Prom 2012 was just like Rabb's 2003

I got home on Saturday night from Dallas for the social event of the season...CSHS Prom 2012: French Quarter Soiree'.  I was happy to chaperon the event because I love seeing my students all gussied up in their best.  

I dressed my date in his tuxedo t-shirt and we headed to the dance.  We got there early and most of the kids were sitting around the dance floor listening to the music, tapping their feet, and holding hands. It reminded me of that scene out of Grease where the girls were sitting there just waiting to be asked to dance.  Bennett was thrilled to be there.  He was a dancing machine.  We even busted out some totally rocking break-dancing skills.  He certainly doesn't get his mad moves from me!

About 30 minutes into the dance, the place started hopping and it started to remind me of Rabb's!  Sweaty people "dancing or grinding...whatever you want to call it to loud, hip-hop music.  For those 2 of you that read this blog that don't know what Rabb's is...it was the "late bar" in Ruston.  Rabb's was also the only bar that stayed open until 2 am when everything else closed at midnight.  Did I mention that Rabb's was also the nicest steakhouse in town?  Yes, the restaurant moonlights as a club(I use this word loosely) with a totally fabulous dance-floor/deck equipped with heaters in the winter.  Anyway, Rabb's was sure to play the best hip hop music of the season with some old favorites.  One of my favorite memories was that the last two songs of the night were always slow ones.  I assume that this was to have a little romantic part of your evening before you went home.  The best part of prom that took me back to my glory days of Rabb's extraordinaire was that they played "Baby Got Back" and  "Get Low!"  "Get Low" was one that all of us Sigma Kappas used to sing and even had a choreographed dance to.   Man, we were awesome!

Bennett and I were dancing and they'd say "touch your toes" and he would do it and then "get low."  And then I realized what all the words meant and I just felt totally wrong dancing and singing this song with my 3 year old!!   We still had a great time and I can't wait to take him next year!

It's almost just like New Orleans!

This is what I call reverse-sagging.

Bennett was so excited that John John was there!

Date your Man

I really enjoy linking up with my friend, Amanda for her "Date Your Man" linky.  Our Sunday school class is doing the Song of Solomon study right now and our homework this week was to go on a date.  My mom gave us a "date night" for Easter which included babysitting and a gift card to Copeland's.  Such a treat!  We cashed it in this week.  

We had a great time at dinner and then went to Target to exchange some shoes for Bennett.  It doesn't matter what you are doing as long as you call it a date!  

Neil had no idea I took this picture.

To answer my husband's question...Yes, we have to take a picture of EVERYTHING!

Dallas is so much fun!

Since Leslie moved to Dallas I have been trying to get over there to see her.  I've been missing my friend and needed to go for a visit.  She moved into her new SWANKY apartment a couple months ago and has it all set-up for guests.  I felt like I was staying at the Ritz but it felt homey too.  I arrived on Friday night and we headed to The Porch, a really nice restaurant.  It was delish.  I didn't get any pictures. :(

Leslie took me by her new place of employment, Parkland.  She is working on the new, multi-billion dollar hospital.  She has a pretty amazing job and I am so proud of her!  It was really cool to see just how big the hospital is going to be.  We got home and stayed up until midnight chatting about this and that.  

After 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, I felt totally refreshed.  We got dressed and headed out.  We covered LOTS of ground in less than 24 hours.  We pretty much ate the entire time.  But, what are friends and vacations for?  EATING!

We went to breakfast at yummy Bread Winner's.  We stopped by a garage sale in Highland Park where I purchased a small Ball jar.  We hit up a cute fabric store and paper store. We went to the Pearl Cup (Leslie's favorite coffee shop) and on a Dallas Food Tour.  

This picture looks like 2 floating heads...Bread Winner's

Leslie and me at the Pearl Cup

We headed to our tour at 1:00.   A local food writer was our guide.  He writes at the popular CraveDFW blog.  He was very knowledgeable and knew about places off the beaten path.  The first place we went to was REALLY off the beaten path.  We arrived and they basically had no idea why we were there.  We went to a place called World Market Warehouse...not the World Market that is in shopping centers...this was a real weird place.  Every canned good had Arab writing on it, the produce looked scary, and the other patrons were jerks.

This aisle made us laugh.  None of these items were on the hairgel/coffee aisle.

I really took this picture of Leslie because I wanted one of the guy that verbally accosted  me pictured below.

Leslie and I were just minding our business checking out the canned hummus when this guy out of no where yelled "F-word! ARE YOU TALKING TO ME!?"  I was totally confused because Leslie and I were just chatting to EACH OTHER. He goes "You are yelling in my ear!"  I just stood there dumbfounded and then walked off.  We found out later that he didn't want no stinking Caucasians in his store!

Some of the people on the tour with the chef

mmmmm...homemade naan bread

They told us they can sell meat (goat and lamb) cheaper than most places can buy it.  They prepare it according to Halal guidelines.  Read more here.  Basically they slaughter the animals humanely...slaughtering humanely seems like an oxymoron to me.

 Our next stop was a pizza place called Cane Rosso.  We enjoyed fresh Neapolitan Pizza prepared in a brick oven.

This was the last picture I took of our tour.  The main reason for this was that I was so full I couldn't think about anything but a nap!

We headed to Zen Bakery, the Dallas Farmer's market Shed #2, and TJ's seafood as well.  All of the places we went were fabulous and I can't say that I have a favorite.  I am so glad we went on this tour because we got to do so much in a short amount of time.

Leslie, thank you so much for having me!  Can't wait to go back to the big D!

A Random Picture Post

My boys riding a pony at Carson's birthday party.

Bennett loves cotton candy sweet as gold.

Henry and CeCe the Clown

Diane and Henry at their crawfish boil

Bennett said "take our picture" when we were at Taco Bell after  church.  I guess he knows that everything is picture worthy.

I sure am glad the day care workers know how to spell HENRY's name! :)

Bennett's last soccer game!

Soccer has been a fun activity for us this season.  We decided that our team swept the competition by losing every game!  The Jolly Green Giants couldn't stop the other teams.  It was fun our cute, little 3 year olds run around the field.  The last game was Bennett's first time to show interest in playing soccer.  He even scored two goals!!!  He scored them in the other team's goal, but he was so proud we weren't trying to burst his bubble.  

I think my big boy looks adorable in this picture!

I had to get a picture of all the fans.  We had lots of grandparents come out for the last game of the season.

Bennett threw up a little bit on his jersey, but that did NOT stop him.  He kept saying "I spit up."

Bah, Bah, Bah...Green Giants!

Goal!

Coach Andrew presenting the medals to the kids.

They were so proud!  Mason, Bennett, Maddie, and Caroline

Dinner and a Movie with the Girls!

Since we've seen previews for The Lucky One movie, Casey and I have been talking about seeing it.  We made a plan to get the girls together for dinner and the movie this weekend.  We all met at Monjuni's and had the best time talking about Fifty Shades of Grey and other stuff although I can't remember the other stuff because conversation about that dang book was so good.

I am so glad MC joined us!  Mary Catherine, Erinn, Leigh, Casey, and me (And thanks to my student for taking this pic...it is "presh!")

After dinner, we headed straight to the movie.  We went in to buy our tickets from the kiosk and they were sold out!  We all decided that our night shouldn't end so we headed to The Vintage.  Neil said he was proud that we all went out and "let our hair down."

I seriously could do a girls night like this once a week...it was a blast!

Deann Arnold Pics

A couple more pictures from our Deann Arnold session...


 

 

Andrew came in town!

Andrew was in town this weekend so we all got together for dinner.  Andrew moved to Durango, CO about a month ago.  I joked that we see him more now because when he lived in Shreveport we would go a couple months without seeing him.  We do love Uncle Andrew!

We headed to Genghis Grill for dinner and Orange Leaf for dessert.  Wherever we go...it's just good to be with family.

Bennett and his chop sticks.

Can anyone say Calendar 2013?

Nana and Bennett

Holiday in Dixie

While driving downtown one day we saw that Holiday in Dixie was all set up.  I haven't been to HID in years!  It looked like fun so we decided to take Bennett and Henry after school on Wednesday.  We had so much fun riding a couple of rides, eating fried food on a stick, and just being together.

Bennett riding the "Bob the Builder" ride

He wanted the BLUE truck.

Neil and Bennett rode the elephants.  He wanted the BLUE one.  Blue is his favorite color.

We rode the Ferris wheel together.  I had to ask them to stop it early because he was scared.

He did this fun house like a champ!  These used to be  my favorite...my brother loved them too.

Mouse roller coaster!

mmmm...corndogs

He won a fun blow-up baseball that Henry enjoyed playing with.

Last ride: Firetruck!

Family photo op

This is how Bennett looked when we said it was time to leave. :(

Yay!  Henry woke up right as we were leaving.  He loved the baseball!

Camping and Ear Infection

Bennett and Neil drove to Ruston after I had my Blush and Bashful Brunch to go camping at Lincoln Parish Park.  They had the best time.  They met up with Grandad and "roughed it!"  I was so excited that they kept me in the loop with pictures.  

While the boys were camping, I was home with a sick baby.  Henry had his first ear infection and just wanted to be held.  I was glad to snuggle with my baby boy.  I am reading a fabulous trilogy of books right that I cannot put down!  It is so good and I just love the characters. So, while holding my sleeping baby...I got to read for 3 hours straight!

Bennett with a stick...one of his favorite toys!

sweet sleeping boy

Bennett and Grandad camping