Bad Dog!

The Victims (Berkley's puzzle pieces)

The guilty party. "What? I've just been sitting here."
We've also decided to keep Mr. Chewy Chewerson but we are renaming him.

His new name is Potsy.

A Lost Art

Bruce's grandmother made these wonderful dolls by hand. They have amazing details (tiny buttons, beads, guns & holsters, hats, pockets, etc). Each doll is only about 6" tall. There is no stuffing -just fabric rolled up which makes them indestructible. They all have faces that have been stitched to provide eyelashes, lips, and noses. All have hair even if they have a hat.

It's a lost art - using the needle and thread to make toys. Bruce's grandmother lived to be over 100 years old and left this wonderful legacy. If only there there was Ebay or Etsy in her day....she would have been a millionaire. But now we get to be the caretakers of these priceless dolls and we are millionaires in a different way.

(CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE SOME OF THE DETAIL. BRUCE IS EVEN IMMORTALIZED AS A DOLL...I REMOVED THE VOO-DOO PINS FOR THE PICTURE)

Seven Pounds

No, I'm not referring the amount of weight I've gained since the holidays began.

I had a fun girls night out with M, B, and A (thanks girls!). We saw Seven Pounds with Will Smith. I had no idea what the movie was about and actually 40 minutes into the movie I still had no idea what it was about.

If you don't know the plot (or haven't heard spoilers) you will be surprised. I loved watching the story unfold. I have to say that it's probably a movie you will either really LIKE or really DIS-LIKE but it's one I am going to recommend to anyone who asks.

p.s. if you are a crier please bring tissues.

Snow!

I wish I had this much enthusiasm for the snow. I like snow and there are even times I LOVE snow, but this dog is IN LOVE with snow.

PLEASE CLICK HERE

Ginger Cribs

Double Take!

I was walking through Costco the other night with Bruce and I looked at the pictures they have displayed right now...the beautiful ones depicting different moments in Christ's life. I love them and think some are so touching.

This one caught my attention. Who do you think the young man looks like? There is no wrong or right answer. I'm just curious if others see the same resemblance.

Six Quirks

So, you can't really run away from Blog tagging like you run away from a cootie infested boy chasing you in the 3rd grade.

Six Quirks About Me:
1. I'm bugged that I live in America yet I still need to 'Press 1 for English'. I'm fine with pressing 1 for Spanish and I'm glad I live in a country that gives opportunity to all. Just don't make me press a number for my native tongue.

2. I listen to talk radio every night while falling asleep or if I wake up in the night and can't go back to sleep. KSL has some really interesting stuff on at 3am. Colon cleansing infomercial, Billy Graham, etc.

3. I make the kids pay me when they leave things laying around the house. The latest problem has been pens and pencils. This could be dangerous because we have a 2 year old around (right Stoddard?). If I find one the guilty party has to give me .25 cents. I've only collected .50 so far but they are getting the message loud and clear.

4. I hate fish sticks. This goes back to my childhood and eating them at least twice a week, or at least that's what it seemed like. I love you mom!

5. I prefer to drive to work on snowy days vs. taking the bus. The bus is always late and because we are the last stop it's always full because it's picked up multiple groups of people at each stop because it's late....it's much faster to drive and driving in the snow does not bother me.

6. I'm a mean mom (refer to # 3).

Birthmas

Love Christmas. Love birthdays. Not so fond of the fact that Kennedy's birthday is 10 days after Christmas. It's hard enough to come up with meaningful Christmas gifts that will be used for more than 18 minutes and not discarded to the black hole of forgotten gifts. I hate hearing 2 days after Christmas "I'm bored. There's nothing to do." Grrrrr......

This year I think I'm good. I have some good and useful gifts for Christmas PLUS plenty of good ideas for her birthday. Paige is also on the borderline of the birthday and Christmas conflict (November 20th).

Kennedy sometimes reads this blog so I can't say what it is, but I have a gift that I hope will bring tears to her eyes. Speaking of tears - a few years ago for her birthday we bought her a new bike. She had only had hand-me-down bikes and thought a new one would bring forth squeals of delight. Nope. Tears. Tears of sadness and disappointment. It was the last new bike she will ever get. Only hand-me-downs from now on. Oh yeah! There was also the time we got her a figurine from Lord of the Rings (of a character that she liked very much). After she realized what it was she chucked it across the room. She's either very picky or I'm a bad gift getter.

Blog Fog Dog

I've been in a bit of a fog lately. It all started last Friday night when I made an impulse purchase. Actually I've been thinking of buying this for years now and one just happened to fall in my lap, so to speak.

It's larger than a breadbox, smaller than a horse....barely, organic, cleans the carpet and wood floors, great alarm system (both by keeping strangers at bay and waking me up), and makes as much poop as a horse.

It's Tater. I took pity on the woman selling him because she was going through a divorce and getting deployed to Iraq in a month. He had little human interaction and needed a good home. Unfortunately 2 of the 4 kids have allergies to him. I knew it was a trial thing. We will give him the love he deserves until a good home is found. If anyone knows of someone looking for a big, lovable, nearly the size of a horse dog, I know where they can find one. Crate and Kennel included and I will throw in the floor cleaning service for free.

Tater is 2 years old and a purebred Weimaraner. His 'tots' were removed on Tuesday so he is very easy going now.

Don't make fun of my shoe/sock/pants combo. There's a reason for this hideous trio. I promise.

Gingerbread Houses update

Ladies:

I have a conflict for Friday night. I think Saturday will be better, about Noon. If you can make it - great. If not I'm sorry. I still have the pattern if anyone wants to borrow it - just let me know.

ICING RECIPE
1/3 C. (rounded) meringue powder and 3/4 C. water (or 6 egg whites)
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 lbs. powdered sugar
damp kitchen towel

Beat ingredients thoroughly with electric mixer in a large bowl. Beat about 5 minutes until frosting stands at stiff peaks. Add more powdered sugar if icing does not stand at stiff peaks. Keep bowl covered at all times with a damp towel to prevent the icing from drying out and becoming hard.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeasy

Recipe

If you want to make Gingerbread Houses here is the recipe for the dough. I was only able to bake 2 of my 4 houses last night...sorry. I will have a template for you to start passing around today after I get home from work. Who will be ready for it at 5pm??? I will run it over.

Gingerbread Recipe
1 square plus 1/3 C. soft margarine
1 1/2 C. firmly packed brown sugar
2 TBL cinnamon
4 tsp giner
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C. water
5 C. flour

Mix well and knead by hand when you add the last cup of flour is added. Divide dough into 3 equal portions. Roll dough out on the back of a well floured 11x17 cookie sheet. Dough should be 1/8" thick.

In 300 degree oven bake (one sheet at a time) for 10 minutes . Pull out and place house pattern on dough and cut around the patter with a sharp knife. Return pan to the oven and bake 15-20 minutes longer. After completely baked remove from ove and IMMEDIATELY remove your pieces from the pan to prevent sticking.

Eat the extra edges.

RATS!!!! I just realized I don't have the icing recipe. Tune in tomorrow or later today.

Gingerbread Houses

I'm finally going to do it! I'm going to make my own gingerbread houses and have a fun evening decorating them with the kids.

If anyone wants to join in I would like to do it Friday December 12th, in the evening.

I have a gingerbread recipe and pattern as well as a frosting recipe. If you want to participate we could pool the fun candy used to decorate with.

You would have to make your houses ahead of time and assemble them as well.

If you are interested leave a comment. For you faithful 22nd Ward readers I've also posted this on the RS blog...but pass is along to others if you think someone else would like to do it.

(But you don't have to be in the 22nd ward to be able to participate, but that's the main demographic of my faithful followers)

"But officer..."

With gas prices being much more reasonable lately I find myself driving to work more. I know it's not very 'green' of me but I pass the freeway entrance on the way to the parking lot and the seat warmer is just kicking in, the heater is beginning to toast my toes and if you had a choice of standing in the cold and waiting for a bus that will be packed and you have to either stand OR scrunch in between people OR staying in your warm snugly car listening to your favorite radio station and getting to work 15 minutes earlier...what would you do?

Well I digress.

Every day I have driven into work I've seen at least 4 (each day) people pulled over and receiving a bit of Christmas cheer from our beloved UHP.

So can I let my pride show through a little and say that in my 22 years of driving I've never, yes you read it right, NEVER received a speeding ticket.

I didn't say I've never been pulled over....but I've never received one. That being said I've only been pulled over once for speeding and that's when I was married to a policeman and I think I got a free pass for that one....which I gladly took. I admit that I MIGHT be a fast driver on occasion but I embrace the stereotypical 'women are fast drivers'. Someone has to give credibility to the image, right?

I HAVE received a ticket for an improper turn but the street was poorly marked and I was only following the car in front of me (who also got a ticket).

Lessons for the day:

Don't follow the person in front of you AND
Don't get caught speeding.

p.s. Do you dare admit how many tickets you have had?????????

Happy Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday. She is the first born of the family and lives in a little town about 1 1/2 hours away.

Here she is at Dland with my other siblings. She has the brown braids and the blue shirt.








This was her birthday about 36 years ago. She is hiding behind that fashion forward sweater. Do I look like Berkley or what???? (I'm on the left in those totally cool pajamas).


Here are a few things I remember about growing up with her:
I remember her obsession with the Osmonds and the Donny and Marie Show.

I remember feeling so super cool when I got to sleep in her room on the floor. Remember those sticky tiles that were like a hybrid carpet? She had those in her room. I thought her 4 poster bed was a princess bed but I was convinced something lurked under it.

I remember spying on her when she and her boyfriend (Darin something) were in the basement 'watching t.v.' **wink**wink**

I remember when she went to college at Utah State and driving up there to drop her off. I was so sad. I also remember going up to visit for a weekend. She made me, her baby sister, feel so welcomed.

I remember her dating Ken and I didn't like him that much....but I was an angry teen so I was following protocol. I eventually grew to love him (I had no choice once they got married) and I loved him even more when he took me for rides on his motorcycle.

I remember when she had her first baby...the first grandchild. I loved going to help her out..even though my mom did most of the work. I was there for moral support.

Thanks big sis for always being a good example to me and loving me and supporting me through my tough times.

I love you.

P.S.

I have to say THANK YOU to my big sister who ran in the Turkey Trot with me. She got up early and drove from West Valley to run the race. I love my big sis.