Friday Funny

"I gotta have more cowbell, baby!" (see if you can find Will Ferrell in this skit)

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." - Aristotle
As I drove to the gym this morning, this is the sight which greeted me. What a way to kick off the day! I love the sunrise.

Adventures at Grannie's House

I am sitting here with my Cafe Rio tortilla in one hand, trying to figure out how to type one-handed as I scarf (yes, scarf!) my tortilla-dipped-in-house-dressing.

Today was a pretty typical day for me: I gathered up my 60 library books (voracious readers at my house), drove to the library with Mimi & returned them, then drove far out of my way to accommodate Mimi's craving for Cafe Rio rice. At first I was grouchily doing this, and then I began to crave tortillas. We returned home just in time to greet my friend's two kids, whom I watch every Wednesday as part of a mom-switch; she watches Mimi every Monday. We do this to enable each other to volunteer in the 1st grade classroom. (Just typing that out loud increases my volunteerism-satisfaction level...) I called Max's teacher & got myself on the schedule for his classroom, also. So I'll be at school every Monday from 12:30-2:30 and then back again every Thursday from 9:30-11:30 to help with the Take Home Reading program. (volunteerism satisfaction thermometer rising as I type...) I am a big believer in being a part of my kids' classrooms; I like having my finger on the dynamic, both of the teacher with my child and of my child's social interaction.

At 3:30 I met Wendi to get our nails done together, which was a treat. I am usually ready to expire from boredom when I get out of there, but today I was having fun friend time! I was forced to practice my Stuart Smalley Daily Affirmations, though, because Wendi has perfect willowy hands and I have....Man Hands. *sigh* (see bottom clip: 1st 1:45)

I do like my non-dangly earlobes, though. See! Affirmation!

Then I came home and made a delicious dinner for my family, showing my love and devotion via culinary affection. Yep, Ramen. I was tired! It was 5:50pm! Enough said. Tomorrow is another day (Scarlett O'Hara-style).

Here are some more pictures from the Thanksgiving holiday at my parents' house. Below, Max is exhibiting his Rubiks Cube prowess! The kid can solve the cube (with a cheat sheet that gives him a few moves of guidance).

My mom set up her tree and had the kids put on the ornaments, which I considered to be an act of love and patience. Thanks, Mom! They are still talking about it.

Mimi, of course, got to put up all the Barbie ornaments. She kept trying to take them off again and play with them. Again, patience and love.....!


This is official documentation of Sky's inheriting the gene for "Chair Time," my Dad's favorite form of relaxation.
Max conquered the tree! And spent time spying on the neighbor's backyard activities and also fighting the resident squirrel for Tree Time.

The van is loaded and ready to pull out for the drive home. You keep smilin', buddy.

Sis has emotional trauma every time she has to say goodbye to Grannie. It's heart-wrenching to watch and causes ME emotional trauma! There I am, saying goodbye & trying to be a big girl, and then Sis' wails of distress cause me to unravel.

She actually said a well-adjusted farewell this time, but has been crying herself to sleep for three straight nights. Tonight seems to be a bit better; I snuggled in bed with her for a while and we made an agenda of Christmas activities for Grannie's December visit. That seemed to bring her emotions into check. (crossing my fingers)





***HEY!*** I forgot to add that I got up at 6:30am to haul my tired self to the gym! After a night of revelry at Chili's until 12:00am the night before! (exercise satisfaction increasing as I type...)

Thanksgiving Feast

"Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays,
‘Cause no matter how far away you roam,
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,
For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home."
- "Home For the Holidays".....(imagine it sung in Perry Como's voice)

We travelled to my parents' house for Thanksgiving and oh, what a feast we had! Of course the kids could not settle down the night of arrival; I caught Max reading at 11pm with Gramps while Gramps had "chair time."

And Sis was allowed (by her pushover dad) to snuggle on the downstairs couch "until she got sleepy." Hah! Like, in 2 more hours.

Wednesday was filled with pre-feast prep, and here I present to you the legendary red jello. My brother makes all sorts of pretenses that he is not a jello salad fan, that he's above a good jello-y dish, but I have proof (later) that this is not so. I myself ADORE the red jello. We made two dishes of it so that we'd have enough to dive into for leftovers.

Here is table #2, set for the big day. Look at our turkey, covered with a beach towel (over foil) to keep it warm. Spoiled bird.

Surprisingly, most of the fruit got eaten. I myself was wise enough not to waste good stomach space on healthy food.

Here is Sky, my brother, making the traditional Thanksgiving Punch, which I could down by the keg. But all we had on hand was a huge stainless bowl. I told him he looked like he was stirring Witches Brew....

....so he obliged me with a Witches Brew pose and cackle.

Let the feast begin! We had fun with my aunt Kathy & her family (Dennis, Kaylee, Cody, Kim) as guests and afterward played a rousing game of Scattergories, at which I am abysmally bad.

Is that Red Jello you are taking a huge bite of, Sky?....

...why yes, it is! I snapped a clandestine photo of your plate to prove it!

Mike seated himSELF at Mimi's kid table. I promise! I did not relegate him to the mini-chair; I am stating this for the record because years from now I will look at this photo and wonder to myself, "Why would I make him sit there?..."

So Future Crystal, you tried to change him with Isabelle and don't let him guilt trip you!
My plate of Nirvana On a Platter.

Thanks, Mom, for such an outstanding feast and jolly week! It was my best Thanksgiving in a long while, including the one spent at Disneyland!

Menu Plan Monday

This is my half-hearted menu plan; I'm just not into cooking this week. (gasp!) I will, however, be into BAKING. So check the food blog in a few days for goodies.

Monday
Soup
Grilled cheese
broccoli if i summon the energy

Tuesday
Beef Barley Soup over baked potatoes
broccoli

Wednesday
Baked Spaghetti
green salad

Thursday
Pork Chops with Brandied Cherry Sauce
roasted baby potatoes

Friday
Tuna toastwiches
crockpot soup

Saturday
Whole wheat pancakes
eggs

Sunday
leftover buffet

Tuesday Tell All: Attitude of Gratitude

What I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:
* My children, all healthy, happy & thriving.

* My husband, uncritical & family-oriented.

* Parents, mine and his, who have helped us through our tough year.

* A warm, cozy home, filled with love.

* A very deep bathtub, in which I love to soak & read!

* My van, which keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny.

* Mike's balloon friend, which reminded him that the Lord is RIGHT there & he's mindful of Mike, ready to guide him.

* My Heavenly Father, whom I know is watching over me and guiding us as we try to discern our path at a fundamental crossroads in our life.

* Tender Mercies from the Lord, reminding me I'm not alone and that there truly IS a pattern to our tribulations right now.

* A recognition that trials will stretch me, will cause my marriage to be stretched, to be tried and to flourish.

* My husband, possessed of an unyielding work ethic and dogged determination to provide for his family.

I think my testimony of the gospel and my relationship with the Lord has grown proportionately more in a short period of time (the last 4 months) than at any other time in my life since 1) a special experience given during college, or 2) experiences during high school. Because of a willingness to listen to the Lord, being willing to hear what He wants me & Mike to learn from difficult situations--one after another--we've been able as a couple to connect the dots and see the pattern of His plan for us. We've drawn together in a way we've not been able to in the past.

It's an interesting dichotomy that your most precious spiritual gifts come usually when you are in tumult and chaos and in extreme need. When your life is difficult, the Lord helps you and the veil is very thin at moments. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything, even though they--by nature--come hand-in-hand with humbling circumstances. I treasure the spiritual gifts I've received in this time when my heart has cried out and I've been scared for what's ahead for my family. That is what I am most thankful for this year.

Over the River & Through the Woods

...To Grannie's house we go! Wish me luck, because I'm about to throw everyone in the car and putt-putt my minivan for a 6 hour drive to my parents' house! Every time I'm about to embark on a road trip with kids I feel like I'm sitting in a rollercoaster seat, waiting to be shot into oblivion--excited and scared, simultaneously (read this post). Should we do our rollercoaster scream?

Here we go! Bwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............

Mimi's New Haircut

Little Mimi's twirlies were getting out of control, so I "evened out her ends." More liked whacked off all her hair, but let's not get technical. So far, she hasn't noticed that her hair is not long enough to do her beloved "fancy pigtails." I'll rue the day when she realizes! I took her to Annette, who does my hair, and whom Mimi calls "the nette." Annette joked and said, "I'm not just a nette, I'm THE nette."

Friday Funny

How can you resist Buddy the Elf?

Free Day, Baby

Brie & pears.

Quite possibly the most heavenly combination known to man. I'm about to hie upstairs and watch my tivo'd "Office" with Mike, and this is the platter that's going with me. Oh, and a Fresca.

I'll be in Heaven for the next half hour. Don't bother me. I'm eating.

We're Patrons of the Arts

Tonight we went on a family outing to "The 12 Dancing Princesses," a play at our local high school. It was primarily for Mimi, as you might have guessed. Because Mimi is constantly telling me and all others who will listen to her that she goes to high school, I got a picture of her in front of the lockers. (Seriously. The checkers at the grocery will ask her how old she is and she answers, matter-of-factly, "I go to high school.")

This is the outfit she assembled herself to attend "the princess play." And she just strikes these poses spur of the moment. No mere stand-'n-smile for the Drama Queen.
This is us sitting & waiting for the play to begin. Because we were early. I am always early, actually. Oh, YES I AM. Always. And if my mom says otherwise, don't believe her.

Isabelle snapped this one. Check out the twirlies in Mimi's hair. I'm going to have to shave her head in order to break her of this habit.

This is some of the on-stage action. I posted it mainly so my mom could get a feel for how colorful and busy it was, so she could understand why MIMI WAS IN HEAVEN. Look at the gowns! Mimi was enraptured. And she noticed right away that each princess had a tiara. She was sitting on Mike's lap the entire time (daddy's girl) and kept describing to him, with great big sparkly eyes, the details of the gowns she loved. She had concentration mouth the entire play.


While we were waiting for the play to begin (I repeat! because we were early!), Isabelle got her mitts on my camera and got snap-happy. Evidently she was shooting goofball self-portraits, which I didn't know until I plugged my camera into my computer just now. HA! Mike says he saw her doing it, and the older gentleman in the row behind her was getting quite a kick out of it the entire time (bottom picture).

Max took advantage of the 3 hours to work on solving his Rubik's Cube. I'm mad I didn't think to take a picture of that!

Christmas Time is Here

I stood out in the frigid cold for a half hour, trying to get a good photo but my red & white candycane lights do not show up!

Last night for Family Home Evening we put up the tree. Actually, Mike put it up while I watched. He told me I'm not allowed to attempt it because I'd fall and break my arm. Considering my accident-prone nature, he's correct.

The ladder actually teetered during this maneuver. Good thing it wasn't ME up there!

I helped by snapping photos and making hot chocolate.


When he saw me happily snapping away, Mike said, "Are you actually blogging this?!" I replied, "Duh!" and then, "you better SMILE", you look a little frazzled."

He smiled. Yes, he DID. Look closely. You may have to click on the picture to enlarge it; he's not exactly effusive in his emotions.

Evidently, Sis is allowed on the ladder. But not me.

Typical Mimi. Can't you just hear the "Charlie Brown Christmas" music playing in the background as I type this? Because it is! I've been playing Christmas music now for at least a week. Next up: "A Muppet Christmas Carol!" The best Christmas movie ever.

***Do you have a favorite Christmas show?

*** Is your tree up yet?

***What’s your favorite Christmas music?