Rockin' Around

Brie came over last week & helped me set up the Christmas tree..before Thanksgiving *gasp*. After she left, we went gangbusters and got the place looking quite festive. Cooper decided to take some pictures which I know you want to see. I love the one with fire coming out of my head, but really...great pics Coop! Plus, he took the one in our title on the blog.

Finally Twilight

Are you allowed to use flash photography in the theater? I was just wondering. No reason in particular.

Calie & I went to Twilight yesterday and we went into this movie the best way possible...absolutely, unequivocally, NO expectations. Pure entertainment. That is what we were seeking and that is what we found. Was it full of high class cinematography? Nope. Did Carlisle look like he was made from play dough? Yep. Did they serve this movie with cheese? Sure, but who doesn't like a little cheese now & then. I laughed out loud and I'm pretty sure Calie & looked at each other about 50 times with a half eye roll and a giggle or two, but we had a blast.

Some tips for New Moon:

• You don't have to overtly squint your eyes to convey hatred
• With make-up, less is better most of the time
• If you flutter your eyes too often you are going to run into something
• Football huddles don't make for convincing protection scenes

Honestly, I hope there is a New Moon movie.

ps. The next Harry Potter trailer was in the previews and I can't wait to see it. But I'll have to since it's coming out until July!

Black Friday, Teen style

Another first. In the dark of night which turned to dawn, Hunter became a black friday shopper. Being the vigilant mother I am, I'm not completely aware of his arrival time, but when I got up for breakfast there was a gift on the counter for Kurt, Cooper & I. I think I love my teen mascarading as a BF shopper. I went downstairs to get some laundry and low & behold, there he was...sound asleep in his ninja shopping gear. Shoes still on. Knees bent. And 2 flashes didn't even bring a flinch.

Thanksgiving...Need I Say More

Hunter Bunter Bear

17 years ago, after struggling with an odd pain, my doctor sent me for an ultrasound. It was November 25, 1991, and I was due with a baby boy just a few weeks later on December 13th. After the ultrasound, I was wheeled to the elevator where my doctor said, "How would you like to have your baby today?". Seems I had a rather large cyst that was causing chaos. So, up to labor & delivery I went. I was put on pitocin and immediately fell asleep for 2 hours. When I awoke, I could hear screaming in the room next to me...I started to panic. A nurse came in to check my progress (always a lovely little event)and I asked her how far along my neighbor was. She was at a 4. I asked the nurse where I was at & she said I was at a 6. I'm so glad I have somewhat easy labors.

For both my boys, I was unable to get an epidural so when I pushed, I pushed like a crazy woman. 15 minutes of pushing for both boys. At 12:15 am on November 26, I was blessed with a little 6lb 13oz baby boy who had a gush of black fuzzy hair. When Kurt first saw him he said, "Ewww, he looks gross", but I thought he was beautiful & still do.

Once Hunter was 6 weeks old, he was golden. He slept through the night and has the sweetest disposition. He was a community baby; I passed him around to everyone and they just adored him.

Things changed at 18 months and the temper tantrums flew. It was a nightmare. He would tell me he hated me, throw things at the door, throw himself on the floor and there were many days when Kurt would get home from work that I would need a breather & would leave for an hour or so.

It was about the time Hunter went to school that the temper tantrums began to dissipate. He loved school and made lots of friends. He's my little athlete who has a tender side as well.

This morning I snuck up to his room to tape the doorway so he could bust through it like a superstar. I don't know how he does it, but he managed to do so with his eyes closed. He used to be a morning person. I love my little Hunter and hope he has a wonderful birthday. I've got his pumpkin pie made and we'll be ready to celebrate in a few short hours. Happy Birthday Hunter!

Dear Elle

Dear Elle:

I'm in a quandry and need your advice. This year I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house and I'm worried some family members won't bring their portion of the dinner. What if one of our most treasured dishes is forgotten? Please help!

Your most devoted follower,

Turkey Lover

Dear Turkey Lover,

I've come up with a plan you just might be gutsy enough act on. I'm guessing you are worried about specific family members who tend to not follow through. Here's the Plan:

• When the assignments are made, call flaky guest and gushily tell him/her how excited you are that he/she is coming and how you look forward to tasting their version of a Thanksgiving family favorite.

• Tell everyone that Thanksgiving is 15 minutes earlier than you tell flaky guest...this is critical to the next part of the plan.

• Let the other guests know that when flaky guest arrives you will all chant "turkey, turkey, turkey" or whatever the assigned dish(es) is.

• The last part of the plan also involves advanced organization. Get a group of somewhat small children and one dramatic adult to practice crying and throwing fits. If flaky guest arrives withOUT the beloved food item, have the group go into hysterics, crying loudly for their ever-hoped for food item.

If this fabulous plan does not work, you may just have to have a heart to heart with flaky guest. I hope all your Thanksgiving food dreams come true.

Elle

Hi Friend

Today I met up with my friend Sherri. I've mentioned her before, right here. Sherri & I go way back. Back to those beautiful days when they made these crazy shirts for women that basically were an overgrown onesie with long sleeves and possibly a turtle neck. The days when the higher the bangs equaled your place in heaven and when wearing stirrups didn't mean you were on a horseback ride.

Sherri was my gal pal in high school when she moved from Wyoming to Montana. One of the things I really like about hanging out with Sherri (now or then) is you can just be your nerdy, imperfect self. We like to laugh at ourselves and maybe (please don't tell) at others.

My sweet, spunky friend got tapped on the shoulder by that mean nasty cancer-asaurus. She has her little twin boys and her darling 8 & 9 year old children and is in the process of kickin' cancer's trash. She just had her 2nd chemo treatment 2 days ago & was ready to hang out. No disease has a chance against her.

My plea: Keep Sherri in your prayers. As tough as she is, prayer is the first rate weapon against tribulation.

Together

The chase is over and father and son are getting reacquainted again. Prayers have been answered.

Pssst...

You...yeah, you. I have some juicy news to share, but before I do let me pose this question, "Why do I feel like I'm profaning when I type pssst?"

Remember that one time when I posted that crazy-but-filled-with-hope ad on Craigslist? Well, stuff happened. Mainly, lots of scammers emailed me (through craigslist) and a bunch of insurance peeps tried to sneakily interview my hub (still gettin' those cool responses), but yesterday I got a legit response. And it was creative...I liked it. It said something like, "Wife, call me to set up interview for husband." And, the guy signed the email with his actual name and company and phone #(scammers don't usually include all that info). So I called that dreamy guy today and set up an interview with he & my hub for Friday. The job is NOT located here though.

Also, my bum is numb. I don't believe it was meant to be planted on a metal folding chair for a multitude of hours each day. I think my thut is getting bigger and flatter. It's the homework. I think my brain might be melting. If things continue this way, my backside from my head down will be completely flat...like an old, wrinkly, tainted paper doll. My brain and my bum need a break.

I read yesterday, somewhere in America..but not here, gas was $1.53/gallon. I would move there but by the time I got there it might be up to a ridiculous price again.

Good news: I have a 2 pack (abs) Bad news: They protrude the opposite direction of a 6 pack.

One more thing. If we have to move, do you want to buy our house for 1 MILLION dollars? Just keep an open mind about it.

Se-stAhs!

Life's been tough. It's not easing up as of yet either. It hit me in my kidney the other day, low blow. I don't like to cry, I really don't, but I've noticed my eyes have been oozing a substance that looks like water a lot lately. And I have a pimple, a big one.

Last night I was wallowing after Hunter's vehicle kicked me in the shin. I've been very nice to that car, even put a little gas in it yesterday, and that's the thanks I receive?

But something wonderful happened last night as well. A favorite little treat was dropped off on my porch by a mysterious bearded man. It was 2 bags of Mint M&M's with a little note from my sisters. I love having sisters, especially mine. Who cares if we are a weensy bit far apart in age, we are soul sisters. They could read my bluesy vibe through instant messenger and sprang into action.

Thanks soul sisters, you make some of that bizarre substance leak out of my eyes sometimes. A big thank you to parents who gave me such beautiful sister friends. I wish I could thank them, all of them, in person.

Desperate Times My Friends

Desperate Times call for this type of action:


http://boise.craigslist.org/res/912199738.html

Enjoy!

New Adventure #1

I decided to number this adventure as I believe it will be the first of a few over the next couple of months. Cooper started at a new school last Monday. We were both quite anxious about it, but so far I'm very pleased with the change. First of all, their colors are blue & brown...how hip is that (by saying hip I might have just been knocked down a couple of cool points in your book...if I even had any remaining). Second, they have a mascot....a horse. I don't think his other school had one...maybe a paint palette or something.

A word about horses: I have a short horse thread in my history. My good friends, the Thares, had horses when I was young. One time we were riding in the pasture (I feel so Montanan right now) when my horse kept walking me into the tree overhang, which would sweep me off the very tall horse onto the very cold, hard ground. The first time I acted tough and got right back on again, but that horse wasn't done with me yet. The next time around the pasture he swept me off again....same tree overhang...come to think of it, why didn't I duck? Anywho, I grabbed my side and said my kidney hurt and that I lost my other kidney because of falling off a horse (a teensy, tiny white, blatant lie). I limped home. The Thares couldn't have friends on the horses anymore. Sorry Thares...all my fault! I've been bucked off a horse and a pony. Does it count as bucking off if you are taller than the pony and when you are "bucked", you never actually fall to the ground...you just slide off onto your own 2 feet?

Back to Siena. Third, I went to school with Cooper's new teacher and we graduated at the same time. He might be slightly younger than I am. He went through the same math program I did and his name is Mr. McMahan (pronounced Mick-Man)...how is that for a mnemonic device built right in your name? Lucky.

So, it's the start of something wonderful. At his parent teacher conference (2 days ago) the man did mention Cooper has high energy. I'm pretty sure that is code for hyper, but I'm going to pretend I don't know the code. On to the next adventure...high ho silver (car that is).

Think Next Year

My very thoughtful, genius friend, Brie, brought over some materials for a craft for Cooper.

Materials List:

• Smallish water bottle



• aluminum foil



• x-acto



• pencil



• water/glue solution in ziplock bag



• cheesecloth



• a very small piece of black felt



• googly eyes

Cut 2 "x"s on opposing sides of the water bottle. stick the pencil through (see above). Mold aluminum foil into a head shape on top of the bottle. Stick the cheesecloth in the ziplock and mush it, mush it good.



Then, very extremely carefully, take out the cheesecloth and unwad it, making a bizarre face while doing so.




Drape the cheesecloth over the bottle and let dry overnight. Try not to let a fly get trapped on it or under it (just a hypothetical possible situation).

Finally, let everyone think your child made this marvelous little craft item. When in reality, he did unwad MOST of the cheesecloth, but left the rest for his can't-leave-things-undone-most-of-the-time-mother. Ta Da!!!!

ps. You might want to be in charge of the x-acto knife unless you like making your kids learn things the cruel, painful way

Ouch, my eyeball hurts

Sometimes on the darkest, most sinister eve of the year, an eyeball makes it into a trick or treat bag. Not just any eyeball, a sticky, non-wrapped, partially tore, candy eyeball.



The eyeball, it seems, was in the costume spirit. It was dressed like a bouncy ball, but I when I suggested to Cooper that is what it was (the eyeball tricked me), he said it was candy. How did he know? That's right, he licked it. The eyeball became my walking parter for the rest of the evening as to prevent any more spontaneous lickage.

I bet that eyeball is missing home about now. I can only imagine a poor little child meandering the house in a sugar crash haze muttering the following over & over again, "eyeball, eyeball, whose got my eyeball".

I do.