Promotion

I was finally promoted to Store Team Leader In Training, effective Monday 1/4/10. I start a six week training program...and then I get my own store! Where you ask? Still officially undetermined. Please keep us in your prayers.

Christmas...

So...here are the boys at Grandma's house playing Christmas music...toddler style.
And, I did get my model's to show off my crochet work...here is stunning Laura in her Bengal's inspired scarf. This is special b/c it is made of yarn that she was going to sell in her yard sale; my dad "bought" it and gave it to me...and I was inspired knowing that she likes the Bengals. Well, she had originally bought it to make something for a friend who liked Tennessee...funny how the colors are the same.

Gorgeous Peggy...modeling the pullover poncho...I made this without a mannequin too. I'm impressed with how well it fit her. I don't like "do-overs." And, I told her this photo was about the piece...not her...whatever, she looks fabulous!

And lastly...the family shot...can anyone crop my brother in???

It was a great day!

Holiday Spirit

Snowy dusting...still flurrying.

My Christmas Helper...

My big boy helped me decorate the house, make the cookies, and now we are enjoying the light dusting of snow. I hadn't made spritz cookies with my cookie press since we got to Kentucky...I forgot how easy and how quick and how tasty they were. I think we'll be making more today if I can get to the store and pick up some more butter. We also made the infamous cut out cookies that you paint with egg yolk/food coloring. JMS said..."I ate a star cookie...and it was delicious!"

As far as decorating, we added candy canes to the tree on Friday. JMS calls them "candy treats."

Update on my crocheting...well, I can't exactly say or display too much because most of them are Christmas presents, but let us just say I made a scarf, a pull over type poncho, a throw pillow, and I'm finishing JMS's sweater - hopefully before Christmas. I have one arm and the hood left to do for his sweater. I've gotten really fast and learned some new stitches in the process. And, I'm sure my husband is happy to see any yarn that comes into the house is quickly put to good use.

Update on my recipes...well, we tried a new recipe for chili and it turned out really nice...ever put beer into a bowl of chili?

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion chopped

2 garlic cloves minced

1 can dark kidney beans

1 can light kidney beans

2 cans stewed tomatoes

1 can whole tomatoes

1 bottle of beer (I used MGD.)

1 can tomato paste

1/4 cup chili powder

3/4 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Brown the beef and onions and garlic; drain. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer until ready to serve. We topped with cheese and oyster crackers. The oyster crackers gave it the extra salt it needed. Mmm.

Elf in our house...

Mack heard about this book from a friend and after we read the story at the bookstore we were sold. It is essentially a "where's waldo?" The elf is watching the little boys and girls and reporting to Santa nightly on their behavior. Then in the morning he is in a different place in the house and the children are supposed to find him. Joseph named our elf, ELF. Last night he found him sitting on a photo ledge in his bedroom. This morning he hasn't yet found him...but he's watching him from the top of the hutch in the kitchen. The story goes that on Christmas Eve he goes back with Santa until next holiday season...great idea.

Ho Ho Ho

Fortunately Santa wasn't creepy this year...and we got JMS to smile!

Blogging Abscence

I apologize for not blogging lately. There have been a combination of issues going on...the touchpad on our new laptop was too sensitive...so everytime I touched it while typing it would transport me to a different window or screen and I'd lose my work. That is fixed now. (Hug Hug...Kiss Kiss for my wonderful hubby.) With this being said...many have asked what type of laptop we got. It is a Dell Inspiron 1545. No, it doesn't have Windows 7, yet...but it will soon.

Part 2 of my list of excuses...it is the holiday season and I work retail. Need I say more? Well...yes, I should. I interviewed on Friday 12/11...with the regional VP and he signed off on my to begin my Store Manager training. I'm slotted to take my own store as early as February 2010! Yes, very excited, but it has been down-played by all b/c of how busy this time of year is for all of us.

Part 3...I've been doing my holiday "to-dos"...shopping...wrapping...shipping...making...earning my elf ears. :) We got the gifts in the mail today that needed to go out of state...this year they will make it before Christmas. Yeah!

Part 4...I've been accused of being a Facebook addict. Ok...so I play this farm game on the program with my son...I'm sure its teaching him several things...money management...how to plant seeds...how to pet animals...and how to use the computer...Ok...so I'm into the Facebook stuff...but, my reason for joining the program still stands: I'm keeping up with my brother's activities while deployed. And, he is doing well. He received the mini tree we sent, and has since decorated it with all of the ornaments everyone sent to him. Now I'm thinking up a few more activities we can do as a family to keep in touch with him.

Part 5 JMS is now very interested in the computer and pushing its buttons. We've let him play a game or two on PBS.org...so now when I sit down he tells me he wants to help me with my "log"...aka Blog. :) And, he is the extra special helper everyone always dreamed of...today he "matched" all of our shoes. Our closets have never looked so organized. He likes to help me cook...try cracking a hard-boiled egg...haha, he nearly tore the thing in half. But he is a good stirrer...and did a great job with mixing corn bread(an activity mom used to have me do at her house). [Laura, the Easy Brownie Pan made perfect corn bread squares too!]

Part 6...not really an excuse...but definitely something we've accomplished in the past 60 days...JMS is wearing underwear and using the "potty" like a big boy!!! This was one of the most dreaded activities for me with regard to parenting...but I'm sure other parents will tell me that there are many more to come. (driver's education etc...)

To make everyone feel better...now that the computer is more user friendly...I'll post more.

Will's Tree

It might be a small picture...of a small tree...but I wanted to thank everyone who sent mini ornaments to my brother while he is deployed.