Aloha Friday: Merry Christmas (Eve)

Merry Christmas (Eve) and Aloha Friday!  Visit An Island Life to link up.

It is easy, all you do is ask a question, visit some great blogs and answer other bloggy friends questions!

My Question:

Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or wait for Christmas morning?

My Answer:

Christmas Morning

Share a Spoon (better late than never)

Better late than never right?

Ok, fine, today was crazy and I am NOW getting to my computer!

Share a Spoon with Think Tank Momma is about Christmas traditions (with food).

My sister has Christmas day at her house, I bring a side or whatever.  She also does a traditional Norwegian cookie (I only stood from a far when I was younger while she and my dad made them), she has the iron and is much more of a baker than I am.

However, Christmas Eve I make the same thing every year.

Go Mommy's Slow Cooker Pot Roast

1 (2 lb.) boneless chuck roast

1 1/2 Tbs. ground pepper

14 small  red potatoes quartered (apx. 2 lbs.)

1 medium onion

1 (16 oz.) package baby carrots

2 (10 oz.) cans French Onion soup

1 (2.8 oz.) tube dried tomato paste

1/2 c. water

Place pot roast in the slow cooker, arrange vegetable around the roast.  Combine soup and tomato paste, pour over the roast.  Cook on high for 1 hour, the cook on low for 9 hours.

You can take the drippings and make a gravy for the pot roast with a little flour and some water.

I love making this on Christmas eve because it is easy and then everything is done, all I do is add some rolls and a salad and everyone enjoys the meal and I get to spend time with my kiddos instead of cooking!

Of course for breakfast on Christmas morning we have the same thing as Momma Pixie (the baked french toast, I know it as overnight french toast). 

The Jelly Dropper

Here is my follow up from last weeks Share a Spoon: Cookies for Santa!  Check out the post from last week for the recipe for Raspberry Thumbprints.

Bear was my "Jelly Dropper"

He was responsible for dropping the jelly into the thumbprint in the cookie.

In the oven they go...

The finished product.

 What did P-nut do the whole time?

She got into my baking draw and tried to wear a pie crust guard as a necklace...

While listening to the High School Musical soundtrack on the HSM radio.

Nothing says Happy Holiday's like HSM!

P-nut's "Wish" List

I write "wish" list for P-nut because she is 1.5 years old...  She doesn't know what she wants, we just buy what we know she will like love.  On with the list!

She loves babies so she will be getting some lovely "baby" accessories.  New onsies for her baby doll and a new friend for her baby doll too!

Bitty Baby

(image via American Girl)

I am so excited for her to get this!!!

Circo Shopping Cart

(image via Fisher Price)

Snap N Style Babies

Leap Frog Chat & Count Cell Phone

She has some more little fun things.  Of course her grandparent's will spoiler her too!



PINT

Good and Bad (all at the same time?)

Ever since my sister and I were little  was in college and I was in high school we would talk about wanting to live near each other.  We talked about how close our kids would be and that we would run together.  Life would be great!

Well, we do live near each other and our kids are close (sometimes I think Bear would rather live at her house) and we run together (sometimes).  My sister had knee surgery this past summer so the fall took us to riding together.  It was fun but, hard to talk to each other while riding.

She has started to run again but, with the weather being colder and the night starting at noon 5pm it is already dark.  It is hard for us to get together to run.  Especially since it is hard for me to make my kiddos freeze in the jogging stroller while I run in the winter (that is a whole other post right there).

Yesterday we decided to run together!  *cheers*

IT WAS GREAT

I had so much fun running with her.

The run however SUCKED

I had P-nut with me and some of the sidewalks were still snow covered.

It wasn't fun.

I was pushing P-nut (she was laughing the while time) in the jogger up hills, sliding in the snow.  My feet got cold.  I felt bad because my sister was running outside because I wanted to run with her and I was so afraid that she would slide and mess up her knee.

Maybe it was just the fact that I had a bad run because of the left over alcohol tummy I had from the night before

or

was it the pain the was shooting up my right leg

or

was it the hodge-podge of food I ate at the Church luncheon that was repeating on me.

Anyhow...

I guess I walked away from the run glad it was over but,

I was so excited because it was fun to run with my sister!

On Bear's List

I am (almost) done shopping for Bear. (I always get a few more things last minute)

He was easy to shop for.

He knew what he wanted the first week of Novemebr.

So, what is on his list?

What does a 3 (going on 30) year old boy want?

Criss Cross Crash

(image from Hotwheels)

Paper Jamz

Nickelodeon Fit for Wii

SpongeBob Memory

(image from Hasbro)

Red Rover the game

Those were his must haves, I have a few more things for him.  Legos, fun little things I know he will love.



Case of the "I am done"

I think I have a case of the "I am done", like D-O-N-E!

It started last week when my car went it for an oil change and to look at why the car would stall when Filled with gas.  I found out that night that I needed a new gas tank.  Not cheap!  Then I found out the transmission had never been flushed and the car is at almost 70,000 miles.  (I can't complain much because we made a trade with my dad, our car for his, when he got a new car, his car had 1/3 of the miles on it)  Anyhow, we were left with a nice bill when all was said and done.  I also did not have a car for 7 days, I had to rely on other to get around and juggle cars with hubs. 

I feel like we have not done anything fun with the kids for the holiday season (with the exception of Breakfast with Santa) (oh, and hubs and I did get a nice date night last Friday night, many thanks to my sister and her hubby).

We were however blessed with some snow, I love snow.  We had a two hour early closing yesterday and a two hour delay today.  Very fun!  Of course on the down side to that I had a meeting scheduled, no one told me it was canceled.  Yup, I got to work 45 minutes early... FOR NO REASON!

Oh and to top it off I feel like a cruddy mom.  I totally was so not prepared for snow for my children.

Bear has no boots and no snow pants.

P-nut has no snow gear and while she wore her little "faux sued" boots and they worked.

My little humans ran around in the snow totally unprepared, I know they didn't care but I just felt so bad.  They were soaked after playing outside.
I know that this stuff is not major, I am just in a bad mood.

Urgh!  I need this icky feeling to go away.



Share a Spoon (of yummy cookies for Santa)

Time for Share a Spoon with Think Tank Momma!

It's all about Santa and his cookies.  I myself find that during this time of year I cheat in places that I can get away with it!  That means for my little recipe I am sharing I cheated!

Thanks to my friend Betty, she gives me a wonderful sugar cookie mix from a pouch and I give my family a delicious and pretty cookie!

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix (butter and egg for the mix)

3 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/3 c. seedless raspberry jam

1 c. white vanilla baking chips

Red and green colored sugar

Make cookie dough according to package for drop cookies, except stir in flour.  Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls, using your thumb, make and indentation in the middle of ball with your thumb.  Spoon 1/4 teaspoon on jam into the indentation.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minute.  Melt chips and drizzle over baked cookies, you can also sprinkle cookies with color sugar if you want to make them look more festive!

Pour Your Heart Out: My Boy



It is Wed. and that means it is time to Pour Your Heart Out with Shell at "Things I Can't Say".

(I started to write this back in October, it started a much different way, crazy how much change happens in 2 months it wasn't even about the same idea, it was about my boy though)

 

Bear; my boy, my oldest child but, he will always be my little boy no matter how big he gets.  I was nervous to have a boy.  BOY was I nervous.  This little man I have has taught me a lot.  He would rather me stay home with him everyday.  I know that and it breaks my heart to walk out the door in the morning.  I remind myself I work to give my children a great life.  He hides things of mine in the mornings, things he knows I need for work (smart kid).  He recently told us about his friend, his friend is the type of friend that no one else can see.  His friend is nice, I was told last week that his friend thinks I am pretty (this is the kinda' friend I like) but it got me thinking...  If I was at home, would this friend have come around.  Did this friend appear because my Bear doesn't get enough attention.  I know, I know, imaginary friends are a part of a pre-school child's life.  A lot of kids have them.  I don't know why I think something is wrong because he has one. 

But I do.

I don't know why.

I don't think it is bad.

I know a lot of friends who's children have imaginary friends.

So why am I thinking that it is because of something I am doing or not doing?

 

PINT

Breakfast With Santa

This is not from the breakfast but it was too cute not to share!

Here is breakfast with Santa!

Waiting in line to see the big guy, Bear loves to flip upside down.

P-nut was excited too, I was afraid she would not want to see Santa (up close) but she did great!

Getting ready to leave, Bear was giving us the thumbs up for a great and yummy meal as well as his excitement for telling Santa what he wants.  "Criss Cross Crash"

We had a family photo taken but we had an extra person in the picture (friend of the family, there little guy got in the picture with us).

Christmas Count Down 11 days!!!!!

I Have...

ISSUES,
I know, I have know this for a while and no one needs to remind me.
So I have been having this annoying stupid pain in the ball/big toe region of my right foot since August.  It started about 2 weeks before Iron Girl.  I didn't go to the Dr. because I didn't want them to tell me not to do the race.  That was so NOT an option.  I thought after the race it would get a little better since I would cut back on running since I was training since the school year was starting and that would leave me a lot less time to do what I love.
Well, it didn't get any better.  So finally I went to the Dr.  I went to the same ortho that Bear goes to (yes, my 3.5 year old has an ortho), it is also the same practice that my sister had her knee surgery with.  Dr. Phill (that is not his real name, for some reason that is what Bear calls him) walks into the exam room and looks at me with a giggle.  (I think nothing of this because I am the women who almost peed her pants when he wheeled her son out of an OR in a hip spica cast)  So he says "Ms. Go Mommy, why are you here?  I don't see middle aged people ever!"  (really? you are an ortho, I know plenty of middle aged people who go to you all because our bodies are starting to fall apart and NONE of us can admit that we are no longer in our 20's).  I tell him about my issue.  He exams my foot, we share a few laughs about random things, talk a little about Tri's and he tells me he thinks I have "Sesamoiditis".  Nothing showed on the x-ray so he ordered an MRI. 
So I had my MRI the other night.  It was my first, I am an MRI virgin.  So I got to the hospital, get to radiology, thankfully did not need to change, laid down, was given ear plugs, told it would take about 30 minutes and to try to relax.  The young man said that if I spoke he could hear me so just shout if I had a problem.  So the MRI begins and all I keep thinking is, "if he can hear me, then if I fart will he know?", then I start laughing and realize my body is moving, which I try to stop laughing which only make me laugh harder.  Seriously!  WTH?  Then my mind starts racing.  I am in the room, strapped to a table with ear plugs in, what if someone comes in and takes my key to my locker, what if someone comes in a tries to smother me with a pillow...  Again, I have issues, this makes me start to laugh again because I am being stupid thinking of these things!
Then, it happens, I hear a soft voice next to my ear (I almost jumped out of my skin I almost crapped my pants), "Go Mommy, your MRI is over".  "I never had someone fall asleep during an MRI", I look at him with my sleepy eyes and all that came out was "I have small children, I sleep when I can".  Honestly?!  During an MRI, who does that?  I wanted to ask him if I could stay 20 more minutes...

So Tuesday was my follow up.  Dr. Phill walks in and says "Ms. Go Mommy, you have OCD", I look at him and say "tell me something I don't know...".  Turns out I have OCD, not "OCD= Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" (which runs in the family) but Osteochndritis Dissecans; basically it is a disorder of the centers of the bone, there is a tiny hold in the cartilage and fluid has filled my bone making it painful.  What is the fix?  Surgery, fun times.  However, since I can deal with the pain right now we are reassessing in 6 months.  I can still run, exercise, all those fun things.  I just need to know my triggers for intense pain and with deal with the pain, avoid the trigger, or take some ibuprophin before the "trigger" activity (like wearing heels).

Share a Straw: Drink up my friends

Happy Holiday's my friends.  It is time for Share a Spoon Share a Straw with Think Tank Momma.  I don't know about you but I love a good drink and around the Holiday's, I need it more!

Here is my go to drink.  (Things I have on hand)

Frosty's Delight

(I so forgot the name of it)

Fill up a wine glass with crushed ice

Fill it 3/4 way with white wine

Add a splash (or two) of Vanilla Vodka

Stir and ENJOY!



Pour Your Heart Out: Angels

I have three angels that are up in heaven, at least that is what I believe.  Some may think otherwise, but believing this has made it easier for me to cope.  I have been pregnant 5 times and I have 2 kids.  I lost three pregnancies.  I am not sure what triggered this thought in my head (about our past) maybe because I was thinking last night about past holiday's and I remember so clearly two Christmas's ago when we were at my in-laws and I was on the phone with my sister telling her I thought I was pregnant but it was too early to take a test.  Then I found out a few days later I was and that was my little P-nut.
Anyhow, it is one of those things that you just don't know how many people you know have gone through a miscarriage until you have one.  It was hard on my the first time.  My husband and I had just gotten married, heck we were on our honeymoon, my cycles were all wacky, sitting one night at home I realized that I was over two weeks late!  I took a test and I was crying when I told hubs.  We were not ready, it was not what we planned, but it was a baby and we always knew we wanted a family.  We were scared $hitle$$.  I went to my first appointment and when hubs and I saw that little flicker those fears went away.  A couple of weeks later I was spotting, the Dr. told me to stay off my feet and not to do the "deed".  The bleeding got worse and when I went in to the Dr. that little flicker was gone, there was our baby, on the screen with no heart beat.  I had a D&C the next day, I was numb, I didn't know what to feel.  I was lost.  I was almost 12 weeks along and at the day the Dr. told me the baby was gone the baby measured 9 weeks.  I couldn't believe that.  Nothing seemed right.  I went to work the next day and we carried on with life.  I had a hard time dealing with the fact that their was a life growing inside me and it was gone and I didn't know where that little soul would end up.  A friend (semi relative) told me "it is an angel" and to me, it seemed right.  Hubs and decided we would wait a while before trying again.  Yeah, that lasted about 2 months.  We were pregnant again that month (3 months after the miscarriage).  We were so hopeful, but cautious.  I went for my first appointment, that night I started to bleed.  I already knew what was happening.  I called the after hours number and talked to the Dr., she told me to take it easy and come in on Monday (it was a Friday night).  I passed the sac on Sunday and never called on Monday, my Dr. called me and told to me come in immediately, it was her lunch hour...   My third pregnancy gave me Bear.  When we were ready to try for a second child, I got pregnant but lost the baby so early on that if I was not so "in tune" with my body I would have just thought I had a late and HEAVY period.  The third MC landed my with a fertility specialist.  The Dr. and myself as well, wanted to get to the bottom of all this.  Many appointments and tests went on, I found out that my problem was MTHFR and Factor IV Leiden.  (two blood clotting issues)  Hubs and I got pregnant that Dec. and that was my P-nut.  Hubs and I have gone threw a lot together and a big loss early on in our marriage.  We are best friends and believe that we have three little angels that watch over our family.      

PINT