A last post for 2009

I am posting to my blog on this chilly New Years Eve and yet…have nothing really profound to say – just a few little bits and pieces.

I have been putting the final touches on the Christmas “pack-up”. I finally took the Santa down from the shelf next to my bedroom and he is sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to go into the plastic tub – I look forward to seeing him next year since the shelf looks plain and boring without him.

I have finally removed the stickers and tags from a few of my favorite Christmas gifts this year. I have to leave my “pile” out for a few days just to enjoy my haul a little longer before it all gets stored away. This year the haul included some of my favorite types of gifts. I am not a frilly fussy Christmas gift receiver – no way! I like stuff I can use. I got the most adorable cupcake measuring spoons from my sister and family….I may leave them on the counter permanently! They are that CUTE! I also got new spatulas, new whisks, a new cookie sheet, an awesome new cooking pan, and a flour sifter. I am in some serious kitchen heaven. Anyone else like me and LOVE LOVE LOVE the practical gifts? I will take an appliance over diamonds any day. I used some of my Christmas money to buy a new coffee pot – and we are loving it!

My mom and Dad got us a new comforter set and my room now feels like a 5 star hotel – it feels classy and I am in love with it. I am also enjoying it because Chance has made the bed three days in a row (including perfect placement of each and every throw pillow)…a Christmas miracle Ü.

I am having a blast with my new Samsung point and shoot digital camera that Chance bought me – I just discovered that it will edit and correct flaws automatically. I chose the picture of us that I had blogged previously and told it to make it a “beauty shot”. Oh my sweet goodness – it corrected our skin tone and everything. It also automatically corrects red eye – unbelievable. Now if it just had a button to auto-slenderize…LOL

(BEFORE)

(AFTER)

Tonight everyone has settled down after stuffing ourselves with a ChickFila nugget tray, homemade queso, chocolate cupcakes, brownies, and poppy seed muffins (Cambry did all the baking). We have managed to fit in a couple of rounds of Guitar Hero and  two games of Disney Scene It. It is fun to spend time with the kids on New Years Eve – I know someday they will have their own NYE activities and we will be alone. We will finish with a movie (G-Force) and some snuggling. Cutter is the best snuggler – wraps his skinny little legs around you and still gives lots of kisses. I wish they didn’t have to grow up.

 

Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends and family – hope you are super blessed in 2010!

p.s. a blogging tip: if you have not discovered the joy that is windows live writer – you must check it out. It is so much easier to post to your blog and allows you to do some fun things with your photos like adding this cool picture border. Just google Windows Live Writer and check it out.

Christmas in Review

Well it seems like there is so much build up to the fun and festivities and then poof…it is all over. It is  incredibly fun though and worth all the stress and trouble. Our visits from Santa have taken on a more “mature” feel. Gone are the days of barbies, baby dolls, matchbox cars, and toy trains. These days my kids are pleased to find laptops, cell phones, and playstations under the tree. We still make the rounds to several houses on Christmas and this year one stop included our own house - where all of the Hedger family gathered for a Christmas celebration. It seems a little strange that we have reached a point in our lives where we are hosting a get-together….yet it makes me even more grateful that we have people we love to spend these special times with!

We hope that all of our family and friends had a wonderful and joy filled Christmas with their loved ones and took the time to reflect on the “true” meaning of the season. May each of you have a blessed 2010!

Cutter, Chesley, Cambry, and Campbell at Aunt Jill's and Uncle Kameron's - Christmas Morning 2009

The Hedger Family - Chesley (14), Cambry (11), Cutter (7), Jerilynn (old), and Chance (older)

I really love this guy - he is a stinker and makes me crazy....still love him.

Papaw and Cutter with his new rifle that Papaw picked out for him  - Cutter is sooo proud of it!

Chesley and Katie

Nanny and Papa Hedger with Cambry and Ashley

The Hedger Five (original members) Jan, Kenny, Chance, Karen and Jana

Singing for your Supper

Sending out a big thank you to our local Chick-fil-a for hosting a Christmas Karaoke night. If you sang a Christmas carol you got a free combo meal. So, I loaded up my car with a few brave and gutsy ninth graders and had a blast watching them belt out a tune for a free meal. I can't wait to take them again next year!

Chance laughed when he saw the videos and realized it was more about having an audience and less about the free combo Ü

Personalized Christmas Craft!

While doing what I do best....blog surfing! LOL - I found an idea this year that was a must try for me - I knew the second that I saw it that I was going to attempt it for our teacher's gifts this year. I just thought it was that CUTE! Now that I have completed them....they really are cute and so appropriate during this "germ"y time of year!

Instead of typing out the supplies needed and a tutorial - I am just going to link you to the blog that supplied me with this grand idea.
 The Idea Room - Personalized Gift Tutorial.

 I will add that I tried to copy and paste her template into my scrapbooking software, but I was just not happy with how the graphics transferred over - they looked flat and dull. I spent about 45 minutes using my own fonts and creating my own template. It takes a little time to get it sized right, but then all you have to do is change the name. I also used the Equate (walmart brand) hand soap container for mine - I liked the shape better than the hand sanitizer bottles. I just poured the soap into a big container to use for refills - washed and cleaned my bottles and they were ready to use. We are giving each teacher a personalized hand sanitizer and some home-made almond toffee. I spent around 17.00 to make 10 sanitizers....not bad. Ü

I Tricked my Kids

Into thinking I was "the cool mom" even if it was just for a few hours and involved graham crackers and canned vanilla icing. They spent a couple of hours on their creations and really had a great time. (finally Cambry can cross off Make Gingerbread Houses on her LIST of fun things ..that she has never been allowed to do!)

All I Want For Christmas is....

GUESS!

Thanksgiving Recap

We had a great time in Granbury ( thank you Mom and Dad - you did a great job hosting) and spent some quality time with family that we don't see that often. I know it meant a great deal to everyone especially my grandparents. The fun times included stuffing ourselves with turkey and trimmings, waking up at 2:30 a.m. to shop the black friday sales (ask Chesley or Jill about racing through Target and throwing themselves onto two big T.V.s...SCORE!), the Movie Tavern theater to see Old Dogs, and two trips to Sam Moon. Chance and Cutter fished and then fished some more. I hope everyone had a happy THANKSGIVING.

My brother Jeremy flew in from New York and it was such a treat to spend time with him.

Aunt Sharen and LuLu at the Movie Tavern. You eat delicious food that is brought to you by your own waiter and watch a current movie....awesome FUN!

Sweet Lulu and Papa Check with Chesley and Cambry

Campbell and I had our own photo shoot while his mom was busy.

wouldn't be THANKSGIVING without Coconut Cream pie....mmmmm

Chance and Cutter fishing on Granbury lake - we trespassed to take this photo.

Recovery Mode and some GREAT NEWS!

First of all a BIG THANK YOU to everyone that called to personally check on us this weekend - it meant a great deal to us. We are moving into the phase of "getting over it" and saying lots of prayers for the people who felt the need to ruin our weekend by taking things from us that we have worked hard for. I hate to be cryptic, but I don't feel comfortable putting the details on my blog. Feel free to use the e-mail link on the side to ask for details if interested.

I know we have so much to be thankful for and in the midst of calling insurance companies, filing police reports, and looking in dumpsters for our personal belongings - we also dropped Chesley off for an audition and then a call back audition on the following day. I checked the Amarillo Little Theater website around 12:00 today and then had the pleasure of hearing my 9th grader scream when I read off the cast list for SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE and her name was included. It was so nice of God to send us a rainbow in the middle of a storm. It was just what we needed.

P.S. New Moon was awesome...considering the personal circumstances....I thought it was GREAT and enjoyed sharing the experience once again with my sweet friend AMY! Although, I would not blame her if she dumps me for a less dramatic friend when Eclipse premiers! LOL

Creamy Ramen Noodles

This may be one of the strangest recipes I have ever put on this blog, but it has become one of  Chesley's favorites and so therefore must be SHARED! I found this recipe on a message board and was touched by the story that it was made for a girl that had just been placed in her 4th or 5th foster home. The foster mother made her this dish accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich. The back story

 had that Campbell's soup/ Hallmark feel to it. The ingredients are cheap and handy...so give it a try at least once. Chesley says you won't regret it!

Creamy Ramen

Pot 1

Mix together in small saucepan:

2 T. butter or margarine (not tub butter)

2 T. flour

1 Cup milk

chicken  flavor packet from ramen

***bring to a boil and let thicken

Pot 2

Cook noodles in 1 and 3/4 cups of  boiling water for 3 minutes. Add creamy mixture to pan of noodles and stir together. Pour into serving bowl and garnish with black pepper.

Yummy Bowl of Creamy Ramen

Recycled Decor using Chalkboard Paint

I have found a new love...CHALKBOARD PAINT! Seriously this stuff is so stinking cool. I can't believe that it has taken me this long to play with it. I am now on the look out for more things to alter and turn into chalkboards. I bought the spray chalk paint in a can at walmart for 4.00. I still have plenty left after several good coats.

This cute tin sign was out in the garage with my garage sale stuff - just didn't match Cambry's room anymore. The green is the exact shade of accent color that I have splashed through out my kitchen - I am loving the transformation. Now, I just need to order some of those super cool chalkboard pens that Starbucks uses.

before

all taped up and ready to spray

be sure to tape and cover any part that you don't want sprayed

finished

remember to season your chalkboard by rubbing chalk all over it and then erasing it!

Tantalizing Tidbits of Diet Goodness

The eating healthier lifestyle seems to have really taken hold at the Hedger House. We decided this time to make it about a lifestyle change and not a diet. We are not perfect and allow ourselves an occassional break, but we feel better when we don't stray to far from our calorie allotment. Chance has lost a nice bit of weight and as a result - no longer snores at night. He also just moved back into his extra large shirts... Woo Hoo!

I am slowly making my way back into the smaller pant size in my closet. You know the "they don't fit now, but with a small amount of effort - they very well could" section. I am not talking about the "only in your dreams" section you keep well hidden in the back. The best part is looking in the mirror and not seeing a puffy bloated almost 40 year old looking back. Let's face it - water retention is for the birds!

I thought I would pass along a few products that we have really liked. Please keep in mind that we are calorie counting - so I am not sure how these would work for someone doing weight watchers.

Break a Leg - Chesley!

Anyone around here that knows us, would know that for the past three months Chesley has been preparing for the Canyon High School Musical. This year they are performing The Music Man. We have spent several days each week driving her to and from rehearsals. This week they have practiced every night from 6 pm to 10:30 pm. Do not even ask me when my 9th grader is getting her homework done! She is performing in the chorus and we are excited to hear the songs. I am sure it is going to be great. I can't believe a small town high school takes on such big productions. She will find this little basket of goodness waiting for her when she arrives at the school to get ready. It is compliments of her parents, siblings, and some sweet family members that know how hard she has worked. She almost bit off more than she could chew with the musical, softball, and her Little Theater classes.....she is one tired high schooler!

(Hopefully, I will have some pictures to add to this post after tonight)

We are truly proud of you Chesley Ü

We have heard that opening night is crazy and suggest that if you want to attend that you pick the Saturday Performance (7:30 p.m.) or the Sunday Matinee Performance (2:30).

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students. The show lasts about two hours with intermission.

More than one-hundred fifty students are involved with the musical this year, including 86 cast members and 15 tech members. There will also be approximately 50 band students performing during the musical.

Halloween Happenings!

Touchdown!

Football is finally over and I can't say that I am disappointed. We are pretty tired....but we will never grow tired of talking about Cutter's first touchdown. It was AWESOME!