Spoons

Has anybody played spoons? It is a wonderful fast paced game filled with excitement and danger.

So here’s how it works… You set however many people you want to play around a sturdy table and put that many spoons in the middle minus one. Then you deal out four cards to everyone. The object of the game is to get a four of a kind. Whoever gets there four of a kind first grabs a spoon and then so does everyone else but one. That one gets a letter. When they loose enough to spell out the word spoon they are out of the game. So to start the game… Once the dealer has passed out the cards they start going though the pile one at a time and passing the cards to the person at there left and then they pass to the left and so on. So as the cards go around you look for ones that match and trade them out, always keeping four cards in your hand.

So where is the danger and excitement you might ask. Well when you have a competitive family and people who try to steal other people’s spoons right out of their hands things get pretty lively.

This last weekend Chris and I went to his brother’s house in Pueblo and on Sunday night his two sisters and one brother in law came over and we all played spoons. I ended up breaking the tops of one of the chairs and Chris broke the table in all of the excitement. There was biting, wrestling, nails lost, blood drawn, children pulled across the table, and grown men belly flopping on it, there was screaming, and yelling, and lots and lots of laughter. I am so happy that large portions were recorded for later viewing pleasure.

I don’t have any video but here are some pictures.

Barilla

So little Anna broke out in a rash a couple days ago but it is almost gone now and she is much happier. Poor kid first her top two teeth come in and now this. It has been a rough couple weeks. We went to a kids store today and sold them a few of the things we have never used. I got Sam a little plastic gas pump and a hat with some of the money. I wanted to trade all of my stuff for this little black truck that is missing a door and a bumper but the woman is delusion and thinks it is worth $20. So even though Sam likes it for now he is just going to have to gas up his bike instead of the broken truck. We had a lot of rain for a couple hours today. When we left it was sprinkling and by the time we got there it was pouring. I had fun getting me the kids and the stuff inside. But now we are home and it is down to a sprinkle again. In other news I have been trying to clean out the basement. I’m hoping to have a yard sale sometime soon. That’s about all. Oh yes there was also my fun shopping trip with Emilee and Herbie the bear. We were looking at clothes for Zeke and there was Herbie and only half price. What a deal. So Emilee and I have a new shopping buddy. He rode in the front of our cart and we strapped him in the backseat of the car when we left. He is a bear or maybe a gorilla. We’re not sure. Please tell me what you think he is, even those of you who don’t usually comment. You can comment anonymously just tell me bear or gorilla. Right now we call him a barilla. Bear or gorilla... you decide.

Isn't he a sweet brother?
Sam is silly. He likes to put on my shoes when he goes outside. Got to love the winter hat too.

Hi Everybody!

It’s time for my bi-monthly blog. So let me think what wonderful things have we been up to? Sam can now get himself completely undressed but he is a good boy and doesn’t try to undress at inappropriate times. J Anna is getting her two top teeth. She was up a lot last night with a fever. She is also just starting to try to walk around furniture.

So we did end up meeting with Chris’ brother and watching a little of our nephew’s game. Unfortunately it was raining so we didn’t get to see much before we retreated to the car.

We went to Castle Rock on Monday and spent some time with my Aunt Kelley and her daughter Kialani. It was fun. We went to McDonalds and then when we got back the kids played in back for awhile. We ran some errands yesterday. I’ve become slightly addicted to caffeine so I had to stop and get a cappuccino from the gas station. I knew Emilee would be getting done with story time at the library which is the way I was heading so I got her one too. We hung out in the library parking lot and talked and laughed awhile. Then I went to my friend Hannah’s. We had a good time there too. Hannah is one of the few friends I keep up with from High School. She is going to try to come to Ladies’ retreat this year. Yay! I know she is going to love it! Last night Laura and Adam came over and we ate spaghetti and played sequence. Adam and I were on one team and Chris and Laura were on the other. Adam and I creamed them both games. After Laura and Adam left and the kids were in bed, Chris and I played a couple more times and I creamed him both games. Chris hardly ever will play games so I would have been very happy anyway but all the creaming made it even better!

In other news our land lord is not happy with us. Chris just mowed the lawn for the first time this year last week. The grass was getting high enough to lose the children and play jungle in the back. Chris also had some of his construction stuff in the yard, some concrete blankets and some studs. The land lord said it looked like white trash had moved in. He also said if it got that bad again he would hire a lawn service and send us the bill. That is what he does for the guy on the other side of the duplex. Sam?...... Sam?..... Where are you? The grass is too tall and thick to get to you.

I finally found a plant I'm good at growing, Dandelions. Aren't they beautiful?

Here is my two headed monster. Chris had on two shirts so when it started to rain he put Anna in between them to keep her warm and dry.

Here is Clif and Aaron.

Cinnamon Rolls

I am so proud of Emilee and me! We made real live ewey gooey delicious cinnamon rolls. I love cinnamon rolls but until today didn't really know how to make them. They take forever but they are so worth it. I expect to gain about five pounds this week eating my half of them but that is okay too. Becki helped lots. She sent us very funny e-mails and called intermittently to give is much needed instructions and to make sure things were going okay. I wish she lived up here with us instead of in Texas, that way we could hear her best Julia Child impersonation. However, Emilee's was pretty good. In our endeavor to take forth the Bishop's and Sister Smith's torch had lots of fun together and laughed our way through most of the cinnamon roll process. We also had a thumb war match that left us deadlocked just like the arm wrestling match.

Sam had lots of fun running around in the backyard with the big boys. He is out like a light tonight. Anna laughed and laughed as Emilee worked on the rolls. I'm not sure what she was so happy about.

My wonderful husband made dinner tonight which was great because the cinnamon rolls took way longer to make than we thought they would and I didn't get home till after 6:00.

I have had four cinnamon rolls so far, or maybe five. Hmmm. I think I lost count. Oh well I'll start the count again tomorrow.

Nothing Too Exciting.

Since the last time I blogged I went shopping with Emilee, that was lots of fun as usual. I never really liked shopping till I started going with her. I also went to breakfast with my cousin's wife, Wendy and their new baby, Ava. It was great to see them. They live in Springs so I don't get to see them too often. Ava looks just like Ryan when he was a baby. We went to Mimi's Cafe and I had the three berry cream cheese stuffed french toast. Mmmm. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I also made a book with poems and pictures for my Grandma for her Birthday. Emilee helped lots. The things I make always look much better when she helps. Grandma loved it. I also went and visited with my friend Hannah and her little girl Samuela. It was nice to just hang out and Sam had a blast playing in her back yard. Not too much else going on here. Oh we are going to go see Chris brother today. He is in town with one of his sons soccer teams. So we are going to watch the game and go out to dinner afterward. I'm looking forward to seeing them. I don't think that they have met Anna yet. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. A couple of the kids, my new second cousin Ava, and Emilee the mad picture taking blogger.