Day 174 (1/31): Snowed In

We were stuck at home again today for a snow day. Darn it, I'm only going to get 2 days of work in this week.  I'm so upset I might have a tear forming in my eye.....it is really so sad!  No..not really..

I have tons of blogs to catch up on so we'll see what I can get done. We can't go outside today because it is so cold (high of 5 degrees or something unbearable with a windchill of -25 degrees).  There is absolutely nothing to do but grade or play on the computer and I'm choosing the latter.

This is our 6th snow day - I've lost count there has been so many - and on a couple of them we went sledding.  So here's the video of us sledding at the country club.  It was so much fun.  I will post pictures of us tomorrow.

We convinced Ted to try to snow board and well..um...he does not have very good balance.   The kids made a ramp in the snow and they got some great "air" flying off of that ramp.

Day 176 (1/23): Yummy and Pretty Cake

Yesterday at the Quinceanara, there was this fabulous cake!  It was beautiful and meticulously done.  Four layers of fondant covered yummy bliss.  It put my wedding cake from Dillons to shame. Speaking of shame, this is my shameful attempt to tell those that love me that my birthday is coming up and I would love one of these cakes!

Check out the detail. Even the fondant circles have stamped L's for Leah and 15 for her 15th birthday party. Since we got to the party a little early we had the opportunity to talk to the artist that created this masterpiece.  Her name was Karen and she owns Creative Cakes and Cookies in Manhattan.  So if you are reading this and you love me - she is close by - Manhattan...hint hint!  :) 

I had mentioned to Karen that I didn't like the taste of the last fondant cake that I had at a wedding and she assured me that her fondant was made with marshmallow and white chocolate.  I, of course, immediately started salivating and couln't wait to try the cake.  The quinceanera gods were not looking over me that night because I had to wait until 9:30 to get a taste of that yummy cake. Now that I think of it, I should have stole that scepter and made time speed up so I could have tried it sooner.  Karen did not let me down and that fondant was way better than the last cake I had and it gave me a new appreciation for fondant.

If you have some extra time, go check out her website. Her cakes are wonderful pieces of work and they taste as good as they look.

Day 175 (1/22): Quinceanera

I went to my first Quinceneara tonight. My co-worker and friend has a daughter that turned 15 which is similar to the American tradition of Sweet 16 parties.  I was so excited to celebrate and see this tradition in the Latin American culture. The invitation was gorgeous - sorry you saw the picture after I had cut off the vellum photo that I was going to use in her gift.  I had to google what some of the words meant on the invitation - damas and chambalans are the female and male escorts similar to bridesmaids and groomsmen. Did I meantion I was excited?  Well I was...I love learning and experiencing new things.

I wasn't able to attend the church service because we were in the middle of a basketball tournament.  In fact, I had to leave Colton with another player the last game so that we could make it to the reception in time. We arrive in Junction City, at the Courtyard Marriott and were greeted with this fabulous table of masks.

Look at the poster of her - doesn't Leah look like a princess?  Wow - I can't imagine having anything like this for my 15th birthday.  I think I probably had a slumber party with my friends.

So we walk inside the reception hall (yes we were the first ones there since we didn't make in in time to the church service) and the hallelua chorus was playing in my head as I looked around at the reception site----Allleeeelllluuuuuuaaaaa - WOW!

The table centerpieces were these cone-like metal structures with masques and tuile woven in.  My photos don't do it justice because of the dark lighting in the room.  I guess I'm going to have to make another trip to Wolfe's camera to get a fancy flash.

The Barton Crew modeled our masks. 



Then it was time for Mis Quince Anos to enter with her court.

Check out the damas dresses.  These were really cool because they were so versatile.  When the dance started they took off the jackets and the overlay on the bottom of the dress and they because thin-strapped short party dresses.  Great idea for bridesmaid dresses too!

We ate supper and then dined on a yummy chocolate fountain.  This girl in white went two or three times back to the fountain - those were very trusting parents!  Dripping chocolate and white party dress = disaster for me and I'm an adult!

The next part of the evening was interesting as the court marched back in along with the Princess and her parents.  The court lined up and watched as the parents marched Leah in and placed her in a chair in the center of the dance floor. The young girls carried in a pillow with silvery high heels on one and a sceptor and tiara on the other one.  The youngest girl carried the stuffed animal from the church service.

Her father put on the high heels signifying her transition from childhood to young womanhood.  He had a hard time getting those heels on.  The DJ kept announcing that the father just didn't want his little girl to grow up.

He put on her tiara (symbolizing she is a princess before God) and gave her a scepter (symbolizing authority and responsibility). I've decided I need a scepter for my classroom. Do you think if I waved that around my students would know who is Boss?  :)

The proud father takes his daughter's hand and leads her into her first dance as a lady.  Everyone watched as it was truly magical and significant in her life and in his.

This next picture is one of my favorites. The father then gives over the new lady to his father and her mother's father to dance.  The grandfather was so happy and embraced her with open arms. It made me think of my own grandpas and one wasn't alive when I turned 15 and I never danced with either one of them.  That would have been real special to me.  I hope she remembers this day and how truly wonderful it is to have that opportunity.

She danced with her grandfathers and then also her uncles that were in attendance...I lost count after 4.

And then her father turned her over to her date to dance. 

The court then joined them in a Waltz.  They also choreographed a fun dance.  So watch the video and enjoy a piece of tradition.  It is rather long but worth it. The kids did great and I imagine they spent a long time practicing and preparing for the big day.

Day 171 (12/26): All I want for Christmas is a can of lima beans

Personally I love lima beans - creamed, with corn mixed in as succotash, plain, and about any which way you can serve them.  My love of lima beans has been passed onto Colton. Thank goodness since not too many people like lima beans. Now I get to share them and eat them more frequently. The neighbor must have heard about our love of lima beans as Colton opened up a can of beans for Christmas.

Every year "Grandpa" Norris, the neighbor decides some ingenious way to wrap Colton's Christmas present.  Last year it was a roll of toilet paper that he had unrolled and then rolled up $1 bills in the t.p. and wrapped it back up. So when Colton unwrapped it he thought it was a little weird but then when he started unrolling it, he loved the money flying at him!

 

He smiled when he opened the can and saw the lima beans but of course thought it was a little weird.  Mr. Norris said to shake it and see if there was anything in it....it rattled! So he told him to pop the top and see what was in it.

Money and Candy instead of lima beans were much appreciated! Although we would have ate the lima beans too!

Day 170 (12/25): Merry Christmas

I have been begging Colton to get his picture taken with Santa but he is getting to that age that he...well...refuses.  Why can't they be a kid forever?  I even told him that is what he could get me for Christmas was a picture with Santa and I would be a happy mom.

So I had a plan. They advertised Bowling with Santa over at Ft. Riley.  For $25 you and 7 of your friends could share a lane of bowling with 2 pitchers of pop and a large pizza for 2 hours.  They also take your picture with Santa, develop it and bring it to you while you bowl.   That was a great deal and another mother was taking her kids so we teamed together and got a lane. 

I was starting to sweat it when I started my trek over to Ft. Riley and my tire light came on as I was driving over there.  I raced back to Bob, the neighbor who always fixes everything for me, and said "Fix It" so we can go bowling!  He, of course, did and we were on our way.  I got pics of him bowling and even in the dark with glow bowling.  And the piece d'resistance....the picture of him and Santa!

It may be the last year for it so you better enjoy it!

Day 169: (12/24) Christmas Cooking

Couldn't figure out what to name this one...Christmas cooking or Finger-licking good. 

Every year right after Thanksgiving we start making candies and cookies to give away at Christmas.

We had done our Black Friday shopping as you can tell by the new computer in the background. Mark was stripping wallpaper and Colton and I were dipping pretzels and baking.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My baking included date snowballs and 7-layer bars.  I took the snowballs to Marks family and noone would eat them because they heard the word date in the name.  His dad finally tried one and said they were yummy.  They are yummy and they don't really taste like dates.

Now check out some of the cutest things in the world - santas and snowmen made out of nutter butters.  These puppies were pretty messy to make and there was a whole lot of lickin' going on here. You can tell by Colton's mouth in this one that he had just got done licking some of his fingers off. No one would fess up but there was plenty of white lips on the boys!

I was busy making peppernuts which are always delicious.  They take forever but are so worth it when the cinnamon crunchy-ness is melting in your mouth.

Each year I try to make something new to see if I like it enough to make it the next year.  I tried something from Tasty Kitchen - which is a great site if you are looking for recipes.  These were gingerbread cookies with the peppermint hershey kisses on them. The gingerbread was a little hard but the hershey kisses were great!  :) They won't make the round of baking next year but I will find a use for the peppermint crunch kisses!

You can never go wrong with white chocolate covered party mix.  So Yummy and so easy!  Just take your favorite chex mix items (cheerios, chex, pretzels) and cover it with white chocolate. Then as we call it you sprinkle it with love with some red and green m&m's.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See - Finger Lickin' Good!

Day 168 (12/21): Total Eclipse...Solstice

The last time a lunar eclipse has occured on the winter solstice was 372 years ago.  I probably won't see another one on solstice day so I decided I'd better try to stay awake for this one.   Well they are predicting the next one will occur in 2094. I'll be 120 years old if I live that long.  It's possible but statistically speaking...not likely. 

I didn't keep Colton up since it was his last school night.  Plus I could barely keep my eyes open for it!  2:15AM is flipping early in the morning!  I haven't seen that hour since I was in college!

Chomp...chomp...chomp as the earth takes a bite of the moon.

I had to look up what exactly the Winter Solstice is since I had heard the term but not really knew what it was.  For inquiring minds, it is when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun. So my day was extremely short yesterday and the night was the longest.  The actual origin of the word solstice comes from Latin meaning sun stoppage.

I took what seemed like a billion pictures trying to figure out if it is best to use the flash or night photo or what.  Not really sure which ones are which but felt like I got some good cool pics.

I loved the orange-y color that it got as it was almost all blocked. It blocks the sun's rays and casts a shadow on the moon. NASA says that our atmosphere filters out most of the blue colored light, leaving just the red and orange hues.

I'm glad I stayed up that late but this weathergirl is forecasting a nap in her future!