InstaFriday {New Year}

Yes, this is InstaFriday...on Tuesday.

And yes, this draft has been sitting on my computer since Thursday.

Just one of those weeks.

Better late than never.

Our New Year's Eve started off with a bang...er, well, a pop actually.

This guy is a popcorn connoisseur.

Did I ever tell you about the time I got all smart and married a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America?

Or that he graduated with honors??

Yep. I've got the thighs to prove it.

After we bathed in sodium we fondued till the cows came home.

Or at least until my rear end now resembles one.

Good thing I got this for Christmas.

Hello 2012!

Maggie and I went on our annual "dad gave his girls gift cards for Christmas" day of shopping.

Girl can shop.

And she can sniff out Chinese in the food court.

I heart her.

We filled the remainder of our Christmas break with watching Star Wars The Complete Saga.

I must admit I went into it kicking and screaming.

My brain just does not do the Science Fiction thing.

Maybe this makes me sad and deprived...I don't know.

Twentysomething hours, subtitles, and stopping the movie every 5 minutes to ask what the heck was going on later...I was sold.

Oh poor conflicted Anakin...why did you have to go and do it?!?!?

Here is my review in 5 words or less: WATCH THEM IN ORDER!

I won't even try to understand the whole episodes 4-6...then 1-3 thing.

I'm convinced it has something to do with the male chromosome.

Found this on Aidan's light saber.

Isn't this the whole point?!?!

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout...the way a serving size should be.

My girl received a really cool cupcake pan from her Aunt Ashley for Christmas.

It has spikey things in the middle to hold candy, marshmallows, cherries, etc. in place as they bake. Then you fill them with batter and voila...a surprise in the middle of your cupcake.

These were Reese's Peanut Butter Cup filled.

Mercy.

She also got her very own decorating kit complete with frosting bags and a variety of tips.

This was her first time ever attempting something like this...and this is what she did!

All on her lonesome.

She is only 11...good gravy.

This girl...::sigh:: she impresses my socks off.

I'm convinced that one day the people of the world will be saying, "Martha who?" because of my girl.

Our neighbors got a new Newfoundland puppy for Christmas.

I think he may just be the most ridiculously cute thing ever.

I almost ever so slightly fell head over heels in love with him and almost maybe considered dognapping him.

Then he drooled.

And I decided it just wasn't worth it.

We had our first full week of school last week.

This is what I call our cafeteria.

Minus the hairnets.

Although I do have some flappy lunch lady arms these days.

We've been reading The Courage of Sarah Noble and discovering the oh so cool life cycle of frogs.

And trying not to kill each other.

Boy...a month off of school may just be too long for us.

Hard transition back into our schedule.

We even had to go back and review a few multiplication facts.

Which just put me in one of my homeschool mom fear funks.

Thankfully this week has already proven to be mucho better.

I don't know the Spanish word for better but you get my point.

Speaking of my two learning partners...I found this in an old box the other day.

I nearly stopped breathing.

I caught my breath and reminded myself that she is only 11 and he is just 9..."You've got plenty of time still Talysa."

But then this one appeared out of nowhere and there I was...in full cardiac arrest.

He will be 16 in less than 3 months.

::sigh::

This growing up thing takes my breath away it hurts so badly sometimes. #sonotready

y mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"