Our Flight Home

We just got home late last night from our visit with all my family in Utah. My parents live there and my brother and his girlfriend were there along with my sister and her family. We had a GREAT time!!! I will get some pictures posted later. For now, I wanted to share our plane ride home.

We had 2 flights on our way home. Our first flight was from SLC to Denver. When we checked in our seats hadn't been assigned so we had to get those at the gate. We waited last minute b/c there was a play area on out way to the gate and we would have rather waited for our flight to board there, then in the middle of a large mass of people. So when I finally went to get my seats the guy had us all over the plane so he tried to get us together. When, he handed me the tickets he said," If you don't like these seats I can't help ya." I just laughed and said thank you and walked away. When I finally looked at them I noticed they were on the first row. That's right... FIRST CLASS baby! That nice man couldn't get us together in coach so he bumped us up at no charge. I loved it! I am spoiled for life now. All the room and comfy seats is what sold it for me. But don't worry...I am gonna get over it real quick. I just don't see the Bolinger family busting out the cash for first class in the future.

Then, On our second flight there was an older couple that just thought Audrey was the cutest baby EVER!!! Well, let's be honest...she is!;) I mean Nora was too! ;) Anyway, they were really nice and sat behind us on out trip. They passed us as we got off the plane and said...and I quote..."We love to see good parents and you guys are great, Good Job!" My first thought was, "That is so nice, we are good parents" and then my second thought to immediately follow was, "They obviously aren't with me after a long day at home!"

It was a great trip back with some little "pick me up's along the way" Just had to share. Feel free to leave a comment agreeing on what great parents we are! ;)

The South has risen again...we'll for one day!

We went to a Civil War re-enactment a couple weekends ago and really enjoyed it. We went to our first one when I was prego with Nora in Alabama. That one was truly a lot of fun. By the end Wade was ready to by an outfit and become a traveling re-enactor! ;) The one in Alabama had booths and food and a pretend hospital for the injured soliders. This one just had a huge crowd, cold weather and slow progressing Battle. But, we enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a two day battle. The South Whupped butt the first day and then the North won the battle on the second day.

The Union was on the ground and overtook the south on the hill. But on the first day (according to my local historian, Wade) when the Union got on the hill they went in too far in and the South surrounded them and took 'em out! I am not sure what happened the second day exactly, but I do know that them there Yankees won. SOOOO, the South did rise again in 2008 during the Battle of Prarie Grove, but only for ONE day!

The "Confederacy" Hangin Tough!

The Confederates blowin up the Union

Uno y Uno! The calvary busted out bayonettes.

The union starting their ascend up the Hill.

Had to take a picture of us! Don't you think we blend in?!

The Union made it to the top of the hill and started blastin'!

We thought this was a great picture...One confederate soldier is helped and injured of the battle field!! Ahh...too sweet! I guess those confederates weren't all bad....what??? Them there is fightin' words! ;)

And for my favorite Picture of all......

Wait for it,

Wait for it,

Wait for it,

Yep, this is a product of my professional photography work! I was holding up my camera to get a view over the crowd and I tilted the camera downward thinking I was going to get a ghot of the Union on the ground. And well, this is what I ended up with! ;) Nice, Huh?!

Bustin' out the Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving we Busted out the Christmas decor!!! I was soooooo excited about this for a couple reasons!

1. I LOVE Christmas! Enough said!

2. I haven't seen my Christmas stuff for 2 years now b/c as I mentioned in previous post, our home was still all boxed up in storage until the day before we went out of town.

3. I LOVE listening to Christmas music. I actually have it on right now! Wade will not listen to it until the day after thanksgiving...it's like his personal house rule..bah humbug!!! ;) I think my favorite song in "Last Christmas" by Wham!! admit it, it's your too!

4. I delight in the task of decorating the Christmas tree. I don't know what I am gonna do when I have to relinquish my control over the tree and let my children decorate it. which I think Nora will be all about it next year. She helped this year but I was still in control! ;) It's a true obsession for me. What? I was the baby of my family, give me a break!

5. we can rev up the DVD player for technicolor and play the goodies like " It's a wonderful life" and " Holiday Inn"...Thanks Mom, I'm totally turning into you. Between this and crying during hymns in church I don't have a chance. Color me Lani Jean Schafer b/c I am on my way.

6. Christmas party time! It's no secret that I am somewhat of a social creature. So, I love going to parties and Christmas parties are the BEST! Could be a little better if I could spike the egg nog with some bourbon...JUST TEASING! ;) But, they are great nonetheless! All the goodies, white elephant gifts, and of course Christmas music...all in one place. You can act a fool at Christmas parties and nobody could care less b/c we are ALL in a good mood!


Well, I am sure there are plenty more but, I'll stop there and show you some pictures of our fun day!

Oh Tenenbaum!!!!

A Homemaker no more

Well, technically I am still a homemaker, but now I'm a partially employed/save my sanity stay at home mommy. Shocker I know, but it is a position that literally fell in my lap. I was thinking of getting a PT job anyway, but was apprehensive about it b/c I didn't want to get a night job b/c then I would never see the hubby and the kids would NEVER see both their parents together. Then I didn't want a day job b/c then I would have to pay for daycare and that is pointless. Nonetheless, Wade and I have been a little concerned about SAVING money...blah!! So I either had to take this into my own hands or Wade would just skip sleeping and go to work full time, school part time, and another side job on well, the side! ;)

Then one afternoon I called my oldest friend here in Arkansas,Lisa. Literally, we go way back to the Troy days, we were even sorority sisters...tear (IOB LISA wink, wink). Anyway, Lisa works at an pretty nice athletic club here so I thought I would ask her if they need any PT help. She said she doubted it but would ask around. Well, at around that same time a PT gal was given a full time position and told to "replace" herself. She thought, "What???" and had no idea where to start. Then Lisa comes along and told her about me and she told me to email her and the rest was HISTORY!!! It's a great PT job. I will be working the front desk for a couple hours in the AM, 3 days a week. The girls will get to go to their childcare (which is huge and also functions as a mom's day out program, and the nursery is in a separate room) and I can take breaks to check on them/lunch or whatever! AND I get a free gym membership!!!

SO to recap. I have a PT job with childcare, I make a little extra money to splurge on my indulgences UHM...I mean SAVE!! ;) Also, I save money on a gym membership, and save money from Nora's Preschool as it is no longer needed since she will get PLENTY of social interaction at the childcare. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!

YEAH! I am really excited!!! This truly is a blessing and an answers to our prayers! Of course I am a little worried and nervous. It's just weird to leave my kids for a couple hours when I have been a FULL TIME stay at home mommy since Nora was born. But, I think it will be great form me and the girls!