Sadie and the Broken Bleed

I should just wait until Chelsea blogs this story but I can't wait, cause it is so cute. Chelsea, Linkin and Sadie came to visit us on Friday and Saturday, we had a great time. One things that we found so amazing was the energy Linkin has. Dad had pruned the plum trees in the backyard, the branch were all over the yard, many of them. Friday dad and Linkin worked on cutting them up and putting them in the yard waste container. We did a little Rock Band after we got back from the open house of the new gym where Linkin did at least 15 min. on the eliptical. Linkin did pretty good on both the drums and singing. He figured out on his own that he could hum along and keep the arrow thing on the line even if he didn't know the words, so he did good. Saturday after pancakes grandpa had to go to the gallery so Linkin helped me finish the cutting up of the branches, then we came in and had some lunch well we had it outside, that is when the tragedy happened. The tiles on the mosaic table have been shingling, Sadie had picked up a piece of the thin glasslike top of the tile, Linkin wanting to protect her from the danger pulled the thin sharp piece of tile away from her slicing her finger, causing it to bleed!! Her first bleeding cut or as she called it her broken bleed which when you think about it is exactly what it is. She would not be consoled. The only thing she would let happen was for a paper towel to be wrapped around her tiny finger. She held it on there all day, even during the time she was napping. No bandaid allowed, later she let Chelsea put a rubber band loosely around the paper towel. Linkin let me take a well deserved rest, "watched" Phineas and Feb while he jumped on the mini trap until mommy and Sadie woke up so we could play games on the Wii, which we did. Lots of bowling and boxing and baseball until grandpa came home and I could rest and grandpa played until it was time for them to head back to Salinas. He was courteous enough to let grandpa know "did I mention, I'm pretty good at golf." I hear from her mom that Sadie is doing much better. I also here that Linkin is getting a pretty fun gift for his birthday but don't tell, he doesn't know.

Wii is Good to Me

I already blogged about how much fun Rock Band is, but I also want to blog about the exercise "game" we got as well. We got the Active workout, it comes with a strap that you store the nuncuk when you are doing certain exercises and with other exercises you hold it in your left hand. I really like it. I started out with the easy 25ish min 30 day workout. It keeps track of all your stats, is helpful and encouraging. I don't think they realize I'm 60 even though I told them, cause some of the stuff is, lets say challenging BUT I am only on day 12 and today I worked out on the treadmill. Let me tell you I was able to do 25 min walking at a faster pace then I have and every 3 or 4 min I would run for a min without holding on at all. Now for all you younguns that may seem lame but for me it is a real step in the right direction. So I am really a Wii fan now, not only can I rock and roll I can run and squat, lung and box. Highly recommend.

draft

Rock Band Rocks

Who would have ever thought that some old tooters would have so much fun rocking out to a video game? We got out Wii after Christmas but had to wait for our RockBand2 to get delivered since they were all sold out in the world. We received it yesterday afternoon, got it set up but had a few interruptions so we didn't really get rockin till 10:00 pm. Oops we rocked it out until 11:30pm then scurried off to bed but it is hard to fall asleep after rocking and rolling, but we finally fell asleep. Can't wait to get going again tonight. Life is short, rock and roll and eat dessert. That is my new motto. There will be picture later.

Happy Birthday Gift Enjoyed

Some gifts are so great that you have to rearrange the whole house. That was the way it was with my birthday gift this year from my children, a huge frame with wonderful photos of all our darling, charming, adorable grandchildren. So things were moved, walls were painted but look how great it looks. A big thanks to all our children and grandchildren, you will enjoy seeing it when you come. Love mom/grandma (I customized the mat).

Christmas is Here!

Well it has been a long while since I blogged, no excuses, no inspiration. I had a good time putting up the Christmas decoration this year, Bruce was busy with all the pre-Christmas band things and I just took my time doing what I wanted each day, a little here a little there. I think the trees came out very nicely. Bruce did help with the putting together of the big tree and the getting down of some of the stuff, (credit where credit is due).

What moved me to blog was that we had the missionaries over for dinner on Sunday, I decided to make Viva la Chicken. Now, many of my children will remember Viva la Chicken which was a big favorite UNTIL I made it for Bruce's birthday one year and used HOT chili peppers instead of mild. Now of course I didn't do this on purpose. We have all gone shopping and had to check over the many choices we have, trying to make sure we have the one we want, only to come home with the very one we DIDN'T want. That is what happened to me only I didn't notice because I was SO sure I had picked the mild chilies, I made the delicious casserole up and served it for my husbands pleasure..... Well, as we recall it was so incredibly hot that fire actually came out of Bruce's nose and ears and his tears were the only thing that put it out. I was so traumatized that I had never made it again, for all these years, but I decided to forge on and overcome my fears. I found some mild green chili taco sauce and used that instead of the actual chilies and it came out better than ever. I compiled it a day ahead which was what the directions said which I don't think I ever did before, it was great and it was all gone by the end of dinner, I served it with a little salad and some crescent rolls with brownies and chocolate no sugar pudding. I so restored my confidence in my ability to cook and made me feel happy. So for all those in my family who may also have a deep abiding fear of Viva la Chicken, do not despair, push forward and try it again. PS it is so much easier now cause you can buy the boneless, skinless chicken breast and just boil them up (I know it). Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas and Bon Appetite

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming...our annual opportunity to share in this special time of year when hearts are a little softened and the chance to offer love and good will increases. The challenge is to not to get too wrapped up in the "material world" or at least not to let it rule and ruin the joy of Christmas. Giving love and thoughtfulness is always much appriciated. Gifts that can be afforded, used and loved are the gifts that are appriciated. Creating memories is not costly except in our time. Cookie baking, carol singing, fun time together, homemade decorations,, these are what last. May this Christmas season bring us not only closer to our loved ones but more importantly closer to our Savior whose birth we are celebrating.

On the wild hike

The big girls

The feast

More feast

Still feasting

The Wild Things

Thanksgiving 2009 was the most perfect day. The weather was so beautiful no wind and perfect temperature. We had a wonderful meal and and everyone was happy. Strangely after the sun went down a wind came up and brought much cooler temperatures, the next morning was overcast and though the sun eventually came out it never got warm, but we took the kids to San Lorenzo Park or our adventure hike. The kids had fun and were all good sports. They have a wonderful time together and the grown ups who went had lots of fun too.