Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A merry Christmas was had by all the former MN Zacks. It was a bit chaotic as we are in the midst of our move from Vera's house to our new townhouse, but the kids did not seem to mind the mess! Tom got his beloved new Nintendo DS system and some money to buy games for it, at least when Mom gets back in town. Jim is the Lego master and also RC Monster truck man, running over everything in sight. Antonia is a princess and ballerina, and Stevie is a Power Ranger/doctor/Care Bear hugger! They are all owed a trip to Build a Bear Workshop by mom and dad, another thing that will have to wait until next week.
Because MOM is in MN, alone! That's right, I've abandoned my babies and my beloved husband to return to frigid MN for my first vacation without kids in 10 years. Yeah, it would have been nice to go somewhere with Jon, but we didn't hear anyone volunteering to take the kids for a week!!!! So I get to visit with friends and family, sleep late and without anyone jumping on me or kicking me, watch movies that don't have animated or dressed-up animals in them, and generally relax.
I saw Theresa and Luanne, friends from Elk River, the first day and then went up to Eveleth (why????) to see Luanne's new home there. Now I am in St. Paul at Ann's house, wondering how we got to be 40+ years old in the time since we met at 12. Tomorrow I go visit Grandma Wilmes in Mankato, thankful I will get a chance to do that. She is at home, though weak and tired, and it seems unlikely I will have another chance to visit with her. Then I see Dad and Steve's family for Dad's birthday tomorrow night. Mom and I will shop till we drop Friday for presents for the kids and for old time's sake, and then Ann and I are going out Friday night to see the Lamont Cranston band, a local band from the 80s. Don't worry, we won't wear big hair or flannel shirts! I want to know why belly rings and low rise jeans weren't in style when I had a flat belly and 23" waist. Why were the girls wearing boy jeans and flannel shirts then???? IT ISN'T FAIR! Not that I could dress that way even IF my belly was still flat, but still...
Did you remember that CDs and crack cocaine didn't exist before 1983? (Not that I bought the first until the 90s or the second ever...) My kids don't believe me when I tell them we didn't have more than 5 TV channels and no VCRs until I was in jr high or so.
I have been able to keep up with my printing business online at everyone else's computer, checking orders, answering emails, extolling the wonders of personalized Post-it notes...but I miss my graphics programs and can't dash off mockups to customers till I get back home. I had a big rush of orders a week before Christmas--gotta LOVE those people who order 10 sets to give to 10 people!! and then it slowed a bit. It is picking back up with business customers again, my bread and butter work. Now you all enjoy the personalized Post-its you got for Christmas, and come back when you run out!

Christmas is coming, we are moving!

Hey, we got the tree up! Last year, after our second-hand artificial tree crashed 3 times that holiday, we went out and got a new artificial tree that was prelit. Such luxury!! I put it up yesterday and the 4 kids decorated it all by themselves. I put the angel on top and plugged it in--that's it! They had so much fun and it looks very nice. I figure mom can help me take everything down when she comes out MLK weekend. If I can find my camera I'll get some pics. Half our stuff is moved and everything is chaos. Plus I have to check the status of my orders every few hours--I have a bunch of customers waiting on Christmas gift Post-it note orders.

Belated Halloween photos

Here is Princess Rosie onHalloween




Above is alien Tom
Below is the coolest Sponge Bug around:


This is Kung Fu Jim. He was something else for Halloween, a ninja something, but went trick or treating with friends so I didn't get pictures.

He is doing well in Kung Fu and seems to like it. It is Shaolin, Southern Style, Chinese Kung Fu, if you know what that means...I don't!

Bug has been insisting that Papa is Santa Claus, and also telling me we have to get Papa a Santa costume. Rose tells him, "No, Mama is Santa, cause she does the buying." So much for childish innocence around here! I try to stay out of it and keep the big boys out as well.

Then today Rosie told me today that she sometimes doesn't believe in Jesus, because it is hard to understand and believe in. She's not even 5 yet! (They discuss basic Christian principles at her preschool.)

It is 44 and rainy here now, very wet. But the high tomorrow is 60! Beats snow. Tom says he LOVES this rainy weather.

Floorplan of our new home!

Here's the floorplan of our new home. We get the keys the 15th!

Tom and Antonia will have their own rooms upstairs. Jim and Bug will have their beds in the loft, sharing it with the video games and other toys. The dining room will probably be a den/office for Karen.

The kids are excited but upset that we won't be putting up all of our Christmas stuff. I can't face putting it all up at the same time we are moving in, just to take it down again...

Christmas Wish Lists

Grandma Jean and Grandpa Don have reportedly already sent their Christmas box: WOW!

It will be a bit thin this Christmas due to our impending move and all. The kids have very long lists: here are some of their wishes:

Tom: games for Nintendo DS, some Animal Planet video on animals of the future, $ (so he can buy games), a subscription to G-Fan (http://www.g-fan.com/subscriptions.htm), and a host of specific games...

Jim: a Tyco remote control vehicle, and whatever...

Antonia: anything Barbie or Princess-related. The Disney store catalog is getting well-thumbed here! Also baby stuff; she loves taking care of her babies.

Bug: anything related to soccer, Power Rangers jammies and bed (I think he means blanket or comforter?)

Jon and Karen: beach chairs (summer WILL come again!), Corelle Watercolors dinnerware (so we can use something besides plastic and our nice china!)

We are in denial that Christmas is only 20 days away. :)

But I am getting tons of CHristmas orders, especially Post-its for teachers. Some funny orders, too, like one set that just says, "Charge it" at the top of the hot pink Post-it notes!

We cleared a space for Grandma Vera's tree and will get it this week if it stops raining! Papa is in New Orleans at a meeting till Friday.

We are moving!

This is a general picture of these townhouses, but we are going to be renting an end unit (door on the side) 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath in Bordentown Township. We get the keys 12/15 and we are SOOO excited! There is a huge loft that will serve as the 4th bedroom for Jim and Bug. The kids can ride their bikes in the unfinished basement. Without the basement it is about 2000 sq feet!

New address will be in our Christmas cards!

Everyone's Christmas Presents! Personalized Post-it Note Design Gallery

Personalized Post-it Note Design Gallery: Free Design Help
Now you can see what I have been busy with this month and also what everyone over the age of 10 is getting for Christmas this year. I am actually getting quite a few gift orders, especially for teachers. So first, I decide what to get everyone. Then I order and get them. Then I maximize promotion of them, add them to my personalized Post-it note gallery and other links. Finally the poor personalized Post-it notes get wrapped up and mailed to you. (3 boxes have already gone out; the rest hopefully will next week.)

Hey, it's not to late to order YOUR personalized Post-it note Christmas gifts! LOL
more news later today.