Syanara Sweetheart!

Welcome new baby!

See that stunning beauty up there!

That is my preggers friend, my compadre, Megan.

She gave birth today to a 9lb , 2 oz baby boy at 7:25pm!!!

Yea!

There is a new boy in the fold!!!!!

Congrats Meg & hubby. I will see the new family soon.

Let's see what else, what else.

Um, I got scammed on a gift for the 14 yr old thru Ebay.

Now I have to scrambled to get replace it & also contact Paypal to put thru a dispute.

Good times.

Good times.

Are you all proud of me....4 days into the month & 4 posts.

Have I finished the 4 remaining layouts that I need to do by Christmas.

Of course not! But I am bloggin!!!

So anyone got any good appetizer recipes for me?

I am hosting Chrismtas Eve & would like to have some yummies around.

On that note

Woops out!

Run to ABC Family

The best Xmas special EVER is on!
Head on over to ABC Family & watch it!!!!
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!

What is your favorite Christmas special?

Nothing really exciting to report.
Bobster wanted me to overnight him cheesesteaks for PR.
Um, yea, that would run $55 - $57 dollars.
Not happening.

Perhaps I will get him some good cheesesteaks when he comes home for dinner.

BTW, Cheeks has learned to dance. It is so cute! I have to charge the video camera so I can record it. It's actually a DVD recorder, not video but give me a break, I went to high school in the 80's & that's when video camera's made their big debut. I remember my Poppy's. I think you had to be a professional cameraman to operate it. LOL

On that note..........Woops out!

2 in a row...I'm on a roll

As you can see, my normally happy, had a rehearsal sitting on the lap, son was in no mood to smile today. Sigh. It still came out ok.

We started out today by picking up the Nana & heading to the deadest mall on the East Coast, Echelon Mall. No waiting for Santa! Cheeks just wanted to walk. He smiled at Santa while I was holding him but then we he sat on his lap, he was like, um, ok, I won't cry but I'm not smiling either. Such is life.

Afterwards we dropped my mom & Tim off. Tim wasn't feeling well. The rash wasn't anything Earth shattering but he caught a cold & just wanted to chill. My mom didn't feel like going out, so she went home too.

Then off the another mall with Cheeks, the aunt & Chris.

Chris got my mom her gift from all the kids. He picked it out. He also got Erin something, me something & his dad something.

Then we came home & Erin took Chris to Target where he got something for Cheeks & Erin went to get one thing & came home $66 poorer.

Cheeks fell asleep at 6:30, woke up at 7:30 for like 15 mins., & then back to sleep. I have a feeling he'll be up at like 5.

Good times.

Good times!

Anyone get any Xmas cards yet?

My Aunt Chris sent me one. She's usually the first to send them to me. I am writing a few out each day. Just don't have it in me to write them.

Let's see, my rant for today.....if you have a stop sign but the car coming into the intersection does not & they are going & you decide to go at the same time, even tho. you have the stop, why do you insist on calling the other person "Asshole". Hmmm......ponder this & get back to me. I will most likely in jail for Road Rage so send bail money...:>)

Woops out~!

Can It Be Done?

I suck in the updating the blog daily, don't I?
I think I will give myself a challenge to update daily.
Altho. who reads this?

As you can see last weekend we launched the holiday season by putting together our Gingerbread house. Cheekers was the architect. The house is small but held up wickedly better than the Gingerbread Haunted House. Remember that fiasco.

I still owe a rak for my post back in October, I think.
Sorry I haven't gotten to picking.
I promise it will be this weekend.

I am trying to get out the door to shop today but it's not working out. Waiting for Chris to get here & find out what is going on with Timmy. Poor kid has another rash close to his incision from his surgery. This kid is not having a good year!

Got more decorations up but not a lot is going up. You see breakables don't mix with a 15 mos. old!

On another note....if someone pronounces their last name for you, why would you in turn mispronounce it? Or better yet, add sounds that aren't in there.

There is no H in my last name. Hasn't been all my life, so why, do people insist on pronounces like "Whipple" Um, sorry, but it's not even spelled the same.

That's my final thought.

Woops out!

Long Post.........

Where have I been?
See that pic up there?
I've been exhausted.
He is extremely mobile & wants to go, go, go all the time!!!

Actually I have been adjusting to working again.
It's a nice job. I have found different ways to get there. I am no longer taking the tpke, I am taking 295, which is cutting about 10 mins off my travel time.
NICE!
What is nice, as well, is the company uses the same software system as I used at FMP. It's called BPics, so it's cool to be familiar with something while you are learning the ins & outs.
There are only 6 of us in the office. And what's funny is how the one perosn talks to the customers. The person actually told the customer "I don't know what the f*ck you want me to tell you?"
My eyes bulged out of my head.
No for being offended by the language, I can talk worse than a trucker, but the fact that he said that to a customer I was stunned.
O well.
Makes for an interesting day.

I testified today in the trial that stems from the attempted kidnapping that happened at Super G 3 1/2yrs ago.
Hopefully I will find out the verdict.
It was a hurry up & wait game. I waited 1.5 days to testify & it was over in 20 mins.
I will admit, the cross examination is very intimidating & the defense lawyer likes to twist your words.
It was almost like arguing with your s/o. BAAHAAHAA! J/K.

What else?
What else?

Oh see this pic:

That's me.
Yes, the camera puts on at least 10 pounds.
I had about 10 cameras on me.
BAAHAAHAA! Another funny!
Seriously, I know I've gained weight. This photo was an eyeopener.
Anyway, it's the only family pic that exists.
It was taken this past Saturday at a place called Roadside America in some town in PA. The place is about the size of an xtra large garage & houses a humoungous mini city & train set. It was really cool & the kids loved it.
Speaking of kids. The redhead is our nephew, Danny & the tall one is Tim, Christopher is in the football jersey with his head down & Cheekers is well, he's the wee one in his Daddy's arms.
Bobster shaved off the goatee.
He's so darn sexy with it. Luckily it grows back.
I love him with hair or without.
Good thing b/c as you can see, the hair on top of his head waved buh-bye years ago!

Now on a final note, I would like to say this:
Isle is surrounded by water, not something you walk down in a store.
That is spelled aisle.
Learn to spell!

Sorry had to get that out.
You may all return to your regularly scheduled blog reading.

Woops out!

Hey Cheeks!......

Daddy is home.
What do you think of that?

Bobster is home for the holiday.
Woohoo! He's home for about a week. He needs the break.

Work is going well.
Little stressful today.
If it was a problem child, I got it. I like it, I just don't like the travel time but what can I do.

Ok, my spacebar is not working right, so I am outty!

Woops out!

Uncanny isn't it????

You just wait for the body shot.

I just realized this morning that Cheeks is also built exactly like a Who.

Woops out!

Ugly Betty

I can not BELIEVE Bradford Meade died of a massive heart attack.

Can I tell you I had tears in my eyes? Must have been the saddest episode of the season.

Will update with perils of the job later this week.

Adios!

Woops out!

10,9,8,7, you get the idea

Not the best pic BUT see that vest, I got it at Goodwill, along with a dress shirt that he isn't wearing for a buck! With the tags still on. I found it at Macy's the other day for $20.00. SCORE!

Anyway on with the countdown:
Ten things I did this weekend:
1. Went to the Berlin Farmers Mkt
2. Scrapbooked
3. Cooked Friday night
4. Cooked Saturday night.
5. Went food shopping
6. Cleaned the dining room floor on my hands & knees
7. Went to a baby shower for my friend Megan, who is expecting & due Dec 16th
8. Took out loads & load of garbage
9. Talked to Bobster on the phone.
10. Relaxed (I return to work tomorrow....waaaaaaaaaaaaah)

9 things on my agenda this week:
1. Return to work
2. Get back into a regular routine
3. Christmas shop
4. Order plane tickets for our trip in Feb.
5. Make Cheeks Christmas Portrait appointment
6. Watch America's Next Top Model
7. Watch Ugly Betty
8. Scrapbook
9. Get hair "enhanced"

8 shows I've watched last week:
1. Sesame Street
2. Barney
3. Oobie
4. America's Next Top Model
5. Ugly Betty
6. 30 minute meals
7. America's Smartest Model
8. Clean House

7 things I cooked last week
1. BBQ Chicken
2. Ravioli
3. Grilled Cheese
4. Gerber Graduate Meals
5. Spaghetti
6. Texas Toast
7. Chef Boyardee Dinosaurs w/ Meatballs
(I'm a gourmet, no?)

6 things I read this week
1. Scrapbook Etc.
2. Camden County Courier Post
3. Wonder Time
4. Parenting
5. Article on Elisabeth Hasselback on the internet
6. Blogs

5 Reasons to be happy today
1. Bobby comes home on the 20th
2. Cheeks is walking & darn good too!
3. I will be receiving a regular paycheck
4. Already did my food shopping
5. I will see my mom & dad today

4 things I need to buy
1. Flourescant Light Bulbs
2. 2 trash cans (one for regular trash & one for recycling)
3. Xmas gifts
4. Plane tickets
(I am trying to go as GREEN as possible, hope you all are too!)

3 people I saw this weekend
1. Megan
2. Anne
3. Julie

2 things I am thankful right now
1. That I have Cheeks
2. That I have Bobster

One final thought:
Never lift more than you can eat!....

Now I tag the following people to do the same:
Erin
Tara
Torreh
Kathy
TL
Beth
Jacquie
Fe

Woops out

2nd post of the day

I normally do not post twice in one day but...

I was just paying some bills (well I managed to pay 2...the others will wait). I had to take from savings account which put me under were I want to be in it...NOT PRETTY.

So, I open my email & what do I see but the following that I will paste in here. I received two emails.
Truly my lucky day!
My troubles are over!

Foundation's Officer,
Association charity foundation nl,
Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

This is to inform you that you have been chosen By the Board oftrustees of the above International charity organization as one of thefinal recipients of a Cash Donation.You are required to Contact the Executive Secretary below forconfirmation.Your Qualification numbers are: (A-121-637, G-01-06Executive Secretary,Mr. Arthur StewartTel:+31-626-415-837Fax: +31-847-375-060Email: mrarthur_001@yahoo.com.cn

Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, not later that 7 days after notification.

On behalf of the Board kindly accept our warmest congratulations
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Gordon JUlia

& this one:

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of£500,000.00 GBP (Five Hundred Thousand United kingdom Pounds Sterling)and a brandnew Range Rover car,From the International online programs held today in London the United Kingdom.
To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact the remittance department with the emails address provided below through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated below:
Mr Bryan Hunt,E-mail: lottoboard_claimsofficer@yahoo.com.hk Contact him with your secret pin code RRA00111234 and your referencenumber RRA: 12058006/06.
You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as possible:
Claims Requirements:
Name in full,
Address,
Sex,
Age,
Occupation,
Phone/Fax.
Winner under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Staff of the Range Rover Company world wide is not to partake in this Car Promotional Lottery.
congratulations once again!
With Best Regards
Mr.Shaun Donald
Lottery Manager.

Am I a lucky bitch or what?

Don't think I ever posted this.
I did it for the sketch challenge at www.just4keeps.com
It was actually a contest to get in their newsletter for November.
Well, I was picked.
Woohoo!
That site is pretty cool & the girlers are all great.

Today is it.
My last official workday home.
I start my new job on Monday.
Must have passed the drug test....see I thought all those drugs I did in the 60's would have shown up.
What?
I wasn't born til 70?
Hmm....guess that's why I passed! BAAHAAHAA (it's early & I am easily amusing myself)

I need to go Christmas shopping today.
Actually to the Berlin Farmers Market. This place is, how does one say, unique. You can get everything from used crap to brand new, toys will break in an hour, crap.
They have a nice butcher shop.
They have an even more awesome sports shop. It sells all the NFL crap.
So I am going to go get the boys, the nephew & Bobby some stuff. It's all the stuff I would buy online but at least here I'm not paying shipping...altho. I guess it balances out.

Oh!
I have to tell you about the Nun.
Last night were went to Applebees for dindin with my dad.
So I see Cheeks start to smile & along come a Nun who talks to him for a minute & sits down directly behind us on the other side of the aisle (that is aisle like walkway....it is not spelled isle, as in something found in water...BIG PET PEEVE PEOPLE! Learn the diff!) I digress.
So she's sitting.
And Cheeks just wouldn't stop staring.
We all tried to distract him but it just wasn't working.
Well we finally thought we had him distracted so we were eating when I noticed he was staring again.
This was going on for about 20 mins.
Before I had a chance to do anything or before the Nun even realized he was doing it again, he stared at her & started sobbing & then clung to me. I mean he wouldn't let go & had tears streaming down his face.
She was flabbergasted & I was mortified.
I apologized & she said she understood but couldn't figure out why.
I told her it may be the habit.
She wasn't dressed like Sally Field.
Just plain ole run of the mill, modern nun.
I think the habit came to her shoulders & was tasteful. She was, afterall, 75 or so.
Everytime he looked at her, he could cry.
He eventually stopped when I shoved ice cream in his mouth but isn't that weird?
Poor kid.
Now he will be afraid of Nuns.
Guess it pays we aren't Catholic!

Well I must go wake Sleeping Beauty so she can keep an eye on Cheeks so I can shower.

Woops out!

Think someone was tired?

This is how my sister found him the other day.
Poor kid.
Just too pooped to actually go backwards, so he just keeled over!
Good thing he's bendy.

Dropped Bobster off this morning at the airport.
Freakin 5:30am.
Then I was daydreaming & took the wrong exit.
Just what you want to do...miss your road & go driving around Philly at dawn. Luckily I knew right where I was so all was good.

Went shopping today.
Got some "spavin" stuff for Xmas.
Usually I avoid Walmart like the plague
BUT
my mom needed to go so we stopped at the only decent Walmart in the area. They were having killer clearance on some stuff, so I was able to get some good bargains for Xmas gifts!!
YAY!
Go me!
And, on a plus side, I didn't get aggravated at the stupid ass, ignorant people b/c this Walmart is the good one.

I do have to return to get Chris a Xmas gift I found today.
Do I go to the good one or the one close to my house?
Decisions!
Decisions!

Only 4 days left til I return to work.
I'm not gonna lie...I don't want to go back.
Sadly, the companies I owe money too, don't really want to hear that I am not working & cant' afford to pay, so back to work I go.

Exhaustion has taken over so.........
Woops out!

So...

The one good pic I have of me & my son & the kid doesn't look like me in it. At least in person he looks just like me! :>)
I never said how much Cheekers won for his prize.
Are you ready?
Hold onto your seats.....
He
Won
$15!!!!!
Woooooooooooohoooooooooooooooo!
It actually came in handy b/c he needed his first official shoes. He has Converse sneaks but we needed something with substance.
So off to http://www.ollyshoes.com/index2.htm we went & he got his first pair of Nikes.
Size 6!!!
Holy Beejezeebs Batgirl! Those are some big feet.
He does have room to grow tho & his size 4 Converse still feet.
He inherited my high instep.
Oiyve!

Today we did a yardsale at a local school.
Proceeds went to a student who was diagnosed w/ Lukhemia (?)...it was $15 for the space.
Well I took all of Cheeks clothes sans a few special things + his exersaucer & a bucnh of xtra stuff. Erin took tons of things too.
We ended up each making $20 & took everything immediately to Goodwill.
Left early...started at 8, we left at 9:30.
Why?
Well it was 35 with the windchill, overcast, raining & the wind gust were 35 mph.
Good times!
Good times!
Erin & I took turns sitting with Cheeks in the van.

Stopped & saw my friend Rocky...haven't seen him in over 2 yrs.
It was so good to see him. So shout out to Rock & Bren!!!! Hoping we will get together soon & they will get to meet Bobster.

Speaking of which, he is returning to PR pretty soon.
It sucks but that's life.

And, as Murphy Law always is, I start my new job on Nov 12th & just received a subpeona to testify (finally) in case that has come to trial. It came to trial in 2006 (the alledge crime took place in 2004), but the orig. trial was postponed. I just mentioned to my family that I can't believe it never came to trial. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.
So now I have to report to work & let them know that during my 3rd week of training, I will need the week off b/c I've been subpeona.
Way to start off on a good foot.

Ok, some race w/ Spring cars is on & I like them so I am outty!

Woops out!

November 1st

Here's my mom!
She showed up last night, dressed like Raggedy Ann.

No she didn't dress up for work.
She dressed up for Cheeks b/c the sun rises & falls on this child!!!!
The funny thing is she got him a book that has the buttons to push to play music.
Well, he would push, she would dance.
He caught on quick & would push. When she was done, he would clap & push it again.
This went on for like 15 mins.
Seriously.
I wonder if she will dress up like a Turkey for Thanksgiving for him....hee hee

This was taken yesterday on the way to see my Godson.
What a ham! Check out those teeth. He had all his teeth by the time he was 13 mos old.

Saw my Grandpop today.
It's his birthday.
He turned 87,
87!
Holy Moly.
Cheeks had a good time. He got to walk around & just go.
No wonder he was asleep about 2 mins after I put him in the cribby.

Didn't forget about my RAK.
I need to print out the posts & have Cheeks pick.
Stay tuned!

Woops out!

Happy Halloween

I think he was talking to my dad in this picture! I dunno.

I am letting his hair grow long, ala Kate Hudson's kid. I sort of like it. We will see what his dad thinks.

So last night was the annual parade in town. I entered Cheeks. He was not amused but held up. We walked about a mile then walked home. He went straight to bed. There was judging & such but we left. People go all out for this. I just threw some vines around his buggy & called it a day.

Imagine my surprise when tonight I got a call telling me he won a prize!!! Woohoo...I have to pick it up tomorrow.

So I have a little prize winner on my hands.

No trick or treating for my little man. I did take him to my mom's salon & then over to see my Godson, who was Elmo. Such a cutie he was.

My mom surprised him by dressing like Raggedy Anne & coming over. He wasn't too sure if it was her, even after she took off her wig. It was really funny & when I went to video it, my camera was dead. Son of a b*tch!

So Cheeks is sleeping.

Kitchen Nightmares is a rerun

&
I am hopped up on Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi.

Off to scrap!

Woops out!