Beckee, Julie, & Julia...

So, I just watched Julie and Julia. I liked it. I really liked it. Wes slept through it. If you do not know of this movie, it is really 2 stories in one-one is Julia Child's story of how she became a French chef and eventually got her cookbook published. The other story is about Julie Powers (I think) who is a woman that decided to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook in a year and write a blog about it. I really liked Julie's character a lot. I related to her, and as I watched, I thought, "hey, I used to blog a lot, daily in fact, but I sort of gave up on it when I got behind and didn't think anyone would read it anymore or care." Well, I know that my wonderful family cares about the blog because it keeps them updated on the kids, but who would really read a blog full of writing vs my current blog of pictures and commentary?! I don't know if anyone will, but I want to write in my blog more than I have been and I want to get better at blogging again.

In that movie, Julie decides on this kind-of crazy goal and gives herself a deadline to do it in hopes she will stick to it. I thought, there is not one thing I am so obsessed with or passionate about that I could focus so fully on it like she did. Then I realized that is not entirely true...I am that passionate and obsessed with my family (which is why you get so many pictures with commentary posts). But, I also have other interests, ones that I could really learn more about. So, I am going to try to learn something new every week about one of my many interests.

A few of the things I want to learn more about:

1-I am Greek, but I rarely cook Greek foods-it would be awesome to cook something Greek, learn some of the Greek language, or learn something new about my Greek ancestors every week.
2-Wes pointed out a few years ago that I am actually more German than Greek. However, I know much less German traditions, food, and ancestry than about my Greek. So, I would like to do something German every week too.
3-I need to learn more about Wes's family history so I can teach my kids that as well. Luckily both sets of his grandparents have given us great resources for me to learn and teach the kids-we will be going over and learning that as well.
4-I need to sing more with the kids-they love it and my singing has been lacking...
5-I will audition for at least one show in 2010.

Lofty goals. I may not achieve them , but it's worth a shot. I will attempt to blog about what I learn and how I progress on these goals as well as posting all the cute stories and pictures of my great family. In fact, I have some great snow pictures to post...but not tonight. Tonight, I sleep! Sweet dreams friends!

The actual finger (some images near the end may be too much for some people...)

Wesley's ring finger on his left hand was broken in a Turkey Bowl (football) accident on Thanksgiving. He had to get surgery to repair it yesterday. The doctor hoped to just go in and put in a couple screws. However, when he opened up Wesley's finger, he found that instead of one big chunk of bone, it was actually 3 smaller chunks and thus could not be screwed in. So, it had to have a button and wire system put in to fix it. And folks, he did all this under LOCAL anaesthetic. Wow! Now we have to be careful to avoid infection as he now has a wire hanging out of his finger for the next 6 weeks. Here are some before and after surgery pictures:

Here is the finger un-splinted right before we left home for the surgical center.

Waiting to go into surgery.

After the surgery yesterday he came out with a giant covering on his arm. This morning we met with the physical therapist to get the new brace fitted. This is the first wrap:

Warning-next couple pics are a bit gruesome (maybe not for faint of heart). This is what his finger looks like under all that...

He got a bit faint from the pain as they fitted his new brace...(Poor guy!)

Turkey Bowl Injury

So in the Turkey Bowl, Wes's finger got caught in another guys shirt and it broke. Check out the images:

It is actually going to need surgery to get fixed. He has a office appointment on Monday morning and will get surgery on Tuesday. Crazy, right?!

Thanksgiving

We had a very calm little Thanksgiving at home. It was the only day this week Wes had off. In fact, today (Friday) he is on a 14 hour call, then tomorrow until Sunday he is on the 24 hour shift. So, we wanted to take full advantage of him being home. In the morning, Wes went over to the Turkey Bowl while I was cooking and the kids were watching the parade. The Turkey Bowl put a bit of a kink to our plans as Wes broke his finger (I will post on that next). So, we ae our scrumptous meal at aroung 1 pm, then decorated our house for Christmas (ie-put up the tree adn the lights). Then we veged and watched a movie with the kids (Ice Age Dinosaur one) and after the kids were in bed, Wes and I watched GI Joe. It was a great day and I was VERY thankful to have Wes home!

Our turkey.

The feast included the turkey (above) and all the trimmings below: Mashed potatoes (in the big blue pot), Jello jigglers, Sweet potatos with marshmallows, green bean casserole, gravy, stuffing, homemade rolls, 2 pumpkin pies from scratch (using the giant pumpkins we grew), and a pecan pie I bought (wasn't great...).Mmmmm

Kids awaiting meal

(Wes is on the phone in the background talking to a hand surgeon about his finger)

The tree

Kindle kept herself busy with stockings...

Solace tried to help by giving her a hat to match

Dad with his splint (we had to make a Walgreen's run to get that taken care of) holds Kindle.

Tree

Ender watching Ice Age

Oh Ender...

We saw Santa today (yeah we know it isn't even Thanksgiving, but we were at the mall, he was there and there was no line). He gave the children each a book to fill out about themselves and about what they wish for Christmas. They are cute little books, and immediately upon walking home from the mall, Ender set out to draw/write his book. He has been learning about drawing detailed pictures at school. He brought this over to me:

So, did you think it was a girl? When Ender brought it to me, he said "Um, mom, I was drawing me with s bird on my shirt, but it ended up that I look like a woman with breasts!" Yeah Ender, it does...

Now taking recommendations

Hello you beautiful readers...(am I layin it on too thick?)

I need some help...I am currently applying for a job through our local newspaper where I would blog on their new moms website, serve as an advisor representing Omaha moms, and make public appearances to promote the new mom website and focus. Could there be a better job for me?

Here's where I need some advice...I have to send them 2 blogs I have written. Obviously I need to show that I am an interesting blogger that other people would want to read. So, I figured since you are my current readers, maybe you might remember a blog I have written that you found particularly funny or interesting? One that might be a good submission for this job application. Please comment with recommendations for me. I have a hard time judging my own writing...This can be any blog as far back as they go-if you remember one, but cannot remember when I wrote it or exactly what it was titled or anything, just send what you remember.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and your help...

And finally the one the boys have been begging for...

Guess Who joined the party?

We carved one more last night...

Can you tell who it is?

This might help...

Night ones

Star Wars...nothing but Star Wars...

Well, the pumpkin carving has begun...based on the big hint in the title, I sure hope you can tell what we carved...check out our first 2 CARVED pumpkins (we used parts of them to make pumpkin pie-more on that to come) Feel free to comment...

Armour's Halloween Costume arrived...

Nacho Libre...I will post more Halloween and more catch up blogs, but I thought you should all see this right away.