Deck the Halls.....

The house is still not just how I want it, but it is getting there.

The tree, we bought this tree several years ago it rotates and I love it because I can just pile it with ornaments and I get to see them all


A few of the many snowmen that I have gotten over the years


The fireplace and mantel


This is the entry way, I bought the singing snowman a few years ago after Christmas, the kids love it, and I have heard it singing almost non-stop since set up.

This is the kitchen window...

Brrrrrr

Winter is here. No snow but lots of rain and very cold weather.

We woke up to no electricity this morning, luckily it didn't last too long.

Going out of town for the weekend to celebrate Christmas with my aunt's. I am hoping that the weather is not bad. It is right on the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle border.

Almost done putting up the Christmas decorations. Putting the kids trees in their rooms today. I promised hubby I would go through my Christmas decorations this year and get rid of stuff I don't use. I have gotten rid of a few things (very few). I just love Christmas decorations, especially snowmen. Poor hubby has to haul them up and down from the attic every year.

Not getting a whole lot done today, rainy and dreary and cold cold. I did take a shower today, of course just got into warm jammies so didn't get far with that.

Back to the Christmas decorations.

Cheetah-licious

Cheetah concert was last night. My friend and her daughter went with us. It was such fun even for us moms! My friends mom made their outfits. Here are pics of our little cheetah!

Motivation

I need some motivation.

I have so much I need to do and things that I want to do.

I just can't seem to get myself excited to start.

I got the Christmas tree put up, other than that I just have boxes and boxes and boxes of decorations waiting to be put up.

Hubby did get the lights up last night.

Britt and I are leaving for Tulsa for fun girls time this afternoon.

I did get our bag packed and homeschool completed, but other than that I have been avoiding getting things done. Maybe after a little break away I will feel more motivated.

Advice

Britt has the stomach bug, up at 11:30 last night sick. This morning she was laying around, not feeling well when she asked her brother the following:

Britt: Braden do you have any advice for me?

Brae: (looks at her) what?

Britt: About being sick, because I am never sick and you have a lot of experience and I thought you could tell me what to do when I am bored and stuff.

Brae: (looks at her like she is crazy)

I guess at least she was looking to her brother for advice. She is feeling better, I hope she continues to improve. I have had the bug too. We are going to a concert tommorow night in Tulsa to see "Everlife" and "Cheetah Girls". We are going with a friend and her daughter so should be lots of fun....if we can get rid of this bug before then.

No choice

I don't have a choice. I have to go grocery shopping today. The kids and I are going to brave WalMart to get groceries today.

Normally I would do this on a weekday morning, but we bought the bare necesseties last week when we returned home and we have to do a stock up.

I sat here this morning and did my month of menus. Actually I did them up till the 22nd of December because I know I will need different groceries for Christmas dinner.
It took me about two hours but it saves so much time and money in the long run.

I will be trying lots of new recipes and will let you know how they turn out. Doing things with spinach and more veggies in them for Braden's new diet. I am not a big spinach fan but it is imperative in his diet so going to try to find things that it is good in. We all love pasta so I found several dishes with pasta, spinach, lots of cheese as well as other things.

Off to WalMart...hope we make it...ugh...a Saturday and the weekend after Thanksgiving...does not sound like a fun shopping trip.

Yep I am one of those

One of those crazy people in line in the cold...yep that is me.

Awake 3:30

Standing in line at Kohls 4:00

In Kohls grabbed all my stuff I wanted out of there 5:18

This year my dad wasnt in town to watch the kids so they had to tag along. Hubby took them into WalMart with him, since at least that way they were inside.
He got everything on his list. Best Buy people camped out all night I heard t was nutty crazy beyond belief, but hubby braved it after WalMart and got all he wanted except one item they were sold out of. Hubby and kids waited in checkout longer than anything.

I hit JCPennys, Micheals, Sears and attempted Limited Too but decided it wasnt worth it. Basically got everything I went for and was home by 7:00.

Now it is time to take a nap, before we drag out Christmas decorations.

Happy Thanksgiving

Turkey is in the oven. As soon as Matt gets up I will have him go get me a paper so I can spread all the sales out in front of me. Then I will see if there is anything good enough to motivate me out of bed early in the morning. Just going to be small dinner today hubby, the kids and myself as well as my brother and his girlfriend (feels weird to refer to her as his girlfriend since she is almost 20 years older than him...but oh well she is nice enough). The kids main request was mashed potatos so that is easy enough, making a few more things but not going all out this year. A friend of mine brought over rolls and two pies last night because she knew how tired we would be just getting home. All in all set to be a good Thanksgiving and we have so very much to be thankful for this year! Blessings all around us!

Home Sweet Home.

We made it home yesterday.

It was delayed because I was so sick (migraine) Matt had to pull over several times on the side of the road for me to be sick. I think it was delayed nerves.

Got home, no heat, yes that is right our heat did not come on.

Ugh...what a start.

Luckily a friend came over and fixed the heat lickety split and didn't charge us.

There are suitcases, and bags everywhere. But not starting on them yet, first order of business is to get to the chiropractor so I can get my neck adjusted and hopefully make me feel better are the migraine.

It is all okay though because we are home. I must go grocery shopping today or I will be serving pop tarts for Thanksgiving.

Dancin with her daddy

We got to attend my cousin's wedding this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding. At the reception I snapped pics of Hubby and dancing with Britt, and I just loved them. Of course I should have snapped a pic of hubby's face when I leaned over and whispered that in 9 years Britt would be of legal age to get married...LOL

Family

Being in Texas with Braden, and his treatments I have gotten tons of phone calls. My parents call daily, another aunt calls every other, another aunt about once a week, and friends daily. I know I shouldn't let it bother me but not once has hubby's family called me, I know he calls and updates them from time to time. But they make no effort they don't call me, I shouldnt be suprised, but I was. Here there grandson, nephew, etc is having radiation and other treatments and they don't want to say hi to him on the phone, not send a card, nothing. There is no love loss between Matt's mom and myself, but I am always polite and when she had knee surgery took her meals daily. I know I am rambling but it just ticks me off. Then they will ask why don't you come over (they cant drive the 10 minutes to our house apparently the road only goes from our house to theirs not vice versa). Hubby and I have had some knock down drag outs in the past but I finally realized it does us no good, so I am polite and I ignore it, and I dont bring it up. But this has pissed me off. Then they try to lay a guilt trip on me for not seeing the kids often, or that the kids prefer to go with my parents. No duh my parents (not perfect by any means and I have a whole other set of issues with them) make an effort with their grandkids, they work with them, they make the kids feel important. Okay this is my I am the first one up before going to the doctors and needed to vent post.

Works For Me Wednesday...Christmas Candy Cakes

This is a great easy gift for secretaries at the school, nurses, aides, teachers, etc. I buy two small flat round styrofoam (they come in a two pack at our dollar store). I hot glue them together. Then I buy either suckers, or decorations that I can stick into the top, fun Christmas candy, you can add bows, etc. Basically uou just start hot glueing candy around the sides first (I like the mini candy bars or Andes mints for this), then sometimes I put lollipops around the top (kids can help with this part), then I hot glue kisses on the top, stick in the suckers or decoations, add bows. Waala a cute and unique gift, that looks more expensive than it is (if you bought one from a candy bouqet it would be ridiculous). And the receiver of the gift can eat the candy right off the cake (of course most think it is so cute they don't want to eat it.

Already?

We were driving today and saw live Christmas Tree lots already open.

Okay it is one thing to have decorations out in the stores, but live Christmas trees. And one person was loading one up. I don't know much about live trees but isn't this a little early to get one and expect it to still be alive at Christmas time.

Ugh the rush for Christmas. Slow down enjoy Thanksgiving first.

Of course after Thanksgiving is fair game, as I will have all 20 rubbermaid boxes drug from the attic (thanks to hubby) and be decorating up a storm.

Style

Since we are going to be in Texas for a little while, we are going to be attending my cousins wedding. I was looking for Brittney something to wear to the wedding. I would see something cute, and hold it up only to be told "no it's not my style" over and over again. Finally she said "Mom maybe you don't know this about me but my style is sassy and cute".

Sea World

Sea World almost got postponed due to Braden, but luckily we got to go.

Havin Fun

We are squeezing in fun between treatments.

Yesterday we got to go visit with Kim's
I took my camera and I think I snapped 3 or 4 pics then I gave Brittney my camera to use and she took about a hundred pics here are just a few...


The kids just loved going to visit again. It was great for her to let us come out twice! It was definetly a much needed break.

My cousin's wife also invited us to go to the park yesterday evening. We had fun with that until the mosquitos came out and then it was time to go. Here is a pic of her and Braden feeding a duck.

I took some more pics but they are taking forever to get on here and we are about to head out for a fun day at Sea World! Braden woke up saying "Yeah no doctors today!"

Still in Texas and not going home anytime soon

Posting is sporadic and I havent talked about Braden a lot on this site. I have started him his own blog to share his story. Bradens Story

Works For Me Wednesday - Fun Thanksgiving Food

I make a centerpiece with my food for Thanksgiving.



Cornicopia ---- THis is really simplier than it looks and is always a talked about item. Instead of a boring veggie plate...take aluminum foil and shape it to a cornicopia, fill it with balled up aluminum foil so it will keep it's shape. Then spray it with cooking spray and using breadsticks wrap around the foil, bake in the oven on 400 till lightly browned. Let cool fill with fresh veggies and put some dip on the side.

Bread Bowl with dip --- Take a round loaf of bread and hollow out place for dip bowl. Then take a small roll attach with toothpick at front for head. Slice a roll for wings (attach with toothpicks) the feathers are zuchini and yellow squash anf carrots cut in feather shapes, for the waddle I cut a piece of red bell pepper, and raisin eyes.



Turkey Cheese Ball - Make my cheese ball as normal, pretzels for the feet, on the back I used pretzel sticks and put on cheese cube, tomato and olive but it might be easier to use long tooth picks or cut down kabob sticks. For the feather appearance half almonds stuck in all over cheeseball, The head is a little trickier you have to cut the craker down and the cut a shape of red bell pepper. I just used black decorating icing for eyes because no one eats that cracker anyway.

Turkey Cookies - I use choc almond bark to attach pieces. I used a almond drop candy for the body (easily found around holidays) attach candy corns to feathers and head.

In Texas

First off I have decided that the traffic is AWFUL in Austin. Not nearly as bad in San Antonio in my opinion. So far there was a wreck when we through on Sunday and another today.

Braden's procedure went very good. He was jumping around and recovered very well. Me I am taking a little longer.

Good news is I got to meet Kim and her wonderful kids. We had so much fun. I really appreciated her having us in her home.

Overstressed and overtired

I have been sleeping maybe 4 hours a night. So frustrating. I have even taken some meds given to me by the doc, no luck. I know it is stress, upcoming trip, etc. But ugh frustrating.

I am thinking of starting a Blog to keep people updated on Braden's medical and things while we are there. I havent really decided yet. I know I will post on here, but I thought if I had a seperate one I could give to everyone and then not everyone would have my blog address....because face it sometimes I like to talk about people..LOL.

We will leave out very early in the morning. Looking forward to seeing Kim while we are there. It should help with the stress of everything else.

I will have internet access, I will let everyone know how Brae does.

Lilo and Stitch