The Richest Man In Walnut Grove

Since I was young I have been a HUGE fan of Little House on The Prairie. Both my sisters and cousin also loved the show and we spent hours watching them, crying, and talking about the characters as if they were are BFFs. When I was a teenager my mom got me the series on VHS for my birthday and it was so exciting to get one each month in the mail. Okay, I was like pushing 17! Today our family watches one each Sunday. Benny and I are always shocked to see Atticus burst out into tears at the end of some of the more touching ones. He is a softy like both of us, but it is nice to see that he gets the moral of the story and has some compassion at such a young age. Yesterday, while Dad was at the hospital and Cozy down for a nap, Atticus and I watched "The Richest Man In Walnut Grove". We were a mess at the end with tissues all over the place! I would have to say that this is probably my favorite episode! To see the family chip in to help PA who was out of a job during the bank crisis (recession, sound familiar?)was just beautiful! I think part of my desire to move to a small town was because I thought it would be as close as I could get to raising my family with the values and simple life the Ingalls had minus the outhouse, wagon,etc. I think one day I might even attempt at writing a book called, "Everything Good I learned from PA." Now that would be a fabulous bathroom reader!
Recap of Story

SO what, I'm sick!

The bad part about being sick when your a mom is well, life goes on. I don't remember feeling like this in a long time! Lumps the size of golf balls swimming in your neck, everything sounds like your underwater, herbal tea is the only source of nourishment, etc (sound familiar?). There is NO calling in to take a "sick day", staying in bed most the day or ringing bells for help!
I always think a good run will cure anything, but what happens when you can't even walk down the stairs!?
If I had my wish I would go back in time to when being sick meant getting rest and plenty of fluids. My mom would practically kill a chicken and make the best homemade chicken noodle soup. If you were lucky you spent the day with Grandma Lou and Grandpa Harold who understood that a straw was necessary for drinking, the remote control was yours, and the afgan was always tucked under your chin (no arms or feet out or for sure you'd get worse). OH, and who wouldn't get better after a tall glass of frothy orange juice (one thing my Grandpa made to perfection...the blender & toaster he got, the microwave & oven not so much).
A girl can dream of better times when she was sick and taken care of without asking. So, I will just moan a bit and look on the bright side~
"this too shall pass" and it is far better YOU than one of your kids sick, right?!

"I found the last golden ticket and it's mine!"

This past weekend we drove to Spokane for one of Benny's med school friends wedding. Out of the five close friends from med school we have managed only to miss one! It was a quick trip, only there for a little over 24 hrs. I managed to do some "run-ins" to favorite stores now that we live in the land of "no stuff". I came out of it with a nice dress watch from Nordie Rack...sweet!
Another highlight (for me anyway) was getting the last two quarters for my quarter collection! I washed the car with the kids, as Benny was running around Deconess Hospital for fun, and used a $20 in the machine to get $11 in quarters. It sounded like I had won the jackpot and I wasn't even thinking about my collection! So, Alaska and Hawaii finished the quest!! I never cheated by getting people to find them for me or by going to the bank. Atticus was usually there when I would get a new quarter so he was excited when I found the last ones! I was a little over the top when I would find one, screaming like I had just gotten the last golden ticket! I have never collected anything other than stickers when I was a kid (still have 'em) and my earrings I got from places I have visited (they got stolen though).
What to collect next?? What do you collect?
All in all it was a good weekend of free food, people I didn't know, and valentines kisses from the ones I love(we did watch Madagascar 2 in the hotel and it was a riot!)We came home to a snowy town in which we made a snow person and snuggled up to the fire! There's no place like home!

Fini!

Who's the guy in the back?

Lets SUGAR SHOCK the town!

I wish I had my camera today for the photos do NO justice. I went to the elementary school to volunteer to help frost "some" cookies. This is the big fundraiser for the elementary school and I could finally see why. Imagine a lunch room filled with tables and tables of homemade (school kitchen made) heart cookies as ginormous as baby heads. They were ready to be frosted and sprinkled and then boxed to deliver to all over the Chelan area! They also have personal love notes attached to them. Last year I ordered maybe five (at $3.50 a piece) for friends in the area, Benny, and one for my little sugar boy. Later I watched Atticus slip into a nice nap after he ate the whole thing. This year it was fun to see the creation of this event and I was so amazed at the organization and help that was given. Okay, Okay, I live in a small town and that's what people get excited about here!
So, get ready for the biggest sugar shock sweeping the valley tomorrow as 900+ people eat these evil treats!
Happy Valentines...and I will be resisting and hitting that treadmill hard!

B-Ball Game.

Right before we left for the girls basketball game at MHS Cozy decided to dress-up. She somehow fit into the Hong Kong gift from Liz & Mark from last year, put on her pink boots, and even let me style her hair. I told her it was a Minnie Mouse doo. Atticus was a little embarrassed about his sisters look and was also not claiming her when she got out and danced with her little friend Olivia at half time. I think no naps will do that! AND.....As it goes, Benny ended up coming a little late and then sitting with the team because one of the girls pulled her ACL (poor Whitni) and hey, the doctor was in. Isn't that what always happens? I should keep him home!!
GO MARCI!! (by the way, Manson won!)

Reality & Fondue.

The reality has set in. Benny was on call the first weekend here and we are finding that the summer bliss of Lake Chelan is much too far away. We are enjoying the time Daddy is around and not having to sleep at the hospital. Atticus has had his ups and downs in returning to a familiar school, new teacher, tons of friends, but a different way of learning than his last school. Cozy brought back her imaginary friends from Spokane and they are right back in the bathtub reading. Another scary friend stowed away with the two so we now have Cumber, Bubbles and Nissy. After I finished unpacking boxes, organizing, hanging art (how I wish my mom could help with that) I realized that we still had boxes in the garage to go through. I am physically tired from all the work and forget to eat so I have found I am losing weight. I figured out that we have moved 8 times in our 11 years of marriage. 8 is Enough! Isn't that a old sitcom title? It's only when you move that you realize "where did all this junk come from and do I need it all?" In this frame of mind my goal for 2009
is to de-junk and to remember "less is more". I have also decided to take loads to the goodwill and avoid the work of a spring yard sale. So, we are back to the daily grind trying to get into a routine, but enjoying the beautiful area we live in. Here are some photos of us enjoying a break with the fondue set that the Swisstensens sent us for Christmas! The first time the kids had fondue and it was a fun & tasty mess!!