The Longest Post Ever. You're Welcome.

I have been in a poopy mood lately.  I can't say that I am out of my funk yet, but I have, at least, reached a point where I am acknowledging my mood.  This is something, I suppose.  It all started like 2...maybe 3, weeks ago.  I think my life just got to be too much and then everything fell apart.  Remember this post? I talked about when I have too many balls in the air I get tired and for whatever reason I don't just put one ball down and juggle with less balls, but I just quit and drop everything.  Well, that's what happened a few weeks ago.

I don't want to bore you with the depressing details of my life, nor ruin any Christmas cheer you may be feeling this season.  Instead I will tell you about the fun and happy things that I have done or seen in the last few months that I never got around to posting about.

First, the following are paintings I have done since October.  The first is acrylic paint.  The rest are oil, except the last one which is watercolor.  (My first ever watercolor.)

As it turns out, I can paint.  And pretty well, I might add.

I might be bragging.  I don't care.

Second, I am taking a training class in February to become a painting instructor, which is pretty much the most awesome thing ever!!  I am excited, and nervous, and terrified, and pretty sure I will fail miserably at it all in front of lots of people. I've decided I don't really care.  Fail or not, here I come.

Third, I am going to be an aunt any day now.  I can't wait!!! I keep my phone by me every second these days and you can expect me to flood your Facebook with the news when he/she decides to come.

Fourth, this is my team at work in our costumes at Halloween.  lol  We were minions and my manager was pretty much the perfect Gru.

Good stuff!

Fifth, on my painting trip I learned from a professional how to build a legit sandcastle.  His full time job is to teach people how to build sandcastles.  True story.  He was really awesome.

This is the process.

Build a rocky bottom so excess water can soak down in it.

 Next you build the bottoms with really really wet sand, and pat the top to get out all the air bubbles.

 You pull the buckets off and you get this.

 Then you make "pancakes" to build up your tops, including arches

 Continue to make pancakes

 Then you begin sculpting,

 making doors, and windows, and stairs, and cobblestone, and bricks...etc

Pretty legit, right?

Sixth, (are you still counting with me?) I made onesies for my baby niece/nephew.  Check out this cuteness!

Brace yourself.

Shut your face with that duck!! haha

Seventh, my dentist sent me a pie at work.  Yeah.  A pie.  So weird, right? 

Yeah, I thought so too.  But I guess they were doing some customer appreciation thing and delivering a pie a week to people at work.  

As a side note, she might have picked me out on purpose.  I have certainly given her a lot of my money lately.  *sigh*

Eighth, my parents got a DOG!!! If you know my parents you know why this is worth 3 exclamation points!!!  Her name is Lucy and she is a French Pug.  My mom got her for free.  Their cat, Sam, is not pleased...to say the least.  He tried a hunger strike.  That lasted for 4 days.  Then he tried to run away.  That lasted like a day.  Then he tried hissing a clawing at the dog.  That one hasn't gone away completely but he will now sleep in the same room as the dog as long as she doesn't get too far on his side of the room.  It's a work in progress, I suppose.  If Sam could do any real damage I am sure there would have been a mass homicide at my parents house on about day 2.  

With my brother's dog, Juno.  They're already besties.

Ninth, I finished the NaNo this year and also my book.  I will probably write a separate post about that.  But yay for finishing my book!

Tenth, I went to the Community Nativity held at church this past weekend.  It was amazing.  Oh and there was a real baby at the "Live Nativity."  A one week old baby.  I wanted to snatch "baby Jesus" up and take (her) home.  I am told that is frowned upon in most parts of the world.  

Whatever.

The lady at the bottom, taking a picture, has her hand in the way of "baby Jesus", but there was the sweetest little baby laying oh so quietly, looking around and cooing sometimes.  *sigh* Adorable.

I guess 10 is enough things.  

I certainly have enough blessing in my life to be in a much better mood.  I'll work on it, alright?! Geez. You are so pushy.