My new Camera

This was a great Christmas. My husband got me the best gift of all. He purchased my new camera for me. The one I have been drooling over every time we would go into Best Buy.

So, I have been having a blast checking out all the features and taking some really fun pictures with it.

I told him I should never need a new camera again. (lenses yes, camera nope) lol

Christmas

We have been running none stop since yesterday. I love the holidays but I am ready for a real break. A day to do nothing. Here are some photo's from my dad's house today My dad with all his grandchildren
The family

Winter wonder land!!!

Little Man's 8th Birthday

Yesterday Michael celebrated his birthday with a few friends from school. It is so hard every year to get his friends to come due to how close his Birthday is to Christmas that we have decided next year to do it earlier in the month.He had a blast and what can I say. They may have been a little wild and crazy.(to be expected from 2nd grade boys). Thank goodness we had the entire bowling alley to ourselves.

Today my boy is 8. Wow how the years have flown by.

He had a great time and my goodness it was a Bionicle/Transformers birthday. He got all the toys he loves.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful that I have such a wondeful family. I am thankful through all the hard times I still have a job and a roof over my head. I am thankful to be able to put food on the table. I am thankful to live in a free country.

I am thankful for all the wonderful friends I have out in the world.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Health Care Rally

Today I decided that my daughter could skip school and go for a really life Civics class.

Brittany, myself, my dad and my girlfriend Wendy and her daughter Kristi, went to our state capital for our voices to be heard.

Before, the rally I discussed the bill with my daughter and explained my thoughts to her. She felt that it was wrong what they are proposing.

It was a great rally and even though we were not in D.C. today. I think we made our thoughts and feelings clear.

I really enjoyed being able to spend this time with my dad. We may not always see eye to eye but on this we were a team. (you rock dad)

The signs were just amazing

And before the rally started there were some buses with kids coming to tour the capital. Some of the kids came up up to Brittany to ask "What are you protesting?" She explained to them some of the things listed in this bill and told them that in the end it is us the kids who will have to pay for this. They told her they thought that this bill is STUPID. Now , to be a fly on the wall when they talk with there parents.

My girlfriend and myself got to spend a little time with a local talk radio host we both enjoy listening to. Sue Jeffers was the emcee for the event and was great to talk with. Thanks Sue.

HALLOWEEN

Here are the kids out have fun trick or treating.

At the school there was a party for the kids. Micheal had more fun than Brittany.

At the Auction House earlier in the day. This is Jeff and Ginger the owners of the auction house.

They are so much fun.

Brittany went with me. She was having a blast with the others that were dressed up.

Christmas

Ok, so I know it is early to tell everyone what I want for Christmas. But I found the best thing. Best Buy is now offering a Pitch in card. Where you can go to the Best Buy Website and under the Gifts tab you can look for someone who has either posted a wish list or signed up for a pitch in card. I posted both. I want a new camera. Now, here I am giving my friends and family the chance to help me purchase my camera.

My new Tattoo

I am planning on getting a new tattoo. Here are two designed I like and am trying to decided which one to get. I think the first one is beautiful. But am worried that there may be to much detail and Jim's brother may not be able to do it.

This one I just love. It is cute and sassy. Just like me.

Now, I have a few others I am looking at. I do not have the pictures of them yet.

Sex Education

Here is my experience with sex education at school. When I was in school and they were going to talk about sex a notice went home for the parents to see. That way the parents could discuss it a head of time with their child. Some parent opted to have their children not be in the class during that due to they felt it was a family matter and to be handled at home.
Now, yesterday my child came home with a hand full of literature about birth control. And informed me they were shown things related to ABORTIONS!!!!!!!!!! They gave them literature on the RU486 pill and Day After Pill. As a means of birth control. Excuse me, really.
I am not anti abortion but I feel it is not a form of birth control. I feel that if it is medically necessary or rape or incest then yes I am for it. But, birth control!!!!!!!!! Needless to say I was ready to fly through the roof. A pregnancy center that came in to talk to the kids told them that they recommended they not share this information with their parents. WHAT!? So, of course the first thing Brittany does is share with me.
Today, I did my own poll of how other parents feel about this subject and about how they would feel if there child was taught that abortion is a form a birth control. I will have to say that our country is not as Liberal as we thought. All the parent would be really upset by this.
I went to the school today and had a talk with the principal. Showed him all the information given to the kids. Yes, they had things on adoption also but there was more information about abortion than anything. Explained that the teacher over stepped her boundaries. And really upset me as a parent. I told him that my daughter was to be removed from that class. I also called other parents and informed them about this class and they were just as upset.
They also informed the kids that they could come in to the pregnancy resource center and get birth control and could have the morning after or the RU486 pill and they would not inform the parents. Now, I know all this but to tell a 14 year old child this!!!
I will be going to the center on Monday when they are open and giving them a piece of my mind.
What is this world coming to.

Car Crazy

Today I have been feeling yucky. I decided I would head home early and try to rest and see if I can kick this bug. I made a quick stop on the way home and low and behold my car won't start.
All I can think is "why me!!!!"
I call Jim at work. Explain to him that the car will not start and I do not feel go and I want to go home. When he gets there he has no jumper cables or tools in his car. We run to the store and purchase what we think he will need.
Nope that did not work. He thinks it is the battery. He pulled it out we run to the part store and find out the battery is good. Next thought is the starter. We purchase a new refurbed starter. And the tools need to put it in.
Nope that is a no go. We then drive toward home. We stop at the local parts store and talk to a friend that owns the store. We decide to go back and in a sense tried to hot wire the car. Nope that did not do it. Come to find out that in the ignition there is a something that reads the chip on the key. Well, they are not working so the car is acting like it is anti theft mode. I have now purchased the part we needed. I am home waiting for my wonderful husband and his friend to return with our car so he can fix it. And to top it all off I still feel like crap. Need to go to work in the AM. And will not have gotten the rest I wanted so badly.
So, that's my day. I hope everyone had a better day.

School Has Started.....

Both kids super excited for today. They can not wait to see what is in store for them this year.
Micheal is in 2nd grade this year and Brit is a Freshman in high school.
Good luck guys mom loves ya.

Flea Market

I have been selling at Flea Markets almost every Saturday this summer. It is quite interesting to say. The people you meet is just amazing. And the things you see people buying and selling. Well, that is amazing also. I have a large variety in what I sell. I sell dog and cat toys and treats along with antiques. I have a few miscellaneous items also. One never knows what they will sell or if anything but it is fun.
When you are new to venue the veterans are one of two ways. Either they are very helpful or they are vultures. I have had dealings with both. See they come over to see what you have and they are very smart about values of most items. And if you have something valuable marked really cheap they grab it right away. So, they can sell it at there stand.
I know my pricing is good. Because they look at what I have but do not try to buy it. I only had one buy from me and turn around and put the item in there stand. I still made a profit off of it so I was good with it.
Then you have the helpful vendors. That want to talk with you and get to know you and help you set up with out anything in return. They are also the ones that will reduce prices on things for you if you are looking to buy.(I got a pair of Born Boots for $35.00 ). Some are willing to share coffee in the morning and just all around good people.
Yesterday I had a vendor want to trade with me. I have a Monmouth, Ill Cookie jar(formerly Western Pottery). I am asking $35.00 or best offer on it. He have this beautiful antique corner shelf. He was asking $200.00. He started the day offering me trade plus $150.00 by the end of the day he wanted to strait up trade. I could not fit it in my car and was not going to strap it to the roof.
Last, week I made a great sale I have a Hull vase that was picked up at a garage sale for .25 and I was able to sell it for $80. This week is what I call a mans week. The men were out looking for tools and such but the ladies were not shopping. It did not help that the weather was crappy also.
That is my adventure at the flea markets

What I should be doing.....

Instead I am up before the chickens and am on my way to sell at a flea market. Someday I will learn. LOL

Sorrow

Yesterday we learned that my husbands grandfather passed away. It was is mothers father. I sensed a pattern. A few months after my mom passed my grandma also passed. I of course was selfish at that time and feeling that it was all not fair. I could not understand why god would put myself and my family through so much in such a short period of time. I will admit I was angry, hurt, and lost. I now understand that god never puts more than you can handle in front of you.
I still cry and miss my mom. And I know it is OK for me to do that. I am no longer angry.
I know I really do not share my feelings here but today is different.
Today I will cry a lot. Not in sadness but in joy of the lives my loved ones have lived. To know they are at peace. And walking with the lord. I thought I would share a email I got recently:

I had an unexpected visitor this morning. He arrived early; sat down with me and chatted for awhile about how things were currently going for me in my life. After carefully and compassionately listening to all that I had to say, He saw the stress on my face and the tears in my eyes. He walked over to me and gently held me for awhile because I was having a really bad morning. Then, after reassuring me not to worry,and that everything would work out for me and be just fine, He asked me if I knew of anyone else who could use a visit from Him. I immediately thought of you. I gave him your name and told Him where you lived. He gave me another reassuring hug and I thanked Him and walked with Him to my front door. He told me that he was on His way to your place. When He gets there, please escort Him to the next stop. Please don't allow Him to sleep on your PC. The message He is carrying is very important and needs to go around. I asked Him to bless you and yours with peace, happiness and abundance. Say a prayer, and then pass Him on to bless others as I sent him on to bless you. Our assignment is to spread love, respect and kindness throughout the world. Have a blessed day and touch some body's life today as I hope I have touched your life. He's walking around the world via e-mail! Please pass it on so He can get there....

I felt it was a good message for me.

A day in MN

Dust devil. As I was sitting at a Flea Market and all of a sudden you see a mini twister.

Rush Lake 30in Northern. To big to take home had to throw back.

Elephant,1004ft Ship, Fish ect........

We headed north for the 4th. We decided to go to sight see around Cloquet and Duluth area.
Just like we did last year. We have decided to make this a tradition. While we were in Cloquet we saw a family that were setting up their small family circus. They had elephant rides. So, the kids wanted to ride it. Who am I to miss taking a picture of that.

Next we stopped at this fort.

Morning of the 4th. I decided to make my little man very patriotic.

The sail ship the Sullivan came in to port in Duluth

My wonderful children aboard the ship

What a beautiful ship. I wish we could have seen it with the sails up.

And what would the 4th be with out visiting Lady Liberty

Catching rays on a bronze airbed

Bronze sturgeon anyone

At the Aquarium. Stingray anyone

I wish that quality was better. This Muskie was at least 4ft. Imagine

catching him on your line. He had a real interest in my girl. Was just watching every

move she made.

I really do not know what this fish was but it was so funny to watch.

Here we are playing in the water way.

This is the Edgar B. Speer. Working its way in to port.

This ship was 1004 feet long

Some of the crew as the ship goes by.

Hanging out on the shore skipping rocks.

(I took pictures of just the rocks but the Oldest girl told me I was a dork) LOL

Lighthouse in Duluth

Fountain in Canal Park

Stuffed monkey in the Store.

And of course we can not miss the stuffed Moose.

And last but not least. The US military out recruiting in Costume as Video game

characters.