The Leg

My leg.  My groin.  My hip.  My crotch.  You name it, it just isn't getting better.

Improved?  Yes.

Healed?  No.

I have been on my feet so much the last week that it is really unhappy with me.

I am still convinced that ostesis pubis is the right diagnosis.

Rest seems to be the only remedy and man....that is impossible.

I did read an article about some Australian athletes who got some sort of injections for it.  

I doubt they'll let me have those.

I also had a "friend" who asked me if I was imagining the pain.

Don't get me started.  I was just happy to hold my tongue.

I'm going back to the doc on the 10th of January.

It's been almost 5 months of minimal activity, acupuncture and deep massage.

Something has got to get better.

Christmas Vacation

It has been a busy but joyful Christmas vacation.

Christmas was wonderful.

We had 16 family and friends over for dinner.

 It brings me such joy to be able to open our home and entertain.

There was tons of food.  Lots of cheer.  And great conversation.

 That beauty of a bowl made the BEST mashed potatoes! 

Andrew, Doug and Seth.

Brenda, Mom and Karen

 Jacob has dreamed of the day when he could sit at the head of the table.

Jacob and MC.

Nik and Nicholas.  Our two peas in a pod.

AJ and Travis.

Our lil' Jesse waiting on her turn.  She knows the boundary.

Michael filling up his plate. 

 These boys love their AJ.  Not too long and they are going to outgrow her!

 And lots of hours spent in our new fuzzies.

 And as for Christmas Day?

Nicholas got his first .22 rifle.

 Jacob got his own set of golf clubs.  (he had been using a mish mash of used ones)

 And Nik got a kayak for retirement!  He was SO surprised!

 Plus, I think we can finally get him to go camping with us as long as we take this along!  He was surprised beyond belief!  The boys could hardly wait to bring him in to see it.

Happy Anniversary!

We celebrated our 17-year anniversary on December 22nd.

This year, instead of just having dinner, we really decided to focus on the joy of being together and make the day special.  My dad was able to get us a suite comped at 

Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton.

We loved every minute of it.

We only lost $14 on the slots.  But we gained precious moments together.

 Dessert and man, was it yummy.

 We also realized that we've become, "that" couple.

We have a beautiful antique soap dish downstairs that we haven't been able to fill.

I told Michael we should start collecting soaps from hotels!  Yep...we are soap stealers now.

While, we contemplated not going because there was so much to do and the kids weren't in the greatest of moods, we decided it was important to go.  Our emotional bank needed a deposit and this was just what it needed.  24 hours of focusing on one another.

Kitchen Makeover!

My husband surprised me this year.  And THEN, I think I surprised him.  (Actually, I usually don't surprise him.  I think he knew it was coming all along).

Nicholas and I were getting ready to make our annual cookies for the neighborhood.  Michael said I could open my gift because it would make it "easier".  And boy, was he right!

I got THIS bad boy!

 Nicholas got his own spatula.  (He really did ask for this!)  He carried it with him everywhere for the next two days and we used it to cook with non-stop.

 Some of our finest work yet!  This is just the beginning of the cookies we made this year with my bad boy mixer!

 The mixer is huge and tall.  It wouldn't fit in a cabinet.  It wouldn't fit under a cabinet.  So I made a special place right on the counter to let it shine.  But then it made my sink/faucet look BLAH.  Michael went and got a faucet that matched and looked pretty.  It looked great.

 But then my brassy old handles and hinges looked dirty and rusted.  (Maybe not that bad, but they didn't look good).  Down came all the doors and out came the drawers.  Cleaned, handles replaced, hinges installed.  It looked like a new kitchen!

So really--for Christmas, I got a kitchen makeover and love it!  I have enjoyed every minute spent in there.  Believe me, with the holidays and hosting, I've spent a lot of time in it!

Cooking...

I love cooking when I am not rushed.   During school days, that is an impossible task.

But I had no other choice than to be a little rushed in my cooking over the last two weeks.

It resulted in things like this gingerbread house that kind of sagged.

And we were competing against a house that looked like this....

But, guess what....

WE WON!

It may or may not have been due to the fact that we stood by the tables and rallied for people to vote for Sponge Bob.  I mean come on....let's go for originality...right?

I also participated in a cookie exchange at school.  Usually I like to test out my recipes first.  Nicholas and I decided to make chocolate pretzels that should've looked like this.....

And this is what ours looked like.

Go ahead...laugh.  They look like piles of poop.  We know. 

And finally, we had the staff party at our house.  It was delightful.  Other than this plant that my principal brought me.

It stinks.  It stinks like urine and stinky socks.  We have no idea what it is.  But, it is gone now.  We put it in my parents garage and my dad is determined to figure out what it is.  Ideas?

School...

I have been shaken by the events of CT.  So many young lives and innocent teachers just doing what they love.  There is no answer to the question "why".

But one thing I do believe is just as I don't think religion belongs in school, neither do guns...no armed teachers, no armed guards, no intstilling fear in our children.

I relied a LOT on these ladies this week.  

There were tons of tears, lots of hugs and many exchanges of thankfulness.

I also spoiled my students this week and showered them with daily hugs and affirmations. 

We had a brief conversation about their safety at school and what our plan of action would be.  We didn't discuss CT and they were respectful of the emotions running through our lil' school.

Nicholas and I made them treat cups....

And for the last two weeks, my classroom looked like a parade of glitter, paint and paper scraps had rained on my room.  Along with the mess, came hours of giggles, smiles and meaningful conversations.  I wouldn't trade it for  anything.

And finally, I took my class caroling.

Wow.

We started at our upstairs tower and sung our way through 3 floors of classrooms and through the hallways.  I brought scarves, bells, and mittens for my kids to put on.  They loved it!  They loved seeing their teachers and they loved the look on the children's faces as we sang our way around.  Many of them had never been caroling.  And many kids had never seen carolers.

It was awesome.

Fun December Stuff!

Let's just get this out of the way.  I ran once for 1 minute.  It was good.

I ran the next time for 1 minute after walking 5 minutes for 3 times.  It was good.

I ran for 5 minutes.  It was not GOOD.  

Back to just swimming for a while until I'm pain free for a while.  

So, now for the fun stuff.

The boys went to their first movie, sans parents!  They went with their LONG time friends, Brooklyn and Bianca.  Quite frankly, they are the only kids I would trust right now to go with my boys.  They are all responsible and know that the parents would make them ALL suffer if ANY of them made a sour choice.  They had a great time!

 Look at this picture of this fine young man!
It SO captures the man I married!

This is from 18 years ago when I took him to Crane, TX to meet my parents.

 Santa came early!  He brought our family Christmas gift!

We got a 1903 piano!  It is beautiful and so fun to play.  I was amazed at how little I had forgotten and how quickly it came back.  Everyone, including Nik, Nana and Michael, is enjoying it!  Even the neighbor came over and played.  Lessons are in the near future for both boys!

 Jacob had his first band concert at Pioneer.  He is in the back row playing the sax.  

I can't wait for them to get better.  It was kind of "painful" in a good way.

 Jacob's drawings are becoming more and more amazing.  When I say we have THOUSANDS of drawings, I'm not exaggerating.  The child draws for hours and throws away nothing.  They all have a story to be told.  This is a talent that will take him places.

 And, I LOVE his style.  Looks just like his momma....all mismatched and cool!

 Here is this years gingerbread house.  I've decided that unless a company does the following things, I'm never buying one again...

1)  supply twice as much icing as they say is necessary

2) show a real picture of real people doing it and their end project

3) tastier icing and candy

Happy December!

Christmas cards are done.  To be mailed tomorrow.

Shopping is done.  To be mailed tomorrow.

Pants still fit fine, but those sweets are taunting!

This weekend is baking extravaganza for the neighbors!

(Brooke--this post was ALL for you!  Each of these made it to FB!)  Better to write it in a post, right?

Trying to get a Christmas photo....

I needed one more photo for our Christmas card that was "recent".

The boys and I started practicing.

Nicholas looking to the left.

 Nicholas to the right.

 Take 1.  Eyes closed.

 Take 2.  Eyes opened.

 Take 3. Surprised look.

 Take 4. Almost.

 Take 5. Seriously CLOSE!

 Darn giggles set in by the two oldest monkeys in the group.

 SUCCESS!!!!