Family and Food

Look how creative Lisa was putting this flower arrangement together, impromptu. She'd cut out some Thanksgiving photos she'd printed of the boys and put this flower centerpiece together. Love love love it!!!!

As usual, there was lots of food to be gobbled up. We had fun gabbing about when me and Lisa were little girls doing silly things and making my mom and dad's life, I like to call it, EXCITING. But they might have remembered it differently.

After we taste tested the pumpkin, apple, and berry pies, there were challenging on the air hockey and ping pong tables. Michael and Tayshaun fought for the microphone on the Rock Band game (since they weren't allowed on the drums or guitars anymore). Somehow that game kept making their instruments "FAIL". Hmmmm...

Cute Diva girl was excited for scraps of food that would fall off the counter while I was cooking. Her little Diva tee-shirt fit snug around her middle by the time I finally finished cooking my dishes. My little turkey!!!

Go Grizzlies Go!

Tayshaun had his first experience watching a Grizzlies hockey game last week. We had some awesome tickets thanks to Kris!

I'm not sure where Tayshaun had gotten the idea that he wanted to try out hockey but he'd been asking me if he could learn to skate on ice. Not a bad idea but I think he better learn how to skate, period, before he tries out the ice.

So when we had an opportunity to go to the hockey game, I thought it would be fun for him to check it out. The game went pretty quickly and even though there were few fights, it was pretty exciting anyway. It helped that Tayshaun made a little friend there to help him cheer for the Grizzlies.

In between periods, some little hockey players scrimmaged on the ice. Tayshaun thought it was cool watching them swish the puck around the rink. And of course the grizzlie mascat came out to bug the spectators. I didn't get shots of that 'cause we were hoping he'd come our way so Tayshaun could pinch him or something. Unfortunately, he didn't make it around to our side of the arena.

When the National Anthem was sung, I was surprised that Tayshaun knew most of the words...thanks to my preschool funds; Tayshaun learns things I would have never thought to introduce him to.

Well, we'll see when Tayshaun is ready for his never hockey game.

So much to be Grateful for...here's just a "few"...

Grateful for Life
1. Existing in this world with full consciousness (most of the time)
2. Having the opportunity to experience all the wonders life has to offer

Grateful for Health
3. Waking up in the morning and being able to get out of bed without help (unless requested)
4. Being able to take long walks, ride bikes, and roller-skate (when I was a derby girl)
5. Maintaining good health….prescription-free (unless contraceptives count)

Grateful for Family and Friends
6. Having my mom and other great friends to confide in and complain to (oh...the things they hear)
7. Creating wonderful memories with my family during holidays and life-time events and then reliving those good times with photos and recordings
8. Laughing, goofing off, and celebrating with my friends, especially during our annual Christmas parties and summer Cruises/Vacations

Grateful for Freedom
9. Having the chance to be anyone, say anything, go anywhere, and believe in anything I want

Grateful for Sight
10. Seeing the warm-colored reds, browns, yellows, oranges textured leaves in the fall-time
11. Watching snowflakes falling and brilliantly white clean snow pile high (of course...best viewed from my window while under a warm cozy blanket)
12. Glimpsing white fluffy beds of cottony clouds traveling along a brilliantly blue sky
13. Gazing at an intense, romantic, inspirational fire in the sky sunset
14. Seeing the excitement on my son’s face after he’s finally hit some bowling ball pins down, or the delight on his face when he’s telling me about a girl he’s really crushing on, or the jubilant grin when he’s beat me at a video game.

Grateful for Touch
15. Having the ability to feel pain when I stub my toe (not that I like stubbing my toe)
16. Feeling the warmth and support of an embrace when being hugged (not the insincere, pat on-the-back kind)
17. Feeling the flow of energy when holding hands
18. Having someone cuddle up behind me and snuggle in bed (not a snuggie)
19. Feeling the electricity and/or tenderness of a kiss
20. Experiencing stimulation (I’ll just leave it at that)

Grateful for Chocolate
21. Devouring warm, gooey brownies
22. Snacking on Ben & Jerry chocolate brownie or chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream
23. Nibbling on peanut M & M’s

Grateful for Warm Beverages…I’m thankful for a few cold beverages too
24. Creamy, thick, hot chai tea
25. Steamy hot cocoa with miniature marshmellows

26. Vanilla, pumpkin, or mint-flavored lattes
27. Freshly roasted coffee
28. Bailey’s cup of coffee, topped with whipped cream

Grateful for Summer
29. Sunbathing and laying on a beach towel reading the latest best novel
30. Enjoying the long, hot days of endless things to do
31. Eating outside at misting, patioed restaurants
32. Drinking bud-lite and eating nachos at an outdoor pub (ok...indoor pubs are cool, too)
33. Vacationing, preferably near a pool or ocean
34. Driving with the windows down and the radio full-blast

Grateful for Pampering
35. Long, hot, steamy showers
36. Scented bubble baths
37. AromaTherapy massages
38. Thermal pedicures
39. Putting on a soft, fluffy, terry-cloth robe when you get out of the shower
40. Soft, high-count sheets and a goose-down comforter
41. Waking up early, realizing it’s the weekend, and then falling back to sleep
42. Curling up in a blanket and reading a good book

I could go on...but it would then be a REAL lengthy post. What are you Thanksful for?

V.I.P.

In class this week, Tayshaun will be the Very Important Person. Extra special attention for the Very Important Person is having the "privilege" of ringing the bell (which apparently) calls the kids to line up before recess, before reading time, and before lunch/snack time. He also gets to bring home Hugs (the bear) which is a Build-A-Bear class mascot.

We'll be bringing treats for his classmates... guess we better go to the grocery store, today.

And here's the Me, Myself, and I poster we were asked to create. His poster will be hung on the classroom wall with other prior VIPs' posters.

It's hard to see some of the details so I'll post what was asked from left to right.

I like to: Play with my Bakugans

My Happy Face: Tayshaun on a ride at LegoLand

Friends: A few pics and the names of all classroom friends

Favorite place: Fat Cats

My Family: Pictures

One wish: 100 BAKUGANS

You bob for Apples From the Toilet....And You LIKE IT!

Tayshaun and I were at Target this weekend...well 'cause I can't stay out of that store. And on the way up to pay, I spy the Sandlot DVD. Hmmm...we'd decided to be homebodies on Saturday night so I picked it up and decided to entertain myself watching Tayshaun experience THE BEAST.

What a riot for me!!!! I'd forgotten how great this flick was but watching it through the eyes of a five year old boy was priceless. OH MY GOSH!

We get home from Target and throw the DVD in while we go about our business of putting away shoes, popping popcorn, etc. I'd opened a puzzle and had put it on the kitchen table for Tayshaun to play around with while watching the Sandlot. I'd had every intention of reading my book while Tayshaun tinkered and watched his new DVD. But after he started watching it, he was spellbound and giggling almost immediately. Before long, he'd moved down to the family room and I moved down there with him.

We settled in and really started paying attention to the show. It was hilarious re-watching this adventure of baseball buddies in their treehouse sleep-ins, their prank on Wendy the desirous lifeguard at the local pool, the vomiting scene on the twirly ride at the carnival while chewing tobacco, their baseball game with their rival ball team....and last but not least, "the pickle" they found themselves in with the legendary ball-eating dog called THE BEAST.

Tayshaun was sure THE BEAST was a dinosaur. And he seemed a little deflated when he saw the "actual" beast. But we both jumped with every attempt those boys made to retrieve their "Babe Ruth" baseball that Smalls had hit over the fence.

But the parts we had to rewind a half a dozen times were the bantering between the "Ham" and the rival baseball team member- during the baseball game challenge and also behind the homeplate "during" the game. HILARIOUS! Problem is, I think Tayshaun's teachers might get a little mad when they start hearing him use some of these terms:
pee drinker... crap face... scab eater... butt sniffer... pus licker.... fart smeller... buffalo butt breath...

You're killing me, Smalls!
You eat dog crap for breakfast.
You mix your wheaties with your mamas toe jam....
If I had a dog as ugly as you, I'd shave his butt and tell him to walk backwards.
Is that your sister out there in left field naked?

YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL!
Tayshaun tried that one on me this morning....well it didn't really have the same affect.

Great movie!!!!

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2247295257/

Venturing Out At Green Papaya

So we decided to go to a restaurant that none of us had tried before. Last week, Lisa and Zachary mentioned that they LOVED the food at the Green Papaya. So for our family dinner I decided we should try something different.

Well, Lisa had mentioned that the restaurant was Japanese and affiliated to a sushi restaurant in town so I thought we were going for some rice bowls, egg rolls, that sort of thing.

But when I texted the girls that we were going to Green Papaya, Shalyse texted back. "Good, I totally know what were eating now. I looked online." She also mentioned something about she loved Pho. So I text back..."You love Pho? Does he work there? Good maybe Pho will be there and I can meet him." So she texted back "Dork, pho is what were eating." Can you believe she called me "Dork!" So I texted back.."We're going to eat him?! Well, ok, if he's on the menu. I'm game."

Well, I thought I better get acquainted with pho before we ate some so I decided to browse the menu online. Oh by the way, I learned pho isn't pronounced pho...it's pronounced fu-h. That sounded French so I decided I definitely better see what was going into my mouth...you know snails and such.

WELL, I learned Green Papaya was a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant so we weren't eating snails but we might have to eat dogs. JUST KIDDING! But I have heard a rumor or joke...o-k. Anyways, I still wasn't very sure about my choice of restaurants after I looked at the menu!?!?

We weren't eating snails but we were going to be eating:
Ga Xao Xa Ot
Heo Vindaloo
Lau Thai Do Bien
Tom Rang Muoi

What the.....?

Ok so I'm exaggerating a bit.....there were the English description of what these concoctions were but I still didn't know some of those terms either....wood-ear mushrooms, xa xiu pork, chicken satay...

So I quickly scanned down the menu to see if there was an American menu or some nachos or something. But nope, I was venturing out for the evening. My taste buds would be introduced to Vietnamese/Thai style tonight.

Well as you can see by the smiles, Thai was a thumbs up. We tried some pho, Thai tea (YUMMY), Korean BBQ ribs, seafood curry, dumplings, egg rolls, teriyaki chicken, and other items...#D4, D6, and D9 (I think).

Tayshaun got some spiciness on his taste buds - see the firey breath Tayshaun's breathing here!!!!! He especially loved the meal. He LOVES to eat with chopsticks so he had a great time. He tried everyones food and ate his own meatball soup, too.

Tisha and Jazlynn ate SOOOOOO much look at the....I gotta throw up.....looks on their faces!!! hehehehehehehe. Here's the yummy Thai tea right there. I'm going back for more of that 2000 calorie drink, if nothing else.

Madison wasn't able to make it 'cause she and Lacy were coughing a lung out so we didn't want them to come with us. See ya next time girlies!!!! See what you missed!