Scout Freeze Out 2010

Thanks to our incredible scout leaders for a great trip to the mountains in VA. Nicolas had a blast...a cold blast! His toes are still thawing. The boys forgot their tent poles, but somehow managed to survive!

Let It Snow!

It's 10 degrees and cold outside!! Wish Melissa were here with us to enjoy the sledding. Katie made me go outside this morning at 8am. We had more fun than I expected. She's a daring little girl. She took off down a steep hill - without any fear....first time on a sled. Go Katie!!!

Go Cory!!

Cory is in the House!! He had a great semester at Eckerd and will now be enrolling at Sanderson High School. Cory stayed on A/B honor roll all semester. We're so proud of him for all of his hard work and dedication. With basketball season in full swing, he's a happy young man. Our Friday nights involve church bb....love it! Wish we had bleachers in the cultural hall!!

Bucket List

I have given alot of thought for what I want to do in the next few years. First thing.....get healthy, fix the anemia, lose some weight, and go on an adventure with the family. I want to share some photos of one of my most favorite places on earth. It's in the El Dorado forest of California. I had the opportunity, twice, to backpack in the High Sierra. One experience was in the middle of the Summer. The wildflowers were amazing...vast carpets of color. I remember hiking to the top of a mountain (see the photo). Along the way I came across a a huge California King Snake digesting a small deer - if it wasn't so disgusting, it would have been amazing to watch. Quickly running past the snake, I hurried along the trail and arrived at the mountain top in record time. Never before had I see something so spectacular....surrounding the lake were four different lakes - all a different color of blue. I could have sat there all day to take in the sight, the smell of the air, and the feel of being in another world. The next time I visited the forest, it was snowing. It was Springtime and I wasn't prepared for snow. My little tent was not much of a match against the elements. I've never been so cold in my life. I was afraid to eat or drink anything....no porta potties near by. However, it was the most beautiful experience to climb up the same mountain and see the same vista in the snow. I want to go back; so here is the number 1 place to return to on my Bucket list.

Owwwww!

I'm so not happy....Tabb secretly scheduled me for a dentist appointment...yes...it's true...I REALLY don't like to go. My last visit was early 2008. I won't go into the gory details, but it was everything I thought it would be and more. Now I can't talk (that happens when they shoot your mouth full of anesthesia), my gums hurt, I'm drooling, and I'm hopin' mad at Tabb for making the appt. I do have a plan for how I'm going to feel better....Tabb has been avoiding making an appointment for a colonoscopy...he he he!! I'm looking up the phone number now!

Happy New Year!! Always a time for reflection at the first of the year; so here goes:

Resolution #1:
More Family time - I mean meaningful Family Time. Our Family Home Evenings will be better planned versus the random stuff we throw together. Randomness can be fun, but I want the kids to remember FHE as a priority.

#2:
Family Fitness: Yes...I really mean it this time. The kids all got bikes (with helmets)....now Mom and Dad need to find a bike and get moving. We've already begun our fitness routine at the Y but more is needed!

#3
Asthma Education: The entire family needs to get on board with what to do for Melissa. Her fear that she'll stop breathing is gaining momentum in her mind. I think if the entire family is educated, we'll be able to gather around her and provide the security she needs. Currently she believes that Mom is the only one who can help her. Don't get me going about her taking 4 adult strength Tylenol without my knowledge...she thought it would help her feel better. Or the time she took "who knows how many puffs" of albuterol before I stopped her. Yes...locking the medicines would be good, but I think education is better. She's got to be able to stop an attack before it hits. I'm not always at her side.

#4
Visiting Teaching
Did you hear me sigh??? I love it, but I'm just rotten at it. My heart wants to do better, but my schedule is like weights around my legs. Yes...I know...it's all about priorities. My priorities are in such a delicate balance that one push in any direction collapses the whole structure. But...I will do better...promise!

#5
Temple Attendance
The blessings of the temple are only 25 minutes away.....still hard to believe!

#6
School: Finally have a plan: I've slowed the train down. I'm taking 2 easy peasy classes this semester. Then this summer - math and communications. Fall - the dreaded statistics class. May 2011 - complete the BSN requirements. Then ...hmmmmm......Master's in Nursing Infomatics possibly. During this year, I'll finish my work on the system-wide Staff Nurse Council and possibly work on a national public health initiative concerning discharge education of NICU parents. There's an opportunity through UNC Chapel Hill to collaborate with national leaders to further this initiative. Sounds fun and most importantly, an amazing opportunity to help parents.

#7
Somehow arrange a reunion for my side of the family...airfare for our crew will be an issue, but a little planning and saving might help.


Love you all!!!

Tater Tots

It's been 20 years since my last Tater Tot Casserole - sounds like a confession, doesn't it!! We're trying the Duggar family recipe tonight along with steamed carrots, and vanilla cake with chocolate ice cream. This is Katie's night to pick the menu.

Here's the recipe:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can evaporated milk
1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1/2 cup sauteed onions (I added this to the recipe)
Tater Tots

Ground the beef, place on bottom of 9 x 13 pan, add sauteed onions, place tater tots over ground beef. Mix soup and milk, pour over top. Bake at 350 for 1 hour!

Enjoy...I hope!