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.

Trick or Treat

We were so excited that Halloween fell on a Friday this year and it was our Friday to have the girls even. We were able to take all the girls Trick or Treating together for the first time. Kayla and Becca haven't been with us for Halloween since 2003 I believe and since it was the first time Jenna got to go out made that even better.

I sent time Thursday night and Friday day getting the pumpkins carved, I had a couple of regular faces and one Whinnie the Pooh and one as Mickey Mouse. Jenna enjoyed helping me get them ready, she didn't even get grossed out by the pumpkin guts, she loves to help me.

David picked up the girls and got to our house so they could all go trick or treating. I was really surprised that Jenna made it to 3 streets before she was ready to take a ride in the stroller. I am a little sad though as I didn't get very good pictures of all 3 girls together. They all had a good time and got lots of candy. I guess it paid to be out late, as we were walking back home from the very back of our subdivision and we passed by our neighbors house who told Becca they still had candy left if she wanted more, well what kid wouldn't want more candy, so she scored, her bucket was overflowing with candy and that made her night.

After we were done we enjoyed some yummy homemade chili at our neighbors house and the kids couldn't wait to get home and go through their candy. I am very glad that all the girls got to spend the holiday together.

Denied my Constitutional right to Vote!

Just thought I would share that I was denied my right to vote today. I can't believe I was denied my constitutional right to Vote!!!!!!! Can you believe it! Me of all people!

I have written to Lake County board member Wilard Helander and below is the letter I have sent and I thought I would let all news media know, so I sent a letter to the Harald, Tribune, ABC, CBS and NBC news channels oh and Oprah also.

I know this is happening all over and it isn’t fair!

To Whom It May Concern:

I am sitting her right now so upset, I am in tears that I am unable to vote for what could be a historical event. I am so sad to think that I can’t make a difference. You see, we went online to verify our polling place and found that I was not listed as a registered voter. I called the next day (day before elections) to inquire as to why I was not listed as a registered voter when I knew I voted in 2004 elections, a year after I had moved by the way.

I was told by the person on the phone that I was shown as “inactive”. What then meant is when an audit was done it was found that I had moved. I verified with the person on the phone and even told them when I moved. They told me “No problem, bring in two forms of ID and you will need to fill out an address change form”. I said "good" and asked not ONCE but TWICE if that meant that I would be able to still vote and I was told YES both times.

I get to the polls today at my local church in Fox Lake and go over to the “Laptop Judge” who by the way was my neighbor, to get the correct forms to fill out so I can vote. She was not exactly sure which form I was to fill out, so she called someone I guess at your office only to find out that I moved more then 4 years ago that I was “NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE”. She handed me the phone so I could talk whomever she was speaking with and I was told that because I moved more then 4 years ago that there was NOTHING I COULD DO! I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE!!!!!

I informed the person on the phone that I did the proactive thing and called ahead of time and was told “no problem”, that I could vote. I was so embarrassed in front of my neighbor! I thought I was doing the right thing by calling ahead of time and look where that got me. NOWHERE!!!!!

I am so disappointed because I wanted to make a difference, not that one vote would but you never know what if I was the ONE VOTE that put OBAMA in the White House! You see I am currently unemployed and unable to find work so that makes me feel bad enough then only to find out that I can’t even VOTE!!! I hope that you can only imagine how that makes me feel right now.

I want this to be considered a formal complaint on how this voter registration was mishandled. Someone in that office should have said “If you moved more then 4 years ago that would not make you eligible to vote” but NO, nobody said that! YOUR office needs to be better informed and they need to make sure that everybody is on the same page as each other.

So now instead of having that good feeling of accomplishment I have the feeling of disappointment, that I let me country down!

Saddened Lake County Voter,


One response so far from ABC 7-
I am sorry for the blank reply sent previously. We appreciate you taking the time to write and share your story with us. Your email will be forwarded to our producers for consideration. We appreciate your choice of ABC7 news.

Baby Chase

I am so excited to share that two of my friends just shared in the joys of parenthood. TJ and Shelley just had their first baby together on October 29th, 2008, Chase was born at 1:35 pm in Stillwater Minnesota. He was 8 pounds 5 ounces and 22.5 inches long. To see more of little Chase and Family click here. I am so happy for the two, Shelley has wanted to be a mommy for a long time and finally got her wish.

Day 3 and counting.....

I decided it was time to get rid of Jenna's bottle. I wasn't sure how to do it but I knew it was time since she is almost 2. I went to the Parenting magazine website to look for help on their message boards. I also posted my own message for advise. Many of the moms said to try the Nuby cup since it had a soft top similar to a bottle nipple. So off to Wal-Mart we went to get a "Milk Cup"and I let Jenna pick the one she wanted. She chose a green one and as soon as we got home I asked if she wanted some milk in her new cup and she said Yes. We washed it and filled it up and she has been drinking milk from her "cup of Juice" as she calls it.

So far no bottle for 3 days now. I have to go and get a couple more Nuby cups now so I don't have to keep washing the same one. Next is work on the pacifier to try to get her to only use it for naptime and bedtime. Yah that should be fun!

Pumpkin Patch

We were lucky enough to go to the pumpkin patch two times this month. The first time we went with the Gebis family but we didn't have Kayla and Becca with us so we went back the following weekend so we could take them. We had a great time, eating, picking out pumpkins, eating, running through a corn maze, eating and checking out the haunted house. I didn't get any video of the pumkin launcher but that was the best thing to watch, it shot pumpkins out of a pressured launcher and they had to have gone at least 100 feet in the air.

Happy Birthday Christopher Robbins!

Jenna has been reading a Disney book called "Pooh's Birthday Surprise" and I introducted her to Christopher Robbins. I guess she likes saying his name. The clips are not very good quality but the audio is the best part.

Octoberfest

I took the Kayla, Becca, Jenna and our friend Susie from next door to Octoberfest at Lakefront Park a couple of weekends ago. We had a good time for such a small festival. The girls went on the giant slide while Jenna and I watched from the ground. We shared a yummy funnel cake and the kids all made a small pumpkin to take home. Jenna enjoyed the petting zoo and really wanted to touch the goose but the goose didn't want to be touched, while Becca and Susie went on the poney ride, poor Kayla is now to big to ride the poney rides. I think she wouldn't admit to it but was a little bummed that she is growing up.

Bump on the head

A week ago Friday was not a good day, it was my last day at MicroMedics which I knew was coming but also as I was leaving work I checked my voicemail and I had a message from Kelly who watches Jenna that Jenna fell and cut her head. I think from the sound of the message that Kelly was more upset then Jenna.

Jenna loves to play with a push cart at Kelly's house and most times goes a bit to fast while she pushes it so I'm guessing the cart got out from under her and she fell hitting her head either on the cart or the stairs, we are not sure which, giving her a small pea size gash and another pea size knot.

Just to be safe I took Jenna to the Acute care center to make sure there was nothing else damaged. At first the doctor wanted to put a couple of staples but wanted the wound cleaned first. Well that was fun, Jenna didn't like the cleaning part at all but she was pretty good considering. The doctor looked at it pretty good after it was cleaned and decided for cosmetic purposes that it should heal without stitches or stapling, just some Neosporin and band aids should do the trick. Jenna let the nurse put the neosporin and band aid on without any issues. She was really good about changing the band aids and after a day or so didn't even know it was there.

Labor Day

I know this is delayed but I'll catch up. We had a great Labor Day weekend. We spent some time at home over the weekend and on Labor Day we had a crazy schedule planned. My longtime friend Marian (below right picture) from California was going to be in town with her boyfriend and our friend's the Lee's invited us to their house as well. Luckily Marian wouldn't be far from the Lee's house so I dropped David, Kayla and Becca off at Tim & Liz's (tim and kids pictured above) house and met Marian, boyfriend Paul, along with another long time friend Donna (below left pic) from CA and her family at a nearby diner. They had never met Jenna outside of my belly. They were here for the baby shower before Jenna was born. It was a nice visit but to short. After seeing Marian and Donna I went back to Tim & Liz's where David and the kids were.

We all had a fun time with the Lee's and took lots of pictures, but not as good as the family picture Liz took of all of us. I'll have to see if she wouldn't mind sharring so I can add it to the blog.

My birthday always falls on Labor Day weekend. I got a beautiful bunch of flowers from David's mom, a beautiful new scrapbook and gift card for Archivers from David and the girls and now I can go shopping at Kohl's with my gift card from my friend and neighbor Yvette and family.

6 Years

On August 10 we celebrated our 6 year anniversary. Well I wouldn't really call it celebrated, our whole household was sick so we were unable to do anything but take care of each other.

A lot of people don't know that David and I were high school sweethearts having met at the Skate Station roller skating rink in Anaheim, CA. We broke up shortly after I began my senior year, but it sure wasn't for lack of trying to stay together on David's part. He was persistent but it just wasn't meant to be our time.

Thirteen years later I got a strange email from an address I didn't recognize. I opened it up and to my surprise it was from David. We emailed back and forth for awhile but I found he was married with kids and being respectful I didn't want to be the cause of any family problems so I told him to stay in touch. Six months or so later I got another email saying they had split and he moved out. We stayed in touch until one day he sent another email and said something to the effect that he gets bord and wanted to know if I wanted to do something.

A few more emails and we decided to go eat and to a movie. We went to the Cheesecake factory in Irvine(CA) and the check came and we kept talking. Well David reached for his card and paid for dinner and then we went dutch for the movie. I wasn't expecting him to pay for dinner as I had money to pay for my half. After the movie we went to our old favorite place Laguna Beach to walk around. I was so nervous as I didn't know if this was a date we were on our just a couple of old friends out for a night. We went out the next day also and it was history from then on.

I found out a few months later that actually he was expecting me to pay for dinner since I was the one who suggested dinner. We laugh about it now but I guess it made a big mess for David's finances for a few weeks. After a little time I finally got to meed David's girls. I first met Kayla, she was 4 at the time, we met at Santiago Park at the zoo. She was so cute wearing her little sun dress and sandals holding David's hand. We walked the zoo and Kayla sat on David's shoulders. A few days later I met Becca, she was only about 5 or 6 months old. I was already attached to them, they were so cute.

We dated for almost 3 years, talking about one day getting married. We were going to dinner for my birthday and I was not really having a good day and David had it all planned out to propose at dinner but instead David dropped to one knee in the front yard and asked me to marry him. We had a quick engagement as we had decided to move to Illinois to be closer to the kids and I felt it would be best to be married before we moved. We had a beautiful wedding in Las Vegas with about 40 friends and family around us. On a side note that would be one of the last couple of times I got to see my dad. He died almost 3 months later. But I am very happy that he was there an walked me down the isle.

I look back and If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. David has been my soul mate and my best friend. Things have never been easy for us but we have always made it through any obstacle that has come our way. We have a beautiful daughter together and two other beautiful girls that we share. I don't think I could ask for anything else, well, except to maybe win the lottery.

I love you David with all of my heart and soul. I am looking forward to many more years together. Picture below is me about 8 1/2 months pregnant.

September 11th

Not only is September 11th a memorial date for all Americans but it also is for David and I. You see that is the day we rolled into Illinois to make it our new home 6 years ago. It was very hard leaving all of our friends and family but we knew we would be closer to Kayla and Becca and be able to be a part of their life more then when we lived in California.

Our trip out started with a comical camping trip in Malibu Beach where we had our first un-escorted by my parents camping trip with the "Shaggin Wagon" (having trouble posting a picture of it so it will follow later). What is the "Shaggin Wagon" you ask, well it's a 1979 camping trailer that has all the 70's colors, orange and browns. We got it from my parents when they got a new trailer, hey can't beat free. It was a very heavy trailer and of course not many update amenities. The fridge quit working about a week before we were leaving, it had no airconditionining and was very hard to tow.

When we got to Leo Carrilo State beach we had trouble backing it in and you know how people always want to tell you what to do, well there were several friends trying to assist us in parking the beast. After awhile it got to be pretty funny but got it parked finally and enjoyed our weekend with everybody.

We got a late start on the road, stopped off in Corona for gas and some snacks then off we went. We stopped for the night at the KOA campground in Needles, CA with a pull thru spot as all of our other spots were to avoid backing up. Next day we planned to see my step mom in New Mexico so we stopped off and had dinner with her and her mom. After we left we needed more dry ice for the fridge so we stopped, man o man what a mistake that was. The lock on the trailer door decided to break, luckily we got an auto club membership before we left so we called AAA and they sent a locksmith but only after waiting over an hour and a half if I remember right. You are probably asking yourself why is she telling me all of this???? Well to tell you about the locksmith, hahaha, he was a funny guy. He walked up he was pretty fat, wearing loafers with what looked like white socks that got washed with something red, now picture this, woman's maternity pants, yes you read it right. David and I looked at each other and tried not to laugh along with his thick glasses and REALLY greasy hair. After another hour and a half the lock was finally replaced after messing up the door pretty good. We didn't get to far before it was dark so we stopped for the night in New Mexico.

We planned on taking our time and stopping and several well known tourist spots, we got to see the Cadillac cars in the ground, the T-Pee hotel off route 66 and we wanted to see several other places as well as my grandparents in Oklahoma but then the movers called and said they would be there ahead of schedule so we had to cut our trip short and just drive. Our trip was a little rough with no air in the trailer and it seemed every place we stopped for the night was near the highway or railroad tracks so we got little to no sleep most of our trip except the last night. We ended up in another KOA campground in Springfield IL in middle of a corn field way off the road. We joke about it, calling it the KKK campground because it was pitch black when we got there and it was really far off the road. We finally got a little sleep there as it was quiet and it finally cooled off.

We were excited to see our house we would be renting, you see we rented it sight unseen. David's mom and step dad checked out the house for us so we trusted them and rented the house. We had no clue how to get to the house so Joe met us at Gurnee Mills mall parking lot for an escorted drive to the house. It seemed like we drove forever until we pulled up in front of the house. We finally pulled up and with Joe's assistance backed up the trailer (backing up the trailer was an issue for us) into the driveway. We got out and David and I looked at each other in disbelief when we saw the house. It was perfect! We were so glad to be there and finally off the road. We checked out the house and unloaded the trailer and went right to bed I think as the movers would be there bright and early the next day and stayed in that rental house for almost a year when we found a house for sale in the same neighborhood. We listed the California house and put an offer to the seller on the house and bought it as soon as the CA house sold and it's been history ever since.

We were very happy to be closer to the girls and we knew we made the right choice to move to Illinois.

Wet and warm summer

It has been a lazy, wet, and warm summer this year. Lazy and wet speak for themselves but the wet part has nothing to do with rain. It turns out Jenna just loves the water.

Almost every day she asks for "water...water" meaning the pool. It is a small plastic blue pool but she loves it. In fact, a couple weekends ago, we even got her older sisters Kayla and Becca in there with her. They had fun with Jenna in there. It was a little cramped but they still had fun.

We also have been working on important lessons this week. Teaching Jenna to say "DENIED" and of course everyones favorite "foreign kid" statement of "GOOD DAY". Now, we have worked on more important lessons like eating Oreo cookies correctly and winking.
Mostly we have played outside this summer. Playing with our neighbors kids and neices and nephews that have come to visit. It seems like this summer has gone by way too fast. As you can see, we had Sable out there with us, keeping the world safe.
Jenna sure loves her Sable (Yeah, that WAS my dog, but I think Jenna is taking that over too!