recipe

I found this online and thought it was cute. I can relate! Good thing I don't have a cat!
Read on:

Mom's new recipe: Mom Brownies .....Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven to 375. Melt 1 cup margarine in saucepan. Remove teddy bear from oven and tell Jr "no, no." Add margarine to 2 cups sugar. Take shortening can away from Jr. and clean cupboards. Measure 1/3 cup cocoa. Take shortening can away from Jr. again and bathe cat. Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches sustained while removing shortening from cat's tail. Assemble 4 eggs, 2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-1/2 cups sifted flour. Take smoldering teddy bear from oven and open all doors and windows for ventilation. Take telephone away from Billy and assure party on the line the call was a mistake. Call operator and attempt to have direct dialed call removed from bill. Measure 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup nuts and beat all ingredients well. Let cat out of refrigerator. Pour mixture into well-greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake 25 minutes. Rescue cat and take razor away from Billy. Explain to kids that you have no idea if shaved cats will sunburn. Throw cat outside while there's still time and he's still able to run away. For the frosting... Mix the following in saucepan: 1 cup sugar 1 oz unsweetened chocolate 1/4 cup margarine Take the darn teddy bear out of the @#$% broiler and throw it away -- far away. Answer the door and meekly explain to nice policeman that you didn't know Jr had slipped out of the house and was heading for the street. Put Jr in playpen. Add 1/3 cup milk, dash of salt, and boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Answer door and apologize to neighbor for Billy having stuck a garden hose in man's front door mail slot. Promise to pay for ruined carpet. Tie Billy to clothesline. Remove burned brownies from oven and enjoy.

2007

I love the holidays. I love the smells and sounds. I love giving and watching people (especially the kids) open gifts. I love snuggling with kids in pj's on cold mornings and sipping cocoa or coffee in my fuzzy slippers. I also like when it is all over and the new year begins. I enjoy putting the decorations away and vacuuming up the pine needles. I do this two days after Christmas. Then, when the only reminder of holidays is a million toys laying around and the smell of pine when I vacuum, I can close another chapter in my life.
Starting a new year Rocks! Years ago when my father died life really sucked.... hard times, cherished moments, and many tears filled my days. Christmas was difficult and empty that year. The kids helped fill a void and there were some blessings that came my way (#3 came on board) but for the most part it really just sucked. Shortly after Christmas, however, things began to turn around. As I put the tree away I began to think of how I wanted to feel in the new year. I knew I needed to change my perspective and I did. From that point on I began to think of each year as a chapter in my life and as I closed one I had a new one to look forward to.
Now 2006 was good year but that chapter is over and a new one is beginning. 2007 is already looking great. The new year always starts off with a bang. First, we have a lot of family and friends with birthdays during the beginning of the year. Some of them are younger and some a few years older (ha ha ha ha ha), there is even one who might have seen the birth of dirt. But I love them all and I am glad to be in such good company. Second, this year we have been blessed with having more family around. My in-laws are here for three months and staying in Scottsdale. I can only hope they are enjoying their time here as much as we are. Rick has many stresses with work but he seems to be in a great mood and I think it has a lot to do with having his folks around. They are gracious enough to drive down here and help with the kids, cooking, going to games (football and soccer) , and they are having each of the kids spend a weekend with them. Kerri's the lucky one this week. I just hope we aren't abusing them because we could really get used to this. I get to go on a trip with my Mom and Ricky this spring and I can not wait! We are going to New Zealand with my Mom where we will be Trekking (backpacking) and visiting a couple of major cities and then Ricky and I will head on to Australia where we will have a few days to check out the sites around Sydney. Third, well I won't mention a third because things are going very well right now and I'd like to keep it that way. It seems that when things go well then it is time for something to go wrong. I know the bad times are what builds our character but I'd like to bask in the good things for a little while longer....
So with that I want to wish you all a great 2007. May this year be better than last and the first of many more great ones. Happy Birthday to A,R,A, J, T, J, B, J, M, D, M, S, J, S, G.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICKY

Looking back at the past year for Ricky I realize what a great kid he really is. At eleven he got confimed into our church, made honor roll each semester, worked hard at playing his percussion instruments and made it into honors band (they put on a fabulous concert at the center for the arts), he fine tuned his flag pulling skills and helped his football team enjoy a winning season, learned a lot about flying animals (birds) and insecets (B's), and he still manages to say OK when I ask him for help around the house (although now it often comes with a sigh or groan). And yeah, there have been some moments I'd rather not re-visit like him getting hit in the head with a football by his dad, or finding out late the night before his project was due and that I had to help him put together a costume making him into an Egyption God by 7am, and the one football game his team lost during the fall season. My reflection brings me to this thought... I have no idea what I did in my lifetime to deserve such a great kid but I do know how blessed I am to have him. My hope for the comming year(s) is that his life is filled good decisions and that all the bad things that come his way build great character within him. Please feel free to wish him well in the comments and I will pass them on. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICKY!

More Holiday Photo's

One of the first presents Jason opened was from Grammy. He loves Thomas so the slippers were a big hit. Of course he had to put them on right away!

Kerri showing off some of her new clothes while Matt looks at a new toy.

Kerri showing off her new jacket while Jason is modeling the latest in diaper wear! At least he kept it on. We're still struggling to keep clothes on the boy. His latest trick is to take off his clothes, run into our bathroom and pee in our tub. If I could only convince him to use the potty instead of the tub we'd be in good shape. I'd even settle for the shower, it's much easier to clean than our tub!

Kerri was modeling some new clothing her Uncle Brian got for her from her favorite store. I am not sure where she learned to pose like this but it scares me! Can you image her as a teenager?

Our little princess and her pack of puppies.

Kerri and Jason with Uncle Mike (or as Jason calls him, Uncle Bike). Boy they miss him! I think little Jason looks a lot like Uncle Mike... what do you think?

Jason enjoying his new tricycle getting out a little energy before bedtime.

Matt on a gift he got last year. He's pretty good for a 4 year old. Too good to take him to the skate park. He has little fear and a lot of confidence on a skate board. Not a good combination if you want to avoid the hospital. And yes, he is suppose to have a helmet on (Mom). :)

Christmas Morning

Ricky was the first one up, close to 7am, he agreed to snuggle for a half hour before waking the others. When Kerri got up she told us how she saw reindeer's outside by Grammy's car in the middle of the night. We left reindeer food out front in the grass for them to enjoy while Santa was busy working and eating his cookies. Kerri checked and said they ate it all! After waking Dad, Grammy and Uncle Mike the kids ran to the living room to see what Santa left for them. Kerri got a new mountain bike, Jason got a trike, Ricky and Matt took a second to pose for this shot with them. After the photo was taken the kids went for their stockings and waited patiently for us to gather in the living room, caffeine in hand, to watch them open the rest of their gifts. The tree in the background was decorated by the kids this year. They did a great job!