Merry Christmas!!

Seriously.... I don't know how some of you keep up with blogging.  I have had a Disneyland trip that could take up tons of space, yet no time or desire to blog about it.  Yet..... don't despair.... my "winter" break is here so I'll have time to catch up.

 In the mean time, here is our 2nd annual "going green" Christmas card. Merry Christmas!! I'm SOOO excited it's almost here!

Make a Smilebox greeting

uggg....

I have a varicose vein in my right leg... ugg.... it's ugly and it hurts.  I also have about a zillion spider veins all over my legs.  When did I get so old that these things are possible?

Black Friday

.... was fabulous!

I was one of the crazy people to get up at 4:15am to make it to a store only to stand in line because it wasn't open yet.... a line that reached around the building into an empty lot.  However, I was not one of the totally insane people who went out at midnight to some stores.  I do have my limits.

As posted on facebook, but since I'm proud, it's being posted again....  quote "at target by 4:50am, Cabela's at 6am, Kmart at 7:30, Big 5 at 9am, JoAnn's at 9:45, Arrowhead Mall at 10:30, Costco at 4:30pm, movie at 6:40, Krispy Kreme at 9:00, home at 9:30pm. Wow.... and still not done shopping!"

My mom beat me at it though... she and my dad were at Wal-Mart by 4:30am... then continued shopping after the movie until 11pm.

In attendance:  Aunt Carrol, Cousin Cheryl, Mom, and Jenn (my brother's girlfriend... might as well get her started on the insanity).  And of couse my dad for about half of it... what a trooper!

PS... I apologize for the crude language in the above picture... but, come on.... that's funny!

This One's for Love

Well, it's been forever... and I was called out on it!  Thanks Love....

Friday is Black Friday.  I don't know about some of you, but I'm ALLLL about shopping at the crack of dawn.  I figure it's called black Friday because the sky is black when I get up, and black when I get home.... I mean... we're seriously considering visiting Arrowhead Mall at midnight when it opens up on Thanksgiving evening....

I've signed up for the black Friday ads... I get a new one every few days for me to gawk at and plan over.  After reading them I've decided that my kids and relatives need all these great things at fabulous prices and... which store will I stand in line first at.... at 5am.... or sooner?

Well, probably none.  After really thinking about it, we don't really need any of that stuff.... I'm not standing in line at 1am at Best Buy, waiting for it to open at 5am for 1 of only 5 laptops for $197.... not this year anyway.  I will, possibly, spend the night at my parents to visit the mall at midnight... just to say I did it... and then, maybe, take a nap... and then, maybe, get up early again (with Starbucks in hand) and try some other people infested place for some more adventure.  Then, like always, I will spend my day at some mall, buying things I don't need at rediculously cheep prices, boosting our failing economy, and then top it off with some dinner and coffee and Bailey's with my mom, aunt, cousin, and 86 year old grandma.

Want to come??

Jury Duty

I am going to try and recount my experience of my jury duty on Monday. It will, by no means, be completely accurate nor give you an exact picture of what it was really like.... but here goes.

I first got summoned for the first day of school. Ha! Luckily you can go in and choose your day if you'd like. I chose the last day on the calendar, which happened to come really quickly... last Monday. Have you ever had jury duty? And actually been part of a trail? I have not done the latter, but have had a few experiences with the former.

I actually looked forward to jury duty this time... it's a break in the routine of every day, I love to people watch, and I was looking forward to reading my books... the Fever series (excellent reads!)... I know, kind of sick that I thought it might be interesting.... but it always proves to be.

After riding the shuttle to the court and hoping desperately that no one would talk to me (sad... total introvert) I, along with many others, choraled ourselves to the jury assembly room. It's a room with bad furniture, obnoxious televisions, and uncomfortable seats that one must endure for goodness knows how long. I sat myself down and proceeded to read my books... yes... I brought two. Around 10ish I was called in with another 60 jurors... I was #56! We made the long walk, like grade school lines, down to the other end of the courthouse and up to the 9th floor where we waited for a very long time to enter the court room. This court room was staffed already with three lawyers, the bailiff with really long legs and 4" heals, a court interpreter, 2 defendants, and ... blah blah... else. The defendants were accused of allegedly kidnapping a woman at gunpoint and keeping her for a week in Avondale about 2 years ago. I didn't remember the case, so unfortunately I couldn’t' use it as an excuse!

The judge does many rounds of "let's hear your excuse as to why you can't or don't want to serve and participate in what is your civic duty"... of which the first one was, what reason would hinder you or cause a hardship if you were to serve. Ha! Easy, right? No, ... I started panicking thinking that I didn't have a good enough reason... I mean being a teacher and making lesson plans for an 8 day... yes 8 DAY ... trial would be torture, but not unbearable. Since I was 56, I had a lot of time to listen to other excuses, and OMG... were there some really lame ones.... my leg goes numb if I sit too long, I can't see far away (get glasses woman!), I have an appointment on Thursday, blah blah blah.... So, I figured I would go ahead and say.. .I'm a teacher and it would be difficult. And... oh wait... I'm a mom too. Good thing those kids come in handy sometimes! I can say that I watch my kids after school... which I do! So, it was almost my turn and I start gettin' the heebie jeebies. I HATE talking in front of people, now I had to do it in front of 70 people and give the my excuse. My heart was racing, thumping, and I was sweating. How lame am I? I managed to squeak it out...

Then the judge went for another 5 rounds or so.... do you know any police officers?, have you ever been a witness in a trial?, do you have a health issue that would keep you from serving?, can you rightly listen to both sides and not be biased?... etc. Then came more excuses. The best, however, came from a barely 18 year old girl... full time student... trying her darndest to get out of jury duty... who speaks up after being asked if being a witness to a trial.... she says...."Well, my roommate and I had a guy break into our apartment and start masturbating (OMG... at that moment I had to put my head down so I would scream) and started taking pictures of himself with my phone. {{slight pause and hesitation from judge}} Judge says: And were you a witness in a trial concerning this?... little girl says: Well, I can't really remember but I know I talked to a police officer about it.

There you have it folks... the best part of the day, besides my Starbucks and reading books.

BTW... no jury duty for me!

Trick or Treat?

Every Halloween since Zoe was born my mom has come over to pass out candy while Jonathan and I get to take the kids trick-or-treating.  Last year was the only exception because Hayden was with his mom so we drove over there so the kids could be together.  This year we were able to appreciate our own neighborhood and neighbors while trick-or-treating.  All I can say is... wow!  I LOVED my being in my own neiborhood.  The people were so nice, had awesome decorations like ginormous spiders the size of Hayden on their houses, full size candy bars and M&M bags.... and very nice kids.  Except for that loaded mini van that picked up high school kids who did NOT live our neighborhood.  Our side of the neighborhood had a BBQ at one of the houses with PB&J paninis and chili.... then another house on the other side had about 4 houses together where the kids got loads of candy. 

At first Hayden wanted to be the Grim Reaper.... (long pause)... are you laughing because it mirrors his personality at times?  But then, Ronni got him this costume... which he said was a knight, but it looks like a King to me.  Hmmm... either way, he looks super cute. 

Jonathan took Hayden and Sky... who did NOT want Zoe trailing after them.... thus, we had separte parties - Hayden, Jonathan, Sky... and Me, Grandma, Zoe.

Grandpa passing out candy.... while Grandma and I got to take Zoe.

Tate and Zoe... future prom pose?

Hayden in his second costume... Boba Fett (Star Wars) ..

his idea was to go again for a second round.

Grandma (poodle skirt)... with Zoe (and Tate's arm)

Hayden's first costume (yes, I know it's out of order, but this new editing crap from Blogger is not my friend).

SO cute!

Zoe's Stash!

My Menagerie

According to Dictionary.com, there are three definitions for the word Menagerie:

1. a collection of wild or unusual animals, esp. for exhibition.

2. a place where they are kept or exhibited.

3. an unusual and varied group of people.

 
#3 is the reason for my new blog title.  Although, at times, #1 could just as well describe my family.