A Child is Born

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 2 Nephi 19:6
Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I am taking this time off to spend with family, friends and those I love in remembering the real reason for the season.

(Be seeing you in 2009.)

"I"

Heather at This is the day... had a great idea: post a comment on her site saying you want to play along and she would send you a letter, then you get to list ten of your favorite things beginning with your assigned letter and what letter did she give me, ...."I".

So here we go.........

1) Idealistic. Sometimes my head is in the clouds, but I also know when it is time to get to work and make things happen.

2) IHOP. Do I need to say anymore about the kids eat free after 4pm? Didn't think so.

3) Intelligence. Yes, I know that most days I am teetering on the edge of stupidity, but I do have moments of brilliance.

4) Intuition. Once I became a mom I really learned to rely on the gut feeling and it has never steered me wrong.

5) Identity. I feel that I have a strong sense of who I am, my purpose in life, that I matter to many people and that I can make a difference.

6) Imagination. I love that I dream, I create, I see beauty in ordinary things, and that I have passed that desire/trait on to my kids.

7) Infinite. I have much love for my family, loyalty is something that I treasure and the love that I feel for my family is something I want to be infinite.

8) Irreplaceable. There are so many moments in my life that I treasure; the day I married my husband, the days my kids were born, these moments are what keep me going, I want a life filled with them.

9) Influence. I try to be a influence for good in all things. I want to know that in some small way, I made a difference.
10) Internet. The one thing that can bring the world together, help make and keep friends and help with all that homework....."Let's go Google it?"

Gingerbread Cookies Try-It-Tuesday

I have had alot of you ask for the recipe to make all these lovely Gingerbread Cookies and they are wonderful, as long as you do a few tricks! So here we go....Gingerbread Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

3 1/2 cup flours

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cloves

1/3 cup water

Cream butter and sugar thoroughly - takes about 3 minutes. Beat in molasses and water. Add all dry ingredients and mix well. Dough should be still sticky but smooth and pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Place in a greased bowl and chill overnight. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 1/2 inch thickness (very important to keep them thick) and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes, just till they start to crack. Cook longer if you like brickettes instead of cookies. Let cool completely.

Frosting
1 16 oz pkg powdered sugar

1/2 tsp cream of tarter

3 egg whites at room temperature (very important to be at room temp.)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients until smooth, if it is too dry add a drop or two of water till it is nice consistency. Icing dries very quickly so keep covered with a damp cloth. I usually place some in a ziploc baggy and cut of the end and just squeeze it out all over the cookies and decorate with your favorite goodies. If you make the frosting a little less stiff by adding more water it does not dry to rock hard - break a tooth- consistency. You will have plenty of frosting so goop it on.

Store them in a covered container and they will remain soft for weeks. I have never had any remain around that long but they stay good for a while.

Enjoy!!!

Blog tags

I love that I can find out what people are Googling and then coming to see me under. However, I can not understand the appeal of a certain post that seems to be of particular interest to many bloggers from around the world, "Bill the Cat". I did this post and used that particular character to capture the intense sickness that I was enduring at that time, little did I know that he had such a following.

So what phrase do you get the most hits from?

Thank you High Schoolers

It was a bad day at school for the Sweet-boy. Seems that some of the kids think that it is funny to tell on him after every recess. So today when they all came in after recess and started telling the teacher that he had hit them, she questioned how that could be when he had been in the class the whole recess with her. Turns out that they all thought that it was a great game to play, called getting SB in trouble. Let me just tell you that I have a zero tolerance for bullying, especially when it is my kids. So when he came home he was really sad - I do not blame him. But, luckily we did have something to look forward to, a local High School DECA and FBLA group had organized a "Read with Santa" event and 50 lucky kids from the district got to attend and Sweet-boy was one of them.

We arrived at the school and got signed in and then the anticipation for Santa to arrive and get this party going started. Sweet-boy led the cheering and he was so excited I thought that he would just burst. He was the first one to sit on Santa's lap and when Santa was going on about the cookies that Mrs. Clause was baking SB said, " Yeah, yeah, now I am going to tell you what I want for Christmas." To which the Santa replied, "Oh, yeah?!" I about bust a gut laughing over that one.

(sorry the pictures are blurry they are from my phone)

They broke the kids out into groups and all the centers involved doing something that in the end you got to eat something that contained at least 50% sugar.

Cookies and Chocolate Milk - Sugar!

Writing letters to Santa, then you got a candy cane and a pencil.

Candy Cane - sugar, pencil - not edible.

Then they took the kids to the school library where they got to read with a reading buddy.

Sweet-boy picked out his reading buddy cause he had yellow hair too. He also told me that he thought that was what he would look like when he was a big kid - maybe?

In the end the kids got a stocking bigger than them, stuffed with books, candy, a t-shirt, a stuffed animal, and a fleece blanket that the big kids had tied. But in the end, I got a kid that felt great about himself. He got to have fun, to be himself and the older kids all knew his name at the end of the night. He was the sweet-boy that I get to love and enjoy each and everyday.

What a great night!!!!

Decking the Halls

Over Thanksgiving Holiday, Sweet-boy could not wait to get our house festive for December. He gets so excited and can hardly wait to get out the lights. I think it has something to do with the fact that when he was a small boy he would get a strand of lights to run around the house with, plugging in here, stringing there, so he loves it when that box comes out. (I know what a great mom that I gave a 1 year old something to stick in the outlets and drag around the house and still encourage each year.)

The kids love to decorate their tree with all the many ornaments that we have gathered throughout the years. My favorite is the picture frame ones of them from baby to current year that we have on the tree. I love to see how they have changed each year to remember how fast time flies and that I need to enjoy each and every minute.

So we began the task of decorating the tree.

Then the ceremonial placing of the stockings and the kids pictures with Santa. For another great story about the Santa pictures click here.

We take a break to make gingerbread cookies and get that sugar buzz going.The last and most important of all the decorating comes next, the wreathing of my car.

Yes, I put a wreath on my car and not just any wreath, a light strung, ribbon embelished, berry wearing wreath. Everyone gives me a hard time but I love it, kinda my signature thing during the Christmas Season. Plus, I love that when I drive around people smile as I drive by, I am spreading some holiday cheer.

(Doesn't my car look like it is smiling?)

Merry Christmas from my home of chaos to yours.

Back by Popular Demand

After the give-away and in the comments it was mentioned that some of you really enjoyed these posts.

So without much ado I give you -

I need help

And

Beauty School Mess up

And

My Secret Terror

Let me just warn you that these are not my proudest moments, but I share them so that others can learn from my horror or experiences.

Enjoy!!!

And the Winner is???

I want to thank everyone that came over to comment and share the fun of celebrating my 150th post. So without further ado, the winner selected in the most highly-technically advanced method is:

My lovely assistants' grabbing a hand written name out of the brown paper bag.

And the grand prize winner is.............

I will be contacting you via e-mail to get your snail mail address. If for any reason she does not want to receive her gift we have selected alternative winners.

Do you want to see what Elena won, of course you do. A wonderful Scentzy Kitchen/Bathroom light and scents to go along with it, this Christmas plaque and some yummy milk chocolate mint sandwiches. Thank you to everyone that participated. I had so much fun doing this and learning that my favorite posts are yours too, so join me December 8th for a re-post of the top requested posts: Beauty School Mess Up, I Need Help and My Secret Terror.

Merry Christmas!

The Comments are Closed.

Okay, it is time for me to close the comments section on my 150th post and draw a name. Thank you to all that came and played and check tomorrow for the big winner!!!

My 150th Post Give-Away

It's a Give-Away!!!!

I cannot believe that it has been 150 posts since I started this whole blogging thing. I look back and boy did I not have any idea what I was doing, but you have all been so kind to let me know how to upload things, where to find the HTML screen and been so kind on your comments when I know that I have spelled things terribly wrong. In the end you shared the ups and downs of my life with me and I want to give a little love back. So leave me a comment on this post on what you have enjoyed most about my blog, comments that I might have made on yours or anything that you want to share that you have enjoyed while visiting this house of chaos. I will leave this post up for 5 days and on Friday we will have a drawing for something really nice and random that you will win.

So comment away, comment often and may the best commentor win.....

Who doesn't love a little gift and early too!

♥♥♥A special thanks to Debbie at Blog Around the World for the shout out!♥♥♥

I Got Got.....

****Thanks to my cute former babysitter for tagging me****

10 years ago I was:
1) Living in Idaho
2) Missing my family
3) Enjoying my little almost 1 year old Drama Queen
4) Surviving with just one car - we were so poor
5) Learning that friends can be just as fun if not better than family

5 things on my "To-do" list today:
1) return all those over-due books to the library
2) start getting Christmas gifts organized
3) call an ENT for Sweet-boy
4) get registered for school
5) make some time for me

5 snacks that I enjoy:
1) chocolate
2) carmel, usually with chocolate
3) swiss cheese with peanut butter
4) nectarines
5) dried blueberries

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire:
1) have no more debt
2) build my dream house
3) give my parents' $50,000.00 just cause
4) take a long cruise somewhere with my hubby
5) do many, many random acts of kindness for complete strangers

5 jobs I have had:
1) Bank Teller
2) Unit Clerk in an Emergency Room
3) Supervisor for Life Flight
4) Secretary
5) Crossing Guard - it is more fun then you think

5 places I have lived:
1) Utah
2) Idaho
3) Utah
4) Utah another city
5) Utah another city

5 people I tag are:
1) Manwaring Moments
2) Spouse in the House
3) This is the day...
4) This is the Life
5) Busy Lady

Let us all give thanks.....

Thanksgiving

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Let us give thanks for God Above.

Thanks for expressions of His love.

See in the book of nature, grand

Taught by His love on every hand.

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Let us be thankful in our hearts,

Thankful for all the truth imparts,

For the religion of our Lord,

All that is taught us in His word.

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Let us be thankful for a land,

That will for such religions stand;

One that protects it by the law,

One that before it stands in awe.

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Thankful for all things let us be,

Though there be woes and misery;

Lessons they bring us for our good-

Later 'twill all be understood.

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Thankful for peace o'er land and sea,

Thankful for signs of liberty,

Thankful for homes, for life and health,

Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

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Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,

Thankful for all things, good and true,

Thankful for harvest in the fall,

Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Wishing all a day filled with family, love and much Thanksgiving.

Try-It-Tuesday

Sorry no picture for this but it is a really good recipe and something that you can make as neighbor gifts that they will love. It sounds interesting but is really yummy and so moist, not like the dreaded fruit cake.

Banana Carrot Cake

Items that you will need:

3/4 cup pureed banana (2 large)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

Beat together until sugar is dissolved then add:

3 eggs

beating thoroughly then add:

3 1/2 cup shredded carrot (3 to 4 medium)

1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained

1 tsp vanilla

stir together then add:

2 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp salt

Gently fold fry into wet ingredient until just combined, DO NOT OVERBEAT.

Bake in a greased and floured loaf pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or till tester comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack, then enjoy!!!

My Christmas Wish List

It is time to put all those wishes down in list form. Sad to say that my list will be nothing concerning world peace, it will however cover all the things that I want, not need but WANT, and dream of having one day.

Yes, it is a totally selfish list and a dream......

1) A new home with more room and a lower monthly payment. Now that is a wish right.... but one I hope comes true - yeah when I win the lottery.2) A brand new car. Not a previously used or gently used car. A new car that I put the first 100 miles on. Of course this one will have no payment.

3) A safe in my closet that no matter how much I and take out always has piles and piles of money in it - $100 bills only thank-you!

4) I want to experience paradise again. I want to go on a month long vacation with only my hubby to Puerto Vialltra and this time not be sick and get to do all those things that we wanted to but instead I was praying to the porcelain Gods to just kill me. Yep, it was our honeymoon, I got food-poisoning the first day there.

5) I want my hubby to be happy in a job; successful in what he does or just to find his niche. With that safe of never ending money, who needs a job. We will just play.

6) I want a Travel Trailer so that we can go camping in style. I love camping but do not do the tent thing, but get me in one of these and we can go cross country for months.

This is my wish, but not my reality.

I really do want people to have the peace that they need in their lives, the struggles to go away and that our country might unite in love. I want for us to never forget the reason for the season and all the blessings that we do enjoy. I want for all our service men and women to come home to their families. I want our children to be safe and live in a world with no fear. There is much more, but I think we all get the point.

So what is on your Christmas List this year?

Do you pick up Pennies?

***Another great e-mail shared. Enjoy!!

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home.

My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than their house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.

How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.

She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '.
'No, not that; read further.'
'One cent?'
'No, keep reading.'
'In God we Trust?'
'Yes!'
'And?'
'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh.
Yes, God, I get the message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient.....

Where I am this weekend

First I packed my bags, kissed the family good-bye, said a quick prayer of thanks and jumped into my car.****

With the radio blaring on whatever music matches my mood I begin to think about the weekend I will be having all alone!!!

My destination is Idaho to visit my BFF!

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After a dinner of Fondue madness and the company of women driven to enjoy the evening, we will depart......to get in line and watch this!!

Finally after what seems like forever it is here!!!

As if that is not enough to just make one declare this was the best night ever; the next day will be full of creative crafting as we make Christmas cards with more delightful company and sinful food.

It is my weekend.

I get to enjoy it alone, with just me, I get to remember what my first name is, (no it is not Queenie) and the joy of laughing, and laughing and being carefree.

Thank you Honey for giving this weekend to me - I love you dearly!!!

Gratitude Turkeys

I saw this idea here and loved it.

It was so fun to finally do with the kids and to see what they are grateful for.

Take some fall colored paper and trace out your hands, cut it out and then answer this question - What are you grateful for?

One answer for each finger.We placed them in the most visible place in the house - the kitchen.

I loved to write what I was grateful for, but to hear each child state their gratitude was so tender. It was easy to fill up all my fingers and helped to show each of us that we have many, many things to be grateful for this year.

Try-It-Tuesday

We have had so much sickness in our home as of late that I have been making this to help with sore throats. This is not just for when all are ill but also when you just want a good hardy soup on those cold and rainy days.

Chicken Soup with Homemade Egg Noodles.

Egg Noodles:

2 beaten eggs

2 tbl milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup flour (more to make less sticky dough)

Combine eggs milk and salt, then gradually add the flour until it is stiff to knead into a ball. Place on well floured counter and roll out till thin. Using a pizza cutter cut noodles, covering with flour and let dry for about 1-2 hours OR, I just roll them out, cut them and then roll them in extra flour so they are not sticky and slowly add then to the boiling soup one at a time and let them cook about 12 to 15 minutes. This makes them more dumpling in texture.

Items that you will need:

For soup:

Boiled chicken (as much as you like) torn into bite-size pieces

3-4 sliced carrots

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 onion chopped

about 1 tsp Dried Basil

Salt and Pepper to taste

about 1 tsp Garlic powder

Chicken Bouillon or broth for the soup

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In a big pot, decide how much soup you want. I use a 6 quart stock pot and just about fill it with liquid and then add the bouillon to give it a good rich broth. I also add just about 2 tsp of beef bouillon to give it a richer taste ( do not make it too salty as the noodles bring in salt). Bring the broth to a boil, add the chicken, carrots, onions and boil till carrots are tender. Add peas, basil, pepper, garlic powder and again bring to a boil. Now you are ready to drop in the noodles. To thicken the broth I add the flour from the noodles and even more to make it more of a stew consistency.

Pair this with some crunchy french bread and you have a great fall dinner.

I got another one!

In my daily haunting of blogs, I saw my name as a recipient of this bloggy award. Tiffany, thank you so much for this. You truly made my day.

So now I get that arduous task of selecting 8 people to receive this award. So as always here are the rules:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

So in no particular order here are my eight:

1) Spouse in the House She needs all the love she can right now. And whatever you do, no one mention Semper Gumby to her.

2) Pennies in My Pocket I just love a deal and she has got them here, besides she is so real and one of my favorite daily reads.

3) Dogs and Jeans Yep it is a guy blogging and I love the sarcasm and truth of Trooper Thorn. Go check him out, I know that you want to, so go and get the mans' perspective on life.

4) John Deere Mom She is so cute and her kids just do the craziest things. Besides that Jackie Dog is good for some shinanigans'. I love her life on a farm and all that entails.

5) Life as a CFers Wife She is amazingly strong in the face of such trials. I haunt her blog but am truly a follower.

6) "This is the day...Ps118:24" She is an amazing person and someone that I could stop over and get pumpkin bread from and just chat. I get to live vicariously through her with all her pets.

7) Manwaring Moments I just love this funny gal. She has the best recipes and ideas and is just FUN!!!

8) Pawly & Sandy She has been so dear to me for so many years and I am so glad that I get to keep in touch with her in the bloggy world.

So come and get your awards and enjoy the bloggy love!

What I am doing for Christmas money

With the holiday season fast approaching and our budget stretched thin, like many we are trying to recover from a season of $4.00 a gallon/gas, having a good Christmas is becoming elusive. But hard times is also the mother of invention or apt to make one become very creative to any idea.

The idea that I was presented with was to clean a house, not just any house but a mansion of great worth. This home was located in a very exclusive gated area, patroled by guards and very pristine. I also felt very much like Cinderella on her way to the ball not to attend, but to clean. I even got to wear my own set of booties (slippers) for the occasion.But off I went this morning at 7am to clean, this 6000 square foot, 7 full bathroom mansion and while I was cleaning I was also learning a few things along the way. I learned that I really do not mind cleaning other peoples houses. That even if I did have that kind of money, I would still want my kids to live in a middle class neighborhood and have chores to keep them grounded. That it takes alot more than money to make a house a home. That the only thing that really made me go "Wow" was the view from the balcony of this house, other than that it was just walls, windows, and a roof. But, one that is considerably cleaner then when I arrived seven hours earlier.

So what are you doing for Christmas money this year?

Christmas Music

It is only the beginning of November and already three radio stations that I know of have all-the-time Christmas music playing.

I LOVE IT!!!!

I cannot get enough of Christmas; the lights, the smells, putting my wreath on my car, the endless chocolate to enjoy. But it is more then that, I love the songs and the message that they bring into my home. The opportunity that I have as a mom to sing "Silent Night" with my kids in the car as we travel to and fro. Now do not get me wrong, I think that seeing the Christmas items in the store in the middle of September is insane.
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However, It is the meaning of what we are gearing up to celebrate that I love. It is the scheduling of visits to family that we have not seen in a while and in some cases since last year. It is the anticipation of snow to play in, gingerbread to bake and eat and bake again, gifts to wrap, cards to send and receive from long lost friends, and the animation of my children's' faces when they spy another gift under the tree. It is also the time that we take in remembering our Savior, His gift to us and talking about ways that we can serve those around us, not just during this season, but always.
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So do I think that having Christmas music blaring in my car and in my home is too early and too much - NO!!! I do not think that we can give enough time to the real reason that we celebrate Christmas.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas

Saturday was one of those fairly nice autumn days, no rain, no sun either but also no snow on our roof top. We had no major projects planned so I calmly broached the subject of putting up the Christmas lights, to which I got no response. Nothing, not even a "Drop Dead it is my Saturday and I am doing nothing." So I went about my day and the lights did not get put up, but the seed had been planted.

The Man is great about putting up the lights; every year we have them, every year we enjoy having a festive looking house. The problem is that The Man always, and I mean always, decides to put those lights up when it is just getting dark, or the rain is coming down, or after the first snow so he is slipping around.

I hate that!!!!

I spend the time he is outside, inside the house straining to hear if he has fallen off the roof. So I send the kids out to make sure that Daddy is alright in this dangerous but necessary project.

I was gone most of the day today and when I got home this is what I saw.

The Man and Sweet-boy getting things ready to go on the roof. But first the house had to be decorated, the stairs, the hallway and all the second story with lights.

The Man bringing the first of many strands out onto the roof. Notice that we do not use ladders when going out an open window is so much more fun.

Sweet-boy going out on the roof to help his daddy. He was running around like a mountain goat and it was making me very nervous, but he also helped alot and I know that dad liked that.
(This picture is about a girl and a boy and with his dad. They were making their mom scared. She screamed and screamed for hours at home.) Sweet-boy told me to write this for this picture.

Drama Queen wanted to get in on the action so she also got out there with dad on the roof.

When the sun went down, I went out to check the progress and the kids were sitting on the very top of the house singing songs, watching dad get the last of the lights up. It was a beautiful sunset but the best part was finally flipping the switch and getting this.......

I love that it is beginning to look alot like Christmas.

Leave it to my kids to come up with some fun

When all is quiet in my house that does not always mean that things are okay.... So I went exploring and this is what I found. Take one set of stairs, an old toddler mattress and two kids with too much energy and you have the makings of a great activity.

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First you pull the mattress up to the top of the stairs.

Then you get on and start inching closer to the edge of the stairs.

You let gravity pull you down the stairs at a faster-than-I thought-was-possible-speed with your sibling tagging along.

You laugh hysterically cause this is so much fun.

Then you get tangled up in the mattress at the bottom of the stairs and do it all over again and again and again.

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They wanted me to do it, but when I could not even inch over the edge I opted to become the person that captures all the fun.

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Kids that were sick just hours ago it seems are so resilient and so much fun. I wonder what they will come up with next?

Sick Kids

This week already started out as one that I was dreading.

It is Parent-Teacher-Conference and thus in their infinite wisdom (the school district) the kids are let out early all week......That means instead of 3:45pm, they get home at 1:35pm. I already hate Friday's for that reason. But to boot, we have the sickness here. Sweet-boy sounds like a Seal with a serious sinus infection and Drama Queen has a lovely fever of 102 to 103 that only manifests itself late at night along with a sore throat and breath to kill the most brave at heart. So they are home, I am trapped and we are off to make that despised visit to the Pediatrician that nets only $30 less in my pocket and a diagnosis of "just give it time, they just have a cold." But I want it all to go away......

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We are home from the doctor's and here is the scooby.

Drama Queen does not have strep, but, Sweet-boy does have the croup.

So go figure.

The kids I thought was the sickest is not and the one that I thought I should save my money on was the worst.

Bloggy Tests

Do you ever take these tests and wonder who thought these up?

Like this one......for those that really know me, am I really Elinor Dashwood???

You Are...Elinor Dashwood!

Take the Quiz here!

Then there is this little gem.

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. If that is really true then why can I not do simple 5th grade math? Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. Okay, I agree with this one, but getting those ideas out of my head and into something amazing and where the problem lies. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. Has anyone see my "Quirky" post, no need to say more. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is! After my Layover on Blog Around the World with 79 commentors to get back to, I think that popularity is overrated. I love the visits but getting back to each and everyone was a three day affair. I loved it but just that once.... This really is a blog about my crazy family and our little space in the world. Like it or not, this is it.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Here is the cold hard truth, yep I am addicted!!!

80%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

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This is gonna be rich!

What Your Bed Says About You

Outward appearances are very important to you. You do your best to look good and have an attractive home. Okay I have no problem taking my kids to school in my PJ's, hair messed up and morning breath, I am in my car of course.... You are an organized and disciplined person. You do the right thing because you want to, not because people expect you to. That might be true 50% of the time, but really if I want to I do something then I will , but if I don't, well then I don't! You are very high maintenance. You like everything a certain way, and you're grumpy if things aren't the way you like them. The Man says that this is true! I have to disagree, just about the grumpy part. But I do like it the way I like it and if everyone would just do as I say then everything would be just fine!!! In relationships, you tend to be quite dominant. You enjoy taking charge. I do have a strong personality, but I have learned in 13 years of marriage that I do not need to win every argument, that sometimes it is best to just remain still. You tend to be a dreamy, head in the clouds type of person. You think in terms of possibilities. I do always have a dream in my head and it usually has Enrique the pool boy in it (inside joke with The Man:0). I do always want a goal, something to work for, and something to achieve. You are a total homebody. You are happiest when you're at home. Now I do agree with that. I love being at home, reading a good book by the fires glow or making cookies with my kids. I love being with my family.

What Does Your Bed Say About You?