Making Cookies

Back at Christmas while my parents were visiting, Sadie decided to help me make sugar cookies. Here is a video.

After helping make cookies she decided to turn her creative energy into demolition art.

Our New Year's Eve Wii Tournament

Before all the messy work stuff happened, I had planned to do a Wii tournament for New Year's Eve. And so to try and recover from the events of the day, we went ahead with our plan.

We had a tournament bracket and everything. HA! I'm a dork. Ok so we played a total of 5 games, tournament style. Boxing, Tennis, Bowling, Archery & Dancing with the Stars.

There was 7 of us so we rotated who would play and who wouldn't. And the highest loser out of round one got a second chance in round two.

I have to say we had a BLAST! There were 5 different winners.

• Matthew won Boxing
• I won Archery (shocking I know)
• Luke won Bowling
• Michael won Tennis
• Steve won Dancing with the Stars

(ok this one we technically didn't play in a tournament style but Steve did the best)

Here are some fun pictures and video of us playing...enjoy!

Steve whispering in Michael's ear while playing Archery

Sadie found Uncle Michael's phone and was pretending to take pictures Michael and I playing Archery Luke and Michael playing Archery

Note Sadie is also pretending to play (And yes she made it until 11pm) Ok so this is a funny story: Luke and I were playing boxing and man do you get a work out. Well we were playing and went 5 rounds and the last round knocked eachother out at the same time. So we tied. So then we had to play again but my arms were done by that time. So Luke won.

And Sadie was right there with us punching and groaning away. Dad and Steve playing boxing.

Isn't this funny...the son in law boxing his father in law...there is a joke in there somewhere I just know it. Michael and Luke playing Bowling

Sadie pretending to play tennis.

8 goofy pictures later, here we are at midnight! And here is Sadie at midnight. She was exhausted. I hope you all had a fun and safe New Year's Eve. Let's make 2010 a good one!

So Long MS Walker...

Before I get into the fun New Year's Eve stuff, let me tell you what happened at work today. I got laid off. Yes that's right. I got my walking papers around 11 o'clock this morning. I think I am still a littl shocked but we had a feeling it might happen. We were just hoping that it would be later rather than sooner.

Back in October the company I worked for, MS Walker, laid off a lot of people. At that time I felt semi safe due to the fact that I was working in the Property Management Department and I was the only one in that department. It wasn't until all the lay offs happened that I found out that I was no longer going to be in that department and that I was taking over the database management. I was assured at the time that it wasn't due to my performance, but something always bothered me due to the fact that they put someone in that position who had NO experience what so ever. And to make matters worse I was asked to take a pay cut. At this time we were happy that I still had a job and insurance. But as the days progressed I found myself in a difficult position of training someone to do my job and training myself for my new position. This was fine, I can multi task...and if you ask me what my best quality is (interview questions) I will tell you I am a wiz at multi tasking.

I jokingly told Steve at this point that they were just keeping me until I was finished training the new person. Sad to think now how those words were prophetic.

To be completely honest, I was upset about how things happened. I was upset that I felt that I was taking a set backwards in a company that I had committed myself to for 5 years. I was upset because no matter how I trained, things were not being done and I felt I was going to be blamed.

I started noticing little things changing around the office. It wasn't the same place that I worked at just 4 years ago. Things had changed, people had changed, and in my opinion not for the better. I dreaded going to work. I was having a hard time with the person who took over my previous role and things were being said that made me not look good. None of them true but posion spreads quickly. Just a week before I got laid off I went to my manager (whom is the best manager ever and the one constant I've had throughout this whole ordeal) and let him know what was happening and what was being said. I wasn't going to down for someone else's actions. I was a great manager and no one could tell me otherwise.

I started brushing up my resume and Steve and I started making a plan of attack. We were hoping that we could keep our plan in action until the end of 2010, but that was not to be. Thursday morning a friend in the accounting department was let go. And I knew it was coming. I just knew. So when I got the call to my manager's office I was not surprised. Other people were but I was not. There were 16 people let go that day. I have to say I did fairly well until I looked into my manager's eyes. I was not going to cry I told him. I was not crying for being let go but I was crying for the friendships that I had formed and for the circumstances. And let's face it, I was upset. Who wouldn't be in a position like this. I received my packet and I gathered my things and left.

There are a few things that just rub me the wrong way about this and now I am prepared to put them out for the world to know. 1. The Owner didn't have the balls to be there. Yes I know he doesn't have to do the firing but it would be nice had he been there to show his remorse. 2. I was let go one month prior to my 401K fully vesting. This is the biggest blow. 3. I feel that I am more capable than two other people who kept their jobs. Yes I know that these things are petty but it's the truth. And if I can't be truthful in my blog then why have it.

I really don't have any resentful feelings towards the company. It's a business and the owner did what he thought was right. So there really isn't anything I can do about that. I had actually applied for a job at Chevron the day before all of this happened. So we will see.

Funny thing is I am so very happy to be home with Sadie. This is a great time for us. And I know that God has a plan and this was part of it. I have applied for a couple of jobs but to be honest we are going to try and work things out so that I can stay home full time. We are even contemplating trying for another baby. We had already started that process and our appointment is on the 4th of January. So while I am home and have unemployment we are going to try and have another baby. See things happen for a reason. I am completely confident in our decision and I'm so very thankful for a loving partner who supports and cares for me.

So enough of the dreary stuff I'll now post about our fun evening.

Goree Holiday Party

Wednesday, we had our annual Goree Party. We had a great turn out and all enjoyed catching up. While we were there Christy went into labor and later that evening had the newest member to the family, Mr. Jude Hicks.

Here are Beau and Sadie spinning in the chair. The chair was a HUGE hit with the kids. There was spinning going on as well as races.

The kids playing the piano

Uncle Jerry taking pictures

I got to finally meet my cousin Benjamin Blakley. He is Beau's little brother. He is so cute and cuddly. I didn't want to give him up. Alas nature called and I turned him back over to his Momma, Krissy.

Funny enough all these wonderful people had birthday's either this same week or a few days prior. What a great club to belong too. And now Jude is in this club as well.

l to r: Nick, Krissy, Gary, Bob & Stella

Sadie, Benjamin and I

Sadie loved Benjamin. I think she is ready to be a big sister, what do you think?

Beautiful Sarah!

Chair races!!

2009 Christmas Cards

I have to say that one of the things I love most about Christmas is getting Christmas Cards. It's true. I love getting mail and there is nothing better than getting mail at Christmas. I feel so loved this year as this is the most Christmas cards I have ever received. I was almost able to fill up both doors. Sadie enjoyed putting them up and taking them down and then back up again.

As I walked by these doors every day, I would always get a warm and happy feeling, knowing that there are people out there who care enough to wish me a very Merry Christmas. Last year I started scanning my Christmas cards (picture ones) and this year is no different.

Thank you to everyone who sent us a Christmas card. We have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. It's so fun to see how we've all changed over the past year.

The Blakley Family

Gareth & Ashley
The Bradford Family

The Cummings Family

The Doll Family

The Eastlick Family

The Facey Family

The Fauke Family

The Fink Family

The Galyan Family

The Harpel Family

The Hawkins Family

Shane, Suzanne & Levi Hildebrand

Matt, Kelly, Peyton, & Jack Hildebrand

The Jackson Family

The Kirklin Family

Tiffany Miller & Bonnie

The Nilsson Family

The Nunez Family

The Olson Family

The Roberts Family

The West Family

The Wilson Family

We enjoyed all our cards, picture and non picture alike. We love to get everyone's updates. We hope you all will have a great 2010 and look forward to next year's updates.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas and hope that you did too.

Sadie had a lot of fun. She got some fun gifts from Grandparents, Santa and of course Mommy and Daddy. She even got into the spirit of unwrapping said gifts.

Santa brought Sadie a sit and spin as well as a Star Wars tent. Grandma & Grandpa Eastlick got her a camera so she can practice to be Mommies helper. haha, just kidding.

She really hasn't gotten the hang of the sit and spin. But she loves it when we spin her.
Wow, Look Mom a present.
Daddy's gifts...

Box of Kleenex...(filling for the box)

The game he has been patiently waiting for. (He also got a couple of new monitors from Santa.)

Sadie decided she needed to help everyone open their gifts.

And try on their gifts as well. Mommies new shirt from Sadie.

She wasn't too sure about the tent. The people on the front freaked her out a bit...so Mommy got inside with her and she was ok...

...but preferred to go in and out of the back.

She really enjoys taking pictures. Here she had cornered Daisy who gave up trying to stay away from Sadie.

Looking at the pictures

Cheez Mom, I'm taking pictures!

Helping get Christmas Dinner ready

Not too happy about being kicked out of the kitchen.

I was practicing taking pictures of the lights on the tree so I can try and get a couple of fun shots and also playing with my remote for the camera.

Again, we hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. Have a great New Year!