The Buckets Ornament Exchange

When I worked at Rocky Mountain, a group of us got together every month. I've never had so much fun. We would laugh, and giggle, and talk about everything under the sun. We called ourselves the Pluckin' Buckets. One of our members was our music teacher, and two of the other girls were taking music lessons (guitar and banjo). So we decided we should have a band. My instrument was the ashtrays (don't ask!). So each month we had 'band practice' which consisted of going to a bar, having a couple drinks, and talking. We did have song titles of future releases, and we took minutes on napkins of everything we discussed! (Captain, do you still have them?) It was soooooo much fun. I know it sounds really immature, but man, it was great. We also had nicknames. Jugs, Captain Nips, Niles, Yeasta, Baby, and MaDamn LePottymouth.

Anyway, we've all moved on to different schools now, but still at Christmas we get together for our annual Christmas Tree Ornament Exchange and Breakfast. Two of our members weren't able to join us this time, and we missed them very much!

This is Captain and Niles getting their morning drink prepared! Tequila Sunrises.

And then we moved on to Mimosas. (Okay, this sounds really bad, but no one had more than two drinks).

We drew numbers for the ornament exchange. Jugs here, our hostess, had number one. I think she cheated!

The presents to choose from.

We also decided that we would write one of those surveys that go around on e-mail, but this one would be Bucket-Style questions. You know that some were probably NOT appropriate to send aorund to strangers!

My ornament was CUTE CUTE! (see below). It was from Captain Nips, there in the background!

There it is.

And everyone else's ornaments.

And here's our mini-group. Curry (Baby Bucket) and Yeasta weren't there. I'm not sure why Yeasta didn't come, but Baby is now a principal (we're soooo proud) and she had something going on this morning at school. We have other group pictures from some of our earlier band practices...I'll have to hunt those down and post them later!

I love these gals. Thanks for a great morning!

I'm on a roll posting recipes these days...Here's a GREAT salsa recipe

and it tastes like you worked all day on it. It's so easy!

10-Minute Zesty Salsa

1 10 oz can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
1 tablespoon seeded chopped jalapeno pepper
1 tablespoon chopped red onion
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro (I use more cuz I love cilantro)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Refrigerate until serving.

Very tasty!

BayLea's Pre-K Christmas Party

BayLea's preschool teachers had an Ornament Making/Polar Express evening for their party. We spent an hour there, snacking on a potluck appetizer table, making Christmas ornaments, and enjoying watching the kids have a blast! BayLea has made some REALLY nice little friends. I'm so thrilled that she makes friends easily, and that her friends are nice girls.

BayLea is making a snowflake out of beads. The finished products were really pretty, although BayLea was totally sidetracked with her friends, that she didn't actually finish hers.

My dear little boy was able to go too, as were all siblings.

He made an airplane out of a stick of gum, two lifesaver type candies, and a smartie. It was a cute little thing. He ate it later I think!

There it is, although it's out of focus. But I still like this picture of him!

The party also included babysitting services. Joy, Brandi and Brittani and others let the parents leave for two hours while they conintued their festivities! That was great!

***Some of my pictures are grayish. Sorry! I forgot to change some of them to web color!***

Our little Getaway to Ouray, just the two of us!

Jery and I got away last weekend for a night. It was AWESOME! We stayed at the Weisbaden, our favorite place to stay in Ouray (although we have yet to try St. Elmo's). We immediately got in the hot pool, and then went down to the vapor caves. We came back to the room and ate some yummy snacks that we brought up...shrimp, crackers and cheese and wine. Later in the evening we ate at the Bon Ton restaurant and had very yummy food! The next morning we swam and sat in the caves, and then I got a wonderful massage! I was soooooo relaxed. Jery and I don't get away, just the two of us, enough. We need to be better at that! I like this picture of Jery because he looks natural! I was snapping pictures like crazy of him, of him making all his goofy faces and bug-eyed looks. Finally he laughed at me and I took his picture. So I love this natural picture of him.

This is me. Boy, I sure have one eye bigger than the other, don't I? I knew I did, but this picture sure does show it well!

The hotel with the pool in the front.

The kids stayed with Mimi and Pa. They trashed their house, as they always do, everytime they stay there. Mimi had crafts for them to do. BayLea is totally into that. I love the above picture and the one below, because I love the look on BayLea's face. She's a Mimi's girl for sure (but more mine!!!)

Hard at work!

Her finished product. It's pretty cute! Mimi let's her freely use glitter and 'stuff'. I'm not so free with that stuff because I HATE to clean it all up!

Breccan is getting tickled by Daddy!

More, more, more!

Crusty Pecan Chicken

Here's another recipe I made last night that was pretty good! The kids ate it, and more importantly, Jery ate it! He isn't a chicken fan and so usually when I make chicken he only eats about half. But I think he pretty much cleaned up his plate for this one!

Pecan-Crusted Chicken

1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup finely chopped pecan
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
1-1/2 tsp. paprika
1-1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, flattened slightly (ooops! I forgot to flatten!)
2 tbsp. canola oil

Place milk in a shallow bow. In another shallow bowl, combine the flour, pecans, sesame seeds, paprika, pepper and salt. Dip chicken in milk and coat in flour mixture.

Brown chicken in hot oil in a nonstick skillet. Transfer to a greased 15x10 inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, for 15 - 20 minutes or until juices run clear.

I served this with Crash Hot Potatoes, found on the Pioneer Woman's blog (check the sidebar of blogs I watch and go to her recipe section). These were EXCELLENT!!!! I tried to put a link here, but I didn't have any luck. So you'll have to search yourself!!! Ha, ha!

Toys for Tots Drive

We took the kids shopping Friday morning to pick out a toy for the Toys for Tots Drive. BayLea wanted to buy incredibly expensive toys, so it took a while to get one that we could afford. Breccan picked one out pretty quickly. I thought it would be hard for them to give them up that night, but it wasn't! They did so well!

We got to look up close at these incredible light creations too. These are some floats that were build the Grand Junction Pipe and Steel years ago, and we see them in the Parade of Lights, and although they have them on display different places at Christmas each year, this is the first time we've seen them up close. The kids were fascinated!

I have more picture to post from tonight, but I have to finish editing them.

Life as we know it...

Such beautiful hair...Lately BayLea has loved doing my hair. Can't say I love it as she pulls and twists and hangs it in my face, but hey, whatever makes BayLea happy! But anyway, she did my hair tonight. I think I must have had about 7 clips and barettes in my 'do!

This is Breccan with a thermos. This will probably be his new passion for putting things in, such as his "very expensive" keys, and his coins. He thinks that coins have a never ending supply and whenever he loses his, he just thinks he can get some off daddy's desk.

BayLea thought she should now dance for us in her ballet costume from last year, and her hair clip. She's so cute dancing around. I also love these pictures because of daddy in the background grinning with pride at her.

More practice with BayLea and my new camera...it's awesome!

BayLea looked so darned cute today in her little outfit and new headband and flipped up hair. I couldn't resist snapping about 45 pictures!!! Yes, I have a problem! But look at her. Isn't she cute?

I love how I caught this image with those tails flipping up.

And don't ya just love front door lighting??? And check out her eyes!

Another of Taylor

I just love it. I think it's pretty of her!