Early Holiday Celebration

Saturday all three girls and I braved the cold (about 25 degrees) and went to the anniual tree lighting celebration for the Village of Fox Lake. We had never been before and we were a little unsure on what it would be like but we thought it was probably going to be some singing, music and then the flip the switch that lights the tree, everybody says "ohhhh, Ahhhh" and we go home. Well that's exactly how it was but at least we can say that we have been to it "Once".Saturday morning we again decided to brave the cold, this time about 35 degrees and watch the Christmas Parade also put on by the village. We bundled up with jackets, hats, scarves, gloves and blankets. We waited in the car until about 5 minutes before the parade started then went out to the street to watch the parade.

Jenna was nice and toasty in her car seat with lots of layers of clothes and blankets on her.

The parade was the same as usual, lots of tow trucks, fire trucks, a few motorcycles, the Grand Marshall, Mayor, beauty queen and the normal people tossing candy to the kids. There were a few cool things this year, there was a GIANT shopping car powered by a super charged big block and a really big red shoe topped with Ronald McDonald and the Hamburgler.

The kids enjoyed the parade and I think even Jenna liked it once she heard music in the parade.

We won't be crazy enough next year for the tree lighting but we already decided that for the parade we will get there early, park in front so we can stay in thecar and pack a thermos with hot chocolate.

I GOT IT!!!!!!!

I went for a second interview today with a company called Micro Medics.

The company is a laptop repair facility and I would be in customer service.
We talked, went over things about the company, they give me a little test to see if I could read their repair invoice and I passed it with flying colors, hello, it was only common sense to read the paper. Then I thought they were wrapping up the interview and they said "Well, we would like to extend and offer to you", I thought I almost fell out of my chair. I had never been offered a position right there in the interview. So of course I took it!

I will be starting full time on the 26th so that I can spend time with Jenna, Kayla and Becca next week while the girls are on Thanksgiving break.

Thank you all for saying a little prayer for me and now that David is off and running at his store hopefully things will start to look up for us. Now I just have the stress of leaving Jenna in daycare, I'm sure she will be fine, it's me we have to worry about, lol.

My first Stampin' Up! workshops

I have some great friends who agreed to host a Stampin' Up! workshop for me. Thank you Liz Lee (shown rt with little Spencer soon to be) and Yvette Stauner so much. We made some great projects, a Halloween scrap page, fall card, winter thank you card and yummy candy bag holder.

I was a little nervous at first but then I just did what I love to do and everything went smooth, well except when I realized at Yvette's house that I forgot to cut some paper but luckily my house was just next door.

I am planning some classes for the holidays so look for an email soon.

Halloween

We had a little trouble with Jenna's costume. We bought it before she was born thinking that by October she would for sure fit in 12month clothes. So as I said a few blogs down that it just didn't fit so I found the cute kitty headband and it was only $2.99 which made it even better.

Halloween came and I thought it would be cute to try to add a little nose and whiskers with a make up pencil to go along with the kitty headband I found a few weeks ago. Man did she look cute. While she was napping I even managed to carve a couple of pumpkins.
I think to blog site is having trouble so I'll re-align the pictures in a day or so after they fix the problem

Out at last and Becca did great

So today was my final day at Countrywide. In normal mortgage world fashion, I was ushered out the door while everyone was distracted by a meeting. Nice real class act they are, right up to the end. NOT. What a relief it is to be out of that place. If anyone you know is thinking about going to work there, have them call me first! I start me new position this Monday and a new chapter in my life. I am excited about the challenges and learning something new.

On another note, you probably saw the report card results for Kayla, but we also just got Becca's as well. What a wonderful job she is going. She does not get grades yet, but she got almost all "exceeds expectation". What a fabulous job she did. We are very proud of her.

David is finally out of Countrywide!

FROM DAVID:

I am finally out. I have finally given my notice to Countrywide, that Friday 11/05/07 will end my tenure and my career at Countrywide, FOREVER. I have taken a position in Management for Sears Holdings just north of Milwaukee. Although the drive will be long, the hours will be long, the pay isn’t much better, and the benefits are ok at best, it is a new start by going back to what I am good at, what I enjoy, and what got me my start in management. For those of you that read this, my brother Ric was possibly the best manager I ever worked for and I owe a lot to him. He taught me to put the people first. If they like you, trust you, and believe in you, they will follow you anywhere. Thank you Ric, you are the best brother anyone could ever have. As well, Thank you Tim. You taught me strength and resiliency. You helped me become strong in my heart and mind. I cannot thank you enough for your friendship and all that you have given to me and my family. Thank you for being my most trusted friend and advisor. Most of all, thank you to my wife. I would not be here, I would not have made it this far in my life, I would not have the strength to go on each day without you. I love you more every minute of my day. You make me stronger, better, and most of all, you complete me. I would be lost without you.

On another note; Kayla received her first report card as a big 6th grader. I am VERY PROUD to report that she achieved straight A's with many A+'s. As if that were not big news enough, this wonderful child also made, not only the honor role, but the HIGH honor role in her school. She has tested better than 95% of Illinois students in reading and better than 99% of Illinois students in math. UNBELIEVABLE. This is amazing news to me. We are very proud of her.