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!