I needed more rest today.  Skits was the one who got the rest tho.  I’m thinking he’s feeling a little more secure in his surroundings.  We had some success in potty training today.  The girls gave me a nice long break when they got home…they pretty much played with him all night long.  They took him outside when he needed to go.  It was nice.  All three of them were very cute together.  It is a lot easier having a puppy when you have kids who are old enough to help out with things.  When we got Baxter they were practically babies themselves! ;D  Oh, and I put on his collar today.  He HATES it!  I put him in his kennel when I went to get the girls at school.  He must have survived.  He was just fine when we got home.  Yay!  He also discovered he likes his bones…a lot…today.  So we started working on taking away his bone and giving it back to him.  He’s chewing on my hair right now.  Weirdo. ;D

It’s like having kids.  You forget what it is like having an infant or you wouldn’t do it again.  Same with puppies.  ;D

So I know you are thinking I’m crazy for getting another dog.  Especially while still recovering.  Hey.  So do I.  Do we plan these things?  If I told everything that was going on in my life right now you’d probably shoot yourself. Isn’t that how it usually is if we stepped in someone else’s shoes for a bit?  When is it ever the right time to get a dog? Yeah.  That’s what I figured.  I needed something good in my life.

We actually have been looking for another dog for a good 6 months or more.  I just don’t announce everything on this blog.  Believe me if I did you wouldn’t read it anymore! ;D  We found an add for this litter of puppies last week.  I knew I was sick but everything else about it was working out.  So we did it.  I just means that Corey and the girls are helping out with him a little more.  And boy do the girls ever want to help out.  I mean there is FIGHTING in the house over who gets to do what with Skits.  No one wanted to go to school this morning. ;D  I could have used the help…but that would have been a little irresponsible. ;D

paper WoodsyII, Ornate Frames, love sticker, clipped heart, dog sticker Amore all Jen Maddocks Designs

This morning Laney and Ava were arguing about some pencils they got for Christmas.  I guess there was some confusion as to which pencil belonged to which girl.  Not in Ava’s mind.  Somewhere in there Laney said something to the effect of it didn’t really matter anyway.  With that said Corey politely asked Laney to give the pencils that Ava wanted to her and take the other ones…since “it didn’t matter” and it would “make Ava happy”.  Well Laney didn’t like that one bit.  So we spent the next few minutes explaining and giving examples to Laney of making other people, in a family, happy even when you don’t want to.  Examples of when Ava has done it for her.  When I do it for Corey like when I take his laptop or phone to him at work when he forgets it…and he forgets a lot…and I don’t want to.  Or when I have to go pick him up in a hail or lightning storm when he is on his bike and it wasn’t convenient (and he should have looked at the weather before leaving).   Real life examples of things that have happened to us that I figured she would remember…she was there for the time I had to pick up Corey when he was bike riding.  I don’t remember everything surrounding it but I remember all three of us had to drop what we were doing and drive in the horrible weather and go get him. ;D

After many examples and much thought and still pouting Laney came to the conclusion, “Pencils are NOT part of the family!”

I got about 2 hours of sleep last night.  If you read this blog at all you know I operate quite poorly on small amounts of sleep.  The reason I didn’t sleep was because I was in pain.  I’m sick.  Again.  Or still.  However you want to look at it.  I don’t talk about it much because I just don’t want to dwell on it.  I’m soooooooo over it.  Argh!  So I was laying in bed last night trying to decide if it was better to lay there hoping eventually I would be so exhausted I’d finally drift off or get up and try to do something productive.  I ended up just staying there.  Mind racing.  Not a good thing.

Perhaps because I was overly tired today I really missed the kids.  Maybe I missed them a little too much.  Today they went back to school after being home for two weeks on Christmas break.  I don’t know who was more depressed about them being gone.  Me.  Or Baxter. ;D  I was thinking about them going off to college.  And how I don’t want them too.  Yeah.  I didn’t get enough sleep.

Headed to the dr tomorrow.  I hope they give me some good meds! ;D

Today wasn’t all bad.  Corey came home and surprised me with this.

Here are the specs.  Just so you know.  We don’t live in the lap of luxury. He does computer work on the side.  When that money comes it we usually play with it.  He found a great deal on this Canon 40D.  I mean great.  My Canon Rebel XT has been having problems for awhile now.  I just haven’t said anything.  I told Corey not to buy it.  He surprised me with it tonight.  He said it was a birthaversary present.  That’s what he said he was going to call presents now.  Anniversary and Birthday presents for me.  Cause our Anniversary is in February and my birthday is in March.  He made me laugh.  And cry.  ;D  Thank you Honey.  You blow me away.  Now to get better.  So I can play. ;D

Happy New Year!

Here’s how we are celebrating.

Ava laying on the ground playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii with the controllers over her head.  When I asked her about it she was like, “Well yeah of course I play like this.  It makes it so much more interesting!”  Yep.  SO Ava!

Laney playing Lego Rock Band.  She was dancing around while playing the guitar.  It actually helped her play better. Go figure. ;D

Are you going to do Project 365?  I think it is being also being called Project 52, Project Life, Design 365, etc.  I haven’t completely decided what I want to do yet.  However.  If you are planning on doing this “project” this year I will have a line of products designed specifically for it.  I’m calling them Capture 365.  I’d rather not call it a project.  It sounds too much like something more to do in my life! ;D  My first installment is a calendar template.  You can find it in my store.

I also have signed up on Facebook for my business Jen Maddocks Designs.  Come on over and become my fan!  I’d love to hear from you!

It is fun going over all the photos from the last year.  It is easy to forget all the things that have happened over the last year.  There have been so many things!  I used this template and just chose a collection of pics to highlight 2009.  I love doing these types of layouts! ;D

Today it was warm enough for the girls to venture outside.  Not to mention it was warm enough for me to get out there with them for some photos. ;D

The girls made a fort in Ava’s room today.  (I did not help them.) It turned out really well!  They want to sleep in it tonight. ;D

I love having the girls home on break.  It reminds me of when they are home for the summer.  I love them and miss them when they are at school all day.  Can you tell they have been good and not fighting?  If so I’d want to be shipping them back to school asap!!!! ;D  Wink wink!

photo mask and paper (coming soon), date stamp Jen Maddocks Designs
paper, candy canes Jesse Edwards
oh Christmas tree Katie Pertiet
bird, postage stamp Flitter kit Lynn Grieveson

paper, word art, date stamp, wreath, flower Jen Maddocks Designs
star, ribbon Flitter kit Lynn Grieveson

How was your Christmas?  I still have a touch of something but ours was good.  We are loving our Wii!  Best gift ever!  I must say I’m not a big fan of video games in general.  I didn’t think I’d ever own something of this nature…however I stand corrected.  I totally recommend it.  If you get a Wii I recommend the Wii Sports Resort.  We’ve had the most fun with those games…by far.  Maybe I like them so much cause I’m actually good at a lot of them…when usually I’m terrible at video games!  Especially the Frisbee Dog.  LOVE that one.  I kick butt at it! ;D  So I will say not all is not right with the world when the kids lose or are playing against each other and one wins over the other one.  Sometimes the Wii needs to “go away” for awhile. ;D  But I hear we aren’t the only ones with that problem! ;D  Like right now.  Laney is in her room crying.  I’m sure soon it will be Ava.

We are going to have a White Christmas!  Yay! ;D  I kinda wish I wasn’t so sick so I could enjoy it…more on that in a bit.  It is snowing now.  Has been all day and is supposed to snow tomorrow so the white stuff should be around for Christmas.  Why does snow make it feel more “Christmas-y”??

I am still sick.  Yes it has been well over a week now.  Yes I did go to the dr.  Today.  Not much they could do for me.  Did a strep test.  That’s not it.  I think he felt sorry for me considering it is so close to Christmas.  I got some meds and hope they will help but I’m not holding my breath.  Being sick stinks in general but especially during Christmas.  I have presents to wrap.  The house is a mess.  Ugh.  Oh well.  I’m listening to Christmas music on my computer and to the sounds of the kids and Corey (he’s working from home today) and I have it pretty good.  I just wish I felt better.  While I was out braving the snow, going to the dr office, I went to the store and got food for Christmas.  So we won’t be having pizza.  Ha!  Corey wanted ham.  I wanted chicken.  Believe it or not the girls wanted steak!!!!  So I splurged and got filet mignon at Safeway.  I got a great cut!  Can’t believe they wanted it…they are definitely MY kids…if they were Corey’s they would want seafood. ;D He he!

I noticed today how quiet everything was with the snow falling.  Quiet and peaceful.  I took a couple of photos of my festive flag out front on the house with the snow falling.  It was just so quiet.  I love that.

paper, photo mask, postage stamp, date stamp, alpha letters Jen Maddocks Designs
Remember Word Art Ali Edwards

New in the store today is a brush set called Let’s Dance.

Here is my December Daily day21 layout.  Yes it is photos from days ago but I wanted to use the new brush set and these are photos I wanted to scrap so two birds one stone thing. ;D

all JMDesigns

Last night was Laney’s open house for dance class.  Parents get to come into the class and watch what the kids have learned so far, rather that peeping through the window.  Corey and I were extremely impressed with Laney.  She is a wonderful dancer!  She wasn’t smiling much and I asked her why afterward.  She said, “Mom.  Dance is HARD and I have to concentrate!!!!”  Here’s December Daily day 14 layout…

Crystal Clear Flakes Dana Zarling
Photo Cuts Masks No4 Katie Pertiet
cutmat, bird Flitter Lynn Grieveson
paper, overlay, word art, date stamp JMDesigns