Blast from the Past: Thanksgiving 2011 Part 2

Here are some other happenings from Thanksgiving Break 2011:

We took LL1 and LL2 to see the Jolly Old Elf the day after Thanksgiving. Although LL1 met him last year, he had time to reconsider how scary all that jolliness can be. He had no trouble letting Santa know how he felt.

He quickly recovered when Santa gave him a bag that was chucked full of candy.  He enjoyed the trip to the old fire truck much better.

He found red suited the truck much better.

LL2 had never met him before so she breezed through her visit.

Mom and I went to Salt Lake one evening for a birthday celebration and made a quick stop at Temple Square.

I snapped a few pics of Loo's family for her (don't worry, I am not tempted to go into the family portrait business):

FarmerDad and FarmerBoy worked on the combine with help from LL1, LL2 and Loo:

After the train ride, LL1 figured out Gramps had connections to
all the big, fun toys.  He decided Gramps his best buddy.

LL1 may have spent some of the time more interested
in finding and examining ears of corn.

Loo and LL2 watched from a little ways back.

LL1 loved raking and playing with the leaves so everyone got to spend some time with him doing that.

Also, over the course of the visit, Loo made this dress for LL2:

Even at 4 months LL2 seems to care about fashion.
Good luck with that, Loo. 

Blast from the Past: Thanksgiving 2011 Part 1a

In the first post I had problems uploading a video of the train pulling into town.  I thought the nieces and nephews might like to watch it so I kept trying.  I hope this works. . . 

Blast from the Past: Thanksgiving 2011 Part 1 a.k.a. I Choo Choo Choose You

The day before Thanksgiving and old steam engine stopped in town so we all went to see it.  It was the last steam engine (and, possibly passenger train) that Union Pacific made.  It was taking a round-about way back to Omaha after being in Arizona and New Mexico for their state centennials.  Of course, we had to take pictures:

 

Then, we found out they were letting people ride it.  However, the next stop would be 70 miles away and anyone who rode it would need to have someone pick them up at that stop.  We decided we could make that work (Thanks Mom!).  LL1, who had been ignoring 'Gramps' for most of the visit thus far, found a good reason to spend some quality time with grandpa.

FarmerDad, FarmerBoy, LL1, AuntC, and I boarded the train for the adventure.  We thought UncleD would want to join us too but, he was nowhere to be found.  Before we left, Moo jumped on to give us a bag filled with snacks and activities to keep LL1 entertained only to be told by the conductor that they had closed the doors, were leaving the station, and she had now had to take the trip.  She took the news quite well.

As we left town we located Uncle D heading back to the cars from way down the road.  

That's UncleD

There was nothing we could do but enjoy our ride at that point so we did.

Everyone had fun.  LL1 loved the train and most of the ride we did not need the bag other than for snacks.  He divided his time between all of us (although, FarmerDad thinks that the way I took pictures shows that LL1 spent way more time with him than he actually did.  Oh, well.  History is written by the vict. . . er. . . those who record it).

Pointing out Gran' and Gramps' home and farm.

Sitting w/ Gramps gave him a better view of the passing train.

Here's proof LL1 spent time with others of us too:

Here he is with Aunt Moo

And again, this time waving to people along the way.

He loved my hat

We also were able to see places from views we normally do not get to:

We only get to see the graffiti that faces the road.

We saw gorgeous views too.

Blast from the Past: June 2011 AKA Why was there a 'Sportscaster' at that Event?

My last post on the poker commentary got me thinking (but not very deep - did you read the commentary highlights?), "Why was there a sportscaster at the event?"  Sadly, I realized that this would only be #3 on my 'Why was there a Sportscaster at this event?' list.  So what ones beat it out?

#2  Dodgeball Tournament June 2005*
The 'sportscasters' were going crazy with their electronic pens.  Now, when there is only one ball (as is the case with 98% of ball sports.  Although, that number may be off; I'm not quite sure where to include rhythmic gymnastics) you know the commentators are using their pens to illustrate actual points say, trajectory or showing better passing routes.  When there are several balls being thrown at once, the commentators are only using those pens to see fast they can draw 10 lines.

#1  National Spelling Bee appx 2003
Backstage after one of the kids had been eliminated from the competition he was approached by a sportscaster and asked, "How do you feel knowing that last year you got out on a French-based word and this year, your last year to compete, you were once again defeated by a French-based word?"  Come on - the kid was in middle school.  I hope the 'sportscaster' had to pay for any therapy the kid needed after that.

Can you think of any that should be on this list?

*I only know when it was because I saw it when my mom picked me up from the mission.

Blast from the Past: June 2011 A.K.A. It's Hotter than the Sahara During Heat Wave

So I'm hanging out with a friend right now. He's watching poker on TV while I'm updating my blog. Every now and then I catch some of the commentary. Let me tell you, it is special. I'd hate for you miss out on any of the award winning comments just because you weren't watching. Ready?

He's blowing up like my prostate!

He's hotter than my cousin's gold Rolex!

That's got to hurt like a Brazilian wax!

He's hotter than a cup of coffee at McDonald's.

Give him some butter because he's on a roll.

Comments specifically made about a man whose nickname was 'The Toilet':

'The Toilet' has overflowed!

Once again 'The Toilet' is running smooth.

'The Toilet' has got some fresh Tidy Bowl in his game.

The king has regained his throne!

Later on it got really exciting. It got so exciting that one of the players, as he stated himself, "may have snapped [his] ACL." No joke. He spent the rest of the game icing his knee with his leg propped up.