Another Cooking Disaster...Ugh!

Last night I decided to make spaghetti. I started making the regular spaghetti noodles and over cooked them. Kaydree tried one, spit it out and said, "They are mushy...really mushy, yuck!"

I had a box of macaroni noodles up in the Kitchen and didn't feel like going downstairs to our food storage to get a new box of Spaghetti Noodles, so I quick started making macaroni noodles. As soon as Benjy and the girls started eating (I was eating a salad), Kaydree was acting very funny and Benjy said, "Have you ever chewed teeth because that is what it is like eating these noodles?" I guess the noodles were not cooked. Really...how does one go from over done noodles to under done noodles. I was so frustrated I envisioned myself throwing the plate of noodles across the room. I hate cooking. I really do! Which will lead into my next post on the stress in my life right now! I sat there very quietly thinking about how I would seek my revenge. I wanted to say, "Fine....everyone for themselves! I am not cooking anymore. I would rather eat a salad and healthy stuff, anyway!" I don't like cooking, so when I do and it doesn't turn out and other family members complain about it...I want to scream! I didn't of course and looking back now...it is kind of funny, of course at the time it wasn't! Benjy loves to use humor when I am REALLY not in the mood! I am a leftover kind of person, but last night I threw the leftovers away! Ha...Ha...I'll show those, dumb noodles! I am done with my rant now and on a positive note, I went shopping after dinner and got some smokin' deals. A $5 pair of shoes at Maurice's and a $7 pair of jeans at Kohl's for short people...see I can find the Silver lining in my day!

Smurf This and Smurf That...

Our Friends, the Hobbs recently lent us a Smurf DVD Collection. Benjy and I have had a blast laughing at how much we didn't remember about the Smurfs. Benjy has decided that Smurfette was not the innocent Smurfette that we remembered her to be. We both forgot that Gargamel made her. So lately at our house everything is Smurf this and Smurf that. Even the girls are getting a kick out of inserting the word smurf for other words, like smurf ya later, mom and dad! I hear, "Mom Karsyn is smurfing me!" Of course one can sometimes misinterpret what smurf may mean in various sentences. So we sat around discussing which smurf we each think we are. Funny how others don't view us as the way we want to be viewed! Kaydree decided I would be Clumsy Smurf, Benjy would be Grumpy smurf or Jokey Smurf (depending on the time of day and stress load at work!) ;-) and that she was Smurfette. Karsyn wants to be Papa Smurf... he gets to make all the decisions. He is the "Boss of the Applesauce" as Karsyn would put it. Um... does it surprise us that she would want to be Papa Smurf? In reality I think I am a Sleepy Smurf! I started wondering what about our personalities do we portray in our words and actions? Just curious.... which smurf would you want to be and which smurf would you say people see you as?

I Guess It's Time...

to take down the Christmas decorations. It is kind of a sad time for me. I just love Christmas time, although I do like the feeling of cleaning things up. I would love to leave my Nativity scenes up all year, but Benjy and my Mother tell me that I can't. I can't help but feel so much peace when I find myself gazing into the scenes. I can sit and stare at them for a long time.

Growing up my Mom did most (all the shopping) however since my dad retired and he has started a tradition of picking out some gifts himself. I remember growing up he would always take us Christmas Eve Day... to try to find things for my mom. Let's just say she got some very handy and practical gifts sometimes. Recently my dad has become very thoughtful. My favorite gifts he has started giving me...probably because I am the only girl and he usually gets my brothers collectible items that I am not into, so he started with this Nativity...

it remains my largest one.
He got my smallest one at an auction. It is sooooo cute. It sits in my kitchen window.

JoDell picked this one up on clearance a couple of years ago. I love the way it matches my curtains. My visiting teacher, Donna, brought me this poinsettia for Christmas.

This one is the newest one in my collection. I got it this year. It is absolutely beautiful!

This one I got two years ago. It is so peaceful looking!

The Willow Tree one I got last year and I have to say, I really like this one a lot! I often ask Benjy and the girls which one they like the most.... no one can ever decide. So I know it isn't just me. I love them all and I will say goodbye to them until next year!

My dad has started teasing Benjy that next year he is going to get me the largest Nativity he can find, since Benjy grumbles to him about storage and getting them all out! ;-)

Journal Entry.

It is crazy to me how fast the Holidays flew by this year. I wanted to take down the Christmas decorations this weekend, yet Benjy wanted me to wait. I can't decide if it is because he likes the lights or if he just didn't want to have to start lifting the boxes back up into the rafters? Two books that I want to recommend are:

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is my current read. Thanks Emily, I am subbing today and I have enjoyed reading this book on my prep and at the gym while I do the stair climber. The Wednesday Letters was given to me to read from Whitney a lady from church, which I think she may have borrowed, but let me tell you....I was crying in the first chapter! A happy feel good book! I read it on the day I was sick in bed with the flu. Easy read and can be done in a day or two.
I just love Minnesota winters when I can curl up with a good book and enjoy being inside because it is wayyyyyyy too cold to be going outside! I have to say it does feel good to be back to a schedule and start working on getting off those Holiday pounds! Now...what should I cook for dinner? That is a constant (ugh!!!!!) in my life!

Mall of America Trip...Friday Family Fun Night..

We use to live a couple miles from the Mall and made frequent visits there. At least a couple times a week. When the girls were little they loved to go for walks around the mall. Since we didn't get to go to Iowa to visit Spencer and Emily, Kaydree was very sad so we told her we would take her to do something fun. The Welkers decided to join us which made it even more fun!
We just happened to run into John and JoDell while they were out on a date night.
Serena and I are usually the ones taking the pictures, so the camera got turned around on us!
Kaydree and Tayler started out on the big roller coaster. Kaydree's first time on a big one! She looked like she was about to cry in all the pictures. When she got off she had lots to say!

Karsyn did the little bumper cars and had a blast!
Kaydree watching Karsyn.

The three of them went on the jumping ship and Karsyn was trying to be so brave by having her arms up until...
the ride started!

The girls always want to go on the merry go round, yay for Benjy taking the duty on the round and round ride! ugh! Thank goodness for places like the Mall of America to help us get through these Minnesota stormy, cold winters!

Good News and Bad News or Bad News and Good News?

We have been without a working dishwasher for a little over a month. I actually love doing dishes by hand and find it relaxing, so I didn't have an issue with waiting for a time when my dad could come up and help install a new one. After looking at Craig's List and shopping on-line we decided to go with one from Appliance Smart. My Mom and Dad came up to help unhook the old one and install the new one. (just a four hour drive away) When they pulled the old one out, my dad said right away, "I know what your problem is..."

We knew we had an electrical problem when Benjy and I both saw flames/sparks fly out the bottom when it broke. Benjy wanted to blog about how he fixed it.....reality is my dad had it fixed within a minute of diagnosing the problem. No extra parts needed!

Bad News....our garbage disposal went out that night.

Good News...My dad already taught Benjy how to put in a new one from when we lived in Bloomington, so Benjy fixed it....well....put in a new one! He also fixed...well....put in a new bathroom fan, too. All in one day, actually in about an hour!
Yay...Benjy (Thanks Dad!)
Good News....Grandpa likes laying on Karsyn's Hannah Montana Bean Bag, watching Hannah Montana with the girls! (So do Benjy and I, we find ourselves laughing so hard at that "dumb show" as Benjy calls it! He loves Jackson and thinks the kid is a riot!)
Bad News... Grandma had to console Kaydree after she was very, very, very sad about not being able to go to Iowa to watch Noah/Nick wrestle and to hang out with Kenna. There is suppose to be an ice/snow storm hitting us today, so we decided not to chance the bad roads again, after our last trip on bad roads.

Good News...Yesterday...Karsyn got her cute little lined crocs that she has always wanted and they were the last pair! More Good News... we took the girls to do something fun last night since we didn't get to go to Iowa.... details on the next post!

Warning....Disgusting Pictures!

After seeing our fun festivities we attended for Christmas...
I wanted to share with you the results from being in Minnesota in the winter time, in enclosed areas with a lot of people......

Flu Victims are as follows and in order of occurrence:

Karsyn Villarreal (Villarreal Family)

Kristen Villarreal (Villarreal Family)

Nicholas Koch (Iowa Koch Family)

Strep Throat Victims in order of occurrence:

Spencer Koch (Iowa Koch Family)

Grandpa Koch (Slayton Minnesota Family)

Kaydree Villarreal ( Villarreal Family)

Courtney Koch: Not officially diagnosed yet! (Kansas Koch Family)

Yes...that is one member from each family!

I guess we know how to spread the wealth!

Who will be the NEXT VICTIM?

An Apology: To anyone that spent time with any of us over the Holiday Season...we are praying that none of you get any extra gifts from us, like these little bugs... :-(