Ow my shoulder! The winter storm. And my job is ending.....

Ok so for the last few weeks now my left shoulder has been hurting. I finally got off my rump and went to the doctor. He checked me out, gave me some meds and sent me to physical therapy. Oh yeah. I just love PT. Ooh so much fun. NOT. Anyway, it looks like I have either a tendon or ligament strain that is inflammed and causing nerve compression. Happy times.
I will do my exercises, apply ice, and keep my use limited for the next few weeks while I go to PT twice a week and hope that it fixes it. If not it will be off to get an MRI for me.

What a crazy winter storm we've had! You can see the pics in my previous 2 posts. We have had now a total of 4 bands of snow come through, a few bouts of freezing rain, a thaw and a freeze all in the space of a week. Total since last Friday I think we've seen over 12 inches of snow and at least an inch of ice. We are getting more now as we speak. And while I love the beauty of our blessed mother earth clothed in her finest white winter garb, I don't love the extra week of the kids being out of school and insane Oregon drivers that don't have a clue wtf they are doing out on the roads! Oh and the fact that the cities here are not prepaired for this and don't plow! So if we have to go anywhere its chains on the tires and a prayer on your lips. Fortunately I have a well stocked pantry and freezer, the power is still on, and Marc is on vacation next week. I am content to just stay put, let the kids play in the white stuff, and keep my wool socks on. Sadly though I may have to work Xmas eve and the day after so keep sending traveling mercies my way as I slog my way to and from the book store.

Speaking of the bookstore, I was informed on Friday that the store's hours are being cut drastically after the new year. Which means my dream job is most likely going to end. There is a very slim chance I will be put on "contingency" and may be used as a call in gal for when people call in sick, but I don't have a lot of faith in that. I'm not very happy about leaving. I really do enjoy working at the bookstore, even if it is as only a cashier. Like I have said many times to many of my friends, the smell of books makes me happy. *sigh*
I also don't have a lot of hope in finding any other viable employment at this time of year in my industry (retail) in this economy. So, it looks like I will once again be a full time SAHM.

Such is life I guess...........................

Images from the snow storm over Dec. 20th and 21st. We got 8 inches of snow and another 1/2 an inch of ice on top of that.

Wow what a week. The kids have had such fun playing out in the snow!

You can really see the joy in Lily's eyes!

Austin is by far having the most fun in this winter wonderland!

Colton tries to make the most of this, but really doesn't like the cold.

As many of you know I am not a big fan of Christmas and all the hustle and bustle, BUT I love to decorate! I especially love doing my wreath every year. This year it's holly and pine with a sweet little red bird.












When I was a little girl my grandma had a very special santa doll that she put out every year. If I was gentle and sat on the sofa I could hold him. Now that I'm all grown up and have a little girl of my own, my grandma got me my own special santa doll. Here is Lily being gentle on the sofa holding him with much the same expression I've seen on my own face in pictures of me holding grandma's doll.













Here is our house all lit up!
















I finally found advent calenders with chocolate in them that weren't $20! The kids are thrilled!

Halloween was a total blast! The kids got to dress up twice. Once for the cub scout pack meeting and again on the 31st. We went to John and Rea's house for a party and trick or treating in their neighborhood. Lily was a "faerie princess" of course, Colton was a vampire, and Austin was Anikin Skywaker (damn store bought costumes, but hey its what he wanted). And of course I had to dress up too, because lets face it folks this is my FAVORITE holiday!!

The best news from November is that I am now employed again! Woo Wooooooo HOOoooooooOOoo!!! I got the job at Borders. And let me just say I LOVE IT! Everyone is super nice and welcoming. Very helpful and respectful of my experience and knowledge. I just can't believe how lucky I am to have this job. LJ the store manager has told me many many times over that it is a priority of hers to see that I get to stay .. the holidays since my status right now is seasonal. Cross your fingers folks I want to keep this job for as long as possible.

Thanksgiving was low key and wonderful. I made a yummy delicious brined/herb roasted turkey breast, homemade dressing/stuffing, and dill roasted fingerling potatoes. The kids helped me make the pumpkin pie. Before we ate, everyone went around the table and said what we were thankful for. Each of the kids had some interesting things to say. Lily was grateful for her brothers and parents and her cat that "sleeps with her every night to keep her feet warm" Colton was thankful for being in school now, his family, and his teacher. Too cute! and Austin was thankful that we always have plenty to eat, his family, and to daddy for building a "kids computer" LOL

After dinner, Steve and Irene came over to help us eat the pie and catch up. We had a great night chatting away.

I am of course working like crazy now with the holiday shopping season upon us, but I love it so much it makes me happy to go to work. I am almost done with my xmas shopping and gift making, and if all goes well I will be putting it all in the mail Saturday.

The other big bit of news is that we officially have a change in leadership within our cub scout pack. It will be interesting to see how things go from here on out.

This year for Halloween we went to our friend's house in Hillsboro. Austin was Anikin, Colton a vampire, and Lily a "faerie princess"
Oh and try to guess who I am!!!


 


 


 


 

Colton and Rea's daughter Jasimine have a special bond. They truly do enjoy playing together.

The last few posts have been updates for the last month or so....
I know I am way behind on gettin pictures out and up on the various blogs and albums I have. Keeping up with that part of life seems to take a back seat in the busy busy way our days have been lately.

Big news in the Miller house, Colton started Kindergarten, Marc went back to College, Austin is doing great in 2nd grade (at least from what I know at the moment), and Lily is 3 1/2. For those of you with kids you know what that means! LOL

I am still looking for work part time. Not a lot of luck finding the hours I need and in this economy. I had an interview today at one of our local stores called Fred Meyer. Its sort of like a Kohl's and a higher end grocery store combined. Way chic compaired to Wally World. They didn't have any openings in the Home department (furniture, dishes, etc) so I'm going to be stuck in Appearal until I something opens up. If I get the job. I am still waiting for the Appearal manager to call me for my 2nd interview.

I applied at Border's Books, but never heard back. I am going to go follow up with them this week though. I would sooo much rather be at a book store than work in clothing.

Tomorrow we have parent/teacher conferences, and a good friend of mine is coming to watch the kids so that Marc and I can both go. At least I hope Marc can go. His job has been crazy busy lately with him out the door before 8am and not home until after 5pm which is a huge switch from him being able to work from home until 9am or so and being done by 3pm! The kids seem to be confused about it! LOL

Halloween is this Friday and I can't wait to take the kids trick or treating and then we have a party to go to as a family at Rea and John's house! It will be a lot of fun. The kids already got to wear their costumes at Austin's Cub Scout Pack meeting Monday night and Colton got to wear his today to school for the Kinder's Halloween Parade that they put on every year for the rest of the school. I'm not going to tell what they are until after I get pics up! Don't want to spoil the suprise!

I will post up pics soon.

Fall again already???


Colton

 

The first leaf pile of 2008

Lily

 

Austin

 

Essential skills of Childhood! Throwing and Catching a ball.

 

So Lily and I played outside this past Sunday while the boys were busy with their video games. I decided it was time to teach her how to throw and catch a ball. We started simple with a big orange playground ball. Her throwing is excellent. It took some time however to get her to understand how to "watch the ball" when she was trying to catch it.

 

See the look of consentration on her face??? It was cracking me up!

 

Daddy was able to catch these action shots!

 

Yay Lily!! Good Catch!!

The 2008 Race for the Cure

 

Lily and I joined the PCC Middle Eastern Dance Club on their team walk for the cure on Sept. 21st 2008. We wore our coin belts and "hip shimmied" our way around downtown Portland!

 

We road the Max to downtown, which as everyone knows is a blast for kids!

 

Here we are getting ready to start the walk!

 

There were over 40,000 walkers in the race this year raising a ton of money for the Susan G. Komenn Foundation to fund mammograms and breast cancer research. We walked in memory of my Aunt Deb who lost her battle against breast cancer in January of 1992. Our team raised just under $700 btw!

Introducing Her Royal Highness Princess Lillian Elizabeth! ROFL!!! Look at the expression on her face! It's the picture of aloofness and superiority needed to be a princess that is for sure!

 

Deni had a big hand in helping Lily put this ensemble together, suppling the gloves, fan, much of the "jewels", and the purse! Thanks Deni.

 

Our little Lilybug isn't so little anymore and really does love to dress up. I can't believe how "girly" she can be one minute and how filthy she gets the next. Its AWESOME!

 

Lily was soo excited to get a new package of "ponies", what we call ponytail holders, that she wanted ALL of them in her hair. Mommy is so excited that her hair is finally long enough to hold one let alone 20 ponies!



 

 

is this thing still working???