Birthday Movie & Lunch

For Audrey's birthday movie we went downtown to see the movie "This Means War" with Jon and Evan Gordon. Afterwards we had a late lunch at Azteca. We thought the movie was pretty funny and not too terribly serious. Audrey particularly enjoyed the paintball scene. It was nice to celebrate Audrey's birthday with friends.

Birthday Dessert

Audrey loves Oreos, so when we saw these at the grocery store near her birthday, we had to pick up a bag. They definitely look FESTIVE!

Then I found a recipe for Birthday Cake Oreo-Stuffed Brownies. We made them for her birthday dessert this year (since her previous favorite - Chocolate Satin Pie - is no longer available as the local Marie Calendar's shut down).

I'd type the recipe out, but honestly, we won't make them again. We took a homemade brownie recipe and then buried the Oreos within the batter. Thankfully we only did it on half the pan so we could enjoy the plain brownies. It was way too rich for our taste...crazy talk I know!

Below is the Happy Birthday 19 candles right before Audrey blew them out.

Audrey turns 19!!

Audrey turned 19 today. Cannot believe that time is going so quickly!

Opening presents: NCIS soundtrack, Back to the Future on blue ray, Nunsense DVD, Paulie DVD, Xbox lego games (POTC & Indiana Jones 2), Xbox transfer cable, wireless keyboard and a new boom box.

Isn't this cool high it lights up?!

Later that evening we opened up the Paulie DVD to watch. Audrey remembered this movie fondly from her childhood. Somehow, I had never seen it. Audrey had texted Mariska that she got the movie "Paulie" and that we were going to watch it. Evidently Mariska said "Your mom's going to cry" which was pretty accurate. Good family flick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY!

Family Game Night

We bought the Big Bang Theory Game. It is best described as a combination of trivia and Pictionary. Had to break it out and try it for family night. As you can see - we enjoyed ourselves!! Sam a little more than the rest, but it was mainly because of John's drawings....

Eagle Court of Honor: Dakota

My nephew, Dakota, had his Eagle Court of Honor tonight. He asked me to play the piano and Grandma to conduct. Really enjoyed the Salutation portion given by Joe Smith and the Sheriff Department Recognition.

Cranberry Chicken

Tasty and pretty easy too.


CRANBERRY CHICKEN
3-4 chicken breasts
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 pkg. chopped pecans
1 bottle Catalina dressing
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix

Place chicken in baking pan. Generously spread cranberry sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle pecans and onion soup mix over chicken. Pour Catalina dressing over top. Bake lightly covered with foil at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes.

Valentine's Day

John's boss bought everyone a box of homemade chocolates. They did not last long at our house. John gave me a fruit and chocolate arrangement from Edible Arrangements. Super tasty. We knew John loves apples, so got him a white chocolate covered one from Big Bear Chocolates. Also found a cute idea using "Flip" covered pretzels. Took me a week to find some in any store, but finally found. "I would 'Flip' if you'd be my Valentine" is what the card said. We gave Audrey her favorite treats - Toblerone and Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

Audrey gave me a coupon: "This coupon belongs to Samantha Carter, and is good for one free project done by Audrey Carter. (with no complaints)". There was a little fine print...."Project limited to a small or medium sized project. Ask coupon manufacturer for details." Sidney also gave me a coupon: "This coupon is for Momma Kitty and is good for unlimited naps on her lap, nibbling on her pictures, sitting on her desk, attacking her nylon covered ankles, and being the best kitty she has ever known!"

Symphony: Riders in the Sky

Mom and I went to the Symphony. They were joined by Riders In the Sky - a Cowboy band consisting of a fiddle, accordion, guitar, bass plus vocals. For 30 years Riders In The Sky have been singing tunes made famous by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. They sang numbers such as Yellow Rose of Texas, Red River Valley, Back In the Saddle Again and Happy Trails. You might recognize them from their performance of Woody's Round Up in Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. - Scream Factory Favorites.

Here are the words to a popular cowboy poem that they performed during the concert on Saturday. The poem was written by Wally McRae, a Montana rancher.

REINCARNATION

What is reincarnation? The Cowpoke asked his friend
His pal replied it happens when your life has reached its end
They comb your hair and wash your neck and clean your fingernails
And lay you in a padded box away from life's travails
And the box then goes in a hole that's been dug in the ground
And reincarnation starts in when you're planted neath the mound
Then clods melt down, just like the box, and you who is inside
And then you're just beginning on your transformation ride
Meanwhile the grass will grow upon your rendered mound
And soon upon your lonely grave a single flower is found
And then a horse will wonder by and graze upon flower
That once was you and now become your vegetated bower
The posie that the horse done eat along with his other feed
Makes bone and fat and muscle essential to the steed
But some is left that he can't use and so it passes thru
And finally lays upon the ground this thing that once was you
And say by chance I wanders by, and sees this on the ground
And I ponders and wonders at this object that I've found
And I thinks of reincarnation and life and death and such
And I come away concluding you ain't changed all that much.