Happy Gobble Gobble!

We just got home from Bryan's house. We had a nice time. It was his first holiday in their new home, and I'm pretty sure it will be his last. Too stressful. How silly. When will they learn? Every time we have people over, I make it simpler and simpler. Eventually it's not a big deal, but the first one is always the worst. We had traditional dinner. The kids played, we lounged and talked. Pretty decent I would say. I was grateful I did not have to have it at our house (I would of had to clean!) Plus, we do Christmas Eve, so it's more than fair! I took fruit salad and Rice Krispie Treats. I had to actually make two batches, as the first treats turned out weird. How do you mess up a rice krispie treat? I've always used one bag of big marshmallows. Always. So, I'm reading the back of the box, and it says 10oz bag. I look at my bag, it is a 16oz bag. So, I wondered if I had been using smaller bags. I look at the recipe, it says 10oz or 40 marshmallows. So, I throw in the 40 marshmallows, and yes, there were some left over. Not a lot, but some. I mixed it all up, went to bed, woke up this morning to cut them. "Crack" they go. They were hard! I wondered why they weren't so sticky in the bowl when I was stirring them. Jeesh. So, I had enough to do one batch, but not two like I had originally done, and I had no chocolate chips left to melt on top. So I had one plain batch of treats. Needless to say, everyone in my family only likes them with chocolate on them. So, no one would eat them. Gee, lucky for me, because I like them sticky and with no chocolate. Yay for me! By the way, yes, the second time I made them, I did throw in one whole bag. They are sticky and soft, just the way I liked them! Not holy goodness, those are breaking my teeth.

They are still sitting on the counter. Craig swears he will eat them. Maybe they will soften up??!!

We had a good time at the coast. The weather was beautiful, we didn't even need jackets! We fully enjoyed our time with our friends, and have even talked about taking the kids up next year and renting the house for a week, all of us. It sounds like fun, and we all know the kids would enjoy it, the house is definitely big enough. We had two extra bedrooms that were empty this weekend, plus an area with fold out couches and a futon. We could certaintly fit a few more people in. Now it is time to contemplate Christmas. We won't have as much expendable cash to spend this year, so I am trying to get creative. There are several people we usually include in our gift list, that do not want to be included this year, because they too, are a little strapped for cash. So, I guess that saves me some money. We will have to do Christmas the old fashioned, traditional way, you know, where it is about the spirit, and not the merchandising. Where people spend time together, not at the mall. Gee, you know, what Christmas is actually about, the birth of our Savior, not the sale at the Gap?

I might actually fully enjoy Christmas this year. Think of all the shopping time I am saving!

So close!

I'm on day 7 of a 9 day stretch, and I am exhausted! We leave for the beach Thursday, late afternoon. I can't wait. The kids are excited to stay with friends, and we are excited to be with our friends. Funny how you can look so forward to 3 days. I look more forward to this, than I do an entire week of vacation. It's really nice to hang out with your friends without having to worry about what your kids are up to in the next room. Oh, and the sleeping in is really, really, nice too!

Haven't had too much excitement to post. We've all been sick. I took Monday off, and was off on Tuesday, so I basically sat around on the couch for three days, which made my back stiff. I need new furniture!!!!!! Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully in the spring. It's been forever since we've had a new couch! Chloe is the only one that was able to escape this cold/stomach flu combo. Sometimes I wish for a nasty 24 hour bug, instead of those upset, grumbly tummies that go on for a week or so. I really should have gotten us all flu shots, but at $28.00 a pop, I just couldn't make myself do it. I really should just do it for the kids. They have never had them, and Craig and I haven't had them for years....not since the insurance stopped covering it. So, we'll see, I may still take the kids in. You know what will happen, they will get the shots, and then get some flu that was not on the strain for the shots....story of my life! =) Oh well.

I'm anxiously awaiting our yearly 3 day trip to the coast next weekend. We will be with 3 of our friends. We always have a great time, and Craig and I very much look forward to the three days a year we have no child vacation. Makes me feel guilty. NOT!!!!

Ok, ok, you all know I love them to bits. But we all deserve a few days away.

Ok, so you are going to get double of this phot, but look, I finally did it on my own....jeesh. I feel like death warmed over today, and I don't know what posessed me to try and figure it out, but I managed to do it. Could I explain to you how I did it? Hmm, no, probably not. But, I did get them posted here, and on my facebook page, so I figure that is a plus. Now I need to take some more pictures! Yahoo!

Aren't y'all proud of me?