Family of the Month

OK, we didn't win a family award. Today was our monthly family game day-dinner at my oldest sister's house in Siren. 

We all can't make it every month, but we had Mom and 7 of the 8 R's there today. The 8th R was just landing after a warm vacay, so she was excused.

Jim and I couldn't believe that we traveled 4 hours NORTH and still didn't find winter. Obviously no ice fishing going on.

Lots of folks out enjoying another spring-like day.

Shared the road with three such vehicles between Neillsville and Osseo. Since it wasn't quite as spring-y as previous days this week, I was happy to be inside our heated vehicle!

Our hostess Rayna said we could dress for whatever occasion we wanted – red for Valentine's Day (or Super Bowl colors) and Mardi Gras colors. Since she's actually been to Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, she greeted us with her colorful self!

I tried on the Jester's hat and determined it had too much green for this purple and yellow loving gal.

After a delicious lunch, we tried our hand at Mexican Train Dominoes. Now the last time Mom and I played this was probably 10 years ago when Rayna and Paul lived in Texas. The others hadn't played it before at all. Took a bit to remember but I managed to win one round and Mom won two in a row. And one time she just had one tile left – to represent her 8 R's, I say.

"Mom, teach me your winning ways!"

Got to see my twin today, too, so that was a bonus, as always. Oh I see I'm wearing beads here. Trust me, I did nothing ontoward to earn them!

Here's the gang with Mom somewhat squeezed into the picture.

And just us kiddos. Jim and brother-in-law Rick were the plus-ones of the day. So fun!

We wanted half of our drive to be in daylight so we left late afternoon and got home at 7:30 p.m. That gives us time to rest up for church and the Super Bowl tomorrow (in that order).

Hope you're enjoying a good weekend and are blessed to have a family as amazing as mine!

Once in a Blue Moon

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow...
gave the lustre of midday to objects below...

In case you didn't notice, we've had quite the full moon the past few nights. And it's not just any moon, it's the legendary blue moon!

According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But if you've seen it, you know it's not actually blue. That's just a name it acquired in some Farmer's Almanac back in the early part of the last century. Since then, we say something unusual happens "once in a blue moon." Blue moons, I discovered through some research, actually do occur about every 32 months. However, the chance of them happening on New Year's Eve are more like once every 19 years.

So blue or not, we had to enjoy part of our New Year's Eve out in the hot tub with friends -- under the light of the blue moon. Just to say we did it, you know.

It was partly cloudy that night, but last night, on New Year's, it was so clear out, it was almost like daylight -- just like the Night Before Christmas story mentions -- casting shadows of pine trees and branches on the snow in our front yard. It was so cool, I had to at least attempt to capture it with the camera. It turned out pretty good.

I'm starting to think it's an omen, though. Occasionally, about once in a blue moon actually, Carter beats us at a game. Between yesterday and today, he won Monopoly, Mexican Train dominoes and a card game. Crazy. I, in turn, kicked hubby's butt in cards today. Which happens more often than once in a blue moon (but not too much more).

Just to be clear, though. Blue moons do happen far more often than hell freezes over. So I don't think my Vikings will be winning any Super Bowl this year. But if the blue changes to a tinge of purple, we may have a chance!

Tricks and Mostly Treats

What a holiday-crowded day! We've got both Halloween and the "fall back" to Daylight Saving Time action going on. Both are treats, if you ask me.

The only trick today was Mother Nature's doing again. It was downright chilly and there were a few flakes in the air. At least here, nothing stayed so that was good. I forgot to stock up on anti-freeze for my broom, though. With a windchill of 28, it didn't want to turn over this morning. So I had to run 4 miles instead of fly. That sucks. Halloween transportation is so unreliable!

This afternoon, hubby stirred up some witch's brew, er, turkey soup, while I worked on Christmas cookies. What, you didn't think I was just gonna eat those mint M&M's did you?! Now I have most of my cookies in the freezer for my family cookie exchange in November. That's a nice treat. I also made some bars for a Packer-Viking party tomorrow. Maybe I should dress up as Martha Stewart for Halloween next year!

As promised, Carter dressed up as some sort of gangsta-wannabe. I did end up buying a hat for the costume (which he hasn't taken off since) but he has to "work off" that 10 bucks. He already had the goofy bling and punk attitude to go with it. So that was a treat, too.

Following our tradition for the past several years, we went over to my friend Becky's house and trick-or-treated with her kids in her subdivision. There were a few extra kids (see photo) that joined us but her son Garrick (Nemo) was undoubtedly the cutest!

After trick-or-treating, we chose to spend that "extra" hour we get this evening eating... and eating... and eating. Had pizza and then some desserts, including leftover birthday cake. There is such a thing as too many treats!

After eating, we played Mexican Train Dominoes, another treat for me since I haven't played that since our last trip to Texas. I almost won but thought I'd be nice and let our hostess claim first place. (I'm just too competitive to ever admit I couldn't pull out a victory!)

Now we're home and we gotta change all the clocks back. This is a good thing. Us old people -- like hubby, me & Brett Favre -- need the extra sleep before game day.

Happy Halloween! Hope it brought you more treats than tricks!

Easter B-B-B-unny

Wind chill. Two words the Easter Bunny didn't want to hear this year. I can picture teeth chattering and cottontail shivering. Wait, I don't have to pretend to picture it ... I lived it.

As predicted, it was windy and cold, but sunny, yesterday for our annual Easter egg hunt. Five of us did the hiding. Our hands were frozen by the time we were done. We just hustled our bunny tails around the yard, hiding eggs where could and often chucking the candy in the air and letting it fall where it may. That's what happens when everyone brings too much candy! We run out of hiding places and, with the wind chill, I was not trying to get creative about finding new ones.

The hunt itself was done in record time, too. Twenty-seven of us scurrying around grabbing eggs and candy off cars, fence posts, tree branches and the old swingset. I laid claim to two peanut butter eggs and I was OK with that. The boys filled their bags and the Easter Bunny visited out hotel last night, too. I see tummy aches or cavities in the near future.

To exercise our brains at least, we played games into the evening. Sometime I'll tell you about all the great group games we play. On yesterday's docket, the "kids" played Texas Hold 'em and a group of 8 of us played Mexican Train Dominoes -- a new game I learned and my parents learned while visiting Texas. It's a fun game of strategy, timing and luck. I'm a bit competitive and was pleased to be in the lead, going head to head with my nephew Tim. We were so engrossed in our battle for the win, we didn't pay attention to who was in third place. In the final round, we both took a dive and my nephew David sneaked ahead of us and won.

I told him it was like the "Tortoise and the Hare" story. Probably appropriate for Easter. ... I hope yours was a blessed one!