Christmas Day Part I

This is the teapot that Cathy got at the White Elephant Exchange at the Morh's. Actually, techincally it's Kirk's teapot, as Cathy made him "win" it for her after she was out of turns. She loves it.

Another shot of the teapot. The thing to the left fits in and you can put loose tea leaves in for brewing. We've already tried it with the English Breakfast tea that Dustin sent to Cathy for Christmas- yum!

Vanessa wanted to meet Annie, who actually obliged without being *too* grumpy about it.
Vanessa in her Christmas dress, before we opened the presents.
Our tree, with most the presents under it. We can't put the gifts under it until just before we open it, because of curious animals.

Sarah likes her gift. She carried it around all morning. She really wanted to take it outside so she could bury it, and was kind of cranky that she was not allowed to do it.
Despite the unimpressed face, Vanessa really seemed to like the Phonics bus.
It took *forever* to get out of the package.

Linda and her favorite gift this year- the Elephant lamp.

We're off to the Mohr's for Christmas dinner- more to come later!

Snow!

It's a good thing Linda and Kelly made it in last night. This morning, we woke up to this:

So much for the ice storm

We were promised a very dramatic ice storm yesterday. It was going to be bad- power may be out, trees and power lines down, people stranded due to horrible roads. Kirk and I were all set to stay home from work today. On the radio this morning, schools were cancelled. Universities were cancelled-and it's finals week! Even non-essential personnel on the military base had a delayed start! The roads must be horrible, right?

Then we looked outside and saw...lots of rain. No ice, no downed trees, no reason to stay home from work. They must have cancelled those other things last night, when they were expecting the mini-apocalypse.

While I'm glad that we're not getting it as bad as Oklahoma, I was all set for a day off! Now I'm worried that the freezing rain will come while I'm at work, leaving me stranded and forced to subsist on questionable cafeteria food.

The Cutest Ugly Car In the World

Meet Cathy's 2006 "new" Scion XB, The Breadbox!

In case you were wondering...

I got the job!  I now work at Case New Holland as the
Engineering Coordinator.  I've been there a little
over a week and I think I'll like it much more than my
previous job. 

My job is to process Engineering packages to make sure
that everything has been done that needs to be done. I
make sure that everything on the drawings is also on
the bill of materials so they have everything to build
the equipment.  It is not a difficult job, but it is
very detail oriented and there are billions of small
details to remember.  I think I'm doing well so far.
My trainer says I've already done more on my own in
the week I've been here than the guy who last had my
position did in the month he was here.  There is
PLENTY to do! I don't see how the person who is
training me managed to do this on her own for over a
year without help.

It will be a very busy job, and I will likely have to
do overtime.  I don't mind so much though.  Since it
is hourly, I'll get paid time and a half for any
overtime.  It is contract, so it will not be forever,
but it will give me some time to figure out what I
want to be when I grow up. As a bonus, it is much
closer to home than my last job, pays more, and the
contract is much longer. Once I am trained, they will
allow me to work from home a day or two a week, which
will be awesome as well.