What a great day!

Thanksgiving was a great day- (pics to come soon).
Food was cooked perfectly, the table was set oh so nice, and the only catastrophe is we didnt get to eat it all together. After cooking a great meal, turning on the Lions game, Gustopher conked out on the couch, so it was just Lee and I.

It was nice and romantic actually bc we haven't had a meal like that in years and officially our first Thanksgiving "alone" together. So thank you Gus for your nap but next year you better be up so I can take obnoxious pictures of us all! :  )

After our little meal, Lee and I headed to the casino for alittle R&R. We had fun playing the nickel and penny machines for a few hours. Came in with 100 for gambling and came out with 110. We got ourselves up to 250 at one point but of course greed set in and that little voice- " one more try" : ). The way I see it, as long as you come out with as much as you had going in- it was a successful night. I always play on the house and if I loose more than 20 then Im done anyways.

Annual Gingerbread Competition

It's that time of year folks- the annual Gingerbread Competition!

The rules are fairly simple...
-You have to construct your structure out of gingerbread or some sort of cookie dough-
NO GRAHAM CRACKERS


- 2010 Theme: reproduction of a significant building

• provide picture of building you are creating
• building must have Christmas decorations on it
• any decorations must be edible- although i dont endorse eating the house after you've made it : )

Fun awards and of course BRAGGING RIGHTS 

deadline is Dec 24th- 

pictures of finished creation and inspiration are due to my email by Dec 24th

message me at layman.amber@gmail.com if you are interested so I can update the list!

Happy Thanksgiving!

MY FIRST OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING MEAL!

I am totally stoked that after 6 years of marriage I am finally cooking my own Thanksgiving meal!
Why so long you ask- well living so far away from my immediate "maiden" family as I call them requires me to travel home any chance I get for - lets face it , the food not the family : ) Just Kidding

Every year I have traveled home for Turkey day and this year Im staying put and cooking my own meal- my way- just the way I like it. Im stoked and cant wait to have my first official family Thanksgiving with my boys.

Im already thinking of super-cheesy ideas to help Gus get into the spirit- possibly making pilgrim and Indian hats for the table. I shall relive my sisters childhood dream of becoming Pocahontas for a night while the boys done their pilgrim gear.

Looking forward to making my dads famous baked mac n cheese- with my twist of course (bacon and horseradish- yummo!), cream cheese and chives mashed potatoes, roasted buternut squash, Apple and onion stuffing, but Im still up in the air about a possible second vegetable and dessert.
We aren't pumpkin pie type peoples- so Im searching for something family friendly and easy....
any suggestions ?

My grandfather the comedian

My tech-savy grandpa sends me the funniest emails some time.
Last night was no exception.....

Two women were playing golf. One teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of men playing the next hole.

*The ball hit one of the men. He immediately clasped his hands together at his groin, fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around in agony.*

*The woman rushed down to the man, and immediately began to apologize 'Please allow me to help. I'm a Physical Therapist and I know I could relieve your pain if you'd allow me,' she told him.
'Oh, no, I'll be all right.  I'll be fine in a few minutes,' the man replied.

He was in obvious agony, lying in the fetal position, still
clasping his hands there at his groin.*

*At her persistence, however, he  finally allowed her to help. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the side, loosened his pants and put her hands slowly and carefully inside. She then administered a tender and
skillful massage for several long moments and softly asked, 'How does that feel'?
Feels wonderful, he replied; but I still think my thumb's broken!*

Gussy is on the mend!

Thank God my dukin doober is on the mend.
It has been a long rough weekend for the little guy. Nothing but mucous, coughing, and a hurting throat. Poor kid cant get a break when it comes to lung problems. He seems to be on the mend and was very perky this morning- finally asking for food- he wanted a ginormous apple!

Merry Christmas to me!

Thank you QVC for your amazing christmas present and TODAY'S SPECIAL VALUE!

Rachael Ray Bubble & Brown 8-piece Stoneware Baker Set

I got it in yellow.......

Retail Value: $123.00

QVC Price: $60.00

Today's Special Value Price: $49.76

Decisions Decisions

Last night an opportunity presented itself in terms of a career change. Its an exciting opportunity which is ultimately my career goal and this opportunity could be great practice. However with this opportunity I have to make a tough decision with my current job. It came into my life when Lee and I were at our lowest point financially and mentally after loosing my job to downsizing almost 2 years prior.

So many decisions to be made in such a short time- as in TODAY. There are also alot of options to be weighed. Someone - at least me - will be semi hurt no matter what decision is made.

Ill speak more candidly once the decision is final- so Thank you all for your mental vibes of positivity!

Elton John's Apprentice

Flipping through pictures recently I discovered my little Gussy is a future Elton John mini me.
He loves to dress up and his favorite accessory happens to be glasses.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures

Welcome Friends and Family!

So I really don't know what I'm doing because this is my first post. But I guess I will talk about what's been going on in our lives lately.

Gus is an amazing ang GROWING BOY. By the end of the week Im sure he'll have grown a pants size or possibly a foot or two- there is really no telling.  He is about 3 and a quarter feet tall with thick blonde hair and those ice blue eyes that will some day, I'm certain, get him into alot of trouble. He loves all things Buzz Lightyear and Dad. He's Lee's little mini-me. Those two are inseperable. If Lee is working on the Jeep- he's right there with his plastic tool box or if Lee is out the garage doing god knows what- there's Gus following his lead. 

I'm working hard at being a student again. After recently resigning from my cheer coach position, I felt it was time to get back to my goal and that ultimately is to teach. I'm in school and studying for my Masters in Career and Technical Education. Basically I am able to teach subject classes or elective classes in a highschool or college setting in my undergraduate degree which is Business. From there I hope to get back in coaching cheerleading. I am still coaching softball and Im sure you'll be hearing alot from me in regards to those shenanigans once they begin.

Lee is working with Whirlpool on the Service Business relations side. He is the liason between the star trek Engineering world and the micromachine speaking business/marketing side. Its enjoyable but he's looking forward to getting back into the technical engineering side once his roation in the business unit is done.


Look for more Looney tune postings and family pictures to come!