Hoarder in training

Though not quite this bad, Gabe's room has lately taken on the look of the show, "Hoarders".  The boy saves everything, from wrappers to boxes to bags, old pictures and scraps of "important" papers to broken toys with missing parts.  I love that he is sentimental about his belongings, but I've got to teach him to where to draw the line.

Yesterday, I decided the day had come.  I did most of the purging while he was at a friend's house, and saved the very special things in a storage container in his closet.  Now I just have to keep him away from the trash can until the garbage man hauls it all away!

Any packrats or potential Hoarder stars in your household?

On my mind...

as we move into the Christmas season, wrap up this quarter in school, prepare for Isabel's 11 birthday, try to get Joe's business up and running...so many things on my mind.

Thanksgiving was great, a smaller group than usual (only 12) but lots of yummy food and good company.

Tried to find a tree today.  Lots of dry ones (thanks a lot, drought).  Gonna wait another week or so.

Isabel woke up with a stomach bug today, and Gabe was feeling puny tonight.  They must go to school tomorrow...that's all I'm sayin'.  My to-do list does not include cleaning up stomach contents, thankyouverymuch.

I love Hobby Lobby.  'Nuff said.

I have about 16 more Christmas cards to make.  One of my favorite things about this season is giving and receiving cards with friends and family.  And although I don't do photo cards, I do love getting them.  We hang all the cards we get on our hall door...they make a fun decoration!  What do you do with your Christmas cards?

Trying to think of stocking stuffer ideas for the kids this year...I'm at a loss.  I usually do a new fun toothbrush (prob will for Gabe), but Elijah and Isabel are getting a little too old for some of the stuff I used to do.  I need some new ideas!

Next weekend is the horse-drawn carriage Christmas parade in Lebanon...one of our holiday traditions.  Do you have any favorite traditions that you/your kids just love?  Do share.

I'm all randomed-out now.  Must catch up on sleep.  Turkey overload has kicked in!

In which Gabe teaches me a lesson

It was a busy morning running errands with my little sidekick, trying to get everything done before the kindergarten bus arrived.

A doctor appointment, Kroger, Wal-Mart, CVS.  We brought some Legos along, and Gabe was on his best behavior the entire morning.

When he asked for a sandwich from Subway, I said yes without a second thought.

As we were pulling out of the parking lot, heading toward our next destination, Gabe noticed a man with a sign "Will Work for Breakfast".  The man was elderly and clearly had fallen on hard times.

"What's that man doing, Mom?  What did his sign say?", Gabe asked from the back seat, as he filled his own belly up with a hot ham and cheese sub and an Icee.

When I tried to explain that the man was asking for money for breakfast, Gabe got so upset.

"We need to go back, Mom.  We need to give him some money.  What if he dies?  That poor man is going to die if he doesn't eat breakfast!".

In our little sheltered town, we rarely see homeless people, and seldom does anyone beg on the roadside.  But these are hard times, and this sight is becoming more and more common.  I rarely have cash on me, using my debit card everywhere I go, but on this day, I had a 5-dollar bill.

I told Gabe that after we went to CVS, we would drive back and if the man was still there, we would give him the money that we had.  He calmed down, we finished our errands, but he did not forget.  As soon as we got back in the van, he reminded me to drive back down the road to go "help that poor man".

We went back.  He was still there.  We pulled up next to him and I handed him the money, telling him that my son wanted him to have it.  He looked at Gabe with tears in his eyes, and thanked us both.  I confess that I had a tear in my eye as I drove away.  Yes, I was sad at this man's plight, and at whatever situation brought him to beg on the corner on a chilly day.  But I was even sadder that it took my little boy to notice something that I didn't see as I ran busily about my day.

When we got home, Gabe was still thinking about the man.  He said, "we helped that man, didn't we, Mommy?  'Cause we have Jesus in our hearts, right?".

Yes, Gabe, I can honestly say that Jesus is in your heart, for certain.

Jumping for joy!

One regret that I have in only having one daughter is that she will never experience the kind of sisterly fun that I had growing up with three older sisters.

I am so grateful that one of my sisters, Rhonda, has two daughters that are close to Isabel's age, and who worship the ground that she walks on (much like I did with my sisters).

We don't see each other as often as I would like, but when we do, these girls of ours have the best time together.

In this season of recognizing and being grateful for our blessings, I am grateful for close cousins, beautiful fall days, and a camera to capture the memories of a great day spent together.

Frito Friday

Last week, Mep from Not to Brag shared a link to a recipe that I had my doubts about.

It was called "Frito Candy".

Among the ingredients were Fritos (obviously), a stick of butter, and chocolate.

Intrigued yet?

I wasn't sure, but Mep and I discussed it and decided to both give it a try, then post about our results together; she in Chicagoland, me in Ohio.

Here's my opinion.

Of course, I forgot to take pictures as I went along, b/c I was working on three hours of sleep after a night shift and getting ready for my card-a-thon (see previous post).  I'll catch you up though.

Get a 9x13 pan, and line with parchment paper or quick-release aluminum foil.  I had neither, so I used wax paper which I sprayed with my kitchen buddy, Pam.

Crunch up 1 cup of Fritos and 2 cups of pretzels, and spread on bottom of pan.

Cut up enough Reeces cups to scatter on top of the "crust" (I used two full size bars, cut up in little pieces).

Set aside.  Melt 1 stick butter in a heavy-bottomed pan, then add 1/2 cup light brown sugar, bringing to a boil and boiling for 1 minute.  Pour on top of Frito crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

As soon as you pull the pan from the oven, cover with 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli, a splurge well worth the cost).  I put the pan back in the oven for 2 minutes, then pulled it and spread the chocolate chips into a top layer.

Let cool for about 15 minutes or so, then chill in refrigerator for a while (two hours worked just fine).

Pull the parchment paper/whatever you used for the bottom support out of the pan and break up candy into bite size pieces, like you would pretzel bark or toffee.  Watch it disappear, followed by lots of "what is this?" and "can I have the recipe?" and "oh my word, this is awesome".

Serve for a Christmas treat or a gift for Santa...as long as he doesn't have any peanut allergies :)

Wonder what else you can do with a Frito?  Frito Friday has the potential to last for awhile, don't you think?

The wonder of a balloon

the hot air balloon, that is.

We have a couple of local companies that provide hot air balloon rides, so we see them quite often.  It amazes me how excited the kids get when they see one, but they are never more excited then when the balloon flies right over our house.

Being the scrapbooking/blogging momma that I am, you know I had to run in and grab my camera to capture said excitement, right?  Wouldn't you?

As much as they love looking at the balloons, when asked if they would like to ride in one, the answer was a resounding "NO".  I have never been in one before, but riding that high in the air in only a little basket with a hot flame makes me pretty nervous, too.

What about you?  Ever been on a hot air balloon ride?

Christmas Card-a-thon

 This past Saturday, I hosted a card-making party for friends and family.  For a small fee, they came and made cards that I had designed and pre-cut, and got to have a great time doing it.  Seriously, this was my best one yet...white chicken chili, frito candy, Christmas cookies and drinks, along with a hysterically funny group of women (and girls).  We had such fun, and spent hours laughing and crafting and eating.  If you live near me, you should consider coming to the next one!

Do you send Christmas cards?  Store-bought, hand-made, or photocards?  Can you believe December is almost here?!

Re-reader?

There are at least twenty books on my "To Read" list.

I did read "One Day" while on vacation, and it was good.  Not awesome or even great, but worth the time I spent relaxing on the lido deck, tanning while absorbing the written word :)

While I was at the library choosing vacation books, though, I came across "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon.

I have read this book at least three times.  I heart Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall big time.  This series has the ability to transport me across the miles (and the years) until I am standing in Scotland, in love with a man in a kilt.

After finishing "One Day", I opened up "Outlander" and fell back in love.  Reading this book just makes me happy.  I already know what's going to happen, but I cherish each chapter as the story unfolds again.

Does anyone else do this?  Do you have a favorite "re-read" that you fall back on?  Any good recommendations to put on my "to-read" list?  Do you heart Jamie Fraser?

Pumpkin soup

No, I don't have the recipe, but you can google a hundred of them.

I tried Pumpkin Soup on vacation; it was a warm, chicken-broth based creamy version and it was exquisite.

I am afraid to try making it at home, for fear it won't be the same.  Wouldn't it be a great first course to Thanksgiving dinner, though?

Reality

Less than four days ago, I was soaking up rays in the 85 degree sunshine.

Today, I am freezing in the 32 degree Ohio weather.

I haven't worked in nearly two weeks.

I go in to the hospital for a 12-hour night shift tonight.

With a Girls on the Run bake sale tomorrow.  And three assignments due for my English class on Tuesday.  School conferences for the kids this week, and a Christmas stamp camp to plan for next Saturday.

Vacation is SO OVER.  But it was good while it lasted...

Warning: Vacation Post Ahead

On a bitter cold and snowy day last winter, Joe and I found a great deal on a Bahamas cruise and started to dream.  Joe's parents decided to book a room alongside of ours, and our 2010 family vacation was born.

Unfortunately, Joe's dad fell ill and couldn't come, but he insisted that Kay still go with us.

Last Friday (my birthday), we loaded into our van and drove 9 1/2 hours to Charleston, South Carolina.  After a few hours of sleep in a crowded hotel room, we drove to the pier and played around until it was time to board the ship.

The kids had never cruised before, and there were so many things they looked forward to.  Water slides (which Gabe and I were on within the first hour of boarding!)...

Getting manicures before we left...

All you can eat self-serve soft-serve ice cream (Gabe had at least 50 cones, no exaggeration)...

 Celebrating Halloween on a ship!

Traveling outside of the U.S. for the first time (for the kids)...

Freeport, Bahamas

 Getting matching tans :)

Making memories with Mamaw Kay...

Shopping for shark-tooth necklaces, t-shirts, and other assorted souvenirs...

Getting all spruced-up for delicious dinners served by friendly waiters who knew our names by the second night...

Trying new foods and getting to eat hundreds of shrimp all week long!

Spending time alone, with just mom or dad, or with the whole family, depending on the mood (and boy, do 12-year-old boys have moods!)...

 Taking a taxi ride over to Paradise Island in Nassau...

Going inside the Atlantis resort...

One of my favorite pics of the whole trip!

Proving to the kids that water this blue and clear really does exist...

Finally relaxing after a horribly stressful week...

Posing for multiple pictures in various areas of the ship...

Acting goofy in our stateroom, monkeys and all...

 and admiring the gorgeous fall foliage on our way home through the Carolinas and Tennessee.

Between school and work and sick parents, this vacation was exactly what we needed to stay on track as a happy family.  And once I dig my way out of this pile of laundry threatening to suffocate me, I'll be good as new :)