A few of my favorite "Christmas" things...

Sleeping Elizabeth Halle Baby - "Little Poop"
Grandpa Bob and Tanner


The Dippers

Tara in high gear...

Matt & Bobby

Reagan, Heather, Siggy & Lars

Game ON!

Snow fun with the Henrie's

Sig, Lar, Jay, Paige, Lars

Bingo Gifts!

Who knew Reagan was such a poser?

Pickett Kids...

Mark & Sig opened matching bracelets!

Funky?

Well, Sig and I decided that my light fixture

is not conducive to funky hangs,

but we tried our best to FUNK it up a bit.

Nothing else to do....

With nothing to do for the holidays...Bob and I decided to paint the kitchen...it was time! So here are the bare walls just waiting for something new and totally different to be done. we took down the french doors going into the kitchen...makes it much more open. Any suggestions for the walls? I am envisioning square espresso frames with something interesting in them...creative paper? Black and whites of interesting things? Pictures of my friends? Pictures of me? I love how the green makes the white POP!

I will show a picture of the finished product of the dining light...the red tassle is just a tease for now. We sprayed the light fixture and all of our knobs - it is called tarnished bronze. A nice change from the brushed nickel.

And here is another ... nothing to do picture. Riley and Tyson (who goes into the MTC on the 31st) were dears to shovel the driveway this last big storm. They thought they were real cute and adorned our mailbox into a mail snowman...hope the mailman appreciates it too. I am afraid that it will have to melt in the spring...it is pretty solid at this point.

P.S. I realize that I am not decorated much this year - we do have the tree up thanks to the Henrie girls who were helpful and full of Christmas Joy! I eyed it as I deep cleaned from the mess in the kitchen with a feeling of..."Let me put it down!" Oh well, I refrained - Ho! Ho! Ho!

P.P.S.S. A big shoutout to my dear friend Sher for SAVING me yesterday doing touch-ups! We worked for many hours together! I couldn't have done it without her - and it was soooo much fun gabbing and going to Subway (yes, we were the butt-ugly women there) for lunch.

And yet....another colonoscopy!

Ok, this time it was Sigrid. What is up with the colon factor in our house? I knw they are over-active, but this is RIDICULOUS! By the way, she has a clean colon. She just needs to get more fiber in her diet.

HERE IS THE BEST PART...she couldn't top Lars' blasting after-effects, but she did out do herself verbally.

Nurse in pre-op: Are you pregnant?

Sig: No.

Nurse: How do you know that you aren't pregnant?

Sig: Uh, because I don't engage in those type of activities.

I guess that is Sig's code for "have sex" which most of us would have plainly said in her situation. Too funny. Until the next one which will be me for the "50" and it is time. I think that Sig and Lars should both be my "helper" so that they can see the other side...no pun intended.

Hate being tagged...thanks Holly!

Here we go...

7 things I can do...

1. Make 6th grade boys cry
2. Make 6th grade girls cry
3. At times go home from school and cry myself!
4. Cut the engine on someone skiing when the water is too good and I want to ski!
5. Learn new hobbies - photography and photoshop are the latest
6. crochet cute hats
7. make killer wheat bread

7 things I can't do...

1. ignore little noises - the other night it was Bob's hearing aid on the dresser that as the train rumbled by and our house shook a bit...the battery kept engaging! FREAKY!
2. quit trying to be nice to people who are still mean to me.
3. stop being a mother who worries
4. run a mile
5. turn down chocolate
6. just use 2 squares of toilet paper
7. get over that Bob says "posed to" instead of "supposed to"

7 things I like to eat...

1. carne asada
2. peanut m&m's and diet coke
3. salads with feta cheese
4. ice cold water
5. Ford family sherbet
6. my wheat bread...duh!
7. note to you...if I don't trust your cleanliness or cooking...I will dump it out!

7 things I always say...

1. Blarb - that means I am confused trying to say Lars and/or Bob
2. Bob that is disgusting - stop it!
3. Siggy Poo!
4. Nad up! (Only to the Henrie's)
5. Lars (spoken to his voice mail) a phone call would be nice once in awhile.
6. I'll start as soon as you are ready to listen!
7. Hi Rhonda!

I tag Jana, Shelly, Kim, Brian, Larry, Crystal, Jenessa, etc. (like anyone looks at this blog!)

Favorite Parts of Thanksgiving...

I have NO pictures, but I do have some favorites of the holiday...
1. A "warmed" turkey...long story! They don't cook well on low temps!
2. Unbelievable rolls - thanks for the recipe Jenette Jewkes.
3. Surrounded by family - Holly and David made it sooo fun!
4. Watching movies, playing a new game, going to see James Bond, laughter..
5. Leftover party with the Henrie's.
6. Teasing Jenessa about her hot "Non-date" with Lars.
7. Lars and Marty being out of control funny!
8. Shopping at 4 a.m. with Sig at Kohls so she could buy some cheap towels...they really are cheap feeling too!
9. Looking at my messy house - now it is time to put up Christmas.
10. Mailing out ALL of Christmas - Bam - Done! Bob even gave Christmas to those in town...
11. Finding a new store - Lilypads and Lullabies in Centerville.
12. Going on a 7:00 a.m. walk with Patty Wallace.
13. Again, enjoying the craziness of family!
14. Laughing at Marty laughing at himself...learning about the Noggin's.

Guinea Pig Part Deux...

Meet my latest victim. This is Miss R. She is an adorable 3rd grader at my school. I approached her mom about doing a "mock" photo shoot which obviously turned into the "real deal". I've got mad skills!

Guinea Pigs!

Last night Jen and I took her girls to Kaysville to snap some photos. I need to get them into photoshop and play around a bit. But I think these are a couple of cute shots. They were funny girls...

Perks of Teaching...

IT IS HEAD LICE SEASON!!!!!

Now if this isn't the best reason to become a teacher....I HATE IT when I get the "heads up" someone in your class has head lice. Yes, folks it has already begun this year. We the teachers are already itching, scratching, and are leary. I am all about the Howie Mandel "bumps" when kids try to hug you. Yes, sixth graders still like a hug now and then, but I refuse with a quick "personal space". I have such a phobia that I know this is why I hate to go to the movies. Who has sat in that seat and what were they harboring? I have been known to take a slick coat (so bugs will slide off) to cover the seat with. Wierd? Maybe just a bit.

Let's hear it for the BUGS!

Brendan...the hugger!

Today was Brendan Henrie's mission farewell. For MANY months now he will NOT put his arm around a female, mother and sisters included. Today is living proof...he did it! He is going to the Ohio Cleveland Mission, same one as Lars. A funny young man that we will miss!

Brendan and Jenessa (sister)

Peg and Bren

Isn't this cute? Bren, Jake Plaizier, and I don't know his name.

Here are my beautiful cupcakes...

Saint Jeff Rides Again!

Hallelujah! Bob did it! He really 100% did it! Lotoja has come and gone...Bob was victorious with a great finish and yes folks...a bit of daylight to spare!!!

The weather was picture perfect to ride your bike for 206 miles, one day, three states! Bob, David (his son), and Nicole (from our ward) left at 6:00 a.m. from Logan, Utah. Between Preston and Montpelier poor Bobby had a fall. He was in pain, but didn't Taylor Miller say, "Pain is just weakness leaving the body?" Bob pushed on. In Afton, Wyoming he asked if anyone had seen the train that had hit him! It worked out well because "Saint Jeff" ( a fellow FBI guy, young, buff, etc. who was supporting another racer with a friend) ran into me and said that he had brought his bike gear just so in case he saw Bob and wanted to ride a bit with him. I immediately had him gear up and explained that his quest was to get Bob across the finish line. (Selfish reason? Maybe a bit.) They met up, they hugged, Bob wanted to kiss him, and Bob now had a companion to ride with. (David and Nicole were about 30 mins. ahead of him since Preston.)

With this new enthusiasm Bob and Jeff left Afton. Jeff was a good man, a good one to draft off of, and a real support to Bob who didn't really want to ride the race alone. 87 miles later, they came across the finish line! Yipee! I am proud of Bob, don't really get the abuse and punishment to the body, but what the heck...you are only 61 and10 months old once!!! Jeff Ross is the co-man!

Here are some pics...

Support Crew 2008

Pretty Good out the window, driving by myself, window down shots of Bob and Jeff!

So here I am, primed to shoot, start snapping and some tandem people come from nowhere!

Bob and David meeting up at the finish line

David and Holly - Engagement type photo?

A colonoscopy, water aerobics & scuba divers...

You may wondering how all of these lovely things relate...I will begin!

A few weeks ago Lars had to have a follow up colonoscopy due to some issues (without going into great length). Anyway Dr. Batista is "happy to report" all is well in Lars' colon. Really is he happy? Well, on Lars' game day I was invited back into the recovery room with Lars. He was groggy and just waking up. The nurse then invited Lars to "pass some gas" so that he could go home. She then proceeded to close the curtain and left us alone. Lars within moments, eyes wide open in disbelief, ripped off the loudest, most earth shattering, blast of gas you have ever heard! Another nurse immediately whipped back the curtain to exclaim, "Well, aren't you just a show off!" She was laughing so hard.

Then another one came from who knows where to exclaim, "Could you stop making my patients feel badly that they can't explode like you?" Needless to say, Lars was a shining star, one of my proud parent moments, and didn't let the group of nurses down by letting more monster blasts off. I was so glad to leave and take him home. I won't tell you that as he got out of the car, heading up the stairs, I noticed a wee bit of to trusted a fart mark.

So how does this relate? Last night I went to my water aerobics class. The teacher was ginormously big, but the chick never put on a floating belt. She was able to tread water for one hour and was faster than any of us. The best part was there was a scuba class of 3 men going on at the same time, but on the bottom of the area that we were doing laps over the top. Do you think they looked up? It was creepy to have the bubbles burst in your face, wondering where they were, and were they going to run into us?

A fellow teacher happened to be in the class. She finally screamed, "I can't take this anymore. It is too wierd! I am sick of their bubbles."

Of which I encouraged her, "Kathy, why don't you send down your own bubbles to them?"

"If I had that kind of power I would!"

At that moment I wished that Lars - post colonoscopy - was with us. And that is how it all relates.

Olympics now and then...Bob Costas rocks!

The opening ceremonies of the olympics were hands down awesome! Beijing has out done themselves and set a standard very high. I remembered SLC's opening...I thought it was spectacular too! Then I started to remember the fun at school, the play production, the songs, and yes....my boyfriend Bob Costas calling me on the phone at school!

Here is the story:

I knew that our school Olympic Musical was fabulous...rings, torch runners, cauldron burning throughout, flags of all nations lining the sides of Viewmonts auditorium, children in the five Olympic colors, Rings, props, a slid show I created with all of the students faces shining in it, the principal ( a woman) in a tux for the night, and yes, a gi - normous flag that came down from the ceiling at the rousing patriotic song at the end!

So with my confidence that we/I are/am the best...I (my people) called Bob Costas' people. I told them (and also wrote a compelling letter) that he needed to come to our show which was one week before the Olympics. I knew he'd be in town and what a great opportunity for him to rub shoulders with the little people.

Well, everyone at school had a laugh at my expense, thought I was nuts, and chalked this letter/call off to another Peg is crazy moment.

The day of our program I was in teaching...here is the conversation as best as 6 years ago can remember.

Overhead speaker beeps into my classroom...

Jan (secretary): You have a call on line 4.

Me: Can you take a message? I am in the middle of something.

Jan: Oh, I think you want to take this call immediately. It is very important!

Me: Fine.

I walk down the hall to the little room that held the phone.

Me: Hello, this is Peg.

Bob: Hi Peg! This is Bob Costas calling. How are you?

Me: (Acting all cool, but shaking) Great! How are you doing?

Bob: Super! I got your invitation to your program tonight. I love to attend these kinds of things. It sounds like it is going to be wonderful.

Me: Stumbling, don't know what I said.

Bob: I would come, BUT, I have to meet with Mitt Romney, and the other IOC members in a huge meeting or I promise I would be there! It would be the one night I can't slip out!

Me: The fact that you called is huge to us. Thanks for being so personal.

Bob: I am staying in the blah blah hotel downtown. (Did he want a secret liasion?) Would you tape the program and drop it off at my hotel so I can watch it?

Me: Of course we will! (Shall we meet over dinner?) Thanks for your time and good luck the next two weeks.

Bob: Thanks for your hard work and tell Tolman Elementary I wish them the best of luck tonight at their program.

And then it was over...

I will always be a Bob Costas fan. I will always take important calls at the expense of my class. I will always go out on a limb for things I think are important.

Yo ho, Yo ho, a fire fighter's life for me...

The little Larsy Poo finally came home from his great adventure Monday night. He has been gone for 3 weeks fighting fires in Northern California. It seems that his crew had a bit of sightseeing along the way. They saw the Redwoods, Yosemite, served food by convicts, a bear, majestic scenery, smoke, fire, and more smoke. We are glad that he is safe and home again. Here are a few snaps...

Half Dome, Yosemite (Lars with beard...oh it is all on his neck!)

Lars ascending up to the "summit" of Half Dome...

they made the descent into the forest with head lamps...El Stupido!

This is a 17 mile hike, 10-12 hours long. They started it at 2:30 p.m.

Laying the hose down...