Gift from Santa

Someone smart told me a couple of years ago that she only took her kids to see Santa Claus right after Thanksgiving. She then had them write a letter with the 3 things the kids wanted most from Santa and they were done. She refused to take them to see Santa again. Why? Well, it seemed every time they went to see Santa her kids would come up with new things to ask him for. Really? Our kids always stuck to their list. Humm.

That is...until this year.


I shopped and shopped and was done with the kids by Thanksgiving (mostly done altogether by Thanksgiving actually). Then, I took the kids to see Santa. Asher asked for cars, check! Addison asked for a baby doll and a stroller, check! Then, Alivia, she asked for a doll house and a pillow pet...check and what?! Pillow Pet?! That was not on her list!

I ignored it. I am done. She won't notice, right?

Yesterday Chris reports to me, "I think we should get the girls pillow pets." Seriously?! I have passed by them a million times since Thanksgiving and past them by.

But, I can't say no to Chris! So, on the way to my late night nursing shift as the streets turned into skating rinks, I hunted through 2 Walmart stores for pillow pets. SOLD OUT! And seriously, you would not believe the crowds at 10:15PM on the 23rd of December when people think a snowstorm is on its way!

After leaving work this morning, I decided to stop by the Target near Chris' work. That Target always seems to have things that are sold out at other Targets. And, sure enough, 2 doggie pillow pets.

Yeah, check!

At least Alivia was not asking for an IPAD or a Kindle or something.

It is crazy what this mad mom will do for a gift from Santa. As Alice in Wonderland says...the best people are ("mad" that is!).

Merry Christmas to All!

Visit to see Grandmas and Grandpa

Today we went on our annual trip to visit the Grandmas and Grandpas that we may not be seeing for Christmas. First, we visited Grandma Pat and Bailey. The kids missed Grandma Pat and Bailey, her doggie. Bailey tends to love the kids a bit too much sometimes. :) After Grandma opened her present and the kids enjoyed a snack, we were off to Grandma Midge and Grandpa Harold's in Council Bluffs. They opened their presents from us, the kids had yet another snack, before we were off. It is always nice to see and visit with the Grandparents...especially at Christmas!

Christmas Lights and Cocoa

Tonight we went on our annual trip to see Christmas lights, eat cookies and drink cocoa. Alivia took her friend Zoe, and those girls were wild in the back of the van. We went to Northwest Omaha to look at areas we knew had good nights as well to visit the "crazy house," a house that has their own radio station with music that dances to the lights. Addison would still be there if it was up to her. We drove through our old neighborhood (big mistake!) and visited Alivia's friend Ellie. The girls hugged...it was too cute!

It was another fun, wild Austin night!

SVDP Nativity...Oh, how we miss that Church!

Crazy house near 144th and Maple

Visit to the Lincoln Children's Museum

Today was Alivia's first day of winter break. What a better way to kick it off than to go to the Lincoln Children's Museum. We had not been there in 2 years. Funny, Alivia remembered it right away, Addison remembered it once she saw the prairie dog area, and Asher did not remember any of it.

The kids ran for one exhibit to another out of excitement. They did like the vet, grocery store, and the prairie dog area best. Maybe we will make it an annual tradition!

Alivia's Winter Party

Today I was lucky enough to get to help out at Alivia's winter party. Alivia seemed tired through out the party, and she was happy I was able to come. I believe she likes it that I come without Addison and Asher, making it special for just her.

The kids played games, made crafts, decorated cookies and had a snack all within an hour. It was fun!

Mouse Trapped

Yeah...we finally caught A mouse! Last Friday night, I went out to the garage to check the live trap. The trap door was down, meaning we had caught a mouse! Yikes! At least the mouse was in the garage!

So, I, of course, sent Chris to get rid of the thing.

Since our little mouse "friend" has left the house, our bate has remained untouched.

Finally, Not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse!

Mmm...Christmas Goodies!

We have been baking in the Austin House. Mmmm! Gotta love Christmas treats. We made treat plates to go along with our Christmas Greetings for our new neighbors (yes, we have neighbors!).

1. Peanut Clusters:

3 squares white almond bark
3 squares chocolate almond bark
12 oz salted peanuts with the skins on
1 6oz bag (1/2 normal bag) chocolate chips.
Melt almond bark and chocolate chips. Add peanuts. Drop on wax paper, cool and enjoy. I normally double the recipe, and I make these from the double boiler pan.

2. Sugar Cookies

3/4 c. shortening (part margarine)
1 c . sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
 Mix together. Chill at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 400. Roll dough 1/8" thick and cut with cookie cutters. Bake 6-8 minutes.
Recipe can be doubled (and I usually double it).

Icing:
1 c. powdered sugar
1/4 salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 TBSP milk
Blend together and decorate cookies. Mmmm!

3. Chocolate Spritz

4. Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/2 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag chocolate stars
Heat oven to 350. Mix above together as you normally do. Roll into balls, roll into sugar and bake 10-13 minutes. These are Chris' favorites.


5. Chocolate covered Pretzels
6.  Chocolate Crinkles

1/2 c. vege oils
4 sq. unsweetened chocolate (melted)
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. powdered sugar.

Mix above except powdered sugar. Chill overnight.
Heat oven to 350. Drop rounded balls of dough into powdered sugar. Placed on greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes (it never takes my oven that long). These are a family favorite...but they do not stay fresh for long...so eat up.

Crunchy Snowman Recipe

I found this recipe in Family Fun (See link HERE) and thought it would be cute to make for Alivia's class. But, making 30 of them was about 20 too many! :) The kids had fun helping me place the eyes and the buttons tonight. The ingredients I used:
Pretzel Rods
Dots (for hat)
Gummy Lifesavers (For hat)
Fruit roll up ropes (for scarf)
mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
mini Christmas M&Ms (for Buttons)
Almond Bark (for snow)
Orange decorator candy balls (for the nose)

I am not very artistic or patient. They are kinda cute, in the end, and look sorta like snowmen. Hopefully Alivia's class will enjoy them!

I'm Me

Yeah...that's me. 

I tell you like it is.

I write out the obvious. You don't like it? Then why are you reading this blog?

That's me...no fluff here. I am what I am. Like me or leave me alone.

I will take either one.

When I grow up...

...I want to be...

Alivia: a veterinarian.
Addison: a mommy with a baby. :) I am teaching her to be a wife first...
Asher: Spider man...then he said a pilot.

I wonder what they will say next year?

Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandpa!

Last night we celebrated Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bob's birthday over pizza and angel food cake. Mmm! It's always nice to have guests and celebrate their special days in our home, We need to do that more often. Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandpa!

Merry Christmas from the Austins 2010

My Ring My Ring!

Yesterday I finally got my wedding ring back. And, it looks...well, AMAZING! I put it on my finger and kept looking at it over and over again. The prongs had to be remade and the diamond reset...and I love it! I vow to take better care of it, especially since I lost an organ in order to pay for the repairs this time. It is true...you sure cherish things more when you do not have them.

Addison's Preschool Christmas Program

Addison had her first preschool Christmas Program at Sacred Heart (St. Columbkille). It was adorable! They sang Halleluia, Mary's Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Shinking Star, O Where O Where is the Newborn King, Happy Birthday Jesus, and I have a Light. Addison just stood there, looking beautiful, but looking like she was going to cry. She told me afterwards that she was scared and the girl behind her was singing too loud!

Quality Fence? Take 2

After a series of phone calls and emails, I got a hold of "Quality" fence regarding our fence issues following the winter storm we had over the weekend. I was seriously mad by the time of phone call and their seemingly lack of calling me back or emailing us back. I was mad anyway considering that the gate of the fence had not made it through the first Nebraska winter storm, and I know there are many more expenses to come from this fence. Additionally, we drove through the neighborhood and found that our gate and a person's fence up the hill were the only 2 effected from this storm (the one up the hill was just installed within the last week and almost 50% of it was flattened. Nice!). Both were "Quality" fences.

Anyway, the woman, was less than happy with my attitude. She questioned my intelligence stating that I was not qualified to know what a quality fence was (um, I can tell that a fence that is demolished after the first snow storm is not quality). And, I wonder if she has her Master's Degree...Hummm...I really don't think one is needed to NOT see quality in the twisted plastic that now lays in a heap in our yard.

She went on to say that their warranty does not cover acts of God. Really? Air is an act of God. So, more of less, Quality Fence does not have a warranty? And, a blizzard is a Nebraska Act of NATURE. Blizzards happen here...that is not an anomaly . So, if a fence is going to be sold here, it should withstand Nebraska Acts of NATURE!

I am FUMING! I would not ever in my worst nightmare recommend Quality Fence to ANYONE. Especially considering that the 2 fences that were effected in our neighborhood were from Quality Fence. Humm...you have to question the quality in that. And, she, for whatever reason, had no explanation to that. But, she did take offense to me saying it was because it was just a crappy fence.

Guess we will be without a gate until I sell another organ and miss another Holiday outing to pay for it! Maybe we should wait until spring to fix it since I am sure this is not the last of the "Acts of God" we will see this winter.

Mommy and Me Day

Today was Mommy and Me Day at Sacred Heart, Addison's preschool. We ate cookies, sipped hot chocolate and decorated a gingerbread house. It was a lot of fun! And, thank you Daddy for allowing me to go (he came home for an hour to watch Asher so I could go to the party. Too sweet!).

Quality Fence?

This is our "Quality" brand fence after the FIRST winter storm it has been in. Nice...Quality? Let's see what they say when I call them tomorrow.