Second Annual Black & White Party

A year ago monday, Angie invited us over for Black & White bean chilli she had made in honor of Dr. King, and to welcome her new goldfish, christened "The King" because she had bought him on MLK day.  Being the goofy bunch we are, Troy, the kids, Troy's mom and I all showed up on their doorstep in mis-matched black and white clothing blasting "It doesn't matter if you're black or white" and dancing our hearts out. 
Thus was born the Annual Black & White Party.
 I've always been a huge fan of the esteemed Dr. and can't thank Angie enough for providing a fun way to celebrate his legacy with my family.  I am so thankful to live in a country where my children are free to dream, restrained in success only by their willingness to work!  And I am especially grateful for the men and women past and present who fight so hard to keep our children's dreams alive.

This year for the party, I made newspaper wigs for my family, and Troy's dad and his family joined us at Angie's. we played silly games, ate black and white food, and had a wonderful time!Thanks Angie!

Miss A. checkin' out her new 'do

Dont really know what to call Gavin's style-
But doesn't he look cute?!

Me sporting a little 40's throwback

Of COURSE he wanted a Mullet.
Of course he did.

Another fine wardrobe choice

What's a party without a
marshmallow eating contest?

Especially when it turns into a

marshmallow-throwing contest.

which it did.

The Fire Bowl

You guys may remember my post from last year about the Fire Bowl my dad built up at our cabin.  Seeing as my dad can only stand to be outdone by himself, this year was a new challenge.  For months he has been driving up the canyon weekly to dig out the fire bowl, and has been telling us all about how he made it even cooler than last year (which I honestly didn't believe).  I should have believed him.
 On New Years day night we all trekked up to the cabin for Pop's big surprise.  The whole scene was magical.  He had lit luminaries along the entire corridor he had created back to the fire pit, and with loads of fresh snow on the trees, it was like something out of a movie.  We roasted marshmallows, ate popcorn and no one even cared that it was 7 below.  The best part of all was that one of my dad's coworkers came up and brought his very nice camera and took these amazing pictures using a tripod and a very slow shutter.  Floodlights from a neighboring cabin gave some of the trees a greenish glow. 

Thanks Pop for a wonderful evening and a magical memory!

The walls of this corridor were 6 feet tall!

Snow, Stars, and Sparks from the fire

Honestly, can you believe he dug this out?!

Making Happy New Year

By an unexpected twist of life, I ended up stranded at home with my two kids last night.  One had cabin fever, the other the flu.  Troy was using the day off from work to knock out more walls in our new house and forgot he owned a cell phone :).  As the sun went down and parties got into swing, I started to feel very lonely.  Our current situation with Troy working up by our new house, and then going to work on our house after work (it's not liveable yet) with our only car, I'm used to being stuck home, but it was a holiday and I was feeling sorry for myself.
Finally, I got tired of feeling bent out of shape and remembered that it was completely up to me whether or not I had a "happy" new year.  So the kids and I got dinner in the oven, and started making some fancy new years hats.  While I was digging for doo-dads to glue on them, I found some old sparklers left over from 4th of July.  Carolyn came home just as our hats were finished and she took some pictures of us out ringing in the New Year. 

I guess that's one thing I've really learned this year.  I can choose my own happiness no matter what goes on around me.  There is something good in everything, and usually more than one something.  I just have to make the decision that I will see it, and let it lift my heart.  This New Year will be a good chance to practice better what I've learned. Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what I will have learned 364 days from today!