Merry Christmas from Samuel & Benjamin

A little late, I know, but S&B got some new technology, and things have been slow to figure out.  We arrived in Colorado last Friday, and about an hour later, the snow started.  Then, we woke up on Christmas morning to more big, fat snowflakes falling.  The first white Weddel/Allan Christmas ever (other than our pasty complexions)!  Then even more snow fell yesterday, from morning to night.  Looks like it's stopped for now, so I shouldn't have any problem flying out tomorrow night.  I hope all Funtimers, wherever you are, had a wonderful Christmas.  Here's to a 2008 filled with more times of fun.

Happy Birthday Kristin!

Lyla's thinking hard about what to get Kristin for her birthday. Due to her limited exposure to the world, she hasn't come up with any great ideas yet, but she's working on it.
Happy Birthday Kris!

A New Hampshire Christmas

Jenny - I am not sure if you have seen Survivor yet, I myself just watched it yesterday now that I am around for several days and able to catch up on all my TV.

That being said, I am off to New Hampshire tomorrow morning for a last minute Christmas trip. My grandmother has been sick for a while now and yesterday she passed away. This isn't a surprise for any of us, but death still isn't any fun. I will only be gone a few days, but I find myself going back and forth from relief that she is in a much better place with my grandfather now, no longer in pain with her various physical ailments (most recently a broken hip) and being sad and cranky thatI am far away and this is how I get to spend the holidays.

All in all, it will be nice to get away. Instead of catching up on books and sleep in my sunny San Diego, I will bundle up in everything warm I own and do the same thing in front of a fire with snow all around. Lyla, you are hereby instructed to stay tiny so I can visit you soon without missing the adorable football phase.

D&J - I think you are the only ones that aren't fighting snow this week, so please enjoy the sunshine a little bit for me.

Merry Christmas everyone, I am blessed you are my friends!

I am so over Beyonce

I liked Beyonce at first. I was glad when she released her first solo album, and even asked for it for Christmas that year. I knew most of the words to "Baby Boy" and other popular radio hits. I thought her clothes were pretty fabulous, and I appreciated that she didn't get all skinny, at least at first, but just made clothes that looked good on her. And her hair is awesome. But recently I've seen the Direct TV commercial version of her song "Upgrade U" many many many times. And I hate it So does Kevin. He got angry when he saw I was looking it up on YouTube to post it.
Here it is, for all of my good friends who don't watch commercials anymore. It's a timely reminder of why we don't want to watch commercials.


The Diamonds commercial just adds insult to injury. I won't post it here.

I Have NOT Seen Survivor Yet

Don't say anything. I've managed to avoid any mention of it in the media (thank goodness no one but us still cares about Survivor), and hopefully will watch it online once I get to Colorado sometime on Friday. I know, that's a ridiculous plan, but there you go. So, please, no throwaway comments like "I love the ending...Courtney looked so shocked!" or "That girl with the brown hair totally should have won!" Thanks, team.

Quick, staring contest. You and me now.

Goulet

Thanks to Jenny's Goulet-themed ring tone, I now find myself wondering how Goulet (or Will Ferrell playing Goulet) would approach other normal, everyday situations. For instance, our resort has a tram to take guests between buildings. As we walked up to a tram stop just now, I found myself singing, "The train is coming, the train is coming. Get off the tracks. Goulet." For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, call Shane on his cell phone, then call Jenny on hers.

The Buche! The Buche! The Buche is on Fire!

I just wanted to share what Christmas craft took up most of my Sunday. We are having a potluck lunch at work today, and I volunteered for dessert, and then decided to make a Buche de (du?) Noel. Halfway through this process I was really wishing I had just made cookies. This has different frosting than the one I made for funtimes a few Thanksgivmases ago, it's buttercream this time, and I managed to pull it off without any hands-on mom help (just telephone consultation), which is exciting. My meringue mushrooms got a big smooshy, I think it's too humid, and I did beat the meringue a bit too much, but maybe they just look more authentic being all nubbly and stuff.

I feel like a little kid on the last day of school, or on a day when you know you're having a pizza party, because I can't concentrate on anything except the fact that Ann brought meatloaf, Erica brought an assortment of cheeses, Michael's bringing mashed potatoes, and the boss is making cashew butter with an actual nut-butter-making machine that he brought into work. Nut butters, people. This is why we don't hit our pledge goals.

How about some Thanksgivimas photos for those of us who couldn't be there?

Uh, I guess the title says it all.

Festive Fun Timers

Hi Everyone:

I got in early to work today so I thought I'd send you some holiday cheer. This is a little number I call Fun Timers Get Festive.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1391338595

Enjoy!
Jenny Mo

Where am I and how did this happen??

OK, so I am jumping in with my first ever blog post. I know I am vastly behind everyone else , but will do my best to get up to speed. It's a Brave New World (which, if anyone cares, is probably the best English Lit experience of a science nerd's high school education) and I promise not to embarrass any of my blog-savvy friends.

By the way, the answers to the above questions are in a series of tubes and because I love my friends!

shootings? nah

As requested, here is my email from Dec 5th, the day of the Westroads Mall shootings.

so here's how it went... I decided I needed to get Laura's birthday
present and a new coat for myself for Christmas (boy, it's cold here;
I'd forgotten how cold the twenties are). Yonkers had all women's
outerwear on sale, 50% off (i know what a deal, right?). well, the
closest Yonkers I know of is clear over in Northwest Omaha at
Westroads mall. but I thought, "heck, what else am i doing?" and I
headed on over. I had been there about an hour and was just about to
go into a really cute little shop, when a dozen or so people went
running by; yelling, arms a-waving. Then I realized what they were
saying, a "shooter in the mall"? heh? I thought, "what a bunch of
jerks, that's not a cool joke to play." but I figured I should
probably move on out; it would definitely take awhile to figure it all
out, anyway. It never occurred to me that there could actually be
something wrong; i wasn't scared, not even one bit. Actually, I was
little annoyed cause I was parked clear on the other side of the mall,
and as I said 22 degrees is mighty chilly. I made it to my car and
headed home. I saw at least 20 police cars pulling in as I left (maybe
not a joke afterall?). A few minutes later a report interrupted the
Christmas cartunes I was listening to, reporting that 4 people had
been injured and the gunman was still on the loose. Then. I freaked
out a little. Why is there not some kind of announcement system in
the mall, letting the poor fools outside of JCPenny know that they
should probably find somewhere safe and stay put, not walk clear
around the mall and right to your car where the crazies might be
hiding out? jeez. Dad called when I was about half way home to let
me know that I should probably stay away from Westroads. I said
"thanks."
Mom said that she was a little worried until she heard the shooting
was in Von Maur, knowing that I probably wouldn't have gone into that
store. It's our classy department store, like a Neimens, I suppose.
Kevin said thank goodness I don't like Laura enough to buy her an
expensive gift from a nice store (Laura the life debt is repaid).
...rather a surreal experience. I can't believe the death count has
climbed so high. i'm not sure it's hit me. things like this don't
happen in Otown. or near me.

American Coffee Drinker, Stay Away From Me!

So there we were, New Kim and I, sitting downtown in the cutest little cafe/restaurant yesterday called Cafe Chloe. I was having cream of onion soup, NK was sipping on some iced tea that had a kooky name like Deep Boost or Sweaty Recharge or something like that, when NK gasps and says "That's Lenny Kravitz!" I assumed she meant someone who looked like Lenny Kravitz, as it's one of my favorite hobbies to point at strangers and say "Hey, Kenny Rogers!" or "Don't look now, but here comes Thomas Jefferson!" But then he turned his sunglass-wearing head towards us, and there he was. Lisa Bonet's ex-husband. It was awesome. We proceeded to get on our cell phones like the freaks that we are, and I took advantage of my camera's awesome zoom function. Take that, TMZ!

Funtimes from Foenix (ok Phoenix)

I am a single girl this weekend hanging out with my friend Kelly, her wonderful husband Chris, and their large but lovable Tabby cat PJ. She keeps trying to convince us to move out here... but fear not my loyal SD friends, Jaime and I will not desert you. So far my weekend has consisted of rain, drinking wine, going to a work requirement for Kelly (see pic below), drinking cocktails, and playing board games.

Today, we are going out to Kelly's new, but unbuilt, house. I know I am going to puke when I see how much house she is getting for significantly less than our little condo. So far I already know that she has bested me in that 1) it is a house, 2) she has a full yard, though her landscaping plans currently include yuck-a (yucca) and gravel, and 3) her place is at least 900 square feet bigger than mine. So, she is getting around 2 of my houses for a lot less... damn.

I have bested her in that I live in beautiful San Diego where the average temperature is somewhere in the 70's and rarely goes above 85 or below 65. She is going to roast. All in all, though, she seems to really like it here and her house and the surrounding community is going to be amazing.

So now to our outing yesterday. Kelly does PR out here in lovely Arizona and her company was dragged into some weird holiday event at a strip mall (think half the size of Hazard Center with much lamer stores). So the highlight of the day was what you see below.

Yes, this is Santa and yes he is skydiving. Was is wrong of me to get a little chuckle out of the idea of his chute not opening? Nevertheless, the little zonie kids loved him, but I do have to say his Santa suit was a bit sketch.

Anywho, I am off to eat breakfast. Kelly has made me pancakes (isn't that nice of her honey? Hint...hint). Can't wait to see the SD contingent this week. Thanksgivmas?

Love from the Grand Canyon state (where the state bird is the cactus wren). There's no place like home... there's no place like home. ;)

VIP Fun Timers

I think we're forgetting two VERY important members of the Fun Times family -- Willow and Dr. Jones. They definitely have as much personality as each of the rest of us (even Jenny). The good Dr. is really not sure what to make of little Lyla. His eyes got very big when we walked in the door with her today, and he hissed at her car carrier thing. So not an auspicious beginning.
We've only been home a few hours, but his eyes still get very large whenever she's around. He is definitely aware of her existence, and keeps coming over to smell her. But then, so does Kevin, so there's no telling what that means.

Correction: 10th Member of Team Fun Times

I miss counted, J. Mo is number 9, making Lyla number 10. My bad. - Kevin

Introducing the 9th member of Team Fun Timers

Hey y'all (wait, do they say y'all in Michigan?). I'm Lyla Katherine Ring, I'm 7 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. I have brown hair and brown eyes. And if you'll have me, I'd be honored to become the 9th member of Team Fun Timers.

Some of my strengths: cuteness, hair growth, wit, clock management, latching.
Some of my weaknesses: motor skills, immune system, mobility in the pocket, communication.

Favorite character from the OC: Summer Roberts
Favorite Thursday night TV show: 30 Rock
Nicknames: Button, Lyla Bear

One of my fondest memories from the womb was Thursday nights. I remember the symphany muffled noises, what sounded like laughter and joy. The sound I was later told was Jeff Probst's voice. I would always yell out the questions for Jeopardy (though no one ever gave me credit for getting them right). Oh and I remember every Thursday I would get the best foods through my umbilical cord: taquitos, hamburgers, chili, breakfast for dinner, crockpot beef, delicious pasta, Jenny's delicious chicken dish. Not to mention the desserts: brownies, key lime pie, delicious combinations of sweet and salty (sorry Jaime, I'm a fan), and the delicious lemon ice cream pie thingy that Kim reluctantly made. I only wish I could have seen everything that was going on.

Well, now as a member of the Out-worlders, I want to celebrate Thursdays with the muffled voices I remember. I want to uphold the traditions and establish new ones. I want to be a Fun Timer.

I solemnly swear that I will honor and cherish the Fun Time. That I will gather with fellow Fun Timers to enjoy delicious meals, sing theme songs, play games, laugh at in-ept Survivors and will proudly carry on the traditions of the TNFT, forever. Fun Times Accomplished will be my creed and my motto and whereever I go I will carry Fun Times with me.

Hooray! It's baby day!!

Congrats in advance! Welcome Baby Ring!

We just got back from carol singing and drinking hot cocoa with Santa (really it was my dad, dressed as the jolly old fellow). Almost too much excitement for a Tuesday night... is it Tuesday? I have managed to completely lose track of the days.

As for an update: I'm back in NE, for the second time. My trip was uneventful (thank goodness) and my household goods arrived and have been stored in the basement. Dad and I have quite the organizational system going, boxes labeled in detail, stacked according to room and importance, and placed in neat rows with just enough walk space.
I left O-town after only a week and headed to Mississippi to spend three weeks with my brother and fam. It was a great visit. Ella is a sweet baby, and a much better sleeper than either of her brothers were. Jack shared most of his toys with me and taught me how to make paper chains and snowflakes. Justin let me make animal shaped pancakes and showed me how to use the potty (thanks boys). Mom, Dad, Valerie, Ricky, and Amy all came in for Thanksgiving. Michael drafted us for house decorating duties; i was in charge of power distribution, a tricky task considering Amy has no less than a dozen lawn decorating items.
I got back here on Sunday; Mom put me in charge of Christmas (presents, food goodies, and house decorating), so I'm making my list, and threating Amy with naughty side placement. No decisions yet on employment or any other heavy topics; I'm just enjoying vacation and seeing how long it takes for boredom to set in.
Miss you all. I've started a Thursday family game night here (hopefully fun times; i'm not sure dad is optimistic). Happy Thanksgivmas.

I am not live-blogging this birth!

Katherine and I are in the delivery room. About 6-7 cm. Should have a baby today!!! Can't wait for you all to meet her.

Love,
Kevin

Fun Times Accomplished

Every blog must have a first post, and this is it. I thought this would be a good means of keeping in touch, seeing as we're scattered all over the nation. I realize we have a mailing list and some of us have other blogs, but there are some things that deserve immortalization on a blog, and some things our other blog readers just won't understand. The picture above falls into both categories......a fitting kickoff to the Fun Timers blog.