Holidaze

Had KJ's choir performance tonight which was very nice.  Unfortunately, it was like 75 degrees out.  In the evening.  And the school gym had to have been a least 100.  Very hard to get in the holiday spirit when people are passing out from the heat. 

Have had a very, very busy week and the weekend is going to be just as busy.  Had a nice dinner last night at our friend's restaurnt.  Had the big client luncheon at work today.  Everything went great -- food was amaze-balls, the decor was gorgeous and our staff always goes above and beyond.  We rotate the responsibility each year and it was my turn again.  2010 was my turn and the Sunday before the luncheon, I rushed to FL to be my father's side after "The Event."  So I planned everything but missed the actual luncheon.  Last year was MM's turn and back to me this year.  Thank God, no "Event" this year. 

Although Hoover is playing in the big state championship game tomorrow night on the field at Auburn we've got plans and won't be able to make it.  So you know your school is kind of a big deal when your principal has a meme trending on Twitter: 

#gobucs

#roadtostate

#BucsDynasty

Tomorrow T heads home Yay!  Yay!  Yay!  KJ has a b-day party in the evening and Cosmo & I have a party with friends from work.  Saturday, I have a haircut appointment in the AM and we have a party with our lax family Saturday night.  Sunday we have fanily photo plans. 

A little foosball

Enjoying the rest of the Saturday with a little Alabama football.  KJ had a volleyball tourney today so I didn't get to see any of the Auburn game.  Folks on Twitter & Facebook are just tearing Auburn up after that game.  And my friend Julie is just loving life right about now.  I don't dislike Auburn, I just like Alabama a heck of a lot better.  Which is hard for Alabama natives to understand.  But, "not being from around these parts," I didn't have to choose a side while growing up.  Auburn's going to have a rough year and I wonder how long it will take before Chizik is on the chopping block. 

I'm such a total dweeb.  I just luv, luv, luv Nick Saban and I luv, luv, luv seeing the new Crimsonette costumes each year.  They are magnificent and positively scream football.  I don't like when schools try to break from tradition and modernize and fool around with uniforms (yes Oregon, I'm talking to you.  And you too, Terps.). 

 

 

 

T is gearing up for the Ole Miss game vs. UTEP.  It's parent's weekend and she gets to do the Rebel Run this afternoon.  She's still loving college life but in all seriousness, what's not to love?  She's at one of the prettiest campuses on the planet, loves her classes, likes her roommate, lax started this week and she's meeting lots of new peoople.  She likes the girls on her lax team alot and she's even met a couple of laxers who played against Hoover and remember Coach.  She tried out for the campus news team last week and originally did not make it.  Which we kind of expected as a freshmen.  But then, she got an e-mail saying they'd like her to do some B-reel, background work, research, etc.  And, she was also invited to two different journalism conferences.  The one in September interferes with Rush but she will go to the one in November. 

Didn't go to the Hoover football game Friday night and quite honestly, I'm not sure if we'll even make a game this year.  I hate this new alignment and have zero interest in any of the games (maybe I'll feel differently when KJ hits high school.  But for now, I'm really enjoying my Friday nights!).  The rivalries are gone, the excitement/anticipation is gone.  Don't get me wrong, Hoover is still an incredible team and no matter the conference or divison they play in, they will steamroll over everyone.  But I miss the Spain Parkers thinking they have a shot each year, I like the ugliness of the Vestavia game and I like the Brookies snubbing their noses at Hoover each year.  Oh!  And Homewood!  I always like their band.  They put on a good half-time show.   

Social Sunday

Today didn't start off too great.  Or maybe Saturday night never really ended?  Too tired to tell the difference.  All I know is insomnia and a migraine are not a good combination.  I was up until 5:30 AM.  Wide awake.  With a raging headache.  No Bueno.  But the Bagel Boy took good care of me.  I do luv me some Bagel Boy on Sunday mornings! 

So we're down to the ten day mark.  In ten days T-bone will be leaving for college.  The Auburn girls were moving in today (I think Rush starts tomorrow) and I know the Alabama girls can't be far behind.  Thinking of all the moms (and dads!) today.  I know it's going to be much harder on me (and Coach) than it is T.  She's excited to start this new chapter in her life and I'm going to have a hard time letting go.  And I can tell you right now Coach is going to be a wreck.  This is the man who cried when the girls got their ears pierced. 

Ok!  Moving on to Social Sunday!  So excited for this week's questions!  I luv, luv, luv the Fall.  It's the best time of the year in our house . . . my b-day in September, our 20th Anniversary in October, Coach's b-day the day after that and KJ's 13th b-day the day after that!  I hate Alabama summers but luv Alabama Autumns!  I luv being able to open the windows and get some fresh air.  I luv sleeping with the windows open.  I luv waking up with a slight chill in the air.  I luv football season.  I luv having friends over to watch football on the back deck with a bonfire going.  I luv decorating the house for Fall.  I luv decorating the house for Halloween.  I luv Thanksgiving.  Yup.  Best time of the year for me! 

This weeks questions:

1. What is your favorite Fall activity? I absolutely luv everything about the Fall so this is going to be a tough one.  I would say Friday night high school football games, Saturday college football games and Sunday NFL games.  Decorating the house for Fall, bonfire evenings, and Halloween.

2. Do you follow a football team? if so which one and why? We've always been Alabama fans and of course this is a New York Jets house.  I guess this year we'll need to root for Ole Miss, too.  

3. What is something fun about Fall in your area? We've been going to the same pumpkin patch since we moved here 13 years ago.  It's a family tradition.   And Coach carves the pumpkins with the girls.  It's just one of those "dad" things.   

4. Fav Fall outfit staples? Jeans, a long-sleeve V-neck t-shirt from either Gap or Old Navy.  Cute scarves.  Lots of bracelets.  A great brown leather bag and brown leather boots with a heel because I'm vertically challenged in a big way. 

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season? I am really, really excited about football season.  I'm really looking forward to tailgating in the Grove.  I'm looking forward to seeing Brye play and Rory cheer!  

6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions? Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday.  It's just such a simple holiday.  No cards.  No gifts to buy.  It's just a day to reflect, be thankful and spend time with your loved ones.  I luv cooking the turkey, I luv the textures of Fall, I luv the smells.  I luv having the girls help in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day (they like to make the mashed potatoes and crescent rolls).  I luv when Coach carves up the turkey.  

Next Week's Questions:

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?

What foods do you avoid at all costs?

What meal reminds you of your childhood?

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

Catching a Break?

Looks like the nasty, dreary weather we've had the last couple of days is coming to an end. Finally! The sun is trying to come out and I hope we have some better weather in store for the weekend. Got a busy couple of days coming up and I don't want to be running around in cruddy weather. Tonight is the state championship bonfire at the high school (I've never been before and thought it would be something fun & memorable for T's senior year). Thursday the Bnettes will be performing their annual Christmas dance at both the pep rally and at the basketball games. One of my favorite dances of the year AND this year they got new costumes. They always do a kick-line at the Christmas dance and I luv, luv, luv a good kick-line! Friday is the championship game in Ttown (yay! get to see my girl on the field at Bryant-Denney. Last year they danced on the field at Jordan-Hare. So fun for her!) and Saturday we were invited to an engagement party. It blows my mind to think that we are at the point in our lives where our friend's children are getting engaged/married/having babies!

Daughter #2 is bound and determined to get another dog for Christmas. The other night she called a "family meeting" and gave us a detailed, 10+ page presentation on why we should get another dog (prior to her presentation, she asked T to find suitable "background music." T didn't know what the hell was going on so she played "The Final Countdown" on her laptop. It was pretty funny). Her presentation included photos, pie charts, and references in addition to three Top 10 lists (Top 10 Reasons Why we Should Get Another Dog, Top 10 Breeds Most Compatabile with Shih Tzu's and Top 10 Names for Dogs). She's also been cleaning out all of our change (from our car coin holders, the kitchen change jar, Cosmo's change jar in his closet) and plans to take it to Publix to see how much money she has. She's also asked if she can take money out of her bank account. Not gonna happen my friend. We are NOT getting another dog. No way. No how. Don't get me wrong. I love Trixie. She's a great dog. She's never chewed anything, she's calm and very snuggly. I'd love for her to have a little friend to run around with but I don't think I could handle a puppy right now . . . the chewing, the training. UGH!

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

It's been nice having all my chicks back in the nest and it was so great having a couple of days off! Cosmo & T made it home from Naples safely w/ stops in Gainesville & Tallahassee for some college visits. FSU has always been her dream school and she takes every opportunity she can to visit whenever she's on her way to / from a lax tournament. She's applied and I'm sure she'll have no problem getting accepted, however that out-of-state tuition will just about kill us.

Thanksgiving was kind of weird with just the three of us but I know KJ had a great time in FL w/ my parents! Thursday / Thanksgiving was a very laid back kind of day. We all slept in and T gave the dog a bath and Cosmo did some yard work. I started cooking the turkey but we kind of over-did it on the appetizers and then none of us were really in the mood for turkey. We ended up eating (kind of) late but it was all good.

Cosmo spent most of Friday at the store and Friday AM T took a dance class with a friend. So glad she's been going back to the studio! I know she's really missed it! She had to be at the high school Friday afternoon for the game while Cosmo picked KJ up from the airport. Big girl flew home all by herself from Tampa! Had a good time at the game (T's last ever home game at Hoover Stadium) and so glad the Bucs are going to the championship game this week in Ttown! T is looking forward to dancing on the field at Bryant Denney! Whoop! Whoop!

KJ had a good time with my parents during Thanksgiving break and came home nice and tan. Her hair even has some blond highlights! They went to the beach or the pool every day. One day the drove down to Captiva and had lunch at Bubbles (our favorite!). One night they played mini-golf and one night it rained so the went for ice cream. One of the days my parents surprised her with parasailing. She had a GREAT time and lucked out because their was a 16 year old girl on their boat who didn't have a friend to go up with so they asked KJ if she would "mind" going up again. Uh, yes please!

T went to the Iron Bowl in Auburn with friends this past weekend and spent the night with a freshman friend in the Village. She had a good time and said the campus is really pretty but it's so sad about the trees. She said they are pretty dead looking.

Saturday I took down Thanksgiving and started putting up Christmas. I also took this opportunity to re-organize and re-pack some things. We watched the Iron Bowl outside on the deck and enjoyed the gorgeous weather! That night we rented the movie "Super 8." It was good and a little scarier than I had anticipated.

Sunday Cosmo put up the hallway "travel" tree and the big tree in the family room while KJ & I were out doing some shopping. Lights are on both trees, no ornaments yet. Mantle is done (went with a red only theme this year and the jury is still out . . . Cosmo likes it; T does not. She thinks it needs a pop of color), the foyer is complete, I just need to set my dining room table now. And the kitchen needs a little more work. I usually put things out and then for a day or two I walk around the house and kind of re-arrange or "tweak."

A friend stopped by in the afternoon and we had a nice little visit on a cruddy, rainy day. She mentioned that Trixie looks like a Gremlin but KJ had no idea what she was talking about so tonight, after dinner, we are watching Gremlin's as a family. It's a little gorier than I remembered. I just about lost it when the mom puts the bad Gremlin in the microwave and cooks him up.

Senior Night

Last night was Senior Night during the BJHS football game. Having a Thursday night game really threw off my whole week for some reason. I thought Wednesday was Thursday and Thursday was Friday. I was wishing away the weekend and it was a terrible feeling! :-)

Senior Night was nice, the band parents were a little disorganized but there were TONS of us on the field and we just weren't sure what was going on. The Freshman Dance Team hosted a pre-game dinner for the Bnettes yesterday and gave them very nice gifts. During the half-time presentation the parents (i.e., me & Cosmo) gave our Bnette a beautiful bouquet of roses and I had to pin a a Senior pin onto her silver sparkley jacket. #1, "They" (whoever "they" are) told us we didn't have a lot of time and I had to get the pin on my child BEFORE "they" took photos. #2 T was not expecting the pin and I kind of came at her and scared the crap out of her and jabbed her. #3, the silver sparkley is very heavy and there was no way that pin was getting on that silver sparkley.

I thought I was going to cry and be emotional but I was OK. It's not the end of T's Bnette career nor is it the end of Senior Year. It's only October. We still have basketball season to get through, probably one or two more pep rallies and then we hit competition season. I still have a lot of time to cry and fuss.

All Good Things Must Come to an End . . . .

Yet another Cos Family Fun Festival has come and gone. And what a good week it was! My goal this week was to cook as little as possible. I think I succeeded.

Monday the girls & I met up w/ some friends for a little M&M (Mexican & Margaritas). The mom's all met through our girls when they were in kindergarten and we've all managed to say close through senior year. The girls have all gone off in different directions with various sports and activities but they are still friendly. We've got a new little addition to our group, LR, and we passed her around like a sack of potatoes. What a cuddly, snuggly baby!

Tuesday Cosmo & I celebrated 19 years of wedded bliss with a romantic dinner at GianMarco's. OMG. I'm still stuffed. Great bottle of wine, delicious appetizer, great entrees and Tiramasu for dessert make for a very happy Mr. & Mrs! T picked KJ up from volleyball for us and the two of them went to a karaoke fund-raiser.

Wednesday was Cosmo's b-day and I made shrimp scampi for his b-day dinner. It was a funny, funny night. KJ was in rare form and had us laughing with some of her stories and antics.

Thursday was KJ's b-day and we all went to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate. The waitstaff sang to her and T swiped a big glob of whipped cream and smeared it all over KJ's face. She got her pretty good!

Friday was the Hoover vs. Vestavia game kicked off with a pep rally. The Bnettes did their annual Halloween dance. It's always so creepy. The kids love it but it's not my favorite. The school surprised a brave little boy and his family with a trip to Disney World from their homecoming fundraisers and there was not a dry eye in the place. It was very sweet.

Friday was the first time I had ever chaperoned the Bnettes to one of their away games and it was a lot of fun. I got to ride the bus w/ the girls (I could get used to that! Police escort to/from the stadium, no red lights, didn't have to pay admission to the game either!) and sat w/ them during the game. Those kids in the band work SO hard and have a wonderful, supportive group of parents. It truly takes a small army to get those kids where they need to be. Even though I don't have a kid playing an instrument, chaperones stay after the game in the band room and help organize uniforms, gloves, hats, chickens (the feathers that go on top of the hats), gauntlets, etc. I didn't even know what half this stuff was.

Saturday KJ had 3 vball games @ OLV (she had the 9 AM, the 10 AM and the 11 AM games). The played the other POP team and lost both matches miserably. They played OLV and actually won both of those matches (very exciting!) and then went on to win both games against another POP team (it was a nail biter!). After KJ's games I treated her to a spa day for her b-day. She had been bugging me to get her eyebrows waxed and we both got pedi's. She also got a mani. T had to volunteer at the band competition during the day and then performed on field in the evening. She went out with some friends afterward.

Sunday the girls & I walked in the Buddy Walk with some friends. We walked out to the car and both of the girls said, "That was really fun!" I'm glad we went and were able to support our friends and their beautiful little girl. The weather was incredible and they had a great crowd out at Regions Field.

We weren't wearing our official Buddy Walk t-shirts because my friend left them in our mailbox and I guess we hadn't checked the mail in several days. So, when we got home I checked the mailbox (and yes, the t-shirts were in there) and T also rec'd 2 college acceptance letters. Unfortunately, she was at lax practice and still doesn't know she rec'd the letters in the mail. She will be very surprised and excited when she gets home! Whoop! Whoop!

Still Managed

Despite being really, really sick for a couple of days I still managed to have a very nice weekend. I didn't want to cough all over everyone so I didn't go to the Friday night football game but sounds like it was a heck of a game! Cosmo & the girls said it was CRAAAAZY! Go Bucs!

Tbone woke up Saturday to take the ACT's and had lunch w/ friends before heading to band practice. I kept my hair appointment w/ Jeffrey while Cosmo took KJ to her volleyball game. Unfortunately, her team lost. Fortunately, my cut & color came out great and I stopped for a pedi on my way home since I had already missed the volleyball game. Cosmo took KJ to TipTop for lunch and we met back at the house in plenty of time for the Alabama vs. Penn State game.

Cosmo put the TV outside and and it was an absolutely spectacular day! T got dinner on her way home from practice and we had such a nice family night. KJ talked her dad into starting a fire and we all just relaxed, ate, laughed and watched a lot of football. No s'more though. We had the choclate bars (which was really weird) and the graham crackers but no marshamallows.


This moring T & I went to the studio to view some of her photos. These aren't her "official" senior portraits. Mr. B just wanted to do a test run but they came out great and I'll probably end up buying a couple. The studio made it a really, really fun experience and had a slideshow set to music so we could view the photos and also gave her a book of proofs to look at. We picked out some photos for her yearbook senior ad and we also picked out a few for her model cards. The lacrosse photos are totally bad-ass and I know Cosmo will want one or two for the store.

KJ and I shopped for a dress for her for the wedding and we both bought shoes and bags. I luv, luv, luv the shoes I bought but KJ's not overly thrilled with the dress we, OK, the dress I forced her to buy. Everything was either too baby-ish or horribly inappropriate for a 6th grader. Same thing with the shoes. Either a "kitten" heel (which KJ positively HATES) or a stripper shoe. Fortunately, we're at the height of homecoming season and Macy's had a decent selection in the Juniors department.

Cosmo met us for lunch and then he & T headed to the airport. Unfortunately, their flight was delayed due to the late afternoon storm that rolled in. So very weird to be sending my oldest child off on a college visit. Made me think of the first time she flew on a plane. We were moving from Annapolis to Cincinnati right before T's 2nd b-day. I had promised her she could have "Sprite in a cup" on the plane if she was a good girl during the flight. Well, don't you know she fell asleep right after take-off. I had the flight attendant bring the "Sprite in a cup" anyway. We're about ready to touchdown and the crew asked us to put our tray tables up. Trying to avoid a potential melt-down mid-air, I actually woke T up so she could drink her "Sprite in a cup" before we landed. The poor thing could barely hold her eyes open and I made her chug a Sprite. I always keep my promises. :-)