Enjoying birthday chocolate fondue

Birthday dinner at his favorite buffet place.

He was so excited to get a new hoodie.

birthday boarding lesson

He looks so big!

Do they look comfy or what?  We like to read in this house!

look at those pretty braces!

Old Alley Cat

Tea party with Amy (the doll)

silly kids

in which Harley likes to think he is a lap dog-all 40 pounds of him.

Cinnamon twists

silly Since I like lists, I'll just keep to one about what we are doing lately around here (in no specific order).  Note: I cannot get the pics to go in any sort of order with the list, so here you go:

1.  Recovering from a frantic month that included the collision of two big deadlines and a funeral.  That was the hard part.  The great part was seeing family I haven't seen for so long and reverting back to our child-like ways of discussing poop, eating lots of candy and laughing.  So much laughing.  I've decided since I've attended 4 funerals in the last 3 years I shall take the next year or two off.  Noboby gets to die.  Mmmkay?
2. Trying to keep up my momentum on the lovely quilt I decided to make for my Hannah.  Just a mere 391 squares for someone that is not a sewer.  I did have the delight of using my Grandma's Bernina sewing machine from 1979.  Those Swedish sure know how to make something that lasts.  It's like brand new.  It brings back such wonderful memories of sitting beside my Grandma as she sewed us clothes, pajamas, Barbie clothes, doll clothes.  She was a very gifted seamstress.
3. Celebrated Taylor turning 13!!!! I have a teenager in the house and he's beginning to smell and eat like one.  What a handsome, funny, smart, witty guy he is.  He has matured so much in the last 6 months and it's such a delight to see.  He is such an easy kid, we had a quiet dinner at home with chocolate fondue and a dinner out with the whole family at his choice of restaurants: a buffet.  Gross me out. For his gift from Grandma and grandpa Case, he got to try out a snowboarding lesson at Bogus Basin near Boise and really loved it.  He keeps asking when we can go up again.  
4. Adjusting to Mike's school schedule.  It could be a long 3 years but I'm so proud of him for going for his goal of getting his degree!  We might need a family vacation after this!
5. Hannah got braces!  They are so cute but make her look much older.  Sigh.  If Taylor ever loses all his molars, he's the next on the ortho list with braces installed this summer.
6. Got the most amazing news that I get to be an Aunt again!!! I am beyond excited to hold that little baby and love on him/her (I really don't like saying it).  But since he/she has a ways to go in utero and will be born in another country, I'll just have to be patient and keep my baby fever to myself for awhile.  So happy for my brother and his girlfriend.  What a fun time they have ahead of them!  Parenthood has a way of rocking your world completely.
7. We upgraded the TV in our bedroom. After having to switch cables back and forth when watching a movie and not having the volume button really work-we got a new one with part of Mike's yearly bonus.  It does feel frivilous to have such a big TV in our room, but I'm not complaining one little bit.
8. Upgraded to the iphone 5.  Our contract was up for renewal so I figured it was a good time.  I now have Siri to help me with my entire life, such as ask where the closest sandwich place is, ask how much a chicken leg ways and how to spell words.  The kids put her to good use with all kinds of burning questions like that.  We are so easily entertained.  
9. I got a new Kitchen Aid mixer the other day via an amazing deal through my uncle.  It is so pretty.  I can't believe how excited I can get about a kitchen appliance that's candy apple red.  But when you cook and bake as much as I do, it's a needed and appreciated item.

Here are even more pics in no order!  Happy March!!

My cousins and spouses singing at my Uncle's memorial.  It was so beautiful.

Working on the quilt for Hannah.

I love this bunch!!

candy apple red!

 It's so easy to combine these two since Hannah's birthday is just 3 short weeks after Christmas, sneaks up on me every.single.year.
So let's start with Christmas, it was fun, too short and wonderful.  I stuck to my self promise and relaxed and didn't do much, or as least as you can at Christmas. I didn't stress too much when our huge prime rib dinner on Christmas Eve fell flat because of a defunct meat thermometer and I didn't overdo the gift giving.  But here's my little secret: I totally missed doing homemade gifts and baked items.  So there.  I'm already planning next years!  We went shopping the day after Christmas and I finally got a nativity set that I've been looking for.  Yay for sales.
Then the sickness came.  Last fall I had to take Hannah in for a check-up and the doctor said she could get a flu shot. Said they had already seen influenza.  I shrugged it off and said politely, "No thank you".   My kids have never had a flu shot, we were good.  Fast forward to the week after Christmas.  Hannah got sick.  I mean really sick.  103 fever, no energy, headache, no appetite, throwing up. One morning we heard her thudding down the stairs and we ran to her as fast as we could.  Luckily she wasn't hurt but she was so dehydrated she had passed out.  I took her to the doctor, who took one look at her and said "Influenza".  She prescribed Tamiflu for Taylor so his wasn't nearly as bad, but my poor girl was down for a whole week.  And she is really tough, so for her to be down, in bed, laying around not eating is not good.  Mike and I got flu shots and never got sick.  I feel just a bit guilty saying that.  Hannah said next fall, she is getting the vaccination.
Then it got cold, snowed, we didn't get a snow day like everyone else and Hannah's birthday came.  Her requests this year were long, but I didn't care, a girl only turns a decade old once in her life.  So she is getting a family party, a friend party, and lots of hugging in between.

Hannah got her American Doll and it didn't leave her side for a week.

Stocking fun

Taylor got a bow and arrow and loves it!

The whole group on the day after Christmas

that cake took A LOT of frosting!

Taylor played Hannah Happy Birthday on his sax before she blew out the candles on her cake.  Absolutely awesome.

I sure love this girl!!

I'm trying to publish this off the blogger app on my iPhone and its my third try. It doesn't let me put pics where I want so I'm hitting the publish button once again!

On the second week til Christmas...I have some things I love.

1. This handsome boy who played in the cold Christmas parade and a Christmas concert. Nothing like holiday music to get you in the spirit!

2. Speaking of Christmas music, my very favorites right now are Dave Matthews band Christmas song and faith hills o holy night.

3. I found this beautiful dress at a kids consignment store and the shrug shopping the next day. Hannah loves
it and she looks so pretty.

4. This is the best nail polish ever. I got a bottle of festive hi-ho silver and after 3 days not one chip! I'm going to have to get some more colors.

5. Made butter cookies for us the other night. One of my most favorite holiday cookie. It goes by many names: Mexican wedding cookie, kiflin, snowballs. Just butter with some flour, sugar, vanilla and nuts.

6. I love the smells of this time of year, especially the new scents at bath and body works. Snowberry is the best.

7. Christmas movies! Christmas story or Christmas vacation are my very favorites.

Yay! I am in such a wonderful mood.  It's December and I am not stressed, overwhelmed or overworked.  Isn't that great?  I went to a beautiful Christmas concert last night that celebrated the real reason we are so excited this Christmas season. I'm hoping to be a part of it next year.   I have my cards done, 90% of my shopping finished, my house is decorated and my tree is up.  Really, I'm not trying to brag, just saying that when I have less on my plate, everything gets done!  I love it.  The kids and I are looking forward to our annual Gingerbread house and Christmas cookie baking/decorating.

Quick re-cap for Thanksgiving, our brined turkey was AMAZING!!  Best.Turkey.Ever.  Moist, flavorful, Mike has earned the top award (and future ones) of TURKEY MASTER.  He's a little bummed it turned out so great and he's now in charge of the bird every year.  We all have our talents, right?

So my carpel tunnel is back and I get to wear my lovely brace for awhile.
 I thought I was passed that :-( Now I not only have pain in my palm and wrist area but it goes all the way up my arm.  And since I'm complaining, the dishwasher door corner came right down on my ankle bone about 6 weeks ago and it is still sore, as well as the muscles around it.   I really don't want to look like a whiner and go to the doctor but anyways....

Mike showing the turkey who's boss

Taylor hoping we eat very soon

Almost ready to eat!

Hannah getting a headstart on the Hobbit

A new dinner idea-salad bar (epic fail as Taylor would say)

Getting lunch after some shopping

glitter blast says it all!

Family fun night: Christmas shopping, Chik-Fil-A and Big Al's

I found a can of spray glitter at the craft store and have been having fun making sparkly trees.  This is the first year I haven't made homemade gifts and I'm eagerly planning for next year :-)  Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
On Saturday Taylor is marching with the band in our town's Christmas lights parade.  I'm hoping it's not too cold for him (it's at 6pm), should be fun!

Here is what we are busy doing this week:

1.  I am wrapping up the December issue of my magazine.  Check out this cover:

Doesn't it make you feel all ready to ho-ho-ho? I definitely do after immersing myself in everything Christmas for the last week.

2. Taking the kids to Wreck It Ralph with some friends.  Fun! Mike and I also went to see SkyFall and it was pretty good!

3.  Trying out a new thing with the turkey this year: brining.  For all you foodies out there that are probably sighing and mumbling boredom because you've been doing it for the past 10 years, I know, I'm slow to this one.  We do the same thing every year to the turkey and it's really good, but this year we're feeling adventurous.  I'll let you know how it goes.  BTW: Mike is in charge of the bird.  *Happy sigh.*

4.  I get a manicure tomorrow. What a treat.  My reward for all the work I've been doing (and it stops me from biting my nails).

5.  I have lots of new work and am happy to have it.  Going to work hard to purchase a new iMac.  My current one is wonderful but very slow.

6.  Got Mike a membership to my gym and it's so nice to have him with me sometimes.  I know a lot more about the weight room now!

7.  Getting SO excited to buy Hannah her big Christmas present.  It's a secret!

8.  Celebrating good grades, smart kids and accomplishments.  Yay!

9.  Harley's stinky skin is finally getting better after 3 rounds of pills. Mike is a pro at shoving them down his throat, after coating them with applesauce.  Harley will swallow anything that resembles food.

10.  Preparing for a holiday crafting day and making a Christmas-y penant.

That's all!  Happy Thanksgiving.

We carved pumpkins tonight. Mike always has the best one, the showoff used power tools. The kids are getting older so its much easier since they can do a lot of the work themselves.
Here are our finished results:

It's been a really hectic, emotional, and sad 3 weeks.  My Dad passed away on October 2nd from lung cancer.  It all happened so quickly, I'm still stumbling over the fact that he's gone.  He was officially diagnosed with lung cancer in July but I don't think anyone had any idea that he would die so fast.  I think it's a blessing though, having gone through it with my Grandma.  A blessing for the person, definitely not the family.  They don't have a long, drawn out illness that has them in horrible pain for weeks or months on end.  As with my Grandma, I feel it was a privilege to be with my Dad in those last moments.  Oh, it was hard to see such a strong man be so ill, but I know that everyone there did the very best to carry out his wishes, to take good care of him and to say goodbye to him with absolute love.
 
He is technically my step-Dad, although I never referred to him as that.  He came along when I was just 7 years old, and has been the only Dad I know.  Like family relationships go, we struggled when I was a teenager and I don't think we could have had more opposite personalities.  But he loved me, showed me his love of raising animals, helped me buy my first car, bought me my first horse, drove me off to college, walked me down the aisle at my wedding and loved fishing with his grandkids.

I will really, really miss him.