Recap

So here is my week in review. Let me just warn you, I forgot my camera (shocking!) so I don't have all the pics I wanted. I will put some of the ones my sister is sending me when I get them. So, we started out on Friday, the 21st at 3:30 in the afternoon. After driving through a freak snow storm and the deer infested darkness we arrived at my Dad's house at 7:30 in the morning. I had a hair appointment at 9:00 so I was able to relax and shower and hold Cylie for a bit. At 12:30 we went out to my Dad's old Jr. high school (my Aunt works there now) for a Thanksgiving celebration. I got to see some of my favorite cousins...with only one notable exception (maybe next year, Wendy). We had too much food and fabulous conversation...thanks for the laughs Tadd. My cousin Jodi gave my family each a sweet gift because we would be missing my Mom (especially) this year. She is such a sweetie. We got to catch up with Teresa (my bloggin' cousin) and see her girls. I got to hang out with my Grandma and see my Mom's sisters and brother and their families. We used to have such fabulous family gatherings when I was a kid. It was a good day. On Sunday we had Cylie blessed. She is such an angel. It was cool to see both of my men able to stand in the circle. I can't believe Kev is old enough to do that. wow. Monday was a hang out day. Jim and I got some running done while my sisters were at work. Tuesday my Grandma came to Dad's to hang out with me. We had a really good visit and I enjoyed seeing her. We set up my Mom's Christmas tree that afternoon. I wish we could have taken more time and reflected a little more...but once you get the ornaments out the kids go nuts. On Wednesday we went to have dinner with Jim's Mom and Dad. We got to visit with Jim's Grandpa too. He was such a big part of Jim life while he was growing up. He really learned a lot from his Grandpa. On Thursday we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at my Dad's house. We missed my Mom, but we cherished the time we were able to spend together. We tried a couple of new pies (and mine turned out great this time) and had my Dad's wonderful gravy on practically everything and went to bed full and thankful. On Friday, Jo tricked us into participating in the Black Friday madness. She has such fond memories of the last time we took her (the sisters don't remember it fondly AT ALL) but because she had such a great time, we decided the happy memories were worth the discomfort for us. We stood in endless lines, saw people we never expected to see (Lori Hansen!!) and went to see Twilight. I will tell you I did not love the movie. It was fine...but the actress that played Bella was so bad...I couldn't love it. Oh well. I still LOVE the books. That night we had to say our goodbyes as we were leaving at 3:00 the next morning. Dad got up to see us off and away we went. We loved our time spent in Idaho and hated leaving. We do wish we'd had more time so we could have seen some of our friends, but we decided we needed to see our family first. We are so thankful for the time we were able to spend with all our families. We love you all and can't wait for this summer.

Thankful

Since I will be at my Dad's on Thanksgiving...and no where near a computer...thanks Dad...I decided to tell you some of the things I am thankful for. As I thought about this entry and what to list, so many things came to mind. The obvious biggies, the smaller, more obscure blessings, there is just so many things to be thankful for. I guess that is the first thing that should be on my list...the fact that I have such a long list of things I am thankful for. I am thankful for my family, because I know not everyone has a family...or their relationships within their family are not loving, nurturing ones. I am thankful that my husband has a great job. Two reasons on that one; first, because so many people are without jobs right now and second, because it has allowed me the opportunity to stay home with my kids...even though they are now teenagers. I am thankful for my cozy house (especially today, bbrrrrr) even though we have a ghetto curtains. I am thankful that I have such wonderful friends. You would not believe me even if I told you how great my friends are. I have friends all over the place. It seems strange to me. I am a shy person at first. I know...you can all pick yourselves up off the floor. It's true, I tend to be cautious when meeting new people. Ask my sisters how I react to cute old men sitting too close to me...not pretty. I am thankful for my dogs. Don't laugh...I know I complain about them a bit. But I would be a sad girl indeed without them. I am thankful for the more over-looked blessings in my life like finger nails and trees and hair color and forks and flowers and warm blankets and forgiveness and hugs and the Hubert girls and my computer and flip flops and fabric softener and Christmas and that lotion that smells like new babies and so many more things that I can't even list them all. But mostly I am thankful for my Father in Heaven who gave me all these things through my Savior Jesus Christ. With out them my life would be a meaningless angry mess. I am thankful that every morning I get up, I have the opportunity to try a little harder to be a better more grateful person than I was the day before. And I am thankful for all of you...my friends.

A Sad Day For Pie

I know I've told you all about the ugly pie...but have you ever heard the story of the sad pies? No? Well, pull up a chair and grab a tissue...you'll need it. It happened on a very regular Saturday. I was feeling very ambitious...which is rare for a Saturday. I jumped right out of bed at the crack of 7:45 and cleaned my bathroom and hit the shower. I even dried and straightened my hair instead of the lazy curlyish route that usually guides my Saturday morning routine. Then I hit a couple of stores to pick up some last minute (hahahaha) Christmas gifts. After I guided the then cranky hubby to the football game and the big comfy couch...I headed to the kitchen to begin baking the pumpkin pies I had signed up to bring to the pot luck at church the following day. I decided that since I signed up to bring 3 pies I would make 4 since Kevin LOVES pumpkin pie. Well, my crust recipe makes enough dough for 4 small pies. It's kind of a stretch to get enough crust for my bigger pie plates so I decided to make an apple pie also and double the crust recipe (I can't really half the recipe because it calls for 1 egg). So I got out everything I would need and jumped in. I put the first pan of P.C. cookies in to bake and continue mixing and stirring and singing...actually I was kind of bent about something so I was venting to Jo...but I wished I was singing. I took the cookies out of the oven and didn't notice anything too strange about their appearance. Maybe a little uneven in color is all. They tasted ba-lish so I trudged on. The pies went in next and all was well. I cleaned up the mess and waited for the first batch of pies to come out. The warm yummy smell was noticeable absent when I pulled the first 2 pies out of the oven. Hey...something is weird about these pies...the top is burnt and they don't smell fabulous. hhhhmmmm. Well, with no time to waste I threw the next batch in the oven. Same result...creepy. Fast forward to Sunday at pot luck. My pies tasted TERRIBLE!!! They looked like crap and they tasted worse with a burnt top and a soggy bottom (there is nothing I hate more than a soggy bottom). I was so embarrassed. And believe me...they noticed. I wanted to crawl into a hole. The poor guys at my table (well, some of them anyway) tried to hide their sour faces. I wracked my brain for all the explanations for why my best pie recipe failed. AH HA! The milk. It had to be the evaporated milk. Dang...Mom always told me to check the milk before adding it to the pumpkin. Man...good advice. So as I was in bed last night trying to sleep, Kev came in and announced he knew why the pies had burned on the top and not cooked on the bottom. The oven had been set on the broil setting.
HUH? No way...oh yes it had. The genius man who designed my stove screwed up on the knobs.
My last stove had one knob to turn it on to bake, broil or the cleanning option. If you turned this knob on you controlled which set of burners was going to get hot. The other knob determined how hot the oven was going to get. Well, this oven is a little more tricksy. If the oven is set to broil, it will broil something at 350*...and leave you with a soggy bottom pie. So, the moral of the story is if you're going to vent to your daughter while baking...have someone else turn on the oven, or you'll have a tale of sad pies.

Happy Belated Birthday

I just want to wish my Dad a Happy 60th Birthday. His birthday was on the 11th...but I didn't have just the right picture...now that I do...let the public humiliation begin. Just kidding Dad. Sheesh...don't get so worked up. It isn't that type of blog. In case you don't know, I am the oldest child of Steve and Connie...hence the control issues. My Dad and I have had a tumultuous relationship. He tried with all his might to keep me from doing stupid things...and I tried with equal force to do them anyway. Neither of us won in this battle of the wills...in fact a lot was lost. Then the day came when I grew up...and he finally let me. I credit Kevin with helping to form those first tentative white flags. One thing I always knew growing up is that Dad was going to be there for me...always. He never drew that line in the sand...you know the one...the line, that if crossed means the end of the relationship. Now when I look back over my life I see a man struggling to hold on to his daughter and keep her safe. I admire that man for trying so hard. I appreciate him for setting boundaries and making sure I was given the skills to make good choices (not that I chose to use them). I love him for always being there for me when I needed him the most. My Dad is a man of few words...so I'm sure he'll think this entry is a waste of precious verb-age...so I'll make my point. Dad...I am the person I am today because I have a Dad that pulled me out of many (proverbial) burning buildings with out hesitating. Thank you and I love you. Dad playing with some of the grandkids...one of his favorite past times.

Dad making a snowman with (from left) Travis, his son Cade, Kevin and Gramps

"Camping" in Colorado.

Cheer Up Charlie

Ok...well her name isn't Charlie...it's Kim (I call her Kimi...cause I can). She is my baby sister. She is having a crappy day...week...year...whatever. So here are some pictures of happier times guaranteed to make you smile. Sing the "Cheer Up Charlie" song while you look at these. That in and of itself will make you feel better. And remember Grandpa Joe and I love you.

At my wedding. Aren't we glamorous??
Camping in Colorado. Grandma is fortunate that we bring the party where ever we go...or we never would have come to see her.

Another "camping" trip...this time to the cabin. I LOVE clean camping.

Surprise!! It's just what I wanted!! Thanks Mom, I'm so surprised!!

Crazy quilt "hugs" from Grandma Good. Guaranteed for what ails ya.

Be The Crown

One of my favorite lines from the movie Miss Congeniality is "Wear the crown, Be the crown". Too funny...I love that movie. I love William Shattner too...but not as Captain Kirk...another blog for another day. The crown I ordered off of e-bay for the Murder Mystery Party I went to finally came today. At bit late (almost 2 weeks)...moral of the story...always read the fine print. It shipped from the Czech Republic...but it is FABULOUS!!! (And, yes...that is an ornament I'm constructing.)

My Best Day So Far

I work as a sub for the school district here in town. Because I don't have a 4 year degree, I can't sub as a teacher in a classroom. I can, however, sub for the numerous secretaries, paras and lunch ladies. Today was my favorite day so far. I have subbed in the lunchroom...not my favorite. I have subbed in the Counseling Office...not bad...got to wear cute clothes. I have subbed for several different paras. Usually I sub for a lady that works with a girl that is severely autistic and has a learning delay. She is hard to work with. Picture an 8 year old girl with the mentality of an 18 month old. It is a wrestling match most of the day. Today I got to work with 2 girls. Carly is 5. This is her first year in kindergarten...most of the kids I work with have 1 or 2 years under their belts. She has a BIG smile...when she chooses to show it to you. She is an angel with a learning delay and other issues due to the substances her Mom chose to ingest during pregnancy. As long as we were moving forward she was fine. To change direction caused too much stress and we had to really work for a seamless transition. She is undeniably sweet and such an angel. The other girl is Mary Jane. She will be 6 tomorrow and this is her second year in kindergarten. She is a bright girl with some autistic tendencies. Transitions for her are really hard, so is not being chosen or not winning at a game. If she is over-looked too many times by the teacher she WILL have a melt down...and she did. wow. But the funniest thing happened during her melt down. I felt my Mom there...no, I haven't finally slipped over to the dark side...she was there. This morning I felt I needed to pray for my Mom's spirit to be with me. I do that sometimes if I miss her or if I know I'm going to have a rough day or if I need her special kind of guidance. (If you don't know, my Mom worked with kids with special needs for the State of Idaho for many years. She loved her work with the kids and was loved in return for her efforts.) While Mary Jane was in the midst of her VERY LOUD melt down I was at a loss of how best to calm her. My Mom's voice whispered in my head some simple directions. Sure enough, it worked. We skipped going back to her regular classroom and headed to the resource room for a little more of a contained atmosphere. She started to trip back down "melt down lane" and the head of the Special Ed department did the same things that I was doing not minutes before. I was elated...and I was humbled. I have a loving Father in Heaven who knows my needs and will bless me when I need it. I feel like I accomplished something with Mary Jane today. Not a bad day for a sub.