sLeDDiNg!

We went sledding on Saturday for my nephews birthday. We LOVED it, Ben: not so much.

Thanks to my sis, we have pictures!

CoUsInS!

mE, mY gIrL, mY sIs


mY mAn, My NePhEw

My SiStAs. They are SO brave - NO HANDS!

My kids were DIEHARDS!


mY nEpHeW - "It's my party, I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to..."

More...

And More...


We really just couldn't have had more fun!


They caught air!

So did we!

When we finally decided to call it quits, we to my sister's house for pizza, hot chocolate, and a donut cake.



Happy Birthday Ben! Thanks for the fun!

I HATE unhappy endings!

So I decided to MAKE myself read again. Since I've started working full-time, I just haven't made the time to read. I spend plenty of time blogging, reading blogs, and playing Solitaire, but can't find the time to read a real novel. I haven't found anything I like and/or don't have the brain cells left at the end of the day to think about what I'm reading.

I decided to FORCE myself to read somthing. A whole book even. I went to the library, walked the isles, told myself that cookbooks don't count, and walked some more. My kids had already checked their books out and were waiting. Darin had done the same. We had been there for an hour.

And then I found it: Beauty. The classic Beauty and the Beast story retold in the modern day. It was short, based on a classic, and one that looked pretty good.

Two days later, I've read the book. It captivated me right from the start and got right to the good stuff: falling in love.

BUT LET ME WARN YOU: Beauty dies. And it ruined the whole book. What a waste of my time and energy! I hate sad stories! Sadness happens enough in the real world that it doesn't need to happen in my make believe world. Sadly, I do not recommend it.

So, now it's your turn: what is your favorite book? I REALLY need a good book now, since my attempt failed miserably. If I don't get help soon and find another book that's good, I may give up reading forever (not the newspaper, blogs, or recipe books, though, just novels).

While you think about it, here's my 5:
1. My work Christmas party at Christopher's Steak and Seafood. The best part? I won a free haircut and got to go home 2 hours early. Paid.

2. Safety in the snow.

3. Reading what I thought was a great romance story bundled up in a blanket in front of the Christmas tree (I'm not grateful for the sad ending, though...)

4. Roasted broccoli. Delicious!

5. My husband who has almost singlehandedly bought and wrapped all of our Christmas presents.

BONUS:
6. We get to go to Disneyland in March! I HAVE to go to a conference in Anaheim , and I have to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, and I get to bring the family! I've never been to Disneyland. Too bad I'll actually be working all day. Still, though: DISNEYLAND!

Blog Stalker

I stalk blogs. Come on, admit it: you do, too. Here are two of my favorite ones lately. I don't "know" these people, although I feel as if I know them from reading their blogs!

jacksonparkcity.blogspot.com This one will make you cry. Start reading in May and go from there. This women's daughter died by accidently choking on an apple piece the size of a pea while on their way home from church. The mother writes so beautifully, and her blog really makes me appreciate and love my family every day!

j-a-girl.blogspot.com I love reading this woman's decorating ideas. They are creative, inspiring, and most of the time inexpensive.

And here's my Five for the Day:
1. Mint Oreo cookies.
2. Sister's who are willing to help with blog troubles. You are the best!
3. German Chocolate Eggs. The chocolate-yogurt outside of the egg is pretty tasty, but the best part is that the egg is hollow, and there's a toy inside! Mine was a plastic orange cat.
4. My boots. They are ugly as sin, but perfect for this weather. Only my friend Elizabeth can appreciate these shoes: we each bought a pair in the winter of 1993 on the way home from college one day. Yes, Liz, I'm still wearing the exact same shoes, the same plastic, shiny navy blue with green trim shoes. And I haven't slipped yet on the ice.
5. My daughter. I hope she feels better soon!

My Self-Esteem...

Is not based on how cute/not cute my blog is.

My self-esteem is not based on how cute/not cute my blog is.

My self-esteem is not based on how cute/not cute my blog is.

My self-esteem is not based on how cute/not cute my blog is.

My self-esteem is not based on how cute/not cute my blog is...

What the...

Does anybody know how to fix margins and layout stuff cool?

This is what happens when I try to make things cute.

HELP!

What I Knew For Sure: High School Edition

I was smart in high school, and to prove it, I got one whole academic letter. It's still in my scrapbook if anybody needs verification.

Anyway,here are a few things I knew for sure in high school:

1. That I would never regret buying that teal dinnerware set at Mervyn's (complete with utensils, glasses, and a teapot for decoration).



2. The bigger a person's handwriting, the bigger their self-esteem. The opposite was also true: the smaller their handwriting, the smaller their self-esteem. Also, the higher the bangs the higher the self-esteem.

3. The tighter the pants, the better. The opposite (kind of) was also true: the bigger the tee shirt, the better.


4. I could've been the next Debbie Gibson (if I weren't so shy).


5. Never in my life would I need math skills.

What did you know for sure in high school?

Congrats!

Congratulations to this boy:


He gets to eat lunch with his principal today because his teacher nominated him for doing his personal best in school.

That's my boy!

My Five:
1. Staff retreat today. What do you do at retreats? I've never been to one, so I hope it's worth being out of the office all day. Wait, what am I saying....

2. A good night's sleep.

3. A husband who talks. I'm glad I didn't marry the silent type.

4. My scarf. Jess, will you knit me a coat?

5. Watching old Indiana Jones movies with the family.

Christmas Tag

My sister tagged me, kinda sorta. So here's a Getting to Know You, Christmas edition.

Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on which one is cuter and matches the card/tag better.

Real tree or artificial? Preferrably none. I know, call me Scrooge. We have an artificial, and I HATE putting it together, and really it just sits there and collects dust. Plus, this year, our kitties have decided it's theirs and so the bottom part of the tree is a mess, thanks to their playing. It kinda looks like it did when my triplets were two.

When do you put up the tree? This year it was the Monday after Thanksgiving.

When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. I would take it down Christmas day, but I don't think it's allowed.

Do you like eggnog? Absolutely! I just try not to think about what it's made of.

Favorite gift received as a child? I would have to say it's a three-way tie: either the ghetto blaster when I was 14 (it had 2, count 'em: TWO) cassette players!) or the typewriter that I got to personally pick out at Office Max, OR the clock radio I got when I was about 12, and it worked clear up until AFTER I got married. They don't make them like they used to.

Hardest person to buy for? Neighbors. So usually I don't. But it has nothing to do with my neighbors, just my creativity.

Easiest person to buy for? Let's be honest: myself.

Do you have a nativity scene? Well yes, if you count the magnetic laminated paper one on our fridge.

Mail or email Christmas cards? I haven't done Christmas cards for awhile, but usually mail.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one I received, but one year my parents got this furry wolf (or deer or some animal) wall hanging thing. And they hung it above the stairs, so everyone could see. It was brown and cream and UGLY.

Favorite Christmas Movie? I like the cartoon of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And also Charlie Brown.

When do you start shopping for Christmas? It's not too predictable. I haven't started yet, if that helps.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. I admit it. Not lately, though.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All the chocolates!

Lights on the tree? Yes, white ones, with some blinking. And I pray that our kitties don't try to eat them.

Favorite Christmas song? I'm not a huge Christmas music fan, like my sister Liz, who somehow likes that Wham! song (Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart...). CAN. NOT. STAND. THAT. SONG. I do like to listen to hymns sung my the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, though.

Travel at Christmas or stay home? We usually stay home.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blizten. But do you recall? The most famous reindeer of all...dun dun dun..Rudolph!

Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a miniature white dove that's about to fall off. Let it be known that I have never cared for the mini-dove on top of my tree.

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open the Lythgoe presents the night before and all the rest Christmas morning.

Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Music by Wham!

Favorite ornament theme or color? I really like a fairy tree that my friend Collette has.

Favorite for Christmas dinner? I don't know. I'm writing this after lunch so I'm not too hungry to be able to think of anything.

What do you want for Christmas this year? I want to be able to give to the angel tree. So far, so good.

List a family tradition that you have implemented in your own family: Before we had kids I told Darin that we would watch The Grinch every year and eat sugar cookies. We have yet to do that....

Who is most likely to respond to this? I tag all of you!

Family's are Forever

So, you noticed my new family picture, eh? Here are a couple more picts that I love. My sister is a photographer and does an EXCELLENT job! Just so you know, these pictures were taken downtown on a an early Saturday morning. My kids were FREEZING and she STILL got them to smile and act natural. She's a whiz with the camera, great at making everyone happy, and has two cute kids to boot.

How are we related again?




I would add more, but they are at home, and I'm at work.

Thanks Jeanette! (I have her number if any of you want it...)

My Five:
1. Brisk morning air to wake me up!
2. Cream-filled pumpkin cupcakes: my new specialty! (Thanks Sue for the recipe!)
3. My cute last-born son. I hope you feel better!
4. My family who gives me huge hugs when I get home from work every night. I stop off at the gym on the way home, so when I see them I look gross and sweaty. And they still give me hugs!
5. Christmas decorations up!

LOL

So, I no longer have a cell phone. Which means that I'm falling WAY behind in my texting practice. To keep up my skills, I have decided to text my five for today. If any of you can understand everything I write, you win!

1. My Family <3333

2. My DH

3.Card games, like Nertz/Solitaire Frenzy, which make me GMBA.

4. H&K

5. The Z%

KEYA :)