feb-march jabberin'.....

once again i made the mistake of talking before uploading. (see chit chat below)

i'd say lesson learned but i never seem to learn.

i'm a slow learner.

once again, we had the opportunity to spend a weekend with friends up at Sun Peaks, Canada thanks to our friends, Steve & Karla Cowden. Gary & Cindy,John & Kay joined us too.

the boys spent their days snowmobiling and the girls did a whole lot of nothing.

reading, watching lame girl movies and eating. yup, we did a LOT of eating. girls do that when boys aren't around. oh wait, we do that when their around too.

moving along.

on top of the world. or at least Sun Peaks.

heading out.

our very gracious hosts. thank you Cowdens!

my baby was on an undefeated team bb team this year. (they tied 3 but still, it wasn't a LOSS).
can't you just feel the pride OOZING from him?

stud.

pure. genuine joy.

the game of life. i love watching them play it. and live it.

dude.

"let's wrestle"-sam

"boys, someone is going to get hurt"-mom

insert crying and SOMEONE getting hurt here.

how did i know??

"alright, we're going to dry those tears and HUG. AND HUG LIKE YOU MEAN IT!"

no, we DON'T usually feed our cat (or our children), out of the bag, on the kitchen floor.

just needed to clarify.

after.

here's the 'before', only it's 'after' the 'before'. (sorry, that was really funny in my head)

any who, i got a wild hair, after being inspired by my friend beck's (http://www.simlyenjoyphotography.com/) wall (she did her whole dining room wall. dang cute) and staring at the can of chalkboard paint for almost a year, i took the plunge and went to town gettin' crafty. and yes, i even cut, WITH A 'REAL' SAW, the trim. it's purdy, thank you very much. (although, truth be told, i took TWO trips to Home Depot cuz i screwed up. so i guess i'm NOT so cool after all.) boo.

i have such great intentions to write down the kids' chore list but at this point, all it's been good for is the boys talking SMACK about each others favorite football teams.

still, i love it.

jack obviously NOT liking the last play Eli made. he's never been one to hid his feelings.

love that about him.

mostly.

before the jumping began.

crazy man.

and yes, they got a hold of my make-up and my hairspray.

no, that will NEVER happen again.

my hub made me promise.

i willingly promise.

the 5th grader gets to ski FREE thanks to Mt. Baker ski area.

'get them young. get them hooked!'

(that's not really their logo but it should be. i think i'll pitch that at their next meeting).

thanks people, now he's hooked.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!! the boys, bless their hearts, pooled together all their i-tunes gift cards and presented them to him. what you don't see is the pride they're feeling and the tear daddy's shedding.

happy day babe, we're so glad you were born.

just keeping it real people. the maid's been laid off.

the chef however, hasn't been.

hee. hee. i'm the chef.

hee. hee. i can't cook.

however, i can take a pretty picture of green stuff in my spaghetti sauce.

and now, here's what i meant to say at the beginning of this post..........

hot diggy dog, this mama feels like bloggin'.

plus, i got a new camera. i'd take a picture of it but um, it isn't fancy enough to take a picture of ITSELF.

duh.

i've got no earth shattering news.

i'm not pregnant, nor, sadly is anyone i know. (and you thought i was going to say "sadly, I'M not pregnant" didn't you?? fyi, you'll never hear those 4 words from me. never, no never.

let's see...

did i mention i got a new camera?

um, ya, i did.

but, did i tell you that i love it and one of these days, i'm going to actually know how to do something with it other than turn it on? well i am. i know this because my hub is going to kick me to the curb (not really) if i tell him i want ANOTHER camera. after all, my point-and-shoot one MUST have been broke. ya, THAT'S why my pictures always turned out blurry. let's go with that.

i'm doing Project 365 again. think i mentioned that, WAY back in my last post. WAY back in January.

wowsers.

thanks to Kath (http://www.wubbenworld.blogspot.com/) & Wendi (i'd give you her blog address but she's still working on getting one.(right dear girl??:)), i'm keeping up in my book, unfortunately, just not here.

once again i'll do one ol' big post and probably not be back for another month.

so. be. it.

day 29

here's proof that i am a tad bit domesticated. just a tad, but still...i iron.

that's love.

adore this.

empty laundry baskets can only mean one thing.
laundry caught up. (or the piles are out of sight, on the floor)
nope, we're caught up-if only for a brief moment.
the moments are always brief.

poor, sick boy.

oh goody, he's feeling better.
can you believe the nerve of his mother to make him fold socks on his 'day off'?

she's so mean.

please tell me i'm not alone on this.

does your table ever look like this?

if you say no, you lie.

i came home from running some errands in town last week and came across this!

the hub, his son's, my brother and his kids were out playing tag football in our front yard.

no one seemed to care that it was down pouring.

i love that these men don't mind getting a little cold and dirty in order to make great memories with their kids.

they are great men.

if you are laughing, stop.

yes, i know i promised that i would stick with it last January and didn't but never-the-less, i'm turning over a new leaf.

no, really i am.

i'm 8 days in.

only 22 more days and i'll look like Jillian. (right???)

my kids thought this was the funniest thing....i didn't have weights so i improvised with ketchup bottles.

hey, it worked.

wish me luck.

give me a break. it was a snow day.

no school=mom allows things she wouldn't normally allow.

gross.

this was a EPIC snow fort.

my babes.

my Project 365 is complete!

did ya hear me???

COMPLETE.

i'm so glad i stuck with it.

a picture a day for 365 days. this is my idea of easy memory keeping!

i challenge you...do it.

you'll be SO glad you did.

sorry, didn't flip this one. you get the jest...this is the front of my 365 book.

my family's favorite cookie. i'm not a great cook but i can make a mean batch of Snickerdoodles!

plus, they take about 5 mins. to throw together.

~SNICKERDOODLES~

MIX:

1 C. SHORTENING (i use butter Crisco)

1 1/2 C. SUGAR

2 EGGS

STIR IN:

2 3/4 C. FLOUR

2 tsp. CREAM OF TARTER

1 tsp. BAKING SODA

1/2 tsp. SALT

PRE-HEAT OVEN TO 375.

CHILL DOUGH. ROLL INTO BALLS. MIX IN A MIXTURE OF 2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR & 2 TEASPOONS CINNAMON.

PLACE 2 INCHES APART.

BAKE UNTIL LIGHTLY BROWNED BUT SOFT. (ABOUT 10-12 MINS.)

day 26.....

i saw this quote the other day on Lynette's blog and LOVED it.

never mind the fact that the Narnia movies are my favorite movies of all time.

i just LOVE the truth of this statement!!!

He's the King and He's SO good.
my niece, Taya bought me this super cool dry erase board. (thanks Tay) so pretty.

this quote is a great way to break it in....more great quotes to follow!!

the best money, my parents ever spent on my children. no really, the best money.

who would've thought $16.00 could bring SO much joy. HOURS of joy. on night, long after the boys were in bed, i caught the hub playing.

(so, my hub thanks you too)

he looks so old, this half asleep, middle child of mine.

my parents were kind enough to let me borrow their house while they were in China.
ok, they didn't technically give me permission but i knew they would. plus, it's attached to my house so i guess that gave me a little less guilt about barging in there. it just seemed easier to lay it all out on their floor to separate it before putting it all back up in the attic.
this year, for the FIRST time in the history of my married life, i organized my Christmas stuff before storing it away. i mean, CRAZY lady organized. i wrapped each and every one in tissue paper. when i ran out of that, i improvised and used coffee filters. hey, it worked. yup, it did.
i was a little obsessed over this. all like colors must go together.
red.
silver.
green.
and of course the boxs & boxs of ornament's that have been hanging around for 15+ years,i'm sure they've never felt like they mattered to me. after all, they're part of a hodgepodge, so i must not love them like i do my pretty stuff. well, it's kind of true. i do like my pretties. still, there is something to be said for old, sometimes ugly ornaments. let us not forget the whole sentimental value. cuz they've got that.
any who...my point being, i love all my Christmas stuff but come Dec. 26, i'm ready to pack um up. this year i sorted, packed (properly!!) and boxed them up. my crazy organized sister would be so proud.
i can tell i took my sleeping pill about 15 mins. ago because i'm starting to rabble on about stuff that will make very little sense in the morning. maybe i better stop blogging now for the night?
oh, what the heck....this could just be getting interesting.

for you,miss janice...

i know you're checking my blog,miss janice. (thanks for not giving up!)

you've been ridiculously patient waiting on this recipe so this ones for you!! :)

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Enchilada recipe!!!!!

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/4 C. chopped onion

2 T. chopped green chili's

1 small can tomato sauce

1 can (i use the packets instead) mild enchilada sauce

1/2 C. sour cream

2 C. shredded cheese

8 soft tortillas

In a large skillet, brown hamburger, onions, and chili's until hamburger is cooked & onions are transparent. Stir in tomato sauce & 1 C. of the shredded cheese. Place a spoonful of the meat mixture in the center of each tortilla, roll it up, and place in greased backing dish, seam side down. Pour enchilada sauce over tortillas; sprinkle with the rest of cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins (or until bubbly).

Serve with a dollop (good word, huh?) of sour cream over a bed of shredded lettuce.

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There you have it. you've been patient and i thank you.