Long Week

So it's been a week since I last blogged. I really don't have the time to blog now. I should be working on the many pictures I took this weekend. I'll blog anyway.

So my friend Marsha started selling Mary Kay, so she needs to do 30 faces in 30 days so we obliged and had her come do our faces.

Marsha giving her sales pitch. Scary picture of Mary Kay on that book...wow that lady is creepy.

Carol with makeup....she NEVER wears makeup..not that you can tell she's wearing make up but she is and just the thought that Carol did something "girly" gives me the giggles.

Crystal looked mighty hot...that may be why she spent a small fortune...wait Dan isn't reading this is he?

Ashley. Umm yeah her mom bought her the micro-derm-abrasion (or how ever you spell it) that was a small fortune....umm she's 16 like she really needs to get the "aged" skin off her face. I was sure that Crystal was going to mug her on the way out.

Yes I know Cianah has red eyes...she thinks it's cool...I say just more proof that she is the devil. I'm thinking of having an exorcism. Sometimes I swear when she doesn't get her way I see her head spin around. Just saying.

Tati who also is too young for make up wanted me to spend $70 on a case....umm yeah your skin is still young and you can wear anything...how about I buy the $20 makeup kit from Walmart for you.

Let's not even talk about the fact that Bryana also did the microdermabrasion that she didn't need...but whatever. Not sure how comfortable I am with my baby wearing makeup.

Thursday I had to go get Cianah a Halloween costume for a party Saturday night.

Here's what she looked like

Ok so I was at a photo shoot and didn't take these pictures so there isn't a full body shot...

One thing I noticed when I went to pick her up was with all that white makeup her teeth and eyes sure did look yellow...just saying

She won for coolest costume. She got candy...just what that kid needs.

So Saturday while Cianah was throwing back Mountain Dews (which I don't allow) I was taking pictures at the Church of the Living God - Temple #1 first annual Debutant Ball.

Here's one of my favorite pictures from that night (unedited)

It was fun. I have 300 or so pictures that I haven't had time to work...woosh

Monday was my first day actually working at the new job. All went smoothly. No one paid me, but I worked through the system and made a few calls. All went well.

Monday night Tatiana had a try out for the All Suburban Honor Band. We still don't know the results. She sounded found to me. She felt like she messed up. I know we are all our own worst critic. So everyone send good vibes.

I also signed Bree up for pre-season basketball. I still need to go pay the $150 to get Cianah in the soccer camp. It's been about 2 years since she played and she wants to play in High School so I think a refresher course is in order. Only I'm a little tight with the purse strings and I hate spending $150. UGH!

Tuesday night we went shopping to get the other girls costumes. Tati wanted to be Frenchy from Grease. We found her a cute outfit...well it was cute until I looked at the $65 price tag...umm NO. So we left the costume shop and went to Kmart. Bree is also going to be a Vampire. Tatiana is going to be a Bar Wench. So all is well. I'll post some pictures of them this weekend.

Today I went to lunch with Crystal and Heather from Medicine Shoppe. Ok let me rewind. I called Carol because Crystal didn't answer her phone. Carol started talking to me about Med Shoppe and I swear to you I was having an anxiety attack on the phone with her. She's taking my position and I am trying to be supportive of her....but OMG Carol don't stress me out like that again or you are fired. (had to say it...I know you miss it.)

So Crystal, Heather and I went to lunch. Crystal was so quiet...I guess because she didn't feel well. I secretly think it's because she is so used to not talking at work now because I am not there she didn't know how to cut up anymore...but I'll play into the fact that she has herpasyphalitis. We've all been there. Heather talked too much about Med Shoppe too....but at least that only gave her a panic attack and not me. :) Sucks to be you Heather. I'll send good vibes that the new opening gets you away from the baby sitter.

Tonight I went shopping for a bit with my mother in law, bought her a new winter coat. And now I trying to catch up on the weeks events.

So as for the new job...I still like it. I'm happy. Less stressed and I don't go home at night and have to work. I actually get to enjoy my family...or ignore them. Most days I ignore them. It works out better for everyone.

First Day at the new gig

So had to be at work at 9:00. They wanted everyone to be there and settled in before I showed up. I guess they already know that I am high maintenance. lol

So on a normal day I had to be at work at Medicine Shoppe I roll out of bed at 6:00 - 6:15, brush my hair, brush my teeth , get dressed slap on some makeup and am out the door by 6:30 to 6:40 to get to work by 7:30.

So clearly to be at work by 9:00 I should have got to sleep until 7:00. Even to put your best face forward you only need 30 minutes to primp. Wrong. I got up at 6:00. I was sitting there dressed and tapping my toes by 6:30. Hair fixed, makeup on and itching to get out the door. I guess all those years of rushing the routine are ingrained and you just can't slow down.

So I dropped Tati at the bus stop at 7:30. I figured I better head that way. Never know how bad 270 traffic can be. Well it was fine. I swear I was sitting in the car on the way to the office praying for a sunshine slow down. No such luck. So I pass Page and go to Dorsett. There's a Walgreen's there surely I can kill some time. I needed lotion, gum and I didn't know if I should bring my own note pads or what not...so I picked those things up. Well apparently I am as efficient at shopping as I am at getting ready in the morning. So that only killed about 10 minutes. So I'm driving up and down Lackland for a good 15 minutes. Trying to kill time. I still ended up going in 15 minutes early. You just can't keep me from working. lol

So I got the office tour. I was introduced to all of the people in the office. Yeah I am glad there was no quiz on names. When I was done I wasn't sure what my own name was. I got some explanation on the way law offices work and basically they all handle things differently. They told me the name of my firm. It's an East Coast firm so that means I can come in at 7:00 or 7:30 and work until 4:00 or 4:30. Great! Part of the plus of not being management is that you can actually leave after 8 hours and not take it home with you. :)

They took me to lunch at Casa. 7 people went. Virgil, Mike, Dave, CJ, Melissa, and another guy. Not 100% sure if Melissa is even the right name. Anyway they all seemed nice. A few were sarcastic so I fit right in. :) Score!!

After lunch I was full, the office was a little warm and I swear to you I thought I was going to doze off a few times. Anyway they sat me with Vicky. (Gosh I hope that's right) I watched her work for the rest of the day. After about an hour of asking so a tasks means what? A comment means what? What shows up on your calendar? How do you get the contact info? Do you do most of your work through email? Blah, blah, blah I think my eyes just glazed over...literally.

They kept watering and I was seriously thinking I may be allergic to Vicky.

So sometime after lunch....I got a delivery....

I was SLIGHTLY...ok more than slightly embarrassed. Vicky got up to do something so I ran the flowers out to the car.

They are beautiful! However I was so embarrassed. Thanks to Crystal and Carol for sending them.

I'm still not sure if they are "good riddance" or "good luck" flowers. Although Dave said his old employees would have probably sent him a pipe bomb so it may have been a good thing I took them outside.

No explosion ensued so I guess they would have been safe inside. However after the pipe bomb comment good to be safe. Not sure that they'd smile on the "newbie" blowing up the building.

I'm pretty sure they'll be relocating within the next year or so but I don't think they'd like it if I blew up the building.

So Crystal let Tim know that no stabbing happened on my first day.

All in all it was a good day. I think I'm going to like it there. Everyone that I talked to on smoke break said it's not like any collection job they've ever been at. It's alot more relaxed. It's quiet for the most part....which I am not used to. The girls in the other building seemed to be louder and I think there was talk of moving me to the outcast building so that may be more what I am used to. You can't work with the group I have for the past few years and then hear only minimal conversations. lol

I think I'm going to like it. Everyone keep sending me good vibes.

Who really has time?

Every time I try and commit to blogging again things get crazy. I actually started a separate blog thinking I'd keep up with the family and start one for me. So I haven't even posted one entry on that blog.

So I guess I stopped around April last year (wow I am horrible) so I'll try and pick up from there.

So in May I had me normal "pamper Nicole" Weekend. I got an awesome anniversary pendant from my loving husband, a new digital picture frame that I love (but haven't had time to play with) and darn...I can't remember the other thing I got. Having your birthday, mother's day and your anniversary all together sure makes for one heck of a weekend. Wonderful!!

This is what my awesome necklace looks like.

Pretty right?

So at the end of May Cianah finished Middle School. That's right she's in High School. OMG! How old am I???

So here are some pictures from her 8th Grade social.

Really I'd like her to put away the "girls" or I'd be fine if she didn't have "girls" at all. Any suggestions on how I can make that happen? I'm all about it.

Nura is in the black and white dress and Kelci is in the purple dress. I think the other girls name is Kiely or something but she's not close to Cianah so I don't remember. Kelci is Cianah's best friend.

So now we're up to June...whoosh this summer really flew by.

Tatiana turned 12 June 14th.

We had her birthday party at Tee time. The highlight for me was that my grown child (aka my husband) got lost in the 3D maze. Good times. The staff had to go in to get him. That was classic.

Here are a few shots from the day.

Happy Birthday to me.

The kids in front of the 3D maze Karl got lost in.

Tati driving her bumper boat. If you notice the waterfall to the very left of this picture? Many a child submerged their head under that waterfall.

Tati. The first time she actually got to drive the go karts. She was stoked.

In July when it was clear my husband was not going for a vacation this year I took the kids on a day trip to Meremac Caverns.

Not as fun as a vacation but good to get out of the house.

At the end of July I got the Colenburgs for what used to be their monthly outing. It's turned into more of a semi-annual event. Usually around Christmas and then over the summer.

We spent the day at Arnold Rec. Bryana was the only of my kids that went. Cianah and Tati stayed home with the two oldest Colenburgs and Karl.

KeAndre'

Kizmet

Kayla

Kalen in the blue goggles

Kendale

Then we went bowling. The two oldest Colenburgs were still too cool to hang out with us.

I'll spare you those pictures since they are all of the kids butts as they throw the ball. Not sure why I didn't try to shoot from a different angle?

Early August we had Marsha and Barry's wedding shower and then the couples all split off and the boys went who knows where and the girls spent the night at the Phoenix watching Metal Studz. (An 80's cover band.)

Most of the bachelorette party

This is where Marsha spent most of the night.

I think she actually thinks he is Bret Michaels. lol

School started early this year. August 13th.

Cianah started High School. A little disgusting. UGH! She thinks she is a Japanese Anime, so she has to dress like one too. Special, special child. I won't say that at her age I also thought I was Japanese. Only I "became" Japanese for a much cooler reason. Karate Kid II. That's right. I loved Japan so much in that movie I became Japanese. Way cooler than anime. :)

Tati needs to stop growing up. She is so pretty. It's a good thing she's crazy, tends to keep the boys away. :)

You know a few years ago I couldn't wait for the kids to stop playing Barbies and Pollys so the mess wouldn't be all over my house. Now I am so lucky to have one little girl. The others are growing so fast I am darn glad that Bree still plays with Barbies.

At the end of August we went down to Goose Creek Lake. My friends Carol and Bob have a house down there. Mind you I've been friends with Carol for at least 10 years and this was only the 2nd time we've been invited down. The first time didn't work out with every one's schedules...

Anyway. The kids LOVED it. Tati wants to buy a lake house and Bree just wants to live with Carol. Cianah doesn't like to go swimming that means she has to get her hair done so it was a struggle to get her to enjoy. She liked to canoe and paddle boat but swimming was not her favorite thing

Sorry for the crappy pictures. I only took the point and shoot and didn't want to get up from my lounge chair on the deck to take pictures. :)

Bryana got bit by a huge horsefly. It drew blood. Cory was the hero and dove in and killed the mean old horsefly. We had to deal with the melodrama for about an hour. That kid will milk anything.

Cianah and Ashley in the canoe

September 1st Karl turned 29 and September 4th Bryana turned 10. We didn't do a party...broke. Karl got her a few video games and we had cake and ice cream.

No pictures.

September 6th was Marsha and Barry's wedding.

I didn't take any pictures since I was in the wedding.

Here are a few:

Me and Marsha

Karl had to bar tend. He snuck away to dance with me. :)

Tatiana played the flute as Marsha walked down the isle. And during the wine box and sand ceremonies.

September 16th Chloe was born. Stephanie and Jon got married last August in Cape Cod. They moved to Seattle around Thanksgiving time and I am so sad. Now they have this beautiful baby girl that I can't hold because she's thousands of miles away. :( I want to hold her.

The next weekend we had the MSI picnic.

Bryana enjoying her snow cone on the hay ride

Tati lounging on the hayride

Cianah and Ashley

At the end of September Cianah had her first High School Homecoming.

I think that's it. At the beginning of October I quit my job at Medicine Shoppe. Got a new job at Cash Management Solutions. Less responsibility and $7000 more a year was incentive enough. I have been overworked, underpaid and unappreciated for too long at Medicine Shoppe. Good move (fingers crossed)

My last day at Medicine Shoppe was 10/16

http://www.schneiderpix.smugmug.com/gallery/6240192_WbNs4#395044137_9oTiq

The above link are pictures of my farewell.

In case you all didn't know...on my way to Dave and Busters I went to get cigarettes. Medicine Shoppe is right across the street from Rams park. WELL. On my way out I look over and see Tory Holt pumping gas. I looked for a second. I'm not one to go celebrity crazy. So I got in my car. WELL...Tory was SO checking me out. He was leaning all around the gas pump looking at me. I quickly called my husband to tell him what a stud he was. I told him Tory Holt was so just checking out his wife. He say..you're hot babe. So that was the highlight of the day. lol

I don't want to think about leaving all my friends at Medicine Shoppe. I just want to make more money and not be so stressed. So I still have buterflies in my stomach about leaving. I know everything happens for a reason so I'm sure it will all work out.

That's all for now. I'll try to blog more often.

If you make comments it helps keep me motivated. :)