Next Year

I've been trying for a couple days now to upload pics of Christmas and of the kids' Christmas program. But the computer is running slowly, and I'm not sure what the deal is.

So, I'm not fussing with it tonight. Instead, I'll deal with it next year.

LOL

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve - waiting to open their "one" present.

And it's.... JAMMIES!

Someone is not happy with new pajamas.

But he came around.

They opened their 2009 ornaments.

He got a John Deere tractor w/a bucket, and she got a ballerina.

And then they begged to open "just one mooooore."

So we let them open their gifts to each other.

And then it was time for a bedtime story:

Christmas Ballet is done!

Little Mice in the Nutcracker Ballet

Little Bo Peep and her Sheep

After the first show, and after the second show. She loves her flowers!

The sheep with her Daddy!

And with Mommy.

This was taken at the Tea before the Sunday performance. Proves we are still a napping family.

Christmas Card pic

We thought about using this picture...

but we chose this one instead.

A Very Nice Christmas

I was very content with our Christmas this year. I didn't over-buy for the kids. I got nice gifts. The kids were basically well-behaved. And I got nice gifts.

How immature is that? LOL

But after being depressed last year, this year was just right.

I wanted a 4 track digital recorder to record songs, and my husband bought me an 8 track recorder. It has special effects you can add, and I'm looking forward to playing with it. I also got a Wii Fit Plus. But I won't be entering any of my body stats while anyone is home. LOL It asks for your height and your age. It measures your weight and your BMI, and then it estimates your virtual age. If my husband was 6 years older in Wii age, I'll be like, 90 years old.

I got my husband a coat for work - it's made of fire hose material. And I got him a new set of jersey sheets. LOL. And three games for the Wii - two of which are just for him b/c of the rating.

My kids were happy with their gifts, and I think they would have liked to open more. That, for some odd reason, made me sure I hadn't given them too much. Next door at the in-laws' house... different story. They didn't have as much as in years past, but they still were in overload.

And then DH and I got our gift from his parents - a new 40" flat screen TV and $100. DH's sister and her husband got one, too. What a generous gift, but now we have a small dilemma. What to do with our old TV. It's a 40" TV, and it still works fine. Oh well. I'm letting my husband worry about that.

The kids are in bed, and when they wake up, we'll go back next door for supper. And to pack up the rest of the loot, I mean. stuff.

Our Tree

I took a picture of our tree this morning. Last night DH and I stayed up quite late wrapping presents. I think kids enjoy seeing the presents under the tree and seeing their names and wondering what could be in the packages.

I also found this picture on my camera, and got a good laugh.

Colossal Fits

Why is it that my son chooses to throw his most extreme fits before we are supposed to go to church? Tonight we had to wake him up from his late nap to go to our Candlelight service at church. He woke up horrible. He threw a fit about eating supper. He threw a fit about wearing ... clothes. And CHURCH clothes, at that. And how dare I imagine that he would wear a belt? and a TIE?!!! and his new DRESS SHOES???!!!

OH MY WORD!

Part of me wanted to just forget it and stay home. But that stubborn, gotta-be-right part of me decided WE WERE GOING.

I finally walked into his room where Daddy was valiantly trying to dress him and stay calm at the same time. I told him he needed to listen very carefully. I told him that if he didn't stop throwing a fit immediately, I was unwrapping his presents and taking them back to the store first thing in the morning. I told him naughty little children in this house do NOT get presents. And Daddy added that he was going to have a horrible Christmas if he had to sit and watch us all open gifts while he would have NONE.

Needless to say, we were late, but he was fully clothed.

I WON.

Barfing Baby

Baby wasn't feeling too well yesterday. And as the day progressed, her fever went higher. It was 103.1 by evening. I gave her Tylenol and put her in the tub. The fever came down.

I checked on her at midnight when I was on my way to bed. Her fever was 100, so I gave her some chewable Motrin. This morning, she woke us up crying and when I got in there, she had barfed in her bed. I grabbed the trash can, but she was trying to not barf. I kept telling her to just go ahead, but she wouldn't.

So now she's camped on the couch. She was laying there when she started crying. Daddy and Mommy asked her what was wrong. "A bug just flew in my nose!" There aren't too many bugs this time of year, but you never know, right? I asked her to blow it out into a kleenex. She blew very hard, but no bug. She said she saw it on the window, and then it flew in her nose. I think she's a little delusional. She also told her Daddy not to tease her, or he would get coal for Christmas.

Who knew she could be so funny when she was feeling so sick?

Snow Snow Snow

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Big Soft Ginger Cookies
From "Amy1028" on allrecipes.com

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Chill the dough until firm. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

I like to add a tsp of cinnamon and the large sugar sprinkles to roll the cookies in.

Where is my brain?

I ran to the store last night; it was blustery, raining, and getting colder. But we needed milk, eggs, cheese, snacks, ice cream, and a couple other things. I got home, and wondered if I was going to get help unloading groceries. I made 3 trips back and forth from the vehicle to the basement. Hmm. "I'm home." No help. I put things in the freezer and fridge downstairs and trudged up the stairs with both hands full of plastic bag handles. I set things down in the doorway, and went back downstairs for more. Maybe someone would move the things from the doorway for me. Nope. I struggled past the pile I left in the doorway. I moved things around and fit almost all of it in the cabinets; put things in the fridge. Had my son check his sugar, and got him a snack.

And this morning I opened the fridge. No eggs. WHAT!!!??? I knew I bought 2 dozen eggs! And there they were, in the bag, by the basement door, on top of a box of stuff that's been sitting there for months.

At this point, I just feel like everything in my life is just being shuffled from one pile in the corner to a box to the basement to the garage. And somewhere in one of those boxes is my brain.

Little Boy made this

Saturday Snow Storm

What can I say?

Busy Day

It's a busy day, so I don't know why I'm posting, except I had a thought.

I write things I never say. Like, I never say, "Yay!" but I post it often. And "woo-hoo". I never say that.

Back to making cookies! And I have a counseling session this afternoon. And our church ladies' Christmas party. OH - I need to wrap my jingle gift.

Gotta run!

George Washington starts Thanksgiving

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requsted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

George Washington

This is completely opposite of the letter Barack Obama sent out this year:

Friend --

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.

American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.

Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve.

So tomorrow, I'll be giving thanks for my family -- for all the wisdom, support, and love they have brought into my life.

But tomorrow is also a day to remember those who cannot sit down to break bread with those they love.

The soldier overseas holding down a lonely post and missing his kids. The sailor who left her home to serve a higher calling. The folks who must spend tomorrow apart from their families to work a second job, so they can keep food on the table or send a child to school.

We are grateful beyond words for the service and hard work of so many Americans who make our country great through their sacrifice. And this year, we know that far too many face a daily struggle that puts the comfort and security we all deserve painfully out of reach.

So when we gather tomorrow, let us also use the occasion to renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous future that every American family can enjoy.

It seems like a lifetime ago that a crowd met on a frigid February morning in Springfield, Illinois to set out on an improbable course to change our nation.

In the years since, Michelle and I have been blessed with the support and friendship of the millions of Americans who have come together to form this ongoing movement for change.

You have been there through victories and setbacks. You have given of yourselves beyond measure. You have enabled all that we have accomplished -- and you have had the courage to dream yet bigger dreams for what we can still achieve.

So in this season of thanks giving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to you, and my anticipation of the brighter future we are creating together.

With warmest wishes for a happy holiday season from my family to yours,

President Barack Obama

The first letter is inspiring; the second is quite pathetic.

The Orange Rock

Before Halloween, I took my kids to Walmart. They picked out very large pumpkins to paint at church with the other kids. They turned out, um, colorful!

We set the painted pumpkins outside; it rained. The color slid down the pumpkins and glopped at the bottom. Oh well. Halloween night, some horrible person decided to steal them and smash them at the end of our road. My kids were devastated. So the next day, I took them to Walmart and let them pick out another pumpkin. Only by that time, there were no large, carving pumpkins left. I let them each pick out a baking pumpkin, and I got one for myself. It would be fun to carve a pumpkin with the kids.

I cut Little Boy's pumpkin, and he started scooping out the guts. I cut Baby's pumpkin, and she started scooping out the guts. I got my pumpkin, and for the life of me, I couldn't get a knife into it. I thought it might just be that spot, or maybe I was suddenly an arthritic whimp. DH came in the kitchen, and he tried. He couldn't get it either. So this orange rock has been sitting on my cabinet.

Tonight I made a crustless pumpkin pie for tomorrow - Little Boy will be able to have a large piece since the carbs are very minimal for pumpkin. I decided as long as the oven was hot, I should cook that pumpkin. I got out the big knife - I mean the BIG knife. I stood back a little, and I gave that thing a good whack! The knife about bounced out of my hand. We don't have a hatchet, or that would have been my next choice. So I got out the huge serrated knife from my set. This thing has big teeth. Barely made a scratch. I got out the electric knife - maybe speed was the answer. I was able to scratch the surface, but honestly, I was afraid I was going to burn it up. I got Baby in bed and came back in the kitchen to find DH sawing on the pumpkin with a hacksaw blade. (It was new.) He was able to get deep enough to then use the BIG knife to crack it open. I was really curious what would be inside. Would it look like this?

And....it was normal. I have no idea what the problem was. It's in the oven now. I WON.

Today is one of the most exciting days

of my life. Tonight as I brushed my daughter's teeth before bed, my son told me he wanted to talk to his Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Letta. I asked him what he wanted to talk to her about. He said he wanted to pray with her to get saved - he wanted to live in Heaven when he died. I could feel myself holding my breath in excitement, but I didn't want to let on. See, I made a profession as a child to please my parents. I didn't want Little Boy to make that mistake, too.

I calmly told him that he didn't have to wait to talk to her; Daddy or I could pray with him. He said he wanted to pray with me.

Well. Baby was still awake. And boy, did Satan want to distract us! She didn't want to go to bed, but Mommy finally won.

I sat on the couch, and talked to my sweet son. I read a couple verses and explained them. He said, "Let me get this straight," and he repeated back to me what I said to him. I confirmed his statement. He was very serious, and I asked him if he wanted to pray (the Sinner's Prayer) with me. I prayed, he repeated; we said, "Amen!" And he looked at me with the most beautiful smile - not just on his face - but in his eyes. I asked him what he just did. He told me he asked Jesus to come into his heart, and to wash away his sins with His blood, and to take him to Heaven to live with God forever when he died. We wrote the date in the back of my Bible. My heart is almost as full as the day I asked Jesus into my heart to save me from MY sins.

I hugged him so hard! I cried tears of joy, and he offered to get me a Kleenex. But I told him that wasn't necessary; I just wanted to hold his little body in my arms. And he hugged me back just as hard.

I hate it when

I become my mother. I get so frustrated with my kids. I start yelling. Screaming. Threatening. I'm just not nice at all. And then I can't look at myself in the mirror. I sat in the kitchen today, sobbing. I ended up back in bed, where Little Boy followed me. We laid there in bed, and I told him how much I hate yelling, and why - because that's how my mom was with me. And I told him that I don't want to be like her. He wiped my tears, and snuggled. He kept telling me to not cry. And he told me he was going to obey the first time without fussing. I told him if he could make it through the day, I'd have something special for him. If he can make it a week (lol) we'd go bowling.

He hasn't fussed yet, but we definitely need to work on the quick response.

I just don't know how parents get their kids to obey without it being WWIII, without threatening to beat them or actually beating them. My kids are both very willful, and I know it only gets "worse". I'm so thankful for naptime. I think I'll take a quick one.

My daughter makes me laugh!

My daughter reading my calendar planner wearing her reading glasses.

Looking through the "stick". (I HATE that stick - it's the handle from a play mop that died.)

Now it's a horn.

Who could resist that beautiful face? Boys - stay away!

Love her imagination!

And while she is being a ham, where is her brother?

I could give myself a break

but, nnnnnoooooooo. I have to make things more difficult than they actually are.

Sunday mornings are not relaxing around here. We get up, rush around eating breakfast, getting dressed, getting out the door. And I had to get a song ready, because it's the last Sunday of the month, and I remembered I was on the list for the last Sunday of the month. I got my Sunday school worksheet off the printer, and grabbed my box of craft stuff. Out the door we went!

Got through Sunday school, and gathered up my stuff. I went into the auditorium and dropped the CD off by the sound system. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a couple of people get excited. I don't mean that they are big fans of my singing. I mean, they appeared to get riled up. I started thinking, "Am I supposed to sing in the evening service? If it's her week and I look like I'm hijacking her turn, she's going to have a conniption fit."

I asked the pastor if I was supposed to sing. And I started thinking, "Duh. It's NOT the last Sunday of the month!" Great. It probably was her week, and she was going to be all huffy. He came back and told me that two girls were supposed to sing, but they weren't ready. He asked if I had something prepared. I explained what I had observed in the back. He explained that whenever someone is on the list that may not be prepared, this lady (and her husband) assumes she will fill in. But he said he would prefer me to sing. And he asked if that was being mean. I told him, "Ahhh, no."

See. We go to a small church. The singing abilities are limited. This particular lady has very nice tone, but she makes up her own tune. And her own timing. And she likes to sing with instrumental recordings that are not meant to be an accompaniment. I think I could bear her singing if it wasn't clear that she sings for the recognition. That might be a judgment, and I try to be careful of that. But it is really hard to get a blessing from it.

So the song went well. My son told me it was great. My daughter did her rendition of my song.

2 words I hate

"at least"

Every time someone uses these words with me, I want to scream.

Those two words minimalize what a person is dealing with. Those words show that the person to whom you are speaking has no idea what you are going through, but they think they do.

I can remember a couple of specific instances that still bug me.

"At least you know you can get pregnant." (after my miscarriage)

"At least your mom is still alive." (uuhh, ok)

"At least your son has a treatable condition." (son is Type 1 diabetic)

Do I know there are worse situations out there? Of course, I do.

But when I share my heartaches, I don't want to hear "at least".

It's ok when I do it

but when other people whine, I am completely intolerant.

Ugh. I followed a link from a blog I read to a new blog I've never read. The writer posted about her daughter coming home from school, relating how inept the teachers and subs at her school are.

The writer made a comment about teachers teaching 6 hours a day and taking off for the summer.

OH MY WORD! You'd think she had offended the last living teacher! People were saying things like, "It's people like you..." and "Are you trying to lose readers?" I guess my comments were at the bottom, so no one may ever even read them, but can you say, "Whaa whaa whaa"? Go home and put on your big girl undies.

There is a misconception that teachers show up, babysit for 6 hours, and pine for summer vacation. Ok. So it's a misconception. There are misconceptions about EVERY occupation, I would guess.

And then there was the person who tried to shame teachers who now homeschool. I guess we've left our true calling and left poor little children to suffer.

I don't agree with the socialist idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Rather, I believe the biblical concept is that it takes a FAMILY to raise a child. And my first responsibility is to MY child.

Wha wha wha.

Saw this on a shirt

and I thought it was poignant.

The front of the shirt said:
"Christianity is not a religion."

On the back of the shirt was this text:
"Religion is humans trying to work their way to God."
"Christianity is God coming to men and women through a relationship with Jesus Christ."

Jesus is the passageway between God and men.

Cool shirt. Would have loved it if it wasn't brown.

Easy Oreo Truffles

Easy Oreo Truffles

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions
1.Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2.Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
3.Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Poor little kitty

I took our cat, Jack, to the vet today. He's been barfing alot lately. I'm glad I took him in; he's lost 2 lbs. since his last visit over a year ago.

The vet said she was concerned - his barfing, his scraggly coat (ahem - I rarely brush the poor guy), and weight loss together... She said she would like to do a basic blood screen. I started crying. I just dread losing him. After I regained my composure, I asked what the blood screen would look for. Diabetes - I told her I have a diabetic son, and I don't want to have to give the cat shots, too. Ugh. Kidney failure - but he pees plenty, thyroid problems - but when she felt his neck she didn't feel anything wrong, or it could just be irritable bowels. If that is the case, he'd need an occasional steroid shot.

I asked if we could assume that is the problem for now, and go that route. She said she needed to check his blood sugar; if he's diabetic and she gave him the steroid shot, that could really mess him up. His number was good, so we can rule that out. Praise God. Seriously, I don't think I could handle that.

So I cried from then until I got home. There were two ladies working at the desk. One who had eye make-up like this, who was yapping on her cell phone the whole time, and another girl who was running around doing all the work. The lady on the phone was looking at me like I was the freak.

I came home, let Jack out in the den, and laid down on the bed for awhile. I just hope this shot helps, because we can't put more money into him than we already do buying his gourmet food. :0*(

Spritz Cookies

I've wanted a cookie press for awhile, but I wanted to research them to find one that would hold up. I love the idea of making a pile of little cookies to decorate. And they are small enough that my son can have a couple and hopefully feel normal. Here is the one I bought:

Oreo Candy Cane Bark

I want to try this recipe:

Oreo Candy Cane Bark

Ingredients:
3 (6 oz.) pkgs. Baker's Premium White Baking Chocolate
15 sandwich Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped (about 2 c.)
3 candy canes, crushed (about 1/4 c.)

Directions:
Cover large cookie sheet with foil; set aside. Microwave chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., or until almost melted, stirring every 30 sec. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in chopped cookies.

Spread immediately onto prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle crushed candy canes; press candy lightly into chocolate with back of spoon.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Makes 1 1/2 lb. or 18 servings. Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tiger Butter

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, and it is a family (Mommy & Daddy) favorite. Lucky for us, our kids are super sensitive to caffeine, and they can't eat it. Ha ha ha ha! Okay. That wasn't so nice, but that just means more for us!

Tiger Butter

Ingredients:
1 lb. white chocolate chips
1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - 12 oz. jar chunky peanut butter

Directions:
Combine white chocolate and peanut butter in top of double boiler. Cook until melted, stir constantly. Spread mix on wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Melt chocolate chips the same way; pour semi-sweet chocolate over the other mixture. Swirl the two together with a butter knife or spatula. Chill until firm. Break into pieces. I use a pizza cutter. Store in the fridge.

Just sooooo yummy!

Cinnamon Candy Corn

Cinnamon Candy Corn

Ingredients:
6 quarts plain popped popcorn (I use an air popper)
1 package (12 oz size) red cinnamon candies
Sugar
1 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
Spread popcorn in a lightly buttered roasting pan; bake at 250 F while preparing syrup. Pour cinnamon candies into a 2 cup measure. Fill remaining space to the top with sugar. Place in a heavy pan; Add butter, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil; boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat; carefully stir in baking soda. Pour over popcorn, stirring to coat. Continue to bake at 250 F for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool. Break into pieces; store in an airtight container.

Christmas plans

I want to get my act together before Christmas this year.

I want to get the house clean.

I want to get my shopping done early.

I want to take time to wrap the gifts prettily.

I have a list of things I want to make:

1) Tiger Butter
2) Cinnamon Candied Popcorn
3) Peppermint Marshmallows
4) Spritz Cookies (with my new cookie gun!)

This is why I'm always ready...

for someone to come at me on my side of the road. The "short-cut" road looks like this: