Wordless Wednesday-This prayer helped!

I snapped this photo pre-game Saturday. Awesome! NC State was down 41-14 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. We came back and beat Maryland 56-41! Talk about an exciting crazy game! I love my Wolfpack! That #1 is the conerback (David Amerson) I mentioned in another post who leads in NCAA in number of interceptions- 11. Was named runner-up for defensive player of the year. And, I know, this wasn't exactly a wordless post. Oh well!

So over it!

Am I the only one out there that really DISlikes pajama day at school? Mini#2 is having Polar Express Day tomorrow and he just informed me he has to wear pj's. I informed him he is not. They just had a pj day about a month ago! Ugh! I'm going in their classroom tomorrow to volunteer for their integrated holiday centers. I had this cute outfit picked out for him to wear tomorrow. That's probably the main reason I'm pouting. He's in first grade and I know the holiday themed attire will, most likely, be a thing of his past next year! I'll probably compromise and let him wear pj pants with the shirt I bought him. And yes, we are a wee early for these holiday celebrations at school, but with good reason. My minis track out of their year round school on Friday and do not return until JAN. 3. Lord help me. I mean it. I'm praying out loud.

Go see it!

HUGO was so awesome! We all went to see this film on Friday because mini#1 was begging to see it. I LOVED IT! It's probably more for kids 6 on and I was surprised to see couples older than me in the theater- without kids! The 3D was worth the extra cost and the story was just fun and heartwarming. Johnny Depp produced it and Martin Scorsese directed. We loved Sasha Baron Cohen as the train station policeman and Ben Kingsley is always a favorite of mine. Adults, you will not mind taking your kids to this one. AND I've already ordered the book (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) on Amazon for mini#1 for Christmas. He loved it that much... It was a great family movie!

From our table to yours....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Do you ever feel like this?

Quick poll- Thanksgiving style

OR

Eventful Saturday

Yesterday we went to Raleigh's Christmas parade. The grand marshall was "your American Idol" (and local resident) Scotty McCreery. In the middle of the parade a group of little girls across from us started squealing. I looked down the street and saw that his float was approaching. He definitely got the most cheers!

After the parade we went to a downtown Irish pub for lunch and then on to Pullen Park's much anticipated reopening. Below I'm on the beautiful 1911 carousel. It's now fully enclosed and the crowds seemed to enjoy this special bit of history. The last photo is of my kids on the tip top of this new rope-climbing play equipment. There were so many kids on that thing and it made me a nervous wreck to watch them on this. Thankfully, they made it down on their own and not by falling! Lastly, we watched our NC State conquer the #7 Clemson Tigers. Such an awesome game for our struggling PACK, but I did learn a stat I'm proud of. We have one player that has made 11 interceptions....the second closest TEAM in the country with the most interceptions is Georgia at 7, but that's with multiple players! I think our team record is at 16- #1 in country. So I'll take that...if we can't take a title. :-)

I can't wait...

I am so excited to go see this new Martin Scorsese movie, "Hugo." It's looks so good! It's about an orphan boy in 1930's Paris who lives inside a train station's walls (filmed at former train station Musee D'Orsay perhaps??). Looks magical and I won't mind paying for 3D this time. My oldest is excited to see it, too. We'll probably drag mini#2 along with us. It starts Wed, Nov. 23, but we'll have to wait until the weekend to see it. Is this on your list to see?

Tasty Thursday- Cranberry Streusel Pie

I've been making this pie more Thanksgivings than not since I found it in my November '98 Southern Living. It's very simple and has a sweet and tart taste that has made it Mr. Pink's favorite! Since Thanksgiving is one week from today I thought I'd post this option to add to the standard pumpkin and pecan pie staples.


CRANBERRY STREUSEL PIE

1 refrigerated piecrust (I've used a frozen crust as well)
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 large egg
1/4 butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp all-purpose sugar

-Fit piecrust into 9-in pieplate and crimp around edges.
-Stir together cranberries and next 4 ingredients and spoon into piecrust.
-Whisk together egg, butter, 1/3 cup sugar and flour and pour over cranberry mixture.
-Bake at 400 degrees for 20 mins. Reduce temp to 350 degrees and bake 30 mins.

Camping?

I went camping last weekend with the cub scouts. 6 adorable, eager little boys. My husband is their den leader. I have avoided all campouts for 4 years (when mini#1 started). I would go out to the campsite for ceremonies, dinner, etc and then come home to my warm bed. And for 4 years I have heard "Mom, will you go camping with us?" So this was mini#2's first campout and I gave into the pressure. However, on my terms. Of course! They went to the lake park on Friday night when it got down to the low 30's! Brrrr. I went at lunchtime Saturday to drop off sandwiches and watch a cute game of kickball and ultimate frisbee. Then I left for 3 hours to Christmas shop and I returned at 5:30. I ate dinner, watched skits and made s'mores by the campfire. We made it until 9:30 before all these tiger cubs were literally going to sleep in their camp chairs! SO cute! Luckily it was a few degrees warmer on Saturday night, but it was still chilly as I changed into an old sorority sweatshirt, red and white polka dot pj bottoms and warm socks for bed. Mini#2 and I shared the air mattress, warm blankets and two sleeping bags zipped together. Mr. Pink slept on the floor of the tent in a warmer sleeping bag...but only after I kicked him out of the air mattress. He really thought three of us could sleep on that!?!? None of us could move that way. I was perfectly warm and snuggly when it was the two of us but could not sleep! Mr. Pink, since flat on his back, snored while mini#2 ninja kicked me in the side every 10 mins! It was a long night, but I survived without harm (if you exclude ninja kicks), discomfort or gas heat. Truth be told it's the outdoor showers, bathrooms and hiking to / from the campsite to go to the bathroom that I don't enjoy. The first thing I did when we got home Sunday morning was take a long, hot shower. Then I spent the day doing all kinds of laundry from the trip. Mini#1 was at the same park camping on his own with the Webelos...first time no parents with each kid. He survived, too. Notice this post lacks photos. Nobody really wants to see Mrs. Pink in old sorority sweatshirt, no makeup and a slightly frozen smile. But trust me. All the events mentioned in this post did happen. And it may happen again...possibly.

Do not buy this product...

...unless you plan to eat the entire bag in 2.5 days by yourself. Just saying....

Some observations.

1- Duggar's announce #20 is on the way....seriously? After what they went through the last time?

2- Dr. found guilty in Michael Jackson's death. Does this really make anyone feel better about a talented yet addicted and troubled man's death? Afterall the doctor was on MJ's payroll at his request.

3- Asst coach at Penn State molesting boys. Now this is so disturbing to me. It was reported years ago and swept under the rug? REALLY? How horrible! Get rid of all of those involved (fire) and prosecute this sicko.

4- Nancy Grace's cartwheel on DWTS last night. I beg the networks to please stop showing this 53 yr old woman (in a short sequinned dress!) do this.

5- The whole Herman Cain situation. I dread this next year and all of the ugly politics. But why didn't this latest woman come forward years ago?

Ok, had to vent. Feel a little better now.

Family Hike

It was a great weekend here in NC. Firstly, my beloved NC State Wolfpack shut out the UNC Tarheels (and it was our 5th win in a row against them). Awesome! Secondly, we went with the cub scouts on a 3 mile hike starting at the NC Museum of Art. It was beautiful weather (60's). We did come across a copperhead on the trail. I am so thankful someone else saw it first and rerouted us so they could get him off the path. I would have screamed or either wet my pants if I came across him first! Yikes!!

The thing I liked about this hike is that there was outdoor artwork along the way. There was even an outdoor hut that the kids went into and a small hole in the ceiling helped reflect tree images on the walls...or something like that. I stayed outside. It looked a little too claustrophobic to me! Plus who wants to be trapped inside with that many cub scouts and possibly more snakes! Anyway, I'd definitely do this again. I love getting out this time of year when it's not too hot and not too cold.

What did you do this weekend?

Five on Friday-My "wants"

1- A Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Haven't had one yet this fall. A tall, non-fat, non-whip comes in at 200 calories and is worth every calorie!


2- I want Nov. 18th to hurry up and get here! Twilight Breaking Dawn! Can't wait!



3- I want the new Coldplay cd. Loving "Paradise" right now.

4- I want Santa to bring me this watch. Love it!

5- I want Thanksgiving dinner. I just don't want to cook it all. Alas, I'm hosting, but my parents are good about helping bring anything I want them to and my dad always makes the pies.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!