sweet life

I've been doing just fine on my weight loss until this week.

I think I ate more sweets over Valentines than the entire month of December.

Did you know that if you combine Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix with a heart reeses peanut butter cup, you get a disaster.  You get 24 amazing, ridiculous, take Weight Watchers hostage ...disasters.

It was worth it.

Before this week's festivities, we took a Sunday drive.  It was pretty cloudy, but still beautiful as always.

 I was excited to try to grab some pictures with my camera, but apparently legit photographers were having the same idea.  I walked down to the beach to find these people in full on camouflage gear, with backpacks, tripods and hunks of electronics that I think have to be the god of the camera world with lenses three feet long.  It was crazy.  I took my few shots and got out of there.

Then on Monday, my friend, Annie....otherwise known as amazing party planner, put together a little Valentine's party for our playgroup.  My kids didn't mess around when it came to cookie decorating....or they made a big mess but ate lots of sugar in the process.

 And I made the mistake of throwing out Addison's stash today....although I didn't admit it to her when she went looking for it today.  So baby girl, when you learn to read and you come across this post years later, yes, it was me and I take full blame. 

But I can make you a mean peanut butter cup cookie to make you forget about it real quick.

 and the random pic of the post....

Addison's recent etch a sketch art work.....she is really into drawing people lately.

This is Graham, in case you can't tell.

 And I do have to brag on my husband who totally came through on Valentine's Day.

I have stopped expecting or even really hoping for gifts on a day that Andy has always complained is way over marketed.  He surprised me this year though by booking me for the La Costa Spa on Sunday.

My massage is at 2pm, but when you get a massage there, you get access to the resort for the entire day.

They open at 8:30 and I will be there with magazines, a huge smile on my face, ready and waiting at 8:29.

Ringing in 2012

My parents generously scheduled their departing flight on New Year's Day so they could watch the kids while Andy and I got out for some adult time.

Well, I don't know that they did that intentionally, but we sure took advantage of the free & available babysitting on NYE.

This group of beautiful girls that I've been blessed with here love to throw a party.

Especially one with a theme.

We were all just excited to be able to get out on New Year's, but Amanda & Karen took it to the next level with Fondue & New Years around the world.

We were supposed to bring an appetizer and bottle of wine from our assigned country.

Our country was Brazil.

and I am a total slacker.

I printed off a pic of Brazilian wine and taped it to my Malbec.

Hey, at least I got the continent right.

I made a spicy black bean dip from my new favorite cookbook.

But I was at least kind of authentic because Brazil is famous for black beans.

Or so I learned yesterday on Google.

Amanda & Karen of course went ALL out.

I really don't know where they find the time.

Karen has a NEWBORN, I might add.

 They had fun facts from each country that we were supposed to pay attention to so we could attempt to win a fabulous prize basket.

Unfortunately, by the time the game came around, the wine was beginning to take it's toll.

Even my bonus points couldn't help me.

 There was a LOT of laughing though.

 I really don't even want to know what these guys put in the fondue pot to get it going, but they were over here for a while.

 Hard at work

Got it Matt!

 Joy & Karen

 Then it was Andy's turn to take the camera.

 Happy New Year!!!!!

Thank you friends for the best New Years Eve we've had in a long time.
Hope that 2012 brings everyone lots of joy and time with those you love.

Thankful

Last night we joined 8 other couples for an adults only early celebration of Thanksgiving.

It was one of the greatest evenings that both Andy and I will remember for quite a while.

There was one kiddo there, but 10 day old Cooper was more than welcome.

I sensed a bit of baby fever from quite a few of the girls.  

And my husband held on to him for over an hour.

I'm just saying.....

Karen got to enjoy her first glass of wine post baby and we all know what a big celebration that is!

Paige and Frank went all out, roasting the turkey,opening their beautiful and SPOTLESS home, and setting two beautiful tables to accommodate everyone.  

The food.

Oh my goodness the food.

Andy and I are still raving about it today.

He said that he weighed himself after work (who does that by the way?)

and weighed himself again after dinner.

He gained 8 pounds.

Sitting around the dinner table, we had the best time.

Let me just say it has been a LONG time since I have shared dinner with this many friends and no kids, maybe over 3 years.  That's how old Addison is.

Stew and Andy made quite the cleaning team.

Why doesn't this happen at my house?

My favorite part of the night was after dinner.

We all went into the living room and went around, sharing what we were thankful for.

It's the kind of activity that you hesitate doing together because it sounds "cheesy" and cliche, but it was an amazing thing.  Every one of us is so blessed.

We all agreed that life is hard, but God is good.

Our cups runneth over.

I've said it before and I"ll say it again.

Andy and I are both amazed at how God has richly blessed us with friends and relationships.

The kind of friendships that feel like they've existed for years instead of months.

We are so thankful.

3rd time's a charm

Last night Addison changed her mind about her costume for the 3rd time.

For 2 months all she talked about was Sleeping Beauty.

This worked out fine because we had her in our dress up drawer.

I did splurge on a crown and shoes.

When they arrived, she decided that Sleeping Beauty was so last week and the Little Mermaid was more her style.

So I bribed her with an Ariel costume to do something that we've been working on for almost a year now.  Details aside, we are now finally FULLY potty trained and she wore Ariel to the party on Saturday.

Then yesterday, she decided she was over that too, and asked for Tinkerbell.

She pulled that one out of the dress up drawer as well, so whatever works.

Justin Bieber was exhausted after wearing his costume all day to work (OH YES, he DID)

so he went incognito to Annie's Halloween party.

The kids had lots of fun burning off some energy before Trick or Treating

Ryder was an alien from Toy Story and I couldn't get enough of his hat.

I don't think he could either.

 Autumn was representing Toy Story as well.

 I had bought Graham's Halloween costume months ago on Ebay and was so excited about it since he has been obsessed with Cars for just about his whole 2 year life.

It just really didn't go over so well.

So luckily, we found a last minute fill in.

He hated this unitard about just as much, but he was pretty much out of luck.

 I know I'm his mom, but I think he's pretty darn cute.

 He has also started to do the au natural "cheese" face.

 I told them to hug each other, so this is contrived, but they really do LOVE each other.

I love how well they play together and when I asked Addison who her best friend was, she told me "Graham".

 And Addison is pretty much Graham's only friend at this point, so that's a good thing.

 Then five minutes later, I caught this one real quick because I hadn't told them to do anything and they were just lovin on each other unsolicited.

 Makes my heart melt a little bit.

I mean, she is loving on him, right?

It kind of looks like a choke hold now that I'm looking at it closer.

 Quick group shot before the trick or treating festivities began

 and then it was game time.

 Hope you guys had a great Halloween!