Goodbye 2008

Wow, this year went by way too fast. The older I get the faster time seems to go by. It needs to slow down. I still have too many things on my life's to do list. But this year wasn't too bad as far as years go I guess. I did get to cross some things off that list. Like whale watching, meeting Jason Thompson and going on a cruise.

Again this year I don't really have any specific resolutions. Still working on just becoming the best me I can as I mentioned in last year's post. I still hit bumps in the road but am trying to now learn from them instead of continuing to wallow in the self doubt and self pity that has been part of my life for so long. Easier said than done of course!

I do want to work on my photography and get back to posting regularly on my photo blog . But that means I need to stop procrastinating so much and work on being more motivated to get things done. One of these days I want it to be more than just a hobby. I have some possible goals I've been discussing with my hubby, but it'll take some work on my part. He has much more confidence in me than I do in myself. Again, something I'm trying to work on.

I wish all the best in 2009 for all my bloggy friends. I hope the new year is all that you hope for and more. May it also bring you much happiness.

Time to make the donuts

Tiger loves donuts! My hubby thought it would be funny to sneak "donut maker" on to her Christmas list. Well, when she saw it she insisted on getting one "if they are invented yet" she said!

So I found one of these at a kitchen gadget store:

It's basically just for dropping pancake batter but it did have "donut maker" on the box also, she was all excited. It included what looked like and easy recipe for regular donuts. All you have to do is mix the batter, put it in the contraption and "release rings of batter into hot oil"

Well this is the closest to a ring we got:

The dough just seemed to have a mind of it's own and take on random shapes. It also broke off into smaller pieces and we had all those turds you see around the edges.

Here are a couple more of the random shapes we got.

We tried again the next day and ended up with a seahorse, a dinosaur and one that was a little obscene! lol

I thought they tasted good though. Skowt didn't think they tasted like donuts. Whatever.

Merry Christmas!

Just want to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Hope you are all enjoying your holiday!

glitter-graphics.com

Christmas visitor

Not who we expected to find in our tree this morning.

Hopefully the photo is big enough for you to see the spider web we found at the top our tree this morning.

Hope you all are on your best behavior today. Santa comes tonight!

I'm finished!

Four books. Fifty-seven days. Less than two months. That's some kind of world record for me considering one of the books is over 700 pages.

I'm talking about the Twilight series. I know there are people who read them all in less than a week. I don't know how they did it. I'm amazed at how fast I read them myself. Technically it was a little faster, there was a period of about two weeks where I didn't start the second book, while on my cruise and also waiting for my daughter to finish up the first so we could go to the movie.

It's my new obsession. I loved them and am a bit sad that I'm done.
While searching for info online I found out we had actually been to one of the locations they used for filming in the movie. The waterfall in the baseball scenes in Multnomah Falls in Oregon. We visited the falls in July of 2007 while there to see family. How cool to find out you've been to a place you've seen in a movie, especially one you really like. The kids were excited and Skowt's friends were pretty impressed! Here's my favorite shot I took the day we visited..

I know I posted this back then but here it is again for anyone who didn't see it. I'd love to to back there again someday. Not just because the movie was filmed there (and to try to find some of the other locations) but because I really liked the falls. I even had mentioned while there that it would be cool to live nearby to come back and photograph it during different seasons.

Maybe someday.

Fourth Folder Foto

Amy tagged me for this photo meme. Go to the 4th picture folder, choose the 4th picture and post it on your blog.

This is from November of 2007. I was out taking some fall colors photos in a local park. If you're reading and haven't done this one before then consider yourself tagged. Leave me a comment so I can come check yours out!

Snow Day!

Despite all of Skowt's best efforts we still ended up having a snow day from school today. She insisted we weren't going to have one. She didn't want the winter break to be any longer than it already was, 16 days. Because that was already too long and she thinks she'll be bored.

She set her alarm because she would be getting up for school and she refused to participate in any of the superstitions her friends told her would ensure a snow day.

For future reference, here is all you have to do when you want a snow day from school.

1. Sleep with a spoon under your pillow. (She did not specify what kind, but I'm curious. The bigger the spoon, the more snow?)

2. Flush 7 ice cubes down the toilet. (seven is the magic number I guess.)

3. Sleep with your pajamas on inside out.
and if that's not enough.....

4. Sleep with 2 different socks on, both inside out.

She wasn't sure if you had to do all of them at once but I'm guessing your chances of snow are better if you do all four!

Good luck the next time you need a day off!

I got a new toy!

I'm feeling a little better after my stressing post yesterday. I'm that much closer to having the shopping done. I've got the weekend off to finish and get the tree and cards done (I hope). And...........it also helps that before we shopped yesterday we stopped and got me this new toy!



I've been wanting a phone with a full keyboard for awhile now cuz it takes me forever to text 2 words to my kid! Now, no problem.

The best part? Now I have a cooler phone than Skowt. How do I know this? She told me so! She's jealous.

Got my number? Go ahead. Send me a text. I know you wanna!! Anyone else that I correspond with regularly shoot me an email if you wanna exchange numbers.

Stressing

Two more weeks until Christmas! 2 weeks people!

Have I finished shopping?
Well, I finally got started on shopping yesterday. Whew. Got a good chunk done and we're going out again today. Different direction, different stores. For the most part I have a pretty good idea what I want to get today but there are still a couple difficult people I'm working on. And I still need stocking stuffers, that's always a hard one for me! But hopefully I'll finish up. Well for the most part. Can't shop for my mom when she's with me! I'll need to go out again with the kids on Saturday so they can get something for her and hubby.

Tree?
Nope. Probably do that Sunday when hubby and I are both off work. Though I heard MORE snow is headed our way. So hope that doesn't interfere.

Decorations?
We usually put those out when we put up the tree. We do have our outdoor lights up on the house thanks to hubby and Tiger. They went out on a nicer day around Thanksgiving to hang those.

Christmas cards?
I've received a few! Haven't sent any yet. I will. *Sigh*

I'm such a big procrastinator it's not even funny! Every year I say it's gonna be different and every year, same old thing. I think I work better under pressure anyway.

Agador Spartacus

My poor kid. (Skowt)

She plays the clarinet in band and this year they have to dress in black pants or skirts, black shoes and white shirts for their performances. She's just like her mom and isn't much into dressing up, so rather than me having to buy a pair of shoes that she'll hardly wear she decided to wear a pair of mine. Usually my shoes fit her, but the particular ones she chose for the outfit are a bit big and according to her make her look like she had granny feet.

Because they're a little big and have the slightest heel, which she is not used to, she tends to walk a little like this guy:




I know we shouldn't laugh. But it is a bit funny! She thinks so too! Even her best friend's mom asked me why she was walking funny.

Sparkly Vampires and Super Hero Dogs

So after a super long wait of a whole week and a half, I finally got to go see Twilight today. Skowt and I went to see it this afternoon because it was an early release day at school. Tiger went to see Bolt with my mom. I feel like I saw two movies because Tiger recounted the entire movie to me on the car ride to the restaurant and during dinner.

We loved it! I was a little concerned (as I always am seeing a movie based on a book I liked) about whether I would enjoy it or not. But I was not disappointed at all. Yeah, there were some differences between the movie and the book, but nothing that really affects or changes the flow of the story of Bella and Edward. Skowt actually got up during the most exciting part to go to the bathroom. Huh? you wanna go now? I found out later it was cuz she was feeling a little queasy seeing blood.

Now I can continue reading the rest of the series. Not that I couldn't before but I finished this book so close to the release of the movie that I just wanted to wait and see it before continuing. I'm just weird that way. I didn't want to start confusing the the two. Like with Harry Potter, whenever I discuss it I have to stop and think about what happened in what book. I think the Twilight series is going to become another big favorite of mine just like the HP books and movies.

I must admit that I'm a little worried that I won't like the rest of the series or should I say the outcome of them. From the very few spoilerish things I've let myself read online I'm wondering how the story is played out. The fact that a "team Jacob" even exists scares me!

Yes, I'm becoming obsessed with a series originally geared toward teenage girls. I'm such a dork. I'm totally a 14 year old stuck in a 39 year old's body.

The good thing about that though, is that I can give myself permission to do things that my mom wouldn't let me do! So there!

Merry SITSmas!!

My Girls (Christmas 2007)

I want to wish everyone stopping by today a very Happy Holiday Season! And may the coming year be everything you hope for and more!

THE SECRET IS IN THE SAUCE is having a big holiday party today. If you haven't already been there today stop by and get in on the action. They are giving away prizes every hour and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers. And the best part....the grand prize is getting to be the featured blogger on Friday along with a $200 Target Gift card! I know I could use that this time of year.