Bring Your Mommy to Lunch

Now that Adam is back into a solid daycare setting, we get to go back to doing fun things.  For instance, today was Bring Your Mommy to Lunch day.

He was so excited this morning when I reminded him that today was our special lunch date.  When I dropped him at school he said "You're going to work but you're coming back for lunch right".  And I told him "Of course I am, I wouldn't miss it".

So at 11:00 I hurried out of work and went to school.  There were lots of mommies there.  He had the biggest smile on his face when I walked in the door.  His usual routine at that time was to make up his cot for nap before lunch so I watched him do that and then he put together a few puzzles while we waited to eat.

When the food was ready each child and mommy washed their hands and took a seat.  We had spaghetti, salad, peaches and bread.  Adam ate almost everything then cleaned up our plates and headed to his cot.  His teacher told him he didn't have to rush since it's a special day but he's got a routine and he was sticking to it.

I read a couple of books with him and then had to come back to work.  It was so nice to spend a little time with him in the middle of the day.

Snow!!!

The past couple of years we've been lucky to miss out on the snow that has burdened our family in the north.  But that's no fun for the kids.  Sure we had some ice in January and school was closed for the day - but you can't play in ice.

Well the kids finally got what they've been wishing for, a little snow.  I was in Hartsville this past weekend for an event at Coker.  While in a meeting I learned that it was snowing so I called home during a break.  David said there were a couple of flakes but nothing exciting.  That was short lived.  As I drove home and turned onto the side street that led to our neighborhood, it happened.  Snow started falling faster than you could believe.

I pulled into the driveway and went inside to tell the kids.  Mind you, when I parked the grass was green.  In the five minutes it took to go inside and say the word snow, the grass was covered.  Grace & Adam grabbed their coats, hats and gloves and ran outside.  If they've learned one thing about snow in the south, they've learned that it doesn't last.

Both of them had a blast.  They were throwing snowballs, catching flakes on their tongues and simply enjoying the best part of winter.  After their cheeks were nice and rosy, they came inside for some hot cocoa and to warm up before going back out to play some more.

Of course by Sunday afternoon the snow was gone but it lasted long enough for them to have a good time!

Celebrating Mardi Gras

As you know, yesterday was Mardi Gras; the big celebration day prior to the start of Lent.  This year we were invited to join some of our friends for a Mardi Gras dinner.  Of course it was a chance for all of us to prepare genuine New Orleans cuisine since that is the hometown of the American Mardi Gras celebration.

Our hostess Jennifer made jambalaya and gumbo; Melanie, who is from NOLA, brought sauce picante; I tried my hand at building the perfect muffaletta; and Kate prepared pralines.  Of course the evening was not complete without King Cake.

The kids donned their beads, masks and other Mardi Gras party favors and tried their hardest to get the piece of cake with the baby hidden inside.  Thankfully they didn't get it because that would mean that we have to host the dinner next year.

We are blessed to have great friends who never miss an opportunity to have a good time.  Even though it was a "school night" we had a blast and the kids were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning!