First Snow 2012

What a storm!
If only this could happen on December 24th!!
Love it!

We...

• Played in the snow
• Made cookies and homemade cocoa
• Watched Movies
• Sat by the Fire

The only thing missing was MADDIE!!

Sadie ate her snow like it was corn on the cob..

Love Luke's crazy face..

Dad tackling Tanner, just asking for trouble 

Tanner plotting his revenge. 

Sadie with her "corn cob"

Tanner's revenge...

This can only mean one thing..

a trip to the ER..

Just kidding.

 Cute old man..Love him

Pure Winter Joy! 

 Ready for the Draft!

Or a body cast... 

Of course the only way to end it was to make someone cry!!

Cure for all problems

Don't Mock Me!

I am an emotional eater.

I needed something yummy to eat this evening for dinner.

Not only did I have the aftermath of the election on what is left of my mind, but I had a full blown womanly attack.  Do you know what I mean?  If you have read my blog, you know this is a common theme-known by many names...

1) Grape Jelly Days
2) Monthly Visitor from Hell
3) Shark Week started
4) Red River flowing violently.
5) Uterus Explosion
6) Todd's Nightmare Begins
7) I-am-hemorrhaging-to-death-so-don't-mess-with-me!
8) Our Creator's Funny Funny Joke
9) Purple Popsicle & Maxi Days
10) Satan's Trifecta (from Modern Family..)

Do you know what I mean?

So,...I wake up to a pool of my own blood and Obama is my president. Awesome!

I NEED FRIES!  AND NOT JUST ANY FRIES! HOMEMADE FRIES!

So despite my anemia and anger problems, I stood on my feet (cold from lack of blood) for several hours to cut and fry me some fries.  And, I don't regret a moment of the effort.  Neither does anyone in my family (they probably wouldn't dare tell me if they did...)

Here is the recipe for when you have your own Shark Week attack.
Or if an idiot is leading your country.
Or both.  On the same day.
I hate everyone...

Basically like crack cocaine...

Except more fattening.

And legal.

HOMEMADE FRIES..

Potatoes (well, duh!)
Salt
Peanut Oil/Canola Oil

Optional-(be warned, this will make your fries extra extravagent!)
Fry Sauce
Cheese
Sour Cream
Bacon


Wash, but don't you dare peel, your potatoes.  Cut them into fry shapes.  I like to do my fairly thin so they will be crispy.  As you finish cutting the potatoes, place them in cold water to keep them from browning and remove some of the starch. I put mine in a strainer which was then put into a big bowl of water.  Then when I was ready to do a batch, I pulled the strainer out of the water, shook of the excess water and then placed it in the oil.  Prepare your dutch oven or soup kettle.  I did a combination of peanut and canola oil.  Do not heat the oil first.  Weird, but totally legit!! Place the potatoes in the oil and then heat to boiling on high heat.  Boil for around 15 minutes or until your fries are lightly brown and/or crispy.  Don't mess with them too much while they are boiling away, or they will fall apart.  I let them hang out for 8-10 minutes of boiling before I try to move them around at all.  Turn off the heat when the fries are ready.  I used tongs to remove them to a paper towel covered plates.  I used sea salt sprinkled lightly (ha ha ha!) on the fries.

The batch that we used for dinner was covered with cheese, crumbled bacon and broiled for just a couple of minutes in the oven.  Serve with fry sauce and sour cream.  If you like onions (we don't), you could add some of those.  I am just saying- freakin' awesome!

My uterus and mind have been lulled into a very comfortable coma induced by these delicious morsels.

I am off to workout for about 3 days straight to undo what I have done.
Stupid period and stupid election.

Completely depressed..

Perplexed.
Flummoxed.
Annoyed.
Scared.
Angry.
Sad.
Frustrated.

Trying not to let it ruin my day.  Trying really hard to move forward.  Trying not to be bitter.  Trying to get over the fact that more than 1/2 of my beloved country think someone like Mitt Romney is less qualified to be president than our current president (can't say his name.. he is he-who-shall-not-be-named to me.).  How are we so divided? How can they think Governor Romney is sexist, racist, homophobic, unqualified, evil? I don't get it.

So.. whatever.  I will trust in the higher power.   Doesn't matter who is president.. I know who is KING!!

I am soo over this election.  I can't imagine how the candidates feel.  And their families.  I wish the billions spent on this election could have been put to better use.

I keep telling myself that we, as a country are being humbled.  We have an opportunity to more fully turn towards our God.  I feel the shift this morning.  I recognize that no one can direct me or help my family or guide me in the way that I should go, except my Heavenly Father.  This event may bring us closer to him-I feel like it will bring me closer to what truly matters.  I realize I must educate my kids, prepare my family and home, live in a way that I can provide for those I care about in every way.  It is a big load to shoulder, but I know that Heavenly Father will strengthen me as I try to do his will.

One last thing....

I wish I could punch someone in a kidney.  Or a family jewel or two.  Maybe, hit someone between the eyes with their government-supplied cell phone.  I would love to drop kick an able-bodied man who is standing in a welfare line when he could be lined up for an interview.  I would love to do a falling elbow to the sternum of Nancy Pelosi and give Harry Reid the biggest wedgie known to man.  If I could nipple twist just a few of the liberally-biased media...  I think it may help me move forward a little bit quicker.

But, alas... I digress from my thoughtful, spiritual rambling.  You know that gentility could only last so long.  I was bound to revert to myself.  Now... to go find someone to kick.

I hate everyone. Again.

Tanner + Ashley = Bingham Ball 2012

Mom to the rescue!! 

On his knees to put on her corsage.. Such a gentleman!

The two examples of my son's sweet feminine side.

Or is it my son's perv side??

I think it's darling, whatever it is.

He does look good with a glittery purse.

Love you, Tanner!

Love you, Ashley!

Such an attractive couple...just saying!

Kids say the damndest things

As we were driving in the neighborhood today,
this from my sweet angel when looking at a house VERY decorated for Halloween...

"That house spooks the hell out of me!"

From Sadie Grace.
My angel.

Wow.

Halloween To Do List

I have come to the conclusion that Halloween is the most exhausting holiday.
It is so crazy for me-I just don't get why I feel like I am going ALL day long.

My TO DO LIST:

• Make pumpkins pancakes for breakfast
• Get costumes ready for the day
• Dress kids
• Do makeup
• Take pictures
• Take kids to school in time for parade
• Help at Sadie's class party
• Take Tanner a binder that he forgot 
• Take Sadie to lunch for a girls day (I needed a Tostada from Cafe Rio)
• Make sugar cookies
• Pick up Tanner from school
• Go back to elementary to help with Luke's class party
• After party/school, take Luke to Todd at the ER to have his cast removed
• Get home in time for a quick dinner of .50 cent corndogs from Sonic
• Get costumes/make-up refreshed
• Get Sophie's costumes on
• Remember that I forgot candy! (Handed out otter-pops instead..soo lame)
• Feel guilty because we didn't have time to carve our pumpkins (I only felt guilty for about 3 seconds)
• Head out the door for a fun night of trick or treating.
• Trick or Treating ends at about 7:45 which is bedtime at my house.

Kids, of course, want to sample their candy. I, of course, don't want them to sample their candy.
We compromise with me letting them pop their mini popcorn bags. We watch 13 minutes of a Halloween movie and then scrub faces and teeth and get to bed.

My day ends with-
Watching Modern Family with Todd and Tanner (the best, don't care what anyone says!)
Getting all of the make-up and glitter cleaned up in my bathroom
Washing all of my make-up brushes that were used to apply fake blood and Sadie's green witch face.

I love Halloween, except on Halloween night at about 9:00 p.m., then I hate Halloween.  I am glad I have a few weeks to recover, then it is Turkey Day, which is quite another exhausting day.  But, oh so worth it!!