For Miranda....

Crazy busy weekend.

We were at Anna's vball tournament by 830 on Saturday morning. We watched a few games and then made our way up north. We ran into Columbia for snow pants (I will be on the slopes in less than two weeks!)....so I asked the guy, "Where will I find snowpants?" To which he replied, "You won't." I won't? What? So I have this vision of never ever being able to find a pair of snowpants....ever. A rush of anxiety. (a little extreme, I admit.) Turns out that they are sold OUT...not a pair in the store.

We then make our way up to Gurnee Mills and I find a choice of a few black pairs at Burlington Coat Factory, of all places. Not to worry. Legs will be covered.

Next up was Noah's second EVER basketball game. Though still a bit confused on the difference between offense and defense, he was more engaged in the game. The kids are so fun to watch. I don't remember the time when there were SO many rules to learn. You forget how second nature it becomes! (He is number 12 :)

We came home for some nice alone time before another crazy day began. Yoga Sunday morning, then some much-needed crap room organizing and then Day Two of Anna's Turnament. She played so well, and with such passion. I love the look she gets when she does something well, looks at us and smiles the big Anna smile. We are so proud of her!

Cauliflower

Alright, so this is a LITTLE embarrassing, but I have to tell it.....

I just got in a wrestling match with a head of cauliflower.

I guess I have never bought a head of cauliflower. I usually buy the cut up stuff. So here I am, after unwrapping the thing...trying to figure out how to tear it apart....I couldnt DO it! I was getting so frustrated. I finally got a knife and started chopping it apart! Did I get a crazy one, or are they ALL like that???

Friends....

I'm sitting here postponing the sketching I must get done tonight....and find myself more interested in RE-reading blogs from today....I want to send a shout out to the girls and a big ole thanks for being such great friends. You mean so much to me- always give me a laugh, inspiration, wisdom, make me think....Im so lucky.

Love you girls.

Welcome, 2009!

I honestly welcome 2009. Though I am not quite sure where all of 2008 went, I welcome the chance to clear the proverbial slate. Resolutions? Not so much. I did sign up for a gym closer to the house, though, that has lots of included classes that I would love.

Christmas decorations are still up at our house. They will stay up until I feel guilty about not taking them down. I love the cozy feeling that our house has at Christmas time. We hosted the Ondo family on Christmas Eve. Grant's parents, brother's family and sister were at our house for the entire second half the day. Ben's four kids (Noah 7, Jacob 5, Sarah 3 and Caleb 1) love to make the 'really long' car ride out here. Jacob inquisitively asked at lunch where OUR kids went when they come over..... hmmm....how to answer THAT one. Grant made the mistake of saying, "we lock them in the basement." Jake immediately wanted to know how to get to the basement we don't have. The conversation that followed was fairly amusing. Here are some of the yummy desserts I made (if you believe that you don't know me very well)......

Christmas with my family is getting less insane and more special every year. We snapped a pic of all of us below. See if you can guess who is who. We have a new cousin this year, Kira. We will have a new addition next year. My cousin and his wife are due in the Spring.

The club volleyball season has begun and our weekends will now be littered with our choice of tournaments with three sisters now playing. I got my first 8 o'clock Saturday phone from my dad this weekend with info on the days' events. Grant and I really enjoy watching them mature in their skill sets.

One more thing....I'm sad to say that the car I have had for six years has.....snapped. Lon got rear ended a week before Christmas and was never the same. The control arm broke a week and a half ago and FORCED us to upgrade. :) I found out today that they are totalling the car and I have to go say my good byes tomorrow. I love the new car. Its the car I have been drooling over for a few years, now. I almost feel like I have had it for longer because I have day dreamed about driving it.

Anyone have any genius ideas of how to make blogging more of a habit? I can not blame the Christmas season for my lack of blogs since June :)

Lastly is a part of my latest artistic endeavor....on a bathroom door for a friend who REALLY misses Paris.