Happy holidays!

Gonna take a few days off and kick it with my family at home...

Enjoy the holidays!!!

See ya soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

LOVE TO ALL!

This Christmas...I won't...

I just can't bring myself to do it.

I know it's not popular.

I know I'll sound like a scrooge.

I even know I'll sound cheap...

but I absolutely refuse to buy my kids such an abundance of gifts, that they drown in them on Christmas morning.

I have read all over the papers and on the computer, people going out and spending money they don't have on gifts people don't need... and it breaks my heart.

I have NEVER... nor will I EVER be the type of parent that waits in line, or scours all over kingdom come for the "Hot new Toy" of the year. Ever.

Of course I'll be getting my kids stuff for them to open... a few things.

Just because I can afford to buy them 25 things doesn't mean I have to buy them 25 things each... does it?

They will be getting what they want, within reason... but no more.

I don't care at all, that when they go to school in a few weeks, the other students will be talking about all stuff they got, and how many things were under the tree for them.

My kids will have some nice new stuff.

They will also have fed the homeless.

They will also have given gifts to those less fortunate.

They will also be reminded that the biggest gift to the world was given to us, in the form of our Messiah, and our gift back is to take care of those that can't take care of themselves.

***

I was out shopping today, for food for our camping trip to the beach, and I was

saddened by all the stuff people were fighting and yelling over in the Costco bins.

Apparently, one husband wouldn't be able to LIVE without the Adidas size M sweat pants one lady was pulling out of another womans hands...

Is this what it's come to?

***

Call me tacky, or unfeeling... but I've actually given written notes to my kids when I didn't find something they wanted, and told them it would be a few days or weeks until it got to them...

You know what? The kids usually said something like...

"You know Mom, it's okay, I'd rather have (fill in the blank) than that thing, so don't worry".

I wasn't worried.

It just doesn't occur to me to worry about giving my kids "STUFF" or enough "stuff".

I am with them all the time.

I take them to everything they love.

I cook for them.

I clean for them.

I tell them I love and adore them every day.

I play games with them.

We cook together.

I give them privileges.

They go to wonderful schools.

We take them everywhere we travel.

My kids get "stuff".

Just not always in a box.

Or with wrapping paper.

I hope they do the same for their kids someday.

It is so much less of a burden to constantly keep up with the Jones's.

So tonight, I'll be done wrapping gifts in about 1/2 an hour.

Jesus was given three gifts upon his birth, and he is the Messiah.

I love my boys and think they are the world...but they don't get more than the Messiah did.

***

Have a wonderful, memory filled Holiday.

Take lots of pictures...

and remember the Reason for the Season... He's not visible unless you look deeply into your children's eyes... they can see Him like we can't.

Writer's Workshop 12-17-09

Mamakat's Writer's Workshop prompts I chose for this week are...

What is your life motto?

&

What is your cross to bear?

***

Hmmmm... I chose these two to confront myself about a couple of things...

I kinda feel I need a "come to Jesus" about a few things...so I'm writing to myself when I write the things I see and say.

***

I have lots of motto's in life...

"To know me is to roll your eye's at me"

"Yes, I love myself... and if you don't... I ain't got no time for you!"

"Don't be late... because it shows a lack of respect for other people's time and effort"

"Don't wait for tomorrow... tomorrow may never come... do it NOW!"

AND a host of others...

As I type these "mottos" I notice they sound an awful lot like reprimands to other people.

I swear they aren't... but they sure look like they are... huh?

After living with a passive agressive husband for the past 17 years... I guess I've garnered a bit of his personality. Ugh... much to my chagrin.

So...

My motto from now on will be...

Love... just do it.

***

I guess those things up there weren't really motto's after all.. more like mantras.

I have tons of those... but mostly when I am talking to my husband.

That poor guy... but he started it!

***

Prompt #2

What is my cross to bear?

***

This one hit me like a ton of bricks...

I'm having a little bit of a problem with procrastination the past few weeks...

No.. that's not true... not a little bit of a problem... a HUGE problem... actually.

Oh... wait... let me clarify... I'M not the problem... oh heaven's no...

Bill is.

Yes... Bill.

That man...

I adore him.

I love him so much.

I would give my life for him.

BUT HOLY COW... can he put crap off until the twelfth of NEVER!!!!!

He is chronically late.

Perpetually late.

Always, always, always late.

I. HATE. IT.

I don't DO late.

If he knows he has a month to do something.. he will wait until day 29 1/2, one minute till midnight to complete or even start it.

IT DRIVES ME COMPLETELY INSANE!

When he is home on the weekends... he walks around the house like a man without a country...

he knows he has stuff to take care of... he just doesn't get his day started until 4 p.m.

It has gotten to the point that I am thinking of getting a weekend job JUST so I won't have to be home to witness the wandering.

I had a heart to heart with him last week... and told him my dilemma.

He listened.

I told him I know he works soo hard to provide for all of us... and that he does a fantastic job.

I told him how blessed I know I am being able to be a stay at home Mama for the past 16 years, and he is the reason for it. I told him how proud of him I am... that he has such a good, long standing reputation at work for being able to come through and "fix" everything that comes up.

(I don't think he procrastinates at work... if he did..he wouldn't have a job any more."

I also told him that he was the one that asked me to come up with a "Honey Do" list for him during the week, and that he would be sure to tackle the list on weekends...

Sometimes the list is long... and sometimes the list is non existent..it just

depends on the week.

Then an entire weekend goes by... and he get upset with himself that he didn't get anything accomplished...

WHAT!!!!

Ugh... that is my cross to bear...

So... if you're looking for an organized, prompt, courteous, former teacher with years of experience in laundry, cooking, bookkeeping, nursing, maid service, chauffering, and child rearing... I'm your girl...

Otherwise... Calgon... take me away!

A rant about clothes...

You've seen them...

I know you have...

Everywhere...

In stores, in your neighborhood, on the street, maybe even in your own home...

***

They are sweet things really.

Often kind, respectful, and loving...

But oh PUHLEEEEZE... someone buy them a full length mirror...

PLEASE!

***

Don't know who I'm talking about yet?

***

I'm talking about those lovely girls out there, that have that "something extra" around the middle that wear entirely TOO tight of a shirt, and then pair that miniscule shirt with

HIP HUGGER jeans...

Muffin top does not begin to describe some of these girls.

What gets me? They walk around with their arms folded around their middle the entire day, to cover up their obvious "spillage".

It is just sad.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not putting down their weight... Lord knows I live in a HUGE glass house when it comes to that...

I'm more upset at the Mama's and friends that don't say something to those poor girls...

The shirt SHOWS EVERYTHING... and it looks so awful!

***

I'm a big girl...

I don't wear sleeveless or tight clothing FOR A REASON!

I also don't/can't tuck anything in... it's just a travesty if I even entertain that kind of thing...

I may even get arrested... LOL!

***

But those voluptuous girls need to be taught that they aren't a size 2, 4, 8 or even 10's.

After that... unless one is 6 feet tall... hip huggers and tight tops just aren't appropriate!!!

As I was walking past a couple of ladies wearing such clothing, I overheard a few young men make nasty comments about them as they walked past...

It broke my heart...

The boys should have had their butts kicked... but the girls got even more self conscious.

They wrapped both their arms around their mid sections, hiding the bulge, and making it even more obvious... Their Mama's and friends should be slapped...

***

Some girls, I know this because their Mama's tell me... just refuse to buy clothes that are a little looser. They call themselves "curvy"... and in the mean time, their entire belly is overlapped over their jeans and sways to and fro...

It's only curvy if that stuff is tamed and tightly bound... and clothed with something that doesn't accentuate every stretch mark and bulge and the indentation of the belly button.

Yikes...

Curvy... if that's curvy... then I must be a freaking loop de loop or a corkscrew!

***

On to boys clothes...

I was shopping for my boys today.. and call me old school... but I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the boys and girls section today...

The colors, and skinny jeans, and feminine silhouettes had me baffled!

I just want my men to look like men.

I'm not into dressing my sons androgenously.

When you look at my boys... I want people to see... BOY!

***

From all the V necks out there now... and in pink, purple, peach and such...

Does everyone think that boys WANT to look like Simon Cowell in AI?

Because he looks wimpy... and just not attractive in his too tight v necked "athletic" cut shirts...

Just my opinion...

And really?

The name "Athletic" cut, really means... "Too tight".

I know... I know... lots of boys wear pink and yellow and such... fine...

but in a polo shirt or long sleeve shirt... not some v necked, slinky fabric that "clings" to them...

Yuck!!!

Boys clothes have gotten a little too

"Drag Queen" for me...

What next? Boas and heels as men's wear across the board?

Ugh...

I'd better do check my calendar and see what day it is...

It might just be my time for my least favorite visitor...

Call me a taxi...

I'm outta here...

Shaver Family Holiday Postcard...

To all of you...

Happy and Merry EVERYTHING!

I just wanted to post this in case I forgot to do so before the Holidays rush up on me...

Yeah!!! Rain!!!

It's finally raining with some gusto in these parts... So California...

That song... "It never rains in California"... yeah... it's true...

We are so parched, every few minutes on the radio talks about how we need to conserve water and water our gardens once a week, and don't wash our cars in our driveways etc...

It was getting a little scary to me...

We only need like... 30 more inches of rain to end our drought... and this year, we are at 3 inches total... think we'll make it? yeah.. me either...

But now it's raining... and it's gorgeous...

I'm happy about it as long as it doesn't interfere with our beach plans after Christmas...

***

So Calif drivers crack me up.

All you that live in the Northwest, and Northeast... all have snow, pretty much every winter... right? You have four seasons, it's gorgeous and lush and green in your parts...

no huge fires or entire years with only 6 days of rain... right?

Here... in looneyville... where I live... we live in a valley, surrounded by lovely, majestic

11,000 foot mountain peaks. It never snows where I live, at almost sea level, but every winter and spring it snows in the mountains... and after a good rain storm, a couple of days later

the skies open up to a blue expanse and all you can see all around you is beautiful white snow capped mountains, crisp air, and blue sky...

On that same day, if you felt like surfing you could do that in the morning, and then head on up to the mountains and ski in the afternoon... Ya gotta love California... we do have the absolute best weather... hands down...

HOWEVER...

There are a special few here that live in the mountains that surround us.

And... unlike the rest of the world, that sloughs off snow from their cars to drive around in, after a snow storm, nooooo, not here...

Everyday after a snow storm, I see them.

The mountain folk that feel the need to prove they live in the mountains, and drive all over the valley with as much snow still on their cars as possible.

On the top, on the trunk, on the front... in the pickup bed... all except the front windshield.

It's hilarious!

We are so water starved... so parched... so devoid of humidity and moisture... that we

deify snow to such a degree.. that it has become some sort of a status symbol to drive around with wet, melting, dirty, falling off the bumper... snow...

It is the strangest thing...

***

I have family in New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario Canada... and when they visit us here in our "winter" they comment all the time about how strange it is that people don't take the snow off their cars...

It'll be 60 degrees, and people are driving around with melting snow on their cars... people!!!

That IS weird... no?

***

So... it's raining today... and tomorrow I expect to see at least 20 cars towing copious amounts of snow on their cars, on the freeway...

It's especially fun when a giant chunk of it slides off the car ahead of you, going 75 mph, and it hits your car going the same rate of speed...

fun times...

Ahhh California...

We are looney... but ya gotta admit... ya love us anyway!

Writer's Workshop 12-2-09

Writer's Workshop 12-2-09

The prompts for today were...

If money were no option... what would the holidays look like for me...

and

What good read am I snuggling up with these days...

***

If money were no object... I would fly all my family, from Italy, New York, Canada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other places to one central location for the holidays... all of us... probably about 600 people in all.

I would rent an entire hotel in Rome or Venice Italy, and have all our meals catered so we can just enjoy and interact, love and talk, and just "be".

Everyone would go home with $10,000 cash for the Holidays and each child under 18 would have their college tuition paid for...

I would love to have that much money...

***

What am I reading?

Just finished Kate Jacobs "Knit Two" her sequel to "The Friday Night Knitting Club" and am now on to Grishams "The Associate".

Oh, and I read "Julie and Julia"... no I haven't seen the movie yet... dang it.

I'm here... just doing too many things at once...

Oh man on man... what a week it's been.

Pretty much nonstop since Thanksgiving...

Today... I hit my wall...

I'm spent...

***

Last night I had my annual Client Appreciation show for my Pampered Chef clients and their friends... I had about 40 ladies in my kitchen, eating, laughing, talking, shopping...

it was a blast and a half...

The very BEST part?

The part that got me giddy for 4 days prior to the evening?

5 friends from Grade school, Jr. High, and High School took time out of their busy lives to

come to the event... and bless my home with their presence...

It was sooooo wonderful to see them all!

They are all lovely, accomplished, smart and talented women, and I am happy to say I know them!

I have Facebook, aka, Crackbook to thank for getting me in touch with some longtime friends...

What a great avenue to rekindle friendships and get reacquainted!!!

And... they won a ton of stuff too!

Everyone left the room with something extra they didn't have before...so I was especially happy about that...

***

I have one more catering event to do before Christmas, and then I think I can relax a bit and enjoy the season.

***

I haven't done one bit of shopping for the boys yet...

Isn't that terrible?

Thank God, they don't have laundry lists of things... they are really quite grown up and respectable about their wants when it comes to gifts...

That's one of my favorite things about those boys of mine... they have never suffered from the

"Gimmies". Also... I'm not the kind of Mama that ever felt the need to give them

absolutely everything they ever desired either... I've never been afraid to say "no" to my men.

It's just a fact that we don't always get what we want when we want it... and the sooner they learn it... the better off they'll be in the future...

They really do appreciate the things they do get too... that makes giving to them very fulfilling.

***

I made homemade biscotti for the very first time, and it was very exciting...

You have to understand... I don't like baking anything but bread... so this was big for me.

They are a great cookie, because they are low in fat, high in nutrition, and basically dirt easy to make... so it was good on many levels...

Hubby loves to dunk in his coffee... so now I don't have to wait for Mama to make them for us... I can make my own!!!

I'm a big girl now!

***

All three of the boys are playing school sports again... Johnny, soccer, and Alex and William, baseball. All three of them have games on Tues and Thurs.

What am i going to do?

Cloning is looking really good to me right about now...

***

I am sooo excited about the success of my our catering company... it's starting to grow, and we are having such a great time cooking and working together... Mama and me.

It's so nice to work with someone you know won't cheat you, or throw you under a bus,

or divorce you... she can't... she has to always love me no matter what!

I love that kind of job security!

I am looking into bottling my salad dressing and selling it... it's been superbly popular and I think it's time to branch out a little.

I've rekindled my Pampered Chef business for the new year, and that prospect is very exciting...

and I've done some more writing on my novel and my cookbook...

I am loving all the prospects in my life right now... and it's thrilling, tiring, manic and peaceful all at the same time! I apparently love having my hands in lots of different things...

Who knew!

***

Pictures from our Thanksgiving beach trip to come...

Okkkay... I lied...

Yeah... I lied...

I didn't bake, or shop or cook the past 5 days...

Send me to my room, take away my privileges, don't let me go to the dance...

I lied a big fat whopper of a lie...

***

We went camping at the beach instead!!!

And oh.... it was GLORIOUS!!!

The weather was PERFECT!

Not a cloud in the sky... clear as crystal, warm 75 degree days and chilly nights...

The boys surfed, road their bikes for miles, built sand castles, played catch...

I read, napped, played baseball, smiled, laughed and relaxed...

***

I did cook for 3 solid days prior to our trip... so I wouldn't have to cook while there...

but warming up is so much easier than cooking while on vacation!

***

As always, we encountered some really "interesting" people while there...

and William lost YET ANOTHER CELL PHONE!!!

Somewhere, in the wide pacific ocean, a dolphin is able to call his Mama in Australia... free of charge...courtesy of William's cell.

Ugh... that kid.

I swear I'm gonna buy him a Firefly phone... and call it a day.

***

I read the new Kate Jacobs novel... "Knit Two" the sequel to "The Friday Night Knitting Club".

It was great... I love the characters... it should be a TV show... or at least a mini series on Lifetime... I'm just about to get started on my John Grisham "The Associate".

Bill read it while we were camping...

***

This week must have been the week for same sex couples to camp...

we felt like the odd ones out.

I didn't notice a thing until my little one, Johnny, mentioned that we seemed to be the only family with a Dad with us...LOL!

They all had the nicest rigs too... we looked a little like the Beverly Hillbillies in our older model motorhome...

***

So... we got home today... to an ENTIRE THANKSGIVING meal prepared and ready to go for us!!!

My Mama made us our meal!!! Wasn't that sweet?

We have soooo much leftover Turkey!

I thought we were going to have to spend our day unloading the motorhome and washing clothes and making "whatever is left in the kitchen" as our meal... and to my surprise...

we had Turkey, stuffing, veggies, dessert and cranberry sauce... ALL DONE UPON OUR ARRIVAL!!!

Wow... when they made my Mama, they broke the mold... huh?

***

Tomorrow, I start my holiday baking...

I'm going to make

Biscotti, pizzelles, petit four, creme puff shells and cannoli filling...

Then, I need to get started on the meal for my Holiday Giveaway show on Tuesday...

Gonna make Lasagna rollups, fresh bread, salad, and dessert from my Mama's bounty...

A weekend spent in my kitchen... to me... that's a slice of heaven...

***

So... yeah... I lied...

Sue me...

My newest Scrapbook pages!!! Digitally, of course...

Okay, I know there are a lot of pictures... but I am so proud of them... I just had to share them..

This book is my Father In Law's gift for Christmas...

I need to go do my Mom's now... she was in the pictures too... just not this album...

Enjoy!

And... as always... all the writing and pictures are copyrighted to me, and me alone...

Thanks.

Writer's Workshop 11-18-09

Writer's Workshop

The prompt... Share a diary entry from when I was 13.

***

I had to dig out my journals... but I found one...

At 13, I mean really, what could happen that was notable?

Apparently absolutely nothing!

Here goes...

And by the way... I wouldn't trade my no cell phone, non attitude, boring, no Coach handbag wearing teen years for anything in the world.

Most 13 year olds these days are sooo over indulged, they are numb to life and the splendor of just being a young girl, and doing simple things...

***

January 13, 1981

*

Dear Diary,

Had dress rehearsal today for our big show. I am so glad I have a solo in one of my dances. I got to have private lessons with Chris, my dance teacher, and he touched my waist about 4 times to catch me. I don't think I blushed.

Before rehearsal, I had school, and homework. Actually, I did my homework at the auditorium, and Mama bought dinner for us.

Mama is busy sewing all the sequins on my costume again. They keep falling off when I shimmy.

My Papa says he doesn't like all the crawling around on the stage. He says it's nasty.

I like it.

I get to wear a ton of makeup, and act like someone else for 4 minutes.

I do get embarrassed when I have to shimmy or shake my butt when my Dad is in the audience.

I just know he's going to say something when we get home.

I hope some of my family and friends can make it to the show. I like when they can see what I do after school everyday. Then they don't bother me about not being able to go out with them, and they don't think I am being snobby.

I really don't want to go out with them anyway. I'd rather go to dance class. It's way more fun.

Well, I have to go clean my braces now.

Until next time,

Love,

Sandee.

Picture day!

I love taking pictures... especially when the people below are my subjects...

We did another one of our annual photo shoots at my favorite park, on Sunday, and this year we threw in a couple grandparents into the mix...

Below are some of my favorites...

More to come once I edit them..

my beautiful Mama and my boys...

I need to find out how to take the time date stamp off my dumb camera...

My Monkeys...

Just Johnny...

The hands of the future...

...

My gorgeous Mama...

Bill and me...

My hunky manchild... William

My three Monsters...

Football's over...:(

On the night I was to make the pre game meal, I decided, while I was making all the bread for garlic bread, I may as well, make the name of the opposing team. I read them a little speech and told them to take a piece of Aquinas, and rip it, tear it, chew it and spit it out, sit on it, whatever it took to get them in the mindset of winning! The LOVED it!

My first born...William...

It frequently took two people at a time to stop him... He never went down...

Pride Drill... our favorite part...

We won this game, but this was during the game, when we were down a couple of touchdowns...

and he started getting more and more ready to break someone's bones...

***

Well... football season is officially over.

I love school sports.

***

Writers Workshop 11-11-09

The Prompt from the Masterful MamaKat is...

Tell of a time you were glad you were you, and not someone else in the room.

***

THIS is so timely for this week!

***

This is sort of like the post I did the other day about "Do you know someone like this?"

but today I'm going to give specific incidences that made me so ultimately happy NOT to be anywhere near this person, or much less, BE this person.

***

She always has a look on her face like she just smelled something awful.

***

When she attends meetings of any kind, she feels the need to state her opinion, put down another member, or speak ill of other people's children.

***

She is uber competitive... no matter what... hair, sports, being first in line, getting her way.

***

If, God forbid, IF her children don't make an All-star team of any kind... she belly aches and stomps her feet and requests meetings with board members to rectify the situation.

***

When confronted, she pulls the doe-eyed, "Huh? Not me?" look that is particularly out of place on her pinched face.

***

She is ALWAYS looking for an angle to "Beat the system".

***

She is the first to criticize some else's job, but is totally blind to the fact that she never shows up for hers.

***

She would throw her own Mother under a bus, just so she doesn't get caught "Not following the rules".

***

Do I know someone like this?

Yep.

And you know what?

Every single time I leave her presence, I feel great about who I am.

I feel so relieved I don't have to live in her skin.

Am I perfect?

Heck no.

I know I can be crass at times, and I interrupt people,

and I am always trying to fix that about me.

I don't pretend that my life is some perfect Wally and June Cleaver rerun.

I care about people outside my family, and try to have an attitude of servitude.

This lady is just the opposite of everything I stand for.

Many, many, many people in our community have written letters and have stated that they won't be a part of something because of this person...

I never understood it until this past two years.

I totally get it now.

And all I feel is sorry for her now.

Life is gonna be very, very lonely for her one day, if she doesn't change the way she is.

One's whole life can't be wrapped up in winning everything.

Learning how to lose is just as important... and I fear that her losing days are ahead of her...

and unfortunately, it won't be about sports...

She needs lots of prayers...

I will pray from afar, and have no further contact with her if I can possibly do it.

Sometimes ya just gotta clean out the garbage... ya know?