Ramblings......

For you that have made public your plan for the couch to 5K running plan, (Kristie, Michelle & Misty)I am rooting for you! I would love to encourage you to start your new year with the Celebration for Life 5K or 2 mile run/walk on New Years day! Elly and I are running the 2 miles and it would be fun to see some of you out there too! What better way to start 2008?!

Anyway, since I have been so lousy at keeping this up the past couple of weeks, here is a brief update! I have been thoroughly enjoying having Carter and Elly off from school and loving the family time. The weekend before Christmas my little brother and his wife came down to visit...it was such a great time, we don't get to see them nearly enough! We had a nice, somewhat quiet Christmas, just the five of us. I should be fined for my failure to take pictures. My flash doesn't always work on my camera and I didn't have the heart to send the kids outside to open gifts, etc...one of these days I will break down and get a new one.

We had an itunes night, did some shopping, and almost relived this post. On Saturday while I was at a birthday party with Elly, Carter called to say Audrey split her chin open again. I picked Audrey up while he stayed with Noah, and headed to the ER... AGAIN! Lindsay, I think I am catching up with you! We waited for 5 1/2 hours this time and no that is not a typo. It was a hopping place last night! Thankfully, she didn't have to get it restitched, just some TLC and some butterflies... and a prayer that 2008 has fewer visits to the emergency room!

Best wishes on those New Year resolutions/goals and Happy 2008!

Merry Christmas

Before I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, I wanted to introduce you my best friend. We have been great pals for a couple of years now, but I don't think I have really appreciated her as much as I have this past year, particularly this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her name is KitchenAid, and I truly don't know how I ever managed with our her...

Thanks K.A. for another great year working together!

Well, on to finishing the Birthday cake, stuffing a few stockings, wrapping a few last things, and maybe a Chrismas movie before bed...

Have a wonderful and very Merry CHRISTmas everyone!

The next Food Network Star???

Well, maybe I am being a bit ambitious! Today is the first day of Christmas break for Elly and she wanted to "cook" lunch for us. She got out her little apron and said she would surprise us. My lunch was very interesting, somewhat edible:) but I definitely maxed out my sodium intake for the day! She made something different for Audrey and Noah that was SO yummy that I just have to share!

Elly's recipe for "Apple GOO"!!!

She chopped up some apples and sauteed them until they were somewhat soft and stirred in a bit of applesauce and blue sprinkles (I would recommend leaving this part out or the color may just turn you off!). After a dash of sugar she put it in a bowl and topped it with a jumbo marshmallow. Then she put it in the microwave until the marshmallow just started to melt. So simple, but it was soooo good!

Almost Done!

Just got back from shipping off the final round of Christmas gifts and I am SO glad to have that part all done! It is such an event for us to go to the postoffice this time of year. Trying to manage both of my little ones AND an armful of packages is a bit challenging...when I got home today I was seriously wondering why they haven't created a drive thru at the post office. No, I am not lazy, just mom with two very active little ones! This would be the greatest thing ever!

Just a few more things to do for Elly's school Christmas party and I will be ready to RELAX!

On a side note for the family, Elly's basketball team played in a tournament in Yakima all weekend. They did great, so much fun to watch! They really are getting good, but once again I did not bring my camera...I will get pics one of these days I promise!

Happy Monday!

Christmas Fun

Copied this from Angela...

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Love to wrap and make pretty…unless it has a funky shape-then its all bag

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! And usually the Charlie Brown kind

3. When do you put up the tree? The first or second weekend of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? Either New Years Eve or New Years Day

5. Do you like eggnog? YUCK

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Having a hard time with this one, there were many great gifts. I remember being pretty excited when me and my brothers got an ATARI … lots of Tetris and Pacman

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it’s a miniature one…the figures are about 1 ½ inches tall- the kids love to play with it

8. Hardest person to buy for? Our Brothers, they have everything

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely snail mail!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A Hickory Farms basket with moldy cheese and stale crackers…maybe recycled to us???

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love to watch all of those cheesy TV or Hallmark Christmas movies…just watched Christmas Shoes- love that one!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? yummy rolls-grandma’s recipe

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? What child is this? and Feliz Navidad

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? STAY HOME!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Rudolph …uh …I give up

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Grumpy people…and everywhere is ALWAYS crowded

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? New running shoes

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? We have a handful of old wooden ornaments Carter’s mom gave us our first Christmas: wooden airplane, train, sleigh, etc.

25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Like it all!

Join in the fun!!! Copy and post it on your blog too...

Catching up

So glad for a snow day! It has been an eventful week and having today was a breath of fresh air!

It seems as if the emergency room was a popular place this weekend, I am suprised I didn't run into anyone I know (Lindsay & Nicole)!

After a hectic week of basketball practice, chrismas programs, misc. after school activites, christmas shopping, I was so happy on Friday when Elly come home from school that I was almost giddy. Elly's practice was moved to 7:30 so we had three hours of play time!

I turned on some Charlie Brown Christmas music and we all started dancing to "Linus and Lucy".

Noah was holding on to my hands and we were dancing around being silly...not real rough...but apparently rough enough to dislocate his arm. My little baby...I felt soooo awful!

Carter was out of town with his BBall team, and it was 4:30 on Friday...Dr. office closed. Had to call in reinforcements (the fabulous sitter) and it was HI HO, off to the ER we go....


Anyway, Dr. popped it back into place and told me how often this happens... I am not sure if he was just trying to make me feel better...this is my THIRD child and the FIRST time I have ever almost pulled an arm off.


Saturday was spent watching Elly's BBall tournament in Richland.


It is so fun to watch these girls.


A little scary to watch some of the parents though.


So glad when it began to snow on Sunday. It is so peaceful! And with Monday being a snow day, we finally were able to get our tree and dig out the Christmas decor! Sorry no pics of all that...my camera is only working outdoors these days.


Just a few snow pictures to share