Monday, November 29, 2010

All the stockings...


were hung by the chimney with care,

Yep, that is just what i am going to be doing today...


hanging stockings
{ok, so they are already out...
but i have MORE!!}


setting out nativities


setting up Snow Village


getting tablescapes set up


making room for the Christmas tree/trees


putting out lights

{despite the rain}


listening to Christmas music


burning a yummy smelling candle


drinking hot cocoa


Sounds like a delightful day!


Happy Monday to you and yours!


Friday, November 26, 2010

How do you spend Black Friday?

Ours will be sitting in front of the
TV
at my parent's house
CHEERING LOUDLY
for MY
TEAM!!!
{and they, McSwetie and Number 2 son, will be cheering just as loudly
for their favorite team}

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!!.


We were up BRIGHT and early this am {4:30am}... boxed over 1,800 Thanksgiving meals... 1,855 to be exact! What a wonderful way to start the Holiday Season!

Lots to be THANKFUL FOR TODAY!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What do you have to...



FOR????
I am thankful for the rest of the week to
spend as a family,
all together,
in one place,
till Monday!
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Today is a day of new beginnings....


The BAY AREA DELTA ZETA ALUMNAE GROUP Charter meeting is today!!
I look forward to meeting some of my fellow sisters!
Wonder if we should sing door songs and such?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Home Tour Tuesday and Kitchen Recipe Swap... Sponsored by:


First a HUGE shout out to

Flip Flops and Pearls for my trash bags

Yes, I live near FF&P and she

was out and about {No kidding}

yesterday during ALL the rain

and I begged her with

BEIGNETS

to pick up some trash bags for me

and LITERALLY throw them at my

front door so she wouldn't

even get wet...

I smell beignets in the FUTURE!!


One of my MOST favorite things...

See, I do still have some

Thanksgiving out!!




As you enter my kitchen... notice the

MacKenzie Childs loaf pan in the back right of the pic

I had to make homemade bread for a luncheon

the JA's are sponsoring this am at the

hospital.


More MacKenzie Childs....




And more....




Now for the recipe which i am TOTALY copying from my friend at

Jumpin' In...

{ I made this last week and it is DELICIOUS!!!}


Dutch Apple Cake
3 eggs

3 cups plain flour

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups canola oil

2 Tbsp. water

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups chopped Golden Apples

1 cup pecans, chopped

12 oz. Butterscotch morsels


Beat 3 eggs in small bowl and set aside
Sift flour, salt, soda and set aside
In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, oil, water and vanilla
Add flour mixture and blend low speed
Add eggs and mix well on higher speed
Remove from mixer and fold in apples and nuts by hand (batter will be thick)
Spoon into a 9 x 13" pan; sprinkle top with butterscotch morsels then using back of spatula gently pat the morsels down into the batter
Bake on 325 degrees for 65 minutes {my cake was not done in the center at this time--definately jiggle it for doneness and also test the center area then add 10 minutes and check again}

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Decorations are going up...

Isn't this tree ADORABLE!!!
Wish it were mine!!
But it inspired me to start getting my
Decorations out!
I know...
some may say too early!
I know...
some may say I am skipping Thangksgiving.
I know...
some may say I am just plain CRAZY!
BUT...
I know that my next two weekends are
CRAZY. So you have
to do it when you can!
And that time is NOW!!!
Not ALL of it mind you...
Just some of it!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Happy Veterans Day!

Thankful for the Freedom and Protection
ALL the men and women who have
served give us and those
around the world!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Catching our Breath!!







So now that the play is behind us {and we are SOOO SAD that it is over!! Such a wonderful group to work with!! Parents, kids, Director....} we are back in SWIM MODE!! We really missed then entire month of October due to rehearsals and such. The boys were back in the pool on Monday only to miss practice yesterday for the HS swim meet.




Poor Number 2 son had to swim the 500yd Free. He has a cold on top of that!! My sweet friend Molli whose son was also in the play and also swims was at the meet last night and she was soo SWEET to cheer him on during his LOOOOOOOOOOOoooong swim!! He made it through and wasn't last :o)




Number 1 son did not swim his usual but was nowhere near his best times. A month off does not do a body good... but it was nice for the break!



Cannot hardly believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. These next weeks are short work weeks for me!! That is exciting!! I work 2 days this week, 2 days next week and a half day the next!!








I have been volunteering at our local Ecumenical Ministry the past couple of weeks... and Thanksgiving day the entire BusyMom family will be assisting with meals for the homeless. I tried to do this last year but they already had all their slots filled. I called early this year and barely made the cut! I think we will all enjoy the experience. Then we will do Thanksgiving with McSweetie's side of the family. Then we will have a tailgating Turkey day with mine... IRON BOWL 2010... Kinda hard to get really excited about it... Half of the FAMILY is REALLY excited! Hmffffff...








I have been sharing on FB everyday something I am thankful for... sometimes it is just the little things from someone you don't even know!! I have been selling things on eBay and I try to write a note of thanks to my buyer... I had a new feedback today and the buyer commented on my handwritten note. Made my day!! It really is the little things that can mean SO MUCH!!

So take time for the little things... like even when you are dead dog tired eyes can hardly stay open and you are all cozy in your bed and your kids come in to tell you good night then sit on the bed and start sharing story after story after story... for a good 30 minutes!! Makes my heart sing!! I am THANKFUL for a WONDERFUL family... we may be small in numbers but we are big in HEART and LOVE!!!

Happy Wednesday friends!

{PS.. I am one of those crazy people who have started putting out Christmas, shhhh don't tell!!}








Thursday, November 4, 2010

AMAZING...













I'm a proud MAMA!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

WILLY WONKA JR IS HERE!!!!!!!


Do you have your GOLDEN TICKET??!?!


The boys are so excited that the performances begin tomorrow. They have their final dress rehearsal today... in an hour. It will be the first and ONLY time they are able to run the entire show with all the props and lighting... b/c the Civic Center was occupied with election stuff Monday and yesterday.

Here's to an awesome rehearsal today and to BREAKING A LEG tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes...

And if you are in the neighborhood... don't miss it! You'll be sorry you did!! I PROMISE!!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Tricks~Treats~&~Jack~o~Lanterns

Texting and Carving... Oh my!
Scoopin' out the innards..


Have knife...

Will Carve..




BLAHhhhhhhhhhhhhh



A Nerd and a Doctor walked into a...


The Gang at the McKenzie's NEW HOME for our
Annual Tick or Treat Extravaganza!!



Some of the girls...


Poor Homeless guy...


All the BOYS!!