Our AZ trip in October

Photo at Grandma and Grandpa's

Photo at Blake and Robin's

London Bridge

Driving the boat on the Colorado River

Kicking back on the Colorado River

Oatman

Vegas, Baby!

It's a "Gas"

In July, when my sister and family were here visiting, gas was $4.17/gallon. Today I paid $2.07/gallon! Gotta love that!

Now about our 401K...

Baby, You're a STAR!

The princess received the STAR treatment for her birthday this year. She was picked up after school by a limo and then she and 6 friends cruised out to the mall where they got to stick their heads out the window and scream and holler! After an hour of cruising, they came back to our house for cake and presents. Cool sunglasses were a must and posing as we exited the limo was also expected! This was the best party ever!

Grandma's the BIG wiener!

While we were in AZ visiting one grandma, the other one snuck off to Deadwood and was one BIG wiener!!! Congratulations Grandma!

Winter Wonderland

It's a winter wonderland! Very A-typical of this part of the country at this time of year!

Survivor Pool

For those of you playing along in a Survivor pool this year, here's who we've got:

The queen could just win this year, with Marcus!

The princess has Corrine.

The prince has Sugar.

As of this past Thursday, all our players are still in, which is pretty good for us as we usually get the WORST players! We'll keep you posted...

It's time for a vacation...

I wish I had this t-shirt right now! But we're leaving on vacation tomorrow night--if the Mexican Hurricane that's made its way to Montana (in the form of wind, rain, and SNOW--lots of SNOW) ever lets up--and we're headed to warm, sunny Arizona, so maybe I won't need this t-shirt after all.

Happy Birthday!

What are the odds that three of the king and queens' 5 collective siblings (and/or spouses) would have birthdays in the same week? I'd take those odds to VEGAS anytime. Oh wait, I'll be in Vegas in a few days! Anyway, Happy Birthday, one and all. Don't worry; we won't tell how old you are!

Happy Birthday to Aunt Robin on the 10th. She's married to the queen's brother.

Happy Birthday to Aunt Kathi on the 11th. She's the king's sister.

Happy Birthday to Uncle Marty (pictured on the right) on the 14th. He's the queen's sister's husband, although he LOOKS like the king's brother--if the king had a brother, that is.

As I said, we'll not mention your ages, but I will say that Uncle Marty is celebrating one of those MILE STONE birthdays! (Wink, wink!)

Happy Birthday to you all! We love you and hope your next year is full of only good things!

Growth Spurt

The princess has always been one of the smallest kids in her class, even though she's always also been one of the oldest. She's prided herself on being "little". Over the last couple of years she's started catching up with her classmates and is now in the middle of the pack. Lately, though, I've noticed that she seems taller than many of her friends so the other day we measured her. She's always run at least 2 inches shorter than the prince had been at the same age. NOT ANYMORE! She's measuring only 1/2 inch shorter than he was at age 11, and she's got another month to go. She has grown ALMOST 4 inches since she turned 10! That's a pretty big growth spurt! She'll probably be done growing in the next couple of years, but at least now she has hope that she might be taller than both of her grandmas someday!

Not for the weak!

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since "THE INJURY". The prince's finger doesn't look like this anymore--thank goodness. He does therapy 4-6 times a day and can now bend it all the way and straighten it all the way with very little pain. It's still quite swollen, and the therapist says it could stay that way for up to 9 months! P.E.: It's not for sissies!

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I got an email that asked, "Why did the chicken cross the road." Though there were lots of answers, here are my favorites!

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

SARAH PALIN: As a Mayor and Governor of Alaska I have fought against and stopped the good old boy chickens attempts to cross the road against God's will. It appears I have not fully succeeded. Where's my gun?

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Survivor--Man Vs. Mom

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man musttake care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out
on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside
and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches,
and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon
at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them,
brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:
each child's birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size
and doctor's name.
Also the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear and
what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if... he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

Uh-Oh

The prince has been paired up with a second grader in a "book buddy" program. Together they will write and illustrate a book and then read it to the entire second grade. The prince's teacher, recognizing the prince's kindness and giving spirit, paired the prince up with an autistic boy. When I asked the prince how that was going, the prince said, "I don't really see the autism. He's very smart and corrects my spelling all the time." Uh-oh. Maybe the medical diagnosis is on the wrong boy!

Time Flies!

Cousins, cousins everywhere. We were lucky to have maternal and paternal cousins visit us at the same time once back in 2004. Look how cute and LITTLE they all were! The oldest in this photo is now a freshman in high school. The youngest has an even younger brother now. And the rest of them are all in the preteen/early teen stage! TIME FLIES!!! And I miss those babies...

Don Marco Artwork

Are you familiar with Don Marco. He's an aritist who deals strictly in crayons. This picture of John Wayne is done ONLY in crayons! Google him to see more.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Good Luck, Princess

Our cutie-patootie niece has to have surgery tomorrow. Wishing her a speeding recovery!

"Americanism"

The prince had to write either a poem or 2 paragraphs on what it means to be an American. He opted for the paragraphs. Here is his work:

Americanism

What does it means to be an American? To some it may be a baseball game on the 4th of July with a hot dog in hand. To others it might be getting up in the morning to go to work. But to the couple 1,000 or so who immigrate to the U.S.A it could mean freedom and democracy. In other words, a better life.

The dictionary defines "American" as follows: American, adj. 1. of or having to do with the United States. If you have something to do with the United States you aren't necessarily an American. Are you? In my opinion, no. You need to go through all the right procedures. My point is that being an American is a privilege we shouldn't abuse. Unfortunately we do. Think of the people who fight to preserve your freedom. Just think for thirty seconds. So please don't abuse the power. Thank you and God bless America.

School Funnies...

I rarely get good "funnies" from the kids these days but today there were two!

1. I was helping a 4th grader, and she was trying to figure out what 36 divided by 4 was. I said, "If you don't know the division, what can I mulitply 4 by to get 36?" She thought for a minute and then she said, "I did know this, but then SUMMER came along!" She was soooooooooooooooooo cute! That darn summer!

2. I could hear 5th grade boys playing football during recess. One boy was not happy with the way the game was going, and I heard him yell, "Throw the ball, you dumb JOCK!" That struck me as funny!

Hope you had a laugh today!

Go Mustangs!

When the kids got ready for school the other day they were both wearing their cool Mustangs t-shirts Grandpa bought for them. It called for a photo!

It's that time again...

It's that time again...you know, when people start giving you fresh stuff from their gardens. Someone at work the other day (actually that awful science teacher) gave me a zucchini. I kid you not, it was the size of a new-born baby. So today I made my FAVORITE zucchini recipe and decided to share it with you. You should try it!

Coconut/Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars

Preheat oven to 350*

In large bowl beat 3 eggs
Add 1.5 Cup sugar
1 Cup oil, and cream these three.

In medium bowl combine:
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
2.5 Cups flour

Add dry ingredients to large bowl alternating with 2 cups grated (shredded) zucchini.

Stir in 3 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup coconut
1/2-1 cup chocolate chips (more is always better when it comes to chocolate!)

Pour into jelly-roll pan (high sided cookie sheet) that has been greased and floured or sprayed with a cooking spray.

Cook times vary, depending on ovens, but start checking it at 15 minutes. It should be done in under 30 minutes.

YUM, YUM, YUM!!!

I hate the science teacher!!!

The science teacher had the princess and her class graph the ages of their mothers. I was the third OLDEST mom!! I hate that teacher! Worse yet, then she posted the graphs in the hall outside her room--which is next door to my room. Guess what I see every time I head down the hall!!!

Needs more cowbell...

Have you seen the Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrel and Christopher Walken (I think) where the choice line is, "It needs more cowbell!" It's a rock band incorporating a cowbell into it's song. It's hilarious--one of my favorite skits of all time--and they even sell a t-shirt now with Will Farrel on the front with a cowbell and that line. Maybe I need one of those.

Anyway...in an example of Life imitating Art...

The prince comes home from 8th grade the other day and tells me that in choir they are singing "Lean on Me" (a classic), and that he'll be playing lead guitar (those guitar lessons are paying off), his BFF, Reed, will be playing bass, and Zach will be playing the drums for the song.

Cool.

Two days later he comes home to tell me that Theo (whose grandpa was my choir director in highschool--small world and all) will be playing the cowbell on that same song.

HUH????

Sure enough, they have Incorporated the cowbell into that song.

Now I ask you: does anything SCREAM "MIDDLE SCHOOL" more than a cowbell on "Lean On Me"????

Happy Birthday Bro!

Happy Birthday on Tuesday, Little Brother!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Cousin Ty! We sure wish you weren't suffering football injuries for your birthday. Get well soon!

A House Divided

The other day the prince had to print out some photos from the web to decorate his school folders. Among the things he printed was a button promoting McCain for President. A few days later the princess was cutting out photos from a magazine for a collage. She was very excited to come across some photos of Obama to put in her collage.

Ain't America Great??

Thanks Uncle Blake

When I was in high school, I saw my brother eat a waffle one day with peanut butter. I had never heard of such a thing. He told me they were delicious, and it turns out he was right. Now both the kids make them on a regular basis for breakfast! Thanks Uncle Blake!!

SMILE!

Here's our first day of school photo from last week!

Good times!

Last weekend the kids headed about 100 miles east for a small-town fair. There were rides, swimming, fishing, and a demolition derby. Many thanks to Mary Beth for making it possible and to her awesome parents for hosting. Thanks too to cool Aunt Steph and her friends for the fishing fun!


Here they both are on my most favorite ride EVER! I think the prince is hamming it up a bit!

First Day of School

In honor of the first day of school, I found this funny quote:

"Ever wonder if illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?"

John Mendosa