Counting Down the Days to Christmas!

Opening Day 14

So since my last post was directed to Mom Willis, I figured it was fitting that this post be directed to Mom Singer.  

About a month ago Nate had a training in Salem and was able to meet his mom there for breakfast, as she happened to have a doctors appointment in the area.  It was then that Rita gave Nate all of our Christmas presents, expecting that would be the only time she could make the exchange.  (Luckily the weather was great for Thanksgiving and she and Clem were able to come visit and assist in preparing my second Thanksgiving ever.  Rita, thanks for taking care of the pie, cranberry sauce, etc. and thanks Clem for hand washing EVERY last dish!)

Nate returned with the presents later that week and I, being the peeker that I am (it's been a year or two since I last peeked, by the way) couldn't help but notice the Lego insignia through the thin wrapping paper.  The package was marked "To: Nate and Brittney (open November 30)." My initial thought was that it was a Lego nativity set... we don't have one... a regular nativity that is.... too expensive.  Nate was super excited at the thought.

Contents of Day 14- Ahh... isn't he so cute?  Still just a kid at heart.

So November 30th rolled around and we opened the present to find a Lego advent calendar.  I was hoping that along with Legos, there might be some chocolate.  Anyway, Nate was thrilled.  He has had a little bit of an obsession with Legos ever since he was young.  In fact, at the Roseberg reception when we got married all the family was there and Nate let Mary (our niece, 2 or 3 at the time) play with his Lego pirate ship, something that I heard he wouldn't allow in the past.  I thought, "Ahhh... my little Nathan Singer is growing up!"  BUT, he then proceeded to tell her to "be careful," and to "play with it like this," hovering over her making sure she didn't take anything apart.  Just a little protective...

Those same pirate ships are now serving as decorations for his cubicle (mine and Rita's idea).  Trust me, it was pretty barren before.

The fireman rescuing the cat (comprising of Day 7-9)

The scuba diver (comprising of Day 13&14)

Anyway, so every evening we try to remember whose turn it is to open the next compartment.  It's really been fun (except for when I tease Nate that I'm going to open them all when he's at work and put them all together myself... he gets a little angry... he once told me in quite a serious tone that he would leave me.  I'm funny, but mean.)   My favorite so far would have to be our little scuba diver.

Nate actually playing with them.

Shoes

Here, mom.  This one's for you.  (You can use the arrows to navigate

 through the pictures.)  My newest pairs are the green heels, the purple

 heels, the brown buckle wedges, and the black and cream mary jane 

heels.  I know.  I know.  I have a problem...

Family Visit

My sister, Jaycie, and her husband, Chad, and their kids came to visit this weekend.  We had so much fun with them and wished they could have stayed an extra day.  My youngest neice kept asking the days before they came, "When are we going to Nate's house?"  Nothing about me? We know who's loved.  Nate deserves it though.  I spent most of the time with the grown ups while Nate tried to help out with the little ones.  Someday he's going to be a great dad!

Anyway, part of why they came down was for family pictures.  And we got so lucky.  The day before was so windy and the day after was so rainy.  But for pictures it was gorgeous-- it maybe sprinkled for 10 minutes.  This was my first time taking family pictures.  I took close to 300 pictures and it was a good thing because between 4 kids it is so hard to get a decent picture.  Some of them turned out so freaking cute.  And thanks to their help, I'm slowing starting to gain a little more confidence in my picture taking abilities.  Good, considering I'm in my senior year.

Here are a few of the pictures:

New Employment

For those of you who don't know, I just started a new job this week.  I'm an "agent assistant" for an insurance agent... sounds a lot better than secretary, huh?  I thought so.  But for the first time in my life I have a job where I feel so lost and helpless.  I know nothing about insurance.  I've had jobs in the past where I knew nothing starting out, jewelry sales for example, but was able to manage.  "This diamond ring is my favorite.  It's so sparkly."  Not hard.  But when it comes to insurance and annuities I can't even pretend to know what I'm talking about.  It's been a little stressful, but Nate just keeps telling me that with time I will be the best insurance agent assistant ever.  My boss has also talked to me about getting licensed, which would help out.

So I was sitting here thinking of all my past jobs and all their low points.  Here are the top three:

1.)  Working Fast Food-  One day while cleaning off tables I was approached by a gentleman who proceeds to ream me for "using chemicals around [his] wife when she has severe chemical allergies."  I was at a complete loss for words and actually apologized... excessively.  How was I supposed to know that his wife could die (which he made very clear) from cleaner?  Of course later I thought of all the great replies... isn't that always the case?  (Oh, and he finished his meal INSIDE while his wife finished hers outside... what a great catch.) 

2.)  Jewelry Sales-  Telling a guy that I wasn't sure if a watch we sold was "quartz."  He then informed me that quartz meant battery-powered.  Who knew?  I felt so stupid; even though my knowledge of diamonds, pearls, precious stones, gold, kinetic watches, adjusting watch bands, etc. is actually quite extensive.   

3.)  McDonalds-  A cute boy came through drive-thru and after handing him his food, he asked what time it was.  I looked at my analog watch (see I told you I know my jewelry!) and proceeded to tell him the time.  He gave me an odd look and drove away.  I then realized I mixed up the hour and minute hands... yeah.