Holiday Pictures 2007

The Princesses bake with love.

They had such a blast with this. Our kitchen island is perfect for this sort of thing.




Just a few of our Sugar cookies.

We take our time decorating our cookies. That is why it takes so long to complete.



Our fancy frosting tools.

3 ounces plastic cups & dollar store brushes paired with a lots of powdered sugar & a little water. Presto chango! We have cookie frosting!



My husband & my oldest




My oldest & I

Glad it's over!

WHEW! I am glad Christmas is OVER! Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like Christmas because I do. It was just a long, hectic holiday for us.

Both of my children were sick for most of December. They caused both my husband & I to get sick as well. I know, it is part of having little ones. The littlest one has been crabby, whiney & beyond clingy. I can't forget her not sleeping through the night & getting into bed with us at 2 a.m. Once she wakes us, we are awake for the rest of the night. That also aided us in getting sick.

On December 22nd, we spent ALL day baking & decorating sugar cookies. On Sunday I helped my daughter ake her gifts. We made a pincushion for my mom, using a frosting conatiner, polyfiber fill, tulle, felt & cotton. Another gift was a bank for my brother. Again we used a frosting container, scrapbook paper & metallic star stickers. Finally we made a pen/pencil holder for my dad. For that we used a round, plastic drink mix container, scrapbook paper, a Christmas tree colored by Liz from school & snowflake & gingerbread men stickers. My husband took the little one to the store so we wouldn't be trying to keep her out of the supplies to make gifts.

December 23rd, I got to go to the store to buy a few last minute gifts for my husband & our girls. I picked up some DVD's & a metal camping table for him. For the littlest one I choose a pair of Dora the Explorer play shoes. The oldest received an UNO card game featuring "Cars" by Pixar & a set of 4 plastic card holders by Leap Frog. I also threw together a big fancy bow from wired edged ribbon for the wine we were taking to the Christmas Eve/housewarming party.

My husband is half Itallian & he said it is custom to present friends with a bottle of wine & a loaf of bread at a housewarming. The ribbon made it look much nicer, you know...like an actualy GIFT! We also brought sugar cookies for their party, per their request. The gift was a pair of digital thermostats for their new home. They were pleased.

They gave us 4 tickets to see the Disney Princesses on ice...row 12. They brought back a pretty bracelet for me from Greece & postcards from Greece & Italy to use in my Postcrossing activites. It is 224 miles round trip to their house & back. We got home about 11:30 pm Christmas Eve. We were wrapping gifts for the kids until about 3 am.

Christmas day we got up earlier than we would have liked. One was becuase children are impatient to see what Santa has left for them. The other was that we had too much to do! From 7am until 12:30 pm I did the following:

Opened gifts from Santa & each other.

Made & ate breakfast while fighting to keep the kids out of the candy canes that Santa leaves on the tree each year.

Wrapped the gifts to my Mother in law, brother & parents. My sister in laws gift was already wrapped.

Did three loads of laundry.

Gave the kids a bath.

Took a shower.

Ran the dushwasher.

Baked 3 dozen cookies for my dad becuase he LOVES my chocolate chip cookies.

Made my siser in laws 2nd gift.

Wrote out a few receipes for my brothers gift.

got the kids & myself dressed & loaded into the car.

Husband & I loaded gifts into the car.

Husband & I forgot the gift I made SIL & one gift for my MIL, but didn't know it until we drove the 75 miles to MILs house.

Drove to MILs house.

Most of this would have been done BEFORE Christmas Day if the girls had not been sick & had not gotten us sick as well.

See why I said I was glad Christmas is over?


On Chrismas Day after I was finished eating, I was the 2st one done btw, I got up & just started doing the dirty dishes. I did this because my MIL would not let me help her with setting the table or anything before hand. I didn't say a word I just got up & started cleaning. My husband broguht me his dishes & next some other guests dishes. Gradualoly all the dishes were brought to me. I was washing them & putting them in the dishwasher to dry. My MIL looked exhausted & over heated. I lost count of how many times she thanked me. It's not like her own daughter would do such a thing. I think my MIL was trying to give me time to visit with my family. That is why she wouldn't let me help her before dinner. She is sweet that way.


As it turns out the Receipe book was the perfect gift for my brother. I made sure to include the ones he had written out for me back in 1998. He had told me today that those were all receipes he had before the fire burned them up. My husband picked up some bakeware for him becuase the one he was cooking with needed to be replaced. he was very pleased.

After I up load some pics I am headed to bed.

The Kitchen Bitch

The Kitchen Bitch

A mother was working in the kitchen listening to her 5-year-old son playing with his new electric train in the living room. She heard the train stop and her son saying, "All of you sons of bitches who want off, get the hell off now...cause this is the last stop! And all of you sons of bitches who are getting on, get your asses in the train...cause we're going down the tracks."

The horrified mother went in and told her son, "We don't use that kind of language in this house. Now I want you to go to your room and you are to stay there for TWO HOURS. When you come out, you may play with your train...but I want you to use nice language."

Two hours later, the son came out of the bedroom and resumed playing with his train. Soon the train stopped and the mother heard her son say..."All passengers, please remember your things, thank you and hope your trip was a pleasant one. We hope you will ride with us again soon."

She heard her little darling continue..."For those of you just boarding, remember, there is no smoking in the train. We hope you will have a pleasant and relaxing journey with us today."

As the mother began to smile, the child added, "For those of you who are pissed off about the TWO HOUR delay, please see the bitch in the kitchen...."

December 2007 Happenings

Let's see. December 2007 began with temps that were above average into the 80's! Who wants to put up a Christmas tree in THAT weather! Not me! We forced ourselves to do just that. Before December 7th rolled around my husband put the lights up outside as well. It was a good thing he did because the night after the lights went up, the rain came down. We had rain, or some trace of it, on & off for the next 2 weeks.

On the parcel of land we call hom that means a few things. It means we can only exit from the front door of our home, we must wear plastic bags on our feet to & from the van, we hope the van can make it off the parially finished gravel drive way without getting stuck & that our home is surrounded by many mini "lakes". That is what happens on our unlandscaped parcel if it rain much at all.

We went to our first "family night" at school. We had to have our "passport" filled with stcikers before we could take part in the free activity. We were herded into a classroom to listen to a story. Next we were herded into a 2nd classroom to hear a 2nd story. Next we were escorted into & stood in line waiting entrance into the gymnasium. The line went directy to a Santa wearing sunglasses. Most likely it was to disguise his true identity to the students...the school took the students name & a photo of them ^ their siblings with "Santa". Finally we got to make a "gingerbread" house. The "gingerbread" was actually graham crackers. They gave us a large plastic bag flled with graham crackers, misc candies, pretzel sticks & am emply milk carton along with a cup of frosting & a popscicle stick. Here is the result of my 5 year olds creative efforts.



I didn't help her much at all. About the only thing did was add more frosting to hold things like the licorice in place. She also had a problematic gumdrop of the roof that required my attention. Other than that, it was all her!



A bit later in the month she had her first choir concert. They sang 5 songs & one was introduced by my little girl. The little one was bored & tempermental. Therefore I missed most of her concert & got no photos of her on stage. Instead I got to listen from the hallway! Her Daddy was taping it for the Grandparents. We will watch it together on Christmas Day. When the entire school sang together I got right down in front & snapped a few great shots of her singing & dancing. At the end of the concert the teachers selected my daughter to present the music teacher with some Christmas roses.



After the final day of school before the Christmas break we headed to the library & the adjacent park for some playtime. The gilrs were being silly & having a great time. This was the first time the little one really, REALLY had a blast here. Towrd the end of it both my kids were sliding doown the spiral slide on their bellies & even backwards!





Tomorrow is going to be crazy busy. We have gifts to finish making, more to wrap, cookies to ice & even more to bake. This is all before we make the 2 hour drive to go to the Christmas party of very good friends. Only with sleep deprevation & tehe magic of Christmas will everything get done.

Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler

> >> >
> >> > Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler
> >> >
> >> > December 8 6:00 PM
> >> >
> >> > It started to snow. The first snow of the season and
> >> > the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by
> >> > the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down
> >> > from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So
> >> > romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 9
> >> >
> >> > We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow
> >> > covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic
> >> > sight! Can there be a more lovely place in
> >> > the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've
> >> > ever had!
> >> > Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a
> >> > boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.
> >> > This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered
> >> > up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got
> >> > to shovel again. What a perfect life!
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 12
> >> >
> >> > The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
> >> > disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry-
> >> > we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on
> >> > Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much
> >> > snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see
> >> > snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such
> >> > a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 14
> >> >
> >> > Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The
> >> > temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything
> >> > sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed
> >> > up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is
> >> > the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and
> >> > buried everything again. I didn't
> >> > realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling,
> >> > but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish
> >> > I wouldn't huff and puff so.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 15
> >> >
> >> > 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4
> >> > Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2
> >> > extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants
> >> > a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think
> >> > that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 16
> >> >
> >> > Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in
> >> > the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The
> >> > wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very
> >> > cruel.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 17
> >> >
> >> > Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
> >> > anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to
> >> > pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but
> >> > stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I
> >> > should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to
> >> > her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe
> >> > I'm freezing to death in my own livingroom.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 20
> >> >
> >> > Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of
> >> > the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all
> >> > day. The damn snowplow came by twice.
> >> > Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said
> >> > they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're
> >> > lying.
> >> > Called the only hardware store around to see about
> >> > buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have
> >> > another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob
> >> > says I have to shovel or the city will have it done
> >> > and bill me. I think he's lying.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 22
> >> >
> >> > Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more
> >> > inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold,
> >> > it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes
> >> > to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I
> >> > had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and
> >> > dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to
> >> > hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of
> >> > the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the
> >> > asshole is lying.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 23
> >> >
> >> > Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0.
> >> > The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house
> >> > this morning. What is she, nuts?!!
> >> > Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She
> >> > says she did but I think she's lying.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 24
> >> >
> >> > 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke
> >> > the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I
> >> > ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow
> >> > plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and
> >> > beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he
> >> > hides around the corner and waits for me to finish
> >> > shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100
> >> > miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just
> >> > been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas
> >> > carols with her and open our presents, but I was too
> >> > busy watching for the damn snowplow.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 25
> >> >
> >> > Merry f---ing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn
> >> > slop tonight - Snowed in
> >> > The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate
> >> > the snow!
> >> > Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation
> >> > and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife
> >> > says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking
> >> > idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one
> >> > more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 26
> >> >
> >> > Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It
> >> > was all HER idea.
> >> > She's really getting on my nerves.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 27
> >> >
> >> > Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze;
> >> > plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he
> >> > only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 28
> >> >
> >> > Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The BITCH is
> >> > driving me crazy!!!
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 29
> >> >
> >> > 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or
> >> > it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever
> >> > heard. How dumb does he think I am?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 30
> >> >
> >> > Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now
> >> > he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the
> >> > beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the
> >> > broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to
> >> > her mother.
> >> > Nine more inches predicted.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > December 31
> >> >
> >> > I set fire to what's left of the house. No more
> >> > shoveling.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > January 8
> >> >
> >> > Feel so good. I just love those little white pills
> >> > they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
> >> >

Christmas is nearly here!

Where has 2007 gone! I long list of gifts to make...next year. It is too late to make most of them this year.

What AM I making you ask? Well, I watch a program called Creative Juice on the DIY channel. I am making flowered glass votive candle holders from that show. I am hand writing receipes for a cookbook for my brother. Some are from family members both living & dead. Some are from cookbooks & are things I enjoy making & some are from postcards I've received from other countries!If you want to have yours included just post them here by December 23rd! I am not publishing this, it is just a heartfelt gift for a sibling that enjoys to cook.

As for my daughter? She is making gifts a well. A bank for her Uncle & one for her Grandmother. A pincusion for her other Grandma. We are turning a can into a pen/pencil holder with a drawing & sone glue for her Grandpa. Her Daddy will probably get one as well. Her Godparents are getting a reindeer head made from a construction paper triangle, traced hands for antlers & a red glitter nose.

I also must include the sugar cookies with powdered sugar icing that we made for gift last year. We have had requests for them this year. The kids Godparents are having a Christmas party on Christmas Eve & they have requested extra cookies for the party. That means we will probably be making 300-400 cookies agin this year.

Last year while the little one slept, my husband, our oldest child & myself decorated 300+ cookies & used ALL of the 14 colors of frosting I made for the cookies. We had fun but it took FOREVER! I was actually getting tired of frosting sugar cookies! I think we will start this task this weekend instead of waiting until December 22nd this year.

The holiday choir concert at school is December 17th & the company Christmas party is december 15th. I have yet to wrap one single Christmas present & the tree isn't fully dressed in all of it's decorations. She is presentable so she will remain dressed as she is currently. Besides, my 2 year old keeps taking the decorations off of the tree. The fewer decorations there are, the fewer decorations I have to hut down & rehang.