Christmas Party 2009 December 22, 2009

Every year my cousin Janeen holds a Christmas party for a few friends and family members.  This year I didn’t know how long I would last since Zach and I were up early for a day of skiing at Powder Ridge.  After coming home from Kimball I freshened up, grabbed some games and a small plate of treats and Zach, Jeff and I headed over for a night of fun.

I really enjoy Janeen’s Christmas parties because it is a rare opportunity for me to let loose and enjoy since often I am the one hosting a party (Mardi Gras, March Madness, tailgate party, New Year’s Eve party, etc). 

We arrived at Janeen and Als around 7pm and enjoyed some appetizers while we sat around catching up with those we don’t see as often.  Janeen had music going in the background and after a scary rendition of the Jingle Bell dance we decided it was time to get the games started before she was too far gone!

Party games are a must at our Christmas and New Years parties.  Although the men complain they always join in and come up with some very unique and creative answers and clues (“it’s white and in the morning you slap some yellow on it”- what in the hell was that?).  Laughter peels throughout the night and in the wee hours of the morning we find ourselves heading for home  cheeks cramped from laughing and ready to do it all over again in a few weeks at my house on New Year’s Eve.  We definitely have to come up with a June or July party like these so we don’t have to wait so long to do this craziness again.

Highlight Reel December 12th-18th, 2009 December 19, 2009

Saturday- Today we went skiing at Powder Ridge for the Boy Scouts then we went to my cousin Janeen’s annual Christmas party.

Sunday- A relatively relaxing day.  Went to town to get some groceries.  Made lasagna for supper then decorated the Christmas tree and the rest of the house. Watched Julie & Julia.

Monday- Dad had his surgery today.  Took longer then expected but everything went well.  At Scouts tonight we had a guest speaker.  Sargeant Curt Mowers from the Minnesota State Highway Patrol talked to the boys about pedestrian safety, bike safety, school bus safety and seat belt and airbag safety.  He was very interesting and the boys were attentive listeners. 

Tuesday-Jeff had a meeting for work & afterwards they went to Buffalo Wild Wings for supper and a few drinks.  Zach and I stayed home and did absolutely nothing, which was absolutely wonderful.  Listened to the Wild game since it was not televised.  The game itself wasn’t exciting but the ending was.  We scored a goal with 38.7 seconds left in the game to win it!  Go Wild!!

Wednesday- Celebrated my Aunt Bonnie’s birthday tonight with a small party at Nana’s house.

Thursday- Bible Study tonight was on Matthew 9.  More healings (paralytic, hemorrhaging woman, 2 blind men, dead girl) and the point in the Bible where we see the leaders turning against Jesus.  Lex brought popcorn cupcakes which we chewed during the DVD portion.  Our notes got kind of sticky!

Friday- A stay at home night.  I was feeling stomach twinges so I opted out of going to the Tri Parish Council Christmas party

Skiing at Powder Ridge December 12, 2009

Saturday Dan V., Heidi and I took the Boy Scouts in our troop skiing at Powder Ridge’s Boy Scout Day.  Every December Powder Ridge picks a couple of weekends for the Boy Scouts to ski as a group with reduced rates. 

We left Trinity at a little after 8am and arrived in Kimball at 9:30.  It took us about 35-40 minutes to get the boys checked in, paid for, and equipment rented.  The boys were eager to hit the slopes right away but Heidi made them all wait until we could get a group picture.  As it was, a few slipped by us and headed for the hills anyway!

Even though the highest the temperature got was 22 degrees (with a windchill of 12) we hardly saw the boys all day.  They came in a few times but it wasn’t to warm up.  It was to…you guessed it EAT!  Dylon got a chili dog that he had to use a spoon to uncover from the mound of chili piled on top of it.  Some had cheeseburgers, packed lunches, soup or chili.  Some of us had also brought snacks from home since the food at the diner there was pretty spendy.

Heidi and I played ski police and made sure everyone kept their helmets on.  Nobody wanted to wear the helmets but it’s a Scout rule that we rigorously enforced.  We watched the boys come down the hill gracefully only to sprawl out on the ground at the very bottom.  We also watched the snowmobile bring down an unconscious man on a stretcher.  They had the oxygen on him and everything.  Word was he had been laying there by the trees for almost an hour before anyone saw him!

Luckily our crew stayed safe. 

Holiday Candy Making December 12, 2009

Every year my cousin Janeen and I get together a week or two before her annual Christmas party to make our candy and cookies.  It’s a fun holiday tradition for us both.  This year Monica and Gracie joined us.  While I don’t know how much “help” Gracie was it was cute to watch her.

Janeen actually started the weekend before by getting the Spritz cookies, surprise cookies, peanut blossoms, Ritz dipped, and butterfinger bites done.  What a huge help that was getting that out of the way!

After work Wednesday I came home and got the mounds balls, peanut butter balls and berry shortbread dreams mixed up so they could chill.  I had made the brownies for the petit fours and put them in the freezer Tuesday night as well as made BBQ turkey meatballs to put in the crockpot for supper Wednesday night.

When Janeen got off work and got to my house we all had supper and then rolled up our sleeves and got to work.  We rolled the peanut butter balls only to have Gracie re-roll them into logs.  She helped us stir the mixes and shook the spoon and got powdered sugar all over the place.  And when she was helping wash dishes she got more water on the floor then in the sink!  But by the end of the night we got accomplished what we had set out to do.  We made: haystacks, peanut butter balls, mounds balls, petit fours, gourmet pretzel rods, cornflake wreath cookies, berry shortbread dreams,  pretzel wreaths, and peanut butter fudge.

I still have a few things to do on my own: peanut butter cups, black cherry swirl fudge, molasses creams, pumpkin date cookies, cherry bon bon cookies, sugar cookies, cathedral window cookies, almond apricot bites, waffle cookies, chex mix, popcorn snack mix,  and a few new recipes I’m thinking of trying.  It will be a busy (and sugary) couple of weeks, but I am up to the challenge!

What a SWEET holiday Chirstmas is!

Highlight Reel December 5th-11th, 2009 December 12, 2009

Saturday- My great niece Raegan turned 1 today.  Happy Birthday you little angel!  Unfortunately I didn’t make it to her 1st birthday party because I had already made plans for a  shopping trip in St Cloud.  The next 2 weekends before Christmas I will be busy so this was pretty much the only day I could go.  Zach and I got a lot accomplished though and I’m feeling better about what I have bought.  We left at 8am and got back at 4:30, just in time to go to church.  After supper we watched the Wild game.

Sunday- Got Zach to catechism then started on the rest of the Christmas baking.  Thirteen hours later I was done.  After some relax time with a book I turned off the lamp on the nightstand at 2:30am.

Monday- BUSY day at work.  The customers are starting to get in panic shopping mode.  Isn’t it a little early for that?  At Scouts tonight we had the leaders and the scouts watch their seperate youth protection videos.  I am taking the training online so I took this opportunity to attend the vigil mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception since I have book club tomorrow night.

Tuesday- We had our Christmas party for the Bookies tonight.  We also celebrated our 100th meeting as well!

Wednesday- One of the Boy Scouts in our patrol has asked me to be his confirmation sponsor so  I attended his large group meeting tonight.  Father LaFlamme did a wonderful presentation on how we are all called to be prophets.

Thursday- Bible study tonight on Matther 8.  We read about some of the early miracles in Jesus’ ministry (cleansing of the leper, the healing of the Centurian’s slave and Peter’s mother-in-law).  Jeff Cavin’s talk was so enlightening I wrote one whole page of notes just on the first paragraph in the chapter!

Friday- took Zach to town so he could hang out with his friends at the mall and Jeff and I went to Famous Daves for supper.  Came home and I watched the Wild game while Zach packed for the skiiing trip tomorrow.

Highlight Reel November 28th-December 4th, 2009 December 4, 2009

Saturday- Football Patrol night tonight.  See previous blog.

Sunday-  Thought I would get to sleep in this morning because we went to church last night and Zach didn’t have catechism this morning, but no such luck.  Up at 5am.  Zach and I went in to get our haircuts this afternoon and in the evening we had Zach’s Fall Court of Honor.

Monday- Delivered some of the Boy Scout wreaths today then I took Zach to Scouts and left to go to my EOM of HC training.  Then back to pick Zach up.  Worked on rechartering a little tonight but ran into more snags. 

Tuesday- Went to lunch without my coat on today.  Beautiful out!  Hard to believe it’s December 1st, but I hear the colder weather (and maybe snow) is moving in.  Worked on getting meatballs made for tomorrow so they will be in the crockpot simmering all day ready for Janeen and I to consume when we break from making our Christmas candy.  Very excited to start the holiday baking season!

Wednesday- Hurried home from work today to get started on the candy.  Janeen and I have this down to a science!

Thursday-Bible Study tonight was on Matthew 7, the continuation of The Sermon on the Mount (Golden rule, judgement, the narrow gate).  Great discussion tonight on judgement on earth versus judgement on the last day.

Friday- had lunch with Papa & Nana and Mom & Dad today.  Brought some bags of clothing to Dorcas, went to an estate sale and came home with more books (like my groaning bookshelves can hold anymore) and relaxed to watch the Wild game.

Football Fever Patrol Night November 30, 2009

The Mighty Eagles Patrol met at my house Saturday night for a little football action.  The Doucettes showed up at 6:30 and Al, Josiah and Dar a little after that. 

The plan was to play football and have ourselves a little football food.  I had put the chili on earlier and it had been simmering all day.  The smell of it was making my stomach rumble.  Alvin brought the fixings for some pans of nachos and I fired up the grill for some wieners. We rounded that off with a cheese, cracker (with footballs on them), and salami tray, football shaped pretzels, and Twix cookie bars.

Our Scoutmaster Dan showed up just in time and we called everyone in for supper.  It didn’t take long for the boys to demolish the food and after a short rest for their stomachs they were out again playing football.  We had set up “stadium lights” so they boys would have no problem playing in the dark and the side of the yard was really lit up.

When the boys couldn’t talk any of their dads into being quarterback guess who stepped in to save the day?  That’s right…Supermom!  When Eric told me “I guess you can throw okay” I knew I had just received a huge compliment!

When their tired bodies couldn’t take any more of a beating they all came in to play a little Wii.  Alvin, Josiah, and Dar left around 10pm but the rest of us weren’t quite ready to end our evening.  We watched the end of the hockey game and then threw in a movie.

Mark, Eric, Andrew and Austin left at 1:15, I cleaned up and climbed into bed about 2am.  Our patrol gets along great which makes things much easier.  I don’t know what our December patrol activity is but I’m sure, like always, it will be fun.

 

A Day to Give Thanks November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving this year was really a day to be thankful.  Of course most people when asked what they are thankful for will say God and family.  I say the same thing, because of God’s love and blessings I had my family with me this year.

In July of this year my parents were in a car accident.  They both sustained back injuries, but my mom’s were more severe.  She fractured her good leg (she’s had knee replacement surgery on the other one) and she crushed several vertebra.  Because of this she had to undergo surgery to insert several rods and screws to secure her spine.  Recovery has been a slow and painful process for her and at times she gets very frustrated with herself because she feels she should be recovering faster and be able to do more.

In all her stubborness, my mother decided she was going to have Thanksgiving this year even though she has difficulties being on her feet for any length of time.  I made her promise I could help but every time I got over there to do something she already had it done!  She kept telling me she would really need my help Thanksgiving morning to peel potatoes, whip up a banana cream pie, and set the table.  I set my alarm for 6:30am, took a guick shower and by the time I got there the table was set and the potatoes were peeled and in a pan of water.  Grr!  Amazingly, she did let me help with the pie.  And dad was a big helper as well.

My grandparents joined us a little after 10 and we were able to enjoy the wonderful meal my mother prepared before my oldest son left for work.  The only thing missing that would have made the day perfect was if my brother from California and his 2 children could have been with us.

All in all, a beautiful sunny day with some of my favorite people in the world, and wonderful “home cooked by mom” food.  It’s no wonder Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Yep, I have much to be thankful for.  God is great indeed!

Highlight Reel November 21st-27th November 27, 2009

Saturday-  I woke up early to sneak into town to take advantage of a sale without Zach  since the present was for him.  We lounged the rest of the day.  I tried catching up on my sleep.  I haven’t been sleeping very well at night because my carpal tunnel is so bad my arms are constantly falling asleep.  I spend most of the night with my arms hanging off the side of the bed and shaking them to get the circulation back in them. After church and supper Zach and I went to mom & dad’s to play cards.  Zach and I both came out money ahead.

Sunday- was kind of a busy day.  I made breakfast then dropped Zach off at catechism.  I came back and made sandwiches for the turkey bingo later at our church.  I stopped off at moms, picked up her sandwiches, dropped them off at the church, picked Zach up and headed into town for the Boy Scout wreath sale at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Once that was over we headed back out to St Mathias for the turkey bingo.  It was my turn to serve so I helped get the meal ready and then sat down to play bingo.  Tyler and Monica joined Zach and I and lucky Moni won $5.00.  She would have won more but there were 4 bingos that round!  I helped the ladies clean up there, went home and made Porcupine Meatballs, baked potatoes and a salad for supper then sat down and watched a documentary a friend had loaned me.  Zach and I managed to sneak in a game of Racko and a couple of games of Getta Letter before bed.

Monday- Had lunch with Papa and Nana today and then stopped and visited with Mom  after work.  Scouts tonight was practice for Court of Honor Sunday night.  We went over the flag ceremony many times to make sure we could work out all the fidgits!

Tuesday-  Came home with a migraine but did manage to get to my Adult Faith Formation meeting at St Andrews tonight.  jeff was a huge help cleaning up after supper and doing the dishes for me.

Wednesday- The stress at work today was incredible- getting ready for the after Thanksgiving sale.  Hopefully smoother days ahead after Friday.  Watched the Wild game.  It’s so dishearteneing to watch them play so well and get sooo close to the win but lose it in the 4th round of the shootout.  Transition year, I know. 

Thursday- Happy Thanksgiving all!

Friday- At work at 2:30am this morning.  I thought it went really well at Wal-Mart today.  People didn’t seem quite as rude as they normally are.  Got off work in time to come home and watch the 1pm Wild game which they WON!  Took a nap and then Jeff, Zach and I cleaned the house for tomorrows patrol activity.

Dad’s Birthday November 22, 2009

This post is a little late getting up here.  Dad’s birthday was November 8th but with opening weekend of deer hunting we decided to postpone it until November 15th.  Still late, I know.

Dad’s birthday went well.  We sat and chatted for a while before we brought out the cake.  Mom made a low cholesterol chocolate cake for dad.  He doesn’t care for frosting that much, he likes it best with Cool Whip on top.  She also made an angel food cake and had strawberries to go with that.  We lit the candles, sang Happy Birthday and then he opened his presents.  I got him a Vikings T-Shirt, he got a Fleet Farm gift card (his favorite store) and mom gave him some new moccasins.  He enjoyed all the presents and he doesn’t look a day older than he did before his birthday.