Are you suppose to update a blog?!

I know...almost a month since I've sat down and blogged. It's been crazy, which is always my excuse, but hey, it's the truth. Last I posted, someone had gotten my check card number in Spain, and we thought we had caught it in time. We didn't...$1500 cleared my checking account and my card was captured on a Friday afternoon leaving us with zero access to cash money...which was not fun since we were headed to the Christmas Show aka "Christmas Heaven" with no check cards or cash. Lucky for us, most places took other cards. My main goal at the Christmas show this year was to by the ceramic tree that lights up. My Grandma Cook always use to have one, and this year, I wanted it for some reason...I guess she was on my mind. So...I got it and added it to my collection of awesome decorations.

I love Christmas...everything about it...the decorating, getting cards, buying for others, spending time with family and friends, the music, finding the perfect REAL tree-everything! After Thanksgiving while all the crazy people were out shopping (that is one thing I do not participate in-I sleep) Joseph and I were headed up to the mountains with some friends to go on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Saturday morning we headed out...and it took forever to find the place, but when we did, the drive was worth it. The trees were awesome, so then the search began. I had added stress this year because I was in charge of buying a tree for Michelle and Adam-that's a lot of pressure. We found their tree pretty quickly, but we struggled with ours. It was so cold up there and finally we just had to pick one. It is the perfect size and shape-it's just perfect! And I know Shell and Adam like theirs too...thank goodness!

I also celebrated another birthday while I was on my little blog hiatus...28 whopping years old now. And of course we celebrated it the same as always, a birthday dinner at none other then Nakatos. It was a great birthday. Joseph planned the dinner and afterwards for everyone to come over for cake and ice cream. My cake had a picture of my three boys on it-Rocky, Charlie and Tripp. Apparently I always say I could just eat them up, so we literally did! It was great!

Speaking of my three babies...they are now unable to reproduce. That was a big headache. We were able to get them fixed through the Humane Society, but the vet will only do one Humane Society animal a day. So...three trips to the vet, which was a choir because the cat getting fixed could not have food or water, so the others had to suffer. And then the cat coming home couldn't eat or drink, so they all had to suffer. Since all the surgeries they now eat all of their food all the time...I think they are worried that we won't feed them or something! It was really funny to see how each cat reacted after surgery...they all pretty much followed their personalities. Tripp came home still loopy and just walked around kinda confused, Charlies was biting the cage and clawing at me trying to get out on the way home-and on the counter the minute the cage opened looking for food, and Rocky just kind of cam home, checked things out and climbed in bed to sleep.

Funny crazy cat story, and then I'm done-almost! Yesterday Joe and I are decorating the outside and we decide to add one last minute detail. It required him going up the very top of the house and me on the roof of the porch. So...we climb out a second story window onto the porch roof and Joe climbs up to the top on a ladder that I hold for him. He's hanging the lights and all of a sudden yells Orange Kitty (Tripp) who is now on the roof with me! I'm scared to go to the edge-wimpy I know-so I'm trying to call him over and then around the side comes Rocky. Two cats on the roof with a scared Mom and a Dad on the very top of the house. As I'm holding the ladder for Joe to come down they are climbing in the gutters and running from us-yikes! Joe catches them, we secure them inside and drama over, but it was crazy. Apparently I forgot to close the screen completely...oops!

And finally...as many of you who follow my useless blog decorate for Christmas I hope you are pleasantly surprised when you find Jackson's ornament. I have heard so many stories about how many didn't remember the box and wondered what was inside. I have been told some smiled as they hung that cutie on their tree and some cried a few tears. I just hope that as you celebrate Christmas you can take a minute to say a special little prayer for that precious angel. He was absolutely amazing. We miss him everyday. If you have a story to share...please do share. I love hearing how each person remembers him. Also...if you didn't get a Jackson ornament and would like one, just let me know. I have a couple left.

Alright...that's all for now! I'm off to my Mom's for a yummy dinner. I hope that you enjoy this holiday season and enjoy the time you have with your family and friends. As always, please Remember Jackson. Until next time...

Nichole