Merry F-ing Christmas

What a night... trying to make cookies with both of the boys was like a special walk in hell...

Thanksgiving Wrestling Match

First Night of Basketball

Many of you may not be privy to the fact that Jedd nearly died at the first Denman team basketball game last year.

In preparation for his date with death, he's been conditioning on the treadmill for the past two weeks (once a week for 20 minutes...). In addition, he did some major stretching tonight.

I just talked to him on his way for beers at Three Bag. He obviously survived the game.

The new door is finally painted and installed!

One more thing has been knocked off the list. I just insulated it with foam today and caulked the outside. Should be good to go for another 30 years or so. Hey, where's my ace assistant? She's inconspicuously missing from the photos, but I couldn't have done it without her.

Working on Projects to Check Off the List!

Waiting in line for IMAX

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Quincy's New Habit

Nice, huh? Doesn't help that Jack thinks it's hilarious...

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Wine Tour Day Two

As has become tradition, we made it to only half of the wineries we planned on today. And since that was two, we only made it to the one... Prairie Moon in Ames. The wine wasn't awesome, but the winery was great. We brought some lunch to eat out on the patio, and since the owner messed up on my credit card, he felt bad enough to put us on the gator and give us a tour of the 20-acre vineyard. We even got to eat four different types of grapes - vidal, concord, cabernet and one other - right off the vine. Good times!

Jedd & Kelly's Excellent (Wine Tour) Adventure

"Wake me in ten minutes." Jedd Moore, 30

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Girls at Hamburg

We had so much fun in Iowa City this weekend. Kathy Griffin was okay (she spent a lot of time talking about politics, though, so I didn't love that). Then we went back to the ped mall and to three different bars we used to hang out in during school. This morning, we topped it off with a breakfast at the Hamburg Inn across from Corcoran Communications.

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Kielbasa

Jedd and crew at Oktoberfest

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Prince of the Parade

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Fun Weekend

Some weekends we play, some we don't. This one was a "don't".... but we did get 3 or 4 things crossed off of our "list". Just had to post some pictures of our work in progress. Just being able to cross things off that list motivates me, I know.. I'm wierd.
Hope everyone else had some fun!

Two black girls.....

Teeny Tailgator

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Meet Gracie (maybe Burmeister)

Gracie is possibly the new addition to the Burmeister family. We'll decide for sure after seeing the vet tomorrow and making sure all is well, but she is a black puggie looking for a good home that she can get attention in. See pictures of her and Vinny....Gracie is definitely trying to show who's boss!

Go Cyclones...

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Facebook... Everybody's Doing It...

Hey, Jeremy, Mom and I are all Facebook members, so Lyndsey, Jedd and Dad, you're up. Go join!

At the Library

We went to the library and look at the book Quincy picked out...

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Imagine if I had a girl.

I spent a large portion of Domestic Day sorting, donating and tossing the boys' clothes, and I can't believe how much they have!

What Childhood Obesity Problem?

Got His Mom's Photogenetics

What does this mean?

Q: What does it mean when you are actually excited to head to Iowa in the middle of August?

A: That you have a crazy boss that you can't WAIT to avoid for a day...just a day away!

Close Up of Flowers

Flowers at the Condo

Bob Nowak sent this photo of the flowers ... they look pretty good. I'm going to crop a photo and try to upload it.

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

You're old!

I agree ...

can it get any hotter. My God, what a year! Steve and I did nothing physical today, just sat out at our garage sale for 9 hours and both feel like we've run a marathon. I attribute it to the heat.
Best part of the day was meeting lots of really nice people from the 'hood and some were even interesting. I got to show the backyard to a couple of gals who were really gardens and appreciated the work that goes into a yard like ours. It was refreshing to actually "talk" flowers complete with names instead of the usual compliments about the yard being "pretty". Of course, I love any compliments but I think you girls know what I mean. It's so fun to actually walk around the yard and discuss specific flowers, etc.

Anyway, we sold about 20% of our inventory so tomorrow better be a heck of a lot busier or we're going to burn more gas taking the stuff (multiple trips) to Goodwill than it's probably worth. I'm going to call St. Vincent de Paul's tomorrow and see if I can get on a "pick up schedule". I wouldn't be surprised if they've discontinue that with the gas prices.

Loved you guys' pictures on this site! Cute ones of Vinny in the car. And yours on the Mother Load, Kelly! The boys were so cute at the farm and Merle Hay. I laughed at the staged "Wizard of Oz" shoes, the boys in their ties and the trained seals!!! hahaha! Jack looks soooo hot in that one with his chain saw.

Lyns I made little Katie (Karen's granddaughter) very happy by giving her a box of little bears you had collected .. remember them? She was really tickled with them and was playing "house" on the sidewalk. Best $2 I spent today (that's the price I had on the whole box and they didn't sell). Guess toy bears aren't worth what they used to be - ha! Just know that they went to a good home! ;)

Too freakin' hot!

I realize that I'm preaching to the choir on this one, but my God, how hot can it get?!?

I keep trying to keep in mind that we don't have humidity to contend with here, but for 18 days straight, the temps in Colorado have been above 90 degrees! I went to try on pants tonight at Express and was out of the heat for 10 minutes and I still left sweat marks on them. (Kind-of makes you feel guilty if you don't get the pants you tried on then...which, by the way, I did purchase.)

Just thought I'd share!

Vinny's day in the car....it's a hard knock life for a pug!

My Little Trained Seals

Mrs. Reed's Preschool Class

We gave Jack a print out of his classmates this morning. By dinner, he pretty much knew all of them... the girls at least.

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Smartest Boy on Earth

When we got our number tonight at dinner, Jack said, "That's No. 16!" Look out Holy Trinity Preschool...

Tired Puppy Dogs

Jack got his face painted tonight at Jordan Creek's Family Festival... Quincy just got tired.

I've Just About Had It w/Varmints

Now something's eating my patio chair cushions... argghh!!!

More recipes....

Szechuan Chicken

Weight Watchers Cookbook

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts

3 T hoisin sauce

2 T cornstarch

½ cup chicken broth

2 T rice vinegar

2 T sugar

2 t chili-garlic sauce

1 T canola oil

1 T minced peeled ginger

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 green pepper

1 head of broccoli

2 medium carrots

¼ cup unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

In a medium bowl:

Combine the chicken

1 T hoisin sauce

1 T cornstarch

Toss to coat and set aside

In a small bowl, combine:

2 T hoisin sauce

1 T cornstarch

Chicken broth

Rice vinegar

Sugar

Chili-garlic sauce

Heat a skillet or wok over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles

Swirl in the oil and then add the chicken

Stir-fry until almost cooked through (2-3 minutes)

Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant (about 10 seconds)

Add the green pepper, broccoli, carrots, and peanuts

Stir-fry until crisp-tender (about 2 minutes)

Add the hoisin mixture from the small bowl

Stir constantly until the sauce boils and thickens

Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps with Curried Couscous

Food Network, Robin Miller

1 T sesame oil 1 cup shredded cabbage 1 cup shredded carrots 2 cups shredded flank steak or chicken 1/4 cup hoisin sauce 1 T reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 1/4 cups water 1 cup uncooked couscous Salt and pepper 1 t curry powder 8 Bibb or romaine lettuce leaves In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the sesame oil and heat. Add the cabbage and carrots and saute for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook, stirring, until the beef is heated and the cabbage begins to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add the hoisin sauce and soy sauce and cook 5 minutes, until mixture heats through and cabbage wilts, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil. Place the couscous in a heatproof bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and curry powder. Pour the boiling water over the couscous and cover for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Spoon some of the beef into the center of each lettuce leaf and roll up. Serve with the couscous.

Awesome recipes...thought I would share

Jeremy and I are trying to get back into the habit of cooking a new and different meal every week....and we definitely succeeded tonight. It'll be a long post, but we are putting up our two new ones from tonight, the Lettuce Wraps from our "WINNING MEAL", and also the Szechuan Chicken. Enjoy!

Crispy Crab Cakes (delicious...just need a sauce!)

¼ cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 egg white
1 t Dijon mustard
1 t Old Bay Seasoning (at the Seafood counter)
1 t Worcestershire sauce
¾ lb imitation crab meat, chopped
½ lb medium peeled and deveined shrimp, chopped
¾ cup fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs
1 T olive oil
1 (5 oz) bag mixed greens (or fresh spinach)
4 lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine the mayonnaise, egg white, mustard, Old Bay seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Beat with a whisk until blended

Add the crabmeat and shrimp. Mix well

Add the breadcrumbs, stirring until blended

Form 7-8 patties

Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until lightly brown (3-4 minutes on each side)

Transfer to a baking sheet, baking until cooked through (about 8-10 minutes)

Serve with mixed greens and a lemon wedge

Beef and Gorgonzola Toasts (awesome...you'll love these Kel...and they look like Top Chef winners!)

1 ¼ lb beef tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray
1 t salt
½ t ground black pepper
30 (1/4 inch thick) slices diagonally cut French bread baguette, toasted
Herb-Garlic Cream
2/3 cup fat free sour cream
2 T minced fresh chives
2 T low-fat mayonnaise
1 ½ T chopped fresh thyme
1 ½ t Worcestershire sauce
¼ t ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
****or you can get Garlic and Herb Cheese spread prepared in the cheese section of your local grocery store****
30 baby spinach leaves
5 T crumbled gorgonzola cheese
Preheat oven to 475
Trim tenderloin of fat
Spray boiler pan with cooking spray and place tenderloin/steak on it. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes at 475. Flip tenderloin/steak, reduce heat to 425, and cook for 20 more minutes or until thermometer reaches 145 degrees (medium rare)
Remove from oven, cover with foil, and let stand 10 minutes
Cut tenderloin across the grain into very thin slices
Toast the thinly sliced baguettes
Spread with the garlic-herb cream
Top with 1 spinach leaf, a slice of beef, and a few crumbles of gorgonzola.

Annie's Wedding from the Lens of a Sucky Camera

I didn't get many photos of Annie's wedding because our camera started crapping out midway through the wedding day... but you get the idea...