Just Because

We are getting ready to do the 12 hour trip back to NC that we were not expecting and will be back here in Florida around Wednesday. Some things happened yesterday unfortunately with my step-daughter yesterday and we have to be back ASAP.

We just got home a week ago yesterday from a trip to NC and didn't realize we would have to turn around and go back. I sure wish we had the money to fly instead of driving :(. We are doing the night driving so hopefully girls will sleep most of the way.

I just want to get this settled for us and my step-daughter and know she is safe, secure and out of harm's way :(. We love her so much and can't wait to all be together again and the stress to go away.

Not only can I believe my first born is 5 years old today, but it also marks another anniversary. 

I have been working at home for a full 5 years now. That just amazes me in all different directions.

You see, Madisyn was a scheduled induction for December 19, 2002 so I told my supervisor that I was going to take off the day before December 18, 2002 to make sure I had everything planned and ready to go. I was an art technician for a company called Paxar. Ever wonder where I got my love of doing graphic projects for clients in Photoshop? Hehe now you know!

I gave all my good byes to my fellow co-workers and they wished me well on the delivery and I told everyone I would keep in touch and be back to work after my 12 week leave in March. I had my baby girl and was she ever such a joy. I was so in love with my girl and knew I wanted to spend every waking moment with her.

Well at about 8 weeks, I took Madisyn over to her daycare provider to try and get her use to her. We were going to do weekly trips up until she was 12 weeks when I would go back to work. Needless to say Madisyn cried the whole entire time we were there on the first visit. That just broke my heart to pieces :(. I kept making excuses for the next visits and we never did go to anymore ;).

It comes time for me to report back to work and that week before my supervisor called me and was getting all the info from me for when I would come back. I told him… I just can't do it. I can't leave her. There is no way. He said listen, Jennifer we need you. We want you. So go ahead and take another week with your little girl and we will see you in an week. Phew… I was so relieved by that.

Well that week just flew by of course and it was getting towards the end of the week. My supervisor calls back and talks to me to see what time I would be coming in. I immediately started crying and just told him can we not do something else? Can I just come back as part-time? So he talked to HR and they said I could use my vacation days for the year and only work 6 hours a day and use vacation hours for the other two hours to make my complete 8 hours for the day. I thought and thought and just said there is no way I am going to be able to leave my pride and joy. I asked if I could just work 3rd shift, but there was already a gal that did that, so they wouldn't let me. I asked about working at home half the time like the 3rd shift girl and they said no. So right then and there, I made my decision to turn in my resignation.

I was NOT going back to let someone else raise my child, watch her first steps, here her first words. I went out on a leap of faith and said I was going to work at home. I began telecommuting the very next week. I telecommuted for different companies till December 2005, when my business had taken off so much that I dedicated full-time hours to it.

So here I am today, five years later. I cannot believe I have been out of Corporate America for 5 years. It amazes me. In one way I do miss it, as I had a lot of great friends at work and loved that aspect of it. Also my work was done and I could come home to just be with my family and not worry about work. Where as working at home, work is always blaring me in the face haha. But guess what? I would never change it for the world!

I keep in touch with some of my co-workers, so I called them up today. They couldn't believe it was 5 years either. They said yea, here we thought you were coming back and you still have never showed up hehe. 

This last five years have honestly been the best 5 years of my life!!! 

I'm so glad you came to our little tour here in Florida. Please enjoy your "warm" stay and have a wonderful and Great Holiday Season.

Before you leave make sure to grab a cup of fantastic Apple Cider and some Great Butterscotch Hay Stacks. I'll make sure to leave the recipe out for you so you can go home to share with your family.

Much greatness for this wonderful season from our family to yours!

My daughter would like to be your tour guide on the tour. Have fun 🙂

We will first start out on our tour viewing the snowmen outside our door:

Then we will head on into the house and to your left you will see our decorated shelf. Here is a close up pict:

Then if you step backwards just a bi, you will see the bigger view of the shelf and Christmas Tree:

Here is a pict of just the pretty christmas tree that my daughters decorated pretty much themselves with help with the ribbon from mommy:

Then if we mozy on around our house, you will see our stockings are hung with care!

Next, we are going to walk through the kitchen. Please stop and pick up your cup of apple cider and grab a couple hay stacks. They are definitely a delight.

If you look to your right in the dining room we have a couple of little Christmas Trees lit up:

Then beside the little Christmas Trees we will finish our tour with the nativity scene that is such a great and wonderful tradition in our household. 

I want to thank you much for taking the time to come on our little tour. Please let us know that you have been here by leaving a short comment below. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

Now here are your recipes to go home and share with your family 🙂

Apple Cider (taken from allrecipes.com):

INGREDIENTS

    * 1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle apple cider
    * 3 cinnamon sticks
    * 1 teaspoon whole allspice
    * 1 teaspoon whole cloves
    * 1/3 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a slow cooker, combine apple cider and cinnamon sticks. Wrap allspice and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth, and add to pot. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, and keep warm.

Butterscotch Hay Stacks (taken from cooks.com):

1 package butterscotch chips
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 small packages of chow mein noodles
1 cup miniature marshmallows

First heat peanut butter in deep pot at medium heat. Then stir in butterscotch chips, reducing heat to low. Remove pot from burner, adding in noodles a little at a time while stirring the mixture.

Once combined, add in marshmallows (make sure mixture isn't hot or they will melt) and continue to combine all.

Once all ingredients are coated, spoon out onto wax paper and allow one hour for them to set.

*Peanuts or raisins are also great alternatives for the marshmallows.

ENJOY! Only 70 Calories 🙂