Iced In!!!

Well this is starting to get intresting. The boys and I have been stuck in the house for a couple of days now. Besides my house being totally thrashed, they are completely stir crazy. We have watched every movie in the house, have sang till my throat is raw, and have built at least 3 forts! I made homemade chicken chili last night and if I do say so myself it was awsome. I sprinkled a bit of cheese on the top, and sliced up and alvacado to top it all off....yummy! I have spent time cleaning,organizing pictures,baking cookies, and not going anywhere. Which is a little sad since Curt's Birthday is tomorrow and I have no gift!!!! I wish to point out here that I'm not a procrastinator, I just smiply cannot control both boys in a store by myself! Therefore it got put on the backburner. Well that and Curt is so difficult to buy for! I know you parents know where I'm coming from. I am getting excited out parents night out on saturday!! We haven't been out without the boys in 7 weeks now. It's starting to wear on me. I need some time away every now and again. I would like to thank all of you who prayedfor jack during his most recent surgery. It didn't phase him at all,not even the tylenol with codiene!!! Since i haven't been posted anything special since Christmas I will leave you with a couple of pics from then. I will try and be better this year about posting more regularly.

A gift from Christina!

heres my meme!

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog

2. slept under the stars

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

7. been to disneyland/world

8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris

13. watched a lightning storm at sea

14. taught yourself an art from scratch

15. adopted a child

16. had food poisoning

17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty

18. grown your own vegetables

19. seen the mona lisa in france

20. slept on an overnight train

21. had a pillow fight

22. hitch hiked

23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon

28. ridden a gondola in venice

29. seen a total eclipse

30. watched a sunrise or sunset

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo's david in person

41. sung karaoke.

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight

46. been transported in an ambulance

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistene chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris

51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. kissed in the rain

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theatre

55. been in a movie

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies.

62. gone whale watching

63. gotten flowers for no reason

64. donated blood

65. gone sky diving

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a cheque

68. flown in a helicopter

69. saved a favorite childhood toy

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar

72. pieced a quilt

73. stood in times square

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job -

76. seen the changing of the guard in london

77. broken a bone

78. been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture in the newspaper

85. read the entire bible

86. visited the white house - but only the outside

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. had chickenpox

89. saved someone’s life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one

94. had a baby

95. seen the alamo in person.

96. swum in the great salt lake.

97. been involved in a law suit

98. owned a cell phone

99. been stung by a bee

A Fellow Blogger....

Kristin, who is the brains and talent behind Reclaiming the Home, has moved her new blog... Go check out the new blog site at Reclaiming the Home Blog and leave her a comment. She has a give-a-way going until Sunday night to win either a piece of her own handmade jewelry or 2 gift cards to Starbucks at $5 each! Check her out. It's a great blog!

The spirit

I just love those people who have no reservations about decorating thier house for Christmas. I always want mine to match and have some kind of theme. Not everyone is like that. Some just link whatever lights they have, from whatever year they were popular, and call it decorated. I LOVE these houses even though I could never do this to mine. I don't want to be known as the crazy Christmas light lady on our block. I'm already known for making my husband do crazy things to get my light up each year. That's enough of a label for me! As Curt and I were driving the other night We passed this house. It was amazing. Every inch was decorated. Music was playing. I just had to snap a few for your pleasure.

Overdrive!

December is flying by as fast as November did! Christmas is approching in just days and I am still in panic mode! When does the craziness end? Curt and I have been doing some work on the house, I love changing things up abit. Curt probably despises it! We painted the living room,bathroom, and living room floor! I made Curt stand on a 28 ft ladder, in the bed of his truck to put my christmas lights up,because the ladder was too short. I have to say though our lights look great! He came close to falling a couple of times. On the flip side ALL of us caught some god awful virus. I got the short end of the straw this time, and got it worse them all the boys put together. It was amazing I survived!!! I dehydrated myself so much that I had a headache, and crazy leg cramps! Curt was very good to me while I was sick. Wil went to see his specialist todayand she was amazing. She had so much helpful information, It was amazing. We'll see her again in a few months. he boys will be visting the SIGNING SANTA tomorrow. I'll be sure to post a pic! Until then Happy Holidays to you and yours!

And the list goes on!!!

So do you ever feel like the Christmas list is just sometimes OUT OF CONTROL!!! My list just keeps growing. We might have to start cutting back on Christmas! Isn't that so sad!! I have a budget I have to stick to, That's why i start buying in January! I mean who can you actually get away with leaving off the list? I mean i may be the only one, but i don't buy for the people like my hairdresser, the mailman,or everysingle neighbor on the block. I do however buy for close neighbors,therapist,teachers,close friends,and family. It's not so bad with my fam, but Curt's fam is huge, who do you leave out. You can't buy for one cousin, and not the others. I may have to turn into a baker for a few days and make some homemade goodies! Breads,candies,cookies,pies,cakes,brownies,or maybe even some of my grandmas old stand-bys! That might be good for a bunch of people on my list!! Man I am a Genius! On another note.....I cannot wait for Thanksgiving. My dad makes the best pies!Apple,pumpkin,cherry,pecan.WOW! My mom's braised turkey breast is the ultimate, and my sweet tater mash....well it rocks!! I do feel this year though I need to do more than just my normal family things. Maybe I'll try to sign up for mobile meals that morning, or volunteer to work at the food pantry, or better yet cook for someone I don't even know!! I am so gonna do something! I'll figure it out! I am working on my operation Christmas boxes, and will be donating a couple of Toys to the box at church for foster children! I just think that God is calling me to do a bit more this season than I normally do. Maybe I can get my family in on some of the action. We'll see a 3 and 5 year old may hinder rather than help. I will be cleaning out the boys toys as I always do in May and December, and donating things they do play with anymore. To make way for the new ones! This season is going to be different this year in the Tanksley house. That's my goal, less greed,less spoiling, and more sharing. That my leave one or two of my kids in a tiff, but Eventually they'll learn. I have always been a giver not a reciever! That's one part of me I want my kids to be more like. I think next year I am going to get a bit more creative on this gift situation.....What do you think? Please go vote on my kid holiday poll.

MAKE THE WORLD STOP,I WANT OFF!!!

Things tend to get so crazy around the holiday. I think my weekends are booked clear through the New Year. Thursday will be our last sign class until January, so that helps a bit. There are still gifts to be bought, wrapped and labeled. I have the crazy holiday feasts with the families. The wonderful daddy/daughter annual movie day(Ally,dad,and I have been going since forever!),parents night,tons of christmas parties(including one of our own),I'll be hosting a jewlery party,Austin's wrestling, and the list never ends!!! Have you ever just wanted to stop the earth from spinning and get off the ride. It's like that ever so famous tilt-a-whirl. With all the loud crazy music and all! I am here to say that as families grow it gets more and more intresting! We do however get some of the best pics, and memories from these times. There are a few positives to all this madness. I love watching people open the gifts I have bought them.... I love finding the perfect item for the perfect person....I love that it gets dark early to fool the kids into going to bed early!!! There's so much to be thankful for that even that is a whirlwind! Well as the Tanksley household madness increases, I ask for God's little sanity pill, to help me sleep at night. You know he's got one!!! In closing here's a Pic from last years christmas morning...PJ's and all!

What's next?

The boys looked great for Halloween! Mario and Luigi were a big hit at UCO. We went trick or treating twice! Once with the preschool around the buildings at UCO, and then Halloween night with Emily and her kiddos. We have the equivalent to one ton of candy in our household right now! Our family also attended the annual CODHI spaghetti dinner and carnival. The kids had a blast, playing games, seeing the clowns, and getting spaghetti all over them. Our family had a bit of a scare this week as well, my g-pa ended up in the Hospital. They thought he had a heart attack, but it was just a bad round of bronchitis, mixed with taking sudafed. NEVER take sudafed, it is extremely dangerous! He was in good spirits about the whole thing. His responds was "that's the most expensive cold I've ever had!" HAHA! Funny guy! Now that Halloween is over Thanksgiving is fast approaching. It's amazing how fast this year has gone. I do feel the need to inform you that today is the day to vote!!! So everyone get your rears to the polls! It's going to be an interesting election. On a better note for those of you who just gotta know.....Curt and I have been dating for 13 years last Saturday November 1st!!! WOW. We will be married 8 in May. Aren't you all amazed!