Genetics and Christmas Lights

Genetics is an amazing thing. My father passed away when I was 11 years old, so we're talking over 22 years ago. That's a long time and it's next to impossible to remember his mannerisms and things he said, hand gestures and the like, yet every Saturday after Thanksgiving I'm reminded that my father still runs through me.

I can cuss just as well as he ever could. Love you dad.

Finally Fall

Here it is the end of November and Fall has finally hit southern Arizona...just in time for Christmas.

Do Overs

When I was little I used to play jacks with my sisters. We would spread ourselves out across the kitchen floor, cross and uncross our legs and then get serious about our onsies, twosies and threesies, if the jacks were touching or not and strategizing to figure out just how high that ball needed to be thrown up in the air for the ultimate tensies. We played for blood but every once in a while a glimmer of Christ-like love would poke through and when things went wrong we would allow a do-over.

Do-overs are great and something that as adults we don't take enough advantage of. Just this morning as I was trying to clean the kitchen in preparation to dirty it up again, and I as I usually do, started going ballistic about the lack of help I was receiving. Rick tried to calm me down, which I refused to do, and consequently that pissed him off and away we went...me cleaning and hating, Rick wondering and hating. After collecting myself, I stepped outside of the kitchen and said to Rick, "Can we have a do-over?" His response..."Yup."

And that was it. We're talking again and pretending like I didn't let my jacks bouncy ball get too far out of control. Aren't do-overs great?

Buche de Noel

Probably not very many of you know that my mom and dad met while they were missionaries for the LDS church in France. I always thought that was pretty cool, until they started speaking in french and I couldn't understand them. I loved how they took some of the french traditions and brought them home and we incorporated them into our family. One of them was a traditional dessert called Buche de Noel or a Christmas log. It's made from cake and shaped to look like a log, then frosted and garnished and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I made my first one today for a Thanksgiving feast for Aren's class and they were looking for dishes that represented our families and I figured this would be perfect. I thought it turned out pretty well!

12-0

It's a good day!

Aren Is My Favorite

Sunday was mine and Rick's first official day on the South Beach Diet. Aren had watched us go to the store and prepare our snacks and meals and was very aware that we were trying to eat better. On our way home from church Aren said, "Mom, why are you on a diet? I mean, dad I can understand, but why are you?"

Aren is my favorite.

The Thanksgiving Bandit

On Monday night while helping Aren with his homework the doorbell rang. I went to open it and no one was there, but guess what was...a big ol' turkey and two grocery bags filled with everything we'd need for a Thanksgiving dinner.

I really couldn't believe it. Most of you know that money is tight for us. We've been trying to pay off close to $50,000 in credit card bills (most of it medical) for the past four and a half years and we are so close but not quite there. Having someone do this for us was just a blessing out of nowhere.

Thank you to our bandit, where ever you are, and I look forward to the day when I can do the same for someone else...six more months baby!

One

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2. Where is your significant other? Kitchen
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Crazy
5. Your father? Bald
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? Elders
8. Your dream/goal? Svelteness
9. The room you're in? Dining
10. Your hobby? Scraping
11. Your fear? Toothlessness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
13. Where were you last night? Enrichment
14. What you're not? Svelte
15. One of your wish-list items? Grass
16. Where you grew up? Maryland
17. The last thing you did? Shop
18. What are you wearing? Jeans
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? Gross
21. Your computer? Crap
22. Your mood? Content
23. Missing someone? Lily
24. Your car? Mazda
25. Something you're not wearing? Socks
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? Long
28. Love someone? Ricky
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Friday

I TAG...Petra

Really, I Care

Just in case anyone thinks I hate my children and do nothing but sit in a comfy chair and shout obscenities at them all day long, check out these latest pics of the kids I love best in this world.

Here's Aren and Tatiana outside on the swing...obviously Tatiana is not the huggy type.

Now this is the life, sippy cups, granola bars and television.

Poor Tatiana. All she wanted to do was have a place to sit and look what happened.

Be Careful!

So this morning while getting everyone ready for the day, the tv was turned on like it always is, but this morning Barney was on. I'm not a big fan of this show, but it stopped Tania in her tracks thus saving me from cleaning another potential mess on her part. All the suddden Barney and some yellow dinosaur, I think BJ, were singing about being careful and how when a parent says, "Be careful," it really means I love you.

Blink...blink.

Really? Be careful = I love you? See when I say "be careful" to my kids that's just one small step away from, "I swear on everything that's good and holy if you don't stop messing around I'm gonna smack your head off and feel good about it." Who knew that empty threats and love go hand in hand.

Carbs Shmarbs

In a last ditch effort to not be a chub-a-chub Rick and I are starting the South Beach Diet tomorrow. We've made out our list of meals and snacks for the next week and I am really going balls out on this one. I admit I am a little put out by the whole no carb thing but the fact that I can drink diet coke and it's not even remotely cheating is a good thing. It should calm my nerves and keep the shaking due to lack of starches to a minimum.

So suck it carbs! I never liked you anyway!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait Giveaway!!

Just follow this link and enter to win a watercolor portrait of your children!

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2008/11/commissioned-watercolor-portrait.html

Good luck...but not as good as mine obviously.

To All My Local Friends...

Just so you know, there is a bone marrow drive tomorrow during the day at the mall. It begins at 10:00 a.m. and I believe goes until 4:00 p.m. There is no pricking, no blood draws, no big needles into your hip bone, just a simple cheek swab and you're on the list to save someone's life. Don't think you have the time or don't think it's that importanat? Tell that to Aren.

Thank You!

This morning has been a little bit of a hallmark moment for me. On our way to WalMart this morning we had to take a small detour because of our town Veteran's Day parade. I wanted to go, but Tatiana's green boogers deterred me from standing out in the cold. At WalMart there was a man standing by the door passing out red flowers to everyone to help us remember the veterans. He was dressed up in his WWII best and I couldn't help but think of his bravery over sixty years ago. I began thinking of my own sweet Rick who left his family for nine months to serve the US Army in Bosnia, even though things were medically falling apart for our children at home. In the store I saw a sweet little girl with a t-shirt that said, "My daddy and my heart are in Iraq" and it took everything to keep my composure.

How extremely grateful I am for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. How completely amazed I am at the strength and faith of the families that are left behind. Thank you to you all. Your sacrifice will never go unnoticed.

Evolution

I don't care what anyone says, evolution is totally possible.

For people who have been following my blogging for a while, you might remember my post about crazy blog people I discovered on the internet. If not, check it out here and here. In one of my not so finer moments of adulthood, I pretty much slammed someone whom I had never met before and said things that I would never dream of saying in real life. It didn't matter what this person said, she was wrong...end of story.

Jump ahead a few weeks as Rick and I discussed politics. I would ask Rick his opinions on something and then begin to ridicule and tell him how wrong he was on every point he made. Now fast forward a few more weeks and I had a similar experience. I was asked my opinion on something and no matter what I said, I was told I was wrong, no ifs, ands or buts. I was livid....and then the light bulb went off.

I'm a jerk. I was having done to me what I had been doing to others for the past few months, lifetimes probably, and I hated it. I am happy to admit though that times are changing and I am evolving. The "someone" who I slammed a few months ago is actually a pretty nice person I've discovered. We track each other's blogs and actually leave nice comments instead of snide remarks. Rick won't talk politics with me any time soon but I think that's more because I'm politically challenged and not a good debate as opposed to something else. As for the latest drama, agreeing to disagree and saying no more is sometimes the best thing.

I'm evolving and getting better all the time. That doesn't mean that I'm getting more right all the time, but instead evolving into a better person, learning to understand and accept others for who they are and not for what I want them to be. I enjoy seeing where I've been, where I am now and what that means for me in the future. Believe me, I know I've still got a long way to go. I mean for crying out loud, apes are still evolving. Don't believe me? You haven't seen Rick's belly.

Random Thoughts

1. What's the point of caller id if you can't be picky about when you answer the phone...that's for you Rick.
2. Why, oh why, would you advertise slightly used binkies on Freecycle?
3. Sixty degrees is not that cold and still I can't get warm.
4. Wal-Mart sucks yet their White Cloud Supreme diapers are a gift from heaven.
5. I hate children but somehow my house has become the neighborhood hang out...and I teach piano lessons to these monsters.

I Found It!

It was a trying week searching for Christmas backgrounds but I found it! Hidden deep within the realms of One Cute Blog was the paper I needed to keep my promise to not post my playlist until the proper background was found.

Thank you One Cute Blog!

Little Miracles

This is my sister Sarah and her gorgeous daughter Maren. Maren was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a condition where she basically had only half a heart and has endured a series of open heart surgeries to correct the condition and has more to go. You can read a little about their journey on Sarah's blog. Sarah and Maren are on the cover of Children's National Medical Center's quarterly magazine and their story is featured inside. I am constantly and truly amazed at my sister and her daughter for their strength and faith through this battle they've been asked to fight. They are both an amazing example to me. Love you guys!

No Boundaries

No one is immune from the effects of this election. Even Tatiana felt the stress of it all.

A Few Results

So, normally I keep this place my opinion free, but I know that some people were wondering about what's happening in AZ, so this is for you...and anyone else who cares.

Prop 102 passed which was the proposition that defined marriage between one man and one woman. I'll leave my thoughts out of this one.

One thing that didn't pass in Sierra Vista was the override. For more information on this, click here. Basically this was a way to give the public school system more money even though the stupid legislature here doesn't think they need it. It failed and I'm pissed. I can't believe that people are so unconcerned with the education of their community's children. What this whole thing means is that within two years there will be no music, art, or gym programs at all and children will be in school around five hours a day as opposed to the almost seven right now. There is still a possibility this thing will turn around...the vote can be vetoed and yadda, yadda, yadda, but it doesn't change the fact that over 50 percent of the people I live with would rather have a bunch of idiots running things. Thanks guys! Can't wait to see how they screw you over!

I voted!

Did you? I don't give a rat's butt who you voted for or how you voted on which proposition, I just hope you took advantage of this great opportunity to make your voice heard.

The Good Ol' Days

Remember when all it took to put a smile on your face was a really good episode of Sesame Street?

Under Pressure

I've noticed over the past few days that my posts have been revolving around family activities, with pictures to prove it. It's been a little while since I've posted a bloggity thing which include insights into my every day lifetime movie and I'm getting nervous that I can't deliver.

Nothing remotely interesting is happening right now. Sure I pissed Rick off enough last night that he went to the store and I wondered if I would ever see him again, sure I let Aren eat so much candy on Friday night that he threw up four times in an hour, and sure Tatiana has mastered her climbing abilities and proved it by standing on top of her dresser yesterday, but all of that doesn't seem "good" enough to post about and turn it into a life lesson.

Maybe life doesn't have to have a lesson. Maybe life can just be life and that should be good enough for me. Maybe just by typing I've accidentally stumbled upon an insight for my lifetime movie.

Maybe I'm back.

The Results Are In!

It looks like there will be no Christmas music today...mostly because you all said not to and partly because there are no really good Christmas backgrounds available yet. So we compromise...no music until I can find a good background!