Everybody Dance Now!!!!

Last Thursday I received the 2nd half of my birthday present!!

First, we went to dinner at Maestro's Restaurant in downtown Tampa. It is part of the Performing Arts center. We had a real sit down adult meal - can't remember the last time that this had happened. If I can't remember it, you know it had to be a long time ago! There was chairs not covered with plastic, cloth napkins, drinks served without a straw, candlelight and not a chicken nugget or french fry in sight!! We didn't have to speed eat so someone could take Sam outside to chill out. Delicious food, great service and even better company.

We then went to a performance of Riverdance. It was wonderful, so much better "live". I hope that you enjoy the music that I have playing in honor of a great performance! I kept thinking of a episode of the comedy, "Third rock from the Sun." In one particular episode they went to see Riverdance. At the end they all burst out of the theatre door and clogged in the foyer. I kept thinking of this because I had a nearly overpowering desire to do the same! In fact, my feet are twitching even as I write!

Jim kept commenting that the girl's were very talented and great dancers, but the men were just show-offs. All I know is that they all need great talent, stamina and mighty strong calf muscles to dance like this night after night.

Have also added a video clip of Riverdance. It is the opening number. Our seats were quite close to the stage and it was quite loud! If you want to watch the clip, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of my page and turn the music off, or there will be dueling Riverdance music!

Get up and dance along!!!!

Sally-Ann

Thank You Wendy!

Wendy at http://www.frogprints.com/neverenoughpaper/ nominated me for this award. Thank you Wendy!!

If you haven't checked out her page, you should. She makes wonderful cards and other items using stamps - the rubber kind, not postage!!! Please disregard my posts over there, I only seem capable of saying, "Cute!" But, so many of the cards, stamps and papers are so very, very cute!!

Anyway, as a result of receiving this award, I must now tell you 5 things that I am addicted to. Mmmmhhh, time to put on my thinking cap!!

1. My kids - I love being around them, they make me smile, they make me content and they make me happy.
2. Books - I love books, especially cook books and children's books.
3. BBQ potato chips - they cannot come into the house.
4. Travel - I love to travel, especially with my hubby, Jim. He makes it exciting.
5. Decorating - I never seem to be satisfied, have to keep rearranging, tweaking, painting.......

I, of course, have more addictions that just 5, but this is all that I can handle confessing at the moment!

I also need to list 5 of the blogs that I enjoy visiting. This was really hard to narrow down because I visit all my favorite blogs every day if possible. that being said, here goes!!

1. http://delightfulsounds.blogspot.com/ I enjoy visiting Aimee's blog because I always learn something. It could be some insights from a book that she is reading or a simple "What the heck is this?" guessing game. Aimee teaches Samuel's Kindermusik class, and that is a big part of his life.
2. http://texaswordtangle.blogspot.com/ I just enjoy Rhea's take on life. On her blog banner it reads, "Words tangled with emotions spill onto paper and become a story worth telling."
3. http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/ Lynette's blog first caught my attention because of her "Wednesday's walk down memory lane." It is pretty self explanatory - every Wednesday she invites us to share memories! I have yet to do that, something I will remedy this coming Wednesday. I also feel a kinship with her because she has gone through the loss of 3 children and has shared her story with others to help bring peace and comfort.
4. http://williamandbonnieparker.blogspot.com/ The Parker family has been very faithful in commenting on my blog. I enjoy reading their blog and about their family!
5. http://oursouthernfamily.blogspot.com/ Ally is my hubby's cousin and has also been very faithful in posting on my blog. I enjoy hearing about her family and what they have been up to in the great frozen West!!!!

Like I said before, I love all the other blogs that if frequent as well, so take a look at them! If you have any favorites, please share with me!

Sally-Ann

Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

Yesterday was my birthday! I turned 46. Scared me a bit when I thought about turning 46, I am now closer to 50! But, they say you are only as old as you feel and with a 3-year-old running around in the throws of potty training, I don't have time to think about being old!

We had a fairly quiet day. We went out for dinner as a family and next week Jim and I are going to see "Riverdance".

But.......I have been having no problem with my New Year's resolution of being more joyful.

Why you may ask?????

Because in June, we will be seeing the above place in person.

Also this place.

We will also be standing on the steps of this magnificant building.

Yesterday..........excuse me while I happy dance around the room.......

Yesterday.........we booked our flights to Australia!!!!!

I haven't been back to Australia for 12 years. Haven't seen my family for 12 years. A lot has happened in 12 years. Both my Mum and Dad have passed away, as have many other family members and good friends. It will definately be different going back to Australia this time.

It is time to go back

Enjoy the following

Sally-Ann

Before it is tooooo laaatttteeee!

Just found this cute give-away. Need to hurry however, it ends today! I want a chance to win it, so I am blogging about it!

http://aubsfamfive.blogspot.com/2009/01/girly-giveaway.html

Great Give-Away

Go visit Lolli at her blogspot and enter a great give-away. She is a big fan of Mamma Mia and is giving away the movie!

http://1momof5.blogspot.com/2009/01/mamma-mia-im-having-giveaway.html

Elephants and Tigers and Horses, Oh My!

So, what do you get when you take

a bone crushing crowd of people.......

clowns playing musical chairs with people from the audience........

a man wearing a skin tight costume of gold.......

(and seemed to be very pleased about the fact!)

a little boy mesmerised by lights, music and action.........

ELEPHANTS!

TIGERS!

more ELEPHANTS!

HORSES!

Throw in a splattering of PETA demonstrators, and what do you get??

Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus of course!!

On Saturday we went to the circus here in Tampa. Barnum and Bailey circus spends their off season in Sarasota, Florida. They kick off their tour right here in Tampa. The animals travel by train to Tampa and then walk the short distance to the arena. We try and go to the circus every year when they are in town. We missed a few years when it lost its sparkle for our oldest two, but now we have Samuel, so we have started the tradition again. Joshua and Jessica even enjoyed it on Saturday. Jessica sometimes has flashbacks to the great clown meltdown of '96, but she even enjoyed the clowns this year! It got a little overwhelming for Sam in some parts, but Dad bought him a swirly, whirling light thingy and all was right with the world.

I'm not sure what the guy in the skin tight gold costume did, I don't remember seeing him perform with the acrobats or anything. I think I would have remembered that costume!! I don't think PETA was successful in turning anyone away from the show. Anyway, it was fun and I would highly recommend it.

Sally-Ann

New Year Goal Update

So, here it is the 9Th January, 2009. How is every one's goals for the year coming along??? Fallen off the band wagon yet? I hope not. I am plodding along with the diet, exercise and scripture study. You may wonder about the being more joyful goal. I was as joyful as anyone can be while suffering from a severe head cold and having my hubby out of town for a few days. But, I didn't want the words from my previous posting to come back and haunt me. I may have insinuated that my dear, sweet husband was a wimp. So, it was nothing but JOY, JOY, JOY around here!
My son Joshua found the following clip for me, it is from the same lady who does the "Mom Song". I dedicate it to all those trying to stick to their goals - you can do it!!!
Enjoy!
Sally-Ann

Neighbors - who needs them!?

Tonight I did something I have only done once before........what could it be you may ask?

What exciting thing warrants a post on my blog?

Have you read my blog before???????

It does involve the sheriff's department

AND

the return of bad neighbors.

I have neglected to give you the update of our redneck neighbors. After several more confusing weeks of, "Who exactly lives there?", several fights, washing machines parked in the driveway and rap music blaring - they all of a sudden where gone! Just like that - gone! We returned from our Canada trip to reports that our neighbors a few doors down had called the sheriff's department on them. But, we were glad to see them gone. It has been very quiet. Quiet that is until tonight.

At midnight I went to the kitchen to get a drink and could hear screams, yells, music and loud yahoos coming from our neighbor's house. Echoing, echoing because there isn't any furniture. It has been vacant for a while and we haven't seen anyone move-in. I stewed about whether to call the sheriff or not. Jim was and still is sound asleep, a dose of NyQuil is doing its job! Finally, when drunken youths started stumbling around the front yard beating up unsuspecting trees, I called.

Very nice Sheriff. The noisy inhabitants were family of the owners who apparently live across the street. They have family in town and decided to sleep all the teenagers in the vacant house. They ended up being a group of extremely drunk teenagers who threw-up at the deputy's feet.

Quiet next door right now. But, for how much longer?? Who will move in?? All I know is, not going to put up with drunken parties anymore. I sure hope that if they occur again that it is earlier in the evening! I'm getting to old to stay up this late!

Sally-Ann

Great Give-Away

If you would like to participate in a wonderful give-away, go on over to Rhea's blog at Texas Word Tangle