Word of the Year

Ali chooses a word each year as an incentive for the coming year. If yo uread her blog, I am sure you will find that she is more eloquent than I am and will better explain it.
The first I year (2007) I chose the word 'balance.'
Last year my word was 'harmony.'
I am trying to decide between two words today...'nurture' and 'grace.'
It's kind of fun to choose this as a goal. As something to strive for throughout the year. Something to look forward to and even attain.
I am not balanced, but I am better at recognizing what needs to be more in focus.
I am not in harmony, but I know when I am completely out of harmony and what I need to do to get there.
As a mom and business person I am trying to nurture my family and my business.
As a woman I am trying to find grace.
So, will you choose a word?
What will it be and why?

I had

a fun blog planned.
Then I got creative and made a mini book and looked at things to order for the store and got distracted by Bonnie ;) and didn't one done.
Oops.
Maybe tomorrow. Then I will share Bonnie's fantastic popcorn-y treat with you.
You know how I loves my popcorn.

in photos...

Hunter took this picture of Q and I have to say I love it...the only thing missing is the dimples.

The front of our hosue after the wind made a lovely deposit of snow...that poor little tree was buried so badly last year that it split. I so hope it makes it through another winter!



This is the view as we cross the RR tracks...I love it, it is such a reminder for whatever season we are in...as you can tell.

The poinsettia is from my brother. It is HUGE. I think it must be three feet across. It's nice to have a brother who works at one of my favorite places :) (Town and Country if anyone is wondering)




Carson and Hunter drew each others names for Christmas. Hunter carved a shark for my shark boy and Carson and my dad put together this box for Hunter's HAM radio equipment.

Q with the pillow I made him. Iam going to try and get pictures of all of the blankets and pillows I made for the boys.









My dorky boys at my inlaws house. I have no idea what they were thinking but it must have been good :)

Christmas in chaos

A brief rundown of what I think I remember:
December 24
430 get home from my store and Walmart the scariest place on earth on Christmas eve
715 finally get the &$%# cake frosted and head to Tootie's and Lori and Larry's for Christmas Eve traditional dinner of ham, funeral potatos and green beans. I brought dessert this year (red velvet cake and chocolate cake balls mmmmmmmgooooood...both were new recipes) Janet brought salad....this was yummy too.
1040 head home to finish up Christmas stuff
1am remember something is still in the cupboard at the store...Jeff goes to get it.
December 25, 2008
5am go to bed after a night of revelry and frantic sewing...and a bloody nose on the 9 yo.
6am boys get up. Jeff finds them staring at the Christmas gifts under the tree with eyes as big as saucers. Boys are threatened within an inch of their life if they wake us before 730
729 heard in the hall outside our bedroom "one minute guys...Tyler and Carson take mom, Quinton you wake up dad"
730 'MOM DAD it's CHRISTMAS AND IT'S 730 WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
740 boys have finally convinced us it is in fact time.
830 new movie in the dvd player we go in for a nap
1020 boys heard arguing, I give up and get out of bed to make breakfast.
12n Jeff gets out of bed
6pm put chicken in crock pot to roast
7pm we leave our house to take gifties to grandparents
825 Tyler says 'I'm so sad that Christmas is over.' Quinton replies 'don't worry, buddy, it will come again next year.' I start laughing because a) we never say 'buddy' and b) Q is only 3
10pm get home snack on DELICIOUS roasted chicken and stuffing...
11pm convince Q to lay down by me as boys watch Johnny Lingo remake...not sure about this one, I am a die hard original fan
12 mn I think the boys came in to say goodnight.

I really slacked on the picture taking this year, but I have some of everyone, so that's a good thing.
The boys of course made out like bandits.
Jeff and I didn't do too badly.
In case you are wondering, I did not finish all of the things I was working on. Jeff and I just got fabric in boxes because I ran out of time. And I need to edge Tyler's blanket.
And finish Christmas cards.
I hope all of you had a fantastic day!

A letter to my family

Dear Guys.
Here's the deal. If you don't get better soon, I am not coming home.
I have too much to finish to get sick...

Wait, this will sound better:

Get out of bed and help me clean...

No that's not quite right either. Maybe this:

I realize that the joy of the holiday season is to be spent with those you love surrounding you. However, as Hunter puts it, I am fed up with the 'sick germs of love' and if you want your gifties you will vacuum, clean and get well...

This is just not coming out the way I want it to...

I love you all and will be home soon.
Mom

So...

this could be an all over type of post...
I am looking for a book. It's one I had a little and I have no idea what the title is. I know it was about Santa and his workshop and there was an illustration of just him on the front...the inside (remember, I am on the verge, so the memory is fading) had one illustration of him in a rocking chair, there was one in his workshop, one of him reading a lsit of names...anyone? Please? I know it's not a lot of help, my descriptions, but I am kind of looking for this book.
I am feeling nostalgic today.
I have lost two grandparents.
My Grandpa Dale (as we call him for the kids) died 12 years ago. Hunter had just turned 6 months and he had a heart attack the Tuesday after Thanksgiving it was late that year.) He died 2 days later in the ICU (one reason I can never be an ICU nurse) and I miss him. My mom and I were talking this morning about candy and recipes (I was asking AGAIN for her molasses cookie recipe...it's soooo yummy!) and she started talking about divinity that she and my Grandma had seen at the Candy Cottage. I started laughing because one of the reasons Jeff gave me a kitchen aid is because at Christmas I was going through like two mixers a year on making divinity. The boys will eat it, Jeff says it's too sweet (I know, but he doesn't liek circus peanuts or cotton candy either...it's weird!) but I LOVE it. Apparently, so did my Grandpa. He used to ask me to buy him jelly beans every time he stopped by. He said if he bought them he would get in trouble, but if I did it was a gift :) I will be making divinity soon and thinking of him every bite I take.
Grandma Taylor (or Grandma Lila for the boys) died almost 4 years ago. She had been fighting cancer for 3 years and it had finally metastisized too much for any chemo to fight. She died gracefully with her family around her just before she turned 81. Grandma used to have this blue ceramic glazed bowl that I love (and really hope I get someday) that was always filled with hard candies. You know, the ones that are so nasty that you eat a ton of them just knowing your teeth are falling out? The ribbon shaped ones and rootbeer ones and cinnamon ones... I found a small container of them at Walmart last night. I think I will jazz the container up and set it on my table for my boys in her honor. I miss her. She had 7 children, 6 of which were boys and I really would love to have her advice sometimes! Q was 2 months old before she got to meet him, she had just been too ill. But I remember how she glowed the day she saw him and got to hold him for the first (and last) time. She loved babies.
Having sick kids has been a bit of a blessing, I guess. Yesterday I finished a family blanket. It was really simple, I just enveloped a piece of fleece and some flannel...the fleece has a sports theme, so I figure it will go into the truck for the sports seasons ahead. We will do a few family movies to go with it as well.
I have Hunter's top part sewn, Carson's top sewn, Q's is half done and I will finish up Ty's today. I need to cut and sew the one for Jeff (I hope it's long enough!) and get the fabric for two smaller ones and the backing for those two, mine and Jeff's. Luckily Joann's is having a sale.
Last night Hunter told me at 630 that he needed a gifty for his band party...of course, me being home with two sick ones I chose to create instead of shower, so I showered off really fast, finished my chicken noodle soup so the others could eat (um, yeah, by the way, Jeff has strep. Nice!) and we headed out to Porters for sewing needles (my machine was tired after a full day without breaks) and then Home Depot for family and VT gifts and then Walmart for him to get his friend gifts and the band doodad.
So today I am cutting vinyl for those, finishing up what blankets I can and going to a cookie exchange tonight.
Whew.

Carsonisms

Okay, I know I should have a picture with a blog when I am talking of a specific person. Hilary is really good about adding cute little pics and I am just so not ;)
I will make that my goal for next year.
So the other day Jeff and the boys were talking about the constitution and gun control (I truly have NO idea how this all came about...maybe that's a good thing?) and Jeff asked the boys if they understood the right to bear arms. Carson's answer 'the right to wear tank tops' :)
Yesterday I was home when the boys got there and was able to thwart their attempts and turning on the TV prior to getting homework and jobs done (this is a HUGE issue in our house) and told the boys to make their beds. Now, I am one of those lazy people who feels top sheets are unneccessary. We all have a blanket and a bedspread. It's fast and the boys don't struggle with it nearly as much as when we used the top sheets. Plus, it's warmer.
Carson appeared confused (granted, he was doing math so that could have been it) and asked what I meant (his sheet was on and the bedspread was on the bed, so what could I possibly mean?) and I said that all he needed to do was straighten everything so it looked nice. His reaply...'oh, so you want me to stretch it?'
He has always said 'hedabout' instead of 'what about.' I think that has to do with his hearing problems, but it still makes me smile...like when Tyler says 'bether' instead of better.
He likes to argue about who loves who more :)
He will go to bed without telling anyone.
He loves that he looks so much like his dad.
He loves fishing. Anytime, anywhere. Just mention it and he will do anything asked.
He is a really good helper.
I like this boy a lot.
Love him, even.

Christmas spirit

I was just reading this blog and I love the idea for her Christmas party.
It makes me feel more Christmas-y.
I have one blanket top finished.
I ordered two gifties for two boys.
I have a good solid idea for Christmas cards.
I have three sick kids and a sick husband...which means I have no sleep.
I am still feeling cheerful despite it all :)
I think it has to do with the lovely snow and having yesterday off.

Sick kids

Are giving me a headache!
Last week H was home off and on with various complaints...he is still complaining, but after missing so much school work (and Jeff forgetting to pick up his books) he is determined to go.
Carson is feeling better.
Tyler has a cronic case of procrastinationitis.
Q is the one that is making me crazy. Lately he hasn't been going to sleep AT ALL or really late. Last night it was 10 by the time he was in bed for good (we started this process at 730...where is Super Nanny???) and he was up at 1130 with a nasty fever and sad little cough. Poor punkin. Lucky for me, I don't want to take him out so I am actually getting a few things done today.
Maybe I can cross a few things off my list. And MAYBE I can convince this boy he wants to take a nap in my room :)
Hopefully if everyone is getting ill now, we will be healthy for Christmas!

Scrooge

This is how I feel today.

The problem is, I like to sleep. I don't EVER get enough and somehow Jeff is always sleeping in (not on days he works) and it makes me grumpy...church, he is ready in 20 minutes, why get up earlier. Days off, well, are days off, why oh why would I want to sleep in?

This is why I love school vacation!

So this morning, Tyler, my sweet jabber jaws, was in my room at 6:50 asking if he could watch cartoons...are you KIDDNG me? No. Because you see, this boy will wake up EVERYONE else in the house just by being out of bed. Bull in the China shop? check. TV up too loud? check. Talking just to talk? check!!!

Normally, it wouldn't bother me, but both Q and Hunter have been sick all week. I really want them to rest...they won't if Ty is up...

So, I let him come in and lay down by me. He was freezing cold. I was not. He was WIDE awake. I was not. So it ends up with me getting cranky and feeling mean and him just being completely oblivious to it all.

Why does this drive me so crazy? Why can't he sleep until 9? Does he not realize in a few short years that opportunity will be gone and we will laugh at him and say, we told you to sleep in while you could and you wouldn't...

So, in 7days I get to sleep in for 2 whole weeks. I am warning you now, if you call before 930, I will be irritated :) And probably not answer.

Just so you know. And boys, Christmas will not begin until 10 or 11 am. You may as well stay in bed.

Someday you will thank me.

How do you feel today?

"Like corn on the cob!!"

This is what Carson told me on our way to the orthodontist today. :)

It cracked me up.

Which I needed since in the past month I have had my side of the bed to myself a total of 7 times...sick kids apparently require mommy and I feel better when I get a little sleep with them next to me than no sleep worrying about them.

But I digress. This morning was all about Carson and getting his braces off. We thought that he would have everything removed today, but further xrays indicate he doesn't have enough space in his mouth for his incisors that are on the way up so now he has springs in his mouth. Poor guy. And the sad thing is we know he will get them again in a few years.

He really isn't as pale in real life as the photo shows, I think it's just all the grey he is wearing.

He and Jeff brought me a coke (sorry, Bernadine, but I REALLY needed it!) and all he could do was smile. Now I need to work on him getting the cheese out of his system so I can do a nice picture to send in those pesky Christmas (or Valentine's) cards.

15 days til Christmas

Okay, here is my check list...the ones with an asterisk are the things I have accomplished so far...
*Buy fabric for boys' blankets
Buy batting for blankets
Buy fabric for Grandma and Tootie
Buy batting for Grandma and Tootie
Buy ________ gift for boys
*H
*C
*T
*Q
Buy_________gift for boys
H
C
T
Q
Buy 12x12 tiles
*Buy 6x6 tiles
Cut vinyl for 12x12 tiles (x7)
Cut vinyl for 6x6 tiles (x7)
Design Christmas cards
Print photos
Decide photos
Write Christmas letter
Find addresses (this could be hard since our Christmas stuff flooded last June...did I ever thank that boy for causing the flood? I ought to)
Plan Primary birthday party
Sew blankets together (you thought I would forget this part!)
Make sure Santa has the lists
Figure out a Jeff gifty
Make neighbor gifts
Call Lori about Christmas Eve and what to bring

See, almost done.
And oddly, I am fine with it :)

50 things

50 things you didn't know about me until you read this...


1.What color is your tooth brush? red and white, I just got a new one
2. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? watching Harry Potter with Jeff
3. What is your favorite candy bar? babe ruth
4. Have you ever been to a strip club? I am the strip club...okay, maybe not and no I haven't
5. What is the last thing you said aloud? I'm going to go watch Survivor (on the laptop, which I haven't because I found a bright shiny thing instead and was distracted)
6. What is the best ice cream flavor? I have to choose? Um, mint chip or chocolate chocolate chip haagen dazs
7. What is the last thing you had to drink? water
8. What are you wearing right now? jammies of a sort, remember I am supposed to be watching Survivor
9. What was the last thing you ate? brownies for tomorrow night
10. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? last Saturday I did...
11. When was the last time you ran? probably chasing Q at the store
12. Who was the last person to send you a message/comment on your blog? Email was Bonnie, comment was LaTisha
13. Do you take vitamins daily? I should but I am sporadic
14. Do you go to church every Sunday? mostly
15. Do you have a tan? have you met me? My last good tan was in 1993.
16. Do you like Chinese food over pizza? probably not
17. Do you drink soda with a straw? Yes, other wise if you take off the lid it spills
18. What does your last text message say? I think it said 'from which account' and it was from Jeff...to someone was me telling Jeff I was hungry and needed food and a coke
19. Are you someones best friend? maybe. I'm not a very good friend, I love to be a friend, but I don't have (or make) much time for friends...they all have to be very understanding as I hardly am home and prefer to be there (unless it's card club...)
20. What are you doing tomorrow? it's the store's birthday, so I will be at the store teaching a class and frantically worrying about whether or not I will get home in time to take santa pics and finish dessert. or maybe talk Jeff into closing so I can do that as I think he has only taken like 4 shots with my camera
21. Where is your dad? at home actually
2. Look to your left, what do you see? my armpit...the joys of wireless internet and a laptop...I can lay down and do my blog or check websites...
23. What color is your favorite pair of shoes? I am an equal opportunity shoe lover...I think you can never have too many and I need more
24. Do you use chap stick? Jeff's if I do, but I am more of a gloss girl
25. Whats your favorite thing to do in your free time? What exactly is free time?
26. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? drive through which freaks Jeff out because he swears you should always go in to order and I argue that they wouldn't have a drive through window if they didn't want you to use it
27. Do you have a dog? I wish, no time for a dog
28. Last guy you talked on the phone with? Hunter (as he was leaving for his campout) or my dad...can't remember it was about the same time
29. Last girl you talked on the phone with? my mom
30. Any fun vacation plans soon? hopefully CHA winter...anyone want to go? but I'm not sure of that counts as a vacation
31. Do you dye your hair? of course, I am on the verge, folks, that grey just keeps coming!
32. Can you say the alphabet backwards? Yes
33. Do you have a maid service clean your house? Ha! have you seen my house?
34. Are you jealous of anyone? yes, it's my vice, or one of them
35. Do you love anyone? I do
36. Do any of your friends have children? most of them
37. Do you use the word Hello daily? yes, often sarcastically
38. Do you like cats? yes, I have two. Lainey the fat old lady and Gryffin...yes, his real name is Gryffindor, thank you for asking and he is a punk
39. Have you ever been to six flags? not yet
40. How did you get your worse scar? my appendix is the biggest, it was before the fancy lap appy came to be
41. What is your favorite smell? my boys...preferably clean especially Jeff right out of the shower
42. What is the last DVD you watched? on purpose? Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was on at the store for Q, but I think I watched Kung Fu Panda last...can't wait til the 16th for Mamma Mia! Maybe it was Lord of the Rings...
243. Have you ever been to Disney world? no, but CHA summer is in Orlando!! Anyone???
44. What is your favorite number? 13
45. Do you toast your pop tarts? yes
46. Have you ever waited tables? no, but I worked at a deli and bussed tables after people ate
47. Where did you have your first kiss? Eagle Rock (that's where the guy I liked went to school, I was 14 and he snuck it in. It freaked me out and I didn't kiss anyone again for like thee years)
48. What should you be doing? sleeping, it is a precious commodity these days
49. Do you enjoy wasting time blogging? I think it is a great way to waste time
50. Who do you want to tag? Hilary, Joy, Billie, Tammie although most of you will see this on Julie's blog and do it anyway :)

Feed the World

I don't know if my comments will show up if I am not using HTML, but in case they do, how can you NOT appreciate the fashions of the 80's?
You know, when hair on super hot guys was cut into a bowl or permed past all recognition...when sweatshirts were the height of fashion :)
And talk about our environment...how much damage came about from the gazillions of cans of hairspray used in the video alone :)

Now, we all know NO one can sing like Bono...he makes my heart burst, and the part where Simon LeBon comes in...love it. Oh and Sting...pitter pat!

There is nothing like the original :)

The challenges of a lefty

My whole growing up life I wanted to marry a brown haired, brown eyed left handed guy with braces. Don't know why.

Fast forward a long time (from say 16 years old to say over 30-ish) and I am surrounded by guys and have a boy with braces (righty and blue eyed) and a lefty with the most gorgeous whiskey colored eyes who melts my heart. Talk about luck! I love that he is a lefty.

I love that he runs and kicks (or dribbles) consistently with his left foot (he's actually stunningly good) and writes with his left hand, eats with his left hand, throws with his left hand (has anyone ever noticed how HARD it is to find a mitt during baseball season for someone other than a righty???) brushes his cute little teeth with his left hand...I love all of it.

Except the paper cutting thing.

Granted he is only 3 and 5/6ths so it will come, but it's confusing me! I know that there will be many challenges and a huge learning curve, but I am honestly so glad to have this lefty boy! My husband is still cursing and trying to find that left footed soccer ball...

Update

My uncle is dong better. He has a long recovery ahead of him, but so far so good.
Thanks for any prayers sent.

Prayers please

One of my uncles is in surgery right now to repair some things that were done 20+ years ago.
His wife is extremely worried and I am sure his whole family could use the prayers. This is a pretty painful and complex surgery, if you are up to it, please pray for them...Charlie and Jeri Taylor.
Thanks.

Better

It seems that my household is on the mend.
Yay!!
Is it rude to say 'it's about time' even if it has only been a week?
Carson has been fighting a virus (although at one point after vomiting he told me he thought that he had gotten rid of the virus because it was a different color) and thankfully, did not have appendicitis, although he was tested for it.
Jeff has had some kind of bug, completely different than Carson and Quin's.
Quin was cranky and tired form a cold (he's still cranky, but I think it's because if he isn't in bed by 7:30 he is up until 10...not by MY choice!)
Thanksgiving is a whole nother post.
I have now cut all the parts to the boys' blankets...they just need to be put back together (why is it that we take apart perfectly good fabric just to put it back together?)
I have their 2nd gifts purchased (except one small part) and need to figure out what the third gift will be for each of them.
Yes, this year they are all getting 3 gifts from us. That's it. We figure the Jolly Man will bring one, plus the stocking stuffer, they have all drawn names and will make something for that selected brother and between their Grand and Great Grand parents, they will have plenty.
We have more than enough 'stuff' in our house.
More than.

On a more random note...
Hunter had a Court of Honor last night. Is it rude to say I kind of like that they only have a couple a year? I think quarterly or less is perfect! Plus it's only an hour :) Can we do it with Cub Scouts? All these boys are so fun, but pack meeting for the next 8 years could do me in.

I haven't started my Christmas cards. Nope. Not at all, at all.
But I have an idea. And I have my letter rough drafted.
They may go out this year.

My sister brought me lunch today.
Bonnie brought me Coke.
My VT brought me a gift and lesson.
It's a good day...people seem to like me :)

I have new papers to put and and figure where they go.
A fun project in mind.
I just need to stop procrastinating.

I would like it to snow.
Tomorrow night is card club and I can't wait because I have missed the past couple.

Off to get some stuff done. Ha :)