and time is no longer my own.  Ben is working more hours and I have picked up a few extra shifts to bring in the dollars while they are there.  Unfortunately it seems that everytime it seems like we may get a little ahead, something crops up - but I think that is just life.

Ben's car decided that it didn't want to start this week and the usual jump didn't fix it.  Luckily our WONDERFUL mechanic was able to get it back up and running without too much cost.  And our oil furnace was causing black smoke again.  This was the 4th time in 2 months.  It really pissed me off for 2 reasons.  First, we just had the darned thing serviced the end of Sept.  Second, I just got a $86.00 bill from our heating and plumbing people for them coming out last week cause we once again had black smoke coming out of our chimney.  They said it was causing problems cause Ben was doing construction in the basement.  The dust got in.  Well, Ben didn't do any construction down there this week and we had the same problem again.  So I let Ben call this time.  And a few of the guys came out.  One of the more experienced guys finally fixed it.  The nozzles that were put on when we had THEM service it in Sept., were too big and too much air was getting in.  So all this trouble was caused by them servicing it!  Needless to say, I am NOT paying the $86.00 bill from last week.  I paid them $100.00 for the original service and I think that is suffice.
On a good note, Ben is finished with the basement and the undercoats of paint.  So tomorrow I am going to start my murals for the walls.  I ahve sketches drawn.  I have one week to get it done cause the carpet is being laid (heh, heh, heh... I said laid...) next Friday.  So it looks like the basement is going to be done in a week!  WOO HOO!!!!!!  Now all I need is for my beautiful furniture to arrive! 
Sam is SOOO excited for the playroom to be finished.  Everyday she asks if it is ready.
Sam is such a lovely girl.  She really has become affectionate.  She ran up to me today and gave me a giant hug as she told me that she loves me and missed me when I was at work last night.  I was like AWWWWWWW... 
We have been working on our alphabet at home.  She and Kit LOVE when we learn a new letter each day.  I am not sure Kit really gets it, but he participates pointing at the book as we look for words in our book that are our letter of the day.  Sam is really getting quick with her flash cards.  She has realized that the letters spell words.  She points to the words and asks me what they say.  We were reading Spot goes to school and on one of the pages it says "Spot spells a word" and on the page are three blocks D-O-G that are a flap.  When you lift the flap it says., "What does that spell?"  So the first time I read it to Sam I asked her what the letters were and she said D-O-G.  And then when I read the bit under the flap (What does that spell...), she sounded it out and said DOG!  I SWEAR that is true!  I nearly fell over!!!!!!  She is so freaking smart sometimes it really frightens me!
We also play the sign game when I drive.  She points out signs and tells me what the shape it.  Reg octagon, yellow diamond, white rectangle.  Well now she has been asking what they mean and knows the red octagon is to stop and that yellow diamonds tell you things.  Like if there are people on it, that means a crossing.  She loves telling me to stop at red lights and to go when they are green.  And she even yells at slow drivers and calls them GRANDMAS!  *blush*
And onto more shameless bragging, but now for my son.... Baby Kit now can baby sign "more", "up," and "hungry".  He points to everything now and waits for us to call it by name.  His comprehension of signing is even earlier than Sam got it and he really seems to know that things have names.  He is great at communicating now when he is hungry and showing us what he wants when it is in sight.  We are now working on the signs for BOOK, TV, HELP and PLEASE.
Baby Kit called me MA MA for the 1st time on Turkey day!  *Sigh, my heart!*  And has started walking on his own on Black Friday.  My big boy is almost a year!
Ben and I are good, just busy balancing family, work and trying to get stuff done around the house.  We figure after the holidays, we are going out on a date!  I don't care if it is to McDonalds drive thru!
And AF is now coming on a regular basis again.  My LP is till too short, so having another baby is a non issue right now.  Who knows about later though.  Still undecided.
Thinking ELV for Suzanne.  And thinking healthy vibes for little man Gabe.  And I am glad Amy's blog is back up - I was getting worried about her.  I am wondering what dress Margie picked.  I have been a very crappy friend and not around much - but December is a bitch for us and I probably will continue to suck until January.  But my thoughts and love is always with my family and friends.