Funny story about Ben when he was younger

We've told this story many times, but I've finally preserved it for posterity:



And just in case you need a close up on the journaling:

Thanksgiving cooking lessons

We shared Thanksgiving with Bryce & Bettie, our game playing friends. We made a list of what food we had to have and split up who did what. Bettie said she would do the turkey, since I said if I were in charge, I would chicken out (no pun intended) and just buy a turkey breast. But when it came down to Thanksgiving morning, it ended up that since the turkey was at my house and we were eating at my house, and Bettie was not at my house yet, I had to cook the turkey.

But guess what? I did it and it worked. I realized that it really wasn't hard to do at all. I also learned this about pie making (4 pies and one cheesecake for 4 adults and 5 kids ages 7 and under??? crazy Bettie!), mashed potatoes, and Mom's stuffing. And her turkey noodle soup that I made last night with leftovers. I get afraid of cooking sometimes, but I realized that most meals are pretty simple to make and I don't need to make a production out of it!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tag, I'm it! 7 things about me...

My friend Jenny tagged me for this blog game. Seven random thoughts about me.

1. I love to play games. For the past 2 years, here and in Oklahoma, we have had our game playing friends. We don't plan ahead, it's just, Hey, let's play! Our kids get free reign of the house while we play Pinochle, Settlers of Catan, or whatever. Sometimes we stay up too late (aka...the kids stay up too late). But we love it!

2. I love Christmas, especially the music. I've been listening to Christmas music for a couple weeks now. I'll occasionally listen to it in the summer too. I love it!

3. I've got a new habit. For some reason, I have to have a glass of ice water in the evening after dinner. I guess it could be worse! :)

4. In our house, we like to surprise people. ("Mom, don't tell Dad what I chose for dinner for Family Home Evening, I want to surprise him!) Kyle likes to try to surprise me for Christmas presents....unfortunately I've got a knack for seeing right through him. Somehow, I almost always figure it out. It's a gift. And a curse. I'd rather be surprised....really.

5. Speaking of which, I love to watch Monk. It's a show about a detective with OCD. Unfortunately, I think I can relate to him just a leeeeetle too much!

6. I love chocolate. It didn't happen until sometime in college. I didn't get the whole chocoholic thing when I was younger. But now, I get it. But, it's gotta be worth the calories. Right now I've got a Chunky with peanuts and raisins sitting next to me. Yum!

7. I'm a homebody. Some people love to travel. I like with spending time at home with my family. And I'm OK with that.


OK. Your turn. Tag, you're it!!

What is it about the doctor's office?

Yesterday we had doctor appointments for the two boys. Kyle had the day off, so we had the whole family there. Why did I do this? I've told myself before I will never take all three kids to the doctor's office at the same time. And yet, I did. In my deluded state I thought the kids were older, Kyle would be there, we would be ok. NOT!

Poor doctor. It was our first time at this clinic....AND I work with his wife at church. (He has seen us at church, but he is not LDS and doesn't always come.) The stories he will have for his wife!!! Well, I guess it all depends on how strictly he adheres to the HIPAA regulations at home. Maybe he didn't tell her how all three kids were climbing all over everything and everyone in the room and how often he had to stop talking because the noise level was reaching a deafening pitch in the room. Maybe his hearing has recovered. At least he doesn't have to buy a new laptop...but it sure came close to being kicked off of his lap.

We told the kids we could do something fun after the doctor's visit....IF they behaved themselves. They had received dire warnings before arriving at the clinic. Everything was fine until the doctor showed up in the examination room. Then, all, um, heck broke loose. The one benefit is that their behaviors did nothing more than confirm to the doctor that our son did indeed have some ADHD issues. It worked...we came home with a diagnosis and prescription! Then again, I'm surprised that he didn't just add on a diagnosis for the other two angels as well.

Next time I tell you I am taking all three kids to the doctor, slap me upside the head. Oh and by the way, did I mention that I'm taking them all of them for their flu shots 5 days before Christmas?!

Maybe I should make this a website sharing site...

My friend Vivian on SS had this link on her blog:

http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/

You get to cut snowflakes online! Here's the trick, I was trying to aim the scissors, but all you do is move the scissors with the red dot around until it turns green over the spot you want to cut. You don't have to try to aim the scissors at just the right angle, like I was trying to do! :D Just go try it, and hopefully you'll understand what I mean. Enjoy!

Free Rice

Here's another website to share! This one is a little more useful than the last. This one is a vocabulary quiz...for every one you get right the corporate sponsors like Office Depot donate 10 grains of rice to world hunger. When you get one wrong, it tells you the right answer. A lot of these words I haven't heard, but I was surprised how many I got right! I ended with 830 grains and a score of 40. Try it!

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

A fun website to give you a smile

This site is in Dutch, I hear...but don't worry. You don't need to know Dutch to enjoy the website. Just give it a second for the fun to begin!

http://producten.hema.nl/


Thanks Cheery Bunny for sharing this site with me.

A fun email I got from Emily today...

Tag, your it!!!! If you want, you can answer these on your own blog or email. Or just read mine and be done with it. :D

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Jeans
2. Scrapshare 777 shirt

Two names you go by:
1. Mommy
2. Loverdumps

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Scrapbook
2. Watch Monk

Favorite pet have/or has had
1. Gerbils Mork and Mindy
2. Our betta named Alpha

Two things you did last night:
1. Watched Race to Space with Kyle
2 . Took the kids to Karate

Two things you ate today
1. Mandarin Oranges
2. Cocoa Pebbles

TWO people you've talked to today
1. Kyle
2. M'Liss from church called to get a food storage order

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Parent Teacher Conferences
2. Hanging with the kids!

Two longest Car Rides you've been on:
1. Maryland to SLC, UT many times when I was a kid
2. Our move from SLC, UT to Sylva, NC

Your favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Groundhog Day

Two favorite beverages
1. Ice Water
2. Stephens Hot Chocolate

Family Photos

We went to the park on Saturday and had lots of fun. Here we are posing with our new friend at the park: