weekly recap

Much has happened in the last week. First was the dessert that I would love to forget - Apple Crumble Bars. I don't know what went wrong, but the crust and the base were so flavorless I wouldn't eat them. I thought the apple-cinnamon mixture in the center was tasty, but that was the only redeeming quality about the bars. I fault myself, not the recipe. Perhaps one day in the very distant future I will try them again. Suffice it to say the bars were tasteless and messy enough that I didn't even take a photo of them at any stage. Bless my sweet family who suffered through every bite of those. I swear next time I bring dessert to a family dinner I will make it tasty!

After the apple crumble debacle at dinner, I returned home focused on creating a yummy dessert for Tuesday's dinner with friends. I set my sights on Oreo Cheesecake. I L-O-V-E cheesecake, oreos, and I loved the idea that I could make it on Sunday night and have it ready to go on Tuesday without any further preparation. This was especially important given, sigh, that I had to return to work on Monday morning. Second attempt ever at cheesecake and this is what my setup looked like. Addison fell asleep on the way home and we did not argue given that we all had to be up early the next morning. This, however, significantly cut down on my allowable time in the kitchen. She came out once and complained that the mixer was too loud. I picked up all my ingredients and headed into the only available room with a closeable door - the master bedroom. Unconventional, yes, but did not end up lacking any function. I spread out my ingredients on the dresser and went to work. Robert furiously chopped oreos for the crumb crust and to include in the cheesecake base. Without his help this would never have worked! In the end, the oreo cheesecake was a success. A vast improvement over my previous attempt of the day! Here's how they looked in the end.

Then on Monday all my world changed - I went back to work. How spoiled I had been by two weeks off. If I ever take an entire summer off I may never want to return. I have however decided to combine my new interest in dessert-making with my unavoidable return to work: I will bake/make dessert for each students' birthday. I will have to give them options since my skills are still extremely limited, but I hope it will keep me involved with cooking which I rather enjoy and it will provide an opportunity to connect on a personal level with my kids - let them know that I am not really all those horrible names they call me, there is some good in me. ;-)

This afternoon is Addison's playdate. We are supposed to play in the sprinkler, but rain may force us inside. If so, we are at the ready with craft projects and of course, tons of toys, games, and dress-up outfits. Addison crafted her own dinner menu. She quickly selected mac & cheese, but with some assistance added ham and cheese sandwiches to the menu. For dessert she wanted cupcakes that were - yep! you guessed it - pink. For the adults, I settled on shredded chicken (since I can use my handy-dandy crock-pot and have dinner ready and not be cooking while guests are here) to pair with the mac & cheese. I further encouraged fruit salad (yummy, yummy!) and finished with Oreo Madness Cupcakes. I clearly have obsessed over Oreos this week. I found a recipe online from my new favorite, Annie's Eats, and tweaked it by using boxed mixes (I know, I know...I wanted to do scratch cupcakes and icing, but didn't have baking powder last night, so I had no choice!) and just adding the oreo bits in. We haven't tried them yet, but I will shortly. Addison IMMEDIATELY scarfed down a pink cupcake. And when I say scarfed, I mean she ate the entire thing. She never eats the cake - only licks off the icing. So our Ode to Pinkalicious cupcakes must've been good. Wish us luck during the playdate and cross your fingers that the rain holds off!

Last but not least, as I walked through the nearly-defunct Blockbuster store that I frequented in my college years, I perused the overwhelming remaining selection, when suddenly out of the sea of black and white labels for case-less DVDs pops what my family has come to call "The Doodah Movie". It is, however, more commonly known as "Surviving Christmas" with James Gandolfini and Ben Affleck. This is the very movie that I watched when I was pregnant with Addison and fell in love with the name "Doodah" for a grandpa. I knew immediately that was the name for my dad - my parents told me they didn't want to be Grandma & Grandpa, but rather have a more unique name. Dad initially resisted, but over time has come to love his nickname. What better way to say goodbye to a store where I spent so much time - and money! - then to purchase a funny move with special meaning to me! It was meant to be.

dress-up fun, new favorite movies

Betty recently crafted a Wendy Moira Angela Darling costume for little Miss Addy. Because of computer difficulties, I have only been able to post the photos of said costume to my facebook page. If you are not a facebook friend of mine, you can view the photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2887457&id=5247387&l=f90286dd05
I will be updating that facebook album to include other photos from the month of July.

We purchased new movies for our growing Disney collection last week. We added Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Bed-knobs and Broomsticks, and Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins is by far Addison's favorite movie this week. She already has "Spoon Full of Sugar" memorized and sings it frequently while playing. We watched Alice in Wonderland once and will probably not watch it again for quite some time. The only part of that movie that she truly enjoyed was the caterpillar who smokes. She now pretends to smoke straws or sticks in imitation of that caterpillar. Of all the parts she could remember, why that one?! She enjoyed Robin Hood, but it's been overshadowed for the time being by Mary Poppins. Bed-knobs and Broomsticks has been another favorite, though the storyline is completely and totoally over her ability to comprehend. I don't really like the story at all myself. I would be OK if we never watched it again. Unfortunately, Addison really enjoys the flying bed scenes, so I am certain we'll watch it multiple times. I'm off now to watch this weekend's third and final showing of Mary Poppins.

because Trevoer queried on his blog...

...I will now do the same.

What are your Top 5 most favorite movies? Movies that you cannot imagine your life without? Movies that you could watch 500 times and still enjoy as much as the first time? Here are my Top 5.

1. The Goonies - I will laugh EVERY SINGLE TIME I see Chunk do the Truffle Shuffle.
2. The Breakfast Club - what's life without a little of John Hughes' film brilliance?
3. Grease - Music, dancing, idealistic high school life, awesome costumes...what more can I say?
4. Clue - I love the game, I love the movie.
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off - I love Matthew Broderick.

I guess I'm stuck in the 80's. There are current movies that I really like, but they haven't been around long enough to breach the top 5....only the top 10.

catch-up post

Robert and I went out on a date last weekend. We left "blue Cinderelly" at home with her Memaw and Grandpa to watch Finding Nemo and headed out to see The Hangover. I knew it would be funny, but I was blown away by how much I laughed. I have not laughed so consistently through a movie in as long as I can remember. I wanted to stay and catch the next showing I liked it so much. Absolute hilarity for the entire 100 minutes. If you haven't seen it, you should.

My baby brother Hoyt left today on a 40-hour train ride out West. He's going on a 3 week Rayado at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. He is going all alone for the first time ever. He will be back one week before we leave on our two-week family trip to California. He is hoping to get on good terms with the staff at Philmont so that next year he can be a camp counselor or trail guide. I'm happy that he's doing something that he loves.

Tonight we had dinner at Sonny's. Addison noticed there weren't any crayons on the table, so we asked our waiter for some. Our waiter, John, handed a handful of crayons to Addy and I pretty immediately asked her how many crayons she had. Without taking much time to think or count, she said, "I have three crayons, Mommy." She was right, there were three crayons. I am of the belief that she inherited her Daddy's mathematical skill. Thank goodness!

Addison had a 2 1/2 birthday party. We gave her a blue Cinderella dress, dress-up shoes, and a princess puzzle. We put the puzzle together but we aren't allowed to take it apart. She likes to see the picture and gets upset if one of the pieces comes loose. She lived in the Cinderella dress for a few days, and still lives in the shoes. She got four pair of shoes, and she actually alternates which ones she wears based on the color of her outfit. I find this very funny. She's fought with us about wearing them out, and only once did we give in. She wore her blue Cinderella shoes to Publix on Sunday. When one of them fell off in the parking lot she said, "Uh oh, Daddy! I lost my glass slipper!". It was quite adorable!

Summer school has been so great that it borders on boring. I am not used to days that go exactly according to my plans. I miss the chaos. I miss the activity. I miss the unpredictability. I know now that - at least at this point in my life - I could not work at a mainstream school. I love my students and the challenges they present - stolen Ipods included! I think in the end, it's good to have this down time. It's refreshing and relaxing. But I wouldn't want it for the long-term.

True Blood is back on and I am a happy camper. Our cable was out on Sunday night, so I patiently waited until Monday evening to watch. It was well worth the wait. I LOVE that show!

Christmas Eve Eve

We had our annual dinner party with Dad's family tonight. We went to Morelia's per Evelyn's suggestion. We had 22 people there! Holy crap that was a big party! I was exhausted after I left. It felt strange to be so tired after two and a half hours of sitting. But, as strange as it was, it was what I felt. Absolutely pooped. Addison came right in the house and crashed. She watched two quick videos and was out. She was so tired, she even told Robert to leave her room instead of having him sing to her as per the norm. He felt sad, but I think he understood. You can see pics from the family gathering (thanks to Evelyn's photography skills!) here.

It's Christmas Eve Eve and I'm about to pee in my pants I'm so excited. I'm going to watch A Christmas Story as many times as possible tomorrow. Thanks, TBS! ;-)

Sugar cookies, here I come. Yum!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!