Trees, snowcones, weddings--the usual stuff

Loverboy has been hard at work clearing out the "hill" at MawMaw's.  I wish I had a "before" picture to compare this to...and I probably do somewhere in the Nockinbird archives.  Suffice it to say, he's worked hard and it shows.  You can actually see the ground!

MawMaw treated us to burgers and fries from Five Guys.  Since we did take out, I don't think it's fair to judge them by the same criteria as the others we've tried during "The Nockinbird Search for the Best Burger in North Central (and other areas that we may get to) Texas." 

Friday, Little Miss and I sat out a thunderstorm at our favorite (only) library, then went for snowcones.  Apparently, the snowcone stand shut down during the gullywasher.  So we dropped by Hallmark to check out the Christmas ornaments--yes, Christmas ornaments!  She particularly liked the Snoopy collection.  Since then, we've gone into Christmas obsession around here.  Mainly because it's "Christmas in July" on QVC.  Don't judge me.  It's worked it's way into something of a tradition to watch it together with Molly.  Which is what we did all afternoon today.  But I'm getting ahead.  The snowcone stand opened, I got blackberry and Little Miss had Hawaiian.  Then she took a bite of mine and she had blackberry and I had Hawaiian.  Blackberry was really good.  Oh well.

I was wondering just what exactly I was going to pull together for our dinner when a trip to our post office box answered that for me.  I loooooove all the freebies the mydallasmommy.com puts together in one place.  I vaguely remember filling out an online form that was all in Spanish, and six weeks later--dinner!  And breakfast.  And a coupon I probably won't use.  I try, for the most part, to avoid dinners in a box (all that salt, msg, calories, blah, blah, blah).  But when it drops in your lap, or mailbox, well...it's a sign. 

Saturday, we had a wedding/reception to attend in Stephenville for the eldest daughter of Loverboy's oldest friend (and our CPA).  It was lovely, of course.  The couple looked so happy, so excited, so...young. 

Randy, Loverboy and Little Miss (who would not stand for a photo being taken of her father without her in it).

Dancing to "My Girl."

Probably the yummiest wedding cake I've ever had.

Little Miss concurs.

Lots of antlers and camoflauge at the grooms table.

But the chocolate cake and especially the chocolate dipped strawberries met with approval.

These were actually the biggest hit for Little Miss--the ubiquitous wedding buttermints.  She ate all of them at our table (we were the only ones at that table).  Then she scavenged them from other tables as the reception was winding down.

Loves her some buttermints.

After church today, Little Miss and Loverboy amused themselves with office supplies.

Then we lunched at Molly and Papa's.  Fried chicken and mashed potatoes!  Drool.

And then six hours of QVC "Christmas in July."  Little Miss volunteered several times to get Molly her purse and the phone.  Right before heading off to bed, she called Molly to remind her that everything was available at QVC.com.  Help.

The past nine days...

have been busy.

We had to scrub this masterpiece off the wall...and had a looooong talk about being a big girl and knowing what's right and what's not.  By the bye, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers--love them!

Monday through Thursday I was here--the Smith building at TCU at the AP summer institute.

This was our boxed lunch dining hall.

The view from our "table".

And my dining companions.  They were much friendlier than they appear here.  At least it didn't rain or get (much) over 100 degrees.  What can I say?  Lunches are important...really the high point of the day at these things.  Other high points:  eating a burger at Dutch's after class on Tuesday and winning the "big prize" at the drawing after the last class on Thursday.  It's a binder of notes, lessons, activities that go with one of the books we got (we always get a ton of textbooks, which is really the reason I go every year).  I think I won the same one last year.  Apparently my luck peaks in the middle week of July.  I should remember that and buy lottery tickets next year.

While I was having all this fun, Little Miss went to her first ever week of Vacation Bible School.  The theme was "High Seas Expedition."  I love to hear her try to say "expedition"--it sounds like "expuhgician."  VBS has really changed since my last experience with it.  I just remember showing up, hearing the same stories, same Bible stories, same activities, on the same day every year; eating knock-off oreos and drinking kool-aid.  They have themes now.  And tshirts.  And CDs.  We registered online to avoid the crowd Monday morning.  She and Loverboy were processed through quickly, she got her wristband, "crew" assignment, and he got a "not-a-kidnapper card" he had to show to pick her back up.  She loooooved it.  They transformed the whole sanctuary and most of the church into a Jesus-pirate wonderland.

Wednesday night was "family night" and we met at the City Beach for a Chick-fil-a picnic.

This was our first time to visit our fair city's "beach" and it was quite nice.  All the sand they imported is still in place, so it's not muddy, squishy, icky when you're out in the lake.

I got to see the VBS scene in action on Friday.  Here's Little Miss with her "crew leader."  She looooooved Emmelee.  She was particularly amused by her name since our dog's name is Emily.  So, Emmelee the teenager is known as "Emily #2" at our house.  For the first two or three days, none of the other kids in their crew showed up, so Little Miss had her all to herself, which she especially enjoyed.

Saturday, we had a girl's day with Molly at the mall.  Of course there was bouncing!

And a trip to Build-a-Bear, where she created Violet the Dog, who is getting her heart in the picture, just before being filled with life (stuffing).

We HAD to run by Half Price Books, where she found a Shaun the Sheep 3-D book.  A very successful shopping day.

I got to sleep in Monday morning.  Loverboy and Little Miss took some pictures to surprise me with.  Here's Mr. Opossum, who came home with us after dinner with Molly at Cracker Barrel on Saturday.  I think he's Little Miss's five millionth Webkinz.

Then there was a whole series of self portraits wearing the bandana from VBS.

We picked up Molly on our way to the pool today.  I've never been a supporter of the arm floaties, but Little Miss has taken off with them.  She has longed to jump off the diving board all summer, but can't until she can really swim (without floaties obviously).  However, she is now the queen of the cannonballs and bellyflops off the side into the deep end.  It's tiring just watching her!

It's a good thing the clubhouse has a grill.  I don't know if we could have made it back to my car without the fortifying effects of poolside cheeseburgers and fries.

Hammers and bubbles

Another great Build and Grow at Lowe's today.

Today's project was a ball and cup game.  It's been a big hit.

Lowe's certainly gets the Nockinbird endorsement for free and fun family activities. 

Linda the Texas Bubble Lady was our entertainer at the library today.  Very interesting.  Kind of a grumpy Bubble Lady.  I get the feeling she's worried about some slip and fall bubble/kid law suits.  Yet I admire someone who makes a living making bubbles.  She was PAID by the Chinese goverment to make bubbles in park in Shanghai.  Bubbles.  Paid.  Who knew?

For the grand finale, the Children's Librarian (or as call her St. Librarian) chose 4-5 kids to be encased in a bubble.  Contrary to the above photo, Little Miss was not among those selected.  However, as the Bubble Nazi Lady (she was quite soft spoken and nice, almost sing-song hypnotic--kind of like the PBS painter guy who demonstrated how to paint "happy" trees, clouds, mountains...what was his name?--but it was laid out that everyone would remain seated on their bottoms and only she would be popping any bubbles) lined up the chosen few, Little Miss stealthily slid (on her bottom the whole time) to the back of the line.  As the last of the selected few was bubbled, Little Miss popped up to stand in "line"...and got what she wanted.  My Bubble Girl.  As I watched this happening, knowing her as I do, I wondered if I should I go snatch her back in place...but I admire that kid's moxy.  She didn't whine/cry because she didn't get picked, she just saw an opportunity and took it. 

After the bubble burst, we went to visit Molly at the hotel. 

A self-portrait.

A nice Saturday on the courthouse square, photographed by Little Miss.

Tamale day

I kill myself for 30 hours making tamales...but a certain little someone only wants chicken noodle soup.  I feel so appreciated.  Of course, most of the tamales were pre-sold, so I'm glad she didn't suddenly develop a love of them.

This particular Nockinbird, however, is never happy with the (way too) few SarahBeth and I have left over for family enjoyment.  We just made the bestsellers today--traditional pork tamales and corn/green chile tamales.  After two years of this, we're getting too good--there's no "ugly" ones for us to eat!  We are experimenting with a few new combos, so stay tuned tamale lovers.

My trusty tamale pots are still waiting for their bath, as is the stove.

Our "family sandwich."

Today is Emily Elizabeth's first birthday.  She got a few treats today, including a masa tamale all her own, and a bath--that last one was not a big hit.  We'll have a proper celebration this weekend, after the tamale hangover abates.

It continues to rain...how?why?  It's July in Texas!  And the yard is ridiculously green!