Thursday December 13^th

Well, you would figure that now that the Science project is done and the kitchen sink is fixed there would be a little less stress in the Morgan house. NOT! I can't wait until we sell this house!

It is official. I submitted a request for withdrawal and got the confirmation today for the European trip. Rebecca will not be going to Europe in 2008. I just can't find a way for it to work so we finally admitted defeat. Thank you to all of you that helped sponsor Becca for the trip. I don't know how they do the refund part of the withdrawal, but I'll get with you all when I find out... I don't know if they will automatically transfer the funds over to her DC trip or if they send a refund check. But, if you'd like your donation returned to you, I'll get it to you as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll transfer it to the DC trip.

AHHH... and that's another stressful problem removed from our plate.... WHATEVER!

We still have DC, washer, Christmas, our savings account, the house (s), doctor's visits... BILLS BILLS BILLS  - Bah Humbug!

I know it's time for me to get a job but honestly, after the last 2 weeks, I don't know if I can handle it. (GRIN) I do know there is no way I'll be able to do retail. My feet are killing me!! I've spent the last 2 weeks up at Don Brewer helping out in the library for the Book Fair. It's amazing how volunteers are scarce there at the school this year. Last year and previous years there were volunteers all over the place. This year, they have to call former students (parents) to help out at their functions. But who cares right? I'm having a blast and have already signed up for the spring book fair too. My feet are killing me, my back aches from standing ALL Day but I do have to say, I love being with the kids. I miss not being around kids all day. Of course, I could do without the, "Mrs. Morgan" crap. UGH! Why can't they call me Mrs. Teresa??? Mrs. P. makes sure to remind the kids to show Mrs. Morgan the respect she deserves for coming up on her own time blah blah blah.... One of my girls from girl scouts walked up to me during her classes time at the book fair and quietly whispered to me, "Do I have to call you Mrs. Morgan? Can I call you Mrs. Teresa?" She totally cracked me up!

Becca and I have not been home for the past 2 days until well after 8:00pm. We've been on the run from 6:30 each morning until well past our bed times. Tuesday was the family night book fair and last night was our Girl Scout meeting. It's been an exhausting week and it doesn't look like it will get much better. Becca completed her Science project and with red burning ears and a shaky voice she was able to stand up in front of the class and present her project. She made an A on the project/ presentation and was told that if she'd used just a few more "measurements" she would have been perfect for the Science Fair. Oh well, maybe next year. At least she brought her Science grade up!

Becca made me proud the other day and didn't even know it. Mrs. P, the librarian, introduces me to each class when they arrive at the Book Fair. She lets the kids know I'm a volunteer and that my daughter doesn't even attend the school but that she was a former BBN crew member. They all say hello and we get on with business. Well, the other day, after I was introduced, a little girl raised her hand and asked me if I was Rebecca Morgan's mother. When I told her I was, she informed me that Rebecca was a nice girl and was her friend. Since I didn't recognize the girl, I asked her how she knew Becca and she informed me that last year Becca noticed her on the playground playing by herself; Becca walked up to her and asked her if she was alright and then asked if she wanted to play together. She said that even though she was just a 4^th grader and Becca 5^th, Becca played with her all during recess when no one else would. She said Becca was a nice girl and a good friend. Can we say AWWW!! Becca is just SO AWESOME!

I haven't talked to my brother in a while but I did find out from my dad that Jerry isn't doing well again. This time it's low sugar. His sugar levels are in the low 20's and they can't find a way to bring it back up to a good level. He's seriously falling apart. I'm hoping that either during the holidays or right after, I'll be able to take a run up there and see him.

I haven't done a Karen update in a while... Maybe I'll work on that next. Nothing dramatic going on there, it looks like she's getting her act together as mine is falling apart! Go KAREN!!

Saturday December 8^th

 The Morgan household has had its share of stress this week and I seriously don't believe we can take much more before we explode. Today was a sure sign that someone is going to blow and it's going to be a doozy! Blood pressures are skyrocketing and tempers are flaring. Stay tuned to see which one of us breaks first....

 I actually did some real work this week and though I didn't get paid a penny for it, I worked hard and had fun. One of Becca's former teachers from Don Brewer asked if I could help out this past week with the book fair because they never have help so I took my butt up there Tuesday and Wednesday to lend a hand. WHEW! Four hours of work a day and I was sound asleep at 9pm each night. All I did was walk around and help the kids pick out books to buy. It wasn't hard but boy was I exhausted. I was supposed to go back up on Friday but Thursday night I caught some kind of stomach bug that kept me up all night and in the bathroom. I just couldn't get up the energy to head over to help. But, my schedule for this coming week is to spend Monday through Wednesday helping out again so I guess that's good right?

 Becca's Science project is due Monday so we're trying to finish up those final pieces of the project. Becca has been in tears all day and Chris has been screaming all day. It happens every time those two get together with school work. Becca plays dumb and Chris gets louder and louder. I keep trying to tell them that they are both just egging each other on but it's the same thing every time. Becca in tears and Chris frustrated.  Unfortunately, I remember those days when I needed help with school work. I ended up in tears and my dad was the one tearing out his hair. I guess some things just don't change. The only difference was that I was actually dumb and NEEDED the help...

 So, we are still without a washing machine and I see no change in that situation until after the 1^st of the year. UGH! It sucks but as long as I have quarters and a car, I can run my butt up to the laundry mat. And then to add to the craziness in this house, the kitchen sink began to leak this week which of course got Chris in an even pissier mood because if there's one thing he hates the most its plumbing. So, he gets home last night in a nasty mood, woke up this morning in a nasty mood and then gets nasty with some little old man at Home Depot before coming home and spending less than 30 minutes to replace the faucet. All that temper for 30 minutes of easy work. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill huh? I think this was the easiest plumbing problem / fixing we've ever had and he threw the biggest tantrum... AHHH the big baby... and he didn't have to call THOM once!!! GOOD BOY! 

Chris's parents got into town last night bringing Pagan and Kitty home for the week. They are going on another cruise and we're baby sitting Kitty for them. It's a good thing we have with them; we watch Kitty and they watch Pagan for us. It seems to work, except Kitty is an escape artist and it's hard to keep her in the back yard. She was outside less than 20 minutes this morning when I noticed the quiet. I ran outside and found both Kitty and Luna gone from the back yard. Now, remember, Luna only escapes when someone else escapes (remember Sheba?) so I start screaming their names and Luna comes flying back to the back yard from a new hole in the fence - OH NOT AGAIN! I can hear Kitty but can't see her. So, after running into the house and telling Chris to run out front to see if he can catch her, I go back into the back yard and start hollering her name... I find her.... Her fat little butt is stuck between our fence and our neighbor's fence. She wasn't able to run the length of the back fence to escape like tiny Sheba could. So, we pulled out the leash and hooked her up to a runner where she will stay for the next 7 days when she's outside. She looks so sad but she just won't learn! Stubborn mule - a trait of the Morgan's I might add... HA HA! 

Dad has been sending me daily pictures of the snow and ice. I NEED to get up there. There is an urgency around me that says I have to get up there. I miss them so much and just can't wait until we get there. Chris will probably have to drag me kicking and screaming when it's time to come home.  It's going to be nice spending Christmas with them again. I miss that... The days where we'd wake up, open presents and then head to mom & dad's for more presents and breakfast. Then, we'd run home, start Christmas dinner and spend our day with the Morgan's. It will be different this year; we've messed up our tradition. But, who says we can't make changes? This year is full of changes!

Monday December 3^rd

Well, we went out and bought our Christmas bush this weekend. I call it a bush because anything shorter than Rebecca can NOT be considered a tree. Because of our house issues we wanted to keep our decorating to a minimum this year (and our financial situation doesn't help us either) so we decided on a "small tree" for Christmas. I will have Chris put a picture of it up because it's just too amusing not to show off. Becca actually chose a "Charlie Brown" tree that was smaller than my niece Jordan but we thought that may be taking it just a little too far. I don't think we would have been able to put even a string of lights on that tiny little thing. Anyway, we got our tree and our house is officially decorated. It looks lame but hey - this isn't our house anymore right? and hopefully we won't be here for Christmas anyway.

Our luck is constantly changing and again, for the worse. It looks like the washing machine is dead or in serious need of repair. What do we do? Do we call a repair man; allow him to charge us $100 for coming out then charge us for cost of repair, labor and parts? Or do we say, "screw it" and buy a new washer? What is the best thing? Unfortunately, the best thing for right now is to gather up the laundry and head to the laundry mat until after the 1^st of the year. I just don't see where or how we'll come up with that kind of money until after Christmas and after Becca's tuition for DC is paid; unless of course, we cancel Christmas and not go to my dads. Hmmmm, decisions, decisions. I'm sorry, but if I don't get to see my dad, I think I'll go crazy and have a break down. I HAVE to get up there this Christmas. There is no arguing that point. I have to go! Anyway, the laundry mat isn't too bad. We took 6 loads of laundry over there last night and only had to spend about an hour there. We brought the stuff home and started drying it here. I figure I can drop Becca off at school and head over to the laundry mat once or twice a week for an hour. How hard can it be huh?

We went to Princess Jordan's birthday party yesterday. She is turning one year old! WOO HOO how time flies huh? She's such a cutie! I was able to take a million pictures of her and a few of my darling nephews (when they weren't watching me). They have that knack of turning their heads or closing their eyes just when I'm about to snap their pictures. Oh well, I got a couple good ones out of the bunch. My ultimate dream is to get all 6 of my nieces/nephews/Becca.... Nope....ultimate dream would have to be the 7 of them - as I have to include my favorite adopted niece J... anyway, my ultimate dream would be a picture/portrait of all of them together.  Ahhh, it would be placed dead-center of my WALL OF FAME! I'm such a dork! But, since it will never happen, a girl can dream huh?

So, today Chris takes my car to work and hopefully tomorrow he will be able to use his own truck as I'm supposed to go to Don Brewer and help out volunteering for the book fair. Don Brewer you say? Becca doesn't even go there.... I know, but she had some awesome teachers there and the librarian (her BBN Coach) asked if I'd mind helping out for the next 2 weeks and since I'm not working at Becca's school, why not right? Well, that's if I get my car back.... Any one have a rental I could borrow??? HEH HEH! Well, at least I'll have the time today to clean house and finish my online training course. I need to finish my current one so that I can get started on the next. I want to get my license as soon as possible so that I can start my business and start pulling my weight around here. (And a lot of weight that is...)