Hopeful-United We Stand

After watching the inauguration of President Obama today I am feeling hopeful for our great country. Weather or not you agree with his views, you must admit it is pretty cool to think how far this country has come. Only a short while ago everyone was judged only by the color of their skin not by what kind of a person they were. I am proud to live in a country that has made such huge strides to improve the way people are treated.

Now if President Obama can just turn around the economy, end the wars and keep all the other campaign promises he made, we just might be better off at the end of the 4 years the American voters have given him. I for one can't wait to see what happens next.

I know some people are scared or depressed that the other guy didn't win. I choose to recognize that the American voters made a choice and hope that it is a great one. "United We Stand" is the way I look at it.

34 1/2 Hours

Michael and I left Saturday at 1 PM for Phoenix. We had tickets to the Cardinals game. We left the boys with my parents. Thanks mom and dad. So it was going to be a whole day and a half without kids. We made it to our hotel fine and checked in. Then off to do a little shopping. We spent a few hours shopping and then had dinner. I really nice dinner WITHOUT kids. The next morning we had to leave the hotel at 7 to get a parking spot at the game. We got a great spot. Right in the front row by the exit of the parking lot. We got to the stadium before any of the restaurants opened so we people watched for a while why we waited. While we were waiting I saw a Cardinals cheer leader I had to take a picture of she was a cutie.

Next we had some not great breakfast. Places that are not usually open for breakfast, don't make good breakfast. After breakfast we did more people watching. It still amazes me what some people will walk around in public wearing. All I can say is they kept us entertained for hours. Our next stop was the line at Margaritaville for a table for lunch. It was around 10 AM at this point and the lines at all of the restaurants were getting really long. We got lucky and only had to wait for 15-20 minutes for a table for 5. Then we had to wait for an hour for Michael's dad, brother-in-law and nephew to show up. We had a great lunch, we ordered the Volcano Nachos. HOLY COW. They are a pile of nachos at least 10 inches tall and at least that big around. I should have taken a picture of them but I was hungry and forgot. After lunch it was off to the stadium. Once again more people watching was required. The lines into the stadium moved quickly, we were in our seats with 20-30 minutes until game time. Here are some pictures from before the game.

Finally it was game time. The Eagles came out first to a big BOOOOOO from the Cardinal fans. Then came the home team. It gets loud in there fast. Here are a few pictures of the Cardinals running onto the field.

I'm sure most of you watched the game on TV so I won't bore you with a recap. But I do have to post a picture of the huge flag that was out during the national anthem. It was really something to see. We had a blast (except for the 3rd quarter it was pretty bad).

As soon as the game was over and the trophy presented to the Cardinals we took off. We made one stop and had dinner then headed home. We got as far as the 202 exit ramp onto Country Club. We were sitting at the light waiting to turn onto Country Club when we got rear ended. Michael got out and talked to the guy driving the truck and got his insurance card then we moved to a gas station instead of blocking traffic. When Michael got back in the car with me he told me the other guy smelled like alcohol so I called 911 and reported the accident. We waited at the gas station and a DPS officer showed up. Then another one and then one more. They did a report on the accident and a field sobriety test on the other driver. He must have failed it because then they did a breathalyzer on him. He must have failed it to because they arrested him and took him to jail. Then one of the DPS officers came and told us the guy was going to be charged with a felony because he had his 12 year old son in the truck. It took us an hour with the police but is was worth it. That guy might have killed some one after he hit us if we didn't call the police. All in all it was a great 34.5 half hours for the two of us. Even if we did hit a few bumps (or get hit by them).

White Christmas one day late?

Evidently mother nature did not get the memo from my kids asking for a white Christmas until Christmas was over. She did, however, come through with snow. It snowed basically all day yesterday. The boys wanted to go sledding, but we kept telling them not until after it stopped snowing. That did not happen yesterday.

The first thing they asked this morning was can we go sledding? So we took them over to the middle school and let them have fun. As you can see they had a great time.

As you can see Riley got the hang of it quickly and had a blast. He has no fear, he kept laughing all the way down the hill.

When I took this Conner was on his way back up the hill. His dad and auntie kept throwing snow balls at him so he was using his sled as a shield.

Michael even went down the hill a few times. Believe it or not Riley went farther than anybody else. Probably because he is such a light weight.

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and has a safe and happy new year.

Christmas Program

Last week Conner was in the annual Christmas program at school. The entire first grade got together and put on a great show. They are so much fun to watch at this age and the teacher, Mrs. Herring, does a great job with them.





When it was Conner's classes turn to do their thing Conner had a special part. He had a sign that he got to hold up at a few "special" moments. Here he is doing his thing.

Santa Came to Town!!!

Saturday night was the annual Christmas light parade here in SJ.  Even though the wind was blowing really HARD and it was FREEZING we went.  Last year Conner and Josh got to ride in the SRP fire truck.  They decided they wanted to ride again so Grandpa made a few calls and they got their wish.  That left only Riley to brave the wind and cold to collect candy.  We parked in front of the grocery store and waited in the back of my expedition.  The wonderful candy distributors did not make my baby climb out in the cold to get his candy.  They brought the candy to him.  Let me tell you that is the only way to collect candy in the wind and cold. 

After the parade was over we went to Barth Hall and checked out all of the activities the chamber put on.  The boys all decorated a sugar cookie.  Riley and Conner sat and talked to SANTA.  (Josh was tooooo COOL) 

 

Riley told me before we got there he was NOT going to sit on Santa's lap, he wanted to stand next to him to tell him what he wants for Christmas.  When we got to the hall he walked up to Santa and climbed on his lap and then proceeded to list at least 6 things he wants.

 

Conner was a different story he said from the beginning he was going to sit on Santa's lap.  He jumped right on up and listed countless items he wants for Christmas.  Most of which I could not hear because it was loud in the hall.  Hopefully Santa was listening because our Christmas shopping is done.  Yeah!!!  Now I just need to start wrapping it all.  YUCK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Roasting Marshmallows

Some people roast marshmallows while camping. Not us. We like to roast marshmallows in our backyard. The boys love marshmallows and it was cold outside so we started a fire in the fire pit and roasted marshmallows.

Riley really likes roasting the marshmallows but not eating them after they are roasted. He prefers his marshmallows RAW. Since he likes to roast them the rest of us are FORCED to eat them for him.

Conner has mastered the art of a beautiful golden brown marshmallow. He really likes to eat them and would have stood there all day and eaten them if I let him. He is amazingly patient with his marshmallows.

Josh on the other hand has NO patience. He puts his marshmallow straight into the flame and lights them on fire. He claims he likes them burned but I think he just doesn't want to wait for them to brown so he burns them. After all it is faster. He hasn't figured out that he still gets the same number of marshmallows as his brothers. I can count after all.

We had a great time roasting marshmallows in our backyard. What more can a kid ask for on a cold Sunday afternoon.

COOKIE EXCHANGE??

Ok so this isn't a typical cookie exchange.  I don't want you all to bake cookies and show up at my house.  What I want is new cookie recipes.  I always make the same ones.  Chocolate chip, snicker doodles, caramel bars and carrot/orange cookies. 

Instead of exchanging cookies I want to trade recipes with everyone.  So please post your favorite cookie recipes.  I want all of you to gain your allotted 5 pounds of holiday weight with me. 

Here is my all time favorite cookie recipe. 

CARAMEL BARS

 

I did not have a picture so I took this one off of the web. 

1 ½ Cups flour

1 ½ Cups oatmeal

1 ¼ Cups brown sugar

¾ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

2 ½ sticks melted butter

1 package craft caramels

1 ½ Cups chocolate chips

8 tbsp milk

Mix together all but the last three ingredients. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for the topping. Press remaining mixture into greased 9 X 13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

While that is baking mix caramels and milk, melt in microwave stirring frequently.

After the bottom layer is done baking sprinkle it with the chocolate chips, pour on caramel/milk mix, then sprinkle the reserved topping over it all.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Cool COMPLETELY before cutting or the caramel will run all over, or so I've been told.  I would never be in such a hurry to eat one that I would cut into them before they cooled.  I have more self control than that, most of the time.

Now it is your turn to wow me with your cookie recipes.  I want something new and out of the ordinary.  I challenge all of you to surprise me with your recipes.