Just Like Mom

Most of you probably don't remember the Canadian TV show called "Just Like Mom." In this show, kids and their moms were asked a bunch of questions to see how well they knew each other. One part of the show, the kids were left alone with a table full of ingredients to make cookies. The kids could put anything in the cookies they wanted that was on the table (including stuff like mustard and ketchup). At the end of the show, the Mom would taste all the cookies and guess which ones her son or daughter made. I sometimes feel like the kids on this show. My mom is a great cook and although I have most of her recipes, my final product rarely tastes as good as hers (or looks as good).

Yesterday I made naniamo bars and I think I called my Mom about 4 times in the process. My Christmas stuffing is still never right, my pancakes need serious help, and it wasn't until I watched my Mom make waffles that mine actually started turning out right. So is it the experience or just the God-given talent--hopefully just the experience. If that is the case, maybe in a few years my Mom won't be flooded with calls every day around dinner time (my sisters call too--it's not just me).

(Last year's Christmas dinner)

Opposition In All Things

I could write a blog every day about how sweet and adorable Tyson is; on the other hand, I could write just as often about how difficult he is. So, since there must be opposition in all things, I will write a little bit of both.

The Sweet (Good) Boy--Today

-helped Mom carry in the groceries

-followed Kya around the house acting like a robot (so cute)

-layed down nicely and let Mom change his diaper

-sat in the cart the entire time at the grocery store (without complaining)

-gave Mom lots of hugs and kisses

The Difficult (Bad) Boy--Today

-kicked and screamed while Mom was trying to get him dressed (it took about 30 min)

-clogged the toilet with half a roll of toilet paper

-refused to get into his carseat when we were leaving the store

-while Mom was upstairs, he took his bowl of cereal from the table into the living room and spilled the entire thing all over the carpet and couch

-pushed Kya off the stool and scribbled all over her workbook

-peed on the bathroom floor

-emptied my basket of Christmas decorations and threw them all over the floor

-ate his pudding with his hands instead of his spoon

Okay, so maybe there was more bad than good today--or is that every day?!

Goodbye Thanksgiving...Hello Christmas

We had a great Thanksgiving. I ended up cooking a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey thinking I would save some work, but it really seemed like just as much work as Christmas dinner. The food turned out really well, yummy! My friend Erin gave me the idea of making a "thankful" jar. Every night before we went to bed, we would write something we were thankful for and throw it in the jar. After our turkey dinner, we read all the things that we were thankful for from the jar. The kids were really excited about it and I think it made everyone feel special. I think that will be a new tradition for our family--thanks Erin.

Today I decided to pack away the fall decorations and haul out our Christmas things. I was feeling so festive. The kids got right into decorating this year. We got everything up except our tree. Christmas here we come!

(Don't mind Tyson's Supergirl costume--he insisted)

I've Been Tagged

My friend Jessica tagged me, so here are six things about me that you may not know:

1) I am a stress case. I always thought of myself as an easy-going person. I now realize that my life was just easy. Going to college and dealing with roommates was nothing compared to being a wife, mother and homemaker (although I do love my life--it just stresses me out).

2) I am on a serious, calorie-couting diet. It is time to lose all that baby weight once and for all. Wish me luck!

3) I LOVE The Young and The Restless! I know I should be embarrassed to admit this, but I'm not. I started watching "Y&R" right after I hit adulthood (since my parents didn't approve of Soap Operas) and although I have taken breaks from watching (ie. my entire college career), I am still the biggest fan.

4) I am a big chicken. I am the most unadventurous person. I refuse to try any new foods. I am terrified of anything remotely scary (I got freaked out at ghost stories told at a young women sleepover--when I was the leader). I cannot tolerate scary movies--Lord of the Rings was even a bit much for me. I get freaked out everytime I fly...

5) I am a shopaholic. I absolutely love to shop. I could shop all day ever day. I love malls, department stores, drug stores--anything but the grocery store. I do restrain myself so that I don't spend all our money (and I do search for good deals).

6) I am a horrible speller. I seriously would die without spell check. I have always had a problem spelling. I remember in fourth grade when spelling was a subject in school, I got my only ever c-! My teacher had it right though; spelling is definately not my thing.

Look Familiar??

When I saw this picture on someone else's blog, I couldn't resist. If one or both of these guys don't look familiar, it's time to go to the temple.

I invite you...

...to our home:

The News

Since I have been going to my new gym, I've been watching some shows that I wouldn't normally watch. My favorite "gym shows" are The Ellen Show (when I go in the mornings) and The Big Idea (when I go in the evenings). Since I am usually there for a while, I have to pick from other stuff too. There are 5 TVs and this is usually what is on them: 1-The News, 2-CNBC, 3-More News, 4-Sports, 5-CNN. So, there are my choices. If Larry King is on, that is my first choice, if not then I go with the news. Just a little about me; I am NOT a news watcher and now I remember why. The news is never a pleasant thing to watch, but since I have had kids it just stresses me out--and freaks me out. Tonight I watched three stories about missing children, one story about a missing wife (which is thought to be a murder), a story about a college athlete that got shot in the head...It is just SO awful. I can't believe what kind of a world we live in. Who kidnaps these kids and who takes someone's life? Just horrible. So, before you turn on your tv, make sure there is something to watch other than the news.

Thanksgiving Turmoil

(Gobble Gobble)

I have major issues with the Thanksgiving holiday. I seriously LOVE that we have an opportunity to show "thanks" and celebrate the harvest etc. I just don't know what we can actually "do" on the whole holiday weekend.

Dinner: I never want to make a turkey for Thankgiving because it is so close to Christmas (and I WILL NOT cook anything other than a turkey for Christmas--I like the way in Canada we have Thanksgiving in October). One year we tried buying a pre-cooked turkey dinner from Albertson's and yuck--we'll never do that again. Last year I think I roasted a chicken, but I do that during the year too, so it's seems like nothing special. I could do a ham, but I save that for Easter. I just don't know what to do to make Thanksgiving dinnner special. Any suggestions??

Activities/Celebrations: How the heck do you "celebrate" Thanksgiving. We do the traditional "say what you are thankful for", but that takes all of three minutes. Sometimes we'll tell the story of the pilgrims, but how exciting is that? Any help would be great!! What do you all do?

I guess I am just trying to figure out what to do with my family for a whole four day weekend that is meaningful. I am very THANKFUL, so what can we do to celebrate it? And what can I make for dinner?

I Just Can't Help Myself

(This is Jordan Christmas 2003--with too many presents)

Well, it's that time of year again. The time when I buy all my Christmas presents in November and then have nothing left to shop for in December. Ever since Halloween I have had the itch to Christmas shop. This year I am trying to do things a little different. I am making lists instead of buying (for the kids at least). So, whenever I see something I want to buy one of them, I just come home and write it on my list. Then once Thanksgiving is over, I can go through my lists and pick the best gifts for each child. I have already bought Mike a few things. He is the one I usually have no ideas for. I think I have done pretty well so far. I am also allowing myself to shop for those who live far away (the family names we drew and Mom & Dad). I use the excuse that we need to have extra time to "mail" them. Any excuse to shop is okay with me. I LOVE this time of year!!

"Everything's Changing"

Jordan made her Christmas list yesterday, and I am happy to report that she is officially out of her "Disney Princess" phase. Just about everything on her list is "High School Musical". After I mentioned that she didn't like princesses anymore, Jordan said "Mom, everything's changing. I don't like princesses anymore, my favorite color is blue instead of pink..."

"I Do"

There is something about going to a wedding that really reminds you of how much you love your spouse. We were at a wedding tonight, and I got that feeling. Watching Amanda (the one getting married) dance with her hubby for the first time, and then her Dad. It's enough to make anyone cry, right? Well any girl anyways! It just brought me back to those times when we were carefree newlyweds. What a special time that is (sleeping on an airmattress because we couldn't afford a bed, fighting over which towels you are "supposed" to use, "sleeping in" and missing my early morning classes, playing frisbee at the park, going out to the grocery store at midnight without having to get a babysitter...)!

Our 8-year anniversary is coming up in December and I can't believe it. We are still happy, still making memories--it is still a special time (late-night talks/laughs, going on dates, rough-housing with the kids, family walks, watching our favorite shows together...). I really am lucky.