Us on Our Merry Christmas!

Stewart Had Christmas off! That is a miracle as a little first year resident! Lucky for us no one here is really christian (they are mostly Hindu) and no one really has kids so when he requested it off he got it! Awesome! We have pink eye going around so poor Ben wasn't feeling a 100% but it was still great. Christmas Eve was really nice. I did our party buffet we do every year and we invited our good friends the Valentines over. It was great. For dessert we did sugar cookie gingerbread houses. Then we acted out the nativity and sang and stuff. It was lovely. Then Stew and I wrapped....

The kids slept in till 7 which was nice. Santa really spoiled them this year. They kids got a complete Wii system....a Wii, a Wii fit, guitar hero with two guitars, all the numb chucks, wheels, and controllers we need and eleven fun games. We bought it on Craigslist and we got it for a steal of a deal. Plus a bunch of other fun things they wanted. I am excited to try the snow boarding on the Wii fit board thingy. Stewart loves games and he is going to LOVE having the Wii. I am a bit retarded at it but its good because it makes the kids feel good to watch their mom loose all the time too. :O) I bought Stewart a bunch of nature movies and I am so excited to watch them with the kids and Stew. We are total nerds like that.

I think my favorite thing was that we got to go to church. It was such a spiritual service. I loved it! Being with my ward family and singing the Christmas hymns was magical. I kept thinking how neat it was that all over the world people were gathered together at their churches singing praise, gratitude, and love to their Savior on the day we celebrate His birth. It felt so lovely. Then I cooked a turkey, but we didn't eat it. I was just too burnt out to cook a big meal for just us when none of us were really hungry so we are going to have our big turkey dinner later this week when we are craving it. Random, but I was tired of cooking. So that was our great Christmas.

My thoughts on residency and emotional processing.

The thing about residency that I don't think people understand unless they have been through it or something similar (I know I didn't really appreciate it) is that sometimes even when the "Dr." is home they aren't really there. They are so tired. So tired. And so stressed. and sort of basically hate going to work everyday with not much to look forward to when their vacations are few and far between. Residency seems to sort of put out a little of their light - their spark as I like to call it. Its just so exhausting - emotionally and physically, so relentless and seems like the end will never come. And I am saying this with only six months in and after new regulations that they cant work them over 80 hours a week.

I remember the advice that doctors gave me as we started medical school it was stuff like, "don't lose your faith." and "you only become a doctor if you feel that is your burden in life." and other warning stuff. So I knew this day would come and in med school we had times like this too, (like him being gone four months out of the year his third and fourth year...that was HARD too) but Stewart was happier then and now it just stinks....he sort of always hated internal medicine and so to be working at the VA right now doing internal medicine is lame...I mean there are days after days where he never sees sunlight. Its not happy for him. and when the man ain't happy, its harder on his women. :O)

I sometimes feel like my friends don't get it. Which makes me feel sad and a little lonely. First of all, I don't have any friends with four kids (well 2 in my ward but we don't hang out much)...I have family with the same situation yes, but I don't have a single relative for hundreds of miles so it only helps so much. I will see my friends and I am in this frazzled state and my kids look a little homeless and when I express how overwhelmed I feel they ask me why and I don't really have much to say other then the circumstances of my life: four kids 5 years and under, half a husband, little money, my kids have special needs, I have two puppies and all of their birthdays are in a two month period not to mention Christmas stuck in there too. I don't really know how to say that without sounding like the most whinny person ever but its the truth. I look at mom's with their 2.5 kids that are all taken care of and their nice mini-vans that have doors that close by themselves (you'd understand my feelings if you have ever tried to close my van doors) and their parents live in the same town as them and other such nice things and I just know they don't get it. Every little thing, like getting my kids who ALL need so much help getting ready in the morning kills me....I mean it takes so much effort to get out the door. When people ask me to swing by I want to curse or cry or something. There's no swinging nowhere! It is a full on marathon to get the car backed out of the drive way. My kids are so close and Bridger has ADHD which is a real challenge. Then Angeli has an anxiety disorder and Ben is the easiest and he is barely even three and then I have a 11 month old with the mobility of a 18 month old. Its a challenge.

I wonder why Stewart and I have never opted for an easy route. Like having our first two kids a year apart. Or like buying this house, or starting two home businesses, or a hundred other things I could point out. Stewart talked to his friend who's life is like ours but the easy version of it the other day and it got me thinking about what would have been simple and easy for us to have done these past years....we could have rented from the couple who were serving a mission and needed someone to live in their house for two years while they served for $400 and their house was a huge four bedroom in a nice part of town , and then when they got back we'd do the next two years of med school in Vegas, lived close to Stewart's parents, have cheap rent, have my family only 4 hours away, Stew wouldn't have had to leave for months on end, and then now he'd be doing internal med in Vegas which is much easier then what he is doing here in Reno...but I guess life isn't about getting through on the easiest road. Shoot we are made of pioneer stock! Why wait for the railroad to be built when you can push a handcart through the snow! ;O)

I am not bitter or angry or depressed. I am just thinking of the life I didn't live. The life that would have aged me less but left me, I'm sure, a little less mature and worn and wise. "This life is a time to prepare to meet God." So I guess I am busy preparing, pulling my heavy handcart toward Zion, toward God even if I have to cross the Rockies or heaven knows what.

Today was filled with joy as are all my days. I marveled at my kids. They with their father are everything to me. They give my life so much joy I cant express what a gift it is. As I sat watching Cars 2 with them, all six of us cuddling on our couch, my cup was running over. but now as I face Monday and a new year and see my husband asleep on the floor in the boys room while the baby is screaming and I cant find her pacifier because the dogs keep chewing them and hiding them I feel challenged as I do everyday.

So that is my life, so much joy and blessings but so much hard work to be done. I know the time will come when I look back at these years and ache wanting to go back and hold my kids again and dream of hearing their feet running back and forth across the floor. I know I will look at the pictures I took today as we got home from church in our Sunday best and wonder if they really were ever that little and cute and wonder if I appreciated it while I had it. So I am trying to soak up the good and brush off the bad. I hope I am doing a good job at it all. I hope we survive it all! :O)

And I like this quote by Jenkins Lloyd Jones which is a little depressing but not when you imagine President Hinckley saying it which he did in one of his talks:

"Anyone who imagines that bliss . . . is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. [The fact is] . . . most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. . . . Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."


And with that good night! :O) processing done.

Some Holiday Recipes we Enjoy

These are some recipes that we have found over the years and made for Christmas parties and as gifts that have been a big success. People seem to love them and we have enjoyed them too.


Eggnog Cookies
(this makes like 10 dozen so half unless you want to give them away as gifts)

Cream:
2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups sugar

Stir in:
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
Nutmeg to taste (remember it is strong)
Rum extract to taste (remember it is strong)
Almond extract just a little
Cinnamon to taste

Add:
2 tsp salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3-4 cups flour

Fold In:
6 cups oats
2 cups coconut flake
2 cups white chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.



Andes Mint Cookies

3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. water
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Andes Mints (or the peppermint ones for the holidays)
green sprinkles

Melt butter, brown sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat until melted and then add the chocolate chips, stirring until completely melted. Cool for 10 minutes. Pour this in a mixing bowl and beat in 2 eggs. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix together and chill for about 45 minutes. Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. When cookies come out of oven, place an Andes mint on top of each cookie and allow to melt for a few minutes. Swirl the melted chocolate like icing. I like to sprinkle them with green spinkles so they don't just look like a bird pooped ontop of a cookie. Allow to cool.


Decadent Carmel Cookie Truffle Bars

Truffle topping

1/3 cup whipping cream
3 TB butter
1 TB light corn syrup
1 bag (12 oz) chocolate chips (dark, semi sweet, or milk)

In a 1 quart saucepan, heat cream, butter, and corn syrup toa full boil over med heat. Turn off heat and remove from stove top. Add chocolate chip without stirring, let it stand for 5 min. After 5 minutes, stir slowly with wire whisk until chips are melted and mixxture is smooth and glossy, set aside.

Crust

1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup chilled butter
1 cup oats
1 cup chopped pecan - finely chopped ( I chop a little extra to sprinkle on top)

In a large bowl stir together flour and sugar, then cut in the chilled butter with pastry blender until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and nuts and I add a little dash of salt at this point too. Press into the bottom of an ungreased sheet pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350....bake until it is very aromatic and golden brown.

Caramel Layer

1 cup butter (salted)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1//4 tsp salt in unsalted butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk

in a 2 quart saucepan, heat all the ingredients. Over med heat bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly. Continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. ( I test my caramel in cold water to make sure it is firm enough...I often cook it longer then 5 minutes). Once it is done immediately pour over crust, spread evenly. cool slightly about 10 min. and then pour the chocolate over the caramel and spread evenly. I like to sprinkle a light spattering of nuts on top for decoration and so people who are allergic to nuts are aware they are in there. Cool 1 hour at room temperature and then refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Then enjoy...it makes a lot and I like to give these away at Christmas time or bring to parties. they are always big crowd pleaser.

Caramel M&M Candy Bars

cookie layers

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 butter, softened
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup rice crispy cereal
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt

Filling

35 vanillia caramels, unwrapped or homemade caramels (I like to make my own caramel)
1/3 cup milk

Topping
1 14 oz package red and green M & M candies

Heat oven to 350. Spray 13 x 9 inch pan with nonstick spray. In large bowl, combine brown sugar and butter. beat until light and fluffy. Stir in oats and cereal. Add flour, baking soda and slat. mix until blended. Reserve 3 cups of mixture for topping. Press remain mixture in the bottom of sprayed pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile in small sauce pan combine caramels with milk, cook on low heat until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly

Remove partially baked base from oven, Sprinkle with 1 cup M&Ms then pour caramel on top being careful not to let the caramle touch the sides of pan.. Then spoon the reserve oat mixture by heaping teasppons over caramel, Sprinkle with remain M&Ms.

Bake for an additional 20 to 24 minutes until center and side are golden brown. cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. cut into bars.


Blueberry Jello salad

INGREDIENTS
1 large box jello (blueberry, strawberry, or whatever you like)
1 regular size can crushed pineapple
1 can blueberry pie filling
8 oz. package cream cheese
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T. sugar

DIRECTIONS
Pour jello powder into 9x13 baking dish. Add 2 cups hot water onto jello and dissolve. Add pineapple w/ juice and pie filling. Refrigerate until set.

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Beat cream and sugar and vanilla until it is a nice fluffy whipped cream. then mix in the softened cream cheese. Layer on top of jello. Refrigerate again.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
• 4 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mix together the pretzels, 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water. Mix in frozen strawberries, and stir until thawed. Pour over cream cheese mixture in pan. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.
   

Butterscotch Gingerbread cookies
Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup light molasses
• 1 (11 ounce) package NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels

Directions

1. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F.
2. COMBINE flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt in small bowl.
3. BEAT butter, sugar, egg and molasses in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour mixture until well blended. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
4. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Golden

"I prefer the retro chic of spending Christmas just like Joseph and Mary did --traveling arduously back to the place of your birth to be counted, with no guarantee of a bed when you get there." --Tina Fey

That is golden. I think I may read her book. I always get pangs of homesickness this time of year. I long to be with my in-laws where the Christmas magic is still going strong and for my family I get homesick for Christmas' that were years and years ago. This year I have been thinking of my childhood. I remember one Christmas when all my older siblings were home from school. It was Christmas Eve and I ran to the kitchen to get a serving spoon as everyone was piling food on their plates and I paused as I came back into the room and just took it all in. The happiness I felt was so palpable. I started to cry. I said a prayer of gratitude. I knew then that was my version of heaven - my family all together. that was what I lived for....it was a rarity in my world. I only have a handful of moments that rival that one for me. I knew then that is what I'd live for, for the hope that we could all be together through the eternities. I think I was around 6 or maybe 8. If I could back in time to a day of my childhood it'd be that one. I hope my kids experience such joy in their Christmas memories.

Meet Choco

Here is our latest addition, Choco. He is Tink's brother. If someone told me last year at this time we'd own not one but two dogs I would not believe them. Not for half a second. And Stewart would have never thought he'd enjoy having little Pomeranian mixes - but he adores them. It just goes to show never judge and never say never. Because here we are with 4 little kids and two fluffy puppies. Life is so funny that way! Anyways, back to the dogs....

He is Tink's polar opposite in personality. He is calm and submissive but also curious. She on the other hand gets frightful and sometimes aggressive when she is really scared...needles to say we originally picked him out but the breeder had her reasons (which I question :) why she wasn't selling him but she decided to put him up for sale and we got him for next to nothing and now we have two little puff balls. Bridger fell in love with Choco the first time we visited and then the other times the other kids were sold on him as well. Tink was the prettiest pup though. When he wasn't available anymore we opted for Tink. But we had all fallen for Choco and were really very sad we didn't get him. But now we get him too. :O)

So far the two of them together has proven to be a really good thing. Tink has a playmate so she has really mellowed out and he is being a little less of a lump of sleeping fur. She does well when she gets to go on walks but the vet said we cant walk her until she gets all her vaccines and so we've just been playing in the back yard and it hasn't been enough. But now she is fulfilled. Watching them play is so fun and it has really been a joy. He is basically potty trained and that has helped Tink have less accidents in the house. Even though I was nervous it is working out well. Stewart is over the moon about having two dogs. He LOVES training them and caring for them which makes my dog ownership really easy on me. Choco is the Boy's dog, though Bridger claims he is only his. :O) Angeli is jealous because he is more cuddly then Tink but in time Tink will mellow and the true dog lovers (Stew and Angeli) will win the most affection from the doggies and all will be right with Angeli's world. Anyways, He has proven to be a great addition - lets hope it stays that way!

And here is Tink...she is such a little girl compared to him. They make a cute pair.

Rasmussen Review - aka christmas card

Rasmussen Review

2011

Genevieve- This year Genevieve was born! This year she has learned how to recover from RSV, giggle, clap, crawl, walk, play, say her first words, and to eat solids. She loves her Mama, her bottle, her blanket, Mom’s car Keys, dancing to music, her binky, and getting into everything within reach.

Benjamin - This year Benjamin turned 3! He started his first year of preschool. He loves riding his bike, going swimming, eating candy, jumping on his trampoline (and anything else for that matter), going to the park, collecting rocks and other such treasures, playing games on family game night, singing and dancing, and coloring.

Angeli-This year Angeli turned 4! She started her second year of preschool, got her very own puppy, and enjoyed swimming lessons. Angeli loves going swimming, going to the museum, being mom’s helper, playing princess, story time, playing on the trampoline, riding her bike, going on vacation, tickle torture, and taking care of her puppy.

Bridger- This year Bridger turned 5! He learned how to swim, started kindergarten, and lost his first three teeth. Bridger loves partying, going to the children’s museum, family movie nights, coloring and doing art, cooking with mom, doing science experiments, playing with his friends, jumping on the trampoline, building forts, going camping, and being crazy!

Emily – This year Emily got another year older! ;) She kicked off the year with the birth of her fourth precious little baby. Emily ran her first half marathon, learned that caring for four kids is more work than three, enjoyed all of Stewart’s time off before residency started, fell in love with working with the young women at church, loves taking pictures of the kids, enjoyed her flower garden, enjoys making the holidays magical, and blogging about it all. She happily retired all her home businesses and now in her “spare” time likes thinking about the possibility of scrapbooking.

Stewart- This year Stewart turned 30! During this year he graduated from medical school, was accepted into the University of Arizona residency program in radiology, and he started his intern year in internal medicine here in Reno. When he wasn’t practicing doctoring he enjoyed his many home improvement projects, doing his woodworking, reading several book series with Emily and our month long family vacation this summer visiting Yosemite, Disneyland, Southern California, Las Vegas, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon.

This year we have been so blessed. We can’t help but feel so much gratitude and love toward our gracious Heavenly Father for tenderly watching over our little family. This time of year we are especially touched by the miracle of Christ’s life; from His humble birth, redeeming atonement, magnificent resurrection, and His restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are filled with awe for his gifts to all the world. We pray that His love along with our Heavenly Father’s will bless your lives this new year. We love you and count your friendship and love a precious gift!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

The Rasmussen Family

Santa's Train Ride

We wanted to do the genuine Polar Express train ride in Carson but it was sold out and I imagine it was a fortune so its was probably for the best...if only next year. Anyways, we settled on the other more humble Santa train offered in Carson city. It was fun. The kids got to ride a real steam engine and though it was short and sweet it was delightful. Our elf brought us the movie polar express that morning so we watched it before we left to ride the train and that added to the magic of it all. On the ride Santa came and gave each kid a candy cane. Santa was sure using his "I'm Jolly old Saint Nick" to ask for hugs from all the pretty girls so that was a bit creepy but besides that it was jolly good fun. Enjoy our pictures....and as a little teaser, after we rode the train we headed to Pets Mart to buy a collar for a new addition!

drinking hot chocolate watching the train go by

Live the Life Results: Week 5

I did not want to weigh in but I couldn't start my very late week 6 without being accountable. Since money is tight I let me fifth week last as long as the food did. So it was a very long week 5. and though I was very sloppy this "week" I was still able to lose inches and weight. Halla! :O) I haven't exercised at all really so I hope that now that most my Christmas craziness is passing this week I should be able to get back to my good old morning routine of exercise and such. So here is to hoping.

I do have to say that I am so excited that I am to the point where I am packing away clothes that are too big to wear anymore. How fabulous is that!?!? I may just meet my "year from having a baby" body goal after all!

Verdict:

Waist: -2 inches ( I have lost 5.5 inches in total)
Hips: -1 inch ( I have lost 2.5 inches in total)
Weight: -1.6 lbs. ( I have lost 10.8 lbs. total)

*My Christmas goal in two pounds less then I am now...we'll see If I can make it. If I am really good maybe. I've been so sloppy with all the holiday parties and treats dropped at our door and such. My sloppiness has really slowed my losses but I hope to do a little better if I can.

Bring it.

The awhile ago Stewart talked to a resident who is a year ahead of us. He is currently at the University of Arizona, Tucson in radiology (where Stewart will be next year). He told Stewart that he has every weekend off and is off by 5 every weekday. NO CALL for the first half of the year! Oh, that sounds like the best thing ever right now. BRING IT ON. I am so ready. I am more and more excited to move to Tucson all the time....never be cold, hopefully live in a house that was made for a family of six, Stewart will be working in the field he actually wants too, and I'll have my husband back!!! Tucson, we are so ready.

Benjamin's first day of preschool

I cant believe he is in preschool. He was our Medical School baby and look how many years have passed. Time is sure flying. The teacher at the elementary school loves me so she said that I could have Ben start as soon as he turned three even though it was mid-way through the year....well, she told that to everyone with almost three year olds but its true that she loves me. Anyways how AWESOME is that?!?! So he started and is in Angeli's class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ben was a bit unsure about the whole school thing but Angeli was such a good big sister and took him under her wing. She showed him the ropes and encouraged him. Bridger was also very sweet and encouraging too, he backed up all the advice Angeli gave him. They were both so excited for him.

So when we got there he was pretty overwhelmed with it all. It was all he could do to not cry. Poor little man. :(...But with some time and encouragement he started to warm up and actually ate his lunch and Angeli and Bridger were such good little helpers getting him all comfortable.
By the time we got to the classroom he was beaming. He loved that he got his very own notebook and that it was GREEN! His favorite color. And when I picked him up this is what I was greeted with! LOL Such a happy big Boy!
When we got home he was so excited about his homework he got out a marker and set to work coloring in all the "N"s. And everyone who comes over gets to see it. :O) He is so proud of himself as are Angeli, Bridger and Me.

Grandma's Visit

Grandma/Mom Ras flew up to Reno to be with us over Benjamin's Birthday. It was so kind of her. Having her company was such a nice refresher for me and such a treat for the kids and Stewart. I'm not going to lie, residency is taking it's toll and its sort of wearing Stewart and I out so to have her sweetness in our home and all her help just made us feel so loved and supported. That means the world to us. I think she had a good time too. :) Mom Ras, Thanks for coming. We love you and miss you!

ROAR!

Dinosaurs have taken over our house! :O) Well, just for a day. Benjamin is THREE and to celebrate we threw him a big old Dinosaur Party. Oh, I felt so blessed that everything came together as well as it did. Throwing indoor parties in a tiny house is tricky. But I had special help this year. Mom Ras flew up to celebrate with us and help me out since the Mr. of the house wasn't able to get any time off and we had a ticket we needed to use up before it expired. I didn't realize how much I needed her help until the day of and then I was soooooooo grateful she was there. I felt that the Lord was helping me a lot with this party. I had a week to pull it together and I just felt guided....making the cake I was inspired, how to make the birthday banner, what food to serve, like "oh, how nice that the carrots and chips and ketchup all match the theme",....just a million little things he helped me with. Makes me feel so loved by my Father in Heaven cares enough about my stressing about my son's third birthday party to help me out a bunch. So happy.

I think the party was a great success and I hope Ben felt really special on his big day. This was his first friends birthday party and I think he was a little shy that it was all about him...poor middle child isn't used to that. But I think he could get used to it. :O) I hope he has more opportunities to get spoiled with the spot light. Enjoy the pictures I got of the party.


The kids first came in and used super cute foam dinosaur stickers to make their own dinosaur picture, then we ate lunch, after that they went on a hunt to find the dinosaur eggs that needed help hatching. They followed the dinosaur foot prints to the nest and then each got their own eggs to break open and keep their very own dinosaur.

We had a great turn out. All but one kid I invited was able to come and even two showed up who weren't invited. LOL! The neighbor kids across the street saw we were having a party and invited themselves over. Too funny. I sort of went crazy on Oriental Trading Company website and ordered a ton of inflatable dinosaurs. They turned out to be super fun and the kids have enjoyed playing with them for days. The huge T-REx was their favorite. :O)

She Walks!

Just before Genevieve turned 10 months she started to walk. Oh, she is delighted with herself and loves walking. She is as cute as ever and spreads cuteness wherever she goes. She loves her mommy but isn't too shy of strangers. She likes trying to make silly sounds. She says "mama" and "dada" but I am not sure if she uses them as words or not but nonetheless I love hearing her say "mama". I am adjusting to having her walking around the house and mourning that her baby days are fading away. But I am hopeful that my throbbing hands and wrists will have more of a chance to recover now that she can walk and wants to be held a little less. O q1h, pain or not I still love holding her. I want to hold on to her baby days as much as possible. And as a perk she is my instant pick-me-up. Whenever I am glum she makes me feel all bright and cheery again. We adore her and are so grateful she is our little baby girl.

Thanksgiving In Burbank

I went back and forth so many times about if I was going to go to my parents for Thanksgiving. I felt bad because I would be leaving Stew all by himself but in the end I needed to go back home and get some hugs and yummy cooking from my mom. So I loaded us up and off we went. The drive was so smooth it felt like nothing at all even with four kids, one a baby, and a new puppy in tow - I was blessed!

It was so trippy to be with so many of my siblings again. We were all acting like kids again with a few more tiffs then I would have preferred but it was like "home". LOL! There were six of us kids there plus our families so we had quite the bunch...weird to think that it was still only half of us. We also had Five generations there to celebrate and that was pretty cool.

It is so beautiful there in California. Man, I wish we could live there. The weather was the best thing ever. And my moms the best medicine for me. She is a lot like Stewart in that way. She is calm and kind and not overly emotional and makes me instantly feel relaxed and good. My dad makes me laugh with his quirks and I marvel at how well his planned "retirement" is going....he is so not retired at all. Working as hard as ever at the age of 83. It was great to see my niece and her beautiful little family and my nephew. They lived with us so much while I was growing up they are like my own siblings. love them like crazy. It was likewise great to meet my sister's almost fiance and start seeing him join the family and see how happy he makes her. And then there is the cousin fun. Oh, life would be pretty awesome if we lived close to lots of cousins. There is just something so magical about the relationship kids have with their cousins. So fun!

And the FOOD, nothing beats my mom's cooking.....well, I do adore my mother-in-laws ham and ham gravy. But the assortment my family throws together when we party is ridiculous! We all like cooking too much and so when we bring all our finest together it is a ton of food. I mean we had 14 different desserts at thanksgiving, out of control I tell you! :O)

It was a good change of scenery for me. I think Stewart was able to enjoy his time to himself reading Eragon, doing his wood cutting, and watching movies instead of doing dishes, picking up toys, and putting the kids down each night like normal.

So that was our thanksgiving in a nutshell.

Getting ready to eat....

12 of my parents 42 grandchildren, plus 1 great grandchild...The silly girls...
Half of the buffet of food...

Friday night the girls went to Aunt Anj's house for a girls slumber party and the boys stayed at grandma's for a boys slumber party, I helped them build a major fort out of packaging paper. They loved it. Picture of girl's slumber party coming soon...

Living the Life: week 4 results

Okay its a miracle. I lost weight this week! Serious shock for me. But I am not complaining. :O)

I lost 1/2 around my waist
I didn't lose anything around my hips
I lost 3.2 lbs.

YAY! So glad for the progress. :O)

Ha.

I was searching for something on my computer today and I came across the book I started to write two/three years ago. I was board, lonely, and extremely poor. And so instead of starting expensive projects or going out to do fun things with my friends I started to write a book. I reread my grand 30 pages of cliche fiction and found I liked it. I would be deathly embarrassed if anyone I knew read it besides me but I like it. Maybe I'll finish it someday. Maybe I will submit it to a publisher and they will reject me soundly and then I'll be happy to know I actually followed through with it and had a go at my childhood dream of being a writer. Ha.....and at the very least my kids will get a good laugh reading it after I am dead. :O)

Living the Life: week 3 results

This week was okay. I did my cardio really well but I only did my strength training twice. I am trying out and baking cookies for this thing I have coming up and so I "HAD" to eat cookies. :) So that threw off my week some. Plus now I am really sick.

I lost 1 inch across my waist

I lost 3/4 inch around my hips

I only lost .6 pounds but I think it has to do with me being kind of bloated and retaining water.

I hope next week I can knock it out of the park...but seeing how Thanksgiving is coming and I am traveling out of town....I will try to be happy if I lose anything at all.

Our Family has Grown Again!

Last night while I was at Young Womens Stewart and the kiddos drove out to the breeder's and picked up our newest little family member, Tinkerbell! (Yes, that is the sort of name you get when the mean age of your four children is 2.9! :O)

Oh, she is such a pretty little thing! We picked out another pup Choco but they realized that he had some intestinal problems and the breeder wanted to hold on to him to make sure he was well before she sold him so then we picked out little "sweet pea" now known as Tink. I have been so nervous about getting a puppy. I have never ever had a puppy. I have been reading books and watching the complete Cesar Millan's "Mastering Leadership Series" to get ready - Cesar is the Bomb! and I am proud of myself for coping. :O) You'd think I just gave birth. I am texting Stewart to tell him a play by play of how she is doing..... Her first walk, her first pee, her first poop,.....So it hasn't even been 24 hours but I am smitten and I think we are going to raise one heck of a dog. (Well, crossing my fingers that I can handle everything on my plate)

So the question I get when we tell people we are getting a puppy is, "Why?!?!?! Are you sure this is the right time to get a dog?" and I totally understand. I mean we are selling our house, have a 9 month old who is the busiest baby on the face of the earth and have some other traumatic issues going on that are seriously driving me a little crazy BUT about three months ago I had this spiritual experience where I was basically told that Angeli needed a dog. So that was that. Stewart felt he same way and honestly I am so glad we made that decision three months ago because I am not sure we would have made the decision if we had waited any longer. :)

Tink is really Angie's dog. And is she ecstatic. I couldn't be happier for Angeli. Because of our living situation and that we will be renting until FOREVER (I hope to never buy again!) :O) we opted for a tiny little fluffy thing to be a little companion Dog for Angie. And she is sure tiny and fluffy. She is a designer hybrid. A Chineranian (Japanese Chin + Pomeranian). I think Poms are super cute but a bit snobby and yappy and the Chins are very mellow and smart but a bit funny looking so when we found this breeder close by we were really excited about the Chineranian hybrid.

So without further ado here is Tink!

trying to get her collar off :O)