Our Bronco Party...

We had a little Bronco get together on MNF! I made Bronco chili of course, a pan of beef enchiladas, a pan of chicken enchiladas and chips, dips and the normal party fare. Pete came with his new "flavor of the month"...Ray and Trish...Ed (aka: Dave)...Andrea and Joey...Michelle and Lee. Of course the Broncos lost, but we all had a good time!!

Chris Thanksgiving visit!

Well...I'm a bit behind on my blog writing, but I've been without my laptop for 3 weeks (yeah, that's what happens when your laptop decides to take a dump right before the holidays)...so thought I'd try to get up to speed here with all that's been going on.

Chris was home from New Hampshire (Navy) and so we had a little get together...Elvis came and even brought a girlfriend (perfect match, lol )! Of course Mike B was here and Tyler came down too. Nolan and I had a huge fight that night, don't ask LOL...Anyway, here's some pics from the evening:

Recital time again...

Well...today was Paige's Christmas Recital! They danced to "Rock & Roll Christmas"...too cute! Can't believe this dance session is over already...time sure flies when you're having fun! Anyway...the recital was at 3 pm at Memorial Hall and as always...Sarah went all out...just love her stage sets and the older girls and competition groups are just so darn good. Taylor got back from her winter camp in time to go with us which I was really glad about...then of course we had to have a dinner celebration at Red Lobster and Paige had an "Ultimate Feast" and she almost ate the whole thing, LOL...I don't know what it is with my kids and sea food...they just love it (except for Taylor...she is NOT a fish eater). All and all...a very good day and besides, the Broncos beat the Chiefs!!

Our newest addition...

Introducing our newest family member...Miss Lexi Cat! She found Taylor a few weeks ago at the school on a cold, blustery day. I didn't have the heart to take her back...but I didn't want the kids to get too attached to her in case someone was looking for her. So...I checked the newspaper Lost/Found for a little over a week and there was nothing...and of course by this time, she sorta got ahold of my heart as well. She is really mellow and sweet (unlike Jordan who's a bit tempermental and snooty). Where Jordan is mostly white with black, Lexi is mostly black with some white...a perfect "ying-yang" if you will...

The scariest day of the year, 2009...

Well...looks like another Halloween bites the dust, LOL! We actually had two celebrations since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year. Friday, I went over to the school around 11:30 and graded papers for a couple hours til it was time to get ready for the Halloween parade. This year was the first year EVER that they did not have classroom parties. Instead, they had trick or treating during the parade. The whole thing was a bit of a disaster though because they didn't start the parade til 2 pm and school lets out at 2:45. By 2:30...only a fraction of kids had gone around (there were still classrooms waiting for their turn)...at 2:40...the pricipal came over the PA to advise parents parked in the bus loop that they had to move their vehicles so the buses could get in...it was just utter chaos, imo!

After school, we came home and got "Fear Fest" on and started working on the pumpkins. Taylor said I could do hers and Chase and Paige both did their own and they really did a great job. I saved all the seeds (they're currently drying) to roast. After pumpkins were done, we had soup for dinner and watched the movie "Silver Bullet"...it's a pretty good scary movie for kids (it always scares me even though I know what's going to happen next, LOL).

Saturday (Halloween)...Michelle, Lee and Courtney came over for dinner and T or Ting. We had a couple drinks, then Nolan and Michelle took the girls out, while Lee and I manned the door. Chase went T or Ting with Mitch and Taylor & Christie went too (then a couple of their friends came over and before long, there was a full fledged party going on)...We finally got 'em all outta here between midnight and one o'clock...as Paige and Courtney were trying to sleep as they had church in the morning.

All and all...it was fun!

What's new???

Well...here it is the 21st, and I still haven't got around to putting up the Halloween decorations (yikes...my homemaker duties are seriously slacking, LOL)...It's cold and snowing today (started out as a drizzle, then a sleet and now it's snowing)...but it suppose to clear up a bit tomorrow...so, perhaps I'll get it done then.

Had my mammogram this morning and then went over to P's school to grade papers this afternoon and have P's conference. She's doing absolutely awesome...which I expected. She is so easy (at least now...I'll probably be eating my words in about 4 or 5 yrs, LOL)...

Still trying to regroup since our little excursion to Steamboat Springs last week. We had a great time. We got to town around 6:30 and of course, Tim had to get a head start with Clay having 3 margaritas, LOL! I was impressed though...cause we drank a lot thru out the night and he was still standing, LOL. This coming from his once virgin-drinker status only a couple years ago. I'm inclined to say that I "think" he may be able to drink me under the table now (no way he could have 2 years ago)...but wow...and he parties into the night and still is up at 5 am. He's my drinking "hero" LOL! Oh yeah...and in a moment of drinking WTFs...Tim called Scotty...then puts me on the phone to talk to him, LOL! Scotty is soooo cool! Can't wait til we can all party together again!

We spent the evening at the Ghost Ranch Saloon...I knew Tim was wanting to go out Tues. night cause it's County/Western night at the GRS. It was great fun...of course I danced with Nolan (once that I remember, lol ...he's not that much into dancing)...danced with Tim (a lot), with Norwood, with Ernie and with some random guy that asked me to dance. Needless to say...I don't feel like I sat down for 5 minutes the entire night. After we left there, we went to the pub and had a few there. I also played pool with Norwood. We played teams with another pair and then he and I played each other.

Wednesday...Tim bought 2 large pork loins which Clay smoked at the Atmos office. So around 6 pm, we brought the whole bunch (me, Nolan, Taylor, Emily, Erica, Chase and Paige) to the shop to eat. Clay also made beans...it was really, really delicious! But, needless to say...everyone was too tired and trashed to go out...so Nolan and I hung out in our room and just watched tv.

Thursday...we went to Rex's for peel & eat shrimp (me, Nolan, Tim and Clay) and had a few drinks there...then, we headed over to the GRS for more drinks (and dancing of course). They had a blues band which was awesome. Wow...I even got Clay (very shy) to dance with me, LOL!!

Friday...we headed home. We stopped for lunch before we left town and ended up getting home around 6:30 pm...pooped!! It's always fun to go hang out with the crew and party it up a bit!

So...this week it's back to reality (cooking, cleaning, laundry, repeat...)...our next planned excursion is in January to the Broncos vs Chiefs game in Denver. Ahhhh...I hope we can get together before then. Nolan and I have been kicking around the idea of having a little party for all the "gas" guys...I'm up for it, we just need to decide on date so I can get planning. We also need to have Pete and the Tumbleweek crew over for a dinner party. We haven't hosted one yet...so we really need to. I'm thinking since it's football season...we could do a Bronco chili dinner and watch the game. Need to look at my calendar to see what dates I can fit all this in...

Wow...it's nearly mid-October!!

OMG...I just realized it's nearing mid October...already!! Where does the time go?? I don't know, but it sure "goes" fast, LOL!

Maybe it was the weeks of "strep" (starting with T then P got it, then C got it)...but we're just about done with the Rx's (C's got a couple more days left, P &T are done). I still haven't got my Halloween decorations out yet...but it's on my list of things to do this weekend (yeah right, LOL)...

I'm still doing my once a week volunteering at P's school! It's great...I just grade papers for 2 hours and I really enjoy it! I love P's teacher...she is just so "real and genuine" and we get along great!! I do hope though (in some round about way) that my volunteer work will help me get a "real" job in the near future! I figure it can't hurt to get in the school and get my name/face known. In the meantime though...I feel good about volunteering! I know Ms. M is so grateful and I get to have lunch with Paige!

Uhhhh...I woke up with a sore throat and "full" head this morning. I'm hoping it's just "allergies", but Nolan came home tonight with a sore throat too...So, just to be on the safe side, I've been popping the "Soothers" all day. I do feel better tonight than I did this morning though...so that's good! We're getting out flu shots on Saturday, so we all gotta be well, LOL!!

The kids have 3 days off next week, so we're planning on heading up to Steamboat one last time before the end of the year. We're going to leave Tues and com back Friday. Originally, we were planning on leaving after the kids got out of school on Tues., but I think Tim wants to go to the Ghost Ranch Salon on Tues. night (cause it's country/western night)...so we've been talking about leaving a little earlier...like maybe getting the kids outta school a little early. Then, we also have Wed. and Thurs. to deal with as well. One of the nights we're gonna take the crew out and I figured one night it would just be Me, Nolan, Tim and Clay...I guess we'll get it all figured out, LOL!!

Oh...Nolan came home with Bronco tickets today. We got the company tickets foe the Denver/Chiefs game in January! We never went last year, so it out to be fun. I know wants to take Tim and Clay and he's also going to invite Murph & Danielle! Anyway...can't wait...should be a great time! Just hope the Broncos are still doing good by then (or I'll never hear the end of it, LOL)...

I guess that's my "update" for now! Hopefully I'll get some good pictures in Steamboat to post!!