Weekend Plans...Chinese New Year, Groundhog Day and Superbowl!

This weekend is a busy one here. Busy in a good way. Plus...we are expecting a heat wave! It's going to be almost 35 degrees! Friday will find us celebrating Chinese New Year. We began celebrating this special holiday when the kids were little as a way to break up the long, cold winter. It is simple and fun.  In addition, it is actually an opportunity for learning, but don't tell them that! A few fun, festive decorations and some yummy Chinese take out and you have a celebration!

Saturday I am going to get my hair trimmed and colored. And that makes me happy. Saturday evening is Mass. After that, Madison and Peyton are babysitting for some friends of ours. They have fun spending time with those boys together. : ) The rest of us are going to Pizza Hut...Flynn's choice. No complaints from me!

Sunday is Groundhog Day. Now I know I tend to celebrate a lot of holidays, but living in Pennsylvania, I can not let this one pass. It really is a big deal here. I have friends who have actually gone to see the little groundhog, and they tell me it is craaaazy! We will settle for watching it live on television and doing a few fun activities to celebrate. Sunday is also Superbowl!!!! Even though our Steelers are watching from home and Rhett's 49er's are too, we still love us some football. : ) Plus, any excuse to make lots of good food is always welcome. I am planning on putting some meatballs in the crockpot with some sauce...as requested by Fr. Jim, who is coming over, for meatball subs. Peyton is going to make up a ham and cheese stromboli. And I am going to throw together our favorite cheesy potato casserole. Add to that some meat and cheese and chips and dip and we will be all set. For dessert, Peyton found a new recipe for Whoopie Pie Cake that she is excited to try. Sounds like a ton of food, but think of all the leftovers! I won't be cooking until Wednesday! ; )

And that is what we will be up to this last weekend of January. I hope yours is festive and fun and cozy and yummy, whatever your plans may be. And.......go Broncos!

When I grow weary of the cold and wind and snow, I take a second look and appreciate the beauty of it all...

and the excuse to do lots and lots of this. : )

Some winter baking going on here...these are the muffins for Madison's Relay For Life Bake Sale last weekend...

and this was our contribution to National Chocolate Cake Day. And it was good. : )

Steve grilled some extra chicken last weekend, and it made for some yummy salads for lunches.

Here are a few fun printables for my little ones to work on Sunday morning...

and a few books to read as well. : )

A certain little lady is going through a "wake up really early" phase lately...so we have a deal. We get up, but she makes me some coffee, immediately.

And signing off with a smiling selfie...a reminder to myself to smile and be thankful for all the blessings in my life.

And I count you all among them too!

Happy Weekend!