Happy New Year!

I know - there is not much difference.
This is after the girls opened their presents.
OMG, they must be getting old.
They spirited away their things and spent a ton of time in their rooms,
hooking up their ihome and messing with their stuff.
Very scary.
In years past,
you could barely get out of the room.

Before

Christmas Past

I exchanged some things today and got caught up on things around the house.
We have been to see "The Chipmunks, the Squekel" and it is cute.
TTYL.

The Switch

We are changing her earrings today.
She is HOT to do it.
It really should be 6 weeks,
which we coincide with the day we go back to school.
But, we are doing it today.
The purple flowers will go back in tonight.

Norweigian Baked Goods

I made this among other things for Christmas. I was reading Catherine Hall Page's book "The Body in the Sleigh". This was one of the recipes that the character Faith, a wife of a minister and caterer made.

Norwegian Christmas Cake

1 pound plus 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 large eggs2 cups flour1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup finely chopped blanched almonds1/4 cup currants

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Using a paper towel, spread a 12-by-18-inch jelly roll pan with 2 teaspoons of butter.

Cream the remaining butter and the sugar together with an electric mixer. When light and fluffy, beat in the eggs — one at a time — and then the flour and vanilla. Spread the batter evenly onto the pan and sprinkle with the chopped almonds and currants.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the surface is a light gold.
Remove from the oven and let the cake cool in the pan.

Cut the cake into diamonds or squares with a sharp knife. This cake may be made up to 2 weeks before Christmas, but must then be wrapped in aluminum foil or placed in an airtight tin.

I also made Sand Bakkels, meaning sand tarts. Also a Norwegian thing. Seriously, they are great - but when you use a lot of butter, sugar and almonds what is not to love. You make this dough for the sand bakkels and put them in smallish tart tins. You can eat them plain, as Love Man's family does or you can fill them. I filled mine with a dab of nutella.

Boxing Day

We are well and are recovering from Christmas.

Love Man is napping.

We have all eaten too much.

Well, maybe not Blonde Girl,

she has been busy playing with her stuff and singing with her new microphone.

she even googled "how to be famous".

OMG.

Merry Christmas

All is Calm

The reindeer have been spared.

Are You Ready?

A Christmas Sweater Story

At the risk of offending all that are hear and dear to me,
including a lovely couple of ladies from groups that I am in. . . . .
Please, please, please, for the love of God,
stop wearing these Christmas sweaters.
They are hideous.
At one time, during the 80s, applique sweaters were in.
They were worn with legging and turtlenecks.
Sometimes, with what were then called walking shorts and tights.
Shoes adorned with bows or suede flats with a gold chains were popular.
That was more than 20 years ago.
Stop the insanity.

You might as well put tinsel on top of your head and wear your tree skirt.

Add some of those equally hideous light bulb earrings,

which do light,

and you could find yourself a nice corner and be a tree.

You might fool some of the folks that have had too much enhanced eggnog,

but you will not fool me.

Merry Christmas

Fa La La La La

I just put icicles on my tree.

They look so good.

Yet such a pain to vacuum up.

But, I love the look.

A Present

This was in our yard,
a present from our friends.
People in our neighborhood need to slow down.
And, this coming from me,
a repeat offender and two time graduate of traffic school

Bah Humbug

We saw this last night looking at the neighborhood lights.

Merry Christmas to you too, buddy.

The Swag

I got these lovely flowers from a little girl in our class.

They rock.

The roses are from some environmentally friendly place and they are so fragrant.

I also got a lot of cookies,

a candle,

chocolates,

bath/shower potions,

Rainbow colored bracelet and necklace,

and a bunch of Target cards.

Here is my thought:

I am going to Target and use my Target gift cards to purchase a VISA gift card.

I am then going online to Zappos where I have a $50 something credit.

I am then purchasing the black, short classic UGGS.

Do you think it will work?

I ran this all by Love Man,

in case he wanted me to save my haul for something practical.

But, UGGS are practical.

He could care less.

In fact, I think-he thinks-I need more face time with a girlfriend,

so I don't have to talk to him about such things.

Sooo, what is next?

Half of the school year is OVER and we are on break.
I fell asleep sitting up last night watching TV.
I never sit and watch TV,
that should have been my first clue.
But, I actually fell asleep.
Have you been watching "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town"?
Hilarious.

Her Own Style

Seriously, she wore this to school.

Cute, isn't it?

Rainbow Structures

They do have a good time.

Manic Monday

We overslept until 7:00.

I think the people we walk with may find others.

The Dogs

See the two little ones lounging of Miss Brunette's sleeping bag?

The well behaved Sadie sits and waits for permission to lounge on the bag.

Sorry the photo is so dark.

Weekend Update

We were busy as usual on Saturday
Miss Brunette and I volunteered at a resale shop.
Blonde Girl had two soccer games and the last game was double-booked.
So, they played 20 minutes and the other team played 20 minutes.
That was pretty much our Saturday.
Blonde Girl's friend spent the night and we drove around and looked at Christmas lights.

Next Thursday

We get out next Thursday for Winter Break,
formerly called Christmas Vacation.
Whoo Hoo!!!!

Flower Delivery

We bought and delivered poinsettias to all of Blonde Girl's teachers.
And, some of our neighbors,
except Neighbor John who holds out for the cinnamon rolls.

I bought the cutest tins to put them in THIS SUMMER.
They were so adorable.

Love Man and the Tree

When I told Love Man I wanted to get a fake tree,

he was totally shocked.

We always had a living tree,

which we planted in the yard.

I got tired of it.

We didn't really have anyplace to put the tree in this house.

The girls would cry and want the tree up.

I decided fake was the way to go.

25 Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, with ribbons that I keep year after year.
2. Real tree or artificial? Fake.

3. When do you put up the tree? Around the 15th of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Twelve or so days after Christmas…a day or two after Epiphany.


5. Do you like eggnog? Love it and miss it as I cannot find it in France. I have made it , but actually I do not miss the calories.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Mickey Mouse watch

7. Hardest person to buy for? Someone I do not know.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My daughter, her list helps.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it is called a creche in French and the nativity is an entire village of « Little Saints » called Santons.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. How bad is that!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I know I should be grateful for every gift received. I know it is the thought that counts…. But when the thought is « Paper Napkins » and everyone else received a gift certificate of a hearty sum of money…well…. I did not appreciate the thought, nor the gift.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Prancer

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December 15th or so. I like the rush.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, isn’t Brocante recycling at its finest?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Champagne and Jean’s Chrsitmas Pudding.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes. White sparkling ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Raffi’s Christmas Songs

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Most often than not we stay at home. But I wish we could go Home to the States every year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Rudolph the red nose one, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen… thanks to Google.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? It changes each year, a star, an angel, a bow, a holy card…

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas eve … but when I was a child I use to open all my gifts before Christmas and re-wrapped them. I still do that sometimes… my family knows that about me. So they hide my gifts.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That in the USA Christmas decorations appear in October.

23. Favorite ornament ? I love opening the Christmas boxes and welcoming the little ole friends, retelling stories about the ornaments… my favorite one is a red and white polka dotted glass mushroom.

24. Do you make Christmas cookies ? No… but I do make a Christmas log cake.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year ? Besides Good health, and peace… »Honey-Dos »

Walking in the Park

Christmas Bulletin Board

We, at times, have moments of greatness.

This bulletin board turned so well.

Things I Hate

I pretty much love everything,
but there are a few things I don't like.

The song "The Little Drummer Boy" - I really HATE it

Blatant use of polyester
Kohl's
Chickens and most birds
Socks
Forced heat from a furnace or heat pump
Yellow
Tuna
Peas
Coffee
Costco - I know, but I don't enjoy it.
The Fox Network - do not send me emails about this one.
Tricked out cars, some of them are SOOOO ridiculous
Multiple plastic surgery procedures

Another Wacky Weekend

Love Man did put up the lights.
I made a few suggestions.
Then, decided to light up this bush.
It looks good.
We are pleased.

Brrrr

It is cold here.

There is frost on our outdoor cushions.

Love Man swears that it is colder here than in Montana.

He is serious.

I keep telling me to wear pants.

There are some men who LIVE in Arizona,

who take great pride in only wearing shorts.

I am serious.

I know of at least two.

It is some cult-like thing.

Yes, I think it is weird.

I told Love Man to put on some pants.

And, maybe socks, if necessary.

I HATE socks.

I am not sure if I have any.

I had to buy some about 8 years ago for my friend Miss G's wedding.

No, I didn't wear them to the wedding,

but she got married in February in Iowa.

Brrrrr.

I usually steal Love Man's socks.

They are purely for sleeping in the cold house.

We only keep our heat at about 66 or 67 degrees.

Once you get used to living around that feeling of the dry,

forced heat -it is hard to go back.

We do have a fireplace and we use it a lot.

It is in the living room,

which is not really near the family room,

where we hang.

But, it does take the chill out of the air.

Love Man, however, is freezing.

Fits Like A Glove

My 25 year old, give or take a year, gloves have died.
They were purchased on clearance at Younkers when I lived in DSM.
My temporary junk gloves now have a hole in them.

These cute gloves from Kohl's were $12 on Black Friday.
The line went to the end of the store and up another aisle.
I left.

Later saw them for $60 at Macy's.
Treats.

And by the way, I hate Kohl's.
I only buy goggles there.

Now, they are are gone.
I broke down and ordered them online.
I will have to wear my holey leather ones until they arrive.

Good gloves are hard to get in Phoenix.
I am telling you now,
for the love of fashion,
if you see gloves in size 8,
think of me.

The Show Must Go On

I am pleased to announce that Miss Brunette is in the cast of the musical,
"Singing in the Rain".
She is the lady in waiting.


She has two lines.
We are delighted.
She is SOOOO lucky to be in the cast.


The company comprises of 7th and 8th graders.
I think about 90 in all.
The musical is in April.

Homework Drama

Blonde Girl has been as crabby as a bear.

She fussed during homework time

and is now overwrought for fear Santa will think she is a bad girl.

OMG.

I am Santa's Elf

Santa's Workshop has begun at my school.
It went pretty well.
One child announced to the group that there is no Santa Clause.
Fortunately, the others thought he was just talking "crazy talk".

Weekend Update

We, or should I say I, have got most of the Christmas decorations up. I have the tree out and lit, but will put the ornaments on when Blonde Girl gets home from school. She likes to polish her silver bells.

Am waiting for the tow truck to take Love Man's car to the mechanics. His engine is sparking.
Not inside the engine, but outside. I seriously thought about driving it down and letting the thing catch on fire. But, I wouldn't want to hurt anyone.

It is always something.

LATER:

The guy towed Sparky in.

It is About That Time

I can not believe November is almost over.

We have started putting up our Christmas decorations.

I left that village up all year.

Most of the houses in the village don't have Christmas decorations.

Some do. You'll find that even in the best neighborhoods.

And So it Goes

As we were walking into Macy's, Blonde Girl said to me, "Mom, can I get a second piercing?"

She just got the first piercing done on Tuesday. When she was 8 we had a failed attempt at getting her ears pierced.

There is a jeweler in my neighborhood who pierces all the little girls ears. You pick the earrings you want out of a catalog and they come pre-packaged and ready to be loaded into the piercing gun. This is how Miss Brunette got her ears pierced. The earrings are very good quality. The jeweler is so nice and spends a lot of time making sure the holes are going to be straight and centered. Miss Brunette's ears are perfectly pierced.

Blonde Girl's purple flower earrings had been sitting on that jeweler's bench for more than two years.

She chickened out after the sharpie pen marks were made on her ears. I think the black dots

put on her ears gave her a considerable amount of pain. At least that is what she claimed at the time.

They had Redemption Day at Sunday School. You get punches for right answers, attendance, bringing a friend, smiling and who knows what else. Blonde Girl chose stickers for your nails and some small tattoos. She put the tattoos on her ears.

Meanwhile, she has pierced every dolls ear that she owns. Some of Miss Brunette's earrings are permanently missing at they are probably in a doll or stuffed bear. In fact, over Christmas break we are going to get them all out and check their ears for the better earrings.

If you brought up the subject of piercing her ears, Blonde Girl would get upset and cry.

So, the tattoos went on her ears. She went to school and came home and said, "I want to get my ears pierced." I don't know if the kids at school made fun of her tattoos or if she just decided. I called the man, set the appointment and we went.

I told her, "we are just not getting one ear pierced, if you do one you have to do two." I had put numbing creme of her ears. "I know". She started crying. I held her tight and he did the first ear. She didn't cry during the piercing and then she started laughing. He did the other ear.

She raced to the mirror and was thrilled.

Now, every time we go to the store, we have to look at "EARRINGS'.

Black Friday

I did do a bit of shopping.
Got a new camera.
Cheap, cheap, cheap . . . .
Took Blonde Girl to Macy's.

She wrote this note to Santa.

She bought earrings, as she got her ears pierced on Tuesday.

The Dish on Thanksgiving

See these His Majesty plates from Johnson Brothers? I found them for a song on a routine cruise through TJ Maxx this summer. Then later, because I am too stupid, it occurs to me that Johnson Brothers uses the same color palette. These dishes match my Johnson Brothers Friendly Village.


And, they do, more or less. They coordinate.








I figured these dessert plates would work with the turkey plates. I routinely buy two Johnson dessert plates, but have now stopped as I have 12. Sad day, when I purchased 11 and 12 of the plates.





But, when Blonde Girl was at soccer. Miss Brunette and I were AGAIN on a routine cruise through TJ Maxx, look what we found! Friendly Village dessert plates. I will use the Chintzy ones for bread.


I only have 6 of this wonderful set, but that is enough. On my honor, I promise never to buy another dish, unless it is to replace a broken one. But, I still like to look at them.

Feast Day

The feast at school was good and makes for a super fast day.

We wrapped our homemade pumpkin bread, ate and it was OVER.

The best part, is that I don't have to go to work until Tuesday.

Naturally We Made These

Of course, I later added a beak, wobbler and legs.
They turned out cute.

Team Edward

At the girl's insistence, we went to "New Moon".
It was great, if you like all that teenage angst stuff.
The girls LOVED it.
Many of Miss Brunette's friends went to the midnight showing Thursday/Friday night.
I am simply too mean to let her do stuff like that.

I have started my cooking for Thanksgiving.
I made my dill dip and cranberry conserve.

Next?

Saturday was crazy.
Both girls had games/matches at the same time.
Also the Fall Festival was going on at Blonde Girl's school.
We did it all.
Then, grocery shopped for that big day next week.

Friday Night Dateless Night

The girls and I went to see "Blind Side" on Friday night.
It was great!
You have to see it.
I am now a huge fan of Michael Oher.

The Feast

The Rainbow class made these for our Feast Day on Tuesday.

We have a Thanksgiving dinner and it is super sweet.

Many of the families come and all is right with the world.

At least, in that moment. of preschooldum.

On to the Next Phase

I was late in picking up Blonde Girl.
I was putting groceries away and I lost track of time.
Miss Brunette would have gone to the school office.
I mean walked ALL the way back to the office.
Blonde Girl started walking home, backpack strapped on and pulling her drum.
She was completely unphased the the entire thing.
Funny how they are different, yet the same.

What is Next?

My Playdoughology class ends next Tuesday.
It is such a great group,
I think we are going to have a party.
I'll have to check the allergies in the group.
You have to be soooo careful.

Next I am working two afternoons a week for the Christmas Workshop,
or as my teaching partner calls it,
Christmas Chaos.

I think that is more true.
It is like arts and crafts at Bible School on steroids.

Can You Believe It?

OMG, it is nearly Thanksgiving.

Wait until I show you MY DISHES purchased, for a song, this summer.

Yes, I am a dish-a-holic.

But, just wait.

You will be impressed.

The Dogs

Sadie the Character

We took Sadie to PetSmart to buy a new harness for her.
Hers broke yesterday, remember?
She jumped on a pile of dog beds,
so we got one on the floor for her to try out.
She URINATED on it.
Luckily, I was given a 20% discount.
We are now the owners of a giant dog bed,
complete with orthopedic springs.

Our Day

We had a busy day.
Two NCL meetings.
One soccer game and a volleyball game,
which was cancelled,
but we didn't know about the change.

I got a ticket for a California stop,
which I don't remember doing.
I thought I stopped.
The officer pulled out his "tint-o-meter",
and busted me for having too dark of tint on my windows.
OMG!
Pretty expensive.

I can fight it in court.
Pay it.
Or, go to traffic school.
I think I have to fix the tint.

Then, at the park.
Sadie's harness broke,
causing Blonde Girl to wreck her scooter.

We are going to bed early.

Weekend Preview

Another busy week has gone by.

Tomorrow is a bit of a nightmare.

Once again, everything we have to do is at the same time.

I have mentioned that I don't like to be that busy.

I did rent the "Accidental Husband" starring my love and boyfriend,

COLIN FIRTH.

I'll let you know what I think.

Love Man and I are also planning on seeing "Pirate Radio".

The girls can go to something else.

We do that,

split up in various configurations at the movies.

Love Man did not know,

for the longest time,

that I ardently love and admire Colin Firth.

Mrs. Right told him.

He was shocked.

I didn't think it was necessary to tell him.

It is not like I even KNOW Colin Firth

And, there is the whole business with Colin's gorgeous Italian wife, Livia.

Sweater Weather

I may have to wear a sweater tomorrow.
It seems to be a tad cooler.
We sat outside the other night at drunco.
It was lovely.

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

I am sitting here waiting for Miss Brunette to get home from babysitting.
I previously waited for Blonde Girl to get home from her playdate.
Just as well, as she was HOT to play at someone's house.
The first attempt at wrangling an invitation to someone's house ended in a misfire,
when the mother got out of the shower and said NO.
And, I had had that happen to me MANY, MANY times.
Then, she made a few calls and the rest is history.

Abby Likes to Be Comfortable

School Morning

We had breakfast outside this morning.
Miss Brunette did not want her picture taken,
as her hair was a mess.
Sadie seems concerned about her hair.


Blonde Girl doesn't care,
and neither does Sam.

Naturally, we have to cover up with blankets.

It is cold.

It's Bakeapolooza!

We are baking today.
Pumpkin bread, cookies, dog biscuits and a lime pie.
You name it, we are making it.

The Show

Okay, the fashion show was a success.
You know, for a church tea and fashion show. . . .
I was very nervous and did not enjoy myself.
I guess being in a fashion show and being a bridesmaid are two things I hate to do.
This is why I never walked down an aisle when I got married.
I don't like being stared at.

Tomorrow

Remember when Carrie was in the Fashion Show on S&TC?

She had to model panties and was a success,

despite falling on her face.

That will be me tomorrow.

Except, I am wearing clothes from Coldwater Creek,

and one "outfit change" resembles something that Shirley Patridge would wear.

Yes, the Shirley Partridge of "The Patridge Family".

Come on, get happy. . . . . . .

Hopefully I will not fall on my face.

But, that is not out of the realm of possibility.

We are Family

Homework did not go well tonight.
I think they have too much.
I make them do and they are always glad in the morning.
Not doing it, would mean LUNCH DETENTION.
Actually, I am only talking about one child.
But, the other one has her moments.
School can really stress her out.
Hopefully, they will not read this posting.

The Return

Blonde Girl was sick yesterday.
I went back to work today.
Fun, fun and more fun at our house.

Week Three

Today is my third Play Doughology class.

It is still the bomb and the hot ticket at the preschool.
LOL!!!

I May Fully Recover

I am feeling better. I whined to Love Man last night and called this medical expert from my drunko, er bunco group, on Saturday. I was seeking a second, expert opinion. There may be hope for me yet.

The girls had a great Halloween.