Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Elvis LIVES!!

Molly found this chip tonight while eating Tortilla Soup. It's ELVIS, she exclaimed!
He's ALIVE!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Quote of the Day

"I'm just going to calculate the rate of temperature rise so we can predict when it's going to be done."
- Jon, regarding the standing rib roast in the oven.

and later...
"but because of heat transfer I'd have to solve a partial differential equation. And I can't do that anymore."

Classic

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve is a pretty tradition packed day for the Scholl Family! This year was no different! We take care of the last minute things, grocery store, a little wrapping, and the annual Christmas Eve photo with Santa! We visit Santa at the mall - this year it was Stonebriar. Santa was looking especially cute and healthy with his rosy cheeks! The best part was there was NO LINE!!

Just the kids get in the picture. We missed Ashley, Sam and Parker this year, but were happy to have Rachel join us!

We wandered the mall for a bit, picked up our Chicken Nugget party tray at Chik Fil A and made our way home (in a snow storm- more on that later).

Our traditional Christmas Eve meal is fondue! We've had all kinds of variations over the years, including - oil, broth, cheese, and chocolate! We kept it simple this year, but had a great meal with way too much food.

Rachel, Jon and Drew enjoying the fondue!

Then later, Santa stops by and leaves some packages. One for each of us. We can count on Santa each year to bring us some new jammies to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. This year, even with the blowing snow, he made it to our door!

Molly and Will with the Christmas Eve gifts.

Santa showed great Prosper Spirit this year with matching PJ Pants for everyone!

Plaid Prosper Eagle pajama pants were a hit with this crowd!

We finished the evening with our traditional reading of the beautiful story of the birth of Christ. Jon and I were happy to get to bed earlier than is past years! What a wonderful day.


Monday, December 21, 2009

Cheerful Christmas

In early December (yes, I'm still catching up) Molly and I hosted a party for her cheer squad and their mothers. We had lots of fun and the best part was the super cute
Hot Chocolate Bar.


Everyone loved making their own gourmet Hot Chocolate with their favorite toppings - and there were lots of choices! I also had Caramel Apple Cider with whipped cream and caramel topping!!

Everyone brought cookies to share. Lucy made dipped pretzels.


The girls had a great time and it was fun to be together outside of practice and games!





I made a bag filled with Pirate Treasure for each of the girls to take home. With the help of my handy dandy Cricut machine (which has come in handy this year - big time) I personalized each one (with lots of help from Lucy).

Don't you just love the do-rag? This is Peyton!


This is Georgia... or is it Chloe??

I hosted our Book Club Christmas Book Exchange at my house the next week and did a repeat of the Hot Chocolate Bar! It will surely be a new tradition for us.



Monday, December 14, 2009

Pioneer Woman Rocks



I love this woman. Seriously. She's down to earth, witty, talented, humble, witty, cute, sweet, witty. She writes a mean blog, too. Did I mention she's witty? I love to read her blog. You know how some blogs are "look what I can do" kinda blogs? Their purpose seems to be to draw attention to themselves and have the world think they are something they most likely are, but only on a very good day? Not PW. Her blog is so not that. It's hilarious in a sort-of self-deprecating-kind-of-way. She can make fun of herself, she tells it like it is and doesn't pretend to be something she's not. For example, she will take a photo of her sink FULL of dirty dishes. or the pile of stuff she swept off the floor - lest you assume her home is always in perfect order. She talks about being a little "jiggly" from all her fabulous cooking (which by the way, I've seen her. She's not the least bit jiggly!). She has normal children, a cute cowboy husband she calls Marlboro Man and shares her life, her friends and her family with thousands of strangers from all walks of life, all over the world. AND, she's written and published a cookbook! Impressive, eh?

I bought one.

Then I marched down to Borders in Dallas a couple weeks ago to have PW herself (Ree) sign my little cookbook.

What I didn't plan for was the fact that it wasn't an original thought. I was one of merely 800 people who decided a little chat and an autograph would make my cookbook complete. And since I hadn't even considered that fact, I showed up at 6:45 for a 7:00 signing! Hahahahaha! Let's just say I was near the end of the line (in the 7th group of 100). I seriously considered going home. But, I'd driven for 30 minutes, parked in a dark alley and walked in the rain to get my cookbook signed. I was staying gosh darn it. So I did.

I stood in line. I sat on the floor. I read the book I had in my purse for moments (or hours) like this.

Then, the coolest thing happened. I started talking to the women in line with me. First two, then four, then pretty soon it was nearly a dozen. We talked about PW, we joked and laughed and learned about each other just a bit. After a couple of hours we were all Facebook friends! And then someone - not sure who - came up with a brilliant idea! (OK, it was me -not really) To form the P-Dub Supper Club. How cool is that? Our first meeting is in January and everyone is bringing a PW dish to share. I think it's just the most fun! I can't wait to see all my line ladies again and learn more about them.

Here we are - well almost. The one in the blue in the middle is an impostor. And the lady on the far left, though she was very nice, didn't make the club, either. (Kidding, she just wasn't part of that conversation) And the photographer IS part of the club, but you can't see her - because she's taking the picture.


It's such a fun group! Some are Moms, some aren't yet. There's even a grandma or two in the group! Some work outside the home, some don't. We live all over the metroplex, we have varying hobbies and interests, but one thing is for sure - we all love PW enough to stand in line for HOURS just for a minute of her time and an autograph in our books!

Ree and the Official P-Dub Supper Club!

I know you're dying to be part of our sisterhood. No gate crashers allowed.

At the end of the night, we departed to our various cities and towns with a whole bunch of new friends and lots of excitement about our newly formed P-Dub Supper Club!
(I just like to say that)

Stay tuned for updates.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Still Catching Up!

I'm determined to get caught up on the blog before the end of the year! I'm not that far behind! Here's another attempt!

Lucy had surgery to have her tonsils removed the Monday before Thanksgiving!! She did great, but it was a pretty yucky time to do it. Thanksgiving dinner was kind of a bummer.

This is AFTER the surgery! Doesn't she look great?

The recovery was long - she was really down for the first week, and missed a week of school after that. The doctor said the worst days are 7-10 after surgery. That proved to be true! She went back to school on Monday and is doing great! I can't wait to hear her sing again. It will be interesting to see if her sound is different.

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Since our married children decided NOT to join us this year, we invited a bunch of friends to dinner. Of course we forgot to take pictures until the end of the day and missed most of our guests, but I think a great time was had by all. The wasn't half bad either!

Lucy snapped a couple photos of the tables before dinner. She's such a creative photographer. This was the adult table. We had a teen table and a kid table, too!


Sheri and Carter Lloyd, Karen and Sean Libby.


Jon's Aunt Carollyn and Uncle Monte


Doug, Rachel and Sean Libby

Not pictured: Jon, Lucy, Will, Molly, Bryan Thompson, Katie and Kellen Libby, The Libby's niece and her husband and three boys, Matt, Kelsey, Jackson, Kennedy, Hailey, and Corbin Lloyd! Thanks for coming everyone and sharing the day with us. We had a wonderful time and are Thankful for great friends!


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

More Airplane Fun!

Jon doesn't ever need much of an excuse to fly the airplane. Pretty much all you need to do is mention you've seen an airplane before and he'll take you for a ride! For real. Well, last week he had a super duper good excuse for taking the plane (which, btw, needs a name - don't you think? More on that later.) out of the hangar and up in the air. Our nephew, Bryan, is stationed at Fort Hood now. He's been there just over a month and just our luck, he agreed to come to Dallas for Thanksgiving! Jon thought that sounded like the perfect job for him - leave the house the day before Thanksgiving. Sneaky, eh?

So he flew down to Killeen to pick up Bryan and took a couple little passengers with him. William and the neighbor boy, Jack.

Jack and Will pose with the plane.

Jack taking his own picture in the back seat!

Bryan loves to fly and hopes to get his own license someday, so he was happy to climb on board. He's a really nice young man. It's hard to believe he is so grown up. We remember the little curly headed guy sitting in a high chair!


Looking like his Dad!!

The view....

Almost home!

Thanks for coming for a visit, Bryan! It was a pleasure to have you. We hope you will come more often!

Name the Airplane

Jon may think this is stupid. I haven't mentioned it to him. But I think it would be cool for the 195 (airplane) to have a name. It's such a cool plane. So, I'm asking for your help to name the airplane. There are plenty of photos on the blog of our family flyer if you need some inspiration. Leave a message or two, or three with your suggestions. I guess there should be a prize. If we pick your suggestion, we'll take you to the Blue Pig in Ardmore, OK for lunch. Now, if you live in Hawaii or some other remote location, you either have to get yourself to TX, or we'll have to come up with another prize (or if there is absolutely no way you are getting on a small plane)! And the prize would be equally as wonderful, so don't be bashful!

Friday, November 27, 2009

For Mom - You asked for it!

Recently my sweet Mother wrote on my Facebook wall, "Your mother is waiting for an update on your blog!!!" Okay, so it's been a while... but I've been busy! So, just for you, Mom (since you are my only reader) I'll provide you with an update of the goings on at the Scholl house since last I posted. If (as PW says) it makes your skirt fly up!

Here we go:

Parker has been to visit a couple times. One of my favorite things in the whole world is when Parker comes to visit. The kid makes me smile.

Cutest kid EVER

The new Prosper High School opened in August. It's amazing. Truly. And to think there are just under 1,000 students attending this incredible facility.


This is the "arena" - Check out the Jumbotron!

Football season in Prosper - GO EAGLES!!

Lucy rocks as a "flyer"

The traditional "After Game Breakfasts" are fun. Karen decorated donuts for the Sophomore Breakfast one week.


Pep Rallies every week. The BLACK OUT Pep Rally was super fun!


The Prosper Pirates had a great season, too! Molly is a natural!

Karen's High School friend, Bonnie came for a visit! We even made the evening news!

Bonnie is as cute and sweet as ever!

Homecoming festivities include All The Single Ladies going to the dance together. Pictures beforehand at our house!


I guess short dresses are "the thing" now. My Gunny Sax dress wouldn't cut it today.


Lucy and Sarah - the beauties!

Karen catered the Sci-Tech Discovery Center Opening Sponsor Preview Party!


It was a morning event, and the opening exhibit is Grossology! It made for some fun food!


Eyeball Bagels were a hit!


Fruit kabobs were perfect with the color scheme!

A Rube Goldberg machine was built for the ribbon cutting ceremony!

Lucy participates in Dress Up Days almost weekly!

Twins Day with Sarah!

Decade Day - guess which decade.

Molly gets in on the Dress Up Days, too! Will - not so much.

Cute as a button for the school Sock Hop!

Ashley's college roommate, Kristin, got married and Ashley and her other roommate Bridget hosted a brunch at our house the day before the wedding. They did a wonderful job!

Ashley made darling little quiches! Yum.

As always, we have a lot of fun with the kids - when they're around.

Ashley visited THREE times this fall!!


Drew makes an occasional appearance. Sometimes he even brings Rachel along! He's always good for a laugh.


This is the view we usually see of Will. He's always running around.


We were blessed with an additional member of our family for a short time. This little guy hung around in a basket for a couple weeks while Lucy pretended to be a mother. I'm worried about her parenting skills. She left him at school once, and in the car a few times.

Karen and Lucy had a fun girls night out at the "So You Think You Can Dance" show.




We had so-so seats, but a GREAT time!

Karen has had a great time with gable boxes lately. She's easily entertained.

She packaged these S'more Brownies in gable boxes for her friends at Thanksgiving.


And got her Christmas gifts packaged and mailed to the cousins in these cute ones.

Just a few more to go....

We're really lucky to have family living nearby.

It was wonderful for Molly to have someone to invite to "Special Person Day" at her school!
Thanks for coming Aunt Carollyn!


And for coming to Lucy's Pep Rally, too!

That brings us through last Friday! And, that's probably all you can handle right now anyway. This was a good exercise for me (Karen) as I've realized I really need to take some photos of Will. And maybe Jon, too.

This week was very eventful, too, so I will do my best to find some time to post those happenings before Valentines Day. If you've managed to stick around long enough to get to this point, and you've done more that just look at the pictures, and are actually reading this, leave us a note and let us know you've been here. Don't be a stalker - make yourself known! It makes us feel like we have friends - or at least family members, and gives our blogging purpose. Thanks.