And she's back!

She won't stop bugging me to let her do another post so here ya go!

by Rebecca The Redhead

Today started with the TO DO list, and on that list was:

Clean off the huge piles of paperwork from the kitchen island:

Watch The View

Take the kid to school

Run

Go to Safeway

Fold laundry

Clean toilets

Write guest blog

Paint fingernails & toenails (if there’s time for toenails, but definitely fingernails)

Make appointments (doctor, etc)

Make charitable contributions of lowly amounts, save receipts for taxes

So far, I have accomplished a few things on the list. It doesn’t matter which ones, people. They are all important. Kind of like sin: they are all the same. Murder is the same as Thou Shalt Not Covet (Whatever “covet ”means. I don't covet my neighbors: one never turns on her porch light & the other one's dog barks incessantly!) Coveting: That’s my topic today. I had to look it up. I knew it did not mean bedspread, but I wanted the true dictionary.com definition. Also, I have a real paper dictionary (kids, ask your grandpappy what this is) but it’s heavy, oh so heavy, and all the way downstairs... and dictionary.com is right here. CLICK: COVET

But first a little history:

I was not raised in any kind of religious faith. I went to Sunday school a time or two (I loved the crafts; Mom loved the free childcare.) I looked up the name Rebecca on Wikipedia last week and learned about this biblical girl watering camels and snagging her hubby Isaac. As a kid, I had a plastic Noah’s Ark that was a giveaway at a Union 76 or Shell station in the late 70s; and with every fill-up, I got a new animal to fill said ark. I had no idea it was a religious thing. I wish I still had that toy. It was pretty fun to march the animals in and out, two by two and all that jazz. I never got the lady zebra or the male giraffe, tho, so I made up a new species: Girabra (tall & stripey!) I am fascinated with church, tho. And all because of second grade... when.... yes, I COVETED!

It was mid-year, and Ms. Brown announced we had a new student: “Sunni Tsuboi” and the most beautiful Asian girl stood at the front of the glass, black hair shimmering. She had a cast on her ankle (A bike accident, she shyly told us.) And then the magic words, Please, Sunni, take a seat next to Rebecca, The Redhead... OH MY GOSH! I had never seen anyone like her, I was AB-SO-LUTE-LEEEE in A-DUBYA-E! She sat down. I said HI! YOU ARE SO PRETTY!! I LOVE THE NAME SUNNI!!! IS THAT YOUR YOUR REAL NAME? WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? WILL YOU BE MY BEST FRIEND? DOYOUHAVEANYBROTHERSORSISTERSAREYOUCHINESEORJAPANESEWHATISYOURFAVORITEFOODDOYOUUSECHOPSTICKS ...” and the teacher said, “Ahem, Rebecca, please stop talking. Save it for recess.”

Rebecca The Redhead: That’s me! Since day one, thank you. That’s my name. Middle Name The. Last name Redhead. Sometimes it changes to Rebecca The Redhead With Freckles (formal occasions).

To see Sunni Tsuboi (silent T like Tsunami, readers) every day for the next four school years, with her past-shoulder length hair in one long ponytail, two high pigtails, braids, French braids, parted on the side, parted in the middle, two barrettes, one barrette, curled one day, wavy the next, straight the next. IT WAS SIMPLY OVERWHELMING for a girl with thick red wavy hair that looked exactly the same every day (ICK!) HOW I LOVEDTHAT STRAIGHT BLACK HAIR. Sunni’s hair was PERFECTION to me. I WANTED IT! (I also thought it would be neat-o to have a cast, like Sunni did, but was not about to stick my foot in the back wheel of a moving bicycle to achieve it.) I was coveting the cast, a little, the shiny, straight, long black hair A LOT.

                                  I believe this is what Sunni would look like today

Sunni and I became friends. She lived across the street from my babysitter so we walked home together, played on her swingset, played paper dolls. She had BUNK BEDS. She had a SISTER (like me, but Erin was a little sister, how magical!) and a BROTHER (older, wow! I wish I had an older brother, too....lucky!) Her mom was named Judy (like mine!) Her dad played the trumpet. (My dad played the radio!) First, she had the perfect hair, now the perfect LIFE! I kept coveting. I invited her to my birthday parties. We went swimming. She introduced me to CHEEZ-Its and American cheese. We pretended a baby elephant lived under my staircase. We named him Elmer.

Sunni went to church every weekend. I wanted to go, too! I asked her, can I go sometime? She hesitated... Um you may not like MY church, but she asked her mom, Can She? And her mom said YES!

The Yellow Smiley Face: On every brown paper sack & my best dress!

I dressed up in my most favorite dress: White with Yellow Happy Faces all over it (again, this was the 70s: very popular icon.) Picture this pale, freckled, bright redheaded girl in a very idenfiable 70s iconic knee-length dress at church ... but not any church... a Buddhist temple with an ALL JAPANESE CONGREGATION.... J

Danny P, talented & beautiful!

I didn’t just Stick Out. I didn’t just get a few quizzical looks. I didn’t just Fit In as any other guest of a regular church member. I did just look like Danny Patridge in a Happy Face Dress pouring sacred tea over a ceramic temple and bowing to some random Asian person who was apparently the In Charge guy (like a minister or whatever the Buddhist equivalent is.) I noticed that some people looked at me oddly, but I didn’t care. I was happy to be part of this group, although I didn’t look like anyone else, and I certainly did not know their religion or customs. I had a blast. After church, Sunni & I  ran around the gardens and put coins in all the statues. It was a beautiful day, made more special by hearing Judy Tsuboi tell a group of her friends, “... Oh that Is Sunni’s friend Rebecca. She wanted to come along today... Doesn’t she have the most beautiful red hair and freckles? I would LOVE to have her coloring!")

Me & my first born, 1997. My hair was flaming red; my boy had a little touch of it, too but not anymore...

REALLY??? NO WAY!!! Everyone covets, I discovered early in life, at this Buddhist temple. But keep it in check... be complimentary not jealous. Be happy you have wavy hair, you don’t have to straighten it to fit in with the latest trends, but if you want to, great! If you have freckles, like me, be happy they cover a few wrinkles! Blondes and Brunettes & Gray-Haired ladies too: It’s all good. I happen to adore my practically bald husband along with any all-bald men: That is another blog I have brewing about TV’s Kojak, but you will just have to wait....!) I have found in the wisdom of my old age of 44, that it is easier to compliment than covet. The jealousy evaporates and you can enjoy your differences while embracing your uniqueness! There is NO ONE just like YOU. Isn’t that just so very cool?

There were never any redheads or freckly girls in magazines but now there are! This makes me happy!!

And about that To Do List... CHECK!

lowly contribution! 

 and don't forget to --

The Greatest Gift of All

Christmas Music!!! It truly is a wonderful gift.  For as long as I can remember I have loved Christmas music.  I remember driving my family nuts by starting to listen to it as early as August!  I would probably listen to it year round but there is something about the anticipation of listening to that first carol that I just love! So I usually hold back until sometime in October, but by November I am in full swing!  Different songs/artists always bring back certain memories and I can't get enough of it.

 I get teased quite a bit for my taste in music.  I mean what 60 30 year old woman doesn't love Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers and Justin Bieber?  But that doesn't stop me.  I love music and I love making other people listen to the music that I like. A lot of the time I can change people's opinions of certain artists just by pulling over on the side of the road in my black jetta and refusing to drive until a certain roommate of mine agreed to listen to Neil Diamond with me!  Oh the good old days.  Sorry about that Bec!
So here you have it.  My favorite Christmas tunes!
I would have to say without a doubt my all time favorite is Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – Once Upon A Christmas

I really do feel like I belong with them!

I love every single song on this album.  My earliest memory of these songs is sitting around the table with my sister and mom at our old house decorating Christmas cookies and singing along.  Anytime, I decorate Christmas cookies I want to listen to this music and it takes me right back.  Another great memory I have of Kenny and Dolly is a car ride I took with my dear friend/cousin Mandy.  We hadn't known each other very long at the time but we clicked from the first time we met.  (She is married to Matt's cousin) We were riding together to a Christmas party and she was driving.  I hopped in the car and said I have this CD that I love if you want to listen.  It is my favorite ever.  She said sure what is it?  I told her, and then it happened, she said "I love that album too!" And guess what she had it in her CD player.  From that moment on I knew we were meant to be together.  Er I mean that her and Ben were meant to be together! haha  

Number two.  This has also been a love of mine for quite a while.  Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas I believe it came out in the mid 90's.  My sister bought it and rocked out to that CD in her gray camero many many times.  This is another CD that I can say I love every song!  I could probably sing every song in the order it is on the CD a cappella.  

On to number three.  Point of Grace has always been one of my favorite groups.  I love their harmony and their songs are always so uplifting.  So of course I would enjoy their Christmas album Point Of Grace – A Christmas Story.  I don't have any specific memories from this but what I do remember is that whenever I am playing this with Matt in the car he says "can you please make the stop yelling at me!" haahahah Guess this one wouldn't be on his favorite list.  :)

Now I can't imagine that number four isn't on every single one of your lists.  I am not sure why those chipmunk voices don't drive me crazy but for some reason I just can't get enough of them.  My kids love them too and that makes it even better.  

The Chipmunks – Christmas With The Chipmunks

Number five is a newcomer.  And yes I am sure I will get some flack from people for loving this but I just do!  It probably has something to do with my love for boy bands.  It takes me back to high school and jr high.  Yes, it is Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe

Yes, I did that. :)

Honorable Mentions

Speaking of being mocked for my music selections here's a doosy for you.

George Strait – Merry Christmas Strait To You

The Statler Brothers – Best Of/20th Century - Christmas

This is one of those CD's that my dad had when i was little and I listened to it simply because I was excited to have a CD player so we would listen to anything.  But now I love it. 

Now I will list songs that I DO NOT like.

Sorry Paul, super lame song.

Dumbest lyrics ever.  

I'm sure there are more that I love and more that I do not like. I definitely love the classics like, Nat King Cole, and Bing Crosby but those go without saying.  And I usually don't like fake made up Christmas songs.    

In the mean time I am so ready for the Christmas specials to be in full swing! 

This year is going to be hard for me.  I am used to running around between family get togethers and Christmas parties with friends and I am not going to be able to do that this year.  As of right now I am just hoping to at least  make it home for the weekend of Christmas to be with our families.  But if not, I will still be with my sweet family making new traditions and memories together.  I'm looking forward to my very first white Christmas too!  

Let it snow let it snow let it snow!!!

PS-clicking on the blue links will take you to Spotify and you can listen to my favs.  If you haven't signed up  you should check it out.  It is pretty awesome.

Wrapping it up!

And I only took two pictures of our thanksgiving feast! What in the world?  But the good thing is that they are two of the yummiest items on the menu.  First up, Green Bean Bundles!  These little guys are amazing.  bacon, beans, brown sugar, butter!  Seriously could there be a better way to eat veggies?  

I originally found this recipe on Kelly's Korner Blog.  Click here for the recipe.

The next picture is these wonderful rolls.  My mom had found a recipe for roadhouse rolls.  

The best part about these rolls was that we did them in the bread maker.  It was soooo easy.  All we did was put all the ingredients in the bread maker and put it on the dough setting.  No needing, timing or any of that other bread making business.  When the dough was finished my mom rolled it out and formed these rolls and in the oven they went!  We also did a brown sugar butter to top them with but found that plain butter was all we needed for them.  

Once dinner was finished and we had ran the dishwasher for the 32465416461st time we hit the road and headed up to Coeur d'Alene for the holiday light show.   We got to the boat just in time to hop on so we didn't have any time to take pictures with these fun characters.  

It was so so fun watching the kids light up with each new thing.  The lights were great and the boat was fun!

The Grinch sent us off with a funny little message.  I couldn't really hear him but he was pretty funny.

We traveled out across the lake heading to the North Pole!  It really felt like it too!  It was freezing.

Once we arrived at the North Pole, Santa and his helper Pepper Mintpatties the elf told us all about what was going on at the NP and then read his nice list.  It was so awesome to see the kids faces when they heard their names on the nice list.  Although Jude misunderstood and thought he was on the naughty list.  :) 

Hot chocolate and hot toddies were the perfect thing to keep us all warm on the boat!

After our trip we came inside and warmed up next to the fire.

And on the way out Madels and my mom did a little singing with the carolers! 

And speaking of Christmas Carols, come back tomorrow for a list of my favorite Christmas music.  

What is your favorite Christmas music?  

Saturday afternoon my parents loaded up and headed home.   We had yet another day of relaxing and watched the civil war game with my cousin and his family.  It was such a lovely week of spending time with family and friends and sleeping in until whenever I wanted that these last few mornings of school have been quite difficult getting out of bed.  But I am thankful to be back into the routine of school.  We are looking forward to having my Grandparents here this weekend!  And the kids are still waiting for some snow to play in!!! 

One giant blur

Somehow between Saturday night and Friday night I managed to take only a few photos on my phone and none on the camera.  Again those days were a blur.  Sunday the kids and I spent with Matt's family.  (He had to fly home so he could work work work.) We did our thanksgiving and had a nice full table as usual.  I love that the kids have so many cousins to play with on both sides of the family.  Basically as soon as we walk in the door the kids are off and play upstairs with all kinds of fun toys.  Some of which I am sure Matt played with as a child.

Monday I was able to spend the evening with several of my besties.  My sister made a delicious dinner and we just had a great time sitting around the table catching up.  I love you girls!!!  Thank you sissy for all you did for me while we were there.

And of course my trip home would not have been complete with out a trip to the Alibi with my wonderful friend Rebecca!!!  If only we could have watched the civil war there together!!!  

I miss you all already.  

And then dun dun dun.......The fun began.  

We had planned on leaving early afternoon on Wednesday with my parents to head back to Pullman.  Unfortunately my dad was working in Ellensburg and wouldn't be done in time to leave from Albany with us.  So we made plans to meet up with him some where along 84.  The plans seemed so simple.  But guess what we didn't consider?  Thanksgiving TRAFFIC!!!! Holy Schnikies!  We started looking out at the freeway around noon and could see it was already backed up in Albany.  We talked to my dad and decided to take the back roads.  Thank goodness my mom was driving because I would have totally been lost!  The traffic along those roads weren't super bad but what should have taken an hour and a half ended up taking much longer. 

We had borrowed my grandpas pickup while we were in town so we had to return that to Vancouver before heading home.  This meant mom and I were in separate vehicles for the first part of the trip.  Near the beginning of the trip we realized that my mom had no brake lights! Ahhh no good.  This basically began a string of events that would contribute to the 12 hour drive.  As crazy as all the stops, horrendous traffic, rain and so much more  were it was really awesome to see how God was right there with us the whole way!  Each stop had a purpose and even though it seemed like it took forever to get home I was thankful for each thing.  Our trip from Oregon City to Vancouver should have been about 30 minutes took close to 5 hours!!! But once we dropped off Grandpas pickup it was smooth sailing!

Here we are with my awesome cousins and aunt who took time out of their gingerbread decorating competition to pick up the pickup!  So glad to see you all.  

We were finally down to one vehicle and from there it was great!  Mom and I were a bit delirious from the drive but had a great time chatting about all the crazy stuff that happened.  I wish I would have blogged right away because I have forgotten so much.  We met my dad shortly after and stocked up on treats at the gas station to get us the rest of the way there.  

Well we finally pulled into our drive way around 1 something! 

Thanksgiving day was a blur of food, dishes and football.  It think.

We had no food since we hadn't been home for a week so mom and I hit up Walmart (ps if you ever have a chance to shop at Walmart around noon on thanksgiving DO IT) It was so nice and empty.  

Once we got home the kids decorated their gingerbread houses from Grammy and mom and I worked on all kinds of snacks.  By the time it was time for dinner we were all so stuffed we decided to wait until Friday to do our actual thanksgiving meal! 

In trying to keep with the theme of packing everyday as full as I could I decided to hit up Walmart again, for some black Friday deals.  Let's just say that was a nightmare.  And I didn't get the item I wanted.  :( I won't go on.  That store was CHAOS!!!!!!!

Come back tomorrow for an update on the rest of our weekend!!!

Next stop BBQ and Annual Meeting

Some how when you cram something into every single moment of a day it starts to blur! But I LOVE it.  I love being busy and I love spending time with my family and friends.  Friday I spent the day with my sister but I don't really remember much of it.  That may also have to do with the fact that we took all six kids to Target! Oh my.  That was quite an adventure!  But nothing an icee and popcorn won't fix!  

We also squeezed family pictures with Valerie Hibler in between rain showers.  It was freezing but I am so excited to see them.  Stay tuned for a preview of those!

Once we wrung ourselves out, we made our way to Bo Macs BBQ with Matt's grandma and family.  We had never been there and have always wanted to give it a shot.  It was great!  I had the pulled pork and Matt had ribs.  

The kids with Grandma Rose.

And Great Grandma Norvene.

Matt and I took Grandma home after dinner and had a really nice time visiting with her.  

From there Matt and I made our way up to Portland and the kids stayed at Trent and Lindsey's.  

It was so nice to be able to stay over night in Portland rather than running around trying to get kids settled before Matt's meeting at 7am and my get together at 10.  This year the ladies had a brunch and the Heathman and took a tour of the baggage handling system at PDX.

After that we were able to meet up with our Hoffman friends and visit before heading to our dinner.  

We always have a great time at the dinner and I love the excuse to get dressed up! 

One of these girls was relocated to Arizona and one was relocated to Eastern Washington :)  Hello paleness!!!!

We have been hanging out at this meeting with the Cerotsky's  and McKay's for 10 years now!!!

Here we are our first year!!! I'm not sure much has changed.  

Matt and Andy graduated from OSU together and we have been having fun together the whole time!!! 

I just noticed that Stacie is far more tan than I am in all of these pictures.  I guess I can't blame living in Pullman on my paleness.  

Tiffany, sadly this is the only picture of us together this year! 

I'm sure glad you jumped up in it.  :) 

And I am pretty sure Jacob hides from me when he see the camera come out!  I have no pictures of that guy

I just love having our Hoffman Family! 

Thank you Cerotsky's, McKay's and Moore's for such a fun fun night!!!

Here's to many more!  And ladies you better come to the spouses luncheon with me next year! 

And.......We're back!

Wow!  Talk about a crazy two weeks.  I am just now starting to recover and will probably catch up on my sleep sometime around Christmas.  :) In the mean time I am going to try and recap our wonderful trip home.
The weekend before thanksgiving we have the Hoffman Annual meeting.  And since we are in Pullman this year it made for a great reason to make the trip back home.  We decided to fly out on Wednesday night, and Matt flew home Sunday morning and the kids and I planned to drive home Wednesday with my parents since they were planning on coming here for thanksgiving.  Sounds like a simple plan right?  HA

Wednesday Madels had her thanksgiving feast at school and Jude's was thursday.  Luckily Jude's class was rehearsing their program so i got to sit in a watch.  Unfortunately he was being a stinker and spent most of the time with his back to me.

Nope, Jude you aren't being distracting at all. 

So sad I didn't get a picture of his face in that cute little turkey hat.

Here is Madeline's place mat for her feast.  And all of the things she is thankful for.

Olive fingers!!!

The teacher left the classroom for 2 minutes and this is what happened.  Conga Line! 

Once we finished at school we hopped in the car and headed to Spokane.  

Freezing cold walk out to our plane!!

Jude was responsible for our entertainment on the plane.  His ears were plugged so he was talking super loud.  Comments included, but were not limited to, "Dad there is a duck fan back there!!!" "This doesn't feel like flying, it just feels like plain sitting."  "I could run faster than this plane."  "A cheetah could run faster than this plane."  And everyone's favorite, "So this is why we are wearing seatbelts!"  (said after lots of turbulence and a very bumpy landing.)

We got to my parents pretty late.  My wonderful Uncle Steve and Aunt KK were so very kind and brought us my grandparents pickup to borrow while we were there.  We left the airport and headed straight to dad and mom's house.  Pretty much everything after that is a blur.  

These are the things I know for sure.

Most of Thursday Matt and I spent the day at the King's Coffee Shop

It was a great place for Matt to get some work done and I helped out behind the counter.  My sister so graciously took the kids for the day.  Did I mention it was her birthday? 

It was so great to spend the day with family and lots of fun to be helping out at the shop again.

Thursday evening  we celebrated  my beautiful sisters birthday!  My mom so generously treated us to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Sybaris!!  We always have the most amazing food along with trying out something new and adventurous.  The adventure this time was, bone marrow.  Below is a picture.  It was interesting, and odd to eat it straight out of the bone.  We also had many other tasty items.  I grabbed a menu but lost it somewhere along the way.  Their menu changes monthly but check out the website to see all the great things they have to offer.  Sybaris Menu  

I for some reason thought I should pack my day as full as possible.  We finished dinner around 9 and Matt left to play poker with his friends and I headed to Salem for the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn with my awesome cousins Joy and Shannon and of course Jenny and Libby!  We have seen them all together and it just gets better every time.  Love you girls!!! And apparently Libby needs a blog.  :)

So that wraps up the first two days of the trip.  I'll be back soon with more!