Wow Chistmas Day!

Before we went to bed we all agreed on 6:30 for a wake up call. (haha) Tia woke up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom and checked out her stocking. Well then she was so excited she couldn't go back to sleep. She then had a bowl of cereal and killed time. I think she was able to contain herself until 5:30, I'm still in bed, but aware that she is not sleeping. I finally told her she could see if the others could wake up. It didn't take asking Tara twice (my little late riser). I put the battery on the camcorder and we started passing out presents. It took awhile, we watched each other as a present was opened. We needed a new answering machine and cordless home phone. I hooked them up after the kids went to bed. I did mention wake up call, Tia had to try them out. Tara called Grama Snyder a couple of times early in the AM. We asked Grama & Grapa down for dinner. After dinner the girls put their clothes on and played outside. We have melting snow and ice, so it was slick.

It's Finally Christmas Eve

She's not sure what Christmas is, but it is getting closer. I got off work early and actually brought presents home with me to put under the tree. When I was carrying them in (Tara's favorite words) too many! We hadn't got the Christmas socks out yet, so I found those. Tia had a sign on hers, so it was easily spotted. I had picked up a few new ones just incase the boys brought home girls (didn't happen), so Tara got to pick out the one she wanted. Was kind of funny that it was like Tia's. Tara tried it on to see if it fit. She didn't quite understand what the stocking was for. I also had picked up new outfits for Christmas Eve service. Tara loved hers, Tia's was too small and she said "Mom you know I don't like sweaters". Well I do now. They weren't quite the cute outfits I had planned, they must not make them anymore. You have to search hi and low to find something that doesn't have Hannah Montana on it. (I'm being sarcastic here) Gene ran the girls in early for the service so they could practice there lines, they were a little nervous. All went well, Tia helped Tara read her script, she was a great big sister (another heart melting moment)
Jeff was home when we got home and let Tara open a present early. It was a basketball hoop to hang over the door and they had alot of fun with it.
It was 10 when the girls were off to bed, Tara was so excited.

Getting Lots Done

Just not house cleaning. Tia had her first basketball game Saturday. They played two games, the first was with a team that has girls with natural sports talent (we refer to it as stacking the deck). The second was with Tia's classmates (I-35 has 2 sixth grade teams). She lost the first and won the second. She had invited Chey home after the game, the original plan was to drop her home on our way Christmas shopping. Well plans are made to be broken, she ended up riding along on our shopping trip. She's such a sweet kid, she was able to get her mom and dad something on our outing. Gene bought his own present plus something he and his dad will benefit from. For me and the girls this was buy for the great nieces and nephews. We didn't get everything done we had intended, the weather is very, very cold. We got home early; Gene and Tia watched TV downstairs, while Tara and I watched Elf on Big Bertha.

It has been really hard keeping the house warm on a day like today. I am glad there was no new precipitation. I brought home some left over shrimp from work and am learning how to cook with it. We tried garlic shrimp, it had a little to much lemon...even so it was good. Then shrimp scampi, Tara liked this best. Tia and I both liked fettuccini shrimp alfredo. Gene turned his nose up at most of it. Oh well can't please everyone.
Tara let me take her down for the first time today. Probably only because I had to take Tia down first, she just makes it so easy. Tia can be such a loveable doll when she wants to. (this is a tickling fest :)
The girls weren't excited about putting their laundry away, but got the task done if they wanted the table to eat dinner. Tara tried to wash her first load of laundry. She loaded her coat and snow pants, put the softner in the wash tub and soap in the softner spot, turned the button to time and didn't know why it wouldn't start. I gave her E for effort and showed her what she should have done. Next was getting Big Bertha to the basement. I enjoyed watching it and will miss having it on the dining table. I don't venture to the basement very often. Might give me an excuse to use the treadmill??
The girls put their clothes on after dinner and went sledding. I told them since it was so cold they couldn't be out very long. The dogs and cats tried to join them. they may have been cold, but it warmed my heart:)

A Busy Month

There has been a lot of things going on and not enough time to update. We had cookie day with Aunt Marcia. Not sure, but I think the grown ups enjoyed it more than the kids did. We frosted, ate, visited and ate more cookies...what fun :) Wasn't sure we were going to make it. Cookie day was planned well in advance, but due to winter activities the girls weren't able to have basketball practice on their usual Monday night and the coaches called a practice for cookie day. With luck we were able to fit it all in. After cookie decorating Gene wanted to go Christmas shopping. We didn't have alot of time, but one of his favorite stops is Barnes & Noble. It was our first stop and we all enjoyed going there.

Poor Tara, her tumbling night is Thursday and for whatever reason things always happen where her night gets cancelled. She missed again this week due to bad weather. The girls didn't have school again due to an ice storm, luckily this year we didn't loose electric for 5 days. I did go to work, it wasn't terrible. I was glad though the girls were home.

We had a vendor bring us a plate of shrimp this week. There was so much I brought home some for Tia and Tara. I knew Tia loved it, but she was lucky to get some. Tara had a plate full and wanted Tia's too. I knew we would have more at work and told her I would bring her some more...I have no idea how to prepare shrimp and have never attempted to learn. It may just need to be a special treat with someone else's preparation.

UPS Delivery Anyone??

The UPS truck showed up Wednesday afternoon and rang the doorbell. When Gene answered he asked Gene if he would help carry in a package. Gene asked if he was sure he had the right house. He showed Gene the paperwork. Gene then called me to see if I knew anything about it??? We now have an HD big screen TV. Tia called when she got home and wanted to know what??? I told her it was the converter we have to have in February...she bought it for a little bit, telling me that it was 90 times larger than Grandma's converter box. (it was good for a laugh) She called me back and was screaming when she read the box and figured it was a TV. I told her it was mine and I wasn't sure where I was putting it. She still doesn't know that she will get to watch it often when it gets hooked up to cable. Thanks Curt, you shouldn't have! But we love it!!

Tuesday December 9th First Snow Day

Gene woke the girls up to tell them they didn't have school this morning. And then he went to bed. It took him extra time to get home because of the ice. He wanted me to go in late (which sounded good, but traffic is even worse if I wait). I left a little early, took it slow and it wasn't bad.

Tia made lunch, after a note and a few phone calls wa la...hamburger, green bean casserole. There was little left when I got home and it looked very good. Tia said Tara watched TV all day. I thought maybe they would go outside and slide around on the ice. Tia said it was toooo cold. Tara was hoping there would be another snow day on Wednesday...I don't think so.

A Week Later

The tree has been up a week now. I was trying to decide whether we would finish decorating it or use it as an example. I don't hold grudges, but I am having trouble getting over the trophy tantrum.

Since this is Tara's first Christmas I want it to be memorable, so out came the lights. Tia helped and it was even a pleasant moment. Tara exclaimed how pretty the lights were...it was worth it!

We are under a winter weather watch. Tia said buses may be on hard surfaces only, we needed to watch the news. Tara is wanting to know what?? She has no clue about the weather being so bad school can close. She thinks it sounds fun to stay home, watch tv and play games. She is becoming Americanized fast.

The Squirrel Story

We have been burning wood for 28 years to heat our house. Gene was cutting down a tree when he noticed his saw had furr on it. He had dropped the tree and decided to take a look in it. Shortly out ran a squirrel he noticed it was missing some hair on his neck, it ran up a tree and sat and watched him. A few minutes later out ran another one, this one had a shorter tail (yep, the chainsaw shortened it). There were 5 in all. When the tree fell it must have stunned them. One of them let Gene pet it. In 28 years this was a first.

Sunday with Mom

I had offered to take my mom to see her brother on Saturday and she wasn't up for an outing, so I told her I would check with her on Sunday. (we really would have pooped her out) I threw a roast in the crock and called Mom. We decided to meet in Indianola and go early to miss some of the traffic. Mom started off with a bang. When she got out of the car at the hospital she was trying to be careful on the ice and shut her finger in the car door. I haven't been around anyone doing this since my boys were little. Kids just cry hard and you get ice. Mom's you have to set down so they don't pass out. Yikes! She smashed it good with a jagged cut. We put a band aid on it and headed inside. She mentioned her finger later to the nurse and the nurse said it was too late to put a stitch in it. We laughed that you set longer in the emergency room then what we had been visiting with my uncle.

My uncle (my mom's brother) had surgery on Wed for a tumor in his mid section. Wow my hysterectomy was a walk in the park after hearing what he had done. He was up moving around and setting up, I thought he looked good. If I would have had my scissors I could have given him a haircut, but may try to catch him on another day. I hope we didn't wear him out with all our female chatter, but then he has plenty of time to rest. We had a late lunch at Fazoli's. Gene leaves early on Sunday for work, so I didn't take time to shop with Mom for a humidifier. I did stop at Dollar General and grab a new pair of reading glasses, the eyes aren't what they used to be :(
Our thoughts are with them now as they start talking Oncology. The talk has been good, let's just hope it stays that way!!

The First Saturday of December

This is the first deer hunting season. I ran to Winterset early in the AM, checked out Ben Franklin's 5 & Dime, grabbed a few groceries, changed the windshield wipers and picked up our meat at he locker. Got home just in time to run Tia to basketball practice. Returned home to put the meat in the freezer(glad it's cold out). Ran back to Truro to pick up Tia. (there are pickups full of hunters everywhere) Gene had tickets to the Iowa vs Iowa State wrestling in Iowa City. The girls and I did our chores and headed to Des Moines. Tia would like a pair of black boots for dress. We started with our chore of recycling cans. Then we checked several stores for boots, but had no luck(I say no spiked heels or pointed toes, remember she is only 11 with my size foot). Tara did get a pink pair that remind me more of slippers. Next was the Asian grocery store. Tara is in heaven here. Tia wasn't coming in unless I gave her the sign it didn't have an order. It didn't and she enjoyed looking around. She made the comment she had never tried pot stickers. I told her she had to try them before we bought them and tried to make them ourselves. I did get another skillet that will be excellent for sauteing vegetables. The girls were happy with there snack treats. Two doors down from the Asian grocery was the House of Thai. I had got take out years ago for lunch and we decided to try for dinner. Tia got a half order of pot stickers. The lady told us they are usually made with pork, but they use chicken. They came with a sauce, I would say soy sauce, garlic and butter??? Tia loved them! I didn't have my glasses, so just told the lady what I liked and she brought me chicken and vegetables. Tia got basil chicken and Tara had shrimp and vegetables. It was all good, but a little bland. It was almost twice of what I am used to paying, so probably won't go back there again. Our last stop was Walmart, we grabbed cat treats, a movie, the girls used their money for gum and beef jerky. We headed home, got comfortable in our chairs and popped in our movie. It was a good day!

Putting Up the Tree

We had a night with a few hours. I got the tree out, Tia separated the branches and put them on. She thought since Jeff wasn't home she was going to put the tree up all by herself. Needless to say Tara wanted to help, but had no idea what she could or should do. Well this is where the night of festivities was ruined. When I informed Tia Tara was going to help she threw a tantrum and told me I favored Tara over her. Tia stormed to her room and I started hearing loud noises. When I went to check Tia was slamming her tumbling trophies in her dresser drawers...now let me draw you a picture...she would open the drawer, put the trophy half in the drawer and slam it shut. I haven't looked closely at the drawer(don't want to), but the trophy was in many pieces. More were broken, but the one I caught her with was a second place National double mini tramp competition from Louiville, Kentucky. I - I was livid!! After alot of screaming from me (some of which I probably shouldn't have said) I told her to get in bed and not move, of which she cried herself to sleep. I am seriously rethinking the "wish list".