Man, it's been a while.  Life is happening.  I'm enjoying it.  I'm supposed to have dinner with smittlefamily at Marketplace tonight.  But, it's sleeting outside.  Looks like a good night for party size Stouffers lasagna and some good hot chocolate.  Well, I probably won't be eating anything after devouring half a bunt size pumpkin cake.  WHY do I do that to myself?  And I just chugged a big mug of coffee with International Delight's chocolate mint truffle creamer.  I think I like it better than Coffeemate's peppermint mocha.  Both are pretty stinkin' good.  

Mysterium at the Summit was last night.  I love our church.  And I'm not just saying that.  I really love it.  And, the talent is unbelievable.  Drama, music, media, all of it.  When people use their gifts to edify the church, it's just COOL. Just RIGHT.

I have good friends. 

I'm learning how to be a friend.

Scott got a 46 inch Sony Bravia lcd 1080 high def tv for his pre-Christmas, after Thanksgiving, birthday/anniversary gift.  It's pretty awesome, and sits nice and clean on our mantle with all our other stuff wired to the back of the room in our armoire.  I've been waiting for a couple years to get this for Scott, and it finally came to fruition.  On Black Friday, Sears did no interest for FOUR years, plus I got it for HALF of what they normally sale for since I left my house at 4:30 in the morning. :)  Actually, the guy in front of me got the last one in stock, but they honored the price. 

I love selling Premier.  I never knew I could make so much money doing something so FUN.  I really love it.  And it PAYS (most the time). ;)  I get to dress up, leave the house, eat brownies, and have girl time.  Does it GET any better?  The hardest part of my job is deciding what jewelry to wear to my parties.  I have no quotas, so I work as little or much as I want.  Premier is a Christian-based company that lets me share my testimony at every show.  I could go on and on, but the bottom line is I love it. 

I'm not symptom free, but God is being gracious to me this season with my health.  I have good days and bad, but am overall a TON better than this time last year.  Health is SUCH a blessing you take for granted until it's taken away. 

Making money with Premier has really challenged me this Christmas season in way of spending.  The day after Thanksgiving was hard for me.  I felt like I had money in my pocket for the first time in the history of my relationship with Scott (almost eight years).  We were married six years ago yesterday.  Crazy.  What's sad is we forgot until we were having lunch with Scott's family and someone mentioned it.  I said, "Oh, YES, Happy Anniversary!"  He replied, "Happy Anniversary."  I think we're going to dinner on Friday and MAYBE to see Trans Siberian Orchestra at Alltel if Scott can find us tickets.  That would be soo exciting.  I LOVE orchestral music.  Summit did Tran Siberian's version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for Mysterium that was slap yo mama amazing.  Jaw-dropping. 

I need want a haircut and color BAD.  Gray hair has taken me over.  It's sad and gross.  Haven't done anything in years, but my pride has run out. . . it's time.  I'm lookin' for someone good and cheap.  Nothing fancy, just dyed my natural color.

Scott was announced employee of the year at his Christmas party Saturday night.  It really is an honor.  He also got a 25 dollar Carinos gift card, and 150 in moolah.  Niiiice.  Maybe that'll cover that 206 dollar Alltel bill this month that was supposed to be 86.  HA! 

Titus said, "Hey mom, I got a great idea. How 'bout we go to Toysrus all together."  I said, "We can't go anywhere when there's ice on the road, baby."  After looking puzzled for a sec, he smiled and said, "We just make milkshakes with dem ices, mom!" 

Junior Mints are my favorite. 

Four Christmases is funny, but definitely offensive in some spots.  Instead of drawing names, Scott's siblings/spouses all went out to eat and to a movie together.  It was fun and a GREAT idea.  Scott's parents kept the kids.  Fun times.  Especially since we genuinely like each other.  I love that about our family.

This is our first year to have Christmas lights on the outside of our house.  I love it.  Clark Griswold lives a couple streets over.  I am not EVEN kidding.  I need to go take a picture just to prove it.  His whole house/yard is COVERED in every type Christmas light imaginable.  We drive by there every time we're out at night.  It's so fun. 

Titus will be three in just a few days.  He wants to go to Sashimi for dinner.  He calls it "the fire place".  It's a hibachi grill here in Maumelle that is REALLY good.  He loves it when the guy does the fire volcano.  He's an expensive date, but worth it.  We love our Titus James.

I turned 30 on November 14.  Yes.  I did.  Bittersweet.

Noel Piper's Advent Calender.  Get one.  It's basically just a piece of burlap with pieces velcroed on, but our whole family enjoys it.

Oh, and I found this really cool sign at Kirklands that I dropped twenty of my birthday bones on.  It's shaped just like my Great is Thy Faithfulness sign.  It's red and gold and reads:                    Simplify Christmas. . . Celebrate Christ.  I have it on my mantle, right next to our new piece of technology that is anything but simple.  ha.  You shall be judged in the same manner you judge me. 

This is unbearably long.  That's what happens when you go two months inbetween posts.

This is going to be a picture post of the past couple months.  Susan Bates is doing my training show for Premier Designs tomorrow at 6:30 at my house.  I could REALLY use your support if you can come.  I need you friends.

The above pic is Scott's dad.  Blair took it, and I thought it was funny.  Levi has already broken that glass candy bowl in the background.  Titus broke the last one about Levi's age.  I'm determined.  Peanut M&M's are supposed live in a candy bowl in our living room.  They just are.

Levi's birthday cake.  I love the almond buttercream icing you get at weddings, so I made some.  The cake is two boxes of Pillsbury Funfetti (the BEst).  I always add a block of cream cheese to the batter.  It makes it more dense, but a lot more moist.  The whole idea of making Levi's cake was to save money, but I had been wanting 12 inch round pans for a long time (I don't know why, but I like the large round cakes for birthdays).  So I still spent the same.  I guess it was an investment.

Goodnight.