Winter is HERE!

I can't believe it! It has been snowing almost all day. It's still too warm for it to stick to the ground but still is a beautiful site when I look out the window. This has been a very quite winter day. Laundry is almost done, the chicken vegetable soup is on the stove simmering. Breanna is in her room reading. I think I am going to start on the 500+ emails I haven't looked at. I seriously don't know how I get so many. Then I hope to start on a new book. Still haven't heard from the guys. Hope they got a deer.

Angie's Lazy Day Chicken Vegetable Soup
2 cans Chicken Broth
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces
1 can creamy tomato soup
1 bag frozen vegetables
6-8 potatoes, diced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
Cavenders
garlic powder

Place onions and potatoes in chicken broth and boil. Add Chicken. Boil for a few minutes until potatoes are tender. They don't have to be all the way soft as you can simmer the soup as long as you would like. Add Tomato Soup, vegetables and seasonings. Simmer until ready to serve.

Poor Scott, he thinks I am a good cook. Little does he know I just toss some things in a pot.

Girls Weekend

The guys are out hunting so Breanna and I have had the weekend to our self. I will admit I was a little sad that we didn't have any money to run around and do girl things. Then my husband handed me this envelope Thursday evening. I don't know where the money came from but he gave us some running around money.

We left the house Friday morning around 8:30ish. I was surprised that the things that I wanted to buy for gifts were already sold out so we ended up with very little. We spent the rest of the day being lazy watching chick flicks. I dug out my small George Foreman grill (hasn't been used in like 4 years) and we grilled us up some chicken and had mashed potatoes and cabbage. I can't believe we went all out and cooked a big meal for just the two of us.

We decided to go to Branson today. We only hit up a few stores and found some really good deals. We were bad and spent the money on us instead of buying Christmas gifts. Here are our best deals. We found these shoes that were originally $40 and $45 each and we paid $5 each. Breanna loves shoes and said these heels were really comfortable. The sandals I got will look great with my capris in the spring.

We went to Target where I got a swing sweater for $5 and some change. I think I have turned Breanna into a Target fan also. We could have spent tons of money. We had a late lunch. Bre got an education on football as we sat in the bar area so we didn't have to wait. Yes, I am a terrible step-mother we ate in the bar area. . . .

We decided we would stop at Books-A-Million and head home. Well, Petco is right beside it and we just had to stop in. They had dogs in there that they were trying to adopt out. We wanted to bring all of them home but sadly resisted. They all had their personal story on the crate and it was so sad. One dog was dumped on a road by its owner and waited for 3 months for its master to come back. Finally, someone put a leash on it and made it leave. I don't think people realize the trauma they put on animals when they do such horrible things. I am blessed to have a family that loves animals the way I do. Breanna wants to take her Dad back so he will want to bring them home. If you are thinking of a new pet to add to your family please look to the shelters or other animals that need help.

Tomorrow the guys will be back so I plan on doing laundry and cleaning. YUCK! I think since we don't know exactly what time they are going to be home and since the weather is suppose to be cold we will make a pot of soup.

This has been a great bonding weekend. Everyone should get to do this from time to time.

Thanksgiving Day

We spent Thanksgiving Day at my mom's house. We had great food and hung out for a while. It has always been a tradition that all of my family get together on this day. However, this year alot of people were missing. It was a little sad. Those of us that were there had a great time. We didn't have a photo of our clan together. So JT took a picture of us. Doesn't everyone look thrilled.

I can't believe all the kids are getting so tall!!

Our Second Thanksgiving

Last weekend we spent the weekend in Hasty. There was a little bit of a problem with the gas so we didn't have heat or a cook stove. However, there was great family time snuggled around electric heaters. The old wood cook stove was put to use and Scott's Aunt Shirley opened up her home to let us all use her oven. We all enjoyed Mexican food. It's so neat how several of us had the same recipe all cooked a little different.

Board games and cards are always a big hit. This year there was a Wii and guitar hero. It was a blast for young and old alike.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Our Thanksgivings started with. . .

Our first Thanksgiving get together was at Scott's mom's house a couple of weekends ago. We had yummy snacks and our main course was soup and beans. We enjoyed the day and evening hanging out and playing board games. Family time together makes this my favorite holiday. Emma was go good at posing for the camera.

This kids had a blast hanging out together.

The adults and Breanna enjoyed a game of Pictionary.

The game was ended suddenly by a large stink by Scott. His mom had to pull out the Scott Guard. Yes, Kim is trying not to breath and her eyes are almost watering. Everyone had to leave the room as the smell seamed to be burnt into the cushion he was sitting on. (ha ha)

*****Correction***** Kim says her eyes were watering!! She didn't know what she was in for when she chose a seat next to him . . . . . . . . .

Photography on Scott's Grandpa's Farm

There is something about barn wood that I love. . .

I have to admit that many times with my camera, I get in a hurry and let it do all the work for me. I was very fortunate that while Scott was out hunting to have a little time to myself to get out and practice taking some pictures. His Grandpa's farm has some of the neatest old stuff on it and the fact that the items stay still while I am trying to photograph them was a huge help. I will admit, I did have some pictures that turned out almost all black and some that looked really yellow. I have got to practice alot more. But so far more than 95% of my Thanksgiving pictures have been manual not automatic. Here are a few photos that I took that I think turned out good.

I can't figure out why only the barbs are rusted and not the wire.

Wish I would have walked beyond the house. I know I could have found many more items to photograph.

The Lucky One

So I'm really behind on my posting but thought I would start with a great book that I just finished. Nicholas Sparks is, of course, one of my favorites. He seams to write wonderful, great stories that are fantastic and hard to put down. This one is a must read. Some of his books seam predictable as to how they will end but to me this one was not. I would give this book five stars and would highly recommend it ! Let me know if you want to borrow this book.

Now, on to my next book. I started my own tradition a few years back. One just for me. Several years back when my life was not so great, I decided to read a Christmas book. Hoping to boost my spirits. It did just what I was hoping and I had a very good Christmas. I think that year I learned to be grateful of the small things which I think I would have forgotten that year had I not read the book. The sad part is I don't even remember what the book was and I sold almost all of my paperback books at a garage sale because I don't have room for tons of books. Anyway, since that year, I have tried to read a Christmas book each holiday season. As crazy as the holidays can get, it's relaxing to come home and have a few quiet minutes reading a book that makes you appreciate the season. I placed my order for my book last week. I don't remember what it is called but I know that one of the main characters is a dog and everyone knows I am a animal lover. Does anyone know of any great Christmas stories I should read?

Pat's Family

A few Saturdays ago, I spent the afternoon with Pat and her family at her parents farm. It turned out to be a really nice day and we had alot of fun. I had a hard time deciding which photos to share so here is a few of the several hundred shots I took. Blake The Gang!

Pat with her children Ashley and Justin.

Grandma and Grandpa with the tractor they have used forever.

Justin decided to start the day off with some fun and picked grandpa up.

Ashley and Adam with their children Abby and Macy.

Adam and Ashley

Spirit Week

Valley had Spirit Week a few weeks back. Christian had a blast at school that week. We had to make several trips to Walmart to try and find all the fun things he wanted. We couldn't find any crazy boys/men's socks so I will have to keep a look out for next year. Christian had blue and green hair one day. He decided not to do pj day for fear that no other guys were going to do it. His favorite day was Green and White day. He went all out with green and white face paint, green wig, valley t-shirt, black- green and white shorts, green baseball socks and green and white shoes.

The Last Lecture

Has anyone read this book?

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if I just didn't read it with a open mind or what, but it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be like Tuesday with Morrie which I loved. It was OK for me but not nearly as good as all the reviews said. It was suppose to be a Five Star. I would love some input. Anyone else heard anything about this book? Should I reread it again in a few months? I have had to reread things before.