Harry Potter Party

Some friends of ours had a Harry Potter party for a few of the families that had read the books over the summer. And it was super cool! Their daughters planned the whole thing and it was fabulous. I wish I could post everyone's pictures but I haven't asked permission and I try hard not to put other people's pictures on my blog. But everyone in the other three families dressed up as well and they were outstanding!

Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom. Ha, ha!

Butter beer. I didn't think I would like it because it would be too sweet but it was actually pretty good.

The dinning hall.

Even got daddy to dress up. We were Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, Little Mama was Tonks, EG was Fluer, Boop was Draco Malfoy and Nature Girl was Narcissa Malfoy.

It bothered me a little bit about how good she did mean and evil. The look!

NG was Boop's mom. Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. So that was kinda funny.

NG, LM and I have finished all the books. Boop is on the fifth. We have yet to watch the fourth movie but we are looking forward to that. And LM is reading them to EG and they are on the second book. Harry Potter has been super fun for us . . . 

Start 'Em Young

Every month we try to go shooting.  The three bigger kids have been doing it for over a year now.  When I mentioned to EG that we were going shooting again, she had a fit.  She did not want to go.  It is hard for her.  There usually is no one out there her age.  And we are there for a couple of hours.  She has to be so careful where she goes.  And she has to wear eye and ear protection.  Sometimes it is hot and buggy.  Well, you get the picture.

So, when she voiced the fact that she didn't want to go, I mentioned that maybe, just maybe she could shoot this time.  It would depend on daddy and on the rules of the range.  I had asked once before and the gentlemen that run the range said usually around 6.  Just because of the ability to concentrate and the ability to follow directions etc.

As much of a handful as EG is sometimes, I knew if shooting was something she wanted to do, she would do what she needed to do to make it happen.  And I was right!  She wanted to shoot.  Hubby said fine.  As did the men at the range.

She did awesome!  It took a little bit for her to actually hit the target but ya gotta start some where.  She was patient and attentive.  She listened and didn't argue.  By the time we were done, I think she had hit about four targets.

(EG listening intently to all of the safety rules.)

I don't know if she will be interested in shooting.  Or any good at it.  But, she definitely got the best start possible.  And she has the very best teacher . . . 

First Football Game

On Friday we were blessed with a couple of free tickets to this weekend's football game.  Boop was thrilled to go with his daddy!  The game was at 3:30 and they met my sister and tailgated for a little bit.  Then went in early to watch the team practice and warm up.

The game was a rout 80-7, our team winning.  But Boop and daddy stayed until there was only a few minutes left.  When they got home they were both exhausted.  Boop loved it and can't wait to go again some day. . . . 

Jazz Concert

Last night the kids and I attended a jazz concert.  It was at a local church, featuring a jazz orchestra from a local college.  The orchestra was filled with accomplished musicians and led by a man who has played with many o the great names in the jazz world.  All that to say is, it was great!  And free. And, in Boop's words, loud.

They performed a concert of traditional and contemporary jazz along with a few swing tunes.  About a dozen or so couples got up and danced during the swing portion of the program.  The kids and I enjoyed watching them.  Quite a few were very talented.

I grew up listening to jazz and blues.  And this morning I am trying to figure out why I don't anymore.  Anyway, the kids humored me by listening intently.  Well, except for EG because we were out way past her bed time.  I hope through it all that I introduced my kids to something new.  And that maybe one of them will appreciate jazz and blues when they get older.

On the way home, I thanked them all for humoring me for the night.  We look forward to another concert after the new year. . . .

Basketball 2013

Boop decided he wanted to play basketball this year.  Maybe for the last time.  Daddy decided to be an assistant coach.  Saturday was the opening game of the season and they did fabulous!  So much improved from last week's scrimmage!

Sissy was there and was able to take pictures.  We really enjoyed the game.  One of Boop's good friends is on his team so that always makes it much more fun.

I have a of picture of both teams kneeling together and praying before the game.  I have another great picture of daddy, down on his knee coaching the kids.  But, the pictures have other team members in them and I don't like posting pictures without permission.  So, this is the only one I have.

Boop did awesome.  He is a little bit of a ball hog (which daddy will be working on.)  Hubby said he hit about eight shots.  He is the second tallest on the team and this is his third year playing.  I guess it is all kind of coming together this year.  All the kids hustled and a bunch of them played great defense.  There was some good passing as well.

At this age, it really is fun watching these kids play . . .

New Year's Eve

Last year was the first year I let the kids stay up.  It was really uneventful.  We watched a movie, the little guys fell asleep, I turned on the NYE programming on TV and immediately turned it off, then found Abbott and Costello and waited for midnight.  I am pretty sure I feel asleep before then.


This year, in an effort to be a fun and cool mom, I just felt we needed to do a little bit more.  Make it special, make memories, celebrate the holiday.  So, thanks to Pinterest, I got this great idea to blow up balloons, place little slips of paper in each one saying something fun for us to do, and mark them for each hour leading up to midnight.

Well, my day got busy and I never did get the notes written to put in the balloons to get at the grocery store.  But, I was not about to give up.  I wanted NYE to be fun.  To be memorable.  So, I had to make a Plan B (I should always have a Plan B.)  We had extra brown bags (and I think I saw this on Pinterest as well) and I decided to decorate the bags and put slips of paper and some props in them.  I think it was just as effective. Except for the missing balloon popping each hour.  I guess we could have tore the bags open for more affect.  I digress.

So starting at 8PM the kids each took turns opening the hourly bag.  The little guys got the earlier hours for obvious reasons.

Eight o'clock was probably my favorite one, well tied with 9 o'clock at least.  We are currently reading Swiss Family Robinson.  Boop had asked about coconuts the other day so I had bought some canned coconut milk (they drink it in the book real coconut milk, not canned ;))  I also bought a real coconut and some bananas (which I put in the brown bag.)  So, at 8PM we hammered open a coconut, ate the meat and a banana, drank coconut milk and read a little bit of the book. 

At nine we planned 10 Days in Europe.  Love, love these games.  We also have 10 Days in Africa.  They are so much fun and the kids are learning geography and they don't even know it!

Ten o'clock I had put my iPod in the brown bag and we were going to dance, dance, dance for a little while.  But, by then, the little guys were sound asleep on the couch so we opted to watch House Hunters instead.

At 11, the bag was filled with hot chocolate and popcorn, so we fixed that all up and started to watch Abbott and Costello (our new NYE tradition.)  I fell asleep but could hear the big girls laughing and laughing!

At 11:55, Little Mama woke me up and we celebrated the New Year with hugs and kiss and cookies and milk.  The girls finished watching Abbot and Costello and we all slept in the living room.

That was our memorable and fun New Year's Eve.  It is gonna' be a great year . . . 

Ice Skating In The Sunny South

Friday we took the kids ice staking.  It was 60 plus degrees.  Not your typical ice skating weather.  And the ice was synthetic, made out of plastic.  Crazy!  Only the big girls skated.   Boop forgot his socks and it looked like a little much for EG.

The big girls had fun though.  They roller skate a little bit so they thought it would be like that.  But, it really isn't.  It took them awhile to get the hang of it.  And, boy, was it fun to watch!

At one point, Little Mama was cruising across the "ice" so fast and she kind of trip and fell.  But, I guess because she was going so fast, she flew across the carpeted part and almost went head long into the fence.  It wasn't really funny at the moment.  But, when she got up she was smiling and I started to laugh.

Towards the end, Nature Girl was crossing the "ice" pretty fast with her head down.  There were two boys coming at her from the side.  By the time she noticed, they were about ready to crash.  She did a stunt roll with one shoulder down to avoid the accident.  Again, at that particular moment it wasn't laugh out loud funny.  But, when I saw she was OK I had to laugh.

It wasn't quite the same experience I had has a child.  But, I suppose it is the best that is going to happen down here in the sunny south . . .

Family Bowling

On Sunday we all went bowling.  Our church reserved some lanes at a local bowling alley and we took advantage of hanging out with friends and doing something we don't typically do.  Bowl.


I have to admit, it is kind of fun to watch the little guys try and bowl.  Especially EG.  She was determined.  Boop was pretty competitive (just like his daddy).  He got two strikes in a row.  NG was kind of like "whatever" yet did pretty well considering her cavalier attitude.  Little Mama just wanted to spend time with our friend's baby in between frames.

That about sums up our family fun night!  We had had a busy day Sunday but I am glad we went . . .

Skate World

Part of my Joy Project, is to really step out of my comfort zone.  Which for me means doing a lot of the "fun things" the kids want to do.  The stuff that I spend a lot of time saying "no" to for various reasons.  One of those things was to take the big girls skating.  Now, this one that hadn't asked for recently but when the opportunity came up, I made arrangements for a few families to meet us at a local skating rink this past Monday night.

They were very excited.  And, honestly so was I.  I skated my way through Junior High School!  I have been skating once or twice in my adults years and was surprised how quickly it came back to me.  Anyway, the girls had a blast.  And, boy, were they good!  The had a great time hanging out with their friends and going around and around the rink.  Yesterday they were still singing the "Chicken Song."

Hubby was able to watch the little guys.  Although he brought them up to the rink for a little while to watch.  I promised them that when we went back, which we will, they would be able to skate too.  Hubby said he would even try.


They have Christian skate night every third Tuesday of the month and the admission is really cheap and free skate rental.  The majority of the music is Christian, which has come a long way since I skated at the Salvation Army many moons ago.  There were a ton of kids and moms and dads.  Just a really great, safe environment to have fun.

I have told the girls we will skate all summer long . . .