An Evening At Home

We had an evening at home tonight so we had an amazing dinner (if I do say so myself). I tried a new recipe for baked ziti. It not only had red sauce, but homemade alfredo sauce topped with mozzarella. If you're familiar with Painturo's, it was similar to their Baked Confusion but instead of chicken it had hamburger. Mmmmm, yummy! It could be that it's been so long since I've actually cooked a true home cooked meal, that anything would taste good. After dinner we baked and decorated Christmas cookies. Now, to try and get to bed early...aaahhh.

Merry Christmas!

Only 27 days until Christmas! Click on the link below to see what our little elves have been up to.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9621202002

Green Friday

I don't know who started calling the day after Thanksgiving black friday but whoever it was obviously didn't love to shop as much as we do. After a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimming, we sit down with our bellies ready to pop and start going through sale adds. We make our lists, check them twice (everyone has been naughty so we forget that part) then we make a game plan for what we have lovingly renamed Green Friday. (because all the money being spent, duh) This year the festivities began at Kohl's at a bright and early 4am. We have officially submitted a claim to The Guinness Book of World Records for the longest day of shopping. (really, I'm not kidding)

3:45 AM left home
10:30 PM arrived back home

18 hours and 45 minutes

1 hour 30 minutes of travel time to/from Champaign
45 minutes for lunch
30 minutes for dinner

16 HOURS OF ACTUAL (ON YOUR FEET) SHOPPING!!!!

My favorite moments of the day would have to be Martha asking a 20 something guy playing Guitar Hero 3 at WalMart if he would mind if she joined him or maybe Mom and Martha curled up in a 3 way mirror at Kohl's after 14 hours of shopping while I tried on clothes. The day was full of fun, laughter and sprinkled with a few tender moments. Thanks for a great day girls!

Chef Martha

Anyone who has ever had the privilege to eat at Martha's table or happen to be at a potluck where Martha brought a dish, knows that she can throw down in the kitchen arena. That is why it was so uncharacteristic for there to be a five alarm fire in her kitchen Thanksgiving morning. Martha began preheating the oven for a full day of cooking and began to smell smoke. Upon further inspection, she realized that she forgot to remove some desserts that she was storing in the oven (that's another story). Have no fear, fireman Don and Scott arrived on site to put out the fire and restore the oven to it's impeccable condition. There were no casualties in the fire except for a couple of pies and a moist orange cake. We mourned their loss but carried on with peanut butter pie and dirt pudding. Luckily the Floyd family insurance agent was due to arrive for dinner. He assessed the situation and convinced the Floyd's that it wasn't necessary to file a claim.

A Quick Recap

Let's see, let me recap the last few days...
--My computer has a virus and that's why I haven't been posting. My very techno-savvy hubby has promised to swipe it clean and reload it this weekend. I'm trying really hard not to beg/nag him about it. Really honey, I am!

--Got ready to go out to dinner Saturday night and Gabe says his tummy hurts. Being the very sensitive mother that I am, I reply with..."Okay, get in the car." We walk a little further and he say, my tummy really hurts, then...blah...throws up in the bushes. "Okay, everyone back in the house." He and I stayed home Monday and he's finally feeling better.

--Jacob and Jared both played basketball last night. Jared's team won and Jacob's team lost.

--We're off to Illinois tomorrow after Jacob goes to the orthodontist for a tightening. He said that the appointment comes at a very bad time because his teeth will be sore for all that good Thanksgiving food.

--Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I'm so thankful for an amazing family, wonderful friends and a child that throws up in the bushes not in the car. Love to you all!

What Are You Thankful For?

Gabe's class spent time this week talking about Thanksgiving. They each drew a picture of the things they are thankful for and the teacher wrote what they said above the picture (basically interpreted the picture). She then made a book with each student's "I'm Thankful " picture and sent it home for each family to enjoy. It's very sweet, however...you knew there was going to be a however didn't you? Most of the children wrote that they are thankful for their family, pets, home, toys, etc. The first sentence of Gabe's page says, "I am thankful for my bow & arrows, BB gun, and numchucks." He does go on to be thankful for his mom, dad, brothers and dog. How many parents read his entry and told their son or daughter...stay away from this Gabe kid his family is stockpiling ammo?

Why Do They Remember The Things You Want Them to Forget?

The gas light in the van came on after school today so of course we stopped at the Kroger Fuel Center for a fill. I asked Jared if he would mind pumping the gas because quite frankly, it was cold outside and I was trying to polish off a Sonic cheeseburger. Jared agreed and Gabe's little voice pipes up from the back, "Do you want Jared to pump the gas so you don't get in trouble again?". For those of you who haven't already heard the story, I got gas a few weeks ago and received a call the following day from the Mt. Juliet Police Department (who I thought was trying to get money for the Police Benevolent Society)...anyway, it seems that I scanned my Kroger card and my debit card but for some reason the machine didn't read them. I didn't get a receipt but as you all know, those pay at the pump things are often out of paper so I went on my merry little way. Evidently, as it turns out, I didn't get a receipt because unknowingly to me, I didn't pay. Yes, I was a wanted felon for 24 hours. Don't worry I paid my debt and didn't have to serve any time but unfortunately my six year old can't let it go.

Basketball Schedules

As requested, here is our basketball schedules through the end of December. I'll post January's schedule as it gets closer.

November 15 Jacob @ Home 5:30pm
November 17 Jared @ Home 10:00am
November 19 Jacob @ Walter J 6:00pm
November 19 Jared @ Home 6:00pm
November 26 Jacob @ Charlotte Middle 6:00pm
November 26 Jared @ Castle Heights 6:00pm
November 29 Jacob @ Home 6:00pm
December 1 Jared @ Davidson Academy 1:00pm
December 3 Jacob @ Home 6:00pm
December 3 Jared @ Home 6:00pm
December 4 Jared @ Home 6:00pm
December 6 Jacob @ Home 6:00pm
December 7 Jacob @ Home 1:00pm
December 10 Jacob @ Dickson 6:00pm
December 11 Jared @ Home 6:30pm
December 13 Jacob @ Home 6:00pm
December 17 Jacob @ Home 6:00pm
December 17 Jared @ Davidson Academy 6:00pm
December 18 Jacob @ Southside 1:00pm
December 18 Jared @ Home 6:00pm

Jacob's home games are played at WWMS.
Jared's home games are played at FCS.

**The times shown on the schedule reflect the start of the girls games. The boys play immediately following the girls.

Wanted: Third Parent

Sorry for my blogging lapse but I've been short on time and material. Picked everyone up from school yesterday and we had a doctor's appointment, basketball practice, a baseball meeting, and a basketball game an hour from home. I'm beginning to think we need a third parent to help out around here. The only glitch in the plan, is it usually requires divorce and remarrying to make that happen and I really don't think that's the right answer for us. Luckily someone was smiling upon us because practice ended up being canceled because the gym was double booked. We managed to make all our other activities. Jared went to the doctor (under duress because he was afraid he would miss practice). They gave him antibiotics for a sinus infection. He's pretty much a gunky, coughing, hacking mess. We traveled to Cheatham County for Jacob's first basketball game of the season. They won big with a final score of 57-38. Tonight we play our local rival. Hopefully we can pull out a win. It's always nice to have bragging rights. Mostly, I just hope it's a good, close game.

What a wonderful weekend. We started it off right, getting all our chores finished and behind us so we could have a little fun (oil change, haircuts, groceries, etc.). Jared is playing in a basketball tournament. They won big yesterday. (35-8 & 45-13) The Commanders were unstoppable. They play today for the championship at 6pm.

Scott returned from Illinois last night at midnight. He was deerless but his friend Danny got an eleven pointer. All in all, a good hunt with lots of action, good food and great company. (Thanks Dad & Martha) Jacob and Jared had some friends spend the night last night and lucky for Scott he made it home in time to make the teams even for a game of basketball. In the picture above they're taking a breather before starting a second game and in the picture below they have their serious, you can't beat me game faces on.

Mighty Hunters

Scott and his buddy Danny left for Illinois hunting this morning. They were so amped up! The only thing I can compare it to is shopping. When, Martha, mom & I head out the day after Thanksgiving we've poured over the circulars two and three times, with our lists checked and double checked with a game plan in place. Scott and Danny checked and double checked their gear, weapons, range finders, de-scent and other hunting buzz words I know very little about. I may have even heard, "Does this camo make my butt look big?" Okay maybe not...that must be the difference between us shopping and them hunting.

Gabe Turns Six

Gabe woke up Thursday morning and went straight outside and rode his new bike. Here he is ready for school and off to the races!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABE! I can't believe how time flies. Before you know it they'll all be moving out. In fact, we were on our way home from school when Gabe says, "Mommy, I'm going to miss you when I go away to college." I had to laugh, thinking...he obviously hasn't hit his teenage years yet.

Gabe got a new bike for his birthday. It's guaranteed to jump ramps, pop wheelies and skin a few knees. He was very excited!

As I tucked the birthday boy into bed he yawns and says, "I feel so grown up." I sure love that boy!

Do Deer Like Cupcakes?

So tomorrow is Gabe's birthday and I'm making cupcakes for him to take to school in the morning. I found the cutest star shaped foil pans/tins at the dollar store. That's not the point of my story....anyway....while I'm baking Scott is getting ready for his hunting trip in Illinois. He's packing, paying special attention to wash his clothing in no-scent detergent. The problem it seems, is the moment his clothes are taken out of the dryer they are saturated in the aroma of fresh baked cupcakes. I'm certain that my mighty hunter can overcome a bakery to get the big buck. Maybe to help him out, I'll be creative and make some doe-in-heat icing...ugh...I just crossed the line didn't I? I bet Mark and Joseph are laughing though.

Happy Birthday to Youuuuuu...

Last night we celebrated the birth of both Romayne (a.k.a. Grandmom, Sugarbug) and Gabe. If there's one thing the Williams clan can do, it's sing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. It's guaranteed to make your dog (and maybe you) howl. Feel free to sing along.

Whew, where do I begin? It's been a whirlwind of a weekend. We were lucky enough to have Dad & Martha drive down from Illinois to visit. We entertained them with 5 games of basketball on Saturday. Jared's team played in a jamboree (three 2-quarter games) they won two and lost one...then we went to Jacob's scrimmage (they lost) and then for the final game of the day, Jared's team played and won a full game of basketball. We did all this before lunch. After lunch, Martha and I headed out shopping while the guys did their thing (I don't know...scratching & spitting maybe?). We shopped until they called us in for a family round of drinking, smoking and texas hold 'em (only part of that's true--I'll let you be the judge).

Dad was the chip leader of the night. He even won Scott's watch...only kidding, but it made the picture more interesting didn't it?

Thanks for a great visit Grandma & Grandpa!

Grandma & Grandpa brought Gabe's birthday presents and we had an early birthday party. Gabe was really happy with the idea of opening his presents early.