I'm baaaaaack!! Lovelies, I have a new laptop and I could not be happier.  It has been a long time coming.  So much stuff has happened- gotta update you.  Soon.  I promise.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!  ;)

Moment of silence please.

I'm not sure if you have heard about the  Deputy who was killed last week? Well, this story hits close to home because he is the husband of one of my close co-workers.  There are no words.  To have someone ripped out of your life is something that no one should ever have to experience.  We are all hurting for our friend and what she and her children are going through.  Lovelies, there are 5 of us (specifically specialized professionals) in the City where we do what we do. Yes we bicker and sometimes I start stuff, but we are family.

So I am taking a moment to recognize my friend and her family.  They have a long road of grief and healing ahead of them. 

I am taking a moment to thank Deputy Coleman for his service to the community.   

Bethie, we are so, so sorry for this your loss.
We love you and we are here to help take care of you.  xo.

Resolutions anyone?

Did you make any resolutions, lovelies? I sort of made some. In my head.  Like I haven't written anything specific down.... I have the usual- lose weight, spend more time with the family, you know how it goes.  I feel like I am being redundant though, you know? There are certain things that I know I need to get done.  All the 'experts' say that if you write things down, you are more likely to do them/achieve your goals/complete your resolutions.  Ok. We'll see.  I am publicly announcing that I will list my goals for 2012 before the end of the month.  I will do it. Promise. 

peek!

can't you just hear her laughing?

:)

Lovelies, how were your holidays/holidaze? My December started with a most amazing and wonderful wedding, rolled into a Christmas with my family which included a visit from my big brother and his girlfriend and so far this week, I hung out with my Aunt and baby (ok, she is 22) cousin.  I can't complain.  S1 went to NY to visit his dad and stepmom.  I think he will be coming back a bit swagged (spelling?) out. LOL.  I am looking forward to making some changes in the coming year- I think some will be more challenging than others but I plan to write down goals this year.  I slacked on documenting these last couple of years and I really think it bit me in the butt because I've been feeling like I've kind of been rolling along, you know? Ready, set, bring on 2012!!

Holidaze

This title feels familiar- did I blog about being in a holidaze last year? LOL.  Well, here we go again. Two weeks away from Christmas and S3 and I are headed out of town for a wedding.  Umm, I have gotten no Christmas shopping done at all. I'm not sure how I feel about Christmas anymore.  By that, I mean the ridiculousness that the holiday season has become.  Commercialism is at its finest this year, with decorations hitting the store in early October.  October! Are you kiddng me? Way to suck out any and all 'true' meaning of Christmas. 
Don't get me wrong- I love getting cards in the mail and I am all about traditions and spending time with family but I can absolutely do without the stress of gift lists, battling folks at the store, trying to find the best deals, blah. blah, blah. I have a friend who no longer even celebrates Christmas because it is not biblical (the tree, presents, stockings, Santa, etc). I can dig it, and am seriously considering weaning off of all this madness.  I think that my family will be better off for it.... Would you purge your house/youself of the madness that the holidays have become? How would you start?

OMG

Really though? I do believe that my computer crashed around this time last year right, lovelies? Well, it has happened yet again.  Only this time, I don't think it officially crashed.  I think I just got a bad virus.  Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.  This is some ridiculousness! Of course, my warranty expired ummm, last month. Yeah. So now, I've got to fine someone to get rid of the virus.  I used up my one 'get out of jail free' card last year.  Time to pay up.  Bah.  
The good news is that I copied all of my  pictures to a external hard drive about 10 days ago, so there.  My pictures are really what I would have cried over, had they been lost. 
Have you ever lost digital pictures, lovelies? What did you do?

Welcome winter?

Lovelies, can I just rejoice in the fact that the weather has finally dropped below 70 degrees?  Yes.  I live in a state of perpetual summer and so I am thrilled that I can wear boots and long-sleeved shirts without looking completely out of place.  My Canadian and East Coast friends would be laughing at me right now because 70 degrees is cause for celebratory shorts and flip flops in their worlds.  To me, 70 degrees means I can turn off my air conditioner and leave my thermostat off for the next few weeks before turning on the heat.  My children act like they've never seen my feet in socks before.  I put some on the other day and S3's eyes lit up! 'Mom! You're wearing socks?' LOL.  Yes lovelies, I am thrilled.  Off to find my toque and scarf.