This recipe is one delicious way to enjoy a busy Christmas Eve..Christmas day schedule. I mix it in a plastic pitcher and lug it with me from stop to stop...a pretty punch bowl or glass pitcher works too! The only thing that could make this drink any more perfect would be cousin Eddy wearing a Dickie and his white shoes as he sipped it.
White Russian Egg Nog
Mix together with ice:
8 cups egg nog
1 cup vodka
1 cup Kahula
After it is cold remove ice cubes and garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Practicing Patience
I love old houses...I love our old house...they have something new houses are sometimes missing-character. You can't create character or design it...it comes with time, age, experiences, and details. I love the stories I've been told about our house and the doctor who built it in the 40's...I love the fact that my son's bus driver told me stories of his kids working on the neighboorhood newspaper in the basement of the house..and the parties the previous owner's kids had during the 60's. Now don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of moments when I've thought, "Oh how nice to have a new, lovely home with everything done and perfect" but that just isn't what Husband and I are about. So we have this 70yr old home that has tons of character, tons of square footage, gobs of potential, and...oh yes...the smallest bathrooms you could ever imagine!
Remodeling our bathrooms has always been on our "To Do List" but like many things, it doesn't happen. We've been in this house 5 years and we've slowly chipped away at things...flooring, some windows, new roof, new heat pump/AC...but the bathrooms have remained untouched. We finally got around to doing the main floor bathroom and are just about done!
Our plan was somewhat thrown off when we were demo-ing (is that a word?) and discovered that behind a closet inside the bathroom is an old brick chimney pipe. So we had to do a few quick adjustments, which impacted how much space we were going to end up having...but in the end it has worked out. Husband is putting the new shower door on today and finishing some trim, overall I'm SO impressed with his work. He had some plumbing and electrical help and Zach and Ryan helped him install the new window (that we didn't plan on replacing, but a 2x4 fell through the old one).
Husband said, "Let's go ahead and do the third floor bathroom while we are at it!" It was one of those statements/questions that he is so awesome at throwing out there. Had I said, "GREAT...yes let's!" He would have been willing, but instead I said, "Let's not and say we did!"
Until we have 2 boys who can actually pee into the toilet and not next to it, down the side of it, on the wall near it...what's the point?
Remodeling our bathrooms has always been on our "To Do List" but like many things, it doesn't happen. We've been in this house 5 years and we've slowly chipped away at things...flooring, some windows, new roof, new heat pump/AC...but the bathrooms have remained untouched. We finally got around to doing the main floor bathroom and are just about done!
Our plan was somewhat thrown off when we were demo-ing (is that a word?) and discovered that behind a closet inside the bathroom is an old brick chimney pipe. So we had to do a few quick adjustments, which impacted how much space we were going to end up having...but in the end it has worked out. Husband is putting the new shower door on today and finishing some trim, overall I'm SO impressed with his work. He had some plumbing and electrical help and Zach and Ryan helped him install the new window (that we didn't plan on replacing, but a 2x4 fell through the old one).
Husband said, "Let's go ahead and do the third floor bathroom while we are at it!" It was one of those statements/questions that he is so awesome at throwing out there. Had I said, "GREAT...yes let's!" He would have been willing, but instead I said, "Let's not and say we did!"
Until we have 2 boys who can actually pee into the toilet and not next to it, down the side of it, on the wall near it...what's the point?
The bathtub is now sitting in our backyard waiting to be hauled away to the dump!
The wall we had intended on tearing down...we were only able to take it back 18" because of this old brick chimney pipe from when the house had oil heat.
Oops..should have put the toilet lid down. Sigh...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Guilt Guilt Guilt
I often see commercials encouraging "Family Game Night" and watch in envy as two cheerful and well rested adults play a board game with 2 cooperative and loving siblings..smiling...laughing...Sigh.
Which just stirs up the motherly guilt in me of not doing enough stuff like this...which then leads to more guilt about what I served for dinner...that both my boys need haircuts....all three kids eat way too many frozen waffles...Beau needs an updated epi pen...we don't read enough...TJ fudges on his daily piano practice minutes...all three of their closets need serious cleaning/organizing....blah blah blah.
So now that football season is officially over (Sorry Husband...E for Effort this year, but they didn't make it out of the first round of the playoffs) we enjoyed our first after school at home as a family, doing homework, reading, jumping on the trampoline, and yes...playing a game!
Headbandz is one of TJ's favorite and he and I often play this silly game together. Tonight we all played and had a few good belly laughs as Beau and Finny tried to join in on the fun. Finley would instantly yell, "You're a ______" or give some very obvious hint, "You say OINK OINK!" I think it's important to cut yourself some slack, but it's also important to squeeze in these genuinely fun moments that require no effort, no planning, no pretense, or judgement. We were laying around in our sweatpants with laundry that needed folding and dinner dishes to wash...but this was way more fun!
Which just stirs up the motherly guilt in me of not doing enough stuff like this...which then leads to more guilt about what I served for dinner...that both my boys need haircuts....all three kids eat way too many frozen waffles...Beau needs an updated epi pen...we don't read enough...TJ fudges on his daily piano practice minutes...all three of their closets need serious cleaning/organizing....blah blah blah.
So now that football season is officially over (Sorry Husband...E for Effort this year, but they didn't make it out of the first round of the playoffs) we enjoyed our first after school at home as a family, doing homework, reading, jumping on the trampoline, and yes...playing a game!
Headbandz is one of TJ's favorite and he and I often play this silly game together. Tonight we all played and had a few good belly laughs as Beau and Finny tried to join in on the fun. Finley would instantly yell, "You're a ______" or give some very obvious hint, "You say OINK OINK!" I think it's important to cut yourself some slack, but it's also important to squeeze in these genuinely fun moments that require no effort, no planning, no pretense, or judgement. We were laying around in our sweatpants with laundry that needed folding and dinner dishes to wash...but this was way more fun!
The kids thought covering the trampoline with leaves and then jumping was the most clever idea! It was very fun! Don't ask why the boys are topless...I'm lucky they weren't in their underwear! I've decided they feel no cold!
TJ's famous side buster...which makes Finny scream-LOUD!
Am I....Hmmm...what am I? Finley, give me a hint!??
If I look high enough up I think I'll be able to see my card!
Finley insisted on being a "Jumprope" over and over!
Halloween Exhaustion!
Halloween on a Monday is God's way of punishing us for celebrating this ghoulish occasion. Kidding...but seriously, Halloween on a Monday? Put a fork in me, I'm done before the day has even begun.
This year my 4th grade team made a very wise decision of allowing costumes and just giving in to the fact that probably not a lot...or anything...was going to be accomplished on Halloween! So the entire day of school was one giant celebration with costumes, food, crafts, poems, candy corn bingo, reader's theater, etc. I tried to find some creative ways to "teach" but my efforts were somewhat lost on my classroom full of zombies, witches, cats, dragons, ninjas, and Cleopatra's (a popular costume this year..I had 3 of the Egyptian queens in my room this year). Thankfully I rounded up a load of parent helpers to assist me in my Halloween efforts and thank goodness...my wig kept getting caught in the hot glue gun! Seriously.
After a very exhausting and messy day of school, the kids and I hit the streets for some trick or treating. Husband was still at football practice so we made the rounds without him. The kids were so tired from their long day at school that 6 blocks was enough trick or treating to please them!!! Sigh..perfect. We went home, counted the loot, and even had 2 trick or treaters at our house-a real treat because we never get them on our tucked away driveway!
This year my 4th grade team made a very wise decision of allowing costumes and just giving in to the fact that probably not a lot...or anything...was going to be accomplished on Halloween! So the entire day of school was one giant celebration with costumes, food, crafts, poems, candy corn bingo, reader's theater, etc. I tried to find some creative ways to "teach" but my efforts were somewhat lost on my classroom full of zombies, witches, cats, dragons, ninjas, and Cleopatra's (a popular costume this year..I had 3 of the Egyptian queens in my room this year). Thankfully I rounded up a load of parent helpers to assist me in my Halloween efforts and thank goodness...my wig kept getting caught in the hot glue gun! Seriously.
After a very exhausting and messy day of school, the kids and I hit the streets for some trick or treating. Husband was still at football practice so we made the rounds without him. The kids were so tired from their long day at school that 6 blocks was enough trick or treating to please them!!! Sigh..perfect. We went home, counted the loot, and even had 2 trick or treaters at our house-a real treat because we never get them on our tucked away driveway!
Supergirl, Pirate Master Beau, and Peter Venkman from Ghostbusters!
TJ insisted on carrying a pillow case to collect his loot!
One of the many joys of teaching: COSTUMES! I love dressing up and told the kids, "Mrs S. is gone today...I will be your teacher...cackle cackle cackle" and I talked in this raspy, witches voices all day, periodically sending out loud cackles over my microphone. I don't know why we didn't learn anything???
Husband joined in on the dress up fun...he was Pirate Master Sackman in his classroom! He tried to wash the make up off before football practice but some lingered and apparently one of his players asked if gave him a black eye??!!!? Really?
Pirate Master Beau and his BFF Halle of OZ. She is the sweetest bug and someday (after he's done with medical school) I hope they marry and I can share this sweet picture!
The middle and youngest Sackman and Richter kids on a Montessori Halloween Field Trip!
On a side note...someone at work mentioned to me that there is some federal bill or initiative or something that is proposing Halloween always be the last Saturday of October, regardless of the date; so it wouldn't be October 31st. Whomever is proposing this is clearly a teacher.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Because They Are Sick Of Us!!!
This weekend Husband and I took an overnight trip to Chelan with our friends Ryan and Katy for a little R&R ...sans children. As I was hauling the kid's over to Nana's house, Beau and Finley began their usual 20 rounds of questions from the back seat...as TJ sat in the third row giddy with the idea of a sleepover at Nana's....
Finley: Mommy, why are you going to Spokane?
Me: Not Spokane-Chelan.
Beau: Will you bring me a toy?
Finley: Why are you going to Chelan?
Me: We are just going to relax for the night
Beau: What kind of toy are you going to bring me?
Finley: Why do you need to relax? Where are you going again? Spokane?
Beau: I'd like another Captain American shield
Finley: Why can't we go? I want to go to Spokane!
Me: Mommy and Daddy are going to have some quiet time and relax and Nana really wanted all three of you to sleepover!
Finley: NO...I want to go with you!
Beau: I want to go to Nana's, but I want a toy! Bring me a toy!
Finley: But why can't we gooo with you? Why are you going to Chelan?
Suddenly my ever mindful and insightful 9year old hollars from the 3rd row-
TJ: Because they are sick of us!
Sigh.
So we did enjoy a nice night away from our lovely and adorable offspring, and we returned today ready to battle the world! Sometimes it is the small things in life, like drinking a glass of wine, eating a delicious meal without having to cut someone elses food first, and enjoying a restful night's sleep at our leisure..instead of the usual nightly marathon of baths/shower, jammies, pee, teeth brushing, stories, songs, another pee, a sippy cup of water, and finally a, "GO TO SLEEP!"
Finley: Mommy, why are you going to Spokane?
Me: Not Spokane-Chelan.
Beau: Will you bring me a toy?
Finley: Why are you going to Chelan?
Me: We are just going to relax for the night
Beau: What kind of toy are you going to bring me?
Finley: Why do you need to relax? Where are you going again? Spokane?
Beau: I'd like another Captain American shield
Finley: Why can't we go? I want to go to Spokane!
Me: Mommy and Daddy are going to have some quiet time and relax and Nana really wanted all three of you to sleepover!
Finley: NO...I want to go with you!
Beau: I want to go to Nana's, but I want a toy! Bring me a toy!
Finley: But why can't we gooo with you? Why are you going to Chelan?
Suddenly my ever mindful and insightful 9year old hollars from the 3rd row-
TJ: Because they are sick of us!
Sigh.
Enjoying a little bit of wine tasting. Good thing Husband loves wine!
The Christoph's
Beautiful Lake Chelan
So we did enjoy a nice night away from our lovely and adorable offspring, and we returned today ready to battle the world! Sometimes it is the small things in life, like drinking a glass of wine, eating a delicious meal without having to cut someone elses food first, and enjoying a restful night's sleep at our leisure..instead of the usual nightly marathon of baths/shower, jammies, pee, teeth brushing, stories, songs, another pee, a sippy cup of water, and finally a, "GO TO SLEEP!"
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Go Eags!
So I googled the Guinness Book of World Records for the most football games watched in a weekend, because I'm 99.9% certain that Husband would have a shot at holding this record...sadly, no such record exists! New Goal...anywhoo's, Saturday, after TJ's game (His team's first loss of the season) we jumped in the family truckster and headed for Cheney to watch the Eagle's take on Northern Colorado. It was super fun to bring my kids to my collegiate Alma mater...however I felt really, really old!!!
The new red turf field is awesome and we all had so much fun! This was TJ's second college game...I took him to a UW game in Sept., but EWU is a small enough university that you don't feel like a tiny speck amongst 25,000 others...a small town feel, which we are accustomed to. The weather was amazing, I caught up with some sorority sisters, and Husband and TJ really got into the game. Husband rarely gets the privilege of sitting in the stands with me during a sporting event, so it's nice for him to see what it takes to maintain sanity...for example:3 large popcorn's, 3 waters, gummy bears (all during quarter 1), at least 1 lap around the field at half-time, 3 hot chocolates in the 3rd quarter, and no less than 1/2 dozen bathroom breaks. And that's on top of the large bag of hats, gloves, blankets, and coats that I always have packed. Sigh.
It's very fun to listen to Husband and TJ talk football and I'm impressed with how much my son knows about the game! I also love watching other dad's who bring their small children to games expecting long periods of sitting and the kids to eagerly watch. Sorry to disappoint the men of the world, but 8yrs old is the minimum age a child will sit, watch, and enjoy the game...before that you're wasting your energy. Beau and Finley would celebrate at a TOUCHDOWN, but they could of cared less about anything else besides their noise makers and snacks.
Overall a very nice Saturday-we rarely can get out of town in the Fall due to TJ's football schedule, so this was great! Husband wants to get them to a WSU game in November, but I'm fairly certain that Grandpa will take us out of his will and not talk to us ever again and I'm not willing to risk that simply to watch the Cougs.
Finley, enjoying her 3rd quarter hot chocolate.
Go Eagles!
Husband and TJ watching the game!
I had to catch them sitting...still!!! Pretty impressive for two kids who spend hours at a football field each week!
Tailgating fun with Betsi..and other Alpha Phi's in the background!
The sun was so bright..but I'm not complaining, it could have been rain.
Future Eastern Eagle's, perhaps? Nothing wrong with a state college (and it's tuition) right Husband?
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Bad Mommy..Great Brother!
Last night was the first Friday night in 8 weeks I haven't sat in the stands for a football game. The kids and I stayed home, watched a movie on the couch and relaxed...yes..relaxed! No real reason for skipping Husband's game..it was in a very nearby town, the weather was nice, all 3 kids had good weeks and weren't sick with the icky cold going around...but I just felt like my tank was running on empty and when I weighed the options of sitting on a cold bleacher or my nice comfy couch, well..it was a no brainer.
Good thing we stayed home since Beau had a very BIG NIGHT...he lost his first tooth! Bad mommy that I am, I didn't realize until Thursday that he even had a loose tooth (he'd been crying wolf about having loose teeth since the start of summer...a lot of his friends are losing teeth and he was desperate to join the rankings) so I kind of tuned his loose teeth claims out of my mind. Then on Thursday he sat in my classroom after school eating a pear when he said, "MY TOOTH IS LOOSE!" I took a look and sure enough it was....very, very..hanging by the skin, loose.
Friday night as we sat cuddled on the couch enjoying the Oscar worthy Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (sigh), out popped his tooth. Using all his best middle-child theatrics, it was a very dramatic performance and he even squeezed a few tears out. You would of thought his brother had knocked the tooth out with his fist, but nope..it just fell out...but you know those middle children. Anyway, it was very cute and we took pictures, cleaned up his mouth, and prepared for the Tooth Fairy!
That night when I tucked the boys into bed and made a very huge performance of placing the tooth in the silky tooth pouch under his pillow, Beau was shaking with anticipation as I turned out the light and went downstairs.
I settled myself into bed and caught myself up on Friday Night TV, something I haven't watched in ages (BTW..it stinks) and before long I must have dozed off. I was so tired I didn't hear husband come home (and he's not the quiet, tip toe around type), and I slept until 8am this morning. Yes, that's right, I totally forgot about the Tooth Fairy!
Around 8:30am, as I'm lounging around enjoying the morning quiet, Beau comes downstairs shrieking, "HE CAME...I GOT 3 QUARTERS!" And then the light bulb goes off in my head and I realize that I forgot to take his tooth and give him money! SHIT! So I'm additionally confused that Beau is standing before me smiling and jumping and holding 3 quarters! Husband didn't know Beau had lost a tooth-he'd been gone and we hadn't talked. As Beau is hugging me and dancing around, older brother walks downstairs and gives Beau a little hug..and then I realize that TJ had given Beau the 3 quarters. WHAT A KID! As Beau ran to share with daddy, I grab TJ and squeeze the beans out of him. He just looks at me and smiles and I tell him how much I love him!!! What a kid. 90% of the time he is aggravated and annoyed with Beau, but when it counts, when he knows feelings will be hurt and his little brothers small world of understanding will be shattered...he did the most amazing thing and that shows me more than anything how he feels about Beau!
Good thing we stayed home since Beau had a very BIG NIGHT...he lost his first tooth! Bad mommy that I am, I didn't realize until Thursday that he even had a loose tooth (he'd been crying wolf about having loose teeth since the start of summer...a lot of his friends are losing teeth and he was desperate to join the rankings) so I kind of tuned his loose teeth claims out of my mind. Then on Thursday he sat in my classroom after school eating a pear when he said, "MY TOOTH IS LOOSE!" I took a look and sure enough it was....very, very..hanging by the skin, loose.
Friday night as we sat cuddled on the couch enjoying the Oscar worthy Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (sigh), out popped his tooth. Using all his best middle-child theatrics, it was a very dramatic performance and he even squeezed a few tears out. You would of thought his brother had knocked the tooth out with his fist, but nope..it just fell out...but you know those middle children. Anyway, it was very cute and we took pictures, cleaned up his mouth, and prepared for the Tooth Fairy!
That night when I tucked the boys into bed and made a very huge performance of placing the tooth in the silky tooth pouch under his pillow, Beau was shaking with anticipation as I turned out the light and went downstairs.
I settled myself into bed and caught myself up on Friday Night TV, something I haven't watched in ages (BTW..it stinks) and before long I must have dozed off. I was so tired I didn't hear husband come home (and he's not the quiet, tip toe around type), and I slept until 8am this morning. Yes, that's right, I totally forgot about the Tooth Fairy!
Around 8:30am, as I'm lounging around enjoying the morning quiet, Beau comes downstairs shrieking, "HE CAME...I GOT 3 QUARTERS!" And then the light bulb goes off in my head and I realize that I forgot to take his tooth and give him money! SHIT! So I'm additionally confused that Beau is standing before me smiling and jumping and holding 3 quarters! Husband didn't know Beau had lost a tooth-he'd been gone and we hadn't talked. As Beau is hugging me and dancing around, older brother walks downstairs and gives Beau a little hug..and then I realize that TJ had given Beau the 3 quarters. WHAT A KID! As Beau ran to share with daddy, I grab TJ and squeeze the beans out of him. He just looks at me and smiles and I tell him how much I love him!!! What a kid. 90% of the time he is aggravated and annoyed with Beau, but when it counts, when he knows feelings will be hurt and his little brothers small world of understanding will be shattered...he did the most amazing thing and that shows me more than anything how he feels about Beau!
Finally..a loose tooth!
Yeah...it's gone!
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