MaryAnne's Wedding

All right, here are the details.....what an unusual evening I had yesterday....
I arrived at the wedding an hour and a half early (as promised) and decorated the church, get this-I forgot my camera!! I know, if that doesn't throw you into shock, I don't know what will, but I've got some connections, and I think I can get some photos, (but my connection is the mother of the bride, the busiest Mom on the face of the earth, so it may be awhile, unless the photographer puts them on-line). Everything ran smoothly, the church was beautiful, but very, very cold, it has enormously high ceilings, and it's old, it's one of those beautiful Catholic churches people walk into just to look at filled with beautiful statues and the stations of the cross etc. The only hitch was that quite a few people didn't show b/c of the weather, all night on the news they were saying ice, ice, and more ice, the worst storm in years, power lines and tree limbs would be down everywhere, so I could see that, but regardless of those warnings, I would say there was well over 150 people there, but some significant vacancies (Mary's family in OK etc). In addition, there was some Dallas choir that had to cancel (the reason she chose this date-because they would be back to school and able to sing for her, she had been a member in college), but, luckily the 'singers' who had performed 4 o'clock mass were happy to stay and sing (and who wouldn't, a guy from the Vatican was performing the ceremony). Anyway, 7 bridesmaids, two flower girls, and two ring b's made it down the aisle without a hitch, a gorgeous bride, and a happy groom went through the the traditions and are married. The guy from the Vatican was very interesting, he mentioned having children a lot more than I've heard anyway else, sang a lot of things and there were a million things that I didn't understand. I've been to a lot of Catholic wedding masses (all but one of the ones I have been in were Catholic, but I've always been walked through the program, so this one was more difficult for me to understand). They didn't kiss, which was different from any other service I've been to (though they did at the reception), she also left a gift for the Virgin Mary at her statue (which I haven't seen before)-Ave Maria was sung during this time, which I did know, communion was taken by those Catholics in attendance (which was most of the guest). It was the most Catholic, Catholic thing I think I've ever been too, and it took 90 minutes. Afterwards we headed over to the reception, all the details were great, the food was really, really good and the cake was to die for. The dances she chose were soooo cute, and it was a completely full dance floor up to and probably after the time I headed home. The favors were so cute, and I can take a picture of that just so you won't feel totally out of the wedding loop. The next wedding (I think) is March....I love weddings!

Hitting the Highlights....

1. This week I learned (while reading a really fun book with a reading group) that wolf pack leaders go out, eat 25 pounds of meat (which is equal to eating 60-70 burgers), come back to their den and the puppies lick their bellies, make them throw up, and then eat it.....this was a HUGE hit and all the kids that weren't in the reading group have been borrowing the book now to read on their own, there is nothing like a little vomit to motivate a 12 year old to read more :O).
2. Another fun fact of the week, the following is a LIVE webcam in Africa, it's on 24 hours a day, and I'm addicted to it, give it some time, it's light about 11 pm (central time) until 11 am, it has night visions, and scrolls around to sometimes see animals visiting this watering hole, don't give up until you see animals (which were really there at dusk), you will love it too. I've seen zebras, an elephant and it's baby, all sorts of 'other' animals that look like buffalo and deer (antelope?) with twisted horns and something that looked like a lion (I haven't visited the zoo lately, to brush up on the official names, and we just started the Africa unit in school). http://live.wildlife.wavelit.net/451OK If you visit (and you should) plan on just keeping it on your screen for a few days and I promise it is so worth your time, this also has made my desk at work a very busy hub, I can't get my students to stay in their seats when they know I have it up.
3. It's CHILLY! It has been raining so hard, we are having flash flood warnings and ice watches (such an interesting mix). So far, because the rain has been soooo heavy, it's pushing warm air down, so it's been about 33, just warm enough not to freeze, but it's supposed to finally give up it's fight, and continue and turn into sleet over the next two days, I'm praying it holds out a little longer, my friend's daughter (MaryAnne) is getting married this evening, Mary's entire family is in Oklahoma (which has two plus inches of ice and been declared a state of emergency) and so I think just one or two of the 12 brothers and sisters (plus family), and no grandparents made it down before it hit yesterday morning (before predicted), her dad was supposed to fly in yesterday afternoon from a class, and had to drive instead and was running from the storm in Lubbock, and has hopefully made it, it was crazy, but in the end, so far, it's best case scenario in a crazy situation, just lots of rain, and the wedding is only four hours off so maybe it'll all be 'over with' before and if the worst of it gets here, she definitely has a 'beat all' wedding story. After this, I hope it all freezes over and all the kids that used to be me and the crew from the circle can get out those trash can lids and slide down the driveways.

Did anyone see the Cowboy game?

I just spent my evening watching 'it.' It....hurt.....so....bad...

Babies, Bows and Bread

Between watching episodes of the Dog Whisperer with Max and Lilly, I've been busy during my last week of vacation. (For those of you who have watched the D.W. it says at the beginning of the show not to try the techniques at home, but I bypass the warning, and some of the things really seem to work....much to Lilly and Max's dismay because a new leader of the pack seems to be emerging-me!). Mid-Week I got to visit with Carrilee and Henry who are in town for the holidays, what a happy baby! He's nine months and growing, walking, kissing, smiling, and playing. I think I'm in the presense of a future sports star for sure when I'm around Henry. Holly and I went for cheesecake again today, (New Year's Resolutions don't necessarily EXCLUDE cheesecake, imagine all the dairy present in those little slices.), and yesterday I baked bread.....I didn't even use a bread machine. Each week there is a section in the paper called "Taste" and I am constantly cutting out little ideas I'd like to try....but never do....and this week it was homemade sandwich bread. It took two attempts (those of you who have baked with me, or spoken with me soon after I baked will not be surprised and can probably fill in the blanks to envision the disaster that happened in my kitchen between the first attempt and second success), BUT it was well worth the effort, the recipe was fabulous, and the bread was delicious. I even took a photos (aren't blogs more interesting with pictures?). Scratch the screen and see if you can catch a little whiff of the bread baking smell b/c that's half the fun.....and to end this week I've been helping my friend Mary out with her daughter's wedding (next week). I made pew bows until we ran out of ribbons yesterday (19 and counting on the pew bows), and am about to head back over to make more bows, decorate bird cages, flower girl baskets and other things that pop up along the way. As for my to do list (this one's for you Carrilee), I did finally get my hair trimmed, but other than that, the list is collecting dust....but I think that's the sign of a great vacation.....there's enough time to get that stuff done 'tomorrow.'

Lunch with Monica and Elaine

My Mom and I met old neighbors for lunch today (Monica was one year younger for any of my childhood friends who are trying to place a face). Elaine was in town from Houston visiting Monica in Fort Worth. Monica and her husband, Matt are expecting their first baby in July, and Elaine will have her 11th grandbaby with the newest member to their ever expanding family for anyone that is keeping count from the my old 'hood.'

Happy New Year 2007!

Last night things got a little wild ;o) at my house for the New Year's Eve celebration. Brian brought over his WII Sports game and I discovered Holly has a little bit of her brother's in her as she boxed her way to a win. She got into it, hands, feet, and a few frustrated things flying out of that mouth....I took video, but I've promised not to share it with anyone that wasn't present (I've weighed the odds and I figured she's got enough on me, it's not worth it). I wish I could blog the laughter that went along with playing the games. After the 'exercise' and dinner, we ended the evening with Apples to Apples and Skipbo-a few family favorites and a white grapefruit toast (all the Baptist were present and accounted for).