Weekend Update - WOW

Well, I took a few days off from blogging because, well there just wasn't any time to do that.  It was such a jam-packed weekend for us that I am just now catching my breath.

Thursday, we had 17 people for lunch.  I got to see my cousin's newest grandchild, Kaiden.  He is so good and such a good baby.  It was good to see his mom and dad too!  We also had a wonderful friend from church and her daughter and three grandkids.  Two of those kids are one-year old twins who Daughter had fun chasing around.  So cute.

Later that evening, Foxy, Daughter, Son and I went over to our niece's house and enjoyed dessert with more family.  It was great to see those we haven't seen in a while and we had such a nice time.  We even got to meet baby Ella, the newest member of the Foxy family.  Isn't she adorable?

Baby Ella and Daughter

 Friday, we went over to Indianapolis to see our niece in her Beef and Boards production of  A Christmas Review.  It was a lot of fun and got us all in the Christmas spirit.  There were over 25 songs/medleys, lots of dancing, jokes and a great tribute to our Armed Forces.  Our niece was wonderful in it with her dancing, singing and facial expressions (she is in the chorus), but we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  I recommend it to everyone.

Wacky Wednesday

Truly, this morning has been wacky. 

I just have to blog that JENNIFER GREY AND DEREK HOUGH won DWTS!  Thank you, America for finally getting it right!
 
Driving in to work, you would have thought there were terrible things going on all over the city.  I had some crazy driver swoop between me (in the suicide lane) and another vehicle (in the lane to my right).  It was close quarters, in my opinion.  Was it really necessary for them to do that? 

Also driving in, two cars went around me like I was under the speed limit (I was doing 70).  It just seemed like more chances were being taken. 

So what do all of you think about the TSA doing all the up close and personal pat-downs at the airports?  My BIL & SIL are flying in from Mobile, AL today and I just wonder if they are going to agree to it.  I highly doubt it.

Our Thanksgiving plans are slowly unfolding.  We are suppose to have my mom's family over for lunch, then go to my BIL's for an early supper.  But Son woke up with this stomach virus going around.  It is usually a 24 hr thing.  Hopefully he just ate too much after his scrimmage last night (crossing fingers).

Friday, Daughter has her first in-car (driving with an instructor).  Then we are going to Indianapolis to the Beef and Boards Dinner Theater for our niece's Christmas Show.  Can't wait!

Saturday, Daughter has another in-car, Son has practice, and our great-niece's birthday party after the Ohio State/Michigan game. 

Sunday is church and football.  I think Foxy is planning on sleeping a lot.  He deserves it.  He worked like 15 twelve hour days in that past 18 days.

Have a great weekend! 

PINT - THE DWTS Finale

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Weekend Update

How was your weekend?  Mine was pretty good.  Friday night, Son had practice until 7, Foxy is still working tons of hours and I hosted a Tastefully Simple Show.  They are the best!  Thanks to my favorite consultant, Monica for lots of fun and great food ideas.  Thanks to all who came too.

Saturday, Son had early practice, and that was about it.  I made these cute little cupcake filled teepees for our church lunch on Sunday.  Take a look.

Aren't they cute?  Just dip in chocolate and add sprinkles.  Easy-peasy.  And they are good just on their own too.

Sunday, was church, then the dinner.  We had a previous Youth Minister come back and give the message and devotion after lunch.  I loved some of the things he said.  The biggest message I received is little is much when God is in it.  Ain't that the truth?

After dinner, we went home.  Daughter went to her BF's house and Son and I went and saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I had waited all weekend to see it.  And we still saw two girls going to their seats wearing scarves that were of the Gryfindor colors.   Anyway, the movie was awesome!

Then we all came home and chilled the rest of the night.  How was your weekend?

It's Friday, already?

Things at work have been very busy, so I skipped posting yesterday.  As promised, though, I have pictures of Son in his basketball uniform.

He is such a ham!  He has his first scrimmage on Tuesday evening and I will miss it.  : ( (sad face)  Daughter has dance on Tuesday evening and if the game was home I could make most of it.  But, as it is, no.  At least it is a scrimmage and not a game.

"Your a wizard, Harry!"  What magical words that brought the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to life.  I am pumped to see the first of the two part movie.  I am going to watch and catch up in remembering what is going on in the series.  DO NOT tell me about it yet.  For all of you that saw it last night/this AM.   Jealousy reigns!

So tonight I am having a Tastefully Simple party.  They are so fun and so simple.  The consultant gives you samples, you make them to share,  You invite your friends and sample your way through the party.  Fun, fun!

Tomorrow, Son has bball practice, and I have to make food for our church's Founder's Day celebration.  Then we, Daughter, Son and I, are going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. 

Foxy is still working 12 hours shifts.  I think this is day 15 with five more to go.  He at least gets Thanksgiving and the day after off.  Actually he may have all next weekend off.  (Crossing fingers.)

Have a great weekend! 

Wacky Wednesday

Wackiness reigns in my household this week!  Things are almost out of control.  I'll list them.


Monday - Got a call from Daughter's science teacher stating that Daughter has significantly brought her grade up and she should be commended for all the hard work she is doing.  We are so proud!

Monday & Tuesday - Josie Belle has been sleeping inside because it is so cold out doors.  Normally she would get up with Foxy, and walk to the back door to be let out or she would wait until Son would go get her.  Monday, I went back to the bedroom after Foxy and the kids all left, and there she was, sleeping on the bed.  I said, "Josie Belle, Mommy has to leave, you need to get up and go outside!"  Josie Belle lifted her head off the covers and blinked at me.  Finally, (taking her slow sweet time, I might add) she got up and walked to the end of the bed, jumped down and out the bedroom door to the back door.  She did this both days.  So last night, I gave her a big ham bone and she slept outside.

Tuesday - Bristol Palin going to the Dancing With the Stars finale?  America, is really all that political to make the girl go out each week and see how poorly she can do?  I was impressed with her Paso Doble, but the Waltz was bland. This show is about entertainment as much as learning how to dance.  Do you really find Bristol entertaining?  Seriously?  Are you going to vote her to win?  especially when she should have been gone six or seven weeks ago? 

Wednesday - I got on the highway to go to work and immediately, the radio traffic update tells me there is a wreck just above my work exit.  So I got off and went a longer way to work.  But I was still on time.  My boss was not (but that is not unusual).

Wednesday - Why is it that this morning flew by and now I can not stay awake?

Post It Note Tuesday - DWTS - Semi-finals

Weekend Update

Well, I apologize for not posting last Friday.  I had it ready.  I just didn't hit the publish button, or something.  Anyway, I hope you had a great weekend!  We did.  Friday evening, Son had basketball and got his uniforms, practice uniforms and warm ups.  We order his shoes and then shopped this weekend for nice slacks, shirts and ties.  Yes, on away games he has to dress up (tee-hee).  I am liking this sport more and more each day.

Saturday, Daughter and I went to our church holiday thingy (not sure what to call it).  We have breakfast, some singing, crafts, a speaker, lunch, more crafts, and two demonstrations, one on making soap and one on making freezer jam.  .It's really called HomeSpun.  The theme this year was An Old-Fashioned Christmas.  Foxy cooked for 50 of us.  It really was fun.  Here are some of the crafts we did.  We made Cookies In a Jar, a Nettie Doll, and a Choir Boy Caroler.  The Nettie Doll is just a rag doll but kinda neat. 

Tonight I am going to a Cookie Exchange.  Let the Holidays begin.  Son and I made Chocolate Mint Delights.  They are yummy!  We should have 18 different kinds of cookies and candies (plus recipes) when it's over.   I'll start posting cookie and candy recipes for the holidays this week. 

Choir Boy

He actuallly stands up by himself and has a sweater and cap on.  Isn't he cute?  Daughter and I both made one, so I have two of these.

Nettie Doll

 

 

Tasty Thursday

During the holidays, there are certain foods we all love.  My favorite started about 20 years ago, when I joined Foxy's family.  My sister-in-law made this salad and thus began my love of all things cranberry.  During this time of year, my mother and I looke for Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale.  When we find it, we buy like 10 or 20 of them to stock up.  (I think I still have 2 from last year.)   We only use them at special times.

The recipe is a Cranberry Salad and it is refreshing compared to the old nasty canned jelled cranberry that my mom always has.

Julie's Cranberry Salad

2 Cups Hot Water

2 packages (3 oz each) Cranberry-Raspberry or Raspberry Jello

1 large Can whole Cranberry Sauce

1 small Can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 pint sour cream

1/2 cup nuts (Optional)

Dissolve jello in hot water.  Add cranberry sauce and pineapple.  Chill until syrupy.  Fold in sour cream and nuts.  Return to refrigerator until ready to serve.  This can be made a day or two ahead of time.

I love, love, love this salad!

What is one of your favorite, must-have foods for the holidays?

Wacky Wednesday

It is Wednesday!  Hump Day! There is nothing major going on.  The kids have a short day at school, there is no basketball practice due to the Fall Sports Banquet for Junior High.  Foxy is working his sixth 12 hour day in a row and I slept on my neck wrong last night.  Daughter hurt her knee, so we are going to go to the chiropractor either today or Friday.  Fun, fun, fun.

Hope your day is better than ours!

PINT - DWST Instant Edition

It is PINT Tuesday!  Click the button on the right side and enjoy the ride.



Weekend Update - Basketball Christmas Cards

Welcome to Monday!  The big news around the town...Son made the 8th grade Basketball Team!  He said that the coach told him that if he worked hard through the practices, he would probably start the 3rd game and beyond.  Well, we will see.  But we are proud of him.  Now the work begins.  He has practice or a game Monday through Saturdays from now until the middle of February.  Foxy and I thank my parents for helping us get Timm to practices this month.  They are from 5 pm to 7 pm every week night this month.  They will take him when Foxy is working, which is every day this week!  Bless his heart.

So after he made the team, we went out and purchased him some clothes to practice in.  We also purchased him black socks that go up the calf because that is what they wear.  When we got home, he took his purchases and we put them in the dryer first.  Then he took them to his room and came out with new shorts and socks on.  He asked me "Are people really that dumb?"  I asked him what he was talking about.  He said "This." and showed me a pair of socks.

Right or Left?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
He wants to know why people need to be told which foot to put a sock on?  Of course, this is coming from the boy who will wear the same pair of socks for four days!  I know...Gross!  But really, this puzzles him.

Also on Saturday, Daughter and I went and did a little shopping.  She really wanted a new Vera Bradley wristlet, so she got one, purchased with her own money.  She also bought a Vera Bradley photo album to put her Homecoming pictures in.  It was half price.  She is such a great shopper. 

While we were out I saw this odd looking, but beautiful flower.  Do you know what it is?

 On Sunday, after church, Daughter and I did a mother/daughter afternoon.  We went to a friend's and made Christmas cards.  I'll put them on here soon.  It is such a good time for us to spend together.

Tonight is Dancing With the Stars, so I'll PINT you all tomorrow.  Have a great day!

What the Friday?

Here is my tired, feeling bad because of a root canal view of this week.

• I voted for DWTS, so I can complain.  America, why oh why, do you insist on keeping Bristol around?  Do you think we need some comic relief?  I think she is just sad.  There is nothing funny about her dancing.  What the Friday?
• I am so glad that the election is over.  We can now move on.
• I went to the dentist Tuesday for the 2nd half of my root canal.  It took them almost 2 hours to finish it.  I feel like I am holding my mouth funny and my jaw hurts.  What the Friday!
• It is with sadness that Cincinnati says goodbye to probably the best Cincinnati Reds coach of this generation. Sparky Anderson was the first coach I remember.  He passed away yesterday.
• The weathermen in the area said that we may have flurries this am.  Well, it's 41 degrees and no flurries.  Now the weatherman is saying we are going to have Indian Summer-like weather this next week in the 60's.  What the Friday?
• My daughter is full of spunk today.  She just told me her eyebrow hurts.  What the Friday?

My weekend is not going to be too bad (I think).  Tonight, Son has basketball tryouts.  Tomorrow, Marching Band has a Veterans Day performance at a retirement village and Son has basketball tryouts.  Sunday, Daughter and I are going to make Christmas Cards with a friend!

Tasty Thursday

Last night we had tacos.  It's a staple around here.  The problem with taco seasoning is that it is loaded with salt.  Then put the tortilla chips with it and you have so much sodium that you need gallons of water to counteract it.  So to solve this problem, I did away with the seasonings by just adding salsa and tomatos.  Yes, there is still salt, but it is so much less and healthier.

Tasty Taco Meat

1 lb. ground meat (we use beef or turkey)

1 1/4 cup of your favorite Salsa

14 oz. diced tomatoes

Brown the ground meat until there is no pink.  Put meat in a strainer and rinse the meat under hot water.  (I call this washing the meat.  It gets the grease out.)

Put the meat back in the skillet and add the salsa and tomatoes.  Stir and simmer until warm.

Use this as filling for tacos, burritos, taco salads, whatever your heart desires.

We usually use 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of meat for our family.

Wacky Wednesday

My son is a crazy teenager.  My dad is a silly older man.  Together, they make a dynamic duo.  My father told my 13 year old son that when he turns 16, he should run for Mayor of our city.  Can you imagine?  The scary part is that I think son is considering it.

Son takes an interest in some politics.  He is very outspoken when it comes to the current administration of our national government.  He has been telling me for the past few days who I should vote for and who I should not vote for.   Last night he watch Dancing With the Stars with me just to watch the election results!  We had a great time bantering back and forth about who should win, and how the voting works in our city. It's good to see a young person so interested in the election. 

I was talking with someone today about this and he told me that the sad part is that kids are excited to use their right to vote.  We pump it up to be a pinnacle in their lives, and then they go to the voting site, vote, get a sticker and then that is it.  My co-worker told me that by the time the kids are out of college, they could really care less about voting.  How sad is that?  So I vow to make sure my kids understand that their one voice counts.  That no matter what, they can help change the world.

PINT - DANCING WITH THE STARS - 200TH EPISODE

I loved seeing all the past stars from the 10 seasons of DWTS.  I remember almost everyone of them. 

 Favorites include Apolo Anton Ohno, Drew Lachey, Helio Castroneves, Mel B, Joey Lawrence, Lsa Rinna, and John Ratzenberger.