I am a winner! (in more ways than one)

I love to win! I mean, who doesn't? You never hear anyone say "I hate winning". ANYWAY, my friend Misty had a little give-away and I won!

I also won because she said some super duper nice things about me that were totally unexpected and totally sweet. It was also totally needed to get me out of the little pitty party I was throwing for myself at the time.

If you want to see what she wrote. Check it out at http://rindys.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to see WHAT I won, it sounds great though. A visit from her, or her "presence" would be present enough...we haven't seen each other in 4 years and I sure do love her. Having her as such a dear friend, makes me a winner no matter what!

Silly Lauren Part 2

My last post was about Lauren's spelling, so now I have a quiz for any of my blog readers! I was going grocery shopping Saturday and I asked Lauren to write down what I told her we needed. Let's see if you can figure out what was on our list:

groshes (at the top!)
1-toloitit papr
2-poptarts (2) cinds
3-choclit milk
4-bady soap
5-brade
6-og
7-frots and vectchtbls
and extra credit if you can get this one! 8-stretches

It is just too precious! Let's see who can get the most correct!

Silly Lauren

This little girl makes me laugh....

Lauren has been off track since January 17th. She was so excited to start spending her afternoons with her grandma and grandpa. My mom wasn't feeling well the first few days, so Lauren didn't enjoy her time as much as she thought she would. I am guessing she was whining to my dad that she was bored, and I am guessing that my dad told her to write a list of the "fun" things she wanted to do if she could. And just as it is funny to hear a baby begin to speak, I find it so funny to see a first grader learn to spell. I am gonna re-create her list:

*Go for a wok
*See the rivre
*Feed the dukes
*Play hose
*Make muizick

I have been teasing her about "feeding the dukes" ever since. LOL. Gotta love that girl!

Winnebago

Matt is always very careful about any decision that he makes. There are hours of research, comparisons, cost analysis, charts, grids, etc. When he began looking for an "RV" a couple of months ago, I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. When he found this gem 2 days ago and made an appointment to see it-I knew he was serious. After seeing it today, and getting the kids' stamp of approval....THIS BABY IS MINE!!!!! WOO HOOO!
Here are some pics.

Growing up, I never had a camper or trailer. My dad would set the tent up for me in the backyard and that was pretty much my camping experience. One time my grandpa lent us a camper (before my sisters were born) and my parents and brother and I went to Yellowstone. It was a lot of fun-I still have memories. I hope to create some great memories with my own kids with this Minnie-Winnie. I can't wait to take it out. I still can't believe that it is MINE. It is a little old, a little beat-down, but it was cheap and seems to be working well (hmmm..sounds a little like ME). Once again, woo hoo!

One Last Halloween Picture

As most of you know, I love Halloween! Most of you also know that I am, how do you say, not a good decorator. I was, however, quite proud of my little pumpkin montage above my normally bare and boring stove. Matt did help me a bit and I was quite sad to take it down.
I paid extra to have this decorative cut-out...but sadly, like I said, it is normally bare. Ideas anyone? Help, please? Misty?

New Years Eve/New Years Day

One of my favorite holidays is New Years Eve! Pretty much every year since 1999 we have had a party at our house with Matt's brother, and sister. We usually eat junk food, play games and enjoy the fact that the Christmas stress is over. I got fancier than usual and made some of the snacks...with the help of "Tastefully Simple". Here is a key-lime cheeseball that I, yes, once again I, made. YUMM!!
I also made this yummy garlic dip. I am channelling my inner Tina for the fancy set up.
I also made lime-ade = success and I attempted "little smokies" = fail. Dave usually makes them and he couldn't make it. It wouldn't be the same without them, I hope he can make it back next year to show me how it is done.

I love, love, love Alex's 7 layer bean-dip.

I also love her orange salad, I beg her to make it every year.

I also put up some New Years decorations. I love my mantle full of stuff, after Christmas-it is so bare.

Look at these two cute girls! My daughter and my niece, Bella. Perfectly adorable.

Matt and his brother and sister.

I think their mom would be so proud that her children are so close, that we get along so well!

Do they look alike? AND...is Kristen making fun of me and my posing ways?

This is actual proof that my son is the "drink stealer!"

Matt's brother Greg and his wife Alex. We are so glad that they are our friends as well as our relatives. We always have fun. Thanks for spending every New Years Eve with us!

Me and the hubs. New Years Eve attire and sparkling cider!

Look at my cute niece Maddie, she wouldn't stay put long enough for me to get a front shot!

Hmmm..is Matt trying to get an early start on his New Years Resolution?! Don't mind the Orange DC shirt-Matt had to work that night!

Jamie is such a poser, now who did he get THAT from?

Bella made it to midnight--no problem!

This little pipsqueak is quite brave. So cute, Maddie!

The kids ran around in circles with their noisemakers. Oh what fun!

Lauren was so cute in her hat!

Jamie wanted his picture taken too.

Everytime he sees Justin Bieber-he thinks it is him. Here is his New Years Hat-"Bieber style".

I love his crinkled nose smile. He is so huggably adorable.

It was so snowy that night....apparently our blow-up snowman had one too many. LOL.

I am lucky that Greg and Alex and Kristen made it to and from our house safely. Matt did some shoveling before bed. Only on New Years Eve!

Every New Years Day-it is tradition to go to Red Lobster. We call it "National Red Lobster Day". Matt was soooo looking forward to it. It never dissapoints.

Look at my two boys. Love them!

Lauren and her cousin, Zander. Our "Giant Baby". He is so chubby and cute.

Me and the hubs. Yipee we survived 2010!

My cute baby sister, even with no makeup. (she is probably mad at me for sharing this).

I wanted to slip this shot in of the animals. This must be how they spend their day. They are in the cage by choice-we leave the door open!

I bought them these shirts for Christmas. Am I a geek or what?

But I couldn't resist-they were too cute! "Big Sister" and "Little Brother".

It felt so nice to have a clean house, and to put away all the Christmas decorations. I felt like I could BREATHE! Hope you all had a great holiday season. From our house to yours. Happy 2011! Now, where exactly do I put THIS box?

Yipee for the hubbs!

So...this laptop is the first computer that has ever been mine, solely. When I got it last year, Matt told me I needed to have Norton's on it. So I bought a yearly subscription and I thought I was good. When I asked Matt for help because I finally got fed up with not being able to see other people's blogs...he took a brief glimpse at my computer. There were 109 updates that needed to be made on my system...and that no installs had been done, EVER. He was shocked, and so was I. I had no idea!! So..after about 5 hours. My computer is current, virus-fighting AND now able to view blogs. He is a freakin' genius. Well, compared to me, anyway. I can still take him at Rock and Roll Jeopardy though.

Another blog

I have wanted to do this for a while....I love EVERYTHING about dance and I love to give my opinions...so I decided to start another blog dedicated to all things dance-mainly dance shows on TV!

Check it out at http://www.lovedancetalk.blogspot.com/

Leave a comment if ya care!

Will someone HELP me?! Please.

Okay, I have had this problem for a while now and I am not sure how to fix it. For some reason, while trying to view some of my friend's blogs I will get his error:

"Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site:(insert blog location). Operation Aborted"

GRRR. I have tried to fix it, and from what I can surmise it happens when people are using a certain type of background. Does anyone know how I can fix it so that I can once again visit my blogging friends: Rachel Norris, Jami Lamborn, Erin Davis, Summer Gallegos, Shar Nelson, Krissy Hansen, Amber Holbrook, Shawna Harmon, and Natalie Lund. Again grrr.