I am always on the lookout for inexpensive options for Bobby’s Networking career in addition to the degree he is working on. One of the things we are looking into is getting him IT certificates in addition to his degree. His goal is to eventually have a Master’s Degree in Network Administration. Today I ran across a website which offers a Comptia Network+ Training DVD, which is a video program at a fraction of the cost of attending a class at a community college or an online school.

The video is 12 hours long and not only allows you to see a network being built, but also covers troubleshooting, plus 120 CompTia Network+ Exam Questions to prepare for the exam, all taught by an instructor.

*This is a sponsored post.

Bobby turned 30 today. We didn’t do anything exciting, and I feel really bad about not throwing him a huge shindig or anything, but he is singing next to me “this has been a good day for daddy, good day for daddy”. We went to Best Buy to spend his birthday money from my parents and he got some new toys, to include a new network card for his laptop (his has not worked right since the Coke Vs. Laptop incident) and after 25 minutes with Linksys tech support, he is connected better than ever. They even told him to call back when he was ready to get his X-Box 360 up on the network (it has not worked since we replaced the actiontec Qwest wireless modem with a regular modem and a wireless router). He also got a few new games for all his toys, and a bigger jump drive for his homework. He is installing Neverwinter Nights 2 on his laptop right now.

After shopping we went to Outback for dinner, and instead of waiting like we do every year on the 26th skipped lunch and arrived a few minutes before they opened. Matthew napped in his car seat, Austin & Christopher played in the backseat, and Bobby and I listened to XM 150 (the uncensored comedy station) until they opened. Our server was really cool, he was the kind of person who had a good sense of humor and was willing to BS with us.

So even though he did not get strippers, have a house party, or get shit-faced drunk, I think he had a really good birthday.

I mentioned how our tree broke this year, which was OK beccause it was our last year we planned on having the tree. Bobby was able to make it work by using duct tape and super glue. Well, on Christmas morning when we were opening our gifts, the tree revolted and decided enough was enough. After the paper was cleaned up and the toys were all put away, the tree came down and will go to it’s new home (the dump) on collection day.

I found the tree I wanted on the 23rd, but I knew if I waited until the day after Christmas they would lower the price even more. So today on our way to Best Buy, I ran into K-Mart and got a 7 1/2 ft pre-lit tree, much like this one (except that tree is not pre-lit). It was 50% off and the last 7.5ft tree. I would have prefered a taller tree, but a fuller tree was a bigger priority.

I planned on just running in to see if they had any, and I did not expect they would since it was already 2pm, so I did not grab a cart. Big mistake, that box was not only super heavy, but also very bulky. Luckily Austin found me an abandon cart about 5 isles away. I am sure it was funny to see me struggling.

I have had a pretty rough week full of disappointments and holiday stress, so I figured the best way to get out of that funk is to list what I am thankful for (as well as a few goals).

1. I am thankful I was able to adopt Austin; this is something I have been trying to accomplish for 7 years.
2. I am thankful Bobby got a good job with his current company, and he is out of the Army and able to spend more time at home with us.
3. I am thankful I was able to find a decent work at home job that pays me well and keeps me at home with my Children where I belong.
4. I am thankful that Austin is getting good grades in school and is loving his boys only class at his school, as well as his love of reading and writing that just recently emerged.
5. I am thankful I am healthy and strong and can deal with any kind of problem that comes my way.
6. I am thankful Christopher will get a diagnosis in less than a month and we will know how to best help him through difficulties as they come.
7. I am thankful I decided to sign with Matthew as his language development amazes me each day (if not by speaking, by signing), it is empowering to know what your child is asking for.
8. I am thankful that I met, and am surpassing my goal of feeding my baby only my milk to- and beyond his first birthday.
9. I am confident that even if I cannot have another baby, like planned, Matthew will grow up happy, and not lonely like I did, despite the age gap between him and Christopher & Austin.
10. I know that I will do the very best I can to help Christopher mature into a confident and strong child and help him with his sensory issues and social development, as well as his behavior in class.

Check out this neat Blogging Carnival over at Hunna’s Happenings. I can’t wait to see all the blogs that enter, it will be a neat way to find new blogs to visit. Check it out, and submit your own blog!

Or leaning tree of Colorado?

My Christmas tree, that I have had for something like 7 years, died the day before yesterday. The stand broke and I was not about to buy a new one for 3 days, so Bobby fixed it with duct tape until the day(s) after Christmas when we can get a new tree at a huge discount for next year. I will have to get a photo and post it to see if you can see how it leans. Below is a picture in which I used Paint Shop to show the angle of the tree’s axis in comparison of the angles of the background lines so you can see how much the tree leans.

My mom was famous for hiding things from my father and I and then losing it.  Like most things my parents did, I swore  I would NEVER do that.  Well darn it, it is confession time… I lost probably one of the best Christmas gifts I got the kids.  Austin and Christopher LOVE Zelda, and I got them the new Zelda game.  Now I cannot find it; I am not even sure if I got it.  Either I wrapped it already and put it under the tree, hid it from the kids and cannot find it, or never received it at all.  I went to the tracking website, which is something called UPS-WI which partners up with USPS, so neither UPS or USPS could help me because the tracking number is unknown to them both.  UPS-WI just shows the package transfered to USPS on Dec 16th in Illinois… so where is it now??  HAVE I LOST MY MIND?  MY SANITY?  MY MEMORY??

This weeks theme is Lines. I chose this picture because it sums up my week very well, negative. I took this photo yesterday before I was supposed to go to see the Reproductive Endocrinologist. We had to cancel because we were misled by our insurance that it would be covered with a $50 copay, but found out yesterday they only actually cover 50%. At an upwards of $500 a visit, this just is not doable at this time. So like this negative pregnancy test, my heart is negative that we will have another baby.

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

I am kind of relieved, I am in no mood to entertain. This fever is really draining me, not to mention the let downs of today and feeling “snowed in”. I do have to be thankful we have power.

When we lived in Spokane in 1996 we lost power in an ice storm for over a week. No electricity, no heat, no firewood (it all sold out super fast) and no way to cook our food. The streets were all closed, and because we lived on a hill, cars and buses could not get up the incline. We did have a fireplace, so we burned furniture. My parent’s house had electricity, but they were in Hawaii and I did not have a key. After 48 hours without electricity we went to our roommates grandmother’s house until the power came back. Not long after that we ended up moving to a new house with the roommate, stressful situations like a power outage can bring out the worst in people and we could not stand our other roommate anymore (confused? It was Bobby and I, Bobby’s friend K, and two brothers M, and M living in a four bedroom apartment; the roommate we had a problem with was one of the M’s. The one we moved with was roommate K).

Anyways, even though I am stuck at home, it sure could be worse!

How cute are these clothes? Check out this Nursery Guide to Baby Clothes, where you can find cute, but cool baby and children’s clothes, UV protective wear, and holiday clothes. I love looking at unique baby clothes, I like the idea of my children looking different from the rest of the kids who shop at the local retail stores.

*This is a sponsored post.