I Love the Holidays

5 Reasons I love Thanksgiving:

• I don't have to work for 5 days in a row
• I have an excuse to shop because EVERYONE else is shopping on Black Friday
• I get to eat whatever (whenever) I want because everyone else is doing it
• School plays and class "feasts"
• Family get togethers

We headed out Wednesday afternoon as soon as Luke could leave work. I waited impatiently and had the car fueled, packed up and ready.Traffic was busy as expected....but thankfully we got there in about 6 hours.

Most people hate traveling for the holidays but I love it. One thing I do hate about traveling is the food selection. We are usually in such a hurry to get there we don't pack much food and have to settle on fast food. I hate fast food.

We stopped at "Jack in the Crack" for a little potty break but found nothing on the menu that didn't make me queasy. In an effort to appease me, my husband agrees to head a little further up the road. 10 minutes north we stop at Carl's where I settle on some fried zucchini with ranch and a banana pudding shake. Doesn't that sounds delicious (and healthy)?!

We usually spend the holiday weekend with my side of the family.
Last year my parents came to our house, so this year we headed north to them. I am very grateful for my large, abnormally funny family because get togethers are never dull. There is always a story to exchange or someone to make fun of. Just kidding.
Kind of.

(My sister Sarah related a story to me where her 5 year old daughter asked her if she was going to grow up and be strange like her mother and her aunt Jody. She seemed to think I was only slightly crazy but said I did smile at her with too big of a grin). I laughed and made a mental note to try and smile even bigger the next time I saw her.

My Pocahontas Hair (Thanks to my mom)


Thanksgiving dinner was prepared and eaten at my brother Bob's house. His house is the new "party house." We picked up the sister missionaries from my parent's ward and headed over after 1pm. After we arrived my brother picked up the Elders from his ward soon after, brought them back and the fun began.

The 3 Amigos (Trying to look angelic)

The sister missionaries were a little tiffed with the elders since they wore their skirts and nylons and the elders were wearing their "P-Day" attire. I thought it was funny but I felt bad for the sister missionaries. Good thing they were good sports...and had good sense of humors. I almost offered to take them back home to change.

Anyways, we had a few hours until it was time to chow so we played "Chicken Foot." This domino game is similar to "Mexican Train" and is a smack-down, drag-out fight in our family. Every year around Christmas we play for blood and hold a championship match, complete with a trophy. Only one missionary knew how to play so we had fun teaching them how to play and taking advantage of their naivety. A dozen of us sat down to play and the rest of the family watched Indiana Jones and some college football in the living room.

("Hurry, let's drink as much sweet nectar as we can before Uncle Bob and Grandpa Baer figure out there is none left for them!")

We ate, we were merry ...and some of us (to remain nameless) passed out on the couch.

My husband in his best Thanksgiving shirt!

Letting the food digest...

I love this holiday! :)

New Babies

Not for me....New babies for my boys.

For not having a sister in the house, these boys of mine are very "maternal." Especially Tubbs-----he LOVES the word baby. It could be describing a pancake, a pumpkin, a smaller toy...whatever.

LOL

Saturday while at the mall we made our first ever stop into the "Build-A-Bear" store.

The boys were a little hesitant, but once Tubbs learned he could make his own "baby" they were all for it.

Tubbs picked out a penguin and Bubba picked out a black bear.

Tubbs picked out a Batman outfit so he named his penguin "Batman" on his birth certificate. Bubba was hooked on a fisherman outfit but once he saw Tubbs' pick he picked out the Spiderman outfit--and named his bear Coco. (He stole it from me since I mentioned the name when I suggested he pick the black bear!)

These boys have been building forts with these stuffed things, making beds for them....buckling them into carseats! Its crazy! Bubba was complaining to Tubbs about the noise in the living room, saying that Coco was sleeping. I made brownies yesterday after church and when I told the boys they couldn't have one until after lunch Bubba tried to tell me that Coco needed one. I didn't go for that one, but I gave him an "A" for effort.

After church yesterday Bubba got in the car upset.

I asked him what was wrong and he said, "I said the prayer in class today and when I blessed Coco everyone laughed."

I didn't know what to say because I would have laughed too. But Luke told him that they probably laughed because they didn't know who Coco was. He seemed happy with that answer.

We're happy that the boys have a little distraction from the everyday fighting that takes place over the Lego bucket.

We'll see how long they pay attention to their new best friends (as Bubba calls them)!

"Sandwich Nazi"

There is a deli in town where Luke and I occasionally meet for lunch during the week. Before I ate there Luke would talk about the owner who worked the counter taking orders and the way he says "uh-huuuuuuuh" as you order your food. He finally convinced me to eat there just to hear this guy.
Anyways, as most people who love me know, I can be a little peculiar (and annoying) when I order food. I ask questions, ask for something extra...and sometimes order large amounts of food! Well, at this deli I like to order the turkey sandwich--- with extra salami. In addition to this I usually order a side salad, fried mushrooms and a diet soda!
Luke loves to watch me order because it throws the guy off everytime. He has to charge me for the extra meat on the sandwich and when I order a salad he tells me I can't eat that much---like he is seriously not going to let me order it. I tell him "I can eat all of it" and smile. If Luke arrives at the deli before me he will intentionally not order and wait for me to get there so he can watch me order.
Luke and I have named the owner the "Sandwich Nazi."
If you watch the Seinfeld video Luke says I am Elaine and when Luke orders he's like "Newman." Luke knows that he wants and orders the same thing everytime..."the turkey special, extra fries!"
Long live the Sandwich Nazi!
If you are in my neck of the woods let me know if you want to try this place out and I'll give you the name! :)

Hands

Bubba can not get enough of his brother's hands. Its funny, because it has been like this for as long as I can remember. Luke actually remembers Bubba playing with Tubbs' hands the first time he met him in the hospital. Bubba grabbed his hand, then tossed it down and swatted at him.
I wish I had that on video!
Needless to say, I did catch get it on video tonight at dinner.... and Luke told me I had to put it on the blog. Its probably much funnier to us than you, but here it is! Tubbs is so used to Bubba messing with his hands that its funny to see him eat his chicken strip and look around like Bubba isn't even there.
Thankfully, Bubba doesn't ever seem interested in doing this to his friends or cousins or he'd be in trouble---but as you can see from the video, its no wonder that when one of my boys is sick, the other soon follows!
(I am sorry the video is a little dark)

Bubba and Tubbs - 2004

Smart Boy!

It was Bubba's turn to say his prayers tonight before bed. As he kneeled down beside his bed, this is what the little rascal said:

"Dear Gracious Heavenly Father;

(I love it when he uses an adjective at the beginning! Ha-Ha)

Please bless Santa to know who I am.

Please keep him safe.

Please help Santa to get a good night's rest.

Please bless Santa.

Please bless Santa's toys.

Please help Santa to bring me what I want.

Please bless my mommy and daddy and baby brother.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Now...I don't know about you---but I was torn between laughing and asking him if he was serious and making him start over. I decided to do neither, said Amen and kissed him good night.

Hey--you gotta do what works to make sure Santa comes right?!

A boys gotta do what a boys gotta do!

Saturday is a Special Day....

Its the day I get to do noooooooothing!

(Did you really think the rest of that sentence was going to sound anything like the rest of the primary song?!) :)

I love Saturdays this time of year because of days like today! We don't have any parties, sports or other activities going on ---and because its still chilly in the mornings I have an excuse to make hot cocoa and just lay around. The boys snuggle up in their "marshmallow" blankets and occasionally they let me snuggle in and share the blanket with them. (This morning that included laying on the pullout sofa and watching Kung Fu Panda). The weather is very slowly looking/feeling more like Fall, it is getting close to turkey day, I can now begin thinking about decorating for Christmas and making holiday plans.


Right now in our neck of the woods, its still in the low 70's during the peak of the day but its chilly at night. Luke asks me last night what it would take for me to let him leave the slider door open in our room through the night. I tell him he would have to take me to breakfast in the morning and he said, "Deal!" He ended up not leaving the slider open though and when I asked him why he sarcastically said, "Your happiness is the most important thing." To which I snorted and chuckled to my syrupy sweet husband. So, I was really surprised when he awoke this morning (on his own no less) and said he was taking me to breakfast. Yay!!

On the way home we drove by some model homes in the neighborhood down the street. We stopped and let the boys play at the park for about 20 minutes before I got drowsy from the warm sun (and a full belly). A few blocks from the house I saw a small white Chihuahua trotting across the street like my parents have. I tell the boys we should stop and bring it home. Thinking I was funny and knowing their reaction I tell them we could name it "Tinker." (Hey--I don't have any girls, so I need someone in the house with a princessy name!)
Tubbs immediately responds, "No, let's name him Peter."
"Peter?" I said. "Why Peter?"
Tubbs says he likes that name and gives me no other explanation. Thankfully this was the end of that conversation because we ended up not stopping for the dog because it trotted off so quick. When we get home I overhear Tubbs ask Luke if we can call HIM Peter now. I interrupt and say, "No your name is Stinky." He ignores me and asks Luke again. I think Luke agreed-----as he usually does to any of their requests. I wonder to myself how long "Peter" will be living with us. A few months ago I ran into a friend of mine from work at lunch and I introduced "Kyle" to the boys. When we got home that day Tubbs changed his "mii" name on the Wii to "Kyle." I thought it was kind of weird at first, but he eventually forgot about it---after a few weeks.


OK---I have drifted far enough off the focus of this whole post, but I have to share with you my hot cocoa secret recipe!
Are you ready??
First, let me ramble on a little more and tell you that in September I discovered Starbucks has a new line of "signature" hot cocoas. My favorite is the hazlenut. Anywho, after downing about a dozen of these (and spending $3.75 a cup) I decided to check out the nutritional information online. Needless to say, I decided to start making my own. I use the Provident Pantry original hot cocoa (which uses water but tastes really good) and the "Torani's" sugarfree hazlenut syrup. I add 1 tbsp to my hot cocoa and wa-la! Delicious!!
Now...if I can only get myself to only drink one of these a day (or less), I could try to get into my favorite pair of jeans again!!

Homemade Water Slide

This is why I will never leave my boys home alone---for more than 2 minutes! :)

School Pictures

I love school pictures. I didn't always love MY school pictures, but I wait in anticipation every school year to see how the boys' pictures have turned out. I wonder if they smiled...(is it a real smile or a fake smile) or if their hair looks combed. Thankfully this year I have no complaints with their pictures (---Except maybe for the prices. For Tubbs I think I paid $25 for a class picture and one 3x5. Is that highway robbery or am I just cheap?)

Anyways, in last year's class picture Tubbs had his hand down the front of his pants like Al Bundy. I was mortified---kind of. I bet all the parents in class were telling their kids to stay away from the kid with his hands down his pants! :)
Tubbs - 2008

Last Year's Class Picture

Bubba - 2008

Happy Veteran's Day

These are some of my favorite pictures!

My Mom --the Marine
My Dad--- the Seabee (Navy)




And last--- but certainly not least, well maybe, Aunt Jenny in the Coast Guard--The seas have never been the same since she left!

If There Was Ever a Good Excuse....

....to strangle your child!!
I think I would have left my kid in there!
Check it out....

Primary Program Reminders

Yesterday was our ward's primary program at church. As most parents do, I look forward to this every year. This is Bubba's 3rd program and Tubbs' 1st so I was anxious to see if they would actually sing and speak into the microphone this year. In the past Bubba would kind of mumble and step down from the podium as quickly as possible. Saturday morning I found the primary song CD for this year's music and played it trying to get them to sing for me in the car. Instead I found myself singly loudly to "I am a Child of God" trying to get something out of them. It didn't work.
A few moments before it was time for the primary kids to walk up to the stand I reminded Tubbs to sing for me and not to pick his nose. Luke looked at me and laughed. He told Tubbs, "You don't wanna make mama look bad!" I just gave him "the look."
As I tucked in Bubba's dress shirt and adjusted his tie I reminded him not to play around up there and to keep his arms and legs to himself. He then asks me, "What if I accidentally kick or hit someone?" To which I replied, "Then I might accidentally have to spank you." I didn't get a response to that one.
Nevertheless, as always, the primary program turned out great. The kids make you smile, laugh, cry--all within a 20-30 minute time span! I look forward to next year's program all ready!

Bubba's Birthday Brownies

Bubba has been begging me to help him make these brownie cupcakes since Thursday night. He told Luke he wanted to make them for daddy's birthday (which was on Tuesday) since he didn't get to spend much time with him. Well... that totally melted my heart and made me feel like a big loser since I took Luke to dinner by myself that night. So, I finally broke down yesterday and let him make them.

I have never made brownies in anything but a cake pan, so I was worried how they would turn out as individual cupcakes. I added a few butterscotch chips to the mix and we filled up the cupcake papers.--- The boys were excited!

As soon as they came out of the oven they were ready and waiting for dessert. They were halfway done with their cupcake when Luke figured out HIS birthday cupcakes were out of the oven.

As you can see below, the boys forgot they were Luke's birthday cupcakes the second they came out of the oven. It was chow time!

Alert the Bishop....

Luke wants a calling! ----Of course the calling he wants doesn't actually exist.

On the way home from the store tonight I was checking the weather forecast for the next few days.
Me: "Its going to be 59 degrees tomorrow?!... Its going to be chilly!"
Luke: "Greeeeeat!---that means the thermostat at church will be set to like...90 degrees! Now--- that's a calling I would like to have---thermostat monitor! You don't have to be a member to do that do you?!"
Me: (Laughing) "I don't think think that exists but maybe you could talk to the Bishop tomorrow about it."

He's right though...the chapel used to be the worst. Now its the Young Woman's room~! I swear, the girls were bringing blankets with them to class! Blankets! (I only wished I had thought of it first) Then for a while it was so sweltering hot and stuffy I could have sworn I lost a few pounds by the time class was over.
Nevertheless, I am hoping Luke isn't right tomorrow. He is all ready disgruntled about not finding the Texas Tech football game on satellite this evening. I told him I was sorry, but that offered him very little comfort. He snapped, "Thats like pre-empting a new episode of Grey's Anatomy for a rerun of Seinfeld." I just looked at him like he was crazy and said "I'm sorry dear."

Surprise, Surprise!

Happy Birthday Pops!!

Last Friday we traveled east of Sacramento to see my family where we had a surprise birthday party on Saturday night. The party was for my brother who was turning the big 3-0 and my dad who is the big 6-0 today.

This party was so much fun to plan....I LOVE surprise parties! We told my brother it was a surprise party for dad and we told my dad it was a surprise party for my brother. While it rained ALL DAY on Saturday, my dad and brother kept each other occupied running around town doing odds and ends. It was perfect. (A big thank you to Bob and Lindsay for having the party in their new home, where we had a house full of family!-- If I counted correctly we had 13 adults and 14 .5 kids (I had to count Lindsay's pregnant belly) :)
When my dad and brother walked in the door and we shouted "Surprise" I can't imagine what was running through their heads because they didn't know we were surprising them. It was fun to watch. We of course think we're so clever!

The second best surprise was my grandma.... (who lives in Idaho) showing up! We were all shocked and of course delighted. I think its been over a year since the last time I saw her so it was very special. I know it meant a lot to my dad and brother too!

Me with one of the Birthday Boys

Grandma and the boys

My dad and 3 of his siblings

My mom and dad getting ready to dig into cake and cheesecake

My brother and his wife

Bubba and 3 of his cousins

The girls serving dessert!

Something I Would Do!

OK...enough of the serious talk on politics! I saw this and had to share. I wish I could get my boys to sing.
This boy is a future back up dancer/singer for Britney!

I Can Hardly Wait....

How much MORE money do I have to go around??
I think our government officials think I have an unlimited supply!
I quote our governor..."Democrats already have called for tax increases, but Republicans have adamantly refused them."

http://www.kansascity.com/438/story/878009.html
http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/?blockID=65727&feedID=1198

If I have to cut the "bug man" and the "pool guy"to make my budget work I think our state can find ways to cut their spending! Which is also amazing considering these new propositions that passed Tuesday. How much are we going to spend now so chickens can spread their wings before they are slaughtered?? (aka Prop 2---You really don't want to get me started on this...but I will rant for a minute) 95% of the California egg industry and accompanying economic output would be lost by 2015. The total current economic output of the industry is $648 million and 3,561 jobs. Egg production costs would increase by 76%. AAAAAAhhhhhhhhh! Did anyone think through this before they voted yes??
Call me selfish....but all I did when I voted on these new propositions is look at the cost. We do not have the money people. And if the government wants the money, where do you think they are going to get it??
You and Me.

Do you think my boys would like some painted rocks out of my yard for Christmas? I wish I could get away with not buying a thing so I could avoid at least one tax.

The Most Wonderful Day

Well, its not only election day...but it happens to be the big guy's (aka Luke's) birthday! Lucky, lucky guy! :) (I am hoping he gets a good birthday present tonight after the polls close and they call some winners!)

Bubba has also decided that this will be Luke's last birthday. He is spreading his "Peter Pan" syndrome around the family. I guess I should clarify what I mean by last birthday---he will turn 36 and he won't be getting any older after this one.

I asked Simon if I was going to have anymore birthdays and he says nonchalantly, "Yes...you are going to turn 100!"

I can see where the love is---- like I didn't know this before!

Happy Birthday Luke! We love you....Muuuuuuuua!

Vote Because It May Not Matter

As always, Election Day tests our citizenship. There are plenty of excuses for apathy, cynicism, and laziness, but they’re just excuses. Many people hide behind the perennial “I don’t like any of the candidates.” Whether you like your choices or not, you have a choice. Abdicating the opportunity only gives more power to special interests. Another popular theme is “My vote doesn’t matter.” Other citizens would prefer to be on call (“Call me only if my vote will break a tie”). It’s arrogant egotism to refuse to participate unless you’re assured your personal vote will determine the outcome.
The truth is, few elections in America are decided by one vote, and surely the republic will survive without yours. For that matter, it won’t affect our economy if you don’t pay taxes, and what you give to charity may be inconsequential. And don’t worry about littering or polluting either. There’s no way the harm you do could seriously impact the environment.
You shouldn’t vote because it might make the difference. You should vote because it probably won’t.
You should vote because in a democracy on Election Day all citizens are public officials, and it’s your duty to do your share.
By participating, you teach your children and neighbors to accept rather than evade civic responsibilities. That lesson could be as important as the outcome of the election.
By Michael Josephson reminding you to vote because character counts.

Trick or Treat

I can't get away without posting some pictures of my little darlings on their second favorite day of the year! Its the only day of the year where a kid can get dressed up in nearly anything they want and cruise through the neighborhood talking to strangers to collect sugar! (On second thought, it may actually beat out Christmas--making it their favorite day of the year)

This year was a special treat for us because the boys got to trick or treat with 4 of their Baer cousins for the first time ever. Since we were up at my parent's house for a special birthday weekend it was lots of fun. We had pizza for dinner (of course) and then my sister Sarah, sister in law Lindsay and my dad walked them (rather chased them) door to door. It was all great for about the first 45 minutes and then the clouds broke and the rain came down! If you read my last post on my hair, you can guess I was RUNNING back to my parent's house. Forget the kids, they were on their own! (just kidding...kind of)

Nevertheless, the boys absolutely loved it and it was fun to watch the kids head door to door to beg for treats.

Let's talk costumes! I am not creative at all--- I have never made or assembled a costume in my life, not do I think I have the ability. In the past I would hit the Disney store and this was the first year that we didn't do this. (I kind of missed it) Tubbs picked out his costume at ToysRUs a few weeks ago and I was really surprised. He was Bumblebee from the Transformers. It was the first costume, for either of the boys, where a mask was involved. I would say he looked cute, but you can't see anything but his big eyes peeking through the mask!

Bubba has had his costume picked out for months. He was none other than Indiana Jones! Its been an obsession since the last movie came out this summer. Thank you to Grandma Hogue for the fedora and homemade "Indy" bag. He used it for his candy! I had to keep pushing the hat up on his head because he had it pulled down so far it looked like some character out of a cartoon. :)