It's time, once again, for Pete Schweddy!

It's just not Christmas until the popular SNL skit, Delicious Dish, appears. So, in the effort of filling you with the spirit of the season, here's the beloved NPR duo of Margaret Jo and Teri, featuring Pete Schweddy. Enjoy.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Dr. 90210

Most of you know about Jon's illness last year that almost took him. We've had a whole year to be thankful he's still around and also a whole year of frustration from visiting doctors to correct some problems that were left behind following his final surgery. After being referred from one doctor to the next, we finally stumbled upon Dr. Gary Alter, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon from the show Dr. 90210. He can fix all the problems and before the end of the year, which we totally didn't expect. Sooo, our Christmas is going to be VERY different this year! We've arranged to take Meghan and Max with us, and the older kids will stay home. I'm having a lot of anxiety over it, because this is the first Christmas we won't all be together. At least Ian and Olivia will have our friend's home to go to that day so they can spend time with their friends and have a lovely Christmas with a lovely family! We will leave for California on Tuesday, Jon's surgery is Wednesday, then he recuperates in a lovely hotel room for 7 days. We found a great place, the Millenium Biltmore, when we traveled there a couple weeks ago for his consult, and we liked it sooo much that we're staying there again. It's a beautiful old hotel, full of charm and LOTS of history, right in the middle of the financial district in LA. There's a huge Christmas tree in the lobby that will serve as "our" tree for the kids. I have lots of fun plans to keep them busy while Jon rests. It's going to be interesting, to say the least. I'll keep you posted during our trip. I'm sure there will be LOTS to report. In the mean time, here's a few cool pics from our trip 2 weeks ago...

Our hotel!

The GREAT smelling tree in the lobby!

:::sigh::: my happiest place on earth!

Of course I HAD to visit Mr. Depp!

Christmas Is All Around Us...

Christmas is everywhere but our house right now! Usually we're so on top of decorating and right now there is ONE Santa hanging on our door. Just last week I finally took down the Thanksgiving decorations outside. We have been rushing to this and scurrying to that. Jon and I went out-of-town last weekend for a quick doctor's visit, and a few days ago I had outpatient surgery. It's been one thing after another that has taken up our decorating time! It's got to get done quick...only 13 days left! :::sigh:::

I Hate Sandcastles...

Do you ever feel like this?

This week has totally been that way for me. Life stuff is piling up and bogging me down! I am Grrr-ing at EVERYTHING. I am stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated...I want to knock down the other kid's sandcastle. Sheesh. Stinkin sandcastles.

Then there's the "kid stuff". My kids, other peoples kids, big kids, little kids, kids who climb on rocks, fat kids, skinny kids, even kids with chicken pox. I am grrr-ing them all! Sometimes I totally understand the animals that eat their young! (ew)

Obviously this mom isn't "eating" her young, but it reminded me of those that do and the cub totally looks how I feel right now. I love my kids. I love most all kids, don't get me wrong. But this week, all kids are making me crazy! I need my friends. I need to play like a kid. I need to be one of those kids who are making me crazy. I need to put my crazy-ness onto someone else! Grrrrrrrrrr!

Fall....

I heart fall. It's my favorite time of year, followed by Christmas, which I guess is a time, too; but, fall is it for me. I find it indescribable. . .some use the words crisp, leafy, bright, brisk, chilly. . .those are all great, but don't do it for me. Yes the air turns crisp. Yes the leaves are bright. I feel fall all the way down to my toes, but I can't describe it. It's a very special time. Everything changes. The anticipation starts with our Halloween pumpkins.

Once they start to wilt, mold, and shrivel up, I start to experience moods from elation to depression then, just before Thanksgiving, ultimate comfort and joy sets in. Sweaters come out with comfy clothes, fires start to burn in our fireplace,

soup is ever present on my kitchen stove, my kids are running through leaves at Meema's house, we start to watch all the classic fall movies while sipping hot apple cider or cocoa with whipped cream in HUGE mugs so it never ends,

warm jammies at night with soft slipper socks, snuggling into a big, comfy chair with a soft, fluffy blanket and starting to read Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables for the umpteenth time...this is how I describe fall. It warms my heart and puts a smile on my face.

Happy Birthday Meg!

8 years ago today our little miracle came! She surprised us all, first with a HORRIBLE pregnancy, THEN by coming 2 months early. Our 2 lb., 4 oz. baby bird arrived on Sunday, October 14, 2001 at 8:40 p.m. by emergency c-section. She spent 7 weeks in the NICU, came home 2 days before Thanksgiving, and has been living life to the fullest ever since! Happy birthday sweetie, we love you so much!

Ahhh, Reno and friends...

Yay for my friends. I love spending time with them, especially when it involves Reno! I heart Reno! This past week I drove Max up to spend the week with his best friend Taylor in Wellington, then continued on to Reno to spend the week with Erin, Shonse, and Melaroo.

It was so nice to get away and soooo much fun to spend the week with three other crazies. I haven't seen Mel in almost 2 years and it was so great to get some chocolatey goodness hugs from her! The only thing that would have made it even better was if Jessie and Jo were there at the same time! We'll all get to be together in a couple months when us Vegas chicks fly up for Women's Retreat at Shontell's church...sooo can't wait!

We spent relaxing time at the river watching the kids play, got yelled at by a window washer dude, and even visited the Cupcakery...yummmmm!

There was great girl time catching up on movies at home and we even went to see Julie and Julia with Erin's family. OH.SO.GREAT! Have to see it again! (ErinHarrison your family is so great!)

After a GREAT week with my girlies, it was time to pick up Max. We spent Sunday at Lake Tahoe with his buddy Taylor and headed home Monday. This was such a great trip for both of us (despite my 2 unrelated bouts of food poisoning). It's sad that his buddy and most of my Bowlies have moved to northern Nevada, but it's SO FUN visiting often and making up for lost time!

I even got a great barn pic. A trip for me isn't complete without an old barn picture! :::Sigh:::