My Thanksgiving Numbers

Do you remember the movie Erin Brockovich and the line where the guy wants to ask her out? He asks for her number and she looks at him in disbelief. With a kid on her hip she says, "How 'bout this for a number? Six. That's how old my other daughter is, eight is the age of my son, two is how many times I've been married - and divorced; sixteen is the number of dollars I have in my bank account. 850-3943. That's my phone number, and with all the numbers I gave you, I'm guessing zero is the number of times you're gonna call it." Just for the record, I googled that, I don't retain that much useless knowledge! Here are my Thanksgiving numbers:

• 12 - the approximate number of pounds of potatoes we cooked between potato skins, smashed red potatoes and sweet potatoes.
• 9 - the number of toys on my floor for my dog... and she still wants to chew the edge of my area rug!
• 6 - the number of days the kids had off from school... I was personally hoping for a snow day today so we could snuggle in.
• 5- the number of new recipes tried... nobody will be asking for my homemade biscuits anytime soon, a bit flat and dry.
• 3 - the number of burns incurred... one doozie on the hand, one smaller, and one with a curling iron on the neck - yes, looks like a hickey (Reagan & Whitney if you're reading this, I'll explain later). That's what I get for attempting to curl my hair after going straight for years.
• 2 - the number of movies at a theater we saw... Ok, I saw most of Despicable Me. Between having just eaten lunch and the lack of sleep from Black Friday, I couldn't keep my eyes open.
• 1 - the number of near fires on Thanksgiving. I smelled something pretty darn suspicious, but couldn't figure it out until I saw smoke...

That would be a potholder left on a burner I had just turned off!

Check out the coolest license plate EVER I saw in California.

IB KOOKN

Yes I was!



• Countless - the number of times we said, "Moka No! Moka sit! Moka potty! Moka no bite! Moka's toys! Moka potty OUTside!" And an equal amount of, "Moka I love you. Mokie you're so sweet. Mokie Kablokie, you're the best puppy."

So now we're back to school and life for 3 short weeks before Christmas break. I started my day heading to Target in my Dad's car and it starts smokin' in the Target parking lot. As I'm speed walking away from it, the car is leaking something and all I can think is "It's gonna blow!" I call my parents, Scott... anyone! I'm on the verge people. My Dad rescued me and took me to get a loaner car from the guy who is fixing the van. The condition was his loaner didn't have heat... a mechanic with a car that has no heat - sketchy. I looked at him and said, "I know it doesn't have heat. I'm on the verge. I'm going to lose it." He must have seen the tears welling up, he looked at me so pathetically, "I'll go get it". He then turns around and says, "Here, take my car. The heat works." So my near meltdown melted his heart and I have a loaner with heat and my van "should be" done this week.

Life keeps moving forward, I better keep up!!

Black Friday... Good Times, Good Times

A few weeks ago Reagan caught wind of the phenomenon known as Black Friday. When you're 12 this sounds fun, when you're not it doesn't. I've never known of one thing worth getting up at the crack of dawn for. Over the next couple of weeks hints kept dropping about really wanting to go. I even got an email from Scott, "So, what should we do about making Black Friday happen?" We? Hmmm... not sure what part of we includes him, but I know he meant well. Knowing I couldn't pass up this opportunity I decided to muster up the energy of a 20 something and make a go of it.

Before the day got going yesterday, Thanksgiving mind you, Reagan and I looked through the ads. I sorta hoped she would have lost interest by then... no such luck.

Reagan cut out pictures of what we wanted to look for at each store and we made a plan. Our first item was such a good one!! A Kitchen Aid for half price, talk about hitting the mother load. Wal Mart was out first stop... at 12:01 a.m. Are we nuts? Reagan took a power nap and then we headed out at 11:30 p.m. We drove past Toys R Us where people were still in line to get in... crazy! Next to that was Target with people in a tent at the door, with other wing nuts camped out waiting in line. Off to Wally World we went. Because it is a 24-hour store we had no lines.

Straight inside was the loot! Pallets piled high with the hot items - a.k.a door busters. I spotted the Kitchen Aid and made a beeline where we parked it for 20 minutes. They were all wrapped in dark plastic with notes saying, Open at 12:01 a.m. We got chatting with 2 other crazy shoppers - a girl Reagan's age and another mom. We hatched our plan to help each other out. We also decided that once they started opening things Reagan would jet over to another close by spot to grab a mini chopper for $2.97. About 10 to midnight the whirlwind started!! Someone started tearing open the plastic, so Reagan ran off. I was worried the giant man looming close by would take one of our posses 3 Kitchen Aids, so I started tearing at the plastic like a lunatic. I could hardly believe myself! But hey - a $300 appliance I've been wanting for half the price? GAME ON!!

I had mine, the other 2 had theirs, awesome! Bye, nice chatting, have fun. Then the giant man was holding his loot. He was so proud, holding it high above his head with a huge smile - almost as proud as me with my Kitchen Aid. So as Reagan is coming back I yell, "What's that?" A vacuum. "Grab one!" Hey, if it was as great as the giant man made it look, surely I'd want one. So for $23 Kris Kissel owns a Bissell. Once Reagan and I got out of that spot we were in shock! WE DID IT!! We came, we conquered, we didn't get trampled.

We decided that since we were up we might as well swing past Toys R Us again. The skate ramps Tennison wanted weren't there, so home we went. I was so wound up from my first Black Friday I couldn't fall asleep until after 1 a.m. When the alarm went off at 5:30 for round 2 I felt like my inner college girl was screaming for sleep. I got up, brushed my teeth, slapped on my glasses and off we went. We got to Target "late" so all the 4 a.m. door busters were gone. After some small purchases we went to Sprouts for our free Black Friday Survival Kit! Then to Dick's Sporting Goods (Scott is going to be so happy), JC Penney & Kohl's.

Four and a half hours later, cotton mouthed and tired like I haven't been since '98 when Reagan was born, we hit Gib's Bagels and Starbucks. We brought it home and told our tale to the gang. After some food and caffeine we have stayed awake and feel darn proud of our first Black Friday. I even used the Bissell... works awesome, the giant man is a smart dude!!

Even though we're tired this was totally worth it. When your 12 year old daughter wants to spend time with you like this, you jump at the opportunity. When she texts her friends at 5:30 a.m. proud to be doing something like this, you know you did right! What am I thankful for the day after Thanksgiving? Memories with my daughter... and the fact I could hang with her like the college girl I used to be!!

~ Making plans for Black Friday 2011 ~

Taking Time to be Thankful

We are so close to Thanksgiving, but I feel like we're rushing to Christmas instead. I was out shopping this morning and everywhere I turned it was all about Christmas. I wish we'd take it one day at a time and not focus on Christmas until we've taken time to be thankful.

One thing our family has been doing for years is Thankfulness leaves. I used to trace leaves and cut them out - 5 people x 7 days... too much. I discovered the die cut machine at the school, so this year Reagan and I went in & cut away. At dinner each night we take the time to write something on a leaf - or turkey or pumpkin - that we are thankful for.

It is so fun to see what the kids come up with. I'm always touched when they say something about their family. We've all noticed a theme... the puppy. Moka sure is something to be thankful for!!

I mentioned in an earlier post about Whitney's program...

And my favorite Indian at the first Thanksgiving. At the end they were lined up saying what they were thankful for. Most kids said their parents or teacher, Tennison said, "That God gave me bones."

We can't forget the big sister and of course Miss Moka ...

The rush of Christmas will be here before we know it, actually it is already here. Be sure to take time to be thankful!! I know these three top my list, right under Scott, for who I am most thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Still Got It

For some reason our weeks just keep flying by. Here we are and it's Friday already. In one week I've been lucky enough to go out lunch with Scott to a new place called Taste of Philly, get our car switched from a total so now they'll fix it, see Tennnison tie his shoe on his own, watch him "swallow" a tooth only to have his sister discover it in his cereal bowl (really I think it was a miracle), watch Whitney do an awesome job in a play about the holidays coming, and in a little bit I'll be heading out to see Tennison play an Indian in a class program. Speaking of Indian... When I was little we sat Indian-style. I brought this up once to my girls and they looked at me mortified like I said some rude comment about a persons race. Well, that was how we said it. Now they sit "crisscross-applesauce". What is that anyway? I still don't get it. I mean what is crisscross about applesauce, and why are we putting our spoons (arms) in the bowl (the empty spot in the middle of our Indian-style legs)? Hmmm....

Now, why have I titled this "Still Got It"? This was a highlight for my ego in this lightning fast week: I was driving along the other day and stopped at a light just past the high school. I look to my right and there are 2 high school guys smiling at me. Inside I yelled, "YEP! You've still got it." I figure if high schoolers were looking my way it put me in my late 20's. What mom wouldn't get a smidge excited about that? The harsh reality is this... I was driving my dad's Explorer, had I been in the minivan this would have never happened. I guess I'll be cool a little longer until the van is fixed. Then I'll just be that mom in the white van, still on the edge of 40.

As you may have seen I added a column on my blog about 40 New Experiences by My 40th. I'll keep adding to it and hope to fulfill this crazy idea!! Here's to a great weekend.

Potato Chips for Dessert

My Whitney has never met a chip she didn't like... at least, not that I can remember. So for her 8th birthday I decided a Chip of the Month Club (COMC) would be fun. I Googled it and would you know, it would cost me more than $300 a year for that? Being the Closet Genius that I am, I created my own. With the help of my beloved computer program Publisher I designed a gift certificate letting her know that on the 13th of each month (her birthday is June 13th) she would receive a new bag of chips. Our plan was to get a new flavor each month. We've tried flavors like Maui Onion, Jamaican Jerk and Rosemary. Brands like Archer Farms at Target have been a life saver - tons of fun new flavors for us. We've loved Kettle Brand, Pirate's Booty, Popchips and Boulder Chips. Her all time fave is Boulder Chip's Salt and Vinegar. However, a loaded Tostitos Hint of Lime can make her smile wide while she licks off the topping. 

As the CEO of the COMC I have had to be on the ball - shopping in Arizona for new chips, bringing a bag of Macaroni and Cheese flavored chips to California in case I couldn't find a store in time. We've all gotten into it, even her friends. She's marked it on her school planner and friends will say, "It's the 13th, will you get new chips?" How fun is that?

We are in year #3 - she's now 10 and still fancies a potato chip. It is getting a little trickier, but the fun of it is still there! I was reading a Real Simple magazine waiting in the school pickup line and found a recipe for Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips. Hmmm.... either she'd love it or loathe it. So Reagan and I snuck and made them yesterday afternoon. Here is the finished product!!

Here is the unveiling....

She definitely liked them!!

They were a hit!! Here is what you need to make them:

- 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted (I used Ghirardelli - it tells you how to melt it inside the
   wrapper)
- 24 (or more) ridged potato chips (I used Ruffles, you'd be amazed at how many broken
  chips you buy when you need whole chips)
- coarse sea salt

* Partially dip each potato chip in the chocolate and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with the salt. Refrigerate until firm, 20-30 minutes.

I love my chip lovin' Whitney and I love doing this for her!!

Let it snow, Let it snow.... Make it stop!

We are officially freezing our fannies off in the Fort. I was scrap booking the other night, Tennison comes running in, "Mom it's snowing". He was so excited... I was not. To a mom this means winter coats, gloves, hats, mittens, boots, endless warm weather clothes... Are the jeans floods? Do you have any long sleeve shirts that fit? I don't want my kids looking like ragamuffins, but for the love of Pete, winter catches me off guard every year. Not prepared!! When it was 70 outside on Monday, who can really be ready for 20 degrees this morning?

I was happily not home yesterday for that first snowy day before school. Scott got the job of unearthing the winter gear. Luckily I'm an organized girl, he found everything and they all stayed warm. I unhappily got day #2. Like Colorado weather, it is sunny outside and it appears to be warm. I happen to know otherwise, it was in the low 20's when we got up. So when Reagan starts heading to the car in flip flops I had a decision to make... let it go or say something. Knowing this child can't kick a cold for nothin' I said something. I knew right away it wasn't going to be pretty - she had on skinny jeans, there are few shoes they go with. So her options were to put on boots, change or... at the last second I told her she could freeze in flip flops. She decided to change. In the car I asked if she was mad, "Yes. You usually let us freeze if we want. I look gross." Okey dokey. "Have a nice day!

Next child... from there we drop off Whitney for book club. Right after she frantically finishes the end of the chapter I get, "I should have brought shoes to change into from my boots." "I told you to grab your tennies." "No you didn't." Okey dokey. "Have a nice day!!"

Next child... as we're heading out he put on his favorite hat, looks in the mirror and says, "I don't want to go to school, I'm hot!" I see the rationale. "You're hot because it is 68 degrees in here and it is 20 outside, you'll be great out there." I won't bore you with more details... but he left the car telling me I was the meanest mom for making him put on his coat. He didn't get a, "have a nice day".

I earned a badge today - The Meanest Mom. I'll take it if it means they're warm and healthy.

There is one Kissel who loves the snow and can't get enough... that would be Moka. She jumps in the snow, makes some fly, chases that, and does it all again. She's the lucky one who doesn't even have to wear a coat!!

Just another manic Monday!

Do you remember the group The Bangles from the '80's? Here's a hint: "Walk Like an Egyptian"... does that ring a bell? They had another catchy song, "Manic Monday". The lyrics say, "Just another manic Monday, wish it were Sunday, that's my fun day". That is at least what my memory has stored up. Nonetheless, I'm with her! That Susanna Hoff was so adorable, bet she still is... and I bet she still wishes for the weekends.

Yesterday was my manic Monday! It started like most Mondays. I typically start by going to the gym around 6:15 for some quick cardio, then to the grocery store so I don't have to take kids, and home to unload the car and then shower. As I was putting on my tennies, Moka (our new puppy) came and sat real close to me. I smelled something funny and Scott informed me that she was doing the boot-scootin' boogie the night before leaving poop on the carpet and hardwood floor. So I decided to grab the scissors and snip off that extra poop... lovely way to start your day. I was late to the gym and then hustled off to the grocery store. I came flying in and headed off to the school to volunteer, hair mostly dry! My time at the school went great and then I called Scott... that is when the manic part really set in. I was in a hit-and-run accident almost 3 weeks ago, and my car has been in the shop ever since. Scott got a call from the insurance company saying they decided to total my car. Como say what? Amazing how that happens. Then we find the puppy ate through an electronic device borrowed from a friend... When it rains it pours.

You know, about 5 years or so ago we took a class called Financial Peace University. It has been the most annoying and best thing ever. Everything paid in cash, no credit cards. We just got back from our big California vacation (awesome), bought a puppy (what a joy), came home to a breaking (now dead) garage door opener, and now this!! Scott says, "Well, we haven't had to touch our emergency account yet!" Then as he's mumbling around, "Since I'm so rich why don't we hire a chef too?" That is Scott's version of sarcasm, but what I know he really meant was - I'm so glad God is taking care of us, but cut me a break please. He's done a great job providing and I'm grateful that we can freak out together on our manic Mondays.

So after picking up free sandwiches from Sprouts and a Mountain Dew, we sat on the patio and enjoyed dining al fresco on a 70 degree day in November. Isn't Colorado the best? I don't think we've spoken of the car in the last 24 hours, feels good to ignore it for a while - even if ignoring it won't make it go away. And the magic of electrical tape and an understanding friend are a relief.

Here is to the car search... or a miracle.