Marley & Me...

In my quest to become a reader in my middle age... a visiting teaching sister gave me a book in November.

"Marley & Me"

She suggested it to be a good read, well written, and said since I loved dogs so much, and owned labs, I would probably relate and really get into this book.

So since I knew I would have allot of traveling time to read I accepted it and packed it in my airplane bags. The day before I left, I heard on the television the movie would be coming out on Christmas. I was not sure if that was going to be motivation for me, or the end of my attempt to read the book, knowing I could go catch it on film and save me all the time and effort of having to actually read it.

I wanted to try, I didn't want to be a failure at this reading thing... and I admired my vt sister so much, I really wanted to be able to tell her, I did it, I read the book!

I took it out a few times to read on the plane, each time having to put it away after the inevitable sleepiness would come over me. But I did find myself loving the way it was written, and I could relate in the first chapters completely... especially when he described going to the breeders... and all the things they didn't exactly reveal about Marleys parents.

I found myself laughing and crying! Who knew you could laugh from reading a book, but laugh I did, and even out loud at times! I knew this would be good, if it were making me laugh out loud!!

Since I was traveling with my Mom, I tried to explain to her what a great book it was... having fun, talking about books all of a sudden. I knew she wouldn't be able to relate unless she was reading it too. So when I wasn't reading it, I let her read... but carefully watched to make sure she didn't pass me up, as I knew that would be the end of my reading... I would just ask her to tell me what happened and I wouldn't have to read it myself.

I am such a lazy reader, but I do know this about myself... so I am careful to avoid all the pitfalls. And there are many.

After many nights and plane trips and car rides later... I finally finished the book on New Years Eve... so I officially read an entire book in 2008! Silly I know, but quite an accomplishment for me!!! Really!!!!

Now I am ready to go see the movie... http://marleyandmemovie.com/

Knowing the sad parts, I am a little nervous, I am sure I will cry! And I hate to cry! But I can't wait to see the movie!

I have found the Authors blog and I love his writing so well, I can't wait to read all of his posts and especially anxious to read more about Woodson (I love that name) and Gracie his labs since Marley!

http://www.johngroganbooks.com/blog/index.html

New Years Eve Festivities...

As usual we had no plans for New Years Eve, except to be in bed early.

There was an Elders Quorum party, but we had decided not to attend.

The teenager was going to the Stake Youth New Years Eve Dance.

But earlier in the day, after talking to my sister and hearing about the special dinner she had planned for her husband. I thought, a special dinner, I could at least come up with that to bring in the New Year.

So after much pondering, I remembered the teenager and I used to love fondue... so we planned an entire meal around it.

I should have known that would be way too funky for my Strong Silent Mysterious Man... but he was kind of a good sport and ate some bread and a couple of meatballs dipped in the cheese. He wouldn't even try the chocolate though.
Oh well, more for us!

Then the teenager got ready and was off to the Stake Dance.

One of these days, he will be sorry for all the crummy pictures he leaves me with.

You can't tell from the scowl on his face, but he looked really handsome in his BYU tie. It was an entire ordeal, because normally our Stake dances are casual dress, and this one was being put on by other Stake and required church dress. Having a calling in the Stake I totally understood this request of the kids... but it was an all out fight at our house anyway.

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He finally came around and agreed to be obedient to the rules... it would have been very undesirable for me to have him get his way and try and sneak in past our Stake President like he thought he was going to try. So I was extremely pleased he finally came around and was complient... and I hate to say I told you so, but he wasn't the ONLY ONE at the dance who had to wear a tie. They required it of everyone, just like I told him. One of these days I wish we could just get there without all the lip.

Life just isn't lived until you live it with a teenager in your home.

The biggest partying going on at our house was Morgan with her new toy.

None of the other dogs, really love the stuffed toys, but Morgan adores them...

I found a basket of them at Walmart for .50 each after Christmas...

So she stayed up waiting for the teenager to get home and brought in the New Year, playing with her new toy by the front door for hours!

2009 ~ Happy New Year!

Annual Scone Party...

The neighborhood annual scone party!

It will be our 6th year, I can't believe we have lived in Idaho this long. But this is proof... the very first year we moved here, these families adopted us and included us in all their neighborhood annual fun times. Even though we are not technically part of their neighborhood... I am not sure how it worked, I guess they just thought we were cute. So really we are just cute party crashers I suppose!

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My boys didn't make it... basketball practice took precedence over scones???? WHAT?? I know, the weirdest boys in the world!!!
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The Hostess... mother of the teenagers best friend.

(somehow I missed getting a picture of her husband,

the great scone cook of the night)

Great Friends...

Cutest most fun loving Young Women...

Families...

Long time friends, and long time neighbors...

Playing, and laughing together...

And scones, of course...

We are so glad they invite us to come crash their parties!

A good time was had by all!!

Southern Cooking Tip...

Okay, I am not really sure if this is a "Southern" thing or not... but I am sure I have only ever had it in the South.

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Chili dogs in the South are not your average Nally's can of chili. It's a very finely chopped hamburger meat and NO beans in a chili powder sauce. That is what they call chili! I have no idea what they call the other kind.

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So when you see chili dogs advertised... the Chili on the dogs will be just what I described... nothing more, nothing less!

Unless you see some other red neck version of a chili dog, like slaw dogs!!!

(oh and most of the time they will have onions and mustard on them)

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(Seriously, I shouldn't make jokes about them, this place is famous for them and packs in a crowd at lunchtime, rain, snow, sleet or hail. I should be so lucky as to do all the business they do between 11am and 230pm! )

Yes, of course I stopped and tried one... Wally Dog, who wouldn't be tempted. Topped off with onion rings and a diet coke... minus the slaw (too weird even for me).

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So I got the secret tip from my Mom, being the southern belle that she is... and it works! This chili is so yummy!!! I just love it chopped up all fine, it melts in your mouth!!

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Being a braveheart in the kitchen today, I decided if it was good on hot dogs, it would be good that way in lasagna too!

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(I know my mother is cringing about now... after trying to feed the Strong Silent Mysterious Man for the past week... yes this might be a stretch, messing with his lasagna meat!)

So the secret, or the not so secret tip is to add water while browning the meat. Just like 1/4 to 1/2 cup for 2lbs. of hamburger.

And you can chop with a biscuit cutter, a fork, or a fancy meat chopper from Pampered Chef that has never worked for me until I added the secret water... and this time it worked perfectly. I bet I can make a million if I sell this secret to all the distributors of this fancy tool.

And walah!
Finely chopped meat in the spaghetti sauce... not everyone likes their meat small, some like it chunky. I never actually asked my family, but I like it fine, so tonight I tried it out on them.

And either they didn't notice, they were starving to death, or they just really liked it... because they dug into this lasagna like there was no tomorrow.

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And my Strong Silent Mysterious Man has already asked me to pack him some for lunch tomorrow... that is always a really good sign, if he will eat it not just once, but twice!
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Success!!!
(not always an easy task in my kitchen, so definitely blog worthy)

The Shopping Trip...

As much as I despise shopping with my teenager... because he is not just particular about what he buys for himself, he actually thinks of something very specific and then you have to go try and find it out in the world somewhere.

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I promised him, I would go with him into the city so he could spend his much coveted American Eagle gift card he got for Christmas!

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I geared up, put on all my patience! And even pretended in my mind that I was a fly on the wall watching my soon to be grown up son out shopping for himself without me one day.

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It worked! I survived! He found some things he liked!

We made it home without killing each other!

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SUCCESS!!!

Christmas 2008 Highlights...

Because I was so busy cherishing the moments this past week in Seattle with my family... I didn't take the time to journal it each day. So this is a summary from my photos... of some of the highlights!

The best of my time was with my family...

And getting to see friends...
A family favorite lunch out...

Seeing my brother with both his boys...

Babies... (this is Ella, my brothers great niece... 3 months and trying to walk!)

More Babies... (my sister with her grand daughter; my great niece Brooklynn)

And more Babies... (my brothers grand daughter; my great niece, Lillian) Mom speaking her new made up language to Brooklynn... it was so funny, I think she liked that she could understand every word!

Playing with the babies...

A weird realization there may be more babies in my future, someday...

Finally getting control of the flicker, and getting to watch Kung Fu Panda...

Shopping with my Mom for my Dad. Out with the old...

In with the new...

Shopping for my Dad's gift to my Mom...

Who's bright idea was it to try and find a bird bath in the middle of the winter...

The crazy shopping trip to downtown Seattle...

Believe it or not, this was NOT my idea!

In the blizzard...

The famous traditional Bon Star...

The lights downtown were beautiful!

The scary buildings that made my Strong Silent Mysterious Man cringe and claustrophobic... Niketown (were we just HAD to go) was the biggest dissapointment ever! There were so many people downtown you couldn't even stop and look down at your feet, or you would be run over.
It was seriously the fastest trip in and out of downtown I have ever made!

Playing Wii Fit!!!

More baby pictures...

Family feasts...

New toys on Christmas day!

Discovering the boxes are just as fun as the new toys!

The silly string fight...

Its all fun...

And then the boys get a little competitive...

And it's always the innocent by standers that get hurt...

But luckily her Dad stepped in and taught her how to get even...

The traditional cousin picture... we have a few of these over the years, but couldn't remember who was see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil.

Gotta find those original copies and see how we did!

Then the trip home... Snoqualmie Summit!

Great memories of where I learned to ski 36 years ago!

I have not marked this off my list just yet... I am getting back on the slopes again!!!

I promised myself; and seeing this gets me all excited all over again!!!

And the teenager and animals all packed up in the back of the car, loaded down with movies, treats and snacks... no need to even stop.
Except we did make one quick stop and see our sister and her family in Richland, and I forgot to get any pictures! Drat!!!

It was a great week!

A good time was had by all!