Happy 2009

3 kids went on Christmas Break on December 12th--whoever came up with the schedule wasn't thinking clearly. 1 kids went on Christmas Break December 19th. We had a great, quiet, relaxing Christmas. We did our annual Christmas Eve open house--we went from 15 people last year to 63 people this year. The kids outnumbered the adults, which seems to happen a lot lately when we have gatherings. Kuna reminds me definately of growing up in Vermont and a bit like Pueblo where everybody knows somebody somehow. Ben's teacher and husband came, I guess I forgot to tell Ben she was coming becuase (I missed it) but he had a quite a surprised look on his face when they walked in. Here is that Kuna connection. I obviously knew who Ben's teacher was, but at my job at Indian Creek (one of the Kuna Elementary schools) the music teacher came in for hot lunch several times a week--so I knew who he was and never made the connection until I same him one day at the charter school..you all know how subtle I am "What are you doing here?" So apparently my dad met him at the Jiffy lube and you know how quiet and shy Ted is...and then they had all seen each other at Bingo--yes, Nancy has found herself a place to play Bingo weekly. Of course Ted grumbles every week about the craziness of having to take her every week, but we all think he enjoys taking her so he can visit with all the people. We had snow for Christmas and it even snowed on Christmas day it was absolutely beautiful. December 26th it warmed up rained and then..UGLY and Brown for the next week or so. We did miss our friends and family and Christmas leftovers with our friends in their jammies doesn't happen here yet...maybe next year!! New Years was very quiet Jim and the kids watched movies played on the WII that santa brought, I don't know who the bigger kid is. I read the 3rd book in the Twilight series. I read all 4 over christmas break and my house definately showed it!!

Christmas has now gone and we are now 7 days into the new year. All those new years resolutions have started as well as School has started again--yeah some routine again!! Today is Ben's 11th Birthday and my mom's (uh..hmm.oh yeah she is turning 29 again) birthday as well. My parents are coming for dinner and cake and Ben took rootbeer floats to school for his birthday treat!!

--gotta run more later

....I'm dreaming of a white christmas....okay so not anymore it is white here that is for sure. As long as I don't have to leave the house I love the snow and cold, but when I have to leave it becomes bothersome and annoying!!
We are preparing for our Christmas eve celebration so yesterday my mom came and rolled the pigs in a blanket (little smokies in crescent roll dough) I have made 3 batches of punch concentrate turning 1 of them into cupcake size ice cubes to fit in the cascading punch bowl. Everything is mostly wrapped. Last night the kids frosted sugar cookies and I am pretty sure they will be the only ones eating them...they look festive but...... We haven't watched nearly as many christmas movies this month as I would have liked, and Jim and I still haven't watched its a wonderful life but we will get it all done.
Eye doctors and orthodontists are the theme for this past couple of days. Getting it all in so we don't have to take the kids out of school. Jim's sister is in town for work so she will be coming for dinner tonight, I finally get that lasagna I have had in the freezer--no not the store bought one the real homeade one.
Merry Christmas!!
A

The Christmas Sweater By Glenn Beck

I love this time of year, Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. Each year Santa slips a christmas book into my stocking and I spend Christmas day curled up in my pajama's reading. This year our neighbors gave us an early christmas present and gave us a copy of the book "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. Of course as much as I love to read, I don't read very often because I can't put books down until they are done and because of this nothing else gets done. This book was no exception!! An amazing story with an extremely powerful message! I can't wait for my older kids to read and get their perspective on it. If you have the opportunity to read this book, please take a few hours to do so.

Christmas is only 15 days away? The kids present are purchased and ready to wrap, the tree is up, the house is decorated, the sugary yummy snacks are almost all done, the neighborhood christmas gifts are ready to be delivered..We are so far behind....on our Holiday movie watching. We haven't even seen Charlie Brown's Christmas... can you believe that??

SNOW!! we NEED SNOW!! THINK SNOW!!
A

It is the Sunday before Thanksgiving and I am really struggling with the Holidays approaching so quickly. So much to do, so little time. Today Jim and I cleaned the west wing again...the little not me people came again this week and of course I had my area of mess to clean up...while he was taking stuff to the shed, he brought in a couple of tubs of Rescue hero stuff that has been packed away for a couple of years..Stuff Nick has never seen, needless to say he has been playing nonstop with them since we brought them in..I think this is the first Sunday in a very long time that he hasn't whined and complained all day about nothing to do.


Friday was the Kindergarten Thanksgiving feast. The pilgrims and the Indians paraded around the school in their costumes and then sat down to a huge feast. Our little Indian thought the chicken legs were quite good!!Have a great Holiday!!

Happy Fall Y'All!!

It is raining, cold and gray today. I almost with that it would snow it feels like it should. Amelia was up with the same stomach stuff that I had earlier in the week. She is doing much better, I am amazed at how quickly kids bounce back from stuff. I am so thankful that overall my kids are very healthy!!
We went to the Bogus Basin Ski sale on Friday night. The older I get the less patience and tolerance I have for being in large crowds. Yes, you guessed it 15 minutes in line to get in, BIG Crowd...dull noise...trying on kids ski boats, looking for skis...25 minutes in line to cash out... Next year Jim goes it alone with the children. Although it was a small price to pay to have a full day alone when he takes the kids out skiing, do I dare hope every weekend.
Can you imagine being 7 and 10 and growing up in the white house??
The Pueblo Chieftain was looking for stories the other day on your favorite non-purchased christmas gift. I know that she bought part of it, but one year for christmas when I was a kid my grandmother gave me a recipe box with recipes in it that she had spent hours writing on 3x5 cards. I know longer have the box, or my grandmother, but I still have the recipe cards and when I pull out the box I have them in, it reminds me of her. So what is your favorite christmas gift??

Misc. ramblings

How many marshmallows can you stuff in your mouth before you gag?? or I gag watching you?? We played this game with a group of kids at our house on Halloween afternoon, it was pretty funny I think the winner got 8. They all said it was easy until you start laughing then somehow it triggers your gag reflex and you have to get it out. My kitchen sink had a load of marshmallows in it. We also tied strings to the ceiling and attached donuts to the other end..chocolate frosted of course and then the kids had to eat them with their hands behind their backs...heeehee

Halloween itself was low key, trick or treating with friends, dinner and Halloween town movies. I feel asleep on the couch...times have changed....

We finally closed on the 23rd on our Colorado house. It was bittersweet...glad it is finally behind us, but at the same time sad because I really loved that house.

Spent yesterday in bed with some sort of disease which I was sure I was going to die from. I decided in the afternoon that a bath might make me feel better, so I ventured up to the kids bathroom and took a bath, which didn't make me feel any better!! the bath tub sucked and I was realizing that until we moved here I have been extremely spoiled with my 6ft jacuzzi tub. Now I am on a I hate our masterbath kick--

Time for a nap, I don't think I am completely over whatever disease invaded yesterday.

View from Melba Cemetary

My friend Amy and I went to a funeral this summer and this picture was taken at the cemetary, I realize a bit morbid but the really the view was amazing. It is ironic that she sent me this picture today as I was just reading an article in Vermont Life about all the old cemetaries in Vermont and the organization that restores headstones and keeps them neat.

Three of the kids are finishing week 1 of a 2 week fall break. I think 1 week would have been adequate but apparently I didn't make the schedule.

We have finally, (keep fingers and toes crossed) sold the house in Colorado. The closing is set for October 24th. What a nightmare!! We sold it as a short sale so of course the 2nd mortgage company wants to filet you open and look at your insides!! If anyone ever has to go with a short sell I can tell you it is a painful and frustrating ordeal!! The banker actually to our realator "they are both working" making it sound like I a full time job--Yes, I work 10 hours a week at a little more than minimum wage!! and only during the school year. The only reason that Jim even disclosed to them that I was working was so they couldn't come back and say we were with holding information. Maybe someday I will grow back the hair that I have lost!!

So, about the job I serve hot lunch at one of the local elementary schools. The kids are plotting against me I am sure of it, because I always tell them 2 bites and come back and tell me if you like it. It makes me crazy when they look at something turn up their nose and say "yuck, I don't like that!!" Apple crisp--who doesn't like apple crisp. They make all their rolls from scratch and kids turn those down. I guess you have to be cooking for yourself to appreciate some things, and at 3.00 or more a gallon I want to scream when I see how much milk they waste. I want to get them stickers that say "I tried something new" and "I drank all my milk"