I'll repost AW's link so you can try it too. It is called Escapa! Then you can post funny little numbers, too.

Escapa!

And the real boys are back.

I've just made a trip to town, listening to Neaksis' youngest adoptee read his social studies lesson out loud, to improve comprehension on our part, as well as his. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Let me tell you what I learned. (1) The people who objected to the pope, back in the time of Henry VIII, were called "Prostates." (2) The folk who then rebelled against the church of England were called Separatists, because they worshiped serpents. Gotta watch out for those "serpentists!" <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Prostates....

ROTFLMBO!

Send TIM TAMS!!!!!!!

NOW!!!!!


PLEASE!!!!!!

I just got a Violet Crumbles bar from the drugstore, real Aussie candy!

And I've got one for ya...the Dervish got some moss from the dentist today. Moss. You know, what you moss your teeth with after meals. Dental moss? Mint flavored dental moss?

AJ's tooth got put to sleep and the abcess drained, and maybe for a temp, maybe not, the dentist filled in the chip. AJ can almost smile now. Also, he has another round of antibiotics to go through, and another appointment Monday. It's been kindofa long day, but now my favorite time is here, bedtime. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here's to bedtime.....but, before I go, what did you think of the Violet Crumble?

After a brief round of ablutions at the sink. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> And that's the tooth, and nothing but the tooth. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. Good thing there's MB or I wouldn't know what happened to her day! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

*lips pursed primly again* NOT solo.

The violet crumble was interesting. Good, but not at all like what I expected. (Not purple, for one thing.)

Mom, I got you one.

Well I don't know how to tell you this but ........ Violet Crumbles are made in the same factory as Vegemite, which I obviously think is a bonus <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

And the Aussie urban myth is that it was named after a young woman not because it's coloured lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

And I have a great kids recipes for it .... yes even the BIG kids like Aussie <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Preparation Time 20 minutes

Cooking Time 5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 12)
3 tsp gelatine powder
375g pkt cream cheese (really yummy is Mascarpone Cheese), at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup (115g) caster sugar
300ml thickened cream
2 x 145g pkts Violet Crumble bites, roughly crushed
7 frozen waffles, toasted

Method
Line the base and sides of a 26 x 6 1/2 cm rectangular slice pan with non-stick baking paper.
Sprinkle the gelatine over 1/4 cup (60ml) of water in a heatproof bowl. Place in a saucepan over simmering water and stir until the gelatine has dissolved. Set aside to cool slightly.
Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese, vanilla essence and sugar until smooth. Use clean electric beaters to beat the cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Fold the cream into the cream cheese mixture with the gelatine and half the Violet Crumble (cut up or crumbled of course).
Cut the waffles to fit base of the prepared pan. Spoon the cheese mixture into the pan and smooth the surface. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. Scatter with the remaining Violet Crumble to serve.

I'd make it while the kids were at school ... thats so you can eat it before they get home! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'll be over before 3 pm, then.

Got up and worked out again this morning.

I was drying my hair when the Wookie was on the treadmill for his workout, then the transformer blew...and not the one in Leo's bedroom. The one outside feeding us juice.

It was all I could do NOT to lmbo at the Wookies grumbles because he had to shower with candles in the bathroom. I thought it was chez romantique....apparently hairy beasts think otherwise.

Don't tell Mel, but my hair is hopelessly flat. I might get kicked out of the club.

I can shower in the dark if the water is still warm. There's something about dark, and cold water though.....

Kimmy, come by and get some of these Anaheim peppers. I can pick you a 5 gal bucket in less then 5 minutes.

SS

I read down through the thread. It WAS NOT BORING.

I'll take some of AW's chocolate. It's good stuff.

Looks like no one was killed or maimed while tamping, but I had hoped for the whole story. Ah well.

The camping comments were interesting to me. Camping is a way of life for our family. I mean, we do it often. Once you have the basic stuff, it doesn't cost much to go, and we have lots of places to go that are:

1. Really nice (beautiful.)
2. Close to us.
3. Not crowded.

These are from our last trip to the north rim of the Grand Canyon

The closest other camper to us was about a mile away - and he was by himself. This is our camp.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/camp.jpg

Many people ask me why I like it. One of the big things is just sitting around the fire talking. The phone doesn't ring, and none of the kids leave to spend time with their friends. It seems like quality time for families.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/camp2.jpg

The grand Canyon is beautiful at sunset.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/sunset.jpg

Even in camp you get quite a view.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/sunset2.jpg

We took the dirt road out to point sublime and took a family picture. Not everyone was there, but most of us.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/family.jpg

Point Sublime - and I think it was aptly named.
www.outdooroutlet.com/SS/GC2007/point-sublime.jpg


I took walks before bed time both nights. The second night, my youngest daughter joined me (14). She talked and talked about lots of things. I listened.

Listening can be such an eye opener. A parent can learn so much, and it can really strengthen a relationship. she loved the trip.

We looked at the stars. The moon was full, or nearly so, so we walked without lights. The Ponderosa pines cast shadows on the little used dirt road. It was quiet, and cool enough for a jacket, but not cold enough for hats and gloves. We laughed as we walked.

It seems like there are too many interruptions at home, and too many distractions. So, I suppose the reason I like camping has much more to do with relationships, and people, and family...... than with camping for camping sake.

We had each family (of our married children) do a complete meal. That meant we each did only one meal, plus a lunch on our own in the two and a half days we were out. If you only have to do one meal, you get to relax more.


I can really identify with AJ and his dental problems. I just got a crown put on yesterday, and a tooth filled.
I hope he gets some relief right away.

SS

Guess what kind of camping supplies we have........









two sleeping bags

Maybe Wookie likes his hairy breasts hairy, and not with little circular or oblong bald patches. *shrug* No accounting for some peoples' taste.

SS, loved the pictures. I really want to go back to the Grand Canyon sometime, but I'll settle for Yosemite in the meantime. Actually you have gotten pretty much the whole story of the camping trip, just in bits and pieces. Snowing, cold, freezing, no spoons at first, GP got sick (both ends) the first morning, we spent almost the whole rest of the day huddled around the fire except late afternoon when we took a couple of walks after several families from church showed up, Dad took GP home with him that night, then Sunday morning we clustered (not huddled) around the fire till it was time to break camp and go home. The only thing I/we might have missed was the part about the raccoons. Did you hear anything about raccoons yet?

Rella, you're off to a fine start.

Neaksis' adopted daughter, Val, remains in therapy. Theraplay has turned out to be very beneficial for her and she has been more open in discussing her molestation, etc. She's almost 12 now and yesterday en route the talk turned to puberty and things gynecological. During the conversation, Val turned to Neaksis and said, "So, have you ever had one of those pimp smears?" <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

LOL!!!!

So, all you non-hygienic types, I have a travel destination for you....



<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> RC & MOON PIE FESTIVAL <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ooooh!!!!!! Tasty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too tired to write much, had to get up early and was up late. AJ went to the dentist and is finally getting better. We both applied at Toys R Us today, to be seasonal drivers. Well, it would buy some time to figure things out.