The SUN has set.......

after 13 years John was laid off by SUN microsystems.  Oracle's buyout of them finally was approved and after watching a webcast of both sets of executives wearing "Now Hiring" buttons the call came that they were not hiring John.  Their loss.  We didn't panic as we had just finished taking FPU and had an emergency fund, and John would be receiving a severance package.  Turns out John never had a day off.  He started work as a contractor today (well he was supposed to but he is down with a bout of brochitis, on the mend)  The only downside to the new job is it is an office job.  So the good days of having him home all day are gone.  But I thank God that he was home for a season especially during my recent surgeries and recovery.

The pictures in this post are from our beach trip.  Avery took a dunk in the gulf and we had to strip her and put john's fleece on her.

In Memory of....

click on the button and read about Heidi.  Hard to believe it's been a year.  I remember the call saying she was gone so vividly.  I can't imagine how much more vivid it is for her mom and dad.  Lauren and Josh my prayers are with you today and this whole next few weeks.  May God grant you grace and peace as you hit this year mark.

A relaxing weekend

John had Monday off so Saturday we hooked up the trailer and hit the road.  We headed south to the Gulf to our favorite area,  Padre Island National Seashore.  We have never camped here before but enjoyed our stay.  The sites were primitive meaning no water or electric hookups.  Not a bad thing unless your pipes in your trailer froze and the filter canister and a shower knob were blown up in the process ::note to self ..... winterize the trailer next year even though you live in Central Texas::  Actually it turned out fine as the campground had running water we just had to go fetch it.  We walked the beach several times a day and each one was a different experience.  We found starfish, jelly fish, shells, crabs, sand dollars and dead fish.  Apparently there was a huge red tide that happened a few weeks ago and stuff is still washing up.  I need to upload pictures.  The weekend was very relaxing giving the whole family a time to forget about mergers, school, appointments and the like.  Our good neighbors watched the dog for us and she got a glowing report as well.
Photos to follow tomorrow later

Christmas Day

Our tradition here is to open one gift on Christmas Eve and it is always coordinating jammies.  I made the bottoms this year and embellished t-shirts to go with.  Somehow this is the only decent picture I got and when you look at what the dog is doing you realize it's not a stellar photo. :)  Besides 3 people were taking a picture all at once and apparently my camera only won out for one child.  

Thanks Mimi and Papa for the cash!  I believe it was all spent at Target and Barnes and Noble!

Thanks cousins for our gifts!  Thanks Auntie Lauren and Uncle Josh too for our presents (that pic is on your moms camera!) they were perfect!

twenty ten

Happy New Year!
Starting the year off with some deep cleaning and organization.  School starts back Monday and the teacher isn't ready!  On the other hand my craft room got a bit more organized, I finished off an entire spool of brown thread, and finished up two projects.  I will be ordering my walking foot off amazon so I can finish another project without stretching the fabric all wonky.  When I finish my other task on my to do list I will post a pic of the kids in their jammies that I made them for Christmas.  Off to organize school.  Inputing 5 weeks of 3 cores into HST+! YIKES!!

Recovery going well

The surgery on Thursday went great.  The hospital I was at was fantastic.  The staff was great so much so that I sent John home to buy milk for the kids breakfast (we had run out the night before), and let them know PE had been cancelled.  He got back to the hospital while I was in surgery.  I was back in my recovery room by 10 and slept till 11.  They discharged me at 11:30.  Came home and slept.  I went off the pain meds Friday night.  Went to church today and even went for a quick spin behind the wheel.  The final product is much nicer than the expanders were.  I feel NORMAL!  Finally.  Now I will enjoy Christmas with my family.

I'll be gone for awhile

With surgery Thursday, and Christmas right around the corner and school work not being done unless I sit on them  I won't be posting anything.  I have nothing interesting to post anyways.