Feliz Cumpleanos Matthew!

Continuing the celebration of Matthew's birthday (since the actual day is Monday), we went to our favorite, El Reparo. Of course, Matthew requested his favorite, a cup of limes. He has liked them since he was just a little tyke.

Getting all the juice out...

takes some work...

and then a smile for the camera.

All done!

Ella enjoyed her puffs.

Happy baby girl.

Haleigh was entertained by Uncle Big Jon.

Andrew ordered a half pitcher of margaritas for the second round, and it came in a tiny pitcher.

He did share it.

Matthew and Big Jon gettin' tough. At least Jon is.

Happy Haleigh.

Big Jon and Hay.

She decided to stand up in her chair.

Haleigh...

say...

cheese!

Ella finds it all rather hilarious. :)

Darci ordered the beautiful and delicious fried bananas.

Mmmmm.... dessert. The best part of the day.

Matthew, of course, got the birthday boy fried ice cream.

He also got the sombrero and the singing.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

It's hard to believe you will be eight years old on Monday.

Your Granny loves you!

Hearts to the Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge time, and it's Super Bowl Week. Lots of fun going on in Indianapolis in anticipation of the big game. Be sure to click over and visit Joyce, our Hodgepodge hostess, as well as the others who are participating today.

1. It's that most wonderful time of the year...tax season! Do you complete your own returns or farm that job out to the professionals?
I sign them. That is the extent of my involvement with tax returns. As it should be.


2. This next question comes from Kansas Bob...he posed it in his response to something I asked in an earlier Wednesday post and I asked him if I could add it to the Hodgepodge some day. Today's the day....

Which do you think has changed you more-love or pain?

Wow, Kansas Bob thinks of hard questions. Hmmm....

3. Tangerine Tango has been named color of the year for 2012. Your thoughts? Would I find this color anywhere in your house? How about in your closet? If not, will you be adding this color to your life in some way in 2012? If you're not sure what tangerine tango looks like click here.

It's a fun color, but you won't find it in my house today. Not so much in my closet either, although if it is the color of the year, I guess I should add some to my wardrobe. Wouldn't want to be accused of being stuck in last year. Although, in reality, if you look in my closet, I'm probably stuck somewhere even worse than last year. As far as makeup, can't see me wearing TT eye shadow as suggested in the article, but I do think I would try it for a pedicure.

4. Are you a collector? What do you collect and does it get admired, used, and/or dusted regularly?

My family would say that I collect Noah's Arks, and I do have several, scattered throughout the house in various forms.

More recently, because of my love for the Saints, I have been given several fleur de lis items, so it looks like I am starting a collection! They are fun, and classic. Not your typical football team mascot/logo. I am hoping to redecorate the bathroom using the fleur de lis theme, but that will most likely happen sometime after this spring. We have a wedding, you know.

I don't dust much, so that would be a no to that part of the question.

I do enjoy and admire them, since they remind me of my favorite football team. Who Dat!!

5. February is National Heart Month...besides a green salad what is one tasty heart healthy dish you like to prepare?

That's easy, red wine and dark chocolate. :)

Source

6. When was the last time you had car trouble?
Well, if car trouble is defined as trouble with my car, then it was a couple of weeks ago. I pulled into the garage, got out of the car, and the horn honked as if someone has pressed the lock button on the key fob. Trouble was, the keys were in the ignition, as they always are when the car is parked in the garage. Hey, we live in the country. That's how we roll here. When I went in the house to get my extra keys from the mug where I keep them (don't judge), they were, unfortunately, no where to be found. Guess I need a safer key keeping place after all. Soooo....  $50 and a locksmith later, we were back in business. I'm trying not to leave the keys in the ignition any more. At least not until the extra set shows up.

7. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Is that a good trend?
I think I am less demanding on myself. Probably not a good thing. Must. Get. Moving.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It is fun having the Super Bowl hosted right up the road from us in Indianapolis this year. As I wrote in my post yesterday, the city has done a super job of preparing for the big event.

One of the most interesting accomplishments to me is the Super Scarves Project. Volunteer crafters from all over the state, country, and world have teamed up to provide hand made scarves for the Super Bowl volunteers. The original goal of 8000 scarves has been far surpassed, and the latest count is 13,024 six foot long blue and white scarves. It's a great story.

The photo below shows some committee members, along with the Colts' mascot, Blue, at the home opener celebrating the completion of scarf  #8000. But the scarves just kept coming!

The photo below shows 82 year old Bev Meska, from Michigan City, Indiana, who crocheted 250 scarves. The Super Bowl patches were sown on by inmates at a local prison for the finishing touch. The project did not dictate a pattern, so the scarves are as different and varied as the people who made them.

With the abundance of scarves, the committee has been able to give them, not only to volunteers, but also to the Patriots and Giants as they arrived in the city, to police officers, journalists, and front line employees. It is reported that the football players were scrambling to make sure they received a scarf for themselves and for their wives. Who knows, maybe we'll even see Madonna wearing one? (She's performing at half time, you know.) I don't know if it will go with her costume, but at least it might prevent a wardrobe malfunction.

Here are a couple of Colts' cheerleaders modeling their scarves.

I think it was a great project, and such a good way to involve some of our more non-traditional football fans. It also provided a way for folks to volunteer who may not have been able to be 'on the streets' in Indy during the Super Bowl.

So, will you be watching the big game on Sunday? Only the commercials? Making a trip to Indy? Hosting a party? Reading a book instead? :) Do you care who wins the game?

SUPER!

I'm sure you all know that Indianapolis is hosting the Super Bowl this year, and the city is a frenzy of activity leading up to the big game.

Yesterday, Darci and Andrew invited us to go along to check out the downtown area and visit the NFL Experience. Darci's sister Betsy just started working at the JW Marriott downtown, so she knows her way around. What an exciting time to be starting a new job in downtown Indy. She'll be bumping into celebrities around every corner this week.

The hotel is beautiful, and all decked out with a giant decal of the Lombardi Trophy. Wow!
Indianapolis apparently even ordered special weather, as it was mild and sunny yesterday. It is supposed to be in the mid 50s this week. Not at all typical for Indiana in January/February. Trust me.

There are Super Bowl touches all around in the lobby of the hotel.

We walked through the skybridge to the Convention Center for the NFL Experience. Looking around for familiar faces, I immediately spotted this guy. I asked Betsy to see if she might be able to save him for me after it's all over. It would look great in the basement, don't you think?

Matthew and Haleigh were excited to see all the areas and play some games. Haleigh is good at saying "football."

Andrew and Matthew waited in line to try the quarterback challenge. Haleigh watched everyone get a chance to show off their throwing arms.

She looked quite cute in her Saints tutu from Blissy Couture, and got lots and lots of compliments, despite the fact that our team isn't actually playing on Sunday. :(

Ella was wearing hers, too, and even the man walking past thought she was cute.

Aunt Betsy, Darci, and sweet Ella Kate.

Grandpa and Haleigh were getting along fine until he put her down and she decided to run under the queue line barriers, making him zig and zag trying to catch up with her. Oh Grandpa!

Matthew tried out his quarterback skills.

Andrew took a turn too, completing one throw to the farthest net.

They had these replica 'players' all along the hallways throughout the area. It took us a while, but we finally found the Saints player and each took a turn pretending to be a football star. Every player from every team was number 12 (Darci figured because it's 2012. So smart.), so on the Saints, that would be Marques Colston. Not a bad choice.

Here's Matthew...

going deep for the long pass from Drew Brees.

Andrew. Concentrating on his route.

Ella.

Darci.

Haleigh.

We found the Steelers player, so Andrew decided to show the despair of the Steeler fans in honor of his friend Matt.

Silly boy.

Matthew looking sad as well.

Haleigh was waving at the folks who thought she was the cutest thing ever. I have to agree.

Matthew got to suit up and try some hitting in the NFL Rush Zone, which was an area for kids 10 and under.

He kicked three extra points, sending one ball over the wall. The Boilers always need a good kicker.

Bryan and Jennifer came downtown to check things out, too, and met up with us in the Rush Zone.

Some kind of Saints guy hanging from the ceiling.

There was a quarterback challenge for kids, too, and Matthew was three for three hitting the basket.

Time to try a long snap.

Haleigh was trying to figure out just how it's done.

She thought she should try it out too.

She found her favorite team on the tile floor. Smart girl.

With the first pick of the draft, the New Orleans Saints select....
Of course, the Saints don't have the first pick this year. That honor will go to the Colts.

Andrew posed with the Bears jersey in honor of Shylah. Da Bears!

There was a long line to get close to, and take your picture with, the Lombardi Trophy.

I just used my zoom, and got a picture with no waiting.

Outside, on Georgia Street, is the Super Bowl Village, complete with ziplines overhead. I have heard that all the pre-sale tickets have been sold, and some folks are waiting in line up to 6 hours for additional tickets, and to take their turn on the zipline. I will keep my feet on the ground, thank you very much.

Slowing down at the finish.

We walked a few blocks to the Circle, thankful for the mild weather. The city looks amazing, and it seems that the host committee has thought of every detail. Everything is clean and shiny, people are extra friendly, and the lights and sounds of Super Bowl are amazing. There is a light show on the huge XLVI that includes highlights from Super Bowls past.

Matthew and his daddy on the Circle.

Matthew, Darci, Andrew, Haleigh, and Ella enjoying the excitement.

Well, almost all of them are enjoying the excitement.

Ella is plum tuckered out from all that football.

Walking back to our car, we took in all the lights welcoming guests to the city.

Super night. Super city. Super Bowl!