Winter Games

It was pouring the snow yesterday and way too cold to go outside to play so I decided to bring out the board games. Thankfully, Santa brought A LOT of board games (ten, I think) for us to play on cold winter evenings.  During the other seasons, my kids are outside playing well past dark so winter evenings are a bit of a challenge to keep them occupied and away from the tv.  Board games are a fun way to entertain them and also learn how to win confidently and lose graciously.  It's not always smooth but for the most part they take turns, play fairly and have fun.

One of their favorites is Zingo.  This game is age appropriate for both my three year old and almost five year old.  It's a bingo game with a twist.  You simply match the picture/word to the picture/word card.  Easy enough. 

Another favorite is Twister.  Drew received this game from my sister number four on his November birthday.  It's been a hit ever since.  I modified it some since Drew is just learning left and right but boy do they get a kick out of playing.

We ended the evening with some other classic games including Guess Who (Disney Edition), Hi-Ho Cherry-O and Don't Break the Ice.

It was a fun way to spend a cold, snowy evening inside!

Le Creuset

I'm in love...

Sister number three (I have four and a brother) re-introduced me to these awhile back at a local department store.  I've been longing for one ever since.

I just love the cassis (purple) one but I would welcome any color.  There are also a lot of different sizes but the 5 1/2 quart looks to be just my size.  :-)

You'll notice in the post below, Pioneer Woman is carrying a beautiful green dutch on the cover of her cookbook and I think one would fit just perfectly in my kitchen. :-) I can just imagine a nice warm soup or a wonderful pot roast coming out the oven. MMMmmm...I can't wait!

There are also other Le Creuset pieces including a cast iron skillet and stoneware I'd like to eventually add to my kitchenware.  You can check out all Le Creuset has to offer here.  Soooo dreamy!

French Breakfast Puffs

I received The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook for Christmas (thanks mother-in-law) and love it!  You can check out Pioneer Woman's amazing website here.  She is the wife of a real cowboy and LOVES cooking for him.

I tried the French Breakfast Puffs first, mostly because I had all the ingredients and I love all things cinnamon and these puffs are covered in them.  I had a couple of helpers...

Perfect with coffee...mmmmm!
You can checkout the recipe here.  Enjoy!

basketball

Drew had his first biddy basketball game Saturday.  He's on the RED team.

He was soooo excited and so were we.  The church gym was packed with parents, grandparents and a bunch of little kids.  It was kind of overwhelming for Drew.  He was very nervous...checking everything out before he headed out on the court.  Then he asked me to go with him...

So I headed out there with them (in front of all those people..gheez!) and walked him through the warm-ups.  Then his dad came out.

and when Drew noticed him he ran over to him.

and asked him to "go over there and sit down."  Drew was ready to tackle this big space all alone.  I about cried my eyes out.  He's growing up.

Learning the rules...we noticed Drew look over to the girl on his left and put his hand on her shoulder.  Teammates! :-)

Holding hands and praying before the game.

Here comes Drew up the court with the ball.

Drew ended up making one basket and missing two.  He had a blast and keeps asking if he can "go play basketball for real again." 
We all had a great time.  I can't wait til next Saturday!!!

Where is he going?

We are BIG West Virginia Mountaineer football fans here.  My husband attended WVU in the late 80s and competed in track and was an invited walk-on for the football team.  I can remember rooting for WVU for as long as I can remember.  Big news came down today about the former coach of the Mountaineers...Rich Rodriguez.  It's all the buzz here in the Mountain State.

Rich left the Mountaineer football organization abruptly three years ago to join the Michigan Wolverines during a time when the Mountaineers were at the top of their game...Fiesta Bowl/Sugar Bowl wins, many other bowl appearances and several NFL draft picks.  His leaving caused, to say the least, a bad taste with most Mountaineer fans.  Rich is a West Virginian, born and bred.  He played football at WVU and when he first took the WVU coaching job he said he planned on remaining at WVU, coaching football for a long time.  Fans embraced him, loved him and depended on his dedication to his alma mater to lead the Mountaineers to national prominence.  He left.  Abruptly. Wanting more money and organizational demands than WVU could promise him.  It was a betrayal WVU fans will long remember.

He lost his job with the Wolverines today.  Losing to Ohio State three years running he just couldn't get the momentum at Michigan up to Michigan standards.  WVU fans are commenting he's getting what he deserved.  He left his home state and alma mater for an impossible reach.  Some sports columnists are suggesting he may take a job as Pitt, WVU's biggest rivalry.  I say take the job Rich.  Wear the team you so long loathed, played and coached against.

As for us, we remain strong and true to our Gold and Blue!

Go Mountaineers!

Soup anyone?

i still can't shake this crazy sickness... hoping tomorrow is better.  steve goes back to work, kate back to school...back to real life. hopefully the soup will help. :-)

Hello 2011

after weeks of cold temperatures and lots of snow we welcomed the new year with a warm, somewhat rainy 61 degree day!  The kids were so excited when i asked if they wanted to go outside and ride bikes.

steve stayed the course and was here most of the day...thank goodness.  it's my least favorite holiday task.

all in all...a great start to the new year.  we are ready!