The downhill slope

I feel well again. It took a cold to kill the flu and I finally have most of my voice back (still can't sing- tragedy, I know!). It has been such a whirlwind for us this past month, as I'm sure it has for everyone. I feel bad that I look forward to January- taking down Christmas, coming back from travelling and the complete lack of to-do's, but it is such a relief!
It is also a time for reflection. I think back on what this year has brought us, both in good times and in bad, and i am continually amazed at how blessed we are. It is especially apparent at this time when our economy is suffering. I know that lower gas prices are a relief for everyone, but they come at a cost for those of us in the business. People are struggling, but I still feel peaceful and optimistic. My little bubble is intact.
Thank you to everyone who tolerates me on a regular basis! We have wonderful friends and family.
Christmas was wonderful. It was quiet and happy. We enjoyed our newly enhanced family room. The kids were and still are well and healthy ( a Christmas first).
Everyone is doing well in school, getting smarter and more attitude everyday. They make me laugh and keep me young. Aaron is looking forward to getting the Priesthood this year and Emma will be baptized. All of the kids are out of nursery and settled in primary- another milestone!
Dad will be 70 this year. I am so grateful that he survived his family expectation of 55! I look forward to spending many more years with him.
A 13th year of marriage! It still seems like yesterday! How lucky I am to have my best friend always by my side. We will join with two of Tod's brothers this coming year as they start their own marriages and hope they are half as happy as I am.
Anna will start school, leaving Leah home for one last year. Then where will I be? I shudder to think.
I hope that all who read this can count themselves as blessed as I do. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.

From Twilight Fever to Post- Twilight Flu

Okay, so it may seem that we've dropped off the face of the earth. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Tod's dad, sister, two bothers and their significant others and children were all here for a Thanksgiving get together. We ate two twenty pound turkeys, 5 pies, 10 lbs of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberries, a gallon of gravy, and rolls. Whew! A LOT of work! I was up at 3 in the morning to get everything done, but it was a fun day for everyone and we ate till we were sick. As a sort of a thank-you-to-myself gift, the women went to see Twilight again. Any excuse will do right? So we got there and the theater was about half full. We sat down on the edge, three seats from the closest people. As the previews began, two men and a lady filed into our row. Why? There was half a theater full of empty seats, but they had to squeeze into our row like pieces in a human Tetris puzzle. This now puts me next to- we'll call him Joe-
Apparently Joe had been coerced into coming to the movie...not sure of his relationship to the girl, but I think he was the odd man out. The movie starts and Joe howls like a monkey. I glare at him and mutter under my breath (of course in the theater seats his ear was 6 inches away) "If you ruin this for me, so help me I'll stick my elbow in your teeth!"
So Joe piped down. He scaled down his attack on my pleasure to a non- vocal approach. Cough, hack, cough, cough, snarkle. Every other minute through the entire movie. And that wasn't all. He took over the armrest and further violated my personal space by spreading his legs and flopping his knee on my leg. Who is this guy Joe? Where is his date? Do I have "snuggle me" written on my forehead?
The movie ends and I'm irritated. Joe distracted me and I didn't get to soak in all the love.
As if that wasn't gift enough from Joe, he also blessed me with the influenza. Blast you Joe!
So that is how I've spent the last week...
Along with the other delightful symptoms, I haven't had a voice for three days. This is a change the kids pretend they feel sorry about, but I can see in their eyes that they are secretly enjoying it. So here I sit, still coughing and aching and cursing Joe for ruining my week. For now, I'm camped out in my recliner, drugged and watching the world pass me by. I'll let you know when all is well again, and if you see Joe, give him a big thank-you elbow in the teeth for me!

Twilight Fever

When I first picked up these books over a year ago, I had no idea what kind of craziness it would become. If I need a little pick-me-up, I can re-read the books and I am full of silly teenage romance. What more does a 30 something mom of 5 need to stay sane? Naturally I had to be there for the midnight release of Twilight. I'm no idiot though. I have read too many books and seen too many movies to have major expectations, but I LOVED it. Taking it for what it was, enjoying the love story, and inserting my little memories from the book, it was perfect. Even though it was 2:30am when we got out, I would have stayed for another showing if I could. It didn't even bother me that we were surrounded by the teeny-bopper crowd (and gay sidekicks), they treated us like any other girls. We were all girls, united in one cause- paying homage to the Cullens and our new-found love for vampires. Am I sounding pathetic yet? So if you haven't seen it yet, go. If you are still fighting the urge to jump on the bandwagon, jump!

Stupid Criminals

Okay, maybe this is only funny to me because I am a Lindner by marriage...

First, how many of you have ever met anyone named Lindner outside of our family? No, me either. Last night we were watching the news and they did this little bit at the end about a man from South Carolina. You know, the "stupid criminal" pieces? So this guy robs a convenience store and makes his getaway with $140 and a pack of cigarettes. Then his car breaks down and he flags down a taxi. The taxi driver didn't know how to get where the man needed to go, so he pulls over at a convenience store to get directions. That's right, the SAME convenience store that the man had just robbed. Only the delay in the taxi had given the police enough time to get on the scene. So he basically gets out of the taxi and into the cruiser.

Yeah, its funny/ironic, but the punchline? Yup, his name is Lindner. Johnny Lindner to be exact. No, we don't know him, but it is still funny. And even better, the reporter struggled throughout the story to pronounce his name. I guess they have never met a Lindner before either! (As a funny side-note, I went to paste his picture here on the blog and it was labelled "Lindler".

Perfect.

A reason to celebrate

So we woke up this morning hoping for the best. I am prepared to begin the Church marathon, just like any other week but my throat is finally sore and the "crud" in my head has reached critical mass. I say "finally" because the little girls have been this way for days and I know my close proximity to them means that my turn is coming. Tod wakes up and we compare notes- he's sick too- today is a sick day (We refuse to infect the entire ward).
Unfortunately this isn't just any day, it's Anna's birthday.
Anna is the last child in our family to celebrate her birthday in the calendar year, so it has been a long time coming for her. She had two simple gift requests- probably because she knows that they always get two gifts- she asked for a tea set and a Barbie head (you know, a bust of Barbie for practising your knot tying ;)) So I did my motherly job and delivered. I also failed to deliver. Wrong tea set, but the Barbie head was acceptable. This is Anna, you know. She is actually turning 45 this year, but someone failed to inform the rest of the world. I had been feeling bad all week that she wasn't having a party since it was on a Sunday, so I had planned a family tea party. We had tiny sandwiches and cookies, and apple juice for our "tea". I even let them use the teacups from my china. The boys even helped with the preparations. It was a smashing success! She kept telling me over and over again- "Thank you for a wonderful birthday!" this is an amazing compliment coming from Anna!

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and grated chocolate on top were tonight's finale. So now I'm in my recliner, head, back and throat aching. The special day is over and it was exactly what she hoped for- thank goodness. Some things must be suffered through in order to be enjoyed. Secretly, I think even the boys are hoping for a birthday tea party...nah.

Myopia Madness

So it's that time of year...the time when we get eye exams. This year, Emma fulfilled her destiny and failed her eye test at school. So here are the results: Aaron needed double his previous prescription and Emma's were just as bad as his. If there is a silver lining to the kids' need for glasses it is seeing their reaction right after they get new ones- to hear how excited they are to see the fine details of things they haven't seen in a long time. I can't relate, but I am glad to see them enjoy the world. Oh, and the not silver lining...no vision insurance means that this new enjoyment comes with a hefty price tag- Aaron picked the most expensive pair he could find. Guess what Aaron?! Merry Christmas!

America...A Reason to Celebrate

My dad, our family's veteran

I just wanted to let everyone know about the annual Veteran's Program put on by Rusk Elementary. It is a HUGE production at the CAF hanger, every student is involved. Hundreds of local veterans and their families show up every year and it is a very special occasion for them. The are even given a gift and then they 'picnic under the planes' with the students- a free lunch sponsered by HEB. If your are, know, or happen upon a veteran, please let them know about it, we want to honor them!

10:30, Monday, November 10 at the CAF hanger- everyone is welcome, see you there!