ONE OF MY PET PEEVES

There have been a few occasions that I have offered with a smile to return carts for others in need such as busy moms or cute grandmas. Sometimes I prefer to glare at dorks as I put their cart away for them because they just leave it randomly for someone to dodge!

It drives me crazy when people are too lazy to put their shopping cart back in the little area designated for its return. Really, how hard is it to take less than 60 seconds to put it away so some innocent bystander doesn't get a dent in their car? Well at Target today, some big guy shoves his cart across the parking area, hoping to land it onto the curb and of course it violently rolls back and dings this ladies door, I would have been mighty ticked off!!

The ironic thing is that the guys just got finished loading a bunch of workout equipment into the back of his truck ( I am certain he was getting a head start on his New Years resolution, as I was, thank you Reebok Step with 2 DVD's) but this jerk was too lazy to put his stinking shopping cart away!
There you have it, my little rant, and now I feel a lot better to get that off of my chest!! If only it would come off of my thighs or hips that easily!

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

The crew calmly assembled and ready for the big guy to visit, aren't we a sight in our matching Disney P.J.'s?

O.K., maybe not so calmly as I would like, the little ones were bouncing off the walls!

"Can we PLEASE go see what he brought?"

Nice and orderly, what surprises await?

Braden waited patiently as everyone seemed to be opening a lot more than him, but he was VERY surprised to find his MacBook, it was worth the wait!

Chan was thrilled with his electric guitar, what was Santa thinking???

Hannah assessing the great mess and chaos

The BIGGEST and SWEETEST surprise of all... Shawn has been up half of the night for month's
and we all wondered what sort of crazy project he could possibly be working on, he was so quiet and so secretive. He presented the most beautiful letter and scrapbooks to Myself, Braden and Hannah. Of course all I could do was cry (as you can see, I am not a pretty crier)

It was perhaps the sweetest gift ever. Who knew my sweet husband had this great talent? I could not have been more surprised, it will be cherished for a very long time!! Of course he is getting harassed by the scrap bookers in the family (my sis) I think she is just jealous of his newly acquired skills. He admitted how he could see how people could get so addicted to this hobby, he says it is great stress therapy when looking back at life!

Yes, we were so EIGHTIES!!

Thanks for your comments regarding the big wedding pictures! Braden has done a tribute for us (obviously he thinks we are old and 80's) so check this out, if it sounds familiar it is from the classic "The wedding singer" and who doesn't still love Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore?

TAKE IT AWAY BRADEN!!!

HAPPY 19TH TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!

"DON'T MARRY THE PERSON YOU CAN LIVE WITH; MARRY THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL YOU THINK YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT."

"A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE REQUIRES FALLING IN LOVE MANY TIMES, ALWAYS WITH THE SAME PERSON"

Mignon McLaughlin

Check this out

Click here to see who is on Santa's List
(you will really want to do this with your kids!)

He knows if you've been bad or good...

The reason that he knows the answer to the bad or good question in our home is because several antique elves sit on our tree and watch the action in our home, they have the perfect view and can see and hear everything that goes on around them. They are sort of like Santa's own FBI agents. They have done this since Shawn was a baby (so they really have seen the naughtiest of the naughty) I would encourage any parent to get some of these little helpers for themselves. We are thinking of keeping them up year round to help solve daily quarrels and disputes, but that would be too much to ask of such nice elves!!

THE PRINCESS

HANNAH AND HER GAL PALS READY FOR THE WINTER DANCE

"A DAUGHTER IS A DAY BRIGHTENER AND A HEART WARMER"

ANONYMOUS

A FAMILY FAVORITE

Gingerbread Pancakes:

1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
3 T. cooking oil

In a medium bowl stir together the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl beat the egg and milk until combined, then mix in the molasses and cooking oil. Add the dry ingredients and stir until blended but slightly lumpy. Pour about 1/4 c. batter for each pancake onto a hot lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned, turning to cook second sides when pancakes have bubbly surfaces and slightly dry edges. Serve with Lemon sauce. Makes about 10 pancakes. (so be sure to double or triple this!)

Lemon Sauce:

1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. cornstarch
dash ground nutmeg
1 c. water

2 T. butter
1/2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
2 T. lemon juice

In medium sauce pan (or microwave in a bowl) stir together sugar, cornstarch and ground nutmeg. Stir in water. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat. Add butter, lemon peel and juice. Stir and serve warm with pancakes. Makes 1 1/4 cups

2 BUSY 2 BLOG BECAUSE...

We had to try out the new and oh so cool ride "Toy Story" at Disneyland (cool shades included)

Hannah spent 4 glorious days in San Fran with gal pals (who are just lucky enough to own a condo 2 blocks from Union Square) Hannah enjoyed girl time, retail therapy and a visit to the NEW Academy of Science Museum. The days went too quickly with laughs, great food, miles of walking and a chance to take in so much of my favorite city all dolled up for the holidays!
Am I jealous you ask? I'm not. Nope! Not one bit! O.K. .. I can't lie, I am just a little green with envy!
We then took a break for Thanksgiving and spent some really fun time with my Mom, Grandpa and my little sisters family-it was great to have them down, it was just too short.
We had such fun that the camera never left its case, we had such of a great time that we are ready for them to come visit again soon!!

Then joy of joy's Maisy finally got to visit UCD for a little "female surgery". We are loving this new look on her. Does she look like she has a halo on her head or a satellite? One thing we know for sure, is that she is much better behaved in her new hat and it is practically impossible for her to pull nasty things from the garbage. Perhaps it will be a permanent fixture on her!!

This weekend Braden invited Elyse (this darling gal he met at EFY) to Prom. She brought her friend Jenna to join in the fun with Braden and his good friend Geoff.(B is going to Europe with Geoff for 6 weeks this summer) They enjoyed playing games, walking the Aboreteum,dining at Crepeville, hanging out in Old Sac, a stretch limo to eat in downtown Sac and of course the dance.(Even if I say so myself, they make an adorable couple). Oh, the girls are both from So Cal so the weekend went way too quick!

"I only have eyes for you" do they look like anime cartoons or what??

After Prom, they returned to our home for my very favorite. . . . gingerbread pancakes and sausage (I will post the recipe later), followed up by a good dose of junk food that included bean dip and homemade guacamole YUM!

A contest making gingerbread houses ended the evening. A great time was had by all!
Mina and Jay-Jay joined the group. They won the "most likely to be trailer trash" gingerbread house-very clever I must say and it was good for several laughs! Sunday aka"the day of rest" we attended church, rushed the girls to the airport, rushed back to a voice recital for Braden ( I was so proud my buttons about popped, or maybe it was too much good food?) We then rushed to the beautiful "Creche Festival" sponsored by our church, a great chance too see many incredible nativity scenes from around the world. Shawn was invited to sing at it and did a beautiful job, as always. We then rushed to go do a ministering visit to a family after which we helped out my incredible Relief Society Pres. and delivered her yummy persimmon cookies to a college gal studying for finals (if I could clone Heater our Pres, I would be because every church would be far better off because of her... those of you that know her will completely agree with this!) We finally made it home, put on our most comfortable clothes and chilled!

So there you have the scoop on a very tiny portion of our busy little life!

PARKER AND I SUGGEST. . .

My little reading machine Parker often gives me leads on great books. This is the lastest. "The invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznik. This would be a fun adventure to read aloud to children of any age, but probably ages 7 and up would enjoy the story as well as the amazing drawings. (the books looks like a 1000 pages but a good portion is filled with pictures) So, if your are lucky enough to have a few hours of extra time this crazy season, this is a fun story!