New Year's Resolutions or Revolutions (which ever you choose)

Well, it has been a long time since my last post and I thought it would be good to share what my New Year's Resolutions are in order to try and hold myself to them.  So here we go....


As of, December 31, 2010, my FACEBOOK account has been deactivated.  There you have it.  So to take place of all the time I spent on that (pardon my words) damn website, I hope to improve my status of blog posts, which is in the "lack there of" or "failing" category.


Now some of you may think that is a lame resolution, but I tell you, it will save me a ton of time in my day....evenings.  I look forward to using my time more wisely....the other bad word in my vocabulary....LAUNDRY!  I can't help it, I just plain don't like doing it. 


Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I look forward to what 2011 will bring us.  Here are a few pictures from our holiday and this will hopefully take the place of  our absent Christmas Card this year....on to bigger and better things.



The Grand Kiddos on Xmas Eve in their new PJs



Stockings from Santa....nice hair Rylan



The cutest jammies ever....oh and daughter too!




We sent him packing...kidding. 
He loved this sleeping bag backpack

Christmas Family Picture
side note: (I don't really love it)



The Oleson's
Side Note (I wish our picture turned out this cute)



The Sistas



Rylan's Strider Bike from Santa



Yummy Soup Recipe!

Today I decided that with a head cold and fall weather, nothing sounded better than some soup for dinner.  My favorite soup usually includes potatoes and vegetables and some sort of creamy broth.  Here is what I found and decided it was worth a post 6 months late (whoopsadaisy):



Ham and Potato Soup

•2 whole Large Russet Potatoes, Peeled And Cut Into 1/2" Cubes



•6 Tablespoons Butter, Divided Use


•1-½ bunch Scallions (white And Light Green Parts), Chopped


•4 cloves Garlic, Minced


•1-¼ cup Diced Ham


•3-½ cups Water


•2 Tablespoons Chicken Bouillon Granules


•½ teaspoons Black Pepper


•5 Tablespoons Flour


•2 cups Half-and-half


•Salt And Pepper, to taste
 
Preparation Instructions:
Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of butter. When melted, add the scallions, garlic, and ham. Saute for 3 minutes. Add the potatoes, water, bouillon, and pepper. Cover and crank up the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 12 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.


While the potatoes are simmering, in a separate saucepan, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When melted, add the flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the half-and-half. Once the mixture comes to a simmer, cook for about 3 minutes, whisking often.

When the potatoes are tender, add the half-and-half mixture to the Dutch oven and stir. Allow the mixture to return to a simmer, then cook for 2 minutes longer. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water. If it is too thin, cook a few minutes longer.

Ladle the soup into a bowl and top with any optional garnishes such as freshly grated cheddar cheese, scallion tops, and cooked bacon pieces.

Of course I found this on my favorite cooking blog: www.thepioneerwoman.com/tastykitchen .  I absolutely love it and the only thing I added was a can of corn because that's just stickin' yummy.  And then there is my must have ingredient.....BUTTER!  So maybe you will want to make this or maybe not, but it goes down as Payton, Rylan and I's favorite soup so far. 

Two Years Old Already!!!

Rylan turned two this week and we celebrated with a Puppy Party. We had friends and family join us in the fun. Now some people, okay most people, would say I went a little overboard, but my excuse is that I didn't get to have a big party for his 1st birthday, so I pushed the envelope this time and had way too much fun. I love planning parties, especially those for my children.

Rylan and Payton started out the party sleeping

Our puppy theme went much further than just a puppy invitation and decorations. It was complete with puppy ears, tails, dog collars, a doghouse facade, a puppy cake and dog bone decorated cupcakes, and much more. We started out by decorating the kids in their puppy get up. They made (or their parents made) a dog collar with a dog tag including their name. I quickly found out that my son, the birthday boy, wanted nothing to do with the puppy dress- up (he is such a boy), but of course my daughter was all about it. Even the tongue hanging out of the mouth.

Puppy Payton (panting and all)

Puppy Grayson

Rylan got a lot of very nice gifts and has been enjoying them with total enthusiasm today. He finished opening gifts by giving kisses and hugs out. Although all of the balls that were around the room proved to be very distracting for him during this process.

Rylan opening his gifts

The Litter of Pups

We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Rylan and then enjoyed my delicious cake with homemade frosting. Of course, the kids loved the cake and icecream much more than dinner. I, personally, just enjoyed the wonderful company and conversations. Thanks so much to everyone that helped us celebrate Rylan's Birthday.

We have come to the tail end my friends!

Happy Birthday Bestie!!

Today is my best friend's birthday and she turned 30! Just so you know, it made me feel better to know that one of the most important people in my life had to do the dirty and turn thirty with me. It seems like when my sister turned 30 she just sailed through that age without a blink, but then again, she is pretty easy going and doesn't make a fuss about things even when they do bother her. I need to be more like that. . . Shauna and Brent, stop nodding your head! Anyhow, I did get to chat with my sweet lady tonight and it made my whole day to know that she was going out for her special day and even more proud to give her advice on my favorite coctail list:

Here she is my famous "Ann Marie, whom I adore and love dearly!" I hope you had a great time hanging out with Josh, Cassie, and Troy. I would have given anything to be there to cheers to you with a Crown and Coke in my hand. "To the best friend a girl could ask for!"

Back in So Dak

So begins my first vacation from Colorado over Labor Day weekend. Yes, that is when we went to South Dakota and I am just now getting to my blog. Pathetic you might say. . . I would agree! We went up for our long OVERDUE trip to my parent's cabin in the Black Hills. Our cabin is a place that I literally can say I have witnessed be built from the ground up and happens to be something that I am very proud of. No, it isn't mine, but maybe someday it will be a Retirement Home, that is if I can convince this hubby of mine to venture beyond the CO borders. I've got time to work on him. Enjoy your short but grand tour (which doesn't include the inside. . . wondering why. . . that is a fine question. . . I was wondering the very same thing and the inside is beautiful. . . next time people).

My favorite view through the trailblazer windshield.

The sign my dad made for our driveway entrance.

This is one side of our cabin. Includes the Breakfast Nook window

and window from the Great Room

(I would tell you which side, but without the Rocky Mountains

on the West I am directionally challenged)

The opposite side of the cabin. (This side has the bedroom windows

from upstairs and one of the master bedroom windows from the main floor)

Rylan's First Four wheeling Trip (around the cabin and down the drive way).

He loved it! The dimple never left his cheek.

Payton's first four wheeling trip! Could be the last. . . let's just say

there weren't any smiles on her face until I said, "Smile for the Camera!"

Awwwww, look at that face! I thought for sure she would be smiling in this picture.

She loved the marshmallowy gooey mess known as SMORES!

Adults are so cooperative when it comes to pictures. . . when do

kids start picking up on that??? I am still waiting!

One of our adventures was going to my old work place (Walmart) which was turned into a Rec Center/Water Park (Pure Brilliance). Why oh why can't they do this for all empty Walmart buildings???? God are you listening???? Paytor Pie taking a dip and practicing all of her new learned

tricks from swimming lessons! Yes, we did accomplish something this summer.

I just don't have any blogs to show for it.

I love Rylan's face in this picture. Not such a great one

of me but he is sooo adorable and loves the water. There is that dimple again!

And finally our picnic in Spearfish Park. Definitely one of my favorite places. I became a picnic packing pro from the summer and learned that it may be a talent :o) Doubtful, but I needed something positive that I accomplished over the summer besides passing Parent/Tot swimming Lessons (You can bet that certificate is still on our fridge) Proud with a capital "P"

Backyard Beach Bums

I decided to spend my last lazy day of summer hanging out in the backyard with my two favorite people in the world. Yep, that would be my kiddos. We headed out in the backyard to run through the sprinkler and soak up the sun together. Here is our progression of activities:

Rylan gets a total kick out of watching his sister jump over the sprinkler.

The greatest sound of summer is laughter.

Rylan smiling at the ladybug.

I never knew he would love this activity so much.

I say sprinkler, and he is in search for his trunks and swimming diaper.

Such cheap entertainment.

The greatest sight of summer is a smile.

Don't bother turning off your music when you listen to this.

It isn't worth the hassle, I promise you.

Next, we used the water from the sprinkler to fill the watering

cans to water mommy's thirsty flowers.

Here, Payton and Rylan are getting their hair wet, because that is sooo cool! The greatest feeling of summer is the cool water on a hot day.

Then, Payton decided to pull a rose that was in bloom to enjoy. (and Brent thinks they die because I don't water them, hmmmm) The greatest smell of summer is a flower.

Now for dessert of course. Popsicles all around! The mini kind are by far the best for younger kids. They get them eaten before they melt down their hand in most cases.

Rylan hearts popsicles!!! Slurping and all!

The greatest taste of summer is a popsicle.

I hope all of my friends and family have enjoyed their summers as much as we have.

. . . and we're back!

Okay, so it has been forever, and a super huge headache in tow with that forever. . . but we now have a new computer which is heavenly and I must say pretty in a cute sort of way. The speakers look like eyeballs.

I decided to call the summer to close with one post that sort of sums up our lazy days in the sun. I don't have the energy nor the time to post all of my pics from this summer, but I do have time to post my last day of summer.

My computer is in the techno hospital finally!!!

So here goes my excuses for not posting lately. . . our wonderful computer (or P.O.S.) is again being sent off to the technos to be fixed or hopefully replaced. I'm leaning toward replacement but for some reason I don't think those geek squad gods are on my side. Between a temperamental computer and a full camera card, I have some serious catching up to do.

Now you are probably wondering how it is that I found time and a computer to create this post, well, I totally hijacked my little sister's laptop while she is in Denver, and thought I better check in so I can remove myself from Lexi's sh-list for not updating my blog. Love you sista! Hoping to be in post heaven soon with all of you ladies that are keeping us up to date with your eventful and funfilled summers. Signing off in hopes of techno prayers come true!)

Popsicle Pals

Long time no blog post! So sorry to those who have been harassing me about this. I'm on it man. All it took was finishing my full time job as a teacher and then miraculously I have found time to document my children growing up. Well, I wanted to share a video that Brent took of them tonight sharing popsicles, which explains why they have had colds for the past week and a half. Here ya go!