January Madness

Favorite thing AM did this week

In a sign that we watched and read too much Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer this Christmas, AM has decided to name her soon-to-arrive baby brother "Baby Abominable Snow Monster." I'm hoping that by the time May rolls along, she will have forgotten this moniker, but I am not counting on it.

Favorite thing I watched this week

To celebrate our anniversary last weekend, Matthew and I headed to Atlanta to see a Hawks game. We had great seats (stubhub.com), and stayed at the Omni, which is adjacent to Phillips Arena (translation, we didn't even have to walk outside to get from our room to the game). Plus, the game turned out to be excellent. Although we aren't big Hawks fans or anything, it was still fun to cheer for the home team. They were behind most of the 4th quarter, but made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Suns by 1 point. And the crowd went wild.

In keeping with the basketball theme, this weekend, we got to use one of Matthew's Christmas presents--tickets to the Alabama vs. Miss. St. basketball game in Tuscaloosa. Surprisingly, though they were not at all favored, the Tide won. And the crowd went wild.

Because all I've done lately is watch things...

I saw Up in the Air and The Blindside recently (yes, I am feeling the pressure to see the likely Oscar picks). Up in the Air was okay, definitely not as good as I had hoped. I don't get a big kick out of George Clooney, so that might have been part of the problem. However, in supporting roles, Jason Bateman and Vera Farmiga were great.

The Blindside was as expected. Sad, then happy. Sandra is good. Tim McGraw is minor. Football coaches can't act. Especially Ed Orgeron (apparently he's better at cheating, though he doesn't do that in this movie, that came later).

Best thing I saw this week

After we left Atlanta last weekend, we drove up to Mentone, AL, located in the foothills of the Appalachians, along Lookout Mountain. It was beautiful, especially with the ice from all of the cold weather we've been having. Here are a few pictures of nearby Little River Canyon.

Best thing I ate this week

In Mentone we had dinner at the Wildflower Cafe, http://www.mentonewildflower.com/index.html. It was great. Matthew had a piece of prime rib that was at least a foot in diameter. I had a shrimp and pasta dish that was thankfully smaller than the meat dish. Dessert was banana bread with Wright Dairy vanilla ice cream. Love that Wright Dairy. I might have to go for a tour. http://www.wrightdairy.com/

Happy New Year!

Favorite thing AM did this week(s)

We all had a great Christmas--saw lots of family, ate lots of food, and rested some too. AM was great, and enjoyed everything about it. Of course, she got too many presents, but so far, has not shown any signs of being too spoiled by this.

She loves her new Madeline floor puzzle, and somehow got it in her head that having a spatula (yes, a spatula) really helps when doing puzzles. On Christmas afternoon she asked my mom if she could see her flower spatula (a gift from AM--http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=flower%20spatula). My mom got it for her, but we didn't know why she needed it. Until she got her puzzle out, and as soon as she found two pieces that went together, she would smack them into place with the spatula. I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but you'll have to use your imagination!

Here are some pictures Matthew snapped on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning...

Leaving milk and cookie (just one, she's stingy) for Santa.

Finding her stocking!

Santa came!

After Christmas we went to the beach for a few days. AM had fun in the (relative) warm weather, and even got in the (heated) pool with her Grandado and Unca Bob.

Favorite thing I read this week

I finished Guernsey over the holiday, and then read one of my Christmas gifts, Wally Lamb's Wishin' and Hopin' (http://www.amazon.com/Wishin-Hopin-Christmas-Wally-Lamb/dp/006194100X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262810907&sr=1-1) in about 48 hours. That's a record for me! But this short little book was so good, I couldn't stop reading. It revolves around 5th grader Felix Funicello, and takes place in a Connecticut parochial school in the early 1960s. Felix's 3rd cousin Annette is the family's claim to fame, but the book is a coming-of-age tale about Felix. A French substitute teacher, a dirty joke being told on live television, the National Pillsbury Bake-Off, a new Russian student at the height of the Red Scare, and a new take on the school's traditional Christmas program..hilarity ensues.

Favorite thing I watched this week

Hopefully tomorrow night's BCS Championship will be the best...Roll Tide!

Favorite thing I ate this week

Too many things to list them all, but here are some highlights from the holidays...

Aunt Ann's Sweet and Salty Pecans (to die for!)

Poppyseed cake (I like to call this Poppyseed Bread in an effort to make it sound less like dessert, and more like an acceptable breakfast)

Prime Rib with potatoes (twice!)

Mom's / Gramdma's Sugar Cookies

Toblerone (why do I only eat this at Christmastime?)

Blackened Grouper and Panne Chicken from the Red Bar (Grayton Beach)

Prosciutto and Mozzeralla sandwich from Wild Olives (Rosemary Beach)