You Take the Good, You Take the Bad. . .

Here's Jen, Anne and Shawnie singing the theme song from "The Facts of Life" We knew every stinking word. We also did a mean rendition of "Little Red Corvette"
I'm not sure what Tim was doing here. Suffice it to say it was the end of the evening. He did roll up his jeans to earn him the nickname "Huck". Not sure why.
Here is our only guy who dressed for the night. Lee AKA Steve sported his Sonny Crockett look.
Part of the festivities of the evening included Totally 80s Trivial Pursuit. All kinds of fun and hilarity ensured. Boys vs. Girls. They did well with Sports while us gals had Music and TV locked up! Here Dawn becomes very excited to shout out "Alan Thicke!!"
Shawnie tries out the martini shaker. We had Wedding Cake Martinis, Jack Frost Martinis, and the non-alcoholic Cosmo-NOT Martini. They were yummy!

I gotta say, I love these people. We had our 2nd Annual Small Group Christmas party last night. Yee Haw. Over the past year we have been through a lot together, the most difficult being the losses of Andrew and Jesse. We also know how to have a rockin' good time. Real friends are the ones who are there for the fun and the not-so-fun. So last night was a Christmas in the 80's theme. Great fun for most of us who were cool in the 80's not so fun for the ones who were toddlers in the 80's! We had martinis and dinner. Cheesecake and beer. And lots of "candy from the crapper." I had a dish of wrapped candies in the bathroom last year and they were so excited about it! Some of the highlights of the evening included the girls singing the "Facts of Life" theme song all the way through, Tim making up his own questions, calling Lee "Steve" all night just because we could, Tim rolling his pants up like Huck Finn, laughing at all our pictures from the 80's, and dicussion of the term skin flute. Hmm. . . Enjoy the photos and join a small group today.

To Do's Done

In an effort to feel as if I have actually accomplished something, here is my DONE list. Now most will need to be re-done before tomorrow night's party but hey, we're closer.

CLEANED
Master bedroom
Master bath
Hallway
Laundry room
Amelia/Greta's room
Girls' bath
Family room
Mudroom

Nov. invoices
Paid bills


STILL TO BE DONE
Playroom
Office
Kitchen
Bath
Mop floors
Caroline's room

Make grocery list
Grocery shop
Plan menu

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work I go. . .

My Insurmountable To-Do List

In my "free" time I often surf blogs~especially the Christian Mom varitey. While some are a bit on the cheesy side, they are often well-written snippets from other moms like me. One thing I have noticed on the Homeschooler Mom Blogs (LOVE these as they are full of organizational ideas) is the practice of listing your to-do list on your blog (I think my pronouns are all messed up there.) One mom I "chatted" with said she does it for accountability. Well, heck, I need me some o' that! So, here's my To-Do by Friday night list. We are having a Christmas party here and only one person has seen the house so you know I'll be doing the grand tour.

CLEAN
~playroom ~office ~family room ~mudroom
~downstairs bath ~kitchen ~Amelia/Greta's room ~Caroline's room
~guest room ~girls' bath ~laundry room ~master bedroom
~master bath ~hallway

Grocery shop
November invoices
Pay bills
Laundry
PHONE CALLS
~painter ~builder ~insurance guy
Find pototo recipie
Finish and mail Christmas cards
Organize Christmas presents
Figure out who needs what for Christmas

I think that's it for now. Anyone wanna help? :-)

Griswold Family Christmas

I have a really weird extended family. I mean that in the nicest way possible, but they are kooks. We had a family Christmas party this afternoon that ended with a bottle of Irish whiskey being passed around the circle with everyone taking a hit~especially my 81-year-old Grandma and her sister. So I got thinking in the season of much family togetherness that I really do like them and the biggest reason why is they are a hoot. Exhibits A-E

**My Grandma makes us sing the "12 Days of Christmas" every year and last year we tried to do it "gay"

**My dad and my uncle once went sledding down a hill. With no coats. Into a creek.

**When Tim married into my family, he didn't know quite what to think. His family is very nice and my family yells things like "GET OFF ME YOU FAT OAF!"

**We once had a "meeting" to move the official beginning of Happy Hour up to 10am so one could have beer on one's Post Toasties.

**My Uncle Jim does a mean rendition of "Junior Birdman"

What kinds of fun stories come from your family? Do you do weird things? Are we the only ones who spend hours of drunken fun?

A few additions. . .

A while back I listed so simple do's and don'ts to make this holiday shopping season nice for all. After being out all morning, I need to add some.

DO vacate your parking spot immeadiately upon arrive to one's car. DO NOT organize your reciepts, adjust the heat, light up a smoke, balance your check book and start chatting on your cell phone while others are waiting to take your spot.

DO NOT chat on your cell phone while navigating a crowded parking lot. Please pay attention.

DO allow the person behind you to ask a quick question of the sales person who is helping you. If you are the person asking the quick question, DO make sure it is a question answerable with one-word.

Anchor stores in the mall, DO NOT close any earlier than the rest of the mall without making a huge announcement. Especially when my car is parked near your store.

Thank you for your cooperation.

My New Favorite Website

I am having a moment here. This is my new homepage. Every recipie EVER! Check it out and we'll have a party!

The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!

No time to chat. . .we're in for the "BIG ONE" and I need to prepare my disaster kit and set the DVR. I wonder if 90210 will record if the power goes out? We are supposed to get slammed with snow in the next 24 hours. Jerry and Tracy are saying up to 14 inches and Andy already has his sleeves rolled up. Every notice that the weather guys loosen their ties and roll up their sleeves as it gets worse? But our family favorite is Tom Skilling~or as we call him "Tommy Skillhead" Tom has a "moment of glee" every time the isobars are tightly packed across the lake. Love him.

The Answers. . .

Question #1
What month was I born in?
March

Question #2
What was my black lab's name?
Oliver
Ashley Correct!
Bridget
BJ
**A bit of a trick question as I did have dogs named Oliver and BJ at one time**

Question #3
What is my favorite movie ever?
Top Gun
Dead Poet\'s Society
Fame
When Harry Met Sally Correct!
**Another trick as these are all in the top 5 but When Harry Met Sally trumps 'em all.

Question #4
What's my favorite fast food restaurant?
Burger King
McDonalds
Wendys Correct!
White Castle
**Though I can see why Christine got that wrong. I made her eat White Castle to try and get me in labor with Amelia.

Question #5
My first job was at the mall. What store?
The Limited
Gymboree
The Gap
County Seat Correct!
**I sold Guess jeans at Chicago Ridge Mall**

Question #6
What is the one fruit I hate?
Bananas Correct!
Kiwi
Grapes
Blueberries
**Bananas are just icky.

Question #7
Who was my first boyfriend?
Lance
Mike J Correct!
Doug
Tim
**Another trick. Techincally, Mike J was the correct answer. However, Doug was probably my first "real" boyfriend. Like we actually went on dates and stuff as opposed to just making out at Sandy Mels parties when Mike and I were "going out" in 8th grade. And Lance, only in my dreams!

Question #8
Where do I go to church?
Faith CRC
Crown Point CRC
Crossroads Correct!
**Um, Aimee, you go to church with me and you got this wrong. Hello?

Question #9
What is my favorite band?
U2
Nickleback
Bon Jovi
All of the above Correct!
**Love 'em all.

Question #10
What is my favorite TV show ever?
Roseanne
Little House on the Prairie Correct!
St Elsewhere
Days of our Lives
**Long live Half Pint and Almanzo. I love him.

Need some help. . .

I need some Christmas shopping advice~especially from you boy moms who buy electronic gadgets. Caroline really wants a pink Nintendo DS for Christmas. Where is the best place to buy one? Is Ebay a good place? Are there ever coupons that you can use? How can I search for the best price without driving all over town? Will I ever be skinny again? Is she the right age for one? Will I ever see her face again or will it forever have that dazed computer screen stare? Are you sick of my questions? HELP!

Fashion Friday~A Bit Late for the Holiday

Here's a happy Greta at the Pumpkin Patch last month. I just love this picture and the outfit! How can you go wrong with Brunt Orange cords for pumpkin hunting?

Do you love me?

Amanda had one of these on her blog and it is so fun! hee hee It's all about how well you know me. Or care to.

http://www.testriffic.com/friendtest/622514

Holiday Shopping Do's and Don'ts

With the season of cheer upon us, I feel the need to remind us all of some simple rules when out and about. I have already been out and encountered many a Hooiser who needs an reminder. So here's a handy primer for all. . .

GROCERY SHOPPING
DO stay to the right of the aisle when stopping to check ingredients, compare prices, ect. This allows others to pass easily.

DON'T stop in the middle of the aisle when running into your BFF from high school. Kindly resume shopping or move the reunion to Starbucks.

DON'T make the poor clerk do a price check on every stinkin' item in your cart because you are sure that the sign said "Buy 1 get 10 Free" DO make dang certain that if you ask for a price check that you are correct.

DON'T chat on your cell phone while meandering back and forth down the aisle, making it impossible for me to pass you.

THE MALL
DON'T walk against the flow of traffic. With a stroller, 7 kids, Grandma in a wheelchair, and a seeing eye dog.

DO leave your coat in the car. I do not want to carry it for you. (This only pertains to my shopping companions. I do not carry strangers coats.) I also do not want to hear about how warm you are in your parka.

DO be aware of your surroundings~especially when needing to back up. My baby does not wish to be sat upon.

DON'T allow small children to behave like, well, small children in stores which they have no place in. Right now I can not think of one of those but I'm sure there is one or two.

DON'T hog Santa. Hug, smile for a pic, share your list, and get the heck out. Don't come back while my kid is sitting there and ask her to move so you can get another snap shot.

While on the subject of Santa DO remove yourself from the line in the event of a potty/diaper emergency. I would be happy to hold your place in line while you attend to business in a more private area.

DON'T attempt to return an item with no reciept or tags and then cuss out the store manager because she won't give you a cash refund.

PARKING LOTS
DO remember pedestrians have the right of way. Especially in marked cross walks.

DON'T park in the "Expectant Mother" parking if you do not own a uterus.

DON'T "steal" a spot that someone is obviously waiting for. If turn signal is on and car is waiting for another car to clear out, it is their spot.

DO return your cart to cart corral.

DO allow the pregnant, elderly, or mom with many children to have the closer spot. If you are alone, adult, able-bodied, and it is not a blizzard, please let those of us who need to shlep 3 kids into Target have the closer spot.

One final overriding tidbit~DO NOT for the love of Pete take your toddler out shopping at 9:30 pm and then yell "I'm gonna whip your butt!" at her for behaving like a toddler who should be in bed not in Target.

Thank you for reading and have a joyous shopping season!

Fashion Friday

Since I do consider dressing my daughters to be an Oympic sport~hey, I gotta be good at something~I'm flat-out copying Lisa's idea of Fashion Friday. It also gives me something post about other than all my angst. So here they are in all their glory! :-)

First we have a teeny newborn Greta in Playtime Piggy from Gymboree, that set is a Size Preemie!

Next is Amelia at 3 months in an awesome Tommy patchwork jumper I actually got at a garage sale! What a deal!

Last but not least is kindergarten Caroline in a great Gymboree Poppies set~we have had that set in 3 different sizes she loved it so much!

Thanks for looking and will someone PUH-LEEZE tell me how to make my posts with pics pretty?!?!?

Greta and the Staple Gun

We had an interesting trauma last week. We were at MOPS cleaning up (well, chatting) and Greta takes a dive onto the iron table base. I'm thinking she's ok, just whacked her noggin. I'm snuggling her and I say to Shawnie, "I taste blood. Did I cut my lip?" No, but blood is covering the back of Greta's head. And I missed this, how?

So to be safe (and cuz he's less than a mile up the road) we stopped to see good ole Dr Stroman. It goes something like this.

I walk in and announce "I don't have an appointment but we've got a head wound!"

And what does Tae Ni say? "I LOVE head wounds!" Takes a look at her and says, "Yep, ya gotta take her for stitches." Groovy.

Then Cool Nurse with the Nosering Lisa yells from the back, "We've got the staple gun!"

Um, hello? Did you say GUN?!? And STAPLES?!?!?! So Tae Ni whips out the gun, pulls her hairback and before I can spit out "Doesn't she need ANESTHESIA?!?!" He puts 2 staples in head.

So now Miss Greta-Boo has metal in her head and will not be passing through security anytime soon. She didn't even flinch. Wow.

And I know all of you are asking yourself "What become of her outfit with all that blood?" Worry not, I think I can save the outfit~great set from Petting Zoo. (OK, quit laughing behind my back. I made $1600 bucks this week. :-P ) I tried to check it discreetly while holding her and Shawnie caught me.

New Auctions Up!

I've got 96 auctions up~90% Gymboree and some boutique stuff and custom hairbows too! Click on the link on the side of my blog that says "Current EBAY Auctions" Sizes 6-12 up to Big Girl 8-10

~*~*~*Blogging Friends Special~*~*~*~
If you win an auction and tell me you saw it on my blog, shipping is 1/2 price!

Check it out~great holiday stuff :-)

I Love the 80s

Seriously. Like crazy love. Like I am still wearing leggings with big sweaters. Oh yeah, that's cool again. VH1 is running another totally rad show to feed my obsessions with both the 80s and organzied lists~The Top 100 Songs of the 80s. I am only thru 34 so DO NOT RUIN it if you know them all. I have it all TiVo'd and need to catch up.

A family friend who is a big music junkie once told me there was "no good music made after 1972" I find that wrong on so many levels~the biggest of which is I was born in 1972 and I did not ruin the music scene. I have thought about his statement and have modified it a bit. I think most people name their favorite music as what was popular when they were teenagers. Now I'm a big fan of what the kids are listening to today but I will always hold the 80s were the best. My parents thought the 60s were the best. And on and on.

So my QOTD is what are YOUR Top Ten of the 80's? Here's mine. I think. I may add more. Offensive and controversial as they may be. . .

10. Livin on a Prayer~Bon Jovi
9. Only in My Dreams~Debbie Gibson
8. Personal Jesus~Depeche Mode
7. It Takes Two~Rob Bass and DJ EZ Rock
6. Pour Some Sugar On Me~Def Leppard
5. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For~U2
4. Every Rose Has It's Thorn~Poison
3. Material Girl~Madonna
2. Pride (In the Name of Love)-U2
1. Paradise City~Guns N Roses

~*~*~*Happy Halloween~*~*~*~

Here are the little angels sharing their Skittles. Yumm-O. They had so much fun!

You might be a redneck if. . .

Here's a neato shot of our neighbor's back yard. No, there was not a terrible storm or vandals. That, ladies and gentlemen, is normal. They started to assemble a new picnic table, got bored, and left it there. For 9 days. This was a stroke of genius on their part. They didn't need to pick up any of the paper or cardboard from their new purchase~I did. Out of my shrubs, trees, and window wells.

Now moving to Exhibit B. Look closely at this shot. See the windchimes as big as your leg?! Observe the stunning Bug Zapper powered by a sunny yellow extension cord. Pretty, eh? So that brings me to the Q 'o the Day. How do you ask someone you've spoken to twice to remove the windchimes that wake the dead? Before you answer, you need to know that Mrs Redneck was seen screaming obscenities at the ATT guy last week in the backyard. In a muu muu. With curlers.

Seriously, I love bein' a Hoosier and all, but I am trapped in a Jeff Foxworthy special. Help.

Long Live TULIP

Here is an article to read. Discuss among yourselves. Follow up post to come when I actually have more then 10 minutes to string a thought together. . .

Books and More Books

I love to read. I could sit in my comfy chair~not to be confused with the comfy couch~and read til I have to get up and pee. I read fiction, non-fiction, "Christian" (I hate the term Christian fiction but heck, we'll use it here.), "secular" (again, bad term), the phone book, old yearbooks, and magazines of all shapes and sizes. Oh, and the church directory. Ya never know if it changed since the last time I looked up a number. So becuse I am deluded enough to think you care, here's a small list of some of my favorite reads from the last few years or so. Feel free to add your opinions and your own titles. Just no laughing at some of them. I run the gamute from cheesy to philosophical. Some I will list by series because it is easier. And it's my blog. I can do what I want. So here is my list of books I have read a zillion times and will read again soon.

The Red River of the North Series by Lauraine Snelling
This would fall into the "Christian fiction" catagory but I do love historical fiction. This is set on the Dakota prairies of 1880s. The main character does way more in her day than I do in a month. I always want to get up and plow a field or milk a cow after reading these. Great family saga that isn't too nicey-nice.

The Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke (some one PUH-LEEZE tell me is it "oak" or "oakie"!)
Also falls into the "Christian fiction" and lands squarely in incredibly nicey-nice. But I still love it. Such a sweet story.

Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury
Great story. A bit over-written but I did get attached to characters and wanted to see how it worked out. Kingsbury is a gifted story-teller but not so much a great writer.

Dancing in the Dark by Big Bill Romonowski and Friends
Changed my life. Or at least my major. Love him. Love his book.

Redeeming TV by Quintein Schultze
Can I get an AMEN from all my siblings here? Will change the way you view TV completely. I am also TOTALLY showing my age as this was his NEW books when I was there.

The Girlfriends Guides by Vicki Iovine
Wet-your-pants-funny. Must read for any beginner mom.

Eve's Daughters by Lynn Austin
All of Lynn's books are great but this one is still my fave. You can tell just by reading this book that Lynn is a Calvinist! :-) I get really tired of characters in "Christian fiction" that are very one-dimensional. "Good girl goes to church, doesn't touch alcohol, never has any sin, ever. Bad boy is very, very bad. Dances to rock music, reads Harry Potter books, swears, and even has GASP non-Christian friends!" Lynn's characters are not perfect. They are real flawed people with a grasp of total depravity but no clue about grace until it whacks them upside the head. This was the first book I ever actually read in one day.

Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Wiener
Great fun read about a bored SAHM who tries to figure out who murdered her neighbor.

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Also a fun read about a women who has too much to drink and ends up telling her life story to a handsome stranger seated next to her on a trans Atlantic flight. Turns out he's her new boss. Goes on from there. . .

Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
Pure Velveeta. But hey, why not a little cheese with that glass of wine. . .

So whatcha all got?