My Vacation and New Years Resolutions

I'm on vacation! Well, I have 2 more days left. I have done a lot of relaxing. I've acomplished everything I've wanted to this vacation; including having a lot of family in and out of my house and keeping up the housework in the meantime. We have been missing Lizzy a LOT...she's been in Vegas since December 22nd. She comes home tomorrow ..yeah!

I am actually looking forward to going back to work on Wednesday. I get a bit stir crazy being at home. I've been checking my work email while I've been gone and I can see I'll be VERY busy when I return to work on Wednesday.

So here are my New Years Resolutions:

1. Go to bed earlier Sunday - Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday's will be my late nights. I'm going to try for 10:30pm Sun.-Wed. in 08
2. Wake up earlier. 7:00am M-F.
3. Work out 2-3 days per week.
4. Smoke less! I don't smoke a lot now- but I can always cut down even more.
5. No late night eating.

Wish me luck!

I have a new niece!

I have a new niece named Caroline Marie Campbell. I might have botched the spelling of her first name. I'd like to post a picture of her but I need to ask her mommy and daddy if they are ok with it. My little brother Wayne and his wife Courtney had a baby girl around 3:15pm yesterday December 22nd. I went to see her in the hospital this morning. She is SO beautiful. In fact, she looks exactly like Jewel did when she was a newborn. It's so exciting to hold a newborn baby. I'm so glad she's here.

It's Still Cold!

Well it's still cold outside. KC has stayed in the 30's all week and sometimes below. The ice is melting- yesterday the sun came out and it looked as if it were raining most of the day because of the ice melting off the trees!

Here is Chris "sledding" on his behind down a small hill by our home. We took the dog on a walk a few days ago and it was funny how each of us acted.

- I was very careful not to fall...or even walk on ice at all.

- Lizzy was having cautious fun...she would play, but was not looking for ice patches either.

-Chris was seeking out hills of ice and ice patches to slip and slide on. I could not believe his nerve....but then again he is a boy.

-Sumo was just being himself...curious of everything and sniffing away. He loves the cold!

Ice Storm

It's been somewhat better than we thought it was going to be...but....I think we are going to get another waive this afternoon. The kids are home from school- so that means I'm working from home too. I dont mind really haha. I think everything will be back to normal tomorrow unless something unforseen happens. Here are a few pics:

SHOPING- Ice Storm Brewing

I went shopping on Saturday and Sunday for Christmas gifts. I was not extremely behind (well I guess that depends on who you ask)- but I really needed to get out there and get some more of it done. Jeff, Lizzy and I went to Oak Park Mall on Saturday and got things for several people and the Jeff and I went again on Sunday to Ward Pkwy. Mall and Oak Park again and finished up. I'm sure we'll do one more round of shopping before Christmas is here but I feel good about our progress. I also feel great about what a bargin shopper I have been this year. If you know me at all you know I'm VERY frugal.....and I always try to get the best deal possible when I spend money. Also- let's not forget that Christmas is not about gifts......the Grinch understands.

Moving on...... we here in KC are expecting an ice storm this evening. 1/2"-1" and maybe even more is expected to come down over the next day or two. This type of storm has the ability to cripple the community. If power lines go down, we are in big trouble. It's cccccold! I am going to make sure we have enough food to eat that does not require electricity JUST INCASE. No, I'm not going into freak out mode.....I'm not like that but I remember the ice storm of 01 here in KC...it left people without power for up to a week. My mom was one of them. Here is a picture from the last big ice storm we had here in KC.

Sumo In The Snow

Sumo LOVES the snow. He can't get enough of it really. Yesterday it snowed about 3" or so- nothing terrible. We had some slick roads yesterday afternoon but everything is good now. Kids are in school to their dismay. Frankly, I was looking forward to a snow day myself. I brought my laptop home .....hoping to have a work from home day. Well- at least we can have a weekend "in"....I'll get some hot coco and comfort food I'll spend the weekend keeping the house and family warm. That sounds good to me.

Let It Snow

I just took this picture a few minutes ago. This is outside a window in an office where I work. It's SNOWING hard right now!

2 Years of Marriage

Here are a few pics of Jeff and I on Sunday....(our 2nd wedding anniversary).

Visiting With My Sisters

I love visiting with my sisters. Here a picture that was taken yesterday.

My little sister Dusty was in town on her way to Las Vegas with her husband Adam. We finally got to meet Adam (they have been married about a year and a half). I'm impressed! We love him already and welcome him into our family. I think he fits in great! As long as he can put up with us...haha

Yesterday was also Jeff's birthday (I'll post pics later...when I get them)....and our 2nd wedding anniversary! We celebrated Jeff's birthday on Friday night with a poker party at our house. On Saturday, we celebrated our wedding anniversary- we got a hotel room at the Crown Plaza Hotel downtown....watched MU lose the championship game (boo hoo)......then went out for a bit. It was a fun night.

It was a very busy but very fun and fulfilling weekend. I sure do love spending time with my family. I wish my brother, sister -in- law and mother could have joined us. Speaking of.........we should have a baby coming soon!!!!