Holiday Fun

This is the first Christmas I have been away from my folks. I was very sad not to be going home for the holiday. In my family we do a huge Christmas Eve dinner and have everyone and anyone over. My dad always cooks the best meal. After dinner and cleaning up my dad and me go to midnight mass. We have gone to Christmas Eve church service since I can remember. After church we come home and go to bed and get ready for Santa to come. Then once Christmas morning comes around we all wait for my dad to get ready so we can go down and see what Santa left us. I remember being little and my dad taking his sweet time with everything! He had to make coffee, walk the dog, shower, shave or find something to do before we could go down stairs. It use to kill us. Even last year it was the same way. Haha! Its a tradition of sorts. We always ate ham sandwiches for lunch at my grandparents house and did Christmas over there in the afternoon. The rest of the day was just to relax and play with our toys or whatever we got for Christmas.

This year James and me started our own traditions. Instead of doing a big Christmas Eve dinner we had dinner with just us and one of our friends who had no one where else to go. After a super yummy dinner of Pork Tenderloin and potatoes we went to church. It was the first time Turkey has gone to Christmas Service. She has always been fast asleep. She was so excited to go. Our friend came with us as well. I got a little bit emotional because I missed my dad and my family. I had teared up a few times during the evening but not enough for anyone to really notice. I lost it once I got to church though. I realized how much my family means to me and how much I miss them. We talked and Skyped with my family and everyone who was over for dinner and it was great to see everyone. After church we came home and set out our cookies for Santa. Turkey had decided that Santa only needed 2 cookies and a glass of juice, she also left an orange for the reindeer. She got to open one present that had some super soft comfy footy pajamas in it. By the time we got her into bed it was close to 11:30, WAY past bed time!! Santa didn't have to wait very long for her to fall asleep so he could come visit.

Before dinner Turkey had gotten an email from Santa and he told her to be good and to listen to her mommy and daddy. He even knew where she lived and what she wanted for Christmas!! She was so excited and talked to the video of Santa. It was really cute! Note to self remember that for last year.

Christmas morning James and me were up bright and early! We were awake by 6 am. We are use to get up that early because of his job. Turkey slept til around 9. She never sleeps in! I thought it was a funny day for her to sleep late. Once she was up we headed down stairs. Santa found us! He left all sorts of good stuff in our stockings and some things under the tree. Turkey was very excited that Santa ate her cookies and drank her juice. She was more excited that the reindeer ate her orange. They left a few pieces for her to eat :)

We had a great Christmas morning. I received some presents from my Poppa that made me cry. He gave me somethings that were my Grandmums. I am a boob. I still tear up thinking about it. I miss my Grandmum. I wish that we could have been home for my Poppas first Christmas with out her. We chatted with him a few times this weekend though and he was surrounded by people who love him.

We got some very fun presents this year and were very well loved! After we got done opening everything and chatting with my family we put Turkey down for a much needed nap. It was a battle! So much excitement and so many cool toys! I bargained with her and finally convinced her to get some sleep because the boys were coming to dinner.

I started getting ready for dinner and James started cleaning up the living room. We had Honey Ham (thanks to my brother) mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, cinnamon apples and french bread for Christmas dinner. I made artichoke dip and had some other yummy appetizers to munch on before dinner. We had a house full for Christmas dinner!! I think we had 10 or 11 people for dinner. We all sat at the table and ate together family style. It was a lot of fun. They made my Christmas! The guys were all very sweet and grateful for dinner. We had apple pie for dessert and it was yummy!! We all talked about how every ones Christmas is different. Majority of the guys were raised in a family where you dished up your plate and then found somewhere to sit. Not very many were raised in a family who had a sit down dinners at a table. Lots watched sports during dinner. I refused to have the television on during dinner. It was a great time! Everyone ate tons!

After dinner some left and some stayed. We got a Wii for Christmas so we hung out and played Wii. It was fun. We had a great Christmas! We are very thankful for our families and our friends.

James ended up having Sunday off as well so we went on an adventure to Minot. Its such a long drive! Ok its not that bad, but we were all excited to go. We finally got there and went to the mall. We walked around for a while and got some things and went to lunch. It was fun to spend a day with James. Turkey loved having daddy home for a few days. She was so funny, on the way home she fell asleep for a little bit with her sucker in hand and her legs crossed. It was really cute! After she woke up she sang the rest of the way home. She has gotten her counting down pretty good. This is how she counts to 100

1..2..3...4..5..7..8..9..10..11..12..13..14..15..17..18..19..20..30..40..50..60..70..80..90..100

She leaves out 6 and 16 with everything she counts. We try and add them in and she won't have it. I am very proud of her and how well she is counting even if she leaves out 2 numbers!

I hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed the holiday!

The good the bad and the ugly

Yesterday was a day to test my sanity level. Unfortunately the day won and I pretty much lost my sanity. Turkey was on a roll yesterday. She was up at 6 am. when James got up for work. Which means I was up at 6 am. I am not a morning person. She started the day out with whining and boobing about random things. She was sad because I wouldn't let her eat a whole bag of clementines. She ate like 4 in a row and I wouldn't let her have more so she was whiny and sassy. I just did my thing around her. I cleaned the house and was doing laundry. My house has been getting horribly hot when I do laundry. I thought it was just that I was doing to much. Well I went to go unload the dryer and noticed that there was water on my floor. GRRR!! I decided to pull out my dryer. I figured out why my house was so dang hot. The dryer vent thing wasn't hooked on anymore. I also noticed that the hook-ups for the washer were dripping. So my lovely husband is going to fix it today. I thought I could just fix it myself, but I have no idea how to fix it. James has been working in the shop lately since they have so much to do which also means he works longer hours. He came home from lunch yesterday with a trunk full of presents from one of my favorite stores in town. I was told I couldn't touch them! I am glad tomorrow is Christmas because I am excited to open them.

After we took James back to work Turkey and me ran some errands. That was a silly idea. Everyone and their dog was at the market. I still haven't gotten all of the stuff I need for Christmas dinner. We pretty much ate our way through the market which was nice. We ran a few other errands and on our way home James called. He needed us to take all his work clothes to the laundry mat to get washed. I don't wash James greasers in my washing machine because it will ruin it and everything else that gets put in after the greasers. I have dried his clothes once and then I spent forever scrubbing out my dryer. The laundry mat down from our house washes the greasers for me. During the week you can only drop off the laundry, Sundays if you feel the need to spend the whole day down there you can wash them yourself. I find it easier to just drop them off and not get filthy from them. They charge a little under $2 a pound for the greasers. The don't weigh them until they are clean. If they did it before we would be poor just from laundry alone. When the clothes get covered in the random stuff he works with they weigh a ton. We really love the ladies at the laundry mat who wash all of his clothes. Yesterday we went and dropped off his clothes and they told me to come back at 6 and they would have them done. I thought in my head "Sweet deal! We can nap and get stuff done before going back"

We did get our naps in and I wish I could have slept longer. Turkey woke up from her nap grouchier then before. It was like the world was going to end because I wouldn't carry her down the stairs! Well I thought things would be better if I let her pick her advent for the day. Our advent countdown is hung on our Christmas tree, she gets to pick one everyday. Yesterday Turkey got these rubbery frogs. I thought she would just love them. Apparently I was wrong. Turkey cried and cried and wouldn't go near them. She was so scared of them cause they jiggled. She doesn't like things that move. I lined them up on that table so she could look at them. We called my mom to chat and she helped talk Turkey into not being as scared of them. By the time it was time to go get James laundry she loved them. I had been making cookies for Christmas while she came to terms with the frogs. All the cookies I am making for Christmas all have to be refrigerated, so I started them last night. We cleaned up and got in the car and headed to pick up the laundry. We got there and I left Turkey in the car so I could just run in and grab the clothes. I walked in and the girl looked at me and just said "Shit" she took off to the washer machine and looked incredibly nervous. She comes back and informs me that she forgot to wash James clothes, she had forgot they needed to be done last night. She just figured the ladies on Sunday could do them. I about had a brain aneurysm. I just looked at the lady and said to just give me the clothes and I would go do it myself. (I was very nice) The owner was there and asked what was going on. The girl explained she forgot about them. He asked if I could come back in an hour. Ya sure whatever. So Turkey and me came home and finished getting the cookies put together and cleaned up the kitchen. The hour went by pretty quick so we headed back to the laundry mat. We get there and the clothes weren't even done washing yet. So we hung out while they finished in the wash. The guy said he would just give me some money to go dry them at the other laundry mat in town. At this point Turkey is getting whiny once again because she is hungry and tired. We decided to order a pizza on the way to the laundry mat. We get to there and put the clothes in the first dryer. I put my money in and the dang thing ate my money. I asked some guy to help me and he pretty much told me bummer. I moved them to a different dryer and tried again. Luckily after some not so nice words it worked. As I am getting everything squared away with the dryer Turkey is walking around the folding counter. It is a taller counter and she started to run and went right into the counter. It got her right in the nose. It was horrible. I thought she broke her nose. There was massive tears. No blood just tears. After getting calmed down we found a place to sit and play games on my phone. After a little while our pizza was ready so we went on an adventure to go get it.

Oh my gosh! Another bang your head into the wall moment. I get there and the twelve year old behind the counter looks like she is lost. I pay for my pizza and she tells me "Its almost done so it will be just another minute." A little over 30 minutes later she tells me again that it is almost done. The women standing next to me is getting more then angry. I start chatting with her and found out she had been waiting since 7 for her pizza. I would have probably yelled at someone at that point in time. I ordered our pizza at 7 and we finally got it a little after 8. James called me while I was waiting for the pizza and asked if I could come let him in the house because he had just gotten home from work. After we finally got the pizza we ran home to let James in and then rushed back to the laundry mat. Turkey was super excited about being able to eat pizza in daddy's Jeep. I love the little things in life that make her happy. We got back to the laundry mat and the clothes had just finished drying and no one had messed with them. I told James that someone was going to steal them because that is how my day had gone. I was glad no one did. By the time we got home it was around 8:30 one hour after Turkeys bed time. Since we hadn't seen daddy since lunch we had to hang out a little before bed. I told James I just wanted to go have a beer. I was only half joking. Well he gets a hold of his coworkers and tells them I am coming out with them. These boys drink way more then I do and stay out way to late for me. I was not really wanting to go, James pretty much told me I needed to get out of the house. I went and showered and got ready after much debate. The boys came and got me and we went to Applebee's. I had my beer there and was ready to go home. They all had other ideas. We went to the bar in town instead of going home. I had a blast!! After a little while I was able to joke with the guys and have fun. It felt like I was out with my buddies. We had some drinks and ended up all dancing and having an awesome night. There was a very wide range of people at the bar. There was young and really old. There was some very different people there. I enjoyed people watching last night. It was getting close to the end of the night and we were dancing and someone came up behind my buddy and sucker punched him in the face. I got swarmed so I didn't see where my buddy went. I was fine I didn't get hit or pushed. I met up with the rest of the guys and they were super pissed. It seems to me that fights happen a lot at the bar. Everyone was pretty calm about it other then those who were involved. Luckily the fight never happened outside. The guy who hit my buddy took off and was no where to be found. My buddy is probably gonna have an awesome shiner today! It was changing colors by the time they took me home. James was sweet and had tried to wait up for me. He was asleep on the couch when I got home. I got him up to go to bed and to tell him Thanks for making me go out and tell him how much fun I had. Even though there was fighting it was a good night. I told the guys they have to take me out at least once a month! Hopefully we can find a babysitter one of these days so James and me can go out together. I woke up this morning feeling pretty good! Its amazing what a night out can do. I feel like I am not gonna bang my head into a wall today. I think having a night off is a must every so often. It was the first time I have gone out since I have been here. I have lots of baking and cooking to do today. I better get started. Merry Christmas everyone.

Turkey Quotes of the day!

Today Turkey has been full of funny sayings! I feel it has to be shared!

We were skyping with my mom this morning and the screen froze. So Turkey would make a random face and freeze. When we asked her what she was doing, she responded with "I just froze!"

We had some chips after her nap. This was the conversation

Me: Can I have a potato chip?

Turkey: They are potatoes mom. They are potato chips.

(She hates potatoes. But loves chips. Go figure!)

She wanted to watch cartoons

Turkey: Mom I wanna watch cartoons

Me: No cartoons are on

Turkey: Mom yes they are! We have cable

Me: That doesn't mean cartoons are on

Turkey: The cable guy came and hooked up the cable mom. So that means that cartoons are on.

The weather outside is frightful......

This weekend was a very Santa filled one. Turkey and me were in the grocery store on Saturday and ran into Santa. She was very excited, she actually touched his arm! She is getting a little better about him every time we see him. She asked me why Santa was at the grocery store and I informed her he must be checking up on her to make sure she is being good. She was excellent during our shopping adventure! We had to say good bye to Santa before we left. She was so happy about him being there.

Sunday morning she was up bright and early because Santa was coming to church. I love that she is so excited about church every week. The last few weeks have been full of excitement because she has been helping light the advent candles. She has also being helping in different times in church. We are finally getting the church thing down. She sits quietly and draws on her white board. When we sing she grabs a board book and pretends that it is a song book. This last Sunday was different. There was a lot of excitement because of Santa and there were tons of kids at church. Holy cow! My sanity got tested to the max. After we finally made it through church we went downstairs to eat lunch and wait for Santa.

When Santa finally arrived Turkey bolted to the door and was yelling "Santa!!!" She was so excited. When he called her up she sat in a chair next to him and was very sweet. She is pretty consistent on what she wants from Santa. She asked for a pink puppy, a watch and an iPad. If she keeps being good then maybe Santa can get the first two. I love that she wants an iPad. I blame my brother for that one. When my grandmother had passed away my brother brought his iPad with him to dinner so Turkey could play with it. She has wanted one ever since. She thinks anything my brother has is the coolest thing in the world.

Our tree is full of presents and Turkey has been pretty good about leaving them alone. James on the other hand has to shake them and tries to figure out what ones are his. I have decided not to put name tags on the presents and I have just wrapped Turkey and James in different paper so I know who gets what. I love being sneaky!

Lately our weather has been cold and snowy. Last week we had some days where they issued no travel advisories. Which means we can't leave city limits. On Monday we woke up to about 6 inches of snow. James went to work and about 4 hours later he was back home because they couldn't get to the rigs. It was another no travel day. We ended up getting over a foot and half of snow. We didn't leave the house all day. James went out to shovel and Turkey and me decided to suit up and go play in the snow. It was a ton of fun and just what we needed. We made a mini snow cave, made snow angels, made places to sit. I decided to sit on the biggest pile of snow and told Turkey I was queen, she went to James and informed him that mommy is queen and she is the princess so he needs to not shovel anymore and to come play with us. We had a ball in the snow. It was enough to get everyone ready for a nap. It was nice having James home for a day. We are keeping our fingers crossed he will be home for Christmas. So far he is working Christmas. The snow has put them a little behind. I guess this will be the year of new traditions. If he ends up having to work, Turkey and me might open a present or two and then go to church. And we will open the rest when he gets home that night. Who knows!

I hope everyone has a great holiday and gets to spend it with friends and family. Travel safe!

Packages!!

OK so I am 25 years old. I am an adult and a mom and a wife. I feel that I am grown up for the most part. But I still get very, very, very excited when I get a package or mail. I get excited to check my mail every day. I think it is just so much fun to get a letter or a card. I am not, however a fan of getting bills, but honestly who is? Since it is the holiday season that means more mail! I sent out Christmas cards this year because things have changed so much and everyone should get mail. I have received some Christmas cards as well. It is so fun to open then up and read what is going on in everyones life and see pictures. We hang all the cards we get on our wall. I have cards from my Poppa and my mom that were sent when we first got here. I like to look back at them. My mom and dad have been sending Turkey postcards from their adventures. She loves them as much as me! They are hung up in her room. I remember being little and getting a postcard from my grandparents when they travelled. That was one of my favorite things. I loved getting postcards from my grandparents. They always travelled the coolest places and sent the best postcards. I love that my parents are doing that with Turkey.

We have been also receiving packages lately. I love packages!! I am like a little kid! When I was in college my mom sent me care packages every so often and I loved them. She would put random little things she had found and stuff I needed. It was the best. It kept me from getting to homesick. My mom has been sending us care packages every so often now too. Mostly for Turkey but she throws some stuff in for James and me. We have been getting boxes with Christmas stuff too. I have a strong dislike for a certain package delivery company. My mom no longer sends me packages through them since they have lost my packages several times since I have moved here. We now go through a better company and so far my packages are all making it. (Knock on wood)

Last night we received two packages at our front door. My mom had told me she had ordered us something for us for Christmas and it was coming and that we needed to wait for a card to come in the mail before we could open it. I called as soon as the packages arrived and she read us the card and allowed us to open them. In box #1 there was a beautiful chair. In box #2 there was a matching ottoman. We were very excited. We now have a very nice living room set. It is a great leather chair that is awesome for curling up with a good book. James is enjoying the ottoman to be able to put his feet up after work. Turkey is also enjoying the ottoman, she enjoys it for singing. She stands on it and sings at the top of her lungs. It is her own personal stage. I have the best parents ever! ( I am currently sitting in my new chair, with my feet up on my ottoman as I type)

Every time the door bell rings and a package arrives both Turkey and me are giddy and bouncy! I enjoy opening up the boxes and Turkey enjoys playing in them. She fills them with her things and turns the boxes into trains or beds or whatever else she can come up with.

We appreciate everyone who has sent us a card or a package. It makes our holiday better. This is our first Christmas not with family. We are realizing the little things that matter. Its not all about presents and material things. Its about the fact that someone thought of us and sent us a card or something in the mail. I received a package from a good friend the other day and it had my favorite coffee and some other fabulous things. You could tell that everything she put in the box she thought about. It was very sweet of her and her family. It makes me smile still. I brewed a pot of coffee yesterday and it was like sitting back home in the coffee shop.

Christmas parties and Flu Shots

I have no motivation to do anything the last two days. Making all of those cookies and dealing with my back has worn me out. Sunday night I luckily didn't have to cook. We went to James company Christmas party. It was fun. We went to the Mexican restaurant in town. It was a giant group of guys! It was an interesting time. I got to meet some of the guys James works with. Turkey hung out with the guys who had come for Thanksgiving. We all ate way too much but all in all it was a good time.

We have been bumming out around the house lately. Turkey has been fighting a little cold the last few days so we have taken it easy. We cleaned house yesterday and got prepared for the couch we bought on Friday. We have been using an air mattress as a couch since we moved in. It is the most uncomfortable thing ever. We have been looking at couches for a few weeks now and finally decided on one. I went and ordered it being told that it would be here soon and after I had ordered it we found out it would take a month to get it. I declined and we kept looking. We found a local place in town that had everything in stock and had great deals. We found a couch we both liked and bought it Friday night while we were out and about in the horrible storm. Some guys were gonna pick up the couch for me on Saturday and deliver it but they got to busy at work. When James came home yesterday he went and got it. It makes our house feel more like a home. It was nice to sit on the couch and Skype with my mom last night. We all curled up on it to watch football after dinner. It was fantastic! This morning Turkey and me cuddled on the couch before we got ready for the day.

Today Turkey had to get her second flu shot. She had gotten one back in October and she had to get a second one because she hasn't had a flu shot in years past. We got ready for the day and went to the health department. Turkey has been a very big advocate for everyone to get a flu shot. She came with me to get mine and was explained why we get them. She knows that the reason we get a flu shot is so we don't get sick. She was all jazzed about getting her flu shot again. We got there and she was doing good. Once we got back in the room for the shot she got nervous. The nurse gave her the shot and afterwards looked at me and said "That didn't hurt!!" She was tough. We went and got a steamer and played at the coffee shop and she told everyone that she got a shot. The very nice owner guy gave her some chocolate. He gave me some to because moms need chocolate! After our coffee we wandered about town so Turkey's legs wouldn't get stiff. She was doing awesome until we got home and had lunch. After lunch the world ended. It was nap time and her leg started to hurt. She couldn't climb her ladder to get into her loft bed, she couldn't wear pants, she couldn't have a blanket on her leg, she couldn't do anything. I gave her a little ibuprofen and the world got a little better. Once she finally fell asleep she slept for 2 hours! While she slept I laid on our very fantastic couch and read my book. I probably should have done some housework. I took advantage of my couch and how it made my back feel better. When Turkey woke up she was so excited because her legs didn't hurt anymore.

Tomorrow we have to get some housework done! We also have story time. Hopefully we will get some motivation between now and then. So far not looking so good! :) I have an easy casserole in the oven and relaxing with the family. So I am off to relax with my hubby.

My weekend of cookies!

The start of homemade marshmallows! It was yellow

colored, I was slightly nervous they wouldn't turn out.

The more time it had the better it looked!

The coolest thing to watch!!

Then all of a sudden they turn white!

After setting in the fridge for 24 hours I cut them

into pieces and they were perfect! Going to enjoy them

in some homemade hot chocolate later this

afternoon. They were easy to make and fun too!

Candy Cane cookies!!

They were a pain in the butt to make and James

kept snagging my balls of dough!

Chocolate Sugar Cookies!!

They were so good! I could have just eaten the

dough and been happy. They turned out good.

Brownie Cookies before they went into the

oven. You roll them in powdered sugar.

Brownie cookies after they are baked.

James likes how they look! I think they

turned out pretty cool.

Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge!

Ignore the one corner that we tasted! Turkey and

me enjoyed the fudge and kept cutting off pieces of that one

corner to eat. It was yummy and one to keep in mind for next year.

Fraud, Cookies, Snow storms!

It has been an interesting week. I haven't felt very well lately and after much debate I went to the doctor. Well since I am still insured under my folks I had to figure out if and who was covered by my insurance. I ended up having to go to the doctor in Montana. That sounds far away, but its about an hour drive. What I didn't realize was that we cross time zones. Turkey and me left the house at 1 o'clock for my 2 o'clock appointment. We get a little behind because of having to stop for gas. When we got there we rushed into the doctors office and noticed the clock said 1. I checked in anyways and filled out all the paper work. After sitting there for an hour they called us back. We went back and forth between the doctors office and the hospital. After 5 hours of being there, they decided I have hurt my back and hips and I am not aloud to pick up anything heavy including Turkey. They gave me some medicine and I am feeling a little bit better. I just got to take things easy for a little while. Their advice was to relax all day with my feet up and not do anything. HAHAHA!! Ya right. In a dream world. I take breaks often and Turkey doesn't completely understand why I have to lay down every so often. She has been helping me pick up the house and put away laundry.

To add to my fun of not feeling good I noticed my checking account was messed up. I redid all my numbers and balanced my checkbook several times and it came out fine. I looked online and it was completely off. I called my bank and the women said she had to call me back in just a few minutes. Well she never called back. I tried calling but she had already gone home. I was very bugged. The next day I called the manager of the branch who was a pain to get a hold of. Once I finally talked to her I found out that I was being investigated for fraud. Seriously!! I deposited James check into my account and since I don't have a history of depositing money in my brand new account they investigated me for fraud. They put a hold on my account and had to check the bills for counterfeit. The best part of it is that James cashed his check at their branch and I turned around and deposited it. I was pissed. It has been quite a battle with them over this. It has taken a week to finally get everything cleared up and my money back. The world seems to like to kick me sometimes. When it rains it pours I guess.

Today it started to snow and it snowed and snowed! The weather was a winter wonderland! Turkey and me decided since it was awful outside and I didn't want to go anywhere, that we would make cookies. The church we go to is having a bake sale on Monday. They have asked everyone to bake 8 dozen cookies for it. I decided I will do my part and help. A lot of my cookies need to be refrigerated before so we made all of them today. We made chocolate sugar cookies, brownie cookies, candy cane chocolate fudge, homemade marshmallows, and mitten cookies. I have more then enough for the bake sale! I am going to make some plates for the guys James works with. I love this time of year! It gives me a great reason to bake cookies!

The snow keeps getting worse as the night goes on. By the time James got home at 4 we had over a foot of snow. We went out and bought a new couch for our house!! Yay!! It gets delivered tomorrow. No more sitting on an air mattress to watch a movie. We are moving up in the world. We ran a few errands that I needed to get done. I am glad James drove. By the time we got home we have close to 2 feet or more of snow on the roads. (And no plows in sight) The snow in my front yard is above my waist level. I am glad James helped me do my errands. I wasn't looking forward to driving in it. I might not be going Christmas shopping tomorrow after all. That's ok though, I have a billion and a half cookies to bake!

Pull up and Coffee Shops!!

So my little Turkey is becoming a big kid now! She has been potty trained for quite some time now. We have started working on staying dry through the night. When I had met with her doctor in the fall he said it could take her until she was like 7 or 8 to be completely dry through the night. I have had fears of this. So we have been slowly working on it. She drinks a sippy cup when she goes to bed so that is something we have been trying to stop. But for her it is comfort, her security blanket. I can't just take it away. I have been not filling it up so much. Every night it gets a little less. Well she has woken up dry every night for the past week, she had a pull up on but she was dry. I tell her every morning how proud I am of her. Well yesterday I thought it was a great day to start wearing big girl panties to bed. Nap time was a breeze! She woke up dry and was very excited about that. At bedtime she was proud of herself still and was excited to go to bed in big girl panties. At around 3:30 this morning we had tears from wetting the bed. I got up like a good mom and changed the bed. She sleeps with tons of animals so those all get to be washed today. Got everything changed and she went back to bed and was dry the rest of the night. I am very proud of her. We have started letting her dress herself and pick out her own outfits. Today she put on 5 shirts (3 tank tops and 2 tea shirts) and luckily only one pair of pants. Everything matched too! She is learning to put socks and tights on by herself which can be very frustrating for everyone in the house! I have found reading a book while she is fighting them is best because then we don't get as frustrated. Our reward today for getting dressed with out a major blowout was we went and got coffee.

I have found a new love! Don't get me wrong I will always love Cafe Ibis and my Starbucks but I have found the yummiest coffee place. It is inside the bookstore here and they are amazing. I think I have mentioned this before! Today we went in and an older gentleman was behind the coffee bar. We started chatting and he is the owner and was very sweet. He gave us some Swedish Gingersnap cookies to nibble on while we drank our coffees and played games. He has lived here his whole life and was telling me about his love hate relationship with this town. We talked about the oil boom and the different views on it. There is a lot of negativity here from locals about people moving here for the jobs. They are great at expressing their opinions in the paper when someone mentions they are new in town. I have heard people tell new comers here to go back where they came from if they don't like how things are done here. I have experienced a little bit of the negativity toward me because of what James does for work. But I am a person who expresses how I feel. I have told the people who have been rude to me about moving here for the jobs that we had no other choice. I inform them about the fact the where I am from the economy sucks and that there are no jobs. And if you have a job you can't afford your apartment because they don't pay you that well and rent keeps being increased. And how you don't dare quit your job for a different one in fear that you might get laid off. I worked two jobs back home just to be on the safe side of things and so we could stay afloat. I state my case just in case they give a damn. Which I am pretty sure they don't but oh well.

Not everyone here hates the fact that people from all over the country are moving here. There are people who enjoy the new life here. As the coffee shop owner said, a new gene pool. Haha. The locals here have been here forever. I have noticed though that must of the people who get their panties in a bundle over the newcomers are people who have only lived here a few years. I find that kinda funny. There was a proposal for a shopping center and people declined it because they don't want it here, they don't want variety and are in fear of it being a vacant building. I don't see it being vacant. I think that it is a great idea to have some stores here to build the local business. The downtown area is very fun here and has some great shops but not a lot of variety. They definitely need more clothing stores. There is none for men or children. But I did find out today that Regina has great shopping. It is about 190 miles from here. Looks like we will be getting some passports soon. Apparently we only need them to come back into the states. Do we really need to come back? James and me were chatting about just moving to Canada last night. We both love Canada. But we will be staying here for a while and long while. Canada will just be one of our run away spots. I enjoying the thought of taking a weekend to go somewhere like Canada or even Minot to go shopping then coming back home. I love shopping weekends! I plan on having one of those soon.

New Design!

I am not very computer smart. I can't design a blog or anything else for that matter if it is on a computer. There is a whole different language in computers that I don't speak or care to. My brother has that covered in our family.

Luckily I have two very fabulous friends who had pity on my not so cute or original blog design and designed a new one for me. I pretty much let them do what they wanted and sent them pictures and they went from there. I just got a message from my girlfriend letting me know it was done, I leaped out of bed to come check it out. I figured since my loving hubby is already getting cold from my sprint out of bed I would really quickly right a post about it. :)

The main picture is one of my engagement photos that my very fabulous friend took. She also took my wedding photos and her very fabulous husband took my wedding video. The picture of James and me is from when we went camping in Idaho somewhere. I wasn't sure where it was when we went and I still have no idea where it was. I just remember I lost cell service and prayed I didn't die in a horror movie kind of a way. It ended up being a great camping adventure and not a horror movie.

The one of Turkey and me is from Thanksgiving! Probably one of my favorites of us.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my very fabulous friend and her very fabulous husband! Kami and Neil you are the best! Love you guys!!

Minot

Yesterday James got off early so we decided to go on an adventure to Minot. Its about 2 hours from where we live. By the time we got ready and loaded up it was a little after 3. We got on the road and Turkey fell fast asleep. Sleeping in the car use to be a breeze when she had her car seat. It reclined back just a little and had sides for her to rest her head on. Well in James jeep she rides in a booster. As everyone knows boosters don't have sides. She tipped over but kept on sleeping. We took off our coats and I made a pile under her so she wouldn't wake up completely kinked. It was super cute! The road to Minot is long! We do go through some hilly areas that were pretty. Along the way you see lots of oil rigs and James pointed out ones he had worked on and what everything was. By every oil rig there is a pipe that is on fire. It is the natural gas getting burned. It gets to pressurized when they pump out the oil so they put a pipe in and release it and since it is not something you want to just release into the air they burn it off. Apparently that is a better idea.

When we first moved up here James told me about a gas that is in the country and if I smell it to keep driving and not stop. Well I now understand what it smells like and a little bit more about it. It smells like rotten eggs. The gas that gets released from the rigs can kill you if it is too concentrated. It is the gas that they are burning off. We drive faster if we smell rotten eggs. It made me very nervous when we were first here. Turkey and I have not adventured to far outside of town because of it. Maybe in the spring we will get more daring. I am not as nervous about it as I was.

Turkey woke up just outside of Minot and was super excited to get there. We went to the mall (which is bigger then the one back home) and wandered about. They have all sorts of fun little shops and some huge ones too! I love all the booths in the middle of the mall that come out this time of year. There is a certain energy in the mall that I love. Everyone is was running about getting Christmas things. It was fun. As we were walking around Turkey saw Santa. Oh my gosh! She was so funny! If you ever have seen the movie Elf where Will Ferrel chases down Santa yelling at him and going on about how he knows him, well that was Turkey. She kept yelling "Santa! Santa!" It was super funny. We decided we best go see him while we were there. We waited in line and chatted about if she was good or not and all those things getting ready to talk to Santa. We were next in line and Santa's little helper girl came up to ask if we wanted photos. While we were looking at them she asked Turkey what she wanted for Christmas. Turkey responded an iPad. She thinks that is the worlds coolest thing. She played with my brothers when he has visited and she played with one our friend had. Well anyways, the women looks at Turkey and proceeds to tell her, "Santa's elves aren't going to make you one, those aren't things that Santa will make. Maybe you should ask Santa for something else." She wasn't even nice about it. I was shocked! Turkey looked a little disappointed. Lets just crush hopes and dreams of a 3 year old. We are not planning on getting Turkey an iPad. She doesn't need to know she isn't getting one. But she can still ask Santa and tell him the other more reasonable things she wants like the watch she saw at Walmart or a new doll or whatever else her little brain comes up with. I told the women we didn't want photos and walked over to see Santa. I was so bugged!

In past years Turkey usually screams bloody murder when we get anywhere near Santa. Last year we went and saw Santa almost everyday. We would get a little closer each day until we were able to sit down next to him. This year there was no screaming, no freak out. She walked up then decided I needed to be the buffer. I sat next to Santa and then she sat next to me. She chatted with him for a minute and told him after he reached for her hand "Santa don't touch me, I like your white gloves but don't touch me"

Luckily we didn't pay for pictures because she wasn't gonna have it. Maybe next year we will have her picture taken with Santa. She told me on the way home that on Christmas she will be nice to Santa and give him a love, but only on Christmas.

After we left Santa we finished walking the mall and then drove around Minot to see what else was there. It was a lot of fun to be out and about. They have some good stores so we will be back another day.

The way home seemed different then the way we came. It was dark out and all you could see were the flames for the rigs. They looked like tiny cities. You know when you are driving in the country and get closer to the city and how it glows? That's what is was like but there were hundreds of them. It was cool to see. Some were right next to the highway and those ones reminded me of homeless people crowded around a barrel on fire. I don't know why but that is what I thought of. We made it home around 9 and we were all exhausted. We all climbed into bed and crashed!

Today Turkey and me went to church. Last week Turkey lit the first Advent candle and was so excited about it all week. We were running a little late today so we got to church just before it began. The preacher came up and asked Turkey if she wanted to light the candle again. She said yes and told me to stay where I was and she held his hand and they went up and she lit the second candle of Advent. She helped in church with everything today. There is a 12 year old girl who goes that Turkey just adores. She was the helper in church so Turkey went with her. Today was the first day we have made it through church without having to walk out to have a chat about being quiet or not running around. It was a lot of fun to watch her be helpful and excited to be at church. I asked the girls mother if her daughter ever babysits and if she would be willing to watch Turkey on a Saturday so I could finish up some Christmas shopping. So I now have a babysitter Saturday afternoon! It will be the first time I will leave Turkey with someone up here who isn't James. I trust this girl and her family, they are good people. Hopefully I can get everything I need done.

Driving to Minot, Turkey took the picture.

Turkey listening to the reason behind lighting the candle

Turkey lighting the candle! On her way back she yelled "I did it mom!"

I am very proud of her.

Turkey sporting the new hat and gloves Grandmary sent her.

Being cute!

My gingerbread

Turkey's gingerbread houses. She decorated them herself.

Gingerbread Houses!

The snow plows have finally come and plowed my road yesterday! The whole road! Very exciting! It was perfect timing. James is working with some different guys so he has to drive to work. The other guys he was working with picked him up every morning so I could have the jeep. He is really enjoying his job. He works with a good group of guys. They are very respectful and are good to us. I am planning on having them all over for Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas night. It depends on what days they have off.

We have started Advent with Turkey. We talk everyday about the meanings of Christmas and she gets a little present. We have hung the presents on our Christmas tree so she can pick one every afternoon. She gets really excited about it and I am enjoying it. She loves telling James everyday when he gets home about what she got for Advent and what we talked about.

Today the snow started again. We rushed out this morning to do our errands and get home before the snow and wind got bad. We made it home just in time. As I look out the window there is quite a bit of snow outside and the wind is blowing some pretty drifts. While we were at the store I decided to pick up some fun things to do. I bought a box of graham crackers and some fun candies. We came home and ate lunch then Turkey decided it was nap time. I get her all snuggled into bed and started to make gingerbread houses. The first one I made was with frosting as the glue. What a pain in the butt! I ended up getting my hot glue gun out and gluing them together! I made several so when Turkey wakes up she can decorate them. I made a big one that I decorated already, it was fun! I haven't made houses in a long time. I think it will be a fun afternoon project.

Yesterday was story day at the library. When we got there we found out it had been cancelled. We were pretty bummed. We looked around and got our books and ran into some of our friends. We decided after the kids got yelled at for being to loud that we should go somewhere to play. McDonalds has a play land. We loaded up in the cars and headed out. All the kids where super excited about going to play. We had lunch and spent around 1 1/2 hours playing. I sat and talked with my mom friends. It was a very much needed outing.

I think I have finally got the last of my Christmas cards mailed. I am happy to have them done early and already mailed! OK I must go get some things done with Turkey is asleep!

Finally pictures!!

Here are some photos of what we have been up to lately! I finally got them to load.

Every morning Turkey climbs into bed with me and we sit

and read books and sing songs. We have something to drink and

eat crackers! It is a fun time! I wake up at 5 am every morning

with James so I sit and read and Turkey comes and joins me when she gets up.

Self Portrait. Turkey took this picture of herself. I was very

impressed that it turned out so good!

Turkey stuck in a snow drift

Standing next to the drift before jumping in and getting stuck.

I look like a funny penguin! But the snow drift was really deep!! haha!!

I had to stand in it. I was freezing but it was fun!

Turkey has started to dress herself. She gets to pick out her own clothes

She picked this outfit to go to church in. I thought it was the cutest!

She knows what matches so she picks all the same colors. Her skirt had tons

of colors so she wore all the colors.

The beginning of the snow drifts

Our Christmas tree!

Turkey was super excited about the tree!

This is what James usually looks like when he comes home from work. The

days James comes home covered in grease like this Turkey usually

runs away so she doesn't get dirty. She will get after him and tell

him she will give him kisses after he showers.

Turkey and I have found the coolest coffee shop/bookstore. We

were walking around town and decided to go in to the

bookstore. They have a coffee shop in back. Holy cow!

Yummy! Turkey had an apple cider drink and I had the

yummiest coffee. We sat in the coffee shop and played with the toys

on the table. We probably sat there for an hour just playing and

drinking our warm drinks. They were very nice and put on music for

us to listen to and told us we could hangout as long as we wanted.

We will be going there again! Finally a good cup of coffee!

The tower of magformers! They are the coolest toy! They have

magnets on the sides and you can build all sorts of things.

SNOW PLOWS!!!

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! There were 2 snow plows on my street! Not just one but 2!!! Turkey and me had just got back from the store and pulled onto our street and there were snow plows. I was so excited!! Did they plow anything? NO! Well they plowed maybe 2o feet down the road. Then drove around and left. I was hoping they would plow the road so I wouldn't have to put the Jeep in 4-wheel anymore to get down my street. Not even joking! There are snow drifts knee deep in the road. One of my neighbors took his snow blower to it the other day. That is the section the plows actually plowed. GRR!!

I want to get a four-wheeler with a plow thing on the front and do it myself.

In the city policy book it talks about how they don't plow the roads because that means more snow will get on the roads! I don't think they realize that if you plow the roads and get majority of the snow gone it makes it easier on everyone. We have emergency roads that they are suppose to keep plowed. Majority of them I have seen aren't plowed all the way. It makes me wonder what happens in a real emergency? How are people going to get where they need to go? How are the emergency crews suppose to get where they are going if they can't get down the road? I think about that every so often. I worry on my street since it is so hard to get down what would we do. I guess we are lucky to have a good vehicle. I have neighbors that don't have trucks or four wheel drive vehicles. I think the emergency routes are a good thing but if you can't get to them then whats the point?

OK I will get off my soap box for now. I am going to go curl up with my book and read. I will post later about the adventures of the day.

Housework? Whats that?

So I have officially slacked on housework today! Yesterday I don't do any because it is Sunday and I really don't want to do housework every single day. I think I have mentioned this in prior posts. Well lately I have been waking up when James gets up for work and I shuffle around the house while he is getting ready, once he leaves I grab my cup of coffee or juice and head back to bed to read. Yesterday morning I finished a book I was reading. This morning I shuffled about and ended up on our pretend couch downstairs until I decided to get my printer hooked up. I had somethings that needed to be printed and I didn't feel like searching about town finding a copy center and paying money to print them. Well I got it all set up and got my things printed! I did it all by myself. Yay for me! I have been fighting with my computer lately because I am just not very computer smart. My brother got all the smarts in computers.

After getting everything set up Turkey woke up. We had some breakfast and went on adventure into town. It snowed all of last night and the wind blew hard. We have the most awesome snow drifts in our front yard. I kept running outside to measure them against my legs. I finally stood in one and made James take a picture. This morning it was even taller! I got Turkey in snow gear and let her just run amok through the snow drifts. She was having a blast until she got stuck in the drift and couldn't get out.

While Turkey was playing in the yard I sat down and finished up my Christmas cards! Yay! They are done. By the time I got them done Turkey came in for lunch. We goofed off for a while and she went down for a nap. Instead of getting stuff done I played on the computer and watched Grey's Anatomy trying to catch up on the episodes I have missed. I didn't get any housework down but I did make some dinner! After dinner I cleaned up a bit and did the dishes. James was sweet and put up our Christmas tree before Monday Night Football started.

So I have been trying to post pictures but my computer is being dumb. I am going to continue fighting with it and maybe I will post some tomorrow. I am off to bed, this 5 am thing is getting to me.

Its Sunday!

What a fun weekend! Friday night James took us to dinner since I cooked all day on Thursday. We have decided that if we do go out to eat we are getting take-out from now on. If you go to Applebee's plan on being there at least 2 hours. It takes forever! And with a three year old, its like pulling teeth. We survived dinner and Turkey did relatively well for it being a later in the evening dinner and it taking forever. She had cute hair bows in her hair and was swinging her head back and forth so the ponytails would hit her in the face. Remember as a child how much fun that was! Any who! While she was doing this her hair bows flew out of her hair and hit the guys sitting behind us. They found it very funny. I ended up wearing the hair bows the rest of the night so those guys wouldn't get nailed by flying hair bows again.

Today Turkey and I went to church like we have been. I think we have decided on a church! We really like the one we have been going to. The ladies there are very sweet and Turkey has just fell in love with them. I enjoy it was well. I just feel good there. Well today is the first day of Advent (which is the 4th Sunday before Christmas), Turkey was asked to light the first candle today. She was a little nervous but very excited to help with the church service. I went up with her and we lit the candle together. She was very proud of herself. I was very proud of her too. When I was little I remember going up with my dad to light the candles. It has been a long time since I have done that. I am excited to teach Turkey about the meanings of Advent and the meanings of Christmas. My Uncle Floyd gave me a book about all the meanings of Christmas. It is one of my favorite books to read this time of year.

Turkey is behaving better in church. When we first started going she didn't understand why we have to be quiet and why we can't run around. She has a church bag with fun stuff in it so she can sit relatively still during church. Today she was a rock star! She sat quiet and even offered a dino book to a kid who was having a hard time. After church we went down stairs for coffee and yummy treats! We sat down there and chatted and Turkey played! It was just so fun. I am enjoying the time we spend at church. We walked out with a group of ladies and we were talking about the pretty plants in the front entryway of the church. They offered me one, so now I have a very pretty house plant! James will be excited when he gets home from work, he has wanted a house plant since we moved here. Fingers crossed I don't kill it. Any ways I best be getting finished with my Christmas cards, they are almost done!!

Advent! Christmas Cards! Count downs! Decorations!

Tis the season! I have never been this excited to decorate for Christmas! Something is different this year. Maybe its because we are staying here for Christmas, maybe its all the snow, or maybe it is the smell of Christmas in every shop you go into. Whatever it is I am excited! My house now smells like the Holiday season. In years past we have always gone to my parents house and stayed over on Christmas Eve and did Christmas morning there. I have never missed Christmas at my folks. I am planning on filling my house full of boys once again for Christmas so I won't cry as much!

When I was growing up we had Advent calendars and counted the days until Christmas. Turkey is old enough now to do Advent! I am very excited about it. I have great memories of the Advent calendars my mom had when we were growing up. Every year they were different. I went to Wal-Mart today and got a variety pack of cute gift bags for our Advent calendar this year. I had Turkey with me so I had to be very sneaky about putting things in the cart. I covered the cart with our coats and when I would find something I would point at something on the shelf for her to look at and quickly put whatever I found under the coats. I had dropped James jeep off to get an oil change so we had plenty of time to wander and for me to be sneaky. We spent 2 1/2 hours in Wal-Mart. Its enough to make my head explode. I got all of the things for Advent and a few other things I needed. When we were checking out I bribed Turkey with my phone and told her if she turned around the phone was gone! The cashier gave me the oddest look until I informed him I was buying Christmas presents. He was very speedy and helpful on double bagging everything so Turkey couldn't see it. I hope I don't have to do this with Christmas presents too. I am going to ask a girl at church if she would mind watching Turkey for a few hours on a Saturday so I can get some shopping done. Otherwise I have to go late at night.

I am sending out Christmas cards! I love Christmas cards. I love getting them and sending them. I just think it is a great thing to do. I have already started mine. I forget how long it takes to address all of them. Next year I am buying labels that I can print off. I am not even half way through writing the return address and I am beat. It could be the forever and a day at Wal-Mart this morning. I really wanted to put a photo in our cards this year but we just haven't had the time to get photos done.

I am trying to get the house all decorated for Christmas. I found all my snowflakes that stick to the wall. I was so excited and stuck them up last night. Apparently they didn't survive well from last year. This morning when I got up they were all over the floor. It gave Turkey something to play with while I was getting things ready for breakfast. We went and looked at wreaths for the front door last night and they were all ugly. We decided to buy a plain wreath and some shiny ornaments and make our own wreath. James, Turkey and me all picked out things to go on our wreath. I was so excited about making it that after Turkey went to bed I got it all put together.

There is a shoe, a star, a cross, a bow, a tree, a key, and a snow flake flower thing. And at the top it says Merry Christmas. I thought it turned out pretty cute! It is already hanging on my front door.

Turkey and me had the conversation about Santa Claus and how if we are good then Santa will come visit at Christmas. It is a fantastic thing! She starts to be naughty and I remind her of Santa and she becomes the perfect angel. Now we just need to work on our letter for Santa.

The First Thanksgiving

Here is the photos taken from our first Thanksgiving in North Dakota

We woke up to snow drifts and wind and more snow!

I love snow drifts. They are very pretty and interesting. We have several foot snow drifts in the middle of our road which is on so fun! Since the don't plow roads here I am stuck in home unless I have James Jeep or he is home.

James ended up having Thanksgiving off, so he kept Turkey busy while I cooked in the morning. I made pie dough for her to play with while I cooked and when she got bored of daddy. She went back and forth all morning. My kitchen was trashed from the pie dough. But it is an easy clean up. She loved having James home to play with while I made everything and got things put together.

Here are my pumpkin pies!! I made two because I wasn't sure how many guests we had coming and I always love pumpkin pie the next day. Turkey wasn't so sure about having it for breakfast or a snack. She told me we have to eat dinner first! I believe pie is good anytime of day.

The aftermath of the mash potato accident. It still makes me sad. James was very sweet to clean up my mess. He scooped it up on the dustpan and I made him freeze so I could take a picture to share and remember :) He is looking down because potatoes were falling all over the floor. What a great man!

Here is my bowl. It looks like eggs! But it was a beautiful white bowl that was my grandmothers. It was the best bowl for cooking! My damn hands! Argh! Oh well, my mom's suggestion was that I stick to plastic bowls. I might have to buy some of those. All I have is glass. Hummm...maybe Santa will bring some.

James rushing to make new potatoes before our guests arrived. Do you notice to large potato with the giant knife? Yea, well I was trying to help and decided it wasn't probably the best idea and also I couldn't cut the potato!

My turkey!! It turned out so pretty! It was really good too! I was very proud of myself! It tasted good and wasn't dry and had yummy flavor! I don't have any left!

My Turkey holding her "wine" that we bought. She got to have Sparkling Grape Juice for the special occasion. Her shirt says:

I'm thankful for:

1- Mommy and Daddy

2- Yummy Turkey

3- Football

Turkey and me with our own bottles! I had received this bottle of wine for Easter last year and have saved it. It is called Happiness Wine. I felt that tonight was the perfect night for the wine. I needed a little happiness after the potatoes went flying. It wasn't bad wine, pretty sure there was no alcohol in it at all. Oh well.

Some of the guys eating and watching football. We didn't have enough places to seat so we all just kinda wandered about and stood around and ate. It was fun.

Sorry for the blurry photos! Camera Phones! Our nice camera ran out of battery power around 8 am.

Yummy food!! I dished up all the plates and made sure all the boys got plenty to eat.

The guy on the right was one of Turkey's favorite people! She had a blast playing with him and chasing him and being chased by him.

Turkey had the best seat in the house. Right by the veggies and the football game! She sat by James boss and just fell in love with him. If any of you know Turkey she doesn't give out hugs very often. And if she does its on her own terms. She gave Jimbo (James boss) hugs all night and just had a blast with him.

The night started off a little rough with the breaking of things and people running late. But all in all it was a fantastic evening. We had I think 10 people total. It was loud and crazy and so much fun. They are invited back for Christmas Eve dinner. Hopefully by then I will have enough chairs for everyone to sit! After James work friends left, two of our other friends stayed and we chatted until all hours of the night. They were all very sweet and helped clear tables and get things put away. I wish I had gotten a picture of my stuffing. It was the best stuffing ever! I had bought bread from the baker we like so much. It was the kind that was already sliced and ready for stuffing. I added some seasonings and celery and onions and chick stock and it turned out fantastic! I have some bread leftover, I might have to make more stuffing just to eat. :) Turkey was very worn out by the time she went to bed. James coworkers made sure she would sleep well. I am very thankful for family and friends and for having a fun day full of humor and a few tears.

Someone made the comment that I was too generous for making Thanksgiving for everyone and my response was that is how I was raised. I am alot like my father. I even had to talk a little before I gave them their food. Mark was kind enough to bless the food and we all dug in. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.