Christmas Cookies and MMMM

So, not much happened this last weekend.  Turbo had his first swim meet for time and did not too bad for himself for his first time out.  He had fun so there was that.

I did make Christmas cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal and sugar.  I found recipes that work for our high altitude--7200 feet.  All the cookies came out fantastically:

So Santa has cookies and there will be carrots for the reindeer.

Now for MMMM:
Brett Eldredge and Megan Trainor with Baby It's Cold Outside:

John Denver and the Muppets with The 12 Days of Christmas:

Pentatonix with The Carol of the Bells:

Have a great week!

Hodgepodge

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?
I start collecting gifts along about September or October, just so I can avoid the last minute rush. This year we have the added activities of our teenager to keep us moving and distracted.  I keep plans in my head and sort of have a list that I check off as I get things done.  Nick and I have only small stuff to shop for (my chocolate) and after I get some wrapping done this afternoon I will feel pretty good about Christmas. New Years I will worry about after Christmas is over.

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks?
We are complete do it yourselfers. Nick takes care of the outside stuff like hoses and water faucets and I help with the raking of leaves and this year Turbo helped with the gutter cleaning. We have less inside stuff to accomplish, but Nick gives the furnace a check over and I make sure the winter coats are found and still fit and locate the winter accessories. We really don't do much, but then the summer season is short here so we don't put the coats and such away to well.

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?
My first thought was the health food store went crazy.  It all sounds very hippy granola to me. Lentils might make the food list but that's about it. we already do more veggies and while I like sprouts, Bruiser would definitely rebel against the food.
As for the "dairy free milk" isn't that what soy milk and almond milk are all about?  I'm not a fan of something so processed when there is a less processed option. And I'll drink soy milk when I see baby soys drinking it.

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple? Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  Is purple a color you wear often? Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple.  If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?
Purple was one of our wedding colors. The other was forest green. I like deep purple or a lovely violet.  I did read the book, but didn't see the movie.
For Turbo we got a lovely large bath sheet in a deep dusty violet.  The kid needs a swim towel that he can take to meets.  He has stated a recent preference to violet, so he gets a violet towel for Christmas.

I would choose a deep teal for the color for 2018.  I guess I would like to see a beach with that color in the ocean.

5. Favorite book read this year?
I started reading the Richard Castle books this year.  The ones based off the TV show.  I really like them, they are fun and quite entertaining.  Not deep literature, but good anyway.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
I ahve talked before about Nick's Dad's love of decorating for Christmas.  he truly loves to put up lights and the blowups and everything.  He had a fall this year in November and it made him have to go slowly with the decorating, but he's getting more and more up every day.

Have a good week and Happy Holidays!

Randomlike Tuesday

Yeah, so hi Tuesday! Christmas is creeping ever closer.  I think the boys might be a bit worried as I have yet to wrap any presents for under the tree. I might have to do some wrapping tonight...

On to the random:

• I have 95% of the shopping done.  Stocking stuffers and treats still need to be gotten and I need to take Turbo to shop for his brother and Dad. after that I'm done.
• There is a staff Christmas party this Thursday.  Nick and I will be making an appearance, but can't stay long as Mom's Taxi is needed for Turbo right in the middle of the party. That's how it goes I guess.
• The memory is going, I blame the kids:

• I am so glad next week is Christmas break.  We are taking time to be home with the kids.  Turbo has a slightly later morning practice.  It will be almost getting light when I take him to practice. I think I need the break, I'm getting tired and sleep is looking more and more attractive.

• I feel this about the laundry:

 So that's a wrap, have a great week!

Crazy Busy and MMMM

So this last weekend was crazy busy.  I guess life gets that way when you have teenagers involved in a sport and two homes in different towns.
So Turbo had his first overnight swim meet.  It was 5 hours away by bus. He had a blast and is looking forward to his next trip. He swam well but the meet was an unconventional meet.  There were several relays the first day and the second day was a Pentathlon. Next weekend is his first opportunity to swim for time.  We shall see how he does.
In other news I got all the laundry done--washed, dried, folded and put away.  Go me!  And don't listen to those crazy towels.  I'll get to them tonight.
Sunday I took Nick back to Casper since he came home with a coworker last time he came home.  We took advantage of the lack of children and got most of the Christmas shopping knocked out. There is only a couple of things still to get.  I have a massive wrapping day ahead of me, but that's OK, I'll manage it.
So that was our weekend in a nut shell.  Nick and I had fun actually talking about fun stuff on the drive to Casper and after this trip he's home until after the new year.


No for some Christmas music for MMMM:
Lady Antebellum with Baby It's Cold Outside:

Brad Paisley with Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy:

Kenny CHesney with All I Want For Christmas is a Real Good Tan:

Have a great Week!

Hodgepodge: That Time Of Year

 

1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life?
The Mom's Taxi years.  Turbo is 14, in high school, not able to drive and participating in swimming.  He needs a ride to practice, home from practice, to the bus for away trips and picked up when home from away trips, for all of which Mom's Taxi provides the transport.  I remember my mother doing this for me and Nick remembers his parents doing the same for him.  It's part of the cycle.

2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave?
I microwave frozen veggies for dinner and the microwave often makes ramen noddles for the boys.
We would be a bit lost with out the microwave, things would take more effort to heat up.

3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why? 
Winter Wonderland.  I love that it is all about enjoying a snowy afternoon outdoors.

4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken.
We have had so many beautiful places we have driven, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, The Black Hills, Rocky Mountain National Park, Arches National Park, The Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce National Park to name a few.  We also have beautiful mountains near to our home that lead to lovely vistas as well.  I'm not sure I could choose the most beautiful.

This observation tower is 40 minutes from town in the Snowy Range.

Also the view of the peaks in the Snowy Range

5. What's something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one)
I really want a vacuum sealer for food. Fuzzy socks and a warm snugglely throw blanket (University of Wyoming style) would be appreciated as well.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
Bruiser's art was chosen to be displayed at the university art museum for the beginning of December.  We had to go see what masterpiece he had created.  He was quite proud to have been chosen.

The art piece was an abstract self portrait.  I like it.

Have a wonderful week!

Random TIme

Hey, Tuesday, nice of you to drop in!  Let's get all random:

• Last week Bruiser had his school program.  It was adorable.  Any elementary school program is adorable. What was more amusing was the fact that Turbo had swim practice before the program and since the program was at the high school, we took him dinner before the show.  The kid ate two Big Macs, a medium fries and 7 chicken nuggets in like 15 minutes flat.  I have never seen the kid eat so much so fast before. He was a bit surprised at himself. 
• Speaking of my teenager, yesterday I actually had to look up a text he sent me on the internet to know what he was saying.  Yesterday was truly a Monday with all that being Monday entails and after texting him that Monday had struck he responded with "ikr".  I had to look that up and now know it means "I Know Right?!" Learn something new every day.
• I am impressed.  Freya has yet to really attack the Christmas tree. there is one blue ball ornament that she does attack regularly, but other than that she's been pretty good with the tree.

• Looney Tunes in real life?!

• I have done a countdown calendar for the boys since Turbo was about 3.  It's way easier to show a little boy a calendar and say when the star is in the last slot, that's the day before Christmas. It has worked for years now.  However I do see the appeal of the more adult version of a countdown or advent calendar:

• Since we do the countdown calendar, and just verbally remind our kids that they must be good for Santa to come, we are very anti Elf on the Shelf.  Although I could totally get behind this type of elf on the shelf:

Well that is my random for the week.  Have a great week!

Christmas Comes to the Jones

So yeah, while we had great plans for a trip to the mountains, we got derailed.  Bruiser came home Friday sounding like a frog. Nick came home from Casper with a bad reaction to some medication.  Everyone is fine now, but the outlook for a Saturday Christmas tree hunt was bleak.
So, with Nick feeling much better Saturday afternoon, we ventured to Ace Hardware for a tree.  The hunt was easy, but we got a very nice tree. 

Even Freya the cat approved. She has not tried to scale the tree but the ornaments in reach have been fair game so far.

Now for some Christmas music for MMMM:
Home Free with GRandma Got Runover By A Reindeer:

Home Free with I'll Be Home For Christmas:

Home Free with Full Of Cheer:

Have a great week!

Writer's Workshop: Comfort

Prompt #5: List 7 things that bring you comfort.

1. The cozy feeling that my living room gives me.  Yes, our current living room is quite cozy, aka small. I like the feeling that it is nestled around me.  I think it make my hubby just the slightest bit claustrophobic. But I like it, especially in the winter time.


2. Reading a good book.  Or reading several good books. I like reading from real books and from my Kindle.  It's kind of an addiction. It lets me escape stress and not worry about my problems for a while.  I love knowing I can dive into a book and feel at home with an old favorite.

3. Chili, clam chowder, ham and bean soup, chicken and dumpling, chicken and noodle and beef stew are comforting.  Not exactly the most healthy, but oh so yummy.

4. A hug from one of my guys is comforting.  Sometimes the timing is strange, but I do love hugs from them.

5. My warm flannel pajamas are comforting.  Being able to snuggle up and be warm and settled in to read for the winter--bliss!

6. Having Freya, my cat come snuggle down on my lap is comforting.  She is a total cat in that she snuggles on her terms, but she does snuggle frequently and it's lovely.

7. Being around family.  As much as family can drive you nuts, I do love being around mine.  I miss my mother all the time since she passed and am grateful we still have Nick's folks and that my boys have a good relationship with their grandparents. That we are also friends with members of the family is a bonus.

So there are 7 things that bring me comfort. What are yours?

Hodgepodge, the Leftovers

 

1.  What's something blogging has taught you about yourself?
I am a better person if I have an outlet for the thoughts and ideas and such that float around in my brain.  Also, it's nice to know I'm not isolated in my bubble here, there are others who feel the same way I do about family, friends, and life.

2.  Leftovers...are you in the 'reheat and eat' camp or the 'put them in the fridge until they spoil and then toss them' camp? What's your favorite thing to have leftover? What can you not abide as a leftover?
We do eat our leftovers, but we also don't drag them out too far.  I love to make what I call leftover casserole: layer stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy in a casserole dish and then bake til heated through.  It's really good, like a bowl of thanksgiving dinner all together.

3. 'Me time'...your thoughts?
'Me Time' for me consists of reading, taking a long hot soaking bath, a night out with the girls, a solo trip to the thrift stores, but mostly reading.  Time for me to just recharge and be a girl without all the guy stuff I'm constantly surrounded by.

4. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?
They usually want someone to listen, not judge, be a sounding board.  I listen really well.

5. If your childhood had a smell what would it be? Tell us why.
The dusty smell of a windy, hot summer day.  We had a house outside of town and my parents planted lots of trees and I and my brother got the dubious pleasure of water those trees in the summer.  It was not a quick process.  I spent lots of time outside watering...

6. Insert your own random thought here.
This weekend we are hoping to get up to the mountains to go Christmas tree hunting.  It's one tag we are sure to fill. With the move next spring, we probably won't be able to do a tree hunt next year.  hunting on a lot is not early as challenging, or fun. But we will have hot chocolate, a tramp in the snow and end up with a lovely tree after our excursion this weekend.

Tuesday adn Random

Hey, everyone!  How was the holiday?  Did you have a wonderful, family filled Thanksgiving? We did.  Then we made a flying trip to Casper to visit the new house and get Nick settled for the week.  He will be back here on Friday.  This being split between two towns is a bit confusing, but only til next June once the boys finish this school year.  And on to the random:

• Turbo started swimming for the high school team.  He swam last year for the Junior high and his fisrt comment about the high school is is was way more organized.  He seems to be one of two freshmen swimming this year.  The other freshman is also in his science class. Go Turbo!
• We got Nick a small tree for the house in Casper so he could feel festive for the season:

• It's not huge, but at least he has a tree.
• I feel just like this:

•  And I always forget the 2000s when I'm thinking back in time:

• And for a final funny for today, You truly can't unsee it:

Have a great week!

Whoa, Survived the Holiday

Well, that was a weekend. We did Thanksgiving up right and then made a flashing trip to the house in Casper.  Nick is working up there this week and this way he got some company on the trip up. Now for some Thanksgiving pics yes?

Bruiser made an epic blanket fort

Making cinnamon rolls

Yummy goodness

The beautiful sunrise prior to Turkey baking.

Snacking goodness

Turkey deliciousness

This "kids" table

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving.

Now on to MMMM.  It's a freebie week so here's what I have been listening to recently:
Danielle Bradbery with Sway:

Midland with Make A Little:

Granger Smith with Happens Like That:

Have a great week!!