"C" Snacks!

We got snacks for dinner tonight. Though it was unplanned, they all start with a "C". Cheese sticks, Chips and dips, Cashews, Cervesa for the king, Cola for the princess and myself.

Happy New "C" Year!

By the way, the prince is at Lakota's having "authentic" Italian food. I can see where "Lakota" is a nice Italian name! :)

Happy New Year!

My Top Ten Reads for 2010

In looking at my book list for 2010, I gave 10 books my highest rating. So I decided to rank my top ten for you...because I know you care.

10. Night by Elie Wiesel (Though I will never read this book again, I think everyone should read it once.)

9. Shelter Me by Juliette Fay

8. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

7. The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

6. In Open Spaces by Russel Rowland

5. The Girl Who Kicked a Hornets Nest By Stieg Larrson

4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo By Stieg Larrson

3. The Girl Who Played With Fire By Stieg Larrson (You need to read this series in order--Tattoo, Fire, Hornet--but I really thought the second book was the best, which is why I have them in this order.)

2. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (I reread this after the movie came out. This is a GREAT series, but I'm only putting this one on the list because it's the only one I've read THIS year.)

1. Without a doubt, the BEST book of 2010 is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

In case you're keeping track, my all-time favorite book is still To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Running a close second used to be Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West, but I would now put The Help in front of Blind Your Ponies. The Harry Potter series would still follow Blind Your Ponies, and I'd probably have to put the Twilight series in there somewhere too.

Here's to more good reading in 2011!

The Glove

Poor photo quality (what were you saying, Shelley, about me not needing a new camera?), BUT, you get the idea. The princess got Michael Jackson-The Experience for the Wii for Christmas. It's a dance game. It even came with the cool Michael Jackson glove. What was funniest of all was the note with the glove forbidding the wearer to use the glove while playing the game. Huh??? Apparently the Wii controller might go flying across the room if you wear the glove AND hold the controller at the same time!

"Who's bad???"

The Monk

Grandma got this nice Snuggie for Christmas. The prince was helping her figure out how to use it. We decided he looks like a monk; all he needs is a hood!

Christmas Morning

The Reef

Cool Aunt Kathi invited us all to hang out at the Reef yesterday. We invited the O's along. Grandma came too. In an attempt to post only flattering photos of Grandma and Kathi, I did not post most of the photos of Grandma and Kathi coming out of the big waterslide, but I might have snuck one in. We sure had a good afternoon!

Christian and the princess.

Daniel and the prince.


Grandma coming out of the shoot.

The princess and Christian coming out of the shoot.

(Yes, we all agree the princess needs a new suit.

That's the way it goes in the middle of winter.)

Though you can't tell, that's the prince.

And buried somewhere under all that water is Daniel.

He flew off the tube when they hit the water!

Christmas Eve Photos

The Goofy Gang

Grandma and 3 of her 5 favorites.

The Guckeens--if Rick grew that beard out, he could sit in for Santa!

Merry Christmas from the Royal Family

Merry Christmas Eve

This morning we work up to these Christmas Eve day visitors!

Merry Christmas!

Two More

Made by the prince--kindergarten.

So sweet! Preschool.

"Precious" Ornaments

Here are just a few of the "precious" ornaments I referenced in a previous blog.



The princess made this one. There's nothing wrong with it EXCEPT that if you'll notice, it's lying on the branch. That's because she glued the hook to the BOTTOM of the ornament. She admits that she's "craft challenged".

This beauty is also from the princess. It's a little blurry, but you can appreciate the beautiful attention to detail when coloring with the markers on the seashell. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

And the best of all, is this exquisite piece by the prince. There aren't words to describe it. And when we pull it off the tree, the cotton balls stick to the tree!!! Handle with care!

Sledding

Yesterday I took the girls sledding! It was about 18*. They had a great time, lasted more than an hour, and no one ended up in the creek, which is almost always the sign of a successful outing. After sledding we needed a trip to Wendy's and the local coffee hut to refuel and warm up. Good times!

Let's avoid the creek!

Wipe out!!

Phew! We made it!

Awww....

Hello Reading, I've missed you.

I spent most of today (when I wasn't finishing my Chrsitmas cards--still have lots of extras if anyone wants one--,taking the girls sledding, visiting with MB, proof reading the prince's paper, or running the princess to dance) reading. I haven't done much of that lately, as you can see by my book list. So my new year's resolution, that I might put into place before January 1, is to spend less time playing on the computer and more time reading. My nightstand is about to topple over from all the books waiting to be read. And I'm sorry Shelley, but that just might mean I won't blog daily! Gasp! On the upside, you'd also not need to send me a daily gift on Farmtown, because I might give that up too. Nothing has been decided for sure, but I must say, it was a nice day away from the lap top. Now...back to a good book.

Poor Prince

Too bad for the prince. He had to get up for school today while the princess and I slept in. I did wake up at 6:30 convinced the prince had overslept--he was to leave the house at 5:45, and I hadn't heard him. But I got up and checked, and he was gone. Good boy not even waking up his mom! I went back to bed! Ahhh....let the vacation begin.

Tis The Season

Tis the season to lose a few brain cells--and I don't mean through spiked eggnog.

The king and I spent a couple of hours yesterday tearing the house apart, looking for the photo Christmas cards I bought a couple of weeks ago. I had them at work earlier in the week, trying to address them (it didn't happen). I was sure I'd brought them home because the address book was back in its place. But the cards???? No where. I knew, knowing me, that I had stashed them somewhere to get them off the counter and they would be on top of wherever they were. But the king didn't believe that so he really went through drawers, cupboards, closets...

Eventually I decided I must have left them at work so we headed to school to search from them.

No luck.

Back to tearing the house apart. Finally he asked, "How much did they cost?"
"Fifteen dollars." (Gotta love Costco.)
"Well," he said, "Just order more."

So I did.

Soon after that I opened a desk drawer (same drawer I had searched several times) to look for an envelope, and guess what I found? Yep. The darn cards!!! Under a piece of paper.

Though I called Costco, it was too late to cancel the order. So...when you get our card, if you just love it and want a duplicate, let me know. I have plenty!

On the up side, my closet is now neat and organized!

Holiday Tips

Yesterday was a sugar-lover's dream come true at work. And what the teachers didn't bring in, the students did, so when I got these tips in an email yesterday, it seemed like the perfect time to share them!

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.


2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It will soon be Christmas!


3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.


4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.


5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?


6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.


7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.


8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?


9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, please, have some standards!

10. One final tip: Wear sweat pants/loose-fitting clothing. If you are leaving the party and you can walk without help from a construction forklift, "you haven't been paying attention, people!" Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.


Someone I work with says, "Wear your buffet pants!"


Happy Holidays!

Awwww

Mariah and Isaiah!

Mail!

Yesterday we had TWO packages on our doorstep. One was gifts for the prince and princess, and then there was this box of delicious goodness from Harry and David. SWEET!

More Silly Student Answers

Love this one!

This is something the prince would do!

Genius!

Love this one too!

And this one too!!!

I hate this kid!

And that's all folks!

Possible reasons some teachers drink.

HILARIOUS!!!!

LOVE THIS KID!

DUH!