electronics overload

Currently in my house there are:

3 people
1 cat
1 desktop computer
3 laptop computers
2 printers
2 iPods
3 cell phones
3 DVD players
5 televisions

We either have way too many electronics, or we need to learn to share.

Personal trainer

If you've met my man, it's obvious he knows his way around a gym. I asked him to go with me tonight and show me the proper way to use some of the equipment in the gym. He works odd hours so I don't get to see as much of him as I'd like, so it was good to just be able to spend time with him, but then to spend time with him doing something he's passionate about was really special. But, oh boy, did he kick my bottom (as Sienna would say). I'm gonna be feeling it tomorrow!! It'll be a good kind of hurt, right?

Don't make me cry

They did it again. They made me cry. I know . . . . you're all thinking, "what's new? you cry at TV commercials." I get that genetically from my Dad. My kids went way above and beyond for me this Christmas. They totally ignored me (gee - what a surprise). They were given a $5 limit for Christmas and they had to spend that $5 at a Dollar Store. They didn't. Instead, they pooled their resources, called in some favors and got me a SWEET laptop WITH a custom paint job.

Equal Opportunity Tree

Every year, Jeremy and Jenna get a new ornament for the tree. I try to pick one that matches what they are interested in or something they've done that year. It's easy to tell which ornament belong to which child. For the last couple of years, Jeremy wasn't living at home, so there were no boy ornaments on the tree. It was a GIRLY tree: bears, shoes, Barbies. This year, when they decorated the tree, Jeremy was trying to counteract the girly. That last Barbie looks kind of peeved that she has to share the limelight with a Superman lunchbox.

Home again

My house is once again inhabited by my babies. Jenna moved back from NAU today. She has decided she would rather go to Scottsdale Community College. She can work on the same degree (Hotel/Restaurant Management) at Community College rates. I borrowed Jeremy's truck and my lovely mother-in-law, Jeri, drove up to Flagstaff with me to bring back 4 months worth of . . . . stuff. It will be . . . . .interesting(!) having everybody under one roof again.

Missing Mom

I get really emotional around Christmas time. I don't know why - if I knew why, I would fix it. But I get very sentimental, and sometimes I get kind of weepy. Last night I was driving home from work and got very sad because I miss my Mom.

I mentioned "the book." A lot of the recipes in "the book" came from a magazine that Mom sent me a subscription for. It's called Simple and Delicious. She ordered it for me several years ago when I was working, going to school, raising two kids and was trying to figure out what in the world I was going to feed them that wouldn't take hours to fix. I've really enjoyed it, and every year she kept renewing the subscription. The January/February issue would come in December with a note attached to it that said "Someone who thinks a lot of you sent you this subscription. Enjoy." So I stop at the mailbox last night and there is the January/February issue, with the note attached, "someone who thinks a lot you sent you this subscription. Enjoy. Love, Mom."
I had a big boo hoo over it. A really big boo hoo. For quite a while. My absolutely fabulous Daddy keeps renewing the subscription, because that's what Mom would do. And I really appreciate it. And it got the reaction you thought it would, MisterG.

It goes in the book

Years ago, whenever a recipe I made turned out well and met with Jeremy and Jenna's approval, I would add it to my "Recipe" file on my computer. I print them out and put them in a three ring binder (with the plastic sheet protectors so it holds up well in the kitchen). It has become the ultimate compliment when I try something new and one of the kids says "It goes in the book." When Jeremy moved out of the house a couple of years ago, I printed his favorite recipes, put them in a binder and gave it to him with a few kitchen essentials as a housewarming gift. Since he's moved back into the house - he was looking through my book and decided he needed the 2008 updated version - I've added some yummy stuff.

So last night, Jeremy and I are watching Guy Fieri on the Food Network. Guy was making a grown up version of one of my staples when the kids were little and I was working full time AND going to school: chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese. He was making Awesome Pretzel Chicken Tenders and Mac Daddy Mac' and Cheese. You can get the recipes here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/guy-off-the-hook/downhome-diner/index.html Jeremy and I made this for dinner tonight. Oh MAN is it good!!! Man oh man oh man!!! The best part: Jeremy said, "It goes in the book."