The Schab Shananigans Yearly Newsletter

FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPE

For all of you candy lovers and candy makers...This is a yummy holiday treat that I make every year - get tons of requests and compliments! I thought I'd post it here to share...

SNOW CLUSTERS

1 Package white chocolate (Vanilla) Candyquik
2 T. Peanut Butter

Melt in microwave

Then add:

1 Cup Rice Krispies
1 Cup Mini Marshmallows
1 Cup or 6 oz. Spanish or Salted Peanuts

Drop by Tablespoon onto wax paper-lined cookie sheets and refrigerate until firm.

ENJOY!

I'd love more recipes to add to my collection...if you have a good one, please post it in the comments.

Lynda receives an award - WOO-HOO!

I had to cross-post this blog from my On-the-Write-Track blog. It's definitely an announcement I want to share with my family and friends!

After several months of waiting, results were announced Friday for the FaithWriters first Page Turner Contest. Each year, the contest will alternate between fiction and non-fiction. This first year, the focus was on fiction. FaithWriters 500 members were invited to submit the first page of their manuscript, along with a synopsis of the entire projected novel.There was one winner (Yay, JC!) who received an $800 cash prize, free editing, publicity, the works!

In addition to the Grand Prize winner, two runners up were selected. And - WOO-HOO!!! - I was one of them! The first chapter of my WIP, Mind Over Madi, received a Highly Commended award. For me, this is yet another indication that I need to get that novel finished!

I will receive half-price editing from Finesse Editing Service, as well as a special award plaque.

I'll try to post the press release as soon as it becomes available.

The Halls are Decked!

Well, maybe not the halls. But the rest of the house looks pretty snazzy. It took about two days, but the decorations are up and put away. Lyndsey and I took a break on Friday to go see "Enchanted." We both LOVED it and needed the popcorn-slash-butter boost to finish the decorating.

Check it out:

Our TREE...we've had the same tree for eons but I still love it. The ornaments are eclectic - there are some from every year (even some I got from my mom for Christmas thirty years ago!). We add burgundy bows and an angel on top. Usually I do clear or yellow lights but Lyndsey begged for multi-colored bulbs this year and I relented, since they were on sale at Hobby Lobby for $2 a box. Ha! I don't usually like the tree of many colors, but I have to admit, it turned out beautiful!



Kinda boring, I know, but it really does look pretty with the tree lit up a few feet away. Our entertainment center deserves to hold more than just the TV, stereo and DVDs. Now it holds pretty stuff too.


My snowman bathroom. I love it. My funnest room of all. And we all know there needs to be more FUN in the bathroom. (and oh, look! You even get to glimpse my ratty robe hanging on the hook. My husband hates that robe and I suspect a new one may be hanging there after Christmas. Hmmm.)

I usually add something new every year and this year it was my Snowman clock. It was a great deal...$2 from my sister-in-law at the garage sale. Do I find the bargains, or what? Her loss...my gain!


And this, folks, is only a taste of my Gingerbread kitchen. Rugs, spoon rest, ornaments, towels, cookie jar, and lots more. Christmas wouldn't be the same without my Gingerbread friends in the kitchen. They don't even tell on me when I sneak all those holiday treats....he he...


Well, I'll finish with my favorite picture. This is one of the two photos featured on our Christmas cards this year. My two favorite holiday decorations:

Lots to be Thankful For!

Do we have a lot to be thankful for, or what? WOW! Each of us made out our Top Ten list of the things we're thankful for.

Wishing all of our friends and family a Wonderful Thanksgiving! May you find a million things of your own to be thankful for.

ROB'S TOP TEN LIST:
(It might take you a while to get through his list. It's pretty wordy hee hee)

1. God
2. Lynda
3. Zach
4. Lyndsey
5. Other family
6. Church
7. Health
8. Job
9. My country
10. My home

LYNDA'S TOP TEN LIST
(I have to add here that I am VERY thankful my husband and son were actually willing to give their Top Ten lists)

1. JESUS! Okay, that's not such a random order. Jesus is definitely #1. Without Him, I would be nothing! He gently teaches me and corrects me and loves me even when I act like a total moron. Which is more often than I like to admit.
   
2. Rob - an amazing man and a wonderful husband!
   
3. Zach - Funny, talented, smart, sensitive...my son has it all. What a guy! I'm so blessed to be his mom.
4. Lyndsey - such a sweet and gentle spirit. My daughter is such a blessing to me.
   
5. ALL of my Friends - Ginger, you get a special thanks 'cause you're always there for me. Love you!
   
6. Rob's new job! Yay!
7. The writing doors that God has opened for me this past year. There are too many to mention so I'll just insert a big, "Woo-hoo!"
8. My Writing critique group and all of my online writer friends. I've gained so much insight and wisdom from you guys!
9. My awesome church where I continue to grow in my Christian walk - RES LIFE ROCKS!
   
10. The "extras" that I "have to have"...computer(s), DSL, Cell Phone, digital camera, etc. etc.
    

Since I could never limit my thanks to just ten things, here are some other random things I'm thankful for...my family (special hi to Mom... I LOVE YOU!) my beautiful home, a great car, heat that blasts from the registers, the food that's falling out of our cupboards and refrigerator, my part-time job at Jack & Jills, my family's health, my kids' schools and teachers, the snow...the changing leaves...the summer sun (and swimming pools)...budding flowers and trees...chocolate, eBay, FaithWriters, my Bible Study (and Besy - the best Bible Study leader ever!), online shopping, books, coffee, lattes (is that the same as coffee?), Kohls, Family Christian Stores, ice cream and so much more... Thanks to God for His immeasurable goodness!


ZACH'S TOP TEN LIST:
(Typical 13-year-old guy, his list contains all the IMPORTANT, can't-live-without things in life. But, hopefully, they are in RANDOM order because we know family has to come before his PS2 :-) And hopefully, one day, his list will look a little different. :-))

1. PS2
2. Home
3. Friends
4. Family
5. My Nintendo DS selling on eBay
6. Clothes
7. TV
8. Computer
9. Tennis stuff
10. PSP

LYNDSEY'S TOP TEN LIST:
(Lyndsey couldn't narrow it down to ten, so she added a bonus #11. Oh...and she picked the color pink for her list because that's the color of most pigs.)

1. God...because He's blessed me with an awesome everything!
   
2. Jesus dying on the cross...because it's great to know that I'm forgiven.
3. Mom and Dad...Without them I wouldn't be happy (or exist at all!)
4. My brother, Zach...we do fight a lot but I still love him.
5. Other family...they support me when my parents aren't around and even when they are!
6. Food and water...Without food and water I would die. And that would be very sad.
7. Shelter...my house keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
8. Friends...Alexis, Jordan, Paige, Cassidy, Mary, Dakota, Nathan
9. Clothes...I have so many cool clothes that I'm thankful for.
10. My Bible...it teaches me the most important thing of all. The love of God.
11. Pigs...No, not to eat them! Because they're so cute, they make awesome noises, I love watching them roll around in the mud, and I love them!

Random thanks...church because it's so big and amazingly awesome, computer, MP3 Player, the teachers at my school (Hi, Mrs. U'Ren!), a toilet (I have to go!) , a toothbrush, my health and Dr. Kruggel.

A NEW JOB FOR ROB!

Ok, for the last couple years, Rob has been doing some major soul searching. We've been praying that he would find a job that was perfect for him. A job where he feels challenged, motivated, appreciated, fulfilled, and that pays the bills! (And dental insurance and a company car would be great too!)

Well, we think he's found it.

Rob started on Monday at his new job with Cedar Crest Dairy. He will be in charge of marketing their milk and other dairy products. The job is a complete God-send. He got the job through a recommendation from his former employer and God's favor on the whole interviewing process has been powerful and undeniable.

Even though it's only been two days, already he feels "at home." The people have been so nice and encouraging - Rob said he only hopes he can live up to the high expectations they have for him! And we know he can because, in business, he rocks! We all know Rob is a people-person and his business relationship building skills have proven to be awesome in every job he's ever had. This one will be no different!

So besides the company car, great insurance (yes, plus dental!), the good pay, the nice people, and the challenging position, wanna know the best part?

You know where I wrote "milk and other dairy products?" Wanna know what the other is?

ICE CREAM! WOO-HOO! YUM YUM! MMM-MMM!!!
Sorry. I digress.

Ok, so maybe the fact that ice cream will now be so readily available isn't the best part for someone trying (and mostly failing) to stay on Weight Watchers. For someone wanting to lose thirty pounds. For someone who LOVES ice cream...could eat it three times a day, no problem. Who struggles with self-control and likely won't be able to resist if it's RIGHT THERE in the freezer.

Sigh.

If you don't know who I'm talking about at this point, you must be a stranger. Because anyone who knows me at all, knows of my secret love affair with ice cream.

BUT...my weight and ice cream issues are for another blog.

THIS one's about Rob! We are so proud of him for pursuing God's best so that he can not only provide for his family but use the talents God gave him to the very best of his ability to fulfill the purpose God has for his life. We give Him (God) all the glory and praise for this awesome opportunity!

The ice cream is just a bonus (or not.) :-)

CONGRATULATIONS, ROB!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROB!

Yes, the Big Kahuna turns 43 on Sunday, November 18. Rob isn't the least bit upset about turning 43 because, according to him, everywhere he goes, people can't believe he's a day older than thirty-three.

Ummm...okay, we'll take his word for it.

I have to admit, though, he really doesn't act --I mean, look--his age.

So tomorrow, my dad and Kathy are taking us to Red Lobster for his birthday dinner, which happens to be Rob's all-time favorite restaurant and the corners of his mouth are already pooling in anticipation.

Then tomorrow night Rob and I are going to the Newsboys and Kutless concert at the VanAndel. The best part about that (besides the fact that we love the Newsboys AND Kutless) is that the tickets were FREE! His sister, Michele, won 4 tickets from a local radio station and invited us to go along with her & Dave (thanks, Michele!)

That, in addition to the peanut butter pie I made him and the presents stacked up on the floor, indicates that he'll have a pretty darned exciting 43rd birthday. Which he so deserves.

BIRTHDAY HUGS AND KISSES, HONEY! May this birthday bring you all your wishing for and more!

Love, Lynda

ZACH BRACES HIMSELF

This morning was the start of two years of life with braces for Zach. He was a little nervous before going in but afterwards said it didn't hurt (much). I have to say his clear brackets look much better than my full metal mouth did twenty-five years ago.

So now he's a little sore...at the moment he's nibbling on french fries and sipping a chocolate shake. Looks like Ramen noodles for dinner and oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow morning. Along with a couple of Motrin tablets, of course.

Now comes the challenge of brushing correctly (and often enough). Also, he'll need to be much more careful when eating those apples!

Did I say apples? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

What I meant to say was he needs to keep his patties away from Skittles and gum and popcorn and hard pizza crusts. Now THAT'S what I call a challenge!

I'm sure by next week it will seem like Zach's been wearing braces forever.

So begins two years of orthodontist appointments, breaking brackets, poky wire and lots of pain for Zach, as well as for our checkbook balance. But, most importantly, today marks the beginning of the two-year countdown to that brand new smile...

All Dressed up for Madi's Party

Sweet, adorable Madi (Um, I mean, Ariel) turned five last week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADI!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, her mom and dad threw her a huge party. And you'll never guess who showed up!

Sponge Bob, The Cat in the Hat, Captain Hook, Woody and Jesse from Toy Story...there was a silly nerd who kept picking her nose (ew!), an escaped convict, a cowgirl, a blind referee, a graduate (but we're still trying to figure out whether the graduate was a guy or a girl), a 92 year old hippie (yes, I said 92!) ...even George W. Bush made an appearance!

I'm telling you...Madi must be pretty special for these important people to show up at her party!

Check it out:

GEORGE TAKES A MOMENT OUT OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO POSE WITH A NERD. BUT WHICH ONE IS REALLY THE NERD?

IT'S DORK! ER...DAN...ER...SPONGE BOB!
(The question on everyone's mind is, "how on earth did that sponge squeeze into those tights?")

MATT & KRISTI? OR WOODY AND JESSE? YOU MAKE THE CALL.

FLASHBACK TO THE SIXTIES...
NANA MAKES ONE GROOVY FLOWER CHILD...

THE CAT IN THE HAT STOPS TO POSE

BLIND REF, ROB, WISHES HE COULD ACTUALLY SAY HE SAW THE PRESIDENT

HMMM...CONFUSED GRADUATE, JEFF (or is it Jeffina?)

LYNDSEY AFTER HER EXTREME NERD MAKE-OVER

COWGIRL VONNIE / FLOWER CHILD, ELEANOR / ESCAPED CONVICT PAULIE & his accomplice, ZSA-ZSA

WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN? Oh! It's PHYLLIS (with adorable CHLOE)

CHLOE WONDERS WHICH ONE OF HER CATS TOOK THE HUMAN HORMONE PILLS.

CAPTAIN TRYING TO "HOOK UP" WITH THE LADY IN THE POINTY HAT

PUMPKIN PAINTING

SOCIALIZATION OF THE MISFITS

Captain Hook took the prize for BEST ADULT COSTUME. Nana came in second for the hippie costume (but she has since said she really was hoping to WIN! She is a competitive chick, isn't she?)

We had a great time. Madi's 5th birthday party was a huge success.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADI! THANKS FOR LETTING US SHARE YOUR EXTRA SPECIAL DAY!

WE LOVE YOU!

Goodbye Sandy!

Well, we started out with two guinea pigs. Buddy died last winter. And now, our beloved Sandy has joined him in that Timothy Hay haven in the sky.

Sigh.

It was a very sad couple days. We found her two days ago, laying in her cage, unable to move and not looking too good. We didn't think she'd make it through the night. But yesterday morning she was still alive! So there I was, bawling at 5:45 A.M. because #1, she'd suffered through the night and #2, the kids were going to wake up soon and would be mad at me for allowing her to suffer through the night.

At 6:00, I called my sister-in-law (thank God for Kristi!) who is an animal lover, has a bazillion pets of her own, picks up strays on the side of the road, and works for a vet hospital. After dropping her daughter off at school, she came right over and put Sandy to sleep and out of her misery. (Sniff.)

Now the kids are left with the misery. Sandy was such a sweet pet and we're thankful for the time we had with her.

So goodbye, Sandy. You'll be missed. I'm pretty sure the kids will even miss cleaning your cage (okay...maybe not that).

We Cleaned! We conquered! And Yes, Someone Whined.

Well, the dust has been annihalated. The toys have been shoved back in their places. The carpet has been vacuumed. The toilet has been scrubbed.

And the whining could be heard for miles.

Okay, maybe not for miles. But it sure was loud and clear. And annoying, I might add.

It wasn't me - despite a couple of spiders that reared their ugly legs. Still, I refrained from whining. Aren't you proud?

So that leaves...the children.

Which one, you ask? I'd better not say. But he or she definitely showed off his or her whining expertise on Saturday.

If you had been there, you'd have been convinced I was inflicting torture on this child. Making him/her do unspeakable things. Things like remove all nick-nacks from the window ledge and dust. GASP! Clean out clothing drawers - HORRORS! And, worst of all, pick up miscellaneous riff-raff from the floor. Stuff that, according to him/her - wasn't theirs. Hmmm.

Ask my son/daughter, and he/she will say with the utmost conviction that I gave Mommy Dearest a run for her money this past weekend. Luckily for him/her, I held back from using those wire hangers.

However tempted I may have been.

But we got through those grueling hours of agony. And we ended up having a really nice evening of church and a bon-fire with friends. Best of all, I now have a clean basement. At least for the next day or so.

So we didn't win the war on whining. And no, I won't say which of my children lost it for us.

Geesh. You'd think an 8th grader would be past this stage. (oops...did I say that?)

Cleaning Day!

The kids are whining already.

The truth is, I'm not all gung-ho, either. Although I'll be glad when it's over.

What am I talking about?

Cleaning the house...or, more specifically, the basement.

Ugh.

Today is the day we conquer the mess, the dust bunnies, the - gulp - storage room. Can anyone say, "disaster area?" If you don't hear from us in a couple days, please come looking. We're probably buried underneath the rubble of games, toys, and other junkabaloo. Or there is the possibility that we've been bitten and paralyzed by giant basement spiders. Shudder...

So the plan is Rob will be working outside, mowing and weeding, and the kids and I will be busy little beavers inside, picking up, vacuuming, organizing, and keeping a close eye out for bugs.

I'm trying to figure out how I can get the kids excited about this overwhelming project. But honestly, there's nothing exciting about it. Except the sense of accomplishment we'll feel when the bathroom sparkles, the television screen is clearer, due to no more layer of dust covering it, and we will actually be able to walk without tripping over video games, fort blankets and other miscellaneous items.

But somehow, I doubt the kids will consider "sense of accomplishment" a good trade for their sweat and tears.

Hmmm. Maybe a couple bucks will do it.

Wait a minute. Earth to Lynda! The kids are part of this family too! (duh) Cleaning is part of their "job" description. Especially when most of the basement mess is theirs! Hello! What was I thinking? Of course they shouldn't get paid to help out around the house. It's not like we're slave drivers around here. Really, my kids are pretty spoiled. It will do them good to put aside their fun for the day and put forth a little manual labor. It'll be great for their characters and their bodies.

Yeah...preach it, girlfriend!

But that's not to say we won't reward them for their efforts with a trip to Speedway for some frozen cokes. If they do a good job. And if the whining is held to a minimum.

And...sigh...I suppose that means I need to set the standard and refrain from whining too, as difficult as that will be. The true test will be when we start disturbing those spiders from their hiding places.

Will I be able to keep a whine from escaping?

Stay tuned...

The Things We Do for our Kids

So have you yet seen the one piece of evidence that shouts to the world that school is back in session? No, I'm not talking about big yellow buses on the roads, or crossing guards at every corner, or the ransacked snack aisle at the grocery store.I'm talking about.... FUNDRAISERS!

OK, so it's for a GREAT cause. The school needs new science lab stuff and materials for the library or a new overhead projector. But let's face it. It doesn't matter. Nobody's really thinking about the fact that we'll be helping out the school - and, ultimately, the kids that attend that school - by participating in these fundraisers. No. We're thinking..."Great. There's another twenty bucks I have to shell out." Maybe you're one who steers clear of all school aged children and the parents who have them, avoiding that inevitable moment when they pull the order sheets from their back pockets and say, "Do you want to buy some cookie dough? It's only $15 for this tiny container. You may even be able to squeeze two dozen cookies out of it."

Do you turn off all the lights and hit the floor when you see children walking up your driveway with a wagon full of Girl Scout cookies or a gigantic box of candy bars? Or let the answering machine pick up...in case it's one of your nieces or nephews calling?

Hey. The fundraiser organizers are brilliant! They have a little secret. And the secret is...CASH. For the kids! Sell items and get a cash pick from the box. Kids will sell their little hearts out to get the chance to pick a twenty dollar bill from that box. Only, what they don't tell you is that there is one twenty among hundreds of ones. Chances are pretty slim you're going to pull out that twenty.

My kids have won plenty of cheezy toys and a few bucks from these fundraisers. And even when they see, firsthand, how cheezy those toys are, the next year, they still HAVE to win that fuzzy green hat with the propeller on the top. And they work like crazy to earn it.But wait! Do they? I mean, who really does all the work? I will say I do make my kids call a few people - like Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt and Uncle. But I'll admit, I sent out two emails during the FIRST week of school, soliciting the friends and family I love, begging them to dig deep into their pockets for my son and daughter. It doesn't matter that it's for magazines (and renewals do count, so you don't even have to buy anything NEW) or for Preferred Vendor KeyCards that have TONS of great deals on them and I am actually very excited to get one myself because my other one recently expired. No. It doesn't matter how great the product is. Begging for help is not high on my "fun" list. Knowing that when people see your email, they roll their eyes and think, "Oh, no. Not another one." Ugh.

But guess what? I do it anyway! WHY? Because I love my kids and want them to get stuff. My son earned a Cedar Point Amusement Park trip FREE last year for selling magazines. This year, we're going for the cash prizes - come on. He's 13. He needs cash for important stuff like paintballing and slurpees. If my daughter sells twenty KeyCards, she will earn 2 FREE cards (for Mom and Dad), plus a $15 gift certificate to the mall (for her!) Claires, here we come!

I want to end by asking forgiveness and understanding from all my friends and family who will be receiving pleas from us this year for fundraiser help. And I am probably speaking for thousands of people just like me when I say we really don't want to BUG you or force you to spend money you don't have. We just want to help our kids. If you can order something, great! If not, we totally understand. But, because we're good parents, we have to ask.

Currently, Lyndsey's selling cookie dough, wrapping paper, and all that good stuff. Hey - the stuff might be expensive but there are some great gift ideas. Plus, remember - it's for a good cause.

So...wait for it....

Cookie dough anyone?