NYR #7: one book done

I'm really not sure this book counts, but if I come in short at the end of the year, I'll take it.  This is one of Bunny's school books, and an easy one at that.  I wanted to read this factual biography myself before reading a sort of "historical fiction" book on Ben Franklin to the kids.  I did enjoy this book.  It made me amazed at all that Ben did in his lifetime, sure, but I was more impacted by his problem-solving attitude and his perseverance.  Especially early on in his life (young adulthood) he had many, many setbacks in terms of business ventures in the printing trade, but he kept going and found ways to bounce back.  I especially liked the importance he placed on reading, even as a child when none of his friends liked to read, and books were scarce.  As an older man he was very well respected for his knowledge but also for his interest in everything and everyone around him.  He made the "lowest" person feel as important as the King of France, because he treated both the same: with full attention and a genuine interest.  In this age of chiming distractions, we can all learn this lesson from Ben!!

Best of Pork

We had a dinner party the other weekend with the "alphabet" group.  (potluck dinner parties where all the food starts with an assigned letter of the alphabet)  For the most part, Marcus knows the guys from former work experiences (Unicru, etc.) and I have become friends with the wives.  Some are friends of friends.  We hardly ever get together with them because we are so busy on weekends, but when the emails started up we discovered that we were free not only to come to dinner but to host!  They had made it through the alphabet already so now it was time to do "Best of..."  SOOOO happy we got to host "Best of Pork!"

Since the group had not met for a few months, everyone was excited to get together.  I didn't count, but I believe we had around 20 adults and 15 kids.

we roasted the sausage-stuffed pork loin you
can see in the lower right

apparently there is such thing as bacon vodka

 Along with the pork loin on the Ronco we also served Brussels Sprouts Gratin (with bacon of course).  Some other items were about 3 kinds of bacon-wrapped dates; a yummy salad with blood-oranges, pistachios, pomegranate, and proscuitto; pulled pork sandwiches; ham-wrapped shrimp; and even desserts: bacon-topped maple bars and banana-bacon cookies (no kidding!!).

I think this picture of the bar area pretty
much sums up the party...  :o)

birthdays mean doctor visits

Birthday season means lots of visits to see Dr. DeKlotz for annual exams.

look what was on the cabinet door...

shots are no fun!  (Mariposa took this photo)

Happy Birthday James!

The Gem/James/Papa party was over the weekend between Gemma's day on the 18th and James' day on the 22nd.  So...we still had another fun celebration at our house!!

We don't often go out to dinner for birthdays...that would be a lot of dinners out...but when it's a season when mom has a lot to do, sometime money can buy happiness.  ;o)  So after Bunny's ballet class we made our way to the Esplanade and Panda Express.

 Next we crossed the parking lot to Red Robin for dessert.  James wanted to open his presents there as well.

Darth Maul light saber from Uncle Joe

Razor scooter from grandma and grandpa

we had no trouble finishing off the dessert...

James also got gifts from us:  pj pants and a shirt (something he needed), a watch (something he wanted), and a new Lego set (something we thought he'd like).  With all the Legos he got for his birthday, we knew he'd be busy for at least half a day....  ;o)

James/Gem/Papa party

Birthday season continued last month with a party for James, Gemma, and papa at our house.  (We had gone out to a fantastic adults-only dinner to celebrate Papa's birthday, but of course we had to do a second celebration to include the kids!)

Funfetti cake for the kids and grammae's
famous German chocolate cake for the
adults (but not me...coconut, yuck!)

the birthday dinner was burgers, spinach fettucine, broccoli
salad, and grammae's baked beans

the kids were ready to sing!

time to sing to papa (lots of helpers)

fun presents for the kids

cool shirt from Auntie Coley
and Uncle Brian!!

Daddy/Daughter Dance

I have so many other posts to do, older ones, of adventures we have had this past week, but...only one thing is on my mind right now:  the daddy/daughter dance! 

Every year our church (specifically, the school) puts on a daddy/daughter dance to raise money for the auction.  Marcus has taken Bunny the last two years, and this year it was Mariposa's turn to go as well.  We make this a "big deal," from picking out the dresses and accessories to planning a nice dinner to having a girlie hair-and-makeup session.  Marcus makes sure he dresses the part as well, and he treats his girls like princesses for the night.  This is the stuff memories are made of!

The king waiting for his princesses

the rose wrist corsages were a surprise

Marcus chose Bunny's new dress for her

beautiful!

lovely!

As you can imagine, though, two of the three kids "left behind" were none to happy about all this attention focused on Bunny and Mariposa.  They were pretty grumpy and jealous until I spontaneously said, "Dance party at our house!"  I turned up the XM radio, put Seddy in the backpack, and hit the dance floor!

James and Gemma were practicing their lifts

No party would be complete without some
yummy snacks!  (they LOVED this!)

My #1 dance partner of the night

chores

For anyone who is wondering how I get any chores done....

(Sedric is a big help at chore time)