The Search for Miss Direction: Do you want to build a Muppet in a sin filled world?

I should have known it was going to be a goofy day when I got up to go for my walk this morning and even though it was overcast and cloudy I decided to head out anyway. Um, perhaps not the best idea ever as twenty minutes later I was caught in the middle of a monsoon with no easy or fast way home. (You think I'm joking about the monsoon but the storm knocked out a good big of power in the area this morning, it was no summer shower) But fortunately, as I often tell the kiddos, I am not made of sugar and I didn't melt. In fact, I really enjoyed myself. How often as a 31 year old do you just go out and play in the rain? Perhaps the thunder and lightning weren't needed but, eh ;-)

I got back in time to put things in order to play host house for our MOPS steering committee meeting this morning. Think that we've got an excellent group of ladies heading things up for the next year and I am so excited and honored to be working with them. My 'place' as the social butterfly (who'd have ever guessed that one!) has been solidified as I'm going to head up the newsletter again and be the newly created position of 'social coordinator'. I've been putting some ideas together, have a new program to give a test drive to, so we'll see how it goes! Have I mentioned that I'm excited??

Playing host house is always fun 'til I look around and survey the chaos that comes from it. Just kidding! I'm happy to do so, and while I joke that the mess is going to send me crying and rocking back and forth in a corner, I have to say that today I was super proud of my twosome who not only apologized completely on their own for the goldfish ground into the carpet (shudder) (and as Mikayla said "I SAID you had just run the vacuum, Mom!" Ha! I convinced her it wasn't really a big deal and we could pull the vacuum out again) but then set out to help me finish cleaning up (everyone did pitch in before they left, which I definitely appreciate!) without one fight or argument. I was so proud of them that after lunch we walked up to the gas station for an ice cream treat. I've got good kids - remind me that the next time they make me want to pull my hair out, k?

The weather has continued to be goofy so this afternoon we worked on all the letters for the "We've Been There State" (1 M, 4 I's, 4 S's and 2 P's!) and got it up on the map. Then I had to show them this really cool site that I had come across and try it out. If you'll remember, Jim Henson who is most famous for his creation of The Muppets hails from Greenville, Mississippi. Now, if you're anything like me, you maybe always secretly wanted to see what you'd be like as a Muppet. Right? Well guess what - you can! From FAO Schwartz, you can build (and buy if you want) a Muppet Whatnot - a muppet completely of your own creation! When I came across this the other day I knew the kids would go nuts! We had quite the time making our own muppet creations. I put it on glitchcast on the TV for them so we could get cool pictures of them standing next to the creations. You'll have to check it out below. And come on, you know you want to, finish reading the blog and then go design your own!

For dinner tonight I made Mississippi Sin. (Don't worry, I said 'huh'? when I first came across it in numerous places as well) It's a cheesy dip concoction put together and baked in a bread bowl. Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, ham, onions and chiles - yep, sounds like a Mississippi recipe for me! I came across this in SO many places (and lots of variations) that I asked Grant's opinion when narrowing down recipes for the week (since it's a short one) and he said this was a must try. We had all kinds of fixings to go with it (fritos, nachos, crackers, carrot, celery, etc) and it was quite the feast tonight.

After dinner we headed to the Family Fun Concert downtown tonight. It was a group called The Kerfuffles. I don't think we'd seen them before and the kiddos had fun. The concert had to be moved indoors, to the library because of the weather which was kind of a bummer. Then again, the pavilion is also currently under construction so the shows will be down the street at a gazebo this summer anyway. We all enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

Not sure what tomorrow holds. I have a couple things on the calendar and I think it's going to depend on how I'm ambitious I'm feeling in the morning on what exactly we decide to do :) Definitely have to start to get the kiddos ready as they are heading out for Cincinatti on Friday! It is very possible that they will ask to sleep in the car tomorrow night just so it gets here sooner. I heard a rumor that Aunt Sarah is feeling the same way! No matter what, it'll be a good one! So until then...

Mississippi Fun Fact of the Day: In 1884 the concept of selling shoes in boxes in pairs (right foot and left foot) occurred in Vicksburg at Phil Gilbert's Shoe Parlor on Washington Street.