Dog Flap Hat on a Wintry Day.

I guess it did get a little more wintry as the day went on. I shouldn't be so quick to judge. Dave ate lunch in his dog flap ears hat, because I was afraid his ears might freeze and fall off without it. I don't know what we'll do in Salt Lake this Christmas- with our thin Texas blood.

"A Cold Blue Narthern"

Does this look like winter to you? Late fall maybe, but It's certainly nothing like the picture below that I stole from Erin in the snowy tundra of Utah County. Then why, may I ask, do people act like their skin is going to freeze off if they step foot outside the Wally World, after the temperature has dropped from 75 to 40? Just checking. Not that I mind or anything...












In other news- I've been meaning to post about how I got stuck in one of those tunnel things at a playground the other day. Dave was trying to go up and just kept sliding back down. I had to push his little butt up the steep part. I was kneeling down and when I tried to turn around I realized that my body was too large to do anything but slither out the tube on my belly. Panic struck my heart and I wiggled around as fast as I could before I went into a full blown panic attack. Talk about your claustrophobia.











I even got some of those little playground rocks embedded in my knee. I think one is still in there.


I'm going to have some hot chocolate with peppermint whipped cream now (to try and stay warm).

Some fun with Mana and Pata

Mike's parents braved hours of layovers, crappy airport food, and sleeping in a foreign bed, just to be with us this Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa were dubbed "Mana and Pata" within just a few hours of their arrival (I won't say by whom). The first few pictures are from our tour of the fabulous conservatory at the Botanic Garden which preceded our dinner of fried pickles. (Nothing says welcome like a vat full of fried pickles). The last few pictures are from our trip to (as "Pata" so accurately called it) Big D-little-A-double-L-A-S (I only knew that from an Erykah Badu song- so I doubt we got it from the same place...), where we visited the Dallas Temple and went looking for a Christmas store at the Galleria (they don't have one, by the way). We had a great time, guys. Hope we didn't wear you out... or scare you...

Nothing better than a slobbery, open-mouthed goodbye kiss. Love ya and see ya in one month.

Wanted: A Paternity Test.

Could this man be Bone Junior's baby daddy? If so- you rock Bone Jr..

Stuffing yourself with a twenty pound Thanksgiving turkey is fun and all, but imagine taking a wagon load of kids to the high school football field so they don't decapitate each other after dinner. Now that's what I call holiday cheer... and stuff.

Samuel (and my Dad) Fry up a Thanksgiving Turkey.

The effect would have been better if I could have levitated Samuel over the Turkey fryer. I fear, though, that he may have met a similar fate as Suzykin had I done so. I was just trying to do the right thing.






















Samuel makes a fetching table decoration, doesn't he?

Samuel the Lamanite

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone else! I hope your gut are full of turkey (and I mean that in the nicest possible way).

Watch for the next episode where Samuel helps fry a 20 lb turkey!

Preparations for zee beeg day!

Well... not really. But I am up late baking rolls, so that counts right? These are the pictures I've been promising of Val's famous Bread With Salt. Many thanks for posting your recipe Super-Val! And I'm sure you'll be happy to note the looks of well-fed pleasure on my family member's faces. Thank you for your ongoing support and contribution to the welfare of the human race.












Bread with Salt- at it's conception.












Bread with Salt in Utero.












Bread with Salt in it's final perfect form (possibly a little overdue, but the camera always adds a little brown.)




































None of these people were prompted to smile while eating said bread. These are all naturally occurring smiles.












This picture has nothing to do with Bread with Salt, but it does have something to do with spilled pumpkin guts. I baked some sugar pumpkins to make into pies, only to find that the mashed up pumpkin insides make pies which turn out shockingly like canned pumpkin guts- 'cept with more work.

You can eat crackers in my bed anytime.

*Disclaimer: I scoff in the face of public humiliation for your everyday humor needs. Besides- if you can't laugh at yourself- you can't laugh at anybody else...er something.*












Last night was not unlike the famed "Robin Egg VS Bed Warmer Incident of 2002". I am notoriously a night eater, and working at night only exacerbates that trait. This morning I vaguely remembered getting up in the night, finding the stash of Swiss Chocolate (Lait Extra Fin) on top of the fridge, and (quite lit'rally) breaking me off a piece of that. One thing led to another, and at about 6:30 AM I was rubbing my eyebrow and cheek wondering what was crumbly all over my face. Upon further inspection, there was half a piece of Swiss (Lait Extra Fin) Chocolate under my pillow- which I promptly consumed.

I needed an excuse to wash the sheets today anyway.

I'm happy today because...

5. My hair is finally long enough to put in a half ponytail.
4. I love jogging in 85 degree weather to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
(not that I jog on Sundee).
3. I get to sleep in the non-day tonight.
2. Mike's parents get here in 1 day- and they get to eat fried Turkey this year. I just know they're going to convert. Also Dave is calling his Grandpa Dave "Pata" now- which is adorable.
1. I have the bestest family and friends in the history of all family and friends.

Happy Sabbath!

Another Cryptic Message.

Dave fell asleep with another sign tonight. I just don't get him sometimes.

Samuel Gets His Shrine On.

The most exciting part of the circus, I must say, was Samuel. He made quite the debut in the three rings. The most interesting thing about hanging out with Samuel is that, no matter where you go, everyone notices him. People who normally would pay you no mind are coming up wanting to know "What's that head all about?" He's magnetic. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Bone Junior- your boy is destined for fame.

I have been trying to think of fun things to do with Samuel since I promised my friend Marcus T. that I wouldn't release him until after the BYU football season. Seeing how the Cougs have been on a winning streak since that fateful TCU game, and are now ranked 21st in one of the polls- I think he has become something of a good luck charm. He'll be hanging around 'til after the bowl game in December or January.

This guy wanted to scalp Samuel and use his hair for a toupee.

Me and Samuel posing for a clown button.
I will post a pic of me wearing said button in a later post.

Samuel was on the edge of his seat during the high wire act.
If he had finger nails he would have been biting them.




Those are some funny looking smelling salts.... Hey!!
What are you guys doing??
"Thumbs up" from some fans of the pachyderm persuasion.
This is Marty, the guy who got us the gig and incidentally let Samuel wear his fez.
Thanks Marty!!
My cousin Jacqui, and Samuel with some guys in fezzes.
They all got along splendidly.

Samuel modeling a jester hat at the souvenir stand.
Fetching, isn't he?















And last but not least, Samuel exhibiting some quadraplegic acrobatics with some butterfly wings the rope dancing acrobats use.