I love Christmas time. There are so many things about it to love, and I love every bit of it. Every time I sing a Christmas carol, or wrap a present, curl a ribbon, see a snowflake, or wear a scarf and gloves for that matter, I just get all warm and fuzzy inside. I can hardly stand it. How can you look at a tree all lit up and decorated and not smile?
Happy Holidays everyone!
08 December 2011
05 December 2011
Decorations
I love putting up my Christmas decorations. Yesterday afternoon we put up our tree and what other small decorations we have. It felt good to put on Christmas music and just be merry. Then I decorated our blog for the holiday as well. And looking back on it during previews, I decided there aren't nearly enough pictures. So this is my promise to be more active in picture taking. It is important to me to have pictures of all our fun times, and I used to be really good about taking pictures (read: Had the camera attached to my hand and took a bajillion pictures of everything.) My goal is to take more pictures, but not be so picture obsessed as I was years ago. There is a balance in the middle, somewhere between pictures of everything and pictures of nothing.
04 December 2011
An Anderson Thanksgiving
It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a 15 hour car ride. So at the last minute, we decided to make the drive to Richmond. And I didn't take a single picture, so I hope you enjoy reading! We packed up the car and left Tuesday afternoon, landing us in Richmond at 5am. YEEHAW! Overall, this was my favorite time frame to travel in. We've tried a bunch of different ways in making these long trips:
1) Leave at 3am get in at 6pm - you lose an entire day driving and feeling gross. You eat dinner, talk a little then fall into bed. Plus, the driving is super hard because of the whole getting up at 2:30 part.
2) Leave at 9pm get in at 10am - You have already been up all day then try to drive all night. We tried this our first time to Arkansas and could only do 2 hour driving shifts, barely staying awake. Not recommended.
3) Leave at 9am get in at 10pm - you get a full nights sleep and aren't so groggy, but you lose a whole day driving which just feels wasted.
4) Leave at noon and get in at 5am. You get the full nights rest, and have the whole morning to yourself to get things done. I took the first shift (since I am nearly useless after bedtime) and drove for the first 7 hours. I was fine for the whole drive. Evan had gotten up early and gone to class already so he was able to get a good nap in while I drove. He took over after dinner and drove til 3am. Apparently he got a second wind after midnight. I slept the entire time. So I drove the last two hours. We got into richmond in the wee hours of the morning and took a nice nap. But we were up and ready to go by 10. I felt like this was the best use of time of all the options in long driving trips.
In case you were interested in that.
Wednesday I went to the Y and visited with my little ones. Who aren't so little anymore. One of my girls came running out the door to give me the biggest hug. It felt good to know I was missed
Thursday was Thanksgiving of course, and it was delicious. We ate dinner with Evan's extended family at his Uncle's house. The college girls were missed, but it was a packed house all the same. We also went to see the Muppets that night and it was well worth the trip to the theater. I am definitely liking this tradition of going out to the movies together for the holiday.
Friday the men folk went out to the driving range/batting cages and the women folk stayed home and rested. We went out to dinner at El Paso then broke off for a few hours to go visit our friends who had lots of exciting news to share. We also introduced the family to Dominion that night. And made an attempt at Bad Movie Night- an Anderson sibling tradition. But we were all pretty tired and only made it halfway through. Busy busy!
Saturday there was a lunch with the whole family at the park followed by kickball, then we broke off again and went to visit with some other friends for a round of frisbee golf, which we have severely missed. I may not be that good at it, but I do enjoy playing, or at least having the option to play :) Evan's mom took the ladies out to see the Help after dinner, then another round of Dominion.
And Sunday we left in the wee hours of the morning to drive back! And a long drive it was too.
We spent a lot of time with the family, A lot of time playing wii (Mario Kart and Just Dance especially) and a lot of time having fun.
Overall I am glad we went. There was a lot of back and forth before we finally decided to go, but I think it was a good decision and well worth the drive.
I've been waiting to be inspired about this post so it wouldn't be so boring. Then I decided I didn't care because if nobody else read it I could come back in ten years and remember what we did for Thanksgiving 2011.
The End!
1) Leave at 3am get in at 6pm - you lose an entire day driving and feeling gross. You eat dinner, talk a little then fall into bed. Plus, the driving is super hard because of the whole getting up at 2:30 part.
2) Leave at 9pm get in at 10am - You have already been up all day then try to drive all night. We tried this our first time to Arkansas and could only do 2 hour driving shifts, barely staying awake. Not recommended.
3) Leave at 9am get in at 10pm - you get a full nights sleep and aren't so groggy, but you lose a whole day driving which just feels wasted.
4) Leave at noon and get in at 5am. You get the full nights rest, and have the whole morning to yourself to get things done. I took the first shift (since I am nearly useless after bedtime) and drove for the first 7 hours. I was fine for the whole drive. Evan had gotten up early and gone to class already so he was able to get a good nap in while I drove. He took over after dinner and drove til 3am. Apparently he got a second wind after midnight. I slept the entire time. So I drove the last two hours. We got into richmond in the wee hours of the morning and took a nice nap. But we were up and ready to go by 10. I felt like this was the best use of time of all the options in long driving trips.
In case you were interested in that.
Wednesday I went to the Y and visited with my little ones. Who aren't so little anymore. One of my girls came running out the door to give me the biggest hug. It felt good to know I was missed
Thursday was Thanksgiving of course, and it was delicious. We ate dinner with Evan's extended family at his Uncle's house. The college girls were missed, but it was a packed house all the same. We also went to see the Muppets that night and it was well worth the trip to the theater. I am definitely liking this tradition of going out to the movies together for the holiday.
Friday the men folk went out to the driving range/batting cages and the women folk stayed home and rested. We went out to dinner at El Paso then broke off for a few hours to go visit our friends who had lots of exciting news to share. We also introduced the family to Dominion that night. And made an attempt at Bad Movie Night- an Anderson sibling tradition. But we were all pretty tired and only made it halfway through. Busy busy!
Saturday there was a lunch with the whole family at the park followed by kickball, then we broke off again and went to visit with some other friends for a round of frisbee golf, which we have severely missed. I may not be that good at it, but I do enjoy playing, or at least having the option to play :) Evan's mom took the ladies out to see the Help after dinner, then another round of Dominion.
And Sunday we left in the wee hours of the morning to drive back! And a long drive it was too.
We spent a lot of time with the family, A lot of time playing wii (Mario Kart and Just Dance especially) and a lot of time having fun.
Overall I am glad we went. There was a lot of back and forth before we finally decided to go, but I think it was a good decision and well worth the drive.
I've been waiting to be inspired about this post so it wouldn't be so boring. Then I decided I didn't care because if nobody else read it I could come back in ten years and remember what we did for Thanksgiving 2011.
The End!
21 November 2011
Angry is an understatement.
So, to get my teaching license I have to submit a full background check to the state police. Well, I got a letter from them Thursday and thought, "Oh, this must be the results." I opened it up and much to my surprise, it was someone else's background check, fingerprint card, and money orders. Ummm... what? If I got this guys stuff in the mail, then where is my stuff? Is my identity about to be stolen? This is a HUGE MISTAKE!!!
So Friday, I get a call from someone in MISSOURI and she tells me she has my information and when she called the ID Bureau, they didn't even have a record of me. So we chat a little, I tell her thank you for mailing it back, and sorry that I didn't get her stuff and there are more people involved.
Cue Monday morning when I call them back. First, I'm told to tell it to the fiscal department. Then I'm redirected again to a specific person in charge of that. And she's gone so I leave a voicemail. Finally I get a call back and she asks if I have Elaine's (the girl who called me) paperwork. Nope. I have the paperwork for some dude. So they still haven't located poor Elaine's stuff. And they were talking about a "group" so how many of us are there? She asked if I'd be able to send it back, I said yes, and she hung up. REALLY?? No apology, no "we'll keep an eye on your identity for you" no nothing.
So I called back. And I wanted to to know what they were going to do about it. She said, "I don't think you have anything to worry about. Nobody has your information." "YES. They do. Cause she called me and told me. And I have some dude's stuff. What are you gonna do about it?" And she said, "I don't know what to tell you. I guess the address labels got mixed up. I'm sorry, I'm only human, I make mistakes." WHAT? YOU MAKE MISTAKES? HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? You don't accidentally send sensitive, private, personal information to the wrong person. That should not even happen. You sent my social security number to some random lady! Why are you not double checking? How did you even get this job? Did someone accidentally confuse you for a competent worker and send you the job offer by mistake?
I am so angry. I expected more. I expected my information to be safe. I cannot believe this.
So Friday, I get a call from someone in MISSOURI and she tells me she has my information and when she called the ID Bureau, they didn't even have a record of me. So we chat a little, I tell her thank you for mailing it back, and sorry that I didn't get her stuff and there are more people involved.
Cue Monday morning when I call them back. First, I'm told to tell it to the fiscal department. Then I'm redirected again to a specific person in charge of that. And she's gone so I leave a voicemail. Finally I get a call back and she asks if I have Elaine's (the girl who called me) paperwork. Nope. I have the paperwork for some dude. So they still haven't located poor Elaine's stuff. And they were talking about a "group" so how many of us are there? She asked if I'd be able to send it back, I said yes, and she hung up. REALLY?? No apology, no "we'll keep an eye on your identity for you" no nothing.
So I called back. And I wanted to to know what they were going to do about it. She said, "I don't think you have anything to worry about. Nobody has your information." "YES. They do. Cause she called me and told me. And I have some dude's stuff. What are you gonna do about it?" And she said, "I don't know what to tell you. I guess the address labels got mixed up. I'm sorry, I'm only human, I make mistakes." WHAT? YOU MAKE MISTAKES? HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? You don't accidentally send sensitive, private, personal information to the wrong person. That should not even happen. You sent my social security number to some random lady! Why are you not double checking? How did you even get this job? Did someone accidentally confuse you for a competent worker and send you the job offer by mistake?
I am so angry. I expected more. I expected my information to be safe. I cannot believe this.
19 November 2011
Totfest 2011
Was a success. This is the third year we have celebrated Totfest. To look back on Totfest 2010, just follow the link! I very quickly went over how it all came to be, but I think I will give the extended version here.
So, the origins of Totfest:
Once upon a time there was a girl, and there was a boy. This girl and this boy had dated, then stopped dating, and then slowly they were able to become friends. Except then the boy thought maybe he would like to date again, and the girl said no. Then the boy asked again, and the girl said no. This continued for a while until the boy started to date a different girl. The girl was also dating someone new. The girl put space between them because her new date was not a fan of the girl and the boy spending too much time together. And then the girl came to realize that she missed her friend and wanted to see him again. She didn't know what to do about it except ask. So she sent him a friendly message suggesting they spend time together in the near future. The girl expected to hear back "Yeah ok, we will." Nothing definite, but something to work with. Instead the boy asked, "Doing what?" The girl was surprised and didn't know what to respond with and for some reason the first thing that popped into her head was "Tots." And the boy agreed. The girl knew then that there was something special about this boy she may have overlooked in the past. On a typical Thursday night, the girl went to the boy's apartment and they began to cook some tots. Then the boy wondered, "What would these taste like fried?" So they tried it. And totfest was born. To make the evening more exciting, the girl brought many sauces to dip the tots in, some delicious, some surprising, and some downright gross. But they enjoyed each other's company and a tradition was born. Shortly after the first Totfest, the boy and the girl dated again, and then they got married and vowed to celebrate Totfest together every year.
So, it may seem on the outside like something completely unhealthy, and overindulgent, and strange, but deep down, there is a story behind Totfest that is very important to us. And really celebrates an important day in our life together. Plus, we both really like tater tots.
Totfest 2010 introduced hot wings to the menu. 2011 brought us fried mushrooms and twinkies. I only fried one twinkie because, well, it turned out gross. You have to freeze them before hand, apparently so they can't soak up so much oil (being spongecake). And I didn't freeze them long enough. So we just ate regular twinkies for dessert. This was also the first Totfest in which outsiders were invited.
Evan said this about the future of Totfest: Totfest should be like MTV. It started out as just music television, but now it has branched out to much much more.
So, Totfest will branch out to become more like friedfest, and will be amazing. He also said that one day he wants to have so many people over he has to contact food vendors to buy tots by the boxful. We'll see about that one!
Our original fryer (which Evan found in a foreclosed house when he was cleaning out foreclosed houses) died and we had to rush to get a new one. Luckily they are not expensive. Also, we have an outlet on the patio so we could fry OUTSIDE and not have to have our apartment smelling like hot oil for the next month. HOORAY!
Until next year!
So, the origins of Totfest:
Once upon a time there was a girl, and there was a boy. This girl and this boy had dated, then stopped dating, and then slowly they were able to become friends. Except then the boy thought maybe he would like to date again, and the girl said no. Then the boy asked again, and the girl said no. This continued for a while until the boy started to date a different girl. The girl was also dating someone new. The girl put space between them because her new date was not a fan of the girl and the boy spending too much time together. And then the girl came to realize that she missed her friend and wanted to see him again. She didn't know what to do about it except ask. So she sent him a friendly message suggesting they spend time together in the near future. The girl expected to hear back "Yeah ok, we will." Nothing definite, but something to work with. Instead the boy asked, "Doing what?" The girl was surprised and didn't know what to respond with and for some reason the first thing that popped into her head was "Tots." And the boy agreed. The girl knew then that there was something special about this boy she may have overlooked in the past. On a typical Thursday night, the girl went to the boy's apartment and they began to cook some tots. Then the boy wondered, "What would these taste like fried?" So they tried it. And totfest was born. To make the evening more exciting, the girl brought many sauces to dip the tots in, some delicious, some surprising, and some downright gross. But they enjoyed each other's company and a tradition was born. Shortly after the first Totfest, the boy and the girl dated again, and then they got married and vowed to celebrate Totfest together every year.
So, it may seem on the outside like something completely unhealthy, and overindulgent, and strange, but deep down, there is a story behind Totfest that is very important to us. And really celebrates an important day in our life together. Plus, we both really like tater tots.
So, Totfest will branch out to become more like friedfest, and will be amazing. He also said that one day he wants to have so many people over he has to contact food vendors to buy tots by the boxful. We'll see about that one!
Isn't our new fryer perty?
And the poster for Totfest 2011, complete with Sigmund Freud mascot:
13 November 2011
Sunday
While sitting in Sunday School, the teacher was talking about a scripture story and saying something along the lines of, "They didn't get it all at once. They didn't just wake up one morning and stop being hungry. It came little by little."
Evan then leaned over and said, "I'm still hungry."
As he often skips breakfast, especially in the pre-church scramble to get out of the house on time, I asked skeptically if he had eaten anything this morning. Thinking, if he didn't eat anything then can't be still hungry, just hungry.
He answered, "Yes!" meaning of course. How could I ask such a silly question? "Oh!" I said, surprised because I didn't remember him ever stopping in the kitchen. I was ready to drop it when he smiled and said, "Two cookies." Of course he ate the last two cookies on the pan from last night.
See, I managed to hurt myself yesterday in a friendly game of volleyball. So I put myself in bed for a few hours when we got back, then moved to the couch for the rest of the night while Evan cooked dinner, and dessert and worked on his schoolwork. And since I was laid up and not planning to do any housework, the dishes sat there. With the last two cookies out all night, making the perfect breakfast for my husband to eat while he ran to throw his wrinkled clothes in the dryer. We own an iron, but rarely does it get used. Another story.
And that is a typical Sunday morning for the Andersons.
Evan then leaned over and said, "I'm still hungry."
As he often skips breakfast, especially in the pre-church scramble to get out of the house on time, I asked skeptically if he had eaten anything this morning. Thinking, if he didn't eat anything then can't be still hungry, just hungry.
He answered, "Yes!" meaning of course. How could I ask such a silly question? "Oh!" I said, surprised because I didn't remember him ever stopping in the kitchen. I was ready to drop it when he smiled and said, "Two cookies." Of course he ate the last two cookies on the pan from last night.
See, I managed to hurt myself yesterday in a friendly game of volleyball. So I put myself in bed for a few hours when we got back, then moved to the couch for the rest of the night while Evan cooked dinner, and dessert and worked on his schoolwork. And since I was laid up and not planning to do any housework, the dishes sat there. With the last two cookies out all night, making the perfect breakfast for my husband to eat while he ran to throw his wrinkled clothes in the dryer. We own an iron, but rarely does it get used. Another story.
And that is a typical Sunday morning for the Andersons.
05 November 2011
Are all Arkansans this personal?
Side note before I start, Arkansas is pronounced are-kin-saw. I'm sure you know this. The term for people from the state, Arkansans is pronounced are-can-zans. You might have known this too. If not, it was an educational experience. Now on to my original thought.
Dear random person from Arkansas I met three minutes ago,
Sure, we are still kinda newly weds, we've only been married for 18 months.
No, we don't have kids yet, we've only been married for 18 months.
If and when we do plan to have kids, I promise you will not be the first person we tell. There are at least a dozen people ahead of you in that line.
My husband is in school, I work. In fact, I have a degree. A Master's Degree. Crazy world isn't it? Women going to school and then working and supporting their husbands while they go to school. Crazy.
Yes, I nanny. Yes, it's a big family. Actually, it's a lot of fun. They are well behaved and fun to be around. And, they pay well.
Yes, I like Arkansas. It was hot, but it cooled off and now it looks lovely outside with all the trees changing color. Also our bowling team won the tournament last night. The UCA Graduate students finally dethroned the UCA psychology faculty as bowling champions.
Thank you for chatting with me, it was nice getting to know you.
Sincerely,
The Andersons
Dear random person from Arkansas I met three minutes ago,
Sure, we are still kinda newly weds, we've only been married for 18 months.
No, we don't have kids yet, we've only been married for 18 months.
If and when we do plan to have kids, I promise you will not be the first person we tell. There are at least a dozen people ahead of you in that line.
My husband is in school, I work. In fact, I have a degree. A Master's Degree. Crazy world isn't it? Women going to school and then working and supporting their husbands while they go to school. Crazy.
Yes, I nanny. Yes, it's a big family. Actually, it's a lot of fun. They are well behaved and fun to be around. And, they pay well.
Yes, I like Arkansas. It was hot, but it cooled off and now it looks lovely outside with all the trees changing color. Also our bowling team won the tournament last night. The UCA Graduate students finally dethroned the UCA psychology faculty as bowling champions.
Thank you for chatting with me, it was nice getting to know you.
Sincerely,
The Andersons
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