Happy Birthday to............ME!

I just celebrated my 38th birthday...that sounds really odd to me...

I feel like I should be younger...

Didn't I just turn 30?

Anyway, I had a great time. Last Friday my dear friends took me out to the Tempe Improv. It was so fun. The food was so so, the drink was STRONG, but the comedians were so funny. Really, really funny.

Tony is still in Missouri (or Misery, since it is 8 degrees there!) so we did not do much here. Michael's friend baked me a huge cupcake. Then I did use a Groupon that I bought last summer for a Mani, Pedi, Facial, and I even got my hair done:

I had to take a photo since the gal straightened my hair...it is never this straight, and probably won't be again!

Hopefully I will get to celebrate again when Tony gets home..man do we miss him!

She's 13!!!

Celeste turned 13 on November 9th. Another teenager, Whew, 3 under one roof!  Here are some shots from her (belated) birthday photo shoot:

And here are some photos to show why the b-day shoot was so belated:

And without further ado, 13 things we love about our 13 year old:

1. She's athletic. It seems to come natural to her and even got MVP on her JH volleyball team, the first time ever playing that sport.

2. She's tough.  Man did the last few months show that!

3. She's smart. TPA has been a challenge, but she managed an A on her history final, her hardest subject.

4. Celeste is our fashionista, and has her own fun, quirky sense of style.

5. She's artistic. Her latest, drawing/designing clothes.

6. She is creative.

7. She's cute...what can I say, I know I'm far from a partial observer..

8. Celeste is strong. She has muscle tone I can only dream of.

9. She's busy, not one to really sit around a lot, she's always on the go.

10. She's sweet....well a mix of sweet and sassy anyway.

11. She is funny; quietly, sarcastically, funny.

12. Celeste is a good shopper. Loves it and finds good deals, too.

13. A morning person...the ONLY one in this family...

Happy Birthday, Celeste!

If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say.....

You may have noticed I have been sort of quiet lately, I was trying to follow the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". But I guess I am ready now to share.  The past 2 months have been really difficult for our family.

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Tony's prospective partner pulled out and left us with out a job (income, heath insurance, etc.). It was a surprise to us, and we were very unprepared! To top it off, Celeste severely broke her ankle on her growth plate the night before Thanksgiving, and is still in a cast. I had a really hard time with all this and have not been myself.

Tony decided that it is time for us to just start our own business. What better time then now? No partners, just us. So we immediately started the process, applying for the LLC, getting a RIDICULOUS amount of liability insurance, meeting with an accountant, etc, etc, etc. And you know what?  I see the light at the end of the tunnel...

Our new company, Reliable Plant Maintenance received it's first check!  What a happy day this was! It will still be a while before we pay back those who have helped us and actually have an income...and even longer before we will be able to hire full time employees, get heath insurance, etc. But I see a tiny pin prick of light, and I am moving towards it. Finally some lemonade from our lemons, you know?