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Friday, December 24, 2010

The Grown Up Christmas Dinner

Today is Christmas Eve and the house is quiet. It's just me and baby Jane at home as Danny and the rest of the children make one last run to the grocery store and go hang up a TV for his sister (that TV is LONG overdue~sorry Debbie).

Anyway, I found my self with a little free time so I thought I'd add another post to my blog: The Grown Up Christmas Dinner. WARNING: This is a long post! Just trying to document!

A few years ago my parents started a new tradition in our family. Okay...long story I'll try to make short. Traditionally, ever since my sisters and I were little girls, at Christmastime, my father would take each of us girls out individually on a date. We had dinner wherever we wanted and we would go shopping for the sister "we drew" for Christmas. My father also threw in a little "To Me, From Me" gift.

The "To Me, From Me" explanation: our chance to get whatever we wanted for ourselves. We had to wrap it and place it under the tree, and on Christmas Eve (when we traditionally open our gifts) we would open up the "To Me, From Me" gift...a thrilling moment every Christmas! SO life goes by and it gets harder and harder to keep those traditional Christmas dates.

So about 5 years ago my parents started the new tradition: The Grown Up Christmas Dinner. This is a special dinner where only the "Grown-Ups" in the family (anyone in or above the 2nd grade) get to go out to a special dinner and everyone gets a special gift from my parents. Nothing extravagant, just a token of love.

Oh, and I forgot. We used to go out to a "she-she-poo-poo" restaurant in town, but we all decided a few years ago, that my parents make the best food ever so we carried the tradition right back to my parents home! (You'll see what I mean by food below!)

My father with the "Grown Up" grandchildren.
This was Janna's first year.
She was quietly in awe.

My sister Dayna with her girls.

My sister Dawn with Maddie.

Dan Dan having a little
shrimp cocktail hors d'oevres.

Another hors d'oevres, tenderloin!
OH MY STARS!!!! Delish!
(I want some NOW!)

Prime Rib!!!! For our main course!
Equally as delicious!

My sisters and my Bro's in law.
Dawn is taking the picture. Thanks Sweets!

My sweet parents!

Peppermint parfaits with
homemade raspberry sauce.
OH YUM!

These next few pictures are the best! My mother searched really hard to find the grandson's an extra special Grown Up Christmas Dinner gift.

Good things come in small packages!

Opening the gifts!

I love this picture.
He can't get to Grammy's neck fast enough!

Tim Tebow, Broncos, REAL team Jersey, for each boy...Dan Dan is still wearing his...probably Juette too! THANKS GRAMMY!!!!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Ye'ouch (my new favorite word)

So, "ye'ouch" is my new favorite word because

this is my new favorite shoe. Yep, after 37 years I finally broke--well, fractured a bone--one of the 26 bones in my left foot. How'd I do it? Yesterday morning about 10:00 I went downstairs and when I got to the bottom I stepped on one of my sweet children's (#2) boot, that was covered up by one of my other sweet children's (#4) t-shirt.

Instantly my left foot turned in and I was brought to the floor, while I heard about 3 or 4 cracks. At first I thought I'd be just fine if I rested it, but this morning I realized that a trip to the doctor may be needed just to figure out why my foot was still swollen and blue.

Okay, so can I just say, what a pain--literally and figuratively! It is so hard to just stay propped up. I have gotten in lots of computer time and I finally watched Toy Story 3, which made me CRY--what up with that?

Anyway, for memories sake, I had to document my new condition.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy BIrthday Harry Jack and Jane!

We have two special birthdays in our house today! A birthday boy and a birthday girl born four years apart.

This sweet baby boy

is turning

SIX today!!!!

And, this sweet baby girl

is turning

TWO today!!!!

(picture by Red Chestnut Photography)

Happy Birthday to our "Thanksgiving Babies." Goodness gracious, we LOVE you so much!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

So today is Turkey Day and now that our tummy's are full, I thought I'd sit back and post some pictures of our day.

My sister Dawn, hosted Thanksgiving lunch. There were 18 of us total--a lot of people to make a mess in her beautiful CLEAN home. And, you know what? When it was all eaten, and cleaned up we didn't do too bad. There were only two drinks spilled--one of them being Dawn's coffee! Shew--its always nice when the owner messes up her own home!

Below are some pictures of our day--and BTW, Donna and Dayna, we sure did miss you girls and your families!

Sweet Jenius (my mom).

My sister and BIL, Dolly and Leland.

Harry Jack, the only thing he wanted for
lunch was turkey and corn pudding.
(BTW, this sweet boy turns 6 tomorrow.)

My beautiful niece Stella.

DanDan who couldn't wait to get a turkey leg.

Me and Danny.

My sweet parents!

My sweet baby Jane
(who turns 2 tomorrow)
and my sister Dawn.

My SIL Debbie,
(who ALSO has a bday tomorrow)
and her beautiful girls!
It was so nice having them
here for Thanksgiving!

And, for some after lunch relaxation pictures...

Dolly took a nap and I tried to get a picture of her, but she caught me at the last minute...

...and hid under the blanket.

Leland wasn't so lucky...

...sorry Leland.

Danny watching football...Leland sleeping.

Upstairs we girls watched White Christmas,

an oldie but goodie!

It's been a great relaxing day. One thing is for sure, we are so blessed! Thank you Jesus for Your love, and for family, for our safety and our health!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

My Little Tur-zel-furky!

This afternoon the Kindergarten classes at LCA presented the cutest little Thanksgiving program for the parents. One of the nicest things about it was that both Harry Jack and my niece, Beatrice, were in it together. Bea was a Pilgrim and Harry Jack was a Turkey, who I have been calling my little Tur-zel-furkey (long story about that nick name).

Anyway, the program was really sweet and I had to hold back little moments of sweetness--you know--the moments when you are beaming with pride, and if someone was to ask you something you would reply back in a shaky verklempt voice--get the picture?

Harry Jack had one line to memorize...

"We look good enough to eat!"

Below are pictures of our afternoon.

My cutie patootie Tur-zel-furky!

My niece Beatrice, an adorable Pilgrim!
Bea had a line in the play too--I cannot
remember her line. Sorry Bea...and Debbie!

My sweet Daddy, DanDan and Maddie
(who were THRILLED to get out of
school for an hour to see a Kindergarten play!

My sweet Momma, aka Jenius!
Mom was a great help for me with
Jane during the program!
Thanks Mom!

Eight more days to Happy Tur-zel-furky Day!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

25 More Random Things About me

It's a dreary, cozy, rainy, stay inside sort of day, so I whipped up another, 25 MORE random things that you might not know about me. Just kidding--about the whipped up part. This has been a work in progress.

1.Coffee:I am a fancy coffee drinker. My drink of choice is a grande skinny Caramel Macchiato. It is funny to me that my children know this drink by heart. I could ask Harry Jack to go into Starbucks and order me my drink and I'm confident he would walk out with a grande skinny Caramel Macchiato.

2. Heartbeat: In a heartbeat, if we could, we would happily have another baby. I know, I know--go ahead, call us crazy. We just love our kiddos and would happily welcome another little one into our bunch--although that is 3 times, nearly impossible.

3. Goosie: My nick name growing up. I believe the story goes--when my parents brought me home from the hospital some of the children living on our street couldn't say "Denise." Instead they said "Ga'neese." Later on in my little life, Ga'neese became Goose, and then Goosie.

4. Alcohol: Nope! Never have, never will.

5. Sugar-Yep! I love it!

6. Three--In no particular order and each as important as the other, there are three things I truly believe in as a mom: Epidurals, Passy's, and good ole TV--although as a rule, there is no TV on school nights in our home.

7. TV: Speaking of TV above, this is still my favorite thing to do at the end of the day. Contrary to my other 25 random things (click here, and read #2), I no longer watch Jon and Kate plus 8. She actually makes me cringe when I see her on TV or a magazine cover--very sad what happened to that family...

8. The Good Wife: This show is currently my favorite show. Tuesday nights, 10:00 CBS.

9. Sweetened Condensed Milk: along with getting caught with a Little Debbie Brownie in my PJ's pocket one night during my early teenage years (click here and read #19), one day, when I was in the fourth or fifth grade, I took at can of Sweeten Condensed Milk to my room with a can opener and a spoon...and you guessed it...I tried to eat it. Much to my surprise I didn't get much down, so I poured it in some sort of container and hid it under my bed. Months later I found it--all dried up!

10. Ipecac: Okay. Embarrassing that I took a dose--no a swig-- of this in college after one of my family's BBQ parties. I had my first boyfriend, (we'll call him K) and I ate so much food that day, I thought I would get fat and he wouldn't like me. Sadly now--getting fat doesn't even cross my mind after one of our BBQs.

11. Awesome: Okay, let me explain why I strongly dislike hearing people use the word awesome. Awesome means " expressive of awe" or "inspiring awe." As a Christ follower, I feel that there really is not much out there in the world that is awe inspiring, EXCEPT things of God, or things pertaining to God's handiwork. A baby being born is awesome! The Grand Canyon is awesome! My child becoming a Christ follower is AWESOME! Movies, sports events, concerts---sorry, not awesome.

12. Danny: Next to Jesus, I love my man more than anything! Life is what it is, and I am so comforted to know I have Danny to do life with--the best of it and, YES the worst of it. Think we're sappy, Sorry--who better to be sappy about. I Love Danny!

13. BFF's: Furthermore--continuing from above--- Okay, can I just say, seriously, "thank you Jesus for my sisters!!!" I love my sisters. They are my best friends. They make me laugh. (Sometimes we laugh so hard one of us has been know to...um, wet our pants!) They encourage me. They love me! We are all so totally different, but yet all each others biggest fan! I am one blessed sister. Sappy? Sorry!

14. Chocolate Chip Cookies: I have a history with CCC's. When I was in high school, I started making chocolate chip cookies-----a lot! (Okay, don't laugh--much of my life revolves/revolved around food). By the time I got in college, I started making 2 batches of CCC's every Friday, and taking them to my father's office and passing them out to the employee's. I did this for years! From time to time my Dad will meet up with past clients that happened to be in his office on one of those Friday's--and they still talk about the cookies! Sweeeeet!

15. Psalm 139:14: This is my favorite verse in the Bible. My mother may not remember this, but...years ago when I was in Jr High, I was having a particularly rough day trying to fit in. I remember being in some serious tears in my bedroom one evening and my mother trying to comfort me. She encouraged me to memorize this verse and claim it. I did--I still do! And that my friends is preeeety awesome! :)

16. Exercise: HATE IT!

17. Bakery Birthday Cake: LOVE IT!

18. Sew-I can sew. I borrowed my mom's sewing machine and taught myself when I was pregnant with Maddie. I enjoy it but really don't have time for it anymore. I do look forward to being able to sew more once my little girls are in school.

19. Favorite Movie: The Notebook, for sure, but I can only watch it alone, or with Danny because I "ugly cry" at the ending! Not kidding! Danny and I were just talking about this movie the other night. What a way for a couple to finish life together! Sweet! Sniff-sniff-sniff!

20. Tennis: I played tennis in high school. Funny how it happened. My good friend Tiffany, (who now happens to be my older sister's SIL) asked me if I wanted to try out for the tennis team with her our Junior year of high school. Trying to be cool, I said, "sure," and before I knew it I was on the team--because only 8-10 girls tried out--we ALL made the team. I was 6th seed. I quickly learned the game of tennis, and every once in a while I won a match. It was fun and one of the highlights of my last years of high school.

21. Remington Steele/Scarecrow and Mrs. King: Two of my favorite shows when I was younger. I wrote to them and was a part of their fan clubs--embarrassing! I had their cast pictures framed/hidden on the shelf in the back of my closet. My sisters and I were not allowed to watch TV during the school week when we were younger, so I would record these shows and then sneak down stairs in the middle of the night and watch them. NEVER got caught!

22. Comfort Sandwich: Heeeere we go again with a food situation...Okay remember above when I said, "I love sugar?" One of my favorite comfort foods is a peanut butter/sugar sandwich on Pepperidge Farm Sourdough bread. I learned this YEARS ago, from a sweet little lady, named Miss Willy, who used to take care of me and my sisters while my parents ran their BBQ restaurant in Florida.

23. Greeter: I serve in my church as a greeter. Me and Danny do it together, along with my sister Dolly and her husband Leland. I love it! It is somewhat therapeutic. We all have those Sunday mornings when we are rushed getting to church, or shhh...the family may be quarreling on the way to church...anyway, putting a smile on my face, saying "Good Morning" and helping a visitor to a classroom can get me in a happy mood quickly!

24. Yard Work: Okay, I'm not going to lie to you folks, I am (along with my 4 sisters) preeeeetty good at yard work. My parents had lots of rental property when I was growing up, and since they also had 5 children (girls), those sweet girls became the yard crew. We can collectively or individually: mow grass, use a weed eater, mulch, rake and move leaves, cut and stack wood (with wood splitter), bale/stack hay, move/stack bricks (Dolly and Donna are best at this one), and last but not least...bust concrete--not kidding folks!

25. Masters: For the past year or so, I had been contemplating (praying) about going back to school to get my masters. My ideal plan---I thought it may be useful for me to get another degree so that when baby Jane is finally in school, I can go back to work with a great job to help pay the cost of all 5 kiddos to be in a private school...that was my ideal...

BUT NOW, after praying...contemplating...and spending time with some of Danny's Psych students this past year...that ideal is a big ole NOPE! Not gonna do it! The thought writing papers and getting in groups to do presentations makes me want to go, "blaaaaah." My new ideal...which I write respectfully, seriously and HUMOROUSLY folks... prayer for Danny to make an additional $____ grand a year. Come on! God is good and much bigger than an ole Master's degree! :)

Alright, there you have it. Another 25. This post should last me for a while!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Halloween 2010

I'm a little late posting pictures of Halloween, but for the memory book, below are pictures of us treating my fathers employee's, my BIL's employee's and Danny's students with candy a couple days before Halloween. We made a lot of employee's and student's smile and made their Friday a little sweeter! (btw, Friday was a teacher work day at my children school, so my older 3 had a sweet Friday too!)

We started at my father's office where we met up with my sister, Auntie Dawnie a.k.a "the sailor girl." Our little group consisted of my nephew Michael--our sailor boy, Jane and Margaux--my Chinese girls, my cowboy--Harry Jack, my Tarheel--Dan Dan, and my purple hair girl (wig)--Maddie!

Harry Jack and Jane passing out candy. Jane made sure EVERYONE had candy--sweet baby girl!

Then we mossied on over to my BIL, Leland's print shop and passed out candy to his employees. But first we stopped for a picture with his sweet parents.

This is my sister Dolly and her little boy Michael. He is about 6 or 7 weeks older than Jane. They are so cute toddler'ing around together. Oh, and BTW, Dolly has baby #2 in her tum tum!!!!!

Margaux posing for a picture at Uncle Leland's print shop.

Baby Jane with candy in her mouth. BTW, this sweet thing's favorite new thing to do is to totally undress herself. Yep, we have a streaker! It is not uncommon to see a little naked bum-bum go running across the room. Cute!

Then we went up to Liberty to surprise Danny's Personality class with candy.

And, that's a wrap...or an unwrap since we ate SO much candy!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Family Pride

Today is a special day for my family! Today after a few years of praying, another major business opened up on some of my parents property.

What major business?

If you have access to my sister Dolly's blog, you can click here and click here, (maybe she will make her blog public for a few days) to read more about how the Lord has answered my family's prayers about this piece of property my parents own.

With the economy the way it has been the past few years, my family has prayed fervently for this property to develop. It has not always been easy, but one thing is for sure God IS good!

Words cannot express how proud I am of my parents! My father could not be there today, but my mother was (and btw, Wonka Wow, did she look beautiful or what!?) They have worked hard, very hard. They have given back to God and God has blessed them. Blessings most importantly of a family, a family who loves each other. I LOVE my parents and my sisters so much! I pray that Danny and I can raise our family to love each other as much as we love ours!

Thanks for reading my post. I was filled with a little family pride today! And I thank God for giving it to me!

Below are a few pictures of the new Forest McDonald's, that we now lovingly call "Grand-Daddy's McDonald's"! (Dawn's idea, and a good on too!)

The Jefferson Forest band (part of the band) were there to celebrate. They played GREAT! And, at the end of their performance they played the McDonald's "Do,do,do,do, dooo, I'm lovin it" tune. Pretty neat!

My mother, my sister Dawn,

Margaux and Jane.

The ribbon cutting--this was a ribbon of $5.00 bills,
totaling $100 that was given to a local charity.

One of McD's first customers.
My mother, ordering lunch!

I think we're going back for din-din tonight!