Today I decided to post something on my blog. I know some of you will be shocked and I really don't blame you but here goes... I think I will talk about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was a different holiday for me this year. Usually I stand in a long family buffet line waiting for the perfect scoops of turkey dressing and mashed potatoes and gravey and then sit at the grown-up's table trying to hear conversation over many small children's voices. I love our traditional Thanksgiving and all the family it brings together but as I mentioned, this year was unusual. Thanksgiving morning I slept in until 8:00 and Ed and Katy and Alec came over for breakfast birshire (traditional yogurt and fruit that Bill has fixed his family every holiday for years). I cooked yams and apples and then Bill and I went to Cathy and Ray's for turkey at 3:00. The other family in attendance included my mom and dad, Liz, Randy and Bryan. That was it. Nine people. It was great and we had all the food we could eat (in fact, we cooked enough for an army) and then had leftovers. I think we were still cooking for the whole family. :) I have to tell you that I missed the children's voices. Although the adult conversation was relaxing, I love the little kid "interruptions." I'm sure I don't speak for the little kid's parents but I know I speak for Grandma Lori.



Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year found me awake at 4:30 a.m. - not to shop but to babysit. I dragged my sleepy self out of bed and drove to Emilee's so that she and Eric could attack several different store's sales at once. By the time I got to their house, Emilee had already ventured off. I learned that Max was asleep in Emilee's bed and Alysa was asleep with Chocolate Milk, the cat. Eric said goodbye and I promptly fell asleep on the couch. I woke up and hour later to Ryan crying with a bad dream. I went to get him and he held on to me real tight, wanted his blankets and "silkies" and his bottle. We went back into the living room and we snuggled together on the couch for another 45 minutes. It was an awesome 45 minutes and worth getting up at 4:30 a.m. Eric got home first and I was home around 8:30.

Bill and I are trying to get completly out of debt. We have tightened our belt and are sticking to a strict and written budget. We cut up all of our credit cards and are living on a cash basis only. We have been doing this now for four months and we are bound and determined to have no debt (except mortgage payments) by July of 2010. The great part of this plan is it is working! The hardest part has been limiting dinners out. And we don't do breakfasts out on Saturday anymore. We are holding off on all of our luxuries and wants until we are debt free. We are going to seem like Scrooges for a while. We love you all but gifts will be limited. :)

My Christmas present to Bill this year is to make sure that his car fits in the garage for winter.
(Last year I felt so guilty each time I left for work with a semi-warm car because poor Bill was out scraping his windows or brushing off snow.) I have been working hard on cleaning and organizing as much as I can. I threw tons of stuff away and I even tore down the big workbench under the window. I figured it was collecting more junk and was more in the way than being a functional workbench so I got my trusty hammer and demolished it. When it was finally in pieces, I was amazed at the room available. I also cleaned off the shelves and designated the large closet/cupboard in the garage as the storage space for our 72 hour kits and emergency kits. It's PERFECT! and BOTH cars fit! It's nice to have a clean, organized garage. Merry Christmas to Bill!!! (and me!)

Some of my favorite things are my wonderful family, Bill, autumn leaves, the quail family that lives in my yard, hot chocolate, email, digital photos, football games, sunsets, being a grandma, cows, David Winter houses, banana cream pie, and forensic shows on TV...just to name a few.

Well, I've rambled on long enough. And I tried to load a picture but I'm getting an error. I'll try again next time.