T-minus Two Days...

Okay what? Did someone already take the title of my blog? Or did I use it sometime in the past - because it auto-filled in when I typed the T-. Weird.

ANYWAY...

In two days time, we will usher out 2008 and usher in 2009. (and I always picture some little guy taking the numbers by the ...arm...or something, and walking away with them. Stupid little pictures in my mind. I should really just keep some of my thoughts quiet possibly). 2008 was a plethora of things to me. Many of them oxymorons that give a deep perspective on the peaks and valleys of this thing called life.

I celebrated ten years of marriage, but I also said goodbye to my third grandparent in two years. Much to my elation, I started working for my dad in his business - then watched the stock market plummet. I adopted a kitty (technically, Dec 27 of 07 - but close enough) and watched my darling Bailey dog turn 12 1/2 and started really realizing my time with her is probably limited and I need to cherish it.

I saw my City-boy, Rockstar brother and his family move back to his hometown...and absolutely love it

I got to experience the joys of Puerto Vallarta with my husband and his sister and her husband - but racked up some credit card debt in doing so (but personally - it was so worth it).

I blogged pretty regularly for a time - and was starting to get readers - and then November hit and I fell apart.

I watched a stranger cut off 10 inches of my child's beautiful hair - but realized that her hair would make some child feel "pretty" after chemo and radiation.

I watched the first African American become President - but wonder how many hateful white supremacists are plotting assassination attempts even as I type.

I saw soldiers come home to their families - and watched other soldiers just leaving their families.

I watched way too much Hannah Montana and the Disney channel - and watched equally as much smutty reality TV on VH-1.

I beat D in bowling on the Wii - and did a little "I Beat You" dance - only to have him beat me an hour later - and pretty much consistantly since.

I made wonderfully good decisions - and horrifically poor ones as well.

I watched a friend hit rock bottom - but saw her strength when she pulled herself out and made tough decisions that made me incredibly proud of her.

I saw teenagers with so much disrespect that you almost lose hope - and then I saw local high school STUDENTS come up with over 500 gifts ON THEIR OWN IN ONE NIGHT for tenants of an apartment complex that burnt down a week before Christmas....and you have hope again.

I realize that statements like the above make me sound incredibly old and feel incredibly old - but then again - I do "I Beat You" dances to my husband over a video game and stick my tongue out and say "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah" at the same time.

Through it all, I have my family, and I cherish them more than they'll probably ever know. D, A, and a - you're my world and my lifeblood and without you, I would die. Mom and Dad - you'll never know how lucky I feel to have been given to the two of you almost 37 years ago. Mom and Dad D - I got lucky when I got you for in-laws. I cherish you. Jared - my little bro. My one and only sibling. No matter how old we get - I will always feel protective of you in some way. You know I'm here for you always. Lynnie and Lisa - you're both the sisters I never had and I couldn't have asked for any better. And you're both gorgeous to boot. Marv - You've heard me say it and I'll say it again - you're the funniest man alive...and a pretty awesome brother-in-law as well. Dyl - you WILL have your own Animal Planet show someday. You're fascinating and I love you. Ash - the leggy model. You're beautiful inside and out. I love you. And G - my spirited, smiley little one - you crack me up and I adore your spirit. I love you.

To my friends - each one of you has played a part in making me who I am. Old friends and new friends. You give me breath and make my world sparkle. You're "family" to me.

And to my new blogging friends - there's a few of you I can't wait to get to know better. My real life friends probably think I'm a little crazy sometimes with all my blogging and Twittering and Facebooking - but I'm cool with that. Because I've "met" some fascinating individuals. Here's to lots of comments going forward. :)

I may not get another blog out before 2009...though I may surprise you (and myself). You never know. But if I don't - I hope your New Year comes in happy. I hope you have peaks and valleys - but more peaks than valleys - in 2009. I hope you feel love and joy. I hope you laugh. I hope you dance (yes...I know..it's a song)...even if you dance really badly. I hope you learn at least one joke that cracks you up and that you remember for a long time. I hope you cry at least once....to prove you're human. For those with kids, for as much as you scream at them, I hope you double the screaming with hugs and kisses. For those with pets - to me, they're a part of me - and I hope you cherish them. Trust me - dogs give sloppy kisses - but they're awesome.

From me to you....Happy Happy New Year.

Jingle Bells - Jingle Schmells

'Bout time for me to get back on this blogging bandwagon again, isn't it? Man oh man...the past week has been nutty. Rather than tell the whole boring story..I'll give you the Cliff's Notes version.

a) Big A got sick...really sick. Two doctors visits, five hours hooked up to IV's and one missed week of school (and one missed week of work for mom) does not bode well for mom's blogging needs. The gist (jist???) of what was wrong - she had the stomach flu, she didn't eat or drink much and essentially, it screwed up the bicarbs in her blood, which is what neutralizes the acids and ...non-acids (alkalines?) in our body. Her body went into starvation mode and she had no strength or energy. IV's fixed it - she great now. But man....last week was a lot of feelings. I'm not typically a worrisome mom....but I honestly will admit...I was a bit worried about her in more than a "Oh-I-hope-she-feels-better-soon" type way. When there are two nurses, one doc and one NP all doting on your child, you kind of think, "Ummm....that's WAY too many medical professionals working on her,"...know what I mean?

b) As a result of a), my Christmas preparation and planning was considerably screwed up. Yes...I was home all week...but when one kid is really sick and the other decides she doesn't want to go to daycare and stay home with you.....productive I was not. So on Sunday night...as I realized that all the things I had ordered online had not yet made it to me...and essentially, I had done NO shopping yet...I started to panic. Some power shopping Sunday night and last night and a last minute picture order placed today has made it all good. But man....NUTS!!!!

c) So with that...and the fact that I have 45 minutes left of work and about 3 hours of WORK left, this blog is short and sweet. Just wanted to let anyone know that might care that yes...I'm still here. Love the holidays and hate 'em at the same time. Love the feel - hate the chaos. So when they're done, it's bittersweet to me....but hopefully life will regulate. We'll have moved passed sickness and we can enter 2009 clear and ready for life, work and yes....BLOGS!!!!

If I don't get back on here before Thursday - have a blessed Holiday season. Cherish your time with family and friends, have fun, and try to get past the commercialism of Christmas and still feel the FEEL of it.

And in the words of Ah-nold...I'll be bahk.

Weekly Randoms (I named this after I wrote the blog)

After a mind-numbing post like my last one...and by mind-numbing, I mean that I think my mind went officially numb after creating something like that....it's time to slow it down a little and do what I'm most famous for.

Yes folks...it's a random post.

Basically it works like this....I type a bunch of stuff randomly from the top of my head. There's no overall story...although each random thought may have some sort of story. It's what I do when I'm not feeling particularly creative...yet at the same time, it sort of become my trademark. Random posts may just have to become a weekly thing for me.

1) I had a completely blonde moment last Thursday. Like...COMPLETELY! (Ohmigod! Gag me with a SPOON! Random thought within a random thought: Did you know that in the 80's the #1 Valley Girl name was Tami??? Yeah...and you wonder why I can do Valley Girl speak so well.) My mom makes these bars at Christmas that are THE BOMB!!! I decided I needed to make them this year. There are three layers. The bottom is a brownie layer, the middle is a peppermint frosting and the top is melted chocolate chips spread over the top. So I go to work on the brownies. Somewhere...somehow...my brain shuts off at this point. I make the batter, get distracted..then place the BATTER outside to cool. I bring it in later and start putting frosting on it...all the time wondering, "Gosh..this is not spreading well. I better make more frosting." So I do...and spread that one...and set outside to cool. About this time, I call my mom...just to confirm the directions. We're talking and the words, "...after you baked the brownies" comes out of her mouth.

OMG!!!! (I'm also 12 sometimes) I forgot to bake the brownies!!! Who DOES that??? Brain...dead. Big DUH!! I deserve to have my name in a blonde joke for that one. Anyway, I try to scrape off the frosting with very little luck. Eventually I sort of swirl it into the brownie batter to see what happens. Then I cook it. What happens is that I created a black hard candied mess all over a jelly roll pan. I had to peel off what I could, then let the pan soak for three hours.

I really wasn't going to even tell this story....but I have no pride apparently.

For what it's worth, I tried to color my hair darker yesterday...simply because maybe it will produce more activity in my brain cells.

2) If I'm not mistaken, I believe I may live on the North Pole. I haven't seen the REAL Santa anywhere, but this -6 degree temp with a -30 degree windchill is making me think that we have somehow relocated to the top of the earth. It's just ridiculous. Most of the state got pounded by a blizzard yesterday. Luckily, the metro area was missed..we got a couple inches but that's it..but the drifting on the country roads and the fact that it's TOO COLD to get salt on the roads produces some tricky driving situations. So I'm home today. Traded my Monday for Thursday. So typically I leave the house by 8:15 on Mondays and Big A goes next door to the neighbors until the bus comes at 8:40. Today..because of the roads and weather...I was home.

All I can say is this...thank GOD!

Big A comes downstairs for breakfast, looks at it and says, "I'm not very hungry. Is it okay if I don't eat?" I sort of stare blankly at her for a few minutes before saying, "Oo-kay." WHAT?? This child ALWAYS wants breakfast. She grabs her DS and lays on the couch.

About 8:20, I tell her to get up, brush her teeth, comb her hair, etc...and she gets up pretty slowly. This in itself isn't a rare occurrence...she often doesn't move quickly in the morning (or ever) - but it was just the way her face looked. It's that Mother's Intuition thing or something. So she comes down, we get her all bundled up and I ask her if she's feeling okay. She says yes, then point to the upper part of her stomach and says that that part just hurts a little but she's fine. We bundle her up ala "A Christmas Story" style, and wait in the garage for the bus to come.
I'm hugging her as we're waiting and she looks up at me completely pale and says, "Mom...I don't feel so good. I don't know if I want to go to school." Since I had kind of wondered all morning about this, I knew it wasn't a ruse. I take her back in the house and she proceeds to lay down by the front door with all her gear on. I grab the phone to call the school and as I'm leaving a message, Big A turns and her head and pukes all over her coat, scarf, mittens, snowpans and hat. And Holy Hannah did it stink...and I couldn't figure out what she puked since she hadn't eaten anything. I leave the quickest message in the world, get her clothes off and her in the bath, clothes in the washer, and clean up the floor. I walk up to check on her in the bath and she says, "Do you think it was all those olives I ate last night?"

Olives. She ate a whole can of black olives last night and that is EXACTLY what she puked up. Let me just say..for someone who doesn't like black olives anyway, black olives that are partially digested REEK!!! Ugh! Anyway..she's couchbound today, Little A is a bit antsy and here I sit...blogging.

3) My random posts seem to get longer and longer, don't they. That's almost it's own post. It SHOULD have been it's own post.

4) Thanks for all the comments on Little A's song. I hit 10 comments!!! I hit double digits in comments for the first time and that is HUGE to me. As y'all know..I love comments. So if I have to write more songs/poems to get them...I'll do it. I can't guarantee they'll be good/funny/entertaining...but I'll still write 'em.

5) I ate far too many slices of Amish Friendship bread this morning. Have you had that? You get a bag of starter batter, and basically you mush the bag each day for ten days taking one of those days to add some stuff. On the 10th day, you make it. And it uses a TON of stuff and nothing in it is healthy....but oh my GOSH is it delicious. So I made two loaves yesterday. And I think I ate four slices this morning.

I'm going to have to have someone hide the Friendship Bread from me.

By the way, I have four starters. Anyone want one?

Five randoms...one of which is very long. I'll leave you with that. Happy Monday! Hope it's warmer where you are than it is where I am. And if you're where I am already....I'm sorry. Stay inside. Eat bread. Clean up puke....whatever you need to do. Just don't go outside....trust me on that.

Ode to Little A

(my attempt at rhyming....ahem.....I ain't no Dr Seuss)

Now this here's a story 'bout Little A
She is known for her feist and spunk.
She had a dentist appointment last week
And it put her in a funk.

It put her in a funk.

She had to get two cavities filled.
And as this idea did build.
She screamed and cried and ran away.
She didn't want her teeth to get "grilled."

She didn't want her teeth to get "grilled."

One promise of a Barbie Doll
And a minty piece of gum.
They got her in the dentist chair.
And then they kicked out her mum.

Yes..then they kicked out her mum.

Two minutes of some whining and crying
And then....all was quiet.
Soothing voices, silly faces and some laughing gas
Had calmed the Little A Riot.

It calmed the Little A Riot.

A few minutes later the door opened up.
The hot dentist smiled at mom.
"Little A was helpful and very smart.
She thinks we are now the Bomb!"

She thought they were now the BOMB????

The dentist office was a scary place.
But now....it is no more.
That's wonderful news because unbeknownst to her.
More visits are in store.

More visits are in store (someday)

The following day, to the doc we went
It was time for a yearly checkup.
Lots of questions and tears and more questions still.
She wanted to know what 'sup.

She wanted to know what 'sup.

She was scared of a shot and nervous of a doc
She thought they would poke her skin.
I told her no....I totally lied.
A flu shot would go in.

A flu shot would go in.

She loves her doc, she gave her a hug.
It was the cutest thing ever seen.
She wrote her name and heard her heart.
To her doc, she was not mean.

Oh no ... she was not mean.

All was well, she was good.
There's one last thing to do.
Oh yeah...let's distract her. I'll hold her arms.
You give her the shot of flu.

You give her the shot of flu.

Her face screwed up, her mouth opened wide.
She looked at me in shock.
I giggled and tickled, she smiled and looked.
She was solid as a rock.

She was solid as a rock.

It's time for goodbyes and see you next year.
To a cute little four your old nut.
She put on her coat, she walked in the hall
(and then do you know what she did????)

SHE SPANKED HER PEDIATRICIANS BUTT!!!!

Yes...Little A spanked her pediatricians butt.

My face goes red, I stammer and stutter
"What...I've never seen...Oh my!"
She spanks my butt, or her sisters butt
But the pediatrician???? I could die.

But all was well, she laughed it off
And out the door we go.
Thank goodness all are visits are done.
But she put on quite....a.....SHOW!!!!!!


Amen.

(and if you haven't figured out to sing that to the tune of Gilligans Island by now...you are probably way too young to be reading a Mommy Blog.)

Things I've Done...and Not Done

I got this post off of another blog with the name Permission to Peruse and I loved it. It allows me to create a blog without having to think up my own. Because Lord knows, I've been suffering some serious writers block lately. And it's not that I don't have stories...I do! I just can't figure out to how transfer them to the written word.

So without further ado...a list. I think it's fairly entertaining. We'll see what you think.

From Cootiehog (cuz even though I have no idea who Cootiehog is, I have to give credit where credit is due...and apparently that's where it's due).

(things i’ve done in bold)
(things that could be subject to further review in italics)

1. Started your own blog - absolutely! This is it. A couple others that fizzled and died..which was probably a good thing.
2. Slept under the stars - I have!!! Usually I'm in a camper of some sort but I distinctly remember sleeping outside on the eve of Baccaleureate when I was a senior in high school.
3. Played in a band - I'm in one now..sort of. It's a church band..but they rock! We do sound checks and everything! And my brother was in a popular band of which he let me get up and sing backup and play tambourine once..so that counts, doesn't it???
4. Visited Hawaii -(sigh) someday....
5. Watched a meteor shower - Yeah...very very cool.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - I can get sucked into the Humane Society commercials like no one's business...and I'm sure at some point I've given more than I should have. Not a terrible thing....but now I have to turn off the TV when I see them.
7. Been to Disneyland/world - I was 10, I think. And just entering that budding world of puberty. The pictures are hysterical. I'm trying to look all cool with braces and wing-y hair and and an awesome red and white Izod polo shirt with blue and gold (my school colors) running shorts. HOT!
8. Climbed a mountain - nope..and have no desire to ever do so.
9. Held a praying mantis - no, but I held a scorpion in Mexico last June.
10. Sang a solo - about a million times. Karaoke, weddings, church...you name it. I'm not a wonder voice, but I do okay.
11. Bungee jumped - No, no, NO!!!!
12. Visited Paris - yes...for 24 hours. I saw the Eiffel Tower for about..oh...15 minutes. I was there on business and our French colleague was bored with me wanting to see it. I ran out of the car, quick had a picture taken, got back in the car and away we went.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - At sea...as in in a boat??? No..I don't think so.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - When I was 4, I taught myself how to color. That's from scratch, right?
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - Yes...either that or I just have a really, REALLY touchy stomach.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - have you met me?? I think I grew four beans a couple of summers ago that Big A planted under a tree. So technically..I didn't even grow them. She did.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - Every slumber party..isn't that what girls do??? That and tickle each other??? Or not.
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - No! NEVER!!!!! ;)
24. Built a snow fort - I live in MN. It's pretty much REQUIRED that you know how to build a snow fort here.
25. Held a lamb - odd question. I don't know. I've petted one at those petting zoos. Have I held it? Hmmm....
26. Gone skinny dipping - Mom...stop reading for a moment. (ahem) Yes. That's that.
27. Run a Marathon - Are you kidding me??? I don't run...unless I'm being chased.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse - in elementary school. I remember making these cardboard things with a hold in the middle so we wouldn't burn our retinas to look at it. I don't remember much other than that...and that it got pretty dark.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - I've watched both. I prefer sunsets.
31. Hit a home run - Maybe in T-ball when I was 5. I hate playing softball.
32. Been on a cruise - That's in my 5-year plan.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - no, but someday I'll hit up Norway.
35. Seen an Amish community - yes...and there's a great story to go with it. But it would take FAR too long to tell right now. Suffice to say, it was hysterical, as Bridget, Ally, Jo and Jill can attest.
36. Taught yourself a new language - just a couple of useful phrases to use in Mexico.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - Ummm...no.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - I have no desire to do this either. ANything climbing or running...not my bag of tricks. I like golf, though. :)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - BILLIONS of times. I used to be a karaoke queen before kids. Bring on some Dusty Springfield or Janis Joplin...I'm all over it.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - we were there when I was young. I don't think we ever actually saw it erupt though. Maybe we did. Mom?
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - no, but I should do that. Random Acts of Kindness.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - I have. It's wonderful.
46. Been transported in an ambulance - Yep...car accident at 17. I was a bit of a wreck.
47. Had your portrait painted - does a caricture at Valleyfair count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - A slight variation of an earlier question..and no. I had 15 minutes. I never made it to the top.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling -snorkeled in Cozumel..until the barracuda completely freaked me out and I was sure it was going to go after only me...even with hundreds of other snorkelers and it was clearly used to them. Still freaked me out.
52. Kissed in the rain - Yes...but not like that Notebook kind of kiss. That's only in movies..I think.
53. Played in the mud - Absolutely. As a kid, as a teenager...even now.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - I have. But the first time I went, I was in my late 20's. It was enjoyable.
55. Been in a movie - I HAVE!!! I was an extra in Mallrats. If you look very closely at the crowd scene in the mall during the game show, you can see a wisp of blonde hair way in the back. Yeah...that's me.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - kind of?? I did at at-home business party type thing for a while. But it was selling something that was so not me that it fizzled.
58. Taken a martial arts class - I took Judo in 7th grade. I'm AWESOME!!!
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - as a child, and now, as a mom with a 2nd grade Brownie. As you know, moms do most of the selling.
62. Gone whale watching - I WISH!! I'd adore that.
63. Got flowers for no reason - A few times. Not in a while, though.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - I have donated blood. NOt in a while, though. Not sure why. Just so busy. I'm putting that on my to-do list.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - that would be incredibly difficult for me.
67. Bounced a check - (gulp) yeah..just recently actually. It was embarrassing. I opened a new account, wrote a check to a guy who fixed my computer, completely had enough money in there but forgot that I set up a loan payment to come out of it. Since it was new and I had no history with them, they bounced it. Ugh! Mortified. I've since settled up and all is good but sheesh!
68. Flown in a helicopter - I don't think so. But I flew in a small plane above Vegas years ago.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - I THINK my parents still have some of my old Barbies somewhere.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar - I tried it. Ummmm....
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - Kind of. But they were crazy. I mean seriously...not just because they "let me go." They were married and both on Prozac and we're certifiably crazy.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - yes...before kids, D had a motorcycle and we'd go out on it. It was fun and I know he misses it. Someday.....
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - does from the air count?
80. Published a book - no, but I'd love to someday. Pipe dream probably.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - We leased it brand new. Have since bought it.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - I lived in a small town. Everyone made the paper at some point. Mine was usually for golf. But it could have been for writing a good paper or rescuing a kitten from a tree or just because they didn't have any good stories. :)
85. Read the entire Bible - I have goals to do that....but haven't yet.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!! I can't even fish.
88. Had chickenpox - I was 4 or 5 I think. My little brother and I woke up with it on the same day. At least mom and dad got it out of the way in one fell swoop.
89. Saved someone’s life - not in a literal sense...but maybe emotionally.
90. Sat on a jury - I have never been called to Jury Duty. I'm knocking on wood right now.
91. Met someone famous - I met John Amos of Good Times fame. I met a couple of legendary Vikings players. I've SEEN famous people in person..just haven't met many.
92. Joined a book club - no, but I'd so be all about that.
93. Lost a loved one - three in the past three years. Three grandparents. And 8 years ago, I lost a friend unexpectedly. He was only 30 at the time. That's crazy grief.
94. Had a baby - two, in fact.
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit - yep. That car accident I talked about earlier. I wasn't driving...and I got some money out of the deal. Any crazies thinking I'm ripe for the pickings...it's gone. Trust me on that.
98. Owned a cell phone - too many. But I love, love, LOVE my current one.
99. Been stung by a bee - I can honestly say that I have NEVER been stung by a bee. I think they don't like me. Everyone around me in situations has been stung but I haven't. Weird. However mosquitos love me...more than they love others. I guess that makes up for it.

Odd that there's not a question 100.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Has It Really Been a Week?

Where o where did last week go? Talk about time flying. I say it every day...but then it really happens. I mean..it ALWAYS really happens, but it man...it happened like a bullet happens last week.

That's a poor analogy. Forgive me. I'm tired and I think I may have forgotten how to blog.

Anyway...let's just recap, shall we?

After a chaotic Tuesday evening and night last week (Grandpa...I love you. Thank GOD he's not finished having you here on earth with us yet), Thanksgiving came quickly. We all went to Jared and Lynn's new home. There were 14 adults and 8 children. One might expect complete and utter chaos. I know I did. Surprisingly, it went swimmingly.

(That's really a strange adjective that makes no sense. But weirdly enough, its the first one that came to mind)

A few pics...all of which Yours Truly probably took and one of which is an ADORABLY cute picture of the Big and Little A and their cousin G. My mom and dad are SO making that their Christmas card.

Yeah...this one is the Christmas card. How cute is THAT????

Big A - she's getting so old looking. When did this happen?
Little A changed her pink flowered skirt to one that resembled something a French Maid might wear.

Hey Grandma Lee....in the words of Meatloaf....two out of three ain't bad.

Our happy host and hostess....Jared and Lynnie. Thanks so much for your hospitality. Food, family and fun.....classic combo that makes for a perfect day.

Oh yeah...and wine. That helped too. :)

At the end of the day...after all the fun and chaos and yes...trychtophan from the turkey (I have absolutely no idea how to spell that and the idea of going to Google to try to figure it out right now is more than I can handle...so just deal), this is what I stumbled upon at the end of the night back at my parents house.....

Grandpa Lee and Little A - snug as two bugs in a rug. Everybody say it with me now....

AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Thanksgiving Day with the Lee family was bookended by the Day family. The prior Wednesday, it was a stuffing-the-turkey-we-wouldn't-eat-because-we-wouldn't-be-with-them night. It also involved pizza and hair highlighting....but not at the same time. The Days never fail to entertain...particularly Marv and Lisa. Lisa may kill me for this...but I just can't help it. I gotta post it.

Marv decided to to a "His and Hers" type look and opted to add some highlights to his hair as well. When he got done, I believe Lisa's words to him were something like this....

"That looks absolutely horrid. You're NOT going to keep it like that."

After a quick rebuttal saying something along the lines of how gel will make it look better, the subject was dropped. And I gotta add - the other side of the booked was Friday night - and his hair looked fine. Great actually. He was right about the hair gel.

Speaking of Friday...well, Marv and Lisa are just about the two of the funnest people around. And craziness always ensues....and our garage became a dance club for the four of us. 80's hair bands were in full swing, the garden hose made a great microphone and the lawn mower became a great video prop. Fun was had by all...as usual.

And I have the videos to prove it....but I'd probably get skinned and boiled alive if I posted them on here. Suffice to say...silliness generally ensues when we are all together. And I laugh very hard. And it was good.

Saturday...not much. D was gone...we visited friends. My friend Bridget invited me and the girls over. She makes waffles with an actual waffle maker and batter...and they come out perfectly. She had homemade maple syrup and...AND....homemade whip cream AND raspberry preserves.

I've got to inform Bridget that she'll now need to schedule time every morning to come to my house and whip up breakfast. My girls are so never going to eat Eggos, Mrs. Butterworth and Cool Whip again...EVER.

And Little A and T (her son) got married....AGAIN. This time it was more of a beachy type theme as Little A wore her Mexican dress and a shawl. T decided he hated the paparazzi and insisted on no pictures. Little A was happy to oblige, but the only camera around by that time was the pap with the crappy Blackberry camera. And she missed the deadline in uploading her pic. I'm thinking she may be in the next edition.

Sunday - sang at church with a bad headcold and very little voice. And had to sing soprano when I'm normally alto. I can't say it was Carol Brady beautiful...but I made it. Then it was off to see Bolt with the girl. Well....D took the girls to see Bolt. I somehow wandered into Twilight. I'm not sure how it happened. But since I was there, I figured I might as well watch it. (Twilight...now that's a future blog all to itself)

And hey...quit judging. I took them to High School Musical 3 TWICE!

Sunday night....I watched my Vikes win handily - FINALLY!!!! And then finally...I rested.

And it was good.