Holidays

The past few weeks have flown by. Between work, family and Christmas there does not seem to be enough time to just sit down and blog. Suffice it to say that Christmas was a blast. When Dreamsicle came out to the living room and saw all of the presents she asked when the other kids were going to get here. I asked her what kids she was talking about and she proceeded to tell me that she thought that she and Lil Pea would each get one present and the other gifts were waiting for other kids so that they could each have one present also. You should have seen her face when she finally understood that ALL of the presents were for her and Lil Pea. I received a Wii and Wii Fit as my gift. We have been having absolute giggle fests as we watch big old McGyver attempt to "show us how it is done" as he tries to snowboard. I KO'd him in boxing so I'm pretty happy. LOL. U*Haul, Pixie and Lil Pea will be here until Saturday so I'm loving on them while I can.

Christmas Photo

May your Christmas be filled with family, food and fun. From our House to yours-Merry Christmas.

I Should Be Sad

We received word today that my grandmother passed away. I should be sad. The truth is, I hardly knew her. She was my paternal grandmother. I believe that she and my mama didn't see eye to eye over the years so we didn't visit with her much. I really think when it comes right down to it she was bat-shit crazy. This is the grandmother that wore hot pants and multi colored clogs while walking down mainstreet during the middle of the annual 4th of July parade. She wasn't in the parade-just wandering freely while the parade took place around her. This is also the same grandma that showed up one day to my place of employment. Back in the day I was a qualifier for a membership type vacation seller. If you received one of our letters in your mailbox and agreed to take a tour of our property, you could win all sorts of valuable prizes. Things like toasters and quilts and emergency radios. She received one of the letters, she slipped by me and one of my co-workers pre-qualifed her so she was eligible to take a tour of the property. You should have seen the excitement on the salesman's face when he returned to the common area and ran to get the "closer". The big boss that finalized the contracts when someone agreed to purchase a membership. The salesman was new and this was his first "Eagle" contract (big membership, big commission). Whenever someone sold an "Eagle" membership everyone would gather in the common area and clap, making the purchaser feel like a rock star. Only trouble was that when I walked in there and realized that we would be hooting and hollering for my grandmother I think I turned three shades of pale. She had no money. She was happily signing on the dotted line when I pulled the closer to the side. He confronted my grandma about this slight exagerration and she told him she just wanted to get her quilt.

I would love to be able to remember my grandma as an eccentric loving old woman, but she wasn't. That is what makes me sad.

What A Good Day

U*Haul, Pixie and Lil Pea arrived safely at our house yesterday. Pixie has a friend that loves to take photos as a hobby (but really Good Golly Miss Molly, you should do this as a business) so she was gracious enough to agree to snap some photos of the family today outside. We had a great time. She let me look at the photos through the view finder of her camera and from what I saw I think she really captured the essence of the McGyver family. Look for photos in the mailbox closest to you soon. (that is if I know you in real life, that would be kinda creepy if a photo of my fam showed up in random people who read this blog mailboxes)

After the photo shoot Pixie and I made rice krispie treats, fudge, peanut butter cups and pumpkin bread. Brownies, Gingerbread, Christmas Cookies and Chocolate drops are on the agenda for tomorrow after church.

I have been following a fellow blogger for over a year now. She has decided to post a drink recipe every day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. I don't have permission to link to her blog but trust me when I say that she has some stellar recipes. She introduced me to home made grenadine and really sold me on the difference that using fresh juices for the drinks make. Can I just say yummmmmm? I decided to give her Cosmopolitan a try tonight. If there are any spelling errors in this post, I blame her.

Back on the U*Haul family topic for a moment-Pixie swore me to secrecy when they decided to come home after we cancelled our Disney trip because she wanted to surprise her mom. She and U*Haul have probably arrived at her family Christmas party by now-U*Haul is planning on taping her mom's reaction when the three of them show up unannounced to the party. How fun is that?

Which Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg?

Heck if I know but I thought it was a catchy little title since this post is devoted to chickens! Yep, chickens! McGyver is convinced that 2012 will see the end of civilization as we know it (as for me, I'm all about knowing exactly where my food comes from) so we took the plunge and purchased 15 chickens and one rooster. I have to tell you-I am in love. These crazy little chickens all have their own personality and the rooster is a sweetheart. They are so curious, it's like having 16 dogs follow you around. McGyver and Chester were working in the pole barn last night and the chickens all ended up in there with them because they had to check out what was going on out there. If I leave and come back, they all come running out to my car to greet me. They are laying eggs like crazy so if you invite me to a get together, you should pretty much plan on me bring deviled eggs. LOL

Oooh Baby It's Cold Outside

Don't make me! Those are the words that are screaming inside my head at the thought of having to go outside. It is extremely cold outside. The weather people had been forecasting a blizzard for days but I don't think that what we are experiencing is that extreme. Don't get me wrong, it is cold and snowy but I don't think it is blizzardy. That is a fun word, isn't it? Blizzardy. Heh.

Anyway, I rode into the office with McGyver in the pre-heated truck this morning and will ride home with Chester in a pre-heated truck. I stopped by the grocery store yesterday to pick up chili fix-ins and it is true what they say...in times of impending disaster, people stock up on bread. Seriously-the entire bread shelf was empty. I don't know why I think that is so funny but if I am housebound, the last thing I am going to be wishing I had was two pieces of bread to make me a sam'ich. Not me, I'm going for brownies, cupcakes and pies.

Cancelled

We made the decision to cancel our Disney trip last night. The whole idea was to get all of our family (X-Boy, Chester, U*Haul/Pixie/Little Pea and Aunt Genious) to join us for a week of relaxation and reconnecting after the year of sorrow we have had. With everything that is going on right now we came to the realization that we simply could not leave the office for that length of time without having someone there to mind the store if you will. So it looks like U*Haul, Pixie and Little Pea will be coming home for Christmas and that is what really matters-that our whole family is together.

My Crazy Life

Things are a little tense around Casa de Dreamsicle this week. Although I won't go into much detail here, I am having a very difficult time wrapping my head around the choices people in my life have made this year. Heaven knows that I am not perfect but decisions have been made, secrets have been kept, and information withheld from me and my immediate family and when confronted with those facts, have been told that it was "none of my business". Pretty powerful words to tell a family member that you profess to love. What ever happened to family being the most important thing, the one place that was safe and honest? That must be the way it works in other people's family-just not mine. For now McGyver and I will hunker down with our kids and give thanks that in our immediate little family we still hold true to those core values.

Happy Birthday Chester!

I am so happy that I was able to hug you this morning and wish you a happy birthday. It was nice not having my arms ache to feel your presence like they did for the past four years. You are growing and evolving in to a man that I am deeply proud to be able to call my son.