(i had my settings off on my camera so lets all pretend this is….a newspaper photo…ha!)
she had a great birthday.
so grateful and sweet.
she wanted ice cream sundaes but i had to get at least one cupcake.
we watched one of her favorite movies after dinner.
i like that kid a whole bunch.
we had a girls day just the two of us yesterday.
she used her birthday money (and her allowance…she is a saver) for some cute clothes.
i loved watching her pick stuff out.
she and i are finding our way.
me saying "it's ok to not like what i like" when we disagree.
or when she says "do you like it?" with a big smile then OF COURSE i like it.
i want her to form her own opinions…have confidence in herself and her choices.
i am so proud of her when she does.
and she is pretty darn cute.
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i got out my electric mattress pad for the winter.
oh yeahhhh.
my toes are nice and warm now. :)
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so…i got to see Flight on monday.
holy cows.
it is definitely rated R.
it was… hard to watch? very real? very grown up? intense? but seriously… SOOOOO good.
ha ha ha
it stuck with me.
but i can't quite figure out why….
and no spoilers in the comment section.
i don't want people getting mad at me!
the couple sitting next to us…they were talkers.
"oh no he didn't" "oh no…don't do it" "GASP!!!"
AND she sang the words to a whole song that was on the movie!
seriously.
and the school called craig at the very last 4 minutes of the movie.
so he missed the ending.
craaaaazy.
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have you filled your boxes for Operation Christmas Child?
i usually post about it but time got away from me.
my kids loooooove to do this project.
i hope you do it too.
and i saw that if you drop off your shoe box at Chick-fil-a… YOU GET A FREE SANDWICH!
bonus!
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here is somehting happy for you this morning….
i am off to run errands.
walmart…the bank…the post office.
so exciting eh?
what to make for dinner?
the question of my life…
melissa@joyineveryseason - I had a chance to see a movie but didn’t know anything that was out … so went to see Flight after reading your recommendation … John Goodman was SO FUNNY … and that scene in the stairwell was luminous. It’s stayed with me, too. Glad for your thumbs up … so glad I saw it :o)
Michele - I want to see Flight, but my husband, the commercial airline pilot, does not! lol So I guess it might have to be a girl’s night out!
amy - HaPpy BiRtHdAy to your sweet girl!!!!
girls days are the best! I have “kenzie dates” with my middle daughter. love that one on one time.
~amy
colleen sullivan - I love the black and white photo.. almost as much as the gumballs? That Talby appears to be a joy to raise… helpful post as I have an eleven year old girl child as well!
Dinner… not for tonite but in the future…my hometown has a dish called spiedies… you can get the original there (or even order the meat online and they will send) or make a the next best thing by ordering the sauce, marinating cubed boneless chicken, placing on skewers and grilling. Best served on soft white italian bread that u use to pull the chicken off the skewers. For a healthier version (sans white bread)i serve the meat next to orzo pasta and broccoli and dip them in any extra marinade that might be floating off the chicken. I grill all winter long… but I guess you could do inside under the broiler if you really have to. So quick, so easy, I usually buy the gallon jug! http://www.spiedies.com/original-endicott-style-spiedie-marinade-p-1750.html
Flower Patch Farmgirl - Thank you for loving rated R movies.
Here’s a question: Lars and the Real Girl. Have you seen it?
I have no idea why this just came to mind, but I think you might love it. I am a movie freak. I could go on and on….
Tiffany - Happy Birthday to Talby! She has SUCH a cool mom! 🙂 YES, we do OCC shoeboxes too! My family filled our boxes a few weeks ago so I could share them with my class. I get the whole 5th grade involved in bringing them in!
Amy@littleforalittlewhile - I think that gumball maching may just be my favorite thing in your house. So colorful and happy 🙂
kate - Talby is soooo pretty!!! happy birthday to her!
Lori H - Talby has grown up so much since i started following your blog…a long while ago. She is just beautiful. We already filled our shoeboxes – our church is a relay station so gathers from many churches and takes them to NC. I am making a no-recipe cajun thing…a “what’s in the fridge that I can use” kind of thing. So far, it looks yummy!
Tanya - My sister was always the saver ~ never me 🙂
My kiddos are out tonight – I had an English muffin with peanut butter for dinner. Need the recipe?…lol.
monica - my mom and i fought alot over clothes when i was growing up. and now that my daughter is 11, i know that the clothes she wears is an expression of who she is. i love watching her make her own decisions and watching her grow into herself.
and, the supper situation is always a battle for us ! that sassy 11 year old daughter of mine is also a vegan. so its lots of fun trying to figure out what to fix. Good luck !
Sara Torbett - I loved reading about Talby’s birthday and your relationship. I am about to be a mom to another girl (my second) so I like reading/”watching” how you interact with your girls. 🙂 So glad someone mentioned Parenthood in the comments! I didn’t get to watch last night and will have to catch up. Makes me tear up every single time. Such a good show. We’re having enchiladas for dinner… 🙂
Becky - what to make for dinner is the question of my life too:/
Robin Canter - We saw Skyfall – the new James Bond movie. Really good and you could actually follow the story line on this one. I won’t give it away, but someone dies in it.
Kate - I love that you wrote about shopping with your daughter…I’m already learning to deal with differences in opinions when it comes to clothes, and my daughter is only 4! I loved shopping with my mom, and I’m thankful for the time shared, regardless of our differing styles. Happy birthday to Talby. She’s blessed to have you for a mom!
Jacci in Ohio - I love it when you get really random. The randomer the better 🙂
alicia @ la famille - i want to see that movie too!! glad talby had a great day. she is growing up so much. love her smile 🙂
Kelly - Actually… your enchiladas are on the menu at my casa tonight for the first time… with some black beans….
KirstenP - Happy Birthday to Talby! I love the ‘newspapery’ photo.
Meg, did you watch Parenthood last night? If not, then watch it online
as soon as you can, and then watch this youtube video about one part of the
show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4pE6Vme3k
Shannon - I’ve been wanting to the operation Christmas child for the past few years but always miss the dates, I’ll be picking up my girl from school and heading straight to Walmart today so we can do this!! So glad you mentioned it and I’m looking forward to chickfila for dinner later this week too 😉
Have a great week Meg!
Tiffany - No way he missed the last 4 minutes. No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think its awesome that your daughter is finding her own style, me too! If it makes you smiiiile, it sounds perfect 🙂
Beth Ann - What’s for dinner? I am making Ranch Chicken tonight for dinner. Easy-Peasy and everyone loves it.
I have no idea where the original recipe came from (I wish I could site it), I have made it so often I have it memorized:
In a large baggie shake together:
1 cup crushed corn flakes (could use rice krispies, bread crumbs etc)
1/4-1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (I shred mine fresh)
1/2-1 packet dry ranch (1 full packet makes it pretty ‘ranchy’)
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I pound mine out to be the same thickness so they cook at the same time)
dip chicken breasts in melted butter and then into the corn flake – ranch – parmesan cheese mixed and into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes.
Easy and yummy.
Su@TheIntentionalHome - I want a rusted gumball machine. . .I love your happy pics. . .I am actually a little addicted to your happy pics. I can’t wait for your blog posts to come ot my email (they always come a day late) so I check in periodically to see if you have posted something new. 🙂
We are having crockpot vegetable soup (with sausage in it). Recipe on my blog if you want to check it out. . .you can freeze the leftovers too. My kids love this and I love that it gets veggies in them. Serve it with Saltines and a block of cheese sliced. Here’s the recipe: http://www.susoutter.com/2009/10/crock-pot-vegetable-beef-soup.html
Tracy - Happy Birthday , Talby!! You’re one lucky girl!
Seriously, “what’s for dinner” is the story of my life, too. But SERIOUSLY, what’s for dinner at your house?? I need inspiration!
Southern Gal - This reminds me. This summer we were standing in line getting movie tickets to see Brave. There were three women ahead of us in line with a boy who was about 12. He wanted a ticket to see Teddy which was rated R. They wouldn’t sell it to him, of course. The women were going to see Magic Mike, so he had to go with them since none of them would give up Magic Mike. I nearly fainted. I wanted so badly to invite him to go watch our movie.
Southern Gal - Happy birthday to her! You have close birthdays with those girls!
I’m posting about OCC tomorrow. It did slip up on us this year.
Crock pot black eyed peas with sausage – it’s a good one to put in the pot and forget.
JulianneB - I saw “Flight” this weekend with my hubby for my birthday…Yes definitely R, wasn’t it. We had some talkers around us, and then about halfway through the movie, we hear a kid crying. Next we see his Grandma taking him out of the movie and saying, “Well you got to see what you wanted”. He looked to be about 5….wonder what he wanted to see…unreal. Near the end of the movie, two boys that looked to be about 6 and 9 came in because their movie was over and they watched the rest of the movie with the parents???
sarah j - Pulled pork tacos! Yum!
Jenna@CallHerHappy - Happy Birthday, Talby!
You know, I remember the point in my life where I was trying to figure out what I liked and wanting confirmation from my mom. It’s difficult for a girl, for sure. You’re doing the best thing for her 🙂
Also, gotta love Chick-fil-a!
And, for dinner? I don’t know how you feel about meal plans, but I made a monthly one on my blog, and I couldn’t be happier about it 🙂