With hubby on this new shift, his

hours change back and forth frequently.

One thing has become pretty evident though.

All of us sitting down to eat at the same time

is only going to happen about once a week (Sunday).

When Bob worked the afternoon/evening 

shift years ago, we always had our big 

meal at lunchtime.  Supper was kept

pretty simple and more along

what lunch typically is. It worked out

really well, since I was home w/ a 

houseful of little ones.

I’ve been thinking doing meals 

like that again may be a good idea.

We have so many different schedules.

We have kids getting home from work

or school late in the evening.

Hubby is needing to leave anywhere

from noon – 3:30pm.

Cooking, preparing and cleaning up the

main meal early in the day.

And a lighter meal of leftovers or

whatever in the evening.

Yesterday was day 1.

And I thought it worked out really well.

For lunch we made a big pot of  a family favorite.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta.

It’s great because

everyone here really likes it

and 

it reheats really well.

Now, I just have to figure out what I’m going to come up w/ for today.

 

 

 

Didn’t get much done yesterday. At All.

Spent entirely too much time trying to change from the Thanksgiving backgrounds here on Xanga to the Christmas ones.

Anyone else having trouble w/ their Xanga pages?  Seems like it’s just not running as smooth as it used to.

I spent quite a bit of time trying to get some pics uploaded to Photobucket too.  Our computer is very slow, old and outdated too.

Guess I shouldn’t complain….but, it did get frustrating!

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Other than that, nothing much to chat about…I’m trying to make an effort to blog more…trying to make it a regular habit.

We really like to look back over the years and read about all the things we’ve done….and the past couple of years just don’t compare to when

I first began blogging.  So many big gaps between posts…..and that makes me kinda sad….so I’m trying to get back to the days when I posted 

about our daily goings-on……keep better track of what’s going on in our day to day stuff….alot of it’s boring, I know…but still jogs some memories

for us when we go back over and re-read it later…..

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Here’s a funny for ya……I found these pics on Nikki’s camera….they are from awhile ago, but still worth sharing…I had asked the younger 3 girls to clean their room, as I often do(the 3 of them share a room)….Abby decided to take pics for me…she wanted to show me their personal shelves they each have in the bookcase they share…I think it’s funny that of course, I got an “after” pic only of her shelf….and “before” pics of the other girls shelves..note the popcorn on Alli’s shelf from their evening snack the night before…..too funny!!!

 

 

~Happy Tuesday~

 

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.

Ours was nice.

We spent it at my parent’s house.

We had awesome temps.

Warm and Sunny.

The cousins were able to spend alot of time

outside.

I think they played kickball.

~*~*~*~*~*

Over the long weekend,

we got all our Christmas decorations up.

Inside and Out.

All done.

We even went for our first ride of the season

to look at Christmas lights on 

all the houses in the neighborhood.

We found lots of pretty ones.

I was surprised at how many houses were

already decorated.

We’ve had our first snow of the season too.

Not much and it’s gone now,

but it still thrilled the girls to 

wake up to the other day.

~*~*~*~*~*

Miss Alli is quite the Christmas elf.

She loves Christmas.

She’s been giddy for awhile now.

Been listening to Christmas music

since Halloween at least.

So, she’s loving that it’s finally this time of year.

It’s funny to watch her.

Most of the time anyway.

Sometimes she is a bit wound up 

and I wonder how she is going to make it to Christmas

w/ all that excitement.  And of course,

Miss Abby feeds off her, and also gets excited.

For them, it’s not even about the presents,

they just love this time of year.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And, after the long weekend,

we survived the Monday back to it all. 

At least most of us did.

Poor Nikki woke up with hives/rash all over her face 

and neck yesterday morning.  

Had to take Benedryl and it ’bout knocked her out.

She had a long day too, at school and work…

so it seemed even longer, since

she had to struggle to stay awake.

Not sure why she keeps breaking out,

if it’s a cold/virus related thing or what.

But, I do know, she’s about done w/ it all.

~*~*~*~*~*~ 

The girls and I had a nice day.

After getting our stuff done, 

we played games.

I played Clue, Trouble, Sorry and 

Old Maid w/ Abby.

Alli and I played a game of Battleship

and Scrabble.

Later in the evening,

Rosie and I played a game of Disney Monopoly.

I don’t play Monopoly very often,

but it was fun.

Rosie and Abby also made some

snickerdoodle cookies.

Snickerdoodles are probably my 

most favorite cookies.

 After supper,

which was a fend for yourself night,

the younger 3 girls and I did devotions.

Then Miss Abby and I snuggled down to read some

Christmas storybooks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 I have to say that I really kinda like this time of year–

when it gets dark earlier and things seem to

settle down earlier.  

Right now we’ve been spending some of our evenings watching

some of the many Christmas movies on the Hallmark 

Channel. 

~*~*~*~*~*

The days seem to have a different way about them too.

Along w/ the day to day stuff,

we’re playing more games

and 

the girls are definitely doing more baking.

Used to be only Nat or Nik did most of the baking.

Now, the younger girls have been asking to get

in the kitchen and bake us some yummy goodies.

Alli would bake something everyday, if she could.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 I’m sure part of the difference in our days,

is Bob’s new job.

Turns out, he lost the other new job.

The place he was working completely 

closed its door.

Thankfully, he was blessed to find another job

after only a week.

But it’s quite a drive.

Over an hour each way.

And it’s afternoon/night shift.

So he’s gone much of the time.

We aren’t complaining at all.

We feel very, very, very blessed that he is working 

and making decent money.

But, it does change up the routine/schedule of the house.

So far, it’s working out fine.

We just had to settle into the groove of it.

It’s been something for the younger girls to get used to,

having Dad gone alot more and at such different times.

Bob used to work 2nd/3rd shift for many years so the rest

of us have been this road before….we remember those days.

But, not the younger girls.  It’s been a bit of an 

adjustment. Changes the way we do some things.

But, again, just thankful that he’s working

and that, so far, it seems to be a really good job.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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