And So It Begins.......

The most wonderful time of the year!!!  Yes it is!  I know, there are many people who might disagree with me but I so love the Christmas season and this year I will love it more.  Why you ask?  Because I will actually have time to decorate, shop, and bake.....and to just enjoy the season as it should be enjoyed.....without stress! 

Of course, the season really begins at Thanksgiving.  And it was a very good one. 

We began the day with a hike.  Brrrrrr......it was cold!!!!  Colder than these old Arizona bones are used to!!  As we made our way up the canyon, the wind was blowing in our face.  My face was frozen, my eyes were watering, and my nose was snotting up (How's that for graphic????).  But when we got to the other side, we were treated to this beautiful view of downtown Phoenix.

I know, it may not seem like much but around these parts it is a big deal to have a clear view of the city without a big brown cloud.  The wind just blew it all away......

Luckily it warmed up (well, somewhat) and we were able to comfortably enjoy the rest of our hike. 

Judging from my husband's attire, you probably wouldn't think it was very cold....but it was.  And I was the one more appropriately attired for the weather :-)

Our five mile hike (and the additional five miles I put in around the kitchen) entitled us to our fair share of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie.  I was extremely thankful to have both my children home for Thanksgiving.  I was NOT thankful for the fact that my SD card in my camera ended up with a so called "fatal error" meaning I was only able to upload a handful of photos from the Thanksgiving feast.....and they weren't the best photos :-(   Here is probably the best of them.....

Yes, the best one was with me looking like I'd been on my feet for the past five hours.  Marvelous!!!! 

And after spending all that time making Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, I celebrated the day after in a most fitting manner....

I spent 45 minutes in line to purchase a Christmas Tree at Kohl's.  Yes, I am just a little short of crazy (or maybe just full blown, who knows....) but it was a 7 footer with 800 lights and it was only $70.  Oh, and I got the last one.  Hee hee.....many people coveted that baby but it was all mine!! 

Yes,  and I am enjoying the season just as it should be enjoyed!!!



Scrumpdelicious! (Is This Even A Word????)

Last week as I was perusing Facebook (something new!) I noticed that my daughter was spending a day baking......One of my most favorite things to do!!  According to one of her status updates, she was making chocolate chip pumpkin cookies and pineapple banana bread.   Ooooooo.....pineapple banana bread!!!!  Just the very idea of pineapple and banana together was enticing.  So, out I went, into internet surfdom to find such a recipe.  I supposed I could have asked for her recipe.....but who am I kidding....I'm way too impatient to wait!!!  I had to have it NOW!! 

So I went to one of my favorite recipes sites and found this recipe.  Now I did make a couple of changes because I am one of those annoying people who likes to tweak every recipe I see.  So, instead of two cups granulated sugar, I split it up and used one cup brown sugar and one cup granulated sugar.  I added some extra sugar (no exact measurement just threw some more in!). 

And Voila!  This is what I ended up with......

Looks good......and how did it taste??  Yummy!!!  It was the best banana bread I have ever made.  The pineapple really added so much to the flavor and the texture.  Loved it!!  Thank You Amanda! :-)



How Much Is That Doggie In the Window

Heehee.....Actually he is not for sale but I couldn't think of another title to introduce a newly groomed doggie.  Here is the before photo of Nash.....

This was actually taken a couple of weeks ago but you get the idea.  He was pretty scruffy.  I am amazed that dog could see anything through all that hair!! 

Now here is the after picture.....

Wow!! He does have eyes!!  I always wonder how they feel after being groomed.  I know they don't really like going to the groomer but I've got to think the world looks so much better without all that hair in their eyes.  Hmmmm.....who knows what a dog thinks. 

Next month it's Khalil's turn for a new do.  

And then, maybe, in January, I'll get my turn :-)   (Yeah, I rate just behind the dogs!)

Well, that's all for now!!  Toodles....

I Follow Orders Well

The request was simple.  He wanted his own blanket. 
One in manly colors with no holes!
That meant no granny squares.  :-(
I acquiesed.....slowly. 
It seems I'm rather taken with crocheting in circles.
Eh....maybe it's because I'm a dizzy blonde
and am genetically predisposed to dizzying routines.
Hmmmm......whatever!!!! 

So, the son got what he wanted. 
A blanket with no holes.
Which required crocheting back and forth (yawn).
I did add ripples to keep me awake.
And I did finally finish......TA DA!!!!!

So there it is.....the finished product!!
It turned out to be a lot wider than I thought.
I didn't realize this until I tried to photograph it. 
Hence the reason that it took so long!

So now that is it done, kid.....
You can come and get it.......anytime.....at all......

Because When It Comes to Embarrassing My Children.......

I am an equal opportunity parent!!  So, today, on his 24th birthday, it is my son's turn.  After all, exactly twelve days ago, his sister had to endure this humiliation so why should he be left out of the fun. 

He is getting a warning though.  After I posted his sister's baby picture on Facebook, he informed me that he would hack my account if I did the same to him.  Son....that is against the law....DON'T EVEN TRY IT!!  Your sister took it like a man.....and you should too!! ;-)

So, without further ado......here is the adorable little guy. 

Yes.....all decked out in his Ninja Turtle t-shirt and spiky hair!  Oh, and the cheesy smile.  There is a story behind that smile.  He was not a big fan of smiling for the camera so I had to bribe him.  I can't remember exactly what I bribed him with but it must have been good because if my memory serves me correctly, the cheesy smile was plastered on his face from the moment we walked through the doors at Olan Mills until we walked out.  Hmmmm.....that kid had a way of working it even back then!!!

Anyways, this kid entered our world 24 years ago today and it was pretty calm and uneventful.  No interesting drama stories on the day of his birth......sorry, Amanda.  But alas, my dear daughter, this should make you feel better.....when I was pregnant with you, I never felt (or looked) better.  My hair was beautiful and silky, shiny; my skin was so soft and free of blemishes, and, from behind, you couldn't tell I was pregnant.  Now when I was pregnant with your brother......my ass was as big as Russia, my ankles swelled to the size of torpedoes, and I had the worse case acne known to mankind!!! (Note: No complaints, just reality!) I was so certain I was having a boy I didn't even bother picking out a girls name. 

Of course, your father (and he probably doesn't remember this) had a momentary freak out the night before Ryne's birth.   He had a sudden thought that it might be a girl and.....yikes! we didn't have a name picked out.  I believe that one of his co-workers suggested the name Lindsay and I remember thinking, "okay, sounds good to me".  So there you go.....if he'd have shocked me and came out a girl, Ryne would have most likely have been Lindsay instead.  A little piece of information he didn't know (or perhaps, didn't need to know!).

So.....on that rather freaky note...... 

Happy Birthday, Ryno!!!!   You are my favorite son!  (Yes, you even rate ahead of Khalil and Nash :-D)    Oh....and the blanket is done so anytime you want to come and get it.........

P.S. : I know that both of my children are embarrassed by my stories (and my complete willingness to share them).  But the truth is, they have brought great joy to my life (Note: they are both now gagging!) and I hope they know that when I write these stories it is with love that I do so.  It is the stories, even the funny and embarrassing ones, that keep the common thread of our family so alive.  And I have a feeling there are going to be a lot more to come. 

On This Date 29 Years Ago: Arkansas beat Texas

Actually....they spanked Texas. It was brutal.  How do I know this?  I lived in Arkansas at the time.  The state went absolutely nutso.  Now if I wasn't a football fan I would have thought they were going crazy over something far more momentous.....something super spectacular....something just off the charts. 

On this date, 29 years ago, I became a mother.  I became a mother to this cute and cuddling little creature.

 

Who grew up to be this dazzling creature.........

Yes, I truly think she was worth all the fuss.

Of course, 29 years ago, my doctor probably thought she was a selfish little annoying snot even before she took her first breath.  Which takes me back to Arkansas and Texas.  You see, after a long time of laboring, it was determined that she was not eager to enter the world by the conventional means. No, she wanted to make sure she was beautiful the very minute she made her entrance (hence the future obsessions with beauty magazines and staying out of the sun).  It was determined that there would be a C-Section.  The problem was this little ole football game which was important to all Arkansans, near and far.  Including, yes you guessed it, THE DOCTOR. 

Ummmmm.....ma'am, would you mind waiting until half time.  I can't remember my exact response at the time but I think that, in light of the pain I was in, it was something along the lines of "ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?"  Because I have learned that laboring women (or at least this laboring woman) do like to cuss.....alot. 

Needless to say, we did not wait for halftime to be wheeled into the operating room and get that lovely spinal anesthetia (sp?).  Yes, my girl made me proud that day.  She inherited her momma's determination and she stood her ground....even on when she was coming in the world.  

I cannot imagine my life without her. 

Happy Birthday, Manda Panda Bear.  I Love You!!!



Criminal of the Week!

Here in the Phoenix area there is a morning talk show host who has a segment of his programs dedicated to the criminal of the day.  He tells the story of one of the many stupid criminals there are.  Well here at Casa de "Z" we had our own little criminal.  Or so my husband says.  Here is how things went down Tuesday night. 

At approximately 8 p.m., he informed me that we had just been the victims of criminal activity.  The crimes?  Criminal damage and theft.  I then got a tour of the crime scene. 

The first area was the cat box.  Roughly three-quarters of the kitty litter was out on the floor.  We quickly surmised that the culprit was a purveyor of scooby snacks.  I know......gross, huh?  Which is why there will be no photo.  This would be the criminal damage.

The second are was my craft room where I had been working on a halloweeny type decoration.  Well this is what it looked like after the perp got a hold of it.....

I called this a criminal damage.  Mr. Z insisted that it was a theft.  A theft of candy corn.  Hmmmm......

The criminal in question??????

This scruffy (note: badly in need of a grooming) little urchin.  Momma left the gate open and he went for a stroll around the house.  What gave him away?  Could have been the proud as a peacock prance after he thought he got away with it!!  No...he didn't.  He was just promptly placed back behind bars (fitting) where he could be chastised and monitored for a candy corn overdose. 

So there he is......our criminal of the week.  Just hope this does not become a weekly event!!