Party Prep

Tomorrow we are having Crawford’s 5th birthday party – it’s a karate theme.  I knew we had a full day today/tonight – so I had to get some stuff done.  First off – icing ninja cookies for the treat boxes.  Amanda and I found the perfect recipe for cookies & icing that hardens when we did the boys 3rd birthday!  You make the cookies ahead of time, freeze them and then decorate the night before.

Crawford could not understand why I was making gingerbread cookies for his party.  That is…until I iced them.  Love how they turned out.

It wouldn’t be a birthday without a cake pop display.  Love the way these guys turned out.  I totally cheated and did oreo balls rather than cake balls.  I mean I’m making a 2-tiered birthday cake for the kid – that’s about all the “cake” I have in me!

After nap, we took the kids to Dickson for the Mardi Gras parade.  Love this town.

We hit Farrell’s for an app for us and din for the kids and then we dropped them at J-J’s and Sue-Sue’s for the night.

We headed for the Hayes’ for the start of our monthly “wine night.”  Kristen made a yummy meal and then we tasted 6 different Oregon Pinot Noir’s.  Such a fun evening with new friends.

What a great group of guys.

But if I do say so myself, an even more fabulous group of women.

Thanks Kristin and Tom for starting us on this journey of great food & wine with great friends!

Go Ladybacks!

One of the Valentine’s hears that Con made for Bo said, “I love it when Daddy takes me to basketball games.”  Well, it’s usually Crawford who gets to go and Con and I have girl night.  But, tonight Bo decided to make Con one happy little girl.  He took her to see the Ladybacks.  She LOVES to watch the cheerleaders.  She apparently ate 2 hot dogs while they were there!  So thankful that I am married to such an amazing man and outstanding Daddy!

What would we do if we couldn’t text each other pics?

I had to send the one below to Bo.  It’s a leftover heart shaped pancake that Crawford wanted for his dinner.  Sounded good to me – so that’s what we ate.   While he was eating – he said, “Look Mommy – it looks like a man.”  Look closely below…do you see it?  Man this kid is visual.

Happy LOVE Day

I’m not sure when Valentine’s Day turned into the 2nd biggest holiday behind Christmas – but at our house it sure seemed that way this morning.  I got up super early and made red velvet, heart shaped pancakes for breakfast before work/school.

I’m still not sure why shapes make food more fun – but they sure do.  We all sat down and enjoyed a rare breakfast together.  I was hopeful as everyone seemed well.

So decked in our red…I sent them to school.  Only to get the call around 2 pm – that Con was sick.  This is when you LOVE having your in-laws in town.  Sue-Sue to the rescue.  She picked them both up and dropped them off after work.

The kids requested their “favorite” meal – Taco Bell for dinner.  So I pulled through the drive through on the way home.  At 5:45 on Valentine’s night – I was 6 back in the drive through.  Good news was Con felt better – especially when she found out she got to open presents.

It looked like Christmas morning around here.   Star Wars and Hello Kitty were the “themes” – how retro is that?

We gave Bo the special heart wreath card we made for him.  He was pretty surprised.

Not sure this kid will ever take this mask off.

After putting the kids to bed EARLY – Bo and I feasted on king crab and champagne.

Crawford woke up to go potty right before 9 as we were winding down.  He asked if he could go say hi to dad.  He walked in, saw the candles and the champagne, rubbed his eyes and said, “Hey – do you guys eat like this every night when we go to bed?”  Ummmhhh that would be a NO.  Considering the wedding china we ate on still had the price tags on it – and we are almost to our 12 year anniversary.  Note to self – need to try and make “normal” evening s a bit more special.  It was nice eating by candle light with the tv off – we actually talked!  What an amazing evening.  So thankful to have all of the amazing people in my life that I love and that love me.  Happy, happy love day!

Snow Day

So, you’d think I’d learn.  Last night when the weather men were saying snow – I should have predicted that Con would be sick.  She ALWAYS has a stomach bug on the first snow.  This morning was no different.  With the snow on the ground – no way was Crawford heading to school.  So, I bundled him up and he headed out to play while Con hit the couch.

By around 10 – she was begging to go out too.  So after 15 layers – I sent her out.  She lasted less than 1 min before she had to go potty again.  Stomach bug and layers = no fun.  So that was the end of it.

She hit the couch and Crawford and I ate snow ice cream.  Can’t believe this might be the only chance we get all year.

After nap, Con was better but still not 100%.  Crawford was restless and asking for a project.  So we made Valentine Smore’s.  I’ve gotta get these kids back to school before I gain 20 pounds

Chocolate Molasses

After “teasing” my cousin Leigh with all of the cooking I’ve been doing – she requested a pic of a good old fashioned McCain specialty – chocolate molasses.  So before church – we all had a treat.  Thanks to Mary B’s for the biscuits – but everything else was all me.  We normally scarf down a bowl of cereal as we rush.  This was a special (super yummy) treat.

Heart Treats, Movie Treats & Steak Treats

Today was absolutely gorgeous.  After a great morning together – the kids went down for a nap and Bo headed to the basketball game.  So…I was left to bake.  I made the Red Velvet heart cookies from Pinterest.  The stuffing is a cream cheese/powdered sugar mixture that is heavenly.  I immediately had to deliver treat plates to the neighbors because I could easily inhale an entire plate.

When Bo got home – we packed the kids up and headed to see Star Wars 3D.  We all 4 were excited because NONE of us (that’s right – the 37 & 35 year old included) have ever seen any of the movies.

Con’s still a bit young for the 3D glasses but they both watched every last second.  It was so good!  I think that Lucas guy might have a hit on his hands.

Uncle Matt met us after the movie and I cooked us a treat.  Goat cheese with honey and sugared walnuts for apps.

Filet’s with sautéed mushrooms, broccolini, and sliced/stuffed potatoes.  What a manly, man meal.  Don’t forget…we had the heart cookies for dessert.

I don’t get a much more perfect day – cooking and a movie – 2 of my joys!

Valentine’s

Today the kids and I got a jump on their Valentine’s treats for their classrooms.  A HUGE thanks once again to Pinterest for the ideas!  We had a great afternoon of crafting.  Very proud that they both participated in this and they each signed their own!

Crawford has super heroes.

Con has butterflies!

2nd Date Night

I’m still not sure HOW it happened, but J-J and Sue-Sue asked if they could keep the kids tonight.  So after Thursday night with out them – we now are kid free again!

After a trip to take care of Valentine’s presents and birthday stuff for Crawf – we once again hit ESG.  This by far is the best neighborhood bar ever.  We saw a ton of folks and had some early cocktails.

Then we went home and I got my cook on.  We totally went Grissanti’s and had…

Fried Ravioli.

Miss Mary’s Salad.

Elfo’s Special.

What a magical night!  I will admit that the house was VERY quiet tonight and I can’t wait to get my hands on the kids tomorrow morning!

A tool for everything

This morning the kids and I both had a craving for French Toast.  Cooked on yummy bread – it’s my fav.  We had left over Richard’s hamburger buns – so it was perfect.  Love that the kids like helping me in the kitchen.

Love even more that I have a “snow maker.”  That’s what the kids call the powdered sugar shaker

Double Sleepover

So I love my BFF Amanda as if she was my sister.  But when she called yesterday to ask if the kids could spend tonight with them (YES – both kids) there was no WAY I was gonna tell her she was crazy.  It’s been forever since Bo & I’ve had a date night – so I was game.  The kids were even more so.  We packed their bags last night and this is what they looked like as we got loaded for school:  pillow pets, light sabers, Wii wheels = EXCITED!

While Bo and I dinned at a local Mexican place we’d been wanting to try, she had her hands full.  She reports that they were all great.  Hoping she’s telling the truth   But really, what do I care?  We hit ESG on the way home and it was hopping.  Who knew that Fayetteville had a huge Thursday night party night?  Certainly not this Mommy.  Thanks Amanda for letting us get out and experience it!

Words can not describe how much I love each and every one of the kids in the pic above.  “My” fam – and yes I consider them all to be brothers & sisters.  Now for paybacks.  I’m actually looking forward to my turn!