Hen and Chicks Get Spotted

Hen and Chicks Get Spotted

 We got together for the annual Hen and Chicks party on the 23rd of March.

We got together at my house this year.  We went with a polka dot theme and centered the party around getting to know about our women ancestors.

The older generation fared better on our little ancestry quiz and were awarded these crocheted star headbands.

Some of the younger generation didn't fare as well and were awarded these crocheted mustaches.  Thanks to Lucy Dahl for her crocheting skills.

Is Kim guarding the food table or did she slyly sneak one of the delicious cake balls she made or the dipped strawberries Rebecca made?  Looking a little like she got caught!

Speaking of getting caught at the food table.

We all tried to help Lucy overcome her fear of hugging.  Audrey really got into it.

 My brood.

                     

                                             Grace's brood.

                                                                            Lucy's brood.

Heather got stuck with the aunts.

Jenny, Kristin, and Lucy Dahl flew the coop early since they were driving back to Utah, so we didn't get a picture of Ellen's or Jenny's brood. Mom went home early too since she wasn't feeling so great.  

BUT we weren't quite ready to end the fun so we played Reverse Charades for a while.

                                             This team got into it.

And they ended up winning.

It was probably Ellen's partial striptease that put them on top.  Audrey is looking like she wants no part of that action.  Bobbi and Kim are just amazed and Pam is saying "Bring it on!"

Not sure what this was about.  I didn't dare ask.

We each took home a little set of hen and chicks to remember  our 2013 get together.

We had to have our annual "everybody make a funny face" picture.  Sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary to tell everyone to try to make a funny face.  Somethings just come naturally.

Until next year girls!

Keep on cluckin'

  '

Finally!

The American taxpayers get some "bangs" for their bucks.

Valentine's Day (a little late)

Cassie posted a picture of her fun Valentine's decorations a little before February 14th.  That is what a normal person would do.  A slowpoke like me posts pictures of our Valentine's Day mantel a little after the 14th. Alan informed me this morning it was time to take it down but I wanted to take a picture or two before I do.  So far it's about the only thing I've accomplished during February so I might as well. 

Except for the garland I just used stuff I had already had and I know it gives off a Christmas vibe, but.....

I wasn't quite ready to put these cute bottle brush trees that Lucy gave me away and they are red and white

And there is still plenty of snow here so the snowflakes are still okay, right?

A close-up of the garland

What it is all about.

The Battmobile

A ride in this batmobile would be pretty cool.

A ride in this one, maybe not so cool.

Somewhere I hit a bat  POW!  and it was stuck on the front of my car.  EWWWW!  When I noticed it from a distance I thought, "Wow, I must have hit a really big moth."  SPLAT!  When I got closer I could see that it wasn't a big moth, but a creepy little bat.  SHUDDER!   I don't know if you can see the little black fella against my black car, but he's there and that is why I can now say that I have ridden in the Batmobile.  

                                                ZOOM! 

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

One morning a week or so ago I looked out the window and was struck by how beautiful and how blue the world looked.  The combination of the frost on the trees, the gray-blue of the fog that hugged the ground just over the hill and gradually intensified to a brilliant blue in the sky, and the stillness of it all made me grab my camera, run down the stairs, throw the front door open and try to capture it.

I'm not sure I did, but at least this picture will remind me of that crisp,winter morning and be proof that we actually did get a little snow this year.    

Of Christmas Past

A late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

  

I can't say this first Christmas back was what we thought it would be.  First of all, we were hoping for a white Christmas after three years of missing it.  Secondly, both of us were sick in bed on Christmas day.  We finally felt good enough to get up about 4 p.m. and got together with the family to open gifts.  We had to postpone Christmas dinner to the next day which didn't really work because the entire family caught the bug, one or two of us at a time.  We didn't even get together and play games once during the holidays.  Enough whining though. It was still great to be with family for Christmas. 

Because we don't have stockings to hang on the fireplace mantel so much anymore, I decided to change it up a bit.  I promise it looked prettier than this picture shows, especially at night with the votives and candles lit.

I loved my new little wool felted Christmas tree and the snowmen.

I loved my old collection of carved Santas too.  

The only gift I made this year was this big Idaho-shaped rice crispy treat I made for Russell.  That's kind of sad, isn't it; maybe even pathetic.  

Anyway, in spite of not quite being the Christmas we anticipated, I'm pretty sure we'll remember it for a few years to come.

  

Ghoul's Night Out

Before Halloween gets too far behind us, I need to post some pics of a fun party we had.  Rebecca, Kim, and I wanted to have get-together before Kim had the new baby.  (By the way, he was born last Friday, 11/11/11.  His name is Reed and he is such a cutie.)

It was just going to be a small gathering, but we kept thinking of fun people to invite and before we knew it, it turned into a pretty big bash,or should I say monster mash, and we still weren't able to invite all the fun people that we know.

We warned them all that some of the goings on might be shared, so here goes...

Our first two guests arrived in time to help us get things ready.  Whew!

Kim dressed as a pregnant cat.

Rebecca was a triumphant sumo wrestler.  

"Pat" showed up

as did the ever helpful Red Riding Hood.

Along came 2 witches and a nun,

another cute witch, and a sister wife, the pregnant cat again, 

and a blast from the past "70's Chick."

A Southeast Asian farm worker with a very thick accent, who seemed to be a little suspicious at the time this picture was taken, was a great addition to the party,

as was this impressive Hula team.

Cruella D'evil's twin sister, a posed and poised party-goer, and a witch with hat problems showed up too.

The Cat in the Hat, an Angry Bird and a Cowgirl got in line for eats and treats.

We then went to the Batt cave for games.

Everyone tried Lucy's lip trick.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Hippie had a head stand contest.

The hippie won.  Red Riding Hood's thought it was her age that impeded her but maybe it was just the cape.

We danced to Thriller.  M J would have been proud of this side of the room.

But this side?  Not so much.

The Great Pumpkin danced in to start the gift sharing.  There were some amazing gifts.

Lady Luck was with Liz.  She not only got the two-day-old pizza....

but the live mice as well.

Ramona took home the pig foot/back scratcher/possible Sunday dinner,

but not before Cassie had a turn.

Mandy left early so she was the recipient of this:

(a bag of giant marshmallows aka Ghost Poop)

That 70's chick took the mice home for her pet snake, but she had to fight the cat for them.

Sister Jeffs got the giant tub of cheese puffs.  The children will be so happy.

And Mom finally got the tatoo she has always wanted.

We had a great time.  Thanks everybody!