Nonsense From Wonderland

Hard to believe spring break is almost half over! The boys are having a great time at my parents, playing on the Wii! I took them to Casper yesterday. Originally we were going to meet on Saturday, but then had the crazy blizzard, which prevented us from going Sat. and Sun. Last night, Jason and I went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, then out to see Fast and Furious. I LOVED it!! I was so excited that Jason actually decided to go, because he kept telling me he wasn’t going, so I had planned to see it at a matinee. We were planning on seeing Knowing, but he decided to go see F&F since I have been talking about it a lot. He said it was what he expected, but it definitely wasn’t the worst movie I’ve made him watch. LOL I’m sure he enjoyed it more than Twilight. Today I got Easter shopping done, picked up my license plates for the motorcycle, and went to lunch w/Jason at the new KFC Buffet. Our old KFC was so nasty, so it was good to see how nice this one is. I hope they can keep it that way. I shopped until 4, then came home and did some housework catch up–laundry, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, dishes. I also did some “spring cleaning”, I guess you could say, cleaning up Brecken’s desk area and their shelf w/the coloring books, etc. I got the guest room picked up too, as it’s been a catch all for everything. I came away with 2 grocery bags of trash, mostly just papers. Jason had to work a little late. We had some bierocks (cabbage rolls) that mom made us, and watched Reaper. I love that show, and need to pick up season 1 on DVD.

Tomorrow we are going to Denver to watch the Nuggets game. Should be a pretty good time, just hanging out with each other and cruising around downtown. I’m not sure where we are eating yet. I had mentioned Maggiano’s (Italian), just because we always walk by it on 16th Street Mall, and it always say that we should go there, but never have. We didn’t make it to a basketball game last year, so I am really looking forward to this one. I think I might shampoo the carpets tomorrow, or at least get the boys’ rooms and their bathroom done in the morning. Jason’s planning on riding the bike to work, and I’m debating if I want to go out for a little ride.

Guess I should head up to bed. Jason is all ready there, as he was up really early for work, since he couldn’t sleep. I woke up to ask him why he was up, then went back to sleep after he left.

These weekends just don’t last long enough for me! We did get some riding in today, which was nice–just a bit chilly at some points w/the wind. Mostly it was just my face and ears that were cold, because I hadn’t put my face cover on. We rode over to Dana’s to show her my bike, then out to Target to get a few things. I got Prince Caspian on Blu-ray, so am hoping we can watch it tonight. We didn’t eat lunch, because the time change messed us up, so by the time we ate breakfast it was 10. Jason made a yummy egg bake that was filling, and we had donuts left over from yesterday morning. Peyton had Blake over for a sleepover on Friday. We cleaned out the garage after taking the boys to Taco John’s and Coldstone. Once Blake left we headed to this little motorcycle store south of town to check out coats (they had none for me), then over to the Harley store for the bag sale (if you got a bag in the mail, you got 20% off what you put in it. I got a cute hat and this leather sleeve that goes over my ponytail. Jason got a stocking cap and a new tank cover thing (not sure of the technical name!), that has a pouch to hold his MP3 player. We had to go to Walmart after that, which was a headache as usual. I made this cordon bleu potato soup for dinner, out of the cooking magazine I get. It was so good and very fast and easy. Tonight we had pepperoni pinwheels, also out of the magazine. They were fast and easy too, and we all enjoyed them.

This week I have a class on Tuesday, but I will be leaving early for the kids’ Reading Independently gold medal ceremony. Every year they do the RI program, which lasts 7 weeks. All grades have different goals, and everyone has weekly reading logs. If you meet all the goals, you get a gold medal at the ceremony. It’s always cool to see the boys go up on stage and get their reward for their hard work! I can’t think of much else going on this week. Ammie’s bday is Saturday, and I can’t wait for her to open presents! We’ll probably watch over the webcam. Brecken still has not lost his teeth that have been loose forever. I asked the dentist last week, worried that he’d need them pulled right away, but he said it was fine. I am still a bit concerned, because the big tooth behind one has broken through. The tooth is just barely holding on, but he screams anytime I try to pull! Frustration!

Dana and I are going to see Jim Gaffigan in April! He’s at our Civic Center. I’m bummed Jason won’t be able to go, since he’s the one that got me to listen to him. My sis will be here, so will watch the boys.

I suppose that’s all for now, since I’m just babbling. Going to work on Breck’s tooth and wait for Peyton to finish showering so we can hopefully watch our movie!! Jason’s obsessed with finishing this level on LBP w/out losing any lives, and he’s been at it for a while. You get special outfits for making it through w/out losing any lives! It’s downright difficult on a few of them!

I liked Mel’s idea of posting the holiday menu, so here goes! Every year since I can remember, way back to childhood, we have always done appetizers on Xmas Eve, whether we were at my grandparents’, parents’ or home. The only time we didn’t do that was a couple years ago, when we spent Xmas Eve at the Bronco/Bengal game in Denver! We had ESPN Zonen for lunch, then McDonald’s after we got home. LOL We don’t usually go w/the traditional stuff for Xmas dinner, because noone wants turkey after having it at Tgiving, and although I love ham, it is kind of boring. LOL

Christmas Eve
pizza dip (ricotta, mozza, pepperoni, seasonings) w/bread
ham/cream cheese roll ups
meatballs in grape jelly/chile sauce
layered taco dip
BLT dip
chicken puffs (little cream puff type things filled w/a chicken salad like mix)
baby carrots, sweet pickles, celery
EZ Cheese (at Breck’s request)
various crackers/chips

Christmas Morning
mom’s cinnamon rolls
egg bake (Jason’s making)

Christmas Dinner
prime rib (dad’s cooking!)
breaded fantail shrimp
cranberry marshmallow salad
mashed potatoes (either red or russet, or a combo, since we have both)
green bean casserole
blueberry cream cheese jello salad
mom’s dinner rolls
pumpkin pie (Jason’s making)
peppermint patty cake roll (I’m doing)

Today I start making the cranberry marshmallow salad, as it needs to sit for 2 nights. I will probably make the ham/cream cheese roll ups tonight as well, and maybe the BLT dip. I figure we can munch on some stuff in the afternoon, then the bigger stuff like meatballs and chicken puffs at night. We’ll play some games, listen to some Xmas music, and just enjoy being together!!

Seriously….I am so over this being sick thing. The last 2 days I have felt more miserable than I have in the whole 3 weeks I’ve had this stupid cold. Finally bought some Sudafed tonight, and hoping it works on the congestion. I’m at my limit on taking nose spray.

We went to Twin Dragon tonight for Chinese food. I’d been craving it, which is funny, considering I don’t eat much Chinese food, because I don’t like veggies. Sesame chicken is what I really like, and the crab/cheese wontons. When I was preggo w/Breck, I had a craving for the wontons, so we went out to eat some. I had 12, and couldn’t eat wontons for a while after that! We opted to have a decent meal rather than go to buffet. I of course ordered seasame chicken, and Jason ordered some chicken thing that was pretty good (of course I picked out the peas/carrots/mushrooms). We watched Mickey Saves Santa, and are watching Charlie Brown’s Xmas now. Tomorrow morning we are heading to the train depot to see Santa. I’d like to just rest and try to get well. I know I haven’t been able to get better, because I haven’t gotten much sleep. Last night, Jason had bowling, so I laid under the Xmas tree (literally), by a heat vent, while Peyton read Spiderwick to us. I dozed off! I went up to bed at 8:30, when the boys did, and went right to sleep–no reading, no tv. I had taken Nyquil too, and was okay until midnight, when the congestion hit me. I got up for nose spray, so I could go back to sleep.

Next week at work is going to be crazy with all the holiday celebrations, programs, field trips, and holiday lunch! We have something going on every day but Tuesday. Tuesday night I have a class. It’s also Xmas spirit week, so we get to dress up different every day–crazy hair/hat/sunglasses day; twin/triplet day (dress like friends); students dress like teachers and vice versa (won’t be much of a stretch for me!); school clothes or colors; and pajama/sweat day. I am so ready for break, and to celebrate Xmas w/my family! We usually webcam w/them every year, so having them here in person is just going to rock! We are having prime rib and shrimp. Mom and I have been discussing the menu. She’s doing a few things, and I’m doing a few things. Would like to get some holiday baking done this weekend.

Dana and I went to see “Twilight” this afternoon, and I absolutely LOVED it! I don’t have one single complaint about it. Rob Pattinson is the complete embodiment of Edward….just amazing. As we were leaving, I heard one girl say, “But the book is sooo much better!” I think people always forget that when they translate books into film, things are going to be cut, certain moments changed, etc., but I am the kind of person that looks at the book and movie as two separate things. I know a lot of people hated “Queen of the Damned”, because it didn’t follow the books much and combined things from another book as well, but I still enjoyed it for just being a good movie. I will definitely go see “Twilight” at the cheap theater, and Jason will go w/next time : ). I bought the soundtrack a couple weeks ago, and have been listening to it nonstop. It was cool seeing the spots they chose to stick the songs in at, and I felt all were very fitting. I need to get my butt in gear and finish Breaking Dawn. Just have not had the time or energy to read, and my DVR is almost full, so I’ve been working on cleaning it off.

On another note, I am PISSED they have cancelled “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money”. I get so sick of the different, outside of the box shows not getting a break, while we have 700 different versions of CSI, and every other possible law drama out there. All they do is rehash stories from the news. I am happy all our crazy shows from Showtime and HBO are still going, but the wait in between seasons is killer.

Jason brough home a lot of goodies from his trip! The boys got new jerseys and 3 or 4 shirts, plus Bengal footballs. I got 3 shirts, and plastic Bengal mugs. Dana gave me a surprise today too–these really cute earrings that are itty bitty footballs w/the Bengal logo, and a snowman on top. They will be fun to wear to school, to see the kids’ reactions. Jason is cooking dinner at the moment–a kind of scramble w/kielbasa, hashbrowns, eggs, sour cream and some seasonings. I worked w/Brecken to finish his visual aid for his Thanksgiving speech that he has to give tomorrow. I’ve been doing a lot of laundry, as Jason added about 2.5 loads of his stuff and the new clothes!

I am looking forward to this nice, short 2 day work week, and just hanging out w/the family for the rest of it. I’m going to bake my dinner rolls on Wed., and possibly make the pie. I was hoping Jason would make the pie crusts, and don’t know if he’ll get time to do that on Wed. I believe he’s taking Friday off too. Saturday is our city’s Xmas parade, and as long as it’s not snowing, I think we’ll go. Last year it wasn’t snowing, but had previously that week, and it was just downright chilly. We went to a Mexican restaurant after for dinner, and got all nice and toasty. This year we need to remember to take hot chocolate.

We stopped to visit cousin Lauren and baby Tobiah yesterday. That is one of the freaking cutest babies ever! He is such a happy little guy! Can’t wait to see him again!

The darn weekends just go way too fast.  Jason and I went out on the bikes this morning to get donuts and dinner groceries.  The weather was pretty decent for a November day.  My sis has been here visiting, and we did some shopping this weekend!  I got a couple shirts, one at Maurice’s and one at Target, although I was in search of pants.  I couldn’t pass up Dexter season 2, which was on sale for $18 at Target.  Last night I bought Journey to the Center of the Earth, and we watched it in 3-D.  Very cool!  We watched Iron Man for the second time, so sis could see it.  Jason did some yummy cooking this weekend!  Yesterday he made French toast pockets for breakfast, and baked potato soup for dinner.  Tonight he made this ham and cheese roll-up that he’s been into making lately.  Sis will be going home tomorrow.  Wish she could stay longer.  She brought all her goodies for the craft show.  It’s less than a month away and I have done absolutely nothing to get ready!  I’ll be lucky to do some beading or make some dishcloths. 

This week shouldn’t be too busy, I hope.  Jason has Tuesday off, but I have to work.  The kids are out at noon.  I am going to a writer’s workshop from 1-8.  Should be pretty interesting.  A couple girls from work will be there too.  I enjoyed the class I took last week, which dealt with managing classroom behavior.  I have another class coming up, called Skills for Success.  In January, I will start another class that deals w/the math program they use in primary. 

This picture is just too cute, so I had to post it.  This is “Itty Bitty”, a baby squirrel that hangs out at my parents’. 

Itty Bitty

….and I like it that way!  It’s a gorgeous weather day too.  The boys have been out playing, and just walked down to the school to see if the new playground equipment is done being put in.  Jason and I have been watching “Even Scarier Movie Moments” and “100 Scariest Movie Moments.”  I do have to run to the post office and store.  We are having biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs for dinner.  YUM!  I got the stuff yesterday to make banana splits too!

Halloween was good.  The weather was awesome!  The boys didn’t need to be layered or wear hats and gloves!  Jason took them out for 2 hours, and we ended up with over 5 lbs. of candy.  We had quite a few kids, and I ran out of candy, so had to dig into the boys’ stuff when they got home!  Our last trick-or-treaters came at 9:10.  I did not get an Alice costume, as I had hoped, so just did my creepy makeup.  I did scare one boy who came to the door.  LOL

BOO!

Daddy and the boys heading out!

How cute is this pumpkin?  Wish I was talented enough to pull this off, but alas, I suck at carving, and leave that to Jason! 

Boo!

So yesterday didn’t quite turn out like we had planned.  Jason didn’t want to go anywhere, so we ended up staying home, which was fine w/me.  It was nice to just be lazy!  We played around on the computers all morning, and after lunch played cribbage and Scrabble w/the boys.  It was pretty fun, even though Brecken completely steamrolled us all in cribbage!  It was the first time he ever played.  I won at Scrabble, of course.  It’s not Jason’s favorite game, but Peyton’s teacher taught them how to play last week, so he wanted to play.  I learned to play when I was younger than Peyton.  My great grandma, grandma and great aunt were all big Scrabble players.  The Scrabble game I have was my grandma’s, and it still has their old Scrabble dictionary in it.  I love it, because the game still smells like Grandma’s and Papa’s house : ).  After dinner we watched Cloverfield.  Peyton was scared initially, but I think by the time it was over he had calmed down.  Sometimes the things that scare hiim and the things that don’t really baffle me!  We did not get to watch The Princess Bride, so maybe tonight.

This morning I ran out to get donuts at King Soopers.  They have the best donuts.  It had only been an hour since they’d put the donuts out, and they were pretty much wiped out!  I started some laundry, took a quick shower, then headed to the library and Albertson’s.  It had escaped my mind that the Bengals weren’t on until this afternoon, so it was nice to have the time to get things done earlier in the day.  We are having chicken avocado flatbreads for dinner.  They are so amazingly good and simple.  I still need to make my snack mix for tomorrow.  I got a can of pumpkin to do some frosted pumpkin cookies.  Been craving those for some reason.  I haven’t gotten to do much baking with life being so different and busier now w/me working.

I was looking so forward to sleeping in this weekend, however, I had to get up early to let Boomer out, then the boys decided to be loud and crazy.  I laid in bed and read for a bit before getting up the 2nd time.  Trying to finish Vampire Loves so I can take it back to the library this afternoon.  I made a “butter braid” for breakfast.  I bought it from one of our teacher’s sons for a fundraiser, and it was yummy!  Had blueberry and cream cheese filling, w/frosting drizzled on top.  Dinner is going to be Mexican beef & dumplings.  We’ve had it once before and I remember it being pretty good.  Just stumbled across the recipe as I was looking for my orangey snack mix recipe.  I am making that stuff for my lounge duty Monday.  Igor is at the dollar theater downtown, so I believe we are going to the matinee for it.  I hadn’t even heard of it until a couple weeks ago, and it looks like the kind of cartoon I would love.  Would like to go to the store for a few things, and maybe the mall.  Just not sure if I’ll have time.  Last night we were going to watch The Princess Bride, but Jason and the boys got sidetracked downloading game demos on the PS3 and their PSPs.  Hopefully tonight we’ll get to watch it.  I just love that movie, and I don’t think the boys have ever seen it.  I remember when it first came out how much of a crush I had on Wesley ; ).  There are just so many great lines from that movie…

Just for the heck of it, here is a picture of me from Wednesday.  My mom bought me this sweater dress, and of course I wore it on the coldest day this week!  I didn’t have any outside duties, so thought I would be okay.  For the first time in 10 years, I wore nylons, and I HATED every minute of it.  I much prefer none.  The darn things would not stay up, so I had to figure out how to discreetly pull them up every 5 minutes!  The boots are one of my favorite footwear, and the only kind of heels I have ever owned.

10-22-08