This & That

Let It Snow

We've had snow almost every day for a while now.   As inconvenient as it is to shove around and drive in, we are grateful because we have had too many years of drought in a row.  DH has decided that the Rhino was a really good investment, especially now that he can add a snow blade to the front.  He dragged DD out with him to scrap the driveway, since he's been spending manly bonding time with the boys every morning at the ponds.  Nothing's perfect, though.  The cable holding the blade keeps breaking.  We've repaired it a couple of times.  Astro-Physics boy even did some fancy calculations to see if the "fulcrum is in the right spot on the wench".  Uh, hon, that's winch.

Love This

I've had a good time watching my DD with the grandbabies.   It's just those "does my heart good" moments that make me feel kind of warm and fuzzy.  My grandson just loves her and the feeling is mutual.  This shot is of him toddling toward her....she's got her arms open wide just waiting to hug him.

The Wail That Goes at the End of that Country Song

For several years now, I have driven a Suburban.  It made sense for me because I live in semi-rural land and I had 6 kids to haul around.  But several of those kidlets have left the nest and while I still live in semi-rural land, I was looking to down-size a little.  I really like having something that has 4 wheel drive, for obvious weather reasons that I've documented recently. 
Well, leave it to my DH to throw a wrench into my carefully laid plans.  Since we have built the cabin, and since the only way we can get there after December 1st is via snowmobile, he has become all about the towing capacity.  He wanted to get a truck that could pull snowmobiles to the trailhead, and since at the time, he was driving a fairly new smaller truck, he reasoned that he would just pass that one on to me, so he could upgrade his towing capacity.  
Now, I'm not sure if it's my So. Cal upbringing or what exactly, but for some reason, I balked at driving a truck.  It just didn't seem like......me.  And let me tell you, my DD was fit to be tied. I just had visions of "ranch wife" running around in my head....big belt buckles, feed store runs, driving for harvest.  Oh wait, we don't grow crops.  Anyway, there's just something about driving a truck.
But DH persisted.  I'm now driving a truck.  And to be honest, he tried to make it as palatable as possible for me.  One of my big concerns was the groceries rolling all over in the back.  He put a shell on the back and installed a basket system to make things easier.  So now I'm driving a *gulp* truck.  Pass me those Wranglers, will ya?

The Happiest Part About Christmas Day....

Was this:
Maybe you can see the phone in DH's hand.  We got to talk to SD Boy for a while on Christmas morning.  It was so good to hear him.  He sounds good and happy, but as a mom, I miss him like crazy. A couple of other random shots of the day. What would a photo taking opportunity around here be like without one of these great face shots?
And DD with the SPGB...  

A Visit from St. Nick

After our Nativity play, we got a phone call from a friend in the ward who said that he was wearing a Santa suit and would we like him to stop by?  Sure, why not?  He didn't get 2 steps in the door before my grandson started to howl like a banshee.  Poor boy was just really scared.  The Pink Grandbaby was a little more accepting of the whole process. And a shot of the whole group of us. Grandson seemed to do OK as long as he was some distance away from the jolly old elf. As you read this, we are on our way to Utah, weather permitting, to visit extended family.  We will be back late Tuesday, but are turning right around on Wednesday and heading up to the cabin.  At some point, I'll run out of "plan ahead" posts and we may go a few days before I can get back at it.

Ah, the Aftermath....

I'll warn you that this could be a long post.  We have had a wonderful couple of days with everyone in residence.  I'm going to recap for the benefit of family.  Christmas Eve at our house starts with lots and lots of food prep.  Everyone pitches in to help.  Here is a shot of all the boys (except for SD Boy) working on one of the dishes.  I think this one is Bacon Wrapped Dates.  After we've sufficiently gorged ourselves, we move to the living room to read a couple of standard stories and then we read the nativity story from the Bible.  Since this year we had a built in Baby Jesus....never mind that he is a she....we decided to act out the story.  I gave out character assignments and told them that they had exactly 3 minutes to find costumes and reassemble in the living room.  I was really impressed by the ingenuity of everyone.  So here is a brief synopsis of the Nativity, our style:
Mary and Joseph headed to Bethlehem....Mary is great with child.
There's no room for them in the inn (DDIL #1 turned them away with great panache).
Mary brought forth her first-born, er, child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a bouncy chair.
And there was an adorable little shepherd abiding in the field.
And an angel came upon him and her glory shone all over the place. Mainly due to that white lab coat.
And there were also Wise Guys, um, Men, looking for the baby.  They brought gifts, a golden gun, the ornament hanger little round Tupperware and DD's jewelry box.
It was a memorable performance.
We also like to sing some carols.  These are my boys in residence giving me a taste of 4-part men's voices.   Tomorrow, a visit from St. Nick.

Christmas

"And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger."   Have a wonderful and merry Christmas!

SPGB

Just a cute picture of the baby.  It helps that there's snow on the ground outside and the light bounces off it very well...lol! I hope you can read what her little shirt says.

Enabling an Addiction

This is what we are giving for neighbor gifts this year.  Some of this in a little festive baggie.  One of my friends called this stuff addicting, and always one to enable an addiction, I'm giving you the recipe.  As with most things this year, this is very easy.
White Chocolate Gorp
2 lb. white chocolate melty discs (I get these in the bulk section of my grocery store)
6 cups Rice Chex (you can probably see that I used Crispix cereal)
3 cups any variety Cheerios
2 cups thin pretzel sticks
2 cups cashews
1 (12 oz.) pkg. M&M's
In a large bowl, combine cereals, pretzels, cashews and M&M's.  On the stove over low heat, or in the microwave, melt the white chocolate discs.  (This doesn't take long, and if you do it too long, you will scorch it....ask me how I know.)  Pour over cereal mixture in bowl and fold gently until everything is coated.  Spread out on waxed paper to cool and dry.

Meeting Grandpa

All my kidlets, with the exception of San Diego Boy, have gathered for the holiday.  I definitely have a houseful, which is great.  I'm still trying to assemble my mom's gift, which I'll photograph when it's finished. 

Anyway, first to arrive was DS#2's family.  They flew in from "back east" with the pink grandbaby who reportedly was wonderful on the flight.  She got to meet the rest of the family, including her grandpa, who is wrapped around her little finger already.  I saved DS's baby ornament for him to hang, and since he is 6'3", he can get it quite a ways up the tree.  
 As a side note, I found the psych angel on the floor last night.  She's really trying to make good some kind of escape.