The Day After….

Hey Guys!

Well, it is the day after Christmas.  And I am wore out!  And, I think my kids are as well.  We all had a pretty good Christmas.  With lots of laughs and smiles.  The kids received what they wanted from Santa.  Okay maybe not EXACTLY what they wanted but close enough.

Daniel received a Skateboard. (Which we found on sale at Toys R us)
Aimee received a Pink Guitar.
Zachary received a Star Wars Game that plugs into the television and he is having a blast with that.
David received a Big Optimus Prime Transformer.

I didn’t make a big Christmas dinner. We just had meatballs on hoagie buns with a side of Mashed potatoes and Gravy with Green Beans. And it was very good. Something Different. Eric and I are just tired of Turkey by the time Christmas rolls around. And So are the kids.

We played games with the kids yesterday. We played Monopoly Here and Now world Edition. And if you think the ‘regular’ monopoly game is long….then you haven’t played this version of the game…..We spent 2 hours playing it and that was just until all the property was bought. And there were only two houses on the board. We were not even close to being done.

And we also Played Apples to Apples. This has got to be one of the funniest games I have played. And it goes FAST! We played at least 10 rounds within 30 minutes of this game!

Eric spent the rest of the day putting Lego’s together. And we watch a Christmas movie with Nancy McKeon in it. It ended up being a extremely nice yet exhausting day.

The kids still have 10 days left of there ‘Winter Vacation’. We don’t have much planned. Other than to relax, watch movies and play board games. Hopefully, I will get some baking done in between all of that.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brought you all that you wished for.

Take Care.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I just wanted to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

A Little Christmas shopping….

Hey Guys!

  Sorry I have been absent from the blog.    Daniel (whom never gets sick) came down with the common cold about a week ago.  It only lasted about two days for him.  Then David and I caught it.  David is almost over it, I am not….still have a horrible cough.  Hopefully, by Christmas we will all be healthy.

Eric and I (and David) managed to go and do a small bit of Christmas shopping today.  We left around 8:20 this morning and were back at 11:49.  We hit Hallmark, Target, Toys R Us, and of course Walmart.

Here is a few things we bought.  We still are not done.  I am hoping that we will be done by at least Tuesday of next week.  We just have to get stocking stuffers and a few odds and ends…

I think this is the first year we have ever cut it THIS close to Christmas.

For Daniel A Monopoly Here & Now World Edition. He has been wanting this game for a while now.

For Aimee a Pig Webkinz and a Webkinz Cat ornament.  Although, I think it looks more like a dog.  Still cute.

And for David, Well he absolutely Loves Wall-E.  It is surprising because he doesn’t really care for the movie.  He just LOVES  Wall-e.  And he also loves transformers.  And what a better combo than a Wall-e that Transforms!

We purchased him for $21.00.  I came home went on eBay and they want $44.00 for him!  Highway robbery, I tell ya.

And for Zachary we purchased a few Star Wars Figures….(Imagine that, he LOVES Star Wars)!

The kids are getting excited about Christmas.  Today, the elementary student’s had there ‘holiday’ party.  Aimee’s class didn’t have a gift exchange.  However, the teacher did give the kids some nice gifts.  Aimee received two Littlest Pet Shop animals a fish and a octopus I believe.  She love them.  The teach also gave each student a whoppie cushion.  Aimee didn’t like it so she gave it to her brother Daniel.  And Daniel is having a Bawl with it.  Although it’s not a very pleasing sound to a mother’s ears. 

And Zachary, they had a book gift exchange.  He received a Star Wars Book.  Seeing a trend here? I really liked the idea of a book exchange.  The teacher put a limit of $3 to $5. 

The kids have a half day of school tomorrow for the Big ‘Winter’ Break.  I hate that they call it winter Break.  It is Christmas Break.  Good Grief!

It is time for me to get my 4 year old to bed.  I just wanted to post something to my blog.  I hope you all have had a great few days.

Take Care!

A quick “Howdy”

Hey Guys!

  I thought I would get on here real quick.  It is FREEZING here.  My heaters (we have two in this house) have tripped the breaker today.  Both of them at the same time.  The heater downstairs did it about a week ago.  Hopefully, it is just the fuse that needs replacing???  I don’t know.  The heater’s are working after I go and make sure the breakers are in the on position. 

  We are suppose to be getting freezing rain this evening.  Knocking on wood it hasn’t happened……..”Yet!” If it wasn’t for Lois I wouldn’t have been aware of it at all, I don’t think.  I feel so scatter brained right now.  As of right now, there is still school with No delays.  The county just above us has a 2 hour school delay as of right now.  Just praying it passes by or never passes at all.

 I did add three recipes to my recipe blog.  That blog I am going to be changing up with the New Year.  And posting on it a lot.  With more photos and such.   I put my sugar cookie recipe and my royal icing recipe up.  I also put up my meatball recipe.  And a picture (yes, it is my picture) of the cooked meatballs.  I feel like such a loone taking pictures of food. 

And just for the heck of it….here is the picture of my yummy meatballs I made last week.  They are so good.  The sauce isn’t too sweet.  At least for my husband it isn’t.  However, I can taste the sweetness which I love!  Anyway, here is a quick picture of the meatballs…

I hope you all had a wondeful start to the week.  I received several Christmas Cards Today.  Thank you to my mom, my sister Shawna, my Grandma C, and my adoptive grandma Dixie.  Thank you all so much for everything!

Stay warm and take Care!

****Here I thought this was going to be a very short post!   I guess I am a talker!****

Sugar Cookie Fun Day

Hey Guys!

    Today, David and I made Sugar Cookies.  And boy, did we have a great time. David got a little carried away with his dough at some points….and became a little messy while frosting them.  And got a little crazy with all the colors of ‘icing’ on his cookies. 

  It was a fun busy day today.  Eric and David didn’t go see the movie “Bolt” last night.  Instead they went a mid morning showing today.  That gave me a few hours to get some cookies baked.  I think I made around 6 dozen cookies today.  And it was just because.  I haven’t made sugar cookies in a while and wasn’t sure how they would turn out.  I think they turned out okay.

 Here are a few of the decorated ones.

These next two pictures are not very good.

My kids have already asked me to make sugar cookies for Santa.  Which brings me to this.  When did you stop believing in Santa?  Daniel stopped the year before last.  He actually helped us last Christmas put up all his brother and sister Santa gifts.  The reason I ask is because Aimee is 10 and she still believes.  Eric says that after this year she is going to tell him.    I can’t remember when I stopped believing in Santa as a kid. 

Making Sugars Cookies (at least these) is a very long process.  So I might try to talk the kids into Chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies or maybe even brownies.  I don’t know if  I will have ANY luck at all in changing there minds.  We shall see.

Oh, the Doctor called today, Zachary does not have MRSA.  Which is so wonderful.  He just has an infection and the antibiotics he is on should take care of it.  Thank goodness.  I was sort of surprised that it was actually THE doctor and not a nurse or something.  I really like Zachary’s Doctor!

I hope you have all had a wonderful day.  And Stayed warm.

Take Care.

A trip around The Christmas Tree.

Hey Guys,

  How would you like to take a little trip around my Christmas Tree.  I have two set up.  This is our big one in our formal living room.  These are not all of our ornaments.

**Warning~This post is picture heavy**

This ornament is Zachary’s ornament. Notice his hands. It is missing a riffle. Some little boy wanted to play with it, than it be hung on our Christmas Tree.

This is Aimee’s Favorite Ornament.  She has had it since she was 5 years old.

This one is Daniels.  Of course it is a lion.  How do you think we came up with his name?  Hallmark also made a giraffe ornament just like this. And I have been wanting it for Aimee. Giraffes are one of her favorite animals.  Of course it goes sky high on eBay.

This is David’s Baby’s first Christmas Ornament. 

This is Eric’s Ornament to Celebrate his first Christmas as a father.

This is one of my ornaments.  I love cooking and baking.  And I have 3 ornaments in this series.  I am hoping to be able to find the next one in the series after Christmas.

The next ornaments are of our favorite NFL team.  The blimp I purchased for Eric last Christmas.

Next are our snowmen ornaments.  The New Millennium Snowman Ornament.  We had to fight for.  Okay, not really fight for.  He is a hallmark ornament and was very popular.  Hallmark had the display ornament left.  And 5 days before Christmas they called the people waiting for the ornament.  We were the first to get there….He is one of our favorite ornaments.

Shepard ornaments are our Favorite Ornaments to get.  We started purchasing shepard ornaments the year Daniel was born.  Here are our favorites..

The Peanuts.  Okay, I think Eric and I like The Peanuts more than the kids. 

My Daughter wants really badly to be a trauma doctor.  She takes EVERYTHING school wise very seriously.  Which is a good thing I think.  Anway, in 2006, when this ornament came out.  I had to grab it up.  Aimee loves it.

And since we are a retired military family.  And we are patriotic.  We had to get a flag ornament.  On the back of this ornament is a verse.

And the last two pictures of the ornament we purchased the year we bought our house.  I love the two sideness (is that even a word???) of this ornament.

Our other tree is 3 foot tall.  All of our minature ornaments hang from it.  All the ornaments with the exception of one of the Dallas Cowboy ornaments and The Peanuts ornaments are all from Hallmark.  I will try to to the mini tree tour next week.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday. 

Take Care.

My Favorite Christmas Jingle!

Hey Guys,

  If some of you don’t know.  I am a okie, 100% okie.  Although, I sort of lost my twang in my speech.  Living away from Oklahoma for 15 years.  I have developed a southerner voice.  And of course since I am an Okie, I am a 100% Boomer Sooner (Oklahoma University) Fan!  Have I mentioned that I actually love football.  And OU made history this past Saturday, going over 60 points in five consecutive games!  WHOOHOO!

  And since I am from Oklahoma, it just isn’t Christmas until I hear the B.C. Clark Jewelers Commercial.  And if you are not from Oklahoma here is your chance to learn this little jingle.  I love it and brings back SO many good Christmas memories from Oklahoma.  It is funny what triggers a memory and this jingle sure does it.

  This Jingle has been running Strong since 1956!!!!!  It is just NOT Christmas without this B.C. Clark Jingle!

And here is a longer version with more lyrics. The song starts around 44 seconds.

It is going into the Guinness World Book of Records for the longest running commercial . . . EVER!!!
This jingle ALWAYS gets me into the Christmas spirit. Guess because it is from home. Is there a song or jingle that gets you into the Christmas spirit?

I hope you all are having a fantastic Tuesday. (It has been pouring down rain here)
Take Care.

Twas the Night Before Christmas….Mom style

Hey Guys,
As I was searching for things to do on Christmas Break and for Christmas. I ran onto this and boy is it so true. I loved it. It is ‘sang’ to the tune of Twas the Night Before Christmas. I didn’t write it. The Author is Catherine Cornell.

The moral of this poem is Time goes by too fast. We should cherish each and every moment with our Children and make all the seconds COUNT! They grew up WAY to fast. Even in times of Chaos we should count our blessings.

Twas the Night Before Christmas…Mom Style
By Catherine Cornell

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ Mom Style!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode,
Only one creature was stirring, she was cleaning the commode.
The children were sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of X-box 360 and IPODS flipped through their heads.

Dad was snoring in front of the family TV
With a half-constructed bike propped up on his knee.
So only Mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, ‘Now what’s the matter?’

With toilet brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs and saw an old man
All covered with soot, which fell with a shrug’
‘Oh great,’ muttered Mom, ‘now I have to clean up the rug.’

‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ cried Santa, ‘I’m glad you’re awake—
My gift to you was especially difficult to make.’
‘Thanks Santa, but all I want is time alone.’
‘Exactly!’ he chuckled, ‘so I’ve made you a clone.’

‘A clone?’ she muttered. ‘What good is that?’
Now run along Santa, I’ve no time to chat.’
Then out walked the clone, the dear mother’s twin,
Same hair and same eyes, the same double chin.

‘She’ll cook and she’ll dust, she’ll mop every mess,
You’ll relax, take it easy, watch the Young and Restless.’
‘Fantastic!’ mom cheered, ‘My dream has come true!’
‘I’ll shop and I’ll read and I’ll sleep the night through!’

From the room up above, the youngest did fret.
‘Mommy come quickly—-I’m scared and I’m wet!’
The clone replied, ‘I’m coming sweetheart.’
‘WOW!’ the mom smiled. ‘She sure knows her part.’

The clone changed the small one and sung him a tune
As she bundled him up in a blanket cocoon.
‘You’re the best mommy ever—I really love you!’
The clone smiled and said, ‘I love you too!’

The real mom frowned and said ‘Santa , no deal!
That’s my baby’s love that she’s trying to steal.’
Smiling wisely Santa said, ‘To me it’s so clear,
Only one loving mother is needed right here.’

The mom kissed her child and tucked him in bed,
‘Thank you so much, dear Santa, for clearing my head’,
Knowing time goes too fast ,and it won’t be too long,
That her children will no longer need her cradle nor song,

The clock on the mantle then began to chime;
Santa whispered to the clone, ‘It works every time.’
And with the clone at his side, Santa said,’ Goodnight
Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right!’

Catherine Cornell

Have a wonderful evening. 

Take care

A Christmas Tradition-For Next Year!

Hey Guys!

  I have been reading and lurking on some blogs looking for Christmas Traditions.  And I found a new one for next year.  If I had only found this a few weeks ago, I could have planned for it.

It is called the Christmas Fun Jar.

It is where you get a Jar (any ole jar will do).  However, we are going to be decorating our own jar.  Instructions on that will follow soon.  Well in a month or so when we create our jar for next year.

On The last day of November (or before December 1st) fill the jar with fun fairly cheap activities to do.  You will need 25 pieces of scrap paper or decorative paper.  Each day leading up to Christmas a child gets to pull a activity to do.

For instance….

1. Watch a Christmas movie or holiday show on television. Get a complete list of Christmas shows and record them to watch together.
2. Go see the Christmas lights in the neighborhoods in your pajamas.   This one sounds like a lot of fun!
3. Drink a mug of hot cocoa under your Christmas tree.
4. Read the true story of Christmas.   Love this one as well.
5. Open one gift early.
6. Bake cookies and take a plate to the firefighters. See if you can get a tour of the fire station and the engines!–This is a great idea and what little boys wouldn’t love this.  And we just got a new firestation put in place a few miles from us.
7. Write a letter to Santa to leave on Christmas Eve.
8. Make a snowman.
9. Make a snow angel.
10. Pop popcorn and play a board game together, while listening to holiday music. —This is a good one as well.
11. Go to the dollar theatre and see a movie. Sneak in a snack.
12. Go to the library and pick out books about Christmas. Read them together.
13. Give the kids a bath while Christmas carols blare into the bathroom. See who can sing the loudest.
14. Get or make stocking stuffers for Dad.
15. Write a note to each member in the family to tell them how special they are and what you love about them. Leave them in their stockings. —love this one as well.
16. Draw a holiday picture and send it to a relative (of the child’s choice). —The grandparents would love this one.
17. Take a tour of lights in another neighborhood. Pop popcorn to take with you and blast Christmas carols in the car.
18. Make an ornament together for the tree. Try to incorporate a picture of your child and have them choose the decorating. Write the year on the back and try to add one of these each year.
19. Bake cookies for yourselves.
20. Visit Santa at the mall (even if you already did this once).
21. Start a holiday memory book. Quote your child and ask them what their favorite thing they had done (so far) was for the holidays. Record what they asked for from Santa. Take a picture of them for that year with their Santa gift.
22. Print out a Holiday Coloring Page and color it.
23. Make Christmas Crackers to put in each stocking. Take tissue paper and cover each toilet paper roll with it. Take ribbon and tie to close one end of the roll. Fill it with candies and confetti (if you wish). Tie the other end with ribbon and place these in each family member’s stocking. These can be opened on Christmas morning. To make them extra special, have your child write a note to each family member and tuck them inside. It will be a special surprise for everyone!
24. Go to the library and pick out a movie to watch together as a family. Make homemade pizza and curl up together on the couch.
25. Put together a box of items to donate and take your child with you to donate them. Ask them if they would like to contribute something that they have outgrown…..

These were just some of the suggestions I found while searching for ‘activities’ to include.

If you were to do this ‘Tradition’ with your family what kind of activities would you include?  And you don’t have to have children at home to do this.  I think it would be fun to do as an adult.  However, I am known to be a little weird sometimes.

Now I can’t wait for next Decemeber.  Okay, maybe I can.  I am going to start preparing for this though however in the summer.

I hope you all have a fabulous day.

Take Care.

Pretend I have a Catchy Title….

Hey Guys!

  I am just have a blog block.  And couldn’t think of a catchy title.  So either make your own up or pretend it is a very catchy title. 

 The kids have no school today to honor Veterans.  Which is great.  They are relatively calm-as of now.  Daniel is outside playing, Zachary is playing by himself in his room (this is something that he never done prior to being on meds), and Aimee and David are watching television downstairs.

It is quit chilly out today.  And my oldest son thinks he is invisible when it comes to getting sick and he trys to sneak out without ANY sock or shoes on or a jacket on.  He loves to go barefoot.  Which I have tried to explain to his it is a BAD idea to do that. He is our child that NEVER and I do mean NEVER gets sick.  I don’t believe the kid has even had the common cold.  He has not even had an ear infection.  And if he happens to get sick…it doesn’t stay with him but maybe a day.  I told him if he kept going outside without the proper garments on he will eventually get sick. 

I did get two very cute Christmas Headbands made to put in my Etsy and eBay shops.

Aren’t they cute?  If my daughter has a Christmas gift swap at school (she did last year anyways) I am thinking about making a set like this for the gift?  Is that too corny?

Tonight for dinner I am making something we haven’t had in a LONG time.  Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans.  I might even do a gravy…just unsure yet.

Daniel and Aimee brought home there 3 week progress report.  Daniel had ALL A’s and B’s!  WHOHOO…and Aimee had Straight A’s! I am so proud of them both.  Daniel we have to keep after.  I think it is just the boy in him.  However, Aimee is VERY hard on herself.  So we try to encourage her and if something doesn’t go her way…..it isn’t really any big deal-Just try harder next time.

David’s bump is MUCH better. His gums are sort of tender from having a tooth pulled. But I believe that is to be expected.   I do think he might be coming down with a small cold though.

The kids are counting down the days until Thanksgiving.  We tend to make a big deal out of Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for.  This year I expect to have 3 little helpers during the few days I will be cooking.

Aimee has a field trip this Friday that she is SO excited about.  She loves learning and going to school and going on field trips to learn new things.  She takes a LOT after my sister (my sister is a lot like that I think).  It is almost like she CRAVES knowledge.  I know that seems funny, but that is how she is.

Speaking of my sister.  She is so sweet and sent me some pictures of her and I together. So here are two that she sent me that I just love.  And I remember both of the vividly.

The first one is of us at the piano.  I know I was 8.  And she must have been around 8 or 9 months. 

This one was taken either my Junior Year of High School or My Senior year of High School) Although, I think it was my Junior Year.—Not sure. It might even be my sophmore year??? Mom, which was it?  Shawna looks to be about 6 or so in this picture.  Isn’t she adorable???  She is gorgeous now.  Maybe one day I will get her permission to post a current picture of her and her family…and a picture of my gorgeous niece.

Thank you Shawna for sending these.  At least I have them saved online and in my computer now.

I think I might watch Dancing with The Stars tonight since Susan Lucci was voted off—-YAYAYAYAY!  She just looks fragile.

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

Take Care.