Stanley went on a Walk about

So Stanley is my pet cat. Het travels with me when I go to visit my parent's house. I am very attached. He is both an indoor/outdoor kitty. Which means that he kind of comes and goes as he pleases. I prefer to have him indoors, especially at night. So on Saturday he bolts out the door when it was open. No big deal, he is allowed outside. He decided to stay outside for 3 days this time.

By the time he had been outside for 24 hours I started to worry. There are tons of places a cat could hide so there is little to do as far as looking for him. All you can do is continue to check the door for him and call his name.

Tuesday I decided that I would feel better if we just walked around the barns and buildings to check on him. Parker and I were walking the perimeter of my parents lawn when we heard him meowing. I was so relieved. As Parker said "we're coming Stanley"
We found him in this tree in the hallow below my parents house. We tried to coax him down, but weren't having much luck. It was a tall tree with few branches, so I couldn't climb up there. Parker got cold, so we had to head in. I called my Dad and said he would bring a ladder and we could rescue him.
My sister, Rebecca and I carried flash lights while my dad toted a ladder down the hill and then set it up for him to climb. He figures it was a good 20 feet that Stanely had climbed.
Stanley was excited to see someone. He kept meowing and carrying on and then making little circles where he was.
Then there was the challenge of reaching the cat and climbing down the ladder. My dad figured it out.
Dad later mentioned he is getting afraid of heights. Thanks dad for rescuing my cat!
Both were happy to be at the bottom.
Stanely went straight to his food dish. Now I just need to get GPS installed on my cat so that I will know where he is next time he wants to go exploring.
We are so grateful to have Stanley back with us safely.

The End.

Making Sugar Cookies

So each time a holiday rolls around I think how much fun it would be to make sugar cookies with my boys. They can actually get involved and feel like they helped. I have cookie cutters for Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Plus the little mini set from Pampered Chef that includes a heart, clover, flower, chile pepper, star, pumpkin and apple. So it kind of fits all seasons. And we have a fire hydrant too.

I made the dough one afternoon with Parker and we put it in the fridge to chill. Well that particular night there was too much going on to make cookies, so the next day we pulled out the dough and made cookies. Both boys were awake and excited to be helping with making fun shapes. I could hardly get the dough rolled out fast enough. Of course the whole time I am answering Parker's questions to the running commentary.

What are we doing?
Why are you rolling the dough?
I want to help?
Why are you making fire hydrants, trees, boots (whatever cutter I chose)?
I want to make a star.

Then as soon as they come out of the oven he couldn't wait to sprinkle with the colored sugar. He liked to cover them generously. Which if you waited until they were cool you could tap the excess off and the whole cookie was covered and it was actually really pretty. He was also eating them as fast as they were coming off the pan. Then more commentary.

Why are you putting them in the oven again?
I want to eat them.
I want to put sugar on them.
What happened (to the ones that broke as I was pulling them off the cookie sheet)?

I guess he is learning. We didn't finish all the cookies. I had doubled the batch because in the past the dough didn't seem to make much. I was frustrated by the end. I always have these visions of having so much fun with my boys and all it did was stress me out. Perhaps I have my expectations too high or try to be too much of the perfectionist. Every time I do this I end up asking myself what was I thinking? This is too much work. I should just stick to brownies.

I just asked Parker if he had fun making cookies last week and his reply, yes, I want a cookie at Grandma's house.

Christmas Fun

I received this as an email, but thought it would be fun to post on my blog. A little about me.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial, my firefighting husband thinks the real thing is a fire hazard, plus the economical side of the whole thing you can buy 1 artificial tree and you will have paid for it in 2 years, less if you got your tree on clearance

3. When do you put up the tree? when we get around to it( could be as early as the middle of November if I was ambitiuos enough)

4. When do you take the tree down? when I am ready to reclaim that space again

5. Do you like eggnog?Ewwww. The thought of drinking raw eggs is just gross.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my Cabbage Patch doll with the corn silk hair.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother Sam, but we draw names, so I don't have to worry this year.

8. Easiest person to buy for? the boys

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, but we didn't put it up this year, all the decorations just take up space and I didn't feel like breaking everything out this year.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, although we haven't done this since Parker was 6 months old. We just got busy with life, never got a good family picture, kept thinking we would send Easter or 4th July cards or even Halloween. We have good intentions.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Umm, don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch that Stole Christmas (the old cartoon)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October (at least I start thinking about it then)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, for a white elephant gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Spiced nuts or peanut brittle
16. Lights on the tree? yes, they came with the artificial tree. Isn't that easy.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Let it Snow

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star - this year it is made out of pink construction paper.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? 1 on Christmas Eve- jammies and the remainder on Christmas Day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the crowds

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? we have collected ornaments from our vacation spots. Although we don't put ornaments on, because I couldn't bear to see them broken by the boys or the cat.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Mashed potatoes

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I would love a vacation from my boys.

26. Where are you on Christmas Eve? My Mom throws a huge party.

27. Do you hang a mistletoe? Used to when I decorated more.

28. A ritual you do for Christmas? We are still working on this one.

29. Give or receive gifts- Receive I know I should want to give, but I like to receive.

30. One thing you wish for this Christmas- A maid and a babysitter!


Well now you know a little more about me. It is kind of hard for me to get into the spirit of things. Sometimes I find myself saying "Ba Hum bug" Life gets so busy and crazy and the all things we feel obligated to do that I don't enjoy Christmas as much as I used to.

Blessing the food

So tonight when we sat down to eat Parker said the blessing on the prayer. Jim helped him. Here's how it went.

Jim: Dear Heavenly Father
Parker: Heaven Father
Jim: Thank you for this day,
Parker: Thank you day,
Jim: Bless the food
Parker: Bless food
Jim: That is will nourish and strengthen us (In my opinion this is a mouthful for adults, let alone a 3 year old)
Parker: that nursery
Jim: In the name of Jesus Christ
Parker : Amen

I just thought it was so cute to him try to say nourish. He is familiar with nursery, but not nourish.

I just wanted to add that it makes my heart melt when I hear my little boy say the prayer. It is the cutest thing.

Taking a walk

My boys love to go outside and I often need some fresh air and sunlight to make my day go better. Parker is so excited for it to the snow. The other day we had about an inch of snow. So I bundle everybody up and put Preston in the stroller.

I have to wait for Parker to shovel the driveway before we can go for a walk. Then he precedes to bring the shovel along with us on our walk. He was shoveling any remaining snow on the sides of the road or at the edges of driveways. We make it to the flag pole (this is our destination on a small lane behind our house) and he is now tired. So mom carries the shovel and pushes the stroller. Sorry no picture, my hands were full.