Cowboy Up!

Yesterday was my hubby's last day of work being a trial attorney. Today it was like sending him off to school (I actually sent him off to school many days- he was just starting his Junior year of college when we got married, then 3 years of law school.)  Today is his first day of his new job......team roping. He's off to Farmington, Utah with his new hat and his worn spurs. (His "I gotta get to work" made me laugh!) How you can not be happy for the guy!

Drum Roll!

~Today is David's last day of work!  Yahoo!  Let the new adventures begin.

~Today my oldest kiddo turns 13!   Parker! Parker! Parker!  Love him!

~Today Somoa is skipping Friday.  Poof!  It's gone.  They want to be like other folks.  So they went to bed last night and woke up to Saturday.  But employers have to pay everyone for Friday's work, even though no one is working since the day was skipped.....I know, I know, it's complicated.....

~So READY for this past year, these past 2 years to be over and done. Like Somoa, I just want it skipped. Breathe in.  Breathe out.

~Just got back from picking Mallorie up from the shuttle.  She's putting on sparklie Opi nail polish.  She's ready for "boy" talk.  She loves her Aunti M.  I see movie popcorn (and a movie) and peds in our future.  Yes!

Horsie Gone

Remember when I told the story of niece Mallory (she's coming on Friday!  Yeah- to play!  She misses me!) when she was a little girl.  She had a puppy that she loved and drug with her everywhere.  She LOVED that puppy.  But one day when Mallory wasn't home, the puppy got outside and got ran over by a car.  It was gone.  Mallorie's mommy was beside herself with the devastation task of breaking the news to Mallory.  You know as a mom how "horrible" these experiences are.  Mommy Angie finally pulled Mallory aside and told her what had happened, Mallory shrugged her shoulders and said, "Puppy gone!" - then ran outside to play.


Puppy gone has become a family symbol.  Sometimes I have thought "puppy gone"...and other times I've realized I'M the puppy gone.


We lost another horse the day after Christmas.  I thought David would be all distraught....but he was like, "Well, one less horse to feed."  (You see, it wasn't like David picked Booker out.  Scott Tillotsen actually just showed up with this retired racehorse....and a female at that.)  David and mares aren't great pairs.  When people ask me how many horses we have, I look at David first to see what he is going to say...in case a horse or two has shown up that I didn't know about.  I usually said 4 1/2 horses.  We just had 1/2 of Booker.  And now we have none left of Booker. 


Horsie gone.  Who knows why.  Hope it doesn't spread. (Our vet was out of town.)  Hope whatever it was doesn't affect one of the horses I love.  One of the horses the kiddos love and adore.  One of the horses the Scouts love to ride.


She wasn't even sick the day before.


Can I just say, I hope David doesn't call a truck and have them winch me up and away.  You know David and mares.....


Glad the kiddos took her carrots and apples on Christmas.  David gave her two portions of grain.  If someone snuck in a bite or two of chocolate, I think she might have died happy.  I like to think she did anyway.

Girl's Night Out

Last week I hosted Girl's Night Out. After decorating the cabin for Brandi's friends back in October, I knew for sure I wanted to do the same for my girlie friends.





The cabin doesn't have any electricity which means it is COLD (thank goodness for a roaring fireplace) and dark...except for candle light and lanterns. Luminaries led the way to the cabin.

This is one of the food tables (without the food.) (These pictures were "after the fact.")

We had lots of good food!

Hot wassail

Pear cider

BBQ Water chestnuts wrapped in Bacon

Artichoke Dip with Chilies and bread and crackers

Blue cheese Grapes Balls

Brie bites in Phyllo with my Pepper Jelly

Honey Walnut Shrimp from Asian Star

Lettuce Wraps from Asian Star

lots of chocolates and goodies for munching (everyone was too full for the caramel pudding cake so I sent some home with people.)

This was a fresh centerpiece for the food table. Can I just say that "real holly" should be deemed a lethal weapon. I still have a wound in my finger!

I decided on paper goods for ease in clean-up.


The Monarch cooking stove was covered with candles.

Emily Walton (Valene's daughter) came and helped me decorate again. I hauled all my Santa's out and Emily worked magic with the garland and lights.

I think my funky metal tree finally found a home. I tried to sneak this one off on my kids a few years back instead of a "real" Christmas tree and you would have thought I committed a crime.



I love this tree.....



One of my Santa paintings looked perfect for my Santa theme. He's one of my favorites that I have painted. This year, no Santa. I'm hoping next year will be a year for painting again. This year I've needed to be a grammie.

The hanging Santa's were the party favors. Loved them. Love my friends. Loved the night.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

Showers and Marshmallows

Even though the holidays are busy, people still get married, people still have babies! I went to two beautiful showers in the past 2 weeks.





The first one was a bridal shower. I loved the Winter Wonderland theme that friend Debbie Stowell did.




The favors were baskets of cookie cutters.

But I especially loved the beautiful wreath that we attached advice to. What a thoughtful gift as well!



Then I went to my long-lost-cousin's daughter's shower.

Have you ever seen such a knockout cake for a baby shower! I was blown away! (and yes, it WAS edible!)

They gave away darling hot chocolate jars

with peppermint marshmallows! I'd never heard of that before! Darling, darling shower.

And speaking of flavored marshmallows, I just made hubby and I some hot chocolate. Brandi and the kiddos gave David a new slingshot (of course it had a horse carved on it) and GIANT marshmallows and also caramel marshmallows to shoot in it but the caramel marshmallows went straight into our hot chocolate. Ummmm-good!

“Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he’s not interested it’s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating.” – Barbara Lamping

Merry Christmas From Our House to Yours

The end....which was just the beginning....

(Merry Christmas everyone!)