I wish I were invited...

I know you will find this as awe-striking as I did...read it with a smile and know that we are all struggling to LOVE the MARNEY's" in our own families.

As you all know a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner does not make itself. I need to ask each of you to help by bringing something to complete the meal. I truly appreciate your offers to assist with the meal preparation.

Now, while I do have quite a sense of humor and joke around all the time, I COULD NOT BE MORE SERIOUS when I am providing you with your Thanksgiving instructions and orders. I am very particular, so please perform your task EXACTLY as I have requested and read your portion very carefully. If I ask you to bring your offering in a container that has a lid, bring your offering in a container WITH A LID, NOT ALUMINUM FOIL! If I ask you to bring a serving spoon for your dish, BRING A SERVING SPOON, NOT A SOUP SPOON! And please do not forget anything.

All food that is to be cooked should already be prepared, bring it hot and ready to serve, warm or room temp. These are your ONLY THREE options. Anything meant to be served cold should, of course, already be cold.

HJB—Dinner wine

The Mike Byron Family
1. Turnips in a casserole with a lid and a serving spoon. Please do not fill the casserole all the way up to the top, it gets too messy. I know this may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but most of us hate turnips so don’t feel like you a have to feed an army.
2. Two half gallons of ice cream, one must be VANILLA, I don’t care what the other one is. No store brands please. I did see an ad this morning for Hagan Daz Peppermint Bark Ice Cream, yum!! (no pressure here, though).
3. Toppings for the ice cream.
4. A case of bottled water, NOT gallons, any brand is ok.

The Bob Byron Family
1. Green beans or asparagus (not both) in a casserole with a lid and a serving spoon. If you are making the green beans, please prepare FOUR pounds, if you are making asparagus please prepare FIVE pounds. It is up to you how you wish to prepare them, no soupy sauces, no cheese (you know how Mike is), a light sprinkling of toasted nuts, or pancetta, or some EVOO would be a nice way to jazz them up.
2. A case of beer of your choice (I have Coors Light and Corona) or a bottle of clos du bois chardonnay (you will have to let me know which you will bring prior to 11/22).

The Lisa Byron Chesterford Family
1. Lisa as a married woman you are now required to contribute at the adult level. You can bring an hors d’ouvres. A few helpful hints/suggestions. Keep it very light, and non-filling, NO COCKTAIL SAUCE, no beans of any kind. I think your best bet would be a platter of fresh veggies and dip. Not a huge platter mind you (i.e., not the plastic platter from the supermarket).

The Michelle Bobble Family
1. Stuffing in a casserole with a serving spoon. Please make the stuffing sans meat.
2. 2.5-3 qts. of mashed squash in a casserole with a lid and serving spoon
3. Proscuitto pin wheel – please stick to the recipe, no need to bring a plate.
4. A pie knife

The June Davis Family
1. 15 LBS of mashed potatoes in a casserole with a serving spoon. Please do not use the over-size blue serving dish you used last year. Because you are making such a large batch you can do one of two things: put half the mash in a regulation size casserole with lid and put the other half in a plastic container and we can just replenish with that or use two regulation size casserole dishes with lids. Only one serving spoon is needed.
2. A bottle of clos du bois chardonnay

The Amy Misto Family (why do I even bother she will never read this)
1. A pumpkin pie in a pie dish (please use my silver palate recipe) no knife needed.
2. An apple pie in a pie dish, you can use your own recipe, no knife needed.

Looking forward to the 28th!!

Marney

Happy Thanksgiving!

A

Can someone please tell me why this is NOT HEADLINE NEWS?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569593,00.html?test=latestnews

Maybe I live in too much of a bubble-- But I wasn't aware that this "great" country had this severe of a problem-- SHAME ON YOU MEDIA for choosing non-important things to focus on-- like SWINE FLU and WHETHER or NOT the "Obama-siah" had his kids immunized or not.

How about we focus on something that can actually change AMERICA--- IT's YOUTH?

what a concept...loosers and btw, what kind of looser's engage in such horrific activites... I thought this was only in Taiwan...

...going back to my bubble now.

back on my soap box

I think I heard an echo today....

I said a few things then this video was sent to me....

yep, definitely an echo in here...

Sick and tired of the H1N1 Histeria!!

Conspiracy UPDATE:

So sorry if this is offensive. But I don't believe in all this propaganda and the numbers don't add up. I think this hysteria is fed by big Pharma, Bigger Government, and whole lot of whiny people that got sick. All because they named a specific FLU strain makes it a bigger issue? really? what about all those people who died from it last year, and the year before, and over the years before that-- where is there day in the spot light? all because they didn't die from a newly named flu strain?

• Yea we have had it at our house
• no we did not get the vaccine
• nor do we plan to
• no we didn't even go to a dr when 3 of us got it (or whatever we had with the classic symptoms of the dreaded H1N1 other wise known as the flu)
• heard tell (reliable source) that the anti viral given when you go in- is killing livers-- tell me that is better than a few missed days from school/work, a box of tissues, some thera-flu, aches and pains that go away, a bit more trips to the bathroom, some Ibuprofen and some much needed rest.
• I believe we live in too much of a germ free Environment that allows us to become more ill whenever we are introduced to a bug. Stop with all the hand sanitizer that is forced down our throats already! Go lick the sidewalk...do your immune system a favor.
• can I get an "amen"?

I know I posted this earlier-- but the fact that this is so over blown is SOOO evident in this video:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-oct1709-swine_flu_clinics.2289bbb66.html

House update...for anyone who cares

• Painting is done inside and out-- Sherwin Williams paint names: Interior-- STUCCO for main color and POLAR BEAR for trim and doors. Exterior--STONE LION for main color, STUCCO for trim and CHATEAU BROWN for front door. I like it.
• Exterior doors are hung-- even with door knobs
• Light fixtures are in place-- including the required Compact Fluorescent bulbs-- which I hate and will change as soon as the energy star inspection is completed
• Cherry tree is planted-- only need to plant 6 more trees in the ROCK hard dirt and about 30 shrubs...
• Electricity in on
• 240 small concrete landscaping blocks piled on sidewalk behind garage
• 300 bigger concrete blocks are piled on back patio beside all the leftover lumber cut into pieces for firewood
• 1500 used brick looking for a purpose-- but most likely will find home around the sand box
• Vinyl Flooring (TARKETT) is laid in entry, kitchen, dining, both laundry. both laundry rooms and 3 bathrooms.
• Electrician is 3/4's done with finish plugs and light switches.
• Brick on columns-- done
• Sprinkler pipe pulled and heads bought-- may be next spring before we go much further on that project.

Favorite things so far:

• Stair lights
• Built in Gun closet
• egg shaped door knobs
• TARKETT vinyl with lifetime warrantee
• The Front Door
• Pantry shelves
• Cubby area
• Back doors
• Brick
• Oil Rubbed bronze

Waiting on:

• Cabinets-- Cabinet man cut off the tip of his flipping off finger, broken machine, ran out of wood--ordered new-- wrong wood came in-- so we are on hold until cabinets are built and installed-- maybe a week or two. then we will go like crazy trying to get this thing done...and then the moving...have I mentioned how much I hate moving...

• Stair railing-- HH is working on that process. But, let me promise you-- it will be awesome!! Red Oak with black metal balusters.

I need to give you all a walk through, huh?

NO I don't know why this entire post in underlined...

laughed til I cried today in Sacrament Mtg

our family was on one of the short benches on the right. As I look around while trying disparately to pay attention-- I see this boy (12-ish in age) playing with a pink think with a string....can you guess where this is going? I'm looking at it, knowing that I know what it is-- but not able to define exactly what it is. He is pulling on the string, trying to blow on the end like a whistle, taking the inner part out and pulling it back and forth. NO it did not take me that long to realize that this kids is playing with a TAMPON!! So then his little sister is wanting his toy and fighting ensues. Mom turns to put the fight to an end. She sees what son is playing with and turned 40 shades of RED!! By this time I am full on laughing-- nearly out loud. Tears were welling as you can imagine. So, mom takes the toy and hides it in her bag. I see lots of whispering, a bit of laughing and one red faced young man.

After Sacrament mtg I talked the mom-- Thanked her kindly for the good laugh. But then she told what was whispered back and forth....

Poor Kid insisted on knowing what it was, how it was used and who uses such things.

STUPID sheep or maybe I and HH are jsut wierd...

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-oct1709-swine_flu_clinics.2289bbb66.html

Conspiracy UPDATE:

So sorry if this is offensive. But I don't believe in all this propaganda and the numbers don't add up. I think this hysteria is fed by big Pharma, Bigger Government, and whole lot of whiny people that got sick. All because they named a specific FLU strain makes it a bigger issue? really? what about all those people who died from it last year, and the year before, and over the years before that-- where is there day in the spot light? all because they didn't die from a newly named flu strain?

• Yea we have had it at our house
• no we did not get the vaccine
• nor do we plan to
• no we didn't even go to a dr when 3 of us got it (or whatever we had with the classic symptoms of the dreaded H1N1 other wise known as the flu)
• can I get an "amen"?

It's PAINTED!!

2 New additions...

Garage Doors!

OK....here's a sneak preview:

Because you asked...

Well-- much has been done on the house of late. But pictures would not do justice, as the things that have happened are on the inside and only a walk-through video would help to see the progress. I will list the things you have to look forward to...and then tomorrow, I will video a walk through-- Just for you!!

1) Electric Rough in-- done

2) Plumbing Rough in-- done

3) HVAC Rough in-- done

4) RetracVac Rough in-- done

5) Insulation-- done

6) Siding done

7) SheetRock hung

8) SheetRock Taped

9) Flooring ordered/Scheduled

10) Roof Tar Papered

11) Shingles stocked

12) Pile of wood scraps halfway cleaned up

Tomorrow:

Painters scheduled to begin on Exterior

Garage Doors installed

Exterior Doors to be delivered

Wednesday:

Interior Doors/ Trim Package to be delivered

Shingles put on

I'll be singin this all day...You?

WOO HOO!!

We have WINDOWS!!

and today they will start on the siding

and installing doors.

workin on the porch

It looks like a house

The trusses for the dormer were the wrong size...

hoping for the new/fixed delivery early

today so we can get the dormer built.

Plumber and HVAC are working today...

you have so much to look forward to.

AND...

the neighbors were there when we drove up last night.

Mr. Neighbor was holding tight to his 5th or 6th SCOTCH and

trying hard to keep his balance. Mrs. Neighbor held her

bottle close and got way too close to me....she told me that

since they are retired, they don't wait til after 5 and

they usually keep it pretty mellow. I couldn't understand

what he was trying to add to the conversation.

Did I mention they are like...

in their 70's...atleast.

I NeeD YouR HelP!!!

I have Sharing time this Sunday for the Junior Primary!!! EEEKK!! I am scared to death of these kids....I know, I know--- but your a mom...blah blah blah....these kids are smarter that I was at their age...and maybe even now. AND what do I do when they are noisy and not paying attention. A friend of mine, Zac, had a solution when he was teaching primary. He proposed the option of putting paper bags on their heads and when they got out of hand-- just bop 'em up-side the head. The bag prevents them from knowing when it was coming and not knowing for sure who did it....thus in fear of when the blow will come-- they are quiet and obedient. But I don't think it will work and I'm not all that supportive of that type of punishment. Although I do like the element of surprise...

So the real fear is...how do I entertain 50 kids under the age of 9 for 20 minutes talking about Family History? (as amazingly interesting as it is to a 6 year old...) HOW I ask HOW?

Any tips, pointers, advice, volunteers to do it for me, complete lesson already prepared, etc? Yes, I have looked on the interwebs-- found a few options that would be great for the older primary....not so great or adaptable for junior.

This is what I have in mind thus far: circles with the ABC's printed on them taped individually in layers covering a picture of the temple....next is a bit fuzzy....maybe an ABC's of Fam History game where they remove a letter from the temple/puzzle after answering a question or telling a story about a family member....HELP!!!

Let me repeat my Problem for you

I NEED HELP!!

thanks

Are you ready for it?

TaDA!

what do you think?

What do you think of the new back ground? I kind of like it-- but I can take no credit. I found it on LeeLou. I thought something cheerful would put some life back to me...

Sneak Preview

I know I am boring both of you to DEATH with all my chat about the house-- but, what else did you come by for?

So... we have walls for the first floor, floor joists for the second and a floor on top-- but no 2nd story walls-- that will be what you have to look forward to this weekend.

here is your sneak peak inside the walls....

you come in the front door and the DEN to the left.

This is MY KITCHEN. See the little room at the

far side of the kitchen--that's my PANTRY.

One of my many thrills in this kitchen is the 2

windows on each side of my stove/microwave.

This is the DINING RM. The side facing you is

open to the kitchen. The other open side is open

to the Family Room.

Tune in this week end for another episode of

what thrills Sillya?!

Come by and see the 2nd floor!

And with any luck-- the GARAGE!

are we jinxed?

A couple of unfortunate events have taken place---

not sure if it is us,karma or what....

You decide what it is and let me know. k?

1) Last Wednesday AM-- the Delivery driver from the lumber company delivered the 1st floor package (all needed for the 1st floor of our house). He was driving a truck that has a tilting bed-- so he can tilt and let the load slide off. Sometimes there are longer items that go up over the cab and do not come off the bed entirely. With these type of loads the driver drops the bed and then drives forward for the longer load to fall to the ground....

Well... the long load was dropped...but came off the bed only halfway and all kiti-wampass. So the driver got out to see what was the issue...

Drum roll...

the load fell on him. It could have been worse of course. As he saw the load falling-- he ran to get out of the way. So instead of it crushing him, it caught his leg. He will only be in a wheelchair for 6 weeks. We hear the surgery to repair his Bones, Ligaments, Muscle, Tendons and all the lacerations went well and he should be able to return to work in about 3 months.

This is what fell on him:

2) Saturday, following the tragic load falling incident-

We went as a family out to the lot to pick up nails-- (oh-- sooo many nails). Jo the youngest--was just hanging around trying not to give into temptation and jump in the canal. He filled his time with rocks, sticks, nails, digging for diamonds in the dirt piles, and then...his eye caught the irrigation key. It is about 5-6 feet long and made of a rod of metal. Not all that heavy-- but could be a bit awkward for a small boy, age 3. So he lifted it high above his head, like it was kind of super hero weapon or something, then dropped it. The problem he ran into, was that he didn't take into consideration that he HEAD was right below his weapon. And the end result:

(No -- he did not need stitches.

Yes -- His mother could not look at it, with out fear of throwing up)

3) Our framer argues that it is his fault-- But HH and I know the truth. The reason that is rained (HARD) for 3 days last week and was in the 50-60's-- the 1st week in August may I remind you-- is that we are on a time line and it's Murphy's law that when we want something, there is a external power that overtakes all of our plans to make it happen. The Pool in our crawlspace should dry out before Christmas-- until then, we are taking reservations from whomever wants to come take a swim in our pool:

Last but now least and definitely NOT UNFORTUNATE:

We have beautiful sunsets from our front door:

Flatwork...

This is our front porch-- spans 36 feet

Front Sidewalk and few street urchins hangin out

Concrete apron in front of Garage

and a sneak preview at the next post-- hint FLOOR!!

Garage floor view from the back-- and the back sidewalk

it is 2 car wide and 2 deep-- so technically it would be a 4 car garage--

but since we have soooo much CRAP!

House update...

We Are Makin’ Progress!!

Getting ready for the front porch

Framing for Back Patio

Framing for Sidewalk behind Garage

Workers workin' on the Garage Apron

Sad Day

A dear friend was killed last night in a car accident. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the plan of happiness and the gift of Eternal Families. She will be missed for the wonderful woman that she has been while here, in her mortal existence, and the amazing instrument in blessing the lives of others-- but she is on to greater and better things.

You will dearly be missed, Kris.

(click on post title [SAD DAY] for the news story)

It's in concrete now-- so it may REALLY happen...

It is finally taking shape...after all this time, it is great to see

it in concrete instead of just on a piece of paper.

This is just the footings. Tomorrow they will do the stem walls....

Friday is Flatwork.

But I will be in Rexburg for Education week with a few of my

favorite friends...so pictures will come on Sunday when I get home.

This is so exciting!!!

What's new with the house?

Yesterday, we got Irrigation water.

Coming soon...

Concrete.

Stay tuned...

Live well, George

My aunt's husband (not my uncle) found a baby goose that had been separated from it's mother. He hung on to it, feeding it, etc...eventually it ended up at my parents house with it's friendly companion duck, Sally. Well George, the Canadian goose baby thought he was my father's dog. So he followed my dad around at his heel, sat when my dad sat; George was my dads shadow for several weeks. Well, despite my discouragement, as I think my dad needs a dog-- my dad had Georges best interest in mind and took George for a ride to find some friends that he could fly with. George can fly (but he never leaves the property), he knows what to eat, he can acclimate well living as a goose. Down by the river they went and George complied. As of Wednesday night, George is among his own...somewhere....maybe he will show up again in my dad's back yard. As for Sally--- she will most likely make a tasty meal someday.

he said the derndest thing...

the youngest...the one with the red hair...the one that makes me laugh...

well, he said a a funny the other day that needs sharin'. we pulled into the grocery store parking lot. I was going to run in and leave HH in the car with the kids...but youngest had designs. As I got out he exclaims:

"AH CRAP! This is NICE, NICE, NICE!!"

So, they all got to come in, giggling and yes... we left with Ice cream.

And we have lift off....

we signed a whole pile of papers.

we jumped through hoops to get our building permit.

we have called and scheduled.

we have called and RE-scheduled.

and now we have this:

a bald guy (Hansome Husband, aka HH) mowing

AND...

a Porta Potty, Mailbox and Temperary Power...

AND:

Dirt movers diggin a hole...

AND:

And now we have officially broke ground!!

Happy Birthday to my HH, you got a hole in the ground!!

Mary Poppin's Style

a little pink...but mostly red

I mowed the lawn today. It was beautiful. So beautiful in fact, I stayed outside until the very last minute before I had to go get the girls from the bus stop. 

I have a sun burn. AND I love IT!! It's not the painful kind. It will not Peel. It will be tanned by the time I wake up in the morning.  It just feel warm. A gentle reminder that winter is over and it is time to thaw and enjoy the outside a bit more.

Although, I do wish I would have re-applied some face cream with SPF. I'm not fond of the leather look that my fore-head gets when it has seen a bit too much sun.

Tomorrow...even warmer. But all the outside work is done...I may have to sit in the shade of the back porch and read a book, and maybe take a snooze...aw shucks, that would be a real bummer...

snicker snicker "Buttocks"

I happen over to a blog that my SIL recommends sometimes. The gal (blogger) is a Witty character with a brassy handle on language, so I advance with caution. But today, she had a cherry of a story that I have to share.

quoted her, quoting the quote:

A city ordinance in Florida that says you can’t expose your buttocks also very helpfully explains precisely what they mean by buttocks:

“For purposes of this section, the term ‘buttocks’ shall mean the area at the rear of the body which lies between two imaginary lines running parallel to the ground when a person is standing, the first or top such line drawn at the top of the nates (i.e. the prominence of the muscles running from the back of the hip to the back of the leg) and the second or bottom line drawn at the lowest visible of this cleavage or the lowest point of the curvature of the fleshy protuberance, whichever is lower, and between two imaginary lines on each side of the body, which lines are perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal lines described above, and …”

No way am I the only one who snickers every time they see, hear, or say the word “buttocks.” 

....But what I’m really focused on like a laser in that description is the “whichever is lower” clause. 

Whose (buttocks) is structured in such a way that the lowest part of the crack would be lower than the lowest hanging part of the (buttocks) cheeks?

Now, your day is complete. You're Welcome. Come by anytime.

Still sweet-- But I am understanding the smiles, head nods and the slight chuckles

I didn't think much of him going out in to the garage to find his "garden" toys that had been put into a box so the guy could come and roto-till-- but when he didn't come back in for a while...I got a little concerned.

I found him, pants down to the ankles, YET AGAIN, peeing on the lawn mower IN the garage. It was cute when it was the driveway...but this isn't. Who taught him to pee ON things?

Or does a 3 year old boy come up with these things on his own?

He's so sweet!

Last night for FHE we sorted potatoes--we gleanned a suburban load last fall and did our best at devouring these delightful morsels of the earth--  the ones that were sprouted and soft we gave to the cows...sorting potatoes progressed into cleaning the garage. Which by the way is larger than my last house. Room for entirely tooo much crap! that evolved into taking turns riding the motercycle and drawing pictures in the driveway with chalk, mixed with throwing balls and/or frisbees for Molly.

At one point,  sweet boy, diapeared around the back of HH's truck. HH saw him first with his pants dropped and exclaiming proundly: " I pushed HARD!" and there was pee .

So this morning, I hear the front door slam while I was upstairs talking with HH. I ran down the stairs and out the door to find out what my little mistief maker was up to. Again, he was found with his pants down around his ankles, exclaiming just as proud as last night, " I pushed HARD!" while admiring his puddle of pee in the driveway.

I'm a proud mother. I am personally gratful that he can pee anywhere. He has even waterd a few trees around town, while out for errands or at soccer practice...

what's a mom to do?

A bit pre-occupied

I know I've been neglecting each of you of late, and for that I apologize. It is not that I have been offended nor have I been purposefully absent. I have been a bit pre-ocupied.

doing what you ask? well...

House plans. This is awhat our new house will look like. Maybe not the same colors. But the style is exact. i have been working with a "drafts-WOman" who has been so patient with us as we figure it all out...but I have lost entirely too much sleep, to keep my head clear and lively.  We plan to close on our construction loan in a few weeks and hope to break ground by mid May. wish us luck! (hoping I didn't jinx anything)

But there's more...

the girls are still on Spring Break. For another few days. We have been having several friends over to play, clean the house before and then again AFTER they leave, we have pruned trees and pulled weeds, and I have spent a lot of time running errands (house stuff) since I have a babaystitter at home. 

Life is good. I am feeling very blessed with good health at the moment, and praying for it to continue.

Good to see you all again and I will be back shortly with stories about:  

Anesthesia (I forgot to share that morsel with ya)

SoCal Vacation recap

My Ronald McDonald hairdo days

and get everyone's opinion on carpet, wall color, and gardening issues...

Court is adjourned! Happy April Fools!

In Florida , an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover holy days.  He
hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days. 

The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days. The case was
brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"  The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? 

The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others.  The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays."  The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists." The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.  Court is adjourned."  

Priceless!

Yea, we're having a GREAT time!

Past Presidents: Playin' Cards and Tellin' Stories

So I said to him, "Barack, I know Abe Lincoln, and you ain't him."