Food budget, revisited

Many of you may remember the food budget experiment that I did back in August. I got so much feedback from that. My blog was linked to, posts copied, numerous e-mails sent to me asking me how I did it. Well, there is even more interested in it now from a whole new group of people. Lamar and I discussed it and he made the challenge to me to do this again. So we will revisit this experiment in February. Why now....well you go on vacation for 2+ weeks and let me know what your checking account looks like afterwards!!!! It is perfect timing. More on this later. I have to get ready for the New Year festivities.

Holiday Trip, Days 10, 11, & 12

OK - you are going to get the past three days all thrown into one post. It is not that we have been exceptionally busy, but more of me being very lazy and choosing to sleep, knit and read rather than update this blog.

One of the highlights of coming to Iowa is making pancakes with Grandma Helen. The girls rush into the kitchen in the morning proclaiming "I want to help!" This time Nora Beth made it first. I was just excited that she was actually wearing her robe, rather than running through the house naked like she usually does. This child just will not keep her clothes on!

Marie had given Nora Beth a jar of Marachino cherries, knowing that it is one of her favorite food groups. She has insisted on putting them on her pancakes every morning. No butter, no syrup, only cherries on her pancakes. She knows what she likes.

These pancakes are very different to me. I like the fluffy kind, these are more of a sourdough crepe style. Right now, the smell of them makes my stomach turn, but the girls and Lamar enjoy them so much that I am putting up with my discomfort, just to keep them happy (or is it I would have discomfort no matter what was being cooked?)


Mary Ann, Shianne and I went to go see the movie Marley & Me. Shianne just finished reading the book and I told her that as soon as she was done reading it we would go to the movie. So two hours later we were in the theatre. She took that declaration from me literally! It was such a cute movie. We laughed (ALOT!) and cried (big, wet, ugly tears!).

Many of you know that I am a big dog lover and we had a Lab named Anna for many years. I was so in love with that dog. She could do no wrong in my eyes. So many things that Marley did in the book/movie were stunts that Anna had done. Anna was a Lab that did not like water, retrieving or exercise. Her place was laying on the floor watching the birds eat her food. She ate the rose garden (yes, all 20 roses!), the lilac tree (this was no seedling), the living room carpet (she was just letting me know we had hardwood) and a chicken (yes the whole chicken, no taking bites here, the whole thing!). Of course there were numerous other stunts that she pulled, but I am just updating a blog, not writing a novel here. Oh, how we miss Anna.

Lamar and I took the girls over to Lennox to see the light display. This whole town decorates for the holiday. The central park is magical looking. The girls really enjoyed looking at the lights. We told them we would get them ice cream for the trip, but we found out that the local DQ still closes for the winter here. I guess no one around here enjoys ice cream when it is 7 degrees outside (I do, I do, hands waving enthusiastically!!!)

We have no water here in rural Iowa. No joke. The snow melted so fast that it overwhelmed the water processing plant, mixed sewer in with the drinking water and a public health warning was issued - no using the water. This really complicates daily life around here. I do not drink the water here anyways, it has a funny taste to me, but now we cannot even wash dishes and I am questioning showering and laundry - yes, my inner germophobe is coming out here! This warning is supposed to last for several days. Lamar stocked up on bottled water and disposable plates to get us through.

I spoke with Lora last night. She is booking a trip to Las Vegas for us to recover from our holidays. I just love it when friends know exactly what I need!

Lamar and I are heading into Des Moines to enjoy the New Years festivities with some college friends. This should be fun. Of course, I have the title of DD this year due to my current pregnancy status....maybe Lamar planned it this way...hum.....

I will update you more next year. Welcome 2009!

Message of Love

I have been thinking long and hard about this post. What will you think? Will you even read it? Will you even care? I know that you read my blog, my stat counter tells me. I find it sad that the only way you can find out what is happening in my life is to view it on-line because you are to scared or proud to pick up the phone. I miss you so much. There has been so much pain over the years.

So much has happened in my life that you do not know about, stuff that I do not publish here. The girls have grown up so much. You do not even know them and they do not know you. Now we have another baby on the way. So many wonderful things have happened. So many fun memories. So many times I needed a shoulder to cry on. Life is to short to not have you involved.

I cannot believe how much time has passed. So many missed opportunities on both sides. So many misunderstandings. In the big picture it is all meaningless. I really hope someday to see you call. Say your sorry. Say I love you. I will say the same. Someday......

Holiday Trip, Day 9

Today can be called the great defrost! We had been hit with an ice storm over the past few days that left a sheet of slippery stuff all over the area. It warmed up enough today to melt the majority of it away. It was really quite beautiful with the sun out, reflecting off of the ice.

I know that this is no where near the Arctic blast that has been happening back home, but I can say the weather is colder here than back home! I keep hearing the stories of my friends who are stuck in their homes, no electricity, cars being towed. My heart goes out to you. You will soon have a defrost!

Today, being Sunday, also means Football, specifically, Viking Football. I made a big batch of Lamar's favorite "Ass Kickin Chili Fixins" and everyone went upstairs to eat and watch the game. Here you see Lamar and his brother Andrew. Fortunately, Minnesota won, so they made it to the playoffs! At least one more week of football is in our future - of course we will be flying home during the game.

While everyone was upstairs watching football, the girls were downstairs enjoying some marshmallows with their hot cocoa. They were having so much fun being silly together.

Holiday Trip, Day 8

Nora Beth has been having so much fun playing "tea party" with Mary Ann's pretty dishes. She has taken over the living room with her set up. Lamar, Andrew, Helen and Mary Ann have all been regular invitees to her table.

It is wonderful to watch how dramatic she is with her serving. She just loves this stuff. She has been very careful with all the the dishes, so far, no casualties for dishes, although there has been an ornament casualty that Nora Beth feels really bad about.

Now, if you sit at her table, you must play the part, as Lamar found out!

Holiday Trip, Day 7

Today we ventured over to see Marie and Don and meet more of Lamar's birth family. This time cousin Shannon was in town with her two sons. It was fun to meet her. Nora Beth really liked playing with the boys. We were able to have a good conversation with Marie, Don, Karen and Shannon. Marie made some yummy treats, the cinnamon rolls were especially delicious. I need to learn how to make mine come out this way (hint Marie - I NEED your recipe!)

We all joked about how we half-way expected Jan to come trotting through the door. We would not put it past her to pull a stunt like that. We made it through the morning with no "surprise" visits.

We are still amazed by how well this reunion has gone with Lamar's birth family. We are so happy that it has been so positive for both sides. When I first found Jan on-line, I was actually scared to give Lamar her info because I had heard so many "horror" stories. Fortunately both sides have come through smiling.

On New Years Day, we will be heading back over to Marie and Don's to meet even more family. I am anxious to see what kind of yummy bread Marie will have this time!

Family Vacation, Day 6 Christmas

We had a great Christmas Day. Andrew and Jean made it to Creston in the morning in time for a big family breakfast. I made Orange French Toast.

The girls were so excited to open their presents. It was fun to watch their excitement. Shianne was so excited about her new MP3 player - exactly what she was wanting. Nora Beth scored some great dress-up silks and fairies.

After the present frenzy, we started making the early dinner. It was a simple meal, but enjoyed by all. Afterwards, we all laid around with full bellies. A great day with family.

The girls played the piano and Andrew took this video. Nora just loves to play along with Shianne.