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| These were taken Stephen's first Halloween. Without a doubt, I think this is one of Dad's favorite "Daddy" moments. |
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day and Six Year Anniversary
On this Father's Day, my family celebrated what a wonderful dad we have! This year though, the six year anniversary of Stephen's death fell on the same day, making this Sunday very bittersweet. In the spirit of the day and the two most important men in my life, I thought I would share some photos that bring the biggest smile to my face and warm my heart completely!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Memorial Day Weekend
My family and I always spend Memorial Day at Lake Blackshear, so we all headed up there Friday. The first night of the holiday weekend ended up being very chill. We ate a delicious boston butt from Riverfront BBQ. We all took turns chasing Abigail around while she played, but we all went to bed early to get ready for a busy Saturday.
Saturday morning we woke up, and all ate Stripling's sausage biscuits...the best fuel for a day on Lake Blackshear. We geared up, loaded on sunscreen, packed the cooler, hopped on the boat, and went on our way. We weren't on the boat for five minutes before Abigail fell asleep in my arms. She was so relaxed with the wind on her face, she just tuckered right out...despite the fact that her life vest looked like it was suffocating her. Even though I was sweating my butt off and I knew I would have an Abigail outline tan line, I let her snooze away....Oh the "sacrifices" aunts have to make! HA! Wouldn't trade moments like those for anything in the world.
We made it to Booger Bottom for lunch just before the swarm of hungry boaters hit. We still had to wait about 45 minutes for a cheeseburger, but it was so worth it. Booger Bottom burgers are by far the best. Anyone who has had one knows...If you haven't had one, you need to change that aspect of your life STAT. You won't regret it.
(Disclaimer- You have to look beyond the hole in the wall that it is. Also, you have to ignore that the burgers are cooked on a small electric kitchen griddle. These are minor details, compared to the happiness you will feel after trying the burger!)
Upon leaving Booger Bottom to get back on the lake, our sweet Abigail had a little accident. Poor thing. I guess all the socializing over lunch upset her stomach. Let's just say- We definitely will not go on another boat ride without carrying some baby wipes. I'll spare the details.
I spent Saturday night with the Parentals and Abigail. We had a quiet, but fun night. Abby and I shared fresh boiled peanuts- Her favorites are the "babies." She was feeling like such a big girl, she actually let me get two splinters out of her hand without even crying! Whoa- that was a serious accomplishment. So proud of her.
Sunday was another big day- Nanny's 85th birthday!!! Hooray for eighty five years! We hosted lunch at our lake house, and Nanny and Papa (my mom's parents), Aunt Kathy and Uncle Brian, cousin Ana, and her boyfriend Brain came over for the birthday festivities. We had an awesome lunch of grilled chicken, potatoes, green beans, and napa salad. The star of the lunch time show was the napa salad- It's always a big crowd pleaser!
Napa Cabbage Salad
Ingredients: 1 head Napa cabbage
1 bunch of green onions chopped
1/3 cup of butter
1 (3 ounce) package ramen noodles, broken
(Don't need flavor packet)
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1 cup silvered almonds
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1.) Finely shred the napa cabbage. Do not chop.
2.) Make the crunchies: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Combine the ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Sauté the combination until brown, then remove from heat. Place mixture over paper towels for excess butter to drain.
3.) Make the dressing: In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar, oil, sugar, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
4.) Combine cabbage, crunchies, green onions, and dressing right before serving. Serve right away or crunchies will get soggy.
We wrapped up lunch with "Brownie Delight" for dessert, instead of a birthday cake. The name of this little goody goes way back to my younger years when mom would make it for us. Brownie Delight is always another crowd pleaser as well. It's layers of crumbled brownie, chocolate syrup, and the cool whip. The secret is to make sure the brownies are top notch- we always use Betty Crocker's Turtle mix, which has caramel and nuts. SO good! And, of course, Abigail had to help Nanny blow out her candles.
After lunch, Kelly was complaining about burning her hand getting the potatoes out of the oven earlier in the day. Oh, it was a nasty burn. It kind of made me cringe. So, we were all trying to come up with home remedies for burns, seeing we didn't have any special burn ointment. Then, the secret comes out that Papa has some type of VooDoo Burn Magic!? Seriously? How can we not know this by now? So, Papa rubs his hand over Kelly's burn, while muttering some special words. We all stared in disbelief. I mean this was a serious Harry Potter type moment. You can just see Kelly thinking, "Ok. My burn still hurts. Someone go to the store for burn cream because this crazy voodoo isn't working." Papa then tells us of how some woman years upon years ago taught him how to "talk the fire out of a burn." WHAT?! Then my mom and Aunt Kathy tell stories of how this voodoo magic works. We all just laughed it off as good fun, remaining skeptics....trying not to think how crazy our family really is.
We all made it to Monday safely. Sadly, no boat rides today because of Tropical Storm Beryl, so we packed up and headed home early. Normally, it is all too easy to overlook the reason for this holiday by spending the day grilling, laughing, and drinking in the sun. Even though we usually spend this Monday celebrating, it is so important for all of us to remember the reason for the holiday- the men and women who fight now or have fought for our country. It's important to remember them today and everyday.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Kelly's burn doesn't hurt at all today. So, Papa's voodoo actually worked. He down right talked the fire out of her burn. So cool.
Saturday morning we woke up, and all ate Stripling's sausage biscuits...the best fuel for a day on Lake Blackshear. We geared up, loaded on sunscreen, packed the cooler, hopped on the boat, and went on our way. We weren't on the boat for five minutes before Abigail fell asleep in my arms. She was so relaxed with the wind on her face, she just tuckered right out...despite the fact that her life vest looked like it was suffocating her. Even though I was sweating my butt off and I knew I would have an Abigail outline tan line, I let her snooze away....Oh the "sacrifices" aunts have to make! HA! Wouldn't trade moments like those for anything in the world.
We made it to Booger Bottom for lunch just before the swarm of hungry boaters hit. We still had to wait about 45 minutes for a cheeseburger, but it was so worth it. Booger Bottom burgers are by far the best. Anyone who has had one knows...If you haven't had one, you need to change that aspect of your life STAT. You won't regret it.
(Disclaimer- You have to look beyond the hole in the wall that it is. Also, you have to ignore that the burgers are cooked on a small electric kitchen griddle. These are minor details, compared to the happiness you will feel after trying the burger!)
 |
| Good Stuff |
Upon leaving Booger Bottom to get back on the lake, our sweet Abigail had a little accident. Poor thing. I guess all the socializing over lunch upset her stomach. Let's just say- We definitely will not go on another boat ride without carrying some baby wipes. I'll spare the details.
I spent Saturday night with the Parentals and Abigail. We had a quiet, but fun night. Abby and I shared fresh boiled peanuts- Her favorites are the "babies." She was feeling like such a big girl, she actually let me get two splinters out of her hand without even crying! Whoa- that was a serious accomplishment. So proud of her.
Sunday was another big day- Nanny's 85th birthday!!! Hooray for eighty five years! We hosted lunch at our lake house, and Nanny and Papa (my mom's parents), Aunt Kathy and Uncle Brian, cousin Ana, and her boyfriend Brain came over for the birthday festivities. We had an awesome lunch of grilled chicken, potatoes, green beans, and napa salad. The star of the lunch time show was the napa salad- It's always a big crowd pleaser!
Napa Cabbage Salad
Ingredients: 1 head Napa cabbage
1 bunch of green onions chopped
1/3 cup of butter
1 (3 ounce) package ramen noodles, broken
(Don't need flavor packet)
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1 cup silvered almonds
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1.) Finely shred the napa cabbage. Do not chop.
2.) Make the crunchies: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Combine the ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Sauté the combination until brown, then remove from heat. Place mixture over paper towels for excess butter to drain.
3.) Make the dressing: In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar, oil, sugar, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
4.) Combine cabbage, crunchies, green onions, and dressing right before serving. Serve right away or crunchies will get soggy.
We wrapped up lunch with "Brownie Delight" for dessert, instead of a birthday cake. The name of this little goody goes way back to my younger years when mom would make it for us. Brownie Delight is always another crowd pleaser as well. It's layers of crumbled brownie, chocolate syrup, and the cool whip. The secret is to make sure the brownies are top notch- we always use Betty Crocker's Turtle mix, which has caramel and nuts. SO good! And, of course, Abigail had to help Nanny blow out her candles.
 |
| Birthday Girl |
After lunch, Kelly was complaining about burning her hand getting the potatoes out of the oven earlier in the day. Oh, it was a nasty burn. It kind of made me cringe. So, we were all trying to come up with home remedies for burns, seeing we didn't have any special burn ointment. Then, the secret comes out that Papa has some type of VooDoo Burn Magic!? Seriously? How can we not know this by now? So, Papa rubs his hand over Kelly's burn, while muttering some special words. We all stared in disbelief. I mean this was a serious Harry Potter type moment. You can just see Kelly thinking, "Ok. My burn still hurts. Someone go to the store for burn cream because this crazy voodoo isn't working." Papa then tells us of how some woman years upon years ago taught him how to "talk the fire out of a burn." WHAT?! Then my mom and Aunt Kathy tell stories of how this voodoo magic works. We all just laughed it off as good fun, remaining skeptics....trying not to think how crazy our family really is.
We all made it to Monday safely. Sadly, no boat rides today because of Tropical Storm Beryl, so we packed up and headed home early. Normally, it is all too easy to overlook the reason for this holiday by spending the day grilling, laughing, and drinking in the sun. Even though we usually spend this Monday celebrating, it is so important for all of us to remember the reason for the holiday- the men and women who fight now or have fought for our country. It's important to remember them today and everyday.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Kelly's burn doesn't hurt at all today. So, Papa's voodoo actually worked. He down right talked the fire out of her burn. So cool.
 |
| Papa's spiffy white loafers- Love it! |
Monday, March 26, 2012
Stephen's Crossing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
-Old Irish Blessing
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
-Old Irish Blessing
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| Favorite Picture of the Day! I think Stephen is in this one for sure. |
Friday, March 23, 2012
Last Weekend in Photos
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| The sign for the bridge at Carr Farms. It turned out awesome! Love it! |
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| There was an air show in Columbus all weekend. Even though we didn't actually go, we could see so much of it from my apartment. |
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| So cool! |
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| Kelly bought Matt a golden retriever as a surprise from a family in Columbus. Happy anniversary present! Matt named him Buddy! |
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| He is super sweet! |
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| Loving that peanut butter! |
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| So yummy! |
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| Flowers for Aunt Lollie!! - I have the cutest niece ever!! Plus, I dressed her in her preppy lime green and pink whale dress. Adorable! |
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Portfolio Relief
About 30 minutes ago, the binder clamps of my portfolio notebook finally clamped together for the last time. CLICK! They went, as I sank back onto my hard wood floor next to my computer printer that was almost as exhausted as me. "I'm done," I thought. AHHH! This is a project I had been dreading since my very acceptance into the program. The portfolio was like the dark cloud always looming, like you knew it was going to storm once it finally got overhead. While it has been super painful working on this beast over the past weeks, I am SO happy to finally say that it is done. This is such a moment of feeling like I have been productive and accomplished something. After it's grading, I'm not sure what I will actually do with the thing, perhaps a new coffee table book (I would kill anyone who spilled something on it) or maybe I should just put it on my bookshelf (But it weighs 75 pounds). Who knows where it's final resting place will be, but the important thing for now is that it is done.
...2 years...
...280+pages...
...All the papers I've written in grad school and more...
....All in one 3 inch binder...
Monday, March 5, 2012
Life! Lice?...Lice in Life
I have taken an unintended break from blogging recently because I couldn't find anything that topped midget wrestling. There are only so many things in life that do, after all. Little did I know that God had a life curve ball planned. Notice I say "life curve ball" because this was most definitely a life changing experience.
A few weeks ago I travelled home to Albany for the weekend to get some family time in. It was a normal Friday in the aspect that I could not wait to see my sweet niece Abigail! My mom and I went over to Kelly's house to hang out with her and Abigail after Kelly got off work and Abby got home from school. Abigail and I did what we usually do, which consists of her pulling me by my pointer finger around the house and backyard. We played on the swing set, and then we jammed to music in the car in the driveway, while punching other buttons and closing the garage door on top of Kelly's car. Normal friday, right?
Well, Abigail soon exhausted me, so Mom and I went home to have a chill Friday night in p.j.'s. Right when we got home, I went upstairs to get comfortable, but it wasn't even ten minutes before Mom was calling me back downstairs. She quickly reenacted a phone call that just happened with my sister that began with the question, "Mom, what do lice look like?"
I knew we were doomed before Mom even finished the story. Talk about feeling defeated.
So, Mom and I rushed to Rite Aid to buy all of the lice medicine, shampoo, and spray- really we bought anything that said "Lice Removal" or "Anti-Lice." Have I mentioned we spent $110? Yes, $110 on lice removal supplies. Overboard? I think not.
We sped from Rite Aid to Kelly's. For some reason, they turned to me as the lice removal expert. I'm not really sure why- maybe because I had just quickly read over 78947123874983 websites describing removal strategies or maybe it was because I stayed 837402837423 times calmer than any of my other family members. I immediately put my attention on Abigail. We played "Beauty Shop" like big girls do. While the shampoo sat in Abby's hair, Kelly asked me to check her scalp to ensure she didn't have it. Well, I took the purple comb and looked through Kelly's hair. Of course, she had it. "Crap," I thought. I knew she would freak out. Who wouldn't?! I tried to downplay it as much as possible...didn't work. She spazzed out. So, Abigail watched her Mama and Aunt Yaya play beauty shop.
While the shampoo (or insecticide, depending on how you look at it) sat on Kelly's head, I rinsed Abby. Then, came the best part- combing. Oh wow, this is exactly how I had planned to spend that Friday night! Never mind, dinner at The Catch and a dirty martini. No, Laura! You get to be Head Lice Remover! YES! (Insert fist pump here.)
I finally rinsed Kelly and began the lice combing process on her, when we realize maybe we should check Mom. Mom spends every morning with Abigail, so we needed to make sure she didn't have the little bugs either. Uh oh! Mom failed the test too. She was devastated. She has never had lice in her life, and now, she got it from her granddaughter. Abby got to watch Mimi get beautified as well.
My next victim was Matt. As you can imagine, Matt was a lice victim as well. Never did I think I would have to put lice shampoo and/or comb dead lice out of my brother in law's hair. So, in the Carr/Lane household, we had a total of 4 cases. Thank goodness dogs can't get lice!! While the lice plague had not yet spread to me, I proceeded to put the removal shampoo in my hair regardless. I wasn't taking any chances.
In addition to the shampoo treatments and combing, we had to wash sheets, nap mats, blankets, rugs, clothes, etc. on hot water. Anything that couldn't be washed had to be sprayed down. What an exhausting ordeal! I know this is such a gross story, but it is certainly one we can laugh at now. Sometimes we just have to laugh at life's curve balls to even get through them. We have been lice free since that night! Hooray! Fingers crossed I don't ever have to deal with that again!
A few weeks ago I travelled home to Albany for the weekend to get some family time in. It was a normal Friday in the aspect that I could not wait to see my sweet niece Abigail! My mom and I went over to Kelly's house to hang out with her and Abigail after Kelly got off work and Abby got home from school. Abigail and I did what we usually do, which consists of her pulling me by my pointer finger around the house and backyard. We played on the swing set, and then we jammed to music in the car in the driveway, while punching other buttons and closing the garage door on top of Kelly's car. Normal friday, right?
Well, Abigail soon exhausted me, so Mom and I went home to have a chill Friday night in p.j.'s. Right when we got home, I went upstairs to get comfortable, but it wasn't even ten minutes before Mom was calling me back downstairs. She quickly reenacted a phone call that just happened with my sister that began with the question, "Mom, what do lice look like?"
I knew we were doomed before Mom even finished the story. Talk about feeling defeated.
So, Mom and I rushed to Rite Aid to buy all of the lice medicine, shampoo, and spray- really we bought anything that said "Lice Removal" or "Anti-Lice." Have I mentioned we spent $110? Yes, $110 on lice removal supplies. Overboard? I think not.
We sped from Rite Aid to Kelly's. For some reason, they turned to me as the lice removal expert. I'm not really sure why- maybe because I had just quickly read over 78947123874983 websites describing removal strategies or maybe it was because I stayed 837402837423 times calmer than any of my other family members. I immediately put my attention on Abigail. We played "Beauty Shop" like big girls do. While the shampoo sat in Abby's hair, Kelly asked me to check her scalp to ensure she didn't have it. Well, I took the purple comb and looked through Kelly's hair. Of course, she had it. "Crap," I thought. I knew she would freak out. Who wouldn't?! I tried to downplay it as much as possible...didn't work. She spazzed out. So, Abigail watched her Mama and Aunt Yaya play beauty shop.
While the shampoo (or insecticide, depending on how you look at it) sat on Kelly's head, I rinsed Abby. Then, came the best part- combing. Oh wow, this is exactly how I had planned to spend that Friday night! Never mind, dinner at The Catch and a dirty martini. No, Laura! You get to be Head Lice Remover! YES! (Insert fist pump here.)
I finally rinsed Kelly and began the lice combing process on her, when we realize maybe we should check Mom. Mom spends every morning with Abigail, so we needed to make sure she didn't have the little bugs either. Uh oh! Mom failed the test too. She was devastated. She has never had lice in her life, and now, she got it from her granddaughter. Abby got to watch Mimi get beautified as well.
My next victim was Matt. As you can imagine, Matt was a lice victim as well. Never did I think I would have to put lice shampoo and/or comb dead lice out of my brother in law's hair. So, in the Carr/Lane household, we had a total of 4 cases. Thank goodness dogs can't get lice!! While the lice plague had not yet spread to me, I proceeded to put the removal shampoo in my hair regardless. I wasn't taking any chances.
In addition to the shampoo treatments and combing, we had to wash sheets, nap mats, blankets, rugs, clothes, etc. on hot water. Anything that couldn't be washed had to be sprayed down. What an exhausting ordeal! I know this is such a gross story, but it is certainly one we can laugh at now. Sometimes we just have to laugh at life's curve balls to even get through them. We have been lice free since that night! Hooray! Fingers crossed I don't ever have to deal with that again!
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| This is from our car jam session on Friday. Look at that smile- "I'm smiling so big because Aunt Yaya doesn't know I have lice yet...haha!" |
Monday, January 30, 2012
First Hockey Game and the Unreal Halftime Entertainment
So, this past weekend I had a new first. I went to my first hockey game! Now, that I have some good friends in Columbus, I have actually stayed here on the weekends. I know- I can't believe it either, since I have been such the traveling gypsy the past year and a half of my life. Anyways, one of the first weekend Columbus adventures was a Columbus Cottonmouths hockey game at the Columbus Civic Center. They were playing the Lousiana IceGators. With those two team names, we knew it would be a good time.
In preparation for the night's events, I asked myself- What does one wear to a hockey game?!? With it being my first time, I didn't want to stand out in the crowd with a wrong outfit decision. (Oh the horror!) Also, was it actually going to be cold inside because of the ice rink? So many questions. I reluctantly decided on jeans, a black top, and neutral colored scarf. Simple color choices, as not to start a fan fight, and semi-warm, as not to get too cold if the ice rink affected the temp.
This past Saturday night, we got to the civic center and asked the lovely ticket master for advice on what seats would be good for first timers. Then, we headed to our seats. With my luck, there was already a family sitting in our seats that we had to get an employee to kick out. Whoops! Oh well! Our seats were directly behind one of the goalies (not sure if that is the proper hockey lingo). The seats were protected from flying pucks with a huge net, which I was thankful for. Knowing me I could have easily been a target for one of those pucks. The game had already started, and the Cottonmouths were down by one. I quickly realized that hockey is a VERY fast paced game. Also, I had heard before that fighting was actually allowed in hockey. That was no joke. At one point, they had paused the game, allowed two players to remove their helmets and gloves, and we watched as they duked it out on the ice. The player for the Cottonmouths won. Yay! It was an intense moment of the evening though.
Hockey games really seem to bring out an interesting crowd. It was a family affair for some. For others, it was a chance to get drunk, bang on the plastic around the rink, and shout obscenities. One of the more interesting fans we saw sat right in front of us. It was a older, very metro cowboy wearing a stetson the size of Texas, and needless to say, his four sons came into this world wearing stetsons as well. It was so much hat that I couldn't fit all of them in the picture. Wow.
On to the half-time show! Well, we thought it was going to be the halftime show, but it ended up not being until after the game. The Cottonmouths won the game 5 to 4. Yay!
Now, that the hockey game was done, we could make way for the real entertainment. Drumroll please! Micro-wresting!!! What is micro-wrestling might you ask? Well, essentially, it is midget wrestling with a better, less offensive name. So, yes, we were about to watch midgets wrestle. Wow. I still can't get over it. While they set up the mini wrestling ring on the ice, we got to enjoy some lovely karaoke by some of Columbus' finest wannabe's. It gave me a little insight into American Idol tryouts. A few songs later, and it was time for the show. The crowd got a little restless, so they felt the need to shout "We want midgets" until the karaoke stopped.
Wow. Wow. Wow. It was like watching WWF staged wrestling on a much smaller scale. The first match was between one guy in camo pants and another guy in a black unitard, who referred to himself as a sumo midget. Yep. Another wow. Did I mention there was also a blonde midget referee with 3 foot long hair extensions? If Playboy ever does a midget issue, she would be a perfect candidate. In case you were wondering, the sumo wrestler lost! Shocker- the underdog won. The next match was between an average joe looking guy and a wrestler in a red unitard. This one got so heated that they actually pulled metal crash can lids out from under the ring. The match kept going on and on, so we didn't stick around to see the victor. By that point we had endured about an hour of fake wrestling and just couldn't handle anymore. I'd like to say that I made all of that up, but it's just too funny an experience that I don't think anyone could fabricate it.
Needless to say, this night had several firsts- first hockey game and first micro-wrestling match. I just had to share this experience. It was too funny not to share. We decided that we will definitely attend more hockey games after such an eventful evening. I can only hope that those games will be just as entertaining.
In preparation for the night's events, I asked myself- What does one wear to a hockey game?!? With it being my first time, I didn't want to stand out in the crowd with a wrong outfit decision. (Oh the horror!) Also, was it actually going to be cold inside because of the ice rink? So many questions. I reluctantly decided on jeans, a black top, and neutral colored scarf. Simple color choices, as not to start a fan fight, and semi-warm, as not to get too cold if the ice rink affected the temp.
 |
| Adair, Clara, and I |
This past Saturday night, we got to the civic center and asked the lovely ticket master for advice on what seats would be good for first timers. Then, we headed to our seats. With my luck, there was already a family sitting in our seats that we had to get an employee to kick out. Whoops! Oh well! Our seats were directly behind one of the goalies (not sure if that is the proper hockey lingo). The seats were protected from flying pucks with a huge net, which I was thankful for. Knowing me I could have easily been a target for one of those pucks. The game had already started, and the Cottonmouths were down by one. I quickly realized that hockey is a VERY fast paced game. Also, I had heard before that fighting was actually allowed in hockey. That was no joke. At one point, they had paused the game, allowed two players to remove their helmets and gloves, and we watched as they duked it out on the ice. The player for the Cottonmouths won. Yay! It was an intense moment of the evening though.
 |
| Action shot |
 |
| The team excited that they won! |
On to the half-time show! Well, we thought it was going to be the halftime show, but it ended up not being until after the game. The Cottonmouths won the game 5 to 4. Yay!
Now, that the hockey game was done, we could make way for the real entertainment. Drumroll please! Micro-wresting!!! What is micro-wrestling might you ask? Well, essentially, it is midget wrestling with a better, less offensive name. So, yes, we were about to watch midgets wrestle. Wow. I still can't get over it. While they set up the mini wrestling ring on the ice, we got to enjoy some lovely karaoke by some of Columbus' finest wannabe's. It gave me a little insight into American Idol tryouts. A few songs later, and it was time for the show. The crowd got a little restless, so they felt the need to shout "We want midgets" until the karaoke stopped.
Wow. Wow. Wow. It was like watching WWF staged wrestling on a much smaller scale. The first match was between one guy in camo pants and another guy in a black unitard, who referred to himself as a sumo midget. Yep. Another wow. Did I mention there was also a blonde midget referee with 3 foot long hair extensions? If Playboy ever does a midget issue, she would be a perfect candidate. In case you were wondering, the sumo wrestler lost! Shocker- the underdog won. The next match was between an average joe looking guy and a wrestler in a red unitard. This one got so heated that they actually pulled metal crash can lids out from under the ring. The match kept going on and on, so we didn't stick around to see the victor. By that point we had endured about an hour of fake wrestling and just couldn't handle anymore. I'd like to say that I made all of that up, but it's just too funny an experience that I don't think anyone could fabricate it.
Needless to say, this night had several firsts- first hockey game and first micro-wrestling match. I just had to share this experience. It was too funny not to share. We decided that we will definitely attend more hockey games after such an eventful evening. I can only hope that those games will be just as entertaining.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
True Life: I'm a Pinterest Skank
So, for the past few months, I've been having a great love affair with Pinterest. I honestly feel like it is the ultimate website that has been missing from my life for years. Whether it's by fashion, home decor, exotic travel locations, or humorous life quotes, Pinterest can keep me entertained for hours....Yes, I am completely aware of how sad that is.
I was a Pinterest skeptic at first. My sis Kelly kept raving about it, and I just brushed her off, thinking I had better things to do. Needless to say, I shamelessly joined one day and haven't looked back.
Several of my Christmas presents this year consisted of gifts from ideas from Pinterest. Crafty Laura is my new alter ego. I got so crafty I had to get a craft organizer. Pause for your laughter. It even rolls like those awesome rolling book bags. Pause for more laughter. Judge all you want-- Just be appreciative when you receive one of crafty gifts.
Here are some pics of my gifts. I had seen an awesome tutu picture to do for little girls, so Abigail and I took on the project as a gift for Matt and Kelly. I have pictures from the finished project and in the process. It was so much fun to have art time with Abigail, even though we completely demolished Mom's kitchen. The counter, the sink, and I were completely covered in pink paint by the end of it. Seriously, completely covered.
I was a Pinterest skeptic at first. My sis Kelly kept raving about it, and I just brushed her off, thinking I had better things to do. Needless to say, I shamelessly joined one day and haven't looked back.
Several of my Christmas presents this year consisted of gifts from ideas from Pinterest. Crafty Laura is my new alter ego. I got so crafty I had to get a craft organizer. Pause for your laughter. It even rolls like those awesome rolling book bags. Pause for more laughter. Judge all you want-- Just be appreciative when you receive one of crafty gifts.
Here are some pics of my gifts. I had seen an awesome tutu picture to do for little girls, so Abigail and I took on the project as a gift for Matt and Kelly. I have pictures from the finished project and in the process. It was so much fun to have art time with Abigail, even though we completely demolished Mom's kitchen. The counter, the sink, and I were completely covered in pink paint by the end of it. Seriously, completely covered.
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| All smiles for art time!! |
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| Are you sure you know what your doing, Aunt Laura? You do realize what happens when you give a 2 year old paint, right? |
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| Oh, boy! That pink paint looks fun! |
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| Hurry up, Aunt Laura. Let's get this thing started. |
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| Practice- Round 1 |
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| We had 2 pieces of paper- one to play on and one for the real deal. Notice we also ended up shedding clothes to avoid ruining them with the pink paint. |
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| The finished present (a little blurry because I took it on my cell phone) |
Matt and Kelly loved the finished project. They are currently in the midst of redoing Abigail's baby room into a big girl room. The tutu picture will find its home in there.
Another Pinterest project that I did was for Nanny, Granny, Mama, and Kelly. Each got their own tailored for their own houses. It's a joke with my family how much I hate dirty dishes. I mean I really do. Doing the dishes and unloading the dishwasher are my least favorite household chores. I saw a little kitchen quote on Pinterest relating to dirty dishes, and since I have read it, I have looked at dirty dishes in a whole new light. Here is the quote:
Dirty Dishes
Thank Heaven for dirty dishes.
They have a tale to tell.
While other folks go hungry,
We’re eating very well.
With home and health and
happiness,
We shouldn’t want to fuss.
By this stack of evidence,
God’s very good to us.
So, I decided to make the ladies a little quote of this to put in their kitchens. I did one for me to sit beside my sink, so I thought why not do one fore them. Here are some pics of one of the finished projects.
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| Mom's- Hanging on the windows over her kitchen sink |
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| Mom's |
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| Mom's |
That is all my craftiness for now, but I definitely have some more projects up my sleeve. So, stay tuned.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Post Holiday Depression
It's like Postpartum Depression, except Holiday style. Thanksgiving passes, then Christmas, then New Years. All of the holiday goodies are on major clearance, and stores start stocking the shelves for Valentine's Day and Springtime. It makes me so sad!
This year my family was the center of my holiday celebrations, which was just right! Our Christmas together was fantastic. Mom, Dad, Matt, Kelly, Abigail, Granny, Grandpa, Nanny, Papa, and me. Oh, and Lexi and Koop de Doop. I could not have asked for a better crowd! I just love it when you are in a room with family, and you lose all sense of time! Opening presents, eating a Christmas day feast, watching the joy in Abigail's eyes...we were all just wrapped up in the awesome moments. I think my favorite gift was one we actually gave Grandpa (Dad's dad), even though it was a gift for us all. Dad is in the process of building a bridge between our properties Carr Farms and Kinchafoonee Forest. Well, the bridge had to have a name. So, we came up with "Stephen's Crossing." Dad wrapped up a mock-up of the sign for the bridge, and when Grandpa opened it, we all took a moment of silence for our sweet Stephen, who we all seem to miss even more than normal (if that's possible) this time of year. Before we all knew it and looked at our watches, it was well into the afternoon. Time for grandparents and Abigail to catch a nap. Time for Mom and I to start clearing away the boxes, paper scraps, and shiny bows. Christmas was absolute perfection.
With the Christmas decor cleared away, it was time for New Year's Eve. I spent the evening with all my girls in Atlanta. We decked out in sequins and glitter from head to toe for the Buckhead Ball at the Grand Hyatt. It was a better time than I could have even asked for, ringing in the new year with the best friends a girl could ask for. I don't believe in setting yourself up for failure, so instead of making a new year's resolution, I'm making a new year's wish. A wish simply for something magical to happen this year. I love those rare moments in life where there is no other explanation other than God's magic...so, I have high hopes for one this year.
I hope everyone's holidays were as enjoyable! I hate we have to wait a whole year for them again, but I hope for a year full of laughs, smiles, hugs, successes, and sweetness for all.
This year my family was the center of my holiday celebrations, which was just right! Our Christmas together was fantastic. Mom, Dad, Matt, Kelly, Abigail, Granny, Grandpa, Nanny, Papa, and me. Oh, and Lexi and Koop de Doop. I could not have asked for a better crowd! I just love it when you are in a room with family, and you lose all sense of time! Opening presents, eating a Christmas day feast, watching the joy in Abigail's eyes...we were all just wrapped up in the awesome moments. I think my favorite gift was one we actually gave Grandpa (Dad's dad), even though it was a gift for us all. Dad is in the process of building a bridge between our properties Carr Farms and Kinchafoonee Forest. Well, the bridge had to have a name. So, we came up with "Stephen's Crossing." Dad wrapped up a mock-up of the sign for the bridge, and when Grandpa opened it, we all took a moment of silence for our sweet Stephen, who we all seem to miss even more than normal (if that's possible) this time of year. Before we all knew it and looked at our watches, it was well into the afternoon. Time for grandparents and Abigail to catch a nap. Time for Mom and I to start clearing away the boxes, paper scraps, and shiny bows. Christmas was absolute perfection.
With the Christmas decor cleared away, it was time for New Year's Eve. I spent the evening with all my girls in Atlanta. We decked out in sequins and glitter from head to toe for the Buckhead Ball at the Grand Hyatt. It was a better time than I could have even asked for, ringing in the new year with the best friends a girl could ask for. I don't believe in setting yourself up for failure, so instead of making a new year's resolution, I'm making a new year's wish. A wish simply for something magical to happen this year. I love those rare moments in life where there is no other explanation other than God's magic...so, I have high hopes for one this year.
I hope everyone's holidays were as enjoyable! I hate we have to wait a whole year for them again, but I hope for a year full of laughs, smiles, hugs, successes, and sweetness for all.
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