I got elfed!

Hey, I just made a total elf of myself! This is too cute! I found this on Ashlie's blog and I thought that it was really funny, so I tried it out. Click on the link for a laugh!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1116631340

Back Home

Ben and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families. We went to Beloit first to spend some time with my Mom, Dad, and extended family. I hadn't seen any of my cousins, aunts, or uncles for over two years! I also met 4 new babies...well, they are more like toddlers now. It's hard to believe how fast time goes. We had a yummy dinner and a nice visit. Then it was off to Hays. We got to see both of Ben's grandparents and Mom, Dad, and Tyler. We missed seeing Danny and Vicki! We'll have to come see you guys in KC soon. Ben and his Dad went out hunting while Mom II and I went shopping and got pedicures! It was lots of fun. Now that we are back home, it's really time to get ready for Christmas. I need to get to wrapping our gifts and start on those Christmas cards.

It's Christmas!

It's Christmas Time....at least it is here at our house. We put up our Chritmas tree and other decorations today. We wanted to get it up before we go home for Thanksgiving break. That way we don't have to worry about it when we get back. I think it looks pretty good. We have tons of fun little ornaments, everything from angels and snowmen, to hunting and fishing Santas and the Three Stooges. Now, I just need to get our presents wrapped. I love having a lit tree overflowing with presents all wrapped up in beautiful bows. It makes me want to eat cookies, drink hot cocoa, and sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
Oh, and check it out....In the background you can see our sad plant--it's down to just one little leaf now :-(
It sure is standing up proudly, though!

Here is a picture of a new addition to our tree this year--sorry, it's a little blurry. Ben's Mom sent us home with a few ornaments last year. Ben made this in second grade (in 1989.) We also have his first Christmas ornament hanging up. I just wanted you to see this special ornament did make it to our tree, Teresa!

Black Thumb

So, I don't know what is going on in the Schrant house, but evidently we are in the business of killing plants.
This first guy has continually gotten weaker and weaker since this summer. It's a hosta, in case you were wondering. It is now down to three sad little leaves.
This second plant is not actually ours. Our friends, Josh and Wendy, are on an out-rotation and left this poor thing in our care....and look what happened! Sorry guys! I don't know what to do. I am really not neglecting it, I promise.
And here we are at the last example of my very black thumb. I have had this plant for about three years and have done really well with it, until now. All of it's leaves are turning brown and falling off. There is going to be nothing left of it in a couple of weeks at the rate it is deteriorating! Are there any gardeners out there?? I could use some help before my plants die off completely!

Pictures from the weekend

Beautiful fall colors somewhere between St. Louis and Springfield. I just love this time of year.











Here's a picture of the two of us before we went to the Wine Feast and stuffed ourselves! Not too bad, but Ben just can't take a picture without the goofy, fake smile! I can't understand that....I mean really, just smile, how hard is it??

Too Funny!

Check it out...Benj and I saw this in the parking lot of the Columbia mall and thought that it was hilarious. This dog looked like he was actually driving. What a fun pup!

Cookies!

Okay, this is really cool! My parents forwarded this email on to me. There are tons of cookie recipes here. Just click on the title of the one you are interested in and the recipe pops up! I just thought I would share as the holidays are coming :-)
Enjoy!

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Co

More Interviews...

What a busy time!
We just got back from St. Louis for an interview and now Ben is off again today to fly to the next one. His interview at Des Peres was fine. There was a small reception the night before where the students could talk with residents and ask any questions that they had. Then, on Saturday morning he had one really short interview and that was it. It took maybe 15 minutes. He felt like he answered their questions well and that's about all he can do at this point. Today he is flying to Toledo, Ohio. Then next week, he has an interview in Mississippi and one in Kansas City. This interviewing stuff is getting expensive, but what can we do?

Anyways, we did have a really nice weekend. I took off of work on Friday and we started on some Christmas shopping. We stayed with our friends Mike and Marie in St. Louis on Friday night. They took us out for sushi that night. It was such a neat place. Then, after Ben's interview we went down to Springfield. Sunday afternoon we attended our second "Wine Feast." We went last year and it was so much fun that we just had to go back again. It is located in this huge conference room and all around there perimeter of the room there are lots and lots of different types of wines to sample. And in the interior there are restaurants from the area. There is sooo much food and it is all sooo good. We sampled lasagna, meatballs, soups, shrimp, duck, tuna, the list just goes on and on. And the desserts are amazing; homemade chocolates, carrot cakes, tiramisu, cheesecakes.....I mean really, I just can't describe it. I went into this thing telling myself that I was going to have a little self-control this year (unlike last time.) But, it's just so overwhelming. You want to try everything! Needless to say, Ben and I came out feeling so stuffed and really not good at all. It's okay, though, we only do that once a year, and it was completely worth it!