Spring Breaking

So, we had Spring Break last week, even if it snowed a bunch on us.  We did run away with the kiddos for a couple of days.  We headed out to Moab, UT and hiked in Arches National Park.  The kids had fun and even if it was a short trip they got to feel like we got away for a bit anyway.

When we got back it was snowy and cold the rest of the week.  It's not so much spring here right now, but then again, spring is a very short season around these parts.

MMMM is a freebie this week so let's see what tickles my fancy:
Joe Nichols with Freaks Like Me:

Trace Adkins with Jesus and Jones:

Luke Bryan with Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day

Have a great week!

15 Weird Questions

I saw this on Kenzie's blog Chasing My Extraordinary.   It looked fun and a bit different so here goes:

1.  Nickname you get called? Boober.  Nick calls me this quite often and yes it is the same name as a Fraggle.
2. A weird habit.  I fiddle with my necklace and must always be wearing one or I feel quite undressed.
3. A weird phobia. Making cold calls--even for things like doctor's appointments and such.
4. A song you are ashamed to like so you blast it in private. There's some 90s pop stuff that I like but I will play and sing along to just abut anything I like so, yeah, I share my music with who ever is around.
5. A pet peeve.  Slow drivers--the ones who believe that going 10 miles under the speed limit makes them a "safer" driver. Really, they are just a hazard to those of us who drive the speed limit.
6. A nervous habit.  I twist knots in my hair.  Bad enough sometimes that I have made whole sections noticeably shorter than the rest.
7. What side of the bed do you sleep on? I sleep on Nick's left side so the left side of the bed (as you sit in bed).
8. The name of your first stuffed animal. Tedders.  It was a blue and yellow teddy bear and I had him until I left for college.  He was quite worn by then.
9.  What do you buy at Starbucks. Chai Tea
10. Beauty rule.  Simple is better--I am quite the minimalist as far as make-up and even hair goes.  Easiest is best and my whole routine take like 20 minutes and I'm ready to go. That includes shower and getting dressed too!
11. Which way do you face in the shower?  I tend to have my back to the water, but I do rotate as well.
12. A weird body skill. I can fold my little toe over the toe next to it and I have very dexterous toes. I could write my name with my toes if I had to.
13. Comfort food. Chili when it snows, Stew on cold nights, Baked Mac & Cheese made with love and real cheese.
14. A word or phrase you use all the time.  Really?!
15. What do you sleep in. Pajamas, but ones that have capri length pants.

Random and Have You Ever...

We got six--6!!!-inches of snow yesterday and last night.  It looks like a winter wonderland out there. It was the nice wet heavy snow that looks picture perfect when it falls too. The roads are a mess. Too bad I couldn't call a snow day and stay home.
Now for a few random thoughts:

• I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon.  By someone new.  I wasn't too thrilled with the lady who has been cutting my hair for the last 14 years.  It's time for someone new to look at my hair and maybe make a suggestion or two. I like my hair, but I'm a bit bored with it.  So someone new.
• We are doing a short trip for Spring Break next week.  Off to Moab, UT and Arches National Park with the boys. I was counting the other day and Turbo has been to 11 National parks so far and Bruiser has been to 5 National parks. Bruiser gets to add Number 6 next week.  Turbo was in Arches when he was not quite 2, but this trip he will actually remember it.
• So road trip with the kiddos.  We almost have these down to a science now.  Turbo is excited to have me read and be able to read himself. I'm thrilled Turbo has discovered youth fantasy books.  He seems to like the epic fantasy books he has been finding in the school library. I'm happy he's reading.

Now on to COffee Chat and a run at Have You Ever:
1.   Got lost in an amusement park?
I did once in Disneyland when I was about 5. It was near the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Didn't take long for my mom to find me though.

2.   Shared a meal with your pet.    Drive thru acceptable.
Not exactly shared, but they have gotten the leftovers--frequently.

3.   Scuba dived in the ocean.
Nope.

4.  Saved someone who was in danger.   
Well, does saving a little girl who got a bit too deep and lost hold of the side of the pool while I was lifeguarding count?  If so, then yes.

5.   Sang karaoke.  (before alcohol, 2 bonus points)
Never been brave enough.

6.   Seen a pyramid.  (1 point for each step climbed)
Nope.

7.    Went camping in a tent.
More than I ever thought I would.

8.   Won a contest for a big prize.  (no, toys in Happy Meals don't count)
Nick won a really nice Broilmaster Grill.

9.   Eaten a strange food.   Broccoli is not a strange food.
How strange are we talking here?  No to bugs and such, but I have eaten brains and Menudo.  Those were strange. Of course we eat Antelope and Deer and Elk and to lots of people those are strange.

10.   Pulled a prank you were later sorry about.
Not really a prank puller.  The most I do is occasionally jump out and surprise the kids and Nick.

11.  Went on an African Safari.
Nope.

12.   Met a celebrity (TV, Movie, Music, Sports, Arts)
Does meeting Gretchen from Second Blooming count?  She's an actress and I have seen her on national commercials and such.

13.  Been on TV or the radio.
I was on the radio back in high school for drama class or some such thing. Maybe to advertise a play.  Anyway it wasn't that exciting.

14.   Been in a fight.  
Well, there are all sorts of fights.  I haven't been in a physical fight, but verbal fights, yeah had one or dozens of those.

15.   Fallen asleep while talking on the phone.
Nope.

Have a great week all!
Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Monday Hits Again

So, yeah, that was a weekend.  We didn't do a whole lot.  Nick finished the floor in the basement.  All the nasty carpet is out of the family room.  That poor carpet saw more dog and cat indiscretions than any carpet needs to. So, no more carpet:

I love the look it gives the basement. Just a touch more finished than the cheap carpet we put in when we first moved in over 15 years ago.
Nick then spent Saturday night watching The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian with Bruiser.

Saturday I hit the local thrift stores with a good friend.  It was really good to get out and do something girly.  Getting new to me clothes is fun too.
Sunday was a day of not doing much.  I organized the stored clothes for Bruiser to grow into, did dishes, and lazed around.  Got a really nice nap in and sort of dreaded Monday.

Now for MMMM:  Freebie week!
Dirks Bentley with Somewhere On A Beach:

Chris Jansen with The Power of Positive Drinking

Jake Owen with American Country Love Song

Have a great week Everyone!

Randomly Tuesday

Yep, let's get random:

• I think I've been a bit depressed the last month or so.  Winter blues, seasonal stuff or something.  I just can't find the motivation to do anything.  Everything seems to be a chore.  Well, except reading and snacking.  Those I can excel at.  However the fam would like it if I, you know, cooked dinner, did laundry, cleaned house, did dishes and stuff like that. I'm working on it.
• I worked out last night.  15 minutes on the elliptical.  Going to try for time tonight.  Might help with the whole motivation thing.  And help with wearing smaller pants. I do have incentive.  Nick suggested we take the kids to Florida, not this summer, but next.  I have a year and a half to be beach ready. I can do this.
• Totally true for both Nick and I:

• I am doing a bit better at the meal planning.  We are mostly making the meals I come up with. There hasn't been a Fend for yourself/chicken nugget night in over a week.  I've even been using the left overs so they aren't dying an ugly green death in the fridge (at least not so many of them).
• We do plan on going for new flooring for the basement this weekend.  It's time to get rid of the carpet and put in something a bit more cleanable.  We like the idea of cork, but will go with what we can find that will work with the tile we have around the wood stove. And lots of area rugs.

 I think that covers my random for this week.
Have a great week!
Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Monday and MMMM

So, I averted a Monday morning disaster.  Bruiser lost his sock in bed while getting dressed and it was apparently a very big deal.  I found it for him and was able to cheer him up before tears, but Monday tried to strike.

Nick and I had a fantastic Friday night out with our cousins/friends.  We went to Laramie Laughs and saw Bengt Washburn perform. Then we went out for a couple drinks and all together had a fantastic time.  We were adults for the evening. We stayed out late. We had almost forgot what that felt like.
The rest of the weekend was pretty lazy. We did make plans to go get new flooring for the basement next week. And maybe a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond for a new roasting pan and new kitchen rugs.
I did manage to cook dinner both Saturday and Sunday.  That's a record for me recently.  Weekends have been having at least one fend for yourself/chicken nugget night.

Now for MMMM:  Motown Music.  Let's see:
The Marvelettes with Please Mr. Postman:

The Temptations with My Girl:

Stevie Wonder with Superstition:

Have a good week all!

Random Thoughts

Ack.  Just Ack!  We could have blown away in the winds yesterday.  It truly was a day when the Wyoming Wind Sock got a work out:

See, these were some of the gusts from yesterday:

We live in Laramie.  Most definitely not kite flying weather.  Relocating leaves to Nebraska, yes.

The wind makes me tense.  Being tense leads to insomnia.  Insomnia makes me tense too.  It's a vicious circle.

In other news, everyone needs a dragon name:

Introducing Wind Scar the Magnificent.  Works for me.

Have a great week!
Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Winter Blahs and MMMM

Well, a bad case of the winter blahs has hit around our house.  We are trying to combat them but it's really slow going.
This weekend Brusier had a birthday party and Nick took the boys skiing, but really, there was a lot of couch sitting.  It was a grey sort of weekend and I'm really looking forward to going some where for Spring Break this year.  Somewhere, anywhere, just out and away. Go do something fun and frivolous.  The hard part is determining where to go and what to do. Spring Break in our part of the country is unpredictable on the weather front and we are kind of shying away from a lot of windshield time.  We shall see what comes up.
I did get laundry washed and dried.  Folding still needs to be accomplished.  I hate folding laundry. But it needs to be done and I'm the lucky nominee to do it.
Valentine's day was nice--we had crab legs and lobster.  Got my seafood fix in.  Not so much with the chocolate, but I can keep hoping chocolate will magically appear right?

So to recap, I need a beach:

Where I would love to be.

And here's to everyone on the lovely Monday:

Now for MMMM:

Alan Jackson with 5 O'clock Somewhere:

Kenny Chesney with No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems:

Zac Brown Band with Toes:

May your week be warm and relaxed!

Simple Randoms

Yeah, so it's Tuesday and that means random time:

• It looks like the ice age outside--there's ice every where.  Comes from lots of snow and temperatures just warm enough to melt, but not totally melt. And then overnight freezes and ta-da skating rinks on the side walks.
• Geology is Awesome:

• I'm using the crock pot.  I like using the crock pot, but is it me or do lots of crock pot meals look the same?
• Bruiser has another birthday party to go to this weekend.  The kid has a more active social life right now than I do. At least he's well liked.
• This:

• Unless it's the dog puking...

And that's it for this week!

Join in on the random fun  with  Stacy.

Post Superbowl Monday

OK, Ill admit it, I could have used more sleep this morning.  We had fun watching the Superbowl yesterday.  We had great snacks and company so it was a nice day.  Much nicer than the day before.

I spent most of Saturday going through all my mother's books and getting them moved out of her house.  Today Nick talks to the realtor about what we need to do to get it listed for sale.  Each step is just another affirmation that she is gone and it's tough. Saturday evening was so not easy. Some of those books she had and moved for the last 50 years. Books was one thing we always had in common.

Anyway, on to brighter stuff, Valentine's Day is coming.  I think ours will be done at home with the fam.  I am hoping that Nick will get me some chocolate--turtles and some truffles (hint, hint, Honey)--and then just watch a movie at home with him. Just keeping Valentine's day real...


ANd now on to MMMM.  THeme this week is A superbowl oriented song and then countryso here you go:

From the Halftime show Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars with Uptown Funk:

Granger Smith With Backroad Song:

Justin Moore with You look Like I Need a Drink:

Have a great week all!