Happy

Birthday

Mrs. Brown!!!!

I miss you!

JOY

My SIL mailed me a box of See's Candy LAST Monday. I have been waiting for it, impatiently, expectantly. Ever time the door bell rang, I ran. Every truck on the street caused me to pause - could that be my candy? I checked the mail twice a day, maybe the mailman overlooked the box on his first delivery, maybe the mailman would put the box in the big mailbox and we hadn't seen the key when we got the mail. I was on my treadmill one afternoon and thought I heard the doorbell, but no one came down to tell me the box had arrived, and so I kept running. Sigh. Days passed and still the box didn't come.

Then the fear settled in.

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE BOX????? WHAT IF IT GOT LOST? WHAT IF SOMEONE STOLE IT?

My mom is here, and she assured me the box would arrive, assured me nothing had happened to it.

This morning, unexpectedly, when I wasn't even thinking about it - the doorbell rang - the box arrived!!!

Rapture!!!!

Sometimes a song is the best way to express how one feels. Go here



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVI254QGSQ4&feature=related

You better watch out!

Yesterday Ali had her Christmas party at school with the adorable Christmas program and the birthday cupcake for baby Jesus. We then took Jimmy to two doctors appointments because he had thrown out his back. Ali was tired and hungry and so after lunch (eaten in the lobby of the hospital between appointments)I let her eat a rather large Rudolph shaped lollipop. When I gave it to her, I told her that she wouldn't be having anymore sweets, not even dessert after dinner. She looked at me and said

"If you don't let me have 'ssert, I'm going to kick you out of the house."

Where she comes up with this stuff, I'll never know!

Technicality

The difference between a sleepy 3 year old and a sleeping 3 year old?

The same difference between Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

Busted!!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Tex!!!

ZZZZsss

This is what I call tired!

Ali plunked down on the couch and was asleep like this within 5 minutes!

Chorn

I know that some people, mostly men but some women, struggle with an obsessive desire to look at the human form in its "au natural" state. (My mother is reading this -so bear with me as I try not to embarrass myself.) This is not a struggle for me.


I've got something else I like to look at, and I don't have to pay for it, or hide it in a brown wrapper. I opened the mailbox today, and all that was in it was one lonely catalog. I was slightly irritated (okay very, it was 20 degrees outside that I went to the mailbox and found one, dumb catalog. But, when I pulled it out and looked at the cover, I wasn't irritated anymore! Oh, no, I was very happy! I couldn't wait to get inside to look at it!


The Holy Grail




My mouth waters just looking at this. And, I am THE chocolate connoissuer in your life, in case you weren't sure.

That's how it should be, always.

Chocolate covering marshmallows in cute shapes = Yum!

Sorry Rasberry Cream and Butterchew, Scotchmallow is my favorite "candy."

Who cares about the fancy (ugly)box? It's what's inside that counts!

The best part about my chorn? I don't have to hide it under my mattress.

Updates

Okay, I am still feeling very unmerry this year and my eye is still twitching!

Clue

You know you have a three year old when you find your paper shredder jammed with twigs.

Why??

Why did my husband think it would be a good idea to put real candy canes on the tree 27 days before Christmas?

I have lost count of how many Ali snuck today...

(The fact that we bought a fake tree this year, and it is already up is another post all together. Let's just say it has put me in a very unmerry mood.)

Nice

I asked Ali this morning if I could sit with her on the couch while I drank my coffee.
Her response

"Only if you don't talk."

That one is going to cause me a lot of trouble I think!

Picture Perfect???

Last year I didn't send out Christmas cards. I didn't know what to say and couldn't get a good picture of the girls. This year I still don't know what to say, but I am working on the picture part. I consider myself to be very relaxed about a lot of things. I don't know if I have found the wisdom of letting things go and focusing on what is truly important or if my kids have worn me down to the point where I just don't care anymore. I frequently find myself saying, or thinking, "Who cares, it's no big deal!" But, I am OBSESSIVE about their Christmas pictures! I will make myself (and them) crazy trying to get the perfect shot!

This morning I gave the girls their holiday jammies. It is a tradition! Every year, after Thanksgiving, they get a new pair of winter/Christmas/holiday jammies. This year, I got the same jammies for their cousins and decided to extend the tradition to them. I thought it might make us all feel closer to know all the cousins were matching and sharing the same experience, even though we are all miles apart. The girls put their jammies on tonight, and wanted to take a picture to share with their cousins. Oh, oh, oh! I thought I could get a picture for the Christmas card. Think again, Momma!

Do you know how hard it is to get one good picture of all three girls?


Great shot of Emmalena!





Great shots of Bella!




Good poses gone bad...






I guess I should have given Ali her inhaler before we started - do you like all the pictures of her coughing? My favorite is the one of her gum about to fly out of her mouth! I guess I shoud be grateful she coughs into her arm.





It is hard! One or two at a time worked








(We don't have a new addition - just a house guest for a few days. The girls love him!)






But this is as close as I got to a good picture of all three girls.




If it shows up in your mail box, you know it made the cut, but I will keep trying!

Nothin' beats it

There is nothing better than cuddling with a sleeping little one!


And, if you look closely, Ali now has bangs! And a See's lollipop goatee, but don't look that closely.

More Tday

Cutting vegetables is a learned skill!

Isabella placed this note on the dining table as she was setting it for dinner. It reads "Enjoy your dinner." That kid is cute sometimes!

The girls (one who was cranky) working on the chocolate pie.

Making stuffing...

Not so traditional...

So, this is what I just said to my family

"I thought we were watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie, not having a discusion about gender confusion! Just be quiet and watch the dang movie!"

I would like to thank Peppermint Patty and the new janitor at the girls' school for leading us down this path.

(I mean this as kindly and non judgementally as possible, because I do believe God created each and every one of us, but it is hard even for me to tell the new janitor's gender. And, it is very confusing to the kids. So, when Peppermint Patty came on screen, the girls started talking about the janitor, we got into a discussion of feminity and masculinity, I yelled the above and here we are!)

Finish Then Feast

Today, our family ran their very first 5k, turkey trot!

The girls were very excited last night, choosing what they would wear, and figuring out what time they needed to get up so they would be ready to go on time. We were all up and ready and out the door and to the race a few minutes before they 9AM start time. That in itself is a major accomplishment for us! We planned to run as a group, but that idea fell apart about 10 feet past the start line. Jimmy ran with the girls and I pushed Ali in the jog stroller. We had planned the opposite. Running is hard enough for me as it is, so pushing the stroller was NOT my idea of a nice, easy run, but it was still enjoyable. The girls and Jimmy were off and out of sight! They finished in 40 minutes, and would have shaved a few minutes off their time, but each of the girls, at different times, took a tumble during the run, and Emmalena had to stop and tie her shoes. Those girls can run! They get that from Jimmy. Ali and I showed up a few minutes after the girls. Jimmy and I really wanted a family picture when we were all done with the race, but I guess the girls were tired out and had low blood sugar or something, because the girls totally TURDED out and refused to cooperate. So, these are all the pictures we got of our momentous day.

Lesson learned? Bring our own juice or power bars to give the girls so they aren't totally wiped out when the run is over.


No reason you can't look good when you run!


Like Ali's backside?




Not feeling so glamourous now. Ouch!






Maybe she will be nice if we put some food in her...

Why God Invented Preschool

Preschool isn't for play, socialization or early learning. It is so moms can try to run a few precious errands in three hours without little ones complicating their purpose. I don't care if Ali learns anything at preschool. (I really don't. I want her to be happy and safe, but learning is just a bonus.)

Preschool is so moms like me can go to the market to by popsicles for a sick kid, without a little one banging on the self scan machine so many times, it quits working. So moms like me don't get dirty looks from old ladies who probably have nowhere to be or go, and seem to have forgotten what it means to have to take small children with us EVERYWHERE we go. Even the bathroom. So moms like me don't stand there with my keys falling out of my pocket, my money falling out of my wallet and my kids being so spastic I have to use my debit card for my $3.48 purchase because using cash is just way too complicated.

Please, God, just let my kids be healthy so I can have my two - three hour mornings, with all the kids in school, so I can get my stuff done without losing my mind.

And, Lord, please help me make it through all the school holidays. You know I won't be getting much done then!

Why??

We have the worst garbage men in the world. They screw with the schedule every time there is any kind of holiday and they NEVER pick up before 4PM. Jimmy, who rarely gets worked up over anything, gets ticked off at them weekly and threatens to change service (too much trouble, we haven't YET.)

So, why is it that today, the day I get myself motivated and organized to clean out my freezer, so I can throw the food in the trash on trash day - the GD garbage men come early?!!!!

Now I have to put all the food back in the freezer and try to remember to toss it all next week. Which, Friday being the day after Thanksgiving, the garbage men may or may not show up.

Nice.

Stinky Fun

Why must Play-doh be so odoriferous?

It really just stinks to me. But, Ali loves to play with it. I usually make my own, but I was desperate today and bought some when I was Christmas shopping at Walmart. (That's right, all my nieces and nephews are done!) I need Ali to entertain herself so I can accomplish something, ANYTHING. She has a cold, and just wants Mom, Mom, Mom.

So, I threw some in the cart and now she is playing on her own, but, jeez, my house stinks!

The Boo Crew

Starring Emmalena as an 80's pop singer
Isabella as a spy
Ali as a ladybug
and me as a Cat

(The boys in the pictures are our very good friends and neighbors. Ali used to be in love with the nerd, but now is in love with the hippy.)
















While the kids were running around gathering candy, I made these (as if we weren't going to have enough sugar - insulin injections here we come!)



And tried to consume this, but all the little trick or treaters kept interrupting me, and I didn't want to look like a lush with candy in one hand and booze in the other.




The big trade the next morning.

Life is Good

My aunt once said that Jimmy is one of those people who has good luck and that I should marry him so that good luck would rub off on me, or at least I could share his good fortunes. I wondered if his luck would run out, or if it would disappear if he married me.

Well, his luck has not changed over the last 13 years. Jimmy is a smart and hard worker and many good things have happened for him as a result. It just seems that if Jimmy sets his mind to something, it happens.

The latest happening is that he has been selected to attend grad school to earn a PhD in philosophy with a concentration in leadership studies. This is huge! And, he received his acceptance letter from the University of San Diego on Friday. He will attend school full time for three years, while the Air Force pays the tab, and his salary. When he is done, he will be able to return to the Academy to teach until he retires. It still seems too good to be true!

Boo to YOU!!!

This one just never gets old...

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!!

Hope springs eternal

My freighbor just brought over a three pack of the gigundo size cans of pumpkin that she found at Sam's.

I am back in the bread baking business!

Thank you, SP!

New Crisis

Forget about the financial problems our country is facing and the wars overseas. We have a national crisis occurring and I bet you don't know about it!

There is a shortage of canned pumpkin!!!!!

Yes, it's true. Try to remain calm.

Albertson's is out, so is the commissary and Costco. I have my neighbor checking Sam's Club, but I am not holding out much hope.

When I asked at Albertsons about the missing pumpkin, the sweet girl informed me of the shortage and suggested I pick up a pie pumpkin in produce instead. I graciously thanked her for the info and suggestion as I inwardly rolled my eyes and thought "Yeah, right. I ain't making my own pumpkin puree."

I don't need the pumpkin for pie (Costco makes killer pumpkin pies - FYI) but for pumpkin bread. A friend of mine gave me her recipe last year and it is amazing. The girls love it, and it is nice to cook on a cold day. I alter the recipe adding applesauce for the oil and replacing some of the white flour with whole wheat pastry flour. It seems almost healthy!

So, if you find pumpkin in a can, hoard it. If the shortage doesn't clear by Thanksgiving you could sell it on the black market and make a lot of money!

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

350 degree oven
Cook time approx 1 hour

Mix together
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

add

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 c water
1 1/2 flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin

Mix. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan.

Found Time

Last year our evenings were hectic. Isabella moved in slow motion and the smallest tasks took a long time to accomplish.

This year Isabella is doing better and our evenings are smoother. I have discovered that we have what I am calling "found time" after dinner and homework is done. Time when we can relax, play a game or just talk. No rushing no hurrying, just being.

Last night I put Ali to bed at 6:45Pm, the girls got their homework and baths done, and we had found time. They were cozy in their winter jammies, working on word searches in my room as I changed the sheets on my bed and added the electric blanket. It was fun to listen to their conversation.

"Sometimes when I am bored at school I put the pencils in my mouth and bite them, and then I remember and take them out of my mouth and drink a lot of water to get rid of the germs," Isabella informs us.

GREAT! Just put those germs on a fast track to your gut!I think it, but don't say it, as I am pleased that she is at least keeping germ containment in mind.

"Ya" Emmalena chimes in, "When I am bored I chew on the erasers."

"Um, don't you all share the pencils at school?" I ask.

"Yes."

And then it comes to me. All the money we are wasting on hand sanitizers. A complete and total waste of time. As is washing the hands, coughing into your sleeve. It all makes me laugh now. The CDC is just filling us full of pipe dreams. And, I have bought into it, stalking my children, making them wash their hands the minute they get home from school (the damage was done a long time ago and already circulating through their systems by the time they get home. Who cares now?) telling them not to share cups, not to cough on each other, to take their vitamins. It's like trying to put out a fire with a straw and a glass of water. Kids are going to share germs, they are going to get sick (mine already have) and I am done being the germ police. Kids are just kids, they don't think about this stuff. I love them, but they are kind of gross.

So, I just found myself some more time now that I am off the force!

Get on It!!

For those of you who still haven't made this soup -

Get on it!!!

My neighbor and I are making it for dinner tonight!!!
What are YOU making?????


Cheddar Chicken Chowder

Tip: Buy skinned, boned chicken breasts and preshredded cheese.

2 bacon slices
Cooking spray
1 pound skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 1/2 cups fat-free chicken broth
1 3/4 cups diced peeled red potatoes
2 1/4 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 2% low-fat milk
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Crumble; set aside. Add chicken, onion, bell pepper, and garlic to bacon fat in pan; sauté 5 minutes. Add broth and potatoes; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn; stir well.
Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended; add to soup. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese, salt, and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon.

Yield: 7 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)CALORIES 306 (22% from fat); FAT 7.5g (sat 4g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.6g); IRON 1.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 58mg; CALCIUM 193mg; CARBOHYDRATE 33.7g; SODIUM 376mg; PROTEIN 25g; FIBER 2.9g Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 1996
Posted by Alison at 10:39 AM

Get on It!

Get on It!

Birthday Brrrrr!!!

In spite of the fact that we had to postpone going out to dinner on Saturday night, and then breakfast on her birthday, because the roads were too icy, Isabella had a great birthday.












After opening presents, we made a nice big breakfast and ate in the dining room.

We then headed to Aerials Gymnastics to celebrate with all of Isabella's little friends.







After dinner, we had cake and ice cream with our special freighbors.
And, Isabella had a surprise visitor join us to celebrate her special day. Miss Tami was Isabella's therapist at OT and she stopped by for a visit. Lucky us!




Miss Tami

What a busy day! I told Jimmy I worked harder yesterday than the day Isabella was born!
Happy Crazy 8, my brown eyed girl!

Blah, Blah, Blah

I posted the longest post I have ever written on my SIL's blog today. She is still in the hospital with her new baby, so I still have control of her blog. (Insert evil laugh here.)

Here's the link if you want to read it.

http://inthebeaverstate.blogspot.com/

Earned

I pulled up my winter clothes from the basement this morning and discovered that I own four gray sweaters, in various shades. A 3/4 sleeve, cowl neck dress in charcoal grey, 3 black turtlenecks, and one brown turtleneck.

Perhaps my SIL is justified in calling me Morticia.

I'm a Star (wink wink)

While my SIL is in the hospital resting with my new nephew, I am filling in on her blog. I am a guest blogger! It's probably as close to famous as I will ever be.

Go here to check it out, not to read more from me, but because her blog is awesome!

http://inthebeaverstate.blogspot.com/

2 for 1

Today is turning out to be a good day for our family.

Aunt Gayle celebrates her birthday today. Happy birthday to you!

And, this morning my SIL delivered unto us a new baby!

Welcome Lincoln Wilson!

Now, I will NEVER be able to top that birthday gift!

The Truth will set you Free!

There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.

THOMAS WOLFE, The Web and the Rock

I love this quote! Where has it been for the last 13 years?

Lucky me!

Look what Jimmy sent me today!!!

Asthma Sucks

Little Ali had a MAJOR asthma flare (as I call them,I don't like the word attack - too scary) Sunday night. Thank goodness we have great nurses at the Peds clinic who got her in to see her doctor early Monday morning. She was on oral steroids for a few days and is back on inhaled steroids indefinitely. Poor baby, she was wiped out Monday afternoon! The meds did their job well and by Tuesday she was greatly improved!

Preschool

Here are some pictures from Ali's first day of "pretty school" as she calls it. She LOVES going. I have heard of children who begged to go to school, but didn't believe in them until Ali!




I'm ready to go!


Waiting for class to start...


Look What I Made!