AND OTHER STUFF . . . .

Monday, January 10, 2011

Stuck Inside, and I am Excited!

We have been waiting for this! In the south, we don't get much of it, so we are happy when we do. It started out like this.
And quickly ended up like this!
N is concentrating hard to make a snowball. This snow is very powdery, though.


Turns out, we conveniently had primer and paint on hand, just in case we got snowed in. School and work are canceled for today, so yesterday and today have been great for getting a few projects done. My husband seems to be quite on board and has already made our playroom a lot less dreary. The snow will quickly melt, so I had better hurry!

Friday, January 7, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Things . . .



What's better than taking down Christmas decorations? Putting up something new for January! Really, these crocheted snowflakes were Christmas ornaments awhile back, but I have given them a new mission -- to be cheerful in my breakfast room. Besides, we are expecting a little snow around here in a few days, which is very exciting in our part of the country.

Another favorite thing:This is my older son doing dishes. He lives in a campus apartment this year and has a whole new appreciation for a clean kitchen. There is nothing like walking in to his voluntary unloading and reloading of the dishwasher! I like it better than my snowflakes.

Tomorrow is his birthday and he is leaving on a trip tonight. Without me. I like this least of all.



Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Special Exposure Wednesday

"YES, YES, YES!!!!" is the audio to go along with this picture from Christmas morning-- (he just received a video game, Mario Kart). This was courtesy of Neighbor Friend's discount, since it is not a favorite in their "girl" collection! He has spent several hours on it and on Wii Fit

See more photos from Special Exposure Wednesday here.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

An Ode to My Man

You don’t have to be around me long to know that I am shameless about my affection for my husband. Since today is his birthday, I might have to get a little mushy about him! We celebrate twice in August for birthdays (mine and N’s), then we roll right on after Christmas, New Year’s, Ted’s birthday, then six days later is A’s. Whew! Sometimes I would buy double at Christmas to avoid shopping twice for them.

But back to the birthday today—it often seems excessive to celebrate right after so much holiday has just happened, but his birthday is most important and he is so easy to please. Besides, everybody needs his own day, no matter when it falls!! On his first birthday after we were married, I was challenged by the fact that we were traveling (to another wedding) and he needed a birthday cake. I finally came up with a cookie cake, which I slipped under my seat of the car. I got to surprise him with that at a hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has wanted a cookie cake ever since, so a tradition began on that road trip. (Today’s cookie is homemade and decorated a little crookedly.)

The ode: My man is a good man. He so often gives me far more grace than I deserve. He is sweeter than I can describe and loves us all unconditionally. I want to be like him when I grow up! So thankful he has been in my life for a long time. Happy Birthday to one great guy!



Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Special Exposure Wednesday

One of my favorite memories of the season-- out walking through a big light display.

Christmas evening with Nana and Baby Sister here.


I can't remember a Christmas that I SO did not want to end like this one!

Check out more Special Exposure photos here.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Gotta Love an Appreciative Eater


I love an appreciative eater. After all, if you go to the trouble to cook something, you don’t want there to be silence about it. We have fun imitating Bob (Bill Murray’s character) from the “What About Bob?” movie, who groans over and over throughout the meal about his yummy fried chicken. This is a joke that N often pretends to grow tired of, but, in truth, he never does. Sometimes I provide my own commentary of my own meal and he frowns disapprovingly at me.

Baby Sister visited over Christmas, and I don’t think she knows about Bob or our imitations of him. She is a single girl who subsists on Chinese take-out, Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks. She does not mind cooking; she just does not have the time and energy. So, she is one of my favorite appreciative eaters who does not give a solitary courteous compliment, but often goes on throughout the whole meal with lots of exclamations that I love! N, however, watched her suspiciously each time she enjoyed her food, as though she would give away her secret love of the Bob movie. She never did.

“What About Bob?” made its way under our tree this year and we watched it last night. Maybe we have seen it too many times, but the only part that made me laugh was that scene at the table! The foods to keep on the menu for next year for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the ones that made Baby Sister exclaim in delight (at least three times each): marinated flank steak, twice baked potatoes, cranberry crunch, Bobby Flay’s shrimp grits and chocolate cake with praline icing.

What did they appreciate at your house? (We are still appreciating over here.)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

"Back when A was an Angel . . ."





I am loving these gift tags that I turned into ornaments years ago. When I pull them out each Christmas, it is a gift to me all over again! This first one though, was made by my older in Sunday school. When N saw it, he said, "Oh . . . back when A was an angel!" It made me laugh so hard. Back when . . .

Beneath are some angelic photos of little N. First grade has him showing a little gap-toothed smile, second grade reveals a haircut that was a little too short (related to me), and third grade . . . well, that is when he got a cool necklace which made him WAY too cool to smile! Love them all.