I was expecting/hoping to be typing this post from a nice and toasty home with Mike, Roxie and Josh still in bed because it was a little icy on the roadways... and someone with authority had cancelled Friday.
I have milk, bread, hot chocolate, Ben & Jerry Cherry Garcia ice cream and the last episode of Downton Abbey to watch. I have comforters, extra pillows and fuzzy socks.
I had dreams of a PILE-UP IN THE BED AND "JUST BE" DAY.
I was a little disappointed this morning.
I may or may not get over it.
I'll let you know next week.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Our FOUR-DAY basketball tournament ends this evening. As you know, we lost the first game, but we have won the last two... and we're planning on winning our fourth and final game tonight.
The girls are tired, but they are working so hard. I'm proud of these chicks.
This one could definitely be labeled "the agony of defeat," but we hardly ever have to sit this way!
I don't think I could have played basketball in high school, because some chick is ALWAYS getting in your space.
I'm one of those people who needs her space. I think Roxie is handling it very well, and I'll just give a big ol' shout out to Caroline for not only keeping her opponent out of her space, but out of the space of her teammates, too.
The world needs more Carolines, I think.
This is what the bench does to congratulate a teammate for a great basket... or two... or three.
And this...
And this.
And this is what the teammate making the baskets does. (In this case, it was Taylor!)
RANDOMNESS #2 - Our 25th Anniversary came and went Wednesday. Mike was super busy at work, and I was super busy at home, and we had a tournament and if we had not had a tournament, we would have been at church.
Mike and I have always celebrated our anniversary with a night on the town... a romantic dinner and an overnight stay at a nice hotel. Just a little get-away time from ever day life.
Because of our "tradition," middle of the week anniversaries have never really bothered me. In my mind, our anniversary is really the Friday or Saturday night AFTER the actual anniversary because that is when we always celebrate.
No difference for the Big 25. We will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary Saturday, January 26, and it will be much, much better than squeezing in a little me and Mikie time after a busy Wednesday and a basketball tournament!
Also, as is our tradition, we are planning a little trip for our 25th Anniversary.
We spent our 10th anniversary in a cabin on top of a mountain.
We spent our 20th anniversary in a bed and breakfast in Charleston, South Carolina.
And we're going to take a little belated train ride to New Orleans in March to celebrate our 25th anniversary.
And it will be epic!
RANDOMNESS #3 - Top 25 Favorite Moments in 25 Years of Marriage... Continued.
11. My cooking has much improved over the last 25 years. (I remember once in our first five years of marriage when I made a cheese and cracker tray for dinner. Needless to say, that did not go over very well.) Looking back, we definitely have favorite meals we like to share on special occasions. Food and traditions go hand-in-hand.
12. We made dating each other and the kids individually a priority early, early on in our 25 years, and we are still dating everyone today. Brother Steve Gaines was so right when he said make the dates with your spouse and your kids and WRITE IT IN INK. It's that important.
13. In 25 years, we've been members of three exceptional churches. We've felt God's presence in each and every one, and each church has filled specific needs for us as a couple and later as a family.
I want to give a shout-out to Shades Mountain Baptist (where we met and married), First Baptist Cullman and First Baptist Gardendale.
We've been members at Gardendale 19 years this month, but we still feel like we are "home" when we visit Shades.
We have been blessed.
14. Mike and I have suffered great loss together, and as much as I wish this was not part of life, I am thankful he was my partner through the grief.
15. Mike and I have dealt with (and are continuing to deal with) chronic illness in our immediate family, and I have no one else to thank but God that the stress and pressure associated with illness didn't tear us apart, but brought us closer together.
16. Mike and I have kept our warped sense of humor in tact over the last 25 years. I honestly don't know if anyone else would think the things we laugh about are funny, but you have to make a decision early on to laugh or cry, and we both chose to laugh as much as possible.
After much thought and soul-searching, I'm going to change the name of this list to the Top 25 Most Memorable Moments in 25 Years of Marriage.
Everything mentioned has not been a favorite, but it has been unforgettable.
Uh-oh. I changed my mind again. I'm going to finish up the last little bit of the list Monday morning. I like letting things drag on a bit, but you probably already knew that!
Blog Linkage
Go to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List and read today's post entitled "Ranch Games."
And be sure to watch (or tape) her cooking show on Saturday mornings. It is delightful!
Valentine's Day Trail Mix
Warning... Pinterest! Pinterest! Pinterest!
I made this yesterday to carry in the Big Gold Van for the girls to snack on during our tournament travels. It is pretty AND tasty.
You will need the following:
4 cups miniature pretzels
4 cups Strawberry Yogurt Cherrios
3 cups Chocolate Teddy Grahams
2 cups dried cherries or cranberries
2 cups yogurt covered raisins
2 cups Valentine M & M candies
1. Mix.
2. Bag.
3. Eat.
I changed the recipe just a little for me and mine.
4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
3 cups Chocolate Goldfish (in honor of Roxie)
2 cups dried cranberries
2 cups yogurt covered raisins
2 cups Valentine M & M candies
12 pink sugar wafer cookies cut in triangles
It was pretty, sweet and festive... and there were TWO fruits... and cholesterol-lowering Cheerios... so it was basically a very healthy snack!
Don't judge me!
I threw a few Special K Yogurt Bars and pretzels in the bucket, too.
Tomorrow night I might add a couple of oranges... just for color.
New Year's Eve Balloon Pop
My friend, Stacey Varden, planned a New Year's Eve Balloon Pop for her three year-old daughter, Mac... and it looked like so much fun.
I'm just going to tell you exactly what she did for her toddler, and you can tweak it to fit your family next year.
Stacey had a bunch of helium-filled balloons on her kitchen countertop. At a specific hour, a certain balloon had to be popped. An activity slip was inside the balloon, and Mac and family enjoyed the activity before it was time to pop another balloon an hour later.
4:00 - Mani and Pedi from Mom
5:00 - Make cupcakes
6:00 - Ice cream with sprinkles
7:00 - Mac's very first bubble bath
I think you get the idea. EVERYTHING was age appropriate and fun. Mac didn't stay up until midnight to bring in the New Year. She spent her New Year's Eve having fun with the people she loves most... Mom and Dad.
Great way to celebrate if you have small kids!
Weekend Happenings
I think I've pretty much explained our weekend plans above, but for clarity's sake, I'll put it in list form.
1. Roxie finishes her basketball tournament tonight. Austin and Josh will be working.
2. Mike and I will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary with dinner, a movie and a night away from Grand Central Station. Ahhh.
3. Sunday we will be be going to a family Sunday dinner at my Mom's house. (Breakfast for dinner. Can't wait.)
And that's pretty much "it."
I am going to try to get a couple of pictures of Josh this weekend. I didn't want you to think I had gotten rid of him or something.
Oh, and if you happen to see him, don't give him any warning. I like to surprise my victims... uh, subjects!
Have a grand weekend. I'll be back Monday morning with the remainder of my Top 25 Memorable Moments in 25 Years of Marriage, Anniversary Celebration pics, basketball pics, Super Bowl Party recipes and a little bit more.
Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Have a wonderful time celebrating your anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteAndrea in WA