Snow!!

I walked out my door this morning to snow! Now normally it isn’t that big of a deal–but come on–Blake wore shorts to school yesterday–and now there is snow on the ground! I spent a lot of money about a month ago to actually buy and plant flowers. Not something I enjoy much–but wanted to do. Sadly–I think they are all frozen! Poor little pansies and tulips!! I hope they come back because it was a lot of work–and they were so pretty! I know Pansies are pretty resilient–which strikes me as funny because we call little ‘weaklings’ Pansies!! I also put in two Boxelder bushes–and I know nothing about their ability to cope with the freeze–I guess we will just have to wait and see!!

It’s My Daddy’s Birthday!!

I can’t believe it–he’s 75 years old! That’s amazing–he looks really–really young for his age. My father in law is only 63-but could totally pass as older than my dad. He really does look very youthful. Both of his parents lived into their 90’s and his dad to nearly 100 years old-so I’m hoping for the same longevity.

When we were home last July he suffered a TIA, and it was the scariest thing I had ever seen. My dad has only been in the hospital twice since he’s been in our lives. Once for hernia surgery, and once for knee surgery. So this medical scare was terrifying for all of us!

He’s doing so much better. In fact, he and my mom were here in Chicago 2 weeks ago, and we saw them when they were Snowbirding in Phoenix in February. He’s taking my mom on another cruise of the Mexican Riviera this Saturday! He takes such amazing care of her–we love him!!

Happy Birthday Knight In Shining Armor!!

Hamburger Gravy!!

I have been working really hard lately to eat better! I haven’t had sugar in “sugar” form in over a week! No sweets, no breads, no nothing FUN!! It hasn’t been too bad–I don’t really even miss it. I’m also trying to add more protein to our diet. That has been the fun part. I love meats, and cottage cheese on just about everything does it for me!! My kids love vegetables-so that makes it a lot easier on me.

Last night I made Jake’s favorite dinner. Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes. Everytime I make it–he asks if he can take it for snack the next day at school. I told my mom that when we were growing up and she would mention that that was what we were having for dinner–we weren’t every really thrilled about it–but you know–everytime she made it–it tasted so good!

Well, that’s how it was last night! Potatoes are a carbohydrate–but a complex one–that makes it ok in my book! But the meat sauce on top is full of some questionable items–so I only put the hamburger gravy over a third of my potatoes, and cottage cheese over the rest! YUMMY!! But you know, it really tasted good!!

In Like A Lion!!

Yesterday my son Grayson mentioned how excited it was for March 1st to come. I thought this was just a little strange–why March 1st of all days. His reply…”Cause March comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb”. Very true–that’s what I’ve heard my whole life. So I took some time to explain just what that meant to all of the kids.

The very strange thing…Last night–right around mid-night when March was coming in–we had a THUNDERSTORM! It was awesome. I laid there debating whether or not to wake Grayson up to see that March had indeed come in roaring like a lion! Literally!! I decided that since it was a school night I would let him sleep. But I was really excited to tell him all about the roaring last night.

I’m not sure he found it as cool as I did!!

Bills!!

I paid the bills this morning! Ouch! You know–I can’t imagine how fun it would be to walk into some shopping center and pay $1000 for anything I wanted. That, to my family, is a TON of money! Sadly, I just spent $1,000 on things that are necessary just to keep us alive! Housing, Gas, Electric, Phone & Directv! Ok, maybe those things don’t KEEP US ALIVE–but they maintain our life! As much as I enjoy each of the things above–it would be nice to be able to spend that money on something fun! A nice get-a-way with my family, a nice dinner with family and friends, a new kitchen, a new front yard–things that aren’t necessary for my family–but would be nice!

When I was younger I saw a PSA that was kind of cool. They took all of the high priced items (homes, cars, computers) and brought them down to cost the same amount as our everyday items. And they took our everyday items and brought them up to cost what the high priced items used to. For a kid in high school–we were all drooling! I want this car–I want this house–I want…….! But then they started showing the other things–the “boring” things that we wouldn’t think of buying anyway! A gallon of milk was $10,000, A gallon of gas for our new cheap Ferrari was $5,000. Suddenly–it sunk in! The things that we need, are priced where we can afford them–and the things we can’t afford–we can live without! It really as a good message! But it would still be nice to have just a little bit extra–to do some of the fun things other’s get to do!!

My Own Seven Degrees!!

They say that every star in Hollywood is a maximum of 7 steps away from Kevin Bacon. Every star I’ve tried it on is true–so I thought about me! I’m related to a very famous person–not by name–but I guarantee you’ve all heard his voice. He’s Ken Sansom–and he is the voice of Rabbit on Winnie The Pooh. He’s also been in The Sting with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. He’s the banker who gets kicked out of his office so that it can be painted. So here is my 7 degrees to Kevin Bacon!!

My Dad’s cousin is Ken Sansom, Ken Sansom was in The Sting with Robert Redford, Robert Redford was in Indecent Proposal with Demi Moore and Demi Moore was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon.
So as it turns out–we are only 4 Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon! Not to shabby—But let’s see about me personally! I was in a movie when I was in the 6th Grade–so lets see if we can do it with me!! The movie was called The Returning, and it was filmed in Salt Lake City in 1983. I was in the 6th Grade, and they used our classroom for the movie. I sat behind the little boy “starring” in the movie. Ruth Warrick from All My Children was in it, as well as Gabriel Walsh and Susan Strasberg. Here is the storyline synopsis of the movie:

Two different men are possessed by spirits of Native Americans after they separately wander into a sacred burial ground. When John (Gabriel Walsh) and Sybil (Susan Strasberg) come home with their son after a trip to the Mojave Desert, they bring an unusual stone back as a memento of the trip. The stone seems to cause strange noises and other horrible inexplicable phenomena.

Sounds like a Brady Bunch episode from Hawaii!! Anyway–I was paid $10 for my amazing acting ability–and we had a pizza party in the cafeteria after the filming of our scenes was over!!

So–Let’s see:

I was in The Returning with Victor Arnold, Victor Arnold was in All The Right Moves with Tom Cruise, and Tom Cruise was in A Few Good Men With Kevin Bacon!!

So me personally, I am only 3 degrees separated from Kevin Bacon!!

Ok—anyone else want to play? Leave me a comment with your degrees!! Can you beat me??