A Request from the Man of the House

The Man of the house requested I put this story on the blog (probably because he comes off looking good in this one), although he doesn't read the blog so he probably would never know if I actually did or not.
We went to a pheasant dinner last night (yes you read that right).  Our friends Eric & Kim hosted a dinner that included all things pheasant.  Eric hunts a lot and Kim doesn't like bird fangs in their freezer so they compromised and had a pheasant dinner for their friends and neighbors to get rid of it.  It was actually quite delicious and a lot of fun.
It started snowing before we left, but there was not a lot of snow expected so we didn't think twice about not going.  On the way home we almost died.  Seriously.
We got on the interstate and got stuck behind a super slow semi and car.  Tom was driving (thank God because I was supposed to drive us home but had a few too many bloody Mary's) and decided to go around the semi.  All was fine changing lanes it seemed until it wasn't fine no more.  We swerved, and swerved, and swerved some more.  We were between the middle cement median and a semi.  I held on for dear life thinking we were for sure going to hit something, and Tom just kept saying, "Oh Shit, Oh Shit, Oh Shit!"
He used his mad driving skillz though and kept us totally safe.  We didn't hit anything and made it home only a tad bit shaken.
So I guess all the times he freaks me out flippin shitties (or whatever its called when you drive and grab the e-brake and spin around) actually saved our lives.

XO XO,
Alive Molly

Rewrite: Fa La La La La

I feel like I cheated myself and you.  I can write a better Christmas Memories post than what I gave here.  See normally I write my posts at work where I have tons of time to think about what I want to write, but last week work was sooo busy I didn't have time.  So I had to write the post at home with dogs barking, husbands cleaning, and oven timers dinging.  Needless to say, I basically typed a few sentences and threw some pictures on to make it cute and clicked publish.  I can do better.  Sorry to my family who I cheated, we really had some wonderfully strict traditions that got completely short changed.  Hopefully this captures how it really was a little bit better.  If you'd like a soundtrack to go along with this post click here!

Twas the night

Before Christmas

When all through the farm-house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a...well...I was, cause you see I was sick.  I probably ate too many pieces of pie or too many of Aunt Carole's sticky buns.

The stockings sheets and blankets all hung

around the house with care

In hopes That no children

would see what was there

The children were nestled

All safe in their bed, floor, sleeping bags, couch, wherever there was room really (god-forbid the creepy bear rug in grandma & grandpa's basement)

While visions of sugarplums

Danced in their heads

And grandma in her kerchief

And grandpa snoring away, 

Had just settled down

For a long winters nap

When all of a sudden

There arose such a grumble

I sprang from my bed

To run to the bathroom (uh-oh!)

Away to the bathroom

I flew like a flash

Tore open the door

And threw up the toilet seat

As I walked back to bed

rubbing my aching head

I heard a faint noise 

Not snoring, or breathing

Or any such thing.

When what To my wandering ears

Should hear

But a jingle & jangle

coming from near

I closed my eyes tight

to concentrate with all my might

And heard it again...

jingle, jangle, jingle

And got a little tingle

Could it be???

Could it be Santa?

As I fell back to sleep

I didn't make a peep

I would wait until morning

To see if anyone else heard it.

Ok we're done with the rhyming for now.

When my eyes finally popped open in the morning, I quickly asked Ben & Sarah (of course they were already awake) if they'd heard anything.  A jingle or a jangle???  They looked at me kind of crazy and both said, "No".  I ran to find my Dad, and he too said, "No".  It had only been me. I was the only one who heard Santa.

We gathered around the table (all 18 of us if my math and memory serve me right) where a grapefruit with a cherry awaited each of us.  We ate and ate, the kids eating quickly and the adults eating as slow as possible.  We had sticky buns, eggs, sausage patties, bacon, toast, juice, and the dreaded coffee.

See, the rule in the Cornwell house was (and still is) that no one was allowed to open presents, let alone see the presents until after Christmas breakfast.  

We even go as far as hanging sheets and blankets up to cover the entrances to the room where the unwrapped presents / stockings are.  I remember once barely touching one of the sheets and my cousin Keith telling me my presents were going to disappear if I touched the sheet.

Christmas breakfast also included reading the Christmas Story from The Bible.  Normally, either Uncle Rod or Uncle Boogie would read the story, but I do remember Annie and Ben also reading it.  Before we could even begin reading the story all the adults had to have a fresh cup of coffee.  Then in the middle someone would want more coffee, and at the end of the story the coffee pot would inevitably be empty and we would have to wait for a whole new pot to be brewed before we could line up for presents.  As kids we would literally watch each drop of coffee being made.

Finally it was time to line up.  Yes, that's right.  We had to line up from youngest to oldest to run through the sheets to find where Santa had laid our stocking.  The excitement and energy in the little farm-house was overflowing.  We would run in and tear through our stockings.  We would usually find some random nuts, socks, toothpaste and toothbrush from Santa in our stockings (it was weird how one year the toothbrushes all said Dr.'s Kinser & Langwith on them, but we didn't question it).  We then would normally have one unwrapped present laying next to our stocking from Santa.

After all the Santa gifts had been found, the task of distributing the other gifts began.  Gifts were passed out to each person, and then again youngest to oldest everyone would open one gift and everyone else would watch.  There was usually some clue written on the outside of the present that you would have to read aloud and try to guess what was inside.

For example..."to keep your tootsie's warm" would equal socks.

This would go on for hours.  Pretty much the best hours of my childhood.  

The thing about Christmas in my family was, tradition.  Even today, as an adult, I get sad if traditions aren't followed or are broken.  Because you know what???  It meant / means something, and I would be willing to bet it means something to all of you too.

During this crazy time of year, please take time to enjoy your family, reminisce about family traditions, and tell those people in your life that you love them.

But I heard him exclaim

As he drove out of sight

Happy christmas to all

And to all a goodnight

XO XO,

Merrier Molly

Fa La La La La

Growing up, there were very strict Christmas day traditions.  Often we were at my mom's parent's house (grandma & grandpa Cornwell) in Deer Creek, Illinois with EVERYONE.  To my child-like eyes it seemed like the house would bust if one more person came in.  Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, EVERYONE!  We would sleep on the floor, or God-forbid the basement on the creepy bear rug and hope to not get stepped on.  When we woke up there would be sheets and blankets hung from the ceiling to cover the room where Santa had delivered the presents.

We weren't allowed in the room until after the looongest meal of the year Christmas breakfast, after the adults had a bazillion cups of coffee (they would always have to have just one more and the coffee pot would always be empty so we'd have to wait for a whole new pot to be brewed) and after the Christmas Story was read from The Bible.  After much anticipation all the kids would line up youngest to oldest to run into the room where the presents and tree were.

Ben & I (and Uncle Larry in the top pic.) carrying on the tradition as we were older!

It was the best Christmas madness ever.  Still to this day, I don't really feel like I've had Christmas unless all traditions have been followed.

Here are some pictures of Christmases past:

 Even the dogs get in on the Christmas Dinner!

 The Christmas before I transferred to The University of Iowa!

 Decorating for Christmas for the first time in my own house (Virginia)!

 My Dad never put Christmas lights on the outside of the house because he said he didn't want to put holes in the house.  What's the first thing I do when I have a house of my own???  Lights on the outside!

 Dad & Uncle Larry preparing the Christmas Breakfast!

 You never can be quite sure what will happen on Christmas morning!  Your Dad might wear a Santa apron and your Aunt might wear a sweatshirt that says Fa La La La La!

 Grandma (My mom) gives the Dog's presents too!

 Our first official Christmas Card as a family!

 This is normal right?!?  Ben headed to a crazy Christmas party.

 Look how thrilled Tom is.  We got engaged the day before.  Should I be worried?!?

 Our very first "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree.

 Finally a BIG tree for us!

 When my parents finally gave in and realized, "It's all about Molly!"

 My first time skiing (down the driveway!)

Tom is such an angel...isn't this just precious?!?

 Tom's famous "Kissing Cousin's Picture"

 Seriously how cute are these boys!  What happened?!?  Just kidding Paula, you know I love them all! :)

He really wanted to be a construction man when he grew up!

XO XO,

Merry Molly

Thoughts

The past few days I, like many all over the world, am having a hard time tearing my eyes away from the TV.  I can't comprehend what happened in Connecticut  or why it happened.  I can't wrap my brain around the cold hard facts.  The only story line I can understand?  The teachers being hero's.

I've been in the trenches first hand.  I know that one minute you can be pulling your hair out because little Joey pooped on the floor and sweet little Victoria stepped in it (true story), and the next minute you would do anything to keep your students safe.  The stories coming out about teachers locking students in closets, bathrooms, kiln rooms, and storage closets don't surprise me in the least.  It's in the deepest part of a teachers being to do the best you can for each individual student in every circumstance.  Of course no one ever expects that the circumstance would be something so terrible.  All schools and teachers train for the worst and from the stories surfacing, these teachers did exactly what they were trained to do and more.  They really are the true hero's.

As I've been reflecting upon this tragedy, I was reminded why I went into teaching.  I went back and found my essay on "Why I want to be a teacher".  I think it puts into perspective how serious teachers are in making the decision to become teachers.  It is not a light-hearted decision.  For many, like me, it is a long path that leads to becoming a teacher.

Trying to answer the question, why I want to be a teacher, is like explaining why the sky is blue.  There are many easy ways to answer why the sky is blue, but to really answer the question one must go into much detail about the reflection of the water on the planet and its effects on the sky.  Comparatively, there are many answers I could give to answer the question, why I want to be a teacher.  I could say I want to be a teacher because I like to help people.  Although true, that is not the real reason why I want to be a teacher.  I want to be a teacher because I want to prove to children and society that a person’s background does not have to set up or break down goals one wants to achieve.  I want to be a teacher because I know it is what I am meant to do.

Of course I would be lying if I said, I have always wanted to be a teacher.  Shown true through my undergraduate college degree, English.  I began college life as an elementary education major, but found I was not ready to commit to the same day to day schedule I had already experienced my entire life.  I needed time to mature and I needed time to experience what life offered outside the school walls.  I was stuck in a small university setting in small town Iowa ready to break down the walls I had put up for myself.  I knew I needed a change.

I decided I needed to do some soul searching to find out what really was going to make me happy in the long run.  I quickly realized staying in the small university setting was not an option and began applying to different universities all across the country.  With little time I knew there was no way I could visit all the universities I applied to, and decided to enroll at the University of Iowa.  A university a little closer to home, but in a setting which would allow for some much needed personal growth.  After making the decision to transfer I could not force myself to stay in Storm Lake, Iowa.  I quickly signed up for a study abroad program that would send me across the ocean to Sevilla, Spain.  I knew this would be my chance to find myself, to push my boundaries, and to get away from the uneventful life presenting itself to me.

Struggling with the language barriers became my best enemy.  I was able to stretch not only my Spanish vocabulary, but also my English and universal hand signals.  I was welcomed into the house of Imaculada Rosa-Garcia.  A single mother with two amazing children ages five and eight.  When I arrived the children knew very little English, and I knew even less Spanish.  I was inspired by their interest in my language and decided to help them learn a few words each day, basic words such as “Hello” and “Good Morning”.  Following in my footsteps they began to teach me the equivalent Spanish words and by the second week we were both speaking quite well in the other language.  By the time my stay was over I confidently spoke Spanish everywhere I went, and the children continually impressed their schoolteachers and friends with their accelerated English usage.

When I arrived back to the states, I was relieved to be heading to the University of Iowa.  I had a new outlook on life and was refreshed and ready to start a new journey.  I began taking general education courses and felt through these courses I could discover if there was anything else besides education calling my name.  I stumbled into a nonfiction-writing course and excelled greatly.  My professor encouraged me to submit a writing sample for the advanced nonfiction-writing program and to my surprise I was admitted.  By accepting the offer to complete the program I had to put thoughts of becoming a teacher to the side, due to the fact this program would fulfill the requirements to receive an English degree.  I knew this offer was a once in a lifetime offer, and I could not deny myself the chance to excel at something new.  I also knew that if teaching was my true calling in life I could come back to it.

While enrolling for classes my last semester I came up three hours short to be considered a full time student.  I searched all types of classes to take and became intrigued by the name of an education class, 20^th Century Educational Issues.  I quickly enrolled in the class and found myself anxious to begin the class the following fall.  On the first day of the class I found I had signed up for a graduate level course.  My professor did not mind if I stayed, but warned me she would expect the same out of me as the graduate students.  It turned out to be the most inspirational class and the defining moment where I knew there was no other option but for me to continue my education to become an educator.

Throughout the class I focused my attention on the tracking debate and the argument that children are set up for success or failure due to family trends and backgrounds.  I became passionate about giving each and every child a chance no matter what their background, and proving to them they can do anything they put their minds to.  In today’s society a child should not be defined by the highest achievement of a parent, they should be defined by the goals they set for themselves.  They should be encouraged and pushed to reach those goals, and most importantly they should be told they can do it.  It is unfortunate that many children today are being told how far they will succeed, instead of being told how far they can succeed.

It is for all the children out there being told they will not go to college and will not succeed that I want to be a teacher.  I want to prove to children, even if just a few at a time, they can break the boundaries society has set up for them, just as I broke the boundaries I set up for myself.  Along the way questions such as why the sky is blue will be answered, but hopefully in the answers that I give I will inspire the future meteorologist, pilot, or teacher.

As we move on from this recent tragedy, let's all take time to remember the true hero's who made the ultimate sacrifice, and those who undoubtedly saved many lives.

*The preceding in no way is meant to be facts or opinions based on real individuals involved in the recent events that took place in Connecticut.  It is simply a personal narrative on how I am feeling, how I feel about teaching in general, and what I have heard in the news stories.  Obviously this is an ongoing investigation where stories presented may turn out to be false.  I appreciate each and every one of my readers and hope any opinions or statements left in the comment section will reflect sensitivity to the subject at hand.*

Community Health Month

During the month of December Tom is doing a community health month.  It has been explained to me as, interviewing people in the community, talking to school nurses, going to different highschools and elementary schools everyday and doing a big presentation.
So far I have seen video games being beat, remote control planes being rebuilt, remote control helicopters being flown, random rooms in the house reorganized, and trails in the snow being shoveled for the dogs, oh and a few slides of a powerpoint presentation.
Yesterday I came home to this...

A nice fire in the fireplace

And this...

Some random shredded meat in the crock-pot that was to be dinner.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE having Tom home.  I love that the dogs don't have to be in their kennel all day, and I love Tom being more relaxed.  But seriously?!?!  Shredded meat for dinner?!!?  When I asked him what was to go with the meat he gave me a blank stare and then said corn and spanish rice.  Ok so BBQ shredded chicken, spanish rice and corn.  YUMMY! (actually the chicken was delicious, but paired with spanish rice and corn was a bit weird).

Also during this time of "community health" Tom has shown me how to light my socks on fire (with my feet in the socks) to warm up my feet, told me that all the reasons I hate winter are invalid because he loves winter, and shown me about a million snow mobiles and four-wheelers (not sure if thats really what they are called but they have four wheels so that's what I'm going with) on craiglist that we "HAVE TO HAVE!"

Overall, I'd say Tom is loving "community health month" and being able to set his own schedule.  Me on the other hand...well, I'm interested to see what I'll come home to tonight!

OH, another thing totally unrelated...

I popped a bag of popcorn for a snack at work today and this is what poured out.  Plus about a million other old maids that promptly fell on the floor.  Thanks for letting me down healthy snack.

XO XO,

stay at home husband Molly

P.S. As I was just about to publish this post a text came through from Tom.  This is what it said..."clench your anus I'm tired"...No joke.

"Oh the weather outside is frightful and it makes me really crabby, and since there's no place to go I'll go to work and be crabby there" (sung to the tune of Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow) Also, a weekend recap.

I'm crabby and I blame Mother Nature...seriously what a bitch.  Dropping 15+ inches of snow is not cool.  The snow started Friday and continued until the wee hours this morning.

Top picture was taken about 10am

Bottom picture was taken about 10pm.  Notice how much shorter the shed and bird feeder are?

Yes, I know these are beautiful pictures and snow can be beautiful blah de blah de blah, but when you have a husband who is working all day and is trying to get home and can hardly get in the neighborhood it's not beautiful.  When you have an important Dr.'s appointment and try leaving the driveway and get all the way to the big hill and realize if you go down the hill you won't be able to get back up and then have to back up all the way back home, it's not pretty.  When you have to try and get to work and the plows have not come, it's not pretty.

But you know what is pretty?  Our amazing neighbor plowing our driveway just because he saw ours wasn't done yet and he was already out doing his.  The dogs jumping and frolicking in the snow and having a great time.  And knowing truly how fortunate I really am to be in a nice warm house when many people are standing in line hoping to get a place in a Shelter for the night.  I guess that puts it in perspective right there, although I'm not going to lie...I'm still crabby.

Since all this snow decided to fall on the weekend, I got to get a lot of projects done around the house, and by projects done around the house I mean two baking fails, organize pinterest, and watch a bunch of Netflix.

Pinterest is amazeballs.  I am so jealous of the people who get to have weddings with pinterest.  I really think there is a true divide between pre & post pinterest weddings.  There are so many cool ideas out there.  Anyway, I was looking for a recipe on my pinterest board this weekend, and realized I really needed to organize my pinterest boards now that I have so many pins.  So that took almost all of Sunday and part of Saturday, oh and also a bit of Friday night.  (This makes me sound super cool doesn't it...a weekend full of pinterest organization).  I'm sure my husband would have liked me to be organizing the house instead of an online bulletin board, but alas, we can't all get what we want now can we?!?  Now, when I go on pinterest it is much easier to find a specific pin.  If you're interested you can follow me on pinterest by clicking the link above in the header!

While organizing all my pinterest boards I came across a few new recipes I'd forgotten I'd pinned.  Since I had time, and all the ingredients I decided to try two of them out.  Both failures.  The first was peanut butter fudge.  Sounds delish right?  Basically the recipe said you just boil some milk and sugar together then add the peanut butter.  So I boiled and added and cooled and when I went to try some...it had separated.  The milk and sugar was all on the bottom and the peanut butter was on the top!  A few minor things I didn't mention...I used skim milk when it called for whole and used all natural chunky peanut butter when it called for Jiff.  Apparently those minor things made a big difference and it all got thrown in the trash.

Second failure (that wasn't a true failure but didn't turn out right)?  These bad boys...

Again, look delish right?  Seemed easy enough put a scoop of brownie batter at the bottom of a muffin tin and top with cookie dough and bake.  So I scooped and topped and baked and got this...

The centers collapsed and the brownies got super hard, but they still tasted good so I brought a plate full over to the neighbor who plowed our driveway.  Hopefully he doesn't break a tooth trying to eat them!

During all of this, I also was able to get our Bose wifi set up (after having it for a year), watched a ton of Netflix, shoveled off the back steps, put beer in the snow for Tom so it would be 'ice' cold, and tried one of the aforementioned beers and decided it tasted like chemicals.  Tom said that's what it is supposed to taste like so he finished it for me and I had a margarita.

Pretty productive weekend I'd say!

XO XO,
cold crabby Molly

Pretty Pup (a post by Addie)...yes my dog is that smart...she can type and write a blog post.

Yesterday morning my mom dropped me off at the beauty parlor.  I didn't think I looked that bad, but she told me I was too shaggy and my nails were too long.  You should see her eyebrows and nails.  Shaggy and not even painted!  But alas, I couldn't pass up a trip in the car so I went.  Mom even put the windows down for me and it was 20* outside!  When we got to the beauty parlor the jingle bells on the door scared me a little and mom had to drag me inside, but once we were inside I remembered the place and mom gave me a treat from the counter.  I always try to be a good girl whenever I go somewhere so I gave Kathy, my stylists lots of kisses.  Kathy is really nice and gives me lots of pets on my belly.  She also makes my haircuts flatter my figure and give me good shape around my face.  What more could a girl want in a stylist?!?
When I was all done and beautified my Dad came and picked me up.  I jumped and danced around to show him how beautiful I was.  As I was jumping around this thing kept hitting my face.  I couldn't figure out what it was so I starting biting at it and it wouldn't come off.  When I got home I tried to get Rocky to bite it off for me, but it's still stuck on!  I am starting to feel a bit claustrophobic and am hoping Mom or Dad will take whatever this thing is off soon!  They probably think it's cute, but it's in my way.  I can't do all my smelling outside without it falling to the ground and it got wet when I was trying to get some water.  Whatever happened to the cute bows they used to put in my hair?  Those never got in the way!

XO XO,
Addie

Before: Shaggy Pup

After: Pretty Pup

She's referring to the bandanna above that she hates, but she looks so cute with it on that I make it stay.  Don't call child protective services on me though :)

Reality Sucks & I need a margarita

Coming off of a vacation high is seriously the worst.  Especially when you leave 88* weather and come home to freezing cold weather.  To top it off we got home late Sunday night and both had to work Monday morning.  This may or may not have been me at 9:10am Monday morning.  You'll notice I'm still at home (supposed to be at work at 9am), dressed in jeans, no makeup, and serious bags under my eyes.

Around 11am I started getting a headache and realized all I wanted was Miguel to bring me a pina colada or margarita.  Miguel was our best friend in Mexico besides Jose who introduced us to Mexican socks and sold Tom a pair of killer boots.

Yes, this seriously happened

Now you may be wondering why Tom has plastic bags coming out of the boots, but rest assured those are what Jose from Rogers Boots calls Mexican socks.  You may also be wondering why Tom is wearing boots with shorts and for that I have no explanation.  It all happened so fast, it was out of my control.
As soon as I get over the Tequila/sun/Mexico withdrawal and back to reality I promise to fill you in more.

XO XO,
Missing Mexico Molly