Brrrr.

On the day after Thanksgiving I've never been one to get up at 3am and head to Target with bed head.
But I applaud those of you that do. I'm just not that dedicated!

So on Black Friday...we made it a White Friday.

We go to Tahoe every summer, but had never been in the winter.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm less of a 'skier' and more of a 'lodger'? Not sure.

Instead of fighting the crowds at Target we did a lot of this.

And this.
And this.

I think, possibly, that it's more work to prepare kids for the snow than it is for the beach.
By the time I dressed everyone in thermals, snow bibs, thick socks, mittens, scarves, jackets, and hats...I was pooped.
(I felt like that mom in The Christmas Story getting Randy ready to walk to school.)
I swear we had hundreds of pounds of snow gear.

And we needed all of it.
It was {{freezing}}.
And windy.
They closed the gondola up to Heavenly where we had planned on taking the kids tubing.
There were a lot of disappointed snow boarders walking around.

So we found our own snow park and sledded our hearts out.

And...just to prove I was there...and since Julie brought it up...and so my children will know I actually did go on vacations with them, too...here I am.

We made our way back down the mountain, and completed the trip in the only way possible:

It's a rule.
You must stop at In-N-Out on the way home from Tahoe.
(I think it's in life's instruction manual...I'll look it up sometime.)

The Day Before.

Today was a kitchen sort of day.
{Raise your hand if you spent some serious time in yours, too? I thought so!}

So of course where there is marathon cooking, there is also this:


Aack! My aching dishpan hands!

I made one old favorite...


and a couple of new-to-me recipes.
(Including my grandmother's marshmallow dip recipe. On my first attempt, I stupidly forgot to temper the egg whites before adding the boiling sugar so I ended up with marshmallow-flavored scrambled egg whites. Mmm!)

And of course (like always) I had some help.


And, yes...doesn't it look so picture-perfect here?

Be glad there are no pictures (or videos) or me screaming at the boys later in the afternoon for their non-stop wrestling/play-fighting/crying-because-someone-got-hurt-from-the-horseplay-after-I-told-them-to-stop-482 times.

{Cleansing breath.}

But...I'm still thankful. Even for that chaos.
And for the messes as well.


Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
I'll be at the sink if you need me.

The Last Few Days...

The kids and I have been laying low and enjoying the down time.
OK...and eating our sandwiches on the fireplace.


Avery has discovered the joy of princesses and plays with these all. the. time.
She has been asking to take a bath at least three times a day because she likes them in the tub.


Sunday we celebrated Gary's parents 40th anniversary so the kids got to log in some time with their cousins.
(And with some mini flashlights.)


Don't they have a great view from their front yard?


Monday we all stayed in our jammies until dinner time.
And I'm not really sure why we got out of them then. What was the point?

Other than that we've just enjoyed a little rain and the soon-to-be-gone color.



The temperature is down and the swings have been empty more often lately.


So much to be thankful for.
And I'm definitely trying to be more conscious of it all this week.

Parent Drivers.

So, I'm glad this week is behind me.

Gary traveled to Texas to speak to graduate students at Texas A&M.
And while I'm not as big as a wimp as I used to be about him being gone
(I think ax murderers probably have more desirable targets than me)
I still don't like it when he's gone.

To all the single parents: I salute you. You have my utmost admiration. Truly.

But...while he was gone I did get to catch up on all of my DVR'ed shows.
Including SNL.
And the one skit that cracked me up was Taylor Swift as the teenage girl frustrated with bad parent drivers.

So funny.

And sad, at the same time, that I now relate more to the parents than the teenage girl.

Wow...that head gear. Does anyone really have to wear that anymore?

(click here if you can't see the video)

Good Medicine.

Today, as I entered hour 36 of my migraine, I thought:
this isn't working.

So...while doped up on migraine medication and ibuprofen and caffeine...
I made snickerdoodles.
With the kids.
(Actually, with two of my kids plus three of a friend's.)
They were all great.

And I think it helped.

So I don't really know if it was the medicine or the caffeine,
or this...

...but I can finally see that light at the end of that darned migraine tunnel.

I should have known that snickerdoodles had magical healing power.

Three days....

Isn't it funny how, one week ago, I was just saying how on top of things I'd been lately?

Ha ha ha...funny!
Here's the state of my dining room table.


Let's see...sewing machine and iron, fabric, buttons, RIBBON, Target purchases, and some 3D glasses. (?)
Now that is a mess.
On the table where we are supposed to eat.
My poor family.

I have felt a little 'blah' the last couple of days.
I haven't exercised.
I'm getting a migraine.
I have good reason to believe the chaos will rule until Friday.

{And the laundry is no longer under control.
Again...my poor family.}

I don't usually like to wish time away, but...
...three more days until Friday.

*sigh*
Sorry for the whining.
I need some Nutella.

A Collection of Random.

Brace yourself for a great, big, bunch of randomness.

I cannot get away from polka dots.
They are taking over my fabric stash.

I'm having a hard time coming up with reasons why I shouldn't make this in a big girl size.

I made this banner for a craft party that a friend had this weekend. (Thanks, Pat!)
I'm really getting into the Christmas mood, especially since the weather has finally turned into wool sock weather.

But I'm trying not to forget about Thanksgiving.
I love the message behind this holiday and being deliberate about thinking about what I'm thankful for.

These little salt & pepper shakers belonged to my grandma. She put them out every year, and I smile every time I see them and think of her.

Also making me happy are easy dinners.
My crock pot has been my friend lately.
But this is an easy one as well:

Ground turkey browned with garlic and onion, then add mashed kidney beans, diced green chilies, ground flax seed (don't tell the kids), a couple of teaspoons of chili powder, and 1/2 cup or so of tomato sauce and a little water. Simmer for 10 minutes or so.
Add to a tortilla with some salsa and fat-free sour cream.
Healthy.
But also tasty and easy.

And to round out the random...
I love this.
It may find itself in Avery's stocking....

Happy Monday!

Gephyrophobia.

A fear of bridges.
Do you have it?

I generally don't.
{Which is a good thing since we live near a lot of bridges.}

This morning Gary and I took advantage of our kids having spent the night with my parents last night (woo hoo!) and took a walk across the new bridge pedestrian walkway close to our house.

The bridge was l-o-u-d.
And I did find it a *little* scary that the divider between the walkway and the cars was seemingly very short.
{If a car blew a tire and lost control it could have totally jumped the divider! Creepy.}


But we had a great time.
Just the two of us.
Walking and talking and laughing.
{Plus we were hyped up on pumpkin spice lattes, which didn't hurt.}


Then when we walked back to our car in the parking lot some SICK, HORRIBLE person decided it would be funny to put this on a curb:


When I first saw it I didn't realize it was rubber.
I may, possibly, have screamed. Just a little.
Or a lot.

I don't have gephyrophobia, but I have a definitely have a huge case of ophidiophobia.
Rubber or otherwise.

Today.

Today...we were all in the backyard enjoying the cool sunshine.


I was playing with my camera and the ISO settings.


The boys were taking turns racing down the slide and arguing about who won.

Avery was on the swing and looking at bees on the flowers.


Then we went to the park and the kids dug in the sand and ran through the playground.

We had dinner as a family.

We commented on what a great November day it was.

And today...brave men and women are away from their families on this beautiful November day to ensure that we can have these privileges, and more.

And brave men and women have done the same for many years before them.

So today...to those brave men and women, and to their families who sacrifice with them...

...thank you.

The Formula.

I almost hate to say this out loud (for fear it will disrupt my mojo) but lately I have really been productive:
My laundry is under control, the bathrooms are acceptably clean, the floors are vacuumed, the furniture dusted...and I even mopped yesterday!
{I hate to mop. With a passion. I avoid it at all costs.}

I'm sure the house will be back to its usual state of chaos tomorrow, since the kids will be home from school.

But I've even managed to do a little sewing lately.
I really enjoy it so much.
Isn't it amazing how finding time to do a bit of something you love can really make doing things you don't love (m-o-p-p-i-n-g) a little more bearable.


Tooth fairy houses. Complete with a pocket to hold the tooth.
So cute, huh?
(Inspired by little bit funky - go check her out.)
Plus a few new clippies and t-shirts that I'll hopefully put in my shop soon.

So what is it *you* love to do?
What makes your chores a little less of a chore?

{And in the interest of full disclosure I should say that sewing + a Diet Coke is my magic formula. With maybe some chocolate. And my Dave Matthews station on Pandora. And my warm wool socks. OK, I'm done.}

Payoff.

It's no secret that soccer kicked my bee-hind just a bit this season.
Practice 4x a week since August, plus two games on Saturdays...it took over our life just a little.
{I should have bought this t-shirt.}

But it all came to an end on Saturday.
The boys had their last games and the end-of-year parties.

Gary took Riley to his team party, and I went to Colin's.
Seeing him get his trophy made all of the soccer craziness worth it.


It has his name on it and he is so proud.
It went everywhere with him yesterday, and he now has it displayed proudly on his bookshelf.

I love watching my guys play soccer, but am going to enjoy having Saturdays free.
You know, until basketball starts....

Talk About Sandcastles.

Sometimes when the laundry is piled on the couch and the bathrooms are begging to be cleaned and I'm feeling overwhelmed, I have to get out of the house.
Just for an hour.

Even though I know I have a million things that need to be done...we go.
I know that there won't be many more years where she and I will get to take spontaneous 10am trips to the park.


We had the park to ourselves.


And I watched this girl whose legs are getting long, who no longer really needs help climbing up the ladder, and I think it's going too fast.


We sat in the sand and we talked about sandcastles and pine cones and digging and Pooh bear (we talk about him a lot), and never once mentioned laundry or mopping or bills or paperwork or needing to exercise more.
And we laughed and I wished she would stay this age forever.

After an hour we came home.
And the laundry was still on the couch. (Some of it still is.)

But it was ok.
Because folding the laundry wasn't worth missing out on the conversation about sandcastles.

Do you ohdeedoh?

I could spend hours every day poring over ohdeedoh's design awesomeness. Really.

It is packed with amazing decorating ideas, kids rooms that are to die for, and super cool DIY projects.

Personalized gift wrap, anyone?


And inspiration that makes my brain want to explode.
How. Cute. Is. This? I think I need to make this little nook.


Fun...free...cute...printable chore chart.


I am making one of these houses. Soon.


Add to this the fact that ohdeedoh is a part of apartment therapy, and there goes my entire day. Love it.

Happy clicking!

It's A Beautiful Day.

I don't know about you, but I was happy to see a new month on the calendar Sunday.
October was a busy 31 days!
I know November ushers in its own craziness, but I'm ready for that season.

It has been a couple of weeks since I'd been able to just sit down and do something fun.
So today Avery and I did just that.
She had her milk and I had my tea, and we shared a package of Pringles Stix. (Honey butter flavor - have you discovered them yet? So good. And not in a "good for you" kind of way.)


Today was a good day.
And did I mention I got 10 hours of sleep last night?
Yay for November!