Amazing, just amazing how time flies! Last Tuesday, I was finishing up my last day of work for 2009. Today, I am sitting in my robe at 8 am wondering what the day will bring. Christmas is over, the tree is down, and the gifts are almost all put away. Sometimes I look back and marvel at the difference a few days make. I have a deep thought in there, it's just having a hard time surfacing. LOL!

As we took the tree down yesterday, Evan and I looked at all the ornaments and decided which ones to keep and which to give away and which ones to pack away. Next year, we want to do the Christmas tree in red, white and silver. So, needless to say, most of my eclectic ornaments got put away! We have been to Dillards, Target, and Wal Mart to buy half price ornaments and decorations. Maybe I'll be more excited about Christmas next year!

I have talked to my mom a bunch of times over the last two days. She's trying to get her laptop set up with a wireless internet thingy that connects to her USB. I've tried to help over the phone but without seeing the screen, it's hard to help her sometimes. I hope she gets it worked out. Of course, they are enjoying the very warm weather in Florida while it's very cold here. Oh well, have a great time mom and Jim!

I've been reflecting about how fast this year has flown by. It's about time for my year in review of what each one of has been doing this year.

I'm glad that Evan is home this week and DeWayne is on second shift (so it's like we have the day off together).

I got a new flash for my camera for Christmas from DeWayne. It is amazing. I have messed with it a little bit. It will do some wonderful things. I'm most excited about the range. I need to take a bunch of pictures in lots of different settings to see all it does.

Time to get to work doing something productive. :D

Christmas Eve

Here I sit at 6:30 am on Christmas Eve enjoying my coffee, watching Miracle on 34th Street and getting to attack to kitchen to cook all day. We are having half the Whitlock family here at 3 for Christmas get together. I have much to do.

I'm excited about the day and tomorrow. It's a new season in our life. We only have one child that lives at home and one who has his own home and family now. Sad and happy all at the same time.

I just wanted to check in and wish everyone in Blogger land Merry Christmas. I will post a year end up date in the next few days to catch up on all we've done this year.

Saturday morning and coffee. What a great combination and what makes it better is that I am watching White Christmas. I just love Christmas movies. I'll have to round out my day with Christmas Vacation and the day will be complete. LOL

It has been a very fast week. We typed and typed in 1st and 2nd grade to get our letters to Santa in to the newspaper by Friday's deadline. Some of the letters were very sweet and funny. One little girl told Santa that the only thing she really wanted was for Santa and Mrs. Claus to have the best Christmas ever. Isn't that sweet? I loved it.

My friend Stevi, that I work with, showed me a book tracking program from Apple. I have SOOOOO many books that sometimes it is hard to remember if it's on the shelf or I have loaned it or I just don't own it. This program, called Delicious Bookshelf 2, is only for Mac computers. It uses the iSight camera built in to my computer. All I have to do is turn on the camera and hold the bar code on the back of the book in front of it and it scans it, finds it on the internet and loads it in my library. If it doesn't find the bar code all I have to do is type in the ISBN # and it finds it that way. Or if all else fails, I just type the title in and choose the one on the list that is mine. The books then show up on "wooden" shelves with the covers showing. Then when I click on a cover, it gives me a synopsis of the book, the books details and even reviews from Amazon. Isn't that SOOOOOO cool!!!! It cost $40 but it was well worth it. I have thanked DeWayne about 100 times for buying it for me. Oh, and I forgot one of the best features. If someone wants to borrow a book, I just add their name to my friend list. I click on the book, drag it over to their name and it then shows a little calendar of when the book is "supposed" to be returned. It tells me who borrowed it, when, and how long they've had it. This is also way cool! This fabulous program doesn't just do books. It inventories movies, games, Video games, gadgets, tools, and clothes. I can then print out a list of all this inventory and put it in a safe place in case of disaster. Still thinking that I got a deal for $40!

We have decided to put the Christmas tree up this Friday after Evan gets home. That's only a week but that is long enough. I really want to paint or at least start peeling wallpaper during the Christmas vacation.

This is one of those weeks that I have a lot to do and it's all crammed in to just a few days. Madison and Mallory will be here tonight. I am looking forward to two days with teenagers. They haven't stayed here by themselves since they were little. Tomorrow is Delaney's birthday party. DeWayne and I have tickets to the dinner theater at mom and Jim's church. I have to bake cookies for Tuesday evening's cookie walk at Lisa G.'s. And Monday night is Home Group here at 6 and I have to cook a meal. Plus sometime in there I have to clean the house. It will get done or it won't. NO stress!

Well, I have to be at a baby shower in a few hours and I still have to go to Wal Mart before. I guess I better get moving!

The last few days have all run together. I don't remember even teaching last week. (I was only at work 3 days) but still it's all a blur.

Christmas is going to be here before I know it. We have decided to wait until Evan gets home to put up the Christmas Tree. That means it will only be up for about a week. That's probably long enough anyway! I would really like to get the living room ready to paint over Christmas break anyway.

I did some Christmas shopping last Saturday. I think I got almost everything that I needed to get except for a few small things. I can finish up maybe next weekend.

I've been working on typing letters to Santa in the computer lab today. It amazes me sometimes at how much the children DON'T retain. Shift, space bar, delete, return, the comma and the period seem to elude some children. I said the same things over and over alot today! I'm tired of my own voice. LOL

Just wanted to check in. I'll post more later in the week.