Thankful Thursday

With 2009 coming to a close within hours I look back on the year and have much to be thankful for. Here is hoping 2010 is just as great!

Happy New Year!!!!!

I hope you all have a prosperous and healthy 2010!

Wordless Wednesday

A New "Car"

Santa brought Madelyn a go-kart for Christmas and she refers to it as her "car." She would really like to drive it to school one day but we have explained to her that it isn't street legal. Thus far she has had a blast riding the new car. It doesn't do so well in snow but it goes fast and furious on dry ground.


A new helmet for the new ride.



Today we took the go-kart to the HS parking lot where most of the snow had melted. Notice how I'm hanging on for dear life?? Oh my that thing is a rough rider, or maybe it is the crazy driver!!



I have a feeling there are going to be many good memories with the new ride.

Lunch With Santa

Sunday afternoon we went to the local Red Brick cafe for lunch and much to Madelyn's surprise, Santa showed up for a visit. He even came to our table, shared a fry with Madelyn and then the two of them sang Jingle Bells. After we were finished with lunch Madelyn and several other kids joined Santa for cookie decorating.


Madelyn wasn't so sure about Santa eating one of her fries...





Oh Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...








This visit from Santa was much better than any ol mall Santa.

Classroom Christmas Party

I spent Friday morning with Madelyn at her classroom Christmas party. The interesting thing about Madelyn's school is that all holiday parties are first thing in the morning and usually only last about an hour and then the kids resume class as usual. I'm pretty sure the teachers have a fun time keeping the kids on task after the parties, but it works out well for the working parents that need to get to work.

The kids exchanged gently used or new books at the party. I think that is a novel (punn intended) idea. Then the kids had a snack, donuts and capri suns were this years choice. Nothing like a sugar rush first thing. After parents/kids passed out other small gifts the kids gathered around for story time and the parents snuck out the door.

Madelyn giving Ms. Watts her Christmas gift.


The book exchange.


Ms. Watts reading to the kids during the gift exchange. (Every time they heard words rhyme they passed the book to the person next to them until the end of the story. Then they opened the present that was in their hands when the story ended.)
Snack time


Saying Goodbye....Madelyn didn't want me to leave.

Wordless Wednesday

"A doe, A deer, A female deer."

I had told myself, and everyone else for that matter, that I would not shoot a doe. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot a mama, knowing that she had a young one still tagging along or that she could possibly be with bambi (kind of like with child).
I went out to the the deer box six evenings during rifle season. I would arrive around 3:30pm, feeder would go off at 4:00pm and the does would start showing up anywhere between 4:15pm and 5:00pm. Most evenings I would leave right as it was getting dark and would have to scare off the does. Only one time hunting did I not see a single deer. The does and this years fawns were fun to watch. But I was waiting for the big buck to arrive.
Today was the last day of rifle season. I was pretty much over the whole hunting experience and just wanted a shot at a buck. I arrived at the box at 3:45pm, the feeder went off at the usual time and I patienty waited while reading a good book. Finally around 5:00pm the first doe and fawn showed up, followed by several others. At 5:10pm I decided that a big buck wasn't going to appear so I either needed to take a shot or go home. My heart started to beat a mile a minute and at that point I knew I was going to shoot a doe. I couldn't let the anticipation and excitment of the shot go to waste and I couldn't go home empty handed on the very last day of the season. I quietly opened the sliding window, propped my gun on the window opening making enough noise that all the deer looked up and stared directly at me. I sat as still as possible until the deer went back to eating. Then I placed the target on the biggest doe there and took a shot. She took off running but I was pretty sure I got a good shot. I never know for sure because I always close my eyes when I shoot. I watched where she ran and thought I heard her drop. All but one of the other deer had managed to run off but the one still stood there and stared at me. I'm thinking I probably shot her mama...sorry about that. My heart was still pounding and I was shaking with excitement. I called Ryan and our friend Andy to let them know that I shot a doe. After a couple minutes I got down from the box and went to where I shot the doe and saw blood so I knew I hit her. I then followed a trail of blood and walked in the direction I thought she dropped. I found her within minutes. Ryan and Andy arrived and took pictures and then Ryan walked me through the gutting process.
It was another fun hunt and all those sad feelings about shooting a doe quickly went away as soon as I pulled the trigger. Fun stuff.


Madelyn wasn't with me this year when I shot my deer but she sure enjoyed watching me field dress the deer. However, she wasn't too fond of the smell. :)



Thanks Dad for letting me use your gun again this year. It was a great shot even with my eyes closed.

If I had known then what I know now....

I would not have been so nasty and disrespectful to my parents and sister

I would have not been jealous and envious of friends...ever!

I would have taken piano lessons so I would still have that skill today.

I would have taken gymnastics

I would not have had a serious boyfriend in high school and would have just spent the time having fun with my friends.

I would have not graduated college in 4 years. I would have made it last a little longer, although mom and dad's pocket book would have probably disagreed.

I would have taken a pottery class in college.

I would have dated more in college.

I would have gotten married at 28 and not 24. But I still would have married the same guy!

I would not have waited 10 years after high school to reconnect with my high school friends.

I would not have lived with Ryan before we got married.

But everything happens for a reason and if my life would have turned out differently because I did or did not do something different I wouldn't have changed a thing (well maybe being nicer to my parents and sister). I love my life and how things turned out thus far.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful this sweet child is only behind the wheel when she is sitting on her daddy's lap and they are driving in a pasture.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for this man. I am thankful that he is a hands-on daddy and will do anything and everything for and with his daughter. I am thankful that he does at least 50% of the house work, if not more, and all of the outside work. I am thankful that we have financial security because he insists on living without debt and saving, saving, saving (although frustrating at times, I know it will pay off in the future). I am thankful for his sense of humor that makes me laugh everyday. I am thankful for his drive to work, that man never slows down. I am thankful that he lets me do whatever I want, within reason of course. I am thankful that he stays home to take care of Madelyn every summer, spring break, and Christmas break. I am thankful that he is a manly man and knows how to change oil and is the handyman at our house. I am also thankful that he chose me to spend the rest of his life with...poor guy. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Black Friday

After hosting Thanksgiving dinner and getting a much needed power nap I headed to Topeka to meet up with my BFFs for our annual Black Friday fun. I was thankful that I picked up Robin at the Admire turnpike area or I may have never figured out how to get to Kelli's house in the dark. Thanks Robin!! Soon after all of us arrived at Kelli's it was time for our gift exchange.


I got the girls GNO fund banks but they seemed a bit disappointed that there wasn't any money in their banks. :)


We received lottery tickets and I even won $3 and Kris won $10!!

Then the big suprise was revealed....



Kelli's husband surprised the four of us with Bon Jovi tickets at the Sprint Center in March. He even reserved a limo if we choose to ride back to Topeka that night. But, we may just stay at the Power & Lights district. What an awesome surprise and gift! We cannot wait until March and the concert just happens to be the Monday after our annual St. Patty's Day celebration in Aggieville!


After all that excitement we decided to go see the Twilight movie - New Moon. It was as lame as the first one but the movies are never as good as the books.

We arrived back to Kelli's house after midnight and three of us snuggled into a queen size bed and attempted to catch some ZZZZzzzzs before our early wake up at 3:45am. (Note to self: Robin and Kris snore!!)

We made it to Wal-Mart by 4:40am and waited patiently for the good sales to begin. I about got mobbed at the digital frames, but thankfully Kris was there to save me. After we picked up the good deals we headed to K-mart, Target, (where we had breakfast at the snack shack), Kohls and then the mall. Finally it was time for our annual lunch and margaritas at OTB.

Kelli had just discovered that Kris and I ate the middle of the cinnamon rolls!! Hee hee..we were laughing like a bunch of grade school kids.


Another annual tradition: eating cinnamon rolls (that Kelli's MIL made us) at the Target snack shack.




Enjoying lunch and Margaritas at OTB!

We finished our shopping with a stop at Michaels and then we said our goodbyes and headed on down the road. I arrived home around 5:00pm that evening and was asleep shortly after 6:00pm.


Thanks for another fabulous time ladies! You never disappoint!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Can't wait to spend another Black Friday with these fabulous friends!! The plan is to meet at Kelli's house on Thursday evening for a slumber party and be out shopping before 5:00am on Friday morning.

Target Practice

With pheasant and quail season upon us Madelyn has been asking to go hunting with her daddy. Since the fellows usually walk long distances in tall grass Madelyn has been discouraged to tag along. However, Ryan offered to take her out to the lease property with her (used to be mine) BB gun in hand to shoot at whatever she chooses. This afternoon Madelyn had target practice and then she and her daddy were off to the lease to "hunt." Ryan wasn't planning to take his gun but Madelyn insisted so he took his unloaded shot gun. The moving targets should be safe but anything sitting still better watch out because this 6 year old is a pretty good shot.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that one week from today I will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my parents and Ryan's parents. I'm so thankful that Ryan and I have amazing parents that we are lucky enough to spend the holiday with.

Wordless Wednesday (idea stolen from a fellow blogger)

Almost Homemade Apple Pie

The past several years Ryan has given up pop, sweets and fried food during wrestling. Wrestling season begins tomorrow and I decided he should savor his last day of sweets and made him his favorite, an apple pie. There has been only one other time that I have made him an apple pie, but my mom makes sure Ryan has an apple pie at least a couple times a year.

Ingredients
7 - Gala Apples
1 1/2 C sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbls flour or cornstarch
1 Tbls fruit frsh

Peel and slice apples.


Mix the above ingredients together (sampling as you go).



Pour the ingredients into the bottom pie crust. This is where I cheat, and honestly this pie crust tastes just as good as homemade and is much quicker.


Place 3 Tbls of margarine on the apple mixture.

Add the top pie crust and mark it with an M (or B, or whatever initial you choose).


Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. Then remove the foil and bake for another 1/2 hour. Then brush the crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.



Enjoy!!

Cleaning lady

This morning when Madelyn was too quiet I went to find out what she was doing and this is what I found:


Sweet child of mine was cleaning out my closet, organizing my shoes.

And this....


Hasn't happened in years... a made bed.

Her daddy has trained her well.

You're Gonna Miss This...

You know that country song "You're Gonna Miss This?" Well, I do miss this....






TERRIBLY!!!


FYI: I want that baby back, not another one.