Pioneer Woman

Yesterday afternoon I grabbed Desiree and dragged her up to Torrance so I could stalk my favorite blogger. Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, has a website that is full of delicious recipes and stories about her life as a ranchers wife. She is hilarious. She published a cookbook and is currently touring around doing book signings. I was super excited she came within an hour of my house and decided to go see her. We waited an hour and a half in line to meet her, and it was well worth my time. Plus we met lots of other fellow fans who were terribly sweet and fun to talk to.

Knott's Scary Farm

Last night James, Brett's sister Michele, her daughter Erica and I went to the last night of Knott's Scary Farm. This was the first time James and Erica have been. James was pretty excited, he love scary stuff, but as we got closer to Knott's, he started expressing some nervousness. Not that I was any help, I kept telling him that the place was swarming with monsters and so dark you can't see them coming. Which was true. That's the whole point! They had hundreds of characters lurking in the fog ready to pounce at people like James and Erica. And pounce they did. It was very entertaining to watch! We rode all the big roller coasters, ate funnel cake and braved the dark alley's. I love Knott's Berry Farm.

During the day the Mine Ride is boring, just a train ride through a mountain. At night it turns into the Black Widow Cavern, covered in spiders and monsters jumping out at you in every corner. I ended up on Michele's lap on this ride.

Walking down the foggy ghost town alley. So dark!

This guy looked much more ominous before my flash, but he scared James pretty good.

Erica, right before we figured out the mine ride had scary people inside. The rest of the ride her face was down and eyes were closed. James pulled his hood up over his whole head.

Out of that fog came a dude sliding into James' feet. I wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch him.

Brett's sister Michele and Erica.

Don't eat me wolf man! My chicken fingers aren't ready yet!

Michele, silliest sister of Brett.

Candy Day

Last night the kids got dressed up and did the whole trick or treat thing. Brett even decided last minute that he would decorate the house a bit. We tried to do a little of an old ghost town theme. We even dressed up like cowboys. Some friends ended up coming over and we had ourselves a little shin dig. I love nights like that, impromptu fun.

Grandma Patty sent the boys gift bags with these little masks and all kinds of other cool stuff.

I made caramel and candied apples, cupcakes, and lots of hot chocolate.

Desiree and her family stopped by.

Bad Black Brett. Cowboy of Orange County.

We had some little games set up, which Kendall seemed to like. If you won a game you got a giant candy bar.

It was already dark, can't see the house very well, but it turned out cute.

Stand down Bad Black Brett! I'll reckon you can't draw faster than me!

Neighbor kid and Tyler

Matt hit his head on a table right before we got dressed up. Therefore, he sat in this chair most of the night mad. Not quite sure why. He made Tyler bring him back candy.

Headless James.

Zombie Tyler

U2 Concert, Rose Bowl in Pasadena

On Sunday I went with my friend Andrea out to Pasadena to meet her friends for a U2 concert. We spent the day downtown having a long lunch and hanging around. We drove over to the Rose Bowl a few hours before the show, the venue was expecting 96,000 people and they suggested you get there early. It was insane. I have never seen such a HUGE stage or performance. It was an awesome night of singing along to songs I've known for twenty years. U2 puts on a great show. I didn't get home til almost three in the morning and had to get up at seven for school. Totally worth it. U2 will be back in June and we are going again!

Those three girls with me are die hard U2 fans, they were VERY excited.

This is Andrea's friend Lisa, she has known her since kindergarten. She was a lot of fun.

The stage all lit up. It was soooooo big.

Before the concert started. 96,000 people. Wow.

They called it the 360 tour because the screen wrapped around the stage, was 60 feet tall and could stretch. Everyone had a great view.

Lisa, Suzy, me and Andrea.

Desiree's 30th Birthday

On Friday, a bunch of crazy girls descended on Disneyland to wreak havoc and have fun. It was one of my best friends birthday, Desiree, she turned thirty last week. The husbands were kind enough to allow us out of the house with no chaperone, and no curfew! Much fun was had.

Me, Sharon, Andrea, Lisa and Desi. We all go to the same church.

We took Des to eat at the Blue Bayou, inside Pirates of the Caribbean. Look how nice everyone poses, except for me because I couldn't wait to start on my salad.

Sharon and I. She's the prettiest.

We got Des a hat and gloves to wear, but she wouldn't do it! I wound up with the hat and Sharon wore the gloves.

Indiana Jones.

Quarantined

Not such a good week here at the Paulson house. Brett came down with the flu on Wednesday, fever, bad aches, deep cough, chills. Then Tyler went down Friday. This morning Matt woke up with croup, I raced him down to the emergency room, on the phone with 911 the whole way. He couldn't breathe, throwing up and scared out of his mind. They treated him with a mask of cold meds and a steroid shot. Now he's fine. They said croup gets triggered by the flu, but he doesn't have the flu, he's just around a bunch of people who do. I am ok, but I had the flu last month, so I should be fine. James is also well so far, he's at his dads this weekend.

Here's Ty and Matt, Matt made a "germ free tent" out of blankets. Obviously it didn't work so well. You can see the fever in Tyler's eyes here.

Matt at the hospital this morning. I told him he looked like Darth Vadar with the respiratory mask on. He wanted a picture to show Tyler. He was already much better at this point.

Airsoft Wars

Brett and the boys took half the neighborhood out into the hills last week. The purpose was to shoot each other up, for many hours, as much as possible. The goal was met, and there was much rejoicing. I have a feeling that this will be a recurring event, the boys had lots of fun.

Setting up perimeters.

Big Nick, unloading.

Preparing for battle.

I hear it was hot out there. I wouldn't know, I was at home reading and drinking lemonade.

I like how James decided to do a 007 pose, and I bet he doesn't even know who James Bond is.

Big Nick.

Targets on a tree.

They even set up a drink, reload, and relax area.