Heisman Bound?

Is Chase Daniel bound for the Heisman Trophy?

M-I-Z Z-O-U

Quarterback Chase Daniel

Can you believe the Mizzoui victory over rival KU? As most of you know I went to Mizzou for 3 years and even though I graduated from UMSL I still sort of consider myelf a alumni. It was a great game and I enjoyed watching it with Justin who is a huge football fan and now thinks he wants to attend Mizzou himself. And as of Sunday Mizzou was ranked the number 1 college footabll team for the first time in 47 years. Pretty impressive!!

http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112507aaa.html

This is a link to a story about the game in case you missed it!

Scary Poison Ivy Girl

Here is a picture of Hannah at the height of her flu/poison ivy epidemic. I will post pics of the new puppy and Thanksgiving dinner later, but this one is too bizarre not share.

Puppies, Poison Ivy, the Flu and Thanksgiving

You name it and it has happened this Thanksgiving. First off Hannah contracted Poison Ivy last week, by Tuesday evening it had somewhat faded and our plans for a Thanksgiving at home were going ahead as scheduled. That evening my father got a new puppy, a black pug. Then came Wednesday, the kids were all off school but I had to work and so did Bob. Generally this is not a good combination but they are getting old enough to stay home alone now so off we both went to work. By 11am I got a call from Justin saying Hannah was sick. So I went home thinking I would stop in and check on her and then go back to work as we didn't have kids that day at work just a series of "teacher meetings". When I arrived, Hannah was sitting on the toilet with a towel wrapped around her and stuff coming out of both ends. To make matters worse, everywhere that she has her poison ivy, which was mostly on her face, was a ghastly shade or purple. I mean it was horrible!!!! SO after getting the boys situated at my parents' house, I called the DR. to tell of Hannah's condition. She had already been there on Monday and they diagnosed the Poison Ivy but the color was now a big concern. As the afternoon wore on, I decided to take her in. When we arrived at the Dr's office and got taken to the room the Dr comes in and goes " I've never seen anything like it before." Not the best news from your child's dr. But after examining her and seeing her throw up a few more times, he sent her home with nothing more than a "keep an eye on it and take her to the er if it gets worse."

Well at this point I thought, "There goes Thanksgiving." But after her stomach settled down, she felt much better and by morning she was able to eat something and keep it down, her face was starting to fade to a maroon and she wanted to "help" me cook Thanksgiving dinner.

So it is now 9 pm, dinner is over and everything turned out great. My stuffing was delicious, my turkey so moist. And best of all my in laws were able to make it over for dinner and bring Grandma's homemade pumpkin and cherry pies. We ate, played Apples to Apples and had dessert. Now the kids are watching the Incredibles as I type and Hannah's face is now a more rose color.

Now I'm just praying we all don't get the flu!!

My own Thanksgiving

This year, I am breaking with tradition and preparing my own Thanksgiving. At first I was a little sad that I wouldn't be seeing any of my relatives for the holiday but after thinking about it, it will actually be so much easier for my family. First off I don't have to worry about what my kids wear or how they look. I don't have to worry if I am not helping out enough or if I am just in the way. I don't have to worry about the kids spilling anything. I don't have to make 3 plates up before I eat my own meal.

I am cooking a turkey, which I have done before and making homemade stuffing for the first time. I will have green bean casserole complete with the fried onions on top, carrots (just for color because I am the only on who will eat them), corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce (a Nixon kid favorite), and a small dish a sweet potatoes that I bought at Dierbergs (again because I am the only one who will eat them). Plus rolls and a little relish tray because Justin considers pickles a vegetable. For dessert, we will probably go to my in-laws and take them some food and have dessert there because my mother-in-law has been too sick to leave the house. I will buy a pumpkin pie or 2 from Tippins (Bob's favorite). I am not a baker so it is store bought pies for us. But I will also probably make some Brownies just cause I don't like pumpkin pie.

We have decided (I mean I have decided) to try to eat around 3 or so to give us time to visit Grandma and Grandpa Nixon. In the morning I will get the turkey going, then watch the Macy's parade, then do some cleaning so the house looks nice for the long weekend I am off. Maybe take a snooze on the couch while Justin watches football, then finish up the meal, eat, visit, and back home for game night with the kids. Then a weekend where we are all off together. Thinking about going up to Our Lady of the Snows Christmas light festival on Friday evening and I am actually thinking about doing some shopping on Friday even though I always think people who do that are crazy. But Bob said he would go and drop me off at the door of different places and either wait or join me inside.

Who knows if this goes well we may stay home for Christmas too!

Anyone know any good stuffing recipes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Justin's Birthday and other October Happenings

I realized I haven't posted anything about Justin's 13 birthday or my 35 or the rest of the month of Ocotber.

So here goes, Justin had great birthday going paintballing with friends and getting to eat dinner at Red Robin. He got a tent and a nintendo DS system and money and some clothes (which he needed but didn't really want).

For my birthday we didn't do much, I went out to dinner with friends from work and as a family we went to Red Lobster which is always good. No winery trip like I wanted because no one could seem to get together. Maybe in the next few weeks I can get out to one.

We also attending the Wedding of our old friend Walter. Bob was one of the groomsmen.

Otherwise the month was busy with football, hockey, and cub scouts. We are always busy running here and there from one activity to the next.

Halloween 2007

Halloween was a big success this year again. Mom made her fantastic stuffed green pepper soup and white chicken chili, yummy! And despite having previously said they would not dress up for Halloween, both Justin and Hannah wore costumes, Justin a cop, Hannah a clown. Adam ofcourse had great time as the evil black spiderman. It was a really nice night, not too cold or rainy as in years past. I was also able to go to Adam's Halloween party and parade at school, which I hadn't done since Hannah was in first grade. It was fun and Adam was really glad I was there.

Everyone, including me, and all the kids at my school were very cranky the next day though. November 1st, teacher's worst nightmare!!