riding in....discomfort

My friend Amy visited last weekend.  We had a GREAT time.  I wish she could visit more often - or MOVE down here.  I'm working on it.  Have been for years with no progress though.  Maybe eventually...

But I digress...

One of our favorite things to do it go to the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX.  Being the December one I was on the hunt for some Christmas presents.  I found some fun things Sean would like - but isn't getting.

Found some cute fabric, but it didn't fit with the projects I have going right now.

I want to figure out how to make one of these.  It would be perfect to carry sunscreen and snacks down to the dock in the summer.  Maybe the fabric above would be cute for it.  hmmmm

I wanted one of these but Sean said "nothing that rusts".  He's very anti-things that are metal and cute.  He's convinced they'll....oh who knows why he's against them.  I thought the moose would be totally cute at the camp.

Amy and I tend to have this one problem when we go to Canton.  We end up buying more, or bigger, things then we can fit in the car.  I remember a time driving back with plants all up in my business.  This time was no exception.  In the last hour, Amy found the biggest piece of furniture in Canton and purchased it.  After some help by some men and moving all the seats out of the way (except the drivers seat) we were ready to head home.

I finally settled in and enjoyed the ride in my "seat".  Duke even joined me after he was tired of being squished in the passenger seat.

Oh the things we do for a good bargain.  What's the most fun thing you've done for a bargain?

bouncin' our hearts out

We have some friends that own a BounceU - you know, one of those places with the blow-up things that are a ton of fun no matter what your age.  We used Sean's brother being in town as an excuse to go and bounce our hearts out.  I'm really not sure who had more fun - the adults or the one kid (in age - if you know what I mean) in the bunch.

I raced Aiden through the obstacle course…

helped him through the bungee thingy…

and tried to take action photos (totally needed the "real" camera).

Sean tried to skool a kid at air hockey…

and Aiden tried to "pop" Uncle Sean up on the slide.

I'm sure whatever Sean and Shane were trying to do here was against the rules.

If you're lucky to live near where there's a BounceU - GO!  It's a great workout and you'll be surprised at how much it takes out of you.

There was a whole lot more action during our Thanksgiving week with Sean's brother's family (and my sister and nephews) but I was a camera slacker and Sean neglected to take pictures when I specifically gave him the camera to do so when I wasn't around.  Oh well - guess I'll keep those memories to myself!

aquarium bound

The weekend before Thanksgiving my sister called me up with an amazing surprise - she was coming to Texas for a couple of days with my nephews.  This was during the time Sean's brother was here so we planned a trip to the Aquarium.

This is always a fun trip because you can take the "subway" (as Aiden called it).  This was always a favorite of my nephews when they were younger so I thought it would be fun.  Aiden was almost star struck by Cole and Drake - he wanted to be just like them so bad.  Even waiting for the "subway" he had to sit on the railing like Cole.

We had such a great time seeing all the animals in their tanks…

reliving past trips to the Aquarium…

and checking out the creatures not in cages.

This one was my favorite out of all the pictures I took. Aiden figured it was a girl because it "had on lipstick".

how i'm feeling

After the past four days I'm feeling extremely tired.  More visitors and 3 time zones in 24 hours.  Although I'm feeling this way, I wouldn't change it for anything.  It was an amazing weekend!  As soon as I get caught up on Thanksgiving week fun I'll fill you in.

pink floyd junkie

My husband is a Pink Floyd junkie.  If you were to listen to his ipod you would probably get as tired of hearing Pink Floyd song after Pink Floyd song after Pink Floyd song like I do.  Some I can tolerate, some, not so much.  He even made me watch the movie "The Wall".

Let's talk about that movie for a moment.  I totally don't get it.  Maybe it's because I didn’t do enough drugs when I was younger - or any for that matter.  I seriously think you need to be on drugs to get it.  Sean claimed analyzing it in school ruined the movie for him.   For me, I think I may like it better if I had that class.

Now, how about watching The Wizard of Oz while listening to Pink Floyd?   I tried that once - kinda cool.  Wait until the second roar of the lion though.  We used to have PITH parties when we would travel for work.  What's a PITH party you ask?   Party In The Hotel.   At some point, after travelling so much, we got tired of eating out and hitting the bars so a small group of us started PITH parties.  We would get together in someones hotel room (usually someone with status that got upgraded) and play cards (oh the cheating that would go on) or watch a movie (23 brings back some fond memories, and then finding 23 in just about everything for about a week afterwards) or something.

One time, in Chicago actually (maybe even the room I stayed in this week), I brought my copy of The Wizard of Oz and someone (probably Sean) brought the Pink Floyd CD and we tried it out.

So let me get back to the point of this post.  When Sean's brother was in town, all the grown-ups went to see Roger Waters.  You're probably saying to yourself what I did - who's Roger Waters?  Apparently he was part of Pink Floyd at one point.   He had a concert; however, it was more of a musical than a concert.  I was actually wondering how he was going to fill the venue it was at, but he did somehow.  Look at all the people in line for merchandise!

It was visually very amazing.  Singing - there wasn't any - he was not singing at all.  There were words, but not his, maybe from back in the day, but not that night.  During the whole thing they built a wall and then crashed it down at the end.  That was definitely cool.

Let me leave you with this...TEACHERS - LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE!!!

thanksgiving recap

Here's the low-down of all the greatness that was our Thanksgiving holiday.

Cooked a complete Thanksgiving meal, complete with a turkey.  Sean even allowed Duke to have a little which he promptly snarfed down.  He doesn't get "people food" at our house very often.

The cute name plate was made by my nephew, Aiden.  We each got one - even Duke (as you can see).  To keep a little Maine in the meal I made pumpkin whoopie pies with maple filling.  Aiden filled them - I was a slacker with the camera and didn't get any pictures of him doing so - but trust me it was really cute.  I was able to get him eating one though.

Of course after a proper Thanksgiving meal you promptly find yourself in a food coma - of which Sean and Duke definitely did.

What Thanksgiving holiday would be complete without a letter to Santa?  Probably NONE!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and are looking forward to the Christmas season as much as I am - it's my absolute FAVORITE!!!

cuban night

Once a month we get together for Supper Club.  Each month has a different theme and everyone brings a dish that represents the theme.  This month was "Cuban Night".  When I read this I was like "what the heck???  I have no idea what Cuban food is!"  Luckily Jennifer (who's husband is Cuban) sent us a link to a site with lots of Cuban recipes.

http://www.tasteofcuba.com/cubanrecipes.html

I quickly scanned it and when I saw Tres Leches on there I was sold.  I know it's not technically Cuban but it was on the site and I've been wanting an excuse to make it for so long.  This was my excuse.

Look how beautiful it turned out!  Yes, I know - don't put a white cake on a white plate - it's what I had, people.

It was so much fun to make, too.  You should try it - not diet friendly though - here's a quick link directly to the recipe (click here).

The kids were all about getting into things.  Look at these guilty faces.  Duke was a pain and most likely will not be going back.

A new marketing idea?  Necklace for two - hmmm - maybe not.

There was also a little gymnastics happening - I'm so excited all the girls are into my favorite sport.  It will give me an outlet to teach again.

What would you have made for Cuban night?

Next month, Colonial Williamsburg - ideas anyone???  I'm completely lost here!!!