Happy Birthday Heather

So I am the last to get my happy wishes in for the day. I sleep in on Saturday...what can I say. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER. You have filled the hole in my life that I didn't even know was there. When I moved to this town...so far from home...all I could pray for was a friend. Who would have known that Heavenly Father would answer that prayer with an angel. It feels like I have known you my entire life. You are what I aspire to become in so many areas of my life. You are wild and crazy and sweet and sensitive and always there when I need a soft shoulder to cry on. I know it is selfish but I pray daily that we are in the same Branch until it is time for BOTH of us to move on. I love you and couldn't ask for a better (or prettier) friend.

Better Late Than Never

Anyone that knows me can tell you I am one of those "crazy Christmas people". I listen to Christmas music in August, put my tree up the first weekend in November, buy all the presents on my list before the middle of November and get my Christmas cards (complete with a friends and family letter) out before Thanksgiving. I'm not sure if it is subconscious or some form of rebelliousness, but this year I am a bit behind schedule. I've always had my Mom to help to feed this mania. One year we put her tree up 2 days before HALLOWEEN. Yep, in October. It was fantastic...Dad was not pleased. After that he made us wait until the first weekend in November. We have always had Christmas music all year and bought ornaments off e-bay in March. Without her here (for the first time) I must admit I am at a loss. Some of my friends have had their holiday music on a few times and my sisters have to put on a brave face because they have little kids that won't understand a rahbumhug for a Ma. I did have a gorgeous photographer take a pic of my contentious family for a Christmas card...but it turned out to be very stressful. I want to look forward to the season of joy, peace and love. I love commemorating the birth of our Savior. It fills our home with so much love and unity...usually. So as I try to focus on the reason for the season, perhaps I will be given the peace I need to carry on a tradition that started with my Mom. Wish me luck as I get out the Christmas music today. I'll probably bawl my eyes out as I sing along to our favorites; Mrs. Santa Clause, The Happiest Christmas Tree and Away in a Manger. If you've got time today...go find your CDs and sing along with Mom and me.

New Hair

I was very over-due for a haircut last month. Not just the inch trim that I get every time I color, but a real haircut. So I called Carla (because it'll be another 5 weeks before I get to see Amanda) and got on the schedule. I wish I had a "before" picture...but I don't. I can tell you that my hair is now 5 inches shorter and a teensy bit lighter. I love it and I know it will take about half the time to dry. BTW Don't let the make-upless face scare you. It was early in the day. ((sigh))

Pie Pie Me Oh My

When I was a kid we used to have the most wonderful Thanksgiving dinners with my Mom's side of the family. She has 3 sisters and 1 brother and most of them have big families. We would get together at Grandma's and everyone would bring food and we would play games with all our cousins. It was heaven on earth. My favorite part of the day was the pies that Grandma would make. The best part of Grandma's pie was the pie crust cookies. Since it's a bad idea to re-roll the crust, she would put the trimmings on a pan and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar. They would come out of the oven golden and crispy and so sweet.
They went really fast since there was always a crowd in the kitchen...especially when Grandma was cooking. Today I was kinda missing my Grandma. The quickest way for me to feel closer to my Grandma is to pull out one of her recipes and cook up a storm. Usually I make a pie, and of course...pie crust cookies. I use the apple pie filling that I have canned (using on of her recipes) and it usually turns out just like Grandma used to make. Today I was not so lucky. The crust completely fell apart. I was so ticked. So as I stood, yelling at the pie, my (oh so understanding) husband told me to just throw it on the top. Or better yet, throw it away and just go topless (his joke...not mine). Of course I am my mother's daughter and just a touch stubborn. I tried to piece it together to look somewhat acceptable. I threw some sugar and cinnamon on the top and here is what I got. Not going to win any beauty contests but it tasted fabulous. All thanks to Grandma.

I Didn't Realize How Good I am at Tag

So here is the 4th picture in the 4th folder on my computer.This is Jo's birthday. Her friends had spent the night and she was opening her presents. Usually we've had to open her presents at 6:00 a.m. before Dad left for work so all her pics are of her scowling. This year her birthday was on a Saturday so everyone was well rested and smiling.

I was also tagged by my cousin to tell you 7 random things about me. What more do you all need to know. Sheesh. You're all like info sponges...sucking the information out of me. Here goes...

1- I get up at the horrible hour of 4:30 a.m. The Y opens at 5:00 a.m. and Jim and I go there that early so we can get home to get Jim to work at 6:30 and I teach seminary at 7:00. It's a pain. I don't stay up very late at night and I live for the weekend so I can catch up on my sleep.

2- I bought the series of Gilmore Girls on dvd for Jo and I to watch over and over. We love it. I also watch Charmed. I'm all about strong female rolls.

3- My first instinct is to say NO when my kids ask to do something. I blame that on my Dad. I am trying to constantly remind myself to get all the info...before I say NO.

4- I actually have 2 daughters. One is Jo the other is Sarah. If I didn't know better I'd swear they were separated at birth. I love her.

5- I have 4 colors in my hair. Brown, darker brown, blond and gray. Thanks girls.

6- I hate to clean the bathrooms. My kids are responsible to clean their own. That leaves 1 1/2 for me. I don't love it and short cut it every chance I can.

7- I am trying to decide how short to cut my hair. I don't love it really short, but I definitely need a change.

Just so you all know...all of these are things that my girls thought you all should know. Now I will tag...whom ever has the time and inclination to do it. I hate putting pressure on anyone.

Out With the Old...

I have been whining about my kitchen floor ever since we moved in. It's holey and stained and white. It has been the bane of my existence for 18 months. We have been going back and forth for 6 months about what type of flooring we wanted to get. We thought tile was the way to go. It's durable, adds value (sort of) and it's dang good looking. But on the down side...it's cold. I don't need any more cold surfaces in my world. We thought about wood. We have oak parquet in the living and dining rooms...but I don't love it and it CAN'T get wet. The laminate looked good...but I've heard not good things about it's durability.
So we landed on vinyl. It's not expensive, it looks OK and it's pretty durable. So today the floor guys, Archie and Chris came and made my floor pretty. I so do not miss the white vinyl. Next up, black appliances.

My Day As a Lunch Lady

Well, just let me tell you this isn't quite what I had in mind when I signed up to be a sub. I was thinking that the offices in the district would be a good place to sub. Good hours, no nights or weekends, home with my kids. Well, last year I subbed for the lady who runs the computer and charges the kids for their lunches. It was a fine job, but three hours in the middle of the day was cramping my style. So this year I thought I'd just stick to strictly office work. Wweeellll, except the the kitchen staff knows me pretty well now, loud laugh...always early...funky sun glasses. So when they needed a sub who do you think was first on their list??? It wasn't too bad. I was in charge of stocking the a la cart line and washing the BIG pots and warming trays. In our school district ALL the food is cooked in the high school lunch room and the dishes are washed there too. Yuck. I washed a lot of dishes today. I think my quota is filled for the entire month. Sorry kids. I did get to see Jo and I said HI to her friends...while rocking the fancy hair net. She was so impressed. Well, I think I can cross that off my "What do I want to be when I grow up" list. Pretty sure I don't want to be a lunch lady. Well, maybe something will land in my lap tomorrow. Stranger things have happened.