I know it's been awful quiet around my blog lately. I do apologize. But today I have a new layout for you!
Been a long time since I posted any, I know. So, anyway, I'll try to be back soon with another post. Love to all!

Growing up we had some old records that we loved to listen to. Stuff like Hair by The Cowsills, Sweet Pea by Tommy Roe and Snoopy vs The Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen. But after all these years I had never heard the Christmas version of Snoopy vs The Red Baron, called Snoopy's Christmas! Today we were driving to the Big City and listening to the radio. When I first heard the song come on I was kind of surprised because I don't think I have ever heard Snoopy vs The Red Baron on the radio. But I was even more surprised when I realized the lyrics were different and it was actually a Christmas version! Maybe I'm the last to know about Snoopy's Christmas but I figured I'd share it with you all! So, here it is, Snoopy's Christmas...

I know it's been a loooong time since I posted. I'll try to do better in the future. But today I have a little Christmas greeting to share with you. Hope you like it!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

So this week is the Nevada State Fair although this year I guess they have changed the name to the Wild West Fair. I decided to take the kiddos to go to the fair. We saw the sheep and goats and alpacas and they had replicas of old west camps and things. Somehow we missed the other livestock but that's probably because the kids were preoccupied with the rides. They started out in Kiddie Land.

Fun Slide...

Carousel...

Then moved on to the kiddie coaster...The Dragon Wagon.

Sno cone break....


Ring the bell!

The BIG ferris wheel!

The Silver Streak Himalayan...look at their faces!

And they even wanted to go on the Super Shot! MoMo wanted to go on it again! They take you up to the top and drop you...


We did almost all the rides including the Tilt A Whirl, Dizzy Dragons, the Sizzler, the bumper cars and the Gravitron. Riley went on the Tornado, Zendar and the Kite Flyer but MoMo was a bit too short so she and I sat out on those. Neither of the kids was big enough for the Zipper but I'm sure before long they'll be loving that ride too! They are definitely thrill seekers. MoMo's favorite ride was the Tilt A Whirl and she screamed and laughed the entire time. Big R's favorite ride was the Zendar. I had bought unlimited ride wristbands and we definitely got our money's worth since we rode many of the rides several times. But it was a cool and windy day and when the sun started going down it got too chilly for us. I broke one of the cardinal rules and didn't bring jackets! What!? Anyway, I don't think I could have spun around and around at high speeds many more times. Getting too old I guess. LOL So, there you have it. The Wild West Fair. And my dare devil kids!

Hello again, friends! So, it's been awhile since I last posted but school has started and I have more time on my hands now. You might get sick of me because I'm blogging so much. Kidding! I will hopefully keep you all up to date but I have a number of projects around the house that I plan on tackling, mainly organizing. And also finishing my classes. So I'll be busy but I can work at my own pace.
Anyway, I mentioned that the kiddos have started school again. Big R is in 3rd grade this year and MoMo is in 1st. This year they both go to the same school. Big R has done a great job looking after his little sister at school. He walks her to the bus stop and helps her get to her class and all. Before school started they had a Meet the Teacher event and he gave MoMo the grand tour of the school, sharing bits of insider info that he has accumulated in his 2+ years there. And MoMo is so excited to go to the same school as her big brother. To be a 1st grader and eat lunch at school. Here's a photo of them on the first day of school. Aren't they adorable?
I love how they threw their arms around each other. Sure, they do their share bickering and squabbling but they really are the best of friends.
Well, I meant to also share my new wall art but I think I'll do that another day. Love to all! Talk at you soon!

Alright, I know I've been promising some new pics but haven't delivered. But today's your lucky day! I'm actually gonna post them! So, these are from way back in June. We went camping/gold panning at Bear River for the weekend. MoMo when she heard we were going camping told me she didn't want to go. But then she heard it was Bear River and she got all excited about the blackberries. Unfortunately, the blackberries were still blossoming and though there were some berries starting to grow, there weren't any ready for eating. She still managed to find some fun there.All you need for hours of fun is a hammer and a giant nail! (Large stump is optional) The first evening after we were done panning and playing in the (VERY cold) water the kids went to work pounding these nails into the ground, the stump and about anything else they could find.Meanwhile the dog was so tuckered out that he plopped down on the ground and tried not to move a muscle. Not sure what that was all about. He hardly did anything all day. But he was pooped. Later we had a campfire and smores before bed.
Next to us at the campground were a couple of fellow gold prospectors. Hubby got chummy with them, talking gold and even helping to get their truck started when it wouldn't start. This paid off when they sent over some leftover dinner they had made. It was basically lasagna but instead of actual lasagna noodles they used rigatoni. And it was A-MAZ-ING! Seriously amazing. Like restaurant quality. And believe it or not, the whole thing was prepared directly over the campfire. No campstoves were used in the making of this marvelous dish. The noodles were boiled over the fire. The sauce cooked over the fire. All of it. And there aren't enough superlatives to adequately describe how yummy and delicious it was. It would have been awesome if it had been served at a regular dinner and yet it was prepared CAMPING over the fire. Wow. Well, that pretty much covers the weekend. The kids did some panning but mostly they played in the water. Hubby and I panned a fair amount of gold. Not that we're rich from it but it's slowly adding up. (today gold is $1181.92 an ounce) and it's fun to just get out there and spend some time in nature.
I also have something else to share with you. I have been busy this weekend canning jam and stuff. I made blueberry jam, sweet cherry jam, pineapple jam, and peach butter.
Aren't they pretty? And tasty, too. My favorite is the peach butter. I'm going to go get some more peaches and make more peach butter. Yum! And then we have some beets in the garden that Hubby wants me to pickle. And maybe even some cucumber pickles if I can find some pickling cucumbers. This is another of my things that once I start I can't stop! I'm addicted! So, anyone need some jam?

Ok, I know I haven't really been posting much lately. And I think I did promise some photos and stuff from our last trip to Bear River which I haven't gotten around to yet. But I have a pretty good excuse. I've been really trying to study for my Medical coding course. I'm more than halfway done! Anyway, I just HAD to share my excitement about something totally unrelated to Bear River or coding. So, yesterday me and the Hubby went to the Big City. Last week someone had told me all about this supposedly awesome thrift store there in the Big City and I wanted to check it out and see if it really was that awesome. And it is really that awesome! We spent like 3 hours in there browsing through all sorts of things and when I got to the furniture section I immediately found a table that I wanted. It cost $40 and it's in almost perfect condition. No scratches in the finish, just a couple of small indents. It looks WAY nicer than the cheapo table we currently have. No chairs with it but I really don't care. I'm sure I can find something. We'll just use our old chairs in the meantime. So, here's a pic of it. It's in the garage in the photo. We don't really keep our fishing poles in the dining room! LOL In the pic it has its 2 leaves in it but when you take them out it is a perfect circle. I love it!
And I also found a bed for MoMo's room. Headboard and footboard. It needs some sprucing up for sure but it was only $20. I'm thinking I'll probably paint it. If anyone has any ideas for it please share them! The big oval is a mirror. (It's reflecting Hubby's hunting blind so it looks kind of weird I know.)Yeah, I'm pretty excited with my finds. And you know what? I've got to go help Hubby bring the table in and move the old one. Later!