Prom 2011

Connor and Larissa ready and waiting for their dates!

A beauty!

Missing Stockings

MISSING!

Have you seen us?

Connor's Solution:

Darren's Solution:

*Note the names on each of the stockings.

Something must be done about this.

Please join me in a moment of silence.

Creepy Crawlies

The females in my family are deathly afraid of spiders.

Naturally, we were repulsed and horrified yesterday as we listened to someone relate his story of setting up a campsite at Zion National Park last summer and being swarmed by hundreds(!) of the creeping, disgusting things. Not a couple, a few, or even dozens - he said 'hundreds'.

*(Note to family: If you ever hear me say anything along the lines of "Hey, we should go camping at Zion National Park," please realize that dementia has set in, because I will never, NEVER, utter those words again while I'm in my right mind).

Last night, we further discussed the awfulness of spiders and listed their horrific qualities. (I'm rating this "R" and discretion is advised!)

• They're silent predators
• They stalk and prowl at night
• They bite
• The way they move is just....wrong
• They crunch when squished - again, just wrong
• They have fangs
• They make webs. Ew. Charlotte may have been cute and charming - but that was a cartoon. Normal spiders don't help pigs.
• There are billions of them on this planet. Billions. And they keep reproducing.

I could write volumes about their disgusting qualities - but I need to think of something happy and cute or else I won't sleep tonight.

So - talking about spiders brought up a decade-long debate that we've had in our house. While I realize there are spiders everywhere - I don't think tarantulas are extremely abundant (am I in denial?).

The following is an actual conversation:

Todd: Tarantulas are everywhere - even in our backyard.

Me: No way. They like hot climates like Arizona and Mexico. There might be some in our mountains or in Southern Utah - but not in our neighborhood.

Darren: It's true - they are all over the place. We probably have hundreds of them in the field behind our house.

This debate has been going on for years! YEARS! Please help us put it to rest and feel free to be especially vocal if you agree with me. ;)

Bryce Canyon - January 2010

Todd and I journeyed to Bryce Canyon this weekend. It was a great way to start out the New Year. It was chilly, but sunny and beautiful, and of course we found an adventure or two. This is the entrance to Ruby's Inn. I love how they decorated for Christmas!

We stayed at this motel - the Grand Staircase Inn, in Cannonville. The rooms are clean and very affordable ($39 per night is not too shabby!) and is on the very spot that my grandmother was raised in the early 1900's. It turned out that we were the only guests that evening. The office closed at 7:00 and afterward there was not another living soul on site. It was eerie to say the least!

This morning we explored the area a bit before we started our trek home. Todd just happened to notice something as we drove down a little dirt road. I don't know how he saw it! Look closely...

It was only by extraordinary luck (and Todd's excellent vision) that we saw this Bald Eagle!

A beautiful, regal creature...

We saw this abandoned cabin near the Georgetown Cemetery.

We eventually made it to the rim. Regrettably, I can only recall being in Bryce Canyon in January once before.

It was a quick trip - but it was fun, and Todd and I were able to plan for the upcoming year. Happy 2010!

Goodnight Redhoodoos

It's time to put you to bed, dear friend. No - this isn't goodbye. Just goodnight.


After all, we've been through so much together! You have understood my weird animal obsessions like this and this and this and this.

And my need to mock my family like here and here and here. And of course my silly and dumb posts which are far too numerous to name - but here are the dumbest - this and this and this.

And of course you understand my love for the red desert. Remember this post? And this?

And you understand the cup!

But I need to focus on my health and fitness right now and need to put you to sleep. I will being hanging out at my other blog "Red's Groove" these days but will come back to you occasionally too.

So, remember, it's me. Not you. You've been a good little friend, Redhoodoos.

Yellowstone when it's freaking cold!

Todd and I just came home from our jaunt up to Yellowstone. Although nothing good happens in January, in my opinion - it was still stunningly beautiful.

The back side of the Tetons.

In some areas, the roads were sheer ice.

We love the town of West Yellowstone. Yes, indeed!


Todd wants one of these.

Yeah - it was cold.

The view from our hotel window - where it was nice and warm.

We liked how the sun hit the mountain as it was setting.

What? How did Creature the Cat's picture get in here?

Oh well - doesn't he look cuddly and snuggly and warm?

Winter Wonderland

Dad - put your dancing shoes on....

I have the best father in the world and wouldn't you know...today is his birthday. New Year's Eve! He likes to say that the whole world celebrates his big day.

My dad has his own blog - check it out here!

Happy Birthday Gene Gene the Dancing Machine!!

Love,
Yikket

P.S. - Hey dad - before we come over to party at your house tonight, I just have to know... did you take down your Christmas tree yet? I just don't dare run the risk of witnessing another 'incident' where you accidentally knock it over. If you recall, mom shook with laughter for days and the memory of the tree lying on its side has haunted me for years.

P.P.S - Oh - and just so that I can prepare myself - are you going to tell the infamous Scotty Pippen (aka Potty Skippin') joke again this year? How about your elephant imitation? Are you going to pepper us with snipits of the Herman the Worm story? Will you wax philosophical about the good ole Alma days with Turkey Jim?

P.P.P.S - Can we finally put to rest the debate that Springville, UT is the drug capital of the world?

P.P.P.P.S - If we end up playing Scattergories, don't be mad if we don't let you count "Foghorn Frieda, the famous floozie from Flauttisville, Florida" as 7 points, k? That was really quite a stretch.

P.P.P.P.P.S - Oh yeah- and would you mind if your daughter thinks you are the funnest, craziest, kindest, bestest, and most giving dad in the world?

Giveaway

I'm having a giveaway! To learn the details - go check out my new blog!

Psst

I've been busy working on a project.

Come back Monday to see what I'm doing....

Merry Christmas!!

Can you believe it's Christmas Eve? What will your family do tonight?

Merry Christmas everyone. Be festive. Be safe.

Holiday fun and household UN-fun

We've been busy people in our home lately! I'm short on time so this post will be short, sweet, and to the point! =)

Thursday we went to Connor's swim meet. He is really good!! Unfortunately they lost the meet because they were going against the best swim team in the state.















Friday my work had our Christmas party and I made some delicious tacos!! Thanks everyone for your awesome recipes. I couldn't have done it without you!

Yesterday our family went Christmas-ing down town. It is not very often that all of the kids are home together on the same weekend - so we took advantage of this rare opportunity!

We went to Clark Planetarium and saw "Santa and the Snowman 3D".

BTW - if you have little kids and want to see a darling Christmas movie - this is the one!!














Even though it's kind of a 'little kid' movie - my teenagers loved it. They actually admitted it!















Then we boarded TRAX.















And met Todd for dinner. YUMMY!!















We saved the best for last!

About three weeks ago, I opened the mail to find that I received tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. I was so excited that I actually screeched!! I enter the lottery every year - and this is the first time I received tickets.

Along the way, we braved the crowds and saw the beautiful lights on Temple Square.















And made it to the concert. To my delight - our seats were excellent (it's hard to tell in this picture). There are just times in life when the stars align and things just work out. Yesterday was that day. The concert was amazing!! The choir, the orchestra, the reading - all incredible! I love this choir and the feeling I get when I hear their angelic voices. There was an AMAZING organ solo of the song "Go Tell it on the Mountain" that literally brought the house down!

It was a super weekend that ended with my mom's birthday celebration tonight!! Love you mom - hope you had fun.

And now for the bad news.

I'm stealing Elora's computer right now because mine is broken. Why? Not a clue. The 'Geek Squad' thinks it might need a new mother board. Yeah. That's fun.

I haven't mentioned that my oven died a few weeks ago and my washing machine is on the brink.

Alas - life is good. I will take appliance issues over the more serious challenges that other people are facing during this Christmas season.

But - this means I won't be blogging much during the next few weeks. {Please hold your applause}. I'll still be around - and I'll lurk and comment when I can.

I sure hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season!

Happy Birthday Maud the Broad!

Today is my mother's birthday - December 12. She would be mad if I said her age - so I'll just say she looks barely old enough to be my mom! And that's the truth!

**My mom reads my blog so please leave her a comment and tell her Happy Birthday**

So - about the name Maud the Broad. First of all - my mom's name is Maudeen. I was kind of a crazy teenager and I'm so glad she made it through those years in one piece! I also had crazy friends - and they loved my mom! People just love to make her chuckle because she has a funny, hilarious, contagious kind of laugh. But getting back to the point - one of my friends - I actually think it was Cindy (aka Binders, Cynthia) - actually called my mother "Maud the Broad" once while she was at my house. My very fun mom laughed and laughed at that name and it stuck. Instead of being stuffy and hating that name - she thought it was hilarious.




Here is my lovely mama!

Isn't she pretty? She has stunningly beautiful eyes!









Here are some things I know about my mother!

• She has a great laugh!
• She loves makeup
• She is beautiful
• She is lucky
• She drives a Mini Cooper (Jealous!)
• She loves to play dice games - especially bunco
• She is faithful and loyal
• She is funny
• She loves the color red
• She loves the Gospel
• She is competitive and loves winning radio contests!
• She would do anything for her children and family
• She has a favorite cup and a favorite chair
• She loves Bryce Canyon and she gave me my love for Bryce Canyon
• She makes the best potato salad in the world!
• She has 4 children - 2 girls and 2 boys
• She laughs at my dad's jokes
• She is frugal
• She loves licorice and jelly beans
• She is spunky
• She is very kind to everyone
• She loves very deeply

Mom - I'm feeling bad that I'm not going to see you until Sunday. Have a super great wonderful jolly birthday. You are loved so very much!

Click HERE for a little something from your four kids....

Happy Birthday Maud the Broad!!

Help! Need a great taco recipe!

I'm making tacos for 15 people and need a good recipe....chicken, beef, armadillo meat - doesn't matter. Just needs to be tasty. Do you have a yummy recipe to share?

Lucky!!

I came home from work tonight to two great surprises! They made my night!


First - I won a giveway from author Annette Lyons!! She is giving her three winners a choice of any of her published books. Let me just tell you how hard it was to decide!!


But this was not a typical giveaway - this was a "Pay it Forward" giveaway. She included a challenge. In an effort to promote book sales - the winners are required to post their own "Pay it Forward" giveaway!! So - come back to my blog soon. This is such a clever idea. I love it!! Thank you Annette!! I can't wait to read your book.


Then .... I received a package in the mail from Shauna at Trying to Stay Calm.Why? Just because that's the way she is. Her blog is like a ray of sunshine!! Thank you so much, Shauna. That was so sweet of you. You are awesome. The chocolate? Sooooo gone!




And I can totally imagine what the rest of you are thinking about me right now...





You may even be thinking that I'm making this all up and I didn't really get these awesome gifts. To this I say..



Eat your hearts out!

Speaking of eating - it's time to go serve dinner...

Vote for the best Christmas Pic!

The plan was to get our Christmas pictures taken this weekend. I had grand intentions. The lighting would be perfect. Clothes and hair would be perfect. Children and mama would be happy. The heavens would sing. Our family's Christmas card would be stunning!!

Yeah, that was the plan. It didn't turn out that way.

The lighting was bad. The photography was horrid. We were moody. It wasn't very fun.

Here are a few gems from the first batch...

I suggested going back to the park to take more pictures. "NO MOM!!! They look fine!"

I'm a mean mom - we went back.

The final results are not much better. The following 4 photos are the best of the nearly 60 that we took. I can't decide which one to use so I need your help!! Which of the following are the least frightening of the bunch?

Photo 1

(Do I look totally annoyed in this picture? Because I sooooo was....)

Photo 2.

Photo 3

Photo 4 .

So, what say you? 1, 2, 3, or 4?