Jake is on the mend.  He still has to stay home and is going crazy, he wants to have some playdates with his friends.  I may venture out with him a bit tomorrow but don't want to over do it.  I have done lots of projects, school work, watched lots of movies and played trains with him, so has Bob.  Our goal is to keep him calm and not to active because that gets the cough going.  It still is there, but we are not hearing it as much and last night he slept very well, so we will see how tomorrow goes before we do anything.  He must be well before Grandma comes.  Here are the pictures I promised, a day late but hey, I have been busy. 

Here is the finished Gingerbread house:

I think Bob and Jake did a great job.

Here is the outside of our house with the lights on.  Our neighborhood is having a light contest, free Homeowner dues for a year.  We won't win because you should see some of the houses...people went all out.

Here is our tree all lit up.  You can kinda see it through our front door.

 You all have a good one ! (Texas lingo is growing on me! YUCK!)

What a day...actually what a week it has been and it is only Tuesday!

Jake has been sick since Saturday.  At first I thought he just had a cold but then the fever appeared on Saturday.  He kept getting worse, last night I noticed he was having a difficult time breathing.  I took him to the doctors this morning and he has Croup.  Poor kid, had to do a breathing treatment which he threw a fit about because he did not understand what was going to happen. He calmed down as soon as he saw that it did not hurt.  Then he had to get a steroid shot.  We did not tell him that was what they were going to do, instead we said that they needed to look at his leg.  He laid down, with a bit of a fight, and I blocked his view and he got the shot.  Boy the whole place knew that he got one when it happen, talk about a scream.  He was done after that.  Thankfully I am seeing a difference already.  He is on an antibiotic to prevent the possibility of an infection taking place, since his sinus' are full.  It won't help the croup.  It is affecting his belly though and having yucky results leaving his body.  That is okay as long as he is healthy in the next few days.  Mom and dad are coming and I went everyone healthy because my mom is a higher risk at getting sick easily.  I can't wait until the come though, and neither can Jake.

Speaking of Christmas, I have a few pictures to share with you of some of my decorations.

Here is our tree and fireplace:

Here is an awesome floral arrangement that my friend Amy made for me,

I helped...gave her lots of moral support and company.

Here is Jake and Dad working on a Ginger Bread house,

we gave Jake an option of making a gingerbread train,

but he wanted the house, we could not believe it!

I will post a picture of the finished project tomorrow.(Bet you can not wait to see it!)  They had a lot of fun making it together.

I think this will become a annual tradition in our house, something for the boys to bond over.

I will also post pictures of our outdoor decore too.  We are having a neighborhood light contest, winner gets free  home owner association dues.  You should see some of the houses, they went all out.  We did a lot too, but we will not win, some of them are just awesome.  That is okay though, it is all about the spirit.

Here are a few pictures that I came across on my camera that I thought I would share...

Jake being Santa in the tub...love the beard under the nose!

I know I said no more sleeping pictures but this one was hilarious and I could not resist posting it..he fell asleep like this!

Another picture of us at the game, I like my hair better here.

This is a little boy that I take care of at my work, is he not just precious or what?

Reminds me of what Christmas is all about.

I can't believe that it was before Thanksgiving when I last posted, that feels so long ago!  We have been busy since Thanksgiving with decorating for Christmas.  Thanksgiving day was really nice and relaxing, I truly enjoyed not feeling stressed out that day.  We have most of our Christmas decorations up, I just have an arrangement left for my dining room table to finish.  My friend Amy is actually doing it, I just reinforce her choices by assuring her that it looks good.  She is very meticulous about where every piece of greenry goes, which is why the arrangements she makes look so awesome, unlike the ones I make where I throw them together in one hour!  So the arrangement sits on the table about half done until Amy has some more time to work on it. I am sure she will get it done before my parents arrive the week of Christmas. (HINT, HINT...Big HINT for someone!)

We took Jake to his first Football game over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Abilene Christian University has had a historic season and Bob has been wanting to go and see one of their games.  Before this game the team had won every single game they played.  The game we went to see were the quarter finals, they were one of 8 teams in the country playing.  They were doing awesome...but then we decide to attend a game...they lost, maybe we jinxed it?  Better than saying that the team just did not play their best, which I think they did, but it was a tough game.  Anyhow, we had a good time but only stayed for the first half because Jake fell dead asleep in Bob's arms and Bob could not see any of the game since Jake would not let me hold him.  Bob had to sit while holding this 40lb boy while everybody stood and yelled.  Can not believe that Jake fell asleep during all the commotion.  It was freezing too, which made it feel like fall and perfect football weather.  Here is a picture that Whitney took of us at the game.  Her hubby is the Defensive Coordinator for the team, he did a great job and was part of some huge history making this season...way to go Jason!

Other than that, yucky colds, doctor visits, working and taking Jake to school...not much is going on!  I will post more pictures soon of the decorations that we have been working on.  Bet you just can't wait to see them!

Well at least someone reads my blog...thanks Soonerrose!  Here is what Jessabell Sauce is:  A yummy mixture that you poor over cream cheese and eat with crackers.  The recipe sounds a bit yucky but it is so good, the horseradish gives it a bite.  I usually do not tell people what is in it until they bit into it.  Most like it but there are always a few who do not like the bite that the horseradish gives it. 

I got this from antisoccermom's site, I am inviting you all to take part and share...

What are your five Thanksgiving traditions?

1. We watch the Macy's Day parade in the morning while preparing everything for the big feast!

2.  Eat fingerfoods, not to much, through out the morning so we are not hungry, you know things like cheese and crackers, sausages, jessabell sauce with crackers, etc.  But this year we are going to have pumpkin spiced pancakes for breakfast and then try to hold out till dinner which will be at 2pm

3.  We always have Sparkling Apple Cider with our dinner, nice and cold.  Yum.  It is best served in silver or pewter gobblets.

4.  Football games are on in the late afternoon, note I did not say I am watching them...once the dishes are done and we are all stuffed to the guild then I go and lay in my unmade bed and watch HGTV or a good chick flick.

5.  The whole day is about family.  Being away from our family for most of the thanksgivings that we have shared, we end up usually spending it with close friends, whom we have begun to feel as if they are our families.  We hang out together after the feast when no one feels like they have room for dessert, so maybe we play a game or two until we decide that we can handle at least one piece of pumpkin pie, or whatever else there is for dessert.  I always make my pumpkin roll though, that is a tradition.  My goal is always to make a couple of them to give to friends,  but that goal has yet to be reached!

 These are my traditions and I hope that you will share yours with us fellow bloggers on your site!

*Edit*  I know my colors are still fall colors, xanga is not letting me change them so I will try later!

Can you guess what I am ready for?  Well according to my background it would be snow, don't think I will see that any time soon, although you never know with this place.  I am so ready to get out my Christmas decorations!  I am done looking at the fall ones, except my new cornucopia that my neighbor made for me.  She is so talented!

Other than that I am ready for the season to start... shopping is almost done, cards are printed, just need to do a letter, parents are going to be coming so it should be a fun holiday.  We will be going to see my grandmother too.  My neighborhood is having a holiday light contest...I plan to win! HA!  Can't tell my secrets because some of my neighbors read this.  So lets get the festivities started!

Got my hair done, I am trying to figure out how to use the web cam to take a picture.  I know it should be easy, but it is not cooperating for me, I will get one up soon.  Need a new profile picture anyway.

Bob is done working 12 hour shifts.  I am so ready for him to go to day shift, I hate these hours that he has, but at least he is in a much better job.  Pros and Cons there.

Wanted to do this weeks photo challenge:  Places to visit in your city....had to laugh at that because there really isn't anything to exciting to go and see here.  Oh well, maybe next week.  I have been wanting to get back into it.  Things will slow down soon so that I have more time for it, right?

Well need to get the little guy into the tub, will write more when there is more to write.

It was a good day...

I believe that I shocked my boss a little because he totally was not expecting me to tell him I was not coming back after Christmas.  But boy did it feel good. I felt all the stress just leave me, it was such a nice feeling.  I am happy with my decision.  I also decided not to go work at that cafe that I mentioned in the post below.  Because of the time that I would be needed I would miss out on a few things with Jake and his school.  We are also hoping that Bob is going to be on days come January, so then my working that job would not work.  So all is good in the world of Kim. 

Tomorrow is the big day...I am quitting my part time, part time job...I am done with it.  Lots of reasons but basically I did not want to go back there at the end of the summer, but I did, and now I know I don't want tobe there.  So I will tell the boss that I will not be returning after December. 

Funny thing is today I was thinking to myself and told God to let me know if I am doing the right thing, because Jake will no longer be going there once I quit.  A little while later the phone rang and it was a friend pretty much offering me another part time, part time job making more money than the one above.  So I am going in on Wednesday to see about that job...just a little hostess job, at a cute little lunch time place, up the road from me.  I would only work 3 hours a day.

I know I should be going back to work as a professional educator but that will happen in the fall when Jake goes to school full time and I do not have to put him in full time day care.  Made that choice a long time ago to avoid it if at all possible.  So for now these part time- part time jobs keep money in my pocket so that I can go and get my toes painted or my hair colored or go out to eat when I want to.  It makes me feel less guilty about staying home and helping to contribute money wise...although I don't feel that guilty *snicker*...after all it is the mans job to support his family right?  ( Before I get messages knocking me for this comment please know it is all said in a sarcastic tone)

So think of me tomorrow morning.  Boss man tends to lay a guilt trip on his employees when they give notice..."That really hurts me, I am so disappointed...yadda, yadda, yadda..."  I will survive because I am a no nonsense kind of girl, and don't deal well with the  pathetic sympathetic nature of people.

This was to funny for me not to share:

THE MOMMA TEST

   I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter.  She picked up
something off of the ground and started to put it in her mouth.  I took
the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.  'Why?' my
daughter asked.  'Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where
it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs,' I replied.  At this
point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 'Mama,
how do you know all this stuff?  You are so smart.'   I was thinking
quickly.  'All moms know this stuff.   It's on the Mama Test.  You have
to know it, or they don't let you be a Mama.'   We walked along in
silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new
information.

   'Oh.....I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't pass the test you
have to be the dad.'
   'Exactly,' I replied with a big smile on my face.