Urine or You're Out

Got this one in an e-mail from my Dad...love it!

I doubt that you'll find this on the political agenda - it
makes too much sense.

While I don't have to pass a urine test for my job, I
still agree 100%......

THE JOB - URINE TEST

(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit.


In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?


Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their A--, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.

Isn't that just a good thought!!!

Christmas of Dreams Blog Party! Day 1

Welcome to the first installment of the Momdot Christmas of Dreams Blog Party!

Nov. 12, 2008

Topic:
Intro to Blog Party, Introduce us to your family and share Holiday pics or videos of past years (Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving)

Today’s Party is hosted by La Belle Toile and This and That by Randi! Be sure to visit their homepages & check them out.

Also, for more Blog Party fun, go on over to Momdot and check out what everyone else had to say about today’s post!

Well, to me, the Blog Party is a great way to learn more about all of the bloggers I love and share information about myself. I sometimes find it hard to blog daily, but when I find a meme or a topic starter I like, I can write a lot. That’s why I know I’m going to enjoy participating in this Blog Party. With the Momdot Christmas of Dreams Blog Party, you get chances to win great prizes. It’s really neat because you get rewarded for doing something, you probably would have been doing anyway! I know I spend a lot of time reading other people’s blogs and working on mine daily. So, if you want lots more info on the Blog Party be sure to head over to Momdot and check it out. Momdot is a GREAT webpage and I love it.

My family is quite large. I have my immediate family, my family, Tim’s family, and then all of the friends that I include when I think of family.

My immediate family is just Tim, 10 pets, and myself. Tim is my wonderful husband. We have been together for almost 5 years. (Our “anniversary” of our first date is Jan. 23, 2009.) We are just perfect together. We met each other as children, went on our first date at 14 and 15 years old, and then fell in love forever when I was 20 years old.

I’ve always loved Tim, and I’ve blogged about how we met before. In the years that we lost touch of one another; I used to hum the jingle to “Oh Christmas Tree” for comfort. I never really put a lot of thought into it; it was just something I did. Once we re-met and I started to think about it, I realized WHY I hum that jingle when I’m stressed. Tim and I met at a Halloween camping trip. We sang a Halloween version of that song, called “Oh Jackolantern.” The woman whose funeral we met at was the author of “Oh Jackolantern.” I thought it was fitting that we’d meet at her funeral; when that song she’d written had brought me comfort over the years, it made me think of how good I felt being with Tim that weekend.

Tim and I have 10 pets. I have 3 dogs, their names and pictures can be found in my side bar. I also have 3 cockatiels. I also have 4 fish. My fish don’t have real names, but I have nicknames for them, like ShyOne, Fatso, Speedy, and Where’dhego. Obviously, there names reflect their fish-onalities.

My family includes Grandmom, Mom, Dad, and my baby brother, Frank (16 1/2). They live in Pennsylvania. It also includes my sisters Amanda and Christina. They both live here in Virginia. My sister Christina (Chrissy) also has 4 kids. They are the reason behind my blog handle. The kids are Carolynn (16 months), Ashley (7 ½), Brianna (almost 10), and Tyler (Tony) (almost 12). My brother has our family dog, Tippy, living with him. We’ve had her since he was about 4, and she is the puppy of our old dog, Blondie. My little sister has 4 cats. She and her boyfriend J.C. are really into cats.

Grandmom-in 2004

My little sister Amanda.

My older sister, Chrissy (30), last Christmas Eve.
My Dad last Christmas Eve.

My husband’s family includes his Mom and Dad and their 3 dogs. Their dogs are Mocha (Blondie’s mate), Peaches (another one of Blondie’s puppies), and a new baby named Mia. They are all poodle mixes. I also have a brother in law and a sister in law. My brother in law, Loren, is in school with the Navy to be an electrician. He is also trying to become a Navy Seal. I am not sure exactly WHERE in the United States he is right now. My sister in law, Beth, is in culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in North Carolina. She’s in her second year there.

Beth!

We have several close friends that I count as family as well. Melanie and Rob are like family to us. They have three beautiful children, Chloe (7), Jack (5), and Sophia (3). We love them! James and Missy are also like family to us. Tim is their son, Trevor’s, godfather. That’s a funny story. James wanted Tim for the godfather; Missy wanted her friend Jennifer for the godmother, so Trevor has 2 sets of Godparents. Charlene and her husband Jim are like family to us as well, even though they live in Richmond. They have a bunch of kids too. Their son was our ring bearer. Their kids are Paige (about 24) (who has a daughter named Amberleigh and a son whose name I’ve forgotten), Anna (about 20), Caitlin (16), Chelsea (about 9), Carleigh (about 6), and Nathan (4). Next up is the Corbin’s. Mike and Elise were like second parents to me in High School and College. Their girls are like my adopted baby sisters. They have Candice (about 16), Angelina (about 15), Ginny (about 14), and Hannah (about 12). They also have a couple other kids, but I don’t know them because they are older than me and were already gone from home, by the time I met the Corbin’s.

Well, now you know all about my family and friends. I’ll try to include some pictures now from past Christmases for your viewing pleasure.

Wordless Wednesday!

This is my Dad. He obviously LOVES the gift! (It was Die Hard 3.) It's RARE to get a picture of my dad smiling, so I was glad to catch this one.

Click on over to Momdot.com to see more Wordless Wednesday posts as well as to join in the Christmas of Dreams party!

TTC Update

Well, today was my check-up consult with Dr. Morgan. He's good. I like him. Basically he said even though I got negative OPKs last time, he thinks I did O and that the Clomid worked. Yay! He also hinted that I should be using them this time (but he never told me to)...he also said since it's so late in my cycle not to bother with them this cycle. If I go another cycle, he said to use them, though. He said I should O and get pregnant this cycle as long as there isn't anything wrong. As we were leaving, I hope to hear that you're pregnant this month! I like that he's optimistic but also realistic. He gave us clear directions as to what to do if I don't get pregnant. Step 1 is Tim will go for a Sperm Analysis. We are going to start looking into what this costs & where to go, now. Just in case. Step 2 is we'll take a month off of the Clomid. Basically to see if I O on my own & wait for Tim's test results. Step 3 is we'll assess Tim's results. If Tim is A-OK we'll procede with Step 4. Step 4 is to check to make sure my tubes are clear. Now, he didn't say how they do this, but I'm pretty sure it involves something going up my who-ha. If Tim is not OK, then we have to decide what to do based on those results. We didn't discuss that option, because frankly we don't want to hear that there is a problem with Tim. So, I'm hoping my darn temperature goes up tomorrow and I O'ed today. The only other thing the doc said was that we should be doing-the-deed (my words not his, he's very Frank (ha ha) and just says having sex) every other day. He actually said that daily will wear Tim out! (Tim blanched at that one! Hee hee.) You probably want to know why I laughed at my own joke up there, the doctor's name is Frank Morgan. Hee hee...Tidewater Physicians for Women, if you want to know. He's good, I recommend him.

PS, I just realized how bad the grammar & editing in this post are. I'm tired. I'll fix it tomorrow afternoon.

Preemie Presents!

Wow! This woman is putting together an amazing project. I read about her Preemie Presents project from the Crankypants Blog. She is making 30 gift bags to give to the parents of preemies who have to leave their babies in the hospital over the upcoming holidays. She is asking for donations of money, cards, gifts, and hand-knit or crocheted products. These parents are going to be SO blessed by the generousity of strangers.
I'm hoping that my few readers will be able to help spread the word. That's one way I know I can help. I don't have a lot of money right now and certainly not any to spare, but I feel like I should do something.
Please post about this on your blog is you feel like its worth it & if you can help her out, thanks a ton!
-Steph

Diaper Cake!

OK, so these pictures aren't the best, BUT, you can see the totally awesome diaper cake I made. Mandy helped me with the finishing touches. The next one will definitely be EASIER to make.

-I hope she LOVES it!

Little People!

Well, I just had fun sorting & setting up all the Little People I earned babysitting last weekend. They are SO cute. Carolynn is going to make a mess, I mean, have a blast, playing with them!

Here's a customer photo of the Robin Hood set. I have Robin Hood, his horse, the dragon (which is trash 'cuz Rosie ate it's head), the unicorn and Maid Marion.

The night, king, queen, and horse, you see are part of the castle set. (which I don't have) I also have a not pictured Dragon Cave.


Here's the Nativity Set.

Rosie ate the angel. Lily ate the corner of Baby Jesus. Dogs. What can you do but love 'em.
I'm missing the king in red.



Here's the Playground. Fisher-Price doesn't sell this anymore.
I'm missing the little girl with the balloon. Here's the SUPER COOL Learning A-Z Zoo.




Here's Noah's Ark.

I'm missing both elephants and the bottom half of the ark. Mel you got the boat part around there somewhere?

Here's the School Bus!

Here's the Air Plane!

Here's some more Noah's Ark characters. I have a kangaroo & the two leopards.

Here's the Barn.

Here are some more barn animals.

Anyway, I love them! Thanks Mel!

There are also 5 misc. boys, 6 misc. girls, and a misc. dog. Fun Fun Fun!