12.31.2010

just thinking.

outloud.

{today}

real time.

real life.

this is now.

i know the difference between a 2 pointer & a 3 pointer.

i know who uconn is & why they are in the news.

i know what record they broke.

i know when they lost their streak.

i know what channel espn is.

i know what channel espn hd is.

i know how many periods are in a basketball game

& how many quarters are in a football game.

i know how many points a safety is worth.

i know what a flag is in football

& sometimes i even know why it is thrown.

i know who adrian petterson is.

i know what commercial he is in.

i know who the manning brothers are.

i know they aren't singing brothers.

i know who chris berman is.

i know who mccoy, bradford and tebow are.

i know who payton, garrett and fisher are.

i know every team color in the nfl.

i am the mom of three great boys.

i am the mom who watches espn instead of the soap opera channel.

i am the mom who knows how to get grass stains out of white football pants.

i am the mom who goes to sports academy every week.

i am the mom who subscribes to sports illustrated & espn magazine.

i am the mom who has madden on her itouch.

i am in love with this life - footballs included !

12.29.2010

holiday review time.

found one new appetizer for christmas eve.

simple & easy.

gorgonzola pear toasts.

you can find the recipe here.

i used a slice of fresh pear instead of canned &

substituted glazed pecans for the candied pecans.

also, i replaced the gorgonzola with crumbled blue cheese.

thank you food network magazine -

this one actually looks just like the picture!

12.28.2010

holiday review time.

one of my new holiday favorites.

a box of pottery barn faux snow.

i used it in holiday wrapping.

i used it to decorate candle vases.

i used it in gingerbread decorating party invites.

i have a feeling that

i will be vacuuming it for the next 3 months!



12.27.2010

how to build a house in 48 hours.

take 1 christmas present.

add 1 colin.

mix in 54 easy steps.

enjoy!

gotta love those legos!

12.25.2010

christmas monopoly week in review.

monday morning, i woke to find this setup in the great room.

i think someone wants to play monopoly this vacation week.

i wonder who?

(clue: dallas football left behind)

tuesday: game in progress.

christmas eve: a minute or two to play together.

christmas day: colin won! best gift ever. no one has ever
beat nathan "trump" sippel until today.

christmas present under the tree: a new version for us to master!
monopoly week number two continues!

12.25.2010

christmas morning 9:20am.

skype time with poppa & grandma.

they got to watch as the boys opened their christmas present.

how cool is that!

guess what they got the boys?

musical christmas!

12.25.2010

christmas morning 8:41 am

morning review.

lego apple house. madden 11 for wii. snuggle blanket.

ihome. backpack. football cards. football. basketball.

tennis balls. books. jeans. socks. panini press. dell duo.

homemade christmas cutout cookies. milk. coffee.

santa was good to all!

12.25.2010

christmas morning 8:40 am.

all done.

hohoho.

12.25.2010

christmas morning 8:35am.

please note the leather remote caddy

sitting on the end table

holding all four of our entertainment remotes.

this was our present from the boys.

steve and i actually had this in our

cart at one point during our shopping season

as a gift to ourselves.

but we put it back.

but the boys remembered.

and went shopping for it one day

as steve and i sat in starbucks in the front of

target one shopping day.

3 boys.

in target.

many many minutes.

with stuffed wallets.

thoughtful boys.

good stuff.

great caddy.

heres to an organized 2011!

12.25.2010

christmas morning 8:30am.

colin & nathans gift to justin.

i think they were more excited about the

funny box his gift was hidden inside than the

actual gift.

heres to sony earbuds inside a pink stripped

victoria secret box!

i can still hear the laughs as we wrapped his

gift weeks ago!

12.25.2010

christmas morning 7:50am.

psycho mom continues.

talk about tradition.

this one i actually have yearly proof.

i make the boys surround themselves with all

their santa & parent gifts.

then i take pictures.

lots of pictures.

basically to look at the wrapping paper masterpieces.

basically to look at the all the time that went into that pile.

basically to look at the color theme of that christmas.

you can also call it anticipation.

i noticed the older the boy,

the smaller the pile.

(the more expensive their toys.)

annual traditions also include several pieces

of clothing, socks and pajamas mixed in those

boxes.

the camera is charged.

the scissors and batteries are on the coffee table.

the coffee is brewing.

the candles are lit.

the music is playing in the background.

now let the games begin!



12.24.2010

christmas eve finally.

celebrated jesus' birthday at 3pm service.

beautiful worship with 3D snow included.

casual turkey feast here in whoville tonight.

5 boys all excited for santas visit tonight.

we played dirty santa - kids version - tonight!

lots of lottery tickets & football cards

are involved when the kids play the game of

take and steal.

12.24.2010

christmas traditions continue.

family photos in front of the fireplace after church

& before everyone changes into their jeans snapshot.

i notice that everyones shirt is tucked in,

belts are on and

the cord for the mantle lights that normally is hidden

is clearly free hanging in this photo!

12.24.2010

christmas eve tradition continues.

bake cookies on christmas eve eve.

cool overnight. 

                     wake up early on christmas eve and frost in our pjs.


                                    pour a glass of milk & enjoy.

hohoho.

12.23.2010

merry christmas eve eve.

gingerbread walls & frosting cement fills the table.

no step-by-step lego instructions included in this kit.

5 excited boys surrounding the soon-to-be neighborhood.

let the construction begin!

our finished house!

already for christmas!

12.21.2010

getting ready.

leisurely morning walks on the trails.

in shorts & flip flops.

finishing up the last couple gifts.

enjoying the warm weather.

walked to the mall.

hit the basketball courts.

out to dinner with troy & sarah.

holiday cocktails & laughs.

relaxing & savoring the moments.

its almost christmas!

12.21.2010

one of my 2010 goals was to read more.

its an ongoing project.

its easy when you find a great book.

its just not easy to find a great book.

just finished this book.

great writing.

depressing novel.

i guess i always like a happy ending

where all the pieces fall into place.

a good place.

this book didn't fall into that category despite

its well written words and deep heavy sentences.

off in search for a great book to

get lost in over the holiday season.

12.20.2010

monday updates.

nathan finished the family puzzle.

closest thing to snow we'll see.

its 75 and warm today.

furnace off & windows are open.

i'm on vacation from the hospital - see ya next year!

i'm now in holiday mode.

steve and i finished some holiday errands today.

that list is almost done.

the champagne is chilling.

the gifts are wrapped.

the cards are mailed.

the house is clean  picked up.

working on the party menu now.

hohoho.

christmas is almost here!

12.17.2010

snowflake & rosie update week one.

they wake up early.

they whistle when someone turns on the kitchen lights.

colin loves to feed them their pre-breakfast treat.

they squeak when they hear the doritos bag open.

{try filling lunch bags quietly?}

they are smack in the middle of the house -

hence they see a lot of activity !

they love to turn their house over for attention.

we are still worried that they will find their way behind the fridge

when they are out for their playtime.

they eat more hay than one would believe.

snowflake is more social.

rosie is more quiet.

wonder what santa will bring them?

started out christmas vacation with dinner

at salt lick & home alone on dvd tonight.

christmas magic in the air!

12.17.2010

t'was the week before christmas &

all through the classroom....

sugar plum party smiles & dollar gift exchanges !

{colins 3rd grade classmates with ms. allen}

colin had to say goodbye to each and every classmate

before we could leave today.

gotta love that!

mailed christmas cards today.

gotta love that!

its officially winter break for all 4 guys around here.

gotta love that!

hohoho.

12.16.2010

christmas traditions continue.

small & silly but i love this one.

last year it was rockefeller plaza.

this year its a holiday laugh.

its 750 pieces of fun that overtakes our table.

everyone finds a piece or two as they walk by.

wish us luck in finishing before christmas.

12.15.2010

thankful project update.

we are running out of room.

{such a good problem to have!}

i still love reading what each person is thankful for.

each saying tells a story.

each saying is a date stamp.

each saying is a gratitude.

i am truly thankful for the everyday memories -

big and little.

12.15.2010

holiday reading today.

classic tales today.

hand me down books.

from ryan, mike & lauren.

now justin, nathan & colin.

next hannah & owen.

opus got his wings.

the pigs had a party.

can't wait to see what story tomorrow brings!

12.14.2010

musical monday night.

our home has been filled with frosty tunes

and rudolph melodies for weeks.

now we can sit back and enjoy as all the

instruments together fill the air.

nathan on trumpet in beginner band.

justin on euphonium in honor band.

this might be one of my favorite new traditions!

{last night at round rock performing arts center}