It's starting to melt! Boy we are going to have a wet, wet, wet yard. When everything melts, there will probably be lots of mud, flooding - who knows. It's not going to be pretty. I don't know where the time goes. I need more hours in the day. My birthday gifts from hubby and kids were the Desperate Housewives pc game and a cd - Little Big Town. The game looks too fun - I never watched the show, but have heard tons about it. Only one problem - I can't play it on my laptop or pc. It's a high graphic game I guess - my laptop video card isn't big enough and the one on the pc isn't compatible to parts of the game or someting. I am so not happy! I might have to replace the video cards. UGHH!! I have to look into it.

I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow - I despise that chore. It's aweful! I have my list done, my meals planned for two weeks - just have to check my coupons to see if I have any to use. I buy two weeks of groceries at a time and it's good to do it - but I hate to, lol. Budgeting is not fun and I need to do better at it. Staying home is great, but I want to find ways to cut more costs to save money and have more fun - be able to do things, buy a little extra once in a while, like clothes, or take kids to the movies, etc. Mom and I bought two lottery tickets together for the powerball. It was over 200 million and of course we didn't even get one number. I always hope but it never happens.

I want to post more, but am so tired so I am off. Here's my Friday Fun and I hope to visit this weekend!



:: Friday Fun ::
We are going to do things a little differently this week. For each numbered question, list that many things as your answer. For example, 1 thing for #1, 2 things for #2, 3 things for #3, and so on!

1. thing you have done this morning. * laundry
2. things you plan to do this weekend. * play on computer * grocery shop
3. things you wish you had. * a bigger house * new car * walk-in closet
4. celebrity women you think are beautiful. * Salma Hayek * Kate Hudson * Catherine Zeta-Jones * Angelina Jolie
5. celebrity men you find attractive. * Matthew McConaughey * Antonio Sabato Jr. * Kamar de los Reyes * Tyler Christopher * Vin Diesel.
6. friends you regularly blog with. I like to visit new people so leave a link if you can! * An Italian Daily Journal * Kay's Chatter * Oklahoma Reflections * Kellie's Klippins *  * Connie's Cogitations * Misadventures of A Multifaceted Mama
7. ways you would spend $1 million. * Pay off debts * build new house * buy new car * college fund for all our kids * buy gifts for family * take a vacation * invest
8. personality traits you think are important. * Honesty * Integrity * Loyalty * Open-Minded * Trustworthy * Sense of Humor * Compassion * Acceptance

Hello! I have received some wonderful gifts from my online friends - I have made a page for them. The link is on the menu to the right of the page. Hubby didn't realize it was my birthday. I am not the type of person to make a big deal about my birthday or holidays, or make any kind of hints, etc - I figure if you can't remember, I'm not the one to remind you. It means more if someone remembers you - you know what I mean? He is the only person, aside from my mother who always remembers me for holidays, birthdays, etc. He always spoils me. This is the first time and I am sad :( He ended up getting off work last night and since he was home today, he kept Ariana while I went to do my job, pick up a few groceries and go to renew my drivers license. I got home and he said, "When is your birthday?" I said, "today." The only thing I can figure is he saw the card that came in the mail today from his parents and thought he had better ask. It's on the calendar though - I put everything on there so everyone can see when everything is. Anyway, he got ready to go into town and said, "I better go get you a cake or something." I said, "you don't have to, that's ok." He said, "no, the kids will make a big fuss and get upset." It was nice of him to go into town and get me a cake and gifts, but it really doesn't matter so much - I mean it bothers me because I want him to remember things like that, but to go and pick something up after admitting you forgot makes it seem more like an obligation instead of wanting to do something special for someone. Ok - enough whining. I love him very much and I need to stop thinking so much, lol. I always do that - I need to let things go.

I didn't get my drivers license renewed - we live in the boondocks basically and the drivers license examiner is only at certain towns on certain days. To be honest, I didn't remember that I had to actually see the examiner. In the treasurers office they can make you a new license so I figured I just had to go in, take a new picture and pay the fee. Nope - so I went to the county courthouse in the country I live in. It's 22 miles from where I did my job today. The examiner was in the town I was in to do my job, lol. I have to go in town again to get it renewed or drive to a town farther away to get it renewed another day this week. She won't be near me until next week. UGHHH!! I don't want to drive back in town again. I have to go tonight to take Montana to wrestling. It's not super far, but with gas prices the way they are and with four kids, I try to not go more often than necessary. I want to wait until Monday to go and do it. I never get tickets so I should be fine - I just will be paranoid now that they will stop me for something, lol. Oh well - that's the way it goes.

My Mom always makes all of us a cake for our birthdays and she was going to make mine on Sunday at our family dinner, but since we didn't have it, she is making it next Sunday. She came to the store while I was there today and gave me some flowers - she wanted me to enjoy them on my day. She's so nice. They are at a place of honor - in the center of the dinner table. So pretty! I love flowers. She also bought the kids and I these neat donuts - Bavarian cream bismarks with chocolate icing and shaped like footballs, complete with white icing to look like the laces on a football. She thought the kids would like them and she said I could put a candle in them for my birthday, lol. Rob has to work tonight, so she thought it would be fun for us to do later on. My baby brother and his family sent me a card. I am making a wonderful dinner for myself, lol - Cheese and meat raviolis, homemade spaghetti sauce, garlic bread and salad. I am going to start the sauce here in a minute. I hope you have a great week!! I hope to visit tonight.

We got another snow storm! They say we had at least 6 inches. Late start for school again tomorrow. I have yet to find out if busses will run. We live 12 miles from the school. I really don't feel like going out. I never used to be afraid to drive in the snow, but this weather has made me that way. There seems to be a pattern - every weekend for four weeks we have had a storm. No family dinner again. My oldest son - Giuseppe had spent the weekend at my parent's house and he ended up staying again tonight - my mom said there is too much snow and drifts in the road to their house. It's a driveway that is so long, it's a road, lol.

Thank you to Kellie for the wonderful gift!!


I should be in bed, but I am enjoying the peace and quiet. Ariana was a little pain today. Rob and I were so ready and praying for her to take naps, lol. I don't know what got into her, but I almost jumped up and down when she fell asleep. I had the worst headache after the day we had, but am feeling much better now. I love this time of day - everyone in bed, it's quiet and I can play on the computer. There are so many things I want to do. On my old site, wilcoxcountry.com, I had so many pages and now I am trying to finish bringing it all back. I enjoy my site so much and I have so many ideas of additions to it. So much to do, so little time. Hubby has to work nights this week again. I wish people would stop taking off so he didn't have to cover. I hate it when he works nights. You would think I'd be used to it by now.

I enjoyed some Christmas blend starbucks coffee this evening. My middle brother, Pietro and his wife Meghan gave it to me for Christmas. He gets me starbucks every year. There isn't one anywhere close to where I live. It came in a gorgeous red box with a gold ribbon and a wonderful mug and a package of ground coffee. I have so many coffee mugs - I actually got rid of several. I always bought one whenever we traveled to a new state. That and magnets were my soveniers. I have so much junk at my house - I need Clean Sweep from TLC to come and help me. I actually packed up tons of stuff for a garage sale. Most of it is at my Dad's shop and some in our shed and garage. I had no idea I had so much to get rid of. It's just accumulated and I never got around to having a garage sale. As soon as the weather lets up, I am going to have a sale - most of it is set up on tables, etc at the shop and I think I will have a bag sale - get rid of it all. I am going to do my best to keep up with getting rid of things from now on. I save too much - I have pretty much all the cards and letters I have ever gotten, plus tons of the kids stuff from school, etc. I have a huge box to work on for scrapbooking - just haven't sat down and done it. I procrastinate too much. That's one of my goals this year. I am off to a bad start, lol. Oh well - someday I will get it all done.

I guess I had better go. Have a wonderful week!

Guess what we are getting? Another storm system! You have got to be kidding! 4 in 4 weeks. This is nuts! One report says a few inches through Monday. Another says they are unable to give a prediction of accumulation yet. Great. I am sooooooooooooo ready for Spring! I am sure a lot of people agree. It would be nice if the weather could hold off and let what we first got nearly four weeks ago melt first and start over if it must! It's still so icey in a lot of places.

I got a yucky cold or something. First I thought it was a sinus infection, but now it's going into my chest and I ache all over. Ariana seems to be finally shaking whatever she had. Adelina has a cold now too. I guess it's that time of year. I was just hoping to skip it, lol. I could have spent the whole day in bed today. Ariana wouldn't go for that though. Someday she will wish she could spend the day in bed instead of having to get up and work, or do housework, etc. Kids think grown-ups are crazy to want to take a nap or rest. I want to videotape them saying it and then remind them when they grow up. I would also have to add - but mom, why can't you just write a check? You don't have to have money - use your credit card. LOL - they are too funny.

Montana got an mp3 player with part of his birthday money and part from his Dad. I have been adding some music to it for him. I haven't had any luck online trying to find music for that or finding ring tones for my cell phone. I must be looking in the wrong places or something. Several people have told me they got it all free online but I gave up trying. I just ended up copying music from my cds to it.

My Mom sent me this link. Check it out - I can't believe a cat can get that big!

I keep looking around the living room amazed at how much stuff there is! With Ariana, it seems like we have so much more in the room and I have been wanting to move it all around or throw it in a rubbermaid and put a lid on it. She has more toys then she knows what to do with. I spent a few hours moving things around, then moving it again, vacuuming, moving once again. LOL - well I think we will just leave it as it is for now. It looks a lot better. Sometimes I just want to change everything - it looks so cluttered or I get tired with the way everything is. I want to paint everything, rip the carpet out and get new furniture. Maybe I am getting spring fever. Ready for the spring cleaning. Okay - I better go. I think that Ariana is ready for a nap. Woohoo!!! Have a wonderful weekend! Here is my Friday Fun...

:: Friday Favorites ::

Name your five favorite…

1. current TV shows? Ugly Betty, Men In Trees, Daybreak, What About Brian, Lost
2. things to shop for? anything, lol. I love to shop when I have the money - except for groceries.
3. magazines? I don't buy them much - hubby picks one up for me now and then because he knows I enjoy them, but I do like People, Redbook, InTouch, OK!, Taste Of Home
4. non-blog sites to visit? Taste Of Home, Food Network, Ebay, HGTV, lots of online shopping
5. things about yourself? hmm...that's hard.

We had more snow this weekend A couple of inches I think. The kids had 2 hour late start Monday and the busses weren't driving on the country roads. It's been soooooooooooo cold! It was -1 this morning with a wind chill of -13! Crazy. Hopefully the temps get better by the weekend like they said. 20s, 30s, 40s. Maybe some of this ice and snow will melt.

Today I am getting some houswork done and then picking the kids up from school to take them to the nursing home. We are going to visit with my Grandma. They haven't seen her in 3 weeks - we haven't had family dinners because all 3 storms happend right before and over the weekends. My parents live outside of town and have a long somewhat hilly, winding driveway that isn't paved. It gets really nasty in the bad weather and muddy as it all melts. With it being so yucky and cold, we just haven't gone there. Hopefully this weekend we can.

I have been drawing some St. Patrick's Day graphics. I figure I might as well start since I had some neat ideas and was in the mood to do so. Sometimes I get so excited when an idea strikes me that I want to get into PSP and start drawing right away. I have almost a whole set done for the members area and some premades for the public part of the site. I want to do a little linkware also that is for the general public. So many ideas, so little time. Time just flies and if I don't do as much as I can when I have the time, I don't get a chance to get much done.

Next week I will be 33. Age never really bothers me - some people got all crazy when they turned 30, but it really doesn't matter to me. What does matter is how much your body starts changing after 30. I notice a big difference - especially after having the baby last year. It's so different having a baby at 20 - my first child and having your last baby at 31. I know these days a lot of people have children into their 40s but I couldn't do it. I can't imagine chasing a baby around 10 years from now. I get tired now, lol. Well, I have to go - Ariana decided she needs me right now. She's too funny. Have a great day!! I hope to visit my reads tonight.

Finally I get time to be online! It's been 2 whole days! Talk about withdrawl, lol. Yesterday was Montana's birthday. I had woke up really late - near 11 am because Ariana and I had been up most of the night. Poor baby - and we went back to bed when the kids got off on the school bus. I had to do a bunch of things around the house, wrap gifts, put up streamers, etc. By the time I got all that done, plus got all ready and gave Ariana a bath, it was time to pick the kids up from school. We went to Wal-Mart so they could spend their gift cards my Aunt gave them for Christmas. I grabbed a few groceries in case the weather report rings true and then we met my parent's at Pizza Hut for dinner. Hubby had to work. By the time we got home, had cake, opened presents and they played with the gifts, got showers and got to bed, I still had to clean up and do some other things and I never got time to get on here! Today I had to go to the 1st Grade Christmas party for my daughter Adelina's class - we never got to have it because of the storms before Christmas and school was cancelled. I didn't allow myself extra time to get there because I didn't think it would be necessary. Well, there is still so much ice and snow built up on the sides of the streets - I couldn't find a place to park. I was getting very irritated to put it mildly. I ended up parking 2 1/2 blocks away and stupid me - I didn't think about how I would get out up the hill to leave. Anyway, I had a huge bag of treat sacks, a baby in a stroller, another back of teacher gifts and we had to walk on a sheet of ice to get to the school. I was cussing the entire way. Thankfully Ariana had a hat on tight and blankets over her and the stroller. It was 10 degrees and breezy - IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO COLD!! By the time I got into the school, after a lady thankfully assisted me as I got up near the school, I had missed 20 minutes of the party. I am one of four room mom's and I was so embarrassed and frustrated. We made it through the party, delivered the teacher gifts and headed back to the car. It took a while to get there - back on the ice again. If I wasn't so irritated it would be comical. We got to the car and I loaded it all up. Got in and started to leave. Well, it took a while - I couldn't get traction. I was ready to scream. Montana had rode the bus to the Junior High to be picked up there with Giuseppe by me. I knew they were waiting and I was worrying about that and how cold it was. I finally made it out of there. UGHHHHH!!! I called my ex-husband - he was to pick up the kids for the weekend at 4 pm. I told him we would be late. I got to the junior high fifteen minutes late. It was now 3:45 and I was ready for calgon to take me away. We had to get stamps and gas and then headed home. We got there with 5 minutes to spare before their Dad came. I was tired out. What a day.

We haven't gotten the bad weather they had predicted as of yet - just freezing temperatures and ice and snow that will never melt at this rate. It is supposed to be 0 degrees tonight. Below zero the following two nights. Subartic air has come upon us. I hate hoods, hats - but I don't care anymore. I don't care if I look like an idiot. I am so bundled up it's crazy. I honestly don't ever remember being this cold here before. I do know that the snow removal plan sucks in southwest Nebraska. It's bad enough how much snow and ice are on most streets but in front of and around the schools, you would think they would do a better job. Someone is bound to get hurt. They are still calling for a wintry mix and snow accumulation. We'll see I guess. Okay, I am going to do my Friday Fun and sign off my blog - have to do updates for my adoption site.

Ok - I spoke too soon. Look at our lovely forecast!

Wednesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Light winds becoming northwest around 10 mph after midnight.

Thursday - Colder. Partly cloudy in the morning...then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of freezing drizzle and light snow in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 20s. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday Night - Colder. Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of light snow. Lows around 3.

Friday and Friday Night - Colder. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs around 10. Lows around 1 below.

Saturday - Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs around 6.

Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of light snow. Lows around 4 below.

Sunday through Martin Luther King Jr Day - Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of light snow. Highs around 14. Lows around 5 below.


UGHHHH! That's how the last storms started. First freezing drizzle - rain and then snow. Yucky. I like snow - just not ice. I just think we have had enough. Kelly needs to take it back east with her!! LOL We still have snow all over. My parents live out in the country and I haven't been able to go to their house for 3 weeks for family dinner due to the road being so muddy and icy. They said I would get stuck if I came over. Today, Mom and I took Ariana to the nursing home to visit my Grandma. She loved that, as did several residents. She hasn't seen us for a while since we couldn't make it to the weekly dinners. It's so neat to see the residents perk up watching Ariana playing and walking around there. It's so sad - some people never get any visitors at all. My Mom goes everyday to see Grandma, since she had a stroke 5 years ago.

I need to go to bed, but I am enjoying the peace and quiet. Unfortunately, hubby had to work tonight. Someone called in sick I guess. He went in this morning at his regular time and they sent him home at 1 to rest up to come in tonight. They better appreciate him - he works his butt off for them. I used to work there at the Ethanol plant - in the office though and I know how they are. I will say this - Buttheads! LOL. The kids are all tucked into bed. I think I am getting Ariana's cold. I feel yucky. I just really wanted some computer time. I haven't had any all day!

I am going to do a little blog hopping. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Finally no more snow. I hope that Kellie gets some of it now. It seems we got what was intended for her state, lol.. We still have most of it though. There has been a little melting, but not much. There are still places here in Nebraska without power. I think they are mostly at least 2 hours away from here. I have to download more pics off of my digital camera. Ever since I downloaded the updated Kodak easyshare program, the only way I can transfer pics is if I unplug my printer - it's not hard, I just have to get a flashlight and get under the desk. I haven't felt like it, lol.

I wanted to use a new layout when I redecorated - I am not sure how I like this yet. It's a fake wordpress layout. I did try to use wordpress once, but maybe I didn't have the time to figure it all out. I don't remember. I know that I can usually do just about anything with my website and pages, I taught myself a lot. It just seemed ike a lot of work and I needed to mess with it a lot longer. I think I still have the account though, lol. I never deleted it. I redecorated my graphic site as well. I still have several pages to do. Maybe I will get done this week.

Ariana has had a nasty cold. It's so much harder with babies and toddllers I think. I have been very fortunate that for the past year and a half I haven't been very sick at all. I used to get bronchitis or some kind of bad upper respitory illness at least once a year. Since I quit my job in May 2005 I don't have health insurance - with me staying home it's just not in the budget at this time. To me that is the most important thing right now.

I had a great weekend! My husband didn't have to work for once. He hasn't had time off in ages. He asked me out on a date for Saturday night. We haven't gone out alone since Novemeber 2005 to a wedding. Woohoo! My Mom came over and babysat Ariana. He let me choose the movie. It was so nice. I hope we can do it again soon.

I better get going. I need to unload the dishwasher and take care of a load of laundry before Ariana gets up. Have a good day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had a good one. The baby and I just hung out at home, taking down Christmas decorations and watching Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve. He actually came on this year and it was neat to see him on the show again. You can tell he had a stroke with his speach as it was. He is like an icon - when I think of New Years, I always think of his show and the ball dropping in NYC. The kids had fun skiing and snowboarding in Colorado with their Dad.

I have to get some pictures off of my digital camera. We still have all the snow from last week. It's snowing again right now! In at least the last decade, this area hasn't seen a storm like this. Half of Nebraska has declared disaster areas. It's crazy. People without power - I am so thankful we have kept our power. All we lost were parts of trees. Oh - and part of my car if you count that, LOL - Yesterday morning school went back in session and I was getting ready to take the kids to the bus - we live 11 miles from where they go to school now and a bus comes up to the gas station by the highway here and picks all the kids up. Anyway, I was trying to back out of the garage. My husbands car is sticking out into the driveway a bit from where it's parked - well stuck, lol in the front yard and I was trying to avoid hitting it. I couldn't quite get over enough so I kept pulling back up and trying again. I was getting so frustrated. He wasn't home yet - he had to fill in most of this week again for a guy at work from 7 pm to 7 am. I couldn't quite make it over part of the snow pile on the side of the driveway and the last attempt I slid pulling back up and hit the side of the garage opening! OMG I about had a heart attack. The front right side is a little trashed now - the signal light is not working - well the bulb is gone. I wanted to cry. I had just smashed the left side of my head and my ear into the drivers side door when trying to get back in the car after getting out to try and move the snow from the pile that was in the way. My head felt like it was going to fall off and then I wreck the car. I called hubby on his cell phone in tears and he said he was leaving work and would be there to take the kids. I figured they missed the bus, but I guess it was on storm route and late. He tried to get them up there but they just missed it by a minute. I ended up taking them to school after I had hubby pull the car out. The day pretty much started bad and ended bad. I am glad it's over!! My poor car - it's a 98 Dodge Intrepid and I have had it for 6 1/2 years and it's been a good car. I hate it, but it's worked good for me. I miss my old minivan. Oh well. Someday I will get a different vehicle. I need to win the lottery first, lol. Or maybe a sweepstakes.

I need to take Christmas decorations down off of my blog, lol. Redecorate - I finished a valentine's set for my members area and I am decorating my graphic site with that. I need to decide what I want to use here. I am going to go look through my collected graphics here in a bit, unless Ariana wakes up. Oh - there she goes. I better go! Have a great weekend. Here's my Friday Fun:

Some Graphics by September Melody