More Turkey

Today was with my side of the family. The snow started yesterday and I heard it wasn't really suppose to accumulate, but it did...Tara woke up this morning and said WOW and couldn't quit looking out the window. We only had a few inches, but to someone who hadn't seen it before it was wonderful. We packed all the snow clothes and headed to grandma's. We had 4 new family members-how awesome. Three great nephews and Tara. Next years Christmas should be really nutty. After we ate the kids got dressed to go outside. Tia and Katelyn made snow angels. Tara, Leah and Brandon made a snowman. And they all shared in a snowball fight. Tara came in to tell on Tia, I just told her to get even. Marcia brought a Ginger bread house for the kids to decorate. Tricia, David and Nicci were in the mood to play games. Brandon and Tara made monkey bread. Food was good and family is precious. We missed Tim in Oregon, Curt in Delaware, Jeff working in Cedar Falls, Mandy working in Iowa City and my Dad.

Tia colored a picture for Grandma and forgot to give it to her, so we are sharing it here.

Not a Shopper

My little one wanted to go shopping, but she isn't good for long. She got up at 8:45 and was ready to go at 9. We started at the Asian grocery store. I love the way her face lit up when we walked in the door. We walked around for a little bit before she started loading my arms. We left with Funyons(Chinese style), jellies, cotton candy(green apple flavor), a cake, Meiji YanYan-vanilla and strawberry flavored cookie treat, egg rolls(these were also a cookie, not the egg rolls I eat). Needless to say I spoiled her. We then went to MerleHay Mall; Target, Children's place, Justice, Old Navy, Payless Shoe Source and Kohl's. I thought I might have to carry her to the car. Today was suppose to be shopping for other people, but Tia needed black pants and I wouldn't have been able to get the right size so she tried on what she liked. Tara tried several pairs on, but poor thing couldn't find anything she liked. If they fit in the waist they were too long and she isn't fat by any means. I did find out she doesn't want any more pink, she told me orange, green or yellow. When we came out of the mall it was snowing right down, but very wet. We just got our car back from Jeff who borrowed it while Gene worked on his car. Guess what - the windshield wiper was shot, so we had to find NAPA.(thankyou young man for changing it for me!)Tia choose fast food-imagine that. Tia and I eat the same, we ordered the whopper jr. I traded my fries for a side salad and ordered Tia a side salad. Tara wanted Chicken fries and ate more than she usually does. We ended at Hy-Vee and recycled cans, the cats needed food or they wouldn't let us come home. There was a bell ringer and I had Tara put some money in the bucket. She wanted to know why we did that :)

I forgot one thing Tara picked up at the Asian grocery store was seaweed soup. She just thought she was getting dry seaweed to eat like beef jerky. That is what she wanted for supper...she ate it dry before she mixed it in her bowl of soup. She is chewing the dry seaweed in the picture before making the soup. I have to say it smelled reallly bad. She ate all the seaweed, but left most of the broth. (don't blame her)

Black Friday

I met Denise at Murt's house and her sister Shirley joined us. We started at Kohl's 4am. With this being the first stop there was a few things I forgot to look for. Checkout at Kohl's is awful. Next Walmart at 5, they are open 24 hours, but they block off items and don't release them until 5. Again this place was nuts. Onto Target at 6, we thought we would get in quicker in the grocery door...Wrong. They forgot they needed to unlock it. I was excited I got everything I was after here and check out was great. We were right next to Radio Shack and I had something on my list here. What a joke. They put you in line when you walk in and then they go get what you need. I think we were there and hour and stood in the same spot the whole time, Yuk!(I did get what I went in for) Denise had an item she wanted to look at-at Kays, they didn't have it, so onto JC Penny's (this is work clothes for me...yes every year). We checked out jewelry at Younkers, smelly stuff at Bath & Body and onto Big K-mart. Everything and I mean everything was gone...waisted trip. Lunch after we had spent all our money was Mickey D's. Not the most tasty, but in the budget and enough to keep us going. We headed to Altoona from here, Murt had therapy for her arm. I headed to the other Big K for the stuff on my list...Yeah they had it!! Home at 3:30 and exhausted. I was asleep in my recliner by 8.

First Thanksgiving

I think the part I enjoyed the most was Tara meeting Gene's brother for the first time. I had told her before we went to Grandma's that Dad's brother Gail would be there and she hasn't met him yet. When Gail and Gene were in the room together for the first time Tara says, "Dad here's your brother", (kind of like he didn't know).

I tried to take a pic of her at the table and she kept ducking the camera. Ugh! I don't remember seeing her eat too much turkey. (we call it turkey day, although I am very thankful for all my family) she probably ate a half head of sautee broccoli and not much else until desert was butterscotch rolls. Tara would eat the outside with frosting and give the middle to me to finish.(I was okay with it)

I like to shop black Friday, so I got up early and went to the gas station for a paper--lots of ads...after dinner I started putting my shopping list together. Tara gave me a few ideas that I wouldn't have guessed. Then a little whisper behind me ask if she could go shopping toooo??? She ask several times and I had to tell her no, it was momma's day. She could go another day. I got the phone call that we were meeting at 3:30, which meant I had to get up at 2 to be able to drive there.

The Nutcracker Ballet

To start I couldn't believe how good the kids were:) They had the I-35 kids there first to be seated first. The school fed the kids a sack lunch on the bus ride to Des Moines. They arrived at the Civic Center at 11 (parents were asked to meet at this time as well). I walked from work and the first session of the ballet was just releasing. I easily found the group and joined them. We didn't have to wait to long when they ushered us to our seats. Now for the wait, the kids sat quietly visiting for close to an hour before the place started to fill up. Tara and her friends played with each others hair. The performance started at 12:30 and the place (full of 4th-5th graders) was quiet. I don't sit still very well and I knew this was the only way I would be able to watch it. It was the abridged version. I had told Tara she could leave with me if she wanted and she was pretty set that she was staying with Mrs Benedict and going back to school. I said my goodbyes and walked back to work. I asked Tara if she liked it and she said no, but I will try this question a few more times.

She truly is a Snyder and acts like her older brothers. They aren't very talkative either or photo genic.

Burnt Fried Rice...oooh

Tara found a box of chicken helper in the pantry on Saturday. We had plans to attend a wedding and reception, so I told her she could make it Monday night for supper. She has done pretty good cooking, so I trusted her. I explained the directions...I guess I didn't emphasis enough to turn the burner down on low after adding all the ingredients. Monday when I got home from work and walked in it smelled like burnt cookies. Tara had her coat on and I told her she still had 20 minutes before basketball practice. That was when Gene told me he had all the windows open trying to air out the smell. I think there was a quarter inch of black char in the bottom of the skillet. I will have to buy another box and give a cooking lesson on this one. I think I have mentioned before that she likes to cook on high...I think she thought she could do it this time also.

She was excited for basketball practice and had a good time. She does pretty good at listening and can do what the other girls can do. After her practice she had to wait until Tia was finished before we could go home. She played with a ball on the side and seems to forget at times that it is Tia's turn with the floor.

When we got home Tia called the bathroom, but then started messing with the TV to record a show. Tara was trying to be patient, but she needed to get ready for bed. I had her butt in front of Tia. When she was in bed she was telling me she wanted to trade Tia in for a little sister, maybe 6 would be good. I told her she had to talk to her dad. Too funny :)

Mowing in November

It was another gorgeous day. Gene had a load of wood cut that needed stacked. I was expecting it to be cold out, but was nicely surprised. Tara came out with me and I had her pick me up some walnuts to crack. She moaned, but did it. I had to yell at Tia to get her butt outside. Once she was outside and forgot about the TV I think she enjoyed raking the leaves. Running in and out of the house - one of the house cats snuck out. They are animals and love to prowl. Tara hates them going outside. I am not sure, but I think I was being cussed out in Mandarin. I really need to learn the language. Tara and I had a pile of leaves from the last time we raked, so we threw a match on them and they were gone. After the wood was stacked I got the lawnmower out and mulched and blew the leaves out of the yard. Tara and I had to pick up several buckets of windfall apples. I hated to see them go to waste, but we use as many as we can. I'm not sure how many times I heard "I'm tired", what she is really saying is I don't want to do this can I go ride my bike?? She took off while I hauled several wagon loads of leaves out of the yard. The next time I saw her she had a towel wrapped around her head, her pjs on with her coat riding her bike. I had to yell at her to get back in the house. Ahrggg, that's all I need is another sick child. This was about 4 in the afternoon.

When I came in I worked in my closet straightening my clothes. Tara came in and wanted me to curl her hair. Wow alot different than Tia's. It curled easy and fast. Tara was fastenated with her curls. She enjoyed looking at my barettes. Gene has a small Hy-Vee semi on our headboard. Tara wanted to play with it, it is still in the box. So I took her to a bucket of the boys matchbox cars where she enjoyed seeing what we had.

Tia has Sinus Infection, Jeff has Surgery

Gene took Tia to the doctor last week, so she has been taking her horse pills all week. She was counting them and thought they shorted her a day (she sounded disappointed) but quickly realized the pharmacist can count. This is the most school she has ever missed (of 4 days, most of which she was running a temp). Tia missed last week and this weeks tumbling (it was nice to be home). Gene and I were both nervous and didn't want to catch it with Jeff's upcoming surgery. Which finally happened Monday and all went well. Jeff had his left adrenial gland removed with a 3 cm tumor in it. They think it is genetic and he will have to watch his right one. I was not real impressed with the hospital in general. It was a good thing I didn't get to spend much time there, although I may have come to like it better??? I was out of vacation with our trip to China, so Gene was on Dad TLC watch. We knew ahead that he would go to ICU to watch his blood pressure and heart rate, but he got stuck there after he was able to be moved on Tuesday morning. Spent all day Tuesday and didn't get a regular room until Wednesday noon and got to go home Thursday noon. Gene said the bed next to him in ICU gurgled alot(misery and pain, you feel bad for them, but do you want to listen to it 24/7). Then his roommate in the next room was an alcoholic that was told he was killing himself. He was in denial and told all his visitors he had the flu...wake up buddy!!

We had a nice surprise while we were waiting on Jeff's surgery. Tim was driving through Iowa with a friend that was moving to Georgia and stopped by long enough to say hi. He wasn't able to see Jeff and Jeff wouldn't have remembered it anyway. Curt checked in and is off to Rota, Spain again. Wasn't sure if he would be home in time to have turkey with Ryan, Nykki and Kathy or not in Alexandria, Virginia.

This week was American Education Week...Great Public Schools-A Basic Right and Responsibility. Not sure what that has to do with wearing certain colors to school each day, but it was great for Tara. Each day she had a color she was suppose to wear to school, so we went in looked in her drawers and picked out the clothes for the next day. She wore things she wouldn't normally wear and now maybe I will see them more often :o)

Grandma Got the Roll of Mom Duties

With Jeff's surgery we had no clue how the week would go. We needed to leave Monday morning at or before 6AM the girls don't have to get up until 6:30 or 7. Tia was in Gene's face at 4 asking him when he needed to leave. She again got up at 5:30 when we were getting ready and asked if she could stay home from school. We told her she was in charge of getting Tara ready for the bus and yes she could stay home. She has such a tickle cough that is annoying, she wouldn't have gotten much done at school. So I asked Grandma C. to meet the girls after school and spend the evening with them (Tia scared the crap out of her when Grandma got here and Tia was home). At that time there wasn't anything scheduled. Well it never fails, I got an email from Tia's basketball coach practice would start that night. Then came the phone call from Tara's coach. Yep her too :)

When you miss school you can't attend evening functions. So Tia missed her first practice, but she had to help grandma drive the roads after dark and get Tara ready...Ready for her first basketball practice ever. Grandma said she did a pretty good job keeping up with the other girls and she made at least one basket. Yeah!
Thanks Grandma!!

This year has flown by

I can't believe we are so close to the end of 2008, where did the time go. It is slowing down at work. Whether it is the economy or just plain old winter time of year setting in. I am still trying to put the files back in place from being gone in China and having come so close to having a flooded office from Spring rains. It will be nice to start 2009 with clean drawers and knowing where everything is.

Our high temp today was suppose to be 49, I never saw it get off 31. It was cold, but Tara and I worked on cleaning outside. She swept the garage and I blew the leaves into a pile and we worked on hauling them with the wagon out of our yard. I definitely think we could use a bigger wagon to make less trips. It is funny to see the look on her face when her glove gets a little bit dirty. Her coat is one that can't be washed weekly and I think it pushes her over the edge to see the dirt on the cuffs. She was in a giggly mood when we came inside. We have apple trees, so I started peeling a bunch to make a pie. Tia joined in and we had them peeled in no time. Tia watched the oven for me while I was outside. I found out Tara likes the crust. She wouldn't eat a whole piece, but tried to pick the top off.

Jeff checked in, he gets to take meds to clean out the bowl and fast after midnight. He sounds like he has very little energy. Thank goodness for Sunday football. Curt called and is trying to install a pocket door on a bedroom in his house. It will be fun to see the changes he's made since we were there last.

Tia has been home sick since Wednesday. Wow in 9 yrs I have never seen my baby this sick. Thursday Tara brought her homework home. Tara didn't think it was fair she has to go to school and Tia get's to stay home and watch TV. Thursday Tara fell wrong on her ankle on the tumble tramp and was favoring it Friday, but it isn't bothering her today. Gene took Tia to the dr Friday and she has a sinus infection. She is taking horsepills and not very well I might add :(

Nice Surprises

Isn't that a sad face :(
Tara was acting bored last night and was ready for bed at 7. I told her too early and ask her if she needed something to do. I had picked up several activity books; alphabet, numbers and such and pulled them out again. They have been laying on the table since she came home, but she hasn't touched them since. They had today off school for quarter end and when I got home from work she showed me she has most of them done and neatly I might add:) I am very proud of my little one. She had a school library book laying on the counter and it has been there for a week, so I suggested she put it in her bag and take it back to school. I told her I would read it to her or she could read it to me. So she read it to me...YEAH!!! Tonight I was trying to put away the extra boxes of clothes and one had dolls and stuffed animals in it. Tara had not been in the mood, but AHHH tonight she was. She took every doll and every animal, but two and put in her bed. She now has lots of new friends. The doll that looked the nicest is now sporting a new coiffure (not sure why we little girls have to always redo the hair)

The girls said they had ate by the time I got home for work, so I made a plate of fried rice for myself. As I am eating it Tara comes to the kitchen and says smells good. She climbed onto my lap and shared my plate with me...(happy mom)

Yesterday we went through winter outdoor clothing. Tia needs snowpants and Tara needs boots. Today's lunch was a shopping trip. Tara was excited to see her new boots. Tomorrow they are predicting inches of snow...Uhggg.
Days like this make it sooo worth while!!!

Determined

Okay for some time I have wanted to update my dashboard to include Tia. This scrapbook crap is hard. I love art, but this brings things to a new limit. I was working in Paint.Net and nothing was as easy as it should be...needless to say it's not done yet. I gave up :(

I didn't get the house cleaned like I had planned today...but then I didn't make it to church like I had planned either. We burn wood for heating the house and we are behind schedule cutting and getting it stacked. Today was Tara's first trip to the timber. I think we are in the 30's today. First she was pretty set that she should wear crocks. I should have boots that Tia has outgrown, but to no avail I can't find them. Well tennis shoes will work, it is muddy out and they will wash. Next a hooded sweatshirt, easy the Iowa State one. Then coveralls or snowpants, yea they fit (they looked to big, they were perfect). I tried to pull up the hood to put on her head and tried to strangle her. The opening is way too small, I felt so bad I chin chopped her. I had her dressed and ready and she got mad which led to taking off the coveralls. Finally we found gloves and a stocking hat. Gene and Tia brought the tractor & trailer down and we jumped on. The ride out was fine - plenty of room. Gene usually does the cutting and Tia and I load the wood on the trailer. Tara started out helping pretty good, right until she saw Tia sluffing off. She then took her turn sluffing off. We are hot, then cold...coats are off, then on. The ride home wasn't as easy the trailer was heaping. I tried to boost Tara onto the pile when she resisted, we fell backwards. I will probably be sporting a nasty bruise on my leg. Must have been paybacks for the chin chop thing. The trailer is now unloaded and partially stacked. The house is quiet and very, very warm

Observations of Food

It has only been four months, but here are a few thoughts.

Bread - one bite is enough, although add a little sugar and make it a muffin, very good...I'll have another.

Meat - loves chicken, asks for chicken. Roast smells really good, small portion is plenty (I get "hey mom, too much"). We've had pork chops, okay nothing special. Won't eat a hamburger. Loves eggs, mostly scrambled or boiled :) I did ask her is she has eatn dog and she replied yes...oooh. Cheese...not so much.

Potatoes - loves fried (french and otherwise). Tia made mashed for her first time, Tara ate a huge helping and had seconds (must have been starved, it's been the only time she ate them). Check back we are having baked for lunch today?? Okay she peeled it and ate it like a boiled egg (kind of like an apple) no good sour cream here.

Veggies - Oh Yes! Loves...fried cabbage, all corn, sauteed broccoli, mushrooms, sauteed peppers & onions, peas, sauteed greenbeans...but boiled not so much.

Pasta - doesn't need any unless it is attached to the word Ramen.

Rice - she didn't want any when she first arrived in the U.S. Now I make about 1 to 2 cups uncooked a week. Store in a ziploc in the frig. Tia wouldn't eat it before Tara, now she also adds it to stir fry breakfast.

Fruit - likes apples, grapes, watermelon, musmelon, strawberries, asks for oranges.

Junk Food - Little Debbies Nutty Bars, Nestles candy bars, M&M's, Skittles, chips...all kinds, gum (her choice is spearmint), peanuts, chex mix, cookies. Tara will eat pizza if she's hungry, but would rather not. Ice Cream is the BOMB :)

Beverages - likes Coke and diet Coke, diet Mountian Dew, water...Yeah, gatorade, chocoate milk for lunch at school (white I haven't seen yet).

Condiments - has to have ketchup for fries, soy sauce is good on rice, don't even try to make gravy...it's yuck. If you put mayo on that I won't touch it.

Tara likes to sautee her breakfast consisting of peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggs, rice and maybe some meat. It is very good! She used way toooo much oil in the skillet to start with, but she is getting better.

I will keep adding to this post as things change.

Happy Birthday Curt

Kids getting older...it's not much fun to celebrate your childs b-day when they live hundreds of miles away. Curt turned 25 today. I tried to call him, but got voicemail. It could have been that he was watching the Iowa State football game. I listened to it on the radio. We had the first half and took it down to seconds in the end, but couldn't hang on. Unlucky him I did sing happy b-day to his voicemail. For those that don't know me, I can't carry a tune.

First Snow

The girls didn't have school today with end of quarter and we had our first snow. I wished I could have been home to see Tara's face. I asked her when I got home what it was and she put her hands in the air and made a sprinkling gesture with a smile. I asked her if she went outside and she said no...cold. She ain't seen nothing yet.

School Conference

It has been a very busy week and I am glad there is just one more day of work. I have been taking meds for 3 days for a lung infection that goes back to our trip to China. I notice side affects from the meds in little doses at different times through the day. Yesterday I was really grouchy, today not so much. But I feel like I am back peddling, my voice comes and goes.

We had it all figured out. Gene would pick up Tara at school, take her to Osceola and get 1 to 4 immunizations. Tia would stay after school, I would do Tara's conference at 5 and then we would go to hers.

All went as planned, but I felt like I was running full speed ahead. The teachers are very pleased with the progress Tara is making. While I was in Tara's conference Tia went to the commons and ate taco's for supper. We then started with a new science teacher Tia has, next English and finished with math. The Social Studies teacher wasn't available and we ran out of time for the others. We stopped in the office and dropped off some medical reports I had on Tara and picked up Tia's report card. I should have started there, but didn't think I had time (I would have). Gene called when we were in the office. He said all went well on his end. Whewww! Two nurses each took an arm. Gene held the feet. They were able to do 2 shots in each arm. Yeah! She cried a little, but said ow several times. Dad made it all better by taking her to the Chinese restaraunt for supper. I checked with the nurse ahead of time and she recommended Tara do tumbling so her arm wouldn't get stiff and sore. When I got home Tara had taken her shower and had her jams on. I told her she needed to go to tumbling, she quickly changed clothes and was ready. I never heard any complaints at tumbling. The ride to tumbling was like she had been given a truth serum. Tara was chatty Cathy. (she was kind of funny) I will try to elaborate more on school later. For now I am signing off...good night.

A Day that will go down in History

Not sure if it was readable, but this was Nov 6th at $1.84 for the cheap stuff.

A President of color or a female Vice President, either way history will be made. I did my Civic duty early starting my day. Tia called me and told me to fill up with gas and take a picture of the pump. She is expecting the price to go up soon. I got gas for $2.81. It is so much more doable on my pocketbook. I spoke with Jeff on the phone and he said he didn't get registered, but in our state it can be done at the polling site. So let's hope he took the time. It irritates the crap out of me that the media has so one sided the whole Presidential campaign. Journalism died in 2008. If you are a journalist you should be ashamed :(

Tara had a makeup night tonight with tumbling. I had to leave early to catch a church meeting an hour before (she thought she got to go to tumbling early, boy was she disappointed)She sat at the meeting and stared at the clock and kept giving me the look (Oh yeah she is good at it). On the 5 minute drive she would tell me as each minute passed and go faster. This from the one I couldn't get in the door the first couple of weeks.

I got a call from my SIL and we have a new baby. My nephew's partner went through a long day of labor today making me a great Aunt for the 6th time. She equaled it out with a great nephew...Jaydon Ray Chandler weighing in at 6lbs 13oz 20"...Welcome to the family!! I hope Momma gets a good nights rest. I will try to add some pics later.

The weather was once again gorgeous, now if it could only stay this way for a few months. This is my favorite time of year hands down :)

Daylight savings time

I thought I was late getting to work, everyone was here early this morning. Too funny!

Kase & Kelse turn Sweet 16

I didn't even think twice about a time change and as I was about to go to Mike and Murts, Gene ask why I was leaving so early...I had another hour. Hey!

So hard to believe these little girls (twins) have grown up. They are such beautiful people. Where has all the time gone. They shared their day with Tara and it was a nice day.

They have their car purchased and drivers training over. Now to just make it to the DOT to get the proverbial license. Good luck girls and Happy Birthday!!

Sad Day

I went to my first Catholic Funeral. I don't like funerals, as much as I should attend I usually avoid them. It left me with a couple of questions. With the exception of length, they are not alot different from any other I've been to. They started by sprinkling the casket with water, that I can understand. But then finished with swinging incense over. That I had never seen or heard of. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bush family as they say goodbye to both their parents this year. One is hard enough, can't imagine both.

The day is beautiful, with the exception of way too many Chinese beetles. Or better known as lady bugs. I hung laundry on the line and had to run them all through the dryer as I brought them into the house long enough to shake the bugs off. Yuck!

We finally got Tara's drawers figured out in her room. Tia had to give up a few more. Good thing I still had that party thing to use for attitude ajustment. Tara picked out pants, long sleeve shirts and sweat shirts to have when it gets cold. I don't think she ever wore a nightgown. We put one in her drawer...let's see if she ever wears it :)

Tia's friend C had a birthday party tonight. She started making her a bracelet last night and finished it this morning. I like to play with beads, so she designed one and put it together. She doesn't take critism well, I would try to make a suggestion and she would flip out. She has to quit yelling at me, it is going over like a lead balloon. The snotty mouth also has to go. A little respect will go a long ways. I had to threaten the b-day party and hayride that she was invited to. Tara rode along as I dropped Tia off. Tara thought we should go back tonight and pick her up.

Tara has found starfall.com. I had to kick her off the computer tonight. She is doing so well with her English and this will be a good reinforcer.

Gene gets to have a colonoscopy on Monday and started the process this evening. I am totally not looking forward to doing this myself. Fast for a day and a half...what no food. I would wither up and blow away.