A few new photo's

I just got back a few b/w photos from the printers, I took them with my manual SLR camera. I told my sis I would post them, so here they are...

Homemade Christmas

This year we did a "homemade" Christmas. Santa still came and brought presents but everything we gave to one another was homemade (although I contracted out some labor!) To Lizzy I made a crayon roll, recipe book and apron. To Sam I made a sock monkey and an ugly doll. To Phil I told the story of how my husband and I met and got engaged to my good friend Becca (who is an amazing writer) and she wrote a fictional story of us as if he were a superhero. Then I had Lizzy draw the pictures and had it made into a book. I also gave Phil a homemade certificate for a "sexcation", we are switching baby sitting with a friend and I booked a hotel for 1 night in Scottsdale. The other cool part, no one under 21 allowed in the hotel! My favorite gift was one Lizzy made me, she made a popcorn bowl out of movie tickets! Phil drew me a picture of Sam and made me a notebook to keep his love letters in. For those of you that don't know, he writes me a love letter once a week (it was his idea too, well one he got from a movie, but he acted on it ;)
Sam and Liz each made each other a t-shirt, and Liz made Phil a pen/pencil holder to bring to work. Phil wrote and illustrated a childrens book for Liz based on one of her stuffed animals. And he drew Sam a picture of him as a super hero named "Cleep Sweep". Sam has an obsession with cleaning supplies. It was a lot of fun and we spent MANY hours on one anothers gifts. Here are the photo's to go along with our Christmas...

My River.

We went to Tucson this weekend. For those of you that don't know, that is where we lived for several years while we both went to school. I was going to run my "long" run on Friday morning before we left but then I remembered, my river. We owned a condo in Tucson and the river ran in our back yard. Now, you must understand this river being in Arizona, there's actually no water in the river. But it's still a river, my river. I started running when Lizzy turned 1. I ran this river. I ran this river until we moved a year and half ago. So, I packed my running clothes excitedly thinking of the chance of running my river once more. Saturday morning I woke early and almost couldn't contain my excitement to see my river again. There were so many memories made on this river. As I started my run I ran past the Racquet Club that we were members at for years. I remembered Lizzy taking swimming lessons, and also the temper tantrums that would result when I would tell her it was time to go (she was 2.) I remember going to the club at 11 p.m., I would finish my homework then run down the street to run on the treadmill. I remember sweating, lunch at the cafe, and a stinky old man wanting to dance during the Latin dance class. I run past. As I run over the first bridge my memories take me to bike rides with my daughter, walks with my daughter and then I come to the stables. There are ranches backed up against the river and when we would take our walks or bike rides we would always see the horses running. This is where Lizzy got to pet her first horse. She was 2. I run past the horses and look to my right. There is our house. The house where both of my children were conceived. Mmmm, yes, now those are some good memories. But this is my blog and not my journal. On I go past the greenhouses and where I got asked out once while running. I wore my wedding ring from then on. Now I'm running past the playground they built. I remember running by before it was built. I remember running while Lizzy rode her bike to the playground. The 2 miles there were easy for her. However, after hours of play and being in the sun the 2 miles home were always very challenging. I stop and stretch. This is where I stretched, for years. Yes, the sun is coming up now and lighting the mountains. How beautiful. I start running again. I remember running this path before they paved it. I remember tripping once and getting some of the worst scars of my life (I really am very clumsy.) Now, I'm running alongside the mountains, I remember sprinting with my friend Edna, man her little legs can go fast! As I cross another bridge I see the spot where Lizzy saw her first coyote. We were taking a Sunday walk down the river and there he was, only a few feet away. She was stunned. I look to my right and see a bunch of creosote bushes. Yes! This is the spot where I tried to convince Liz to pee in the bushes. We had been on a long bike ride and she had to go BAD. In the end she decided to hold it because there were too many bees around and I'm afraid my phobia of bees has rubbed off on her. I'm on the homestretch now and the sun is my eyes. I'm listening to "I never can say goodbye" by the fabulous Gloria Gaynor. It's then when I realize I would travel 2 hours just to run this river, my river.

I snapped a few photos when I got back to my van...(can you see the coyote in the last photo?)

Casue and effect...

Christmas Photo

Well, we need to get out our Christmas cards. So in a rush I told everyone to be ready in 30 minutes and I set my tripod up and click, here we are...
(no matter what we tried we could not get Sam to smile, he apparently doesn't do that for photo's)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sam's 1st striped delight

Growing up every year my grandma would serve striped delight at her house after Thanksgiving. It a a yummy dessert with chocolate, whipped cream, and cream cheese. To carry on tradition, we too have striped delight every year after Thanksgiving dinner. Sam wasn't too interested in the turkey or mashed potatoes (although we LOVES eating crayons and chalk.) BUT he LOVED the striped delight. After his first helping he said, "Mama! Mama! while shoving his bowl at me, as if to ask for more. So, it being a day of seconds I indulged him. Here was the result...

Holiday Traditions

At Christmas time we all have our favorite family traditions. I must admit many of my families revolve around food. However, one of my favorite is our homemade Christmas tree decoration tradition. It started when we were poor students (what other type of students are there?) We never had any money to buy ornaments for our tree so we made them all. Every year we make gingerbread cookies and we string popcorn. We also make a new homemade set of ornaments to add to the tree every year.
Here are just a few from this year...



THE RECIPE:
3 c. flour
1 c. salt
1 c. water

Mix well and knead till smooth. Then shape however you desire. Bake for 2 hours at 275 degrees. Let cool then paint. When paint is dry brush mod podge on front and back of ornaments.

Crazy???

This morning the alarm clock woke me up at 6 a.m. It was still dark outside and the children were still asleep. I got dressed in my work out clothes and kissed my husband. He mumbled back, "crazy woman." Then I ran 3 miles and hiked a mountain for about 4 miles. Am I crazy? After the complete exhilaration of a good run and the beauty of the mountains I have decided that no, I am not crazy, but maybe a little loony. After all, one is not completely sane if they pass up the opportunity to sleep!
Oh, and in case you didn't already know...PHOENIX IS HUGE!!! I could see it clearly on the mountain top and it just seems to go on forever.

American Girl

Check out Lizzy on the American Girl Fan Gallery here...

http://www.americangirl.com/fan/open.html

Click the next button till you see Lizzy!

Twilight shirt

I created and ordered this shirt on zazzle.com to wear for the Twilight movie opening.

Check it out...


http://www.zazzle.com/team_edward_shirt-235728376404677448


Order your midnight showing tickets and get a free itunes download of Bella's lullaby here...

http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=5485&rdate=11%2F20%2F2008

We are going to AMC, if you want to join Amanda, Rebecca and I then let me know.

She's not wicked, but she CAN fly and cast spells...

I VANT to suck your blood!

7 things tag

Thanks to KB for 7-tagging me...

7 things that I can do:
1.Communicate well
2.Give to others without hesitation
3.Clean my house
4.Read several books a week (I'm not a fast reader, I just don't sleep much)
5.Play scrabble, well
6.Lose to my husband in battleship
7.Run, a lot.


7 things I cannot do:
1. Play ANY instrument
2.Play ANY sport
3.Tolerate bad manners
4.Handle any amount of time around whiny children.
5.Live without my husband
6.Fix things around the house
7.Draw anything but a really bad stick figure.

7 things I say often:
1.It's time for bed!
2.Make your bed, please.
3.Get that out of your mouth, Sam.
4.I'm so tired.
5.I love you.
6.Use your manners.
7.Don't forget to...

7 things I plan to do before I die:
1. Work as a teacher
2.Celebrate my 100th birthday
3.Run a marathon
4.Reach my 50th wedding anniversary
5.Serve in the Temple
6.Go to Japan
7.Be able to say I am REALLY good at something.


7 things that attract me to my man:
1.His butt.
2.His playfulness and attentiveness to the children.
3.His goodness, he's never been mad at me even once in our marriage.
4.When he plays the piano.
5.His sense of humor.
6.His unselfishness.
7.His determination to make me happy.

7 Favorite Foods:
1.Homemade chicken alfredo
2.A good soup.
3.Pizza, any.
4.Thanksgiving dinner
5.Chocolate cream pie
6.popcorn (I know it's a snack, but I can eat enough to make a meal, so I think it counts)
7.Pumpkin bars


7 people who I would like to do this (only if you want to):
1. Allison
2.Becca
3.Mary
4.Afie
5.Amanda
6.Mary Sue
7.Stephanie

Proof that yelling in the shower is more effective than deep breathing.

When we become mothers generally we learn patience because, well, it kinda comes with the package. When we lose our patience we each have different ways of trying to regain our composition and face the world (A.K.A. the kids!) Some people take long showers, others listen to relaxing music. I prefer to run. Today my frustration was escalating quickly. All morning I was breathing deeply in then out, trying to help me relax. The last button was pushed at 10:30 a.m. (yes, I know that's early for a last button!) I got in the shower and did something I never have before (in the shower, that is), I screamed at the top of my lungs!
Needless to say, I am feeling much better now.

Fall photos

My new favorite photo

I did NOT pose him!

Show and Tell

On Sunday night Lizzy came running into the house with an excited request. Monday is her show-and-tell and she was planning on bringing her witches broom that is part of her Halloween costume. Lizzy told me that she changed her mind and wants to take something different to show and tell, that this was more important than anything! She also mentioned that she's not sure if I will let her. I was a little curious about what was SOOOO important to her but also a little worried if she didn't think she would be allowed to take it to school. So I asked her what it was. To this she replied, "Sam." In my head I was thinking "Awww, how sweet." But alas, I had to turn her request down.

1st Birthday Fun!

We celebrated Sam's first birthday this weekend. My mom flew in on Thursday and then on Saturday a little bit before the party we had unexpected guests...grandma & grandpa from Oregon! Sam enjoyed cake and then we all went swimming. He got lots of presents, I guess it makes up for the last year of playing with sissy's barbies. His favorite toy was the gift sis bought him with her own money, a little squishy basketball. But somehow it does not surprise me that he liked the $1 toy the best. Here's some photo's.

All of this for fifteen dollars?

Here's a steal of a deal for us Phoenicians. It's a produce co-op!
50% fruit, 50% veggies and 100% YUMMY!
Go to www.bountifulbaskets.org to sign up. You purchase the produce every 2 weeks and when you sign up you are NOT obligated to purchase more than once. Try it out, there are several locations and my family LOVES it!