Merry Christmas

Christmas morning with the family!



I woke up this morning to Lonny calling me like it was "old tyme." Like back in the day when he'd wait as long as he could (usually around 6am) before waking me up to tell me what I got in my stocking. Then we'd both wait as long as we could (usually another hour) before waking mom and dad.

I got dressed and joined the rest of the fam (at Lon & Jaime's) for gifts and Christmas breakfast. We had a nice time before mom and dad had to head out to the airport. I found some time in the afternoon to go to a movie with the Hens - then stopped home to let the dogs out before heading back to Lon's for some leftover Christmas dinner. I just got home - let the dogs out - and now fed them . . but neither puppy ran for the food. Strange . . they should be more than ready for dinner. . . .then I found this.



I guess the puppies couldn't wait for me to get home - they helped themselves to the rest of the orange cookies and donuts from pierogi/cabbage roll making day. Huh. Guess I'll be getting up a few times tonight with sick puppies. We'll see. Ugg.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!

Little Red Hens 2

Today was the second annual Polish food making day!



We waited until this weekend so the Queen Hen could join us from Vegas! Mom and dad have been in MN since Wednesday night - and we planned to spend today cooking pierogi and cabbage rolls for Christmas dinners. Heidi arrived around 8:20 this morning . . and the people didn't stop coming! Mom and Dad, Julie, Michele and the girls, Lon & Jaime & Alice, Mary Joy and Greg, Jon and Genevieve - even uncle Jim and cousin Fred stopped by!

We cooked, ate, gossiped, talked sh*t, laughed, and some drank. Some drank more than others. It was fun day as my apartment was full of family and laughing! Baxter and Bella enjoyed being under foot - and loved going outside with grandpa!



Even as we (my generation) are still learning and trying to perfect our ethnic food techniques - we dragged in the NEXT generation. Kelsey and Abby got right into it. I think they enjoyed it - they should have - they did a great job!



Here are the (cool) cousins who hung out today (the Jeromes and Nordins) - including THREE future Hens - Kelsey, Abby, and Alice.



Now for a little relaxation, gift wrapping, and re-grouping! Tomorrow and Monday will be busy days! Merry Little Christmas Eve to you all!

First Week of December

Ok - It's December again - and it's been a busy week. Last weekend was the craft fair (finally!) - and I got to spend the whole day with Alice! I was kinda bummin'- because I'd figure she'd get cranky - and I'd have to take her home (therefore missing something) . . . but she held out. All day. Like 12 hours. Like I was kinda hoping she'd need to go home and take a nap. I needed a nap. :) It was a great day - I hung out with Alice pretty much the whole time - but also covered for Lon and Jaime when they needed P breaks - and if anyone needed food. Alice and I took a few walks around the place in the stroller - and even a few in the Baby Bjorn. Here's the smiley girl near the end of a long day of fair'n. (This is actually her 2nd outfit - I didn't get my camera out until after she'd messed the cute "Books by J-Me" onesie she had on.



Even though I REALLY could have crawled into bed and slept until Sunday - when I got home from the craft fair - I changed clothes - and waited for Donnie and Julie to come over so we could head out to see Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. It was a great show.



Some highlights:

1. Donnie got a kick ass parking spot (which rubbed off on me the following day).
2. Some guy paid Julie $5 to get the bartender's attention (which almost cost us any relationship we had already established with this cranky guy who needed a break - real bad).
3. We got a spot on the rail - so could actually SEE the band that boasted the most expensive tickets the Triple Rock had ever seen. (yeah - worth it).
4. A good time was had by all - and we deserved it!

Back at school this week (well sort of). Out of the last 10 school days - I've only been in my classroom for 5 of them. What can I say - I like meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. I WAS at school yesterday - to get pumped up for wrestling season (which started last night!). Before I kicked off my 4th(?) (or is it 5th?) season of keeping the books for our high school's home wrestling meets - I ran down to TG to catch Vanhtha's PREMIRE as Girls 9B Basketball coach. He did a good job. His team won. I think he's pretty proud. Maybe even a little giddy. Go V! Here's a pic of him coaching - he was in the zone. Totally.



Ok - so just got back from Lon and Jaime's. Was sufferin' a little "Alice withdrawl." - I hadn't seen her for like four whole days! Anyway - wanna know what the dogs do when they're "starving to death" and mommy isn't home? Yeah - they find the candybar in her school bag that she bought like 2 weeks ago and then forgot about. Know how dogs get to a candybar that's nicely lost in a school bag? They chew it. Yup. A nice little hole. In mommy's favorite bag. Hmmm. Good thing mommy's good with a sewing machine. Naughty puppies. No, dad, I did not beat them - but Baxter was PRETTY guilty looking. I wish I had my camera out when he lowered his head, looked up at me with those pathetic doggie eyes - and tiptoed - not kidding - TIPTOED across the hardwood floor to lick my knees. (That's puppy for "I'm sorry.") Whatever. It's just a bag. And it was probably my fault for not feeding them for 2 hours. Sheesh.

Ok - That's a nice "update" for ya! Happy December!