David's new job

So far David likes his new job which is great news. He said everybody is really nice and so far the drive doesn't seem to be to bad, seems to like his boss and co workers. He has even found a long lost friend who's wife works there. It's also nice to know that his cell phone won't be ringing like crazy for work problems so he gets to relax in the evenings. Oh yah did I mention it's up the street from the Bears training camp, I think that part is really cool.

I haven't been getting as many hours as I had hoped but let me just tell you it kicks my butt when I am working. I knew it was hard work but man I guess I am in worse shape then I thought I was in. I'm so worn out by the end of the day it's all I can do to stay up until bed time. I'm sure it's only a matter of time that I get used to it.

Happy New Year!

New Year was pretty quiet for us, both Jenna and Becca were sick so we stayed home. We had lots of munchies and David and the kids made pizza's for dinner. I worked all day and was pretty tired so it was very hard to stay up until midnight but I did and this is the first year that Becca has lasted until the New Year also.

New Years day David bowled in a tournament and did really well. Read below for his take on the tournament:
Out of 356 men bowlers only, total, I landed in 12th place. My qualifying scores were: 246, 300, 211, and 268. They take your 3 highest scores plus handicap. Handicap was 72 total for 3 games. Scratch series was 814 and handicap series was 886.

Not too shabby.

He doesn't know what is prize was as they are still totaling them up but I am very proud of him finishing in the top 15.

Crazy Christmas

I'm a little behind so as you see many of the posts are dated the same day, sorry. We got the girls on the 23rd so they would be with us for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We spent Christmas Eve with David's mom and David's step-brothers family. We had yummy Italian beef sandwiches and cheezy potatos(tradition) and after we ate we opened presents. Jenna was so funny since this was her first Christmas where she started to realize that there were gifts to open. She tore right through them, throwing the clothes aside barely unwrapped.

Christmas morning we had a visit from Santa who ate all the cookies and drank most of his milk and left lots of presents. Later that afternoon we had a yummy dinner here with ham and ravioli.

Kayla turns 13!

December 14th, little Kayla turned 13. We still can't believe it. She is growing up so fast, she's not the little girl I met on her daddys shoulders at the zoo. We had a small party here for her since it was so close to Christmas none of her friends could come over so sometime in January hopefully she can have a sleep over. Kayla and my mom made a yummy cheesecake and Becca and my mom made homemade ice cream.

We had Olivia over for the evening and we kept busy, the girls decorated a ginger bread house and decorated the Christmas tree. I'll post a slide show of all our activities on her birthday as soon as I figure out how.

First visit with Santa

Our local bank was getting a visit from Santa so I took Jenna to meet him. She was very excited to see him but when it came time to talk to him she got upset and for sure wouldn't sit on his lap so quick thinking santa suggested that I sit with her for a photo. After the visit from Santa she wanted a little snack and to look around and the Christmas decorations.

Jenna's first snow play

We got about 5-6 feet of snow right when my mom got here and I was dying to get Jenna outside so the Stauners were going outside so Jenna and I went too. Yvette brought out a small sled that Jenna wanted to try so we put her in and pulled her around the street and she loved it. She didn't want to go in but finally I convinced her to go in. Her poor little butt was wet from snow and her little legs were so cold.

I got her dressed with what I had close by, nothing matched but she was warm and dry. She took a nap shortly after we got inside but she woke up, I brought her down but she was still tired so she crashed out in David's chair for a while more. I guess she had to much fun and it wore her out.

Mom's visit

My mom finally came for a visit but she came alone, Bill had to stay home to take care of some dental work, she got here on December 10th and stayed until right before her birthday, December 21st. We were not sure how Jenna would do since she hasn't seen her since she was only 6 months old and has only talked to her on the phone but she was very excited to see her.

Jenna wouldn't really let her close though, but always had to know where she was at all times. They had fun together making cookies for David to take to work and lots of shopping to get ready for Christmas. Jenna finally let her close the night before she left when she got out the bubbles. I will have more pictures when mom gets hers downloaded then I'll post them so check back later.

Uncle Buster

I got word today that one of my great uncles passed away today, Buster Davis, pictured left with the brace on his arm with his son Jerry. I have many fond memories of Uncle Buster. I spent a few summers in Vian, Oklahoma with my step dad Bill. I met Uncle Buster and Aunt Freeda in California, they live in Bellflower just about an hour from where we used to live.

One summer in Oklahoma and on Lake Tinkiller I met Uncle Buster's Grandkids Tammy and David, I think I was 15 or so, what a summer that was. We had a blast, the whole time driving around in Uncle Buster's Toyota truck, spending hours and hours on the lake and nights at the Fin and Feather Resort. Uncle Buster was very active in the Black Gum Volunteer Fire Department until a few years ago when he had a stroke and was unable to do much for them anymore. Every two years the Davis family holds their family reunion and before the reunion there is always an ice cream social that was always held at Uncle Buster's house, that's what the picture is above.

Uncle Buster is the brother of my Grandpa Benson and they are 2 of 14 in their family but unfortunately ther are only a small few left as they are getting older. I always try to make the reunion held the last Sunday in June every year because you never know when will be the last time you will see one of the brothers or sisters. Sadly about 4 or 5 days before Buster passed one of his sisters, Midge also passed away. Pictured to the right is the remaining siblings, picture taken in 2007 and Uncle Buster is in the front row first person and Midge is in the front row, third from the left (fron right is my grandpa Benson). Below is the clip from the service I have listed beside the names who the people are that are listed at least the ones I know.

Uncle Buster you will be missed!

In Loving Memory of
Mr. Buster T. Davis

Service Details
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 2pmBlackgum Baptist ChurchBox Cemetery -

North of Vian, Ok.
Viewing
Tuesday 1 - 9pm Wednesday 9 - 11amAgent Funeral Home - Sallisaw, Ok.
Officiating
Rev. Dale Ritter (distant cousin)
Pallbearers
Jim Giles, Troy Pack, Charlie Jones, Bud Reed, Red Davis(Buster's brother), and Jim Davis (my uncle)
Honorary Pallbearers
Benson Davis(My Grandpa and Buster's brother), Jack Davis (Baby Brother), Dewayne Davis(nephew),Charles Davis(nephew), Mike Davis(nephew), and Rudy Collins
Obituary
Mr. Buster T. Davis was born January 1, 1921 in Blackgum community, Oklahoma, the son of Charley A. Davis and Lula Ann McFarland Davis. He married Freeda M. Baker Davis on January 1, 1940 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Mr. Davis was a longtime member of the Blackgum Fire Department where he served as a former Board Member. He was a former Union Organizer and served as a Military Policeman while in the Military. Mr. Davis passed this life on December 26, 2008 in Vian, Oklahoma after having attained the age of 87 years, 11 months and 25 days.Survivors are:wife: Freeda of the home1 son: Jerry Davis of Cypress, Ca.1 daughter: Sandra Hughes of El Cajon, Ca.8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren2 sisters: Mary Clairday of Blackgum, Ok.Melvin Burkhart of Seminole, Okl5 brothers: Robert Benson Davis of Blackgum, Ok.Wylie Davis of Olivehurst, Ca.Albert "Doc" Davis of Fortuna, Ca.Raymond "Red" Davis of Gore, Ok.Jack Davis of Blackgum, Ok.several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friendsHe was preceded in death by a daughter: Donna Fury in 2006, his parents, and 10 brothers and sisters

The Day that wouldn't end...

Was today. I started my new job full time today for the cleaning service and Jenna was starting her new day care. I took the truck today to get the check engine light checked at the local Auto Zone because it was easier for me to get stuck if the truck breaks since I am local then him stuck in the middle of nowhere.

We were actually leaving on time today, we pulled out of the driveway and slid a little at the end of our street, well we slid into the snow and we were now stuck. Oh Man now what, I put it in 4WD and it wouldn't move, backed it up, put it in forward, did that several times until finally we were out (thanks to Stosh for teaching me that trick). We are on our way, whoo hooo. We get to Auto Zone and they don't open until 8 and it's 7:30, oh well I'll stop later. So on our way again.

I have only been to Jenna's new daycare a couple of times and I didn't have the address with me so I was going off memory. I turned left on Gages Lake Road instead of right, darn I'm at 21 so I stop to turn around but I pull in the snow, Oh no, I'm not moving, put it in high 4WD again and I'm sinking more and more the harder I try to get out. NOW WHAT do I do! Ok don't panic, I call 911 for help. I've got Jenna with me so I can't get out within about 5 minutes Gurnee PD show up and they call for a tow for me, man $75 for a tow but I have to get out. Tow gets there and starts to pull me out but I'm watching his truck slide more and more the more the tries to pull me out. I'm thinking to myself, OMG now he's going in the ditch too. He decides to go at a different angle and with me pushing on the gas we get it out. The whole time I'm thinking, where is Stosh when I need him. I'm out of the ditch and on my way to drop off Jenna. By this time I'm an hour late for work.

I get to the house to clean just as my trainer gets there and it's a mess, wow we had our work cut out for us. We get it done and on to the next house that's HUGE, anyway, I'm cleaning my heart away and get to the last bathroom with a big shower with glass doors. I'm cleaning and move my hand towards the handle and slice my finger open on the shower door handle, my left hand even (I'm left handed), so it makes it hard to finish as my finger is bleeding all over.

Finally we are done and I get to leave, Man I thought today would never end.

One good note, Jenna had a good day at her new daycare. We got there and she heard kids, she said "Kids" and took off and that was that. I was worried that she would have trouble since she has been home with me for a few months.

I really hope tomorrow is a better day......

Pay it forward this holiday season

I always thought the saying "pay if forward" sounded a little strange until SEVERAL people helped my mom and I yesterday. You see I had to take mom to union station in the city to catch a train to go back home. It was -4 with an awful windchill that made it about -35, we were a little worried about the cold and getting inside the station. All was going well until I pulled up to Union Station only to find out there are 2 stations. OMG now what, which one do we go to, there was no place in front to drop mom and Jenna off so after driving around the block once we decided to park and walk across the street.

We got across the street ok but couldn't get up the curb, 1 nice man got out of his warm car to help us get the stroller up the curb and over the snow. We got the bags and stroller up about 5 small steps with the help of 1 more nice man and his two sons, we get inside only to discover that we are upstairs to the station with no elevator or escalator to get downstairs, again that 1 nice man and his two sons help us get the bags and stroller down not 1 but 2 flights of stairs all the while the father is pulling my moms bags all over the station for her. The nice man and his sons left us to find our way.

Then the nightmare begins, we get mom checked in and we are early but we sit in the lounge to wait for her train and the lounge starts filling up and filling up, it appears that there are several trains delayed due to the cold weather. We wait and wait and wait some more finally after about 4 hours they call moms train so she gets a red cap to assist her on the train so Jenna and I are off to find the McDonalds in the station to get some fries before we go home because she was so good with all the waiting.

We get upstairs where they say the McDonalds is and I can't find it and I couldn't find a restroom either and it's a long rid home. I knew there was a restroom in the lounge where we just spent the last few hours so back we go and the same poor people are still waiting for their delayed trains. I start talking to the bathroom attendant about how cold it is and how I have to walk back outside to the car, she asks where I parked and she asked if I took the sky walk. I told her I didn't know about it so 1 nice bathroom attendant offers to walk me all the way to the sky walk and to the parking structure to show me the way so I don't have to walk back out in the cold. Oh and yah, mom's train didn't even leave when she got on, she didn't get to leave the stations until about 9:30 pm after getting there at 12pm to catch her train.

I just couldn't believe our luck yesterday, so many nice people helping us. So I just kept thinking, PAY IT FORWARD, I will have to do a good deed the next time one arises.

So I wanted to share with everybody to PAY IT FORWARD this holiday season, do a good deed for someone. Help an elderly person with their bags in the cold, hold a door for a mom with children, buy coffee for the person behind you in line, tip the snowplow driver that plows your street (oh yah, I already did that one, gave him chocolate chip cookies for putting the snow in front of our house for the kids to play on), anyway hopefully you get my drift.

PAY IT FORWARD......

New Job and other stuff

Well, it is official today. David received a job offer from a major company. David will be managing a group of 6-8 fraud investigators. He will be working with the FBI, DEA, CIA, and local law enforcement on medical fraud investigations. David is very excited about this new job. After all, he is a paranoid freak that thinks everyone is cheating the system anyway.....just kidding.....mostly......He should be starting this new position on January 5th, 2009. He is so very thankful to be leaving Sears. They were pretty abusive to him and his crew....you know....its never enough for them. Not to mention that we will now see him on Saturdays, yippee.

On another note, I also have a job, I am working for a house cleaning service that is local. Jenna will be in daycare less and will have flexible hours that will allow me to be off by 4 pm most days. The areas that I will be working in are Gurnee, Wadsworth and Libertyville and after I am done with the job I can go home, nobody looking over my shoulder, making me tell them when I have to pee or listening to everything I do like the last place I worked.

We both have something to look forward to for the new year.

A few more hours.....

And my mom will be here for 2 weeks. We are very excited except she is coming alone, my stepdad Bill will be staying home to take care of the dogs, my grandma's husband and he has a few dental appointments that he couldn't miss. We will miss having him this trip.

We haven't seen them since Jenna was 6 months old so I can't wait for Jenna to see "Gama", she talks to her on the phone but I don't think she realizes who she is talking to. I'll post pictures of her visit but I have included a picture of our last visit, 4 generations, mom (Rosemary), my Grandma (Rozelle) and grandma is of course holding Jenna and me.

The potty

Jenna's training potty has finally arrived and she was so excited to see it. It's actually cute for a taining potty, it looks like a normal toilet except it plays music and sings when the flushing handle is is pushed. She sits on it with her clothes on and

we have tried to get her to go the "normal" way but still no

sucess. I'll keep you posted when we have a real flush, hehe.

Christmas Parade

We definatelly had better luck then last year for the Christmas

parade. Last year it was about 5 degrees and this year it was about 35 I would say. We were smart this time and parked right next to the street so we waited in the car until just before the parade started and stayed warm. the Parade was the same as usual with the few small business floats, Ronald Mc Donald and Hamburgler, and candy thrown to the kids. A new turn this year had The mascots for the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox all being followed up by Santa.

First Snow of the year

Well we did finally get our first snow, I'm no expert but I would say about 3-4 inches or so. I love looking outside when it snows and listening to the quiet of the snow falling.

Jenna was very excited when she saw the "snowman" as she calls the snow. I decided to take her outside to check out the snow for the first time and she wasn't to thrilled once she fell over in it. Maybe next time she will like it more, she sure looked cute though.

Snow is coming!

I was just informed that there may be snow tomorrow so I had Kayla go to Weatherbug.com and check and man on man, the snow is coming. Click here and here check out the link to Weatherbug and there is also a web cam that you can see the snow on the lake.. The kids are excited, they are ready for the first snow so they can snow board and take the tube down the hill. Jenna calls the snow "snowman" so she should be able to play in the snow for the first time this year. I post snow pictures tomorrow if we get as much snow as they say we are.

Black Friday

The kids and I were brave this year and went out shopping today, well only after changing a flat tire on the car. David had to be at work to open the store at 5 am so we just agreed that I would worry about the tire and he could take the truck. Poor David got up at 3 am and left I think it was 3:45 or so and yes I was even awake when he left. I felt so bad that he had to leave so early.

Kayla has grown so much that none of her pants fit her in the length so we thought what better day to get her some new pants. She tells me that she is 5" 1 1/2 inches tall, the kid has passed me up at 5". We found bargains at Wal-Mart and Menards and I am happy to say that both stores were empty, very little shoppers. I was in line and checked out I would say in less then 5 minutes. Wow if it's like that every year I would go out more often, yah right. I guess we got lucky because we didn't get out until 10 so we missed the rush of people and that was just fine with us.

David survived his day, he even said it wasn't to bad but the store opens at 7 am tomorrow, at least he won't have to get up at 3 again.

Nothing New

Not much new around here. I enjoyed last week having David home, he took the week off before the holiday rush begins. I am still in the job search with not much luck, so of course as always if anybody hears of anything please let me know.

David attended Kayla and Becca's parent teacher conference last night and we are happy to say that both of them went very well. Both girls are doing great in school and their teachers had nothing but good things to say.

Kayla and Becca are with us this week for the Thanksgiving break. We don't have anything to exciting planned. We have a play date with Olivia and Kelly today and possible a run to David's work. Tomorrow David is off for the day and I think we might make a visit to the library. We are having Thanksgiving Dinner with David's mom Jan. I can't wait, I love Thanksgiving food and we will have the girls with us the entire day this year, usually we only have half day with them.

We have purchased a training potty for Jenna and it's pretty cute, looks just like a mini toilet it plays music and has a flush handle. We will be introducing her to it tonight for her to check out. It's a little early for potty training but she tells us when she needs to be changed so hopefully it will be an easy transition for her. It's been one month with no bottle so I think the potty training shouldn't be to bad. Keep checking back for updates.

That Kayla is one smart cookie

We recently received Kayla's progress report and ISATS (Illinois Standards Achievement Test). We have always known this young lady was smart but each year she continues to amaze even us.

To begin with, her progress report is excellent. With 9 classes (YEP.....NINE classes in 7th grade) she has 7 A's and 2 B's. Amazing. I tried to include the actual progress report here too for those of you who cannot believe this brilliant child came from me, but cannot seem to get it to post!

Science - A

Tech Ed - A

Pre Algebra/Geometry - B

Social Studies - A

Language Arts I - A

PE - A

Language Arts II - A

Band - B

Choir - A

Now on top of this, Kayla Renee is now a full fledged Cheer leader and percussionist. Yep, she plays the drums, bells, timpani, and Cymbal. Wow...that's my girl, just like her pops.

Now the ISATS:

Reading score of 273 EXCEEDS standard with a possible 360

Mathematics score of 299 of 379 EXCEEDS standard

Vocabulary development scored above her school, District and STATE average

Reading Strategies scored above her school, District and STATE average

Reading comprehension scored above her school, District and STATE average

Literature scored above her school, District and STATE average

Mathematics:

Number sense scored above her school, District and STATE average

Measurement scored above her school, District and STATE average

Algebra scored above her school, District and STATE average

Geometry scored above her school, District and STATE average

Data analysis, statistics, and probability scored above her school, District and STATE average

Mathematical knowledge, strategic knowledge, and explanation scored above her school, District and STATE average

In reading Kayla scored in the top 85 % of students nationally

In Mathematics Kayla scored....wait for it...wait for it.....

99% of students nationally. WOW WOW and WOW once more.

We are very proud of the biggest sister. Amazing results.

Times are tough...Sorry I'm ranting!

Well I've been doing the job search thing for a little over a month now and what a joke. Most of the job postings are through an agency, they lure you in saying they have jobs and you think you posted for a good one but you get there and "there are not any jobs that match your skill set" BS is what I say. They never had any to begin with!

Anyway, I've had a few actual interviews but nothing has come of them. I actually have another with a well know credit union (I won't say the name until after) so please light a candle, say a prayer, through a lucky coin in a fountain or what ever you do for luck sure can't hurt!

I really enjoy my time at home with Jenna and she likes having me home too but what little I get from unemployment doesn't pay the bills.

Oh yah, people always talk about Karma, well that "lovely" company I used to work for who's biggest client is Circuit City. I'm sure will have what's coming to them shortly with most if not all of Circuit City stores closing their doors. What goes around comes around, that's for sure!

Sorry for my rantings but please if you hear of any job openings for customer service, admin assistant or general office please let me know.


Update: Yah I got the standard thanks but no thanks on the interview, by email even. LIFE SUCKS! blah blah blah........
By competitively reviewing the qualifications and experience of each person who was considered for the position, we have narrowed the field of candidates. I regret to advise you that based on this review, we are not able to offer further encouragement at this time. Your resume, however, will be retained in our files for future consideration.