The other President G

The other President G

Today W finally got my final Christmas gift assembled, a new, nice, rolls on wheels, swivel, reclining, computer chair! I got to sit in it for all of 5 seconds in front of the computer until the W demanded his computer time..... huh, I wonder if he had other motives in getting this chair.

When G came up from the current Star War battle, he promptly went over had a seat, swiveled a bit then turned his back to me and slowly turned it back around to say, "Hello, Mame and what would your problem be?"

A bit taken back, I replied, "I was doing fine, but I don;t recognize you. Who are you?"

G ~ "....why I'm the President of the United States and I would like to take care of your problems."
Then busted up into laughter and twirls around in the chair!

CREATE ~

Last October there was a talk given in General Conference about how we should CREATE and what a joy in our lives we can achieve if we "create" So I have chosen CREATE as my word for 2009.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before."

"If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it."

"You are choice daughters of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you. We love and admire you." Dieter F Uchtdorf

The big Green proverbial Elephant in the room

Yesterday was a get down and get things down day.

Balance the check book ~ done
Move $ around ~ moved to today
make a couple of doctor's appointments ~ one done one to go
Laundry ~ almost done
packets ~ some done, some more today
supper ~ done
Call Social Security ~ done
check on Granny's strawberries ~ done
Pay the bills ~ done
Clean up after Christmas ~ Almost done. It was impossible with all the Nerf bullets and a zillions and zillions of Star War figures, I made a deal with G. He could move it all to the hall way (behind the couch), if I didn't have to step over it or see it then it was good. Still with those moved things just seemed cluttered..... I finally got it.... the big green elephant in the room had to go! The Christmas tree MUST come down!

When I told W that he needed to be around when I started (you know for the tall stuff) he gave me a shocked look and stated "Mom, Christmas isn't over yet!" with no feeling at all.... I stated that "it was and the tree had to come down before I left again!"

I got this concerned look again from W when I came in carrying the Christmas gnome. He'll thank me in April when we don't still have the Christmas tree up!

Gotta run... I just remembered there are Christmas lights around a tree outside..... they must GO!

UPDATE ~ the green elephant is now laying in parts in the floor (I don't which is worst the laying all over or the not started yet) waiting for W to decide that I'm right and he needs to carry it up the stairs! The outside is successfully de-Christmas-ed

Logic will get you from A to B
Imagination will take you anywhere.
Albert Einstein

We Wii~ed

My brother and sister in law from THE west played the

"I'm the greatest uncle and aunt" card this year.

They gave our family a Wii!

thus We Wii~ed

The boys Wii~ed

Grandpa Wii~ed

We even taught Mimi to Wii....

Sometimes still pictures just don't capture the Wii moment ......

Did you happen to catch the different boxing styles?

Pictures of Christmas 2008

This Christmas we patiently waited for the rest of the family.....

(no those aren't all his, those BIG ones are mine, gotta love my boys!)

We ripped into presents......

We tried on our new things......

(hubby)

we read and gave directions.....

(my dad and brother)

We untied a bazillion of those little wires holding toys in......

We had a great Christmas 2008

funny from Christmas morning.......

G evidently had sometime on his hands early Christmas morning, before he was allowed to get everyone else up. In that time it would seem that he had gone through every one's stockings.

When I made in beside the tree he informed me that Santa had accidentally put on of my gifts in his stockings *?* and that Santa had also gotten messed up with one of dad's gifts.....it had surely been meant for me! *?* When I questioned him about the which gift in dad's stocking did he think was meant for me, he said, "it's one of those things that goes between your toes when I get them painted."

Knowing what he was talking about I tried not to laugh I thought I'd just wait this out.......

hubby's stocking was filled with these..... "Gecko Toes" They are to hang on a wall (or tree) so you can put your cords, air hoses, or garden hoses on them!

JUST CAN THIS BE? How big does he think my toes are?

Christmas 2008

"I had just settled down for a long winter's nap" ~ at 12:30 am ~

Round 1~ There was a little boy (G), tugging on my arm,
"Mom, I can't sleep, I'm WAY to excited."
with my eyes darting to the clock ~ surely it wasn't 6:30 (the time we all agreed would be a good time to get up) already ~ I felt like I'd just gone to bed.... it was 4:30am
"G, you have to go back to sleep"

He crawls in bed with me and does finally fall asleep ~ not that I would know because I was asleep before the climbing over me was done.

Round 2 ~ 5:30am

"Mom, I'm way too excited to sleep anymore. I'm going into my bed and going to read books."
"NO, just go back to sleep."
he was off and back to his bed.

round 3 ~ 6:29am
"Mom, it's time, I'm going to get W up!"

so we were all up....with one extreme excited boy, and 3 others that were trying to open their eyes and gain excitement.

We all opened our gifts, had fun, assembled, and played.

We had our traditional Christmas breakfast ~ cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole.

Then we settled into our new 'toys' (W ~ an xbox 360, G ~ his AT-TE star wars and bajillion figurines, hubby ~ into his hot wheels, his sport book, and his new clothes, and me ~ into my new electronic keyboard).

I then slipped away to finish my long winter's nap and by some miracle all the boys went down stairs to play so the upstairs was quiet!

Around 5pm we sat down to our traditional Christmas dinner of Ham, layered salad, rolls, twice baked potatoes, and green beans.

It's also our tradition to stay in our PJ's all day ~ G gave up on his footie pjs after a couple of hours for his regular pjs. Saying that the footie were too slippery!

I have tons of pictures but right now, that just seems like too much effort on my part!

....and laid Him in a Manger.....

Christmas Eve 2008

We've had a nice relaxing Christmas eve. We woke up to a small amount of snow (maybe an inch) and the blowing wind. We traveled to hubby's brother's home. Hubby's mom was there for the holidays.

W giving Granny a goodbye hug!

I just love this picture

don't pay attention to the date... I don't know what's happening there, but it was 12/24/08 trust me!

Then G, hubby and I headed to Bass Pro Shop for a bit of gun shooting!

Well, at their pretend shooting range. We all did quite well, if I say so myself!

I've made all the things I need to make for dinner tomorrow, so I'm set up now.

I always struggle with Christmas eve supper. I want something special but due to time it just doesn't ever seem to work out. This year was no different. I seemed to work (for this year at least) we had Shrimp, G's favorite cocktail meat balls, little pigs in a blanket, and tamales (a lady at hubby's work makes them) along with every ones favorite jumbo Black Olives.

G has begged to open a present every hour today! He always get to open Christmas PJs and he's so excited for them this year. He got to pick them out. They are Christmas footie pajamas. When he saw them in the store he just laughed, I suppose he'd never seen them before. He's never had these because of this LONG legs. I"m just hoping that they fit....he's so excited to get to wear them!

I'll post a picture in the morning.

I have to tell you that I was shocked and amused..... he didn't know how to put them on. I heard the struggle but when I looked.... he had put them on backwards... the zipper in the back. I have failed in my attempt to mother this boy with the footie PJs. I quickly taught the lesson and now he is joyfully hopping around the house in his footie PJs!

The letter to Santa is written,

Dear Santa, First of all we all hope that you like the Oreos. We have been good this year. We hope you have a great Christmas. We didn't have time to put reindeer food in the yard, so tell the reindeer I said sorry and next year we well get some. Please write back, Sincerely, and he signed of our names.

the cookies (Oreos, G's favorite) are setting out and I"m ready for bed! I'm not sure anyone else is but I'm pooped!

A glimpse of Christmas in our home

Bloomin' Monday

These little blooms are a surprise.

A friend gave me the box with the amaryllis in it a couple of weeks ago. The plant was this tall (maybe 8") when I opened the box. It continued to bud but didn't get any taller, the buds just kept coming. At this point it has 8 blooms on it (plus the one that G knocked off for a total of 9). I've had amaryllis bulbs before but never one this small and full of blooms!

Brazilian Christmas

Grab your motion sickness pills for the beginning ~ I couldn't get in the right position!

But it stops rocking.... hopefully soon enough.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Today is my MOM's birthday!

Happy Birthday

we have G with pencil and paper figuring out just how old you are!

thinking back.....

As I was getting showered, and dressed this morning for the 5th day in a row I thought back to the last time that I'd "worked" for 5 days straight. That was almost 18 years ago.

Somewhere around the mid April 1991 I worked my last day of regular work. I quit work about a week and half before W was born. Then I became a Stay at home MOM for the last 17 plus years! Even though I've been subbing for 3 years, NEVER a week straight. I believe the most before this week was 3 days in a row.

This week has been a challenge in organization mostly, and a what to wear 5 days in a row, (when you change schools you can repeat clothes easily) and then add unpredictable weather to the morning drive a few mornings. It's been fun but I'm glad it's over.

The Holly and the Ivy

*Make sure you turn off the music at the bottom!**

W's director would like them all to move, they sound better when they are loosened up and moving. It also makes it appear that they are enjoying themselves. There are more movers but they were gone that night!

From my little Cub......

This month G and the other cubs made this little ornament.

They sawed, they painted, they glued, and they cut.

G did a great job!

Adventures in Subbing #11

Subbing this week has been bitter sweet.

I really couldn't image that I'd be teaching this week, with all teachers have to do the week before the end of the quarter.

I received a call early Monday morning asking if I could clear my schedule and teach a Kindergarten class all week.

Sadly and tragically their teacher's husband was killed last weekend in a car wreck.

The principal had called all their parents before Monday morning so I didn't have any questions, just little sweet girls telling me that they knew why I was there and not Mrs A.

I can now see why people teach. When you're only in a classroom for a day or two, it's ciaos and sometimes a bumpy ride (I could write a book about the "Misadventures in Subbing"!)~ but a week in kindergarten~ it's fun.

AND NOT just any week but the week before Christmas no less!

This post is also to tell you that ~

If you're expecting a Christmas gift from me I haven't gotten it yet!

If you're expecting a Christmas card from me I haven't mailed it yet!

BUT I have next week, RIGHT?

that is IF I don't get the cold, or strep, or any other ailment

going around in this little fun kindergarten class!

Let it Snow

This morning we woke up to a few inches of nice fluffy snow!

But we braved the drive to school then we scrape windows after school!

Go Tell it on the Mountain

*Don't forget to turn the music off at the bottom*

Here is one of W's Christmas performances!

This is his favorite song that they do.

It's amazing that no one has challenged this little HS's song choices.

Yep, he's the "mover"!

They were missing several (14 out of 29) but they still sound good.

Enjoy!

3rd annual Cookie Exchange

This morning was the

3rd Annual

Stephanie & Shelly

Cookie Exchange

We had 10 ladies join us

each bringing 5 dozen of the same cookies.

We eat, we chat, we play games, we laugh,

and all leave with a variety of 5 dozen cookies!

Some people share their cookies with their neighbors,

some have them at family gatherings, and

some just enjoy the different cookies with their family.

This year I took.....

Lemon Stars

1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp lemon extract

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp grated lemon peel

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt
In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg and extract.

Stir in sour cream and lemon peel.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt.

Gradually add to cream mixture and mix well.

Divide dough into 3 balls, cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle.

Remove one portion of dough from frig at a time.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness;

cut with a floured 2 in star cookie cutter.

Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove and cool.

Frosting ~

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

6 Tbsp butter

3/4 lemon extract

3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

3 to 4 Tbsp Milk

In a bowl combine powdered sugar, butter, extract, food coloring and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency.

Yields 9 dozen.

Freezer Burnt part 2

I'm still cooking out of the freezer (98 % of the time) but it has it hazards!

On Monday we had Spaghetti (the sauce was in the freezer).

On Snowy Tuesday I got out some Chili (2 small containers) from the freezer. I put them in the pan and popped the lid on and didn't look again all day (the burner wasn't on, they were just thawing). When I finally did get ready to turn the burner on, I opened the lid and ........ Spaghetti sauce. It was late and I went to the freezer and had to quickly thaw our some boneless chicken breast. Needless to say our supper on Tuesday was more like a Midnight dinner.

On Wednesday I tried the chili again.....spaghetti sauce again. I checked right away! Who know I had SO much Spaghetti sauce. I quickly changed the menu to grilled Steak.

Tonight (Thursday) I went to the grocery store on the way home from school ~ smoked ham and Mac and Cheese!

Meet Baby Roy

W became a father of Baby Roy (yes he named him) today after school and is in charge of him until 7:30am tomorrow morning. W has a monitor bracelet on that prevents him from passing Baby Roy off to anyone else (ME!). He said that he could have gotten me a bracelet to wear for a 2 hour time period (something tells me that before dawn, he's going to wish he had gotten the extra bracelet).

Baby Roy cries when he needs to be feed, changed, picked up, or burped. You have to be careful not to "break" Baby Roy's neck (of which I've already done once)!

W isn't having fun and is a bit stressed just at the fact that Baby Roy could start crying at any minute! Fortunately, Baby Roy isn't noise sensitive.

When I got home from cub scouts ~ hubby reported (without being asked) that "things hadn't gone well while I was gone!" Which I thought was funny since I couldn't make anything any better even if I'd been here!

I should have known this was going to be stressful for W when I read/signed the permission paper. There was a whole side of instructions and warning about sleep deprivation. How to not let MY child drive if they've not gotten enough sleep, and how they are not to drive while taking care of the baby, etc.

Christmas Card shots

`

OK, Bing it's time to sing!

Where is Bing Cosby when you need him?
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...."
G and I have been working on getting the house ready for Christmas! We have the tree up, with most of the lights (my job) on it, G has put the candy on a gingerbread house. We have a tiny bit of lights on a our Grandpa Roy tree outside.
"....Every where we go"

Biggest Fans or Little Monsters?

I've created my Biggest Fans or Little Monsters. How quickly it can change!

The pets have been enjoying turkey leftovers (skin, drippings, bones) over the past week and loving it. I WAS the most popular person in their eyes (or their bellies).

But now it's been over for a couple of days and they were still eager to see me, but the winds of change are blowing. They, actually it's the cats seem to be glaring at me now!

Skipper is still being very attentive but still the ever loyal pet.

On the move

These little teeth are on the move, well actually these little jaws are on the move. No, not just from talking ~ G has a mouth full of appliances all in an effort to widen his little mouth. He had the lower "lip bumper" put in last week, and then the top separator put in yesterday. He's quite sore today and VERY dippy (it causes him to produce extra saliva) We have the Tylenol on hand very 4 hours and the slurps constantly. Both will subside in a couple of days. If all goes as planned then he'll be appliance free when he heads back to school in the fall!

I have to say that I really dreaded this, he is a dramatic child. I thought this was going to be a full blown 3 act play of drama, but it's not he's done really well, and hasn't complained.

Freezer burnt?

We are eating out of the freezer this week. I've been trying to this for the past few weeks but only half heartily. This time I'm serious! Not only I'm I cleaning out the freezer but the pantry as well. I'm a girl on a mission.......

Last Night we had Shake 'n Bake Chicken leg quarters, baked potatoes, and these most wonderful rolls that I've found. Sister Schubert's dinner Yeast rolls. They are frozen but ready in 5 to 10 minutes.

.

There are 10 nice sized rolls in this package. There are a couple of different kinds of yeast rolls to pick from and they'll all good. I cooked them all thinking that I would make turkey sandwiches out a couple for hubby's lunch today.

That didn't work out since W LOVES them.

I also made a cinnamon coffee cake from the pantry.

freezer - 3

pantry -2

Tonight we had half of the lasagna that my mom had brought up during soccer season!

freezer -1

pantry -0

I'll have to work on that!

Tomorrow, I have to sub so I've already made beef and veggie alphabet soup.

freezer -1

pantry -2

New Recipes to share ~

My sister in law, Marcia is a great cook
and I got some new recipes last night.

This first recipe reminds me of my grandma Hazel's freezer slaw, sort of! This recipe makes tons (so have a crowd) but it keeps in the frig for a couple of weeks AND it's super simple.



Sweet and Sour Bean Salad ~
1 can Green beans, Drained and Rinsed
1 can Yellow beans, drained and rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 large green pepper, sliced
1 4oz jar Pimentos
1 Large red onion, sliced
1/2 cup salad oil
2 cups celery, chopped
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 can tomato soup, undiluted

Drain all the veggies, place in a bowl, and add the oil and celery
In a saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and tomato soup.
Bring to a boil and pour over veggies.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.


OK the reality of the recipe~Marcia doesn't put in the oil and substitutes the celery for water chestnuts for crunch!
I was surprised to find out there was tomato soup in this! Can just barely see it and certainly can't taste it!



Orange Jello ~

My family loves Mandarin oranges, really just out of the can but they thought this was a good thing!



1 Large Box of Orange Jello
2 cups boiling water
2 cups orange sherbet
1 can Mandarin oranges

Boil water
Mix Jello until dissolved
Stir in Sherbet
Add oranges

Family gathering

Last night we went to hubby's brother's home for a family gathering. Along with our family, Granny (hubby's mother), hubby's brother, C, all of C's children and grand children, hubby's brother D and his family were all there!

We just ate, sat around and talked, ate some more and talked some more.

C's family told stories of how he had recently had surgery to repair some hearing lost (well, there had been A LOT of hearing lost over the past 30 years). His hearing is now back to about 75%.

He's telling his wife about everything that makes noise, such as "did you know it makes noise when you pour coffee into a cup?"
"Hey the water that comes out of the refrigerator makes noise!"

His son told that one day C was home and was searching and searching for this noise and finally discovered that it was dishwasher was running. His daughter told how he got upset at the restaurant because the bus was making SO much noise clearing the table across the room, C thought for sure that the busboy was doing it on purpose. This doesn't sound like C now does it! (for those of you who don't know, it sounds just like C). C even went so far to call a machine repairman for one of the machines at work because it was making a odd sound! it's was cooling water in the machine!

D's youngest is getting ready to learn to drive but is refusing to allow her parent to do the teaching. They have a friend that's willing to do it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What was on our table....

Turkey, stuffing (I finally have someone else in the family to like it),mashed potatoes (lots and lots), gravy, corn, relish tray, layered salad, rolls (tried a new kind this year, they were great), cranberry jelly (just like Grandma Rice used to make complete with the can rings and all ~ this is W's favorite), 5 cup salad, pecan pie (last year was the first time in a while that I'd made Pecan Pie, and W loved it ~ asking "where has this pie been all these years") & Pumpkin pie!

Knee deep in Senior pictures

The dead line to submit Senior pictures is just around the corner and I'm sifting through pictures trying to decide which goes where and what I'll submit for there. There are actually 3 submissions, yearbook, newspaper, and Senior Advertistment. It's really nothing just getting it done. I'm so pleased with W's pictures and thought you'd enjoy seeing the photographer's blog on senior pictures. Maybe you'll recognize a face or two! There are few of W's friends there also.

I'm so excited to share with all of you the Grad party invitations that she has made for us.... but you'll have to wait until closer to time!

funny

Things you don't want to hear from your Thanksgiving guest.
from Shoebox by Dan

* “We’re lactose-intolerant vegetarians!”
* “Hope nobody minds…we brought the cats.”*
*“It’s never too early for carols. Let’s sing!”*
*“Billy’s fine. He hasn’t thrown up in hours.”
* “If Uncle Mike loses his football bets, everyone better get out.”
* “Here’s a poem I wrote about thankfulness.”
* “Those aren’t yams.”
* “I’ve got an eight-hour video of us at LAST year’s Thanksgiving! Somebody make popcorn!!”

Say What?

Due to a valuable coupon, and a membership to Costco, I asked W if I could go a head and get a certain gift (from my boys to me). It was decided that I could go ahead and get the gift.
When I got the gift home I put it in W's room and put a blanket over it.

When W got home the conversation went like this....

Me ~ I got the gift and it's in your room.

W ~ Ok

Me ~ you'll need to tell G about it so he'll be included in the excitement.

W ~ I can't tell G! He'll just tell you what it is.

Say What?

Too much Time on my hands? Do ya think?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Random Pictures and thoughts

A couple of weekends ago was Diorama Saturday!

G picked a night Desert Setting!

He had to do an oral presentation when he turned it in.

I don't think he had any problem with that!

He did a great job.

We're still waiting for the grade.

We got the grade! A 50 out of 50

**PS ~ that's a tumble weed not a nest in the corner!

Our little town has some new art work!

This is just one of three exhibits you can find.

I have no comment on the artist!

Hubby threw all animals out of 'his' garage along with their bedding.

Well, Skipper is adapting well!

**when hubby goes out to the garage, skipper won't look at him!**

Things I've learned in the past few days......

*Tetanus shots are given at the Walgreen's Take Care clinic

*W gave blood for the first time.

*I can stay home an entire Saturday.

*Our temple will be completed in 3 years.

*Our ER gets busy every Saturday at 5.
(didn't go but called and that's what they told me)

* The kitties leave nose prints on the windows.

*they recommend that people at the age of 60 get a DPT shot (whooping cough is still out there)

*something I was reminded of .... When I give blood they always tell me when we were all babies 98% of us were expose to this virus (I can't remember the letters now), OR maybe I should say all of you were exposed, I, for some reason wasn't exposed. I am part of the 2% that doesn't walk around with this virus. Thus this virus isn't in my blood, and my blood goes straight to the children's hospital to be given to babies! This fact is always my motivator for giving blood, there are babies that need my blood.

*When I give blood now, I do the ALYX machine. It takes whole blood from my body, separates it into red blood cells and plasma, takes 2 pints of red blood cells but puts the plasma back into my body. It takes 2x as long but it's worth it. REMEMBER the babies!

Adventures in Subbing #9 & #10

#9 ~

I've subbed this week in a kindergarten class. It's always fun to be in kindergarten, they are for the most part eager to please. My name is always a challenge for them, since they are in kindergarten, it's really useless to write it on the board, this is true sometimes in 1st grade also. So I introduce myself and then they either ask and ask, "what's your name?" or usually my name gets shorten to "Mrs Ham". Once one students calls me that, then they all do! So I've been Mrs Ham most of this week.

#10 ~
While I was in this kindergarten class, there was this noise from the hall way. The kids from the High school were coming for the recycling. There were a 3 little girls from my class that started in whispers "ooo, listen the high schoolers are here", then the excitement flowed through the class, "the high schoolers are here", " the high schoolers are here!" I just stood there amazed at their excitement at this noise. I even had one little boy say, 'you know my dad is a highschooler!" At that I went out into the hall, called THE HIGH SCHOOLERS into the classroom, and introduced them. This little kindergarten class was SO excited to have seen the high schooler. When 'high schoolers' left, one of the little girls that had started the whispers told me, "that was SO exciting seeing the Highschoolers."

Wordless Wednesday!

Honoring Veteran's Day

G took his 2nd Cousin Greg's picture

to honor the US Military on Veteran's day.

FYI ~ did you know that Veteran's day WAS Armistice Day?

It celebrated that day that WWI ended.

What to eat Monday

This recipe comes out of two of the most annoying things I can think of, Rachel Ray and Jessica Simpson. I can sometimes tolerate Rachel Ray but with Jessica Simpson cooking in the kitchen it was a bad morning. EXCEPT Jessica Simpson cooked this recipe and it has become one of my family's favorite.

Chicken and Dumplings
3 rolls of croissant rolls, divided
1 small rotisserie chicken, de-boned and skin removed
(can also use 2 large cans of canned chicken)
1 can cream of chicken (can use reduced fat)
1 can cream of mushroom (can use reduced fat)
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
roll out the cans of rolls & separate into the triangles
Place a heaping spoonful of chicken into center of each roll.
fold over dough and press ends together to create a dumpling.
cut remaining dough into strips.

line 9x13 pan with one layer of dumplings.
In a medium size mixing bowl mix together soups and broth.
pour over top of dumplings.

Place strips in a crisscross pattern on top of dumplings and soup mixture.
Season with salt and pepper. bake until dumplings are tender and cooked through.
soup mixture should be bubbly and brown. About 30 minutes.

**hint ** after about 15 minutes the dough on top will be brown enough so you should place a piece of foil lightly over the top.

Need a good laugh?

Try Year Book Yourself ~ Watch out if I have a picture of you!

Random Things Random Pictures

I love this cd! It's traditional country.

Joey and Rory were on

"Can You Duet" show earlier this year.

They didn't win but they were good.

Maybe you've heard they song on the radio "Cheater Cheater"?

The whole cd is good.

You can enjoy it at Joey and Rory's music page

G got this stick (aka a yard stick) when he went trick 'r treating.

the note says.....

"A Gift for you.....

This is a yardstick. I know it's a yardstick, because I found it in my yard.

You can do many things with your new yardstick.

You can use it to measure rain or snow or even the gas in your lawn mower.

You can use to to scratch your back or play fetch with the dog.

You can do things with your yardstick that can't be put on paper.

Use your yardstick any way you want.

Just don't put it back in my yard."

G thinks this 'yardstick' is the greatest thing!
(FYI ~ the 'yardstick' is about 14 inches)

G and his buddies on Halloween

G cleaning out pumpkins

Are there warnings on popcorn?

Thursday night......


I'm sure there are warnings on microwave popcorn, but I don't think they include anything that could result in a scratched cornea.

G was struggling to opening his unpopped popcorn, when the plastic wrap suddenly gave way. The plastic wrap somehow scratched his cornea!

Just How Can this Be?

I don't know but it landed us in Urgent Care for a few hours. The scratch is large enough to be seen without the dye, but it should heal with 24-48 hours.

We have some lovely ointment to put in it 4 times a day. When G and I were waiting for the Rx I told him that I'd get him an eye patch tomorrow, this excited him! but then he figured out that tomorrow was Friday and everything will ALL over before Monday.......no, wearing the eye patch to school! He was right back to his scratchy painful eye but now disappointed! All in true G fashion!

UPDATE ~ Friday morning ~ as some of you may know and others not.... G gets up EVERY morning at 7am. Rain, Shine, darkness, or disregard to what time he went to bed! This morning was no different. We left home last night around 9 (he'd just gone to sleep ~ FYI the scratch happened around 7:30 but he didn't say anything about blurring vision until bed time. Didn't want any of you thinking he was having popcorn at 9pm) and left urgent care around 11:10pm. G went to sleep after a while in the car.... but woke up to walk to his bed at midnight. This morning he's up (and cranky) at 7:05. The actual scratch and that pain maybe the least of my worries today! Let's review.... he's complained that he has to stay home, he's complained that we had to put medicine in, he's complained that he'll miss the 'fun' day in PE....
Goodness this day is going to be long.

Price of things

Gas ~ $2.05 per gallon
(but I've heard it drop this morning to $1.99)
skim Milk ~ 3.09 per gallon
2% Milk ~ 3.45 per gallon
Large Eggs ~ 1.65 per dozen
Shake and Bake ~ 2.09
Boneless Rump Roast ~ 9.38 (?size)

All League first team keeper!

We just learned that W earned the *top keeper spot in the League!

The league coaches go into the League meeting with their players stats, and then they plead their players 'case' to the other coaches.

There was another keeper with better stats than W so we knew it was going to be close.

W's coach called W last night.

*It was a tie in votes, half the coaches had gone with purely stats and the other half had voted for W and his ability to dive, his ability to kick the ball from one 18 to the other 18, his general talent as keeper!

I couldn't be more proud of him!

Web Wednesday!

4 President.org.

this website jogs your memory!

1984
I can remember voting for Regan Bush when I was in College. I sent off for my absentee ballot, went to the local court house and voted in front of someone. They then certified it I mailed it back. I think I was only person I knew of voting (out of my friends). The ballot came with the a piece of Styrofoam for me to put behind my ballot to help punch the 'chad' (as I now know they are called).

1988
I can't recall voting, I'm sure I did, but I don't know where it would have been. I mean I know where I was living, just can't recall the voting place.

1992
I stood in line for 2.5 hours, at a local middle school. The line went in and out of rows of lockers, down the hall and out the door! It was mind boggingly crowded when the classes changed.

1998
W and I went to see Dole at a rally! it was exciting! I voted at the same place as before but I didn't have to wait SO long, I believe only an hour.

2000
I now live where I live where I did then.... We go to vote in a little one room school house. I went during the day not crowded AT ALL. I do remember getting on my knees in prayer over the outcome of this election. I also remember thinking that we'd never hear the name of the President-elect on the same night any more ... too many legal technicalities to have it announced the same night. I can remember when I was little that they'd announce the president-elect before the west coast polls were closed.

2004
I waited in the little one room school house for 40 minutes, by the way this little school house is in the middle of no where, no parking lot just a grassy patch, and up until recently no ramp (we pulled hubby up in 2000).

2008
I voted early! the whole process took MAYBE 6 minutes and that was mostly the discussion my choice with G!

Say What?

Last week when I voted, I took little G with me. As we were walking in the building,

G asked, "Mom, you're voting for Obama aren't you?"

Me ~ "No, I don't think I will be."

G ~ "What, who else would you vote for?"

Me~ "I believe I'll be voting for John McCain."

G~ "I voted for Obama, because I wanted to vote for the first Black president."

Conversation was on hold while I filled out my paper work..... but my the little Obama backer started up once again as we entered the room to vote.

G ~ "Mom don't you want to make history?"

Me~ "No, I believe there is more to a man than color of his skin. Every person gets to vote, and it's important that you ALWAYS vote."

G~ "well, you know Mc Cain won't be winning and don't you want to vote for a winner?"

I got busy voting even though, G was little upset at my choice (and proceded to tell those working the voting booths)

As we walked out to the car. After a short conversation about WHERE his voting sticker was (the lady had given him one when we walked in)!

G ~ "well, mom if this where and how you vote then how will my vote at the school get here?"

M ~ " your vote at the school doesn't really count, it's only for fun."

G ~ "What do you mean my vote is only for fun?, it's my vote!"

M~ " you have to be 18 to vote, and it will be important that YOU ALWAYS vote!"

G ~ with look of disguise, "I don't think this is fair AT ALL."

I'm sure he was thinking
"Just How Can This Be!"

VOTE!

End of Daylight Savings

Yesterday ended Daylight Savings and I just have to say.... It was the LONGEST day Ever! I thought it would never end!

First of all, all of us are in some degree of this cold junk, hubby has lost his voice, G is tired and cranky, I'm at the nose dripping stage and W is at the begining and tired all the time.

I was trying NOT to take a nap yesterday since I wasn't sure how it would effect my restful night. I was tried and watching a clock that didn't seem to move!

We finally decided to just put G to bed, and put all of us out of eveyone's misery (he doesn't make good choices and boy is he cranky when he doesn't feel good) at 8pm. He went out like a light!

AND then we were all up nice and early today!

Is this Daylight savings thing REALLY worth it?

Halloween '08

well, no pictures of customes.... several of us are a bit under the weather so ... it's just get it done year! Sad but true.

G headed off to school this morning dressed as Star War's "Darth Vader" and I'm sure an entire day of joy!

I'd been working on a surprise costume for myself. G didn't know and I thought he'd be surprised that I'd even dressed up! I gathered an old laundry basket, cut the bottom out of it, then started pinning clothes to it. I hung the basket over my shoulders and then draped a towel over my shoulders, hung a sock from a head band, strapped on fairy wings... and WA-LA...
the Laundry Fairy!

Adults loved it, kids thought it was weird to be a basket of laundry!

I asked G if he was surprised.... "nope, you dress up all the time." (HUH?)

When I asked him, "When had I ever dressed up?"

"Mom, you dressed up in Kindergarten"

I'd forgotten.... I'd worn the fairy wings that year also!

Oh, well......

G chose to wear an old custome for Trick or Treat , still Star Wars but now a Clone Trooper! Fortunately for me he chose a long street with only a slight slope. In the past years he's chosen a street that is UP and Down, UP and Down, it seems to me there are a lot more UPs than downs! He was done in 35 minutes... YEAH!

The weather was warm I wore a light sweat shirt with my favorite flips flops, and G without a jacket! It was all good! It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is NOVEMBER 1!

AAaa ccchhooooo

My new best friend!

G and hubby are both, drippy, coughing, and tired.

OH, look it's knocking on my door!

G's October Spelling bee

I don't know which is more stressful, sitting on the soccer sidelines watching your son fly through the air saving the day or watching your son stand before his peers spelling words!

Last month we practiced and practiced, he knew all the words super well with exception of about 5, which he could get correct but sometimes messed up! I sent him off to school on the day of the classroom spell-off with great confidence. He came home and said that he'd miss spelled his first word ALIEN ~ aahgr~ he knew that one (had never gotten it wrong at home) but got nervous and started wondering about the IE or EI!

This month he just didn't want to practice, it was like pulling teeth to get him to practice with me. I sent him off to school with NO confidence in him at all the day of the spell off and he makes it!

Just How Can This Be?

His lack of desire to practice continued for the past week! It was stressful for me! but he had the attitude "if he'd made it through the class spell off he could do the spelling bee!"

Round 1~
His first word was CALENDAR, I thought they said Challenge so when I heard him start out CA.... I thought he had it wrong.. Good thing I heard wrong! He moved on to the second round.

Round 2~
The word was SUM ~ they are suppose to say the word, spell the word and say the word to signal that they are finished spelling. The teacher that is conducting the bee... is pausing because G hasn't said the word to signal that he's finished ..... you can see what happens!
Make sure you turn off the music at the bottom!


round 3~
His word was DIFFERENCE.... he left out an F.

Great Job G ~ Bee

Say What?

G was eating a snack ,

"Hey, mom look at this cat,

it's got one of those

toilet pusher things on it's head."

It's over but not without a good fight!

W's HS soccer career is over!

First round of Regional Playoffs

Boy! did it go out with a spectacular game!

If they were going to lose this was the way to do it.

It was really a repeat of last week's game but without the rain

The game was 0-0 at the end of regular play (80 minutes).

0-0 at the end of OT #1 (10 minutes)

0-0 at the end of OT#2 (10 minutes)

0-0 at the end of OT#3 (5 minutes)

0-0 at the OT#4 (5 minutes)

If you not doing the math I'll tell you that's 110 minutes of play!

That meant that we went to Penalty kicks ~

one keeper in the box and one kicker standing 18 feet away

(best of 5 kicks)

When the kicker is THAT close the keeper just has guess which way he thinks the ball is going to go and dive that way. It's just a guessing game!

W didn't save any of them, and his teammates didn't make any of their kicks

They lost 1-0PK's

It was heart breaking!

W felt like that was the best game he'd ever played

and

was able sit with us and talk about it last night

(there have been games where he didn't talk about it until the next day)