Adventures in Costuming

So, my son comes home and announces this past weekend that he has a report due in his Bible class and will have to make his presentation about his report "in costume" on Friday.

Ok. No worries. I can whip something up to match his chosen person from the Bible, Nehemiah.

Yeah, right! That was before he announced last night - at 8pm - that he was wrong and the report was due today and he needs his costume by tomorrow. OY VAY! So, off to Wal-Mart I ventured to buy the fabric.

Tonight I cut and sewed (without a pattern I might add) and this is what we came up with...

I'm not so sure that he looks like Nehemiah. I think I may have accidentally made a Jedi Warrior costume from Star Wars... But, hopefully his Bible teacher won't make that connection!

An Early Birthday Party

John's 15th birthday isn't until the end of the month. But, he wanted to have some friends over this weekend to celebrate.

Mason & Justin

Reid

Blowing out the candles

It's funny. When they were little they would come with a small bag full of lego's or cars. Their jammies and something to cuddle with. Now, they show up with their computers and monitors and keyboards. Several trips back and forth to the car later - they are settled into one room playing computer games over the internet, while seated next to each other. I joked that it looked like everyone was "moving in" when they arrived. What a difference a few years makes.

It's hard to believe my "little boy" is going to be 15. I don't know where the years have gone. He is studying for his Learner's Permit. He'll take the test in a few weeks. Lord help me.

The Golden Globes

are today. I can't wait. We've seen almost all the nominated movies and performances. I will be firmly planted in front of the television from 3pm on. (Have to catch the Red Carpet arrivals, don't ya know!)

On The Road Again

I hit the road early this morning to travel to Lacey WA to conduct training classes for our employees. I work for a bank and am one of the corporate trainers. I love what I do. It's very rewarding - and I think I'm pretty good at it. I love the little bit of travelling that I get to do, and always enjoy the opportunity to see employees that I don't otherwise get to spend time with.

It's a fun reprieve for me to be on my own for several evenings and just have myself to take care of. And I think Richard and J.J. enjoy playing bachelors for a few evenings. They have all their favorite take-out places lined up for lunches and dinners.

I like travelling occasionally, but I certainly wouldn't want to be gone on a regular basis. I miss my "men" and my kitties, and the comforts of my home.

Award Season...

... is looming large. The Golden Globes are next weekend, and the Screen Actor's Guild awards the weekend after that. We've been trying to see as many nominated movies as possible. It's an exciting time of year around our house.

photo from moviewatchingonline.info

Last night I saw "Precious" with my friend Jenn. Richard really wasn't interested in seeing it. I will say he probably would have hated it. Very tough movie to watch. To see a mother allow her daughter to be abused in that way, and to watch the mother abuse her as well - it was heart breaking. However, that said, there were definitely some award winning performances in the film. In particular Mo'nique deserves all of the nominations she has received thus far, and I hope that she wins those awards. She was amazing as the mother.

I Can't Believe...

...that I won the "Wholly Guacamole" contest sponsored by Foodie BlogRoll. I belong to that site for my GumboYaYa blog.


The package arrived today and was brimming with delicious guacamole, chips, salsa, a rolling ice chest, t-shirt, baseball cap and pens. What a wonderful surprise and delicious way to end the first week of the year.

If you haven't tried Wholly Guacamole - you should. We opened the Spicy Guac and it was fabulous.

Happy New Year

Another year has come and gone. In fact, it's been another decade! We rang in the new year with our good friends, and most excellent neighbors, Kerry, Dodi & Alyssa.

We started the evening at their house for drinks and appetizers. The doggies wanted to be included in the festivities.

We returned to our house for dinner and some fun games. Here we are laughing and carrying on around the table.

The evening ended with champagne, Dick Clark New Year's Rockin Eve, kisses and hugs all around and few more photos.

It's been a great year and we look forward to all the wonderful things that 2010 has in store for us.

Happy New Year everyone!

Just Another New Year's Eve

I'm excited for New Years Eve. We will be celebrating with our friends & neighbors - as we do each year. I've already set the table for our extravaganza. Can't wait to spend a fun evening together filled with good food, good drink, and always lots of laughter!

Surprise Snow Showers

Salem was surprised today by the amount of snow that showered upon us. Portland was even more surprised! Many commuters were still on the I-5 freeway at 11pm. I'm SO glad we were home safe and sound.

A pair of squirrels took cover on our deck for a short while!

We Saw...

photo from upintheairtrailer.com

The movie "Up in the Air" today. It was really quite good. Of course, I'm very partial to George Clooney. (Known to all my family and friends as "my George"!)

Richard and I enjoyed the movie and our visit to the newest theater in Salem, Cinebarre. We liked the service and the food. We will definitely go back to this theater again.

Wishing "my George" good luck at the Golden Globes this awards season.