The Plan (to get what I want)

I am a smoothie girl.

I had a roommate in college who worked for JambaJuice (she also went home at Christmas break and never came back, thinking she was pregnant -- but that's a whole other story). I used to bask in the joy of her making me homemade Jambas. I was shocked to learn that you had to sign a contract before working there promising not to disclose their "secret jamba recipes."

Didn't they ever learn to SHARE???

I was also shocked to learn that my roommate had no morals (this was before Christmas break, obviously). She shared recipes right and left.

Curses.

Curses.

Why did I not have the foresight to type and save those dang recipes?

I suppose it was fate because I lacked the main ingredient -- one of these babies:

I covet this little machine (maybe I should secretly steal Amy's).

If you've never heard of vita-mix then I'm sorry for you. Go here to learn more, but beware of the temptation to covet that will inevitably overcome you.

I have wanted one for years and the other day I remembered that fact. I made smoothies for our breakfast and realized it mostly tasted like strawberry/blueberry milk. Milk - that's mostly all I could taste. Then my mind wandered over to vita-mix land where you don't need to add liquid because the thing pulverizes your food so much that liquid results immediately. So you just throw in a bunch of fruit (even whole apples) and voila, you have a smoothie that doesn't taste like milk.

I will get a vita-mix someday -- if I had just saved a little every month instead of just plain pining away for it then I would definitely have the $500+ to buy the dang thing.

So my new plan is to make an envelope labeled "Vita-Mix Fund."

Every month I shall contribute to it until someday (hopefully soon), I will be able to make all the smoothies I want with my shiny new vita-mix.

Or I could just write the government for a $700 bailout (and get the deluxe package).

And maybe then I'll consider getting a job at Jamba Juice and work there a month - okay a week - only to get the recipes (for my own personal home use, of course, not to be shared).

Sounds like a plan . . . I'll keep you updated on my quest.

A Trillion

I am sick of ALL politicians -- and I mean ALL -- no matter what party they are affiliated with.
ALL.
period.

This week Barack Obama -- whom I give my support 100% as my new president until he does something I disagree with and then my approval rating may begin dropping, but we'll see. I'm willing to give him a fair chance. I am not a sore loser - well, unless we're talking about croquet (but I would never lose at that because I ROCK at croquet!). Besides, I really disliked McCain anyway, as did mostly all conservatives -- anyway, tangent over -- Obama announced his $1.2 trillion plan this week. He says trillion dollar deficits are going to be many years to come, but we must "spend our way out of this recession."

I humbly ask: what about capitalism?

Why can't we just let companies who are failing fail and then let others rise in their place instead of the government picking and choosing who wins . . . that is not capitalism despite what Congress and Pres. Bush think. Government should never have that kind of power - at least not in America because that's not what made us great. Capitalism is what made us a great and wealthy country.

I am aghast.

Or at least why not spend the money on something useful like we did after WWII when we invested in things that made us money like the Jet Engine? Not zoos, BMX dirt bike trails, gigantic water slides, museums, taverns and waterfalls (which are all included in this new $1.2 trillion plan). I don't think any of those will bring us enough money back to pay that debt off -- nobody in the world will come clamoring for our water slide and waterfall technology like they did with the Jet Engine after WWII.

By the way, if you were counting right now, one, two, three, four, five, six -- it would take you 32 days to get to a million. It would take you 32 years to count to a billion. It would take you 32,000 years to count to a trillion.

Wow. And we hear them talking about it like it's pocket change.

Food

I totally forgot how nice it is to go through a day full of being a mom (which is quite exhausting) and then have this dropped off at your house right at dinner-time.

Amy and I decided to get out of slacker mode and pick up again on our dinner exchange. I couldn't be happier. I am the first to admit that when we kind of stopped in late Spring last year, my family suffered all summer and into fall and the holidays. Real dinners were had about 3 times a week (which isn't a lot when there's 7 days to account for in a week). PB&J became a staple, as long as Nate had his Nacho flavored Doritos.

But it's a new year and my family will be getting regular meals once again. Hallelujah!

Amy even started with a bang - dessert.

This was Reagan's first pudding experience and the reactions were priceless. With the first bite being vanilla she merely smiled, but with the second bite being chocolate she immediately giggled and clapped her hands, hungrily looking at me for more. She continued clapping and giggling every time she got a chocolate bite. I think she likes chocolate.

On another food note, I made super good tacos the other night.

For the recipe, go here.

And just for fun, if you want to wow your hubby with a fabulous sandwich one Saturday or Sunday afternoon, try this - it's my favorite!

Wow, now I'm hungry. I think I'll go eat lunch.

Before I forget. . .

I have a couple things I need to remember AND they're good for some laughs.

Savannah

...has a bad habit. Let me preface this story with the fact that Savy bites her fingernails and it drives me CRAZY (it's Megan all over again!) So the other day I was helping her with homework and she asks me (in all seriousness, mind you): "Can I bite your fingernails?"

Now, I understand that biting nails is a bad habit/obsession, but how much worse is it if you covet other people's nails because you've already bitten yours to the quick?????

London

...is still obsessed with cleanliness and washing of hands. You know how kids always have to inform you when they go to the bathroom? Well, the other day she tells me, "Mom, I'm going into the bathroom to pick my booger and then put it in a kleenex and then wash my hands." So precise and clean . . . and dare I say, too much information?


Also, the other day she asked me if she could have a Henry Kiss (Hershey). I love it when they mix up words - I think it's so cute.

Reagan

...is perfect. She's growing fast and I shocked myself into reality when I realized the other day that in 2 1/2 months, she will be one!!!! Hello! Where did that time go? She is the ever-curious crawler, getting into everything and pulling herself up to stand like a big girl. Although I must say I am shocked that she still has no teeth and I've been claiming teething since she was two months old! She freely hands out slobbery besitos (kisses) and giggles. What joy she brings into our family!

3 1/2 Hours

I've been working on "redecorating" my blog (check out my cool buttons - some take you to other pages or links while others are just for labeling purposes).

Maybe next time it'll be faster (because hopefully I'll remember what I'm doing).

I am, however, very happy with the results.

Nice and clean and fresh for a new year.

A bit girly, but that's my life . . . with a little splash of Nate - who's definitely not girly in the least.




Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I may be able to salvage the day and get a couple things done before Nate comes home. Perhaps.

blog list

La Navidad

I've been a slacker at posting these because JoDee was here and we stayed up too late every night -- mostly playing rock band until we all felt like we had carpal tunnel (Amy and Andee at least). One night was devoted to my new favorite movie though. And I'm so not used to staying up past midnight anymore so the 2:30 bedtime on New Years about did me in the next day. . . week (more on that later as I steal pictures from Amy).

So now today has been devoted to deep cleaning and laundry. Seriously, it's 3:32 and this is the first time I've sat down today -- and I'm far from done.

So here we go!

Christmas was fast, chaotic and fun. Isn't it always? Seeing Tyler's family is always fun and then as soon as they were ready to go, JoDee came down with the girls for a "cousins Christmas party" and a weeks worth of fun.

(picture overload, as usual)

Reagan was just excited to have the whole family in "her world" (the floor).

I about died at the difference in these two girls Christmas morning. Every present evoked a squeal of delight from Savannah while London appeared rather stoic while opening hers. I was a bit worried that she was unhappy with her loot until Nate informed me that she whispered to him that this was the best Christmas ever. I guess that's just the difference in their personalities.London with her presents from Savannah. I was so excited that Savs got to go to "Santa's Workshop" at school because I remembered going as a child. Yeah for Mr. C. - the P.E. teacher who instilled a love of hula hooping in my little girl! If you haven't had a good laugh lately, you should watch this girl hula-hoop! It's the best thing in the world! I'll have to see if I can figure out how to put a video of it on here.

I must say that it was one of the best meals EVER!. Amy made the same (amazing) turkey I made for Thanksgiving and I made the same stuffing and then mom's rolls were fabulous, as usual. . . I could go on and on, but I already have.

Davyn, Wyatt, London and Noah

Ryder was excited to have another little person. Here he is trying to blow on her tummy -- like everyone always does to him.

And here he is just flat out pestering the poor girl. It was quite entertaining to watch and Reagan didn't get upset at all. Cyn and Noah. London and Ryder with D's new "Wall-e computer." London's always attaching herself to a little one - she likes being older and tending them.
Noah - the boy is seriously an exact replica of Tyler at that age. Cutie Ryder.

Wesley

Savster

Reagan's Christmas bottle with Grandma Jones.Merry Christmas!