Father/Daughter Dance

The girls had their Father/Daughter Dance last Friday night.

They were super excited.

We had to get new dresses, fix the hair, and even put on a tiny bit of makeup. (that was my idea – they’re not crazy about makeup, thank goodness)

And off they went, to dance the night away with their Daddy… with their SuperMan.

But not before I snapped a few pictures of them.

And told them not to come home before the last dance!
(Last year they left early because they were worried I would be lonely at home all alone!)

And they had a blast.

Came home high on candy and fun.

Do you Super Bowl?

I will admit it.

We are not a big sports family.

SuperMan doesn’t really follow or care about sports (thank goodness)

And I have girly-girls who aren’t really into sports, either (again, thank goodness)

And I am as sports-challenged as they come.

I can’t throw a ball to save my life, and God help me if I have to run somewhere.
I’m sure to pull a muscle or twist my ankle.

It’s just not gonna happen.

BUT

Once a year, there is a glimmer of sports-related interest in my house.

Yes, for the Super Bowl.

But, let’s be honest here.

It’s not really about the game.

It’s about two things: (well, maybe three)

The commercials
The socializing
The food

But, if you know me (as I am sure you do by now) this is probably not a big surprise to you.

SuperMan usually DVRs the game so that he can go back and watch the commercials. I usually just find them on YouTube the next day (much faster).

And, if we’re really lucky, someone will have a Super Bowl party and we can cook new goodies and join in the fun.

Not that we even care about the game.

Or who is winning.

But we’ll go and pretend anyway. We’re generous that way.

This year, we’re getting together for a pre-Super Bowl party with a group of friends. This is ideal for me.

All the fun without all the football.

I mean, what more could you ask for?

We’ll be bringing “heavy” hors d’oeuvres – each family – and sharing in an early dinnertime so that we can be home before our kids’ bedtimes.

What are we bringing?

SuperMan is whipping up some wings – he has decided to do three flavors (the excess runs in our family) He will be doing Teriyaki Wings, Hot Wings, and some “Naked” Wings for the little people.

I’m fixing a crudités plate (it’ll be a stretch for me, I know) and I’ve stumbled across a dip I want to try (Buffalo Chicken Dip) If it turns out well, I’ll share the final recipe I use (‘cause you know I’ll fiddle with it a little)

I’m also thinking I’ll do something sweet. Maybe my Brown Sugar Cake or some brownies or cookies.

So, that’s it for our weekend plans. We’re not fired up about the game.

We’re fired up about the food!

But, that’s what we’re all about… you know that!

The great blizzard of 2011

I know many of you live in colder climates than I do and that you have probably already had your fair share of snow this season.

I also know that many of you think us Southerners are wimps when it comes to cold weather (we are!) and that a little snow never hurt anyone…

But when we get the kind of snow we had on Monday, it’s pretty much all anyone can talk about around here. We haven’t had this sort of snowfall in almost 20 years. The city is basically shut down and the local TV stations are broadcasting weather coverage 24 hours a day (seriously!).

It’s big news for us.

So, while I haven’t yet scrapbooked the pages, I thought I’d share some pictures.

These are a few of my favorites. I’m not quite sure who had more fun playing in the snow, Sydney or the girls. My bet is on Sydney. She stayed outside way longer than the kids did.

I know one thing, though. I am so thankful for the house I live in, the warmth of the heat we have and the warm food that fills my belly tonight.

Recipe post tomorrow.

a White Christmas

For the first time since the 1850’s we had a white Christmas this year. What a treat to watch the snowfall on Christmas day and enjoy the girls frolicking in the snow that afternoon. I’m not sure who had more fun – the girls, or Syndey, though, as she was in puppy heaven – romping and jumping, eating snow and sliding in the sloppy mess.

Here are a few pages I scrapped Sunday – while watching the birds on my birdfeeder as they tried to fill their little bodies to stay warm. I’ve got a pretty nasty cold, so it was nice to stay inside, in my jammies, toasty and warm while I scrapbooked and watched the snow blowing around outside.

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Pop that Corn, man!

One of the things I love about wintertime is the fact that I have an easy excuse to be a homebody. I am a hermit by nature and wouldn’t leave my house if I could help it. I love my house and I love being at home. When it is yukky and cold outside I have the easy out and can make plans for staying home by the fire with my kiddos.

Today we ran a bunch of errands, and, with the exception of groceries, we are DONE with our holiday preparations. We’ll brave the grocery store on Wednesday morning, I think.

One of the things we picked up while we were out were a handful of movies to watch over the next few days. I love those Red Box kiosks. What a great invention. Stop by, grab a couple videos and you’re only out a couple bucks. And if you don’t watch them by the next day? No worries. It’s only another dollar. Love it!

Anyway, here are the movies we have on tap for our viewing pleasure:

SuperMan and I saw this in the theater last summer. Loved it. Angelina Jolie is not one of my favorite people but she can really act and she does a great job with this movie. I loved it. Powerful, yet vulnerable. In charge, yet, not.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to watch it again.

Also on the agenda:

I actually can’t wait to see this one. I started the book, got distracted, and never went back to finish it. So, I’m looking forward to some closure with the movie. I also like Julia Roberts a lot, so I’m thinking this will be an enjoyable watch. I’m planning to watch it tonight after everyone goes to bed – while I wrap Christmas gifts.

Big Girl picked out one as well:

I think she picked it out because the girl is the same one in our all-time favorite movie Mama Mia! but I’ve been wanting to see it myself, so I was game.

Don’t know if we will watch this one tonight or tomorrow morning (or at least the girls would watch it tomorrow morning) – it will depend on SuperMan and whether he is game for a chick flick or not.

Have you seen any of these?

Thoughts, opinions?

Any other suggestions for other movies to watch while we’re on holiday break?

Thankful

Big Girl gave me this before school.

Sigh.

Some days it all makes sense.

Hideaways

I have fond memories of various different hideaways I had as a child.

There was the banana tree in the back yard of my great-grandma’s house where my brother and I had our own “personal” branch each, along with other branches which had specific functions and uses.

We’d sit in that tree and make noises at the business people in the adjacent office parking lot. We thought it was such fun to make monkey noises and watch them try to figure out where they were coming from. (Of course now I wonder how I would’ve reacted as the adult and not the silly child in the tree.)

There was the attic space (in the same grandma’s house) where we created our own “apartment” complete with bedrooms and a living room (all of which had their own repurposed furniture that had been stored up there)

We spent many happy hours playing in the attic. I remember being devastated when we finally moved out of that house, knowing that my attic hideaway was going to be gone forever.

My mom and step-dad have temporarily moved home (while they are renovating theirs) and the girls have found some new hideaways here in the new house.

There’s the attic space above the front porch that they have turned into their “apartments” (hmmm… sounds familiar)

Their daddy set them up with little carpet remnants and lamps to light their spaces.

They each had their “apartment” with separate entrances in each upstairs bedroom, but they could visit each other by crawling across the attic space to each other.

And so it goes – the circle continues. Two more little girls finding imaginary worlds and secret hideaways in the most unlikely of places – and yet finding entertainment and joy in the simplest of things.