I love my friends and family... but I think I just found the coolest blog... EVER... ON. THE. PLANET!!!
So here it is.... A Year Of Crockpotting.
I promise... by the end of the week I will have more personal updates posted. I just wanted to get this on here before I lost it!
And I do think all of your blogs are really cool too!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Scrabble
OK, I have an addiction. It started when I was probably about 10. I would go over to my grandparents after school a few times a week and my Grandma would often find the time to play Scrabble with me. 
CJ knows Scrabble makes me happy , so every once in a while when he is feeling abundantly unselfish (it hurts his head physically to sit for any length of time and Scrabble can get long!) he asks me if I want to play Scrabble. I always accept, and most of the time I win (which is another reason why it takes CJ being extremely unselfish to play... even though we have tweaked the rules to favor him a bit). I also like to play ScrabbleBlast online AND I have started playing with Anna and her friend Anna on Wednesdays... that is, I guess, if they aren't going out to lunch or something?!?! So far I think I am about 3-1, but who's keeping track?
Anyway... the reason for this post... Anna has introduced me to 9 tile Scrabble its a faster version of the regular 7 tile Scrabble - so CJ has actually asked me a couple of times in the last few weeks to play with him!! The other night we played... and when you're on... you're on!! Here are my first 3 words... Anna... eat your heart out...
1) highlight (7 letter bonus)
2) clothing (7 letter bonus!)
3) epiphany (7 letter bonus)
I USED THE WORD EPIPHANY playing Scrabble!!!!!!!!
Anna... let Boyd know I am awaiting the challenge... but I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow... that is if you aren't too busy!!
CJ knows Scrabble makes me happy , so every once in a while when he is feeling abundantly unselfish (it hurts his head physically to sit for any length of time and Scrabble can get long!) he asks me if I want to play Scrabble. I always accept, and most of the time I win (which is another reason why it takes CJ being extremely unselfish to play... even though we have tweaked the rules to favor him a bit). I also like to play ScrabbleBlast online AND I have started playing with Anna and her friend Anna on Wednesdays... that is, I guess, if they aren't going out to lunch or something?!?! So far I think I am about 3-1, but who's keeping track?
Anyway... the reason for this post... Anna has introduced me to 9 tile Scrabble its a faster version of the regular 7 tile Scrabble - so CJ has actually asked me a couple of times in the last few weeks to play with him!! The other night we played... and when you're on... you're on!! Here are my first 3 words... Anna... eat your heart out...
1) highlight (7 letter bonus)
2) clothing (7 letter bonus!)
3) epiphany (7 letter bonus)
I USED THE WORD EPIPHANY playing Scrabble!!!!!!!!
Anna... let Boyd know I am awaiting the challenge... but I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow... that is if you aren't too busy!!
Halloween
Ok, so the title is an explanation in itself... I don't have too much to say... and I know you all want to see the pictures anyway... so here is Halloween fun...
A diva, 
A candy corn,
and a fireman... but do you think that at 7:30 in the morning I could get his fireman costume on him?... not a chance!
The school sent home a letter saying they didn't want to promote the gory, bloody side of Halloween so "please dress the children accordingly"... hey, I am ALL FOR THAT!!! And the girls looked so cute! Canyon, Kailey and I went and helped with Ashlyn's class party and she asked if her friend could come home with us. I said ok, and by the time we made the short 6 minute drive home, the girls had already decided they were going to be 'dead' versions of their costumes for trunk or treating. Greeaaaat!
So this is how they ended up
a dead diva and a dead mummy... Ashlyn was obviously much more into her role than Taylor was!
I had to do my part in the festivities (my costume was 'the color black'. CJ made it very clear that "you cannot go out on Halloween night dressed in all black!" I managed to be in before dark and stayed safe... rest assured!) so I made dinner...
Dead rats baked in blood, 
and Ghost brains!
the best part of dinner was that Kailey was going to eat none of it!!! I finally had to explain that the "rats" were, in fact, hamburger, the "blood" was tomato sauce and the bones in the "rats" were just rice... she had already figured out the "ghost brains" were just biscuits (we both have carb issues!... notice the only thing she served onto peoples plates?)
So here is my little group... ready for the real fun to begin
And the fruits of their labor!
They happily exchanged all but a sandwich bag of their candy for $10 each!! Canyon was able to buy the Thomas Train figures "Emily" AND "Harold" the helicopter, so the fact that he didn't have ALL that candy didn't make an ounce of a difference to him! Kailey got a Barbie and Ashlyn got some doll house furniture... and CJ got the peace of mind in knowing that Halloween 2008 was not going to be the source of 2009 dentist bills!!
A diva, 
A candy corn,and a fireman... but do you think that at 7:30 in the morning I could get his fireman costume on him?... not a chance!
The school sent home a letter saying they didn't want to promote the gory, bloody side of Halloween so "please dress the children accordingly"... hey, I am ALL FOR THAT!!! And the girls looked so cute! Canyon, Kailey and I went and helped with Ashlyn's class party and she asked if her friend could come home with us. I said ok, and by the time we made the short 6 minute drive home, the girls had already decided they were going to be 'dead' versions of their costumes for trunk or treating. Greeaaaat!
So this is how they ended up
a dead diva and a dead mummy... Ashlyn was obviously much more into her role than Taylor was!I had to do my part in the festivities (my costume was 'the color black'. CJ made it very clear that "you cannot go out on Halloween night dressed in all black!" I managed to be in before dark and stayed safe... rest assured!) so I made dinner...
Dead rats baked in blood, 
and Ghost brains!
the best part of dinner was that Kailey was going to eat none of it!!! I finally had to explain that the "rats" were, in fact, hamburger, the "blood" was tomato sauce and the bones in the "rats" were just rice... she had already figured out the "ghost brains" were just biscuits (we both have carb issues!... notice the only thing she served onto peoples plates?)So here is my little group... ready for the real fun to begin
And the fruits of their labor!
They happily exchanged all but a sandwich bag of their candy for $10 each!! Canyon was able to buy the Thomas Train figures "Emily" AND "Harold" the helicopter, so the fact that he didn't have ALL that candy didn't make an ounce of a difference to him! Kailey got a Barbie and Ashlyn got some doll house furniture... and CJ got the peace of mind in knowing that Halloween 2008 was not going to be the source of 2009 dentist bills!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Grammy, Papa and GG
We've had another family visit come and go. It is so fun to have family visit since we live so far away... I'm just hoping that some day my brother will decide that we are worthy for a visit!!! (Love you D)
Grammy, Papa and GG came to visit. This time Papa Choo Choo had to stay home... not only to take care of the cat, but to prepare for retirement! He is planning on officially "retiring" (he retired from the railroad, hence the name Choo Choo, several years ago) from being a taxi driver in January. Grandma is a little nervous about her allowance, but I'm sure she'll be fine (its actually Grandpa I worry about... he technically wont be retiring since he'll have Grandma to keep him occupied!!)! We had another fun visit. First off, they weren't getting into town until around 9 pm. Our kids usually go to bed between 7:30 and 8, so it was a challenge finding things for them to do to keep them up and not let on that they were getting to stay up. The reason for this is that they were coming a day early! SO, at about 7:00 Kailey asked if they could take a bath,. I agreed, knowing full well that once they were in there they would lose all track of time... which they did. About 1/2 hour later they asked if they could have the tub crayons, to which I agreed, again. Now Canyon wanted in too... SCORE, all 3 of them occupied (mind you, CJ is in Denver for a treatment). Another 1/2 hour passes and I hear "Mooooooom, can we get a wash cloth or something!".... ????? hmmmmmm, whats going on... I go into the bathroom to see every line of the back splash filled in with RED tub crayon! OH MAN! The plus side to this is that it will keep them very busy until our company shows up. After about 15 minutes I walked in and still saw...
Notice anyone missing???? Oh yes, Canyon... totally innocent!
Just as they were finishing as much as I could let them suffer, they were drying off when Grammy, Papa, and GG showed up and surprised them in the bathroom. They couldn't have been more excited.
The only down part to the whole visit was that Krissy had a... little gland issue (I wont go into detail). Mom called when they were on their way here and asked if I'd schedule a vet appointment, and found one that would take her the next morning... anyway, when they got here I insisted her "issue" be covered... she wasn't very happy
One of the reasons I don't want a pet!
The women got to spend a day out shopping (Tai Pan, Quilted Bear, IKEA, dinner at Ruby Tuesdays... YUM!!!!!... and a stop off at Kohls where we found a fabulous sale!!), and the best part of that is that I get very spoiled when Mom and Grandma are around!! (Thank you again!!!) Ashlyn got to join us this time, and really didn't show how tired she was until the NEXT day! We'll see if she comes along next time.
I even got to go work out every morning which I loved!!!
Then Daddy and Papa took the kids to..... the pumpkin patch!!!!! (NOTHING like Greenbluff, but they don't know that!!)
Isnt Kailey's expression PERFECT!!!
We also enjoyed our first Thanksgiving of the year, and some very nice family time together. We sure miss you all!!!
Now we're just hoping for a visit from the rest of the Larson's in November... and whoever else wants to visit any other time!!!
Grammy, Papa and GG came to visit. This time Papa Choo Choo had to stay home... not only to take care of the cat, but to prepare for retirement! He is planning on officially "retiring" (he retired from the railroad, hence the name Choo Choo, several years ago) from being a taxi driver in January. Grandma is a little nervous about her allowance, but I'm sure she'll be fine (its actually Grandpa I worry about... he technically wont be retiring since he'll have Grandma to keep him occupied!!)! We had another fun visit. First off, they weren't getting into town until around 9 pm. Our kids usually go to bed between 7:30 and 8, so it was a challenge finding things for them to do to keep them up and not let on that they were getting to stay up. The reason for this is that they were coming a day early! SO, at about 7:00 Kailey asked if they could take a bath,. I agreed, knowing full well that once they were in there they would lose all track of time... which they did. About 1/2 hour later they asked if they could have the tub crayons, to which I agreed, again. Now Canyon wanted in too... SCORE, all 3 of them occupied (mind you, CJ is in Denver for a treatment). Another 1/2 hour passes and I hear "Mooooooom, can we get a wash cloth or something!".... ????? hmmmmmm, whats going on... I go into the bathroom to see every line of the back splash filled in with RED tub crayon! OH MAN! The plus side to this is that it will keep them very busy until our company shows up. After about 15 minutes I walked in and still saw...
Notice anyone missing???? Oh yes, Canyon... totally innocent!The only down part to the whole visit was that Krissy had a... little gland issue (I wont go into detail). Mom called when they were on their way here and asked if I'd schedule a vet appointment, and found one that would take her the next morning... anyway, when they got here I insisted her "issue" be covered... she wasn't very happy
One of the reasons I don't want a pet!The women got to spend a day out shopping (Tai Pan, Quilted Bear, IKEA, dinner at Ruby Tuesdays... YUM!!!!!... and a stop off at Kohls where we found a fabulous sale!!), and the best part of that is that I get very spoiled when Mom and Grandma are around!! (Thank you again!!!) Ashlyn got to join us this time, and really didn't show how tired she was until the NEXT day! We'll see if she comes along next time.
I even got to go work out every morning which I loved!!!
Then Daddy and Papa took the kids to..... the pumpkin patch!!!!! (NOTHING like Greenbluff, but they don't know that!!)
Isnt Kailey's expression PERFECT!!!
We also enjoyed our first Thanksgiving of the year, and some very nice family time together. We sure miss you all!!!
Now we're just hoping for a visit from the rest of the Larson's in November... and whoever else wants to visit any other time!!!
Ashlyn's birthday party
Its funny because every year I do a party... and every year I wonder what the heck I was thinking!! Fortunately this year, though, wasn't so bad. Ashlyn had 5 friends over 
(of which only 1 RSVP'd because I know the mom and come to find out had forgotten to put the RSVP phone number on the invitations! YEAH me!). Two had to leave right after dinner and presents (we made our own mini pizzas... no pictures... YEAH me, again! It was really fun though. Definitely will do that again!) Then we played a game, and one more friend had to leave. Then the remaining 3 girls (counting Ashlyn) had a dance-off! (Kailey and Canyon were just enjoying being part of the big girls fun! It was so cute!!! They all did great, and again... no pictures! UGH!!
After the dancing... we ate cake!!!
We can always count on Miranda to start the food-on-the-face game!!!
Yes, she is now smearing it on... then wondered why some got on her shirt!! Silly girl! Its funny how at 10 it is such a thrill to have food on your face. I guess that's not just at 10, I just wonder at what age it stops?!?! I guess time will tell!
Then they painted fingernails until it was time to go. A good, fun time!
Hope you had a memorable 10th birthday Ash!
(of which only 1 RSVP'd because I know the mom and come to find out had forgotten to put the RSVP phone number on the invitations! YEAH me!). Two had to leave right after dinner and presents (we made our own mini pizzas... no pictures... YEAH me, again! It was really fun though. Definitely will do that again!) Then we played a game, and one more friend had to leave. Then the remaining 3 girls (counting Ashlyn) had a dance-off! (Kailey and Canyon were just enjoying being part of the big girls fun! It was so cute!!! They all did great, and again... no pictures! UGH!!After the dancing... we ate cake!!!
We can always count on Miranda to start the food-on-the-face game!!!
Yes, she is now smearing it on... then wondered why some got on her shirt!! Silly girl! Its funny how at 10 it is such a thrill to have food on your face. I guess that's not just at 10, I just wonder at what age it stops?!?! I guess time will tell!
Then they painted fingernails until it was time to go. A good, fun time!
Hope you had a memorable 10th birthday Ash!
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