You Know What I Miss?

Sure, the mountains were nice. And the friends and family all close were great. The green, lush grass was heavenly. The restaurants and shopping areas were wonderful. The snow even looked nice if you were bundled up beside a fire.

But you want to know what I really miss this time of year?

I'd take it in any flavor...well, not raspberry or orange...but seriously, we have nothing that compares. I'm contemplating going back to school in food science to try to come up with something close...maybe.

And I also miss this:

Mixed with Stephens French Vanilla Hot Cocoa...mmmm. You can't get this stuff here in the middle of nowhere. I even asked the cashier at one of our local stores; she thought I was asking for stationary stuff. Whatever...

However, if you're looking for coffee, every store I checked carries at least 40 varieties/flavors for your tasting convenience. Too bad I don't drink the stuff.

Well, I guess we have some stuff that you don't:

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking too...

New Discoveries

Cael made a few new discoveries last week...much to our, um, amazement?

Discovery #1

I know, crap... Now if it's not gated it's going to have to look like this:

Discovery #2

Apparently he doesn't understand the need for the diaper bag to remain closed, and the pajamas to stay zipped up...

We're at the age of discovery, right? So here are a few discoveries I hope they'll make.

#1 How to clean rooms instead of tear them apart

#2 How to decorate with instead of destroy Christmas decorations

#3 How to play together without reducing each other to tears

#4 How to eat while getting more into the stomach than on the floor

#5 How to play outside without being drawn to the one area (no matter how small) that you shouldn't play in

I think those 5 goals are sufficient for this week. Maybe next week we'll move on to other important discoveries like how to grow money on trees, world peace, curing cancer and weight loss for moms - yes, all seemingly impossible but I'm OFTEN amazed at what can be accomplished by these kids. Aren't you?

Today's Note To Self...

Dear self,

If you ever decide to post another analogy, please make sure it's got absolutely nothing to do with vomit...unless you should want to deal with another child puking all night.

Thanks,

Brooke

An Analogy

Ok, stay with me...

We all know this is how I feel about cold...and snow...right?

Well, you know when your stomach hurts, like really bad, and you wonder if you wouldn't feel a little better if you actually threw up?

Seriously, stick with me...

And then you throw up and you do feel better?

The sky threw up last night. Well, it actually kind of just spit up a little bit of white stuff, everywhere.

Today it's almost better. Sure, there's snow, the city shut down, they canceled school, but it's actually a little bit warmer today. And, the kids are happy.

See?

And what do we Texans do when it snows and our snow shovel is at someone else's house being used for construction?

We rake.

Back To The Routine

We sent the kids back to school after a week off...

There was no hesitation...

We were right back at it...

Climbing...

Brushing our teeth, combing our hair...

Reading books, playing in the toilet...

Because that's how we roll...how 'bout you?

(all photos taken via Mom's phone because she'll never learn to carry the camera in her pocket to catch all of our antics)

I'm not really ok with this forecast...

Tonight Nov 30 Rain / Snow 32° 70 % Tue Dec 01 Rain / Snow 39°/34° 100 %

Yes, it's the eve of December...

Yes, I'd be way more tolerant if I still lived in Utah, or the Arctic...

But I don't...

So, if you live near me and see snow falling down, think of me - I'll be huddled in the fetal position somewhere in my house away from windows, drinking something warm and praying for a quick return to warmer weather and sunshine. My husband will be nearby laughing. So will my kids, I think they're praying for a long, hard, snowy Winter...

I pray I have more faith than they do... (Is that blasphemous?)

Happy Turkey Day!

Random thoughts from this Thanksgiving week...

4 chickens stink much less in a garage than 11, but I'm grateful we have chickens again

I'm at my lowest weight in 6 months, just in time to eat some really yummy food today

I've never understood how it takes days to prepare the food for a 15 minute meal, but I'm grateful for the food and the knowledge of how to prepare it

In Utah when it got to 45° in the Wintertime I would walk around in short sleeves, here in Texas when it hits 45° I think I'm literally going to freeze to death

I can not imagine my life without including a talkative 4 year old, two temperamental 1 year olds, and a super-smart 9 year old and an amazing husband...

I can imagine my life without the two dogs, but it would be a little more sad

Giveaway

You want an early Christmas present from me?

Go here, http://www.emilysmusings.com/2009/11/24/giveaway-2/, and enter her giveaway.

Yeah, she's beautiful, she's talented, and I get to claim that I went to high school with her...yep, I'm cool by association.

She's giving away a photo shoot for someone in Utah. If I win I'll give it to someone in Utah...

You want to be my new best friend? I'm taking applications.

You just want a killer photo shoot? Go here, http://www.emilysmusings.com/2009/11/24/giveaway-2/

Today...

Today I'm thankful for four kids, all at home and willing to do crafts with me because they'd never get done if it weren't for the kids.

Oh, I'm also grateful for a mom who comes to town to run my Pre-Thanksgiving grocery trip for me.

Oh, and I'm grateful for yummy recipes that I get to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. If you want to know what I'm going to make, click here.

Hmmm, I'm also thankful for Ibuprofen and it's ability to take care of this headache that I've had for a month. Now if it would just make it go away instead of making it play hide and seek.

And I'm grateful for Autumn leaves and two really big rakes from Ace and a husband that doesn't make fun of me when I decide to rake in the middle of November when the leaves are only 20% down, and I'm grateful that I got a really, really good workout from said leaves, and I'm not so grateful that it looks like I haven't raked at all....

Oh, and I'm really thankful for sweaters because even though it says it's 76° today my sweater feels really nice.

What are you thankful for?

An Oxymoron Is...

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly." (taken from here)

Can include phrases like:

Jumbo Shrimp

Accidentely on Purpose

Liquid Smoke

Fun Church Activity

If you have a concern about that last one, let me explain. The activity included our family (me, Shane, bro-in-law Rhett, sis-in-law Missy and Mother-in-law, OnaMarie) lip syncing to a compilation of The Way I Am from Ingrid Michaelson, and I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred...

Not enough visual? Let's try this...OnaMarie sang I'm Too Sexy in leopard print and a long, blonde wig...

Still not enough? Shane and Rhett were playing guitar and drums, Missy and I were dancing in synch...

Need more? Sorry. We were all either involved in lip synching the most amazing song of the night, or involved in babysitting 5 kids...hopefully there are pictures, if there are, I'll share.

I Promise.

We've already got plans for next year...We're thinking Napolean Dynamite.