Finding Krissi

For Christmas 2005 the kids and I bought Brent a Nutcracker. Brent is a Nutcracker fan so whenever we come across a Nutcracker that reminds us of him we get it for him for Christmas. Well this Nutcracker is pretty cool it is a Santa Nutcracker working at his work bench. When we bought it the box said that the Nutcracker was also a music box. Well Christmas morning came and went and the Nutcracker was put away with the Christmas decorations. The next year 2006 I opened the box with the Nutcrackers in it and smiled as I pulled the Nutcracker out. I wound up the Nutcracker in order to listen to its Christmas song. But nothing happened. I wound it some more, I shook, and jiggled and did everything I could to make it play. Soon I gave up in frustration. Maybe I was wrong maybe it didn't have a music box. Maybe I read the box wrong. Well again Christmas came and went and the Nutcracker was put away. And again the following year I pulled the Nutcracker out. I wound, twisted and jiggled an...

What a hoot I found Santa's Blog. Check it out! Santa's Blog (Find More Santa Clipart Here)

We had a fun, good food, good company filled Thanksgiving. There was so much food and between Brent, Sharonda, Zaron and I we did a pretty of putting together a pretty excellent meal. The turkey was moist, the rolls were soft, the potatoes were yummy, the dressing was scrumptious. And the pies.... the pies.... the pies.... were yummy and plenty. Unfortunatley, there is absolutly no reason for me to post any pictures of Sharonda or Amy or Stacy. Oh well I will have those pictures for later dates.:) So here it is my counter reset and ready to take on the month of December. Oh boy!

Now that I am sitting here smelling the Turkey roast away. Watching the potatoes boil away. Waiting to put the dressing in the oven. I'm thinking that I might eat a thing or two more then pie. Maybe. Okay, defiantly . Smells Way Yummy Here! Hope you are having a happy TURKEY Day! Can't wait to hear all about your yummy day. Also, I want to hear about those awesome deals after you hit the sales tomorrow. I've been snapping away pics of Brent cooking his little heart out. Can't wait to share. HAPPY OF THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.

Well in a little less then 24 hours I am going to have to reset this counter.  I can hardly believe that it says 30 days.  I have to tell you I never thought I would make it this many days I really thought I would have to reset it at some point in time. It has been a huge motivation for me knowing that you guys are watching the counter.  Also, knowing that even if you didn't catch me in the time allowed you would see that I punked.  That I didn't have the self control, not to eat sugar. Every time I would think of eating a goodie, I would think about reseting the clock.  I would wonder who was online, I would wonder if I would get caught, I would wonder who would catch me.  By the time I got through thinking about all of that I would decide the treat wasn't worth it. Another motivation has been my kids, who have said, "Mom you don't have to reset the counter no one would know."  I wanted them to see that  I could be honest and not do something I shouldn't ...

The weather here in Utah has been very un-Christmas like.  While I would love snow to grace us through out the holiday season and then dissapper January 2nd. I have enjoyed that winter has yet to knock me on my but. I think all of my years in California may have ruined me for Utah winters.  Anyway, enjoying the last little bit of fall, before winter makes a full on debut, H., my camera and I all took a little walk. The valley continues to be snow free but the mountain tops are already dressed in white.   I'm just glad that this view is far away. I read this little article about tilting your camera while taking face shots. What do you think? I think he is dang cute. I think I might even keep this one.

We are closing in on the big day. Just 72 more hours. Are you excited? I am way excited probably the most excited I have been about Thanksgiving in YEARS. That is almost sad, right? Last week all of you Black Friday shoppers got me thinking about all the great sales. So I have decided to dip my big toe into the whole getting up way to early to shop mess. I haven't quite figured out my strategy but right now I think it includes. Sports Authority and Old Navy. I'm still working out the strategy which I can't share online because my kids read my blog and I wouldn't want to give anything away. Anyway, I am headed out the door today to buy a ginger bread house kit. Every year after Thanksgiving we sit down as a family and make a ginger bread house. I usually by the kit, I tried one time to make the ginger bread myself, well lets just say what happened is a really long story that involves a dog that can reach the counter tops. Did you know that dogs love ginger? It i...

Well it was an interesting movie night.  Brent and I spent a few hours trying to figure out the last movie we went to together without the kids. We came up blank.  As you may have guessed we are not big movie people.  However, going to a movie on opening day, of a highly popular, best selling book was an interesting movie experience. One that we are sure to remember next time we are trying to figure it out. My friend wanted us to get to the movie theater about 20 minutes early.  We didn't really think to much about that.  Seemed just about right.  We thought the lines wouldn't be to bad because the movie was playing four times an hour.  Meaning that every half hour the movie had been playing since 9:00 yesterday morning.  When we got to the movie theater the first problem with that thinking became apparent.  There was no parking. No parking in the theater parking, no parking on the street surrounding the theater, no parking in the parking lot across the street.  After finding a...

So it took less then 24 hours but I have given into peer pressure. A friend called earlier to ask if S. could watch her kids while her husband and her went to see Twilight. I laughed at her (because no way I was going to go join the masses) and said Sam was available. A couple hours ago she called back to say that she had bought the tickets for herself and her in-laws but they were not going to be able to make it and she asked if Brent and I wanted to go. Who ME? No way, well okay, you twisted my arm, I will go if Brent goes (No Way he is going to go). What? You will? Guess I'm going to go see Twilight. Hey who knows if Brent is lucky the movie will be good enough for him to get lucky. Get your mind out of the gutter I meant lucky enough to play scrabble. :) My in-laws read this blog ;)

I feel that my blog has looked a little sad as of late.  Mostly because the last several  post have been only "words."  My picture taking has dropped so low that this morning when I logged on to my computer, the computer, sent me an IM asking for pictures. Okay that didn't really happen. But it sounded like a good excuse to take some pictures.  So here is my fall update. The tree leaves have all changed colors And are now almost all fallen. A. has been in quite a bit of trouble as of late. Which means his life has looked a lot like this for the last couple of weeks. Before you feel to bad for him, This one thinks raking leaves is fun and is always helping him out.  However, while helping he likes to remind A. that he doesn't have to help, he is just doing it to be nice, because he is nice and A. is in trouble. Awesome! While the boys raked leaves I sent Brent up to the roof to put up Christmas lights. He LOVES that job. While  up there a neighbor came out and told Bre...

As it turns out I have scared my poor, innocent, sweet, never did anything to me Sis-N-Law. While talking to her last night about Thanksgiving, I mentioned to her the counter full of pies and the...um.... attempted blackmail. (Such a nasty word) Her opinion was the scary cat lady comment seemed to express her opinion. GEEEEE A girl ask for a pie or two (or three or 10) and everyone gets all weird. Well I'm back to behaving myself so I have agreed to provide a pie or two to the ten. :) Isn't math fun? So here is what I am suppose to bring, a chocolate cream pie, a boysenberry pie, and a cheese cake. (the cheesecake totally being my own idea) However, I want a very specific cheese cake. I want a Hometown Buffet Cheesecake. Have you ever had Hometown Buffet Cheesecake? They are so yummy they are fluffy and light and ummmmm getting hungry here. See this is what the whole blackmail thing was suppose to avoid. Well since you all wont let me "blackmail" the least you c...

One of my great passions in life is reading.  I love books, I love opening them, and diving into a story that takes me anywhere and anytime in the world. I love the imagination that reading requires from you.  I love being taken away and watching someones life unfold before my eyes.  I was at one of those, get to know you activities, and the question was asked, "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"  My answer was, "It would depend on the book I was reading, I always want to go there."  I think a small part of me believes that I will meet the people in the book. That I could become part of some amazing story. My favorite genre of book has always been, Young Adult. However, I force myself often to venture into the unknown and find new authors and new genres. Through out the years I have read many classics, for one reason or another, I think that it will make me smarter.  It hasn't yet but maybe someday it will.  I enjoy a good romance and mo...

I just finished my first ever 20 mile bike ride.  I have to say it totally sucked eggs after 10 miles until about 18. Then after that I started to realize that I only had 2 miles to go.  I told myself I could go 2 miles anybody can go 2 miles. It was hard and I had moments of doubts that I will be able to make it to 100 miles.  However, I made it to 20 so I just have to keep going.  Not that I don't think it will be hard and not that I don't think I will have MANY more moments of doubt but all I have to do is keep going. The whole concept of enduring to the end has been on my mind over the past few days.  Not just in regards to a 100 mile bike ride but in regards to everything.  I am committed to this bike ride because I think it will help me to understand and apply this principle to my life more completely.  I know that life is always going to have its ups and downs.  Hard times, good times, blessings and curses. However, in the end what matters the most is that we cross the f...

In just a mere 10 days it will be Thanksgiving. I don't know about you but it seems like this year has just flown. I don't think I have even gotten use to the idea that it is 2008 and soon it will be 2009. Crazy how time moves faster and faster the older we get. With Thanksgiving just around the corner the adds have started to pile up. Everywhere you look stores are warming up and preparing for, "Black Friday." I always wondered why they called it, "Black Friday," until I learned that they call it that because it is the first day of the year that most stores move from the red into the black. I still think it is weird that it is only in the last month of the year that stores make a profit. Well with "Black Friday," in mind I decided that this week I will ask the question, "Are you a Black Friday shopper?" Do you love the sales? Do you get up at 4:00 in the morning to be the first in line for the goods? What is the most killer deal yo...

The big day is less then two weeks away. Yes, in a little less then 14 days I am going to be able to eat sugar until my heart is content. Or until my stomach gives out, whichever happens first. However, as the big day approaches I have become increasingly concerned that my dear Sis-n-law does not plan, nor desire, to meet my demand for an entire counter full of pies. What if? I mean seriously, what if there is only one pie? Or even just two. How on the only day that I am allowed to partake of sugar wonder will I be able to deal with only TWO pies? Especially, if I have to "SHARE," those pies. The thought has kept me up at nights. It has consumed every moment of my free time, until I feel that I MUST do something, to ensure a counter FULL of pies. So here it is I am sorry that I had to do this but sometimes you have to take a matter into your hands. Especially when it comes to eating sugar! I have decided that the only way to ensure a counter full of pies is to "B...

As many of you have read. In the last couple of months I have given up my lifelines. My rewards, my mommy bonus, my you didn't kill them today so have a treat, my you married a big meanney, my everybody hates me guess I will just go eat sugar! In a nutshell my coping mechanism for all things. I knew how much I depended on Soda and Sugar, I just didn't realize how much of a habit they had become in my life. There are times of the day I actually find myself in a quandary as to what to do because normally I would be having my reward. So here is my first question, every diet book, health book, diet expert all of them say the same thing. If you don't replace it you will just go back to it. What per say do you replace it with? Seriously, I have spent the last 8 weeks trying to figure out how to replace all of these bad habits and I have come up blank. Empty, bare, desolate, without solution. (sorry I'm in a thesaurus kind of mood) Because seriously amigos, life is hard, ...

It has been so much fun reading through your favorite songs. I have particularly enjoyed how everyone has different favorites.   After Brent read yesterday's post he got all, "Why is there a picture of me? Where is the picture of you? I don't think you should post pictures of me without posting pictures of you." These are for you my darling cranky, 70's clad, hubby! My first Christmas My Third Christmas Me in all my 15 year old glory.  Check out the rat tail.  How cool was I! My Favorite Christmas Songs: #1 As previously stated Sarah McLachlan's album, "Wintersong," pretty much every song.  My favorite, favorite though is, "What Child is This." #2 It wouldn't be Christmas without a little Vince Guaradli Trio's, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," I'm almost positive that my Christmas tree fixation started with "Charlie Brown's Christmas." Brent's and mine first Christmas tree, we called it our Charlie Brown ...

I have a confession to make and I hope that you will still respect me, that you won't label me as, "one of those people."  That you will understand, support and maybe just maybe join me.   So here it is I have been listening to the Christmas music station.  That is right, I'm letting the world know, "Hello, my name is Krissi and I am a Christmas music junkie."  It started the day after Halloween and has just began to pick up steam.   My fave play list on my IPOD, Christmas Music, My fave programed station in the car, Christmas Music.   (image found here) What I am listening to right now, actually nothing, because Brent is in the room and he will get irritated with me. But if he wasn't believe me I would be fa la la la ing. I have no idea why but I am really excited for Christmas this year.  We have no money, Brent's job kinda sucks right now. Christmas presents are going to be on the scant and practical side this year.  However, I am really excited f...

When Stacy tagged me I thought it would be fun to test Brent's knowledge about his wife.  So last night we both sat down at the same time and answered the questions to the tag. He answered them as if he was me.  As we were reading each other the answers we were both laughing.  I was almost bawling. S. came in to see what all the laughter was about and soon she was laughing too.  It was fun to see how close some of our answers were.  I really didn't think he knew me as well as he did. Some of the answers don't show me in the best light.  It was an enlightening experience for me to see what area's I have to improve upon when it comes to my family. Here it is hope you find it even a fraction as silly as I did. 8 TV Shows I like  Krissi's Answer's Jon & Kate plus eight Say Yes to the Dress 17 kids and Counting Ace of Cakes The Game (Shows Brent Forces me to watch) Dexter Antique Road Show Old Game Shows Brent's Answer's Jon and Kate plus eight 99 kids an...

According to my no sugar counter it has been eleven days since I last enjoyed yummy, yummy, yummy sugar.   I miss it, I miss it soooooooo much.  I'm pretty sure that I am only a day or two away from having sugar filled dreams.   I have already started planning my plan of attack for my Thanksgiving no-sugar day off.  After asking the opinion of many friends (who really don't care but are kind enough to pretend to care) what I should enjoy on Thanksgiving.  My favorite answer came from my boss.   Yes, even my boss has to put up with stories of my no sugar life.   Sad, I know!  She suggested I don't go into a diabetic coma by over doing it.   Who me?  Over do it?  She must be thinking of someone else.  Don't you think?  She suggested that I take a tiny sliver of all the pies and enjoy a few delicious bites of every kind. Did you hear that Sharonda?  A tiny sliver of ALL the pies. As in many, many, many pies. Remember when Zaron said he wanted the whole counter filled with ...

So many days you hear me grumble away about the cold and snowy winters of Utah.   I beg and plead with you to embrace the summer and the blessed warmth and heat.  However, all of you California people just go on and on about it being to dang hot.  Babies! :) Well at least there is one thing that I can enjoy about the coming winter. FALL! When was the last time you raked a big pile of  leaves just so you could jump into them? Throw them above your head With your best gal pal In complete happiness and enjoyment of Fall. I guess I will put up with winter if I can have Fall. PS I didn't say he was for sell I was just wondering what you thought would happen if he was. Frankly I have already invested to many gray hairs into that boy to give up on him now. I was just curious. ; )

Do you remember a few years ago when someone tried to sell a kidney on ebay? The ebay police got all, you can't sell body parts on ebay. What do you think would happen if I tried to sell an almost 10 year old boy? Do you think I would be stopped? Could I sell as is or would I have to offer a money back guarantee? Not that I have an almost 10 year old boy to sell. I was just curious. It is a hypothetical question. It honestly has nothing to do with anything going on a real life. It is just a question. GEEESE!!!

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Howdy, I hope that you are all having a fantastic Tuesday.  We here in Utah are watching as winter knocks on the door.  The mountains are currently iced and looking ready for ski season to start.  Makes talking about swimming seem like a chili conversation.  Today I wanted to take a moment and talk about introducing your little ones to swim lessons.  At the pool I work at our wee one classes are the quickest classes to feel.  Parents are anxious to have their small ones introduced to swimming and hopefully help them overcome some fears.  I wanted to take a moment or two and talk about adjusting your parental expectations.  Does that sound harsh?  I don't mean to sound harsh but how else do I say, "Back off and let me do my job." That sounds worse, right? Adjust your parental expectations, sounds much kinder.:) So lets talk three year old. Red Cross swimming lessons do not begin until the age of three.  This is the age that Red Cross has decided your little fish is ready t...

Hi All, The following people entered my mini contest.. their names in order of post 1. Ashleeee 2. Amos 3. Race Family 4. Zaron and Sharonda 5. 4 kids and Crazy 6. Colleen 7. Larson Family And the winner is 4kidsandcrazy! Woo Hoo! Thanks guys for all the great comments and all the support.  It has been a week without sugar and I am feeling good. Head cold had me down yesterday but "Ask theSwimMom" should be up later today.  Once again Thank You.

I'm tired! No I'm exhausted! There is probably even another word but I'm to tired to figure it out. So this post is just going to be pictures.  We had a fun Halloween Night I hope you did too. These little buggers were up until almost 3am. Hence the too tired to think.  Oh well, they had fun and that is what counts.