Roller Skating

Will was invited to a birthday party at the Skate Center this past Saturday. It was his good buddy John Burton's birthday. This was Will's first time roller skating, but I was so proud of him. He would fall, laugh, then get right back up and do it again!
I got skates for myself and was surprised how it all came back to me, just like riding a bike. And oh how the skate center memories came back to me! The music was exactly the same...I promise! They were still playing Michael Jackson circa 1985. The only new song they played was BoomBoomPow! And that was because some kid requested it. It was good to know some things never change. The skates looked the same, it smelled the same like icees and concession stand popcorn. The lights, the cheesy carpet, the limbo, and the bad pizza. It was like stepping back into 1986. We had a great time and Will has already asked when we can go back. It's comforting.

Classic Recent Read

J.D. Salinger died last month. His last original published work was in 1965; he gave his last interview in 1980. He was a relative recluse.
Salinger published "The Catcher in the Rye" in 1951. I first read it sometime between 1992-1996. I can't remember when or why I first read it, but I remember being blown away by it.
So, I decided to read it again when I heard of Salinger's death.
I am once again amazed. It sounds so modern. Holden's attitudes and thoughts are just as relative today in 2010 as they were shocking in 1951. Page after page of brilliant hilarity. I hear myself laughing out loud. Don't get me wrong, Holden is still a mess. He is still tired of all the "phoniness" that surrounds him. He is still depressed and trying to find his way in the world. Typical teenage angst.
It's one of those books that is just packed full of great quotes. One in particular that I have always remembered: "I'd never yell 'Good luck' at anybody. It sounds terrible when you think about it.

Football Cookies

These little guys are going with us tonight to our Life Group Superbowl Party!

More Snow Pictures

Update: Will finally got to make his snowman today, thanks to my Dad!!

Our house in the snow
Ryan still incapable of smiling normal

Sweet rosy cheeks

Boys playing in the front yard

Snow!

This is how Ryan poses for all pictures now

My sweet boy!

Heading to our sledding hill


All 3 sledding down the hill!

And now back up the hill! Lazydog had to be pulled up the hill.

Sledding today was really fun! The whole neighborhood was out and about visiting. Kids sledding, dogs barking, and adults chatting. One family had a firepit going in their front yard toasting marshmallows! This is the first really good sledding experience for Ryan and he loved it! He wanted to go over and over. Will just wanted to build a snowman and was a little disappointed that the snow is hard and crunchy instead of powder-y.

A New Post!

I thought at the beginning of the year that I would do better about blogging, but here it is the 22nd of January and I've only posted once. Oh well. I keep falling off the blog train. I realized I haven't even taken any pictures either, so I snapped this one yesterday.

Maggie and John Burton came over to play after school yesterday. By the time the siblings arrived, we had 6 kids in the house. It was so much fun!

Maggie has a special place in my heart. She is the perfect mix of a little girl. She can hang tough with the boys, but yet also appreciates Disney princesses with the best of them. With her short blonde hair and big smile, she won me over early in the year. Her mom Brigid is also a favorite of mine.

If you look close at John Burton, you can see his right hand is giving the "thumbs up" sign. This is classic JB. His smirky little smile and matter-of-fact personality keeps me laughing. His three yr old brother, Miller, is hilarious too! I am so glad we have this family in our life! Their Mom, Melissa, is my co-room mom. Needless to say, we have grown very close this year.

I really can't say enough great things about Will's class at school. We have made so many dear friends this year. Maggie and JB are 2 of them, but really, the entire class is special. 2 of the kids moved after Christmas break, so the class is down to 16! His teacher is such a blessing and she allows them to play and really just be Kindergarteners!

What's Cooking?

Something about this cold, snowy weather makes me want to stay home, drink coffee, and cook.

Here are some things I have made recently:

• White Chicken Chili
  
• Creamy Tomato Soup
  
• Iced Cheese Sandwiches
  
• Jessica Seinfeld Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
  
• Old-Fashioned Chili
• Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie
  
  
  I received a much- appreciated Amazon.com gift card from my parents for Christmas. One of the things I have used it for is The Pioneer Woman Cooks. As most of you know, I am sucker for cookbooks. Old, new, good, bad- I don't care. I love them all. I read this book cover to cover last night and it is very interesting. Much more than just a cookbook. It is more of her biography. Great photography and delicious-sounding recipes. Plus, she is hilarious!! I can't wait to try some of her recipes.
  Have you made anything great lately?