I miss rubbing your ears

Way back in October (ish) when we first started thinking about getting Rocky, I could rationally think that getting a puppy right then and there might not be the best idea. You know, because Scott had just lost his job and blah. Sitting here, looking back I am very glad we listened to my gut instinct and got that dog. I like him. He still smells like a puppy. I enjoy going for walks. He has been a great distraction in this somewhat hardish time in our lives. Really, it hasn't been that bad, but you know. Anyway, he lost his first tooth tonight, and I had a burst of love for him.

Also, funny story. Scott was out of town for a couple of days (job interview :))) and it went well) and he was talking to Hope on the phone the second night. Remember she loves to rub ears. She said, "Daddy you need to come home, I miss rubbing your ears!" Ohhh, I just had a little burst of love for her, too.

Must go, Modern Family is on!! Please tell me you watch that show!?

Ticket to Ride and the bad case of gas

Last night some friends had us over for dinner. It was delicious, but it gave me a stomach ache, more like a side ache, really. Like...really bad. We were playing this really fun game "Ticket to Ride" and I was trying to play it cool. Trying. But I started sweating...and rocking...and pushing on my side... I thought I was going to die. I finally asked what it felt like when you had appendicitis. Poor Heather just had some really bad gas, I guess. I don't typically suffer from "the gas" so much. Annie got me a Tums. I was really appreciating the Tums last night. I've never had a Tums before. Not to worry, it was the kind way high up in the intestines, so I never embarrassed myself. (just so you know :) The reason for all the discomfort? Not sure, other than 1) I didn't eat any lunch 2) when I got home from church I made myself a green smoothie (green smoothies don't usually give me ANY problems) 3)it was white pasta, white French bread and iceberg lettuce for dinner. It must have made for a toxic brew. Hunter said that I ate "normal" food and it made me sick. I must be used to a little more "roughage" than that. As I was getting ready for bed last night, I asked Scott if he was embarrassed of/for me that I had that particular problem in front of friends. He said he thought it was endearing. hahahahahaha

I don't really know why you had to know my personnel business, but now you do. The reason for this blog is to share this game. Have you played before? It was really fun, and it has been added onto my list of things that must be purchased after Scott gets a job.

I never said I wasn't a little bit of a freak...

A few weeks ago, Hunter approached me about this upcoming debate they were going to have in class. There are several vegetarian girls in his class, and the meat eaters and the vegetarians were going to debate...if we as Americans should adopt one day a week that would be meat-free. Now, I have tried "Meatless Mondays" and have learned not to ever, EVER call such a day "Meatless Anything". Because I do have some carnivores in the house, and see anything "meatless" as sub par. I do continue to serve up "meatless" meals occasionally, but I certainly don't call it anything. Hunter is one of the inflammatory ones, he will say things like..."Oh Doctor Oz must have told you that blah blah blah". While I did enjoy Dr. Oz on Oprah occasionally, I haven't watched his show once, shameful. And since being introduced to Dr. Oz, I have come upon some much heavier stuff, Hunter. Thank you very much.

So, anyway, we discussed the debate. At first, he thought the vegetarians wanted to make a meatless day mandatory. You know pass a law. I told him that, I didn't think that would ever happen. But who knows, with all the health care stuff being debated...the way we eat does make us sick. Then, the next day he came back, and said that they just wanted people to take a pledge. Oh...well that changes things for me, I told him. You know me, I said I thought it would be a good idea. And really, I left it at that. I have learned not to cram things down people's throats. People will figure stuff out when they are good and ready to figure stuff out, and nobody listens to you otherwise. But I am still going to finish my blog post. hahaha

Hunter disappeared upstairs for awhile, he was doing some research. He came downstairs with a puzzled look on his face. "Why do we eat meat anyway?" I started to laugh, he was beginning to see the light. I am not a vegetarian, nor do I think I will be anytime soon. But I do think the way we raise poultry, beef, and swine is disgusting. Let me be specific, I don't think eating meat is disgusting, I do however think the way we currently (in the United States) raise most of our meat is disgusting. Days before Scott lost his job, I was days away from paying and picking up my 1/4 of a grass fed cow. After he lost his job, I did indeed pull the plug on that, but I can't wait to fill my freezer with the grass fed cow and chicken from Paul Jack's Farm.

After Hunter left, I did a little research of my own.
I want to read this book, but I'm a little scared. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll tell you all about it. My hope in telling you about this and the other books and stuff below, is not to gross you out and/or make you feel bad about the stuff you may or may not eat. But I think, if more people know about our food industry and how what we eat affects us, they would want things to change too.

Are you interesting in learning about the food you eat? 'Cuz it's not just meat that gets me in a dizzy. Read some books!

This cute little book, I start with, because it's kind of an overview of many other books. It's a good, thought provoking book that can be read in 20 minutes, or so. Many, if not all of these other books I have blogged about previously, but I'll put them up again...just in case you might be interested this time around.

a couple of Christmas pictures

My cute new hat from my friend. At the very bottom of the present pile, there was this lone present from "Santa". At first I thought Scott had secretly worked with my friend Lisa to obtain this hat. She had one similar, and I loved it. But after the blank stare from Scott, and his comment to the kids that "I must have bought it for myself", I knew it was my friend. I love it. This picture is mostly for my Mom who has wanted to see it since Christmas. I posted a picture of it MOM!!! :)

DVD from my Mom and Dad

All the kids sleep together on Christmas Eve. Just like when I was a kid, all the girls would sleep together. Good memories!

Christmas morning, we had just checked and made sure Santa had come.

Hope got lip gloss from Hannah. We all had lots and lots and lots of lip gloss...all day long. I was surprised there was some left at the end of the day.

Hayden got this hat from Hannah for Christmas, and Hayden wanted to see what Rocky looked like in it. haha

A few recipes for you to try...

Picture thanks to Pioneer Woman

Pictures...thanks to Joy the Baker!

MMMMMMMmmmmhhh, I tried these pancakes this morning, egg nog pancakes. The were delicious, spectacular, everyone in my family liked...if not loved them. Even Scott said they were good. I do love a good buttermilk pancake that is really thick and high and oh so good. You will note, that it isn't even Saturday OR Sunday, and I still made pancakes. You gotta love that Joy the Baker.

Here is another recipe that I tried... last night, Pioneer Woman's homemade ranch dressing. I don't even bother with store bought dressings anymore. Dressing is so easy to make up yourself, and keep in the fridge, and it's so much better than anything you'd buy!! If you like ranch, try this one, it's a keeper!

Like Mother like Daughter

My Mother told me as a child I liked to change my clothes. I also liked to have my nails painted, but I remember wanting it off right away. But Hope...that Hope likes to change her clothes. Hope walked into her room a week or so ago, and proclaimed that her room was a mess, she needed to pick it up, uhhhh you mean I (as in the Mother) needs to pick it up. I'm talking she has already changed out of her jammies, that she put on after bath...probably like 10 times. I'm not kidding. It used to be a few outfit changes a day, now, I can't even keep track. She just now came out in an outfit that has been taken out of her drawer because it was too small and put away in a garbage bag, waiting for me to take care of. Well, now it's just more fun for Hope. Today, as Kohl's I found (on clearance 80% off!!) Cinderella jammies. The fancy kind. As soon as I saw them I knew she'd love them. Because did I mention, most of her clothing changes revolve around jammies. Mostly, not all.

You know what else I bought today at Kohl's? A shirt that I had already bought for Hope that I couldn't find and I was SICK of looking for it. Over the last couple of weeks, we couldn't find: 1 pair Fancy Nancy slippers, 1 pair jeans, Hannah's green Abercrombie shirt, and a shirt Santa brought Hope. The other night I was sick and tired or sort of looking and being annoyed I couldn't find said items. I looked and found them all...except that shirt. Don't forget I am compulsive, and when I say I kept thinking and looking I mean it. Finally, I just had to tell myself it got thrown away, and to STOP looking. I looked for just a minute today when I got back :). Hope took the tags off the new shirt, and that was that.

I don't know what people do that don't work out...or how they must feel. I was feeling a little on the crappy/crabby side this morning. It didn't help that,I sat down at spin and the instructor wanted to take an informal poll on how we thought the economy was doing. A lot of people raised their hands when she asked if they thought it was better. I about fell off my bike raising my hand when asked if we felt worse. But then, about 15 minutes into the workout, my whole mood changed. I started chatting with my friend next to me, and to Scott on my other side. I swear I'm addicted to the endorphins that are released during exercise. Thank heavens for exercise. And thank heavens I didn't impulsively cancel my club membership when Scott lost his job. 'Cause I almost did. That would have been pure madness. I went through a time when I was very miserly. I didn't want to spend a penny on anything that wasn't necessary. I had a friend, who has been in my place before, and she told me not to act poor, because I'm not. Some of the best advice I received. Granted, there might be a time when I am poor (in a year or so, and Scott still doesn't have a job) cutting back on some things is essential to spread what we have out as long as possible, but days like today...thank HEAVENS for the gym and spin class. Because, girls I worked it today!! I'd like to think I was the reason those spin room mirrors were all fogged up.

Oh, I must go because Hope is telling me she can't find any pajamas, seriously? At least I haven't tucked her in yet, that's when I may get a little grumpy. Scott and the boys are at the Trail Blazers game tonight, it's Hope and I that must solve the dilemmas of not a thing to wear!

Hush up I'm busy!

I just did a little experiment...I sat down at the computer. I wasn't even 1/2 way through my sister's post when people started telling me they needed things. Grrrr. I just had to yell and say I was BUSY!

I have decided to put blogging back on my list of things to do. I have been feeling guilt. Guilt because I don't scrapbook (Hope does have a scrapbook STARTED, but just started no where near caught up on anybodies) I don't journal either. So, my blog was it, as far as keeping track of the day to day stuff. I have a terrible memory, so if I don't write it down I don't remember it. So, I will be blogging again.

Just so I don't forget, I have really chapped lips ( I think something is not working right in me, I drink more water than most everyone I know, so that's NOT it) Scott is still out of work. He does have an interview someplace that would take us away from WA. Hmmmm. I like my life here, why oh why can't things just stay the same? Hope is now a Sunbeam. She was not excited at all to start in Primary, but seemed just fine yesterday, and was all excited afterward talking about her new teachers and class. She was really impressed because the husband (in the teaching duo) could touch the ceiling. Impressive. I don't like my baby growing up. Not one little bit. More to come I promise, the Indians are getting restless, after all it is dinner time!! (for the 100th time :)