Michael with his crappies! He is quite the fisherman!

EmmaLee is definately a unique, lovable character!

Cracker Jack when I met him.

Cracker Jack now that he is home.

We're Baaack!!

I can not believe it has been almost a year since I posted on here! What is wrong with me?? It's been a crazy year on this rollercoaster of life.  My car died...waaaa...... I got another one...yaaaa.... It's a PT Cruiser. I call it my Roger Rabit Car.  I got a cat from the humane society..... His name was Blanco but we changed it to... dun dun dun..... Cracker Jack! He's a whacko... a perfect fit for our little family!
My son was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease... it's a hyper-active thyroid condition. He is fine and will be fine. He just needs to take one pill everyday. He is such a trooper! He also started  6th grade this year. A big change for him with a new school and it's a magnet school so it is pretty big with kids from all the neighboring towns. My daughter has been doing great too. She has decided she is going to be a singer and a dancer! Uh-Oh!! 
I have started a new adventure too. I got my insurance license! I must say.... It is not easy to study the fine print of insurance! Ugh! But I made it through and now I have my life, health, & accident license. Yay Me!
I am working with Aflac now. Which, I have discovered is really an awesome company and their benefits really are great and surprisingly affordable! Hahaha..... I sound like a commercial! Seriously, I am not, by any means, a sales-person but I do believe in their services and products or I wouldn't be working with them.

Oh, and let's not forget..... JEMArtistry has now started making jewelry!! Woo Hoo!!! 
I will post some pictures from the past year and of some of our jewelry very soon.

So, what have you all been up to?? Tell me what has been going on with you.

BlahBlahBlahBlah

Just wanted to share this with you all. Enjoy!

Did I Hear Someone Say Snow?

Ok so its Wed, Hump Day! Last night it started snowing sometime around 11, I think... It is still snowing. We are expected to get 18 - 24 inches. Craziness! This is New England after all and it is part of living here. I kinda like it though. It looks beautiful and I get a day off from work. That is always nice.
Well, my head still feels full and heavy.. I've been trying to get rid of this dang cold for over a week now. Major PITA! So, I can't think very well currently but I will definately catch up on this week very soon. I really do have alot to say! I'll also post a couple more pics of the snow...

It's really hard to see how much snow is really there. I swear I will make it outside, when I actually have time to stop and take a couple pics, and I will post those too!

Monday Morning Again

Ever notice how fast the weekend goes? If it goes any faster, I might not even see it! I had a pretty decent weekend though. Played alot of wii and now my shoulder is sore from all that bowling! lol   I also went sledding with my kids on Sunday. That was fun. I actually haven't done that in a while. It really reminds you how out of shape you are. At least in my case it did. It's great slidin down that hill trying to go as fast as you can. But then you have to walk back up that hill... Ugh! It was definately worth it though. The happiness I see in the eyes and smiles of my kids is worth all the pain that dang hill inflicted!
I must be off to work now so hope all you have an awesome Monday~~ hee hee....

Snow Photos

Well the snow finally started falling at about 4pm tonight. We are now expected to get anywhere from 6-12 inches and it will continue to snow through Sunday, stopping briefly Sat. morning.

And snowing.....

And snowing.....

And snowing.....

Guess I won't be going anywhere.. Sure wish I did my grocery shopping.

I'll try to get some more photos tomorrow in the daylight. Have a great night!

Snow Update

Ok well I did find out that there was early dismissal today, so I did leave work early. As for the snow, there is none to be seen yet, except what was already on the ground. This morning the weather said it would start in the afternoon, now it says at about 3pm. Which brings the question... Why did the kids get out of school early??? hmmm.... Oh well, got me a half day at work too. hee hee.... 
So it is supposed to start at about 3pm and continue until about 11pm bringing with it approximately 4-6 inches.  If it does I will try to take some photos and post them. Some times the weather has no idea what its doing! Hmmm... would that make the weather more female or male?? I personally think it makes it more male, although I am sure all men would dissagree. The women on the other hand know that our indecisiveness is due to the men's inability to give a straight answer! Leaving us women to decipher what the men are doing, going to do, and/or want to do. That in turn makes our mind go in circles and change our minds repeatedly. lol... Ok so not all men are that bad... maybe it's just the ones I know. And yes I am absolutely sure that there are some women that are just as bad. Who knows maybe I'm one of them and just don't realize it! Blah, Blah, Blah

Snow, Snow, Everywhere Snow

Actually there isn't much snow on the ground yet, most of the snow that fell Christmas weekend has melted.  We are supposed to get another 3-4 inches by tomorrow morning. Most schools are closed today or are closing early. But not my town! This town rarely closes for snow while ever town around us does. Sometimes it a good thing, other times... not so good. It's easy for my kids to get to school though considering they only have to walk out the door and cross the street! Very Nice.. I love it. When we first moved to this apt. I was lost in the morning with so much time on my hands. I used to have to drive them across town to get to school. Anyway, it seems as though our town likes to wait until the last minute to let parents know they will be closing early, like parents just sit around all day doing nothing waiting for their kids to get out of school. Don't they realize that for some people it is not as though they can just leave work whenever they feel like it without any notice. That just really irritates me! For me, thats not the case, so why be mad? It's the point. I know there are alot of parents that don't have such freedom at work. I am very lucky that with what I do I can get away with that. Of course I have to make up the hours but it makes times like this so much easier. With that said, I guess I better get to work! lol     I might be leaving early today.....hmmm....when will I find out....lol.....

So how where are you and how is the weather there?
I'm not sure if it is anywhere on my blog (i'll have to look into that) but I am in Connecticut.

A Few Photos I've Been Promising

Here are a few photos from Santa's Village that I promised to post.

The first photo I took with Santa (and edited to use as Christmas cards but never did!) in his den, the second was taken in front of his fireplace in the foyer. Santa actually has a very cute house! That is the outside of it below.

We also got some yummy hot apple cider from Mrs. Claus while we waited to see Santa.

There was also a hallway dedicated to all the reindeer. Rudolph's portrait was not painted because he was out rescuing a hiker the day they were done!

And here is one more of my kids with Santa in his den.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back!
Hope you like the photos. I will try to post more of Santa's Village very soon.
Have an awesome day!

A Little More About Me

I am very new to this world of blogging. I have been looking through some other blogs and realized that so far mine has not been very personalized. I thought to myself.....hmmm....that's very weird. I am pretty much an open book. I know people hear it and say it all the time but I really am the type of person that falls under the category of "What you see is what you get."  Really I am! 
I'm an awful liar and will have no choice but to tell the truth if asked a question. It is a blessing and a curse. I really don't have anything to hide. I am who I am. My life is full of my choices, good and bad. They make me who I am, who I was, and who I will be.  I have to own them, all of them. Even if I am not proud of them. They are still mine and no one else's. Others may have influenced some of my good and/or bad choices but they are still ultimately and completely mine.  It has been said, I know cuz I've heard it repeatedly all my life, that I am a little on the "unique" side. That's cool with me. I like it that way. How boring to be just like everybody else. Blah Blah Blah.... I never want to hear someone say to me.."You remind me of someone." Unless of course that person happens to be gorgeous and awesome... then maybe it would be ok.  But really I am unlike anyone I've ever met and I intend to keep it that way. 
I think my honesty, lack of lying ability, my bluntness, and my "uniqueness" are the reasons that I donot have many close friends (ok I have one, but we don't see each other or talk often) but I refuse to change who I am just to have friends. Because then in all reality, they really wouldn't be my friends. I'm not sure if those characteristics intimidate people or what but I guess that is their problem. They are the ones missing out on a friend that would be sincere, supportive, and loyal.  So, eh whatever, I have my kids and they are the only best friends I will ever need.
What are your opinions? How are you with your friends? Have you been told you are on the "unique" side?

An Original New Year's Resolution

It is once again the start of a new year. First I want to wish everyone a healthy, happy, and successful new year.

My New Year's Resolution is not very original.... I want to completely quit smoking... not just cut down more like I've been doing.
So I want to hear all your New Year's Resolutions.... the most original will win a free product of your choice from JEM Artistry! (up to US $20.00)

So let's hear it....Post your New Year's Resolution in a comment to this blog for a chance to win!

I AM ME

I AM ME. 
 In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me Everything that comes out of me is authentically me Because I alone chose it - I own everything about me My body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, Whether they be to others or to myself - I own my fanatasies, My dreams, my hopes, my fears - I own all my triumphs and Successes, all my failures and mistakes Because I own all of Me, I can become intimately acquainted with me - by so doing I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts - I know There are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other Aspects that I do not know - but as long as I am Friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously And hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles And for ways to find out more about me - However I Look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically Me - If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought And felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is Unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that Which I discarded - I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be Productive to make sense and order out of the world of People and things outside of me - I own me, and therefore I can engineer me - I am me and I AM OKAY ~~ Virginia Satir