Last Thursday, I took Cameron to the bus stop, did 2 loads of laundry, folded and put away the towels that my mom had washed, made the bed, did the dishes, vacuumed and dusted a little.  Then I baked a batch of chocolate cupcakes for Emily's birthday snack at school.  When they were cool, I put the icing on them and Emily did the sprinkles.  We had fun!  Then I took the garbage out and finished up the last of our Christmas decorating.  For supper I made pork and cabbage saute.  While we were decorating, Heather called and we talked for a little while.  Then Dave and I watched a movie.  Dave got a great deal on rice pudding at work--50 cents a CASE!!  YUM!

Friday morning, Cameron did NOT want to get up.  He didn't want his breakfast, he didn't want the green straw I picked for him...  We had to RUN out the door by the time I got him to eat and get dressed.  I was SO mad at him!  My face was red the whole time we were at the bus stop.  When we came back, I did the dishes, made the bed, finished getting ready, then Emily and I went to my mom and dad's house.  We took Emily to school.  It was her birthday snack day!  She took in the cupcakes we made, and everyone really liked them!  We went back to my mom and dad's house and my mom and I went through some clothes a girl at church gave my mom's friend.  Some of the sizes were too big, some too small, and some things were not things I could wear--like button-down blouses.  They just DO NOT work for me!  But I did pick out a few things and I was grateful for them, because I didn't have very many dressy clothes.  I picked out a light green suit, a black dress that will go great under my lime green jacket, and a cream-colored blouse that will look nice under the light green suit.  Then we went to get Emily from school and ate lunch, and then I had to go to work.  I am very disappointed this year.  My boss always gave us Christmas bonuses, and this year it looks like we aren't getting anything.  I know I shouldn't count on things like that, but with money being so tight, it was a really nice surprise in the past!  Oh, well...

Saturday, I did a load of laundry, made the bed, did the dishes, made bread crumbs, helped Cameron get a bath, helped Emily get a bath, and made them some macaroni and cheese for lunch.  I had a leftover cabbage roll.  Then I out the kids' clothes away and hung out for a little while.  I made toasted cheese sandwiches for supper and we all went to Kaylee's ballet recital.  It was pretty good--the Nutcracker.  When she was finished, I told her she did a good job, and she said, "I know."  My kids were pretty good during the thing.  I took crackers and water.  The people behind us were a bit annoying, kicking our seats and putting their feet up on the backs of our seats.  Dave's mom bought the kids some glow necklaces, and they were pretty good with them.  But when Kaylee came back, she started swinging hers around, so my kids did it too.  Then they all started talking and got louder and louder.  The annoying people behind us got up and left.  I think they had a good time, though.

Sunday, I went and got my newspapers and went to work.  Ang traded with Jen, so it was just me.  In the morning, Gail called to see if Duck had brought any hams.  He didn't, but I had a beep so I had to hang up.  She called back a little later to tell me to call her if he brought some.  When Hope called to tell me I had a phone call, I was closer to her register, so I went there to get the phone.  There ws a lady there who had some questions about the Christmas trees.  But instead of asking Hope, who wasn't waiting on anyone at the time, she waited until I got off the phone.  I wouldn't have minded that, but instead of asking me to follow her, she grabbed my arm, and it hurt!  There is no excuse for people to do stuff like that, especially since I don't really like people touching me anyway.  I looked at Hope and said, "She hurt my arm.  I'm not following her now!"  Nikki had a question, so I went to the front and was talking to her when that lady came over and said, "The girl at the back said that if I ask you real nice, you might get the box for my Christmas tree."  I said, "You mean you're not going to hurt my arm again?"  She went to grab my other arm, and I backed away.  I said, "Please DON'T touch me.  I don't like people touching me!"  I asked her what the item number was on her tree so I could find the box, and she said, "All it says is A."  I informed her that A was the top of the tree, B was the middle section and C was the bottom.  I told her I would be in the stockroom, and that when she found the item number, Hope could call me and tell me what it was.  So Hope called and I found her box.  I took it back to her, and she said, "Now, who's going to tear this tree down, put it in the box and take it to my car?"  I really don't like bossy, demanding people, so I said, "You are."  And I walked away.  Her husband was mad, but didn't say much.  Hope said they took the tree out to their car before they paid for it.  I wish she would have called the police.  That would have been great!  But they left the boxon the porch.  That made me made.  If I was going to have to bale the box, that would have been ok, but I had to drag it back to the stockroom after all that.  I made sure Jen and I cut it up before we baled it, so if she did decide she wanted it, it was too late.  Other than that, it was a pretty slow day.  Jen and I kept up with the cleaning, Jen wiped all the cans off, I did breaks and lunches.  And the one time we decide to take a 5-minute break, Deb and Judy walk in.  I don't care.  I know we did a lot.  It rained pretty much all day that day.

Monday was Emily's birthday.  My baby turned 4!!  That was a FAST 4 years.  Gail called in the morning and told me that if Sarah didn't come she was calling Patty in.  I made Emily some French toast for breakfast, and then we went to get my check cashed.  We went a few places to get gift cards.  Then we ate at OIP for lunch.  When we got back, Emily had a birthday message from my MIL and my mom.  I watched a movie with Emily, and Dave went to get Cameron.  We all just hung out until it was time for supper.  We went to McDonald's.  I fell asleep on my bed next to Emily that night at about 10:00.  Dave fell asleep in Cameron's bed.  I woke up at around 1:30, and I decided to get Emily's birthday gift ready.  I got all my gift bags and wrapping paper out of her closet.  Then I took her to bed.  I got her birthday gift ready.  I gave her a strawberry-scented bath set, a jewelry-making kit and a Holly Hobbie poster.  Then I was wide awake, so I decided to start wrapping Christmas gifts.  At 5:30 I had wrapped almost every gift in my closet.  I decided to call it a night.  I counted up everything, and Cameron's pile was a lot bigger than Emily's, so I made a note to get her a few more things.  I went and got Dave, and we went to bed. 

Tuesday morning, I made the bed while Dave took Cameron to the bus stop.  My mom came early because Emily had a doctor's appointment.  She was upset, because when Cameron went he had to gt his shots, but we reassured her that she wouldn't be getting any.  When we got there, they told us we could get some of her shots if we wanted to.  But we didn't have the heart after telling her that she wasn't getting any.  SHe did pretty good, though.  They did an eye test, and instead of the letters they have pictures.  They asked her what all the pictures were before she started, and the one was a house.  She called it a gingerbread house.  It was really cute.  At the end, she was getting tired of it, and she just called everything a circle.  They tried to do a hearing test, but she just smiled and wouldn't cooperate.  While we were there, my dad called to tell us my friend Chuck had passed away.  I was really good friends with his sister for a long time, so I knew him from going to their house.  He was in an accident at work in october and was burned over 65% of his body.  He was doing really well at first, but he got some infections, and his organs started to shut down.  After Emily's appointment we went shopping.  First we went to CVS.  I spent $3.95, and I got 5 packs of cough drops, the pictures I had ordered online, and 2 bags of Reese's peanut butter cups.  The only coupon I had was $7.50 EBs.  I got a $4.95 EB and a $2 EB back.  So not too bad!  We went to Gabriel's because it was too early to eat just yet.  I got a few toys for Emily.  I got her a pink van that blows bubbles when you push it, a coloring tin, and a princess book.  Then we went to the Chinese buffet next door.  YUM!  Our next stop was Giant Eagle.  I spent $43.78, and I got a 2-liter of Lipton iced tea, a box of powdered milk, 6 boxes of Totino's pizza rolls, 2 bags of Domino sugar, a bag of Gold Medal flour, 2 dozen eggs, 3 bags of mini marshmallows, a box of Little Debbie Christmas tree brownies (that somehow just appeared in my cart!), a bag of tortilla chips, a bag of Fisher's walnuts, a cheese ball for Dave, 2 gallons of milk, a loaf of bread, 4 tubes of Colgate toothpaste, a box of Green Giant vegetables, 4 pounds of Land O lakes butter.  Now I'll be pretty much set for my Christmas baking.  I am going to make some soup mix and hot chocolate mixes for a few of my co-workers as well.  When we got back I put the groceries away and did the dishes.  Then I made Emily's birthday cake.  I made her a white cake with strawberry icing and Strawberry Shortcake candy things on top.  I had a few pink candles, so I used those as well.  It was pretty cute.  Then it was time for her party.  Dave's mom came, and Dave's sister Sue and her kids, and Dave's sister Sheila and her husband and Kaylee.  My brother-in-law's name is Ed, but my kids call him Grandpa.  I don't know why.  We never called him that.  They know he is their uncle, because Cameron will say, "Grandpa's name is Uncle Ed."  Anyway, Emily got lots of nice things for her birthday.  There was a lot of good food, too.  My mom made meatballs and brought rolls.  I had chips, barbecue chips, tortilla chips with salsa dip, pop, cake and ice cream.  After everyone left, Dave gave Cameron his bath, and I gave Emily a bath with her new strawberry bath set.  now she smells like Strawberry Shortcake!

Yesterday, I made the kids cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Then I took Cameron to the bus stop.  When I got back, I did the dishes and made the bed.  Then I took Emily to my mom and dad's.  It was her Santa shop day in school.  She got to go "shopping" and buy Christmas gifts for people.  I let her pick who she wanted to get gifts for.  Someone is going to wrap them for her, too!  I tried to get her to tell me what she bought for everone, but she just smiled and said, "You won't get it out of me!"  Once she told me she got "stuff."  I worked all day.

In the mail this week I have gotten a booklet, an Olay regenerist sample, some more of Dave's gift that I had ordered, a Christmas card from my mom's cousin Martie in Texas, a Christmas card from Dave's Uncle Ron and Aunt Karen, some gospel CDs, a claendar, some iron-ons, a sample of Degree deodorant, 3 magazines, the sale paper and a sample of mystery shampoo.