Today was much calmer!!! We did get the Xbox shipped out and we did get out free movies rented. We watched Oceans 13. Not that interesting.. We have Shrek 3 and Santa Clause 3. Hmm all three movies are 3's .... OK I find that funny. I also made 2 pies today. A pumpkin for Marissa and pecan for Dave. Also the brisket is done!! Dinner was so good!!!!! We have way more left then I thought we would. So we have plenty of it for a few days worth of lunchs/dinners.

Some days I hate being a parent. I hate having preteen girls!! I am not going into any details but sufficed it to say that Marissa is very grounded and very much in trouble right now. First off she had to fill the wood box in the house. That is not fun. Because not only is the box big but I make them fill 2 feet above it. So she was hauling wood in the house for awhile. We are doing an attitude adjustment right now and good hard physical labor is just what is called for. And before anyone says a thing she is old enough to haul cut split wood 20 ft and stack is neatly. She is to be thinking about her words and actions while doing this. She will be doing a min of 30 min of labor for the next 7 days.

Jon had to work tonight. He was ok with it but not happy about only working for 2 hours. Its kind of a waste of time. You only make like 2 runs and no tips. Ehh well its some hours. He is working 30 a week so I have no complaints. He is going over to his friends after work tonight. At least he is keeping busy!!!

I have been blogsurfing for a few years... One thing that I find is some of them are fluff. There is nothing personal about how the owner feels. You never get to know the writer. I guess my bad is I put my feeling out here and my thoughts. I do not portray my life as something it is not. We have been married for 21 years and we have had our share of ups and downs. I have parented 2 through teenage years now 2 more to go. We are struggling financially but we are getting by without any type of aid. So yeah sometimes I get very tired of wondering how things will work out. And yes holidays are hardest on me because I would love to buy nice things for my kids and get all the cool things other people are getting for theirs. I would love to be able to get Stephie a nice camera ( one of the $90 range ones at Wal-Mart- not even a wonderful one but something worth owning) or get Marissa an Ipod. I guess those are the hardest to keep telling them no. I grew up always being told no we can't afford things so I know how it feels. I am determined to have a better life for my kids. My mom did teach me a lot. I am ubber thrifty. I always put my kids wants/needs over mine. And on top of all that My mom my only parent passed away this summer and I miss her terribly.

I called my brother tonight btw  cause I was wondering if he could ever remember my mom making a pie. And the answer was a resounding no. She did make her date nut cake but no other deserts anyone can recall. I find that interesting. And my brother said that no one in the family bakes!! I am here to dispute that fact!! I love to bake and am teaching my kids to do it!!!I love the time spent with the kids doing it.