A gift for a party

I figured out why parents tend to take their kids shopping for a friend's birthday gift on the way to the birthday party.  I used to wonder about that one.  I could never image myself doing that because I am pretty much a Type A, Anal Retentive person.  There is no way I could run by the seat of my pants and get gifts at the last minute.

Well, it turns out that little kids can't keep secrets.  It doesn't matter how many times you explain it.  Nor does it matter how many times the little one swears he/she will keep it a secret.  The next time they see the friend in question, they will spill the beans on the gift in 3.2 seconds. 

It looks like we will join the masses and become last minute shoppers too.

Now if only I could figure out how to get her to pick out a gift that the friend likes, and not something that she wants for herself.  Her little friend loves Tinkerbell...is obsessed with Tinkerbell in fact.  Morgan feels pretty much the same about Princess Belle.  I bet you can't guess what gift we purchased....

A Princess Belle doll.

Christmas...already?

Wow, it feels like Christmas is early this year!

I guess I am just not all that ready for it yet.  Well I have almost all my shopping done, but it still seems like its sneaking up on us way too early! 

We haven't really had a fall yet, it seems like we skipped over.  Somehow we went straight from summer to Christmas!  If we lived in Florida that might not seem all that odd...but we are in Colorado!

It was in the 70s up until a week ago.  Now its in the 40s...

...and there is 24 hour Christmas music playing on the radio!  Seriously...on a local radio station!

Oh, and my daughter sat on Santa's lap today!

Basic Training

In honor of Veteran's Day...

I decided to pull out my basic training photo and post it on Facebook.

Wanna see it?

 

Thats me...16 years ago!

 

Apparently it looks exactly like my daughter too. 

 

Most people commented that it looks like an age progression of her!

 

Its hard to believe that was taken 16 years ago.  In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago, yet I remember the exact moments leading up to the picture being taken as if it was yesterday!  Its burned in my head!

 

The picture is deceiving.  It appears that I was calm and relaxed.  It appears that I had all kinds of time to get ready before the snapping started.  You can see a few wispy hairs along my collar but otherwise I look pretty decent. 

 

The truth is...I was always scared out of my mind in basic.  I was constantly wondering why I was there, and if life would ever be normal again!  Heck we were so busy constantly I don't even think I had time to think!

 

The reality is, I had my BDU pants on (fatigues)...I just had the blues uniform on my top.  I think I even had a brown t-shirt on under that top!  We didn't get makeup the entire six weeks we were there...yet our TI (Training Instructor) allowed us to break in to our locked up items just once so that our pictures looked halfway decent.  We put on that makeup so fast, with him yelling the whole time!!  It was the middle of September in Texas (HOT) and we didn't have the luxury of relaxing baths and prep time!  Trust me, it sucked!

 

Even still, I am so proud I did it!  I am so proud to have honorably served my country.

 

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served and our serving!

Dubya's Book

A new book was released today.

You might not have heard about it.

Well maybe if you live under a rock!

For some reason I am intriqued by it.  Yes me, Ms. Liberal.  The same person that devoted countless hours to Obama's campaign.  The same person who served within the local caucus of the Democratic party. 

I may have voted for Obama...but I can be entertained by the Republicans too.  

My husband finds it odd that I would purchase this book.

Maybe it is...but so far I am really enjoying it. 

True, I don't consider him the greatest president in history.  His book is pretty good though!  

Whats For Dinner?

French Onion Soup
(I found a bland recipe and made it my own!)

Ingredients:
2 onions, thinly sliced
1/4 c. butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
32 oz beef broth
1/4 c. white wine
2 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp herbs de province
French bread, toasted
Swiss cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F(220 degrees C).  Separate sliced onion into single rings.  In a medium sauce pan saute onions in butter until soft, approximately 20 minutes.  Stir in flour and gradually add broth, wine, worchestershire sauce, parsley and herbs.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, toast French bread slices.  Place toasted bread into soup bowls.  Pour soup mixture over bread and top with swiss cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted.

Fun

And then the very next day we went to Morgan's favorite place on Earth!

Peaceful

I got to spend today at my favorite place on earth....