Mother's Day Surprise!

OK, so I'm an official blog neglector. I'll try to do better as I just know each and every one of you wait breathlessly every morning to see I've posted some more awesomeness! LOL

My girls celebrated Mother's Day with breakfast in bed for me.  From what I understand, Annsley started planning this a few weeks ago.  I knew something was going on, but no one would tell me anything except there was list of things that needed to be shopped for.  And then Wednesday night Kennedi could bear the secret no longer.

"Mom, we're cooking you breakfast for Mother's Day on Saturday.  Don't tell Annsley that I told you."

Doug has figured out that I now know their big secret and tells me that I'm going to have to stay in bed on Saturday morning.  He'll provide ear plugs.

Friday afternoon Annsley announces that she, Kennedi and Daddy are going shopping for my Mother Day surprise.  I will need to watch Andrei.

Yes, Dear.

The girls are in the car waiting for their Daddy to get in.  Doug has Annsley's handwritten list in his hand.  Without telling me what they are making, I'm trying to help him figure out what they really need to purchase.  It goes something like this.

Doug, "We need Bisquick."
Me, "We have some."  I take it out of the pantry.  It is half full.
Doug, as he looks all over the box for a recipe. "I'll get some more."
Me, "What are you making?"
Doug, "Uhm.. "
Me, "Pancakes?  Unless you're making 55 pancakes, I promise you that there is enough Bisquick."
Doug, "She's got frozen blueberries on the list."
Me, "The fresh ones are on sale. I'd go that route."
Doug, "She wants shortening.  What's that?"
Me, "Are you frying something?"
Doug, "Can we just use butter?"
Me, "What are you making?"
Doug, "It's a surprise."
Me, "Yea, so I've been told."
Doug, "I'm suppose to wake them up in the dark tomorrow.  Where did that come from?"

And the light has come on.  (Figuratively speaking.)  I tell Doug, "Oh man!  This has all come from the Berenstain Bear books.  The kids and Papa cooked Momma a Mother's Day breakfast.  Papa got the kids up while it was still dark to cook.  They made the grocery list.  Went shopping ,cooked--you know..just what you're doing." 

As promised, Doug provided me with ear plugs.  He got the girls up at 6:30, and I surprised myself by actually going back to sleep until 8:30! That in itself was a blessing!  I was served blueberry pancakes, fruit with extra creamy whipped cream on top, bacon, coffee, and Annsley's home made version of Reece's peanut butter cups. 

Later that day I was blindfolded, handed a bat, and told to start swinging.  They made me a homemade pinata.  I'm not sure what they made it out of, but I had blisters trying to break it.  It was a very resilient pinata.  15 minutes later the candy they had stuffed it fell out.  Unfortunately, Doug had let them paint the homemade ball of unwhackable paper mache with about 3 cans of spray paint. 

I ate two Reeces' Peanut Butter cups. (Can you tell it's my fav?)  They tasted like spray paint.  I burped spray paint until the next morning. 

But it's the thought that counts. 

I had an absolutely awesome Mother's Day.  My girls made my day so special, and kuddos to my hubby for helping them make it such a great day!

I baked; I watched

Christmas has come and gone. New Years has come and gone. I'm behind on my blogging--I had really thought when I started this family blog that ideas daily would be pulsing through my blood just screaming to be released.

It hasn't happened.

But then, you already know that.

On Christmas morning I made cinnamon rolls. Not the kind from a can People! Homemade. And DEEEE-LISH! They were remarkably easy. I made the dough the night before, and I rolled them out Christmas morning, and we still managed to get to church on time! Try them one of these days! I used Pioneer Woman's recipe and halved it. I didn't need 720 rolls.

Doug and I ventured out to the movie theater over Christmas break as well.  Yes, the movie theater--where they sell popcorn for $7 and water for a pint of your blood.  I think that is the third time I've been in a theater since the children came.  When childless, it was a weekly venture out for us.  Now, it comes at a premium.  Kinda like me deciding to clean out my refrigerator.  We went to the $2 show because there wasn't anything at the nice theater I really wanted to see for $8 and ticket.  We saw Courageous.   Every father needs to sit down and watch this movie!!! When I told Doug that's what I wanted to see, he looked at me and said, "Well, I've heard it's good, but kinda sad.  Are you sure you want to see it?"  I could tell he was trying to nudge me into seeing that Zoo movie that came out.  I didn't want to see the Zoo movie because I knew once we got to the theater, I'd end up choosing the Sherlock Holmes movie instead.  You have to be in a certain mood for that kind of action.  I wasn't.  So Courageous it was.  WARNING:  BRING A CASE OF KLEENEX. A box won't cut it.  Naturally sappy people will need  to come dressed in a wet suit. Doug needed a mop before it was all over. It was an absolutely fabulous movie.  But sad doesn't even begin to describe it.  It started about 1/3 of the way through and never stopped.  Javier provided the much needed comic relief.    The part where he plays the gang leader of the Snake Kings is worth the entire movie!

The girls had their children's Christmas program at church a few weeks ago. It was called Camelot. It was pretty cute. The junior high and high school students do the play/speaking parts, but the elementary kids did the singing. Annsley wore a camel's head. She wasn't too happy about it not staying on her head. They asked Kennedi to be a sheep, but she said, "No way." Here's a short 2 minute clip of one of the songs. Kennedi made a name for herself during the program. I had so many people come up to me and say, "I couldn't even watch my own child I was so busy watching Kennedi." Vern, one of the older men who taught her in the preschool class last year said to me, "I hope I'm still alive when she is 16." You can't see Annsley in the video, but you can see the tip of the camel's nose sticking up out of the crowd behind Kennedi. Kennedi is on the front row with the white bow. She was like this during the ENTIRE program. I apologize in advance for the pitiful video. It was pretty hard trying to video, laugh, and hold the camera still. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

We woke up to a wonderful surprise on Christmas morning! SNOW! I think it was our first white Christmas in 10-15 years. The weatherman missed it badly--said we might get an inch. It snowed all day long--we got more like 6 inches or so. The girls went sledding. Kennedi was in the middle of it this year--unlike last year. Read that post here.  They are out sledding again this morning before it all melts! And yes, I still think their Daddy is pulling them much too fast.  Annsley wants him to go fast enough that she catches air on a hill.  I don't think so!

Building ammunition stockpile for the snow ball fight.

Oh what fun it is to ride!

Afterwards...

Getting the hang of this Christmas thing!

Sugar Cookies!

The girls love making sugar cookies every year. Last year we didn't make anything. I can't even remember the holidays with all the rushing to and from Russia. Here are some pictures from this year's sugar cookie round up! It was Kennedi's first year to really "participate", and she ate just about as much cookie dough as she cut out into shapes. Annsley was rather put out with her as well when she used all the white icing. That meant her candy canes had to be red and green. Not cool for that 7 year old little girl...

All Andrei can manage to do is go around the house saying, "Gooo-kieee." He won't say "Momma" for nothing. He calls me "Daddy." Doug is now trying to bribe him. "You can have a cookie if you say Momma." So far it's not working. He's now screaming for a cookie...(sigh)

Thanksgiving!

We headed to McKinney, Texas for Thanksgiving this year.  My dad's family has met there ever since I can remember, and it's an awesome time. (It has to be--we all keep coming back!) Now that we all have children and grandchildren, there are quite a few of us--46 were there this year (We had 4 people who were missing?? Maybe??)!  We just keep breeding and breeding! :) We ate on the driveway this year.  It's happened before--usually due to warm, nice Dallas weather.  This year it was a necessity.  You'll notice we all had jackets on. It was suppose to be 70.  NOT! The weatherman missed it.  Thank you Uncle John and Aunt Patty for a blessed holiday once again! Annsley hasn't stopped talking about how much fun she had!

Having so much fun in the car I could spit!

Solving the world's problems...

A portion of our feast!

A portion of our crowd...



Playing football or some resemblance of it on the front lawn.




Waiting for fire!  The rain put a slight delay in the makings of hot dogs!



Andrei roasting a marshmellow with his Aunt Patty.  And yes, he enjoyed the smores.  (Annsley told me she had 6 of them!)



I never would have thought a hammock could be so captivating!




Fun times with cousins in the "play room!"



100 Things

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I though I'd share something I felt the Holy Spirit has been working with me on. 

Several months ago the Holy Spirit was gently guiding me into an attitude adjustment.  I had gotten into a habit of being cynical; ungratefulness was creeping in; Poor Pitiful Me Syndrome was rearing its ugly head.  I felt compelled one morning to begin listing 100 things I was thankful for.  I thought, "OK Lord. This will be a piece of cake.  Watch my dust! (or ink...) Paul writing most of the New Testament has nothing on me...

And so I began my list.  I wrote a out a nice, concise title for my assignment: 100 Things I Am Thankful For and I began to write. The first 10 things were no brainers.  It was composed of the "knee-jerk" responses one thinks about during these assignments.  God, my children, my husband, my family, living in America, etc. By number 30, I was tired.  My brain was tired.  Yeah, I live in the greatest country in the world, I'm healthy, I'm not alone and I'm struggling.  Gee God...You might have a point.  Maybe I do need an attitude adjustment... (sigh)

Day 2:  I grab my pen with renewed vigor.  I will finish my task today.  If you give me more than 10 minutes to finish, you'll have missed my diligence.  I'm really wanting to finish up reading Romans today, so I have great motivation.  I finally quit at 75.  OK God, You've made Your point.  My attitude sucks these days. 

Day 3:  I finally finish my list. I read it daily--well, maybe not daily, but quite frequently.  It does wonders for my attitude. I am blessed beyond measure.  I start sucking my thumb some mornings, and after reviewing my list, I take my thumb out, take a big breath, get a firm grip on my underwear, and pull up my big girl panties.  I am blessed.  I am blessed...

A few of the not so cookie cutter thankful things on my list...
**fog
**having  horses to ride growing up
**my girls can swim
**smell of chocolate chip cookies
**clean underwear every morning
**Post It notes
**asphalt on my driveway
**fire
**I am made righteous through Jesus Christ
**my pregnancies
**my children's great sleep  habits

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Cyber World!

Thank You Veterans!

I am so honored and blessed to live in this incredible country thanks to all that you do and have done!