2011 is coming to a screeching halt.  And it hasn't been a bad year.  No surgeries this year.  No major home repairs.  I got promoted and a great raise.  I found a liquid Vitamin B that has been a miracle for my memory.  

So, 2011 is ending.   Joe and I have resolved to make 2012 the year of physical and financial  health.  It's going to be hard, and it's going to take lots of work and prayer. 

Let's do it!!!

Joe and his mom

Lily, Eric, Sarah & Maple

Lily's 2nd birthday.

Maple 5 months

Lena and Yuki, Sept, 2011

Serious Lily Sept 2011

Maple Sept 2011

Sofi Sept 2011 - Alone time with Grandma!

Ella's 4th Birthday!

Once upon a time there was a pumpkin.  The pumpkin was beautiful.

The pumpkin was steamed and peeled.

The pumpkin seeds were separated and prepared for roasting.

The flesh was pressed through the ricer.  Twice!

Now, the the beautiful pumpkin has been transformed and is ready to make into a wonderful pumpkin dessert.

The end!

Shiny things

 
This morning I received a file print to forward on to defense counsel.  All the Transnet stuff was clipped together with this tiny little binder clip.  I’ve never seen one that small.  So I’m taking apart the file print and sorting it into piles to make it easier on the atty’s office.  I can’t bring myself to use the baby clip because I only have one.  And it’s cute.    It’s the same with colored paperclips.  I hate to “waste” them on someone else. 
 
Sometimes, it’s a little hard loving office supplies.
 

Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

Starts TODAY.  Not Jan 1, not a Monday, not "just in time for summer".  Today.  

Ready...Set...GO!!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ShrinkingJeans/~3/39iCarHEc8o/

Baby Milena Mae joins the family

Milena Mae was born last night at 7:50.  She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 20" long.  Elizabeth elected not to get an epidural this time, and once she hit 6 cm, things started happening pretty quickly.  A little too quickly as it turns out, because her doctor did not get there in time.   The nurse told Eliz not to push, and she did her very best not to.  When the nurse checked her, she told another nurse to call the doctor and tell him to get here NOW.  Then, realized another doctor was needed until he got there.  Turns out Milena was breech.  They were trying to rush to get Eliz into the operating room, but there was just no going there.  Milena was coming, and she was coming now.  Elizabeth was so brave and she did exactly what the doctor told her to do.  The baby was born, and Eliz didn't even tear.  The baby's right clavicle was broken, but it seems that will heal easily and should be no problem in the future.
That was probably the hardest thing I have ever witnessed.  There were so many people there and the atmosphere was so charged with tension and fear.  I was afraid the baby was going to die, and Elizabeth was in such pain...  whew.  I'm so glad it's over and thank the Lord for watching over everything.

Cookin'

I made a recipe of buckeyes today.  Got the recipe out of the February Real Simple magazine.  The nice thing about this recipe is it doesn't make a ton.  It made 23 Tablespoon size buckeyes.   Yesterday I made chili.  There's enough left over for maybe 3 lunches.

 

 

Sarah called this morning.  She had a tick attached to her neck and she pulled it out herself.  She thinks she didn't get the head.  What a weird time of year for ticks.  Hopefully she really did get the tick's head, and if not, Eric can finish getting it out for her.

 

Elizabeth is getting closer to her due date.  She goes back to the doctor Friday, but I know she really wants to have the baby NOW.  I wonder if labor will be easy for her this time. 

 

 

Maizy

This is a funny picture of Maizy trying to lie in Butch's old bed.

Liliana Moon Josephine Swanson

Lily is now 5 1/2 months old.  

Saturday!

Yesterday I took the day off from work, so I'm in the middle of a three day weekend! 

I just finished 1/2 a grapefruit.  I ALWAYS forget how wonderful grapefruit tastes.  It's been months since I've had one.  I remember Mom getting grapefruits, oranges and apples from the FFA.  We would store them in our basement under the stairs.  That part of our basement didn't have much light and it was a little bit scary.  Not to mention spider-ish.  None of us kids wanted to go get any of the fruit because of the spider possibility.   Not to mention the worry about someone (thing) sneaking up on you while bending over under the stairs, terrified already that a spider would drop in your hair.   I wouldn't swear to it, but I bet mom felt the same way, which is why she sent one of us to go get some fruit...

Anyway.  Saturday, oatmeal, grapefruit.  Great start.