{First Dentist Appointment}

{Anticipation}

I am absolutely so thrilled to be able to see David Gray in concert on Thursday. So thrilled, I'm dreaming in Gray. Love his tone!:)

{The Reptile Man}

The Reptile Man came to Caleb's school yesterday. We were introduced to several pythons and vipers, a mamba, a pretty tame turtle, a monkey lizard and oh, this guy.. a baby alligator. Fabulous!

{What Is Ragnar?}

Picture this. Running a relay race through the Seattle area, starting near the border of Canada and winding south, all the way down to Whidbey Island. This race pushes you and 11 friends, day and night, through 187 miles of stunning Washington scenery. Starting in the seaside town of Blaine, teams head south through farm country, along the coast and ultimately crossing over Deception Pass. The race (and your stamina) wraps up on the southern tip of Whidbey Island.

That's the Northwest Passage.

How do you cover 187 miles? Only one runner hits the road at a time. The rest of your teammates are on support duty in your race vehicles. Oh and am I going to get a lot of support. My teammates are wild, crazy and just plain old fun. And although I voted for the team name, Runnin' Like We Stole Somethin'.... in the end, majority ruled and said Pimp My Stride.

So... Pimp My Stride it is.

And I'm absolutely looking forward to it-

{Harry Potter}

Over the past few months Caleb's fascination with Ben 10 has diminished and has been replaced with a Harry Potter fetish. You have no idea how many times I've walked by the bathroom only to find Caleb sitting on the bathroom counter, red pencil in hand obsessing and perfecting his Harry scar above his eye. Uh, I'm pretty sure I birthed two boys..

So when I opened up the newspaper and read that the Harry Potter Exhibit would be coming to the Pacific Science Center I knew we'd have to make a trip. Unfortunately picture taking was prohibited inside that exhibit. But an assortment of eye candy was awaiting at the finish line. Harry Potter eye glasses, ties, wands were begged for purchased at the gift shop. Investment in future fun. Expecto Patronum...

{Smart As A Whip}

Several weeks ago Caleb came down with the flu. The next morning Caleb woke up came downstairs and felt like drinking something other then water. So I poured him some ginger ale to drink.

With a mouth full of cereal Porter said, I want some pop too.
I replied, Oh honey.. this pop is for people that are sick."

Porter looked at Caleb and then at me and without missing a beat, he performed the loudest sneeze.... smart 3 year old.



Did you know that you can burn 770 calories if you jump rope for an hour? Wow. Impressed. Whenever I run, I always enjoy looking at my Garmin to see my calorie burn. But I must admit, it's not quite as impressive as the potential burn of jump'n er rope. Intrigued, I wondered how long could I last?

So I turned on Regis & Kelly and started 'er up. Exhausted I stopped at 30 minutes then did some yoga and called it a cross training day. Impressed by my half hour of jumping and going no where skills I let my mom know about my accomplishment. I bragged to my dad and my husband. I told my sister. In fact I even called a girlfriend to toot my own horn. I was a proud peacock.

This morning however, I dropped to the floor (involuntary) while getting out of bed. My calf's are solid rocks and burn with each step. It's lunch time and I've tried to stretch the heck out of them all morning. This proud peacock who isn't so smart has turned into an 87 year old slow moving grandma. This activity fit for a 9 year old should be worked up slowwwwwwly and come with a caution label.

xoxo

{Sharp Tactics}

Caleb, I love you sweetheart. I really do. Sometimes you just leave me speechless. Oh to be six years old and have your brain. If you're in the mood for humor feel free to read on, but I'm putting a disclaimer up front. I'm only including this story here because I turn my blog into books so that when I'm old and gray I will still remember...

I picked Caleb up from school and as soon as he came into the house he kicked his shoes off and dumped his backpack in the entry way, then made a be-line into the bathroom. I prepare an after school snack for him and set it on the table. I begin putting a load of laundry into the washing machine and pick up a few toys on the stairs and head upstairs to see what son #2 is doing. After son#2 and I play a few rounds of dinosaur fights star wars guys I can still hear Caleb singing away downstairs on the pot. Not unusual.

Still upstairs, I jump onto the computer to check my email. After a few minutes, Caleb comes up to me without his pants on and we proceed to have the following conversation:

C: "Mom, I've been trying for a really long time, but my poop isn't coming out."

M: "Hmm, well.. sometimes it does takes a little bit longer." (Looking at his no pants) "Uh, why don't you go sit back on the toilet and I'll bring you a glass of water and a book?"

That suffices Caleb and so we initiate our plan of attack. Caleb is set up like he's on a long road trip and I let him know that if after a little while nothing happens that he could finish getting dressed and try again later. (wink)

I return upstairs and begin sifting through organizing paperwork and quite frankly I got a little bit lost in it. I'm not sure how much time passed by but it was quite a bit and I had forgotten all about Caleb and his "problem"... that was until Caleb came upstairs this time with his pants on. We then proceeded to have this conversation:

M: "Hi kiddo. How ya doing? Any better?"

C: "Mom, I need to tell you something." (Not unusual. Caleb is one honest kid. He tells me everything... when he picks his nose, touches his bodily parts, steps on an ant... you name it.)

M: I set my paperwork aside and motion for him to come over. "Okay, bud what's up?"

C: "Mom, I got a knife."

M: "What!? What do you mean you got a knife?"

C: Silence.

M: "Caleb." (My mind is racing.. I'm thinking...what, was he trying to cut an apple by himself? Is he about to tell me that he's made a scratch on the counter top?) "Caleb, why did you get a knife out?"

C: "Mom, I got a knife out because I tried to get my poop out."

M: (Jaw drops to the floor at supersonic speed) "You did what!?" "Oh honey! We never use a knife to do that. (My brain is screaming, what in the world!? where would you come up with such an idea..CAAAAAAALEB!) But instead I say things like, "Are you okay? Have you cut yourself?"

C: "No, mom... I'm okay."

M: And then I think about where that germ infested instrument could be?.. "Caleb, where's the knife now?"

C: "Oh, I put it back."

M: (My jaw flies back to the ground and my body jumps up to match that supersonic speed again."What do you mean you put it back? Caleb, when you touched that knife to your bum bum where do you think those germs went?"

C: "On the knife?"

M: Yes! And when you put that knife back with the rest of the knives in the silverware drawer where do you think those germs went?"

C: The light bulb goes on and he slaps his hand over his mouth. "Oops."

I fly down the stairs at the same time he's yelling to me that he can't remember which knife it was..... Uh, no problem buddy.... I make a dive for every piece of silverware in the silverware drawer and dump them all into the dishwasher.

I can't wait to butter my roll at dinner time.
Oops, poops.

{Someday}

I'd like to have a fireplace that reaches the ceiling.

Photo by William Waldron Country Living

It would include a large rustic mantel and it would hold lots of bushy green garland at Christmas time.

Courtesy of Thom Scott Studio

Someday I'd like to have enormous wood beams that go the entire length of my ceiling.

Photo Unknown

They would be stained a dark color to match my wide plank floors.

Courtesy of Nest Egg

Someday I'd like to have a white couch with white fluffy pillows and matching white opening shutters.

Courtesy of Decor Pad

It would contrast nicely with my Spanish chandelier, don't you think?

Picture Unknown

I'd putz around barefoot in my little slice of heaven cleaning while listening to this guy...

David Gray

In the meantime I'll continue to look at my glass half full and count all of my many blessings. 1 out of 7 isn't bad... David Gray will not be soothing me in this dream home of mine yet ...however, I look forward to listening to him live very soon. :)

xoxo

{Bliss Knot Tying}

My beautiful baby sister got married a few months ago. They packed up their belongings and doggie and drove across country. We missed seeing them over the holidays and so we were thrilled to hear that she will be coming home for a visit next week..

{ice hockey n. A game played on ice in which two opposing teams of skaters, using curved sticks, try to drive a puck into one another.}

{Multiple Choice Christmas}

Dear

a. Family
b. Friend(s)

We are approaching the end of 2010 and are thankful for the wonderful blessings we've received this past year. We wish for you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter and great memories!

The Holmes family

a. successfully sold their home
b. are currently living with family
c. are anxiously awaiting news to the exact location in AZ that they'll be planting roots


For the most part, Damon is healthy and

a. was lucky enough to have the whole entire summer off from work
b. still has 10 working fingers after a battle with a table saw and two successful surgeries
c. had an enjoyable year full of kayaking, camping, rock climbing and hiking


Carrie

a. finished another half-marathon and gave it her best running her first full marathon and is still running...
b. has enjoyed being a soccer mom and washing mud soaked attire
c. has discovered some fabulous BRAND NEW anti-aging products without the use of chemicals and is loving how they make her feel



Caleb is

a. enjoying first grade and has adjusted very nicely to a new school
b. into Ben 10, riding his scooter/bike, drawing, studying weather patterns and playing the piano
c. animated and loves to ask questions



Porter is

a. a HUGE Cars fan and is still mastering the art of going potty IN the potty
b. enjoying his big brother, learning his letters and sounds, WRESTLING and having tea parties with dinosaurs
c. courteous and polite, a snuggler and loves to be read to


Looking ahead to 2011, we wish you

a. the happiest of holidays
b. a healthy and prosperous New Year


Merry Christmas!

{It's A Bake-a-thon... Not!}

It's tradition. Every year my sisters, mom and I get together and do a little bit of Christmas baking. We each bring a recipe or two, bake all day long and then divvy out the greatness allowing us to come home with a variety of goodies to pass along to our friends and neighbors.

This year we opted to bag out of the cookie baking and decided to make the masses of two different kinds of treats... just to change things up a bit.

Divine Goodie Number Uno: Carmel, Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

These look really pretty (place them in a clear cellophane bag and tie w/ ribbon) and there's an endless way to decorate the suckers. If you haven't tried them, it's a must. If you can believe it they taste even BETTER then they look!
Ingredients:

A bag of Kraft Caramels
Bag of pretzel rods
A few bags of chocolate (white, milk, dark, whatever kind you'd like to do). Choose several kinds to mix and match. I used Wilton and purchased it from JoAnn Fabrics.

Directions:

1. Melt caramel using the double boil method.
2. While caramel is melting, layer cookie sheets with parchment paper.
3. Once caramel is melted, dip your pretzel rod into the caramel to desired length. Your pan may not be exceptionally deep. I used a spoon to help me coat the pretzels.
4. Allow the excess caramel to drip back into your pan before placing on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat for all pretzels and allow caramel to harden.
5. Melt your chocolate that you want to use as a base. Dip your caramel pretzels into the chocolate to cover the caramel. Again you may need to use a spoon to get the coverage you want.
(Don't be afraid if your pretzel rods aren't looking pretty yet.. the drizzle will hide any non smooth areas.)
6. Allow your chocolate to harden on the pretzels. Putting them in a freezer is also a great option to hurry the process along.
7. Melt another kind of chocolate for the drizzle and decorating. I opted to use a disposable icing bag to help me drizzle, but you could also you a spoon to do the same process.
8. Allow to harden completely before placing them in cellophane bags.


Divine Goodie Number Dos: Rolo Turtles
(Thanks to my sis for introducing me to these!)

Even easier than the 1st recipe... these things take only minutes to make and require only three ingredients. These also look wonderful wrapped in cellophane bags w/ ribbon.


Ingredients:

Bag of small pretzels (traditional shape)
Bag of Rolos
Bag of Pecans

Directions: (if you can call it that!) :)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Lay out your pretzels on a cookie sheet lined w/ parchment paper.
3. Place one rolo in the middle of each pretzel.
4. Cook for 4 minutes.
5. Once out of the oven, immediately place a pecan down to flatten the rolo into the pretzel.

Set aside to cool or place in freezer for 5 minutes to cool quickly.


Happy flour free baking!

Geritol Beauty Clinic

NY Stock Exchange eat your heart out. Purchasing fun bath toys has more then tripled our investment in the Holmes household. My kids can play for hours in a bath (okay not really, but yes, close). I love to hear them squeal and play and I also love that I'm able to get few things done without children under foot.

Most of you know that we are temporarily staying at my parents home until our move down south. This morning I announced to Porter that it was bath time. YES!, was his response. After what seemed like 3,500 seconds, I coerced then bribed then dragged got him out of the tub... the water was not even a desirable bath temperature and he was still happy as a clam.

I began drying him with a towel when all of a sudden he looked at his hands. Excited, he shouted "Mom! I've got wrinkles... just like grandma!"

Could everyday be bath day!?

{Truancy}

School has been canceled for the past few days due to our abnormal icy weather.






Look how sad they are?

{We've Advanced}

from Rainville to Snowburg with cooler arctic temperatures to accompaniment it.


So with all of this frigidness I thought I'd make something warm and comforting.. Golden Potato Soup (an amazing and easy dinner that with all assurance will warm the cockles of my family's heart (and tummy).



Golden Potato Soup
(courtesy of Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cube chicken bouillon
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese
• 1 cup chopped ham

Directions:

1. In a large stock pot add potatoes, celery, onion, chicken bouillon, water and parsley flakes. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until vegetables become tender.
2. In a separate bowl mix flour and milk. Once it is well blended, add to soup mixture and cook until soup becomes thick.
3. Stir in cheese, cooked ham or hamburger and simmer until cheese is melted.

I'm not going to include the nutritional information however, I will let you know that this recipe does make enough for five. :)

Enjoy!