The Cabbage Patch

7 Quick Takes Friday ~ Volume 118

~1~

I went to the first military ball in 13 years.  The last one was the Marine Corp Birthday Ball when Ben was attending the advanced course (Captain's course) at Quantico, VA.  Until now, I couldn't leave Brother with a babysitter.  His anxiety got the better of him and it'd take days to recover.  We've worked the last couple of years for him to be able to stay with a babysitter.  We use a lovely young lady from our parish and homeschool group.  Her mother is one of my best friends.  Pumpkin calls TheMadHatter her best friend.  It's really cute.

~2~

As most events like this go, the food was so-so.  The potatoes were too salty, the green beans over cooked and the salad was very wilted.  The beef was okay, but the chicken really did not taste good.  I made sure to sit where the chocolate cake was, but it was dry and crusty.  Yuck.  We had a good table.  The guys were very funny and reminded me of different friends of ours from Ben's Lieutenant days.  

~3~

If you've never been to a military ball, it's an experience.  They bring in the colors and it's completely silent.  The soldiers all stand at attention.  The best though is when the National Anthem is played.  It's quite a sight to watch, almost in unison, the soldiers bring their right arm up to a salute and hold it.  There's never an early end to the silence during the Anthem.  The salute stays until the last note is played.  Awesome.

And, as always, the Star Spangled Banner made me all teary-eyed.

~4~

I was stressed about the hair and the makeup, but I think I did okay.  My dear friend Danyell had given me quite the one-on-one lesson on applying it.  I think I did okay.  At least she said I did on Facebook.  I actually went out and bought some on my own.  Thank you, Danyell!

~5~

I must be getting old.  None of the music appealed to me.  At all.  And, it was too loud.  Much too loud.

~6~

The shoes went great with the dress, but the rhinestones kept snagging the dress.  It was uncomfortable.  I had to actually walk very slowly and not as stridently as I usually did.

~7~

And, now I leave you with a photo.  

Check out other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.
 

What I Am Wearing Tonight

Bits and Pieces

We went to Austin on Saturday after ballet.  I needed to find shoes and we were celebrating my dad's 70th birthday.  

At the mall, we lost Pumpkin for about a minute.  We only realized it for about 20 seconds, but those were the longest 20 seconds of my life.  I think I shaved about a decade off my life.  After that she spent the rest of the time with her hand in mine.  We were both shaken up quite a bit.

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We celebrated my dad's birthday at The Salt Lick.  The food there is always fantastic.  The service usually is not bad.  However, that day was horrible.  We were seated about 30 minutes after arrival which is okay since it's a Saturday night, but we were seated without menus.  Then it took the server at least 10 minutes to get to us.  Tables that were seated after us already had drinks by the time our server even arrived.  I wondered at his need to do well as a server since with our large party, he was going to receive an automatic 20% gratuity.  I know that they lost power to their computer system momentarily, but it was not enough of an excuse for me.  It ruined the experience a bit.  The server picked it up a bit towards the end.

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I have bone to pick with parents who bring food to church.  Okay, getting beyond the actual food at church thing; if you must, please make sure it doesn't have peanut butter in it.  The kid in front of us who is about 18 months old had peanut butter crackers.  He couldn't keep his hands off my Honey before he started eating.  I had to pull her away from him.  She has an allergy.  It's not that severe for my girls, but I do know of a child who can't even be in the same room as peanut butter.  

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I need to buy regular shoes.  Loafer type shoes.  I did find shoes for the ball I am attending.  I had go to three different department stores, but I did.  I haven't bought black loafers since 2001.  My brown shoes since probably about 2004/2005.  I'm not sure.  They're starting to really fall apart.  But, I can't seem to find shoes that fit well and are simple conservative shoes.  So, as much as I like shoes, I hate shopping for them.

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Gramma is coming to visit tomorrow.  I need to clean the bathrooms and get her room ready.  Sister is vacating her room for Gramma.  She's looking forward to "traveling" to her sisters' room to spend the weekend there.  She's even packing a bag of clothes.  It's very funny.  I think we'll go bowling.  

That's More Like It

Rejoicing with Friends

Lots of rejoicing for new life at Suzanne's and Charlotte's.  Congratulations to these wonderful ladies and their families.  We will be praying.

7 Quick Takes Friday ~ Volume 116

~1~

Have you ever watched Storage Wars?  It's fascinating to watch what they uncover in these storage places.  I wonder about the people who leave the things in these places.  There was one place where one guy bought a big storage locker full of household goods.  My first thought was that this was a military family's household goods that got lost because the movers forgot where they put their stuff.  I don't like the bidding part of the show because one of the guys is annoying.

~2~

It was cold yesterday and this morning.  We didn't leave the house yesterday since locals schools were cancelled (if the schools cancel most other things cancel).  It was great.  My children thought they would not have school but they did.  They stayed in their pajamas and after schoolwork we relaxed and watched some TV.  

~3~

I have run out of rice.  Seriously?  I couldn't believe it when I went to get some to make dinner last night.  My parents are picking up our yearly supply for us this weekend.  We're celebrating my dad's 70th birthday this Saturday at The Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX.  Yum-O!

~4~

We are having our St. Valentine's Day party today.  We have over 45 children attending.  It should be fun.  There will be crafts, games and food.  The children will also participate in a card exchange if they want.  Brother and Sister drew pictures and I made copies of them.  I made bookmarks with pictures of Honey and Pumpkin.  I made a 7 layer dip for the party and will also bring some desserts.

~5~

Honey and Pumpkin have each opened up an art shop in our living room.  Honey is the more prolific artist.  It's awfully cute to watch.  Pumpkin hired her dad to draw pictures; she takes the picture and colors it in.  They are both working to save money to buy the Kanani doll from American Girl.

~6~

My girls are turning into Green Bay Packers fans.  I'm talking real fans.  My only consolation is that they're not cheering for the Cowboys.

~7~

This has taken me two hours to do.  I have nothing else.

Check out more at Conversion Diary.

Yarn Along ~ February 9

Pink leg warmers for my oldest ballerina.  One leg done, one on the needles.  Blue hat for the church secretary's coming grandson.  A Nook with no battery charge not pictured.  

It's freezing cold here.  The children are in pjs and don't plan on changing out of them.  Everything has been cancelled today because the roads are slick.  It would be much better if Ben were off work as well.  

Go visit Ginny and see what everyone is up to.  I always find new projects I want to start and new books I want to read.

7 Quick Takes Friday ~ Volume 115 aka Freezing Our Buns Edition

~1~

I type my Quick Takes on Thursday evening.  As I sit here I'm listening to the snow.  It's more like frozen rain so you really can hear it.  

~2~

We attended mass for the Feast of St. Blaise and the blessing of the throats.  After, we went out with friends to celebrate the Chinese New Year at...Five Guys.  I know.  I know.  I would've cooked something except it just wasn't going to work out with mass.  Korean food for special occasions are time consuming and labor intensive.  Weekdays aren't very conducive to the time crunch thing.  We went to a friend's for dessert (rice pudding) and coffee.  Anyway, I didn't think the snow would start until much later.  We were pleasantly surprised to open the door to leave and see a blanket of snow.

~3~

So, we drove home very slowly.  I had to drop a friend and her girls off at the other end of our street.  Ben took the two older kids in his car.  I drove slowly because I could tell that the suburban despite it's size did not have really great traction.  I saw Ben fishtail at one intersection.  Most other vehicles were slow but I had one guy come up right behind me.  I was very relieved when they passed me.  

~4~

The local schools have not made a call.  I know what it was like for my vehicle.  I don't think buses are going to make it tomorrow.  

~5~

If school is out, we will not have ballet tomorrow.  I think we're okay with that.  A day at home with snow will be nice.  The kids have parkas, mittens and hats.  However, the shoes.  We don't have boots.  We'll have to do what we can.  No matter what, we will play in the snow.

~6~

Have I mentioned how cold it is?  It's been really, really cold.  The average high temperature around this time of year is 59.  Ours yesterday reached about 20.  That's way too cold.  

~7~ 

Have you ever watched Chopped on Food Network?  It's awesome!  Four chefs start out making an appetizer course using all of the mystery ingredients.  The three judges taste the dish and decide who gets chopped.  Get it?  Then the next round is the main course with dessert to follow.  I love watching these chefs make these things out of some weird and neat ingredients.  But, why are some of them so arrogant?  I wonder about the ones who argue with the judges.

Okay so I cheated by writing so much about the weather and one other thing.  I can only blame the cold.  My nose hasn't been warm for days.  Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.