2008 Favorites List

I can’t believe that tomorrow will be a new year.  One year since I started this little blog.  I saw this list over at Annette’s and I thought it was a good day to look back on the year, so I copied it.

Top Books – {This year I read more than 70 books.  These are ones that got a five star rating on my goodreads list}

• The Quilter’s Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
• A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmell
• These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
• Peter and the Star Catchers series by Dave Barry
• Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
• The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristin D. Randle
• Before the Dawn by Dean Hughes
• Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
• Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer
• Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
• A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
• It’s a Mall World After All by Janette Rallinson
• The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice

Top Movies

• Mamma Mia! {So fun!}
• Mad Money
• Firehouse Dog {Such a great kids movie}

Kid’s Accomplishments

• My oldest really learned how to read this year.  I love seeing that.  He also became an author.  Learned how to play the goalie position in soccer and excelled in that spot.
• My daughter started kindergarten knowing all her letters and their sounds.  She’ll be reading before I know it.  She also learned to ride her bike with out training wheels.
• My youngest learned how to use the toilet.  Hallelujah! Learned how to spell and write his name, and ride a bike with training wheels.

Personal Achievements

• I was published in Creating Keepsakes magazine – not a layout, just words but it was exciting none the less.
• I read more than 70 books.
• I learned how to do basic editing in Photoshop Elements.

Top Events

• Having friends come out for a week, and spending time at the coast with them.
• Having my brother and sister-in-law come to town for a long weekend.
• A trip to Utah for Spring Break & another for Thanksgiving.
• Having my parents come for a visit in May.
• Having my mother-in-law come to visit a couple times.

We had a great 2008.   I still can’t believe that it is over.  Here’s to a great 2009. 

By the way, have you read any of those books?  What were your favorite books, movies, accomplishments and events of 2008?

Happy New Year!

Back to Normal

Growing up, I remember begging my mom and dad to keep the tree up just a little bit longer.  I also remember spending New Years Day taking down the tree. Wrapping up the ornaments and carefully putting them back in their spaces.  I hated to take down the decorations.

When I married Bryan, I learned that his family thinks it is “bad luck” to have a tree up after December 31.  The first year, I was disappointed with that.  Now, I am itching to take the tree and decorations down a day or two before Christmas, normally.

This year, that itch to get the house back to normal didn’t hit until a couple days after Christmas.  Today I was going crazy.  It seems like there is stuff everywhere.  And the kids are tired of being together all day everyday so there was fighting and whining happening. So, when I had a free moment, I undecorated the tree.

When my youngest came down the stairs he sat at the counter on a barstool and commented on the lovely tree.  A couple moments later, it dawned on him that there were no ornaments. 

“Hey! There’s no decorations on that tree.”

He got off the barstool and walked over to investigate and found the box of decorations.  His little hands pried the lid off and he saw the ornaments in the box. 

His little face fell.

“Is Christmas over?” He was so sad! 

And then I felt bad.  So I tried to sing the song about keeping Christmas with you all through the year from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street but I couldn’t remember the words.  So we talked about the next few holidays instead.  He’s all excited for Valentines now.

So I only felt bad for a minute.  I was supposed to have a meeting tonight but when it got cancelled, I realized that I could get the rest of the decorations down too.  So I worked like a busy bee after dinner and got the house almost back to normal. 

BIG sigh of relief.

How about you? When do you take your decorations down?

Gifts

For Christmas, my mom and dad gave us a quilt that my great-grandmother (and namesake) started.  I don’t know much about it, except that it is beautiful.  My mom added the border and finished it.

My grandmother was born in South Jordan, UT on Dec. 31, 1887 and died in Nevada on April 9, 1959. Having this quilt makes me feel like I have a piece of my great-grandmother with me, as well as a piece of my mother and father.

Isn’t it beautiful? I love it.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Did you get anything for Christmas that you absolutely love?

Christmas Report

Oregon has been experiencing some of the worst snow in 40 years.  Because of wind we have huge drifts in our yard making for a couple great sledding hills and our yard is buried in a couple feet of snow.  I did the last of any shopping we needed to do the Saturday before Christmas, so when roads became impassable it was okay with us.  We were basically snowed in because we don’t have chains, traction tires or 4WD.  Since we didn’t have any more shopping that needed to be done, being home was very nice.  We were able to watch movies, play games and just be together as a family while listening to Christmas music.  It made the season slow down, and it wasn’t as crazy and hectic as it could have been. 

{A tree in the front yard.}

{Our neighbors car on Christmas day}

Temps got a little higher on Christmas Eve so we were able to make it to my sister’s for our annual Christmas bingo game and she served an excellent dinner {prime rib, twice baked potatoes & green beans}.  The kids were all so excited to win a prize during the game and once we came home we read the Christmas story and let the kids open a present of new pajamas.  When my youngest opened the Lightning McQueen pajamas he exclaimed, “This is just what I always wanted!”

The kids got up at 7:30, and we came down stairs to see if Santa had come.  Santa was good to us.  The kids each got a new bike from Santa and were spoiled by grandmas, grandpas and cousins.  They each got something they loved, and it was wonderful to watch their excitement.

This year for the first time was Christmas with just us – no parents or in-laws coming to visit – and that was kind of hard for me. I missed seeing my parents and my in-laws this holiday season, but it was nice to lounge around in my pajamas all day long.  We just spent the day playing {and I stole a few minutes to read The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice} and we ended the day with a dinner of ham and funeral potatoes and fresh baked rolls.  I thought the food was great but the kids wouldn’t eat it! Oh, well, more for me. :)

Now we are looking forward to another week of playing before the new year begins.  Starting to think about resolutions and goals.  Pondering rules and restrictions to use with a new video game system. How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

I had to share a thought at a meeting I had a couple of weeks ago and the one I chose has staying with me all week long, so I thought that I would post it here:

(Image from LDS.org)

“What a glorious and wonderful season of year this is.  our hearts change.  Our attitudes change.  Our way of thinking changes.  There is a little more forgiveness in us.  A little more of kindness.  A little more of love.  A little more of patience.  A little more of understanding at the Christmas season of year.  What a glorious thing it is that at least once in twelve months we can become a little better than we have been during the twelve months we can can become alittle better than we have been during the remainder of the year.  Thanks be to God for the gift of His son, and thanks be to His Son for the gift of His life.  How grateful we are at the Christmas season.” –Gordon B. Hinckley (Dec. 1, 1996)

Around here, we are buried under a mountain of snow {it is beautiful! I love it!}, the cookies are decorated, and the gifts are ready to be given.  The Christmas spirit is strong, and I have had a couple of discussions with my kids about how giving is more important than getting and that the true meaning of Christmas is love, and faith and keeping Christ with us all year long.

Merry Christmas to you all.  Enjoy this special season with your families. God bless!

--Amanda

Photo Story Friday & Frosty

We have had snow days from school all week and yesterday the snow was wet enough that we could make a snowman.  A few years ago a friend gave us a “snowman kit” and we finally got to use it!

Before:

And After:

My youngest kept stopping what he was doing and going to say : “Hi, Frosty!”  I thought it was very cute.  We also made a little sledding hill in the front yard, and my boys shoveled the sidewalks and driveways of several neighbors.  My youngest spent a good amount of time shoveling the road too. 

For those of you in the Portland metro Area, I highly recommend going to see the Christmas ships.  We went on Wednesday night and it was so much fun. 

Wednesday night we saw 11 ships all decked out for Christmas.  No tri-pod + too little light + moving ships = blurry pictures, but you get the idea.  More info is here.

See more Photo Story Friday here.

A Few Christmas Faves

Quite frankly, I can’t believe that Christmas is less than a week away.  It really seems to have crept up on.  How that happens when it has been on the calendar all year, and I look at the calendar about a million times a day,  I don’t know.  But, it did.  Suddenly, Christmas is almost here.

So, before I share some of my Christmas faves, I need some of yours.  I want to get my kids some books for Christmas.  Do you have any favorites that are aimed at 7-year-old boys, 5-year-old girls and 3-year-old boys?  Any that are great for them to read on their own or for me to read to them?  I hope to raise three readers, so I need to encourage that by giving them books. Right?

***

Songs: My favorite songs for the Christmas season change each year.  Some years they are the fun Santa type songs, some years they are religious, spiritual songs.  This year my favorite albums are instrumental.  Perhaps because my kids are loud and crazy that the peace and quietness of instrumental music is speaking to me more.

I love the Mormon Hymn Classics Christmas with the The London National Philharmonic Orchestra and a Christmas Classics Piano that I picked up at Shop-ko years ago for $7.

Books: This year I read A Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Buxton, and I was inspired by it.  My favorite kids ones are Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck and When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem which is illustrated by Joseph Brickey and includes words directly from the bible. This is what we read on Christmas Eve.  This year my youngest has had me reading Moosletoe a lot.

Recipes: My favorite Christmas treat are homemade caramels.  This year mine turned out exceptionally well.  I used the 30 minute Caramels recipe from Candymaking  by Ruth Kendrick.  Here is the recipe:

30 Minute Caramels

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups light corn syrup

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 tsp salt

Butter a 9″ square baking pan and set aside.  In a heavy 4 qt saucepan, combine milk, corn syrup, sugars, butter and salt.  Place over medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until mixture comes to a boil.

Clip on candy thermometer.  Stir constantly to prevent scorching, cook to 240F or soft-ball stage.  Pour into prepared pan.  Cool until firm.  Cut into 1 inch square.  Makes 81 pieces.

Tips: Use a HEAVY knife to cut the caramels.  Place an ice pack underneath to keep them cool while cutting.  Waiting 24 hours will help make cutting them easier.

***

I am planning on making these cinnamon rolls for neighbors too.  Don’t you wish you lived by me?

Other: I love to play in the snow.  I love to watch my kids open their presents.  I love the tradition we have of playing Christmas Bingo every Christmas Eve.  I love watching Frosty the Snowman and The Polar Express and The Santa Clause.  I love making and sending Christmas cards.  I really love getting Christmas cards.

Your turn: What are you favorites of the season?  What books do you suggest?

Images from ebay and amazon.

Our Snow Day (in pictures)

Sunday morning started at 7:30 when a man from church called to tell us that meetings had been cancelled because of the snow.  This is what it looked like out the front door at 9:00:

 

We had to laugh because in Utah, church wouldn’t have been cancelled for this.  And, Cheryl is right… we Oregonians are wimps, apparently. 

My kids were all excited about the snow. Oh, who are we kidding?  I was all excited about the snow too.  We bundled up and went outside to play:

This is my oldest shoveling the sidewalk.  He also shoveled the grass, the gutter, the neighbors drive way and the road in order to make a big pile.

The first time we went out my youngest refused to turn around.  He kept begging for glasses.  This was because there were 30+ mph winds blowing the snow around and it kept getting in his eyes.

My two youngest were back inside after about five minutes (if that) and enjoying this:

which is the real reason any of the kids wanted to go outside to begin with, according to Bryan.

We bundled the kids up about six more times and they went out to play.  I went out once (and outlasted them all!) to help with the sledding:

We enjoyed out “snow day”… we played outside, watched movies, played games, sat by the fire and enjoyed each other.

Monday school was cancelled even though we didn’t get anymore snow.  It has been cold though.  With the wind blowing non-stop it has felt like 0-8 degrees (according to weather.com).  Today school was delayed two hours with no a.m. kindergarten.  The kids have one more day of school and then they are off for winter break.  I’m a little worried how we will keep ourselves entertained that long.

I love the snow!  I love that we got to play in it, and watch it.  It feels a little more like Christmas that way.

Christmas 2006

During the Christmas season of 2006 my family and I went to see Temple Square.  It is absolutely breath-taking at Christmas.  I remember going as a child and being in awe of all the lights that twinkled from every direction.  For a few years, it seemed like they didn’t do as many lights, but the last few times that we went, I was  thoroughly impressed. 

Here are some photos from that trip that I thought I would share:

Another year (maybe the same one, I don’t remember, honestly) we went to Temple Square right after Thanksgiving and while my brother and sister-in-law watched the little kids, we adults and big kids watched the movie about Christ in the Joseph Smith building.  It was the story of His life, and it was hard to watch the crucifixion, but it was such a great reminder of the real reason for the Christmas season.  A good reminder of the miracles that still happen. 

As we’ve gone through this holiday season, I have tried to think of ways to keep Christ in our Christmas.  With little kids it is harder than it probably should be.  They are excited about the presents and Santa, which is understandable.  They know the songs about Rudolph, Santa coming down the chimney and Jingle Bells, but when I sat down at the piano and “played” Silent Night, I realized my kids don’t know that song.  How do they not?   It’s making me rethink my cd selection. :) 

So, what do you do at Christmas to help kids remember the real reason for the season?

Daybook

FOR TODAY ...

Outside my window... the wind is howling and there is snow and ice on the ground!
I am thinking... that lifting weights takes a lot out of me.
I am thankful for... our furnace.  And sweatshirts, hot chocolate and friends.
From the learning rooms... school is cancelled today. I have to teach pre-K Wednesday. The theme is Christmas. Any ideas for me?
From the kitchen... Tonight it will be sloppy joes, beans and carrot sticks.
I am wearing...  jeans, my Texas sweatshirt and Christmas tree socks.
I am creating... nothing.  I should me making a menu for Christmas day, but I haven’t.  I have an itch to scrapbook. And to write.
I am going... to finalize all the things for Christmas tomorrow.
I am reading...  Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon.  Just finished How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-boyfriend by Janette Rallison.  I enjoyed it.  Love YA Fiction.
I am hoping... that the wind stops but that the snow sticks around for 11 more days. :)
I am hearing... Bob the Builder.
Around the house... the laundry needs to be folded and put away and the dishes are piled high.  I kind of took the day off yesterday so there is much to be done today.  It was worth it though! 
One of my favorite things... watching a movie with Bryan.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Finishing the Christmas shopping, teaching pre-K Wednesday, and a presidency meeting at the end of the week.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

See more Daybook entries here.

Tree Hunting Part 3

This year after we had our tree selected, Bryan commented that tree hunting in Oregon sure is easier.  It is. I'm not sure it's a good thing though.  Of course, I was never the one laying on the mud/snow to saw a tree down. 

Here in Oregon, we are surrounded by tree farms, so we head out to one about 20 minutes from home that charges $15 for a tree.  The trees are all planted in neatly organized rows, and they have been shaped and there is a multitude of sizes and types.

Last year when we went it snowed.  It was beautiful.

This year, there was no snow (or rain!) or mud.  It was a nice day, but not really weather that makes you think of Christmas. {For those of you that are here, we went last weekend, not this one where it has been windy, cold and snowy.}  We went out with my sister and her son, and wandered for a little while before we found one that we thought would fit into the spot in the family room that I had made. 

We flagged the guy with the chain saw down and he cut it, and loaded it on to a tractor to be hauled down to the cars.  Easy.  We wandered a little longer while my sister found the tree she wanted.  Bryan borrowed a saw and cut it, because the chain saw man was busy with other customers. 

It wasn't quite the same as hunting in Utah but the danger of getting lost isn't there.  Which is good.  And the kids love it just as much.  The thrill of the hunt is the same for them.

After we got home, we put clear lights on and our silver glittery star and let the kids put decorations on.  We have a hodge-podge of ornaments - some from my youth, some from Bryan's youth and one from just about every trip we have taken - and very few are breakable so the kids didn't need much help to put them up. We listened to Anne Murray, and a piano music-only album while we decorated.  The halls are decked.  The nativities are up.  The wreath is on the door.  The garland is hung on the stairs.  The stockings are hung.

Now we just need some snow, and it will feel like Christmas.

(I wrote this last week…before we got snow.  So now, we just need the snow to stick around until Christmas. :] )

“We laughed, we cried…

…it was better than Cats.”

bonus points for whoever names that quote.

She came.  It was wonderful!  We had a great time.  It’s funny how quickly you can fall back into step with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time.  We ate pizza, saw Multnomah Falls, watched Last Holiday, Enchanted, chatted, took the kids to the Portland Children’s Museum, ate Sonic (yum!), made enchiladas, watched Four Christmases, stayed up too late, gained weight, laughed, chatted and watched the kids play. 

Thanks, S, for visiting!  Next time bring your whole family and stay around a bit longer. :)

***

This weekend, we have no plans.  It’s somewhat of a  miracle!  I’m hoping to get the kids out to buy presents for each other and their dad.  I would like to get some wrapped and under the tree too. 

***

Janelle has an interesting discussion about sleepovers happening at her blog.  Go check it out and leave your thoughts. Or share them here.  I’m curious.

***

The high here on Monday is 23 degrees.  And it is supposed to snow tomorrow and Monday.  I hope so.  Let it snow!  It is funny how freaked out people are though.  They were talking about Monday’s commute on Thursday.  Come on, folks, let’s see if it really snows before we start stressing.  

***

I found a new author.  When I was at Cheryl’s house she had a book on her coffee table that I thought looked interesting so I came home and put a couple by the author on hold at the library.  I finished It’s a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison today, and I loved it.   I can’t wait to get started on How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend.  Pure fun.

Tree Hunting Part 2

As I said in part one, every year growing up we cut down a fresh Christmas tree. The year that we got married my parents bought their first fake Christmas tree. As a newly married woman, I was bound and determined to carry on the tradition of my youth. The first year that we were married we were going to spend Christmas at Disney World with Bryan's parents and some of his siblings but I wanted a real tree anyway.

I convinced Bryan and the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1999 we headed out in a 2 wheel drive pickup with our permit in hand. We had donuts and hot chocolate too. Using the BLM's lousy maps we headed for the west desert by Delta. We took what we thought were the right roads. Along the way somewhere we decided that we were lost and tried to turn around. There wasn't a lot of snow on the ground, but there were patches and there was mud.

We got stuck. Big time. We spent an hour or so trying to get the truck out. We weren't too nervous. We thought that surely someone would come along and help us. No one did.

After a couple of hours, we decided that we had better start walking because the desert in November gets cold at night. There was no one around, so our hope was to get to a road that had a little more traffic. We walked and walked. After what we think was about eight miles, the sun was setting and a jeep pulled up alongside us. Bryan and I lived in Orem at the time and the kid driving happened to live in Springville. He volunteered to drive us home. I was so relieved. I remember telling Bryan as we were walking that I couldn't go another step.

We got dropped off, and tried to laugh about it. The next day, Bryan went out with his dad to try to get the truck (which belonged to Bryan's work!) unstuck. They couldn't get it to budge. The next weekend Bryan went out with a tow truck driver who eventually got it out with a winch. What a relief.

We ended up with out a tree.

The next year, I some how got Bryan to go out again. And starting that year, my parents went out tree hunting with us. I think Bryan would still go out because he knew how important it was to me.

Coming up...tree hunting in Oregon...

She's Coming!

She's coming! She's coming!

For two nights and two days! And she is bringing her 7-year-old.

I can't wait! (If you can't tell, I'm a little excited.)

I must clean my house. Now. But first, I'm going to do a happy dance, because

She's coming! Woo-hoo!

Tree Hunting Part 1

As a kid, we always had a real Christmas tree.  We would get a permit from the BLM, pack up warm winter clothes, a saw, some donuts and hot chocolate and head out.  Sometimes, we drove for what seemed like a long time.  I remember once we drove out to Nevada, but most of the time we went to Utah's west desert by Delta. 

Maps from BLM land are not good but we always managed to find our way and almost always found a beautiful tree.  When you are out in the wild, trees look a lot thinner and shorter than they are in real life. 

One year, that stands out in my mind, is when I was in high school.  We went out and tromped around looking for a tree.  After a while we found this beautiful, full tree.  My dad looked at it and said, "It's too tall!" 

He said that every year.

We assured him that it wasn't and talked him into cutting it down.  We dragged it back to the SUV and tied it on top.  We enjoyed some hot chocolate and some donuts.  Then, we drove home.  We got home and unloaded.

My parents live in a split level house and the tree goes in the upstairs living room.  We always took it up the back steps, through the sliding glass doors, through the kitchen and into the living room. 

My dad took the tree to the back yard and cut off a few of the lower branches so that it would fit in the tree stand and hauled it up the stairs.  When it got it there it was so huge that it wouldn't fit.  It was wider than both panes of the sliding glass door and taller than door by about three feet. 

We laughed.  I'm sure my dad groaned.  He dragged it back down the stairs and sawed a few more branches off.  It still wouldn't fit.  I think he ended up having to cut some off the top and the bottom. 

When it would finally fit through the door, it was the saddest looking Christmas tree in the world.  It had so many holes and was so misshapen.  We decorated it anyway, and although it was pretty pitiful, it was beautiful in it's own right.

This is a story that we laugh about every year. It brings back such good memories for my family. 

Coming up...  Tree hunting as a newlywed...

NaBloPoMo & Our Thanksgiving

Well, NaBloPoMo was a bust for me.  It was just too hard with traveling for Thanksgiving.  My writing before I gave up was awful.  I apologize. All my readers are probably glad that I will be going back to a couple posts per week. ;)

We were so glad to head to Utah for Thanksgiving.  We were able to take a full week so we were able to see a lot of people, but it is impossible to see everyone.  I wish that there was more time to see friends and extended family more. The funny thing is though, that I feel like I am home in Oregon now. I used to think Utah would always feel like home.

We were insanely busy.  Here is a list of what we did:

• Tennis, electric scooters, skate park, football, frisbee and walks, playing in leaves { no snow this trip :( }
• Video games, movies, swimming
• Eating, eating and staying up too late
• Black Friday shopping {my sister and I got some good bargains!}
• Lunch with some blogging buddies (thanks, ladies!)
• Dinner with some old friends
• Games with friends from our old church
• Card games, dominoes and board games
• Playing in the leaves, Nephi City's Light's On ceremony & Electric Parade (very cool!)
• Seagull Book {there was so much that I wanted to buy! But I did good and didn't over-spend}

Now that we are home, I am ready to get the house ready for Christmas, and finish up the shopping. The next few weeks will be really busy too.  Seems like there is a lot of stuff to do.  But, who isn't busy this time of year?

Some photos from the trip:

 

Me and my littlest one on the electric scooter.  Tons of fun!

My daughter and my oldest jumping on Poppy's trampoline!

The ladies after lunch at Brick Oven (yum...red cream soda!) From left: Annette, Cheryl, Amber, me, and Julie P.

The water mill at the Nephi Light's On celebration.  I wish I had my tripod, but they turned out okay. 

Random Thoughts

As a kid, I loved to dunk my McDonald's chicken nuggets in honey.  I haven't eaten one in at least twelve years.  And I wont be eating one anytime soon.  Why?  Because in their latest ad campaign they are calling them : Nuggnuts.  It grosses me out.

***

My oldest brought the Star Wars cookbook home from the school library.  There are actually some pretty good recipes in it.  Surprise, surprise!  Yesterday I made the Princess Leia sweet rolls.  So easy and so good.  My oldest ate two, my daughter ate one and my youngest ate four.  I had three.  They were tasty!

Here's how to make them:  Unroll a pop-tube pizza crust.  Brush with one TBSP melted butter, sprinkle with a mixture of 2 TBSP sugar and 1.5 tsp of cinnamon.  Roll up and pinch the seam.  Slice with a knife and bake at 350 for 20 minutes in a greased pan.  Cool five minutes.  Spread on  frosting made with 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 TBSP milk.  Enjoy.

I served mine with hot chocolate.  It was great. And today, I'm going to make "Wookie Cookies" and the kids want the "Skywalker Smoothie" for breakfast tomorrow.

***

My computer is dying.  We have a Dell laptop.  I wouldn't recommend buying one.  I keep saying that I wouldn't buy another laptop.  I don't want my kids taking the computer to their rooms and doing who knows what with it.  But, if I get a desktop, how will I sit and watch the Today Show or NCIS while I catch up on my friend's lives?  I would really miss not being able to IMDB movie stars while we watch the latest disc from Netflix.  <sigh.>

I seem to have about five minutes of speed when I get online and then it stops.  I was worried that it would die before I got my pictures off (the cd drive is dead) but I got a 8 gb flash drive on "black Friday" for $9, so that part is taken care of.

***

I realize that I haven't posted about our Fabulous trip to Utah for thanksgiving yet.  My camera battery is charging, so hopefully I'll have a chance to upload my pictures, and then I can work on it.

So, how about you?  Do you eat McDonald's nuggets?  Any good cookbooks for kids that you recommend?  Do you IMDB?  Do you have a laptop?

Daybook

FOR TODAY ... December 1, 2008

Outside my window... it is dark, and rainy, I think.

I am thinking...that I am almost done Christmas shopping. I can't wait to get all the Thanksgiving decor put away and start getting out the Christmas stuff.

I am thankful for... my kid's teachers and their dedication.

From the learning rooms...my youngest's preschool theme is "Welcome Winter" and today he made a paper snowman which he called a "Mrs. Potato Head Snowman." Silly boy.

From the kitchen...tonight we had spaghetti, meatballs, bread sticks and corn. I desperately need a trip to the store.

I am wearing...my favorite black sweatpants, a gray sweatshirt and red socks covered with snowflakes.

I am creating...a grocery list. It seems to be growing every second.

I am going...shopping tomorrow, and to an Enrichment meeting tomorrow night and hoping to do some Christmas shopping Wednesday morning.

I am reading...Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich and The Spirit of Christmas by Betsy Brannon Green and two other women.

I am hoping...that work stays steady for my husband and brother through the winter.

I am hearing...Christmas music. Today I broke out the Josh Groban, Bar J Wranglers, and George Strait cds. Love it. And last week's episode of NCIS. Gotta love *on demand*.

Around the house...the laundry is folded on the coffee table and there are some gifts waiting for a tree to be put under.

One of my favorite things...hot chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week...getting a Christmas tree, watching a neighbor boy and play dates for the kids.

{No picture thought this week. I haven't uploaded pics from our trip to Utah.}

Week of Thanks Day 5

Today I am thankful for family memories.  That sounds so strange, but we have been with family for the last few days and will be for a few more days and we have spent a lot of time reminiscing.  I have loved it!  Laughing at the funny things, remembering the harder things, and the best part: Making new memories.  

My kids have gotten to play with cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles.  We have gone swimming, played tennis, played video games, rode scooters and so much more.  

I am thankful for the way the mind works...that we are able to remember these moments.  I'm thankful for my scrapbooks and the fact that we can sit down and look through and be taken to another time.  Remembering the little details of life.  

Week of Thanks Day 4

Today I am grateful for books. I know some people that read to learn, and I may someday get to a place where that is me, but for now, I read to escape. I read to take me away. I read purely for pleasure (with the occasional deep thinker-type book in there.)

Some books that I have read lately and really enjoyed are:

A Paper Bag Christmas - by Kevin Alan Milne - A pure delight. A very quick (1-2 hours) read about service at Christmas time. A tear jerker, too.

The Secret Life of Bees - by Sue Monk Kid - Very fun. Narrated by a 14 year old girl who goes in search of her mother. I hope to someday be as wise as August. Some mild swearing, so don't read it if you don't like that. I can't wait to see the movie, I think Queen Latifah will be perfect for her part.

Master - by Toni Sorenson - This book was good too (really, I don't read many books that I don't enjoy!) and more of a thinker than some. It is told from the perspective of a boy abandoned in the desert and taken into Mary & Joseph's home as a servant. It follows his life as he follows Jesus. I can't imagine the amount of research that went into this book, and I quite enjoyed it. Having finished right before the Christmas season was nice too as Jesus is the reason for the season.

Summer of Light - by W. Dale Cramer - A delightful, easy read about a dad who loses his job and he and his wife decide that he will stay home with the three kids for the summer. Along the way he picks up photography as a hobby. Very inspiring for me as a photographer. This is a Christian book.

A Christmas Pearl - by Dorothea Benton Frank - Another easy, quick Christmas read. I truly loved it. It was about the importance that Christmas traditions play in our lives, and I vow this year to do some things that I haven't done in the last few years. I recommend everyone read this one before Christmas comes.

That's just a sampling of some of the books that I am grateful for right now.

How do books play a role in your life? Any really good books you have read lately that I should add to my to-read list?

A Week of Thanks Day 3

Today I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have because of it. I am grateful for the knowledge that Lord loves me and watches over me and my little family. I am grateful to know that there is life after death and we can be with our families forever. I am grateful for the scriptures and the peace they bring to my life. I am grateful for the words of encouragement the prophet and his apostles give to us. I am grateful for the chance to serve the Lord in my own ward.

I believe in Christ, He is my king.

A Week of Thanks Day 2

Today I am grateful for my kids and the funny things they say.

My daughter told me a day or two ago that she wishes Christmas would come. I asked her why, and she said, "Because I can't wait for the toys I ordered."
***
I was trying to convince my youngest to wear underwear instead of a pullup and I was telling him that he is a big boy and therefore didn't need a pull-up.
Me: Big boys don't wear Pull-Ups. Oldest, do you where Pull-Ups?
Oldest: {annoyed} No.
Me: See, Youngest. Oldest doesn't wear Pull-ups. Because big boys don't wear Pull-Ups.
Youngest: I'm not big like Oldest.
Me: Yes, you are.
Youngest: No, he's tallest.
***
My oldest was studying the Alberston's Frosted Flakes cereal box and said, "Mom, look! This is how you say hello in hand language."
Funny, I always thought it was sign language.

Happy Saturday!

A Week of Thanks Day 1

For this week of Thanksgiving, I really want to concentrate on things that I am thankful for. I have much to be thankful for.
This is my good lookin' husband. We've been married for over nine years and I love him more than ever. I'm thankful for what a caring husband he is. I'm thankful for what a wonderful father he is. I'm thankful for what a hard worker he is. I'm thankful that he honors his priesthood, and we are blessed with it in our home.

I promise my hair isn't purple. I don't know why it looks that way in the picture.

99 Things

Because of NaBloPoMo I feel obligated to post today, but I am completely brain-dead as to what to post so I am posting this. I saw it at Holly's and thought that it was kind of fun. The ones in bold are the ones I have done.

1.Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band {in Junior High, I played the clarinet.}
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child {one of the best things I've ever done.}
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance {I wasn't hurt or sick, it was my daughter and it was terrifying. I hope I never do that again.}
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business {Two. Sort of. One salon and one etsy shop.}
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone {several in fact. I'm just plain clumsy.}
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book {in 4th grade. Andy & Andrea's Christmas. I always thought it would be cool to be a twin with a similar name. Yes, I've always been a dork.}
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby {one of the other greatest things I've ever done.}
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Have you done any of these? Any you will never do? Any you can't wait to do?

Thoughts

This week has been crazy.  I have a million things on my to-do list.  I've been stressed, tired and frustrated.  Really starting to realize how much my mood affects everyone in the house.  Trying to have a better attitude about things.  I thought I would take a minute and write down some things I am thankful for. It's good for the soul.

• Cold Diet Pepsi.
• Crisp fall weather. It's still nice enough that we haven't had to turn the furnace on.  I hope to put that off for a long time!
• Book club.  This month we all shared our favorite Christmas stories, and the hostess had her Christmas tree up and provided hot chocolate and wonderful baked goods.  It was such a good time out for me.
• Washers, dryers and dishwashers.  My dryer takes an hour and a half to dry anything and my dishwasher doesn't do a great job, but I can't imagine have to wash and dry my clothes by hand.  I can't imagine always having to wash each and every dish by hand.
• My wheat grinder.  I love baking bread these days.  I love the smell that fills the house, and I love eating warm bread. I also love the $25 a month that I am not spending on store bought bread. 
• Good books.  I just finished Master by Toni Sorenson and I'm part way through Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kid.  I highly recommend Master, especially as we enter the Christmas season.  It's seems like books are always on my list, but I truly love escaping for a few minutes with a good book.
• Hugs from my cute kids. Smiles from my cute husband, even when he has woken me up before the crack of dawn to lift weights. :)

What are you grateful for today?

I need YOUR opinion. Please.

Sunday we went out and had my brother take some family pictures of us.  I bribed each of the kids with $2 for some good pictures.  None of them earned a full $2. :) Close though.  They turned out pretty good.  I am wishing that we had used a tripod and that we had been out about an hour earlier...thinking we might have had some better light. 

We tried to get some of just the kids but they were having none of that.  And, we got a couple of just Bryan and I that turned out good.   These are my faves of the whole family:

Which picture do you like best?  Are our faces too gray in the black and white ones?  Any suggestions for editing in PhotoShop Elements?  I think it has a hard time with the varying skin tones... 

Which photo do you like best?  Color with bridge? Black and white with bridge? Color standing?  Black and white standing? or In front of river?

Please help.  I need to get these printed for Christmas cards..soon!

Day Book

FOR TODAY (Monday, November 17, 2008)

{I started this meme this morning, but I haven't had a chance to get back to it until now.}
Outside my window... it is dark, and cold but the air smells crisp like fall (when I started this the sun was peeking over the fence).
I am thinking... about how busy today and the rest of the week are.
I am thankful for... getting some family pictures taken yesterday.
From the learning rooms... this week's preschool is supposed to cover Thanksgiving. I haven't started looking for ideas of what to teach Wednesday.
From the kitchen... grilled cheese sandwiches and orange slices for dinner.  Easy, and it hit the spot after taking the kids to see Kung Fu Panda this afternoon. 

I am wearing... striped pajama pants, pink tee-shirt, white socks and a fleece blanket.
I am creating... tote bags. And lists, lists, lists to get me through the week.
I am going... home for Thanksgiving...can't wait!
I am reading... Master by Toni Sorenson and Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
I am hoping... I can get everything done that I need to this week.
I am hearing... the dishwasher hum & According to Jim on tv.
Around the house... the bathroom is clean, the table is covered with my sewing stuff, fabric and three tote bags, and the floors need mopping and the beds need their sheets changed.

One of my favorite things... strawberry yogurt mixed with Grape Nuts & no sugar added hot chocolate.
A few plans for the rest of the week: oil change, teach preschool, finish tote bags, three church meetings, parent teacher conferences, Wal-Mart. 
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

See more at the Simple Woman's Daybook.

A Peek

My brother took some family pictures for us today.  Here is a peek...

:0)  Hee, hee. 

We actually got some pretty good ones...I'll show you more later in this crazy week!

China Men

When my youngest was six weeks old, my husband went to China for two weeks.  It was a long two weeks.  He was able to do about a week of sight seeing before the major work stuff came into play.  He was able to see a lot of neat things.  This past summer, I finally got around to getting the pictures in a scrapbook.  I put them in an 8x8 album, and I love to look at it.  I finished it right around the time of the summer Olympics, so it was neat to hear the news anchors talking about the places that I had just scrapped and that Bryan had just spent time telling me about. 

When he came home he brought my daughter two adorable outfits - one blue dress and a pink shirt/pant combo.  She wore the dress to church and loved all the attention it brought to her.  Unfortunately, it lasted only a few weeks before coming apart.  He did good and brought me a beautiful black and silver necklace and a strand of pearls.  For my oldest, he brought a set of Terra Cotta soldiers. 

Like the real soldiers, ours are crumbling.  They were in the living room and my son's bedroom at our old house, and we carefully wrapped them up to move.  I don't know why, but we hadn't opened the package they were in until this week.  One piece didn't survive the move - the horse.  He was in too many pieces to stack back together like the men.  One man out of five is still in one piece.  Two have heads that have fallen off and one has lost his head and broken at the waist, and feet.  I pulled them out, photographed and stacked them carefully on the piano.  I pray that the piano wont wiggle to much and cause them further damage. 

I think that these hold a special place in my son's heart.  Something that Dad brought when he was gone for so long.  I don't imagine that they will survive for many more years, but I am glad to have the pictures so that we will always remember.

Here are a few pictures that Bryan got while he was in China, and here you can learn more about the Terra Cotta Soldiers.

I have never really wanted to do much in the way of international travel.  I'm to picky about my food, and would rather be where I can speak the language.  This limits my travel options though. I do think that seeing so much history would be amazing.  I loved hearing Bryan's experiences with the food, the markets, seeing the Great Wall, Tienaman Square, and everything else.

Do you do much international travel?  What's your favorite souvenir from your (or someone else's) travels? Ever been to China?  Planning on going?