Today was a 20-fling boogy day; those of you who have ever read anything by Flylady may recognize the phrase. I went into the lower level armed with one bag - a TRASH bag. I had to be ruthless; if anything went into recycling or give-away bag, the boys would rifle through it and get the stuff back out. Some fairly new stuff went into that bag. There had been many warnings about taking apart a blongo ball ladder set up. The pipes were all over the house and lately they had been used as makeshift weapons during a play date. The entire set up, including balls, is now in the trash. Ditto for old hot cars tracks, nerf toys that just get banged about, old super soakers and water guns. The downstairs looked neater than it's looked in years after I filled a bag. I swear the legos may be next. They are all over the house. Then I think of the $$$$$ invested in them and think "probably will not get tossed". Fall is when my thoughts turn to deep cleaning. We are considering removing all carpet on stairs, halls and living room and replacing with hardwood flooring. I bet the cost would not be that much more than new, high-quality carpeting.

Our oldest son trotted off to a sleep-away camp today - 2 nights and 3 days. It's something all 5th graders in our school district attend. The house is really strangely quiet and empty. Ryan is missing his brother, and the dog is worried. I finally remembered the video camera so caught Parker's exit via bus with 90 of his peers, but dollars to donuts the scenes will be shot wonky - I do not have a very good attention span. The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I love this time of year. Halloween approaching, thinking about travel for the holidays, lots of good things and tasty eats on the horizon.

We are looking forward to having a guest guinea pig in the house for a few days. This is truly an answer to my prayers; Parker desperately wants a guinea pig but suffers allergies. And I don't really want another being to nurture; you know how it is, the child says they will take care of the pet but don't so it usually falls to the mother. Parker and Ryan are also joining a lego robotics team. That should be great fun for them. We are a little overscheduled for now, but we'll figure it out...

I Love Fall. Fall is when thoughts of cosy sweaters (that hide my bulk), hot cocoa with plenty of whipped cream (that add to my bulk) and trips to Williams Sonoma to get enameled-coated pots (talk about Bulky!) start to creep into my head. I do believe a trip to Costco to get the big tubs of fall mums in our school colors (purple/yellow/white) are in order. Or maybe brilliant deep red. Hmmmmmm. Coming up are tales of RVing and UTVing in Colorado and Wyoming. Packing lists for said RVing and UTVing. That's all I got for today.

Hello again. Today I kicked facebook to the curb. It took all morning to delete photos and links out of my account. And the thing is not dead yet and may never be. Insidious describes it best. True to the last post many moons ago, we have been using the Toy Hauler, truck, Polaris RZR and other toys a lot. It has been heaven for us a family. I can state for a fact that going out in the RV is a lot of work for the parents. Apparently, we have no learning curve with packing as we forget something IMPORTANT every time. This time, it was comfort food items like barbeque sauce, Cholula and maple syrup. Other times it has been -- pillows. Or blankets. Underwear for various family members. More to follow. Back to scrubbing fb clean.

YO! It's been a year since I've blogged!

Well, nearly a year. But who's counting?
Influenza b has us in its grip, which is why I suddenly have 'time' to post. I cannot catch a full breath so can't get anything done. Convenient, no?
Facebook has taken the place of blogs. It's true. I check in daily to read The Pioneer Woman because she has a basset hound. Sad but true. Some days I like my dog better than my children. Also sad but true. But not very often.
Big News - we bought a toy hauler/RV thingy! Photos to follow. In fact, this blog may morph into a White Trash on Wheels site! Join us as we tour the country, leaving behind disbelieving passersby, flashbulb-blinded wildlife but NO trash--hey, we are enlightened folk!


HAPPY NEW YEAR! More to come, I think. Well I know, but I mean HERE.
Here we are at Christmas

Shopping for boys' clothing is No Fun.

These boys of ours have gotten suddenly picky! Who knew 8 and 9 years olds cared about their clothing? Besides comfort, of course; suddenly I'm hearing "That's awful!" and "Only a DINK would wear that!" and this gem, said with a sneer "Yeah, right - maybe when I was FIVE, Mom!"
Bright colors? NOT allowed any more.
Stripes? AM I DAFT?! "Those look like pj's for gosh sake!"
The hated stripes:


And - horrors of all horrors - I caught Parker trying to shimmy down his pants waistband so that his undies were hanging out on top like a 15 year old skater!
Then I heard him comment to his brother: "You undo those buttons and make the waist big. That way they come down and rest right above The Johnson. It's cool!"
Ryan's reply? "That looks stupid and what is Johnson?"
"Your WEINER, YOU IDIOT! Don't you learn anything in 2nd grade any more?!"
The sneaky britches, elastic now sewn at near-waist size.

I have gone back to supervising clothing selection in the mornings.
Ryan's Closet- still some red but going beige/navy














Parker's Closet - Only bright is orange oldies *sigh*

Repaired computer arriving 2/11

The entire laptop had to be sent back to it's Maker. Kind of like a round trip to God. The old Dell laptop I've been using does not have virus protection at this time, due to some snafu with Comcast (we have a lot of computers in this house, and taking the time to figure it out - well, it's not worth if for this one). So, I've only been able to check email and a couple of other sites, you know the safe ones. No clicking on links.
The kindle and I have been spending quality time together.
This winter has been a bitch.
I'm in a crappy mood today.
Further Affiant sayeth Not.

New Laptop is Thumpers Up.

Well, Crap.

This I Love:

This time in the tub:

This body soap:

These boys:

This DogBert:

This Man:

Disengaging the Holiday Decor

It's a sad thing, this taking down of all the holiday cheer.
Ours is down today, well at least the outdoor lights and wreaths. A record of some sort for us. The rest of the cul de sac is still happily holiday. Us? Quite honestly, I am ready for Spring.
The trees are still up in the house. I love the light from them and will miss it when it's gone. It creates such a warmth, and it's been a very cold, snowy winter here.

I also had a flirtation with the treadmill today. I went downstairs with a latte, but luckily the phone rang. The pilates bench is also calling, but I've given that beast a deaf ear for years.

New Year's Resolutions? None
Cookies eaten? Sadly, many. We got a box of home-made cookies from Chicago and that did me in.
Mornings spent lying in bed with 2 little boys? Every one of them. I put network cartoons on to extend their time so I can read, and let them eat cereal in bed. With the dog.
Games played during vacation? Dozens
Books read during holiday? FIFTEEN and that is not a typo.
Relaxation Experienced? Oh, yes.
Agony of Shingles? Apparently, gone as of yesterday. But I'm touching wood!

It's been such a great vacation. I still miss my dad terribly, of course.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who visit here.
I personally hope nobody I love dies in 2010.
I pray for better understanding, aid and tolerance among nations.
I hope for some prosperity and good health for my family and for yours, too!

Out of the Mouths of Babes:

Subject: Why we love kids
1) NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'
2) OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'
3) KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'
4) MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'
5) POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report.. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'
6) POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.
'It sure is,' I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'
7) ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'
8) DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'
'And why not, darling?'
'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'
9) DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)
10) SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'
11) BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

Fully in the Christmas Spirit!

For some reason, and I don't know why and will not question it; I am completely and absolutely enamored of this Christmas season.
Not feeling jaded; no not me.
Not blinking and bewildered, nope.
Feeling fulfilled, unhurried and at peace.

We did visit my dad's grave for the first time yesterday. Parker, Ryan and I drove down to Nana's, picked up her and the wreath and then drove out to Ft. Logan Military Cemetery. Lots of the graves had holiday sentiments, presents, fresh flowers and wreaths on them. It was actually rather lovely.

Ryan had a hard time with it. He clung to his PopPop's grave marker and looked very sad. His eyes welled up twice. My mother and I were crying off and on. Parker, Mom and I visited other graves, noting that some of the military deceased were VERY old (100! Lots over 90!) and some were very, very young.

As usual, there was a good mood-breaking bit of mirth: I had Mom and the boys pose at the grave, centering the wreath. Finally, Parker quipped, after much posing and shooting; "You DO know this is not PopPop's grave, Right?..." to which Mom and I burst out laughing and then shuffled them forward, to my dad's grave to do it All Again.


Also, I'm tossing in this photo of a padded floor quilt I made for a dear teacher at school who's just had her second. The play blankie is bigger as there will be two chilluns reclining on this most of the time.

Menus for the Eve, the Day and Boxing Day:

Christmas Eve: Ryan and I (I KNOW!!!) are making turkey with sausage, onion and pecan stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, condiment trays (his words; I have no idea yet what 'condiment trays' mean to him - I suspect raw carrots), cranberry/horseradish relish and tinned cranberry jelly, pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
Christmas Morning Brunch: Parker and I are making spiral cut ham, brie en croute stuffed with cherries and almonds, potato salad; green beans broiled with coarse salt, pepper and olive oil; others are bringing home-made rolls, deviled eggs and desserts.
Boxing Day: Standing prime rib roast coated with horseradish sauce and baked to rare perfection, baked sputs, corn on the cob (?) and a big beautiful salad. Choco cake for dessert.
Photos may follow.

Santa arrived early!

And to think; I asked for a serger, but Ken wanted to get me something to help me relax. What a great man!

Mister Stinky Toes

I love these paws, these frito-smelling, multi-colored tender toes of Cody.

2nd Tree

Ken came home to find us all decorating a second tree. He groaned and exclaimed "Ack - conspicuous consumerism..." but decided in the end it was a great idea.

This tree is in the family room and is visible from the areas we live in, as well as from the 2nd-story bridge. It's a cheerful sight to view all during the day. The big tree in the living room is our Christmas Day tree - it's a large enough area for six or more of us to sit and shred presents. Well, there's that pesky consumerism, again.

Christmas Tree-Close ups

Click on any image to enlarge.
My favorite is the porcelain fairy, with mohair hair. Look at her tiny, painted toenails!
My sisters, my grandma, my mom, my nieces and my children have made many of these ornaments.

Getting the Christmas On

Our babysitter (well, she's much more than that, but it's a one-word descriptor) Anne-Marie really got Christmas going for us this year. She rigged up the system to get the tree assembled



Anne-Marie and the boys decorated the tree. They are getting quite picky about this task.









I decorated 2 table tops, well 3 counting the one visible to the left of the tree.







I may try to add photos of individual ornaments later. We are all bushed. We did get out to Macy's to drop the letters in Santa's mailbox. Even though the boys are getting sceptical about Santa, they are still hedging their bets.