Happy Thanksgiving

I think Thanksgiving came early this year...maybe not but it sure seems like that. Where has this year gone? At least this has been a better year than last =)

First things first this week. Leroy and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary! That was the best and easiest decision I ever made. Never once have I gone "why did I get married?".....it's awesome to be married to your best friend because I know so many people end up in divorce. He completely surprised me at work by bringing these to me himself. See I'm usually upstairs at work but this month I'm down in the lobby so he got to come and see me and we had an awesome lunch together. I don't know where 8 years has gone, it seems like yesterday we got married and were both sick on our honeymoon.

Now on to Thanksgiving 2 days after our anniversary....Danae made this super cute Indian costume at school, Derrick had a pilgrim one but he didn't feel like posing for me.
Here is our yummy bird. And guess what?! I actually cooked it all the way this year! Yup, after 7 previous attempts at cooking turkeys, this one came out completely done with no pink. I think my problem was I never thawed it completely and there was always a little bit of ice. Not this year, I followed Butterball's tips tricks and ideas and did it! So proud of myself. Now to get some rest before we go out at midnight for those awesome Black Friday deals at Walmart =)

Yes, I'm finally on the blog again

Hey whaddya know, we are still alive! I've just been lazy about blogging. I like seeing my kids more than I like typing about them, I know, crazy huh?! While getting things for Thanksgiving I realized that maybe I should show Halloween pics before Thanksgiving gets here. Here they are! This was the first year since 2008 I got to decorate for Halloween. With more space, I got to get everything I could find and put it out. There are still A LOT of things we couldn't find though. But after 2 moves in 2 years I think we did pretty good. We had Spiderman and Princess Cinderella this year. We trick-or-treated around the neighborhood (along with the rest of Fillmore) for about an hour and then the kids were exhausted. For the last half block all we heard was "my feet hurt Mom" "can you carry my candy Dad"....we all were glad to see home again.




We also had our first parent teacher conferences of the year. Both kids are doing great in their studies. Both right on track and Derrick above level on reading! Danae surprised us and is doing great, she even surprised her teacher which is so cool.

Leroy is still fighting pain and I'm still fighting with customers but we are still here and getting ready to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary on the 23rd. THE best decision I ever made was to ignore everyone and get married....I haven't regretted a day and am happier everyday =)

One of THOSE Weeks

I don't think I've ever been happier to see a weekend as I am to see THIS weekend. Work had more grouchier and more colorful complainers this week. I was called quite a few names I don't dare to repeat. Normally it just rolls off, but once you get called names one too many times you just want to hang up on people. Don't get me wrong, I love my job in Consumer Affairs but some days are worse than others.

To make things worse the kids pictures came in, well Derrick's came in, Danae just had proofs. See when they took pictures, Leroy found Danae's order form in her backpack, and took it right back and gave it to her teacher. (Mind you, shouldn't the teacher checked bags since they are only 5 year olds?) The teacher took it and said she'd put it with the other "left behinds". Weeks pass and I notice only Derrick's check got cashed so I email, get this, consumer affairs, for the picture company and no reply. Picture come in miraculously 3 days after I write the email. Derrick's was complete but Danae only had proofs. Leroy asked the teacher and she hadn't a clue what happened to Danae's money. Lo and behold today I get a response email from picture company and Danae's pictures are being processes! Yahoooooo I will have my baby's first ever school pictures. I even did good, I didn't yell or get upset over the confusion, Leroy was ticked but I stayed calm. Maybe getting yelled at is making me mellow, either that or I'm getting mellow in my old age =)

I also wrangled to get a week off next week. I tried a few weeks ago to get it off, the kids have Fall Break and the Hot Wheels convention is in LA the 13th-17th but it wasn't available. My amazing boss said if anything came up she'd give me first dibbs on it and she did! So I get to have 9 complete full days off. I can't wait!!!! I haven't had a vacation since August of 2009.....I'm psyched!

Let's see.....oh Danae loves her new teacher Mrs. Enriquez now. At first she was so-so on how she liked her because, of course she wasn't like Mrs. Moreno. Now after a few weeks she is enthralled with learning again. Thank goodness! Derrick is doing good. His favorite subject is computers but he's really reading well.

Ok I'm off to start on my Fall cleaning....yes I Fall and Spring clean...it's a sickness really.....

2 Days of Nothingness

So this is day #2 of doing absolutely nothing! Yesterday Leroy watched college football, the kids drove each other crazy and I read a book, it was so awesome. Today Derrick woke up before 7 and dragged me out of bed...BOOOOOOO! I did realize something the other day and I missed it, I missed our 2 year anniversary of being relocated to crazy Southern California. September 21 was that date. Year one was full of missing Fresno and year 2 has been a year of adjustment. Now that I have a regular job the idea of moving to a different place is nearly impossible so we've just accepted that this is where we will be. I like the kids school better and I like where we live better and I love my job better, so here we shall stay.

3 Clarks and a Little Lady

Here's our "Little Lady"....we went to a Hot Wheel KDays event in Goleta today, and as usual the kids got a toy if they found a Treasure Hunt (bribery works!). Here's what Danae got, the shoes on her tootsies. She comes waltzing in while we were watching TV and said, "Do I look like a lady?"

Is it Friday yet?

This is the first week I was wishing for Friday by noon on Monday. I've learned a downfall of Consumer Affairs and that is getting yelled at for no reason. The first time it happened I was a little upset, now that it's happened numerous times this week I just sit and laugh. Seriously now, do you really think your going to get what you want after yelling at me and calling your mailman names? I highly doubt it. I've made a few people hang up on me because I wouldn't give in and yell back at them. The saying goes you catch more flies with honey, some people really need to use more honey and less vinegar =) But I can still say I like my job and am not tired of it yet so all is good.

Danae is getting a new kinder teacher, her current one doesn't have full credentials so they are going to bring in a teacher with full credentials. I'm a little nervous because these are 5 year old kids they are changing up. Danae seems fine with the change but we'll have to see come Monday when it's her first full day with the new teacher.

Other than that we are heading to a Hot Wheel event this weekend, Leroy loves these things so he's psyched! This is the first one I get to go to in about 6 months so hopefully it will be fun. =) All I hope is the rest of the week goes fast and I don't get yelled at half as much as I already have!

Aspiring Architect

Take a look at our aspiring architect! Derrick is one of those kids that can look at something and build it. This was his rocket that he built. I asked if he looked at anything for tips on how to build it and he said "duh Mom it's all in my head" with a smile =) He does the same thing with building Lego houses. We managed to get a great deal at the swap meet in Saugus for bags and bags of Lego's, needless to say Derrick is in heaven. He's even been building pink Lego houses for Danae.
(Notice the missing teeth on the bottom? The tooth fairy is gonna go broke soon)