Top Ten Tuesday - Movie Review

It's been quite a while since I've done a movie review. I was doing it once a month, but then life got weird and crazy and our movie watching went down to pretty much nothing. I didn't think that posting a monthly movie review was worth it when we only saw one movie. However, now that we've seen quite a few since last I posted, I finally feel able to post about it. So here is my latest movie review.

10. John Adams - We really enjoyed this one. For me, it didn't sounds terribly exciting, but it was well done and it didn't take me long to get into the life and story and John Adams, our second president. If you like history, a good story and good acting, then I recommend this one!

9. Jane Eyre - Oh, wow!, did I like this!!! This version is new and I saw it on PBS back in 2006, but since I didn't see that it was on tv until after it was already well into the story, I added it to our movie queue. It took almost a year for it to be released onto dvd then it took a while longer for it be available. It was well worth the wait! Although I have not read the book, I have seen an older bbc version (with Timothy Dalton). If you like this story then I think you may be pleased with this movie as well.

8. Facing the Giants - This movie was made by a church, I think, in the midwest. It is their atempt at making a good movie that is clean and has a good message. If that was their intent then I say they succeeded. It's not up to par with what we are used to on the silver screen, but it was nice to sit down and watch a movie that didn't assult me with words or situations that were offensive or walk the line in any way.

7. Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian - We are currently readint the Narnia books to our kids, and after reading the 'wardrobe' book we let them watch the newest version of the movie. We had not yet seen this movie and wanted to preview it before allowing the kids. I'm glad we did. Although we liked the movie with it's action and graphics, we thought it was, for our children at thier age, too violent. I recently heard that Disney has decided to not make anymore of the Narnia books into movies. That's too bad, I would have liked to see more!

6. The Flying Scotsman - This was a true to life movie about a man, Scot Graeme Obree (of Scotland), who dreamed of becoming the world's fastest cyclist. In working toward fulfilling his dream, he constructed a new bike. As he does this he battles the sports authority as well as his own mental illness. It is an inspiring story of determination and true life stuggles. If you like this kind of story, then I recommend it.

5. Fireproof - This movie is similar to the Facing the Giants in that it was made by a Christian group and has some of the same players. I know that this movie got a lot of press within the Christian circles. Again, this movie is not of the same calibur as others that grace the screen, but at least it is clean and has a good message.

4. Eagle Eye - I liked this one! It had action and mystery with a little bit of sci-fi. It was one of those movies that had you guessing what was going on. I had a general idea of what the movie was about and I'm glad I din't know more, for I enjoyed following along and trying to figure it out (which I didn't, but that's ok, it's just part of the fun!).

3. The Tale of Despereaux - Mae and I had read the book together at the first of the year, so we thought it only right to watch the movie too! I enjoyed how the author wove her story together and brought life to the characters. I wish I could say the same for the movie. This is just another example of how the book is better than the movie. Although, I am glad that the movie wasn't as dark as the book was. If I hadn't read the book, I still would have enjoyed the movie.

2. Slumdog Millionaire - Now this was a good movie! I thought it was clever and original. It's a story of a guy who is about to win India's version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Through most of the movie he is explaining how he, a young man who grew up in the slums of India, knows the answers to the questions he was given. As he explains his answers, we get a peek into his life and how he grew up. Why can't there be more movies like this?? It was, for the most part, clean and had some action along with true to life circumstances, but without being hokey or falling flat.

1. Traitor - A political action adventure flick. Not always my choice in movies (can you tell that my husband picked this one?). However, it was entertaining and a little thought provoking.

Maybe another reason we haven't watched many movies lately is because we are running low on selection. Any ideas of what we should watch next??

For more Top Ten lists, or if you want to add to the list of lists, go visit Oh Amanda!

Weekend Logic Test

I saw this on a friends Facebook this week. The object is to get all the people across the river. (once you get there, click on the big circle to start the game)

Simple enough, right?

Here's the rules....

• Only 2 people on the raft at a time.
• The Father cannot stay with any of the daughters, without their Mother's presence.
• The Mother cannot stay with any of the sons, without their Father's presence.
• The thief (striped shirt) cannot stay with any family member, if the Policeman is not there.
• Only the Father, the Mother and the Policeman know how to operate the raft.

As the story goes, this is an IQ test given to job applicants in Japan. Apparently if you are a logical thinker then you can solve it within 7 minutes.

I will admit that I did solve it twice on the first day, but I don't know how I accomplished it. It took me between 10 to 15 minutes.

So....how smart (or logical) are you? And remember....no cheating (ie. no Googling the answer!)

Destination: TBD

Remember when I posted about getting my first passport? It was like, 2 years ago. I had dreams of traveling with Ryan when he did his usual research trip to Spain with his job, but then the economy tanked and now he doesn't go. And I'm left with an empty passport. *sigh*

But since Ryan has racked up the flyer miles and hotel points, we could go on our own. Maybe. We have a sitter (thanks to Ryan's mother being a teacher and having summers off, and willing to watch our 3 kiddos!!!), and we have the vacation time to do it, now all we need is a destination.

Originally we had thought we'd go someplace in Europe. And I didn't really care where it was, just get me out of this country and stamp my passport! Please? But now our options have dwindled due to the cost of flights going up and consequently the number of flyer miles needed.

At this point we are down to either Brazil (because Ryan has been there and loves it) or Hawaii (it's close enough and we have enough flyer miles).

I'm not so hip to Brazil (much to Ryan's disappointment). I'm not really sure why, but I'm just not. And Hawaii. Well, we've been there (Maui, 13 years ago this summer....can you say honeymoon?) Besides, we'd like to go out of the country. But, Hawaii doesn't really pose the travel risks that Brazil could.

So, we are in a quandary (can you say word of the day?). Where to go, where to go? The possibilities seemed endless. But now they're not. *sigh* What a predicament (that's tomorrows word).

Any suggestions???

Look Away

While you're out and about today and if you happen to see a woman wearing a hat low on her head and avoiding eye contact.....don't look too closely.

She is not a celebrity trying to escape notice. And she is also not a shoplifter.

This woman needs to blend in and not draw attention to herself.

She is trying to hide the fact that she has pink eye. She needs to get out and do some essential shopping for things like milk and juice. Otherwise she would have secluded herself in her home.

So if see this woman, please let her escape your notice and pretend you don't see her.

Silently, she thanks you.

Top Ten Tuesday - Doing Laundry

Top ten reasons why I do laundry...

10. um, 'cause it needs to be done. who else is gonna do it?...the kids? ha!
9. I like to wear clean clothes
8. I like to see my kids wearing clean clothes
7. the sense of accomplishment is worth it (mostly)
6. I like it when the kids help me put things away
5. the 'bonuses' for this job are minimal (a penny here and there along with a few silver coins on occasion) but every once in a while I get an extra special bonus....the green stuff....now that's a bonus! cha-ching! who wants to split a gum ball with my earnings??
4. it's fun to see Isabel get excited about her clean clothes. seriously, it's like brand new clothes to her!
3. I like seeing empty dirty clothes bins
2. it's part of my 'job description', and once it's done I feel good about my 'job'.
1. it gives me a chance to weed out the things that need to end their cycle of life in my house (kids clothes that are too small and/or too stained and yucky, as well as old kitchen towels that have seen better days, etc.)

There. My list of reasons to motivate myself to tackle the never-ending pile(s) of laundry. What's on your list today?

For more Top Ten lists, visit Oh Amanda and see what she and others have listed!
3.

I Was Just the Host

I have a child that I am now convinced is not mine. She just can't be! I may have carried her and given birth to her, but in the light of recent events I now see that she's just not mine.

It's State testing time at Mae's school. For most kids this may give a little anxiety but certainly no loss of sleep.

But not my child. Nope.

Mae is looking up the State Testing web site and doing some pre-tests, just to make sure that she's ready. She's also expressing her fear of not passing and having to repeat the 2nd grade. And now she is in the other room with her father trying to wrap her brain around what division math is.

Strangeness I tell ya!

But it doesn't stop there. Oh no. This is only the latest of odd behavior from a child that I thought was mine.

At Christmas time, when we went to Tahoe and Modesto, Mae took her math with her. This was not assigned or asked of her. It wasn't even given as a suggestion. She did this on her own! So, she took it to the cabin and did a page of problems and asked our friend to check her work.

See??! This just isn't normal or right.

I have no idea who this child belongs to, but she certainly didn't get it from me. This is why I'm convinced that I was only the host carrier to the child within when pregnant.

It's the only explanation.

And....We're Back!

The kids and I returned yesterday from our Spring Break trip to the land of Grandma's and cousins. And I am happy to report that during both road trips (there and back) we rarely visited the ugly place. We veered off course a couple of times, but other than that all went well. Hallelujah, praise the Lord!!!

Now I am home and finding my place in our routine again. However, this morning I woke up to practically no voice. While on our trip I started to get a sore throat at night. It meandered into a head cold and now it's made its way to my vocal chords. This could be a good thing. Now I can't yell at anyone! Of course this does mean that I have to whisper in order to be heard. But Isabel is making me feel better by whispering back. I love it! So, losing my voice isn't such a bad thing if it means that I get to hear my Busy Issy whispering to me!

The Beautiful Place

I have much to do today, for the kids and I are packing into the car tomorrow morning and heading to good ol' Modesto. But above all the things I need to do to prepare for our trip, I need to pray. Pray, pray, pray!!! Why? Well, I can't help but be reminded of the ugly place when we go on trips. And if I don't prepare myself with prayer and dependence on the Lord during these trips then it is inevitable that along the way we will make some journeys through the ugly place.

So, as I begin my day of prepartions I will not forget to take my Jesus with me. He will not fit in the suitcase or in the trunk. No, the only place for Him is right beside me and in my heart. And that, my friend, is the beautiful place. Let's go there instead!

Top Ten Tuesday - Gettin' Through

Our home has been going through some rough times lately. I'll spare the details, but to simply lay it out there....it started with some insomnia for Ryan then snowballed with issues with the medications he was given. We are now mostly dealing with the repercussions of those meds gone bad with some sprinkles of insomnia (also related to bad drugs). Anyway, life has been rough for us these past several months. There are days that are easier than others....then there are some that are just plain hard and nasty. On days like those, there are bible verses that come to my mind and I cling to them. I cling to them for the promises they hold and the hope they give. This is my list of top ten verses that have given me comfort, hope and peace and help me get through. (in no particular order)

1. Philipians 4:6-7 ~ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2. Jerimiah 29:11-14 ~ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD

3. James 1:2-5 ~ Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

4. Philippians 4:8-9 ~ Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

5. Psalms 27:13-14 ~ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

6. Psalms 23: 4,6 ~ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

7. I Corinithians 2:9 ~ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

8. Psalm 20:6-8 ~ Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

9. Ok, so I can't think of anymore. but really, the above verses have given much comfort in my time of need

10. and even though days can be hard, I stand firm in the knowledge that the Lord is good...all the time!

Thank you Lord for your written word! Thank you for always being with me. And thank you for having a plan that is for my good and for your glory! This stuff we are going through is stinkin' hard, but even when I have no idea what is going on or for how long, I can rest in the knowledge that You know it all, from beginning to end, and that gives me great comfort. Thank you!

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**don't forget to check out other Top Ten lists at Oh Amanda!

Dust Off Your Fanny Packs!

Ryan has been saving up his flyer miles and we have enough for an overseas trip. We were thinking of going somewhere in Europe. Spain or maybe Germany. But after seeing this video.....maybe we can think outside the box and go somewhere, ummm, off the beaten path. Ryan thinks it could be cheap enough but then travel insurance may be a bit much. I say.....travel insurance is for sissies!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ultimate Blog Party 2009 - Dress Code, Comfortable!!!

It's that time of year again!! It's the Ultimate Blog Party!!! I love this party, it's so much fun! I enjoy meeting new blogs and making 'friends'. The door prizes aren't too bad either. Go here and check it out....then sign up and do some party hopping!



So welcome to my humble little blog, my own corner of blog-land. I love having friends over to visit, but I'm not very adept at branching out making small talk. In fact, I usually have a difficult time making new friends. I'm just not that confident. And when I do finally step out it can bite me in the end.......like the time when my husband and I had moved to Portland and I was on my way to making some new girl friends......

We had been in Portland for a few months and had already visited many churches and finally found one to call home, and even a weekly couples bible study to be a part of too. The ladies of the church were having a Christmas evening one night and the other ladies of the bible study group invited me to join them at their table. I was thrilled! I thought about what I was going to wear and was all set to go.

I went to a new friends house and stood at her door step waiting for her to answer the door. As I stood there I mentally congratulated myself that I had made it this far and I looked forward to getting to know these ladies even more. Then she opened the door and I saw what she was wearing.....a nice skirt, sweater and (gasp) pantyhose! Me? What was I wearing??? I'm still embarrassed to say. I had mentally made the mistake of mixing up this gathering with another social event (a candle/bead party) and wore something waaaaaay too casual.

There I was, standing at the door looking at my new friend in her nice church-wear, as I donned a pair of off-white jeans, a soft gray mock turtle neck paired with a newish pair of white tennis shoes with reflective silver stripes on the side. Can you say AWKWARD??!! I just about died right there! How could I have been so stupid to think that an evening at a ladies Christmas event would be this casual??! I just wanted to melt into her porch right there. It's ok, just leave me behind and go on without me, really, it's ok!

It got worse. The other ladies arrived at the house as we were to carpool over to the church. They were all dressed nicely, some in dresses fit for the occasion. Then we headed over to the event. At least in the parking lot it was dark and no one would see my underdressedness. But as we crossed through the parking lot all I could think about was how my shoes were probably lighting up with every passing car! And my horror continued when we got inside. Of course all the other ladies were appropriately dressed in pretty Christmas dresses (picture lots of pantyhose and heels!). We set up the table with China plates and Christmas decorations. Then. Then! We began the evening with perusing different booths of vendors and craft tables. All I wanted to do was get to the part where we sit down, eat pretty deserts and listen to the speaker. It was my thought that once we were all seated that I wouldn't stick out too much, for I looked ok from the waist up. It took awhile, but we finally made it to the sit-down part. And from there I felt better. At the end I was more than ready to bolt for the door and get home, where I could privately die of embarrassment and never be heard (or seen) of again.

So, all that to say....I get nervous when meeting new people and trying to fit in. I'd like to make a good impression, but maybe that's why blogging is more my speed. I can express myself without having to think about how I look or if I'm having a good hair day!

So here you find yourself at my party. Please make yourself comfortable. We can swap embarrassing moments (or in my case, evenings!) or recipes (Southwestern White Chili and Lasagna Florentine, Chinese Chicken Salad), or whatever. My dress code for today....jeans and a t-shirt are absolutely acceptable. Reflective shoes, optional.

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if I were to win any door prizes, I'd sure like either of the $50 gift cards for Target (19, 21, 22), or the $100 gift card for Home Goods,or the pedometer looks like fun too!

Top Ten Tuesday - Green Things

In the spirit of today, St. Patricks Day, I'll share my list of top ten things that are green.

Give me a sec while I try to figure out what they may be............wow, this is hard!...........more difficult than I thought!..........

Oh, ok, I think I got it. Here goes!

10. I like green lights. you know, green as in go! who doesn't like to sail through an intersection without stopping?? (while safely driving the speed limit, of course)


9. money - in this instance I like what it can get me, especially when it's on sale!

8. I like our artificial Christmas tree. It just makes sense for our family since we are usually visiting family over Christmas, and having a fake tree gives the kids a chance to have one at home while not leaving a fire hazard behind when we're gone. And it doesn't look too bad either!


7. My winter coat. It's not something I use often anymore (gotta love these Southern California "winters"!) but it keeps me warm when I need it.



6. I have a family recipe for Green Rice that is used mostly during the holidays. It calls for coloring the rice green before adding it to the rest of the dish, but I never do that. It looks gross. But it's a fabulous dish and I highly recommend it!

5. I love my three shades of green paper for making cards. It's one of those colors that I love to use but at the same time try to use sparingly so I don't run out! (I do card swaps if anyone wants to barter/trade for anything!)

(I tried to upload a modified picture of some a my cards, but it didn't work. If your truly interested in what they look like -a couple with green paper, of course!- then you can seen a pic here.)

4. I just love my truck. I love it's space (seats 8!), it's height, the roof rack and heated seats (not that they are used much these days, but they were much appreciated when we lived in Michigan).


3. My 'green' grocery bags (I know they're really red, but it's the earth friendly essence I'm going for here)


2. The new Chinese Chicken Salad recipe I recently found, it's super-yum and super-easy! It calls for cabbage and avocado, and those are green (and how the recipe made it onto my 'green' list!).

1. Mach-ah-moley!! (as Isabel would call it. but me, I call it guacamole.....ok, ok, her way is much too cute and it's fun to say, so I admit it, I call it mach-ah-moley.) It's my new favorite thing to eat and can't hardly get enough of it!



For more Top Tens head over to Oh Amanda. And for even more fun, make your own top ten and add it to the list!

Report Card

Last week brought us report cards for both Mae and Caleb. And reports show that they are both doing well in school!!! However, I can not escape the fact that report cards aren't what they used to be. Wait, I think I'm dating myself if I say something like that. Does that make me (gulp) old???

Anyway, not only do we get a two page spread of how each child is doing in various subjects and categories, but Mae's teacher also sent home an abundance of copies of her work. Among the samples of Mae's work was a cute little story she had written about holding Isabel for the first time. I can't resist posting her story, with a cute picture to go with it.

My First Time Holding My Baby Sister!

"Waaa-w-waaa" "It's ok Isabel! We're almost home". I whispered to my little sister Isabel. "We're home!" Mom quietly yelled to everyone. "Can I hold Isabel now Mom?" I asked.

My dad handed my sister (to me). I shivered like I was freezing in Antarctica. I could not do it. I was scared, too much. What if I drop her, cause you know that babies are fragile.

It was too late, she was already in my hands. I just almost screamed. But wait, I think I got it! I do! I really do got it! I wish this will last forever. I hoped so much that my little sister can stay a baby.

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Isn't that a sweet story?? However, I do wonder about how much she actually remembers (she was barely 4 at the time) and what parts are artistic license.

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!!!

Last month I busted out the vacuum and put it to work on the couch. I was having two sets of visitors in the span of just a few days, and I knew that at least one of them would be sitting on the couch. I also knew there was all kinds of junk and crumbs under the cushions. Sure enough.....I found cheerios (do they breed and multiply?? I'm sure they do) and raisins, along with broken bits of toys, and hey that's where the remote is!

A few days later found my first set of guests gracing my sofa. And lo and behold I noticed as one of them got comfortable, his hand was resting between the cushions. I am even more thankful for taking the time to vacuum because as I watched my guest relax I, too, could rest in the fact that his hand would not come out covered with crumbs and junk!

Has it been a while since you've cleaned out the couch? Here's a story to give you motivation. You never know what you may find......or what you've been missing!

An Addendum

You know how you forget things? Like when you go to write something down so you don't forget it, like making a grocery list? But then when you get back home or when you're making that meal then you remember something that you forgot to get while at the store?? Well, that happened to me the other day. There I was writing down the top ten things that Isabel says and I as I sat with my fingers at the ready on the keyboard, my mind went blank. It seems odd to me, really. I mean, how can I forget the super-cute things that she says? And these are things that she says all the time!!!

Well, now that the list has been made and published, I remember one of my absolute favorite words......mach-ah-moley!!! Mach-ah-moley, as in guacamole. How cute is that? Seriously, how could I have forgotten such cuteness??!!

Not only is mach-ah-moley one of my current all-time favorite words to hear from Isabel, it's also one of my new favorite things to eat (which is probably why she says it all the time, because I make it. A lot!).

So there you have it, my addendum to the top ten things that Isabel says. Or does that make it the top eleven?

TopTen Tuesday: Isabel's Words

So my friend over at Oh Amanda is doing a top ten list every Tuesday, and I thought I'd join in this week. My list for today is about the super-cute words that Isabel says.

As parents, Ryan and I don't get out much. And after the kids have been tucked in for the night, there have been times that our entertainment consists of recalling the funny moments created by our kids, and saying the silly words that they've said when they were little. Thankfully, Isabel is still in the stage of silly, mispronounced words. So she has been adding to our repertoire of memorable moments for our quiet evenings.

If you were an observer in our home on one of these nights, here are a few of the new words you might hear Ryan and I say to each other, thanks to the smallest of mispronouncers in our family;


10.if she does something amazing, she'll ask; you likey?
9. she likes to eat ot'dogs in a bum
8. she really likes her neck-ah-nuss (necklace)
7. that came from her Camma and Campa (Grandma and Grandpa)
6. she likes to puts things in her pack pack (back pack)
5. I like it when she gives me ugs and kicks (hugs and kisses)
4. when going to school, she likes to go to bun bunch (lunch bunch)
3. on road trips, she likes to look through the knock-a-ners (binoculars)
2. if she sees a dog or a puppy, she'll want to pep it
1. and our personal favorite....it's not a bird, it's not a plane.....it's ah beesh! (sheep)

On My Mind....

I just finished my bible study for today, and considering all that I am faced with and going through, this is the verse that I choose to dwell on today.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10

I choose the nearness of the Lord regardless of my comfort in this life. For the Lord is good, all the time, and I choose to keep that in the front of my mind as I go through this day.

If A Boy Spills His Cheerios.....

...inside the truck on his way to school, his mother will have to scoop them off to the side so they don't get stepped on, crunched and made into a gravely, crumby mess.

Later, when picking up a friends daughter from pre-school, the mom will have to actually clean up the Cheerios because now there are two sets of feet just waiting to stomp on them.

When the moms friend comes to pick up her daughter, she has a conversation about cleaning car seat covers. The mom thinks to herself that she really should clean her own little girl's car seat cover because she honestly can't remember the last time she did!

After picking up the two older kids from school, the mom spies some stray Cheerios she missed earlier and thinks that a quick round with the shop vac will get rid of them for good.

Now, the mom can't just do a quick run through with the shop vac, and since she already has it out she may as well pull out the car seats and vacuum the whole truck.

If she's going to take out the car seats she should go ahead and wash the covers that go with them.

While the car seats are out, now would be a good time to wipe down the seats with some leather cleaner.

And why not get the windex and spray down all the inside windows too?

When that's all done and the truck has been put back together, the mom will step back and admire her work.

Then she will go inside and realize she really worked up an appetite. And even though it's close to dinner time, she's thinking that the perfect snack would be a nice little bowl of Cheerios.

You Didn't See That......Did You?

Yes, that was my little girl who fell into the fountain. But you didn't notice, or stare too much at the crazy woman who got up and ran to get said little girl. Did you?

It all started when the weather cleared and gave us a promising day of warmth and sunshine. It had been raining for almost two weeks straight, so we decided to take advantage of the day and head to the park and maybe take in a museum. And so we took the weather at its word and headed out to a local hot spot for such a day as today.

First stop, the park. The kids enjoyed taking off their shoes and climbed the structures and slides. Then we threw some balls around and did a little chasing, all the while enjoying the giggles and smiles.

Next up we walked museum isle and enjoyed street performers of all variety. Isabel and I got 'ersty' so Ryan obliged us all with bottled water and an ice cream with sprinkles. And as we sat eating our fare, I noticed one musuem near by that have a very enticing sign, which read, FREE ADMISSION. Now a family on a budget on the lookout for money saving opportunities can not pass that up. And so we partook of said opportunity. However, the family must keep in mind that museum staff get a little antsy when 3 year old little girls try to climb the statues or dart behind the rope. So Isabel had to be content with piggy back rides while inside the free musuem of Russian and American art.

Once outside we spotted yet another free opportunity. This one boasted plants and flowers. The 3 year old little girl did much better in this one! However, the kidlets were not too impressed with the flora and fauna, so off we went.

On our way to the truck we stopped at the soon-to-be infamous fountain. Now, this fountain is huge in diameter as it is tall in it's hieght. And as Ryan and I sat down not too far from the edge, the kids were off and running around and around this monstrous attraction. We watched with diligence and told the kids not to touch the water, and, for the most part, they complied. Isabel made me nervous though as she would stand at the very edge and lean over to put the teensiest tip of her finger on the surface. Inside I was bunching up and wanting to yell "Isabel! No touch!", but I refrained so as not to make a spectacle of myself and just let the girl be free in her explorations. I relaxed a bit, but kept a watchful eye on her as she continued to go 'round and 'round.

Never ingnore a woman's intution. It's better to be safe than sorry, and to look a fool and to remain dry. In this case, however, I ended up looking the fool regardless, along with an all wet Isabel.

As she followed her big sister by the fountains edge, she slipped on the wet surface and tumbled in. For the next few moments I can recall the events only from an out of body perspective. I jumped up and yelp. Yes, I do believed I made some sort of audible, now-embarassing, sound. Not knowing how deep the water was, I quickly made my way to where Isabel had taken the plunge. By the time I reached her though, she had already stepped out of the water and was making her way to me (thankfully we now know that the fountian is only about a foot or so deep). And Isabel was drenched and a little shook up, but was otherwise fine.

What an adventure our day had become! A nice sunny day, playing at the park, ice cream, free musuems and a nice little dip in an obliging fountain. A day to remember, that's for sure!

Words I Love to Hear...

"I go potty, Mommy."

These words, together in the sentence above, tell me that my 3 1/2 year old is heading to the bathroom to take care of her business. And they are a signal, telling me that my time of changing diapers is finished. Oh, what joy! What joy!

Up until this point, I have been changing diapers for well over seven years. To me this is amazing. I never thought about how long I'd be in the diaper changing stage of life, but looking back it seems like a long time. However, when in the midst of it, I never really thought about it, I just did it, for it had to be done. But now! Now, I am on the other side and it feels oh so good!

Goodbye diapers!

Goodbye baby stage of life!

Ah, now that's just sad. I'll miss the baby stage, but I won't miss those diapers!

Simply Valentines

It's Valentines Day again!!! And I've learned my lesson. Last year I did too much for the kids classrooms and friends. And the year before that I did a somewhat large valentine project as well. This year, this year I've learned my lesson and went simple.

Since Mae has been in preschool, I have been having the kids make their own valentine cards. This requires me to cut the paper and glue it all together and (most of the time) fill out each card with the names. But that comes after they have stamped each little bitty card with valentine stamps. Oh, and then the past couple years I've had to take those cards and affix them to the valentine goodies. Not this year! Nope. This year I broke down and shelled out a few bucks and let the kids pick out some store bought valentines (gasp!...shocking, I know).

However!!!.......I did do a little project for the kids teachers. I only had to make three and it was so quick and simple, so I made two more for my friends. This is what I made


Aren't they cute?! You're probably wondering what they are, so let me tell ya. They are paper packages filled with M&M's or candy hearts! (for instructions go here) I went to a friends stamp workshop at her house last weekend, and along with the scrapbook page and valentine card, we also made one of these. They are so easy to make that I thought it would be perfect to give to the teachers for a little valentine gift. I think from start to finish for each one, probably took me no more than five minutes. See? Simple, easy and totally cute! You should try it! I think these would be perfect, too, for party favors. All I'd have to do is choose different paper and voila! it'd be perfect!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Casting Off

The three weeks have come and gone since Caleb got his cast on. He did a great job of handling life with a cast. As the days led up to the big removal, I tried to prepare him and give him something to look forward to. I asked him to think of things that he couldn't do with his cast on then we'd pick one off the list and do it when it came off. We thought of things like going to a sandy park or the swimming pool (or hot tub since the weather here is 'cold'). And it was decided that we'd go to the hot tub.

However, the weather was not notified of our decision, and it rained.

So I planned on having Caleb's Cast Off party at home with our neighbor friends from down the street over instead. I whipped up a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls and had hot chocolate waiting along with some big ol' fat marshmallows! My boy had to have something to look forward to and it was the best I could do.

the spread!

Caleb's appointment was directly after school, so we zipped over as soon and the kids got out. I sat next to Caleb on the exam table as the nurse cut off his cast. I had planned to sit off to the side and take pictures but once I got there I knew that Caleb would need me to be there beside him, so I let Mae take the pictures (and she did a great job!).

Once the cast was cut and taken off, Caleb (and I) was unprepared for how his hand would feel. As he put it 'it feels weird!!!!'. And that is when the crying began. After the initial shock of weirdness (and crying) past he quieted down as I explained that his muscles were just weak from unuse and that his hand was fine and nothing was wrong with it. Oh, and I told him that cinnamon rolls and friends were waiting for him at home. After that he felt better.

Then, after getting more x-rays taken, Caleb was given a removable brace to wear for another 3 weeks. I was unprepared for that! I thought we'd be all done. But apparently I was wrong. The good part is that he can take it off and doesn't have to wear it all the time, and we do not have any more doctor appointments!!!

Here are a few pictures of Caleb's journey through the casting off procedure

cutting the hard part of the cast

getting a little freaked out by the cutting and buzzing of the saw

starting to feel the 'weirdness' as the cast comes off

hey, I think this might feel kinda funny...

"It feels wierd! It feels weird!"

all better and looking forward to cinnamon rolls and friends!
can you say 'cast off'???!!

I Always Said I Was Frugal

I made a few bucks today! Wanna know how???

I did the grocery shopping last night (no kids, great time to go!) and while there I bought a bag of frozen chicken. My total amount was larger than I expected, so this morning I went over the receipt. I had thought that my bog-0-chicken was on sale, they charged me $11.99 and I thought it was more like $6.99. So I called the stores phone number that was on the bottom of the receipt. They checked and said it was on sale for $9.99. Well, ok, so I was overcharged by two bucks. But still, we're on a tight budget while we pay off our debt so you betcha I went down there to get my measy two dollars!

After returning to the store and having the helpful guy at the customer service desk recheck the sale price, I was given the full amount back. And when I say 'the full amount' I'm not referring to the two bucks....I'm talking about the full amount of the bag-o-chicken! They refunded the entire $11.99 because I had to return to the store! Who am I to argue with store policy??

Ha! I got twelve bucks AND my bag of chicken!

Did You Know....

A few months back I had a new friend over for lunch, and I baked up a nice batch of brownies to be enjoyed afterward. When it came time for me to cut and remove them from the dish, I ran into a problem I often have....the brownies stick to the knife and get all torn up!

My friend had a brilliant solution that I had never heard of before; use a plastic knife. I admit that I was skeptical. But I tried it and voila! it worked!

Who knew that cutting with a plastic knife could bring such joy?

Did you?

Red is the New Green

We recently went to an auto show, and while we were there we passed by the Toyota dealer as they were handing out reusable bags. The kids each took a bag and we continued on our way. I was quite excited about these new bags because I had big plans for them.

I had been wanting some reusable bags to use at the grocery stores, but I've been picky. Picky because I don't want bags that have store names on them. I know it's weird and just something I should just get over, but I didn't want to take a Target bag to use in Safe Way. See? Weird. And I'm also picky about price. I know, I know, they can be had for pretty cheap, but not if I want a generic no-name bag!

Enter my new (free!) bags from the Toyota dealer! The bags are big, and sturdy, and red!, and have Toyota written across the front. Now, we are typically a Honda family, but I think I'll make an exception here (we did once own a Camry and it was a very good car!). I knew that I was going to use these bags often and who knows really how long they will last, so I had Ryan and Mae go past the Toyota dealer once more to pick up two more bags. Score! I am now the proud owner of FIVE reusable grocery bags!!!

I have thought this through, and I keep my trendy, store-neutral bags in the truck so that I won't forget them when I go to the store. And it's worked out pretty good too, for I have yet to leave them behind whilst going grocery shopping. Oh, and the number? Perfect! Five is a great number. I think we may have used all five at one time, but never have we had to supplement with plastic! Sweet!

Take a peek at my new Green bags! Aren't they fab?!

Theory of Boy Noises

I grew up with an older brother, and when I was younger it would not be unusual for me to hear him playing with his toy soldiers and cars and all the sound effects and noises that come with it. I would hear explosions and gun fire as well as vehicles revving their engines. It was all so foreign to me although I heard it very often. Foreign because I could not duplicate any of them (not that I ever really wanted to, 'cause seriously Barbies and Cabbage Patch dolls don't shoot guns or race cars!).

It wasn't until I was married that I marveled at how universal this 'boy noise' thing was. Ryan can make this really cool machine gun sound effect and tried to teach me. But I'm a girl, it can't be done. He tells me that no one taught him but rather it was just something that he just, well, did. It just came naturally to him as he was playing.

And now this boy noise phenomenon comes full circle for me. Just the other day I heard Caleb demonstrating his ability to make machine gun sound effects. I'm amazed because I know this is not something that Ryan sat down and spent time teaching to my son. This is something that Caleb has picked up on his own! Ryan tells me that maybe it's hereditary. I think he's right. Here's how I know;

Caleb's dad is male.
Caleb is male.
Therefore Caleb can make cool sound effects.

And this, this is how I explain the strange phenomenon of boys and their playful sound effects.

YouTube Tuesday - Lost

Lost is back! Whoo-hoo!!! I'm excited, can you tell? Not that I have a whole lot to be excited about because it's not like I have most, if any, of my many questions answered. But I'm excited none the less.

After last week's episodes, I went looking for answers, or more like clarification, and came across this video. And I thought I'd share it. Enjoy!

Ties that Bind

Once upon a time there were two moms who met while taking their sons to their first day of kindergarten. In fact, they not only met, but became friends. Their sons were in the same class and it became the norm to chat while waiting for school to be dismissed. The one friend, whom we'll call 'Ashley', had just moved to the area and knew practically no one. So the other friend, whom we'll call 'Me', invited her to her bible study. Ashely accepted and we've been growing in our friendship ever since.

Now, back up a few months to last May when my cousin got married. My cousin got married by going to Reno and there was no big wedding or reception, so I did not have the opportunity to meet her new husband or see the in-laws. And not until last month did I even find out her new last name! (we're not real close, my cousin and I. in fact, I haven't seen her for almost ten years!) To my shock and surprise, the new last name is the same as Ashley's, which is not (I repeat NOT!) a commonly heard or spelled last name.

This is strange, thought I. I knew that Ashely's in-laws lived in the same town as my cousin, so there had to be a connection. There just had to be!

Turns out there is. Not only is my cousin married to Ashley's brother in law (her husbands brother!) but she is now pregnant! This means that my new friend Ashley will be an aunt to my 2nd cousin!!! How bizarre is that??!

So, my new friend, who lives 2.2 miles from me.....the one whos son happens to be in the same class as my son....is kinda, sorta, somewhat related to me! Well, not really. But still....kinda!

Isn't that the most strangest of connections you've ever heard?

Career Choice

Caleb is always telling us what he is going to be and do when he grows up. The other day this is what he had to say of his choice of vocation;

I'm going to be one of those guys who rides a motorcycle and tells people about God.

And to that I say right on little man, you go tell people about Jesus!!!

I'm sure he'll have another vehicle, when the time comes ('cause what's a guy to do when it rains?!). And on the other car I think he should have this bumper sticker, it just seem appropriate.

Cheap Date

Waaaay back in November I bought material to make curtains for the girls room, and I finally sat myself down at New Years and made them. Then last week Ryan put up the curtain rod. The only problem was that the curtain rod was too short. It was just big enough to cover the length of the window, but then the curtains (which are double the width of the window itself) covered most of the window when pulled back. There is only one way to solve this problem.

Go to Ikea and get a longer curtain rod! (because I'm a frugal spender that way. oh, and I love Ikea!)

So today is the day I had selected to go to Ikea. Today was also the first time that we were able to put all three kids in the child care spot! (hooray for Isabel being -mostly- potty trained!!!) Once we drop the kids off, we are informed that we have one hour to shop before we have to be back to pick up them up. Ok, not a problem. In fact, this is pretty much like a free date! Ryan and I get to walk around and talk and pick up a couple items, all the while we are uninterupted and no one seems to exists but us (amazing what three children can do a person, isn't it?!). The only problem was that we found our items rather quickly.

What else could we do but pick up a cinanmon roll and some milk at the consession stand and sit in the big item pick-up lounge??

So in the end, our 'date' cost us $15 in curtain rod and new draw pulls for Isabel's dresser, $1.75 for the delish cinnnamon roll and milk, and $0 for child care! See what a cheap date I am? Ryan should love me all the more for how much money I save him!

Casting Call

This is what happens when a boy doesn't listen to his mother when asked (told!) to settle down before dinner. He (and his mother and little sister) get to do all these fun-filled things...

1 - phone call to the doctor
1 - appointment made
3 - trips to the doctor (between two different doctors)
7 - rides in an elevator
4 - visits to different doctor/medical offices
many - pictures taken with Mommy's cell phone as a distraction
too many - hours of waiting
3 - x-rays taken
2 - boxes of raisins consumed in the waiting room
11'ty billion - times told to please 'sit down', 'be quiet', 'stop it!', and 'settle down'
75 - dollars spent in co-pays (so far)

And all for what, you ask?

1 - cast



**I know, you have a question or two that you're dying to ask. It's either how'd he do that? or what happened?. Well, it's simple really, and not what you'd expect. Caleb was running around the house playing with a toy motorcycle and just kind of slipped and fell on the floor. His hand bent back a little, I guess. No one saw it actually happen, although this is what we surmise happened as Ryan sort of saw it from the corner of his eye. Nothing fantastic or glorious. Just a simple fall in just the right way. He's doing fine though. Caleb has a small fracture in his hand below his pinky, and he will have the cast for only 3 weeks. I'm just happy that he's not hurt badly and that it's not swimming or beach season right now!

**I'm thinking two things right now;
#1 - how many times will I, as a mother, have to deal with this, or similar, situations in the future? (he is a boy after all!)

#2 - I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner!

Pop Quiz

Quick!

What does this?



plus this?



plus this?



plus this?




equal????

Sledding and Celebrating

.....and then we went sledding........

We found a perfect place to sled. It was on a nice sloping meadow that lead to the lake. And it had two lanes (also perfect for sled races!). Of course the kids had a fabulous time sledding down then trekking back up the slope for another round. But the adults had fun too! I even had a race with Rachel, but there's no need to declare the winner.

That night we celebrated Caleb's big achievement (living to the age of six!). When we were at the store the day before, I let him pick out his cake and ice cream. He chose red velvet cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream (red and green....how appropriate for a Christmas birthday!!). Although he didn't eat any, the cake was very good, but he did partake of the ice cream, and that passed the yum standard as well.




After we tucked tired-out children into bed, us adults stayed up and played a riveting game of Apples to Apples. You know, it wouldn't have mattered what game we played (the night before it was Balderdash!) but it was just great to be with our friends. So, Caleb's birthday rounded out our Tahoe vacation in the snow. I think it was one of the best vacations we've had as a family. It was great to get away, experience some snow (and leave it behind) and just be together. I don't think we'll be able to make it yearly tradition, but I would love to do it again sometime.

Vacation On! and Snow Cream!

The next day, after being woken up waaaaaay too early in the morning by eager kids, we began our first day in Tahoe. There was plenty of snow, so finding enough for snowballs was not a difficult thing for the kids. After the kids ate, they quickly dressed for the outside. And suddenly, the cabin was quiet! The great outdoors?........not so much.

I stayed happily, and cozily, inside with my dear friend Rachel as we cleaned up the breakfast dishes and straightened up before the kids came back inside to tear it all apart again. Yes, it was official, we were on vacation!

the view from the living room

That first day was somewhat lazy, after a trip into town for lunch and supplies. The kids played countless games of hide-and-go-seek as the adults talked and played a few games around the fire.

The next day, Tuesday, was Caleb's birthday! He turned six this time. And it seemed that the day was celebrating him right along with us. The day before had been a beautiful snowy day with clouds and huge chunks of falling snow, but Tuesday dawned bright and clear and laden with at least a foot of fresh snow! And what else should one do (when celebrating their birthday) with tons of fresh snow????.....sledding! That's right! So sledding we went!

But first.....we had snow cream!

What's snow cream, you ask? Well, let me tell ya....it's wonderfully, delicious, icey mounds of goodness. What'd you expect?? Ok, fine, I'll indulge you with an explanation.

My friend Rachel, grew up in a place where it snowed a couple times a year and it was always a treat. She tells me that when it would snow, her mother would gather up the fresh snow and make snow cream. I vaguely remember Rachel tell me of this when I lived in Michigan. I think I half listened and blew it off because, at the time, I was sick of looking at the snow, which I had affectionately named white crap. (gasp! I know, sorry for such harsh language, but it's true, I was tired of the snow and the thought of eating it was just abhorrent to me - sorry Rachel!). If I had listened, I may have found a piece of enjoyment out of the stuff.

Here's a basic recipe, then I'll explain;

Mix together:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
scant 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow (about 3 quarts)

The only problem with this recipe, that we had, was that there wasn't any vanilla in the cabin. So we improvised and used the peppermint mocha creamer that was in the cabinet. Oh boy!!!!....I like to call this a happy accident! The snow cream was light and icy with a nice aftertaste of peppermint. It was fab-u-lous!!!! There aren't words to describe how absolutely wonderful it tasted. All I gotta say is......if you ever visit the snow, take some peppermint mocha creamer and make yourself some lovely snow cream!

Rachel made one batch late that morning and it was gobbled up in no time (by everyone!). Then I asked her to make some more after we got back from sledding. This was certainly an unexpected highlight for me on this trip. Oh to have one more serving!

Then, we went sledding........

The Trip to Tahoe

After a long travel day the day before, we headed off to Tahoe on Christmas Sunday. We were armed with dvds rented from our library (and because of the holiday closures I wouldn't have to think about renewing them before we returned!!!) and they helped the kids (and consequently Ryan and I) endure the slow, snow-covered roads through the mountains. I can't express how wonderful it was to have fresh new movies to distract the kids with!!! Anyway, six hours later we finally arrived at the cabin and were greeted by the warmth of the fire and friendship (wasn't that a lovely sentiment?).

After being cooped up in the truck one might have thought that the kids were pooped and ready for a nice, warm, evenings sleep. One who doesn't have kids might think that. If they did, they be sorely mistaken (and very tired the next morning). On the contrary, they were excited about their friends, the cabin, the bunk beds, and just about everything else.

Two hours, and many threats tucks-back-into-beds later, the cabin was quiet, with the exception of the adults catching up by the fire.

Ahhhhh....we were on vacation.

These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

We've been home for one week now. And I've posted absolutely nothing about our trip to Tahoe or our Christmas with family. Shame on me! But somehow I think my reader(s) may forgive me. Won't you??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was more than ready for our Christmas vacation started before it began. We were going to meet some friends up in Tahoe for the first part of the week, then head to Modesto for Christmas and the remainder of our time. However, before we could leave, I had to secure all the gear needed for the kids to enjoy the snow. I thought I had enough leftovers from our time in Michigan that I'd only have to get a few things for Mae and Caleb.

I was wrong.

Turns out that Caleb is a much bigger guy than Mae was at the same age. Much to my disappointment, I discovered that the boots I intended Caleb to wear would actually be the ones for Isabel. Bummer! But Craigslist is my friend. For the most part, that is. Isabel would be fully assembled, thanks to the leftovers, but Mae and Caleb needed pretty much a full wardrobe!

Thanks to Mr. Craig, Big Lots and the dollar section at Target (oh how I love thee, let me count the ways....$1!!!) I was able to get snow pants and jacket for Caleb, snow pants for Mae, as well as hats, gloves. The one thing left, days before leaving on our trip, was boots for my boy.

That Thursday, two days left mind you, I gave up on Craigslist and decided to bite the bullet and buy new ones at Target. Easy enough, so I thought. However, when I got there all that was left were small sizes, and in pink! Who would have thought that a Southern California store would SELL OUT of snow boots??!

To make a long story (and long afternoon!) short......4 stores and 2 hours later, I found some boots for Caleb. The price was good, but they were also two sizes too big! I didn't have another choice really (and I don't count the pair at a sporting goods store for forty bucks! as a choice, I wouldn't pay that even if we lived in Michigan and he wore them everyday!). So I bought the two-sizes-too-big pair and figured I'd have him double up on socks. In the end, they worked out and the boy had a great time in the snow and stayed nice and dry the entire time!

The moral of this story is this; The Lord cares about boots for my boy. I had been praying the entire time while gathering gear. It was my intent to spend our money wisely, and I see that the Lord honored my efforts and provided me with what we needed.

Thank you Lord for another opportunity to trust you, even in silly things like snow boots for a five year old boy!

After all my efforts, you don't think it's asking too much for him to wear them to school, do you?

Another Good Christmas

I'm back. We returned home late this afternoon from an eight day trip to Modesto and Tahoe over the week of Christmas. I'd like to go into further detail, but to be honest, I'm plum tuckered out. The kids are down for the night and I am lounging in my cozy evening wear (nice pair of sweat-type pants and slippers) and I am thinking that my own bedtime is fast approaching. I do plan to tell of our adventures in the snow and Christmas 2008, but for now I'll give a few snippets to whet your appetite!

........fabulous dvd's, snow cream, sledding, unexpected family connections, and toilets.....

Do I have your attention??? I know you're only coming back to hear how 'toilets' fit into the Christmas scheme of things, aren't you?

'Til then....

Beware of the Doghouse

My brother is a wise man. Recently he posted this video on his Facebook as a warning to his fellow man so they would shop with discernment this Christmas season when it comes to getting their wives a gift. I thought it was appropriate and would be appreciated by my reader(s) as well.

Enjoy!

Christmas Song Trivia- part 2

Here is the second part of the song trivia. If you missed the first part then scroll down to yesterday's post for the explanation.

11. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals. *Frosty the Snowman* Caterina

12. Natal celebration devoid of color. *White Christmas* Sarah

13. In awe of the nocturnal time span characterized by religiosity. *O Holy Night* Sarah

14. Geographic state of fantasy during the season of mother nature's dormancy. *Winter Wonderland* Sarah

15. The first person nominative plural of a triumvirate of far eastern heads of state. *We Three Kings* Sarah

16. Tintinnabulation of vacillating pendulums in inverted, metallic, resonant cups. *Silver Bells* Sarah

17. In a distant location the existence of an improvised unit of newborn children's slumber furniture. *Away in the Manger* Caterina

18. Proceed forth declaring upon a specific geological alpine formation. *Go Tell it on the Mountain* Sarah

19. Jovial Yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us. *We Wish You A Merry Christmas* Sarah

Christmas Song Trivia

A couple weeks ago I was at church for the ladies bible study. Although it was more of a Christmas social gathering than it was a bible study that day. Among the goodies and chatting with friends, we played a game, it was called Christmas Synonyms. We all had a list of 19 Christmas songs but the catch was instead of having the name of the song there was a descriptive sentence. We had to translate the statements back into recognizable English and therefore we'd get the song title. We had fun comparing ideas and figuring out the correct title. Sometimes we were completely stumped but a few times we actually got it right!

Since I'm in a blogging slump (I blame it on Nablopomo of last month!) I have decided to share this fun little quiz with you. Let's see how well you can do!!! Once a correct guess has been made, I will add in the answer after the clue along with the person who guessed it. To make it last longer, I'll put the answer in black, so if you see someones name after the clue then you'll know it's been answered correctly but still able to play along. If you want to see the answer then select the blank space between the * and the text will appear.

I'm going to break this up between two days since I have so many songs. I'll give the answer to the first one to give you an idea of how it works. So here is the first set! Let's see how well you can do!!!

1. Listen, the celestial messengers produce harmonious sounds. *Hark the Herald Angels Sing* sample

2. Nocturnal timespan of unbroken quietness. *Silent Night* Sarah

3. An emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good given to the terrestrial sphere. *Joy to the World* Sarah

4. Embellish the interior passageways. *Deck the Halls* Caterina

5. Exalted heavenly beings to whom hearkened. *Angels We Have Heard on High* Sarah

6. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnesses its arrival. *It Came Upon A Midnight Clear* Sarah

7. The Christmas preceding all others. *The First Noel* Sarah

8. Small municipality in Judea southeast of Jerusalem. *O Little Town of Bethleham* Sarah

9. Diminutive masculine master of skin-covered percussionistic cylinder. *Little Drummer Boy* Sarah

10. Omnipotent Supreme Being who elicits respite to ecstatic distinguished males. *God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen* Sarah

How Lovely Are Your Branches

A couple weeks ago we busted out the fake Christmas tree and set it up. A fake tree just makes sense for our family since we tend to be gone over Christmas and having a real tree just isn't safe. So last year we broke down and bought a fake pre-lit tree. In another year or so it will have paid for itself. And it doesn't look too bad either!

Anyway, back to decorating....

After the tree was set up and lights all working (although they did go out for a while, but my man fixed it!) I got out the other boxes of Christmas decorations. The kids love these boxes and hoover around me as I pull things out. They are quick to snatch up the ornaments and tend to have the tree decorated by the time I finish pulling things out.

I had even more fun this year decorating the tree. Last year my mom gave me some silver beaded garland that she didn't use anymore, so now I had one last thing to add to our tree! I love the silver garland, it just adds the right touch to our tree. The kids even helped me put it up. See....



Well, I guess we got a little carried away, didn't we?!

Because the Winters Here are Frigid

This will be my third winter in Southern California since moving from Michigan a couple years ago. And I think I've finally acclimated. How do I know, you ask??? The temps are in the mid 60's and I'm cold. That's how I know!

I remember being in Michigan and knowing when we had acclimated to the cold winters there. Ryan had gotten home from work and we were all heading to the gym for a quick workout before coming home and having dinner. I was wearing some lightweight workout pants and t-shirt with a sweatshirt on top. The temperature was about 40 degrees and at the most I felt a little chilly.

Yesterday the temps were in the mid 60's and I wore pants, long sleeved mock turtle neck shirt and a cozy lightweight fleece jacket. At night I'm bundling up and layering my socks to keep my toes warm. And I think I need to add an extra blanket to the bed. However, I'm still wearing my sandals. I'm a southern California girl, what can I say!