Old Friends, Together Again!

Well, it's getting here...that time when my high school friends and I are now closer to 40 than we are to 30!! In fact, a high school friend who graduated a few years before me, turned the big four-oh this month and her husband had a surprise birthday party for her. Kristin, now that she is a flight attendant and has way more ease of getting here than before, was able to schedule a trip in to really add to the surprise! Here are some pics we took at the house and then at the party where we met up with another HS classmate, TT. Guess if we have to get older, we might as well do it right and I think we all look smashing for our ages!! It was a fun night and great to see Kristin as always - even if just for a couple of days.
My mom & I...

Kristin & I...

Kristin, TT, & I...

Quick Update

Since I just started the job and have been getting royally bent over by the Nebraska Department of Labor (ie, Unemployment), we still have no camera so we're lacking photos (and I can't afford to develop the 9 rolls of film I have!) but I thought I'd just do a quick update of what we've been doing.

I started my new job on Tues, Aug 18th and so far I'm just doing all the getting settled in things - here's your desk, introductions that I never remember (thank goodness for name plates on each person's cube), this where this is and that is where that's at, etc. I have started looking at the material I will be working with and I think I will catch on fine, it will just be all the caveats of each state, county, city's different election rules!

The big change with the new job is our schedule...going from sleeping in til 9 or so to me getting up at 5-5:30 a.m. and Zoie around 6. We've both been zombies this week! LOL I know we'll get used to it but this is the hard part - especially around 3:00 in the afternoon when I could very easily lay my head on my desk and snooze away! Ha! Zoie still gets her nap each day thank goodness so she's really been doing pretty good with the change.

Before all this, we went to the little carnival at the Lancaster County Fair one evening and Zoie rode some rides - but only a couple as I did NOT trust those clankety death traps! Grandma and I joined her on the Merry-Go-Round and that was fun and we were also watching The K's cats while they were in Knoxville, IA, for sprint car nationals. Zoie loves going to "Mardee's House" whether he's there or not! Then last weekend we went to an open house that her preschool had...their theme was a Beary Special Day so she got to make crafts dealing with bears (masks, Goldilocks & the 3 bears - or 13 in Zoie's interpretation - and other things like that)...she enjoyed being at her school and seeing kids that are in the same room as her as well as showing Mommy & Grandma around. Other than this we just spent as much time together before it was back to the grind.

Losing a job is always a blow to one's confidence regardless of what reason they give you but those who know me, know I believe in everything happening for a reason. So, in between the stress of not having money and the tediousness of job hunting, I have been blessed to have one of the best summers I've had in years. When Zoie was born, I only got a true 2 weeks off and then worked from home for a couple of weeks but I missed out on being able to have 12 weeks like some mothers get or even the standard 6 wks before going back to work. Then when she was 6 months old we moved from TX to NE and things were crazy non-stop since then so I feel like I finally got my maternity leave with Zoie! We created some really great memories over the summer that I will cherish. I'm so thankful for this and for the new job that will give us other opportunities to make memories!


I borrowed Auntie Lindsay's camera to take some pics of clothes to sell and snapped this one of Zoie on 8/12/08 so this is her most recent...check the pucker!


I also got a new do...just in time for my 2nd interview...must have done the trick! And it's so versatile...ha!

A New Job and a Pot to Pee In

It's a day of milestones for HZI! Mommy was offered - and accepted - a job with a company called Election Systems & Software as a training specialist for the Voter Registration side of their business and completed her training classes to become a CASA volunteer (www.casa4lancaster.org)...but bigger than all of that, Zoie TOLD Grandma that she didn't want to puddle on the floor after getting out of the bathtub so she sat down on her pottychair and actually went pee! She actually held it in on purpose and let it go at the right time!! She is just growing up SO much...she is such a joy!

Stay posted for new adventures from all of us!

Friends Having a Splash!

My friend, T, and her son, L, came over one Sunday morning before it got too hot and we enjoyed some time in the pool with them. L was a little apprehensive of the water at first but after he and Zoie 'drove' their water cars around a little he started showing some smiles and having some fun! It was nice that they could come for a couple of hours...it's great to see our kids together! And, T had a camera so there are actually some pics!

Another Fun Summer Evening

Grandma took the nephews home (those pics will be posted later when I get the FILM developed..ugh!) and is staying for a visit so it's just Zoie & me & Indie & the cats this week! So, we had Vonda & Connor over for the evening and dined on gourmet hot dogs, peas & carrots, mandarin oranges & juicy juice! Marty (PCJ) also stopped by and joined us while his mom & dad went to do some stuff. After dinner, we all got our suits on and hit the pool! Good times!

Zoie & Connor ridin "the whale" in the pool

Running free in the yard...yeah!

They were dancing here...so cute!!

Farewell, My Friend

How does one say goodbye? I think about all the times I had with you...you were with me through so many times, good & bad. In many ways, you were my first and they say that you never forget your first...I believe that because of you. I think I knew deep down that we wouldn't be together forever but never expected our relationship to end so abruptly. And the circumstances I lost you in...you didn't hesitate for one second about jumping in and sacrificing yourself so that I could help another in need...makes me love & miss you even more. So many wonderful things have happened since you've been gone - oh, how I wish you could have been there to witness them all! And as I sit here and type this...I feel guilty because I already have started to think about another. But I know you'd want that for me, and so, while I'll remember you fondly, I know that it is inevitable....

I will be getting a new digital camera!!!!!!!!!!!!

Job Update

Nothing, nil, nada...LOL I've been submitting resumes, filling out applications, etc but I keep getting rejection letters. I shall keep plugging away at it! If anyone hears of anything...let me know!! :)