Its Finally Over

Well, the snow didn't end at 11:30 this morning like I hoped. It hasn't completely ended yet. It is still snowing a little bit here and there. The news did call it a blizzard tonight, the blizzard of 2008. The official total for my area of the state is 21 inches. Thank you lake effect. They are kind of hard to see but those specks of white on my car are actually snowflakes. The house is the house across the street. I thought that was a better picture of the snowflakes but not sure you can really see them there. You can, however, see how low the visablity was. The chainlink fence is my fence so that house is usually very easily seen.

Snow, snow, snow

The snow here has been crazy! It started snowing yesterday and finally stopped. It's 11:30 am here now. There are a couple of cars that are stuck in the road on our circle. My husband has been snowblowing all morning and likely, he'll have to do them all again. We recieved 12 inches of snow and likely recieved that again today. We got stuck in the snow going to my mom's house for Christmas yesterday and again on the way home. The snow plows won't be able to get to us until next week. I'm afraid our street will be ice then. The above pictures are of a ruler. The first one is just outside our door and isn't all the way down cuz the first inch or two is ice. The second one is by the sidewalk. Third one is the ruler just outside our gate. It is a four foot gate. On the bottom, the first one is the ruler on the car; 7 inches if I recall correctly. The last one is my husband doing the neighbors yard. I told you it was crazy.

Merry Christmas

Not Me Monday

taking my first step into the Not Me Mondays

I was not late to my sister-in-laws house on Saturday and did not wear damp pants because I did not forgot to start the dryer when I put my clothes in.

I did not wrap all the Christmas presents then forget what is in which package because, of course, I would have written down what was in each package. Nope, not me.

I didn't miscalculate my finances and wrap up socks for my fahter-in-law that I bought for my husband. I wouldn't do that.

I did not threaten to call Santa and tell him not to come because the children are all perfect angels. I wouldn't be that mean.

I am not dreaming of a green Christmas in a tropical paradise and I lookk outside at the snow and think of all the predicted storms. I am not thinking of Bing Crosby and cursing that song.

I am not going to close this post and get me a cup of hot chocolate now.

To see what other people have not done, go to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2008/12/not-me-monday_22.html

Busy Weekend-ish

I said weekend-ish because Friday isn't actually a part of the weekend, but Friday is when my weekend started. We had a family Christmas party for my side of the family. We had a potluck and the children exchanged gifts. No pictures, I forgot my camera.

Saturday, we celebrated my son's 10th birthday with all his friends. None of them were on time and one came 1/2 hour before the party ended. And I forgot to take a picture of the cake. I did get pics of the party but none of my son alone and I won't post pics of other children without permission.

Saturday night we had a Christmas party at my sister-in-laws house for my husbands side of the family. His parents didn't come cuz they were sick. My brother-in-laws family didn't come because they forgot so their children weren't home. My husband suggested not going because no one else was coming and now he knows why we don't plan stuff like this for his side of the family. We were late but we did show up. The children made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. Then Santa and Mrs. Clause came and handed out gifts to the children. They were really late and I felt jipped. (Is that even how its spelled?) Okay, I was disappointed but it really was fun.

Sunday, we had a party for the family to celebrate my son's birthday even though he hasn't had it yet. I invite my mother and father in law but not the rest because they never come anyway so I just quit. I guess my brother-in-law felt bad so I called him and gave him an official invitation. My sister-in-law thought it was more important to play her Nintendo than come so I have just proven my point as to why they are never invited. Anyhoo, he is on a Bakugan thing so I didn't get him any for his birthday (I saved them all for Christmas). He did get some from my sister, my sister-in-law on my side, and his grandma so he was happy. I am also happy to report that my husband did not give in and give him any presents early. He has a hard time waiting. Sometimes I think he is more excited than the children.

Works for Me Wednesday

My husband used to get old applicances and recycle them. I did my own recycling with dishwasher utinsel holders. I put them on the wall in my sewing room to hold notions or other supplies. Check it out in the pictures below. Go to Rocks In My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday.

My Little Snow Shoveler

It snowed for 1/2 the day today. The snow accumlated and the snow blower wouldn't start. My sweet son, on his own, decided to shovel the snow for his dad. He shoveled once and come back in with freezing cold hands. After he had warmed up a bit, he put his gloves on and went back outside and shoveled it again. He cleaned off all the sidewalk, the driveway (which isn't so little) and even my car. It was so sweet.

Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree up and decorated. It is a fake tree. We (me and the children) put on the first row of branches and then Daddy puts on one row of lights. Then, next row of branches and next row of lights. I think he likes lots of lights. My little baby (who is 2) was loving the decorating of the tree. Anything she could find that had a hook or a loop was on the tree as fast as she could get it there. She loves our "bootiful" tree. The picture of the stocking is the only homemade ornament on our tree. I made about 100 of them one year. Gave some to children's classes at school, gave some to cousins and gave the rest to a local children's hospital.

M&M Christmas Story

In case you don't know, I teach Sunday School at my church every other Sunday, 12 going on 13 year olds. I call them my "kids". I wanted to do something special for them for Christmas. This is what I've decided to do. Attached to a package of M&M will be this poem.

M&M Christmas Story

As you hold these candies in your hand

and turn them, you will see....

The M becomes a W, an E, and then a 3.

They tell the Christmas story it's one I'm sure you know.

It took place in a stable a long, long time ago.

The E is for the East where the star shone oh so bright.

The M is for the Manger where the baby Jesus slept that night.

The 3 is for the Wiseman bearing gifts, they say they came.

W is for Worship, HallelujahPraise to His name.

So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend,

Remember the meaning of Christmas,

It's a Love story that never ends.

Nephew Is Doing Well

Because we are familiar with diabetes in this family and because my nephew is a smart boy, he is going home today. He gave himself his first shot this morning. He understands what's going on. My sister will have to watch him though because depression is common among diabetics. I'm just glad it was caught early. All the tests were done and there was no problems caused by the diabetes.

Nephew has Diabetes

My mom has type 2 diabetes. She has been periodically checking my nephews blood sugar. My nephew is 10 years old. Yesterday, his blood sugar was over 600. Normal is 120 or below. Today, his fasting blood glucose was over 300. My sister took him to Primary Children's Medical Center and told them she thinks he has diabetes. She said the nurse looked at her like she didn't know what she was talking about. Their machine tests up to 700; his sugar level was so high it didn't register. Okay, he hasn't eaten anything for a few hours so that pretty much says he is diabetic. He will be in the hospital for 3 days so they can stabilize him and get his family educated on type 1 diabetes. Thank goodness it was discovered early enough he didn't get sick or anything. Thank goodness we know what to look for.

101 in 1001 update

#2 was to get rid of my PMI. I got a letter Monday telling me its been removed. Yay!
#39 was to try a new craft. My new craft is bath salts. I bought some essential oils. Need to get some salts still but I will do that tomorrow. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out. Wish me luck!

This is my daughter's name Funny how it came up.

Your Elf Name Is: Sassy Cartwheels

Son of a nutcracker!

My Elf Name Is

Your Elf Name Is...

Ditzy Fluffernutter

What's" Your Elf Name?

I saw this over at Mattersoftheheart, too funny. Go check it out, and let me know what yours is.

Exposed

I know its passed Thanksgiving but I liked the picture.

I'm a Genuis

I found this test at momstheword. Go "here" and take the test and be sure and come back and comment to let us know how you did! I look forward to hearing about it! Please share how you did, it'll be fun, lol!

I do think that maybe there is something wrong with this test as it gave me a genius status but, hey, who am I to argue?

Black Friday 08

I do not like crowds. I do not care to look at ads for deals I won't get because I will not do Black Friday crowds. My husband, however, is a totally different story. Last year, he bought personal portable DVD players for the two older children. He went hog wild last year. It was crazy.

Thank goodness this year he used some self control. lol. He bought a ripboard and a water gun for my son. He bought a Barbie car and a water gun for my middle daughter. He bought duplo-type blocks for my youngest daughter.
I think he goes overboard sometimes but he just wants them to have a good Christmas. I personally think its the family time and traditions of love and giving that make good Christmases.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Grateful

I just wanted to say that I am grateful to all those who read my blog even though I have not posted anything lately. Hopefully, I won't do that again. I have been getting ready to do a boutique on December 6, 2008. After that is my DS's birthday and Christmas. Its a busy month but I love it. I love the sights, the smells, the love. Wishing everyone who reads this (and even those who don't) a very Happy Thanksgiving. May we all remember what we are grateful for and how blessed we are during this time of trial for our country. Love you all.

Gratitude

(From the Brat Factor)

Most people do not realize the many health benefits of gratitude. Studies indicate that thankfulness is directly linked to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Compared to people who do not live a lifestyle of thankfulness, research shows that grateful people:

1. Experience higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination optimism and energy

2. Experience less depression

3. Better manage stress

4. Are more likely to help others

5. Exercise more regularly

6. Make more progress towards their personal goals

7. Have stronger immune systems

8. Have fewer symptoms of physical illness

Those are some impressive benefits that can be yours without even increasing your physical activity or changing your nutrition plan. All that is required is a grateful heart.

Are you a thankful person? If you are unsure, then it may be in your best interest to consider the following questions:

Are you the type of person who dwells on the good or on the bad things that happen to you?

Do you tell others about the blessings in your life as much as you tell them when things go wrong?

Are you considerate of the people closest to you or do you often take them for granted?

Are you thankful only when things are going well or do you look for blessings even when bad things happen?

Is there someone you admire who is a thankful person?

What other attributes do you admire about him/her?

Are you leaving a legacy of thankfulness that others will remember you by?

There is nothing complicated about gratitude. Quite simply, thankfulness is a choice. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our life is great. It just means that in spite of all we see that is worthy of complaint, there is far more we can choose to focus on that is worthy of thank- fulness. Why not choose to extend the tradition of giving thanks through the entire year, instead of limiting it to the Holiday Season? You’re physical, emotional, and spiritual health will all reap the benefits of a thankful heart. The choice is yours.

My Awards

I recieved this award from Tammy at http://pinkstinx.blogspot.com/. Check it out, its a great blog.

Here are the rules for this one:
1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.
Six Important Values/Beliefs:

1. Family
2. God
3. Honesty
4. Love
5. Friends
6. Peace

Nix Support For These Values/Beliefs:

1. Unforgiving
2. Greed
3. Selfishness
4. Hate in any form
5. Negativity
6. Bitterness

I like to award these to
1. Momstheword at http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/. Sorry to say I don't know her name but I read her blog everyday.
2. Tammy at http://www.ltwitchell.blogspot.com/
3. Becky at http://www.beckysquire.com/. I read her blog everyday too but she probably doesn't even know.
4. Toostie at http://tootsietime.blogspot.com/. I don't know her very well but you all have to check out the beautiful tree she has posted on her site.
5. Chocolateonmycranium at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/ whom I also don't know personally but read her posts constantly.
6. http://prettyorganizedpalace.blogspot.com/ whose name I also don't know but read all the time.

Jello Jigglers

Tonight, we made Jello Jigglers. I have alphabet cutters and used them to make the names of my children. I wish I would've taken pictures as the turned out so cute. This week in our preschool, we will be studying the moon. Maybe I'll make some more in lemon flavor, cut them out in circle shapes and cover them with whipped topping. If I use sugar-free jello and sugar-free whipped topping, it should be less than 100 calories per serving.

A New Baby and a Sick Puppy

At midnight last night (or would that be this morning), my sister called and hung up. It took me calling back 4 times before someone picked up the phone. She told me that my niece had her baby on Thursday. He was 7 lbs 8 oz, 20.5 inches long. My other niece had told my sister that the baby had aspirated some fluid and was in the NICU. Scary place for a baby to be (at least for the parents) but those nurses are so nice and helpful. Today, I found out they moved him to a new hospital because he has a hole in his lung and this hospital has state of the art equipment.

My hubby's sister's dog (got that?) Jasmine was found on her porch yesterday convulsing. They took her to the emergency room. The hospital ran all kinds of test but all tests came up negative. The vet thinks she either got in to snail bait or has epilepsy. My SIL was having a really hard time. Jasmine is a really good dog and loved by all who know her.

We are asking for prayers for them both.

Thought for the Day

Perhaps most significant of all classrooms is the classroom of the home. It is in the home that we form our attitudes, our deeply held beliefs. It is in the home that hope is fostered or destroyed. Our homes are the laboratories of our lives. What we do there determines the course of our lives when we leave home. Dr. Stuart E. Rosenberg wrote in his book The Road to Confidence, ‘Despite all new inventions and modern designs, fads and fetishes, no one has yet invented, or will ever invent, a satisfying substitute for one’s own family.'”President Thomas S. Monson, “Precious Children—A Gift from God,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 68

Preschool - Trains

This week we focused on trains. We read Freight Train by Donald Crews which is a wonderful book, colorful and vibrant. We also read The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. We read the poem Shiny New Train by Katrina Lybbert and acted out the poem Trains by James S. Tippett. We talked about the different kinds of trains, freight trains, passenger trains, etc. We talked about how train starts with the letter T. We made a train out of geometrical shapes. We also talked about the letter 10 and counted to ten in Spanish and English.

Wordless Wednesday

"Mom, take my picture. Cheese."

Check out more Wordless Wednesday pictures at MomDot

Veterans' Day

Thank you for all you have done for us. My Father-in-Law fought in one war and it affects him still today.

Tackle It Tuesday

Okay, I'm still working on my hubby's office. I started cleaning out one corner and though its not a huge difference, I thought I'd share my progress. If I work this right, the pic on the left is before and the one on the right is in process. I know there is still so much to do but its progress. To see more Tackle it Tuesday tackles, visit http://www.5minutesformom.com/

Exposed #6

Safest Plastics for Food and Beverages

We all know certain plastics leach toxins into our food. The following plastics are considered safest for food storage. Glass and stainless steel are also good options.

Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene (PETE), code 1.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE), code 2.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), code 4.
Polypropylene (PP), code 5.

I Am Thankful For...

For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV, because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes I pay, because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking, and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in my place of worship when she sings off key, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
and finally....

For too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.(

Daughter's Room

I promised pics of my daughter's room so here they are.
Not as clean as it could be but still, an improvement.

I Voted

My husband and I went to the polls about 8:30am or so. There was no line at all. We walked up to the table, got our card and went to the cubicles they had set up. I voted my head-in case of a tie, I voted my heart. I feel good about my decisions. If the people I voted for don't make it in or the ones I didn't vote for do, I will support whomever is sworn in to the offices.

Exposed

Photo Story Friday

These are my Halloween sweeties. My daughter wouldn't leave the costume on so we took a pic and took it off. The other is the rest of my sweeties trick or treating at the zoo. There is a big snake behind them if you look close.

Halloween

Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,

When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night

When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.

Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghoul and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.

It is like Being a Pumpkin

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to be a Christian?'
The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.' God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

Tackle It Tuesday

Tackled Daughters bedroom. She has so many dollhouses and play sets for her little pet shop toys. I needed someplace to keep them that wasn't on the floor. The toy box was overflowing with toys for both girls. I grant you that they probably have more than they need. Okay they definitely have more than they need. And its a small room so we need to take advantage of any space savers we can find.
We bought 3 under the bed storage bins. One was for toys that the girls share, one for E's toys and one for L's toys. We put a bookcase/shelf thing in her room for her play sets. I still want to put up a shelf just below the ceiling so she can put her toys on it that she wants but doesn't want to play with anymore. She growing out of her stuffed toys but still wants them around her so I thought this might work. I wanted to post pics but I can't find my camera. I'll post pics when i can find it.
No, the office isn't done yet. But DH promised to help me next week. We'll see what happens.
To see more great tackles visit 5 Minutes for Mom at http://www.5minutesformom.com/

Menu Planning Monday

Monday-Country Chicken Cassserole
Tuesday-Mexican Rice Bake
Wednesday-Lasagna Pinwheels
Thursday-Chinese Vegetarian Pasta
Friday-Cheesy Tuna Casserole
Saturday-Chili Vegetable Soup
Sunday-Fend for Yourself

To see more menues, visit Laura at http://orgjunkie.com/

Owie

My son got hurt at school today so he came home. He's supposed to have ice on it but refuses to do it because he says it hurts. The picture really doesn't show how big that bump on his leg really is. Thats going to be painful for a little while.