Fancy-Dancy Coats

Fancy-dancy coats was my favorite answer from our game of Balderdash with my family on Christmas day.  It is funner than usual to play that game with my family because the level of silliness is already high and just goes up with a game like that.  My abs were sore after that game.

We had a great Christmas with both sides of the family.  We spent most of the day with my side and had fun games, delicious meals, and great telephone conversations with sisters out-of-state.  My kids got worn out by playing with their cousins and uncles.  A great time was had by all.  We then went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to open more presents.  All the kids got awesome gifts and haven't stopped playing with everything since Christmas day.

Last night we had a family meeting about the new year and some goals our family has as well as individual resolutions.  Some of our goals were: help Mom, turn 13, get baptized, learn to play the piano, read good books, exercise more, brush teeth every day and night, learn to take better photos, paint Chris's room, watch more classic movies, etc.  It should be a good year if we can manage to do all that!

Thar She Blows

Or he, as the case may be.  The dad of this house was sick last night.  I think it's only the 3rd or 4th time I've heard him throw up.  He just doesn't do it.  Now he is very achy and yucky feeling.  I hope no one else gets whatever it is he has and that he will be better soon.  No fun.

Fireplace

We just had our fireplace cleaned.  I was almost expecting Mary Poppinsish chimney sweeps to sing and dance, but they were just 2 guys with a huge vacuum.  I could hear all the gunk going through the tubes.  They said it looked like it had never been cleaned since our house was built 20 years ago and that most people don't even think about having their chimney cleaned.  I feel much safer now about having a fire in the fireplace.  We'll see how much better it works!  Step in time!!!

Menu Planning

Last night our family planned a month's worth of dinner menus.  I had everyone write down seven or more ideas on small papers and we put them in a bucket and drew out random ones.  Here is some of what we got (with original spelling):

TV Diners, and milk

Hard-boiled eggs, broccoli, strawberries

Pasta w/ Bolognese sauce (or simple marinara), Green salad w/ oil/vinegar dressing, Garlic Bread or Cheese bread or Bruschetta

Pancakes, surap, and milk

Kulslaw, slopy Joes, and milk

Grandma's Ultimate Spagetti with Garlic Bread

Grandma's great spegitti with salad

Chips and salsa with corn

Spaghetti with tomato soace, milk, corn

Make your one salid niete

Woffles, surap, and milk

Beef Stroganoff w/ thin-sliced beeeef!, corn, beans, a roll

Fruit salad

french toast, surap, milk, and powderd surger

neyncoyyo (?)

eggs on toast, clementines

craB cakes with tarter sas

macroned (macaroni and cheese)

fish sticks with ketchup, milk, and corn

chicken

toast with Mom's jam

botie pasta with garlick bread :)

ATK Tacos w: tomatoes, lettuce, guac, sour cream, black beans, mashed, arroz!(brown)

Tomato soup with grilled cheese and grilled tuna sandwiches

I see several trends here.  We want breakfast for dinner, corn for our vegetable, and we want lots of pasta.  And someone wants milk with every one of her dinners.  Interesting.

Peeping Hens

I heard some tapping at the back door, so I went to see what it was.  This is what I saw:

Left to right: Matilda, Daisy, Tulip and Pansy.

All that gross stuff on the window?  From the chickens.

Legos

This is what happens when the big boys play with Legos.  I'm thinking it may be worse than when the littlies get into them!

Nativity