Cheerleading Party

Good Monday morning!

After all the hoop-la about eating on the deck, the Showcase Pic this week is NOT of the Faulkner Five eating on the deck. Everything worked against us it seemed. Austin's work schedule, Mikie coming in from Chicago later than I thought, and finally, tornado sirens... again. It was not meant to be. Maybe next week or weekend. We'll have to see.

After all the Gallery Pics last week, I can assure you there won't be quite as many this week. I've taken pictures of the Cooking Class again (one of which made the Showcase Pic). I actually took some action shots this week. (I don't really call eating an "action" shot... but the way these guys shovel it in, I guess it would qualify.)

If Roxie makes the Volleyball team, there will be celebratory pictures of her at the end of this week. (They put a "cut" list on the Internet each night, so she has to make the cut each day. It's more than a little nerve wracking!) If she doesn't make the cut, it will never be mentioned again!

I'm putting a picture of Josh in the Gallery after his first day of Spring Training. I know that boy will be worn out. (He gets his favorite dinner Monday night... Salisbury steaks, gravy, etc.)

Mikie came home safe and sound from Chicago. He enjoyed his time on the Miracle Mile, and although a lot of the time was spent in meetings, he did some sightseeing, too. I can't wait until I get to go with him some time. I have a HUGE list of things I want to do in Chicago. But that's for another trip.

I decided to surprise Mikie Saturday night with a coupon date. We ate at Full Moon Barbecue (one of his favorite barbecue joints), and then headed to the movies to see Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. In actuality, we were going to see the next X-Men movie. One... I wanted to surprise Mikie with a non-chick-flick once we got to the theater, and two... I wanted to preview it because I know my guys are going to want to see it later.

But it's Alabama, folks. We were halfway to the theater when we noticed the black clouds hanging over our hometown. We called the kids to check to see if the weather maps were on the bottom of the television screens, and they were... tornado watches and a little warning right beside our county. Well, at least we were able to eat the barbecue. We went to Books-A-Million in our town for a few minutes before the sirens went off, and then we headed home (three minutes away). Josh did well, but it was good we postponed the movie. Knowing we were three minutes away as opposed to 30 makes a huge difference when you have OCD and the thing you fear the most is actually happening. The tornado and bad weather never touched us... it was above and below, so we were once again very fortunate.

Thankfully, the one "family" activity that did come to pass was watching Amazing Race as the Faulkner Five. Only one show left after last night's episode, so I'm glad it worked out for us to be together again.

The Cooking Class is going very well. It takes about four hours preparation time each week (not counting grocery buying), but the guys couldn't be any sweeter, and they are really good cooks. Last week was beef week (taco soup, hamburger pouches, meat and potatoes casserole, buttermilk pies and sweet tea). I had told them to each bring a cooler for leftovers. There were NONE! I also had a challenge bag. If your name was chosen, you had to take the bag of ingredients and recipe home, and bring it back completed last night. Trey brought a delicious Lemon Jello Pound Cake he made all by himself for dessert. Very impressive.

This week was chicken week. We made Italian chicken pouches (the recipe will be on the blog this week -- check it out tomorrow), chicken pot pies, cake mix cookies and sweet tea. (We also made ham quiche. I know it isn't a chicken dish, but since all we've heard this week is Swine Flu, I decided to throw some pork in the mix.) The challenge bag was a German chocolate chip pound cake, and Daniel was the lucky guy whose name was drawn.

SEMI-FUNNY STORY... We're on a point system. You get a point for coming and a point for each and every cooking activity you finish (pouches, tea, casseroles, dessert, etc.). The guy with the challenge bag gets a point if he brings back the cooked dessert. The young man with the most points at the end of the cooking classes wins a $10 gift certificate to a local restaurant of his choice. While I was going down the list asking what each person participated in, I came to the "taco soup guy."

"What did you do tonight?" I asked.

"I made a hamburger pouch, set the table and opened a bunch of cans," was his reply.

"Opening the cans is the same thing as 'making the soup,'" I said.

"I made the soup?" he asked, a little perplexed.

"Yes. Yes, you did." And even though he didn't realize he had made it, it was very good soup. I'm going to have to explain things a little better with the next group.

I've decided our "theme" for the blog this week will go back to weddings and anniversaries. Beginning tomorrow, I will regale you with stories of mine and Mike's first year of marriage... and the monthly anniversaries I planned. (It just about killed me. There is a very good reason anniversaries are annual and not monthly!)

Until then, we're going to get right to our Cheerleading Party.

Cheerleading Party

This is a great party for elementary age girls (around 4th or 5th grade) who one day dream of being a cheerleader or on the dance team of your local high school. Roxie and her friends have always wanted to be Rockettes (dance team), so for her end-of-the-year party, I planned a Rockette Party.

First, I checked with a Rockette I knew to see if she would be willing to teach the girls a simple routine. She was willing. I asked her if she had a friend who would work with her since I was planning on having seven or eight girls. Yes, she had a friend.

While we waited for our Rockettes to show up, we had lunch which consisted of football game food. (Hot dogs, nachos, soft drinks, popcorn and peanuts.)

I was so pleased when the Rockettes showed up in full uniform and make-up. They were beautiful. And they didn't just show up and teach the girls a couple of moves... they had worked on a routine suitable for 4th and 5th grade girls. They even brought the music for the dance. They taught them step-by-step... just like they learn their routines.

Before I filmed the final dance, the girls took a water break. While they were resting in the shade, one of the Rockettes talked to them about making the dance team. She had not made it her first year. She told them about the disappointment she felt. She told them she cried when she got home. And then she told them she really wanted to be on the dance team, so she worked that much harder the whole year. She made the dance team her Sophomore year of high school. I had not asked her to talk about that at all, but she did an excellent job. She told the girls it was okay to be sad and disappointed... and even to cry. But if it was something they really wanted to do, they needed to work hard and try again. She told them it wouldn't always end up exactly the way they wanted it to, but if they worked hard and did their best, they could be proud.

At the end of her talk, I set up the video camera and the girls did their routine. They did an excellent job. We then took group pictures. The Rockettes even showed the girls how to sit and stand in a group picture... how to hold their arms... how to smile, etc.

At the end of the party, I gave each of the Rockettes a certificate for a manicure for their time and trouble. They were very appreciative. I also called their high school sponsor and told her how impressed and pleased I was with how they had handled themselves.

I made each of the girls a 5" x 7" group picture and gave it to them the following week. Roxie's is still in her room in a very prominent frame. The girls still talk about that party.

The cost was $22 for the manicures, and then the food. The food itself wasn't very expensive at all (hot dogs, popcorn, etc.), so all in all it was a very affordable, fun, memorable party.

I'll be honest. I was very impressed with the teenage girls who came over and spent the time with the younger girls. But most girls on the dance team or who cheer were once little girls who dreamed of being those things. They related to the younger girls.

VARIATION #1 - You could face paint the school logo on the girls' cheeks while you're waiting for the Rockettes to arrive.

VARIATION #2 - You could do hair and make-up while you're waiting, also. (Ponytails with matching ribbons.)

VARIATION #3 - You could do matching manicures for the girls during this time.

Have an outstanding Monday, May 4, 2009! Tomorrow's recipe is one of the Senior Boys Cooking Class favorites... Italian Chicken Pouches. Super easy. Super fun. With supervision, even your three or four year-olds could help fix these pouches. (And believe me, the younger they are when they start cooking, the better for everyone in your family... especially YOU!)

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow!