Jinger Bells

Well, here it is, the night before Thanksgiving and the first snowfall of the year arrives. Ever since hearing that it might snow today my kids started asking if they would be able to snowboard later and of course I tried to not be too optimistic so they wouldn't be let down when all we received was a random flurry. Well, we did get a little more than a flurry, and apparently you don't really need that much snow to be able to snowboard because by golly-here they are in full glory-sliding down the "hill" that is our front yard. Even Dakota was thrilled to play in the foreign (to her) white stuff. Also, in the true spirit of the season, my children have started singing various Christmas songs. Well, ok, just one in particular. The other day I was driving Lars and Maddi around and from the back of the van I heard the following:

Jinger Bells! Jinger Bells!

Jinger all the way,

Erf is fun, ish to wide

one horse open sleigh

HEY!

What struck me the most is that they BOTH were singing the same wrong words with some random made up word in its place. I remember being little (or who am I kidding-it even happens now) when you just can't figure out what the darn words are! Oh well, sing it loud, sing it proud!!! Welcome to the Christmas season--

First Batch

Here it is, the official first batch of "puppy chow" of the season. The kids love to help in the kitchen and are my official taste testers for many creations. (Mostly of the unhealthy sort). This first batch lasted for about two days so I suspect I will be asked when we can make it again sometime very soon!

Puppy Chow

12 oz box of Crispex

12 oz bag of chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

2 c. powdered sugar

Melt chips, butter and peanut butter over low heat. Stir in cereal. Pour into a large container or bag and pour powdered sugar over. Shake or mix well.

Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday we got to go to CF to hang out with family and I ate enough (this family does not lack in the food preparation department) food that it gave me a little precursor of what is to come next week for the ACTUAL Thanksgiving celebration. That feeling of being permanently stuffed for about six weeks straight due to big meals and holiday parties is almost enough to make me want to boycott the holidays, but who am I kidding. I eat enough "puppy chow mix" during the holiday season that I can put it in it's own food group. And besides, what good would it be if I couldn't put "lose 10 pounds" on my New Year's resolution list?? Anyway-to my family--it was great to see you this weekend and we love you much!! Hope to see you again soon. To the rest of you--enjoy the holidays and if you are ever in the mood for some puppy chow, stop on by and I'll share mine with ya!

PS-Matt--you've been blogged! HA!

High School Reunion

So, you know when you haven't seen someone forever but whenever you do see them it's like you just picked up right where you left off? That's how it is with three of my dearest high school friends I got to go out with last Friday night. My friend Clare from D.C., Christy from D.M., and Erin from right here in good 'ol I.C. were able to get together and didn't stop talking long enough to take a breath, let alone stop laughing for 4 hours. It's just so nice to have those friends who knew you when you were possibly the biggest dork of your life, but they STILL love you anyway. It was so great to rehash old stories of getting away with things (and just as many of NOT getting away with them)...or the favorite stories that get repeated every time we manage to get together like "Loomis Park + beer cans=Police Officers". I like to think that we are older (Ugghh!)-did I mention it was also Clare's birthday!? and much wiser than we were so many years ago, but its nice to know that those moments that made me who I am today were also shared by such dear friends and helped make them who they are today as well. Ok, ok, enough with the sentimental crap already, and I must give a big thanks to the husbands of the group who braved the wrath of four chatterboxes. They were troopers as we discussed such favorite topics as Taco Tico and the "Vortex" (yes, they were just as confused as many of you are right now) but they stuck it out. (Mostly because they had designated drivers to get them home safely!) All in all, it was an awesome night and when we do it again in another 5 years, I am confident we'll once again pick up right where we left off! Love ya girls-

Football Fever

Well, we finally managed to get our camera to one of Drew's football games--of course the last one of the season. For being the first weekend in November we were very thankful for the beautiful weather!! Drew and his team played hard and had lots of fun, and got lots of practice playing all positions. On the way to his last game he asked me what I thought his favorite position might be, I immediately thought/assumed that it would be the QB or some receiver who gets to score the points. How surprised I was when he said "...linebacker, because I get to rip off their flags!" Stupid me!! How would I know how the mind of a 7 year old boy works??!! I played tea parties and dollies and tried to use ink pens to add make-up to their faces. (How shocked I was when I discovered that it doesn't come off...) Anyway, football was great and now we are getting ready to move onto basketball---we'll keep you posted!!