It was John's birthday today! He's a whopping 32 years old! (Such a baby... I'm a year and a half older!)
The kids and I made a stop at the good ole Dollar Store for some cheapo gifts from them, and then we went to a "real" store for some a little more substantial gifts from me. The kids got him a pair of socks, a serving spoon, two mylar balloons, shaving cream and a Batman toothbrush. I got him a dvd he's been wanting, plus a watch. Actually, it was a package with two watches in it. One dressy, one casual. He hasn't had a watch for years.
Liana made The Cake with her Easy Bake oven. She loves that oven sooooooo much. I had been planning on making a big cake too, but Liana felt a little slighted, and so after talking to John about it, we decided just to eat up the leftover cake we had from Christmas. (Only one person can eat a tiny Easy Bake cake, and the rest of us needed some to eat too you know!) :O)
Auntie Sharon came this afternoon too. It was soooo much fun for the kids to show off their Christmas dresses from Grandma, plus some of their other toys. And, we even had tea. Leksa Lou put on her most polite manners and hostessed a very proper tea party. I can't even remotely put into words how funny it is to listen to her little accent as she tries so hard to be so prissy. She loves to pour tea, so she'll gulp hers down in two swallows so she can dump the tea, sugar and cream into her cup again. And she *Loves* to act all dignified and lady-like.
The funniest part of Auntie Sharon's visit, though, was when she was admiring the Christmas tree. You know, the tree "the kids decorated." ;O) Well, when she told us how beautiful the tree was, all three kids said, "Thank you!" to her at once. Liana proceeded to tell her that the back was bare (which it isn't now that I've redecorated it), but when Liana looked, she didn't even notice. (Liana had overheard me laugh about the back of the tree being empty). What came out of her mouth was, "Mama, can I have a candy cane?" Sharon later asked me if that was all rehearsed. Nope. I just know my kidlets! lol! They still haven't noticed that I redid the tree. For real.
John Loved all his thoughtful gifts, and his cake of course! *cough-cough* It was so cute to listen to the squeals of excitement as the kids wished him a Happy Birthday and sang to him. (We have three *very* off-key singers at our house. Well, four if you count me! lol!) Very nice day!
We're headed to John's grandparent's house in the morning. It's a good 6 hour car ride, and we plan to stay through the weekend.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Recipes!
Had to share some of my favorite holiday recipes. Yeah, I know, I'm late, but I figure if you're interested, you can print these out for next year - or try them for New Years! Na zdarovya!
Shelly
Title: STUFFING
Description:
Better than StoveTop. Promise!
Ingredients:
8-9 cups dried out bread, crumbled
2 cups chicken/turkey broth
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 eggs, slightly whipped
Parsley flakes
Thyme
Sage
Salt
Pepper
Directions:
Saute chopped onion and celery with 1/4 cup or less of butter. Add to crumbled bread in a large bowl. Add broth and slightly whipped eggs. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes COVERED, then for 15 more minutes uncovered.
Title: CRANBERRIES
Description: Yummy change of pace from straight cranberries
Ingredients:
Package of fresh/frozen cranberries
12 oz package frozen raspberries, thawed
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup 100% Cranberry juice (or use Cran-Raspberry juice)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Boil until thick and cranberries have burst, stirring constantly. Chill 8+ hours.
Title: PUMPKIN LOGS
Ingredients:
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional)
Directions:
FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.
COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Title: AUNT MAXINE'S JOHNNY CAKE
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cans creamed corn
3 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix
4 eggs
sugar to taste (between 1/4 - 1/3 cup)
Directions:
Mix it all up, and bake at 325 for one hour. Makes a very large recipe. My pan is 10x15 and it was still nice and fluffy. Could easily make one 9x13 pan and one 8x8.
Title: AUNT ANN'S SKILLET COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups dates, chopped up small
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
2 T milk
Boil for 3 minutes in skillet, cool a little, then add
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup nuts
Directions:
Shape into balls, and roll in coconut flakes.
Title: COUSIN SUE'S ARTICHOKE DIP
Ingredients:
14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mazzarella cheese
1 oz (1/4 c.) shredded jalepeno pepper cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 T chopped green onions
Dash garlic salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 1 1/2 quart casserole or quiche dish, combine all ingredients. Bake uncovered 20-30 minutes or until slightly browned and bubbly. Serve hot with crackers.
Title: BECKY'S SPINACH DIP
Description:
Here is my niece's recipe, and the "I" is her.
I make this recipe with fat free/low fat ingredients, but it can be made with the "normal" ingredients also. I use the full package of Onion Soup mix (the person I got the recipe from uses half) and I usually put too much Garlic Powder in it (I don't measure it) It is best if made the day before you need it, so the flavor have time to blend, but can be made the day of and still taste as good. If you want the elegant look, Carve out a loaf of bread and put the spinach dip in it. Serve the parts of bread that you dug out as what you are putting the dip on. Otherwise, serve it with Bagel pieces or crackers
Ingredients:
8 oz Cream Cheese
8 oz Sour Cream
1 Pkg chopped Spinach (thawed and drained)
Onion Soup Mix (1/2 to 1 Pkg)
Garlic Powder (to taste)
1 can Water Chestnuts-diced (optional)
Directions:
Mix the Cream Cheese and Sour Cream together until smooth.
Add Onion Soup Mix and Garlic Powder.
Add the Water Chestnuts.
Fold in the Spinach.
Chill & Serve
Number Of Servings: Depends on how hungry you are. I can eat it all myself, so it is one serving ;)
Preparation Time: Varies depending on how cold/frozen your ingredients are.
Shelly
Title: STUFFING
Description:
Better than StoveTop. Promise!
Ingredients:
8-9 cups dried out bread, crumbled
2 cups chicken/turkey broth
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 eggs, slightly whipped
Parsley flakes
Thyme
Sage
Salt
Pepper
Directions:
Saute chopped onion and celery with 1/4 cup or less of butter. Add to crumbled bread in a large bowl. Add broth and slightly whipped eggs. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes COVERED, then for 15 more minutes uncovered.
Title: CRANBERRIES
Description: Yummy change of pace from straight cranberries
Ingredients:
Package of fresh/frozen cranberries
12 oz package frozen raspberries, thawed
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup 100% Cranberry juice (or use Cran-Raspberry juice)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Boil until thick and cranberries have burst, stirring constantly. Chill 8+ hours.
Title: PUMPKIN LOGS
Ingredients:
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional)
Directions:
FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.
COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Title: AUNT MAXINE'S JOHNNY CAKE
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cans creamed corn
3 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix
4 eggs
sugar to taste (between 1/4 - 1/3 cup)
Directions:
Mix it all up, and bake at 325 for one hour. Makes a very large recipe. My pan is 10x15 and it was still nice and fluffy. Could easily make one 9x13 pan and one 8x8.
Title: AUNT ANN'S SKILLET COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups dates, chopped up small
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
2 T milk
Boil for 3 minutes in skillet, cool a little, then add
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup nuts
Directions:
Shape into balls, and roll in coconut flakes.
Title: COUSIN SUE'S ARTICHOKE DIP
Ingredients:
14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mazzarella cheese
1 oz (1/4 c.) shredded jalepeno pepper cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 T chopped green onions
Dash garlic salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 1 1/2 quart casserole or quiche dish, combine all ingredients. Bake uncovered 20-30 minutes or until slightly browned and bubbly. Serve hot with crackers.
Title: BECKY'S SPINACH DIP
Description:
Here is my niece's recipe, and the "I" is her.
I make this recipe with fat free/low fat ingredients, but it can be made with the "normal" ingredients also. I use the full package of Onion Soup mix (the person I got the recipe from uses half) and I usually put too much Garlic Powder in it (I don't measure it) It is best if made the day before you need it, so the flavor have time to blend, but can be made the day of and still taste as good. If you want the elegant look, Carve out a loaf of bread and put the spinach dip in it. Serve the parts of bread that you dug out as what you are putting the dip on. Otherwise, serve it with Bagel pieces or crackers
Ingredients:
8 oz Cream Cheese
8 oz Sour Cream
1 Pkg chopped Spinach (thawed and drained)
Onion Soup Mix (1/2 to 1 Pkg)
Garlic Powder (to taste)
1 can Water Chestnuts-diced (optional)
Directions:
Mix the Cream Cheese and Sour Cream together until smooth.
Add Onion Soup Mix and Garlic Powder.
Add the Water Chestnuts.
Fold in the Spinach.
Chill & Serve
Number Of Servings: Depends on how hungry you are. I can eat it all myself, so it is one serving ;)
Preparation Time: Varies depending on how cold/frozen your ingredients are.
Merry Christmas!
We had a really, really wonderful Christmas! Didn't finish any jammies or robes, but we still had a really wonderful Christmas!
Friday morning after breakfast and some last minute wrapping, we went to my Dad's house for a while. He loves his pie, so we brought him one, plus a bunch of cookies along with his gift. Nobody loves presents more than my dear old dad! lol!
A few of my siblings left some gifts for my kiddos when they had come in the days before Christmas, so my kids had an absolute frenzy ripping open their presents. The girls got more lip gloss/make-up than I have! (Well, I don't wear it except on Sundays anyway, so I guess that doesn't say a whole lot!) Not only that, but they got some body-glitter. We have had two little sparkle girls ever since. Adam got some Batman Bath gel/etc., and a compass and hat. He thought the gel was shaving cream, so instead of washing his body, he um, well, he got his first shave. Didn't cut himself, but evidently he did it, because he came out of the bathroom convinced that his face has never been smoother. *groan*
When we got back from Dad's house, John had left the kids' stockings out so the kids could open them. We put the gifts the kids each bought each other in there too, so that was fun to watch. We had taken them all to the Dollar Store last week to get each other presents. Liana bought Adam some masking tape. (He loved it TO DEATH! lol!) Liana bought Aleksa an umbrella, (which she herself had wanted). Adam bought the girls some balloons that made whistle noises. (Very annoying and they just might disappear in the night very soon! lol!) Leks bought Adam a wire-cutters. (Ask me how scared I am!) She bought Liana an umbrella! (She broke the one she got for her birthday, so she's been begging for one since).
Anyway, basically, their stockings had nuts-in-the-shell, giant apples, some sugarless gum, toothbrushes, small "Dollar Store" toys, giant lollypops, and candy-canes (Leks doesn't call them "candy cakes" any more!) :O(
I say all this so you understand my awe when the kids were completely content, excited, and Thrilled To The Max with them. They really assumed that was all they were getting, and they were not disappointed. They played happily for the next several hours with the balloons, little toys, etc., and loved, loved, loved that they had free reign with their candy and nuts. It was all just awesome.
That night, we let them have another round of gifts - this time they got sleeping bags, and the original version of "Annie" which we watched Christmas Eve. The version we had before was the newer Disney version. It is much better, and we'll probably shelf the older one. The older one had a more suspensful ending, but as for the rest, well, I had remembered it differently I guess. There was a bunch of yucky stuff in the old one that I don't much like my kids to have to watch. Lots of "show-girls" not wearing enough clothes, and lots of very yucky dancing that I'm not sure why was necessary. *shiver* Why on earth would you put such yuck in a CHILDREN'S movie? Oy! Anyway, the "magic moment" of Daddy Warbucks asking Annie to be his little girl was much, much better in the newer version anyway. Much better for kiddos.
Anyway! Christmas morning after church we came home to a turkey dinner with some friends. Not just "any" friends either, these are really kindred spirit type of friends. It is an older couple who really could be old enough to be our parents, and I have really loved getting to know these sweet folks in this last year. Sue has taught me a gazillion things about cooking and baking, and she is also the one I'm taking my quilting class from. I wanna grow up to be like her! John has also really liked getting to know the Mr too.
So last night we opened up the rest of the presents. Adam got an indoor-outdoor tent which John set up on his bed right away. He also got some 3D planets that glow-in-the-dark and hang from the ceiling. Between his fish, hamster, tent, and planets (and his little radio-thingie that makes white-noise of crickets chirping), he has a regular campground in his bedroom! He L-O-V-E-D going to bed last night! :O)
Liana got an Easy Bake Oven that she has already broken in... This morning after breakfast we *had* to make some cookies. We made some beautiful cut-out cookies with her oven (and mine!), and then frosted them all. The tea party with Leksa's teaset will be later this afternoon! (There aren't *any* excited children over here today! lol!)
I had to share this poem/song that another adoptive family had on their blog. I've never heard it "in real life," but I hope it is as pretty aloud as it is in print. Brought tears to my eyes anyway, and I had to pass it along...
"All I Really Want for Christmas" by Steven Curtis Chapman
Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone
I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time
All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.
Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard it sounds like the greatest gift
on earth
Would be a mom
All I really want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And it's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's all right, 'cause so am I
Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you I'll be at home
'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone who's love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.
For those of you still waiting for your children, hold on! Keep plugging away! They're out there waiting for you! They need you to not lose heart and toss in the towel! They need their Merry Christmas too...
Much love,
Shelly and family
Friday morning after breakfast and some last minute wrapping, we went to my Dad's house for a while. He loves his pie, so we brought him one, plus a bunch of cookies along with his gift. Nobody loves presents more than my dear old dad! lol!
A few of my siblings left some gifts for my kiddos when they had come in the days before Christmas, so my kids had an absolute frenzy ripping open their presents. The girls got more lip gloss/make-up than I have! (Well, I don't wear it except on Sundays anyway, so I guess that doesn't say a whole lot!) Not only that, but they got some body-glitter. We have had two little sparkle girls ever since. Adam got some Batman Bath gel/etc., and a compass and hat. He thought the gel was shaving cream, so instead of washing his body, he um, well, he got his first shave. Didn't cut himself, but evidently he did it, because he came out of the bathroom convinced that his face has never been smoother. *groan*
When we got back from Dad's house, John had left the kids' stockings out so the kids could open them. We put the gifts the kids each bought each other in there too, so that was fun to watch. We had taken them all to the Dollar Store last week to get each other presents. Liana bought Adam some masking tape. (He loved it TO DEATH! lol!) Liana bought Aleksa an umbrella, (which she herself had wanted). Adam bought the girls some balloons that made whistle noises. (Very annoying and they just might disappear in the night very soon! lol!) Leks bought Adam a wire-cutters. (Ask me how scared I am!) She bought Liana an umbrella! (She broke the one she got for her birthday, so she's been begging for one since).
Anyway, basically, their stockings had nuts-in-the-shell, giant apples, some sugarless gum, toothbrushes, small "Dollar Store" toys, giant lollypops, and candy-canes (Leks doesn't call them "candy cakes" any more!) :O(
I say all this so you understand my awe when the kids were completely content, excited, and Thrilled To The Max with them. They really assumed that was all they were getting, and they were not disappointed. They played happily for the next several hours with the balloons, little toys, etc., and loved, loved, loved that they had free reign with their candy and nuts. It was all just awesome.
That night, we let them have another round of gifts - this time they got sleeping bags, and the original version of "Annie" which we watched Christmas Eve. The version we had before was the newer Disney version. It is much better, and we'll probably shelf the older one. The older one had a more suspensful ending, but as for the rest, well, I had remembered it differently I guess. There was a bunch of yucky stuff in the old one that I don't much like my kids to have to watch. Lots of "show-girls" not wearing enough clothes, and lots of very yucky dancing that I'm not sure why was necessary. *shiver* Why on earth would you put such yuck in a CHILDREN'S movie? Oy! Anyway, the "magic moment" of Daddy Warbucks asking Annie to be his little girl was much, much better in the newer version anyway. Much better for kiddos.
Anyway! Christmas morning after church we came home to a turkey dinner with some friends. Not just "any" friends either, these are really kindred spirit type of friends. It is an older couple who really could be old enough to be our parents, and I have really loved getting to know these sweet folks in this last year. Sue has taught me a gazillion things about cooking and baking, and she is also the one I'm taking my quilting class from. I wanna grow up to be like her! John has also really liked getting to know the Mr too.
So last night we opened up the rest of the presents. Adam got an indoor-outdoor tent which John set up on his bed right away. He also got some 3D planets that glow-in-the-dark and hang from the ceiling. Between his fish, hamster, tent, and planets (and his little radio-thingie that makes white-noise of crickets chirping), he has a regular campground in his bedroom! He L-O-V-E-D going to bed last night! :O)
Liana got an Easy Bake Oven that she has already broken in... This morning after breakfast we *had* to make some cookies. We made some beautiful cut-out cookies with her oven (and mine!), and then frosted them all. The tea party with Leksa's teaset will be later this afternoon! (There aren't *any* excited children over here today! lol!)
I had to share this poem/song that another adoptive family had on their blog. I've never heard it "in real life," but I hope it is as pretty aloud as it is in print. Brought tears to my eyes anyway, and I had to pass it along...
"All I Really Want for Christmas" by Steven Curtis Chapman
Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone
I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time
All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.
Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard it sounds like the greatest gift
on earth
Would be a mom
All I really want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And it's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's all right, 'cause so am I
Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you I'll be at home
'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone who's love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.
For those of you still waiting for your children, hold on! Keep plugging away! They're out there waiting for you! They need you to not lose heart and toss in the towel! They need their Merry Christmas too...
Much love,
Shelly and family
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Christmas Exhaustion Sinking in! ;O)
Uff, I'm tired. Today we spent the morning doing my dad's monthly grocery shopping, and then headed back to his house for Cooking Day. That's what we call it when we spend the morning/afternoon cooking up his meals for the next month - six weeks. He has oodles of Ziploc sturdy plastic plates with covers that we bought a few years ago on clearance (Ziploc, when are you going to start making those again!?) Anyway, we fill up those plates with meals for his freezer. We made 64 meals today. That's enough for 8 weeks this time. I'm pooped. (That's NOT 64 *different* meals, that's 64 PLATES/bowls of meals, btw.) We made meals with goulash, chicken, fish, ring bologna, baked potatoes, corn bread, muffins, veggies, beans, and then we made a big pot of chili and froze a bunch of individual rubbermaid containers full.
Then I came home and scrounged up some last-minute recipes for our Christmas dinner... I've procrastinated on that way too long, and I'm starting to panic! Saturday we'll be going to my dad's house. We're having a couple from our church over on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to our weekend!
Then I came home and scrounged up some last-minute recipes for our Christmas dinner... I've procrastinated on that way too long, and I'm starting to panic! Saturday we'll be going to my dad's house. We're having a couple from our church over on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to our weekend!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Busy Day!
Yesterday was sure a packed day! In the morning, the kiddos and I went to Grandpa's house. We hadn't been there in a week (we *always* go at least once a week), so it was High Time. We've been having such cold and snow that I've not wanted to poke my nose out the door much except to finish up Christmas shopping.
Then, when we came home, my sil brought her 3yo and 9mo over for me to babysit for the rest of the day. So, from 11-5, I had five munchkins running around over here. Strangely, I actually got a lot done! I managed to get my laundry done, vacuuming done, 1 bathroom cleaned, plus an almost all-day project with the kiddos of making salt-dough ornaments. My sil's 3yo begs to do play-do every time he's here, so I thought it would be a good idea to do something like that. He had a good ole time, and so did my crew. Especially when I broke out the paints. The 3yo thought it would be fun to paint the table surface as well as his ornaments lol! Good thing I have a clear plastic vinyl over the top of my table. The kids can do anything they want to the table, (except cut into it!) (Which they've done! lol), and it won't hurt anything. I have lots of notes, maps, alphabet/handwriting charts, etc under the vinyl. We have limited wall-space, so the table has become a "wall" of sorts.
Anyway, I also made homemade soup last night on top of all the chaos. I have no idea how any of the above happened! Lol! The 9mo is pretty um, tempermental at times, so when she's tired or irritated, Everyone knows about it. Thankfully she didn't scream the entire time she was here like she did last time! lol! We all had lots of fun. Our kiddos love it when their cousins come to play. I just have to realllllly watch that my girls don't get too much into "Mama" mode. They both are pretty bossy with anyone smaller than them. (And if I'm only talking about Liana, she'll get bossy with anyone, Period!)
By the way, I couldn't stand the mess of my tree anymore, and the other night after everyone went to bed, I took everything off the tree, put about 2/3 of them away, and then redecorated. I had been literally picking up ornaments off the floor all day long and putting them back on. It was just nuts. TOO MUCH JUNK on the tree! (I hate clutter!) (You'd never know that if you saw my computer desk, however!) I really hoped nobody would wake up and see me do it, but nobody did. (I would have felt like the Grinch!) But, the funny part, is that even three days later, NOBODY has noticed! John knew I did it, of course, and he says it is now a beautiful tree, but none of the kids even blinked twice at it... They're too busy keeping a watchful eye on how many candy canes are left! That's what they're worried about! lol!
That's the news here. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas week!
Then, when we came home, my sil brought her 3yo and 9mo over for me to babysit for the rest of the day. So, from 11-5, I had five munchkins running around over here. Strangely, I actually got a lot done! I managed to get my laundry done, vacuuming done, 1 bathroom cleaned, plus an almost all-day project with the kiddos of making salt-dough ornaments. My sil's 3yo begs to do play-do every time he's here, so I thought it would be a good idea to do something like that. He had a good ole time, and so did my crew. Especially when I broke out the paints. The 3yo thought it would be fun to paint the table surface as well as his ornaments lol! Good thing I have a clear plastic vinyl over the top of my table. The kids can do anything they want to the table, (except cut into it!) (Which they've done! lol), and it won't hurt anything. I have lots of notes, maps, alphabet/handwriting charts, etc under the vinyl. We have limited wall-space, so the table has become a "wall" of sorts.
Anyway, I also made homemade soup last night on top of all the chaos. I have no idea how any of the above happened! Lol! The 9mo is pretty um, tempermental at times, so when she's tired or irritated, Everyone knows about it. Thankfully she didn't scream the entire time she was here like she did last time! lol! We all had lots of fun. Our kiddos love it when their cousins come to play. I just have to realllllly watch that my girls don't get too much into "Mama" mode. They both are pretty bossy with anyone smaller than them. (And if I'm only talking about Liana, she'll get bossy with anyone, Period!)
By the way, I couldn't stand the mess of my tree anymore, and the other night after everyone went to bed, I took everything off the tree, put about 2/3 of them away, and then redecorated. I had been literally picking up ornaments off the floor all day long and putting them back on. It was just nuts. TOO MUCH JUNK on the tree! (I hate clutter!) (You'd never know that if you saw my computer desk, however!) I really hoped nobody would wake up and see me do it, but nobody did. (I would have felt like the Grinch!) But, the funny part, is that even three days later, NOBODY has noticed! John knew I did it, of course, and he says it is now a beautiful tree, but none of the kids even blinked twice at it... They're too busy keeping a watchful eye on how many candy canes are left! That's what they're worried about! lol!
That's the news here. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas week!
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Christmas Jammies?
Starting to panic here... I was hoping to make the kids bathrobes and jammies before Christmas... Somehow, I managed to finish Adam's robe, but for the rest, I've been having a horrible time. I have broken needles, jammed thread, and basically, my machine has been on strike gagging and hacking every time I sit down to sew. I'm about to waive the white flag. *sigh* Anyone have tips for sewing on fleece?
Thursday, December 15, 2005
More Annie Moments
Had another "Annie" moment around here last night. At the dinner table, 'Leksa was singing some of her favorite "Annie" songs... She only knew a few lines of a few songs, but they were so sweet, I actually burst into tears right there in the middle of my supper. She started singing, "Maybe they'll be calling me Ba-by, maybe!" and "Yesterday was plain awful, but that's not now, that's then!" (She didn't get all the words right, but she got it really close with the right tunes, and it just plain melted my heart.) Then, after supper, the girls both had to serenade me. They started spouting off all the words to the "Yesterday was plain awful" song, and even did some of the same choreography as the movie. (Complete with pinkie handshakes, etc.)
It was late by the time we cleaned up after supper, but John and I HAD to let them pop the movie in again. It was a snow day here - everything closed, (Except the Fisher Schoolhouse, right Sharon?) *tee hee* Lots of white stuff falling down. It was a perfect night for snuggling anyway. This time when the watched it though, they knew enough of the words to sing along a bit... Did I ever tell you how much fun it is to be a mama?
It was late by the time we cleaned up after supper, but John and I HAD to let them pop the movie in again. It was a snow day here - everything closed, (Except the Fisher Schoolhouse, right Sharon?) *tee hee* Lots of white stuff falling down. It was a perfect night for snuggling anyway. This time when the watched it though, they knew enough of the words to sing along a bit... Did I ever tell you how much fun it is to be a mama?
Monday, December 12, 2005
We Love You Miss Hannigan!
This morning the kids were rather quiet before they all "officially woke up" (that is to say, before they all started stirring, saying good morning, etc.)
I decided it was best to go investigate... I found all three kidlets piled in Adam's bed with stacks of books reading. It was really sweet. For fun, I poked my nose around the corner and said something like, "Fun? We're having FUN at our house? We can't have fun and get along at our house! What are you doing?!"
Without missing a beat, Liana wrinkled her nose and shouted, "We love you Miss Hannigan!"
(If you haven't seen "Annie" for a while, you'll miss the humor, but trust me, it was pretty funny!)
I decided it was best to go investigate... I found all three kidlets piled in Adam's bed with stacks of books reading. It was really sweet. For fun, I poked my nose around the corner and said something like, "Fun? We're having FUN at our house? We can't have fun and get along at our house! What are you doing?!"
Without missing a beat, Liana wrinkled her nose and shouted, "We love you Miss Hannigan!"
(If you haven't seen "Annie" for a while, you'll miss the humor, but trust me, it was pretty funny!)
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Tree UP!
Beautiful Decorations? :O)
We put the tree up today!!!!!! :O)
What F-U-N! The "Guys' Job" was to put the lights on the tree, but John decided after only five strings of lights that it had enough, and that I needed to do the rest myself if I wanted more. *pffft* So, I took over the rest. A good tree needs a gazillion lights! My mother would have been ashamed of me if I only had five strings of lights on my tree! lol!
I also put the garland on, but after that, the kids had free reign on add the ornaments. I handed the ornaments to the kids so they didn't completly have a frenzy, but they did great. Well, they "did great" and then they put about 100 more ornaments on it. So, the front of the tree is loaded, the back is bare, the sides are somewhere in between. The floor, I'm sure, will be strewn with ornaments in the morning after the slide off during the night. *grin* In other words, it is the Worlds Most Beautiful Tree! :O)
John made the hot chocolate, we had lots of cookies to snack on, and we piped Christmas music in from the boombox in the kitchen. It was a perfect day.
My mom would have been so proud. She was a Christmas tree nut. This was the first year that Mom's ornaments have been divided up among the seven of us kids (I'm the youngest of 7). My sister and I wrapped the ornaments up so they were undiscernable, and then later Dad and I put them in seven bags not knowing who got what. Dad then chose my bag for me.
I got just the right ones. Ones that weren't terribly "fancy" (I only got one Hallmark one, for instance), but I did get some of the down-homesy ones that *always* had to be on the tree. On a whim, my sister and I had wrapped a few of the plastic bulb-covers... plastic apples that go over the lights, and white doves... I was almost disappointed when I unwrapped one of each knowing how many "nice" ornaments Mom had in her stash, but once I got them on the tree, and they lit up so brightly, I knew they were just the perfect ones for me. I can't remember a year they weren't on Mom's tree, and seeing them shine really makes me smile remembering how much Mom loved them. I also got a few that I myself had given her. One was a goofy one that I bought her for the '84 Olympics. (The only Hallmark one that made it into my sack.) It was the year Mary Lou Retton got her "10" on the vault. I was so impressed as a 12-yr-old wanna-be gymnast, that for Mom's present that year, I got her a *really homely* ornament commemorating it. (And if you knew my mom, you'd know that the Olympics meant Not a Thing to her. The rest of my siblings probably would have raised their eyebrows and wondered what ever possessed her to buy it.)
All the way around, this year putting the tree up has been more special than last. Last year everyone was still settling in, learning English, getting into the groove, figuring out everyone's personalities, and really, still learning to love each other.
This year, they are comfortable to us, and we to them. It was just a lot less stressful, and more relaxing. We could just be "us" without being on high alert that one of them was going to go wild and start yanking things off the tree to toss around the room. I didn't have to watch who was doing what where. Not really sure how to explain it any better. This year, I could look around the room, sigh contentedly, and say, "Ah, what great kids. Aren't they doing a terrific job with the tree?" - and not worry so much that anyone would be pitching a fit, telling me "No!" or whatever. Our relationships have just matured, deepened, and we've just all become a part of eachother. Kinda like when you make soup... If you throw all the ingredients together, the flavor doesn't really blend until you let it simmer for a few hours. It still might be good soup if you eat it right away, but it just isn't the same. I expect that next year looking back, I'll say the the same thing about this year. Families just get sweeter as the years go by, right? :O)
Friday, December 09, 2005
"Annie"
The other night we watched "Annie" for a family night activity. The kids L-O-V-E-D it! You should have heard the erruption of applause and cheering when Daddy Warbucks told Annie he loved her and wanted to adopt her. "Yay! Annie is getting adopted!" "Someone loves her!" "She'll have a forever family!" John and I grinned at each other over their happiness and excitement.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
It took 15 1/2 months but...
Last night John and I realized that we actually only used ONE family-sized (24-pack) of toilet paper last month. This is a first! We've *always* gone through about one and a half of those big packs...
THE KIDS ARE FINALLY USING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TP!!! YAYYYY!!!!!!
For those of you yet to get your kids, JUST YOU WAIT! lol! It will astound you that either:
a.) they won't use tp at all, or
b.) they practically use a whole roll with every potty break and constantly clog the toilet.
(And besides that, the first month home, you'll find the *used* tp in the wastepaper basket instead of flushed down the toilet!)
THE KIDS ARE FINALLY USING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TP!!! YAYYYY!!!!!!
For those of you yet to get your kids, JUST YOU WAIT! lol! It will astound you that either:
a.) they won't use tp at all, or
b.) they practically use a whole roll with every potty break and constantly clog the toilet.
(And besides that, the first month home, you'll find the *used* tp in the wastepaper basket instead of flushed down the toilet!)
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