Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Winner of the Postcard Giveaway

The Lucky Winner picked via Random.org is comment # 23

Congratulations to Carmela

and thank you to the sponsor for providing wonderful service and giveaways

Wordless Wednesday - Greyhound Playtime

What happens when it snows and your Greyhound is doing zoomies in the backyard?

Well.... You get a series of pictures that look like this....

and some that look like this...

 Fawn Dog is just too fast and my camera couldn't keep up... By the time I got the first click off she was already jumping over me (literally) and then heading back... I was in the middle of our fenced area so you can see it's not small.

Even while playing fetch it was hard to take photos... I couldn't click fast enough.. Black Dog even gave up...

Nollaig Shona Daoibh

Merry Christmas

Nollaig Shona Daoibh

 You have a Happy Christmas

 

Mele Kalikimaka

Merry Christmas

 

Frohe Weihnachten

Merry Christmas

 

Nollaig chridheil

Merry Christmas

 

and

 

Přeju Ti veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

 

 

Fun Christmas Game of getting to know you

Shelly over at The Attic Girl tagged me to join in this fun game about getting to know you... She has a great site and I always enjoy reading her reviews of books. Even added a few to my TBR after reading her reviews...

Okay, on to the game...

Instructions: Simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them. Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.

When you post your blog, please spread some Christmas cheer, and leave a link back to Top 10 Christmas, and the blog that you were tagged by. (You can participate even if you were not tagged)

Have you started your Christmas shopping?
Sure have....

Tell me about one of your special traditions.
Hmm traditions... well, we move so much that currently the only real tradition is decorating the tree and leaving cookies for Santa.. oh and carrots for the reindeer....

Are you a Black Friday Shopper?
H-E-C-K  no.... Are you crazy....

When do you put up your Tree?
Tree goes up during the first two weeks of December... (although not this year)

Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?
Stay home....

What is your funniest Christmas memory?
Hiding in my brother's bedroom with him and my sister trying to CATCH Santa..

What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?
I don't have one but DH love "A Christmas Story"....

Do you do your own Christmas Baking, what’s your favorite treat?
Of course I do my own baking... Cream Cheese Braids are my favorite... yummmmm

Fake or Real Tree?
Real.... However, this year we got a fake tree... *gasp*  I know I know... I couldn't believe it either... However, to make up for it I planted six Fir seeds and four are already growing... Yep I'm growing my own Christmas trees now..

What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Panic? About what.... It's Christmas...

Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope... Usually done wrapping way before then...
*edited to add that I JUST finished this evening because I found some gifts I had hidden too well*

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
Watching the kids unwrap their gifts and then gush about how much they love Santa and grandparents... (parents get no credit)

What Christmas craft do you like the best?
Hmm Christmas crafts... We don't really do any right now... Does Gingerbread cookies and cooking count? LOL

Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?
Yes, of course you must have Christmas music... Favorite song... mmmm none but it has to be more traditional Christmas music.. I can't do some of this new stuff....

When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
All ready done with shopping..


I'm tagging:  well actually no one... I thought I had posted this already but somehow it was just a draft so it's a tad late to tag people now...

However, if any of you want to join in feel free...

Santa is that you?

Every year, on Christmas Eve, Santa visits little boys and girls around the world. When he does this he always takes his sled and reindeer; however, it's a little known fact that Santa always wanted to be a firefighter.

So, every year before he takes his sled and reindeer out for Christmas Eve he stops by and hangs out with his favorite military firefighters. Santa gets to ride around in the fire trucks and they get to help spread Christmas joy to all the families on base....

What? You don't believe me!? Just take a look at what Wee Man and Lil Kiwi got to see Tuesday night.

Santa living his dream and some lucky military members riding along...

That's Wee Man telling Santa how good (cough cough) he was this year and what he wants for Christmas...

Lil Kiwi waved and gave Santa a kiss when he was still on the fire truck but as soon as Santa asked if she wanted to sit on his lap it was a whole different story.... Lil Kiwi went into Danger Stranger mode. Which she goes into a lot after her surgery and who can blame her. She is getting much better though and is really making progress.

Tomorrow we are baking cookies for Santa because he reminded them to make sure to leave him cookies and milk... OH and the carrots for Rudolph and the other reindeer too... Thanks for the reminders Santa.

On a side note when Santa did this last year it was in the low teens and windy... Santa and the military members with him that night went above and beyond.. brrrrrr

Wordless Wednesday - S-N-O-W what is this stuff

While this is not Lil Kiwi's first time in snow; it is the first experience with snow now that she is walking and old enough to realize something is cold. She loved tubing and sliding on the slide... It was just the being IN the snow she didn't care for...

Wee Man was in heaven... He loved it... That is until he got cold then he informed us that maybe he didn't want to play in snow E-V-E-R again... (hehee)

OH and yesterday Santa made a surprise visit and the kids got to tell him what they wanted. (will post pics later on)

Winter Storm aka "Blizzard of 09"

The East Coast was slammed by a blizzard... Yep it's even been called "Blizzard of 09"... Records are being made for snow fall on the East Coast... However, while it was one whole day of some crazy snow and wind it wasn't the worst I have seen or been in... I was in Washinton State one year and let me tell you they have snow and blizzards...

Not that I am saying 2 feet of snow in one day is anything to scoff at.... Last year we got two days of snow total and maybe 4-5 inches if that...

These photos were taken just hours into the snow....

This is what things looked like right before bedtime...

Will post more pictures later...

Uprinting Postcard Giveaway

Postcards... You know what I love about postcards. Besides the fact they are cheaper on postage, have fun pictures, and trying to figure out the perfect sentence to put on it; I love that you can use them for so many things after you get them. You can put them in a scrapbook, on the fridge, memory board, and so much more.

I know you already guessed (because my readers are so smart) but Uprinting.com has offered you another great giveaway in the form of postcards.

One lucky reader will get to make their own postcards. What you plan to do with them is up to you. They can be thank you, wish you were here, business related, or whatever you can imagine. With Uprinting.com it's easy to put together a stunning finished product. Just check out all the options you have when ordering postcards from Uprinting.com.

Prize:

100 Postcards for one (1) lucky winner

Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides

Winner will be responsible for shipping in the USA.

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you would or plan on using the custom postcards... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

• Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
• Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Uprinting (leave url/link in your comment) (+2 entries)
• Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
• Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: @Uprinting #giveaway for 100 Custom Postcards http://tinyurl.com/y8zn7g9 @weeshenanigans
• Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Monday December 28 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Tuesday December 29... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.
Please note that Winner is responsible for paying shipping.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Just checking in

Still here... The snow is continuing to fall... and fall.....

There is talk of power outs so we are keeping the computers off and trying to be prepared for the power outs... In past history, whenever I PLAN on the power going out it never does and vice-versa... Thus, I'm planning so it doesn't go out... Makes sense right?! LOL

So, to our family.... It's not that we don't love you but the lack of phone calls is because I'm the mean one saying "Save the cell phones in case we need them"...

However, I'm sure we will call and update you shortly... The storm is only for a day or two...

To everyone else... Brrrr it's cold.... Enjoy your weekends..

Wordless Wednesday - Kayaking 101 in Hawaii

What happens when you rent this..... (aka old thin floating plastic kayak)

Then start kayaking out to that island in the distance....

that's me above.....DH below (not DH at the time)

what happens is...

1. You remember Hawaii has sharks (lots of them)
2. You discover that the island you are paddling too is a lot further away than you thought
3. Just because a camera is water proof doesn't mean it really is
4. When said camera falls out and washes up on shore, the local boys that find it will take the last few pictures on it BEFORE returning it to you.. LOL
5. That short two hour kayak trip was really an all day event and more like eight hours 

    and.....

    6.   Your arms might just fall off from all that paddling

BTW the photos are film not digital.... They are from when I was living in Hawaii and before I married DH... The funny thing is that was the hardest kayak trip I have ever been on...

Part II of.... What was I doing

During those weeks other events that kept me busy were....

Fawn Dog... Yep... Sweet innocent Fawn Dog... I let the dogs out for morning potty time and let them back in a few minutes later... Now, normally I would check feet for dirt and stuff but I was distracted by the kids... Fast forward a few minutes to when DH came in the front door and asked why the house looked like a murder scene...

HUH? Murder scene what was he talking ab.... OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOODNESS

As I turned around I see blood everywhere.... a trail of blood and puddles of blood from the back room all the way through the kitchen and into the living room.... I knew it was only one person errr dog that could have done it... Standing not five feet away is Fawn Dog with blood pooling around her foot...

It's a good thing DH and I are in the animal husbandry field because we went straight to work... Apparently something punctured her foot between the skin and toepad when she was outside... Since DH couldn't find vetwrap in the first medical bag we did the next best thing...

Quick military bandage....

Then I jumped up and got the second bag out and found the vetwrap... Yes we have more than one medical bag kit for the dogs... and when I say bag I mean duffel bag sized...

and here is the vetwrap bandage...

Fawn Dog was happy to relax and spend the rest of the day laying in the middle of the living room... However, every trip outside required some bandage protection since it was wet and rainy....

Awww yes the rain... there was just a little of that... It's actually funny because it started raining the day Grandma Shenanigans passed and for several days after that.... and then again the next week.... It has rained a lot here this year and we far surpassed the annual rain fall only months into the year...

and what does one do when it's raining.... COOK... I will write up the recipes and post them in the next few days... I made pumpkin pie.... pumpkin bread.... pumpkin muffins.... and I mean not just one or two.... There were two big pies... two mini kid pies... five loaves of bread... and about 3 1/2 dozen muffins...

What was I doing?

So..... I disappeared for two almost three weeks... The first week I told you that Grandpa Shenanigans wasn't doing so good.... then I told you that Grandma Shenanigans didn't have long.... and then came back with very sad news... What was I doing for those weeks when I wasn't blogging?

Well, honestly it's kinda a blur... It was the longest time during it but honestly now I can't remember much of it...

Raking leaves... Oh I remember helping DH rake leaves one afternoon and then two days later this is what the yard looked like...

Then DH flew home to attend Grandma Shenanigans funeral (which was lovely and had perfect weather)... The kids and I stayed behind so that Wee Man didn't get kicked out of school... I so have to post about that later...

Oh but did I mention that the day before DH left we found out Wee Man had a bad ear infection.... WAIT it gets even better... The day DH left I had to rush Lil Kiwi to the doctors because she had 104.2 fever... They couldn't decide what was wrong but thought it (ahem... rolling eyes) might be an ear infection... You all know how little I think of the base doctors but they know me so well now that when I called and told them I needed an appointment they told me to be there in 10 minutes... I was there in 5.... Oh Joy....

So, I was giving medicine twice daily to both children... One of which finally got off her daily medication back in September and never wanted anything to do with it again... It was a fun ten days...

That also means there was a lot of this....

and a bit of this.....

Good time....good times...

Will post more of what happened tomorrow and recipes.... I was a cooking fool....

Wordless Wednesday - The Yellow Baron

Was trying to clean up my photo files and ran across this one from a few years ago...

Remembering Pearl Harbor

1941 December 07

It was peaceful and then sudden chaos and confusion on Oahu, HI...

The surprise was complete. The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. By 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.

This was the event that spurred the United States into becoming militarily involved in World War II.

By military stand point the attack was brillant however, it turned out to be Japan's biggest mistake.

Please take a few moments today to remember everyone involved in the attack.

Well Poo to the snow and Thank Goodness

Apparently, yesterday I was too quick to post about the lovely snow... That big fat perfect powder snow falling for hours....Oh I was soooo excited... It looked like it was sticking but sadly it wasn't... (whimper)

What does that mean? Well.... That means that on top of the already sponge-like ground from all the rain we had recently we now have water..... ice.... and slush..... YUCK.....

So while it was beautiful to watch the snow fall..... now we get to deal with the slushy aftermath but didn't even get to play in snow...

However, yesterday was also scary for us... We decided to pick up some food from a local restaurant and then return home.... It was snowing at the time but more like a soft wet snow fall... While sitting at a stop light we watched a gentleman wearing a white helmet turn into the WalMart parking lot on a scooter/moped.... We both commented on how dangerous that was and how bad we felt for him if that was his only option in this weather...

We picked up our food and were driving back home when I reminded DH that we were going to stop and grab some nuggets for Lil Kiwi.. (I know I'm horrible) .... Anyway... As we are getting ready to pull out onto the street we heard some sirens.... So, we waited and watched as an ambulance, fire chief, and two cop cars drove past us...

Pull out on to the street and then see the lights just a few feet up the road and not too far from our exit home... Since we live on a military base there is usually only one way to get on base (ie home)... If they closed the road we would end up having to drive about 30-40 minutes on the Highway to get turned around and back on the road to get home via the only only exit that leads home... That would not have been fun...

As we slowly drive past, one of the police officers was just getting out of his car and getting ready to keep traffic from passing.... Thankfully, we were able to pass and continue home...

However, I looked over to see what happened and there wedged under the front bummer of an XTerra was a two wheeled vehicle... Sitting on the curb, surrounded by people, was a gentleman wearing a white helmet... I teared up right away... We don't know what happened.... We don't know if that was the same gentleman.... It was dark so I couldn't tell if it was a scooter or a motorcycle but there was no denying the white helmet... I'm hoping he is okay... Didn't see it on the news so I'm sure it wasn't too bad...

The scary part is that IF we didn't stop to get Lil Kiwi nuggets..... it could have been us... that hit him......

The police/fire station is just around the corner from where he was hit so it was maybe five-ten minutes tops (the same amount it took to get nuggets) from when he was hit and them responding...

Scary...

I have a ton of things to do but...

I just finished downloading all the photos to the computer.. Whew!

As soon as I have time I will update everyone on the last two weeks...

First, let's play a game...

It's call Guess What It Is...

Ready?

Start Guessing...

No.. It is not a picture showing how dirty my walls are.. (although that is what the front door looks like)

Need a better hint... How about now.. Any Guesses?

Still not sure.... Okay... Okay... Last one....

SNOW!!!

We had already had snow this year but it was just enough to fall and melt... This snow just started and is sticking... They say it should continue to snow until tonight...

They want us to move

Okay... I need to update you all with what we have been doing the past few weeks... However, first I have to download some photos on the computer to go along with the update... Will try to do that this weekend (if not today)...

There is new news.. Is that even a correct sentence? new news... hmmm anyway

In the military you never know when you might have to move.... Last time we were told it would be BFE Egypt but since there are no medical facilities that could take care of Lil Kiwi we ended up not going... Of course it wasn't that simple and there was a lot of stuff that was done to keep us here...

We have been trying to get closer to home because family is there for both of us... Plus, in light of recent events with Grandma and Grandpa Shenanigans, it would be nice to be closer to all family... However, the military doesn't work that way... They offered us a position farther North than we are now; which was actually just the next base up and only an hour away... DH declined the offer from command and told them he would rather stay here than move on hour north to a different state...

There are a ton of excuses why they won't move us... The last one was yada yada have to be on this post for 49 months before you can leave due to XYZ regulation... Well, no one has been able to find said regulation and for those trying to figure out the math that is four years and one month...

So, imagine our surprise when we can down on orders yesterday... Huh? What? WHERE?

They have us going to a base that IS closer to home.... That would be nice... However, the closest medical facility for Lil Kiwi would be hours away... HOURS...

We have people looking into it to make sure if we have to go there that Lil Kiwi will have the treatment she needs... BAH Why is it never simple...

Hmmm I intended this to be more a hey guess what post but it turned more into a what the heck rant... I apologize for the rant... I'm sleepy... cranky... worn out.... and I haven't had my C-O-F-F-E-E yet...

Wordless Wednesday - Losing your spots

Remember this little guy? from a past WW

Well, he comes back all the time but is now bigger (sorta)....

Acorns (and the apple cores I toss out) make for some yummy snacks..

Real yummy

SUPER YUMMY

OR is this why he is hiding his nose...

Winner of the Thank You Cards

The Lucky Winner picked via Random.org was number 6....

Sue

Congratulations Sue!!!

and thank you to the sponsor for providing wonderful service and giveaways

Wordless Wednesday - The Bubbas'

So.... I disappeared for two weeks..... I feel sooo bad that I haven't visited all your blogs... or left comments... but I know you understand why....

To make it up to you I'm going to try my best to stalk errr visit all of you this week... Be warned though that DH gets back today and Wee Man gets out of school early (plus has the rest of the week off)... Oh and just in case you forgot THANKSGIVING is tomorrow...

The weather has been rainy here and this picture is from just about two weeks ago... Black dog in all his stunning modeling glory...

Grandma Shenanigans Rest In Peace

Well....

This might just be the most difficult post I have ever written...

I will start by saying thank you to all those that had such kind words to say... Thank you for the thoughts, prayer, and hugs... While I didn't reply back it wasn't because I didn't appreciate you saying them... They were comforting to read... That being said...

Wednesday I posted about Grandma and Grandpa Shenanigans... I mentioned how we hoped the next call was not THAT call....

Well...

It was...

Wednesday Grandma Shenanigans peacefully passed and there is a chance that she was smiling in the end. What a lovely thought.. Not only that she might have been smiling but that it was peaceful and pain free...

We toasted to her life and memory with some high-end tequila... Just one shot people.... I have kids to watch....

Then it was time to try to figure out how to get DH home to Texas.. Tickets weren't cheap but we found the lowest priced ones we could.... DH left early Friday morning to join his family...

The kids and myself are still here... We couldn't let Wee Man miss any more days of school...

I waited to post about Grandma Shenanigans passing because I wanted to write one post about it and include how the funeral went... Today Monday November 23, 2009 was Grandma Shenanigans funeral... While it has been raining back home, DH said that today was beautiful... You could not ask for a more perfect day weather wise... All the services were lovely and the funeral was just as great...

The sad part... Grandpa Shenanigans lays in bed at the hospital still... He is too ill to leave the hospital and did not get to attend putting Grandma to rest... They are not even sure if he knows she is gone because while they have told him he is unresponsive... That is a whole other post to rant about how much I dislike hospitals and most of the people that work at them... I swear they MUST be sedating him out of fear of being sued... Arrggg what a mess his stay has been... That's another post... While there are some great people at hospitals it's the others that make the good ones so rare...

Any who... Back on track...

Okay... I'm going to say something that once again might sound mean and unloving... I wish that Grandpa Shenanigans would have passed last week so that today both of them could have been laid to rest TOGETHER....  Not that I want anything to happen to Grandpa Shenanigans because I truly love both of them but it breaks my heart knowing that he didn't get to be with her... During her final moments on earth they were miles apart..... While she was being put to rest he was laying in a hospital possibly unaware of what was going on... Heartbreaking....

Not saying they were the perfect couple because there is no such thing... However, in my eyes they were what everyone wishes they could be.... The old couple that still holds hands and look lovingly at each other... You can almost picture them in a Norman Rockwell painting...

I have cried some... I have wished that things ended differently.... Yet, in the end I will not mourn Grandma Shenanigans... I will remember her as she was before and celebrate her life...

So....

To Grandma Shenanigans,

We shall miss you with all our hearts... Forgive us for the mistakes we will make in our lives... Try not to laugh too hard at all the stumbles we take.... Smile with us when times are good... Comfort us when we are weak... Be ready for hugs when it is our time...

Your Loving Family,
The Shenanigans

Uvidíme se pozdeji... Miluji te

Winner of Rolled Canvas Print

The Lucky Winner via Random.org was number 16....

JulieMoe

Congratulations Julie!!!

and thank you to the sponsor for providing wonderful service and giveaways

Holiday Giveaway of Custom Thank You Cards from Uprinting.com

It's that time of the year again....

Gathering family and friends together and celebrating the holidays.... I still can't believe Thanksgiving is next week.. Next week people!

The one universal thing for all holidays are Thank You cards... If it is a thank you for bringing that super yummy melt in my mouth bread or other food dish... Or the kids writing their thanks of the gifts they received...

This year Uprinting.com has you covered in all your holiday needs... From your holiday cards right down to the thank you cards... In fact, if you already have cards or are super crafty and make them yourself Uprinting still has something for you in the form of DIY envelopes ... How neat is that... This would save me a lot of time (and finger cramps) since our address is very long and after awhile my handwriting starts to show it..

So far, all my items from Uprinting have been wonderful and when I did have an issue the customer service was great... You can read reviews (both good and bad) about them from real people here ...

 Prize:

(50 ct.) 7 x 5" (folded to 3.5 x 5") Custom Thank You Cards with plain envelopes

FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs 

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you would or plan on using the custom thank you cards... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

• Follow WeeShenanigans
• Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Uprinting (leave url/link in your comment)
• Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
• Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: @Uprinting #giveaway for 50 custom Thank You Cards http://bit.ly/17K8Q7 @weeshenanigans
• Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Friday November 27 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Saturday November 28... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Rolled Canvas Print Giveaway from DigitalRoom

CLOSED!!!

A quick ending giveaway brought to you by DigitalRoom.com...

The holidays are right around the corner and that means gifts... Do you have a hard to shop for relative or friend that you just never know what to get them? How about taking their favorite photo and turning it into a 16 X 20 rolled canvas print... Talk about a gift they can enjoy for years to come and a way to remember a special moment or person.. Or any of the other wonderful options you can find at Digital Room like posters, new business cards, or even personalize stationary...

Take a look at the review (and or some design tips) over at Youthedesigner.com and check out what they are saying...

Ready for the giveaway part?  Of course you are....

Prize:

16x20” Rolled Canvas for One Lucky Winner

FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment describing what photo gifts you want to have printed for your family and loved ones... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

• Follow WeeShenanigans
• Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and DigitalRoom (leave url/link in your comment)
• Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
• Daily tweets by copy and pasting:  "Great Holiday #giveaway for 16X20 rolled canvas print http://bit.ly/3OzV5V  @weeshenanigans "
• Grab my Shamrock button
• Enter my other giveaway for 50 custom thank you cards HERE

This giveaway will end on Saturday November 21 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Sunday November 22... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Wordless Wednesday not so Wordless today- At a loss for words

Not even sure where to start this post...

You might have noticed that I have been completely absence from the blogsphere this week... I have so much stuff to post but a lack of drive to sit at the computer and type... In fact, I have some giveaways I HAVE to post but other than that I don't know if I will post much this week either...

If you remember from last WW Grandpa Shenanigans was placed in the ICU and all we can do it sit here, wait for news from home, and pray... Then we got the phone call that things are not looking good for Grandma Shenanigans and they are giving her 1-5 days...

Needless to say this.... well..... sucks...

I feel so bad because I can't find the words to say when talking on the phone... Saying "This SUCKS" feels so right but sounds so wrong... You can tell how worn out my FIL is and how this is just tearing him up.. He has been dealing with so much and now this... Not just him but everyone down there has just got to be broken up about this... Yet, here we sit almost 2000 thousand miles away and all we can do is say a few words into a phone... and those words can't even express how much we wish we could be there...

What is worst..... Is that I think it will be a blessing when Grandma takes her final breath... Sounds horrid but it's how I feel... She has Alzheimer's/Dementia and has been in a home for a while now... She isn't the Grandma she was... That in it self was heartbreaking... Although I do wish I could have been around to see her chewing out the staff in Czech... (just trying to lighten things up) Things have been getting worst medically and I know it's so horrid to say but really I think she would be in a better place...

What is even worst than that.... Is I have always thought that when one goes the other would be right behind... Yet, Grandpa seemed to be doing fine... Then he started having problems and I have to wonder if it was because Grandma wasn't at home anymore... Now this...

So, here we sit... waiting.... praying.... hoping that the next phone call isn't THAT one....

DH has his uniform ready.... He has made his command aware of what is going on... Now we just have to hope that IF he needs to go they will let him... FIL is ready to do the calls he has to on his end also...

I have told my mother that if I call her and can't talk and hang up then she know why I called... I could barely tell her and DH that Grandma Shenanigans only had a few days... So I knew that come that day I wouldn't be able to talk...

My FIL does read this blog so I know at some point in time he will read this... I can only hope that he sees just how much we wish we were there... How we have been thinking of them everyday.... How I have been trying to find something to send to them via snail mail so that they have something to hold in their hands and know we are there... How I wish I could say more on the phone... How much we love them and just well you get the point..

Okay honestly, I'm sniffling and crying... So, before I get any more emotional.... Here is a picture of Grandpa and Grandma Shenanigans... This is how I hope to always remember them....

Wordless Wednesday - In Remembrance and Honor

November 11

Veterans Day

In Honor of all who served

I could list all my family that has fought but today I wanted to share a photograph of Grandpa Shenanigans... A few days ago he was admitted to the ICU and we are thousands of miles away... A braver more gentle soul I have not known... We Love you...

These are some veterans that DH had the honor of escorting around last year..

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

and to my husband that still protects us to this day... We Love You...

RECALL for Maclaren Strollers

If you haven't seen the recall yet, Maclaren is recalling at least 1 million umbrella strollers because of a potential hazard to children's fingers. The hazard is amputated fingertips due to a defect that causes children to get their fingertips amputated in the strollers' hinges.

You can read more my doing a engine search for Maclaren stroller recall or click here for the MSNBC report. Several models are affected and there is a free kit you can order to fix the problem.

However, the website seems to be down (probably because everyone is trying to get the kit) but you can still call them toll-free at (877) 688-2326. 

So, if you have a Maclaren STOP USING IT NOW! 

Check to see if your stroller is affected by the recall and or if you need the kit.... I believe the affected models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller......

Trees the color of fire

The changing of the seasons is here...

although apparently one of our trees doesn't know it yet.. it does have a few red leaves

I wish I could capture how beautiful this tree is... When the sun hits it just right it appears to be on fire..

Parsnips Anyone....

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend.....

Parsnip

I've known of Parsnips for quite sometime now... However, it wasn't until trying to find another way to get Wee Man to eat new foods did I become reacquainted... Two weeks ago we made Parsnips Chips and they were a hit.. Everyone loved them... I'm not a fan of frying foods at home often because face it fried foods are not good for you... They taste soooo good but they are not good for you... LOL

So here is the recipe to make your own Parsnip Chips... I must give credit to Alton Brown for this recipe because well he rocks and when I found this recipe I had to try it... Wee Man actually asked if we could try parsnips again and helped pick out the ones he wanted.. Now I just have to find another recipe...

Ingredients

2 quarts pure peanut oil  (DH had to run to the store to buy some hehee)
1 pound parsnips
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat peanut oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat to 370 to 375 degrees F.

Meanwhile, scrub the parsnips to remove any excess dirt. Lay the parsnip flat on a cutting board, and using a vegetable peeler, peel off 4 to 5 flat, wide noodle-shaped strips. Rotate the parsnip 90 degrees and repeat. Continue to rotate until you can no longer peel strips. Repeat with the remaining parsnips.  This proved difficult with the cheapie cheap peeler we found since the good one was broken in the move...

Gently add a small handful of parsnips to the oil, stirring gently, until lightly browned and crisp, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the crisps from the oil using a spider or slotted spoon; hold over the pot and allow to drain for 30 seconds.

Transfer to a cooling rack set over a half sheet pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. After the first batch, the oil temperature may drop. Adjust the heat in order to maintain a minimum temperature of 325 to 350 degrees F. Repeat until all parsnips are cooked. Serve warm or at room temperature. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Ours didn't last that long.. Of course, I also didn't do a full pound like the recipe calls for just in case the kids didn't like them..

Yum!