April Fools 2013

We love having fun with our kids on April Fools. They love having fun with each other. We have rules... nothing mean and nothing destructive. Sean and I have had the tradition of coming up with a fun food based prank. This year, it was cookie pretzels!

For the past few Lents, my kids have made a joint decision to give up chips. Since they are still growing and they still need extra calories we usually buy them pretzels instead. So, before he left for work, Sean told the kids he dumped all the remaining pretzel bits into one bag and that they needed to finish up the pretzels before they tore into the chips because he didn't want any food wasted. (Wink, wink!)

I only wish I had thought to save a bag that said twists instead of dipping sticks.

Big hit! Of course they want to finish the bag now!

Polish strings having fun!

Proving that classical music doesn't have to be stuffy!

(And that the string section is the most fun section!)

Fools for April

Oh yeah, we love April Fools' Day! The Professor replaced the box of crackers with pretzels on the inside. Sunshine switched the clothes in Shortcake's dresser and Shortcake swapped the school books in the bins so that everyone had someone else's subjects to do!

There are rules. You can't try to trick everyone. Pick one prank and have fun with it. And don't dish it out if you can't take it! It can't be something that destroys anything. It can't make a huge mess (any messes have to be cleaned up by the prankster anyway) and it shouldn't be anything gross or embarrassing.

They know that Husband and I like to play pranks on them too. In years past we've fed them "sushi" and grilled cheese made from toasted pound cake and frosting. This year, BigBoy helped me fool the big kids with some wormy apples. The trick was to only have it poking out a little bit.

When Sunshine picked her's up and showed it to me, I very slowly pulled the worm out for them all to see. The "ewwwwwwwws" of disgust were just hysterical! They caught on quickly when they saw us laughing.

These kids don't know that there is one other joke left in store... "fish sticks" for dinner! It is Friday, you know!

Sugar wafer cookies coated in peanut butter and rolled in crushed Cinnamon Special K
served with a side of pureed strawberry jam

How about you? Any fools in your family today?

Hijacking? Really?

Rating some films on Netflix to get more specific-to-our-taste recommendations and this pops up...

Out of all the adjectives that could describe the original, animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, "hijacking" wouldn't be on my list.

How my head feels right now...

All this crazy weather is playing havoc with our sinuses. Dear Winter, I'm done!

Happy Hobbit Day!

Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday, September 22. 'You had better come and live here, Frodo my lad,' said Bilbo one day; 'and then we can celebrate our birthday-parties comfortably together.' At that time, Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three.

                                                                                              ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

I only have time for links, no pics. Sorry. My camera seems to be collecting dust more than images these days. Today is celebrated as Hobbit Day and since The Professor is finishing up a study of The Fellowship of the Ring for literature, we decided to have some fun. And don't worry about those sticklers for Tolkien time. The books says September 22, so September 22 it is!

First, get yourself a hobbit name. There are lots of places online that will oblige, we used this place.

Then, of course, we had to look up our names in elvish. The boys had to use their middle names but us girls were on the list. Or, you can write your own name using the Elvish alphabet. That looks like it might take some brain power. Best attempted after your morning Cup A Joe.

Then, there is the food. Isn't that what Hobbit's love best. My sweet Shortcake already asked, as she looked at the pile of welcoming scones on the table, "Does this mean we get TWO breakfasts!?" I am going to just wing it today with the food, but if you need some inspiration, here's a good place to go.

Happy Hobbit Day!

With warm regards,
Brwlonna Proudfoot of Fair Downs 


HT: Nicole for the Elvish links (which are so cool!) I think I want to change my name to Elvish. Anybody know the word for "waltzing"?

Poor Papa

Do you think he'd let us sign his cast? Maybe some extra prayers instead! : )

Friday Fun

You Are a Popsicle

You are colorful, creative, and expressive. You are often in your own little world, having the time of your life. People might be surprised to know that you're actually a bit of a perfectionist. You like things to be neat and orderly. You can deal with chaos, as long as it's controlled chaos.

What Frozen Treat Are You?

HT: She may be dipped but don't call her dippy.

Donut's for lunch?

subtitled: How history is conspiring against me

Sea captain, baker and inventor John F. Blondel received a patent for a doughnut cutter on this day in 1872. He liked to put holes in the middle of his fried cake pastries so he could fit them over the handles of the helm of his ship. Make or eat doughnuts today.

Now why did the kids circle this date on the Learning Calendar?

A dear friend of mine says:
A super easy way to make donuts is to get the large biscuits (Grands?), cut a hole and fry them. Easy and yummy when topped with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon sugar or glaze (chocolate or vanilla).

But you probably didn't want to know that, did you?

Web Site Story

As a lover of all things musical theater and parody, this is crackin' me up today.

(Warning: tiny bit of language and I certainly don't recommend exploring any other areas of the College Humor site. College kids can be incredibly creative but also incredibly perverse.)

Friday Fun

I was saving this for a post about a craft idea I have been working on for St. Anne's feast day (end of July, I know, not June) but thought it was too good not to share now.

It's called the Ballad of Matthew's Begats written and performed by Andrew Peterson and we first found the book with the included CD on clearance at a local Christian store. Here is another version without the pictures. My kids have been bopping along to it for weeks and almost have it memorized! Cory Godbey's pictures are really adorable and the book is laid out like a family photo album. That's all for now. Hope you are having a fabulous Friday.

Have a Coke and smile!

Courtesy of the Learning Calendar:
Atlanta druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola on this day in 1886. Originally marketed as a "brain and nerve tonic," the name comes from two ingredients: the coca leaf and the kola nut. Drink your favorite soft drink today.

Why thank you. I think we will!


P.S. Don't you love the picture? Cures headaches and relieves mental and physical exhaustion! Have a great Friday!

Sushi anyone?

They bought it up until the point that they put it in their mouths. Husband helped sell it with facial expressions. Smearing tuna fish juice on the tin foil that covered it helped too!

Happy April. Were you fooled?

Christmas Carols

Evann tagged me for what proved to be a very challenging meme.

The Rules:
If you were trapped on a desert island and it was Christmas and all you had was a small generator, Christmas lights for your coconut tree, an endless supply of Christmas cookies and eggnog (or hot chocolate), your CD player and 6 Christmas CDs , which 6 albums would you want them to be?

Wow. Whole albums? That is tough. First, I should confess that my collection is severely lacking. I have lots of favorites sung by individual artists, but I don't know that I have favorite albums. So, I will do my very best. If you are looking to stock your Christmas music shelf with suggestions, just know that not every song on these discs is my favorite.

6. We Need A Little Christmas ~ Andy Williams
Not Andy at his best but it is only one I own. I am sure one of his older ones is better but that's OK so long as I get to hear him sing the title song and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Those are my favorites from him. Incidentally, am I the only one who fondly remembers the special he did with the NBC kids? Please say no.

5. Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town (single song)
My secret shame! I know he is off-key but when isn't he? It's a fun song! And I crack up every time I hear him laughing at Clarence Clemons' "Ho, ho, ho!" Movin' on.

4. Veggie Tales: A Very Veggie Christmas
Seriously. Not just because the kids want this played non-stop. I really like the calypso version of Angels We Have Heard on High. Weird, I know, but you already knew that from #5.

3. In the Christmas Mood II ~ The Glen Miller Orchestra
Anything Glen Miller is welcome in my house.

2. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas ~ Burl Ives
You either love it or you hate it.

1. Carpenters Christmas Portrait
Hands down, best Christmas album ever. I can always count on this one to put me in a Christmas mood. I remember my mom listening to this while she did her Christmas baking combined with a little nip in the air (sometimes provided by the air conditioner). It definitely sets the mood.

I desperately need to work on our collection. This year we focused on books. Next year it will have to be music. Suggestions welcome!!!

Now, Red Cardigan has a post about a survey done over the pond and she asks...

Christmas Carols~

1. Love 'em, hate 'em, tolerate 'em, or...? Love 'em!

2. Policy: none before Christmas, none before Thanksgiving, or...? None before Thanksgiving.

3. Favorite? Favorites, if you've got more than one? O Holy Night, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Silent Night...just to name a few.

4. Least favorite? Drives you batty/hate it/turn it off if it comes on the radio? The one about the kid buying shoes for his dying mother. Santa Baby, especially the Madonna version and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

5. Caroling door to door in neighborhood? Ever done it/would do it? Wouldn't even consider it? Did it as a kid.

6. Funniest kids' rendition, if any? Veggie Tales version of the 12 Days of Christmas. It's dough, wrapped around...meat!

7. Most inappropriate carol ever heard in a church setting (Catholic or otherwise)? I don't remember which song they played, but one church programmed the outside bells to play Christmas songs as we were leaving Mass and the first one up was something Frosty the Snowman or Jingle Bells or something. Church bells ringing out Jingle Bells? It just doesn't work.

8. The one foreign language carol I know (or know best) is...? I used to know O Tannenbaum in German and Silent Night but these days it's Feliz Navidad.

9. Carol that perplexes you the most? Most of the really British ones like Walking in a Winter Wonderland... the whole Parson Brown snowman thing confuses me.

10. Carol your whole family will sing? I don't know but now I am going to have to find out!

How about you? Inquiring minds want to know!

Friday Fun

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Grace!

You are a Grace -- "I need to understand the world."

Can I make my children call me "Her Serene Highness" now? :)
Who are you?

And the winner is...

Have a beautiful Friday. We are off to Mass and then the post office!

Friday Fun - the 15th century edition

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Harlequin

You scored 13% Cardinal, 59% Monk, 59% Lady, and 51% Knight!

You are a mystery, a jack-of-all-trades. You have the king's ear, but also listen to murmurings of the common folk. You believe in the value of force and also literature. Truly you are the puzzlement of the age.

H/T: The common folk! ; )

Friday Fun

You Are 72% A Child of the 80s

Not only did you experience the 80s... you are practically an expert. You should be totally stoked!

Are You a Child of an 80s?

Now, you wanna have some more fun? OK. Go to Wikipedia and type into the search bar "19__ in music". I chose 1988 since I was a freshman in high school that year. Scroll down to the section called "Top Hits". Then go to YouTube and search for some of those songs to see if you remember them. If you are like me, you might have to wait for the refrain before something clicks. Fun huh? OK, maybe you already knew this trick or maybe you are that kind of person who can remember every song played at all of your 8th grade dances. So let's make it a little more fun. Turn it into a date night!

Husband and I sat finding songs we remembered or songs that had special significance and played them for each other last night. We had so much fun! We are only 3 years apart in age, but we had no idea that our musical experiences had been so different. When you stop and think about it, there can be so many outside factors that determine what music makes up the soundtrack of your past. A younger uncle who can't let go of the 70's classic rock from his youth, what region of the country you lived in, what music your parents listened to, or forbid you to listen to but didn't realize that your older cousin had in huge supply? I'm just sayin'!

It wasn't a planned date night, but a great impromptu one. A little take-out or a special meal and some candles might be in order for tonight. It is a great way to share some faded memories with your special someone and listening to some of these "oldies" can help those of us feeling our age enjoy the diversions of our youth without the acne or the hairspray! Have a great weekend!

Cleaning House

Blogaphorically speaking, that is.

I just took a look at my draft folder and thought woah... what the heck happened here?
So here goes:

1. LINKYDOODLES
Not to be missed if you haven't devoured them already:

Why Bother?

What About Teenagers? (we still have three years, we still have three years, lalala, not gonna think about that, lalala)

Question Authority

It's 3 A.M. From my favorite red head!



2. FRIDAY FUN

h/t: My twin and Princess Leia



3. MEME GUILT
Barb tagged me for this meme ages ago.

FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD

waitress at a tiny, little, hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant -- in high school and college

elementary school Drama teacher in the hood (seriously... South Dallas, gangs, guns, thugs, loads of drama!)

parts counter assistant for a boat dealership which was a promotion from being receptionist (In my experience, when your Dad is one of the owners of the company you work for, it doesn't mean you get to live like Paris Hilton. It means you do whatever job he tells you to and if you do a good job. he might bring you some lunch!)

office manager for the same boat dealership, different location (see above!)

4 PLACES I'VE LIVED:

Austin, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Irving, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas (sensing a pattern?)

4 PLACES I'VE BEEN ON HOLIDAY:
Thunder Bay, Canada

Monroe, Louisiana (hang on...it does get more exciting.)

Seattle, Washington (Honeymoon counts, right?)

Edinburgh, Scotland (when I was a student in Rome, we were allowed a ten day holiday to travel where ever we wanted to go. I went to Scotland. It was wonderful!)

4 FAVORITE FOODS:
Stir-Fry anything!

Tex-Mex

Chicken Alfredo

Summer fruits (watermelon, blueberries, cantaloupe, strawberries)

4 PLACES I'D RATHER BE:

Sitting in front of my sewing machine.

On the couch with a good movie and my sweetie.

In the rocking chair crocheting a blanket (I wish it were cold enough to need one!)

In the kitchen baking something yummy. (In other words, nowhere else but here!)

Consider yourself tagged if you want to be!

Whew!

ICE

I truly did not mean to be mysterious when I posted the picture of the ice angel on Christmas Eve but if you read about what my Friday was like the week before last and then imagine everything that happened after that, you can see how I just never found the time to talk more about the picture or where it came from. So, for you dear Margaret, and anyone else who is interested... get ready 'cuz this post is a monster.

Welcome to the Gaylord Texan Hotel! My Dad and his wife came up the Saturday before Christmas and stayed in this great big palace. We visited with them on Sunday and were treated to a tour of all of the colorful, fun decorations.

I loved the little teddy bear band although the sax player looks like he stayed up too late jamming the night before.

Real reindeer! This guy only had one antler. He kind of reminded me of the Grinch's little dog.

The wreaths lining the walls were made out of feathers. This isn't the best shot, but they were very uniquely beautiful. It's an idea that is definitely getting filed away for next year!

Howdy pardner!

BigBoy was a little confused as to why they would hang frosted donuts from the ceiling and insisted I take a picture of one.

The big attraction at the Gaylord Texan is the yearly ICE show. Welcome to ICE 2007! This was our first year to see it and the kids loved it. It was so very cold! 9 degrees is not a lot of fun. Now if they offered this in the middle of July you would hear no complaints from me!

This guy was pulling a carriage that you could actually sit in complete with an ice driver.

This part of the show was set up like a toy workshop. The toys that were used as models for the ice toys were mingled together in the display so that you could see how detailed the artists' work was.

So if you didn't guess by now...the angel came from the room with the gigantic nativity scene complete with shepherds, wise men and a majestic messenger.

Again, not the best picture but I wanted to show you how tall this sculpture is. Those are adults standing next to him, not my kids. (Everyone is given the same colored parka to wear before they enter the tent.)

The tunnel leading from the nativity scene into the North Pole room was a tree lined tunnel covered with lights and ice. It was gorgeous!

At the North Pole, we found some crazy-eyed penguins and lines of people waiting to zoom down a frozen slide. Should you think that the lack of pictures means we chickened out...think again. You can't take pictures while zooming! Sorry. (It was a blast!)