New Year's Resolution

It's that time of year, time for some new resolutions. I am putting them down in writing so that I will
(1) be able to find them again
(2) be more accountable
(3) because I need a blog topic
So, here goes:
Anne's 2009 Resolutions
1) plant a garden this year
2) lose 30 lbs this year
3) use the breadmaker all year long
4) make more meals at home
5) organize my closets
6) repaint the bathroom, den and finish the downstairs bath ceiling

That's enough for now. Wonder what I'll be saying about this list next year??

Cheddar Broccoli Soup

I am always looking for quick, good meals to make. This is one of the few cheesy soups that did not use Velveeta. Now, don't get me wrong, I like my fake cheese as well as anyone, but I am making a more conscious effort to use natural ingredients. The kids loved it too. Ate broccoli without complaining!

Broccoli Cheese Soup from www. mykitchencafe.blogspot.com

adapted very slightly from Liz K.

1 can chicken broth

1 small onion, diced

1/3 c. flour

1/4 c. butter

Pepper to taste

2 c. milk (I used skim with great results)

1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (the sharper the better for flavor

1/2 c. shredded swiss cheese

steamed chopped broccoli (the amount of broccoli really boils down to preference)

Simmer chicken broth and chopped onion for 15-20 minutes in a covered small saucepan, until onions are soft. Heat milk in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

In a separate medium-sized stockpot, melt butter then add flour and pepper. Cook together for a couple of minutes, then whisk in warmed milk. Stir and heat together on medium-high heat until soup starts to thicken. Next add chicken broth and continue to stir until well blended. Add cheeses and steamed broccoli.

Serve immediately.

Extra tasty add-ins for this are potatoes and ham. Yummy.

Chicago brings me Joy!

Took a trip to Chicago on Sat. with Trish and Sara. We saw the Christkindl Market and did some shopping. I had forgotten how much fun it was to just browse in stores. It's been a loong time since I did that. This trip brought me joy.

Christmas Eve Eve

Had a fun filled day today explaining for, oh, about 45 TIMES, that tomorrow is actually Christmas Eve and I was making a tiny, little, miniscule joke about today being Christmas Eve Eve. That Carissa is getting as literal as Simon. It was quite a day and I even had to play the 'Santa' card as in "If you even think about doing that (hitting your sister, pushing your brother, running away from me in the grocery store, slamming the door on your sister/brother, don't take toy/book/candy cane away from your sister/brother). I, yi, yi! Thank goodness the Santa card still works. By the way, I showed Simon a picture of Santa in someone's house and he said "OK, now THAT makes me believe in Santa. There's no way that could be fake!" Gotta love a 7 yr old's logic!!

Holy Crap!

As in, Holy Crap Batman! It's COLD outside!! It's even cold inside with all the wind and temp of -7 degrees below zero. Snow blowing all over and too cold to even think about clearing the drifts on the sidewalk and end of the driveway away. Today we are wrapping presents, sipping hot chocolate and just staying warm. Brrrrrrrrrrr.

School or No School?

School or no school, that is the snowy question tonight. With a predicted 8-12 inches of snow, chances are looking good for no school tomorrow. But, just in case there is school, I made 4 batches of red and green caramel corn for Simon's class. OK, OK, it might be true that I am hoping for no school so that we can scarf, er, I mean, nicely eat the corn tomorrow while sitting in the house watching Christmas movies and sipping hot chocolate. But, that's only a rumor. ;)

Things that Bring me Joy

My nutcrackers bring me joy. I love them! I have many of them as you can see from my blog header. I used to hate them but they grew on me. I even have one pretty one for my tree. I saw two really cute ones at Target and asked Simon to remind David about them. Hopefully, one of them will come my way this Christmas.

Don't know what it is about those Nutcrackers but they make me smile and bring me joy.

Tastes Like Chicken

Last night, I made a whole chicken in the oven. How incredibly easy! It was juicy and tasty and the kids liked it. And, I have enough chicken left over for another meal later this week. The only bad part was touching the raw chicken skin (yuck) and when I separated the skin from the breast, eeeuuuu. But, it was well worth it in the long run. I will definitely be making this again.

My favorite comment about dinner was from Simon "Hey, this tastes just like chicken!" Yep, right smart little chil'ren I have. :)

On My Way to Where the Air is Sweet

Did a run to Toys R Us this weekend and discovered the perfect way to get out of the store. Thank you Bert & Ernie! Best fifty cents I spent all day. Too bad that wasn't all I spent. :(

Let it Snow!

Took a walk with the kids recently at a county park. Had lots of fun with them. And because I never get pictures of myself with them, we played with the timer button on the camera. I love these pics! I'll definitely be doing more of them in the future, that way I can prove that I was around (since I didn't appear in hardly any pictures for a few years!)

Taking a Beading

Met with 2 of my sisters today to celebrate Christmas. It's always fun to see them and get caught up with everything in our families. Besides exchanging some gifts which were really cool (but I can't tell you what they are because our other sister did not get hers yet and I don't want to ruin it for her), Rita gave us a beading lesson which was really fun. Making a bracelet of white with red (of course!). I'll post a pic when I finish it. And, Sue, I'm aiming to finish soon. :)
Can you tell that I'm the youngest(can't resist teasing the big sis)?!

My Garland IS Showing!!!

I have been following the Nester (http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/) on her blog for a little while and after reading her, I decided to attempt my first garland. I used what I had and supplemented with Dollar Store ornaments (less than $5). I'm pretty pleased with my efforts. I didn't realize quite how difficult it could be to get a clear picture of my pretty garland so please excuse the blurry close up. But, I am so happy to be able to show off my Nutcracker collection. I didn't even realize how many of these little men I have. Who knew I had a harem of my very own?!

Please ignore the stuff outside the fireplace, I didn't have time to pretty up the cords. Oh heck, who am I kidding, I'm just so tickled to get this finished and hung, I could care less about the cords. But, please, feel free to ignore them anyway. I do and it works for me! And yes, I did make the Santa and the pillows on the hearth. They keep the cold drafts out of our den.

Christmas Tables

Thank you Trish! Last night I went to Christmas Tables at her church. This is an event where ladies of the church host a table, providing a beautiful table setting and centerpiece and a light snack/dessert. The men of the church serve the ladies ( water, coffee, help out with cutting and serving dessert). Then, there was a speaker. Our table was so pretty and it was fun to mix with the other ladies. I've posted a few pictures of our tables. I didn't get too many because the food started getting passed and I wanted to make sure I got some of the goodies (because with me, it's all about the food!).

Coloring with the Gifts God Gives Us

I ran across this excerpt by Max Lucado. It made me stop and think about what 'face' I present to everyone. Hope you enjoy it too:

Coloring Jesus With the Gifts God Gave You

Tucked away in the cedar chest of my memory is the image of a robust and rather rotund children's Bible class teacher in a small West Texas church. She wore black eyeglasses that peaked on the corners like a masquerade mask. Silver streaked through her black hair like a vein on the wall of a mine. She smelled like my mom's makeup and smiled like a kid on Christmas when she saw us coming to her class. Low-heeled shoes contained her thick ankles, but nothing contained her great passion. Hugs as we entered and hugs as we left. She knew all six of us by name and made class so fun we'd rather miss the ice-cream truck than Sunday school.
Here is why I tell you about her. She enjoyed giving us each a can of crayons and a sketch of Jesus torn from a coloring book. We each had our own can, mind you, reassigned from cupboard duty to classroom. What had held peaches or spinach now held a dozen or so Crayolas. "Take the crayons I gave you," she would instruct, "and color Jesus." And so we would. We didn't illustrate pictures of ourselves; we colored the Son of God. We didn't pirate crayons from other cans; we used what she gave us. This was the fun of it. "Do the best you can with the can you get." No blue for the sky? Make it purple. If Jesus' hair is blond instead of brown, the teacher won't mind. She loaded the can.
She taught us to paint Jesus with our own colors.
God made you to do likewise. He loaded your can. He made you unique. But knowing what he gave you is not enough. You need to understand why he gave it: so you could illustrate Christ. Make a big deal out of him. Beautify his face; adorn his image. The next few chapters have one message: color Christ with the crayons God gave you.
Don’t waste years embellishing your own image. No disrespect, but who needs to see your face? Who doesn't need to see God's? Besides, God promises no applause for self-promoters. But great reward awaits God-promoters: "Good work! You did your job well" (Matt. 25:23 MSG). My teacher gave us something similar. Judging by her praise for our sketches, you'd think Rembrandt and van Gogh attended her class. One by one she waved the just-colored Christs in the air. "Wonderful work, Max. Wonderful!" I smiled the size of a cantaloupe slice. You will too.

Cookie Exchange

Tonight we had a cookie exchange at our MOPS Christmas party. How can I resist such cookie goodness???!! I have a plan. I plan on freezing a few of the cookies and letting the kids have some and Dave may have a couple too (but only a couple, I'm not that generous). I just have to keep thinking, 5 lbs before New Years, 5 lbs before New Years.
Oh, but those lucious cookies are calling my name. Be quiet already!

Things that Bring me Joy

My favorite movie of all time is "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye. It's sappy, it's sweet, it doesn't have a great plot but oh, how I love this show!

I am planning on taking some time this week to sit down with a big cup of hot cocoa and watching this movie. Oh, the joy that will bring!!

Weighing In

You know, I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. Love it when it goes down, hate it when it goes the other way. Right now, I'm ambivalent (and no, I did not do this post just to use that word, although I do reallllly like it!). So, how much do you think I can knock off before the end of the year? I so want to start 2009 successfully. I'm aiming for 5 lbs. There, I've said it. Now, who's gonna hold me accountable??

Watch out, it's icey outside

Right as David was leaving for work today, he said "Watch out. The sidewalk and driveway are really slippery". "OK, OK," I'm thinking as I listen intently while making sure that Carissa and Simon are ready for school with all their winter gear, homework, etc. A few minutes later, Simon is in the car of the carpool Dad and I notice his lunch on the table. Mind you, I"m still in jammies, which is a big sweatshirt and capri sweats and slippers (oh so fashionable garb), but I grab it and step outside the door in what I"m wearing because I don't want him to not take his lunch. I take one step off the porch and WHAM! I'm on the ground, flat on my back, in the ice and snow. Carissa is screaming inside the house, panicking, "MMAMA!!!!! ARE YOU OKAY?????" with her little voice getting higher with each word. As I'm slowly picking myself up, but holding onto the Mystery Machine lunchbag all the while as it is the culprit for me being outside in the cold in pj's, I think to myself "Too bad the large part of my bodonky-donk that I fell on won't just stay frozen to the sidewalk. Would make my weigh in much easier this week!" Course, being the multi-tasker that I am, I notice that Carpool Dad and occupants have totally missed my fall and is now backing out of the driveway. So I"m yelling for him to stop, maniacally waving the Mystery Machine all over, and slip-siding my way to the van. I thought for a split second about stepping out of my slippery as heck slippers and walking barefoot to the van but quickly decided that frostbite was not needed on top of everything else.
I do make it to the van and Carpool Dad rolls down his window, grabs the lunch bag, mumbles thanks, and quickly leaves to pick up the next rider.
As I limpingly make my way back to the house to soothe Carissa and eventually warm my cold old body up, I think "Maybe school lunch isn't so bad after all."

I've been tagged!

I got tagged by Renee. I need to now post the 4th picture from the 4th folder on my computer.

Go figure, it's the MOPS theme! How appropriate since I'll spending today getting ready for tomorrow's meeting!!