Christmas 2010

Wow!  I can't believe Christmas has arrived, well almost.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and luckily I get the day off work.  I am done with all my Christmas shopping, wrapping and baking.  Santa is all set to come tomorrow night and fill the kids' stockings.  The kids are both home with Dan today.  He was lucky enough to get two weeks off since he works at a school and X has the same two weeks off.  Me on the other hand, I get Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve off.  I did take Monday & Tuesday off so I get a five day weekend.  Dan's birthday is on Tuesday.  So we will be doing something fun for it, although I'm not sure what.  I do want to go sledding some time this weekend though.  The weather should not be too cold and we're supposed to get more snow tomorrow.  X has been playing outside pretty much everyday and  he just loves it out there.   He can stay outside for hours.

Supernatural - Appointment in Samarra

Looks like this was the last episode for the year and they left it at a cliffhanger of course.  Starts out with Dean going to see a Dr at a butcher shop.  He wants to die and come back to meet with Death.  So he does and meets with Tessa (a reaper).  He asks her to get her boss and she says he's busy and she can't just call him but he comes on his own.  Dean tells Death that he wants to bring Sam's soul back to him and that he'll give him the ring back for it.  Death says that he can bring the soul back and put up a wall so Sam won't remember Hell.  He wants Dean to wear the ring for 24 hours and do Death's job.  If he takes it off then the deal is off.  So Dean comes back to life and tells Sam & Bobby that he's going to do it.  He puts the ring on and Tessa is there to help him.  First up is a guy robbing a store and he gets shot by the owner.  No big deal for Dean.  Then a guy having a heart attack, again no big deal for Dean.  Then at the hospital it's a 12 year old girl with a heart condition.  Dean refuses and Tessa says there's consequences.  Sure enough a nurse goes home early and gets in a car accident and dies.  Her boyfriend is very distraught and gets drunk and drives and Dean sees him and tries to save him.  In the process he takes the ring off and saves him.  He then puts the ring back on and gets the little girl because he knows that he's disrupted the natural order of things.

Meanwhile Sam doesn't want his soul back and calls Balthazar to help keep his soul out.  He tells Sam that there is a spell but he needs the blood of his father.  He needs the blood of his father, but his father need not be blood.  So of course it's Bobby!  So Sam tries to get Bobby and in the end as he's about to stab him Dean comes and saves him and they lock Sam up.

Dean meets with Death again and they talk.  Even though Dean took the ring off Death says he'll get the soul back because Dean is on the right track with Souls and he will be useful.

We end with Death coming to Sam, who is tied down and Dean & Bobby watching while Death puts his soul back.

So will Sam be back to normal or will something still be wrong with him?  We won't find out until January.

Supernatural - It's been a while...

I kept meaning to post about the episode "Clap Your Hands if you Believe".  It was a good episode and I love it how Dean got "abducted" and then he fought back and they didn't want him.  Turned out it was fairies and they were taking first born sons because the watch maker made a deal with them.  Sam could have made a deal with the head fairy but he decided not to.  It was a good episode.  I did not get to see "Caged Heat" yet but I heard that Meg is back and so is Castiel.  Here are some pictures from both episodes.

"Clap Your Hands if you Believe" episode

"Caged Heat" episode

Last weekend and more

Last week we were all still recovering from Strep.  O developed a rash on Sunday night and she had been complaining of her throat hurting and she had a fever.  So I took the day off last Monday and took her to the Doctor and she had Strep.  I'd had a sore throat since Friday and Dan was starting to get one too so the Dr gave us all antibiotics.  Just a couple more days of medicine.  Apparently the kids' medicine tastes "yucky" and they hate taking it.  At least we are all feeling better now.
I'm nearly done with the Christmas shopping and X has been a great helper wrapping.  He writes the names on the labels for me and puts them on along with a bow.  This past week he had his Winter show at school.  It was very cute.  Saturday we went to the Orchestra Hall to see them perform.  I had never been there and the kids thought the place was pretty cool but they got bored just watching an Orchestra play.  We walked around downtown for a little bit and then headed home and watched Eclipse.
O calls the movies "Mommy's Bella Movies" and she wanted to watch Eclipse again last night.  X on the other hand knows all their names and he was excited to see Eclipse.  He know by the music when a "scary" part is coming and will usually leave the room.
I also got my Christmas cards ordered so I should get them soon and then I can start mailing.  Only three weeks until Christmas!  I have to start baking this weekend.
Also looking forward to Saturday when me and my friend are going to Barnes & Noble at MOA to meet Richelle Mead.  She is the author of The Vampire Academy Series, with the new and last book in the series, The Last Sacrifice, coming out tomorrow.  She has also written the Georgina Kincaid Series, which I'm currently reading.  So excited to be meeting her and having her sign my books.

Re-vamping an old shirt

X has a shirt he loves but unfortunately he has outgrown it.  So I got an idea to make it new.  I found a plain red t-shirt and found some cool fabric on clearance at Michael's that I could use as sleeves.

This is the old t-shirt.  I carefully cut around the skull and crossbones leaven some black around the edges.  I had a plain red short sleeved shirt that currently fits him.

This is cut out and the fabric I got at Michael's that I used for the sleeves.

I used some iron-on strips (not sure of the name) and ironed it on the shirt.  Then I sewed around it twice and cut off the excess black.

Using a shirt that currently fit him I used it as a template to cut sleeves and shaped them and sewed them on the red shirt.

Here he is wearing it.  I actually turned out pretty good and he loves it.

Supernatural - All Dogs go to Heaven

This was a good filler episode, not much happens in terms of finding or figuring out how to get Sam's soul back.  We start off with Crowley giving the Winchesters their assignment.  Of course Dean is not happy about it and Crowley cause some pain for Sam just to show Dean that he's in charge.  There have been attacks that look like Werewolves.  So they investigate a home with a wife, husband, kid and dog.  They think the husband is the werewolf since he looks like he had a rough night.  But then he turns up dead and they figure out it's a skinwalker that they're tracking.  Then they finally figure out it's the dog Lucky that is the skinwalker.  He tells them that there is a plan to instate a skinwalker in a family and when they're given the signal they turn on them and turn them with a bite.  So it's a way to have even more skinwalkers.  The Winchesters want to know where the Alpha is but this is just one pack and there are many around the country.  So they have a set up to have him meet his Alpha and they will take him out.  Except they kidnap the mom and kid and ask him to bite them.  Lucky refuses and a fight breaks with the Winchesters coming in and killing all the skinwalkers but Lucky gets away.  Also we find out that Sam doesn't care about Lisa and Ben or even about Dean.  He said that even though it was harder to be the old Sam that's the Sam he should be and they need to get his soul back.

History Center

We went to the MN History Center last month with museum passes I got at the library.  So it was a free day, which is always great.  There was a chocolate exhibit and free craft for the kids.  They were able to decorate a mug with Mayan and Aztec symbols.  The kids loved it and I made some Mexican Chocolate for dinner, I buy Abuelita brand and make it with milk and a splash of vanilla.  After the Museum we went to the Tea House which is a Chinese restaurant and it was really yummy.  I got Sesame Chicken, Dan got Kung Pow Chicken and the kids shared Sweet and Sour Chicken.  We had leftovers and I was able to eat them for lunch.

This is the kids at an ice cream shoppe.  They were able to go behind the counter and make pretend ice cream dishes and malts.  Then they pretended to ring people up and wash the dishes.  They had a lot of fun here.

There was a weather display where they could see all the different winter gear worn over time.  Also there was a sever weather "basement" that was simulating a tornado and the kids insisted on going in but as soon as the tornado hit they were terrified and ran out.

Getting off an airplane.  There was even a little waiting area to sit down and an old vending machine.

Supernatural - Family Matters

I completely forgot I was going to blog about this.  I really have been trying to blog about Supernatural.  I did indeed watch it and liked it but not as much as I was hoping.  It starts out with Sam tied to a chair and Castiel looking at him and Dean in the room.  We find out what we already knew, that Sam does not have his soul.  Dean of course does not trust him and tells him so and says he will be watching him like a hawk.  Sam is trying to find out what happened to his soul and the only place to start is Samuel.  They confront Samuel and Castiel checks to see if he has a soul and he indeed does.  Samuel claims he doesn't know who pulled them out and why, but as I always have been of him, I'm suspicious.  He tells them that they found the Alpha Vampire and Dean and Sam want in.  Samuel is hesitant because  he doesn't trust Dean.  They find the nest and "take care" of the Alpha.  But really Samuel and the Campbells have captured him and put him in a van, which Dean spies.  He confronts Sam about it and he says he didn't want to tell him but Samuel has been interrogating monsters and he's never been in on it.  Dean says that they need to find out why and to have Sam ask Samuel.  He asks Samuel but he won't let him.  So of course they follow him and find out Samuel wants to know where something is.  They find the Alpha and talk to him and he says that it's Purgatory that Samuel wants to know about and that he's reporting to someone.  The Alpha breaks out, they fight, one of the Campbell guys is a demon and Crowley comes and takes the Alpha.  Then we find out that Crowley is the one that brought Sam and Samuel back and that he is keeping Sam's soul in the cage and that he wants to find Purgatory.  So they better keep bringing him monsters if Sam wants his soul back.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween and it was actually not too cold.  On Saturday morning we went to in-law's house where all the grandkids were around.  So I got to see my two nieces and one nephew dressed up and we took pictures of the kids together.  We even ate lunch with everyone.  Then we went to the community center where they had games and prizes.  X won a stuffed black cat with a wizard's hat.  He was so happy about it.  Sunday we spent most of the day making spaghetti sauce.  We were able to can 10 big jars and 2 little jars.  We had some for dinner too and nothing tastes better than homemade spaghetti and homemade artisan bread.  We also carved our pumpkins in the morning.  Around 6pm we decided to take the kids out trick or treating.  I went out first with them while Dan stayed back and handed out candy.  Then I came back they still wanted to go out so Dan went out with them.  We were done trick or treating around 7:30pm.  The kids pigged out on candy then got showers and were in bed by around 8:30pm.

Our pumpkins, the one on top is X's and the little one is also his, the other one is O's.

 X's has two sides, one is a face and the other a spider

 O is a witch

X is Ash Ketchum and he even has his Pikachu

The kids ready for trick or treating

Supernatural - You Can't Handle the Truth

Wow!  This show is getting better and better.  I wasn't sure about it the first couple of episodes but the last few have really been better.  This episodes starts out with Dean talking to Bobby about Sam.  What is Sam?  Bobby will look into it and Dean says that he will just deal with Sam if they don't find out.  This week is people killing themselves when they ask for the truth.  Turns out it is the Goddess of Truth that is doing it so Sam and Dean have to find her and kill her with dog blood.  Dean asks for the truth and people start telling him the truth.  So he takes this opportunity to confront Sam.  Sam says he froze when Dean was turned into a vampire, but seems to me that Sam is somehow lying.  They find out the Goddess is a news anchor and go to her place to kill her.  She captures them and then asks Dean to tell the truth about Sam.  He tells her that he knows there's something wrong with Sam and that he was ready to kill him.  Then she turns to Sam and asks him for the truth and Sam claims to be telling the truth but he's lying.  The Goddess says he's not human because it's not possible for humans to lie to her.  Sam and Dean team up and kill her.  Then Dean turns the knife to Sam.  Sam finally reveals that he's a better hunter than he's ever been and he just doesn't feel any emotion and that he doesn't know what's wrong with him.  Dean puts the knife down but then beats the crap out of Sam.

So we found out Sam somehow doesn't have a soul.  Castiel doesn't know what's wrong with Sam and he hadn't been answering Dean because he didn't know but he'll look into it.  I hope to see more of Castiel.  Also I'm curious if Samuel is the same way since he also got brought back.

This week

We got our flu shots on Tuesday, just me and the kids since Dan had gotten his a few weeks ago.  Not too bad except that X did not want to get one and freaked out and they had to get another nurse to help hold him down. He also said that the needle looked "pointy" and that he didn't like it.  But now O has a stuffy nose and I know that flu shots don't cause this but just a coincidence, I'm not sure.  She also could have gotten a cold from a kid at daycare because there are a few kids sick there.  Then this morning X says his throat is scratchy and nose is stuffy.  So hopefully they are not too sick to trick or treat on Sunday.

O is having Halloween celebration at daycare.  Her costume is a witch so I sent her dress and hat this morning.  She freaked out thinking we were going to leave her costume at daycare and not bring it home.  X wished he could dress up at school but they don't do Halloween.  They do a lot of fall crafts and stuff.  He went to a field trip at a farm and got a pumpkin.  Too bad it was so wet and cold on Tuesday he said he didn't enjoy the field trip too much.  He's dressing up as Ash Ketchum, the Pokemon trainer.  He is obsessed with Pokemon.  I'll post some pictures of the kids in their costumes.

Friday I was thinking of taking them to Michael's for a Halloween event.  They have Free Family Events all the time and this one is decorating a Halloween bag.  Saturday morning we're going to in-laws so they can see the kids in costumes.  Then we're going to a Halloween event at the community center.  I've taken X to it the last two years and he's loved it and O is finally old enough to go.  It's for ages 3 to 12.  Then my sister-in-law offered to have X spend the night on Saturday night so she's picking him up after she gets off work.  Sunday not much going on just trick or treating once it gets dark.

Also this week, Dan's grandpa on his dad's side died.  That was Tuesday night when it was super windy and cold.  Him and his brother went to go visit him but I got a call from his dad saying he had passed away.  Dan at least went and paid his respects.  His funeral will be next week.

Supernatural - Live Free or Twihard

Another great episode.  This one is about vampires and as much as I love Twilight I found it funny that they were making fun of it.  Sam and Dean start investigating teen girls disappearing.  We find out that they are being recruited via a vampires site since the vampire appeal is hot right now.  They must find the nest and in the process Dean is given some vampire blood while Sam stands by and smirks.  So it looks like Sam let that happen to Dean.  But Samuel had told Sam that there was a cure as long as Dean doesn't ingest human blood.  It involves injecting a vampire with dead man's blood and making a drink.  Dean of course goes and visits Lisa and Ben and scares the crap out of them.  Then he gets into the nest and finds out that the vampires are getting their orders from an Alpha who is building an army.  Dean gets cured and remembers that smirk that Sam had and knows he let it happen.  So now Dean is really suspicious of Sam.

Supernatural - Weekend at Bobby's

Loved the episode!  It was directed by Jensen Ackles too.  I really liked seeing more of Bobby.  The only time we really get to see what he does is when Dean & Sam visit him.  I like how he never asks anyone for help and how busy he is helping other hunters.  Also liked him kicking butt and using that woodchipper.  He found a way to get the better of Crowley and get his soul back and even keep the use of his legs.  Also what is up with Sam? Dean seems to think there's something wrong with him so he must have done something really strange for him to call Bobby about it.  Hopefully we'll learn about that next week.  I hear that next week is vampires and Dean will be turning into one.  I can't wait!
  

A book and a show

I just got done reading a great book last week.  It's called Life As We Knew It and it's a young adult book by Susan Beth Pfeffer.  It is the first book in a trilogy; Moon Crash Trilogy and it was excellent.  I highly recommend it.  It is written in journal format by a 16 year old girl named Miranda.  At the beginning of the book you get to know her and her family.  We find out that an asteroid is going to hit the moon and everyone will be watching.  But Astronomers miscalculated the mass of the asteroid and it moves the moon closer to Earth.  This causes world chaos as the world experiences tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanic eruption.  Mass casualties and even the coast are gone.  But the book focuses on how Miranda and her family survive this and how their life has changed because of it.  It was very interesting and I couldn't put it down.  I am planning to read the next two books in the series soon.  Here are all three books

Life As We Knew It (published 2006)

The Dead & The Gone (published 2008)

This World We Live In (published 2010)

The other part of my post has to do with the last week's episode of Supernatural.  I meant to write about it last week after I watched it but kept getting delayed.  I thought it was a good episode except for the couple of gross things (the guy pretty much turning to liquid, bugs in the brain).  I liked seeing Sam and Dean together and LOVED seeing Castiel back.  I thought it was funny that he answered when Dean called him but not when Sam had been calling him.  Also love how they had two cars and then Sam's new car got smashed so now they're back to sharing the Impala.  Next week looks good too.  Looks like Dean thinks there is something wrong with Sam.  Which I was kind of thinking there was because Sam is totally not himself and he refuses to talk to Dean about Hell.

Supernatural - week 2

Much better episode last week.  I know I'm late in talking about this but I really didn't get a chance to see it until last night.

I loved how the brothers were dealing with the baby and how Dean knew what to do.  I knew that Samuel had another agenda and now we know he's collecting monsters for someone.  But the question is, is Sam in on it or he just an innocent bystander.  Who brought Samuel back and is it really him?  Who brought Sam back?  Also both Sam & Dean looked confused when Samuel was talking about their mother when she was a baby.

The ending was great with Dean going back to hunting and uncovering the impala.  Looks like Sam & Dean will be kicking some butt now!

Supernatural

Friday was the Season 6 premiere of Supernatural.  As much as I LOVE the show, I was not happy with the premiere.

Dean has been living with his girlfriend Lisa and son Ben for the last year.  Just like he promised Sam he would, he gave up hunting for a normal life.  But in this episode he gets a visit from the yellow eyed demon but really it's a Djiin.  Sam comes back to save Dean.  He's been alive for about a year and the only person that didn't know was Dean.  Of course he's mad about it since he tried finding a way to bring him back.  Also back is their grandfather Samuel and other family members that are hunters from their mother's side.  I don't like Samuel and the rest of the family, I think there is something wrong with them and I don't trust them.  Then at the end they kill 2 out of the 3 Djiins after them and the Campbell's capture the third one alive for some reason and get her out of there before Sam & Dean see.  Just like I said, something isn't right with them.  Dean decides to stay with Lisa & Ben and Sam keep hunting.

There was no Castiel and hopefully there will be.  Bobby is alive and they visit him briefly.  Sam is hunting and Dean is not.  All is not right in the world of Supernatural.

Chuck/The Event - 09/20

Chuck - Thought it was a good episode, although a little slow at the beginning.  I figured that he would be the one to save Sarah and Casey in Russia and that he would tell them about his mom and get back to being a spy.  Laughed at the whole sexting thing when Sarah was asking for help and Morgan was replying.  I figured that Ellie was pregnant and Chuck wouldn't tell her about him become a spy again.  I'm thinking though that this will be the last season for Chuck.  I mean where else can they go in this show?

The Event - Very confusing with all the different time changes and exactly what was going on.  I think the two people they met at the cruise had something to do with the girl's disappearance.  The ending though is what got me interested.  Where did the plane go?  Looks like it got warped to another time or place.  I'll watch next week but if next week isn't good then I might not watch this show.

There have been too many shows that I watch and only last one season.  I watched Invasion and it had big potential and it just didn't go where it needed to go and only lasted one season.  Same is true for Flashforward, which kind of had a crappy ending.  I mean they knew their future and yet they still came true.  Then another blackout with another future.

Tonight I'll probably record Glee and watch it either later tonight or later in the week.  Then tomorrow is the second episode of Survivor:Nicaragua.

Monday Night

I'm excited for the return of Chuck tonight.  Most of my new shows are returning this week so I'll have a busy week.  Last week I watched the finale of America's Got Talent.  A show I started watching last year because there was never anything on.  The kids like that show too.  But I flipped back and forth between that and Survivor.  It's no big deal to miss the first few episodes anyway.  I also caught up on two episodes of The Vampire Diaries.  I'm not sure I like that Caroline is now a vampire too.  I mean is the whole cast going to turn into a supernatural being (witch, vampire, werewolf).  Last night I watched the season finale of The Gates.  I'm pretty certain the show won't be back next summer and it kind of did end.  But tonight it's Chuck and I might check out The Event.  The event is probably people watching the show.  I feel a cold coming on (stuffy nose and sore throat) so not sure how late I'll be staying up.  Also on this week is Glee, The Big Bang Theory, Grey's Anatomy, Fringe & Supernatural.  I finally got caught up on Glee last week so I'm all set.  So sad that True Blood is over.  I don't like how they did the Fairies.  Also Psych won't be back until November.  I'll try to post tomorrow on my thought of Chuck.

The Return of New TV Shows

I meant to write this yesterday but the day got away from me and I didn't get a chance.  Then at 8:30pm last night I realize I forgot to record The Vampire Diaries season premiere.  So I'll have to watch it online.  Here's what I'm planning to watch this season.

The Vampire Diaries - It's on the CW and it's season 2 and I plan to record it since it's on at 7pm and it's too scary for the kids to watch.  The show is based on books written by L.J. Smith.  I've read the first 4 and attempted to read the 5th and hated it.  The series is based on them but many things have changed and I like the changes made.  We left off last season with Katherine coming back, Elena's brother possibly becoming a vampire.

Psych - When it comes back for the second half.  It is currently on season 5 on USA and I watch it online since I don't have cable.  I just finished the summer finale yesterday and can't wait.  Juliet kissed Shawn but she has a boyfriend!

True Blood - Season 3 finale is this Sunday and I'll be watching it online.  This show is based on the Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris.  I've read all the books and they have kept many things from the books and the changes they've made I'm happy about.

Survivor:Nicaragua - I don't even know what season this is but I have been watching this show for a few years.  I'm not an avid watcher but I catch most of the episodes.  This season they have moved it from Thursday nights to Wednesday nights. The season begins Wednesday, September 15th on CBS.

Chuck - This is the fourth season and I hope it's good.  The season begins Monday, September 20th on NBC.  We left off last season with Chuck's dad dying, him finding out his mom is alive, he quit being a spy and he's going to search for his mother who will be played by Linda Hamilton.

The Event - It will premiere after Chuck on NBC and there's really nothing else on so I might check it out.

Glee - Season two will premiere on Tuesday, September 21st on FOX.  I am still catching up on Season 1 online and I'm totally hooked on the show.

The Big Bang Theory - This was a show that I only watched occasionally but I managed to watch all 3 seasons this summer and I LOVE it!  So I plan to watch Season Four premiere on Thursday, September 23rd on CBS.  The show was always on Monday nights when I watched Chuck and Heroes so I always missed it.

Grey's Anatomy - I still watch this show but not totally crazy about it.  It will premiere Thursday, September 23rd on ABC.

Fringe - The third season will begin on Thursday, September 23rd on FOX.  The show first appealed to me because it looked similar to The X-Files (a show I watched even after Mulder left) and it has Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek).  It's a good show and one that Dan and I enjoy to watch together.  Last season ended with AltOlivia coming to our world and real Oliva being stuck in Alternate Universe.  Of course nobody knew about the switch.

Supernatural - I'm excited that this season will be more similar to season 1.  Just the Winchester boys killing a monster each week and no more Apocalypse.  They moved to show from Thursdays to Friday, it will premiere Friday, September 24th on CW.  We left off last season with Sam letting Lucifer in and trapping him.  Assuming Sam was dead, Dean went to his girlfriend to help raise a boy he believes is his son.  But at the end we see Sam watching Dean eat dinner with his family.  So Sam did not die and somehow came back.

Desperate Housewives - My nighttime soap opera that I watch Sunday nights when there's nothing else on.  It premieres Sunday, September 26th on ABC.

No Ordinary Family - Reminds me of The Incredibles and Heroes and looks interesting so I'll be watching.  It premieres Tuesday, September 28th on ABC.

So here is how my schedule looks:
Mondays - Chuck, The Event & Hawaii Five-O (watch while airing)
Tuesdays - Glee (record since Dan won't watch it), No Ordinary Family (watch while airing)
Wednesdays - Survivor:Nicaragua (watch while airing), Psych (watch online)
Thursdays - The Vampire Diaries (record), The Big Bang Theory (watch while airing), Fringe (watch while airing), Grey's Anatomy (watch online)
Fridays - Supernatural (record)
Sundays - Desperate Housewives (watch while airing)