The Day After....

The Day after Thanksgiving is a busy day in our family. Mark likes participating in the black friday frenzy really early in the morning. This year was no exception! I decided to stay in my nice, warm bed while Mark, Nettie, Megan and Tasha ventured out into the early morning. When they returned about 3 hours later.....Mark was a bit ticked - not at the shopping but at the girls....seemed they were a bit selfish this year in their shopping. But that's another story for Mark to tell since I wasn't there for the real account of the experience. After some regrouping, Mark, Andrew and myself headed to Target to see what we could see. From a girl's point of view, Targets crowds weren't THAT bad. Yes, you had to manuever through the aisles of crowded people but over all I did some damage. Mark and I decided to split up and run a zone defense in Target... He was starting over in Electronics and Andrew and I were heading over to the clothing section. We were to meet when we were done to check out. Not 5 minutes into the play, I received an audible (phone call) from Mark saying he was heading over to optical. HUH? I said. Sidenote: Mark has been having trouble seeing for awhile now and has been putting off going to the eye dr. I have made appts that he doesn't seem to keep! So, a messenger from God intercepted Mark in the Electronics Dept and convinced him to get his eyes check TODAY! I was elated that he was finally getting them checked. I am tired of reading the street signs while driving so we don't miss our turn! LOL Andrew and I continued shopping til we received another phone call from Mark that he was done. Andrew didn't believe that Mark was actually getting his eyes checked so he walked over to optical to take a look and see.....he came back to report that Mark wasn't there....must be in the back! Andrew and I continued to shop. The phone call finally came that he was done and out and had to try on glasses. Yes! I thought. Mark is getting his much needed glasses. Hallelujah! After trying on several pairs - we finally found some that looked really good on him. The girl that was helping him stated that he will probably see leaves on trees now. LOL I was proud of my husband for stepping up and taking the intiative to correct the sight problems he was having.....I can't wait to see him in his glasses. That was one Christmas present from my husband that I will remember for a long time. Needless to say, we continued our shopping. Finished what Mark didn't start! LOL and ended up walking right up to a register with NO LINE and paying for our loot! We ended with lunch at RJ's - one of our favorite places.

After arriving home, I left on my own to do a little shopping and getting a little pampered. Got my nails done for the holidays then decided to head to Kohl's to see what they had for sale. I walked in - walked completely around the store - walked right back out. The line for the registers were all the way to the back of the store and not moving very fast. I decided at that time that there was nothing at Kohl's that I absolutely had to have that day. I could shop faster than I would be standing in the line to check out. So, off to Starbucks I went for my Gingerbread latte that I absolutely love this time of year. I turn into a coffee-holic through December. LOL I arrived home excited about the holiday season. It was overcast and drizzly here and I just felt blessed as I walked through my door watching my children running around and my husband waiting for me with a great big hug. Life is good.......

ANNOUNCING THE TDA's

The following awards were given out at the Mendenhall Thanksgiving Day Awards......no particular order!

* Mom won for BEST HAIR!

* Ryan won for NEATEST ROOM!

* Bud won for the FUNNIEST KID in the family!

* Nettie won for being MOST HELPFUL!

* Jade won for being the LOUDEST in the family!

* Ryan won for being the QUIETEST!

* Jade won for BEST HUGGER!

* Ryan won for the best person who does his chores!

* Tasha won for being the GREATEST FRIEND in the family!

* Mom won for being the BEST LISTENER!

* Ryan won for BEST GRADES!

* Andrew won for BIGGER EATER in the family

* Nettie won for WILLING TO TRY NEW FOODS!

* Megan won for PICKIEST EATER!

* Briggor won for MOST BEAUTIFUL EYES!

* Mom won for GREATEST SMILE!

* Dad won for the GREATEST LAUGH!

* Andrew won for BEST KNOW-IT-ALL at Sports!

* Andrew won for the LAZIEST in the family!

* Tasha won for MOST BOOKS READ!

To All Who Read My Blog....

Happy Thanksgiving from the

Mendenhall Family!!

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS UPDATE

Megan has now complete the second phrase of BATTLE OF THE BOOKS at school. She had to read 5 books by Thanksgiving which now gives her a total of 15 books read since the battle started. Megan's reward for finishing 5 more books by Thanksgiving is a Battle of the Books pizza party. Her next mission is to complete 5 more books by Winter Break!! She is doing a great job reading!!!

Happy Birthday

Our beautiful daughter, Tasha, turns 12 today!!!

She has requested Chili spaghetti for dinner and homemade

chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for dessert!!

YUMMY!

TURKEY DAY AWARDS

The nominations have started for the Mendenhall Turkey Day awards. With the whole family together, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to look back and celebrate the year's achievements. Whether it's an after-dinner gathering in the living room or a powwow around a backyard fireplace, it's nice to do this with a bit of ceremony. Each family member is asked nomination questions like - Who is the laziest? Who has the best hair? Who is the funniest? Who has the best smile? and the winners are announced on Thanksgiving. It brings the family together and we get a laugh or two. The winners are awarded a certificate and a small prize. I will announce the winners on my blog after Thanksgiving. Just sharing with you the fun that you can have around the holidays.

Recipe

SCALLOPED POTATO GRATIN

Prep Time: 15min

Cook Time: 50min

4 to 6 servings

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 sprig fresh thyme

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Butter

2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8 inch thick slices

1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for broiling

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a saucepan, heat up the cream with a sprig of thyme, chopped garlic and nutmeg.

While cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Place a layer of potato in an overlapping pattern and season with salt and pepper. Remove cream from heat, then pour a little over the potatoes. Top with some grated Parmesan. Make 2 more layers. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Sprinkle some more Parmesan and broil until cheese browns, about 5 min.

Thanksgiving

My thanksgiving Bible verses that I would like to share with you. These Bible verses are posted throughout my house for my family and friends to read.....Now I am sharing them with you.

* So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with THANKFULNESS. - Colossians 2:6-7

* Let them give THANKS to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. - Psalm 107:8-9

* Give THANKS to the LORD, for he is good; his loves endures forever. - I Chronicles 16:34

* The LORD is my strength and my shield; my hearts trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give THANKS to him in song. - Psalm 28:7

* Give THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - I Thessalonians 5:18

* Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Phillipians 4:6-7

Monday Mornings

I just don't understand it. I try to be organized after a long weekend of letting go and just hanging out. I try to get everything ready for the upcoming week but to no avail....Monday mornings are soooo out of control. It seem everyone is arguing about something or with someone. Someone has lost this or that. The job of mom, me, is to referee the whole morning!! UUUGGGHHHH! Sometimes it just gets to me. Today was one of those days. The kids are excited about the holidays coming up so quickly. They don't understand why they have to go to school for 2 1/2 days and not have the whole week off. What's up with that? Except it gives me some sane time before the craziness hits.....LOL. Monday mornings are just tough.....today was no exception.

Fall Poem by Megan

While searching through piles of school work....(think about all the paper work that comes home from 7 children that I have to sift through.....WOW!!).....I found this by Megan.

Weather turns colder.
The days get shorter and darker.
Wind blows warm away.

Candy is splendid.
Costumes are quite vogue awesome.
We go at night time.

Creatures are sleepy.
Bears, squirrels, gofers store food.
They also get fat.

The textures feel weird.
The colors change on the leaves.
The sounds of the leaves.

I am thankful for....

Just to name a few things that I am thankful for..... (there are many but this is what comes to mind at the time of this writing!)
* my husband
* my family
* my friends
* good music
* a warm bed
* the smell of roses
* good hair days :)
* God's Word
* Great cup of coffee
* my ability to learn
* chocolate
* good wine
* family vacations
* sunsets
* falling snow
* cherry limeade/diet coke
* puppies
* traditions
* my children's laughter
* sunshine
* second chances
* warm cup of tea on a cold day
* my health
* a great life
* God sending His Son for ME!
* my baby's smile
* kisses
* my husband's unconditional love
* hot baths after a long day
* family heirlooms
* my 5 senses (taste, hear, feel, see, touch)

New recipe

Here is a new carrot cake recipe courtesy of Paula Deen from the Food Network.......

According to Paula Deen, she made this recipe for her grandson, Jack, hence the use of baby food. It is delicious!

Sweet Baby Jack Carrot Cake

FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups self-rising flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups granulated sugar
2 (4oz) jars strained carrot baby food
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 c applesauce

FOR THE FROSTING: (NOTE: THIS FROSTING IS AWESOME!)
1/2 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16oz) box confectioner's sugar/powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat over to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 3 (8 or 9inch) cake pans.

FOR THE CAKE:
Mix together the flour, cinnamon and sugar in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and blend well with a handheld mixer for about 2 min. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25 or 30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Invert onto lint-free dishcloth or waxed paper and allow to cool completely.

FOR THE FROSTING:
Mix all ingredients with handheld mixer and blend until smooth and creamy.

Frost layers, top and sides of cooled cake....ENJOY!

Never thought...

Never thought I would see the day that my baby, Andrew, would pick me up and give ME a piggy back ride. Unbelievable how time flies......

NEW RECIPE

Tore out a new recipe from the newspaper yesterday. Bud saw it and said...."MMMMmmmm, sounds good mom....can you make it?" --- So, what did I do....made it for my boy!!! This is a really yummy recipe. It fed all of us and had a little leftover. Hope you try it....

Heloise's spaghetti sauce

1/4 c olive oil
1/2 c butter
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 pound ground beef
1 pound italian sausage (I added this) cut into bite size pieces
4 strips of bacon, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped fine
3 TBL finely chopped parsley
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp crushed red pepper
2 oz red wine
2 (15oz) cans of crushed tomatoes
1 (4oz) can tomato paste
1 carrot, finely chopped (great way to put veggies into your kids)

Heat olive oil over low heat in a pot large enough to hold all ingredients. Add the butter and simmer until melted. Add the onion and saute until it is lightly browned. Add the ground beef, sausage, and bacon; saute until browned, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, parsley, bay leaf, salt, black pepper to taste and red pepper.

Cook over low heat for 10 min. Add the wine, cover and steam a few minutes longer. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the carrot. Cover and cook over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaf before serving. ENJOY!

SIDES: a nice green salad and garlic bread YUMMO!

Cole Update

If you have been following and praying for my girlfriends baby....baby cole....you will be delighted with the following excerpt from the most recent email I received from her. God is good! Please keep Cole in your prayers. He still has a lot ahead of him.....

Here is the email....
Cole’s dr appointment went well. He will be having his hernia surgery on January 8th. As of Wednesday he weighed 9 lbs 3 ozs and was 22 inches long. I am working part time from home Monday-Thursday and have office hours on Fridays from 10:00-2:30. I will go back to work full-time January 5th.


Thanks for all your prayers!

DATE NIGHT

Another date night for Mary and Mark.....

we hopped on the Harley and went to a friends house first to see their new digs. Talked with them for a little bit. We went out for drinks and dinner. The evening was beautiful so we ate outside. Absolutely delightful! After dinner we strolled around the marketplace which is full of shops. Stopped off at the bookstore where Mark bought a Marvel Comics Encyclopedia Book he has been looking for.....note: It has every Marvel Comic Book hero in it and explains all about them. :) Always the kid! Hopped back on the bike and headed home. Another absolute perfect evening with my best friend!!

Briggor

Briggor, our 3-year old, just walked in and said to me, "Mom, I need $100 for the ice cream truck. He is leaving.....I need it now". I just laughed and said "NO!". Briggor says, "MOM, give me $100 before he leaves and doesn't come back". I think he meant $1 but he said $100. Welcome to Briggor's discovery of the neighborhood ice cream truck and his SPONGEBOB popsicle! LOL

A typical Saturday morning

Here is what my kids do on Saturday Morning.......NOT MUCH!!

Beautiful Smile

Tasha has started on her adventure to a beautiful smile. I can't tell you how many times Tasha asks Mark and I "When do I get braces?". Over and over we have heard this question. Well, the day has finally come for her to start down that road. We have to keep reminding her that "Beauty is pain!!" Here are some pics.....

First they took xrays of Tasha's whole mouth and head. Then they took a casting of her upper and lower teeth. Tasha said it tasted disgusting! Next visit, December 1st!

Monday

So, it's Monday afternoon as I write this.....I have two children home sick from school and I am just sitting and playing with the computer. I am sure there are lots of other things I can be doing but I choose NOT to do them. I have talked to my husband, on and off throughout the day. I have started on my Walt Disney World Digital Scrapbooking. I have played playdoh with Briggor. I have cooked two meals already and have started a crockpot of chicken for dinner. I am sitting waiting for the rest of the kids to come home from school. I was busy today, but not too busy. Enjoying some fun time! What are you doing today?

Exciting News to Report....

Yesterday, Mark and I received a manila envelope addressed to us regarding Megan. HHHMmmm, wondering what it is..... Megan received a unique honor and was nominated by her teacher, Ms. Bair to join other high-achieving students from across the United States this summer. Megan was nominated to attend the National Young Scholars Program (NYSP). www.nationalyoungscholars.org At NYSP, Megan will have the opportunity to build on and expand her leadership talents and advance your interests in one of the exciting Discovery Strands - CSI (Crime Scene Investigation), Creative Construction: Towers, Temples and Tectonics or Medicine: The Incredible Human Body.

We, as a family, are so proud of Megan. She will have to make a decision by December if this is something that she wants to attend in the Summer. It is a week long program held in the Summer at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Congratulations, MEGAN!!

Halloween 2008

Here are my goblins: