Emma's birthday, and the BIG ONE (snowstorm)

Well the " storm of the century" certainly didn't materialize enough to keep me from going to work today, although it appears that we got quite a bit last night for a grand total of around 8" or so.  The forecast for this week is more snow. I'm looking forward to hearing "we need the moisture" repeated throughout the day!
The snow did provide a nice setting for the weekend gathering at our house in honor of Emma's 15th birthday. It was quite a crazy craft fest!....Scrapbooking, painting, sewing, oh my!

 These photos makes it appear that we were super organized and didn't make the biggest mess in the history of crafting!  Gabi made a pillow for Sophie while Sophie was at her soccer game.  Meredith brought some patterns for the kids to make owls (and may I compliment her on her patience with the sewing projects?) while Carrie and Gabi made a new dress for her American Girl doll, Emma completed  some artwork for her room and Amie and I worked on scrapbooking.  Sophie tried her hand at all of it!
Corbin got in on the last round, completing his owl.

After the cleanup, we started dinner with Emma's choices of salmon and crockpot mashed potatoes, and complimented by Spencer's fried chicken (the best!) and a broccoli salad that Sophie and Corbin assembled (not without a little freakage as they cut up veggies) and of course, a birthday cake for Emma.

 

 It was sure a fun day!
Yesterday, not that fun.....I attempted to vacuum and was having issues with the vacuum, so Brad said he would work on it...yeah, all of the sudden sparks flew and the vacuum was history.  He thought that he had previously "fixed" it, but couldn't quite remember how, and then couldn't find the breaker to turn the system back on.  Anyway, I ordered one online and it will hopefully work with our central vac system.  These electrical things are not exactly in my area of expertise. We took a break around lunch time and went to a movie to see "McFarland". (based on a true story) I thought it was
good, but Brad found it unbelievable that kids who had never participated in a sport could make it to the state tournament and win.  "No way that happened", he said.  For those of you who have enjoyed (?) the pleasure of his company this weekend, you understand!

Lovin February

We've had an amazing week of beautiful weather, reaching close to 70 for several days and inspiring those who don't realize that it's WINTER to wear shorts, tank tops, flip flops an even some to go shirtless!  Mother Nature decided we were getting a little too used to the warmth, so yesterday the temperatures dropped and this morning there is a little (although not as much here as predicted) snow on the ground, with the temperature at 27...Denver got all of the snow this time.
Valentines Day was Saturday and was celebrated Friday by Amie and Curt with dinner out and a movie (Yeah, you guessed it...Shades of Grey....I can imagine Amie turning red) and simultaneously dinner out and a movie for Carrie and Spencer, but no shades for them- American Sniper.  Carrie dropped Corbin off at our house before taking Gabi to her voice lesson in Loveland.  He and I played a board game until it was time to go get Gabi.  Meanwhile, Sophie was dropped off with us to get her to a slumber party @5:30. We drove to Loveland and grabbed Gabi, turned around and drove back to Greeley to drop Sophie off and then home.

 Corbin and Gabi wanted to play "Chop" for dinner (a reality tv cooking show) so I was busy making lots of different (leftover) dishes for them to try. Funny kids!
I asked Brad Saturday morning what he would like to do for Valentines Day (besides eating breakfast out) and he decided that we should go to Central City, picking up Mom on the way.  It was a beautiful day and the mountains were spectacular.  I had to take a quick pic of the scenery (yes, while driving....kids, don't do what I did, okay?) as it was gorgeous.

 We enjoyed being at the Ameristar (in Black Hawk).  Mom was really blown away by the changes in that area, not having been there for a number of years.  She hadn't seen any slot machines since the old orange, cherry, lemon ones for years, either,  And since there were no $2 Black Jack tables (yup, those were the good old days), she played the slots with me.  I had to get a picture of this machine, just to point out the advancement (?) of the games.....I had a good day playing, coming out ahead for the first time that I can remember, and Brad enjoyed the poker table.  We met up for dinner and then began the long drive home.  It's quite a trip from our house to Mom's to Central City and the reverse.  I think she enjoyed getting out, anyway.
We had Sunday dinner here yesterday, minus the Taylor's, who were eating out to celebrate Emma's birthday (the 18th) as a family.  We will celebrate next weekend.  After dinner (we cooked a ham), the girls wanted to play "Shark Boots", so we played one round.

 

 The kids, especially (Sophie and Gabi) get such a kick out of the game!
Gramma had gone to the Dr. on Friday to get a steroid shot in her knee.  She didn't get the shot, but had some blood work done and was told to get a Life Line
 in the event of another fall and rescheduled her shot for today.  When I got home, I asked her how it went at her visit.  "It went real well and I liked the Dr. real much. He had a picture of an ear in his office, so I asked him to check mine out.  He said the right one was real waxy, so he told me to take some medication to clear it up (decongestant)

so I can hear." HMMMMM.....that should do it!

Rory and his friends went to the school Valentines Day dance.  Not sure how it went, but glad to see that plaid shirts are the thing to wear!

Brad has been adjusting to his life without a vehicle, having walked twice to Wal Mart and once to King Soopers (a pretty long distance) to pick up whatever necessities he has in mind.  He is only frustrated when he tries to get help finding an item that he cannot name....this weeks item was pasole!

Bridge, Brad, Basketball, Biaggis, Birthday

What a beautiful weekend! We couldn't believe it was nearly seventy degrees yesterday- crazy for mid February.  Brad and I did our Friday errands and then went to dinner Friday night and on to the bridge tournament at the Ranch.  Dinner was fabulous.  (Thanks to my wonderful children who gave us a gift card for Christmas to Biaggi's.) Bridge was not so fabulous.....Brad struggled to remember how to play the entire evening.....On the way home I told him that "we may not be able to play again, but that was okay, after all, it's just a card game", and he got so upset and said I was never to say that again....he just needs to concentrate harder and work on it more.  Bridge conventions are not something that he could "work on".

Saturday brought soccer games and basketball with Corbin (looking more grown up than ever in his new glasses) and playing a great game of basketball, claiming the most rebounds.  Guess a broken pinkie isn't going to stop him.

 From there, we picked Gabi up at dance where she spends every Saturday with her BFF, Angelina. Carrie had taken her to get Valentine nails the day before, so of course we had to have a picture.  Meanwhile, as we were busy preparing dinner for Spencer's birthday,Spencer was en route to the airport to get Sarah and Trent.  We made Spencer's favorite, a pork loin with mashed potatoes.  Meredith made him his dessert of choice, a  crockpot fruit cobbler with banana ice cream.  We transported the dinner to their house, after dropping Gabi off at the ice skating rink for a birthday party.  The girls were working on a puzzle when we arrived, with Cupcake standing watch!

 The  thing about dining at the Frost house with a large crowd is that we run short on silverware. We all cracked up at the choice of utensils, from meat forks to plastic knives to measuring spoons!

 While we were getting ready to eat, Sarah colored my (much needed) hair and as the evening progressed did Brad's, and Curt, Amie, Rory, Sophie and Grayson's as well.  As always, we so appreciate Sarah and look forward to her (short) visits!  The boys played Mario Brothers on the tv while the scissors were flying.

's

 After singing "Happy Birthday" (with the standard followup of "are you one? are you two? are you three? and on to 39)  we enjoyed our cobbler while the kids ate cupcakes that Emma baked and brought, Grayson diving right into his!

 

 And as we were wrapping up the evening, I caught this special "love moment" with Emma and Brad. So sweet!