take time to laugh in the new year

There is something about the innocence of a little one that gives me hope with the world. They find JOY in the smallest things--when they are crawling it might be the piece of fuzz on the carpet--as toddlers it is mud in the yard. For my little one he has been laughing--really laughing--the shake your body belly laugh that makes everyone else want to laugh kind of laugh--over simple things. Yesterday it was filling my hands with water in the shower and splashing his face--today he came down while i was in the shower and proceeded to turn on and off the light--laughing all the while. I couldn't help but laugh at his JOY--the pure and simple JOY that he was feeling. Laughing makes you feel good--it lightens whatever load you are carrying--even for only a moment it makes everything right with the world. I love to laugh--unfortunately being "the Mom" and a grown up sometimes life gets to me--and i find it hard to laugh--thanks little man for reminding to find JOY in the simple things--here is to a new year--filled with much happiness and remembering to take the time to LAUGH......

“Live and work

but do not forget to play,

to have fun in life

and really enjoy it."

-----
Eileen Caddy

Christmas miracle

My kids knew most of what they were getting this year--it is hard to surprise them when you concede the surprise and let them go shopping with you instead. The idea of gift cards really doesn't excite me so I figured i would take them shopping instead and that way they would have something to open(even if they knew what it was) and be excited about their new outfits. I am here to tell you it was great fun--I enjoyed my time with them and the best part is in knowing that they are thrilled with what they were getting--the returns were limited to what we over bought in our adventure but not because they didn't like something--they just found something they liked more. So with them knowing the majority of their gifts I still wanted to come up with a few surprises--something I knew that each kid would love and have NO idea that it was coming. I did succeed--but the funniest gift that was loved the most was a frying pan. Now this pan was not for me of even my oldest who will be leaving the nest in the future. No, this pan was for my 12 year old little punk. When he picked up the wrapped gift he did guess what it was (it is kinda hard to disguise a pan when you wrap it as such--the shape sorta gave it away) and he was excited. After all the wrapping paper had been cleaned up and we had settled into the relaxing Christmas day he whipped out the pan and proceeded to cook for me. He made the perfect hash browns--and while he was cooking them he made the comment that "this was a good pan, it really retains its heat well". Are these normal 12 year old boy comments? I don't think so. But that is not the Christmas miracle---it came after he had fed me and had finished using his pan for the moment. Now in the past when he is done cooking, the pan might have been put in the sink for me to take care of later--but not on this day. This cute boy lovingly took his pan--
HE WASHED IT--
DRIED IT--
and, (be sitting for this one)
HE PUT IT AWAY!!!
I could hardly believe my eyes--was this really happening?
First cleaning without complaints and now he was doing a job without being asked from start to finish. It was almost to much for my heart to take. A few days later I over heard a conversation with a "friend" about his pan and what he was capable of whipping up. He was kinda flirty and bragging about his "skills" when i asked him who he was speaking to--"Just a friend mom" "Do they have a name" i responded? When he finally told me it was a "girl" friend i told him to hang up. I am not ready to have him start cooking for other woman yet. I have a feeling in the years to come he will be impressing the ladies with his cooking skills. They are good now but i can see the future.....especially when he says to me "Mom, next year for Christmas I think you should get me a good set of knives" and he was not talking about the ones you whittle with.......

Christmas clean

In years past when i was actually prepared for Christmas I would give the house a deep clean before the big day. I would go into the kids room and do the purge to make way for more "stuff".


This year---it did not happen---any of it. We barely got the tree put up on Christmas Eve. The only place that got cleaned up this year was the corner that the tree was going in. Now mind you I was hoping that the cleaning fairies would come while i was out shopping...but....they didn't. My kids like most do not relish the idea of cleaning--it does not make them all warm and fuzzy. They do not wake up in the morning saying--"let's have some fun"--"let's clean the house" except on this Christmas morning. It was my gift.....

The kids slept in till 9ish and then not being able to hold them off any longer we started the day. They opened their presents and were thrilled with everything--it was kinda hard for them not to be since they had picked out their clothes with me just days before--and there were a few surprises....

while the hubby was surprised about his Zune,
it was really the DVD's of Leave it to Beaver that thrilled him. Hard to believe but I am being serious here...
but that is not what this blog post is about.

It is about the fact that when everything had been opened and a game of Mario cart had been played on the 32 inch TV

it was requested by my children that we should CLEAN---
yes, you read it right--

they said CLEAN--

so we could set up the new TV--(thank goodness for bright children who can figure out how to get the TV out of the box--who knew that the handles to carry the box also held the box together?....why she did)
Really what is more fun than a really large box--maybe the fact the TV was in that box and we all know that video games and movies on Christmas day are far more fun on a big screen. Now this was not your pick up and vacuum clean--this was a move the furniture--rearrange the room,scrub the walls and floors kind of clean--

and they were loving every minute of it--as was I,

watching them work together--

CHEERFULLY

--not a complaint was lodged--

only HAPPINESS was present-

it was my present....

the ultimate gift that my children could have given me.

I had to take a picture to document this moment--It is only once in a lifetime that the planets align and your children are genuinely HAPPY about manual labor about cleaning--and working well together. We spent a good couple of hours getting everything in order and when all was said and done--
we played--and watched them play--


even Grandma got involved.


But more than anything else that made this day great was the comment from my son---
"Mom, this was the best Christmas ever, cleaning and all."
Now that is something you can't buy.

Late Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve. What is it about that statement that scares me? Maybe the fact that I barely got up the tree this afternoon? Or perhaps the fact that not one present is wrapped---not that it would have done any good to have had them wrapped already because little man is really--REALLY good at unwrapping presents--even if they are not his. He doesn't care--the wrapped gift call to him to be free of their paper confinement and he happily obliges. So here we are--the kids are in bed and the dear hubby and i are staying up to wrap those gifts that the kids will actually be surprised by. The rest of the gifts are being placed in boxes and set under the tree. I thought that our years of staying up late and putting things together was over--and while we didn't do much "putting together" we were still staying up late. I think i am getting too old for this?--All i can say is thank goodness that my kids sleep in and will give me a bit of a reprieve. I think procrastinators should unite and demand a few more hours to get things done on Christmas Eve--maybe make it a 26 hour day....after all if we can add one day to our calender every four years what is an extra few hours.....

The truth about nut crackers

What is Christmas without a few nutcrackers standing around?

They seem innocent enough. Mild mannered until you need them to show their feat of strength by being able to crush some nut with their jaws of death. I have never actually used a nutcracker for this purpose--see i thought our nut crackers were lovers not fighters. I mean look, one even cooked me a turkey and i think the other one was standing guard to make sure everyone used their manners and did not rush him, at least that was what i thought till i looked closer.
Notice the sword that is missing from his hands? Originally i thought he had put it away--being the peace lover and all--until i glanced over at my turkey bearing friend.
I was appalled, mortified!
Sometime during the holidays they had gotten upset with one another and the poor chef ended up with the sword in his throat.....
Oh, the inhumanity of it all--what could have possible happened to provoke this kind of behavior? Maybe he told the soldier that he wasn't going to share his turkey---I have heard that nutcrackers can be like that sometimes. Maybe they were arguing about the size of nuts they could crack and tempers got heated....
I mean he never even uttered a word or scream of discomfort. All the while standing in silence,not that he could have screamed it he wanted too--after all he did have a sword in his mouth....
And there stood his table mate--
looking on--
not even blinking an eye,
with that fierce look painted on his face....
Let it be known by this example that not all nutcrackers can live in peace and harmony--
I can only imagine what happens on those mantels that are full of them.....

Pay it forward

There was a movie with this title. The day i was in labor with little man my husband had rented this movie to watch while i was being induced--once things started happening the movie got shut off. Later when we went to watch it again my husband asked how much of it I had seen---"not much" I responded "I was a bit pre-occupied at the time it was on". We did watch the movie later and honestly i don't remember a whole lot of details but i do remember the intention of what they were saying. If each person pays forward an act of kindness what a nicer world we would live in. I believe this is true! I have tried to do this in my life--and there have been moments where that kindness has come back to me in return. Some people call it KARMA--some people call those that help their gaurdian angels. What ever the case it makes the giver of the kindness feel just as good as the one receiving the act--sometimes even better.

I found myself doing some last minute shopping on Christmas Eve--me and hundreds of my closest friends were running through Target finding that gift we had forgotten. I kept waiting for the announcement that the store was going to close but it wasn't coming--I found out later from my cashier that they had been told that if it was busy they were going to stay open. I felt bad that i was keeping these people from being able to go home with their families. Next year i am going to work hard not to do that again--it's not fair... why should they be penalized because of my lack of planning. There is that quote that goes something like this
"The lack of planning on your part
does not constitute an emergency on my part"
How true, how true...

That was not what this post is really about though. It is about paying it forward--remember?
While i was standing in line i was behind a young man--probably in his 20's. He was paying cash for all his purchases--which i admired--especially in this economy and at this time of year. As he was checking out it became evident that he did not have enough cash to get everything--he asked for a few items to be removed and then asked for the new total. He was still short--at this point i came out of my Christmas fog and asked how much he was short--57 cents--I didn't want to see him remove something else from his bag just because he was short 57 cents. I asked if i could give him the money--which he gratefully accepted. I only wish i had told him to put back the items he had removed--I thought about that after I had left. It was only a handful of change and yet it made a difference for this young man. How often are we given opportunities to make the difference in someones life--and maybe because of our own concerns or worries we fail to see those chances? We are all instruments in the lords hands--designed to help one another in this journey called life. I know i have received blessings from strangers in my times of need--I just hope and pray that I will be more mindful of those around me who are in need of my help--that i can make a difference--even if it is just a small one. Even if it was only worth 57 cents that day--I hope that someday this young man will pay it forward.......

waiting for the best christmas present

Each year Christmas falls on the same date (I know shocking discovery right?) and somehow over the last few years it seems to sneak up on me. I realized yesterday that it was the Sunday before Christmas--maybe it was the children singing--or perhaps it was the choir and their beautiful songs that clued me in. Whatever the case i am starting to panic--this should be the post where i show you my beautiful tree and presents wrapped--(if you want to see that picture you will need to go to my friend Annette's blog--or drive by their house to see their amazing lights--again which we have none of--she also has a count down till Christmas--do you realize we have a little over 2 days--of course you do--I am mostly saying that for my benefit)

I should not be blogging--I have far to many things to still do--like put up the tree--finish buying the presents--wrap the said presents--laundry(forever on the list) but instead i am waiting for my sons case manager to stop by and drop off his Aug-com. What is an Aug-com you ask--well for my son it will be his chance to communicate his needs. FINALLY! We are so excited about this--it has been a long time in the coming--patience is a key word when it has come to this---and NOTHING could have made my Christmas happier than for this little punk to have the opportunity to communicate. Maybe next year he will actually be able to tell Santa what he really wants. He just brought me an "easy button" that he found in his room. Do you think he is trying to tell me something? If only the "easy button" really worked--then i would be stress free for the next few days--AHHHH, don't you just love this time of year--so much to do--and not enough hours in the day--only to have it over in a blink of an eye--Next year--I will be better--if only Christmas didn't sneak up on me so much......

front seat discussions

There are things that happen in my home that drive me crazy-- I have been told that I will one day miss these minor nuisances--I am not so sure about that--I am willing to test that theory
But in the meantime,
am i the only one that has this happen in their home?
What is it about sitting in the "front seat" that sends kids scrambling? Something so simple and yet it can lead to arguments or shall we say for the sake of harmony and love-
"discussions"
that go something like this in various forms.....
"I call shotgun"
"Who sat in it last?"--
"I'm the oldest so i get it"
--"that's not fair"
--"I was here first"
--"but i called it"--
"we didn't hear you"
--"doesn't matter, I said it"
--"but you were inside"
--"we weren't leaving yet"
"I'm in a skirt--I should get the front"

I love how they develop and argue their points as if they were in a courtroom trying to win a case--and when the jury of their peers (ie brothers and sisters) don't agree with their points they come to the judge for an immediate decision (ie--ME)

I have even had children go and sit in the car--early--in the sweltering heat--just for the privilege of sitting in the front--am i failing to see what the big deal is? After all I always get the front seat....

I will go on record saying my non-verbal child has nothing to do with these arguments--in fact when i try to let him sit in the front--like going around the corner to grandma's he protests--he wants nothing to do with the front seat. Those are the moments i am thankful for one child who cannot argue

I think one day i will miss this bantering about where everyone is sitting--but then again maybe not--i will have to get back to you on that one.....

i love a beautiful sunset

Living in AZ we often have incredible sunsets.
Some say that it is because of all the pollution in the air that creates the beautiful colors we see. I love to just watch the sky as the sun fades into the horizon--it kinda sucks me in and leaves me mesmerized for a few minutes. Often i am so busy looking at the actual sunset that i don't look around and see how these sunsets effect the world around me.

I was driving home this evening--heading north--and I couldn't help but notice the INCREDIBLE color of the mountain in front of me. It was a salmon-y pink color. Right in the middle of rush hour traffic was this thing of beauty.! It brought me back to my childhood when i lived in Colorado and my bedroom window looked out on Pikes Peak. At the time i didn't realize what a thing of beauty i had in my own backyard. I felt this way about the mountains tonight. How often these mountains that surround me on a daily basis just look brown and dirty--nothing special--in the spring if we have had rain they turn green and stand out--but most of the time they go virtually unnoticed--but not tonight.! I was entranced with the beauty that surrounded me. I turned to the west to see the sunset that was creating this spectacle--and yet the sunset was nothing worth mentioning, it was just enough to send out a warm glow to create these incredible colors. It took me out of my rush of the day and gave me a moment to pause--reflect on the beauty that surrounds me. I was wishing i could stop and take a picture-but i also knew the moment was fleeting and took it in for what it was. I love these kind of moments--photographs of the brain--forever trapped--recalled the next time nature gives me a moment to take pause....

Christmas help

tonight i went shopping.....
(for this post i will be talking in code as to not give away the gift)
I knew what i was going to get--it had been placed on hold for me and shipped to a store closer to my house. I was excited to be buying this as i know there are only a few in the state of AZ. When i went to pick it up a nice young man helped me. He had never seen this before--and then another young man came by--and pretty soon I had 5, then 6 nice boys wanting to try out my soon to be purchase. They inquired if it was for me--ARE YOU CRAZY? I would break my neck on this--but it was fun watching them try to master my child's Christmas present. I was told as i was leaving that they wanted me to video tape the progress that is made on this and bring it in and show them---I guess if you want good attentive customer service you just need to be willing to buy the right thing and let the help play with your purchase. It was fun watching them---I am so excited for this child to get this present.......I hope they like it as much as the guys in the store did.....

Distractions or lack of respect and courtesy

My mother in law was singing in the Messiah tonight. She invited us to attend--and we obliged as a family. She is always so good about supporting us and our children that it wasn't even a question about the kids going. It was enjoyable---BUT.....
I had a hard time just sitting back and enjoying it for what it was--

Could it have been the young and in love couple in front of us--that couldn't keep their eyes off of each other--or their hands/arms etc... Maybe the way they were snuggling and were so lovey dovey that distracted me? --As if they were melting into one person with two heads--no air space was available between them. I think at one point i threw up in my mouth--yes,it was a tad bit nauseating.

Perhaps it was the cute little toddler with her blond hair and curls in her purple footed pajamas that was distracting---or could it have been the fact that she was running around--sliding across the floor--saying UH-Oh before she threw her hard sippy cup on the floor and proceeded to kick it around?Or watching her to make sure that she didn't get her fingers smashed as she played with the door...Really distracting....

And then there were the kids behind us--they were there to watch their mom who was singing--I found this out as they were loudly talking. Does the word WHISPER mean anything to anyone anymore? And then in trying to keep them quiet they had brought color pencils-which proceeded in a discussion about which one they wanted--again LOUD--and can i just say that pencils make quite the noise when they drop on the floor--ALOT.

I realize that the majority of my children are older--and i have already spent my time wrestling with them--but i still have a small one--and he has special needs. I am trying to teach him to be reverent and respectful--but it is hard when those around you are not trying to do the same. He really learns by example and i was rather frustrated that the example he was given was less than stellar. I know it is hard to keep kids quiet and reverent--but they need to be taught!
As a society i think we are losing respect and courtesy for others. All those that practiced so hard to put on this performance really deserved our undivided attention. And what about those that did not have children with them--they deserved a performance without having to listen to kids misbehave. I know that older people are not tolerant of children and honestly i can't blame them for their opinion....I kinda feel the same way....Am i becoming old or maybe just old fashioned--i kinda like the idea of seeing children and not hearing them.....just my honest thoughts..take them for what they are worth.

Respect for ourselves guides our morals;
respect for others guides our manners.
---
Laurence Sterne

Courtesy is a science of the highest importance.

It is...

opening a door that we may derive instruction

from the example of others,

and at the same time enabling us

to benefit them by our example,

if there be anything in our character

worthy of imitation.
---
Michel De Montaigne

I am being held hostage

I have lived in my house for almost 12 years (i think?) and for all but one year our bedroom has been downstairs. I love my room. It is always cool in the summer and i love the fact that we are down low and behind the fence. Keeping this in mind i have never felt the need to have blinds or curtains on my window. I love the fact that i can look out and see the blue sky in the morning. I can watch the birds perch on my fence and watch the neighbors cat walk so carefully along the top of the fence. I love that the sun can slowly wake me up(it is a Northern facing window) I have never thought about putting blinds on my window---UNTIL NOW! I am laying in my bed--petrified with fear(might be a slight exaggeration) as i am watching the tree trimmer on the roof next door. If I can see him.....that means he could see me.....I am still not going to put blinds on the windows--so one time in 12 years i have the potential of a peeping Tom(or Jose as the case may be)--really i should just get up and give him quite the site--but what if he fell off the roof from the shock and awe of seeing the woman next door in her underwear? Perhaps he has no insurance and then his kids Christmas would be ruined? NO--I will just lay here--warm and toasty--until i am sure he is gone--maybe i will read a good book--who knows he might just be up there all day--you can never be to sure--perhaps i should just wait until it is dark--it should be safe to get out of bed by then.....if only i had some food.....hopefully the daughter will come home for lunch.....What about the bathroom?.....HMMMM the things that run through your head when you are held hostage laying in a warm toasty bed.....

how to spell......

ORNERY?!
I love this word.
It is a great word it just kinda rolls off your tongue.
ORnREE...
Today i tried to write it in a sentence--how does one spell this word? I was stumped. I really had no clue? I tried to spell it like I say it--AUNRIE--and somehow the dictionary didn't even acknowledge that it was a word. Truly isn't it frustrating that when you don't know how to spell a word you have to look it up in a dictionary? If i knew how to spell the word i wouldn't need the dictionary--so in my attempt to correctly spell this word i came across this blog entry that entertained me. I mean how can you not be entertained by an entire blog entry about the word ORNERY. And by the way--I am no longer in an ORNERY mood......

when the going gets tough.... the tough go shopping

When one is having a bad day, there are many ways you can handle it.

• One is to sit in a ball rocking back and forth--mumbling.
• Another is the favorite fetal position in a catatonic state.
• Or the third option is a girl grabs her purse and goes shopping.

I picked the last one, after all it is the Christmas season and there was shopping to be done. I figured it would be a good day at the mall thinking it wouldn't be too busy and the crowds would be small--so as to have fewer people to irritate me. I was right about it not being very busy--but that had it's drawback as well. Since i was one of a few people shopping--everyone wanted to help me.! How did i get to be so lucky?
Could they not see by the lack of eye contact--
or feel the cold shoulder i was giving them--that i did not want to talked to, let alone helped?
What about the "NO i don't want what you are selling" that was coming out of my mouth?
I felt like prey that was being pounced on.
"Yes, I keep my nails natural--no i don't want you to look at them.....I don't want your cell phone service....Do i look like i want to curl my hair?" "Hey lady....massage for you (say this in your best Asian accent) Relax you lots...Layyydieee....." And while i probably would/could have benefited from the massage or the aromatherapy pad thing-ies that they were trying to sell me--I really did want to be left alone--to stew. Just because i was in public did not mean i wanted to be a part of them. I did find a few things--for me?--nothing like a new RED purse to put you in the holiday spirit--and maybe some new sheets. The worst part of shopping when you are ticked at people is that you really are not in the mood to be generous and buy for them--so i didn't buy a whole lot--which means i get to go another day. The problem with that is... I will start out in a good mood and shopping a Christmas time can quickly change that...next time when i want the help they will all be too busy to give it. A girl just can't win.

I am alive!
And better yet so are ALL my children.
I can say that harmones did figure into my day--
Nothing like retail therapy to help you out of a slump...
I will write more later

Mom's having a meltdown

The word foul mood doesn't even begin to touch how i am feeling today. I started feeling this way before bed last night and it has NOT improved--if anything it has gotten worse. SOOO if you try to call--don't feel bad because i am not talking to anyone today--lest my bubble bursts and everything comes spewing out. Here is the worst part--i am not entirely sure why i am in such a BAD mood. Life has had some frustrating moments the last few days. Things that i have no control over but effect my life none the less. I hate those days when you are close to tears and have no real idea as to why? Can i still blame it on hormones or am i too old for that?
Whatever the case--I am better to be left alone--given a wide berth and if my children know what is best for them--they will do WHATEVER i ask of them with out so much of an argument--a smile on there face would help and if they did it without me asking that would even be better (like that will happen--but one can wish) I hope whatever it is that is making me feel sour that i can figure it out and get on with the good life......I hate feeling this way.

Hallmark movies

Is any one out there that caught the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie tonight?
I can't be alone in these thoughts....
I think hallmark works all year long to find a story that will yank my heart strings.
There sole purpose in putting these movies on TV is to see how many people that they can make cry. I readily oblige them this. I try not to, but often i can find my eyes tearing up and my nose starting to run...I think the reason the stories touch me so deeply is that they are based on true stories--usually about someone overcoming adversity.It not enough for me to tear up once--
NO, i find myself doing this MANY times during the movie.Their movies have such a good moral story--makes me think about how I would act if faced with the same problems.

Some might think them "cheesy", and that's OK--these don't have to be for everyone.
All i know is that i enjoy watching them--we all have trials--some are just more worthy of a television movie than others...


Now can i talk about the hallmark commercials?
It is not enough that the movies are heart warming--
but the commercials leave me all warm and fuzzy as well.
They are sorta like small little movies-
a vignette of sorts.
Even the commercials have been known to bring me to tears.
Sometimes i embarrass my weepy self....


I was congested when the evening began-but after watching the movie, and the commercials my head is now really stuffed up. It is a good kind of stuffed. I am glad i watched--it only serves to remind me how blessed i am, and how we need to be more tolerate of others. We all are given adversity to overcome--some just manage to do it with more grace--leaving us with our mouths gaping open--wondering if we could do the same if we were faced with similar problems. I love movies that make me think--"what if".....

Let the wrestling begin

Today marked the first of many hours i will be spending in a gym in the next few months. It will be many hours filled with anxiety--(maybe frustration) as i watch my boy and his team take on their opponents. As many times as i have spent watching my son wrestle it still ties my stomach in knots--BIG knots.
I love this time of year.
I love seeing him improve and I love seeing him WIN.

Today he went 2 for 2 both ending in pins!!

While I don't like to see him lose--it happens and that is OK. That is a part of life. Losing can help you become a better winner. Losing can give you the desire to work harder--to practice more. Losing give you a chance to reflect on what you can and could have done differently. While i am not a fan of losing--(who really is?) it is OK as long as he did his best. I think that is why i love this sport (I know i am in the minority here) It is as much mental as it is physical. Someone will always be better than you--but on any given day things can change. Each time they get on the mat they are really wrestling against themselves. I have seen wins that i am not proud of and i have seen losses that make me beam with pride--it is all about the attitude. So if you see me from the back side and notice that my behind is bigger--just blame it on the many hours in the bleachers---We fondly refer to this as "Bleacher Butt". Oh the things you sacrifice to support your children.....

(WARNING: Object in the picture may appear
BIGGER
than it actually is!!!--it the illusion with the plaid!)

Remind me not to let my husband have my camera
EVER again
hmmmm--

maybe i shouldn't have had that extra scoop of potatoes

AHHHHH it's December 1st!

I am having a hard time grasping the thought that we are now in December. This past year has flown by--it really can't be Christmas time already?! I have no, I mean NO clue as to what to get anyone this year. We are soooooo blessed and have sooooo much that the thought of more makes me want to GAG. I have been working at purging my over abundant home--so why do i want to bring more into it? WHY i ask?

It is also hard to think of it being December when we are having unseasonably warm weather--I am not complaining--it has been really wonderful--but it does not evoke images of sleighs and mistletoe and all things Christmas. Soooooo to get into the season i present my wonderfully talented punks--I mean elves. It was tough to get them all together at the same time for dance practice--but we did manage, and this was the result. Don't judge to harshly--it was just something we threw together for family night--well not really.....

OK kids are you ready for your premiere performance???
Everyone in there places--smiles on your faces--and don't forget your parts...
(I just love being the choreographer--brings out the inner dancer in me)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

As you can see i was working with some really raw talent.
With a bit more practice-actually a lot more practice-
this is what we came up with. Can you see the improvement?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

then were having so much fun and

really started to get into the "GROOVE" of things.
Sometimes it just takes the right music to inspire you.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

During this busy holiday season
--when life gets rather crazy--
take the time to bust out in a dance.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It will help get your blood circulating and
I guarantee it will put a smile on your face


Dance

as if no one were watching,
Sing

as if no one were listening,
And live every day

as if it were your last
~ Unknown

favorite meal

I love this time of year--
I love the cooler weather
the smell in the air--
blankets on the bed-
the ability to wear a sweater
and socks--
but most of all
I love the FOOD!
Warm,
yummy,
comfort food.
Being a thanksgiving baby
i have a real affinity for pie--
and all thanksgiving food--
But more than anything
I love what we do with the leftover turkey.

We found a recipe years ago
that has become a family favorite--
a reason to REALLY look forward to thanksgiving-
and the leftovers that come with that day.
The funny thing is though
we make EXTRA leftovers
just so we can make this meal.

This is our thanksgiving meal with our friends--
We all have family in town--
and while we love them and spending time with them
there are those moments

when you wish you spend the holiday with your friends--
so we do our "friends thanksgiving"

on the Sunday following thanksgiving--
and boy do we feast.....
First my brother makes homemade noodles

with the help of his son--kinda like the young apprentice

passing on the tradition to the next generation

it could be made on dry pasta--
but the yumminess level goes up several notches with his pasta

Then we take the turkey
(which we made extra of--just so we could make this meal)
and marinate it in "Stuff"
Broil it till it is warm and crispy
then we make a cream sauce
(how can you go wrong with butter and cream)
Pour it over and top it with peas
so it appears healthy

I love this dish

my arteries on the other hand....

are grateful we only have it only have it once a year.

It doesn't take long for the dish to be devoured

Leaving us all very full and satisfied...
knowing it will be another year until we will have it again.
Gotta love tradition---
did i mention the yummy rolls also?
And what about the pumpkin bars
or cranberry bars--
man i love our Thanksgiving alternatives....

Canasta

I found this post on Heidi Swapps blog
It made me laugh and made me think of this past weekend

"You can’t make footprints in the sands of time

if you’re sitting on your butt.

And who wants to make buttprints in the sands of time?"

- Bob Moawad

While the "boys" were out playing in the snow/mud and doing the things boys do
the girls were inside where it was toasty warm playing games and sitting on our butts.
We are quite the competative group when it comes to our games--
The new game this weekend that held us captive was an oldie.....
CANASTA.
You are asking yourself as we did "Isn't that a game that old people play?"
It is the same question that was posed by all that came in
and i think i even thought it at one time
for some reason while playing it i felt like i should be talking with a New York accent.
Just my little wierdness. And yes Canasta has been around since the 50's--
isn't it funny how everything old is new again?
We definitly play games in cycles--
what will next years game be....HMMMM

Need to get my hearing checked

Sometimes, something is said
and it makes you do a double take--
wondering if you really heard what you thought you heard.
Today i had one of those moments
that left me scratching my head
and laughing to myself.

I was at work--
my team had just gotten on the bus
(I had girls soccer)
and here comes a kid from the boys team
and he asked the girls coach
(who is also a guy)
We need to borrow your panties--
(at least i thought that was what he said?!)
I have heard alot of requests for things from coaches before
but this was a first--
And never mind the fact that guys don't usually call their underwear
"PANTIES"?
I turned around with a rather perplexed look on my face
and asked the kid
"What did you just say?"
He replied
"I need to borrow the PENNIES"
(as in the practice jerseys)
I started crackin' up.
Yup--it's time to get the hearing checked.....

The best Grilled Cheese

My kids have skills in the kitchen.
They are all accomplished in cooking something--
which is wonderful for me.
They keep me fat and happy.
Today I was hungry for something--
and knowing that we were virtually out of everything
i knew that my choices were slim--
What is a girl to do?
Well this cute punk
offered to make me a grilled cheese.

He makes a perfect grilled cheese--
perfectly golden brown
with just the right amount of butter
and then the cheese
--perfectly melted
YUMMMM---IEEEE

Can i just say this was theeeee best grilled cheese
i have ever had.
Maybe the fact that i was served it in bed
made it even better.
Maybe because it was made with LOVE--
maybe because it was my "BIG" birthday
Or maybe because i LOVE this kid
that made it the tastiest....
Whatever the case--it was a great--
maybe he should now work on mastering the
Paninni.....

Good propaganda

The other day i received an E-mail
about a thanksgiving lunch that my sons seminary class was having.
He was on the list to bring a dessert---
along with about 15 other kids.
I thought that was alot of dessert for a group their size.
But the real question is
"Can you ever have too much dessert?"
I say NO!
There were equal numbers bringing salad--
HMMM--must be alot of kids who like salad.
When i dropped off the dessert
I noticed that a number of the schools administration
was walking up to the church.
Thinking to myself-I thought
"That was nice of them to invite the principles and such"
When i walked in the gym was filled with tables--
(I realize now that i was a bit SLOW on the thought process)
It still was not registering in my brain-
until the bell rang
and THRONGS of students
(enough to stop traffic for a bit)
crossed the street to come to our church for lunch.
Our church put on a free thanksgiving lunch
for ALL the students at the high school!
Our doors were opened for ALL to enter--
I loved seeing it happen.
Maybe for some it was the first time in our church--
A security guard spoke with my son when he was cleaning up
He said he knew that our church did alot of good in the community and wished
that it was being mentioned more instead of the political nonsense.
I couldn't agree more.
It won't happen overnight
but maybe it made a difference today
even if it is only a small one...

Something to ponder

I am still plugging away at organizing--
but nothing new to report about it--
plus i want to write about something else-
something that i have been thinking about-
something that i have been pondering-

Since the election things have been a bit crazy-
My girlfriend and i were talking about this the other night.....
and then I have been reading about this as well.
(this is a very interesting article from a LA police officer who is a member of my church)
and hearing about people who are rather upset
at the way a proposition regarding marriage turned out.
I have seen pictures of protests outside our temples--

It seems that in the name of tolerance your views are tolerated ONLY
if the coincide with what someone else believes.

I have heard of people losing their jobs because of the way they voted.
I have heard of people having their cars and homes vandalized over this.

We have not hid our beliefs on the sanctity we feel for marriage.

This country was founded on religious freedom,

and yet here we are fighting for our right to use our constitutional right to vote

to protect our religious freedoms..

I can't help but wonder why this is not viewed by the police as HATE crimes.
If we were Jewish and this was our synagogue would they allow people to write on it?

--to openly vandalize it?

This picture tears me up--I hate vandalism and graffiti

I don't even let my children write on their bodies in pen

because i believe the body is a temple--

and here someone is openly defacing part of our church grounds.

We are being singled out for what we believe--

The sad thing is this is not the first time this has happened.

In the early years of our church we were chased out of Missouri and had an extermination order placed upon us. They took everything away from us--in order to be rid of us.

They even killed our prophet in hopes of disbanding our church--

All of this because of what we believed.

I thought things had changed...

Now we are being persecuted

for wanting to keep the sanctity of marriage intact.

I feel for those people who are up front in this battle.

I wonder how i would handle it--

if i was challenged at every turn to stand up for my faith--

Would I?

My prayer is that I would be strong enough--

and that those that are being challenged will be also.

It is not an easy thing to be singled out for what you believe.

I find it interesting that the bill passed with 52% in CA

and yet the state is NOT 52% Mormon--

HMMM who else is being targeted for their beliefs?

I love what Paul Bishop who is an LDS cop in CA said about this

"Tolerance is not agreement

and should not be a one way street.

However,

we must still remain tolerant of those

who are intolerant of us.
Recognize the adversary at work here

– making good seem bad

and evil seem good."

and the cleaning continues...

I am just going to apologize now--
in my pursuit to write 365 entries this year--
I tend to write what i know at the time--
and my life these days
involves cleaning and organizing.
If only it happened as fast as it does on TV.
It doesn't!!!
And to boot--
why is getting organized so tiring?
And why do things have to get worse--
before they get better?

All progress is precarious,

and the solution of one problem

brings us face to face with another problem.

-----
Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes

This is the picture of the spillage out into
my once clean dining room....

At least now you can see the floor into the office
and i have a few surfaces clean--
(these had to be cleaned off to be moved tomorrow)

I got my shelves up--
they only minorly frustrated me-
How much fun it has been having a place to put things.

I figured out what my problem is--
I have enough to stock a small store--
in something the size of a storeroom--

kinda like squeezing those extra 10 pounds into jeans that are too small--
everything just kinda spills out where it can

And lest i think I was actually getting ahead--
A leak developed in the laundry room
(origin yet to be determined)
and so the room which had be clean,neat and orderly up this point
is now NOT!
Just one more thing to put back on the list....

You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines,
whimpering and complaining.
You make progress by implementing ideas.
Shirley Hufsteddler quotes

I know i am making progress-
it is just that sometimes it is hard to see
the forest through the trees .

It would be difficult for me to express all my thoughts about it. It remains a constant disappointment to me that my drawings are not yet what I want them to be. The difficulties are indeed numerous and great, and cannot be overcome immediately. Making progress is like miners' work: it doesn't advance as quickly as one should like, and also as others expect; but faced with such a task, patience and faithfulness are essential. In fact, I don't think much about the difficulties, because if one thought of them too much, one would get dazed or confused.
Vincent Van Gogh quotes

A clean balance?

There needs to be balance.

I love a clean and organized house--
Who doesn't?
When it is messy it does drive me crazy--
and yet keeping it clean
and staying ontop of my kids--
and becoming a raving lunatic in the process
also drives me crazy.


Our lives are busy-
busier than i ever anticipated...
but i refuse to be the maid in this house--

How do you find balance in keeping it clean and life relaxed?

I don't want to be a "cleaning freak"and yet i want it clean?
I need some of that fairy dust that once it gets clean it will stay clean?
Anyone know where i can pick some up? Price is of no object.

Our house is clean enough to be healthy,

and dirty enough to be happy."

----

~ Author Unknown

A day lost in IKEA

Why is it
that in the pursuit of cleanliness
and all things organized--
things have to get much worse
before they can get better?

I started digging out my office today--
SCARY!!!
Heaven forbid that i would fall in there
and not be able to get up.....
I think i would have been buried alive--
For this reason it is safer to work together with someone---
the buddy system isn't just for swimming anymore.....

To truly prepare for this task---
this monumental undertaking--
I felt it warranted a visit to IKEA.
Who knew that i would spend
both breakfast (which was free)
and lunch there today?
When i finally made up my mind
as to which storage system would work best for me--
i proceeded to gather the boxes up and head for the exit--
but not before going to the "last chance" section.
Can i tell you how much I love this area of the store?
I think i was a year ago that my girlfriend and i came away
with only inches to spare in my van--
that we managed to fill with amazing deals.....
(You have to go back into this area with NO expectations
of finding what you want.)
As i cruised through the area and was about to exit-
i found the exact shelf--color and all--
that only minutes earlier i was prepared to pay full price for-
only this was about a third cheaper.
YIPPIE!--
and it was already put together--
what a deal--
only one problem--
it didn't fit in the truck put together
so we still had to take it apart.

So now with new storage possibilities
i am ready to take on the room
and make magic happen.
Who knows--
maybe i will actually be able to work in there one day soon....

(pictures of the progress will soon be following--stay tuned for updates)

Picky eaters

We are a household that loves food.
We LOVE all kinds of food--
and sometimes we forget
that not everyone is like that--
----like us.

Tonight my oldest was invited to a friends house for dinner
and being the dutiful mom
I reminded her to use her manners
ask if they need help
and to eat anything that was placed before her.
She laughed at that last statement
and responded that she wouldn't have any problems
because the friend she was eating with WAS picky.

We have always had the two bite rule in our home--
or
try it---you might like it.
And the forever favorite statement is
"you get what you get--and you don't throw a fit"

“Food is a subject of conversation
more spiritually refreshing even than the weather,
for the number of possible remarks about the weather is limited,
whereas of food you can talk on and on and on.
Moreover, no heat of controversy is induced
by mention of the atmospheric conditions
(seeing that we are all agreed
as to what is a good day and what is a bad one)
and where there can be no controversy
there can be no intimacy in agreement.
But tastes in food differ so sharply…
that a pronounced agreement in them
is of all bonds a union the most intimate.
Thus, if a man hates tapioca pudding
he is a good fellow and my friend."
A. A. Milne, ‘Lunch’ (1934)

I have learned that taste buds change
(except where eggplant is concerned)
and the way things are prepared makes a HUGE difference
(ie: brussell sprouts)
in your ability to like something.
I also feel that having an open mind makes a big difference
in your ability to like something.
As Americans we are rather finicky eaters
compared to the rest of the world--
we leave many "parts" of the animal untouched--
(and I am OK with that--since i live here---
but.....
if i was in a foreign country i would try to do as they do)
i hope that i have/am preparing my children
to be open to other cultures/food
for when they serve their missions
or eat in others homes.

I spoke with the daughter after she got home
inquiring on the evening--
they had pot roast--easy enough to like--
but she said her friend did not like gravy--
who doesn't like gravy?
Isn't gravy like a food group of its own?
They discussed the fact about his pickiness--
and she told him that he wouldn't want to eat at our house--
because her parents don't like picky eaters--
(a whole lot of truth to that statement)
I don't know what we would do
if any of my children ended up with a picky eater--
it would be a major travesty--
I would wonder where we had gone wrong in their upbringing-
it would make me question my roll as a mother and if i had failed....

liking food is right up there with....

1.being faithful in the gospel
2.treats my child well-
3.adores my child
4.able to provide support for their spouse
5.has ambition
6.NOT A PICKY EATER
7.plays and is competitive at "Settlers"

Can you really trust someone who won't eat your cooking?
Or be willing to try something new.....
(up to this point we have yet to poison anyone...)

I can only hope that as my children start into the courtship stage of their lives
that they will take this to heart.

"Food...
can look beautiful,
taste exquisite,
smell wonderful,
make people feel good,
bring them together,
inspire romantic feelings....

At its most basic,
it is fuel for a hungry machine;..."
Rosamond Richardson, English cookery author

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

(Note to self--even if you think it is a good idea--don't do it)

I am somewhat of a laundry goo--rew
I read the labels
and try to be obedient to what they say--
but there are those moments of craziness
where i step outside that box
and mix it up--
ignore the label
thinking i know more than they do.

I have been washing everything in sight.
Washed the covers from the comfy chair--
and they still fit when i put them back on--
that is always a good sign.
(they were still wet--
so poor little man had to wait to go to sleep till they dried)

Pillows from my bed--
Washed--
oh how nice they smell-
and plump and fluffy again--
this was a good idea.

Now the feather pillows from the couch--
Yeah--not so good.
I have washed feather pillows before--
I know that it says
Dry clean only--
but lets be real--
if i have to take it to the dry cleaners-
let alone pay for it to be dry cleaned
i might as well buy new ones--
so in the washer it went.
Let's think about this for a minute--
do ducks get dry cleaned?
NO--
Ever seen a duck in the water--
all the time--
so it seemed like a safe bet that they could be washed.
The key to making this work is the drying part--
you must be attentive to the soggy pillows
and make sure that the dryer does NOT turn off
leaving the wet pillows in a smelly heap--
Also--you might want to notice the zipper on the cover
before you wash the pillows--
there by eliminating the actual washing of the pillow--
and just washing the cover which was really what needed it after all.
Some things work--
some things don't--
After all life is about trial and error--
taking chances--
Woohooo I am such a crazy girl--
Anyone up for a walk on the wild side?
Heck maybe we'll have a pillow fight.....

UPDATE: With much attentiveness and care
the pillows were washed and dried
(had to change the setting on the dryer and run it a number of times)
the pillows turned out OK---
no dry cleaner needed here......

Freakishly cleaning

I am still scrubbing and cleaning
attached at the hip with the vacuum--

I think i am getting a bit obsessive in my attempts
(is this a bad thing?)
When i say
DEEP CLEANING--
I mean
DEEP!
There is no stone unturned--
or in other words
the fridge and stove
have been moved out
sweep and mopped under--
and todays obsessive compulsive cleaning
involved my laundry room.
I actually enjoyed being in there again--
something that has not happened in a long
I mean LONG time.
I cleaned out the cabinets--
reorganized--
the disorganized
and eliminated junk.
There is something calming about
having a place for everything
and everything in its place.
I even cleaned out under the washer and dryer-
as well as the tops--

but my over the top
freakish cleaning took place
with me inside the dryer.
I found myself cleaning off the marks
that dried on gum had left--
and then i started vacuuming the lint trap--
apparently my lint trapping lint trap
leaves lint in the lining of my dryer.
I was sucking for all i was worth--
If you come over--
to see this clean lint trap--
disregard the over the top messy office--

(don't judge me to harshly--
I only post this picture in the event of trying to
"keep it real"
--it is my life--what can i say?)
that is next weeks project.

For today I am concentrating
on those important things you can't see.....