I can't smile without you

Well, we're back and had a wonderful weekend. The Barry Manilow concert was good, but what was even better was just hanging out with my husband. It was so nice to go back to the city that provides so many wonderful memories from our first years of marriage, our first home, our first child. The weather was perfect, the company even better and I just want him to know how much I appreciate his efforts to make it such a great weekend for me. I love you, hon.

UH HUH

IF YOU SAY SO, BABY.....JUST KEEP ON TELLING YOURSELF THAT.

Let me clarify....

So, yes, my sweet husband surprised me with a weekend away. I am so excited to get away with just him and enjoy some time together. But, I do not love Barry, nor is he my secret love, but I will admit enjoying his music and I do own his greatest hits CD. :) We will have a great time! Thanks hon, I love you!

HONEY

HOW BOUT SOME FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT IN LAS VEGAS!!!!!

NOVEMBER 14-16, 2008

ADULTS ONLY

LOCATION – COPA CABANA – LAS VEGAS

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW.....HEATHERS SECRET LOVE IS BARRY THE FAIRY.......SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE HER ONE NIGHT WITH HIM......HAHA

Why parents drink. (or REALLY want to drink!)

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to "Dad."
With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.
Dear Dad:
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all the piercings, tatoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion....Dad she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS, so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren. Love,
Your Son John
P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer.
I love you.
Call me when it is safe to come home.

What do YOU think?

For those of you who know my hubby and his twin, Joel, know that they are identical twins. I came across this baby picture of the boys and I can tell who is who....can you??

Yum!

Ok, so it wasn't a HUGE hit with the kids, but Bett and I loved it! Valerie asked for me to share any new recipes I have tried and liked, so here ya go!

PS. makes a ton, so you can freeze and eat later!

Pasta e Fagioli (Olive Garden)

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 large carrot, diced (small pieces ~ 1 cup)
3 stalks celery, diced (small pieces ~ 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 (15 oz) can great northern beans (with liquid)
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (12 oz) can V8 juice
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 pound (1/2 pkg.) ditali pasta (I couldn't find this, so I used small shell noodles)

1. Brown the ground beef and drain off fat.
2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute' for 10 minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 50 minutes.
4. At 50 minutes into simmer time, cook the pasta in boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is "al dente" or slightly tough. Drain water.
5. Add the pasta to the soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve.

Halloween '08

Harris Halloween '08

Well, it has come and gone and we had a great Halloween. So grateful for the nice weather and good company while we sat on the front porch handing out candy. This is the first year Sydney has gone trick or treating with friends (without mom or dad) and Morgan went around the neighborhood with her friend Maddie and her dad. Joel, Shelley and their kids came over as did Layne, Julie and Mylee and we had an enjoyable evening eating pizza and Krispy Kreme donuts (compliments of the Olsen family who give out a box of a dozen donuts per kid every year!) Kendra had more fun giving out (and of course, eating!) the candy as people came to the door and we ended the evening with a visit up to Grandma and Grandpa Harris'.

Neighborhood Halloween Party

Yes, another Halloween Party and it's not even Halloween yet! Fun to hang out with our "neighborhood family", though. They had dinner, at least 6 booths including a cake walk and fortune teller, a dance and showed a movie on the big screen right in the middle of the culdesac. A few of us dressed up in 80's fashion and sang back up for our friend who was Madonna. Yes, I did it and yes, it was embarassing! The things we do for friends.... (it was her wedding anniversary and she dressed as Madonna and sang "Holiday" but their last name is "Halliday" and changed the words to dedicate the song to her hubby....)

The Witches Party

I have another fabulous sister in law (lets face it, all my sisters in law are fabulous!) that threw a "Witches" party for 2 of her daughters and 45, yes I said forty five of their friends!! Everyone dressed up as witches (Shelley included) and they did 2 hours of fun activities! They went on a scavenger hunt for things like dead flies, a toenail, fake spiders, witches wart, etc. Then they put those things in the "witches brew". (aka homemade rootbeer) She fed them dinner, they watched "Charlie Browns Halloween" and then played some games. I'll tell ya, I'm so grateful for the wonderful people in our lives who take the time and energy to create such fun memories for our family! Here are some pics of the girls before they headed out....

A trip to the Pumpkin Patch...

The 2008 Housley Halloween Party~ Thanks Kim!

Braden, the Jazz player

Cameron, a Cowboys coach and Dane, a monkey

Brooke, the Indian princess

Jordan and Erin as Obama and Sarah Palin

"Grandma" Housley


Jenny in her "Jazzercise" leotard!

Kim in her "handmade" Loofah

Lana the "Flapper"

Alexa, the kitty kat

Theran and his version of "Big Momma"

Clayton "AKA Richard Simmons

our Fam~probably the first and only time I'll get us dressed as a "theme"



A few years ago our sweet and amazingly talented sister in law (Therans wife) started the very great tradition of an annual Halloween Party. It's been a fun idea and such a crack up to see what everyone dresses up as every year. (for a family that can be pretty uncreative ~ me included ~ we've come up with some good costumes!) A shout out to Taylor, Val and Isaac who weren't here this year, we missed you!

Well, this is WAY overdue!

Happy Birthday Morgan Kate! Our little girl just turned 6! Thank you for making us laugh, keeping us on our toes and for ALWAYS drawing us pictures! We love you!

Getting our toes done...

We have a good friend who is amazing at handpainting toes and so, the girls and I (minus Kendra) went and got them done for Halloween. (Syd wouldn't let me take a picture of hers...)

Well MOM is away in Vegas and we have had to resort to fast food, no laundry service and no one to clean up after us.

"We got no MOM"

"We got no cook"

"We got no maid"

Life is horrible ... what are we to do?

WE LOVE YOU MOM.... PLEASE DON'T STAY AWAY TOO LONG!

Can't say I haven't been tempted.... (love you dear!)

South Salt Lake, Utah -- A man is in stable condition after being stabbed by his wife this morning. Police say the two were arguing over a to-do list.

Police say this is a domestic dispute that went way too far. Now one person is in jail.

At 6:00 this morning, police responded to a domestic dispute call from a home near 3600 South and 700 East. When officers arrived, they found a man who had been stabbed in his upper torso with a steak knife.


Police say the man's wife, 27-year-old Jennifer Melvin, is the one who stabbed him after a confrontation about a to-do list she had created for him earlier that morning.

Gary Keller, with the South Salt Lake Police Department, said, "Some of these start with the craziest things. This began as just a regular squabble between husband and wife. She was making a list for him of things to do, and it escalated from there."

The victim was transported to an area hospital in serious but stable condition. He has since been released.

Police say this is not the first time they have responded to this address. In fact, they say they have responded to several domestic dispute calls between the couple in the past; however, this was the first one where one of the victims was stabbed.

Jennifer Melvin was arrested and booked on aggravated domestic assault charges. Police say those charges will be screened through the county attorney's office.

Police say there was evidence of physical contact between the couple prior to the stabbing, and they are looking into possible charges against him as well.

Addicted.

Here's a yummy looking recipe. I haven't tried it out yet, but will soon!


4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 large baking potato, peeled and diced
1 head broccoli (about 1 pound), cut into bite-size florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup whole milk
coarse salt and ground pepper

in a large pot, cook bacon over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. increase heat to medium. cook onion, stirring, until it begins to soften, 6 to 8 minutes.

add flour; cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. add broth and potato; bring to a boil. reduce to a simmer; cook until potato is tender, about 10 minutes. add broccoli, corn, thyme, and milk. cook until broccoli is crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. season with salt and pepper. serve topped with bacon and sourdough bread.