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!

Freebies and Photos

Stumbled upon this and of course I had to share with you all...

Kodak is having a promotion where site vistiors get a free $15 gift plus a chance to visit the Ellen Show.... I did it and got a code in my email for $15 off at Kodak Gallery... Not sure if it's the same for everyone but worth a look.. However, you got to be quick because the codes expire November 17....

“Million Thanks Giveaway”

Shooting at Fort Hood

My heart & prayers go out to those involved in the shooting at Fort Hood...

We have friends that are stationed there and have no way of finding out if they are okay yet...

Please keep everyone in your thoughts...

Halloween present (part II)

This year Wee Man wanted to be the pirate he wanted to be last year... Visit Halloween part I for the reason why he didn't get to...

Great one costume out of the way... For Lil Kiwi I wanted to do something fun and special because once again last year was a bummer...

I made a tutu for her that was black, purple, and red..... Got some super sweet bat/demon wings custom made for her (I made wings for her last year and did not want to do that again plus she didn't get to wear them)... hunted for the black shirt and pants for weeks... and to top it off we found some really cute horns just her size....

Then it decided to be yucky and rainy on Halloween... Well... POO...

So, I ran around trying to find a costume from other things in the house... I even called my mother....

"Mom.. I need ideas... help... rain... yada yada...."  a whining pleading me

"Sweetie... how about you just dress her in something cute and just relax..." Mom, the voice of reason

"Mom... but last Halloween... need to make it up to them...." a stressed crazed me whimpers

"Don't worry..." Mom, that voice of reason again..

"Okay you're right.. Ooo I know what she can wear..." (hangs up on mom)

Yeah that was pretty much how it went.... More or umm less...

See, she was right..... Only I could not just put her in anything... Thankfully, a few days earlier I had received a package in the mail from Happy Panda .... Without knowing it Pamela saved Lil Kiwi's Halloween.... I'm so going to have to post about how much I love her clothing line... Later of course.....

So, we head out and it's sprinkling.... Hit up two neighbors for candy... As we are walking to the next place ,which isn't close because no one lives around here, it starts to rain... We head home and decide to drive to a real neighborhood for some quick and easy trick or treating.... Forty minutes later... two hungry kids.... one hungry mommy... we find a neighborhood that looks promising...

Out of the car... around the corner.... up the driveway of the first house... BAM the sky opened up and rain poured.... Grab candy... and head to the car... BAM the rain slowed.... a little..... I tell DH and Wee Man to run to the last three houses and that Lil Kiwi and I will sit in the car...

They return soaking wet but happy... Then I made them return to the last house so I could take a picture of Wee Man with the Candy Givers.... Finally, we headed home after a stop for food...

So..... here are the photographs of the kids this Halloween...

 

He loved getting his face all scary... hehee He also kept touching it so I had to keep redoing it...

 

Lil Kiwi in her rockin' outfit.... refusing to take a picture

 

Wee Man telling her how much mommy really wanted a picture of them...

 

Lil Kiwi finally looks at the camera and (bangs head) Wee Man wouldn't... ARGGGG

He was the scary pirate he had been asking for since last year.... and I think Lil Kiwi looked dang adorable in her Happy Panda shirt...

Here's to a better Halloween next year....

Halloween past (part I)

This is going to be a two part post I think... Or a really long one... Or both maybe.. LOL

Halloweens past...

I mentioned in this post about how one Halloween was really bad... Now seems like the perfect time to tell it... Last year DH was away doing top secret stuff so the kids and I were left alone for a few months... At the time Lil Kiwi was just about four months old and everything was a tad stressful because she had medical issues and at the time Wee Man was in Pre-K for only three hours a day... Lack of sleep.... Lack of privacy... etc...

Halloween was a few days away and I started to feel really sick... The type of sick when you start to physically shaking and can feel the chills running through your bones... I'm stubborn... Yep... To a fault... So, knowing that I didn't have the time to see (or even get an appointment) I figured I'd power through it....

Four or five days I was that sick but I still walked Wee Man to the bus stop and picked him up everyday... Cooked, play with, read to, and all those other daily activities... Sometimes I didn't feel so bad and then at other times I swear someone had a voodoo doll of me and ooooo they were not being nice at all....

I knew what was wrong with me by the second day because I'd had it before when I had Wee Man... Mastitis.... So I tried all the tips and tricks to help it but nothing worked...

Then on Halloween morning I decided that I really need to see the doctor and they would just have to let me bring the kids with me... Well, of course they didn't have an appointment for me but would have the nurse call me back... The hours tick by and finally she calls back and after talking to me tells me she will okay my visit to the place in town... (Remember how wonderful my insurance is)

So, I pack the kids up and drive to the local clinic 30ish minutes away... Sign in and then wait about an hour... They sit me down to do vitals and then freak out and rush me to a sign cubby hole (too small a place to have rooms).... I'm calling the only person I can think of and they aren't answering their phone... The doctors tell me that it's bad and they want to talk to the person that drove me... I explain I drove and they shake their heads... They then tell me I have to go to the hospital and will be there for probably a day or two... I explain there is no one that can watch my kids and that I refuse treatment at the hospital...

They talk and decide to give me fluids and medicine at the clinic; all the while pushing the fact I need better medical help... Bollocks! Here's me being stubborn again but honestly there was no one to watch my kids... My two sweet kids were being so great during all of this... Lil Kiwi was in her carseat and Wee Man was playing his game... Finally, I was released with more warnings about needing to visit the hospital.. Bollocks!...

I drove the 20 minutes to the house of my DH co-worker and hoped they were home... It was halloween so of course they were there still and while I crashed on the couch, my son got to be a football player in a jersey that touched the ground... I felt horrible that he missed out on being a pirate that year but he came back with a pillowcase almost FULL of candy...

He doesn't remember much of the time mommy was laying on the slab with IVs but oooo he remembers that he came home with the BIGGEST haul of candy ever.... Thank goodness...

*edited to add*  I didn't go to the hospital... I took the medicine they gave me at the clinic and rested as much as possible the next few days... Also had to have an appointment at my regular doctor where all they did was say "hmm yes that's what you have and are you taking medicine"... Like I keep saying my PCM is worthless..
Yes I'm stubborn.. I know I should have gone to the hospital but if I did what would have happend to my kids... The closest family that could help out is oh about 2000 miles away... (actually think it's something like 1856 miles) So hmm yeah I didn't have a choice...

Wordless Wednesday- Happy Halloween

It was HORRID here on Halloween... It rained... and rained... then it poured.... We went to a total of nine houses I think...maybe seven depending on how you count them...

Anywho.... this was the last house we went to and I took a picture of Wee Man with my old junk camera that I keep in the bag for moments just like this... (yes I will post more pictures later so you can actually see the kids)

In case you can't tell Wee Man is the small wee pirate...

Winner of the Burt's Bee Grab Bag

Wow.... There were a ton of great ideas for pampering and great tips for staying healthy... I loved the comment that said they pamper and relax by drinking coffee (which is one of my favorite drinks lately)... There was also a comment about taking one drop of oil of oregano a day (don't believe I have ever heard this).. Mostly, we all agreed that time alone whether on the couch, bed, tub, shower, or hiding in the bathroom was what we do to pamper ourselves; if even for a few moments....

So, with out anymore rambling from me.....

Random.org decided that today's Lucky number was 43... Making the winner of the Burt's Bee Grab Bag (and a few extras).....

Sara

Congratulations to Sara.... She has already replied back to my email and I'll be getting her package sent off within the week...

Thank you to everyone that offered up such wonderful ideas and tips....