Four Down....

one to go!

eee

I love to decorate for Christmas! It always takes longer than I think though. Friday night (after black Friday shopping and leftovers) I put up this tree next to my tub. After a looooong time...Blake came back and said "you are still decorating that tree?". Yep...I turned on Josh Groban's Christmas CD, sat on the bathroom floor, and decorated a tree. Isn't that what everybody does on Friday nights?

Tonight we decorated three more trees.

Here is Lauryn decorating the tree in her room.

Here is the finished product.

Jenna is getting her tree all "prettied up".

Jen's tree is done!

I'm working on a little ribbon garland for the tree in the living room.

All done (until tomorrow night)!

We have one tree left but it will have to wait until tomorrow night. We always decorate it as a family. This year we bought a smaller tree so it should be a quick decorating extvaganza.

Tacoma...Here Come The Mustangs!

This afternoon we picked up my friend Kristal and headed to Moses Lake. Kristal's husband, Kevin, is one of the dedicated Mustang coaches. She rode up with me so she could have a few more hours at home. I'm so thankful that she was willing to ride with me since Blake had to stay home. She was an awesome co-pilot and new exactly how to get to the field. We had lots of fun gabbing on the way!

Moses Lake is home to a flight school. We were entertained by the many "practice runs" that flew overhead. Could you imagine being the "flyers ed" instructor? Kristal and I decided that is a job we are thankful we don't have!!

Some of the coaches watching the end of the contest between Royal City & Cashmere, which preceded the Mustang game.

Here come the Mustangs from the locker room before the game. I bet there were a few nervous tummies in the bunch!;)

Warming up before the game.

(You may notice a certain coach shows up in my pictures quite often.)

Here comes the mass of Mustangs prepared to play a tough game.

Rich is heading to his coaching position during the game. He and another coach are in the booth communicating with the coaches on the field.

Yeah...the boys won the semi-final game by a score of 41 to 28. They will play for the state title next weekend in the Tacoma Dome! Hopefully they will all be healthy and have a great week of preparation.

The teams shaking hands after the game.

Both teams played their hearts out. The Mustangs thankfully had the edge and were prepared for a victory!

See ya all in the Tacoma Dome next Saturday.

Go Mustangs!

So Thankful For...

this day to reflect on all my blessings!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite day of the year! I love my family, good food, and a day to focus on all I have to be thankful for.

My brother is first-rate at barbequeing! This year he decided to barbeque the turkey on his Traeger. Last night the bird took a brine bath in a super tall bucket. This morning he got up and started smoking the turkey on his bbq. He had to turn the temp down while he was at football practice and then turned it back up when he returned. The bird was ready in perfect time for our 4:00 meal. I can honestly say this was one of the tastiest turkeys ever!

Jen must be hungry! We are still setting the food on the table and she's ready to go.

Hah Blake...I caught you sneeking an olive!

Jen's really eyeing those potatoes. They are her favorite!

Our Thanksgiving meal consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yams, corn, broccoli, marinated carrots, rolls, orange jell-o salad, olives, stuffed celery, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate pie, and coconut cream pie. We found the cranberry sauce when we finished dishes and were putting leftovers away. I don't think anyone probably missed it except for my grandma. She'll just have more to enjoy tomorrow night;)

After dinner the girls put on a little show. They took turns "hiding" behind each other with their arms showing. They performed several chairs and lip syncs to some favorite Christmas music. They are pretty funny. Jen even (sort of) picked Lauryn's nose. She was trying to pretend and came a little closer than she anticipated.

We always end the day by watching "Christmas Vacation". I think it gets funnier every time we watch it.

Bakin' Bread

I'm so glad Jen and Lauryn have my mom to help them in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that is one area that I haven't been able to teach them much about. I'm not so skilled at the cooking. I have to follow recipes exactly or it drives me nuts. All I can think about while I'm cooking is the mess and the dishes so...I don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

This past Sunday mom and the girls whipped up homemade cinnamon rolls. They were the real ones...not like the ones in a tube that I will make in the morning.

The real fun in the bread making extravaganza came when it came time for a bread braid. The girls had a blast and could hardly wait to see the finished product.

We enjoyed this tasty loaf with dinner.

Nummy in the tummy is all I can say!!!

Please Don't Curse That Boy Down There!

It's probably obvious that I am a Mustang fan. While I was sitting at the football game on Saturday, unfortunately this poem came to mind. My mom has carried it in her wallet since my brother was in his early years as a high school quarterback.

It was then that we learned how many "great coaches" are sitting in the stands. I know we can all get a little excited from time to time. It's upsetting though when some negative "fans" incessantly spout off at the players. Luckily most Mustang fans are spirited and supportive!

The poem I am going to share is a gentle reminder for all of us.

These pics are from last year's state championship game in the Tacoma Dome.

Please Don't Curse The Boy Down There

Please don't curse the boy down there.

He is my son, you see.

He's only a boy, you know and he means the world to me.

I did not raise my son, Sports Fan,

For you to call him names.

He may not be a superstar,

It's just a high school game.

Please don't curse the boys down there.

They do the best they can.

They never tried to lose a game.

They're boys - and you're a man.

The game belongs to them, you see,

And you are just a guest.

They do not need a fan like you,

They need the very best.

If you have nothing nice to say,

Please leave the boys alone.

And if you can't enjoy the game,

Then why don't you stay home?

So please don't curse the boys down there,

Each one's his parent's son.

And win or lose, or tie, you see

To us they're NUMBER ONE!!

I take it for granted!

I often take for granted how "normal" feels. I so appreciate it on days like today. I caught a nasty little bug that left me with a little squeak instead of a voice, a cough that could propel an organ, and simply made me feel wiped out. I should have kept my mouth shut because just last week I mentioned how I haven't been sick as much the last couple of years.

The really bad part about being sick today is that I had to miss Bunco. I was so looking forward to a night with my bunko friends. We were going to take a month or two off after tonight because of the busy holidays so I'm really bummed about having to miss it. I'm sure they are having a blast. It's hard not to with that group. I'm so thankful to have such neat people in my life. (Is bun_o spelled with a "c" or a "k"? I never know so I spelled it both ways.)

Tomorrow Lauryn has a basketball game at 9:00 in Prosser. We were then going to travel to Ellensburg because Jen had a 2:00 game scheduled. Several of the girls were not going to be at the game so it was cancelled. I don't think the forfeit will hurt us much this session;)

Since Jen's game was cancelled, we can now go to the Prosser Mustang football game against Othello. The players and coaches put so much into preparing for each game. Until Rich started coaching, I had no idea how much time the coaches put into to the program--film on Saturdays, meetings on Sundays, practice, more meetings, and games during the week. There are coaches on the west side tonight scouting games and then will drive back to be ready for the game tomorrow. I admire their passion for the game of football.

I will feel better tomorrow so I can cheer on the Mustangs!

Go Big Red!

Veteran's Day 2008!

Mommy, What is a Veteran?

by Linda Ellis

"Mommy, what is a veteran?" my child asked in an innocent way "and could you please explain to me why we have a Veteran's Day?"

My mind searched for the adjectives that might help me clarify those people, who

for their country have looked death in the eye.

I quickly grabbed the dictionary to see what Webster may have used but "one who served in the armed forces" were not the words that I would choose.

But, how do you describe a veteran -- soldiers you have never met, those you'll never know the names of and yet...never will forget?

How do you describe a veteran? How do you convey a definition for those who brought this country's dreams to their ultimate fruition?

How do you describe a veteran -- strangers who fought for you, men and women who risked their lives for people they never knew?

How do you describe a veteran -- and the sacrifices they made so that you and your children's children could live free...and unafraid?

How do you describe a veteran -- for a child's sake? You say "a veteran is a person to whom we owe every breath we take."

Prosser held it's annual Veteran's Day Parade today. My dad, a U.S. Army (Vietnam) Veteran, decided to join the parade this year. The girls were going to ride along with Papa and a fellow veteran friend. They decided to walk in front of Papa so he could have another veteran ride with him. They had a great time even though it was a damp and chilly day!

Jenna and Lauryn are awfully proud of their Papa!

Dad pulling the cart out of the garage for the parade.

Papa and the girls on the way to the parade.

Papa's longtime friend and fellow veteran with his patriotic granddaughters before the parade.

Jenna, Papa, and Lauryn before the parade.

The parade is here!

Showing support of veteran's!

The cart looks pretty snazzy! Good job mom and dad!

It was a little cold for many veteran's today. Some were driven by proud family members.

Brrr...

Lauryn, Brandi, and Kendra waving their flags.

Dad and his buddies.

Down the home-stretch.

Still smiling after a chilly walk in the parade to honor our Veteran's!

Nico and Lauryn after the parade.

Papa and the girls on their way to lunch after the parade.

America...

Home of the Free because of the Brave!

This is why....

you shouldn't spray paint in the wind!!!!

Yep...I want to say a cuss word right now. I have done a little procrastinating and now I'm paying.

We saw this great idea at a math conference. They showed us how to use tile spacers as a tool to teach integers. Well I cut 400 tile spacers to turn them from a "+" to a "-" and then was ready to paint. That was three weeks ago. I need the little buggers tomorrow so I had to get them painted today.

The wind had been blowing but it calmed WAY down so I decided to get this simple project done. Little did I know...it was the calm before the storm. I sprayed one side of the "-" red and had started on the black "+" when all of a sudden a hurricane strength gust of wind came up and sent the little red tile spacers flying all over the driveway.

At first I thought it was kind of funny so I ran and grabbed the camera. The humor didn't last long. I grabbed a couple of bowls from the house and started plucking sticky red spacers out of the gravel. I had about 200 picked up when I set the bowl down so I could use both hands and really get this job done. Well...a gust of wind blew the bowl over and I had to start over. That was about the time when the neighbor came to the fence and said "Don't you know you shouldn't spray paint in the wind?" It's a good thing I like my neighbors!

The good thing is I have one side of 800 tile spacers done! Now I just have to find a calm moment to do the other side. Hopefully they won't all be stuck together (since they were sticky when I picked them up) when I find the perfect conditions;)

Fall Chores

Blake loves to work! If he has nothing to do, he goes bonkers. When we went through counseling before getting married, we discussed what filled our tanks. Blake's tank is full when he's working. I don't think the "w" word was even mentioned on my list.

Today is the annual "blowing out the sprinkler lines" day. Doesn't that sound like fun? It's one of those projects that isn't difficult, but takes time.

Here is Blake doing something. He's probably told me 100 times but I still don't get it...so I just pretend I know.

This could have been a darn funny picture but my camera is too slow. He was checking the drip lines and the water was spurting out. I tried to get a picture because it looked like he was relieving himself from behind. I know, I find humor in strange places.

Yep...this is my garden. Isn't it sad? Last week Blake cut everything down and cleaned out enough to fill our dumpster. Today the rest of this is going. He kindly asked me not to plant so many tomatoes next year because it was a yucky mess under all of the plants. I am such a "just in case" planter. I always plant a few extra "just in case" some don't survive. Hopefully by next spring during planting he'll forget how gross the clean-up was;)

I snapped a pic of our "Burning Bush" as I was walking around the house...looking at how much work I have to do. Eeks!

I went outside to assess the work I have ahead of me. Last year I took a picture of every plant I have around my house. Each picture is placed in a journaling photo album. I took the album out to Yellow Rose and Brandi told me what to do with each plant. (The year before I wiped out a few...oops!) Some are chopped to the ground now, some I have to leave until spring, and some I have to cut after the first hard freeze. I really appreciate that I live in a small town where the buisness owners and employees really take care of us.