Homecoming 2011

Beautiful afternoon for Homecoming yesterday.
Too bad they lost!
But this year, as a Ninth grader, Ian can attend the Homecoming Dance tonight.
Coat and tie required!
Gulp!
He is still too shy to ask a girl out so he and a big group of his friends, boys and girls, are meeting there and are going to hang out together.
It's all baby steps.
he wouldn't even go to dances last year.
I'll try to get a picture of him before he leaves.
(Wish me luck with THAT!)
Now I just have to manage to stay awake until 11pm to pick him up!

Lovin from the Slow Cooker Oven and assorted memories

Here it tis

My friend and support system for the past 20 years
Tickin and still kickin

The Rival Crock pot!



Lord have mercy this baby has seen better days
Missing one handle on the side
Missing the knob to set the temp
Faded container
Clouded lid
The temps are still on the side of the pot, I just have to click the naked knob to play The Position is Right game.

"I'll take LOW for 8 hours Bob!"


Sure
I have a newer and nicer oval crock pot.
It's pretty and shiny and white.
And has a LOW, HIGH and KEEP WARM settings.
OOOOH....AHHHHHH!
That bad boy can handle big ole cuts of meat like nobody's business
Brisket with Molasses Bourbon glaze? Come to Momma!

But sometimes a gal just needs a small round unassuming little workhorse.
Like when I'm making Crock pot Layered Enchilada Casserole, which is up on the menu chalkboard tonight.

Tortillas?
Round
My well loved Rival?
Round
Round...it's a beautiful thing!

I really embraced the love of the slow cooker after I had the boys and was working full time, while telecommunting.
Referring to that period of my life as the "Pat the tummy/Rub the belly at the same time"
Honestly, I didn't know if I was coming or going most of the time.
But I knew if I could get something into that pot in the morning or at lunch, the Five O'Clock Follies, wouldn't be quite so manic.

So, I am quite protective of my Rival
I like to think of her as "well seasoned"

Assorted random memory alert

My oldest boy was just a twinkle in our eyes when I snagged this lifesaver at Tarjay.

He got in the car today at carpool and told me he hadn't done well on a math test.
Also hadn't done well on a math quiz last week.

After the quiz he basically had a nervous breakdown
After the test he said to me today

"You know what Mom? I'm not going to get down on myself or beat myself up. I'm going to figure out what I did wrong and move on and I'm going to do better on the quiz next week."

I gave him a hug and told him how proud I was of him for reacting so maturely.

Then told him his favorite Crockpot Layered Enchilada Casserole was dinner tonight.
I got an enthusiastic "YES" and a fist pump (BOOYAH!)

That little ole Rival crock pot?

Not going anywhere.

Cubicle Sweet Cubicle

I started off in a much larger office at my place of employment.
24 years and counting now
I know, I know
Tis a long time
But I work with good peeps
And then came the work from home option when I had my babies.
When I opted to telecommute and go to a shorter work week, I was "downsized"
Sniff
Not!
I happily traded in my bigger office for more time with my family.
And Thursday is my Friday!
SCORE!

The Lake House

You know it's funny how things evolve when it comes to vacations.
Your kids all of sudden wake up one day and announce that they want their friends to tag along so they won't "Be boooooooored! sigh"

After the first vacation you realize.

1) "Dang, we're really cool and smart parents for coming up with this grand idea" (cough)

2) They really don't whine about being bored (Huzzah!)

3) And the inevitable sibling rivalry takes a vacation as well (Bonus!)

Then the parents decide that they need to invite their friends along

So they have someone to play with

And aren't bored. (grin)

Good thing our friends are the parents of their friends.
It just kind of works that way!

Our latest installment of the travelling circus was to Lake Oconee for Labor Day week-end.




And just for the record
My DH is quite the saint
He's a keeper




Why?
Well I don't have time to run through the laundry list right now
But, we'll focus on item #54
He is the ONLY adult male on these adventures
And he's smiling BECAUSE....................




He keeps all the moms happy by mixing a fine Bloody Mary!


Our next trip is to Boca for Spring Break.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Margarita Mike will be working his magic there as well!

My Project 52

Hello Blog

Long time, no love.
I'm coming back to you to try to capture photos and thoughts for the next 52 weeks.
Bind them up in a Blurb book and pop the cork on some bubbly.
Not making any promises after 52 weeks.
Cause I'm fickle like that (snort)
Just trying to grasp how quickly time is slipping through my fingers.
10 years ago my boys were in pre-school and we were just weeks away from 9/11.
Now they are starting middle school and high school.


Yes.
The picture is a hot mess.
What do you expect from a Blackberry at o'dark-thirty?

Why not start January 1, 2012?
Because why not now?

Ian can get his learner's permit in a month.
Connor is a teenager. And has a Facebook page.
Michael and I are approaching our 25th anniversary in June.
I'm working on preparing for my 2nd Iron Girl Sprint Triathalon next summer.
The list goes on and on.

Now is always the best time to start.
And so it begins.....................