it finally caught me....

after successfully dodging the stomach flu bug last summer & this past fall-
it finally got me last night.
oh my goodness.
misery.
Nothing helps the flu misery than getting on my blog & seeing 13 comments! WOW- it's been forever since I had that many comments :)
thankfully I'm feeling lots better & looking forward to getting back to a routine tomorrow.
Sad to say Chloe got it too. we all stayed home from church- all. Brett felt like it was better to keep everyone in than spread it, that is just in case anyone else is next. School & work start up again tomorrow with Hailey, Jack & Brian still dodging the bullet. I just hope & pray they don't get it.

I thought I would answer some of the questions from my last post.
Yes- in the afternoon on Christmas day the boys were wrestling- you wouldn't believe how much wrestling has gone on in this house in the last month since brian got home- jack went to give brian the dreaded nurple purple... brian grabbed his finger & pulled it backwards and broke it. Yes I was mad, jack was mad, brian called him a baby- jack used some profanities. It was not nice. Just keepin it real.
Kim Sue mentioned that it seems our house is anything but quiet. she is exactly right. YEs, it is mostly in a good way- but I guess that is what I wanted- a house full of kids= loud. My sweet nephew who is the youngest in his family & spent a couple weeks here every summer growing up- would frequently get a headache the first day here. It has definitely slowed down & is not as loud as it used to be & frankly- I'm loving it & it is good for trent. Wrestling & nurple purples have been banned.

For Christmas I got this book- which I love, love, love!




and this.... fresh herbs have already sprouted in the office!

and a new fondue pot- somehow my old one is missing?
and my yearly book from the kids. I wish we would have gotten a picture of that- darn.

* do you know what a nurple purple is?

the first person to guess it right in the comment section is getting a PRIZE

I'm sure you don't believe me, because my last set of prizes haven't gone out yet...

So those of you who guessed jack's mission call are getting $5 gift cards this week- there were SIX of you!! good job!

My Best Christmas Ever

2009 was a wonderful year for the messer family.

I personally looked forward to Christmas all year & it was just as good as I had hoped.

For the first time we had the whole family together including our wonderful son in law- Tony, the former missionary Brian, the former college kid - almost missionary- Jack, and who could forget our our precious Charlie?!

our traditional "Christmas morning on the stairs" photo

Santa must have known it was a special year because he was extra generous!

Trent happily received the two transformers he has been dreaming of & a new scooter for the third year in a row. Somehow by the end of summer his scooters have disappeared- most likely left at one of the neighbor's homes. This year- mom is going to mark it with his name. I'm sometimes a slow learner.

Jack loaded up on new luggage- new scriptures in BYU blue (of course) & a Book Of Mormon in Portuguese- his soon to be- new language, and a great book on Brazil!

Brian got a new camera (the one he had on his mission was purple- it's a long story), scriptures & I can't remember now....?

Hailey & Chloe made out like bandits.

Hailey lucked out with a new ipod touch!!!

Chloe got an Ihome & nano cover.

Santa had already come to Megan's house in Arkansas early but did bring them some treats in their stockings here- not to worry- we made up for that under the tree. It was so fun to see them open the presents we got them. I am glad we chose to have them open their presents here & ship them later - rather than just send them there. I love watching my kids open their presents!

Trent got a "lap top" it didn't take him long to figure out that this is a cool toy- and not the real thing.. oh well- santa's not crazy you know!?

Hailey opening a really cute hat Jack bought her from the BYU bookstore. Let me just say- jack is really good at picking out presents- he scored a home run here!

Some how I got so caught up in the excitement that I didn't take a lot of photos... dang.

I missed - Brian opening things like toasters & food storage containers for his new apartment.

Chloe with new jewelry & a mani pedi set she's excited to use.

Trent's new alarm clock that shows the constellations on the ceiling of his bedroom.

Megan's new food processor & Tony's new wii game.

Charlie's great board books.

AND MORE

It was a perfect day- until the boys got in a fight over nurple purples & Brian broke Jack's finger.

But we won't talk about that...

or the presents I forgot about & brought out a day or two later... do you do that?

One of the best parts- was Christmas Eve.

We had our traditional hoagies & floats - then Brett read the Christmas story out of Luke.

I love my family.

Thank you Father in Heaven above for our blessings- our trials- for the opportunity to live her on this beautiful earth. For freedom, for the gospel, for health & education. For a job. For a home. For good food & good friends. For talents. For love.

I don't know who all reads this- I wish I did.

***

If you are still reading this...

please leave me a comment-

I did not send out Christmas cards this year- I have chosen to go back to sending Valentine's day cards. I would love to send you one. If I don't have your address- or don't know who you are? How will you get one?

***

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

love, patsy

catching up....

Just like everyone else...

I've been really busy these last couple of days.

I feel like I am running mad, then when I want to blog someone else is on the computer!thursday the blogger moms had our annual Christmas luncheon & I made this-

The Pioneer Woman's Olive Cheese Bread

OH MY GOSH- heaven on a piece of bread is all I can say. My husband hates olives & i've been dying to make this for a year or more. This was the perfect opportunity. I do have to say that the olive cheese topping was over the top & a little too much for even me. Next time I make it

and I will make it again

-- oh yes--

I will use two loaves of bread or half the topping recipe, but it was fabulous!

I just cannot resist posting a picture of these gifts!
It's better than Christmas morning.
I love the blogger moms....

Thursday night we had company & went to the H.S. Christmas Choir concert. Hailey sang a solo- beautiful. We came home to marcus, brittany & brittany who stayed up & talked mission & Brazil talk with the kids, I went to bed. marcus served his mission in Recife, Brazil just north of where jack is going. They had so much fun talking & jokin around in Portuguese. Marcus can't wait for jack to come home so they can talk it up.

Friday morning all hell broke loose as I had my pre- Christmas melt down.
ya- it was ugly & ya- I pretty much do this every year.
It stinks to be my kids, well this year- my boys.
I woke up & jack's college stuff was everywhere- dishes & cups all over the counters- and I snapped. I had cleaned everything before I went to bed, then got up 1000 times during the night to pee into a strainer, when I came downstairs in the morning it all got to me. The kidney pain, constant peeing - having a kidney stone the week before Christmas is not nice and neither am I.


I headed out the door at 8:50 for an appointment with a Urologist down town, by myself. It's been a long time since I have sat in a doctor's office for 40 minutes waiting... I guess I shouldn't complain... but I am anyway...
When I finally gave my sample & headed to the exam room a nightmare awaited. the walls of the exam room must have been paper thin because the lady on the right was having lithrotripcy on Tuesday & the gentleman on the left was having trouble urinating but the catheter they took in & out was working just fine. Holy Hell. I was humming & tapping my feet because I was getting nauseous listening to this.

The doctor gave me three choices. I could #1 wait for the stone to come out & be uncomfortable, which could result in a passed stone or emergency removal. #2 I could have surgery & remove it through my uriter that afternoon or #3 Tuesday afternoon. I asked him to leave the room & started to sob. I had two Christmas events this weekend, plus church the Sunday before Christmas- I didn't want to miss it... and Tuesday Megan, Tony & Charlie get here. He came back in & I asked him if I could go in Monday.
Monday it is.


Saturday night (after finishing up our shopping) Brett & I went to our third concert at the symphony. It was the Holiday Pops concert.

this guy deserves a medal, being married to me... it's been a rough week.

the concert was nice, but definitely not my favorite of the series.

EXCEpT- they did play Sleigh Ride- one of my favorite Christmas songs. I love the percussion & dream of being the percussionist who gets to slap the boards together! How fun to watch that!! Brett bought me a small pair of binoculars after our last concert so my eyes were peeled & I was smiling big. Brett was sleeping. At one point he feel asleep so hard that he dropped his program & it hit the wood floor with a loud thud. oops. Like I said, it wasn't our favorite of the series but I really enjoyed it.

this morning this guy came downstairs and asked me "which jacket should I wear to church today?" one is his dad's - the other fit him in kindergarten, maybe? Well, I said... maybe a shirt & tie will do? Trent has NEVEr wanted to wear church clothes- it's been an issue with him for years. I figure what the heck, he's going to church- so I don't push it too hard. He wears dress pants maybe a sweater & dress shoes, but never a shirt & tie- heaven forbid a suit. Maybe all this missionary talk has changed his mind?

Good news tonight-

I haven't had had to go potty 1000 times a day today & NO pain! I'm thinking about canceling tomorrow... ya - I'm canceling :)

p.s. some of the photos in this post were taken by Chloe & I love them so here they are!

*are you glad you read this post, or was it just plain too much information?

romancing the stone...

Last Friday was such a great day I just have to post about it- even though it has past.

the cubscouts
got together to start step one in our Christmas gifts for parents- this friday is step two... so far they are turning out divine!


Chloe had a perfect bun for ballet & decided to document it- isn't this a cool photo?!
Brett & I dressed up all snazzy & ran downtown to pick up one of his clients from Ohio & his wife. We had a fabulous evening - first we went here for dinner- it was my first time eating there & it was
so muCH FUN!
I Loved it!
the view... the food... ahhh!
(I had a diet coke & didn't even know- it would maybe be my last)
then we had tickets on the plaza...
for this!
We were thrilled to have tickets! Brett entered the lottery to get them months before & we were not only lucky to get them, but on the plaza... wow. It was beautiful. I loved Natalie Cole & David McCullough. The whole show was centered on Christ, the Christmas season, our country at Christmas... it just doesn't get better than this. I will be so excited to see it next year on PBS.


Friday night I was really, really wishing Megan's town was closer-- she & tony & charlie were invited to be Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus for a multi-denominational live nativity. Can you even believe how cute they are!?

Saturday morning we woke up early to go to our church Christmas breakfast. As soon as I sat up in bed... I knew I was in trouble. I was hoping I had just slept wrong, but no. I know that pain- kidney pain. We went to the breakfast as a family & brett & I left early for the ER. There is such a looming feeling in the ER. I could tell the nurse didn't believe I had a kidney stone- she even told me later that rarely do women come in who are not pregnant with a stone. I wish she had been right.

Saturday is kind of a blur I don't want to think about--- but Sunday Chloe put together her annual Christmas gingerbread - this year a train! I bought the kit for a train thinking Trent would want to help, he just wanted to eat it.
Yesterday, Monday- we got a call from Tony & Megan was in the ER!?
She had had several gall bladder issues with her pregnancy & now-- it had to come out!
My goodness- poor thing- she just had Charlie two months ago. Now this... oh boy. She said she is feeling good now, I am hoping she is resting. They will be here in a week. I just hope the trip isn't too much for her.

Monday was full of prayer for megan wrapping presents & resting... then this morning I called the Urologist who got me in on Friday morning. The nurse told me the average stone takes 10-14 days to pass- WHAT ON EARTH!? that was that- I'm done waiting for this stupid stone. I told Brian to get ready- we are going shopping. I have a million & one things to do. He is busy most of the week- today had to be the day to get it done.


I really don't want to be out in public at all. I look like death warmed over & the last thing I want is severe kidney pain while driving... eeek. Lucky for you I deleted the one & only picture of myself I have taken in a while. We headed to the post office to send off our family gifts, then out to buy some things still missing from my list.

so I am back to sitting on the couch wrapping presents.

one thing is for sure- I won't be up late Christmas Eve wrapping presents this year.

stoned

after a good week & great friday night.... (we were lucky to get tickets to the Tabernacle Choir- Natalie Cole & David McCulough concert)

I spent Saturday morning & afternoon in the emergency room.
Now I am home trying to pass a kidney stone- damn.
Brett & I left the ward Christmas breakfast early, then sat in the ER - the exact same room I was in 10 years & three months ago. It looked just as I remember. This time we didn't have a 3 week old baby trent with us.
This will be my SIXTH stone.
The previous five were pregnancy induced so I was hoping to never have one again....
if it makes you feel any better- this has been the easiest stone experience I have had SO FAR. That is saying a lot- since I wanted to scream and die with my others. Of course, by saying that I have jinxed myself-
damn again.

Stone or not- this is going to be the best Christmas ever at my house. Morphine induced I lay on the bed thinking of my sweet little family all being together for Christmas. I've thought about it all year & it was my only Christmas wish. I am so glad this stone has chosen to come now & not in 12 days- YES it's 12 days until Christmas! I have so much to do & a headache & a kidney stone.

*missionary jack update:
our bishop checked & jack's mission papers were processed on Friday! YOu know what that means? He should get his call this week- wednesday & thursdays are the days we usually get them, here in my town. WE are all SO EXCITED TO FIND OUT WHERE HE WILL BE SERVING! if you have not made you guess --- go down a few posts & put in a guess! there will be a winner - hopefully this week!!!

tree trimming

Saturday afternoon Brett decided to put up the tree. Just for the heck of it, and because Trent had been begging all day. We got it up & ya the lights were not working- I really want a new tree- but the one I want is way too much money & last year when I suggested we get a new tree Jack just about went in the coronary heart failure. I had no idea he was such a sentimental guy.

So after Trent asked me 25,000 times to go get new lights... I finally went 30 minutes before I needed to be at the Saturday evening session of stake conference. Thankfully- the lights were on the tree when we got back.

Sunday night we started decorating. I didn't want to decorate the tree this year without jack... he is such the tree lover... but such is life in the family that is growing up... and I can't complain- right- I mean Brian is home!

hailey didn't want to join in because brian was bugging her & she says she hates decorating the Christmas tree?

He of course told her she would regret it.

that's what big brother, return missionaries are for- to bug you & tell you how much you should enjoy being home-- because if you don't, you are gonna regret it. Just what every sixteen year old loves to hear. Poor Hailey, she went from being the oldest to being a little kid again- dang that's rough.

I used to love decorating the tree -

now I love watching my kids do it!

~so fun- really fun stuff here~

p.s. Don't forget to vote in the post below for where you think missionary jack will be sent to!!! he is claiming the prize will be a DQ gift card!

(sonic for those of you who don't have DQ you poor, poor folks)

day after

The fact is

I am much more comfortable at home doing laundry with two dogs crowding me than going to company dinner parties. Even though.... these two dogs drive me crazy- crazy! they smell- bad- a lot & fight like cats & dogs in cartoons. One big ball of fighting dust.

Last night's dinner party was delightful- a couple of firsts made it better than expected. 1. no banquet room 2. no standing up & introducing myself or having to say something interesting about my spouse... 3. no power point presentation (zzzzz) 4. no coming up in front of everyone 5. no games 6. no upper management person asking me if other person in the office reminds me of Toby from "The Office"- what do you say to that? Oh ya- and I didn't have a hole in my skirt on the way out the door... feeewww.

So it was fun-

We went to the Melting Pot & sat with three other couples & dipped loads of food in yummy sauces & it took over 2 hours. We didn't talk about work, which would've been fine with me, but instead had great conversation & I showed pictures of Charlie & ya- that was fun.

It's really cold here - below freezing for a couple of days with no relief in sight- it's snowing & beautiful. The gold finches have found our new sock feeders. Cute little snow capped chickadees & junkos narrowly escaped three big black crows that came into the yard. Maybe you didn't know I love my backyard birds- love em'!

We are getting out the Christmas decorations & making cupcakes...

and it's nice.

just a great way to start the season- temple square

Tonight we all bundled up & headed into the city for the first day of temple square Christmas lights. We went really early to beat the crowd- and to have time to look around. It's been far too long since we have just wandered around the visitors center.

As we were walking in - I thought- Hey, Stephanie's daughter is on a mission here? Within 10 minutes of looking around- there she was! She was talking to some people so we stuck around & surprised her. What a great sister missionary! She has a darling companion from Las Vegas. I think this is the best mission in the world for sisters & wish my girls could serve here-- but surely they wouldn't get called to their own back yards?!

It was great to be at the visitors center before it got dark. There were so many details on the Nativity scenes that we hadn't noticed in the before.

Wise men traveling from the East.

Shepherds.

The stable & the Holy Family.

We enjoyed the films & the Christis statue, all of the many interactive things to do & see in the visitors center.

It was a great opportunity to really think about or Saviour at the beginning of the Christmas season.

We walked through. Trent & I visited the tabernacle. A building the pioneers built to meet in, just outside the temple. It's where the tabernacle choir performs & gets their name.

We went into the Joseph Smith building & to the distribution center (a place to buy scriptures & church literature, pictures etc.) It was beautiful, all decorated for Christmas.

We headed out just 15 minutes before the lights went on to secure our spot.

Trent didn't want to be photographed, but did want his dog Zore to be photographed, "and blogged."

It was cold, but surprisingly warmer than we thought it would be.

and crowded... but worth it.

Especially when the lights came on!

How did you start your Christmas season, or are you still in denial?

This season has snuck up quickly!