Holiday Road

I've always loved to plan a getaway around the holidays.  This Christmas, after all the present unwrapping and the Christmas goody eating, after all the Christmas movie viewing and Christmas light spying, after the baby went for a new land-speed record doing laps in the church lobby on Christmas Eve and we happily elfed ourselves (get a second peek here), we packed our suitcases and headed to Florida.

It was an all around messy bessy day when we left.  We had to take our family roadster, too, because we were pulling a trailer to pick up some furniture on our visit.

After really looooooooong car trips with kids, I am a big fan of Pump It Up.

This is a tradition dating back to Nashville 2009.  Charlotte and I drove 9 long hours to visit Deanna and went straight to the Pump It Up.

 

It's pretty awesome and a honey of a deal at $8 a head.  You can stay for as long as you want, and Baby Emmers got in for free because it was her birthday.

It was a little tricky because you had to literally climb straight up to get to the the big slides.  

We decided to piggy back Emma Lola up the second go round.  Not my best idea.  Howard was our official photographer.  He captured this one at the bottom of the slide after I blundered that one.  

Thanks, Sweetie!  Fun was had by all!

You Say You Want a Resolution

Have any of you declared your New Year's resolutions for 2013?  They say the start of a new year is a good time to turn over a new leaf, you know.  In theory, it certainly sounds reasonable enough.  However, for someone like me, who is practically perfect in every way, it seems rather pointless.  At least that's what I told my husband.

I did, however, end up making one resolution.  Only it wasn't for me.  It was for him.  He is hereby resolved to being more of a gentleman this year.  So far, we are three days in and it's pretty smooth sailing.  :)

And even though they aren't resolutions, per se, I would submit these words of wisdom to those of you- who like myself- may not have other resolutions swirling around on your plate.

Like most worthwhile things, they are usually easier said than done.  I will certainly plan to work on these in the new year.  And maybe even assign some of these to my friends, family, and co-workers.  I'm pretty good at dishing up the resolutions for other people.  They are the easiest ones to keep.  ;)

Spinach Artichoke Dip

This recipe is simply delicious. We make it once a year - for New Year's Eve - and it always goes quickly!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1 6 oz. jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 10 oz. package Green Giant creamed spinach

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese plus additional for top of dip

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook creamed spinach according to package directions.
3. Mix cream cheese, artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and spinach.
4. Spread into a pie plate and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.
6. Serve warm as a dip with tortilla chips, crackers, or bagel chips.

Note: We have also made this in years past as just artichoke dip. If you are interested in omitting the spinach from the recipe, then use a 14 oz. can of artichoke hearts instead of the 6 oz. jar. The dip is delicious both ways!