Here is Cassie playing in the larger sled.

MORE STUFF

I was happy to hear, well read actually, that Kevin and April were able to hold Aiden today. I am glad that Aiden's pneumonia is clearing up. If you have not seen pictures of him yet, mozy over to www.aprilsthoughts.blogspot.com and check him out. He sure is a cutie.

I cracked open a packet from WSC for my Laboratory Procedure class. Inside the packet was a note from the instructor saying I needed to purchase an out of print book for the class. I searched the web for a bit and found a cheap gently used copy on amazon.com for $1.o4, with tax it's $4.51 Also, I found out that I DO need a proxy for this class. I was told by my advisor that this class did not need one. I am bummed about that. If I would have known that, I would have scheduled my classes a bit differently. I gave it some thought and I have decided to stick with the class instead of drop it. Hopefully I can find someone close to be my proxy so I do not have to drive to Devils Lake this winter.

I have received my first job offer already via snail mail. Minndak Data LLC out of Richardton ND sent me a letter saying that if I get my certificate and have cable or DSL all I need to do is go to a website, take a dictation test, and if I pass the test I get a position with their company. I think that is pretty cool, but it will be 4 more classes until I have my certificate. I have thought about called the phone number printed on the letter. Maybe when I am done I will give their test a try. It will get my foot in the door anyway.

Mom is still debating whether to go to Manvel this Saturday or not. We would all like to go, but we will have to bring my grandmother and it is hard working taking her places now days. She doesn't get around like she used to either.

THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE MYSTERY IS SOLVED

When I stopped at my mother's place before I went to the post office to mail my books back, I told her about the strange packages from the National Wildlife. Mom said that was what we were supposed to receive from Lynnette. My mom and sister got together and got the girls their own subscriptions to the Nation Wildlife book series. Jessie will be receiving things on wild baby animals and Cassie will be getting "Your big backyard." I think that's really cool and the girls should enjoy them.

My mom also told me that my aunt and uncle in Manvel are planning to have little Micheal's first birthday this Saturday and she is thinking about going and wanted to know if the girls and I wanted to go with. I told her we would since it is Darren's Saturday to work. Maybe if we have time, we could stop and see Kevin and April for a bit too.

BOOKS

I got my first affirming notice today that college classes are going to start back up soon. My WSC books arrived at noon. I think WSC sent me every Stedman’s word reference book imaginable. I have to return two books. They sent two Orthopedics & Rehab reference books so I will have to return one along with a human anatomy reference book they sent. The anatomy reference book I got last semester for my Human Structure & Function class. Since I can’t pick up my books directly from the bookstore, I am sure I will return some books each semester. The books didn’t cost quite as much as last semester. This time around it is only costing me $855 instead of $898. With the deduction of the two books I am returning, book cost is only $710. Thank goodness for financial aid.

I still have not received an email or anything in the mail from my sister about whatever it is that she sending. However, the girls did get a couple of items in the mail from the National Wildlife Federation. It was a wild baby animal video and two pairs of binoculars. Inside the package was a card that said “Thank you for your purchase.” I didn’t buy anything from them so I just may need to call the 1-800 number and find out what is going on. I hope it is not a case of identity theft. Trust me, nobody would want my identity right now.

A LITTLE UPDATING

I got really lucky. I have never been so glad that I post so many pictures of the girls as I do. I remembered that I posted a lot of good hospital pictures on my blog when Jessie was born, all the girls special events, and fun things I posted as well so that family could see them. I can go through the archives on my blog and retrieve all the pictures I have posted. I won't get all of my pictures back, but at least I will have the best pictures. That is better than nothing. As soon as I can, I am going to get the pictures printed off and then finish up the undone pages in both of the girls scrapbooks.

Cassie has been her wild little self. I cannot wait for summer when I can let her outside to play all day and wear off all this energy she is storing up during the winter. Jessie had two teeth come in over the Christmas holiday and two more are about ready to come through. She will have six or more teeth for her birthday. I was worried that she was only going to have the two forever.

My books for this coming semester of classes should be coming soon. Before they Christmas holiday I forgot to verify the address that I wanted them shipped to so I emailed them right away when I got home. I should get them today, if not, they should arrive by the end of this week.

I called April last night to see how things were going. She was getting ready to pump and go visit Aiden so I didn't get to talk to her all that long. I am so happy to hear that he is doing better and I hope it isn't too long before he can join mom and dad at home.

OUR CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

To start my holiday weekend off, all the addresses and photos that I had stored on my computer are gone. My husband had our home computer worked on and he forgot to tell the person working on the computer to save all the photos and addresses. All my pics of the girls are gone. Totally gone. Even all the newborn pics of Jessie I don't have. Shitty part is that I haven't printed pictures out since Jessie's birth so I am going to have to have people send me pics and I will have to search my archives to see if I can pull off the pics I posted previously.

On Saturday evening we reached Darren's folks place at about 8:30. I fed Jessie fast and we were able to get them down in time for bed at 9 o'clock. After the girls fell asleep, Darren and I went out and met up with one of his friends from high school. We sat up in one of the local bars until closing. I haven't drank in so long that it only took 4 drinks until I felt very happy with the world (and everyone) around me. I was a little disappointed in the bartender. My first fuzzy navel had two bugs floating in the bottom of the glass. I saw them before I drank out of the glass. The replacement screw driver had a chunk of something in it when I stirred the glass. After that, I didn't trust the bartender and stuck with Bud Light. I don't like beer all that well, but it has been a long time since I was able to sit in a bar and drink so I wanted something.

Sunday morning I had a little hangover. I got over it pretty quickly. The fam just hung out until it was time for church at 5:30. After church we went out to the farm to eat with grandpa Hanson. It was pretty sad without grandma sitting in her red lazy-boy in the living room. It made me feel better to think that Grandma was spending Christmas in Heaven with her sister, Ruth, this year. Grandma really missed Ruth since aunt Ruth passed away in September of 2003.

Monday we stayed until shortly after dinner. When we got home, I had to run in the house fast and put together the Dora Talking Kitchen really fast since the girls fell asleep in the car on the way home. Cassie was very excited about it when she saw it as she was walking into the house after she woke up. We opened the few gifts that we had hear. After the girls went to bed, Darren and I sat down and watched The Davinci Code. Now, I am catholic, and I don't really understand why the church is so upset with the movie. People just need to remember that this is a fictional story and only PARTS of it were based on written information. I am pretty sure that I am not going to hell just because I enjoyed a controversial movie. God knows where I stand concerning my faith. Those of you that have not seen it yet should watch it. It is really good.

Tomorrow I am hoping to get my books from WSC. The should be here really soon. My sister called to see if I got an email. I guess we are supposed to be receiving something at the house, but I don't know what it is. I am supposed to call her tomorrow if I don't get an email about it.

I called and spoke with Kevin at the hospital today. It sounds like Aiden is doing well. He won't be going home with them tomorrow, but hopefully it won't be too long. I am going to give April a call tomorrow and see how they are holding up. I am also going to post a few Christmas pictures soon too.

IT'S A BOY!!

Aiden Quinn O'Brien was born yesterday. I am not sure about the time because they went through quite an ordeal. April woke up early and called the hospital to make sure she was still scheduled. The hospital told her not to come in because they had 4 women come in to the hospital in active labor and they didn't have room. Well, her water broke anyway around 2 pm and they went in anyway.

During contractions, the babies heart rate dropped so they did a c-section and they put April totally under for the procedure instead of just the standard spinal. Aiden was 5 lbs and 4 oz. and taken strait to the NICU. It was a super scary situation and I am sorry that they had to go through what they did.

For the full story, visit Kevin's blog, www.healinghand.blogspot.com. Please keep the O'Brien's, and especially little Aiden, in your thoughts and prayers until he is well enough to join his family at home.

OH, WHAT A NIGHT

Tonight my dad, mother, I, and the girls drove to Devils Lake to check out the Christmas lights. I thought it was going to be a lot of fun and something that the girls would enjoy. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Jessie didn’t have her nap while we drove to town, so about half way to Devils Lake she started screaming and wouldn’t quit, my dad had enough and decided we were leaving, Cassidy started to cry because she wanted to see more lights. We had not been in town more than 20 minutes. Lately, every time I try to do something fun with the girls that gets us out of the house; one of them will do something to ruin everything. It just isn’t all that fun anymore. I know no why I never go anywhere.

Tomorrow we are going to go over to my parent’s house to celebrate Christmas with them before they head out to the Twin Cities. We are going to have supper around 4 or 5 and then open gifts afterwards. I am a little excited about it, at the same time I am scared. Visions of Thanksgiving keep running through my head and I don’t want to relive it anytime soon. I hope it all goes well.

Saturday we are going to meet Darren’s folks in Rugby and then drive up to Willow City. Christmas eve, we are going out to the farm. This is the first Christmas since Grandma Hanson passed away and the family is going out to the farm to spend it with Grandpa. I told Darren we may need to make sure there is a couple of vehicles because I am 100% sure that I will be taking off early with Jessie. Poor little Jessie just does not like strangers.

The word on April’s blog is that they are going to try to induce labor tomorrow. I can’t wait! I hope it works well. With luck, if she has the baby late tomorrow, she and the baby will be home on Christmas Eve. What a way to spend that evening!!! I am not a fan of Pitocin or being induced. I was induced with Cassidy. I dilated all the way to 10 cm but Cassie never moved down. Since it was 14 hours since my water broke, they did a caesarian section because they worried about infection. I believe the c-section happened because the baby was not ready to drop and come out. If we would have been more patient, baby would have done it all on her own, but that is just my opinion. I just hope she doesn’t end up in surgery. Nobody needs that on Christmas Eve.

Well, tonight has been a long, stressed out night. I want to get into bed and then read a little in my book. I am trying to finish The Chronicles of Narnia that I started before Jessie was born.

HUMOR OF THE WEEK

Friday was a bad traveling day. The roads became very icy due to passing rain showers earlier in the day and yesterday. I was on my way to my mother's to drop the girls off so I could go to Devils Lake and finish up my Christmas shopping. When I was getting near their house, I saw a jackknifed truck with an overturned camper in the ditch right in front of my parent's house. A construction company from Grand Forks was rushing too hard to make it home for the weekend and lost control of the vehicle. My dad called the highway patrol to inform them about the accident. Then he went outside to help them.

My dad had been in the mobile home business for years. I remember many summers having to go out and help him fix-up and repair damaged trailers. He has to quit because he was aging and the work was quite tedious. My dad told one of the men to get into the truck and told the construction worker what to do so that the trailer would pop right up off the ground and land back on it's wheels. I don't think that the guy believed my dad, but he really didn't have any other options since their final attempt at hope, which was sawing the camper off the hitch with a chop saw, failed miserably.

To all the construction workers amazement, the advice that my father game them worked. After they all had the camper on it's wheels they gathered around my dad. One of the men, I believe the foreman, looked at my father and said, "So, it seems like you have done this before." without missing a beat, my father looked at the guy and said, "No, but I did stay at an Holiday Express last night." I am not sure how funny the foreman thought it was, but all the other guys were rolling.

WHAT A WEEKEND

I received my final grades in my Fundamentals of Medical Transcription class. As predicted, I passed. I am free to take all the classes in spring that I signed up for since I know for sure that I will not be retaking any classes. I feel sorry for a few people in my Human Anat. & Phys. class, they were were short of the passing grade by 2 or 3 points and have to retake the class.

I finished the Christmas shopping on Friday. Even on a budget of $10 per person to spend on gifts, it was still pretty spendy. I can't complain about any of the thing for the girls since my mother gave me the money for their gifts. I cringe thinking how expensive it would really have been if the kids gifts were not already covered.

While I was in Wal-Mart, I ran into Amadon's mom. She said she didn't get to see Amadon when they where home for Martin's funeral. It is understandable because I am sure they were busy with stuff, but I am surprised that he didn't at least call her. Amamom said that Amadon is installing radio equipment for the highway patrol and police stations in Grand Forks and the surrounding areas. He is the head hauncho and even has a company vehicle. I am happy he found something that he really likes to do. I bet he is pretty good.

I spent the night at my mom's on Friday night so that I could get my gifts for my family wrapped. My mom also wanted me to work on some cookies during Saturday for her too since she had to work a 12 hour day at the hospital in the E.R. I did manage to get 4 batches of cookies done. She will have to make a few more before she is finished. She wants me to come to her house on Sunday and help her put cookie trays together. Since Darren is only home on Sunday this week, I have to check it over with him. I don't see it being a problem because I can go right over to my mom's after church is over, put the trays together quickly, and then come back home.

Jessie was just awful Friday night. She fell asleep around 10 p.m. and got up at 11. All she did was cry and scream. I could tell that she did not feel well and she couldn't get into a comfortable position. I gave her a dose of tylenol and she finally fell back asleep around 2. She was back up again at 5 but it only took about 20 minutes to get her back to bed.

So since my Christmas shopping is all done, the only thing I am really waiting on now is the O'Brien baby. April, you need to try and just kick him out. After all, Sunday is your due date and if he doesn't come within 5 days, the doctor did say he was going to induce you on Christmas Eve. You don't really want to eat hospital food on Christmas eve do you??????

BORING DAY

Today Cenex came over and filled our propane tank. Thanks to good old Social Services, we only have to pay 5% of the bill and they cover the other 95%. To fill the tank, which is about 300 gallons, I only had to pay $25.

In the afternoon, the girls and I went to my mother's. We wrapped Christmas presents and had a good time with the girls. I was also going to help her with some more cookies that have to make it to a bank in Devils Lake by Monday, but my poor mom was too tired to start them. She worked a 14 hour day yesterday.

I got my final grade back in my Human Anatomy & Physiology class. I got an 85%, which is a B. I passed the class. I am pretty sure that I made it through my Fundementals of Medical Transcription class as well, however, the final grade has not been posted yet. Anything can happen, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I also noticed that I did not receive one of the Pell grants for this semester. I contacted WSC and I got an email saying that it was their fault and I should have received it. Not only did I not get this semesters Pell grant, they did not give me the grant money for the fall either. So they are mailing out the $750 that I should have recieved back in September. I should get it in the mail sometime this week. I am glad that I am getting it too, because I am taking 4 classes instead of the original 2 classes come spring and I am going to need that extra money to help cover the cost of the class and the books. WOO-HOO for prayer, it does work.

THE WEATHER PIXIE NEED REALISTIC CLOTHING

I don't know who designed her, but someone should tell my weather pixie to put some real clothes on.

WHAT A DAY

We had another gorgeous frosty day. However, I still was not able to take any pictures, because I do not have any new batteries. I am seriously thinking about getting rechargeable batteries for my digital camera.

Today I went in to town to take my final Human Structure & Function test. I think I did pretty well. I hope I get my grades back in both of my classes fairly quick. It feels really good knowing that I am doing well in medical classes.

After my test, I ran to Wal-Mart hoping to pick up the last of the girls Christmas gifts. I totally struck out. I only found one item that I wanted to get so I didn’t purchase anything. The others gifts I was looking for were all sold out and I couldn’t find suitable replacements. I was looking around for some small gifts for the rest of our family, but I couldn’t decide on anything. It will probably have to wait now until Darren is home again. I feel really terrible. I was so bummed out that things didn’t work out like I wanted them to I just wanted to cry. I love this time of the year because of the time we get to spend with family, the food, and all the fun with the children, but at the same time I hate the stress and all the money that is spent, which I don’t have that much to spend.

I need to get a hold of the WSC financial aid office. It shows that I declined a $750 grant. I know that I did not turn down a grant offer. I am going to see if they can change that. Since I am taking 4 classes starting in January I am going to need all the money I can get. I don’t know if it can be reversed, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

The Nip/Tuck finale was on tonight. I was shocked at some of the things that went on. Sean’s half of the business was bought out by Christian and Michelle. Escobar showed back up to have the doctors repair his wife’s breast implants after she was tortured. After surgery, Escobar’s wife shot and killed him in the recovery room. Sean left Miami to work at another plastic surgery office in Hollywood CA. Christian finally realized he couldn’t totally trust Michelle so he quit working for her and went to Hollywood to start a new business with Sean. It’s complicated to understand for those that do not watch the show. It was good, though I cannot believe that the doctors left Florida and are now going to be in California. I can’t wait for next season.

MY WEEKEND

I absolutely love winter when the frost hangs thick on trees and surrounding objects making the outdoors look completely white. That is what it did today. It was so beautiful. I don't know why, but for some reason, I love how things look when that happends. I took Cassie outside for a while since it was nice. While were were out, I was trying to take some pictures of the frost hanging on the trees and the pasture fence. I was only able to snap a quick picture of the horses and then the batteries went dead.

Saturday we went to Darren's folks place in Willow City. Darren helped his parents make deer sausage and I tried to get some homework done, which I was not very successful in doing. We stayed up there until around five and then worked our way home. We stopped to visit a little while with his cousin in Rugby on our way back also. When we got home, Darren fixed Jessie's dresser for me. I hope it holds together for a while.

When I got up with the girls early on Sunday morning, I noticed that the dog was outside in the back yard playing with a "prize." I didn't' give him anything and I wasn't sure if Darren had given the dog anything or not. So when Darren was on his way outside for his morning cigarette, I asked him to check on the dog. When Darren came back in, he stated the the dog was proudly displaying a skunk that he must have caught during the night.

We had been having a skunk problem for a little while. It was tearing into the garbage bags scattering junk everywhere and it would leave "essence of skunk" whenever it had been in the yard. I suppose the skunk was coming in the yard to eat the dog food since I started stacking the garbage in the garage. I was really starting to get fed up with the stink all the time, but I think the dog just took care of that.

That's my weekend. Hope you all enjoyed yours. Just one last comment.....April, has Aiden arrived yet? :D

I was trying to get closer to the horses to get a good snowy picture. However, the horses were feeling playful so this was as close as they would let me get with the camera. 

Jessie sitting with Grandma Hanson on Saturday. 

Here is Cassie cuddling with her bunnies on the couch. I took the picture the morning after the night flu episode. 

CLASSES, LEUKEMIA, AND A JUNK DRESSER

In the middle of the night, and after two chapters into my Sundamentals of Human Structure and Function book, I wrote to my advisor because I was still unsure of which class to take. I got an email back from her this morning saying that neither class is easier than the other. So I have decided to take Laboratory Procedures over Human Diseases and Surgical Procedures. I figure Lab would be a better start before going into Surgical anyway. Now today I just have to get on the WSC website and register. Hopefully there is still room available in all the classes I want to take.

I got a message from Bethany on Savanna's leukemia. Beth says that Savanna is feeling really sick and right now Savanna's light is her brother making it to Fargo on Friday. I asked how serious the leukemia was at this point and I guess that everyone, even the doctors, are unsure of Savanna's prognosis. They are just hoping that Seth, Savanna's brother, is a donor match.

The other day while putting the girls clothes away, Jessie's dresser came apart. It's the most ridiculous thing that I have ever seen. How can a dresser just fall apart anyway? My dad can fix it, but it won't be until my mom and dad come home from Minneapolis. So I have to keep Jessie's clothing in my bedroom for right now.

SPRING CLASSES

Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes for Cassidy. She is all better now and has returned to her usual self.

We had out WIC appointment today. Jessie got her last infant packet this month and in January we will be buying her normal table foods with WIC. It's really nice now that Jessie is eating more table foods. Baby food is terribly expensive.

It dawned on me today and I need to get my butt in gear and register for Spring 2007 classes. After reviewing the Medical Transcription curriculum, I have decided on 4.....Yes, 4 classes. Starting on January 9 I will be taking Keyboarding II, Applied Medical Transcription I, Medical Law & Ethics, and either Laboratory Procedures or Human Diseases & Surgical Procedures. I have not decided on which of the last two that I want to take for sure. None of these classes need a proxy and are mostly open book which is going to be really nice. There is only one other class that needs a proxy and I am planning on taking that in the summer when I don't have to worry about driving in snow and ice. After these classes are done, there are only 8 more to go and then I am job ready. By this time next year, I have my Medical Transcription certificate and I can actually work. Then while I work, there is only another few more classes to get my Medical Transcription A.A.S It is going to be so nice to actually have a college degree. It is something that I thought I would never have.

My weekend right now is pretty open. I have have much of anything going on. I have gotten into this super clean mode and I have been going through the entire house cleaning floor to ceiling. I have no idea what has gotten into me, but things just cannot be clean enough.

Well, I need to study up. I also need to think about which class I am going to take this spring. Have a good night everyone.

GETTING BETTER

Cassidy didn't sleep well last night. I let her lay on the couch for a while before putting her in her bed. She would wake up about every hour - hour and a half crying because of stomach cramping. She threw up a few times before bed. Luckily she didn't throw up during the night. Around 5 a.m. she joined me in our bed. She still didn't sleep any better but she seemed to be more comfortable and would pass in and out of sleep until the next cramp came along.

Today, she did better. She only threw up about three times, but those darn cramps bothered her all day. She didn't have much of an appetite and only drank a couple cups of water and juice. She didn't have a problem at all going to bed and she has been quite since she fell asleep.

I hope tomorrow she is all better. There is nothing worse in the world than knowing that your child is in pain and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. It's really hard to sit with her and make her comfortable until the sickness goes away on it's own. I wish there was some miracle cure for those moments.

My mom has a doctor appointment in Minot tomorrow. She may have to have surgery before the first of the year. I hope the doctor appointment goes well, mom.

LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is starting to become something that I have been hearing quite a bit about lately. Not because I want to, but it just seems that more and more young people are being diagnosed with it. I know of four people who have been diagnosed with leukemia in the last two months. Today number five was added to the list.

My friend Bethany has a cousin, Savanna, who is 22 years old. She had been sick for a while and they thought that it was mono. After a bunch of tests they just found out that it actually leukemia.

This is tough on the family. Savanna has an older brother who graduated from West Point and is being sent overseas soon too. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be their parents right now. I never want to be in that place. I don't know what I would ever do if Cassidy or Jessie is diagnosed with leukemia.

I am starting to get scared of it. Since leukemia is so popular lately I worry that one of them will get it.

I wish the best for the family, for their daughter and their son. My prayers are with the family.

CHURCH AND A SICK BABY

The hubby and I got into a pretty good fight today. I am not going to go into detail about the fight. It was pretty ugly though.

I went to mass this morning with my mom. It has been a very long time since I have been to church. Since this is the first Sunday of Lent the Knights of Columbus were there to help us celebrate. I swear the purple night looked just like Kevin O'Briens father. I wanted to say something but I didn't want to feel like a fool if it wasn't. April, talk to your hubby and see if it was his dad.

After supper this evening Cassie said her stomach hurt. After a short while she really started to cry painfully and told me that she wanted a new belly. I don't think Darren believed her right away but I could tell that it was serious by the extent and pitch of the crying. I gave her some tylenol and let her lay on the couch. I made a quick call to my mom. She told me that they have been seeing flu cases at the hospital. So I stopped giving Cassie milk and only gave her water with crackers and Cheerios. Cassie threw up a couple of times and is now sleeping in her bed. I am hoping that she is comfortable enough to sleep through the night. I am not feeling so hot right now and hope that I don't get that sick.

the weather is supposed to be pretty crappy so I don't have much planned. I need to take my Human Anatomy final by the 10th. The test has to be on the professors desk by the 15th. I am going to allow a few days for mailing just in case with weather is bad. I am going to work on my last Medical transcription dictation tonight. Then I should be good until January. I was also thinking of maybe waiting out the winter and pick up classes in May. I haven't decided yet.

SORRY JOSIE

I found out yesterday that Josie Faul's father passed away from a sudden heart attack. The funeral was today at 11 in Devils Lake. My uncle was a paulbearer for Martin Utke.

I feel just awful for Josie. Her mother passes away when she was very young and they don't even know where she is buried (long story...don't ask because I don't have all the details) and to have her father pass away must be just devistating.

I know she doesn't post on her blog anymore. She made it very clear that she does not want to speak to any of us anymore. I don't even know if she checks our blogs anymore either. If she , or someone that she knows does, I just want to let her know that I am very sorry for her lose and that my prayers are with her and Amadon at this time.

SANTA DAY 2006

The girls and I spent the night at my mothers last night. We went over there because I needed bread, which I forgot to bring home with me. We wrapped some of her Christmas presents for under her tree and visited for a bit.

It was Santa Days in Leeds today. This was the main reason why we spent the night at my mothers. It was easier to stay there than to have to make another trip back and forth to town. Cassie behaved wonderfully, I was shocked. I bought her a hot dog, chips, a brownie, and Kool-Ade for lunch. She ate almost ALL of it. There were crafts and hay rides starting at 11 o'clock. It was WAY too cold ( 1 degree above zero) for a hay ride, so we stayed inside and did a bunch of crafts. She made an adorable S'more man riding a sled and a reindeer that I am not sure what its supposed to be. Santa showed up at noon. I got some really good pictures of both the girls with Santa that I am going to put in the Christmas cards.

I am currently in the process of getting all my laundry washed and put away. For once I am finished with my home work ahead of schedule. One more assignment is due in each class and then I am finished until January.

Just us gals. Jessie, Mommy, and Cassidy

'Yeah. That's right pops. I have got your TV remote. You just try to come and get it."

A pretty pose by Cassidy.

I am Jessie and hear me ROAR.

Poor little Jessie just got pooped out during all the Santa Day festivities. During lunch, she decided to take a little snooze in mommy's lap.

Cassidy with her wonderfully made S'more man. She made him all by herself. Well, almost all by herself. I just had to help her with the glue dotz.

Okay, now here is this really "dee dee dee" cool reindeer. I think he is supposed to be one of those paddle ball things because there is a little red ball that hangs off of the black string. It didn't last too long. The cat took one look at that red ball and it's gone now.

Jessie, Santa, and Cassidy. I was really suprised because Jessie normally makes strange, but she didn't mind Santa. She sat on his lap for a few minutes before she started to whine quietly. Cassidy made a very loud point that she wants a Dora Talking Kitchen for Christmas and was upset that he didn't bring one with him.

WOW IT IS ALREADY DECEMBER

Happy December! I cannot believe that it is December already. We only have 24 more shopping days left until Christmas is here.

Wow, did this year fly by. I don't know about everyone else but I am getting really excited for Aprils baby to be born. If I remember correctly, her baby is due on the 15th-ish. That is only 14 days. Technically she could go into labor any day now. I am anxious for the call from Kevin letting Darren and I know how big Aiden is. *April, you really need to get posting and let us know how you are feeling and what you are thinking* I freaked out when I went to the hospital to be induced with my first child.

Darren's father called this morning. Last night Darren's sister was admitted to the hospital in Bismarck. I guess her face and left are went numb. She is still in the hospital and she is still numb. The doctors have been running a bunch of tests but they don't know what is causing the numbness.

Today my mother requested my services at her house. She has some more cookies to make because she was asked by a bank in Devils Lake to make cookies for their holiday thing. Mom wants me to make a few more dozen cookies and help put trays togehter. We may stay over night her house because the weather is supposed to get windy and snowy later today. The weahter is beautiful right now.

Cassie has asked a dozen times to go to Auntie Lynnettes in St. Paul. Mom made a comment of us gals heading there this spring again. Another "gals weekend out" trip. I will have to see what I get for financial aid money when my next semester starts and save some for the trip so Cassie can ride some more rides in MOA.