Good Day..

Ok, I started the day being a slug, and I thought, ya know, this is no way to spend a vacation day, I need to do something productive. Soo, after finishing a book (reminder need to find book 4 of twilight series, around here somewhere), I decided to do a little cooking. Well, a little cooking turned in to a mini-cooking day. I now have dinner prepared in the fridge for tomorrow or the next day and about 5 meals in the freezer. That is in addition to about 7 other meals that I have all the ingredients for.

For dinner tonight we had sweet and sour meatballs w/rice (Ok, Mark is the only who has eaten so far. The boys both just left for basketball practice and I was cleaning up my mess). Don't these look good!! They taste good too!!
Lets see, I also made some stuffed shells for either tomorrow night or the next night (depends on if Gunner wants to go to dinner/lunch for his b-day. Can't believe he is turning 13!! Better get a cake or something!) These are sooo good, but don't freeze very well.

Also made baked steak burritos YUMMMY, a favorite of Gunners
and Beef Enchiladas.....
Also made Chicken Enchiladas (they looked REALLY good), Chicken Manicotti, Mexican Manicotti, Homemade potato salad and then brownies, from a box (not the awesome ones made with the Hershey syrup, that is the BEST recipe, but didn't have any Hershey's).

I am set for a few meals atleast, especially once school starts and I go back to work, since we will be starting basketball games....YIPPEE!!

ok, off to find another beer (drinking and cooking, oh yeah baby!) and to watch the 2nd half of the Duck's bowl game.....Have a good night.

Oh Yeah, also made homemade Monkey Bread this morning. It was AWESOME, especially with a nice hot cup of coffee!!

Happy Everything....

Ok, this should cover it all!

WannaBe Rocker

Ok, this child, we get the WII and Guitar Hero for Christmas, on the easy level there are 31 songs (plus whatever the extras are for encore and vault, whatever I'm just mom, don't understand it all) and he has already "unlocked" all 31 songs!!! He gets soo serious and into it. Me, I tried and I SUCK, could not even get 1/2 way thru a song without being booed off the stage (Literally!!) Maybe I should practice while he is gone and the kick his butt when he gets home HEHEHEHE just kidding.......but he does enjoy it, maybe too much!

Duck Hunting..

Well, I should have posted yesterday, but I seem to be running a day late and WAY more than a dollar short HAHAHA...

Mark, Gunner and Doug(buddy/co-worker) and another guy went duck hunting on Friday morning. They said it was awesome, there were birds flying everywhere. I won't even pretend to know what birds are what or who shot what. All I know is when they got home, Gunner was really excited and he claims to have shot a couple/few (not exactly sure). Bailey did a great job retrieving and retrieved all the birds. Remy has to stay home now because when she went last weekend, all she did was scare the birds away and make Bailey act up (Kinda like a couple of kids!!)

They went out again this morning and shot about 5 more. Here are couple pics (from yesterday) of Gunner and then Gunner and Doug with the birds (Mark did not want his picture taken)
One Last thing, here is a picture of Gunner taken almost exactly 2 years ago, I can't believe how much he has changed in 2 years!! (But then again, I can't believe he will be 13 on Wednesday either!!)

The Day After

YIPPEE!!!!! It is OVER and I survived!! Don't know why I never really got the the christmas spirit this year, but I am glad it is over. I am looking forward the New Year and, ya know, it has to be better in some ways than 2008....BUT, the purpose of this post is to for some christmas pics. I didn't get around to posting them last night, so here we go........

OHHH CHRISTMAS TREE, OOHHH CHRISTMAS TREE, (how fake you are!). I really do miss a real tree, but with the woodstove, we it is too hard to keep it for as long as I like to have it up.
Here is Gunner with HIS favorite christmas present (NOT!!) He had partial braces put on the top teeth 3 days before christmas, of course, he is also a beaver believer through and through, he has black and orange around his brackets....(not the best pic, he was not too anxious to smile! he was also not able to eat prime rib - POOR BABY!))
Then we have Drake, always thinking, always posing, you can't hear him, but his is saying "GRRR, BABBBYYY, GRRR!", such a ham (not shy either LOL) Plus, they thought the pants were as close to a WII a they were gonna get
Then after opening gifts, we have a couple of rockers in the making, if you can't tell, they were pretty darn excited. So far, we have not been able to watch TV in the living room, it has been taken over by the WII (they think they need to play on the BIG screen, can't imagine why) and for the record, I suck at Guitar Hero, a rocker I am not!!!!

and the dogs, well they could really care less!! They are just resting up to go duck hunting (Will post pics from that later).....
Sorry so long, if you are still reading, but that is what happens when you don't update as often as you should, it turns into a long post!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To one and all!! Hope Santa was good to you and you got everything you wanted!! I will post some pics later, but wanted to wish everyone a Very MERRY Christmas.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Mac for Guitar Hero, Drake was sooo excited (But I think gunner is going to play it first HEHEHE), they are currently playing golf or tennis, not sure, but I am sure the Guitar will be out soon!! (Thank you also for the gifts for Mark and I, we appreciate it)

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Harrison for the pants and the beanies, they slept in the pants last night and are still wearing them and they will wear the beanies to school (they can't wear baseball caps).

Thank you KayDee for the hats, those are awesome with their names on the back. One thing about it, no one could steal them!!

Have a good day, as I said, I will post pics later. I need to shower and finish dinner. (Prime Rib baby, with twice baked potato casserole, corn, ceaser salad, deviled eggs,Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and homemade Peanut Butter Pie for dessert YUMMYY!!!)

Christmas Eve

Ahhh, finally it is almost over!! I know that is a VERY bah humbug attitude, but what can I say! (I won't really tell ya how I feel LOL).

It almost was looking like we might have a white christmas, but don't think it is going to happen here in the valley, all we will get is rain (which makes Mark and the boys happy because it fills up the duck pond, which make me happy because they will go duck hunting most mornings and that give me peace and quiet Yeah for me!!)

I hope everyone has a very merry christmas and that santa (or someone) gives them exactly what they want and asked for. This year has been a really tough holiday season, everything is soo doom and gloom it has been really hard to get in the spirit. I am looking forward to having some time off. As soon as we leave work today, I am on vacation until January 5th, WAHOO!!!! Not doing anything special, just gonna hang. Work has been pretty stressful, but the sale to Fidelity has gone thru, so we will see what that means for us employees as we ring in the New Year.

Well, all I can say, is MERRY CHRISTMAS, may it be whatever you want it to be. Now, IF I had my choice, I would be on a warm, sunny beach somewhere watching my kids frolic in the ocean and Juan bringing ice cold margaritas, one right after the other!!!


Stay Safe, Stay Warm, don't fall on the Ice and most of all
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HO HO HO

A little holiday humor

A few holiday chuckles....enjoy!

How Time Flies when your having fun.....

Today is Mark and I's 19th Wedding Anniversary. I am thankful that the year we got married we were not experiencing the weather we are having now. Could you imagine being a bridezilla and then having it snow on your wedding day. Although, I bet it would have been beautiful and could have got some really nice pictures in the snow.

I do not know where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday we were planning and getting ready for the "Big Day". We honeymooned in Arizona, then went to San Diego and Disneyland. (I have now been to Disneyland 2x at Christmas and LOVE IT!!) Like anything there have been ups and downs, but in this day and age to be married more than a couple years is a miracle, so 19 years WOWSZA!!

We don't have any big plans, I think the highlight of the night will be running 2 different directions to take the boys to basketball practice (Since school was not cancelled, practice will not be cancelled, darn!) This is always such a hectic time of year.....

I could always ask for one of these, but somehow I don't think that will happen, but a girl has to dream right?! Isn't this pretty?!!

I would even be happy with flowers.....somehow I think this will be the closet I will get to flowers tooo (anyone feel sorry for me yet? :D j/k)

Anyways, Happy Anniversay TO Mark and I...........

Bring on Christmas...

I think I am ready now.....

Decorations up, including tree -- CHECK
Christmas cards & letter done and mailed -- CHECK
Christmas candy made -- CHECK
Presents purchased, wrapped, under tree -- CHECK
Christmas Vacation and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, watched -- CHECK

I don't know about you, but that looks to me like I am ready!! YEAH!!

The only thing I still need to do is, figure out what to have for christmas dinner (probably prime rib with not sure) and buy the stuff for that. Otherwise, BRING ON SANTA CLAUS!!!!!

Hope everyone is done or about done and can enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Ok, I am one of the weird one's. I have been doing my snow dance (and trust me, you don't want to see it, I have no rhythm) and I would LOVE to see it snow about a foot. I LOVE the snow....I want snow, bring on the snow!! It would soo nice to be home on Sunday in a nice warm cozy house making christmas candy and watching the snow fall and accumulate on the ground. (OF course after the candy is made, I would sit on the couch and read book # of the Twilight series -- I do hope it is better than book 2, kinda disappointed in it!) Of course if snows that much the kids would not have school, they would think that was ok, start christmas vacation a little early

Doesn't this look like fun, I wanna go!!!!

Could you imagine having enough snow to make this? Someone is very artsy and creative....... (I wonder if it is real?!)

Chuckle for the day

I found this extremely funny!!! Enjoy and have a great day.

Happy Holidays.......

Ok, I think I might actually be starting to get in the christmas spirit. The house is decorated (sorta), started buying presents (sorta), christmas letter and cards are done (need to finish printing labels and buy stamps), think I will go ahead and make some candy on Sunday....once I buy the presents, I will probably wrap them right away, I LOVE to wrap presents.

I also figured I would post some christmas funnies. Some of this may be offensive to some, but if so, then don't read them :D (I didn't post the REALLY funny, offensive ones).

Enjoy a good chuckle.....HO HO HO

I want what they are having!!!!!
Oddly, this picture looks like something the boys would do (below) HAHAHAHAHAHA

~~Bah HumBug~~

Ok, I am officially going to say it!!! I am a Grinch/Bah Humbug this year. I just can not get excited for christmas!!!

I have actually accomplished a few things though. Bought a couple of gifts on Saturday, of course 2 of the things I bought were in the ads on Sunday, on sale!! I did manage to get my christmas cards ordered AND picked up. I even have my christmas letter about done, so yes peeps, I will hopefully get those in the mail later this week.

Still trying to decide if I am going to make any christmas candy, don't really need it, but I think I have to have fudge and peanut brittle!!

Poor Gunner, he thinks I am "not in the spirit" he came in last night with a couple of totes of christmas stuff. He decided we needed the stockings hung up, more lights and that the poor tree needed to be decorated. I think they are going to finish hanging the ornaments when they get home from school.

Went to the Christmas bazaar in Portland yesterday with LeeAnn, it was actually really disappointing....when we first started going, it was alot of homemade crafty and unique stuff. Now it is like a huge indoor street vendor/flea market. Not to much crafty stuff, alot of it you can buy on infomercials or at Walgreens/RiteAid/Walmart....Don't think I want to go next year!

Well, I figured I needed to update my blog and that was the best I had. I was really going to try to post something nice and christmasy everyday for the month of December, but that hasn't worked out so well yet, I have missed 4 days, but I will try to be better.

Twilight Saga

Ok, so I decide to jump on the bandwagon and start reading the Twilight series. So, I go to Walgreen's to check out the new store and they actually had the book, so I thought that was an omen I needed to read them, so I bought it. Got home, and decided I need to atleast order the next one or two. I found a lady on half.com that had both book 2 & 3, thought COOL, I will order both and save on shipping and then pick up #4 later. I was excited when I received an email that the book(s) were to be delivered yesterday (since I am 3/4 thru the first one). Nice Mr. UPS man drops them off, I open them and there is only book #3 and it was IN SPANISH!!! ARGHHHH, not sure how that happened, but it is going back. SO needless to say, I now need to find Book #3, plus Mr. UPS man did not deliver #2, need to find out where that went. Hope problem is solved before I finish the first one!!!! I am sooo not ready to release my inner espanol.........

"O Christmas Tree"

Well, this is not exactly what my tree will look like (Thank God) and this looks like ALOT of work, but here is a Redneck Christmas Tree.........



It does look kinda cool when done, especially lit up.....

Christmas Traditions...

Ahhh, the holiday season is upon us. I can not believe it is that time of year again. Kudos to everyone who is all decorated and have their gifts all bought and especially to anyone who has them all wrapped (and under their decorated tree). As you can see from previous post the tree is up with lights (because they are attached) and no ornaments, that is as far as the decorating has gotten. I have so far bought NO presents so needless to say nothing is wrapped. I do feel positive that I atleast have some ideas, that is a step in the right direction, but I am also thinking it might be a good year to have a low key christmas. I would rather spend time with my family......

Thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas traditions. Some of them my hubby thinks the boys are getting too old for, but, come on it's christmas!!!

Nothing gets me in the spirit like watching the movie Christmas Vacation. I have seen it atleast once for every year it has been out (and then some), but come on, it is a classic. Of course, White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street are good, but Christmas vacation takes #1 in my book......
Another favorite tradition is Storybook Land. Mark says the boys are too old for that, but hey I still enjoy it, plus that is the only way I can torture them with sitting on Santa's lap
Another favorite is making, frosting and decorating sugar cookies. I remember when I was younger, Mom would make a big ol batch of sugar cookies, Dad would make his YUMMMY homemade frosting and we would spend a Sunday afternoon frosting and decorating cookies. I miss that...I do make a bunch of candy and stuff, but thinking this year might have to pass on that, too many calories....

and then there is always the bazaar in Portland. For several years Lee Ann and I would go to the Expo in Portland for the World's Largest Christmas Bazaar Missed last year, but might have to make a trip this year.

Of course going out and cutting a tree is always fun, but with the wood heat, it makes my life much simpler to have the fake one, trust me!!

Those are a few of my favorite traditions, there are many other things I love/enjoy about the holidays, but those are the high points........

~~Weekend Update~~

Holy cow, where did the last 4 days go. I can't believe it is Sunday night again. Time for the salt mines!! Neither of the boys have school tomorrow and Drake has no school Tues or Wed, makes ya wonder why there is so many kids that don't learn anything, they are never in school. I think Drake will go 12 days for the month of December and Gunner will go 14, kinda makes ya go "HUH"!

Didn't do much this weekend, but did get a few things crossed off my list. Let's see the tree is up, with lights (of course they come on the tree HEHEHE) and it has some candy cane ornaments on it so for. So need to finish decorating it, hang some stockings and figure out what other lights inside to hang up. Lights, candy canes and chubby snowman are up outside. Started christmas letter, but did not get a picture yet, there is still time for that.

Watched the civil war game. Beaver fans "OUCH!!", although it was sad to see their Rose Bowl opportunity go down the drain. Atleast both teams will still be going to a bowl game.

Did not get any scrapbooking or pictures organized. I hoped that if I did I would have time to scrapbook. The only thing I managed to do was move it back to my room in totes. Looks like that is where it will be until after the holidays.

Did get my grocery shopping done (OUCH -- food is expensive) and the house is clean and the laundry is almost caught up.

I think that was just about everything I wanted to accomplish. Did stroll the mall today, didn't buy anything, but have some ideas for christmas presents, now I will shop/compare online and see what kind of deals I can find.

Hey Missy, funny you should mention the Twilight book. I picked it up at Walgreens on Saturday and started it last night. I have ordered the next 2 and still need to get the 4th. Figured I would get on the bandwagon and see what all the hype was about......

Civil War and a house divided.

Oregon State Beavers VS Oregon Ducks....who is going to win. We will be watching the game and we are a house divided (but aren't they sooo cute!!)

Drake and I are the Duck fans. GO DUCKS!!!
Mark and Gunner are the Beaver fans. GO BEAVS!!!! I will cheer for both and the ONLY reason I would cheer for the Beavers to win is because it would be nice to see them go to the Rose Bowl. I know makes me sound like a not very dedicated Duck fan, but ya know it is an Oregon team and we need to be represented.

Hope everyone who is watching cheers loudly and be safe, don't drink and drive!!

Black Friday Shopping...

Shopaholics Unite!!!

All I can say is "EEEOOOWWWW", I will NOT be one them and more power to all of you that go out, brave the crowds, the lines, the parking lots!! There was NOTHING (except maybe a Kitchenaid mixer) that I want or need bad enough to go out in those crowds. But, I do need groceries, may have to venture to Safeway..

So to motivate me for the weekend, I thought maybe if I posted what I wanted to accomplish, maybe I would actually get some of it done, because it is in writing.

Let's see, where to start......
#1 -- put up christmas tree (fake) and decorate
#2 -- start to write christmas letter (then it might actually get done and set out this year)
#3 -- take picture for christmas card (same explanation)
#4 -- hang up outside christmas lights (see a pattern or theme!)
#5 -- watch Civil War (GO DUCKS!)
#6 -- organize pictures and scrapbook supplies
#7 -- do laundry and clean up house (UGGH!!)
#8 -- maybe do a little cyber shopping, oh wait, I can do that at work on Monday :D (not like there will be much else to do!)

That should get me thru the weekend!! Hope everyone had a great turkey day and didn't eat too much. It was a very laid back day for us, didn't make it to Michelle's was bummed about that, but it is now VERY quiet at my house, everyone is in bed. I am usually not a late night person, but tonight I think I will go read for awhile and enjoy the peace and quiet.