String

I never knew that you could just buy the sting that went inside the yoyo. As a matter of fact I happen to have a few yoyo's that need string. I used to play with them when I was younger and I gave them to Ben and he took out the sting. He likes to make crazy inventions with any type of string that he finds so he took it out of the yoyo's. I was fine with it but it would be nice to have some extra yoyo string incase he decides that he would like to play with them the real way. I think before he was a little to short because when he would hold the yoyo it would just fall to the ground. He is getting taller now so he might be able to hold it up high enough to play.

Promotion

I am so excited that on Wednesday Ken called me from work bright and early in the morning to tell me that he was given the promotion. He was also offered the exact salary that he wanted to get as well. They also told him that in just three short month they would give him a 10.5% raise and do it again in 6 months. He is also still no exempt so he gets paid for all his overtime. I could not believe that! Wow what a blessing that will be. It is nothing short of a miracle if you ask me since they already gave him a 10.5% raise with the promotion. Ken was very happy and I could tell in his voice. He is so excited to get a new manager and especially one that he really loves to work with because he learns so much from him. He really has been wanting to work with this man for a very long time. I know he is going to be much happier in his new position. Ken was called into the office to talk about the new contract that he was under and he was told who was also in line for the position if he did not take it. Out of seven people they only said that they had considered 4 of them to have what they needed for the job. Ken was their very first choice.
Kens direct boss still does not know because his other boss has not told him yet. It seems as if they are putting it off because they are worried. They are suppose to tell him today but they said the same thing yesterday as well. I told him maybe they are trying to get everything in order and have a plan so he does not have to worry. Ken is also wondering if they will put a bid up for his position and weather or not they will make it a salary spot or a union spot. Ken says if its salary he is sure that all the same people will bid on it that bid on the last position as well. That would mean there would be at least three people in the running plus all the union workers that are already over there in that section wanting to be free of the union.
I'm just so glad that Ken will be working with someone new and will be learning more. He loves to go to work when he is learning things. Its when he has to teach them to his manager is when he starts to not enjoy it. Especially when he was being paid less.

Need This

Now this is actually something that we really need leather furniture conditioner. I have actually been searching for the right conditioner for our leather couches for a while now but did not know what to use. Last spring we purchased new furniture and while it was a little more expensive we really wanted good furniture that will last and look nice for a long time. We were going to get a fabric sofa but they we seen the leather and decided that with four kids and dirty hands that leather is more washable and probably the way to go for us. I did not know at the time that you need to condition leather but it does not seem to hard to do now that I have researched it. I just need to find the right conditioner and then do it once or twice a year. I want my furniture to look great for years to come so I'm going to try my best to make it that way.

Reading My Blog

Huh I have to say I just hate when Ken reads my blog he always has to tell me what he thinks. My blog is just that my blog. I write what I feel good and bad and I write what I am excited about. He read my post about his work and asked that I take it down until he gets word about the job. He is so superstitious and I am not so we clash in that department. I removed the post for him but sometimes I just wish he would not read it at all. I feel I am always restricted in what I can and can not say.

Flooring

Ken and I have really been wanting to refinish our hardwood floors. It is one project that we have always put off because we have other things we want done first. It seems like we always push it back because we want other things first. Since we got out of our credit card mess and have it all paid off we always try to use cash or should I say debit for everything even if it means buying a little at a time. Last year we did the patio and this year we are hoping for the kitchen. We will not put in laminate flooring but we will get new counter tops and maybe add some more cabinets. I hate our because I cannot reach them. I also would like to add a dish washer and paint the cabinets and the walls as well. It will probably be the end of summer project since we try to do things outside in the nice weather. I know Ken wants to seal the driveway and get a new side garage door as well as paint the garage. So much to do this year.

Music Lessons

One thing that I personally have always wanted to do was to play the piano. I was never able to when I was little because you really need to have a piano to practice on and our house was always to small to have one. I could have used a keyboard back then but they were not as popular then as they are now days. They were very expensive and were usually only seen by professional musicians. Now you can get a really good on at a used music store for under $600. My husband and I love to go to music stores and look around. He likes to look at the Fender guitars because he really enjoys to play. I really like to listen to him as well. He did take some lessons before and when he practices you can really tell that he gets better. He does not really ever have the time to play since we are so busy. One reason I like music stores is because I love to watch people practice on the guitar some of them are very talented. I'm hoping to get a keyboard for the kids sometime soon so I can start them both next year with lessons. We have a lady in our town that also is part of our church that gives them and is very good. I'm really looking forward to it.

Super Bowl Party

Well I am not a huge football fan as a matter of fact I really don't ever watch football at all but I do like the super bowl. I am more excited to get together with all our friends. We and our families are meeting at a friends house for the big game. We are all going to order some pizza and bring snacks and desserts for us and the kids. I have a new recipe that I am going to try for a dessert its a chocolate chip cheesecake. I am also making some homemade salsa and some rice krispy treats for the kids. It has been a while since we have gotten together with the whole families, as a matter of fact Ken has not even seen the new babies yet. They are already six months old already. Time sure does fly bye.

Back Problems

My mom has had back problems ever since I was a young girl. It all started when I was younger and my mom fell down the stairs and slipped a disk in her back. She had to have back surgery many years later to correct it but she still to this day has a lot of pain. I always wonder if the
laser spine institute could help her. I wonder if she would have laser surgery it would help her. I always feel sorry for her when she is in so much pain. I always wish I could do something to help her. Maybe I can pass this information on to her.

Santa Pictures

Thanks to Lemuel Craft
Over Christmas break, we took our kids to see Santa at the mall. The past two years we have taken our son to see him and we have yet to get a picture with our son smiling. This year was no different. Our son did not cry, but he and his sister just sat there and looked at Santa. We got a few good pictures, thanks to my camera. However, they only let you take pictures with your own camera if you agree to buy the pictures that they took too. When I went to check out the pictures they took, the elf told me that if I give them my email address, they would send me all of the pictures for people to order more online. I am glad we have a clear internet bundle so I will be able to share these pictures with friends and family. I still think that the Santa pictures that you have to buy are priced a little high. I guess that is just the price we have to pay each year for a Santa memory.

Energy Costs

Have you ever wondered if there was a way to save money on your energy costs? Well I have to say that I think about it all the time as a matter of fact everytime that I get a bill in the mail I think about how I can get it to be a lower price. I know there are ways like turning down the heat as well as keeping the lights off in rooms that you are not using at the time. It seems like illinois energy is costing more and more every year. There are many ways to save that you may not know about this year. Check out this site for some ideas to make your bills go a little lower.