The Meltdowns...

We've all had them...we've all seen them. Let's face it, when you've got kids around, there are going to be happy times - and there are going to be the I'm-tired-and-I-don't-know-what-else-to-do-so-I'm-gonna-cry times. In most cases comfort is all that is needed - a pacifier, a bottle, a kitty-cat, a cracker, a nap...

So, here are the Meltdown Moments of Christmas 2008, courtesy of Perrin and Livie... : (

Not quite a meltdown, it's just naptime

Unhappy

Starting to melt...

Definite breakdown...

But only for a moment

More unhappiness has begun...

And is now full-blown

But have no fear, all is well, now...being tired and hungry will do that to you, you know...delirium sets in, and come on, when you can't talk, what else is there to do but pitch a fit? : )

Trees, presents, and food

What else is Christmas about? Besides Jesus, of course : )

So, here we are at the trough...mmmmmm, look at all that good food...

And here are all the pretty trees and all the pretty gifts...

And here is the giving, the waiting, and the opening of the presents...well, some of them...

Christmas 2008

So, I cannot believe that Christmas has already come and gone! Eeeek! I love the Holidays and am always sad to see them go...but, take heart, for there is still the New Year to celebrate! And then...my birthday!! More and more and more fun, fun, fun...I hope : ) I do have a few pictures to post from our recent Christmastime festivities. Oh, and there is another niece/nephew on the way!! My sister and brother-in-law in Iowa announced Christmas morning that she is due in July!! Yay!! Bring on the kiddies...

And just in case you don't fully realize what all Christmas with my family entails, here is a brief synopsis...Christmas morning - "Santa" gifts at Mom and Dad's, then breakfast...lunch at the Big House with Dad's side of the family, gifts...this year Matt and I headed to his parents' house between lunch and supper...supper at the Big House with Mom's side of the family, gifts and Christmas play. I take off the day after because I need a full day to recover, but this year we also did family Christmas the night of the 26th, so more gifts and food and fun...whew!

Mom, a.k.a "Nana Claus," cooking and cleaning on Christmas morning
My newly-pregnant sister, Larryn, and our new nephew, William

I got to wake up my cute-as-a-button nephew, Perrin, that morning

Funny Livie doing "Ho-Ho-Ho"

Baby William doing what he does best
Mollie and her sweet baby Cade

Camille and Larryn at "The Big House" for lunch

Cousins Amelia and Keryn

Matt's brother-in-law, Jeff, and nephew, Max

My cousin, Silas, was Santa Claus...in highwater pants

My cousin, Silas; my brother, Eli; my cousin, Sam

Mom and Dad and Perrin

My sister, Becca, and my niece, Livie - who absolutely loves kitty-cats

Mollie and Matt and Isaac's "thumbs-up"

Eli, Camille with William, Becca, and Jay

Sleepytime...

"Christmas, Christmas...

time is here!" Yay!! I love the Christmas Season...lights, decorations, cold weather, snow (hey, I can dream!), presents, Christmas trees, Christmas music...it's all good! And now that I'm done with school and can actually enjoy the Season, it's even better! Our apartment is all decorated for the Holidays, looking cute and cozy. The invitations for parties have begun to roll in...the Big House is decorated fit for a king and ready for the Christmas Day festivities. Talked with my sister in Iowa last night...they will be coming in Christmas Eve and it will be wonderful to see them. My other sister is quite ready to have her baby, and little William should be here in a few weeks! All-in-all, it's been rather exciting and it will only be getting better...

Matt and I went to an oyster roast this past weekend. I've never had oysters before. They were okay, I at least tried several and with homemade cocktail sauce anything is good : ) I mostly nibbled at all the other good food, though...and drank my wine, of course. It was a good time, standing outside around the heaters and fire pit, talking and talking and talking...lots of fun! Thanks to the Schultzes for the invite, it was a blast! And Happy Birthday to Meg!

Oh Tannebaum...

Just sitting here, commenting on 5 books on my LibraryThing page, thinking about the Web 2.0 tool I'm going to blog about for class, listening to Vince Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas." It's the best. Anyway...Thanksgiving was great - too much food, it was a little hot in the kitchen, what with all the food and trying to set everything up and that wood stove blazing like there's no tomorrow. But always so wonderful to see everyone.

So, guess the Holidays are officially here!

Check engine...

Ahhh...we all need a break from the daily grind every now and then, and I guess it was time for mine!

So, my "check engine" light came on last night...this has never happened in my Trailblazer before so I was just a little worried, not knowing what, if anything, was wrong. Those sensors can be kind of tricky, sometimes, you know. Anyway, Mom and Dad drive to Greenwood last night to make the switch, giving me Mom's Tahoe (nice...drives a lot smoother than mine, but I love my 'Blazer). So, I'm at work today and Dad calls..."Hey, Mollie...how's it going...want to know what's wrong with your car? Are you sitting down, ready for this?" I am completely freaking out at this point, wondering what in the world is wrong, and more importantly, how in the heck am I going to pay for it? He goes "Well, they checked your engine and it has a crack in it, there's stuff leaking out everywhere and it looks like it'll be about $4000 to fix it."

Cue the H-E-A-R-T A-T-T-A-C-K...

Then I remembered that I have an exteneded warranty- TG - and so I'm like "Well, wouldn't that be covered under my warranty?" "I'm not sure...maaayyyybee...we'll have to see..." Then..."Just kidding! Want to know what was really wrong?" Um, yes, now that I can't breath, yes I do... Apparently a good number of "check engine" light mishaps occur if a gas cap is off - which mine was. We both felt like idiots! Had a good laugh at that. We hadn't even thought to check that...and who knew the gas cap was connected to a sensor, anyway? Well, Dad did...and now I do...

At any rate, I apparently needed new tires ASAP, anyway, so Dad fixed me up with 4 of those...nice early Christmas. So, now, when we get all that ice and snow that we're gonna get this year, I'll be good to go : )

And the Insanity Begins...

Well, technically, I guess I've been insane for some time now...but we'll just pretend it's starting today. This weekend was great...glad it's over though...whew! It was really enjoyable seeing all 92 of my classmates' faces, but kind of chaotic and tiring, as well. I had a great time Booktalking, I love all the books I was presenting, so that made it somewhat easier...and I'll list them here, for you, if you ever want to check them out:

The French Passion, Diane du Pont
So Worthy My Love, Kathleen Woodiwiss
Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
Daughters of the Summer Storm, Francis Patton Statham
Celia Garth, Gwen Bristow
Outlander, Diana Gabaldon
The Pride of the Peacock, Victoria Holt
Children of the Mist, Aleen Malcolm

Historical romance was my theme, in case you hadn't noticed : ) Anyway...all really good books, if you like that sort of thing...too, I wanted to point out my LibraryThing books that are listed on the right...click on "my library" and you can check out what I have listed there...LibraryThing is great, I would recommend you set up a free account - if you're a book lover, it's wonderful!

But, back to the insanity...most of my assignments are due Dec. 1, so that means I'll be working OT this week to get all last-minute things turned in on time...lots of reading, lots of writing...

And, I wanted to give a shout-out to my Dunkie...I LOVE YOU DUNKIE!! All will be well...

Panic...

It's starting. I only have 2 more weeks of school, technically 1 week until everything is due...AAAHHHHH! So, to all friends and family who will be seeing me between now and then...sorry. And to my boyfriend...doubly sorry. Right now I am trying to prepare for my onsite tomorrow in Columbia...that'll be one long day. And I always did hate speaking in front of people...yech. But, looking forward to the month or so that will be school-free...it's almost here!

One day at a time...one day at a time...

Update...

Well, yes, doc, now that you mention it, I haven't been feeling so great lately...

Got some new meds...well, just one, but this one I'll be taking twice a day along with my other once a day...so, that's 3 pills per day - two in the morning, one at night...whew! TG for $4 medications at Wal-Mart...not that I'm putting a plug in for the 'Mart, I'm just saying...

Fingers crossed...

BP, doctors, and cheeseburgers...

So, today I am dealing with my high blood pressure - again. It's always been a problem. I take meds for it, but obviously not working. At the doctor yesterday they said it was perfect - 110/68 - checked it twice. I didn't believe them. I have never in my life had blood pressure that good - that 68 on the bottom should have been a big ol' fat hint, right then and there. But that's what I wanted it to be, so I left it. Got back to work, went down the hall to Employee Health, got my KIOSK card back up and running, checked my BP again...let's just say it wasn't 110/68. Back down the hall to EH, had it checked at least 6 times there...all bad. So, I have to go back to the doc today...hopefully new meds will be prescribed, b/c I have absolutely no desire to stroke out before I even turn 30. Guess it's time to lay off the McyD's...but just let me say that it is totally unfair that a freaking double cheeseburger costs $1.00 (okay, $1.07 with tax) and a salad is like $5.00? That is so wrong! But I guess all the stuff that goes into a cheeseburger isn't all that high quality, so that would account for the cheapness...but come on, we're paying out the ying-yang for lettuce! At least I don't have to sacrifice my first born for gas, anymore. But let's steer clear of the economy...

My Family

I come from a rather large family...I think I listed them all in my profile to the right. Here is a picture of some of us - one brother-in-law and the two nephews missing.

And here is my niece this past Spring, eating daffodils...

My boyfriend on his birthday this past February, holding my niece...

And here is my nephew (I should point out that the other nephew isn't here, yet - he'll be arriving in December)...

My brother with his salmon...

And another picture of my boyfriend and me last Christmas...