It has been a long rainy week in Central Alabama... and it looks like we're headed into a rainy weekend.
Even though it has often been documented my favorite kind of day is a "gray" day, I'm ready to say "enough is enough." We need some sunshine around here. Not for warmth, mind you. I still love cold weather. However, I think a sunny day would much improve some moods around these parts, and as much as I love winter, a good mood is greatly appreciated, too.
RANDOMNESS - This may be shocking, so you better sit down for this little bit of Randomness.
Are you sitting down?
Are you?
Okay. We played basketball this week.
And we won.
In other news, I took pictures.
Does any of this sound the least bit repetitive to you?
I thought so.
If you're not a "basketball" parent, you may not know about the "arms up" rule. When you play basketball, your arms have to be ready to go above your head at all times... and stay there.
Personally, I think the football players have the right idea.
Just tackle them and take the ball.
Without an explanation, it looks like Taylor has turned on her teammate, Roxie.
Don't worry. It was halftime, and they were just goofing around a little.
At least, I think it was halftime.
Mallory is just daring someone from the other team to take the ball away from her... and they didn't take the dare!
I'll give you three guesses... What was Kelci watching?
If you said "a basketball," you win $2,000!
Don't get too excited. Mikie is my official "you-can't-have-a-$2,000-contest-prize" spokesman. I'm pretty sure he's going to nip this one in the bud!
Isn't this a pretty picture of Kia in the huddle?
I thought so, too.
I love this one. The clock is running out, but it's pretty evident we've won this game. And Kelci wasn't being cocky. Just really, really happy... because she's the one who "sealed the deal" with the final two free throws of the game!
Swish. Nothing but net!
Blog Linkage - This week, I liked several blog links... and I am assuming you will, too.
1. Go to The Dating Divas under My Blog List and read today's post entitled "Valentine's Day." Cute gift idea for your honey!
2. Go to "the anderson crew" under My Blog List and read her post entitled "2 years home." This family of six adopted a little girl two years ago... and then found out they were expecting another baby (also, a girl). Their sweet family now consists of three little guys and three little chicks. Sweet, sweet post.
3. Go to www.kellehampton.com and read Wednesday's post entitled "Enjoying." Great pictures. Great words. Loved this post.
Family Road Trip Date
I'm getting a little antsy, and I need to get out and go somewhere. Anywhere. Our vacations didn't work out as planned in 2012.
1. Our "spend the night away from the house" anniversary celebration tradition in January was fun, but Mikie was a little on the sickly side.
2. Our annual mountain trip was wonderful, but on our "day to do fun teenage-type things in Gatlinburg," we were fogged in the cabin. (This was perfect for the adults, but the kids had really wanted to get out and about.)
3. Our Spring Break train trip to New Orleans with friends was cancelled at the last minute when Austin's appendix decided it was time to leave Austin's body.
4. Our little beach trip taken in late July was TOTALLY rained out.
It sounds like I'm whining, doesn't it? It does. Even I can even hear it.
I'm not saying we didn't have a good time. I'm saying out of 365 days in 2012, the seven nights spent away from home Mikie was sick or it was foggy and/or raining.
Am I thankful for those seven nights?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Do I need to get out of the house really, really soon?
Yes. Yes, I do!
And maybe you do, too.
That is why I'm going to plan some Family Road Trip Dates during the remainder of January posts.
Some will require a night in a hotel. Some will be day trips.
As of this minute, I don't have "nailed down" plans to go on any of these trips, but I still like to plan and hope!
Today, we're going to Huntsville... a mere two-hour car trip from my driveway.
1. U.S. Space and Rocket Center - Known as the home to Space Camp and Aviation Challenge, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world. Our facilities include Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, the Education Training Center (which houses NASA's Educator Resource Center) and more.
Visitors to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center will experience Huntsville's role in the making of the moon rocket, the space race, the Apollo missions, learn about the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and NASA's future missions. Visitors may trace the evolution of humankind's ventures into space and watch as tomorrow's potential engineers, scientists and astronauts train in one of the Space Camp or Aviation Challenge Programs.
(I LOVE the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Been there. Done that. Would gladly do it again.)
2. Harmony Park Safari - Visit this federally licensed nature preserve of free-ranging exotic and endangered animals. Remain in you car for this 2-mile route and see zebras, zebus, buffalo, camels, ostriches, pythons, rams, highlanders, alligators, water fowl, waterfalls and more. Antique buildings are also on the route.
(We've been the Park Safari near Callaway Gardens twice, and we loved it. I may be wrong, but I think we would even love it now with a twenty-something and older teens in the family. It was so much fun.)
3. Monaco Pictures - Monaco Pictures is a revolutionary new upscale movie entertainment experience combining state-of-the-art technology, reserved theater seating and stylish dining experiences. It is the next step in the evolution of the movies... worth leaving home for.
(We went to the Monaco to see Hunger Games... and I decided it needed to be a tradition for the second and third movies in the Hunger Games series. We're planning on visiting the Monaco in November, 2013!)
It's a beautiful theater.
4. Madison County Nature Trail - Located atop Green Mountain in southeast Huntsville, high above the noise of the city, a mood of quiet tranquility envelopes you as you enter the 72-acre park.
Open free to the public each day from 7:00 a.m. until thirty minutes prior to sunset, your convenient escape from urban life encompasses Sky Lake, a 1.5 mile walking trail, pavilion, chapel, picnic tables, covered bridge and accessible restrooms.
The State’s largest and oldest Champion Winged Elm Tree stands tall along the Trail.
The Madison County Nature Trail provides the perfect setting for nature lovers of all ages, whatever the season. Spring features the park’s beautiful azaleas and dogwoods, while summer exhibits colorful wildflowers blooming beneath the forest’s deep green canopy.
In fall, amidst the crisp mountain air, trees display a glorious collage of color. Winter contrasts with its stark beauty and the quiet rustle of leaves along the forest’s floor. Children under 16 years of age or seniors over 60 can fish Monday through Friday. A $1.50 fishing fee is charged.
5. Earlyworks Museum Complex - Civil War soldiers, a Talking Tree and whimmy diddles... see them all at the EarlyWorks Museums, Alabama Constitution Village, the Historic Huntsville Depot and EarlyWorks Children's History Museum.
These three museums in downtown Huntsville will take you on a journey back in time. Experience history come to life in unique settings such as a 46-foot river keelboat, an 1860's era depot or the cabinet shop where delegates stood to sign the Alabama State Constitution in 1819. Your incredible adventure awaits at the South's largest hands-on history museum complex.
6. The Benton H. Wilcoxon Ice Complex - Uh... You ice skate here.
Since we're already planning on going in November to see the next Hunger Games movie, I'm thinking I might add on a few of the above-mentioned activities to make it a full-fledged Huntsville Adventure.
I'll have another Alabama get-away Monday!
Weekend Happenings
It's going to be a pretty typical January-type weekend... a little basketball, a little spend-the-night company, a little sleepin' late Saturday morning.
But, wait. There's a birthday party Sunday afternoon for my niece, Katie. We will be eating cake and showering her with gifts to celebrate her 19th birthday.
Wow. I remember 19.
Well, not really, but I'm sure it was a very pleasant year.
Have a dry weekend. I'll be back Monday morning with a myriad of pics from different Friday, Saturday and Sunday events, as well as some fun winter ideas.
Take care, and I'll talk to you the first of the week.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
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