The Well Traveled Frosting

I've grounded myself from the computer until the house is ready for the holidays, but I couldn't resist ...

I'm cleaning out my food pantry looking for things to donate and checking expiration dates. I found lots of expired things, but a can of frosting that expired in 2003 took the cake (get it!?!).

It got me thinking about how well-traveled this can of frosting is. First, it was manufactured in Minneapolis, made its way to a grocery store in Oklahoma City (or Ardmore or Duncan ... depending on where I lived when I bought it). Lived with me for a while in Oklahoma, moved with us to Texas, moved with us to Illinois where it lived in a rental for six months and now is in our present home.

I should really clean out the pantry more often.

The 100th Post

100 things to do in your lifetime ...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland ... been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea ... watched one on a lake
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (well, walked one when I was in elementary school ... I'm counting it)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (I think I have anyway)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (learned sign language when I was young ... forgotten it by now)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (when I was a little kid ... sigh)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business ... I want to start a party planning business ... one day
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy ... wow! I can't believe I did do this.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (I was going to quit the day they fired me)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

The Winter Blues

Sigh. I finished entering the month's activities into my planner (why I don't enter things as they pop up, I'll never know). We have several overlapping events, but nothing major. Basically, Lubbock can't be in the house on Tuesday because I'm hosting the December sorority alumni event and Kevin has a business dinner that night, so he can't be here to take Lubbock out ... but, no big deal ... I am so happy I have friends who will let Lubbock hang out with them (even if it's until ... I don't even know how late!). I realized last night that I am way behind on everything. I haven't done anything to the tree that Kevin set up and put lights on. I haven't gone through the box of Christmas gifts I've purchased throughout the year to make the final list of gifts I still have to purchase. I haven't made a menu for the sorority event or the open house next weekend. This time of year always frustrates me. But, I'm probably being too hard on myself. What have I done?

Hmmm ... What have I done?

Over the last few months, I've written 99 posts on a blog that has hundreds of readers ... and by hundreds ... I mean a few. (I heart my readers.) So, to honor the upcoming 100th post ... I'm stealing a list from Melisa's blog. I'm guessing it's meant to be the ultimate 'bucket list' of things to do in a life time ... stay tuned ...

The First Sled Ride and an Already Failed Tradition

I told Heather today that I wouldn't be half the parent I am without the ideas in Family Fun magazine. Have I mentioned I heart that magazine yet?

I steal ideas from articles and other moms and am totally impressed with myself. Last year, I read an idea a mom did where she bought her kids new craves, hats, and mittens every year, but didn't give them to her children until the first big snow fall. She even wrapped them and presented them as presents celebrating the arrival of winter. I realize this wouldn't work in Texas, but since I'm in Illinois ... I'm embracing one advantage of living here!

Yesterday and today constituted the first big snow fall. But (even though I bought the hat and mittens a month ago), I haven't wrapped them yet. And, I know Kevin would appreciate seeing how Lubbock reacts to opening a present since he hasn't opened one since his birthday in May. So, I promise to wrap it tonight and let Lubbock show off his unwrapping skills tomorrow night. Maybe next year I'll be more on top of things.

Aunt Lauren came over after work and took Lubbock out for his first official sled ride (Aunt Lo's early Christmas gift to Lubbock). We didn't go down a hill, she just dragged him around the backyard. He still had fun. This is definitely one of the times I love living in Illinois. But, with the sun going down so early, the pictures weren't that great ... it wasn't even 5 yet!

I know I'm jumping around, but on Saturday ... Kevin went to get his hair cut at our favorite local salon, Sue's Family Hair Co. He texted (what is the proper form of that verb?) me saying that all cuts and manicures were half price for the rest of the afternoon! Score! So, I got there as quick as I could ... sat in the chair and said ... "Do whatever you want." Pause. "Well, don't cut more than three inches." Pause. "Oh, and I don't want anything a-symmetrical." Pause. "Yep ... do whatever you want." So ... that's the result. I wasn't sure I liked it at first ... but, I certainly wasn't going to complain. I told the guy my only two restrictions and he followed them. But, for some reason, this morning, it seemed to look better. I take horrible pictures of myself ... but there it is. (I took about 50 and that was the one where my face looked the least round.) Oh, and I took one like all the teenagers you see ... I know ... I'm a dork. I just wanted to see what I'd look like doing it. Not attractive. Whatever.

Go Pokes! Beat OU!

The Thanksgiving Recap

Some of you have witnessed the person battle I've had trying to plan a Thanksgiving meal. We had several friends invite us over and we were very grateful for the invitations. However, Kevin wanted to stay at home. I had come up with a menu and posted it on the fridge. I was very proud of the balance I found between pleasing Kevin and Lauren. But, Kevin came home and decided to essentially 'cancel' Thanksgiving. He declared he wanted pizza for Thanksgiving. I was a little sad, but thought ... who am I to argue ... less cooking, less mess!

I was completely set on this idea, but then Kevin changed his mind again saying he wanted to make a classic dish in his family of dressing and chicken. In my opinion, if we're making dressing ... why not make mashed potatoes and gravy? If we've gone that far ... what's a little green bean casserole and cranberries? Rolls? Basically, we made the entire Thanksgiving feast with the exception of a turkey. Oh, well.

It wasn't too tiring between Kevin, Lauren, and myself. We all took turns in the kitchen and we all have similar styles when it comes to cooking. When preparing to mash the potatoes, I was standing there with a stick of butter in my hand. I contemplated out loud how much to put in ... the whole thing? Yes! Everyone agreed. All said, we used three sticks of butter! We would have used a fourth, but we didn't have it. I must have been channeling Paula Dean.

We decided to make green bean casserole with fresh green beans. It was fine, but next time, I will cook the beans for a few minutes before putting it in the dish. They were a little crunchy, so we had to add more liquid and cook on the stove to soften them.

All said, it was a pretty relaxing day ... I looked through the ads in the morning and couldn't see a single thing that would drag my sorry butt out of bed at 4a. Jen ... you're much braver than I.

Kevin had to work today, so Lubbock and I stayed inside and stared at the Christmas tree that Kevin put together yesterday. No decorations yet, but Kevin still has to put the lights on. That's his job ... tree and lights. Everything else is mine.

Thanks to my readers who have already volunteered to help with Family #25 ... Gretchen and my Dad & Colleen. I heart you guys!

The Thankful Texan

I am thankful for ...

Kevin
Lubbock
the rest of my family
having family here
having family there
having friends here
having friends there
my family's health
my health

This is just a short list, but on this day I do try to remember how many things I have to be thankful for. There is a song I used to love singing in church ... "Count Your Many Blessings." I still love that song.

Count you many blessings,
Count them one by one.
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.