Showing posts with label oktoberfest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oktoberfest. Show all posts

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Oktoberfest Celebration

Katie and I went to the opening ceremonies of our German aka Oktoberfest. Katie is up old enough to enjoy the many games that Sacred Heart Church provide. I have to say that the church has stepped it up compared to several years ago, when I would come with the nieces and nephews when they went to school here. The German Festival is the church's, which is also a private school, only big fundraiser. Katie loved the festival. We got there a little after 10:00 and left around 1:00. I was getting very tired and ready to go home. Katie on the other hand, probably would have stayed there as long as I let her. When you get there, you have to purchase tickets for all the inflatables and games. All Katie wanted to do was stay on the inflatable slide and bounce house. Right off the bat, we ran into her friend, Em. Em was in Katie's ballet class last year. The girls got to catch up a little, while we were there. I tried so hard to get her to do some of the other games. They had some nice ones like cake walk, toy walk, ball toss, duck pond, fishing, etc. I couldn't even get her to get her face painted. When she was younger, she loved getting her face painted. I guess it's not the cool thing anymore.
Katie jumping with Em


Not much to this, she only did it one time

Finally got her to do something other than the inflatables

Sacred Heart (would have been a better pic minus the phone lines - Grrr)

The steeples are very high up (tall), you can see them from a long distance.  I love it when the sun hits them just right ~ gold beams bright ~ as if God is saying "hello, I'm still here."  Ever since Katie was able to talk, she has always and still today called this church "Jesus' Church."

Early this morning, it was a little cool outside. Because we are all fighting colds around our household, I made sure to put some sleeves on Kate. Well, I think I dressed her a little too warm because once the sun made it's appearance, it got warm. As soon as I could get her to sit still long enough to get us a drink and funnel cake, I took it. We headed inside the Bingo area, grabbed a drink and cake and visited my mother, while she was enjoying the Bingo game.

Speaking of my mother, I've got great news! Since she's been home from the Nursing Home, she's been too afraid to try to drive. Since her ordeal, she got out of practice of driving and pretty much was at the mercy of others to take her places. Well, guess what? Mom has finally gotten the courage to start driving again. YAY!! She told me today that she's been going here and there without having to wait for someone to take her. I'm so proud of her and let her know how excited I was for her. To top that off, she's fit in perfectly with a fairly good size fitness group (approximately 18 people) at the gym. She's made several friends in her class and they are having a little potluck party sometime next week. She seems excited because she can't figure out what to bring. Y'all just don't know how much I'm loving hearing this out of her mouth.


After I regained my energy and cooled off, we headed for one of Katie's favorite museums, Col. Cullman Museum. I don't know why she loves this place, but she does and I practically have to drag her out of there.
Katie on the front porch of Col. Cullman Museum

Katie at the gazebo ~ she told me this was her new playhouse

Katie spies the Haystack People

My baby girl!

Katie watching the festivities continue from the gazebo

Katie directing the music playing, in the music room of the museum

I think this was her favorite room

She was wanting me to touch the cotton ~ "It's so soft mom."

Oil painting upstairs

Statue of Col. Cullman just inside the main entrance

One of the directors told us that they had some taxidermy animals upstairs, if Katie would be interested in seeing them. As we made our way up the stairs, whom should I spot right off the bat. An old portrait of my great great great grandfather, Mace Thomas Payne Brindley, up on the wall on the other end of the staircase. Wow! He was one of many first settlers in Cullman and became a Statesman. Of course, I was showing Katie his picture. Do ya think she even cared? Why NO! She just wanted to go see the animals. LOL!

Mace Thomas Payne Brindley
We saw lots of people mingling around, meeting smile after smile on this very beautiful October day.
Street Dancing at Market Place

Lots of carriage rides ~ I tried my best to get Katie to go for a ride with me.

Katie had to have her annual pic with the Haystack People

Over by the old train depot there was an antique car show, but we didn't go to it.


Mirya

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Spirit Jugs and More

I finally got enough jugs to make our "Spirit Jugs" for Halloween. These were actually very easy to make. After drawing the faces on them, I cut little flaps on the back with an X-acto knife and inserted the clear Christmas lights. The directions called for 50-count, but I put in 20-count and I feel it was enough. Katie's mouth flew open when she first saw them on top of the entertainment center. She seems to really like them.

Colton's Caught A Cold
Both kids have been fairly sniffly since the big change in temperatures recently. Poor Colton's been fairly puny with what I call a low grade temperature of 99.3 degrees. Without drugs, all he wants to do is be held and grunt at everything. We are still trying to get him to talk. A few weeks ago, he would say "Pa-pa" and yesterday I got him to saying "bye-bye." So, there is hope yet.

This afternoon, I was so hoping Colton's temp would come down to normal and he would be feeling better after his nap.  No can do. So poor Peggy came to the rescue.  I really didn't want Katie to miss a day of ballet and I didn't feel Colton would do well waiting for sissy to get finished practicing.  Peggy was sweet enough to stay with him, while we were gone.  Thank goodness Colton took a long enough nap, in order for me to cook a huge pot of chili for supper.  As a thank you, I gave her and Millard a nice bowl full for tonight's supper and tomorrow's lunch.  She ate a bowl before she left this evening.  She seems to like my chili.  On top of Colton not feeling well, his humidifier was giving me fits.  Doug came to the rescue when he got home from work.  Things are always so simple for him.  He said all he had to do was reset it.  Ugh!  That's all.  I'm so hoping baby Colton will sleep better tonight than he did last night.  Bless his heart, I kept hearing him coughing and sneezing in the middle of the night.  It's just a thought, but I'm afraid he and Katie definitely have my genes.  I noticed the other day the beautiful golden rod and rag weed's a bloomin'.  I've been sneezing and coughing (scratchy throat) myself, but that's because of the WEEDS bloomin'.  Of course, the dust in the DRY air doesn't help either.  My poor babies!  I feel for 'em. 

Picture Special
Portrait Innovation has this special deal all the time, where you get the following pictures at a very low price $9.95, includes: 1- 10x13; 2- 8x10; 4- 5x7; 4- 3x5; 32 wallets for one pose.  The only difference in this special offer is you can get the CD and 6 personlized greeting cards for free.  Normally, you don't get this with this offer.  GREAT OFFER!  You can't pass this up.  I'm even tempted.  For more information, CLICK HERE!

Very Busy Month
The month of October is very busy for me.  I promised Katie that we would stop by the German Festival aka "Oktoberfest" this coming weekend.  When my nieces and nephews were little, they always loved going to the festival because of all the games, cake walks, jumping in the bounce house and etc.  I think Katie will enjoy it.  I also promised Katie that we would go through the Col. Kullmann museum.  For some odd reason, she really enjoys looking at everything in this museum.  Plus, we can't forget the famous "Haystack People."  The Haystack People marks the first day of Fall.  I'm hoping to get a few Fall pictures made this weekend as well.

Katie's class has a field trip to the zoo planned soon.  I am the "Field Trip Mom."  LOL!  I got my list the other day with all suggestions and phone numbers to contact parents.  As of this afternoon, I got everything lined up and organized.  You never know what will happen, when it comes down to it.

The school has a Fall Festival with loads of games, inflatables, and other fun lined up in the next couple of weeks.  Each class was responsible for their own gift basket to be auctioned off during the festival.  Our class' basket theme is "Christmas".  I've heard that it's got some really neat stuff in it.  I didn't sign up to help out just yet because it is scheduled during Katie's ballet class.  We'll have to wait and see because I have enough chaos in the evenings. 

Katie is invited to one of her friends' birthday party.  She is so excited because we don't get to see this friend that much and they will be having it at the local Gymnastics center, which means inflatables and tumbling mats.  YAY!  Katie went to a birthday party last year at this very place and loved it.  I've asked her if she would like to give ballet a break for awhile and take gymnastics.  Nope, she won't do it.  She loves her ballet!

Our Sunday School class has agreed to sponsor a birthday party for a local nursing home for 6 people (3 men and 3 ladies).  I get to go around and help gather up a few items to make someone's birthday special.  It is such a blessing to do something special like this, I just get all getty.

Lastly, I need to get ready for Halloween.  Our church has decided to have a Fall Festival again this year.  So, I've got to get lots of candy for the many booths.  Colton and Katie have their costumes for this year.  They tried them on the other day just to make sure they still fit.  Colton will be a pumpkin and I'm not too convinced that his stem hat will stay on.  He has his daddy's head after all.  Poor baby!  LOL!  Katie will be Thumbelina and looks fairy-ulous.

Great Finds
I've always had oily hair, so I hardly ever put moisturizer or conditioner in my hair.  Well like most women, my hormones have done some tricky things to me these past couple of years.  Especially after giving birth to my son, my hair has felt very dry (like hay) on the ends.  I've already been struggling with Katie's hair because hers is more dry and has lots of body in it.  These are things I'm not familiar with or have ever had to deal with. So like all hair issues, I went to my hair genie, Theresa.  She may have a sign above her station in the salon that she works, which reads: ". . . I can't create miracles."  Well, I think she can make miracles happen.  As soon as I told her my dilemma and all she said was "cyclicone" for hair.  She told me to get any hair product with the ingredient cyclicone.  Just apply a little on the ends of your hair and comb through.  I purchased Biosilk from Biolage hair products. 


Wow!  After towel drying my hair in the mornings, getting out of the shower, my hair is like a huge rat's nest.  As soon as I apply a small dab to the ends of my hair and pick it through, it calms down immediately.  The same thing for Katie's hair.  We've gone from tears (both me and her) to smiling faces and singing. 

Christmas Around The Corner
Can you believe there are only 85 days til Christmas? 
I know you probably don't want to hear about Christmas or thinking about Christmas shopping right now.  The only Christmas shopping I've done so far this year has been for Katie.  I've bought a few things for her just because I've stumbled across the items and it screams out KATIE.  Of course, I've mentioned the "Pinkalicious" doll from Walmart.  I think she will love it!  Now they have the "Fancy Nancy miniature dolls for $12 in stock, which I thought would make a great stocking stuffer.  Well, the other day I had to get Colton some new shoes (size 5 now).  I passed by the toy department on my way to the Halloween department and noticed this Angelina Ballerina doll . . .

I think she is adorable and I know Katie would love her because she is a big "Angelina Ballerina" fan. Then, I noticed the small (like Polly Pocket size) Angelina Ballerina playsets, including the dolls. PERFECT! I can't show you a picture because the ones I saved from Target doesn't want to show up, must be a security measure. Anyway, you'll have to go to Target's website in order to see the playsets HERE!!!!!!

I have a few ideas for Colton, but I haven't purchased anything yet.  He's main love it BALLS and I'm sorry, but there are enough footballs, baseballs, basketballs, large balls, small balls, super bouncy balls, and softballs with ball pit in our house.  NO MORE BALLS!  He also likes cars, trucks, and along that line.  I'm thinking about getting one of the "Chuck" playsets to go along with his Chuck vehicles.  He likes his jumbo Legos, so I thought about getting him more Legos.  This past week, he has shown interest in puzzles.  I've had a couple of Katie's old peg top puzzles out for him to play with, but received nothing.  So, they have been just laying in the entertainment center waiting for him to come play.  Well, Monday he decided to show some interest.  Once I showed him where to put them, he grasped ahold of it pretty good.  Now, he likes to take his puzzles apart and put back together, with help of course.   

Mirya