Happy New Year!

May you be blessed with

all good things in 2009.

Kids of the '80s

Though I graduated in the early 80's, my brother, sister, and some cool, hip, YOUNG friends will be able to relate to these even more than I did!


You Know You Grew Up In the 80's IF:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton.
3. You know that 'WOAH' comes from Joey on Blossom.
4. If you ever watched 'Fraggle Rock'.
5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
9. You played the game 'MASH'(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
11. You know the profound meaning of ' WAX ON , WAX OFF'.
12. You wanted to be a Goonie.
13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of us...head-to-toe)
14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off, his cheeks shifted and his nationality became questionable.
15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.
17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
18. You still get the urge to say 'NOT' after every sentence.
19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying 'I know you are, but what am I?' 23. You remember 'I've fallen and I can't get up'.
24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as 'NKOTB'
31. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on 'Saved By The Bell,' The ORIGINAL class.
32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
33. You just sang those words to yourself.
34. You still sing 'We are the World'.
35. You tight rolled or french cuffed your jeans. And still debate on which is the right term!
36. You owned a bannana clip.
37. You remember 'Where's the Beef?'
38. You used to (and probably still do) say 'What you talkin' 'bout Willis?'
39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!
40. Your hair looked BIG for at least 1 school picture!

Notice there's no #20. There wasn't one when it was sent to me!

More snow!

While we're on the topic of snow...these are cute!

Snow Wonder!

There was a pretty good chunk of snow on the ground when we left town. While we were away, we were hit by another 8 inches or so--some parts of town got up to 12 inches. After it snowed, the winds came. Big, big winds. While we were quite impressed with the winds and snow drifts last January, I think these December drifts are bigger! We are fortunate to have great neighbors who came over to shovel us out before we got home. (Don't worry, they aren't our BEST neighbors ever--Brian and Mary Beth still hold that title--but we were very grateful and did get them a pizza!) Yesterday the temps got up to about 50* so some melted. Today it's in the 40*s so we'll see more melting. After that it cools down again and guess what? More snow predicted! Global warming, shwarming!

This is a "smaller" drift near our back gate.

Notice the green grass! Also, in the front part of this photo is our firepit--pretty much buried.

At this drift, we could probably easily hoist ourselves into Nate and Amber's yard. They could walk over that garden fence and the barb wire fence into the field behind them to go sledding.

This is the tallest peak. Notice our little tree (about 6 feet high), buried. The kids could walk on the top of this drift. It'll take months for it to melt!

What good is snow if you can't play in it!!! The prince built a tunnel but then he stood on the top of it and it collapsed! Winter fun!

Christmas Fun

Many a new Christmas memory was made while we were in the land of Utah. We had a great time, and will be talking about this Christmas for years to come!

The Prince and Princess got a Wii from Santa. It was a HUGE hit!

The Prince, getting a guitar part.

The Princess, getting a new boombox--those are hard to find these days!

Christmas Eve meant lots of games including Christmas Bingo, Christmas Tree Unlucky Seven (not really sure what that game is called), and really HARD, RIGGED Christmas Name That Tune, and Time Bomb. Time Bomb has been in Marty's family for EVER (since 1964--which was a great year, by the way) so we had to be very careful with the time bomb, but boy did it get a lot of laughs. (Think hot potatoe.)

Waiting for Time Bomb to begin.

Cousins under the tree!

These four went to the Air Force Museum in Ogden on the only clear day we were there. They had a great time. Years ago, Rich had promised Matt that someday they would go together. That didn't happen, so while they were there, they sent a "shout out" to Matt, who spent his last Christmas in Indiana. He'll be home in 6 months!

Goofball.

Our yearly photo by our tree before we headed to Utah.

Special Christmas Memory

Okay, so last night we were doing a White Elephant gift exchange. Andy had snagged himself a cool soccer ball and matching bouncing ball. Later the princess found herself in the position to steal a gift. She looked around and paused to check out the balls Andy was now trying to cover up. He then looked up at her and said,

"Don't even think about touching my precious balls!"

Needless-to-say, in the company we keep, the meaning was clear!

Merry Christmas

We'll be celebrating with the Skabelunds this year. There will be many a Hallmark moment, as the King requires it!! Merry Christmas from our house to yours. (Click on the cartoon to enlarge.)

Winter Break

We were out of school on Friday, and not a minute too soon! I didn't write this little ditty, but you'll see why I like it! Merry Christmas.

"Christmas in an Elementary School"

(to the tune of “Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland”)

Children scream, they won't lis-in'
When they go, we won't miss em',
In all of this pain, we try to stay sane,
Workin' in an element'ry school.

Christmas comes, they're excited,
Though our nerves, they've ignited,
They're off of the walls, they run in the halls,
Workin' in an element'ry school.

In the lunchroom we can hear them yellin'
And we know that they are really wound.
Someone hits, the other says, "I'm tellin"
And that is when our heads begin to pound.

Pretty soon we'll be restin'
Cause our nerves, they've been testin'
We're happy it's clear
It comes once a year
Christmas in an element'ry school!

Weather update

This morning it was MINUS 14* but MINUS 26* with the wind chill. (No wind chill yesterday!)

I was the life of that party!

It's good to be confident. So even though he didn't go out for the dance team (see blog entry below), it's nice to know the prince can still find his place in the dance world. After the school dance Friday afternoon, I picked him up, and he told me, "I was the life of that party." He went on to explain that he was instrumental in getting the majority of the school into the congo line. He was soooo "good" at one point, that they cleared a spot for him in the middle of the mash pit where he could "dance". Mind you, dancing means jumping up and down and bobbing one's head. Funny that he complained of his neck hurting the rest of the weekend!

He wants to audition to be the school mascot when he gets to high school. I think he may have found his calling!

I think I'll join the dance team...

"I think I'll join the dance team."

You'd expect to hear that from the princess. You might not be too surprised if I said it (being in my cool, adult, hip-hop dance class and all). But the prince??

Yep, he told me that a couple of weeks ago.

Of course, there are no boys on the dance team. So he and a friend went to the principal and asked to join. The principal said, "Nope!" He went on to explain that there are an equal number of sports offered to boys and girls at school. The prince then pointed out that girls are allowed to play football and wrestle. Additionally, at our school, the school doesn't sponsor football or wrestling. They are offered independently. Thus, there is not an equal availability of sports, and the guys fall short. The principal looked at the boys for a minute and then said, "Hmm...I'll check with the athletic director."

I'm pretty sure that, if the prince ever gets a phone, the ring-tone he'll choose when I am calling him will be "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO. Because at this point in the "gotta dance" saga, I told him that, if he did make the team, he'd be at every 6:30 practice, he'd not miss a performance, and he'd be respectful and a good sport at every turn...

The next day an organizational meeting was called for this year's team. Anyone interested had to attend. The prince and his five friends were suddenly NOT interested in joining! (CHICKENS!)

What a bunch of dorks! I give him credit for fighting the fight. It was a true cause. But if you're going to choose a battle, plan to follow it through.

His current cause: a petition to let them slide on the ice at school. Good luck with that!!!

We're losers!

Survivor's over for another season, and we've yet to win the Survivor pool! But there's always next season!

Brrrrrrr

MINUS 18* on my way to work this morning!!!!

Family Photo

My kids say I should change the family photo on this blog, but I don't know. I like to remember them like that. And that was only 2 years ago. My, how they change!

Another recipe

I must think I'm Betty Crocker! Try this yummy, EASY idea:

It'll work with any pork:

put pork in crockpot
cover with one can of cranberry sauce and one bottle of BBQ sauce.
Cook until pork is finished.

Easy, yummy...

And then there was one...

The only gal left is Sugar, whom the prince drew, and whom we all thought would be one of the first to go! Go figure!

The princess' gal was voted out this week.

Even though he's gone, he's still pretty!

World FAMOUS Stuffing

I invented the BEST stuffing ever for Thanksgiving. It's not at all healthy, but it sure is tasty. Here's the recipe:

You'll need:
1 pound sausage
1.5 Cups onion (diced)
1.5 Cups celery (diced)
2 Cups butter (4 sticks)
4 bags stuffing (any brand but the bigger chunks of bread, the better)
3 cans chicken broth

Brown sausage, onion, and celery together.
Pour off grease.

In large pot melt butter.
Add sausage mixture.
Add 2 bags of stuffing and 1 can of broth. Mix.
Add other 2 bags of stuffing and 1 can of broth. Mix.
Add third can of broth--as needed to moisten.

Pour into 1 12X9 greased pan and 1 9X9 greased pan.

Cover and bake at 350* for 1 hour. Stuffing will be moist on top and crunchy on bottom. If you don't want any crunchy stuffing, don't cook as long.

Quote of the Day

As a third grade class was walking into my lab today and I was giving them each a little squirt of hand sanitizer, a cute little girl looked up at me and said, "Sometimes, when I run, my tailbone hurts."

Hmmm...