Dollar Store

Where else in the world can you buy things for one dollar? (Okay maybe China...). But right here in Bloomington we have not one but TWO Dollar Trees. Here's what I scored on my visit last Sunday:

- wide leopard stretch belt

- 1 pair leopard print tights

- 2 soft and dri gel deodrants

- 2 Hawaiian tropic body lotions

- 1 giant gallon of water

- 1 copy of the Sunday Jan. 27 Chicago Tribune

- 1 copy of the Sunday Jan. 27 Bloomington Daily Pantagraph

What an amazing bargain!!!! Never say a dollar can't buy you anything! (Or that $9 can buy you even more!)

What a Difference a Week Makes

First photo: New Years Day 2008 - temperature was 1 degree and there was 5 inches of snow

Second Photo: shoes worn on January 6, 2007 - temperture was 65 and there was NO SNOW (and because it is January, unfortunately I do not have a good pedicure, either!...Sorry, Amy!)

Gotta love Mother Nature and her sense of humor!!

A Toast to 2008!

We're a day late in posting this while we were playing with the camera to get a family portrait. We finally got one good one while my nose was not too red from this silly sinus thingie. Rita is not too crazy about the camera so that was kind of interesting too...anyway....

Happy New Year!! Nothing better than having a clean slate with a new year. We wish the best to all of our wonderful friends and family.

Now...if I can just remember to sign everything 2008......

Ho Ho Ho

The Frenzy known as the Kraft Holiday Season is finally winding down. It was great fun and quite exhausting. Highlights include:

- Kraft Christmas where one of my relatives when asked if he wanted another piece of cake dipped his hand in the pan and scooped it out (so much for THAT cake!)

- Dalton Scantlebury had his first Chrismas and entertained us by trying to eat his book.

- Emily served as an awesome Sous Chef and assistant event planner including dipping of the chocolate coated pretzels, wrapping presents and general event preparation assistance

- Sangria and baked cheese ruled the day again at the annual Chrismas Eve Open House including an appearance by "Santa" Tom Stokes and family

- Dan made it through his first semi single Christmas with great aplomb - including fabulous new Cub jackets, paint ball guns and cell phones for the kids

- Brother Jim looked clean and merry and bright too...even sharing photos of his first grandchild! (YIKES!)

- We all were entertained and humbled by Father Ric's sermon at mass -- and there was no fighting

- Rita enjoyed her new bed and bag of bones

- Snow continued to fall off and on throughout the week

- The Kraft Cousins took off for a night out and sang Irish/German bar music and rap tunes while sampling the best Irish beers!

- We enjoyed living through Aunt Amy's adventures in China on her blog

- We're sadly living through Uncle Dewey Lynn's illness

- Friends and family made it all worth it!

Merry Christmas - we love you and hope yours was bright too!

Baby it's cold outside

In the winters of my childhood, we built snow forts and played amongst the building high drifts of our farm. Nowadays, the drifts are more often ice...which is beautiful though not quite as fun as when I was little. Rita, my little Texas born hot blooded lab hound LOVES the snow..but is not so sure about skiding on the ice.....

Bringing them to the Dark Side

I'm a bit unconventional...okay a lot unconventional. So in trying to stay above the fray I am always looking for something fun and different for holiday and birthday presents. Plus, I am not above pure bribery to bring the children over to my southern, 80s's rock and country, tex mex loving ways. Last night I took three of the kids to see the Sugarland CMT Country Tour with Little Big Town and Jake Owns. It was an almost three and a half hour event, which ended up in a southern rock version of ZZ Top songs. Awesome!!! Jess and Em are already seasoned concert attendees....now I have brought Tommy along to the dark side. It was fun despite the 26 degree weather...southern country rock does live on!!

A Very Texan Thanksgiving!!!!

For most mid-American, midwestern, god fearing citizens, Thanksgiving is a day of roasted turkey and yams, wearing sweaters and staying warm inside while staring at the cold and snow. For Texans, on the other hand..Thanksgiving means fried turkey, sangria, Dallas Cowboys football, and sunshine and open toed shoes. Actually it was a bit nippier here than it usually is...we wore sweaters and long sleeved shirts. Still, plenty of reason to celebrate with the sangria, fried turkey and family.

We had 12 people who came in from San Francisco, China and Illinois, of course at our dinner. This year we were also entertained by 18 month old Sydney who kept us all on our feet (toes and backs!) enjoying tummy rubs, book readings, and Sydney's first turkey, queso and crawfish! Following tradition we had an early morning visit to Michael's resulting in a full car and the need to return to work so we can earn some more money!

Back at home they had almost snow flurries (actually there were flurries in the Cowboys Stadium here in Irving too!) roasted turkey and a visit to the hospital where my stepmom is recovering (Get Well Ann!).

It's been a wild year..moving several times, a change in job assignments and now a new job and a move too. Yet, it's nice to have family, friends, good foods and good times to remind us of the blessings in our lives. I hope your holidays are full of all of the good things in life!