Welcome Christmas Card Readers

For those of you who found my blog via our Christmas cards this year (thanks Angie for the idea last year!).....Welcome.

We will be spending our Christmas running around and being Merry. I just picked Jase up from school today (out early at 2:00) and he was wound and ready to go. I guess the Christmas countdown has gotten to him. I know he got to me earlier this week when he was out of school my first 3 days of working from home due to snow/ice. How am I ever going to survive the next 2 weeks with him at home with mounds of energy? Tony and I decided that Mrs. Gildehaus needs a serious raise.

So...Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year too! (maybe I'll be getting that digital camera for Christmas and have some awesome new photos to share in the New Year.)

The Last Supper

We often think of the Last Supper in the biblical settings, but today was a last supper of a different kind. Today - 3 ladies who have worked closely together over the past few years went to their last work day lunch.

Yes - the economy has struck and today was Debbie's last day. I know Debbie will move on and be happy with her bigger than life personality, but change is always a little scary. In the coming weeks, I know that Angela and I will probably be making our last QT run at lunch and each moving in different career directions. (PS. QT please open a store in Troy.)

So in honor of Debbie's last day - cheers to us all and may the future hold wonderful memories to be made.

The Last Appetizer

The Aftermath!

Holiday Countdown

Well... I haven't been on here for awhile. Shame on me. I do want to say that the Holiday Countdown has begun and the Stewarts are READY! I get to put up the tree next week. YIPPEE.

Tony's Angel

Not that there was ever any doubt, but my husband most defiantly has a guardian angel.

Today on his way to an interview in St. Louis Co, Tony was in an accident on highway 70. He came across a small bend on the highway looking straight at a midsize car facing the wrong way. Tony tried to avoid hitting the car, but ended up spinning the vehicle and hit the midsize car. This impact threw his vehicle over the car and it rolled. The car then went into the right hand lanes of traffic, where 2 semis took care of the rest.

Lucky for us, Tony was able to crawl out of the window of the SUV. He went to the hospital for tests and to clean up his cuts. All tests were good and the cuts on his head will heal.

This day could have ended much differently. It is a blessing that all we are dealing with are some cuts, headache and a body that will be terribly sore tomorrow I'm sure.

P.S. Tony extends his apologies to Sgt. Patton since it was his vehicle he was driving.

I'm an AUNT!

I am the proud aunt of a wonderful little boy. Gavin Joseph Hotop was born September 26th at 3:51 am. He weighed in at 6lbs and was 19" long. He has a head full of dark brown hair and his daddy's sideburns! He is still in the hospital since he was 5 weeks early, but doing well.

Soccer Game#1

First game of the season. What can I say? There is nothing like watching the kids run around the field beaming smiles of joy and chasing a ball without any rhyme or reason. We struggled with knowing which way to kick the ball first half of the game. (Coach P worked on that at the next practice.) Overall, it was a good experience (besides the kids on the other team calling our kids losers! We'll show them later in the year!). Jase scored a goal and was pretty much happy with that.

Jase nursing the water cooler! (if you can see it....)

"We're gonna crush you!" yelled Jase after being called a loser.

Jase at the bottom of the pile.

Kicking our first GOAL!

Going head to head with the "experienced" kid.

Nothing like a little team huddle at the end of the good game. Good luck next time boys!

First Day - Kindergarten Photos

Here are just a few photos of the first day of Kindergarten last week. Jase loves his school, class and teacher!

Rocking out on the way to school.
Not excited at all!
Walking to the room.
Found his chair.
See ya mom and dad. It's all good.

First Day of School

Tuesday was Jase's first day of kindergarten. He had a wonderful day. When I called him on my way home from work that night he had a wonderful description of his lunch. Below is a brief transcript...

"How was lunch today? Did you eat all of it?" - me
"YEP - I ate all my hot dog?" - Jase

"You did. Was the hot dog good?" - me
"Yep - and guess what Mom. It was a special hot dog!" - Jase

"A special hot dog?" - me
"Yes - it was an "American" hot dog" - Jase

So Main Street elementary apparently has gourmet hot dogs on the grill. At least as far as Jase is concerned they do. For all of you that have been reading my blog through the summer school craziness. Jase did fine after school. He made it to Latchkey and they didn't put him on the wrong bus (or any bus for that matter).

I have pictures, but haven't had a chance to load them. Will load soon.

Phone Power

The idea of signing a contract for items like Internet service and cell phone service has always been an issue for me. You never know what could happen in the future - so why sign something that says you will continue with a service.

Well - this slight phobia of mine was put to the test when my cell phone bit the dust. I was 15 months past the end of my current contract and had not resigned with my carrier. So Saturday was spent on the pursuit of a new phone. This isn't saying that I just started my research of new phones on Saturday. Believe me, I started researching about 2 years ago - just couldn't bit the bullet.

I am proud to say that I have moved light years forward in my cell phone "class". I didn't even have a camera phone before and now I am the proud user of a MOTO Q. Yes - I have a calendar, Internet and email all at my access (oh yeah - camera too). The Internet and email portion of this phone wasn't a real big deal to me until I realized these instances when the Internet might come in handy.

Instance #1
Driving down the road and see some storm clouds ahead. Oh - no problem let me pull up the radar online and see how bad it looks. (This is great for all weather junkies out there.)

Instance #2
Going out to eat and want to make a smart decision. Oh - no problem let me pull up WW or DWLZ and check out some points values.

So I am embracing the technology and just not thinking of the contract portion - then life is good.

Busy Bees

We have been truly busy the last few days/weeks. Below is just a sampling of all the things that the Stewart Clan has been up too.


Day at the Zoo
































Yes Yes - I know we have probably taken this picture many times in the past. But I still love it.

















Nanny's Birthday Party

Passed OUT

Thank you to my hubby

So if you have been reading my blog for the past few weeks, you would have seen the images of Tony after his surgery. Needless to say I owe him a big thank you for not taking any photos of me while sitting in the hospital Tuesday night while getting the bump on my head examined.

Thank you Tony!

Soccer Stud

Even with the scorching temperatures of 500 degrees, we made it through the first official soccer practice. Coach P started the evening with some introductions and just kicking the ball around.

We did forget to tell the coach about Jase's competitive side. I'm sure he will figure it out.

Zero Point Soup

The name of the blog was created to insinuate all of life's trials, errors, joys and wonderful moments. You take those items, through them in a pot and there you go - Life Soup. In an effort to justify the name of my blog - here is my first "healthy" recipe recommendation. I must admit that it makes a smaller portion and I don't know about you, but i cannot make anything in a small portion. So I use this recipe as a base and build from there.

Garden Vegetable Soup


Ingredients:

2/3 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat free broth (beef, chicken or vegetable)
1 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 Tbsp. Tomato paste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini

Directions:

1. In large saucepan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, sauté the carrot, onion and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.
3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

Serving Size/Points:

This recipe makes 4 servings. About 1 cup each. Each serving is 0 points.

Vacation Download

Where did the week of vacation go. I knew this would happen, but I must say we had a wonderful week. We got to Branson on Saturday 7-19 and of course had to make a WalMart run. What is vacation without WalMart right? The first evening we spent just hanging out around the complex.

Sunday was spent in pretty much the same fashion, hanging out and swimming. Monday we hit a couple of stores and went to Celebration City in the evening. Jase and Mama Mary loved the water ride with the alligators. With heat as extreme as it was the water felt great. Jase loved the rides and so did Mama Mary - except for the scrabbler that is. (is your head still spinning Mary?)

Tuesday morning Tony, Jase, Mary, Danielle and myself got going and took off to Silver Dollar City. I was really excited since I hadn't been since about 5 and Tony and Jase had never been. The park was beautiful - of course - and beside a brief rain shower in the after we had a great day. We saw the Veggie Tales show with Pa Grape and his silly invention. Gotta love vegetables that can talk and walk, but don't have legs or hands. Jase was able to score a couple of surprises here including a roller skate necklace full of his own sand creation, a hand made bat with his name on it, and a Curious George lunchbox and clock. I think the favorite ride of the day was the roller coaster. We took off the first time with Tony and myself and Jase and Danielle all facing forward..... Then of course we hopped off and jumped back in line. This time Jase and I faced forward, but Tony and Danielle sat in the seats right in front of us that were facing backwards. Needless to say Tony and Danielle said Jase's face while on the coaster was priceless.

Wednesday was a rest day - and much needed. Thursday we hit the water park for a few hours and Friday was a fun at the lake day. We took in about 3 nights of miniature golf, the Ripples museum and some wonderful ice cream treats!

I will apologize in advance. There a tons of pictures here, but give me some slack. I am trying to fit a weeks worth of fun into one entry! Enjoy and be prepared they are in total random order.

Pirate Jase at the mini golf park

The three amigos

Danielle and I (of course we didn't flip it - what do we look like amateurs?)

Tony, Jase and I - heading out
Tony, Jase and I - heading in
Looks like some scary pirates if you ask me.

Yes - please be sure to comment on how rough Tony had it on vacation. Please.

Jase and I after hitting the waves.

Jase makes friends everywhere.
Grandma B on the patio
Jase and Mackenzie - looking up to no good.
Yes - We adults go schooled a coupe of times by a 5 year old.

Tony and Danielle
Schooling again
Danielle, Mary and Jase
Someone should tell them this is golf not HOCKEY
How we all felt by the end of the week!

Okay - so I had it rough too. hehe

Jase swimming in the wave pool - prior to the waves
During the waves

hmmmm... looks like another pirate up there.

(In case anyone doesn't know, Jase loved to pretend that he is a mannequin.)
Jase and Danielle

Dad and Jase - just hanging out

Brianna and Jase - water fight!

Now they look innocent - yeah right
Just paddling around

CANNONBALL!

Rocking out - with a fly swatter (gross I know but he is a boy I am told)

Hole in One - #1

Very next hole - hole in one #2

just swimming think someone likes ice cream?Mary chillin on the dock.

Hope you enjoyed - are your eyes tired yet? My fingers are.