Birthdays, Gingers, Pacino

Pacino is such my cat...he's after the jellybeans!

We went to the Amana's to celebrate Aaron's 30th birthday. On the way, we stopped for a photo shoot with a large rhino. 

Wine samples!

The rhino...

4 people plus a rhino makes for a hard picture!

We played telestrations that night too--I love this game! A mix of telephone and pictionary.

My purchases at the Amana's-- amaretto tea, vanilla tea, and mint tea, plus a loaf of crimp bread.

We also found this large swing...and we didn't even break it!

We played indoor, Amana-themed mini-golf that was actually really fun! And for only $1.

Katie and I decorated gingerbreads houses last weekend!

Pacino was very busy while I was at work this week. He spilled the tea, twice, and took apart the humidifier twice. He has been taking it apart all morning too, so now the humidifier is in the closet. We'll see how he likes it when he's all static-y! 

Went to a CC basketball game and the dance team was performing. Me & Ashley took a picture afterward.

It's a good thing he's cute.

And now, I'm off to BWW for a basketball marathon....go Cyclones!!!!

Fun Weekend!

Pacino sat on my lap on Sunday afternoon, so I didn't get up for 3 hours. It was wonderful!

One of my new sweatshirts thanks to a trip to Ames! 

Played winter kickball on Saturday. We didn't win, but it was sure fun.

Here is our team picture wearing shirts supporting one of our teammates who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 

Maxine, begging for attention as usual!

Hickory Park. It had been forever since I'd been there!

Family scarf day!

Friend scarf day at work! Thankful to have a couple of Cyclones.

Family photo shoot at Hickory Park with Cy!

No Pictures?!

It seems like I should have more pictures from the last few days since our school schedule has been easy...but I don't. Here's what I do have!

This is from the winter sing-a-long at school. I'm in that snowman costume, in case you couldn't tell.

Mom & I had a similar fashion sense yesterday. She just needs red glasses!

Pacino was very interested in my blueberry tea this morning. Thankfully he didn't spill it.

And another photo from New Year's Eve surfaced. We went to RG Books, which is a fancy bar that has lots of books. They also have a whole wall that is a mirror. 

Holidays

I made this family version of the game Guess Who. It is way better than the original, if I do say so myself.

The sun was finally shining the other day. That's a small miracle right now.

Pacino just loves Christmas.

He was also very interested in my Dr. Pepper slushie which he promptly knocked on the floor. Don't worry, I didn't actually want to drink it anyway.

Bowling! Went bowling with these fun ladies last week. We didn't play real well, but we looked good. I also went bowling a different night and scored a 148--my personal best, I think. 

This little preschooler and I had the same shirt on! He also said his dad wore the same shirt that day. 

Sick Kid

I went back to school today and found a gift card, a thank you, a chocolate bar, and a gift bag of lotion and bubble bath. Those were great to come back to after being sick two days! I also got a letter in the mail from my grandma that had 3 sentences, all about Iowa State beating Iowa. Usually her letters are 2-3 pages...I kept looking for more, but that was it! Along with some articles about "hour of code" which our school participated in last week. The three new pairs of glasses that I ordered on Cyber Monday came in today too! Red, blue, and tortoise shell...the trick is figuring out which ones to wear first!

Last Wednesday was wacky teacher day...so I wore a tutu of course! This is Amy and I showing our stuff! We are definitely the coolest library workers ever.

I spent a lot of time with this guy the last few days. Which is great when he's being cute like this.

Or when he's sleeping, like this. 

On Thursday night I got myself up off of the couch and went to the theatre to see Santaland Diaries, based off of the book by David Sedaris. Our book club had read the book for the month of December. It was hilarious! 

Thanksgiving-ish

This would really be much easier if I updated more often instead of having 20+ pictures to share...Maybe that should be my New Year's resolution!

Pacino is in love with this red wrapping stuff. He is always wound up in it!

Card "cat-alog"

Playing Simpson's Clue at Thanksgiving!

Me & Cowboy Cy. I love Cy!

Shopping in Target on Black Friday. We had to be ruthless!

Maxine not cooperating for the camera.

Pacino didn't really know what to make of my new decor...

I made some cinnamon roll bites using refrigerated biscuits--super easy and tasty!

Pacino is sad that football is almost over, but glad that he doesn't have to watch the Cyclones lose anymore...on to basketball!

I made potato soup the other day in the crockpot. It was the easiest thing ever: frozen hash browns, cream of mushroom, ham, corn, chicken broth, cream cheese, cheddar, and some seasonings. It was surprisingly good!

Pacino curled up in my arms.

He has never done this before...used the towel bar to climb the shelf!

His life couldn't get any better.

It was stinky feet day at school--kids didn't have to wear shoes, so I opted for slippers. It was Cyclone game day, so I had on Iowa State socks and my new red pants!

Cat. Cat sweater. Cat lady.

One of the office ladies was being a grinch and put this sign on my door. I showed her by putting this Christmas tree up.

Again. All wrapped up.

Lunch at Barn Happy today!

Watched the lighting of the Christmas tree at Green Square Park before the parade--seems they should have tested the lights a little better! One strand wasn't quite working.

The end of the parade:: Santa & a real live reindeer that I'm obsessed with every year!