Wordless Wednesday~ Preschooler doodles

Annual Martini Night 2015

I can't believe another year has passed and another annual martini night was upon us...the night where we get together to celebrate all things girl talk... laugh, have fun and this year...dance!

We switched it up this year and tried a new place, The Stuffed Olive. Great service, wonderful food and pretty good martinis.  This year I opted for the Fruit Loop and the French Kiss,;the Fruit Loop being my favorite and a definite for next year.

It just so happened I needed a thousand more steps to meet my daily fitbit goal so after drinks we headed upstairs to dance.  You know that line, dance like nobody's watching? Well, we had the place to ourselves, so literally no one was watching... a great opportunity to bust out dance moves from 1999.

I love these nights with my girls and it's definitely a successful night when your side hurts from laughing and your feet hurt from dancing.  Can't wait for next year!!

Group shot:

This was fun...and tasty.

Fishbowl selfie...

A great way to welcome 2015!

Happy New Year!

This year we hosted our friends for a game night!  After working all day I was looking forward to staying in and enjoying New Year's Eve as a family.

I attempted my friend, Wendy's, stuffed mushrooms and am making a note so I remember to make for next year... They turned out delicious and very easy!

Wipe off mushrooms and core out stems
Make 1 box Stove Top Stuffing according to package
Add LUMP crab meat (2 cans)
Add 1/2 bag shredded moz
Mix ingredients and stuff mushrooms. Add to baking dish and top with extra shredded moz cheese. Bake for 20 min. at 350.  Voila!

The girls were so excited for the countdown and 'champagne' toast. We did that with them at 9 so they could get snuggled in with a movie.  It worked out great until they actually tasted the sparkling grape juice.  Not fans!  Reagan doesn't drink pop so I think the fizz threw her off. Regardless, it was hilarious to capture their expressions.

Of course we had to prep with decorations and it's not truly a holiday unless a cookie cake is involved!

I actually lasted until midnight this year! 

Here's to a joyous, happy, healthy 2015!!!

Christmas Part 4~ Christmas with friends!

We celebrated our fourth and final Christmas with our besties Davy and Nette Friday night. It's a fun tradition we started that Rea has grown to love....and us too!  As usual, we had plenty of good eats and tasty drinks...  Such a fun night with friends!


A competitive game of Jenga to start off our festivities...

Rea loves her honorary Uncle and Auntie...

A new yoga mat! Rea loved it!

Kids yoga DVD- I see lots of yoga fun in our future...

Such a fun wine name!

And with that... Christmas 2014 is a wrap!

Firsts

Reagan has been asking me for some time to go ice skating. Not being the coordinated type, I was balking at the thought of putting on ice skates and trying to maneuver the ice while holding onto her... Then Nette came to the rescue and said she would love to take Rea ice skating! 

Reagan was pretty hesitant at first... after about 10 minutes she declared, "I love ice skating mommy!" Success!  She ended up skating for 30 minutes and did really great holding on to the railing and even branching out in free skate with Nette. A fun time for sure! And who knows, maybe next time I'll even try the skates!

Since the forecast called for chilly temps, we decided to schedule Reagan's first (full blown) pedicure afterwards to warm us up.  She thought it was so fun and giggled through the whole thing.... she had a gift certificate to use from her birthday.  A special treat!

They said Reagan did such a great job that they did her fingernails for free. Rea was ecstatic!

Such a fun girls day!

Christmas Part 3

We spent Christmas afternoon at Andy's parents house. Such a nice, relaxing day...the perfect end to our Christmas celebration. 

Reagan was so excited to open her (many times requested!) Barbie pool and Barbies from her cousins...

So thankful to spend the holidays with family!

Christmas Part 2~ Merry Christmas!

Reagan was so excited for Santa to come this year... she kept trying to convince me she needed to meet him in person, you know, to properly thank him for her gift. Sweet notion but not going to happen. I read the real Christmas story to her on Christmas eve and we talked about what it means to celebrate Jesus' birthday. 

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa:

Modeling her new Christmas Pjs that she wanted to wear all of 5 minutes...still adorable though!

It was so fun to see her reaction on Christmas morning...she started shaking when she saw her Barbie house. Definitely worth the 4 plus hours of labor love we poured into putting it together.  Andy wins daddy of the year award for his mastery.

Checking out her stocking loot...

2014 Family shot...

As I reflect on this Christmas season I'm reminded once again how truly lucky and fortunate we are... family and friends to love, a warm home, plenty of food and prayers of thanks.  Merry Christmas to all!  God bless!