Life with Cheryl

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Some Sydney-Sized Life Lessons

In my prayers, I am daily thankful for my three daughters. And when I say a prayer of gratitude for Sydney, I often whisper a statement something like this, "Thank you for the wisdom Scout shows me. Her words, and insights, and laughter, and stories, remind me of what's really important. Thank you for using a five-year-old to get lessons through my thick skull. Because, otherwise, You know that sometimes I'm not listening very well."

Five-year-olds do indeed have a way of getting to your mind and to your heart, and putting things into perspective. Granted, the lessons sometimes involve potty stories or nose picking...but they just as soon involve love and friendship and (the one that gets me the most, because it shows me how God really does think kids are the coolest!) spiritual things.

Just last night, Sydney socked it to me three times in the span of about three hours.

I thought I'd share her wisdom (funny! meaningful!) with you all.

We are living in typical November Alabama weather (i.e., cold in the morning, up to like 70 in the day, cold again in the evening), so last night Sydney needed to wear something long-sleeved to church. She kept on the black leggings she wore to school during the day, and I pulled out some possible shirts for her to pair with them. When I showed her a black shirt (cute, stylish), she shook her head and answered, "I can't wear black and black. I might be goth." What can you say to that response? I just smiled and said, "You've got a point."

Lesson Learned:
When younger kids have older, teenaged sisters, they know a lot more than you realize. When they go to school, they learn even more.

Later that evening, as we got ready for bed, Sydney asked if she could fix my hair. I was sitting on the computer and randomly flipping channels, so I was basically doing nothing of real importance. I set the computer down and answered her, "Sure you can." She then proceeded to fix my hair in piggy-tails...piggy-tails that were uneven (one up my ear, one down by my shoulder) and, how shall I say it?, unkempt. She then asked if she could do my nails. My nails were already painted, but I offered up my toenails to her, and she literally "went to town" on them and painted them a lovely bright pink.

Lesson Learned:
Sometmes it's good to say "Sure you can," give in to the inner child, and receive lots of smiles and hugs in return.

In between the Goth Episode and a visit to Sydney's Style Salon, I sat down to watch "Glee," my favorite tv show of the season so far. Sydney is also a lover of the show, primarily for the music (you should hear her sing "Sweet Caroline" word for word, and also "Bust a Move," both from the Season 1 soundtrack. I'm incredibly proud of her affection for "Sweet Caroline," and have to also give myself a little mother's high-five for teaching her the joy of music by Young MC.). "Glee," though, does have some storylines that are not necessarily appropriate for a 5-year-old. I try, then, to let her hear the songs and then sidetrack her when Kurt professes his gayness or Quinn talks about being a pregnant teen Mom.

While singing some Neil Diamond together she did, however, notice the reprimand Quinn was getting from her parents, who eventually threw her out of their house because she was pregnant. She looked at me with that look in her eye, like she just didn't understand what she'd just seen. And I knew it was coming.

"Why did they tell her to leave her house?"
"Because she's going to have a baby, and she's too young to have a baby and her parents are mad about it."
"But parents should never make their daughter leave."
"You're exactly right, Sydney. They should love her no matter what."
"Yep. Because parents love you more anything...well, not more than God or Jesus or Mary [note to self: find out if Sydney is getting Catholic training in her public kindergarten]. But they love you almost that much."
Imagine too: she is saying all of this with her arms wrapped tightly around my neck; and looking into my eyes earnestly throughout the conversation.
"I love you, Mommy."

Lesson Learned:
Children undertsand what love is all about. And they can teach us quite a bit (don't you think?).

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:45:00 +0000

It's a Cupcake Battle Royale

I think you all know me pretty well.

Any time is a great time for sweets...especially cupcakes!

This past Saturday we were home for a rare Alabama football game on television (instead of being at the game) and, when there's a Bama game on tv, there's a Bama party.

In fact, I watched a lot of college football in general (after watching Delaney play some softball), and I decided that it was a good day to make some college football-themed cupcakes.

I made some fun Alabama cupcakes...

And then I made a Boilermakers cupcake for my Purdue fan and friend, Phats...

And, even though it was hard to do so, I made a Notre Dame cupcake for Delaney (as a reward for her playing softball so hard all day long). Sorry that I couldn't make Notre Dame win a game for her (they are baaaad this year)...

And then I had to have my Bama cupcakes involved in a "Battle Royale" with their opponents for the day.

So, the chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting (the "good guys," aka the Crimson Tide) did battle with the chocolate cupcake with the chocolate frosting (the Mississippi State Bulldogs)...

It turned, as expected, into a pretty ugly thrashing, and there was only one cupcake left standing...

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Giving Thanks

Do you all realize that it's less than two weeks now until Thanksgiving? (And I'm not even going to mention how close that makes Christmas!)

I love Thanksgiving more than any holiday. There's somethng about the cool weather, and all that delicious food, and the time spent with family (and the fact that gift-giving doesn't get in the way).

What's best about Thanksgiving, though, is the heart of what the holiday is all about.

It's right there in its title. It's not called Turkey Day, or Football with Family Day (although those would work pretty well with how we celebrate the day).

It's called Thanks. Giving.

We give thanks.

So, as we venture closer to the Thanksgiving celebrations, I thought I'd get into a thankful frame of mind here on my blog. I'm going to start today by posting some things that I'm thankful for, and then I'm going to continue doing so until we get to Thanksgiving.

Why don't you join me in thinking about the good stuff...the people and things you're blessed with...the things that we don't stop often enough to give thanks for...the big and the little things.

Here, then, are a few things I'm thankful for on this Friday:

~ I'm thankful for a five-year-old daughter who is learning to read and is absolutely loving it. It's so wonderful to see her eyes light up as she sounds out the words and reads books all by herself. Just last night she told me, "I love, love, love to read." It gave my heart a wonderful little jump.

~ I'm thankful for the promise of getting to see Delaney play softball tomorrow. I've been unable to watch her (because of the Alabama football games I've gone to), but I get to watch her all day tomorrow during the day. She's having an awesome Fall season and I can't wait to cheer her on!

~ I'm thankful for Chinese food. I craved it yesterday, and promptly went and bought me a takeout lunch. Yummm.

~ I'm thankful for friends. Friends from far away, and friends from just down the road.

~ I'm thankful for the beautiful days we've been having lately. A little 45 degree nip in the morning air; warm, sunny, and 70 degrees by mid-day.

~ I'm thankful for my family. I am blessed with wonderful daughters, wonderful parents, wonderful people all around me.

~ I'm thankful for another day to live and love and laugh and learn.

(I'm also thankful for You. And I pray that you have a fantastic Friday, and a blessed weekend. )

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Every Girl's a Princess

I pride myself on raising girls who are strong, independent, and free-thinking. Girls who are intelligent. Girls who are comfortable in their own skin. Girls who know who they are. Girls who don't need a boy to define them. Girls who like themselves.

I have also always been proud that my girls like girly things, yes, but that they aren't too girly. I guess that's not fair to all the girly girls out there (because I do think that little girls with hairbows and pressed dresses and all that good stuff are incredibly sweet!), but that's just not who I am. (I tell people all the time that I'm just glad when I can get Sydney's hair brushed before she goes to school in the morning.) My girls are beautiful and have their very fashionable days, but they also like to get dirty on the softball field and feel comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt to school.

Anyway...despite my belief in Girl Power...I do have to give in every once in a while to the idea that princesses are pretty special to 5-year-old girls!!

Every girl is a princess, pink is powerful, and there is nothing more special than meeting Princess Aurora in real life.

Sydney attended a very sweet party this past weekend, hosted by a good friend of mine who decided that her daughter (whose had some tough times lately) just needed a special day.

So Sydney, and several other real-life princesses, got to meet Princess Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty) and got to enjoy such things as talking one-on-one with the Princess, eating pink cupcakes, spinning in their big dresses, learning to curtesy, and getting a special dancing lesson.

What a wonderful reminder of how important it is for little girls to be little girls, and to believe in the power of make-believe and princesses. (It's probably something all of us...no matter our age...need to do more often!)

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:22:00 +0000

The Game's On!!!

(UPDATE:
All the good guys won this past weekend!!! Delaney's travel team, the Birmingham Mustangs, won their tournament on Saturday!! Then--of course!!!--Alabama got a HUGE win Saturday against LSU. The game was loud and fun and exciting...and I will have some pics up sometime soon. And then last night, my Dallas Cowboys won again and took first place of their division. A good weekend for sports!)

I was born in Texas. So I love the Longhorns.

I lived my elementary and junior high school years in Fayetteville, Arkansas, so I still cheer on the Razorbacks (despite my girls being quite embarrassed when I show them that I can "call the hogs").

For some reason, Delaney cheers for Notre Dame (while we mostly make fun of her).

And I cheer for several other teams, because I have friends and family who love them. (My blog friend, Phats, has made me a Purdue fan. I cheer for Nebraska, since an old junior high friend is an avid Cornhusker. I even hope the Dawgs win, since my favorite cousin is a Georgia graduate.)

But you all know that Alabama is my One True Love.

I love the school, the campus, the colors, the traditions, the championships, the everything.

And tomorrow...well, tomorrow is our biggest game of the season so far!

Gary and I will be there in-person to enjoy the rivalry and craziness that is the Alabama-LSU game. Seriously, that game is always the most intense and loud and fun game of the season--mostly because of the LSU fans (it's the one game I would question taking my kids to, because the LSU fans can shout some pretty ugly things at you...just for standing there!).

If you're near a television at 2:30 tomorrow, turn it onto CBS and catch a great game full of fire and passion...and really good defenses! And if you don't have a team to cheer for, I give you permission to adopt my Crimson Tide.

To get you fired up (okay, really, it's to get me fired up again!), here's one of the videos that's shown pregame:

(And then also check out my gameday picks as the Guest Picker on Phats' awesome blog.)

I hope you all have a great weekend.

And I hope that your favorite team wins!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

What Have I Been Doing Since I Talked with You Last?

Well, I did post a few Halloweeen pictures on my last post to give you a glimpse into our festivities. But once I decided to sit down and post the rest of my favorite Halloween pictures, I realized that we'd done A LOT more in the last week or so.

So...how about an overview of all the fun we've been having?

Last week we had the Alabama-Tennessee game and it turned into a very exciting, nail-bite-inducing, stomach-churning game (we won on a blocked field goal at the end of the game, and I was pretty much hiding in the bottom of my stadium seat with my eyes covered!). I took my nieve, Lori, who had never been to an Alabama game. She had a great time, of course!

Here are a few pictures from inside Bryant-Denny...

Then, of course, it was almost time for Halloween, which means Pumpkin Carving Time...

I also made a bunch of cupcakes. Like these princess cupcakes and tie-dyed cupcakes...

Sydney had a Fall Festival at her school, and Gary and I had a great time watching her have so much and meeting her sweet friends...

(I especially love that last one of Sydney and Leslie. Sydney just loves her!)

Then, it was time for Halloween Bunco. My friend Lisa came as Susan Boyle from "Britain's Got Talent"...

And there was Bleeding Cake...

On the Wednesday before Halloween, our church hosted a Trunk or Treat. It was a lot of fun and we had a ton of kids from the community show up. The girls and I got to unveil our 2009 costumes (Gary was in Las Vegas on business during the entire week, so he was sad that he had to miss the fun!). Sydney kept telling people she was the Wicked Witch of the West, but she couldn't convince anyone that she was anything but the Cutest Witch Ever...

I was a Flapper...

Delaney was an 80s Girl (LOVED her leg warmers and glasses!) and McKenna was a Robot (not bad for a homemade costume, if I do say so myself!)...

Here are some pictures from the evening...

We also celebrated Senior Night at the high school football game, when they recognized all the seniors who are cheerleaders, football players, and band members. The two senior color guard members were Captains McKenna and Stacey...

and when they recognized McKenna, and her girls gave her a gift basket and big hug, she just about lost it...

On the same night, we had to get ready for Delaney's middle school beauty pageant! There was a lot of primping to do before the event...

and then getting ready with her friend Kayla.

I LOVE these before and after shots...

Here's a good view of Delaney's dress...

She did great on stage...

And, before she knew it, it was time to pose with her friends afterwards! I am NOT a pageant sort of person, but Delaney has the right attitude about it. She just loves to dress up and then have a good time with her friends (thank goodness! because if that attitude ever changed, she would not do it again!)...

(I just love that one of Delaney and Jaelyn! And aren't they all just beautiful girls? You know...we make them pretty down South! LOL)

After the pageant, we got a bite to eat

and I got this picture that I love of Delaney and McKenna...

(by the way, Sydney was sound asleep with her head on the table at the restaurant. 10:30 pm was late for her, especially after a very busy day!).

And here are some cupcakes I did for Halloween (the first two are actually cupcake "cakes"--cupcakes frosted to look like one cake)...

On Halloween, Gary made it back into town and got to dress up with the rest of us. Here we are as a Flapper and Vampire...

And some more fun pictures from the evening (some with the help of a fog machine)...

We loved posing at some of the decorations...

and Sydney especially cracked me up...

Boy, that was a lot of pictures!!!

But, you know? I love having all of these pictures to help me remember these wonderful family moments!

I hope you all had a fun-filled Halloween too, and that you are having a fantastic week so far!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

We hope you had a super fun Halloween...we sure did!

More photos from all of the festivities (plus beauty pageants! high school senior stuff! cupcakes!) coming very soon.

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Seven Things I Love Today

"Glee"

My new favorite show of the season, "Glee" is over-the-top, campy, exagerrated and--oh yeah!--it has awesome music (and lots of great-looking characters!). I'm totally hooked on this show, and am now proudly calling myself a Gleek (Glee + geek = Gleek.) In fact, I may ask Gary for this shirt for Christmas...

College football

The Alabama-Tennessee game last week just about drove me crazy (I was sitting down in my seat, with my eyes closed and my fingers stuffing my ears so I couldn't see or hear what was happening; I was a wimp and paid for it by not seeing the blocked kick Alabama pulled off to win the game!). I love this time of year!

"Bones"

Another new television favorite, although it's not new at all--just new to me. I discovered it on Hulu (another one of my favorite things) and have now gone back and caught it on tv. I love the premise, and the characters, and the clever writing.

Bunco

We had Bunco last night and it's always a wonderful night to look forward to. (It also helped that it was Halloween Bunco. Another excellent reason to dress up in costume!)

My new favorite cake recipe

I've been making a lot of cupcakes lately and my new favorite, "go to" recipe is THIS ONE from my favorite foodie blog (Bakerella.com). It has two sticks of butter, and a ton of sugar, and eggs, and vanilla. No wonder it is so delicous!

Writing assignments

In just the last two weeks, I've written articles about teaching your kids to be thankful; making cupcakes for birthday celebrations; and incorporating spiritual activities into Easter activities with teenagers. Getting assignments has gotten harder as the economy has struggled, so I feel lucky when I get the chance to write something for magazine editors. I'm just keeping my fingers that more will be on the way!

Halloween

I love Halloween...the dressing up, the trick-or-treating (or trunk-or-treating), the candy eating, act-like-little-kids-again feelings. I've got several Halloween events to look forward to--at church, with friends, and with family--and I've got my costume all ready to go (I'm going as a Flapper!). I also can't wait to see the girls all dressed up; I've got a robot (McKenna), and 80s girl (Delaney), and a witch (Sydney). Fun, fun, fun all the way around!

What do you love right now?

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:02:00 +0000

I'm a Cupcake Queen

Most of you already know how much I love to bake. I've posted enough pictures on this blog of my cakes, and cupcakes, and brownies, and special treats for you to know how much I love it!

Now, though, I've taken it to a different level and I've decided to open up my own custom cupcake business!

It's one of those things...I've always had people tell me, "You could seriously sell your treats," or "You should make cakes and cupcakes for other people."

And, since I don't really have enough to do already (!!), I decided to give it a go.

My business is called Cupcake Queen and I have a blog...

http://www.cupcakesbycheryl.blogspot.com/ (This is basically a place to share information about my flavors, prices, events, and so forth, but I'll also try and update with pictures of my latest creations and events I do.)

and a Facebook group page... CupcakeQueen group (Come join the group!)

and a Flickr account... Cupcake Queen Photostream (Where I will try and post pictures from all of my events!

I've got plans to do some marketing at some point soon (brochures, and flyers, and postcards, and maybe some shows), but I started by putting the word out on Facebook two weeks ago and I already have several orders. I'm SO excited about it!

This weekend I'm making Tie-Dye Cupcakes for a little girl named Sara's birthday. And then I'm making a Princess Cupcake Tower for 6-year-old Maddie.

And then next weekend I'm doing two cupcake cakes for a little boy named Jack who has a Halloween birthday (one's a pumpkin, one's a mummy), and some mini cupcakes for a Halloween office party.

And I already have a Sleeping Beauty party lined up the week after that!

Since this weekend will be my first paid customers, I'm a little bit nervous about it. I hope the cupcakes end up tasting and looking good, and that the birthday girls all love them. (Keep your fingers crossed for me.)

I had a friend ask me something like, "Don't you already have enough to spend your time on?" LOL...it's true...I am already a busy gal, but I absolutely love to bake and if I can bring some joy to some other people through my dessert creations, that will make me extremely happy!

So, for this morning, I am off to get to work.

I have an article due this afternoon and then, once I hit the "send" button on that, I'll start mixing up some tie-dyed cupcakes.

My weekend will be full of cupcakes and frosting and sprinkles...and a Girls Night Out tonight, and some great Alabama football (Alabama vs. Tennessee tomorrow!), so I'm anticipating a lot of good things.

I hope your weekend is wonderful too!

(And if you're in the Birmingam area and need a cupcake, or cupcake tower, or cupcake kabobs, or cupcake cakes, for any sort of party or event, let me know! Sorry...I can't ship to South Carolina or Oklahoma or Washington!)

Love to you all.

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:01:00 +0000

A Really Long Overdue Photo Update

I haven't posted many "this is what's been going on in our normal, everyday lives" sort of post lately, so I'm catching up with a ton of pictures.

Here goes!

We've been going to a lot of high school football games (where we often run into our mascot; yes, we are the Golden Gophers, one of the most unique nicknames you will find anywhere!)...

And cheering on our beloved Alabama Crimson Tide. Whenever it's an away game, our house becomes a party zone..

McKenna celebrated Homecoming Week in high fashion, as she celebrated Senior Toga Day...

And actually "vacummed" the front yard to get rid of all the toilet paper that made our yard home for the entire week (one of her best friends actually destroyed our yard...I'm not using that word lightly...and it was quite a job to clear it up). She looks happy doesn't she? (although Sydney thought it was a hoot to help her out)...

Delaney ran for Student Council President at her middle school for the second year in a row (and won again! Yay!!)...

She also received an award from the Birmingham Urban League, recognizing her for her academic achievements. We were so proud of her...

In between all of the kids' activities (and football! and some actual writing and editing and teaching work I threw in for good measure), I made some of the best cookies I've ever made (made with chocolate cake mix and toffee candy bars). Mmmmm....

And I made the cutest Cupcake Kabobs...

(they consisted of mini cupcakes with chocolate, purple, or lime green frosting; marshmallows; and rice krispy treats)

When the rain decided to ease off for us (it seems like it's rained almost EVERYday in the last several weeks!), we watched Sydney play Fall Ball. She played first base and circle and hit SO good. Look at #5....

Just this last weekend they celebrated the end of the Fall Season with closing ceremonies, where we posed with friends...

and got super-excited about something...

And posed with the Best Coach Ever (also known as Daddy)...

This past weekend, we also got the pleasure of watching McKenna perform with her Color Guard/Dance Team as part of a big high school band competition...

Look at how high that rifle's flying...

And look at the expressions on her face (she really gets into her performance; it's so fun to watch!)...

We've also made it to all of the Alabama home games. This past weekend was the Bama vs. South Carolina game and it seems like every time we turned around there was Mark Ingram (#22) running the ball. (He did set a single game rushing record for our stadium with 246 yards. And he's getting serious Heisman Trophy talk. We're so excited for him!)...

This picture just cracks me up! I looked up and saw that the scoreboard said it was 3rd down and 211 yards to go (our defense was Awesome, and I'm guessing South Carolina felt that way sometime)...

We also got a few good Pumpkin Patch pictures...

We've been having some unseasonably cold weather and it's felt really nice to put on the sweaters and sweatshirts...

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful week so far! I will do my best to pop by and see you soon on your blogs. In the meantime...know that I think of you all often!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0000

The Joy of Watching Them "Get It"

There are many times in our lives as parents when we are just so excited to see our kids finally "get it"...whether it's "getting" a lesson you've been trying to teach them, or an attitude you want to see them express to someone else, or something they're trying to grasp at school (although, looking back on my own experiences, I never ever really "got" anything to do with Math!).

One of the more fun things to see your child "get" is how to read. Right now I'm experiencing this with Sydney and it is so exciting.

We are a family of readers and book-lovers, and it appears to me that we have another one emerging in Sydney.

It's so much fun to see her running to me with her daily book from school, wanting to show me what words she knows. And even more fun to see her begging each night for her bedtime stories. (In the last couple of weeks, Where the Wilds Things Are has been requested many times and you don't know how happy it makes me to hear Sydney exclaim at random times, "Let the wild rumpus start.")

As a parent, I want to encourage Sydney's learning as much as possible so I try and incorporate letter and word recognition, spelling, and reading in every step of our daily life.

We love to play Scrabble in our family (well, maybe with the exception of Gary; he'd rather beat me up in Chess), and Sydney loves to get out the Scrabble board and spell words. Just the other day, I came downstairs and she was spelling words. I asked her to show me some of the words she'd recently learned and this is some of what she showed me...

(You might also have noticed that Sydney also is learning how to put words together for sentences and phrases. Probably her very favorite is "I love you"...the message she put together for me in that first photo at the top of this post.)

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Ten Fun Questions on this Random Tuesday

1. What's the last state you visited other than your own?

That would be Florida this past Summer. How I would enjoy sitting on the beach right now.

2. What's your middle name? And were you named after anyone?

My middle name is Annette, which I swear my parents chose from Annette Funnicello from "The Mickey Mouse Club." My first name is my Mom's first name (although she doesn't go by it), but when I watched the MMC as a child all I noticed was that the mousketeers named Cheryl and Annette were one after the other. I imagine that I was named after the two of them!

3. What is something you don't like...even though everyone else seems to?

Oh gosh, there would be a lot of those things. "Grey's Anatomy," scary movies, romance novels, Myspace, hockey (sorry, Jeff!). Funny story, though...I did a list something like this on Facebook maybe two months ago and put "texting" as one of my things. Today, though, I love texting; I told the girls that this was an example of a parent admitting she was wrong about something!

4. What's the first costume you remember dressing up in for Halloween?

Remember when we used to buy Halloween costumes out of a box? They consisted of a plastic costume with a logo or design on front, and a plastic mask. I remember getting a Barbie one of those, and I LOVED it!

5. Have you ever played a sport?

You'd think I'd have been very athletic growing up, considering how much I love sports. But, no, I'm a spectator...not a participant! (I was on a church softball team when I was maybe 12 and I'd stand in the outfield praying that God wouldn't send a ball my way...because, guaranteed, I would drop that ball or it would hit me in the face!)

6. What is a talent you have that people might not know about?

While I didn't play sports, I was a cheerleader years ago. So, I can still do the splits. I also can do that weird yoga move where you cross your legs over each other; and, now that I think about it, I can stand on my head for an extended amount of time.

7. What's the last thing that made you laugh out loud?

Last night, Delaney was showing me a project she'd done on Egypt for her Social Studies class. I told her that I knew of something her group should have done and they would have certainly got an A. Then I went onto youtube and found Steve Martin's verion of "King Tut." We sat there and laughed and laughed. (Which led on a random youtube tour as we shared silly things with each other, including Joe Jonas performing "Single Ladies," Weird Al's "White and Nerdy," and some parody of Miley Cyrus.)

8. Are you an oldest, middle, or youngest child?

I'm the oldest child, and I have one younger brother. I do think I fit into most of the older child stereotypes (high achiever, more responsible, etc.), but there are others that I absolutely don't (I'm very laid back!).

9. What's the best thing you've had someone say to you lately?

Sydney: "Let the wild rumpus start!" (Sydney LOVES Where the Wild Things Are and she just randomly yells that line out at different times. The reader in me smiles big when I hear it!)

Delaney: "Sometimes when things are rough, God uses them to make things get better." (We had some rough spots lately--kids being kids, teenagers being teenagers, parents being stubborn--but Delaney saw how the rough times were necessary, because they were an opportunity for things to get better. What a wonderful lesson we all need to remember!)

10. What are you wearing right now?

I'm usually not shampooed and dressed and made-up at this time in the morning, but I am today because I'm about to head up and eat lunch with Sydney. So, I have a nice black shirt and jeans on (instead of a ratty Alabama or 80s concert t-shirt!).

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday, and join in the fun if you'd like by posting these questions and your answers (either in my comments section below, or on your own blog).

Hugs to you all!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:55:00 +0000

God & Goblins

I'm letting my five-year-old dress up like a witch for Halloween.

It's a cute witch. It's black and lacy and has hints of purple and neon green on it. It's got a big, furry, fun hat to go along with the dress. She's gonna look quite smashing.

Still, some people would like to tell me that I shouldn't let her dress up like a witch. Or a little vampire. Or anything scary.

Halloween, it seems, is something that Christians shouldn't enjoy. And while I certainly respect anyone's opinion and I'm not gonna worry how someone else wants to celebrate the day, don't act like I'm a heathen simply because I enjoy saying "Trick or Treat," and we have a family tradition of having a "Creepy Dinner" together, and I decorate with little ghost candles, and I enourage my kids to enjoy the day.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm a wimp, really I am.

I hate scary movies. I don't do haunted houses. I'm even afraid of clowns.

But, I'm also a big fan of Halloween. And I don't even force myself to call my celebrations a "Harvest" or "Fall" event. I still call it Halloween.

I hope you all know how earnest I am in my Christianity. I try and practice it everyday in my normal going-through-my-daily-routine life. I pray. I worship. I tell others about my faith. I treat others the way I think Jesus would want me to. I ask for forgiveness when I don't.

But I sorta think that a problem the world has with Christians is that we nit-pick about things like Halloween, when we should worry more about praying and justice and forgiveness.

As a Christian, I also try and do my best to raise children who have that same sense of who they are as a person of faith. I want them to grow up and be confident in who God is and who they are related to Him and His world.

Sometimes I doubt the job I'm doing with that. But, at other times, I think I might be doing something right (at least every once in a while).

The other day, Sydney announced off-handedly (as she often does), "I know why God created Halloween."

I've been around her long enough to know when she makes a comment like that (anything that involves God or Jesus or Love or Life) that I'm about to get a good lesson. I might as well just grab a big tall glass of sweet tea, pull up a chair, and sit a spell.

"You do, Sydney?" I responded. "Why?"

"Well, God made pumpkins. And he made pumpkins with faces on them," she said. "On Halloween, the faces are all lit up inside."

I kinda wondered where she was going with this, then she stuck me with the "message" of it all.

"I think God wants us to be like pumpkins. We need to let the light shine out of our faces, so we can be happy and show love to other people."

Amen, Sydney. Amen.

And that right there--because she's got it figured it out better than most of us--is why I will keep on plugging away. Doing my best to be a good example. Taking her to Sunday School. Talking with her about love and God.

And, yes, letting her be a witch for Halloween. (I might even dress like one with her...although I'm leaning more toward a Flapper right now.)

I'm going with the idea that Halloween is a chance for us to enjoy our families, make fun cupcakes, spend time with friends...and for my children to laugh and giggle and smile (and enjoy all that candy!).

And that it's another chance for me to learn a little more about what it means to let my light shine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For some Friday "Eye Candy," this is similar to Sydney's costume. Cute huh? ...

And then I am going to HAVE to try these "crashing witch" cupcakes. Cute too, huh?...

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Fall is Here!

We were out in the yard the other day and Sydney said to me, "Mom, I just found some evidence of Fall." Stopping first to smile at her use of the word "evidence" (yessiree, I'm raising another smart one!), I asked her what it was. She handed me a leaf. "It just fell out of that tree," she said, "and, look, it's yellow."

Thank goodness it's October. And thank goodness it finally feels like Fall down here in the South. (I love Summer so much, but even I was getting tired of 90 degree weather.)

So, for your Random Tuesday enjoyment, here are Ten Things I love about Fall...

1. That cool crispness in the air in the morning.

2. High school and college football.

3. Halloween.

4. The first fireplace fire of the season.

5. Bundling up under covers to watch t.v.

6. Fall foods. (Casseroles, soup, roast.)

7. Fall softball.

8. Those leaves.

9. Hot chocolate and flavored coffees.

10. Sweatshirts.

What do YOU love about Fall?

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Because I'm a Bit Biased
(but, seriously, aren't they the prettiest girls ever...other than any in your own family?)

I took a ton of pictures this week (I hope to post an entire photo wrap-up sometime over the weekend), but I thought I'd share some I took of McKenna, Delaney, and Sydney.

Being a Mom is definitely a challenge (I've felt that way A LOT lately!), but these girls still make me so proud. They are true gems, and are beautiful on both the inside and out!

McKenna and her band and color guard squad had their pictures taken for the yearbook this week and I, of course, showed up and got a lot of pictures for myself. I especially love that second one (THAT's my girl right there!)...

Delaney is doing the middle school pageant again this year and I took some pictures for her to submit to the Miss Photogenic portion of the pageant. I took like 100 pictures and we loved all of them. These were Delaney's three favorites...

Sydney, of course, wanted her picture taken too...

Enjoy your Friday and your weekend. And, remember...Count your blessings and your joys!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:12:00 +0000

"Say What?"
Top Ten Quotes Right Now

I've heard lots of funny, touching, interesting things in my life lately (that's sorta what happens when you have three girls like mine!), so I thought that on this Random Tuesday I'd give you the Top Ten Quotes overheard lately around here.

(1) "I need to buy an afro," followed soon after by "I'm borrowing a paper shredder."

It's Homecoming Week here in our town and the Junior-Senior Wars are going full-steam ahead. They compete to see who is dressed up best for the spirit days each day (hence the need for an afro...for Tacky Day), but then the competition really heats up every night. The kids begin gathering their "weapons" and head out to roll people's yards (hence the need for a paper shredder...to shred paper up into as many pieces as possible, so it can be strewn all over someone's yard). We've already been rolled twice and last night's work was truly a toilet papering masterpiece. The funny thing is that, when I was younger, people who were unpopular or unliked were rolled. Today, it's like a fun competition to see how well you can roll your best friends' houses. (Last night, the roll-ee came and had me take a picture in the yard with McKenna!)

(2) "I'm so proud that we finally played so awesome."

Delaney's middle school volleyball team competed in the county tournament this past weekend and they did so much better than we anticipated. They had been having some rough matches in the last couple of weeks, but they really brought their A-game to the tournament. We made it into the second day of competition and came two points away from beating one of our main rivals in a tie-break game. Delaney was just so proud to see them do so well finally; she even got a little weepy when it was all over with.

(3) "Roll Tide."

Delaney went with me to the Alabama-Arkansas game this past weekend and we had a wonderful time together. Good mother-daughter time, good snacks, wonderful atmosophere....and it sure didn't hurt that we dominated the game and won 35-7!

(4) "I wanna take my picture with the President."

On our way home from the game, we decided to stop into KFC to grab a quick late-night snack (apparently, all the nachos and Dippin Dots and cokes from the game hadn't filled us up!). As we walked in, Sydney said, "I wanna take my picture with the president." She ran over to a bench in the restaurant and plopped down on it. "That's not the president," I told her, laughing the entire time. "That's Colonel Sanders." (I'm still trying to figure out where that came from. Maybe he reminded her of Abraham Lincoln?)

(5) "Can you make a cupcake tower for my wedding?"

You all know how much I love to cook and bake, and right now I'm sorta obsessed with cupcakes. I've made them for a lot of different occasions lately and I've actually entertained the thought of opening a custom cupcake business out of my house (I bring different cupcakes to the midde school girls class I teach every other week at church and they totally said they would be my advertisting managers; LOL), so I was SO excited when a friend asked me to make a cupcake tower for her wedding. It's a small wedding (I'll make about 50 cupcakes, plus a small cake for the top), but I'm super-excited anyway. Right now we're thinking vanilla and strawberry cupcakes (with my yummy buttercream frostings) and a pink and brown color theme.

(6) "Thanks, Mom."

The last week has had some stressful moments for Cheryl the Mom, and sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the best job I can to raise my girls right. (You know those moments of uncertainty?...when you raise your voice when you shouldn't, when you discipline only to see them doing the same thing, when you wonder if they're grateful for the job you ARE trying to do). And that's when a simple, "Thanks, Mom" means the world to you!

(7) "Can you make me an empanada?"

I had to include this one because it was just SO random. It came, of course, from Sydney's mouth and I had to ask her if she even knew what an empanada was. "It's like a little pie," she answered. I then asked her how she knew what that was. "I just know," she said. Okay, Sydney, I'm very impressed by your intelligence (and I guess I need to find a good empanada recipe).

(8) "Mom always has a camera."

I was taking pictures last night of McKenna and her friend, Chris, shredding paper (for the aforementioned Homecoming festivities) and Sydney said, "Mom always has a camera." She is absolutely correct. I pretty much take pictures of everything.

(9) "It feels like Fall."

This morning, heading out to school, I felt the first real nip of Fall in the air. It must have been around 55 degrees and it felt absolutely wonderful! I'm definitely a warm weather gal, but about this time of year in the South I'm ready for it to head down below the 80s and 90s. And the Fall temps means that football's more comfortable, Halloween's just around the corner, and it's time to buy some fun cool-weather clothes.

(10) "Did you know, Mom, that every day is a good day?"

Sunday was a very good day here in Alabama and in the Wray household. The sun was shining, there was a nice warm breeze in the air, and it was just one of those days when it felt good to be alive. I had spent time at church with good friends, and I had been inspired by the music sung and the words spoken. I had been refreshed by the spirit of friendship actually being shared by the girls (and their Mom and Pop!). So, the day was already going well when Sydney came up to me and provided me with that zinger. I just gave her a hug and said that, yes, I did know that. (But it sure was nice to have her reminding me of it!)

And now...

how about sharing a meaningful (or funny, or sweet, or whatever) thing you've heard in the last couple of days. Share it in my comments section, or post it on your own blog (and let us know you're doing it).

Have a wonderful day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:46:00 +0000

A Dip into the Archives, as I get ready for the Alabama-Arkansas game
(And some scrapbook stuff for the first time in forever!)

(Tomorrow is the first game of Southeastern Conference play for Alabama, as we play host to Arkansas. I will be at the game---with, I think, Delaney this time--and will be yelling "Roll Tide" as loud as I possibly can. Amidst the sea of crimson I will, though, feel a little jolt of emotion when the Razorbacks take the field. I will want my Bama team to beat Arkansas pretty badly--we need to have an impressive win as the #3 team in the country--but I will also feel some sentimentatily, since I grew up in Fayetteville as a Razorback fan. Yep, I could yell "Pig Sooie" as a child and it's hard to separate ones self from such a "unique" ability or memory. So....I decided to dig into my blog archive and pull out this post I wrote last year before the start of the college football season. It gives some insight into my love of Alabama--as well as Arkansas and Texas--college football. I hope you may not remember it, so you can enjoy it again. And, remember....join in yelling ROLL TIDE as loud as possible with me around 2:30 p.m. Look for me on tv. I'll be the one wearing red and going crazy!)

Before I get to that post, though, I thought I'd share the latest mini scrapbook I've finished. It's my album preserving my memories of last year's Bama season, which ended with an undefeated regular season and weeks at #1. It was a great year and I had taken all sorts of great pictures (I made sure I had at least one picture from every game day, whether we were at the game or having a gathering here at the house). It's a super-simple album, made actually from a book I found at the dollar store and then added pages to.

It makes me happy (and I hope I can make a similarly exciting album for this season)...

And now my archived post:

I guess you could say that I was born with college football in my blood.

Born to college student parents, I lived my first two years on a college campus (a small one in east Texas), where Dad said they'd walk from their married dorm to the stadium every Saturday afternoon and get into the games for free. He still gets a little misty eyed when he tells the tales of those izdyllic days, long before College Game Day and blue-chip recruiting...when a day at a football game was pure enjoyment (and that's all).

As my father ventured into the world of academia, I was blessed to live all of my growing-up days in college towns. And, let me tell you, there is no better place to grow up...surrounded by the smell of books, the sound of ringing chimes, an appreciation for marbled columns, and a love of learning. And, of course, an unabashed passion for tailgating and fight songs, for cheerleaders and marching bands, and for touchdowns and game-winning field goals.

As a girl, my first love came in the hue of burnt orange. My father received his PhD from the University of Texas, and he says he can still remember the look in my eyes when I first heard "The Eyes of Texas" played during his graduation at dusk right beneath the Tower. At just eight-years-old, I learned to yell "Hook em Horns" with the best of them.

But, children are fickle, and when the University of Arkansas came calling, I quickly learned to call the Hogs. I have such sweet memories of going to games at Razorback Stadium (for some reason, the one that sticks out in my mind was one against SMU, back in the days of the Southwest Conference), but even sweeter ones of Barnhill Arena and the heydey of Arkansas basketball.

My loyalties were divided and I often riled up my family when I'd cheer for the Hogs over the Horns (and, in fact, I almost got booed out of a game in Austin one time when they played each other...but, I guess the fans didn't have it in them to eject a twelve-year-old).

But, soon, no loyalties would exist in my own personal world of college football allegiances. My family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, before my sophomore year in high school. That's never an easy age at which to start over. I cried when we left Fayetteville; cried for my lost friends and the fear of beginning again. And, yes, I cried because I was leaving behind my beloved Hogs.

We arrived in 1983, as Ray Perkins took the helm of the football program. So, no, I never experienced the Bear Bryant era; I never heard him speak or saw him stalk the sidelines (in fact, my only "real life" memory of him is of him beating all the teams I ever cared about as a child).

So, you see, I never really expected to fall in love with the Crimson Tide...but, I did... just as sure as you can't help but fall for the allure of the perfect boy. You know the one? The one with the smile and the swagger and the sense of humor and the style. That's what happened once I moved to Tuscaloosa. I developed a big ole crush on the town and the campus and, of course, the football team.

I spent six years at the Capstone (in undergraduate school, and then again in graduate school) and some of my fondest memories are of the Saturdays spent either at Legion Field in Birmingham or at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. At registration, I got a little jolt of anticipation as I saw the new slate of classes on my schedule; and got an even bigger jolt when I checked the box that said, yes, I'd like to order my student football tickets for the season.

Time has gone by since then, and I've endured the ups and the downs over the years. The heartbreaking losses (how can I forget the loss to Tennessee by two points? We actually sang a dirge in the stands of Legion Field after it ended); the mediocre seasons; the unbelievable wins; and the national championship run (we watch the 1992 game on DVD every year before bowl season, and my three daughters almost know the plays by heart).

Things have come pretty full-circle. Gary and I got married on campus (in one of the three buildings that survived the Civil War), my girls all love the Crimson Tide, and I even do some teaching at the university. It's as if I really can't get away from Alabama...and I certainly wouldn't want to do so!

And, today, there is nothing like heading into Bryant-Denny and see my Crimson Tide face another foe. We are, in everyone's estimation, "back on top" where Bama should be...but that doesn't mean that every game's not an emotional rollercoaster of excitement for me (and whoever in the family gets to go with me!).

I will cross my fingers, say a little prayer (I know that God really doesn't care much of anything about the outcome of a football game, and I usually ask for forgiveness for getting my priorities out of whack when I head to church the next morning), and then cheer for the team that might just fulfill my football dreams this season. Because, you know, the fact that I can yell really loud will definitely spur my team on to victory (you knew that, didn't you?).

It's a bit of an obsession, probably. It's probably not what my Dad dreamed of for his little girl who was born in that small college town (he tells me all the time, after all, that it is "JUST a game"), but it is what it is. (I promise that I still have my priorities straight...God, family, and only then does football show up on the list!)

So, bring on the Hogs tomorrow...and ROLL TIDE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Eight Ramblings...

1) What is it about being almost 18-years-old? I can still remember what it was like--I thought I knew as much as my parents did, I was so ready to head off to college and get on with my life, I was really just sick of high school and wanted to get on with the future--but it doesn't make it any easier dealing with McKenna's push-and-pull these days. She's having a hard time with her Calculus class, she wants to be with her friends all the time, and she acts like she's got it all together on her own. I know that part of it is her natural separation from us, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! I think you all know what a positive person I am, but this has really gotten me down and I don't like feeling that way. (It doesn't help that I've had to punish her for getting caught with her telephone at school...ugh!)

2) In the midst of the aformentioned crappy stuff, there is still so much exciting stuff going on with McKenna. She chose her senior pictures yesterday (they are SO pretty, and I'll try and post some of them soon!), and we're going to visit a good friend of mine who is a professor at a local university that McKenna's interested in (it's a really beautiful, small liberal arts college that's about 45 minutes away).

3) I am so glad that Fall television is back! My favorite late-Summer show, "Pysch," is still going in full force,but now I have some other favorites to fill my DVR..."Glee" (which is my new favorite show), "The Big Bang Theory" (Monday's premiere was hilarious, didn't you think?), "How I Met Your Mother" (ditto), and my very favorite, "Fringe" (the premiere was kick-butt and I can't wait for the next one!). What are your favorite shows, and have you discovered any new good ones?

4) I went to Target the other day and found Sydney the cutest apron! She LOVES to get in the kitchen and cook with me (maybe she and I will open a bakery someday together in my old age!), so I thought it would be the perfect gift to put up for Christmas. The best part is that I found an apron for me that matches hers! (I also found an awesome cake stand, the cutest cupcake-themed bag, two shirts for $4 each, and some fun scrapbooking stuff...finding fun deals can always turn my mood around pretty quick, and this definitely helped my day!)

5) I've started teaching my Feature Writing course for the Fall semester and it's going really well. And I'm hoping to locate some other teaching opportunities (it really is one of my favorite things to do).

6) Delaney has been nominated for a "Youth Who do The Right Thing" from the local Urban League, and we are so proud of her! She had to put a portfolio together for the nomination process and it was so impressive (or as impressive as it can be for an 8th grader). Even if she doesn't win, it's a great honor for sure!

7) Alabama football continues to make me very happy!!! We've looked really good in all three of our wins (we have what I like to call a "total" team--each part seems to be working really well!), and we've moved up to #3 in the national polls. This weekend, though, will be a big challenge when Arkansas comes to town. The Hogs have a quarterback who can sling the ball around better than maybe anyone in the country, and it will be a challenge. Gary and I will be at the game, of course, and we are really getting excited about it!

8) Last week in church, our pastor made this comment and it really touched me: "It's not what's on the outside. It's how we dress our hearts." Too often we worry about what we look like on the outside, or how we appear to other people, or how we fit in with the rest of the world...when what we should really be worrying about is what we look like on the inside. In conjunction with the service, I did the children's minute that morning and I showed the kids my makeup kit. I told them that grown-ups put makeup on because we want to look prettier or younger; then I showed them some of Sydney's dress-up clothes and told them how fun it is to act like you're someone else. The trick, though, is to realize that it's the inside--not the outside--that's important. We need to worry more about the reflection our inner life is sending out into the world; can people see our kindness, and integrity, and generosity, and love? Are we dressing our hearts with good things?

And now that I've preached to myself...be positive, Cheryl; be loving, Cheryl; LOL...I'm going to go and enjoy my Wednesday.

I hope you all are doing wonderfully, and I'd love to hear how you're doing as well!

Love ya!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

You know right now that football is what rules my life and rocks my world (I know, I know...but I do totally love it that much!), but the Fall season also means we are into softball and baseball as well.

Along with Delaney playing travel ball with her new 14-and-under team, Sydney is playing Fall ball at our local girls park with her team that Gary coaches. Sydney loves softball more than we ever imagined (how we could get another daughter that loves it like Delaney does, I'll never know!) and she really loves her Fall team.

She is already doing great and is going to develop a lot as a player this Fall (which is the purpose of the Fall season, which is really designed as a developmental league). And she loves that she is a regular infielder now, too. So far she has played first base and in the circle!

This last week, the team had their first game of the season...but it happened on a night when the rain came pouring into our town and it looked like a storm was really on its way. Before the game, Gary told Sydney that the game might be rained out. Her response? She cried and cried and cried. Her game could not be rained out!

I tried to explain that we can't help what the weather does. "Besides," I said, "rain is good. God makes it rain so that the flowers and grass will grow."You would have thought I said the worse thing in the world. Sydney looked back at me with a look that could have only said, "You mean, God doesn't want me to play softball?"

Well, I guess God decided that He did want her to play softball (or something like that! LOL), because we were able to start the game. Still...the field was gross and the lightning came back after the bottom of the first inning. Sydney didn't even get to bat, which made her really sad.But, she got to play some first base and circle. And got to hang out with her softball bff, Jordin...

The other sport we love this time of year is major league baseball. We are all huge Atlanta Braves fans (and Delaney loves the Red Sox), and we were so excited because we got tickets to go to this weekend's game between the Braves and the Phillies. The Braves are 4 games out of the wildcard race, so there are still some possibilities to get into the playoffs, so we were really excited to be going during this time of year.

But, more importantly, Delaney has never been to a Braves game...and you really have no idea how much she loves baseball and this team!

A week or so ago, however, we realized that we had a family conflict and one of us (either me or Gary) would need to stay at home for the day and evening. After a discussion over who should stay home and who should go, we decided that it was more important for Gary to go to the game. He said to me, "I really don't want to miss Delaney's first major league baseball game" and Delaney said to me after that decision was made, "Mom, don't get mad. But I really do want Pop to go."

I'm all for father-daughter bonding and, although I'm sad to not be there tonight, I'm glad that Gary will get to experience it with the girls!

And here's proof of how much Delaney loves the Braves (and Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar, in particular)....

(yes, she's carrying a couple of signs to display during the game.)

She's already texted me several times and the game hasn't even started...that their seats are awesome, that the stadium is awesome, that everything is awesome.

That, I think, is just (you know) Awesome!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend as well. Fill it with awesome things and times and friends. I'll see you all again real soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The Best Stuff

Okay, I know that you guys may be tired of looking at pictures of my red velvet cake creations (and, personally, it was sorta tempting me to go make another one and I do NOT think I need to be doing that!)...so I have finally put together a new post for your enjoyment. :-)

Since it is also the eve of another Tuesday, I thought I would make the post a bit random. So, as usual, join in the fun and post your own responses to the following statements. (Post either in my comments section, or use it as inspiration for a blog post of your own.)

Here's a little bit of what's been going on in my life lately...

Best thing I've watched:

I caught up on the new show, "Glee," from Hulu.com and now have set my DVR to record it this season (Wed. nights on Fox). It is SO fun...a totally campy, over-the-top, exagerrated look at high school show choir. The characters are great and the music and choreography is wonderful. I can't wait to watch it this season.

(Another favorite, of course, is "Psych" and I'm so glad the new episodes are finally on. That show makes me laugh out loud more times than should be legal!)

Best thing I've heard:

You know I could just pop in any conversation with Sydney into this category, but I've reserved an entire section for her below, so...I'm going with my new Bob Dylan CD (actually, it's not new; I bought one of his "Greatest Hits" CDs because he was next on my list of "music to teach Sydney about, so that she will know music that came out before the year 2000"; so far, she knows Abba, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Cat Stevens, and Bon Jovi pretty well; after Dylan will come The Band and Tom Petty); my new Regina Spektor CD; the new Miley Cyrus CD (yes, I bought it and didn't buy it solely for the girls, I admit it!); and the Christmas CD we've been listening to since Sunday night (Sydney has a solo in our church's Christmas play that is going to be BEYOND sweet and we're already practicing the music!).

Best thing I've eaten:

Once I got past all the goodness that was my Crimson Velvet Cake, I decided I needed to make some "real" food (i.e: not desserts), and boy did I find a good recipe. I found a recipe for Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Pasta and tweaked it a little bit to where it was absolutely delicious. It was like a roux-based cajun sauce, filled with shrimp, and poured over spaghetti. I'm thinking it would be wonderful over chicken or tilapia; yumm-o!

Best thing I've read:

I'm in the middle of reading Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton and I am loving it (in fact, I'll probably have it finished before this auto-posts in the morning!). It's been listed as one of the Top 100 Mystery Novels of all time and I have to agree that it is so unique and charming and mysterious.

And some other non-"thing" moments...

Best random 13-year-old moment:

Delaney's school had Homecoming last week (really early for some reason!) and had Spirit Days each day. Delaney is very school-spirited and gets into the fun full-throttle no matter what it is! She dressed up for Twin Day, Tacky Neon Day (she basically looked like she'd been spit out of the 80s!), Disney Character Day (as an Incredible!), and School Spirit Day. (It had me reliving my memories of spraying red hair color into my hair for Punk Day way back in my eighth grade year!)

Best random 17-year-old moment:

I like to say that McKenna changes boyfriends like some people change tires, but I'm not sure that's an entirely bad thing (because it gives her a good understanding of all the different types of guys out there). Still, she is a bit fickle sometimes and can go from thinking one guy is the best thing ever, to feeling like she's in love with someone new...which is sorta where we are right now.

And while McKenna and I have our "moments" (what mother and teenage daughter don't?), I am truly grateful that she shares so much with me. Just last night she come home from church squealing, and then did a little turn-around-dancing-movement. She looked at me sheepishly and I said, "Did So-and-So kiss you?" She screamed and then said, "And my heart melted a little bit."

Best Patrick Swayze memory:

I was so sad to hear about Patrick Swayze's passing last night; his battle with cancer was courageous, and I always had felt like he was one of the "good guys." But then, as I thought about him more and more, I realized how many good memories I had of him...and how many of them were connected to something personal in my own life. Like: seeing him for the first time in The Outsiders (way back in junior high); reading and loving North and South and then falling in love with him as the character Orry Main in the miniseries; going to see Dirty Dancing when I was in college and laughing with my friends at the "old" ladies in the bathroom afterwards swooning over how gorgeous he was). The older I get, the harder it is when someone from my generation (or a little bit older) dies.

Best time spent spent with 92,000 friends:

Alabama's first home game was this past weekend in Tuscaloosa , and McKenna and I headed down to the game together. We always look so forward to Saturdays spent in Bryant-Denny Stadium, and this year is no different. McKenna and I had a blast yelling "Roll Tide" more times than we can count, doing the "Rammer Jammer" after the victory, and even doing the wave (that simple activity can make me smile and laugh like a little kid!).

And to grow on, a few "Scout Moments" for you...

Best Moment #1:
At one of Delaney's recent volleyball matches, Sydney came up to me and whispered in my ear: "Mom, that other team is called the Idiots." Me: "Now, Sydney, don't be mean." Sydney: 'They are, Mom. Listen to them cheer. They're saying Let's Go Idiots, Let's Go." Me (laughing pretty loudly now): "They're not saying Idiots. They're saying Let's Go Indians, Let's Go."

Best #2:
Sydney came home from school one day last week and was giggling slyly. I asked her what happened and she said she couldn't tell me. But, she could tell Delaney and went and told Delaney her "secret." They finally decided to tell me that "Harper gave me a kiss on the cheek." (Harper is a friend's son who is also in kindergarten, and he is abolutely adorable.) "Only thing is," Sydney said, "Harper has three girlfriends."

And one more:
This afternoon, Sydney was telling me about how the kids in her class were telling each other about what they liked to do. They had to fill in the blank, "My name is ____ and ______ is my game." Sydney said that one girl said, "My name's Dylan and hopscotch is my game" and another girl said, "My name's Emma and skating is my game." When I asked Sydney what she said, it was: "My name's Sydney and softball is my game. Because I am goooood at softball and it IS my game." (She just started Fall Ball and is playing first base; it is so cute!) She then asked what mine would be and all she could come up with is "Cheryl's my name and cooking is my game." I thought that was pretty insightful and was as good as anything else (Scrabble? Writing? Watching football?) I could come up with.

And now, I pass this on to you.

Comment here on anything you can relate to, or go and post some of these (Best Thing you've Watched, Heard, Eaten, Read and/or any special moments) on your own blog.

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday, and I can't wait to hear from you!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

The Cake So Nice...

I Made it Thrice

As a cook and a baker, one of my greatest joys is to find a realllllly good-looking recipe and then to make it and find that the resulting creation is even better than you imagined it could be!

That's what I experienced recently when I made my first-ever homemade red velvet cake.

I had only made red velvet cake before with a cake mix because, honestly, someone had requested it and I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor. When I saw a homemade recipe featured on a Bobby Flay show on the Food Network, though, I decided that it was time to try a "real" recipe and see how it turned out (because, after all, how could so many people rave about the cake and me not like it like I should?). I went online, found the recipe (from a Brooklyn baker/caterer named Cakeman Raven), and tried it. Believe me, it was absolutely delicious...and everyone who tried it said the same thing.

I made my first cake last Saturday for our party here for the first Alabama football game. Our friend, Raymond, decorated it in Bama regalia and it was gorgeous; it went SO fast that I got just one, smallish piece. Gary didn't even get a piece (he only got to scoop up a tiny piece of cake with mostly frosting, off of the cake plate) and he requested another cake soon. Good for us that Gary's sister had never gotten together with me for my birthday and still had a gift to give me. It was a built-in excuse to make another cake! And then I decided to make some cupcakes out of the recipe, as well. So...the cake was so nice that I made it--yes!--thrice!

Here is the recipe for you (which I am now proudly renaming):

Crimson Velvet Cake

(This will make a three-layer cake made with three 9-inch layer pans. It will also make a full 24 cupcakes. You could also make a 13-by-9 inch cake, if you don't like dealing with layers.)

Preheat oven to 350.

Begin my blending the following wet ingredients with an electric mixer: 1 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. white distilled vinegar, 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1 oz. of red food coloring (this is an entire bottle of food coloring; the first time I made it, it seemed like too much so I only used about a fourth of the bottle. The second time I used almost the entire bottle. I liked the redder color, but do how you'd like!). Mix on medium speed until it's well incorporated.

In the meantime, sift together the following dry ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour (the original recipe said "cake flour," but I used all-purpose flour and it did just fine), 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tbsp. cocoa powder (the original recipe said just 1 tsp of cocoa powder,but I wanted it to have more of a "chocolatey" flavor; again, do it to your taste!).

Now slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, still in the mixing bowl. Mix together by increments, until it's well blended.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (do not overcook; you want it to be moist!).

Once the cake or cupcakes are cool, frost with one of my two favorite frostings of all time (the other being simple, but delicious buttercream!):

Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix together one large block cream cheese (softened) and one stick butter (softened) in a mixing bowl. Once they are mixed well, add a capful of vanilla extract and a tsp of milk. Slowly add in a box of confectionery sugar, blending between add-ins. (I'm drooling just typing that in!)

The final step is really quite simple...dig in and ENJOY!!

I now see why Red Velvet Cake (now known forevermore as Crimson Velvet Cake) is such a Southern favorite. It's now up there with Italian Cream Cheese Cake and simple Devil's Food Cake as a favorite...and I think I now realize that the buttermilk and vinegar (which seems so odd to begin with) is what makes it so delicious. If you've never tried one before, you gotta do yourself a favor and make this for you and anyone you love dearly.

Have a wonderfully delicious day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Game Day at Cheryl's
(Can I get a little "Roll Tide"?!?)

This past Saturday was the opening day of college football, and boy was I EVER ready for it!! (I've been anticipating it since the season ended last January, and I was getting tired of watching "flashback" games from the 1980s on a local cable channel.) Alabama had the marquee match-up of the day, with them facing #7 Virginia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic (Bama was ranked #5). We have lots of questions going into this season--we have a new quarterback (although he's a redshirt junior) and lost two stalwarts on our offensive line and our best running back. How would we look? How would the new starters play? Would our defense be as great as everyone said?

You all know that I go to all the home games in Tuscaloosa, but since this was an away game, that meant it was time for Game Day at Cheryl's. (Last year, it became sort of a tradition to invite a bunch of the girls' friends to our house, and it looks like this year will be no different!)

Before we get to the game, though...how about a recap of what an Alabama Gameday is like in my world?

On Saturday morning, I got up bright-and-early (actually, I think I slept until 10 a.m., because the night before had been a very late one with our high school football game and activities afterwards) to get started on some food for the day.

I mixed up the batter for my planned Crimson Velvet Cake (actually, my first-ever attempt at homemade red velvet cake), baked it, then got it out to cool.

In the meantime, I took a shower and got dressed in gameday attire and then displayed my new welcome sign by my door...

I turned on ESPN to catch all of the festivities (who would the experts pick to win the game? what crazy fan signs could I see?) and caught bits and pieces of several of the early games. But before I could settle down to watch too much, Delaney began asking for (i.e., guilting me into) a new Alabama jersey. I'm usually good at saying no to my girls' requests, but who was I to deny her a shirt that would add such beauty to her wardrobe (lol)?

We headed out and, a mere hour later, came home with a Julio Jones #8 jersey for Delaney (Jones is our star wide receiver) and Sydney a cute pink Bama jersey...

With some unplanned shopping behind me, I sat down to watch the Georgia/Oklahoma State game. Once the Cowboys started pulling away from the Bulldogs, though (I was upset, because I cheer for all SEC games and really thought Georgia would pull that one out), I decided to spend some time in the kitchen to get ready for our party.

I turned on the radio to listen to the Alabama pregame shows and got to work.

My planned menu for the night included: Wings (I make some reallly good homemade ones, but we decided to order them this time), Cajun meatballs, Buffalo chicken dip (from my friend Tina), Mississippi caviar (from Tina too), Crescent cheese squares, fruit skewers, Bama sugar cookies (from my niece, Lori), and the Crimson Velvet Cake.

Lori showed up with the cookies (cute, huh?)...

And I got the cake frosted with homemade cream cheese frosting (the batter to this cake was absolutely DELICIOUS; like the best I'd ever tasted; I was getting excited about how it would taste!), even though the three layers started to shift a little bit (and I was afraid it might just fall apart)...

Our friend Raymond showed up, with his professional cake decorating equipment in hand (his sister decorates cake, and he was determined that he could do it too). He got to work and soon had created this. Gorgeous...

As game time got closer and closer, I began to set up the dining room table with food...

Then our guests started to arrive (people kept being invited, so I anticipated a houseful, but we had even more than I expected!). Delaney had Jaelyn and Caroline (see Delaney's new jersey?)...

And Sydney had Haley Jo and Kayla...

I could hear the sounds of the game getting louder and louder downstairs, but had to get everyone started with food (because full plates need to be in hand when the ball is kicked off).

After the first quarter (at this point, Alabama was behind and we were all a little nervous--loud and boisterous, but nervous!), we cut the first piece of cake. Mmmm...

Halftime arrived and we were behind 16-17. The third quarter ended and we still hadn't quite found our groove. But in the fourth quarter, we finally got everything working together (the defense had looked awesome all game, but the offense had sputtered along in the first half). We began to dominate the lines and scored some more. Which meant that there were victory dances being danced...

We even had Joe, one of the two Auburn fans at the party, say, "I don't need to come over very often. You guys might turn me into an Alabama fan." We even tried to get a Bama cap on him...

We had so many people cheering and yelling and Roll Tide-ing that I'd have to guess that it's the loudest our house has ever been. We really make gametime a party...with lots of high-fiving, and made-up cheers, and jumping up and down. Our favorite activity we developed on this Saturday was pausing the action on the tv to capture the faces of theVirginia Tech fans' disgusted faces. It provided endless entertainment, let me just tell you.

We stopped and took a few group pictures (this was most of the teenagers/college students in attendance. The adults--six of us--somehow avoided getting in the picture). You can imagine how crowded it was (you had to sneak in the best you can and if you were in the way of the tv--watch out! LOL)...

After the game, there was celebrating...

and lots of victory dancing...

For a first game of the season against a high-quality opponent, we felt really good afterwards. I think that Alabama could have another really special season, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out (and you know you'll get lots of updates here on the blog!).

In having such a loud, crowded, excitable experience (which I love and wouldn't have any other way!), I have to take a second stab at the game, though, to actually be able to hear anything that was being said on the television broadcast. So it's become a tradition to come home after church on Sunday, get comfortable all by myself, and watch my DVR-ed copy of the game all over again. I can actually hear what's being said about our players and certain plays (I don't think I actually heard one word being said on the day before!)...

It was a great start to the college football season, and I'm so glad it's finally here!

I hope that your favorite team won this past weekend (if you have a favorite team, let me know who it is...as long as it's not LSU, or Tennessee, or Auburn, I'lll add them to my "Cheer for them" list on game Saturdays!).

Have a wonderful Labor Day today, Roll Tide, and see ya soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:30:00 +0000

It's Been A While Since a Photo Update

Well, I've just about got all of the birthday partying out of me! Birthday stuff--along with lots of school and athletic activities, plus the start of my Fall class--have kept me busy and away from my blog for a few days.

I think it's time, then, for an update from the past week or so. And I've got A LOT of photos to illustrate it!

So, why don't we get started?

Delaney's middle school volleyball season began last week and so far the team is 6-2 (which is already quite a bit better than last year). We have some really strong 8th grade players and several 7th graders who are progressing. Delaney's playing the labero position again (this is a defensive position that can basically sub at will any time during the game).

Here are a few pictures from a match last week (Delaney's easy to spot in the only white jersey on the team)...

Last week we also had Sydney's Open House at her school. She was so excited to introduce me to a couple of her new friends (how cute are they?)...

and I was so excited to get a picture of Mrs. White with McKenna, Delaney, and Sydney (they all had Mrs. White for kindergarten and we love her so much!)...

On Friday night, the high school football season got underway. Although we lost our game (by just three points, though, and I think we have some good potential), we were really excited about seeing McKenna perform in the halftime show. McKenna is co-captain of the Color Guard and the girls did do great (McKenna has a dance solo in the second song and she was so exicted about it!)...

Gary had been out of town all week on business in Dallas and I told him I was fine with him being gone--as long as he brought me home some Dallas Cowboys attire. He did even better than I could imagine when he brought me a Romo jersey. I LOVE it...

Last weekend, Delaney played in her first softball tournament of the season. She had an exceptional tournament, batting a thousand (in 12 at-bats, she walked twice and got hits every other single time; she didn't strike out even once all weekend!)...

She did get thrown out at home plate once, though (but she made up for it the rest of the games :-) ...

McKenna hung out at the softball games with Landon, a guy she's been dating for a few weeks (I am not prone to calling him a "boyfriend" yet. Lol). I really like him, though,...

After the softball games, we went to celebrate my birthday for the first time of the week (many more celebrations are to come, I promise!). Seven or eight years ago we began the tradition of going bowling on my birthday, but last year we didn't go because I was having back problems. I was so glad to get back to it this year...

We had a blast and, with the many silly people we had with us, the night soon denegrated into a night filled with crazy bowling names (Queen Gutter, Sasquatch, etc.; at one point I even became known as Scrappy, which I'm not sure what that means)...

and everyone making their way onto the floor at some point. (Every time we go, it seems like we get into a round of Extreme Bowling. The rules? You basically get extra points if you can do a cartwheel or a backbend while you roll the ball; or if you can roll the ball in some sort of creative way!)...

On Sunday, we continued the birthday fun with a dinner get-together with my parents (pictured here with the girls) and my brother and nephews. I ate way too many chicken-n-dumpings (yumm!) and had just a great time. I have an awesome family...

Mom sent home cupcakes with me, so that I wouldn't have to make my own on Monday (which was officially my birthday). You all know how much I love to make cupcakes, but Mom's really were beautiful and delicious...

Gary had left a gift wrapped for me the entire time he was out of town (the tag there says "Enjoy the wait!") and when I finally got to open it up, it was a brand new laptop (better and quicker for blogging...and, well, also work...LOL)...

Now, since Mom provided the cupcakes for my birthday, I had this strange sensation to make some cupcakes myself (okay, actually I had seen this adorable "rainbow" cupcakes online and I decided I wanted to make them for my middle school girls group I teach at church on Wednesday nights). So, I made these tie-dyed and they turned out to be SO good. I just love them and will definitely be making them again. You can see them here before they are baked (I loved the variety of patterns), then frosted, and then what one of them looked like on the inside (by the way, I'm planning on posting a note on my Facebook page on how to make these step-by-step)...

And now it's Thursday and there is so much to look forward to in the coming days. Most notably (of course!) is the return of college football. I will be sitting in front of the tv into the wee hours of the night as it kicks off tonight, and then on Saturday is the Really Big Day with the Alabama vs. Virginia Tech game. We'll be having a big Bama bash, so I will have an update on Monday for all of you.

I hope you are doing great and have a wonderful weekend!

Love ya!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:42:00 +0000

What is it about birthdays?

I'm not really sure where my fascination with and love for birthday celebrations come from, but I actually don't have a lot of memories of early birthdays in my life. I know we celebrated them, though, because I've seen several pictures of me from when I turned two; there I am blowing out two candles in one picture and in another I'm banging away on the little mini piano I got as my gift.

I have another picture of me when I turned four. We lived in Corsicana, Texas, and the picture shows me sitting in front of a pink cake; I'm surrounded by three other cute little girls from the neighborhood.

I don't have any specific memories from those celebrations, though, but I wish I did. They looked like good times with good friends.

The first birthday party I have vivid memories of is the one my parents let me have when I turned thirteen-years-old. As the mother of a daughter that same age, I certainly appreciate the fact that my parents knew how important that birthday was and let me celebrate with such a big bash (or what I thought was a big bash at the time).

My parents let me invite a bunch of friends; Dad set up a tent in the backyard; Mom let me pick out my favorite snacks (nacho cheese dorito chips and Dr. Pepper!); and we stayed up late playing "talent show" (imagine a karaoke activity without the karaoke machine) and telling ghost stories and talking about boys.

(By the way: the picture at the top of this post is from that birthday. Soon after this picture was taken of my little brother Christopher giving me a birthday kiss, all of us teenagers threw him out of our tent!)

Over the years, I've had many other wonderful celebrations and, even though some people might consider it a little self-centered, I make sure that we celebrate my birthday every year (in all fairness, I do up everyone else's birthday BIG too!). If we can celebrate for over a week, I consider it an effective accomplishment!

All of this got me to thinking (I do that a lot. I think.)

What is it about birthdays that I love so much?

I do love to open gifts, but for me it's more about the fun of unwrapping something than how big or expensive or whatever it is inside the wrapping paper.

I do love to have people sing "Happy Birthday" to me, but it's more about the people that are singing the song to me. I love to be surrounded by people I care about.

I do love to eat cake and blow out candles and enjoy a celebratory meal, but it's more than just the special treats I get to eat.

When I really analyze why I love celebrating my birthday so much, I guess it comes down to the fact that it makes me feel loved. It means that someone else is glad I'm in the world...that they think there's something about me that is a cause for celebration. Quite simply, it makes me feel good!

I guess some people would call that self-centered or label me as egotistical for thinking such thoughts.

But I won't apologize for it.

I think I make a better wife, mother, daughter, friend, lover, teacher, worker, Christian... whatever role I play in my life...when I am happy with myself. When I realize my value. When I realize that it's okay to celebrate me every once in a while.

Besides, if I apologized for it, I'd have to stop the fun "go out bowling for Cheryl's birthday" tradition, or tell people that "No thank you, I've already had enough cake."

Instead, I'm gonna treasure the memories of celebrations in the past, enjoy the last hour of my birthday today, and look forward to forty-one more years (if I'm lucky enough).

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Wray) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Showers of Blessings

After coming home from church, I dove into the kitchen, turned on the radio for some happy music, and began working on some boiled shrimp for lunch. Outside I could hear the soft pouring of an afternoon rain shower and I pulled the kitchen window up just a tad, to get some of that sweet rain smell around me.

As I did those very simple acts, a phrase popped into my mind. It suits my mood perfectly right at this moment, as I think about how simple activities can bring joy and how I am thankful for everything God has given me.

Showers of blessings fall around me.

Just as the rain falls and fills me with contentment, I am surrounded by showers of blessings.

I have friends, and family...people who populate my life with joy and laughter and love.

But, even without others in my life, I have a quiet contentment about who I am and how I am blessed.

Sometimes it's just the sound of a happy song, or the bubbling of shrimp, or the sound of rain, or the sweet laughter of a daughter in the next room over...and that's what makes life so good...that I am aware of these showers of blessings, which can be both big and small.

So, on this Sunday afternoon, I stop and give a big shout-out to God who gave them all to me.

And I pray that you will be showered today with your own sense of being blessed.