My husband and I usually do not do anything fancy for Valentine’s Day, maybe some candy and chocolates and a special homemade dinner. But this year when I saw a Living Social Deal for a Wine Tasting for 2, I couldn’t pass it up.
We went on Saturday afternoon the day after Valentine’s Day for or Valentine’s Date and since it was downtown we were quite excited about walking around, taking pictures and enjoying our time together. So that is how I decided to share our evening, in pictures.
Love you Honey!
So thankful for a loving, funny, caring husband.
I love you Craig you are my soulmate, a gift from God.
I almost can’t believe how quickly it is all over with, this Christmas rush, gathering with family and friends… all of it. So much anticipation then it comes and goes like a flash. We enjoyed this Christmas so much and created lots of memories.
Homemade Christmas cards, the fun was in taking them, especially with a funny lil guy making us all crack up.
The Annual Women-of-My-Family Cookie Exchange: We exchanged a variety of different types of cookies this year and we had some newcomers to the cookie exchange as well.
A wonderfully uncrowded trip to the “big” Museum, on a gorgeous day in December:
Many, many, many hours on our 1 and only Black Friday deal – Monopoly – Electronic edition!
All in all, it has been fantastic. We also had the privilege of attending an wonderfully touching Christmas Eve Service, so blessed!
For New Years Eve I treated my dear husband to a pan seared steak (thanks to Sean and Debbie for the great Emeril cast iron pan), creamed spinach, baked potatoes and salad. We ate by candlelight while the kids had their own New Year’s Eve party in their room, taquitos, doritos, candy and all. We gathered at 10 to pop the Martinellis and countdown. One of the best NYE’s ever!
4 Days at the Lake – that is what we did this past weekend. The boys ran, explored, fished, and played at the beach. They loved every minute. Preston says his favorite part was the s’mores, lol. There is really nothing like the taste of a perfectly browned marshmallow. We ate delicious food like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, cherries, grapes, cheese and of course, s’mores.
We learned that Preston is a natural fisherman.
We stayed in a cabin by the lake.
Dinner: Rib-Eye, Hot Dogs and Corn
Oliver roasting marshmallows
The boys enjoying a ride on the lake with my cousin and his totally cool boat.
Cousins creating art with markers and paper, the perfect afternoon break activity.
Tis the season for get togethers in all shapes and forms. Last weekend I had a relaxing, fun time with my Mom, Sister, Aunts and Cousins, Sister in Law and her Mom and Daughter too. What a nice time we had, it was our annual Christmas Cookie Exchange.
We each made a 6 dozen cookies and other goodies to share, see my recent article at Social Moms on how to host a Cookie Exchange.
My cousin made enchiladas while my Mom whipped up chips, delicious salsa, and the best guacamole. We had conversation, yummy food and door prizes! I won a really nice apron, I was so happy – I never win anything!
Extended list of goodies:
Carmelitas
Homemade Twinkies
Buck Eye Balls
Black and White Cookies
Peanut Butter bars with Chocolate Granache
White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Pretzels
Pizzelles
Blondies
Chocolate Cookies
Homemade Fudge
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Matzo Toffee
No Bake Cookies
Rocky Road Bars
I highly recommended doing this with the ladies in your life! It is the perfect break from all the hustle and bustle.
All the beautiful women who participated, love you ladies!
My oldest turned 8 this past week and we did things a little different this year. Usually we do the whole party thing, but I thought it was time for some more meaningful time with people he loves. I asked him if he wanted to have each Grandma take him on a date and then we would let him choose a friend to take to our local amusement center.
He loved the idea and so I let our families know the scoop, they were game!
The night before his birthday my Mom picked him up and they headed straight for the “toy aisle”. Preston picked out his favorite toy – building bricks. He picked out a Star Wars set and a Transformer set. Then they headed to his favorite restaurant of all time, Country Buffet. My boy loves steak, potatoes and salad, he is in heaven there. Next they headed to the shoe store for some new tennies and for one more special treat, they went to her house and built one of his new sets together. He had a fantastic time!
The following morning was his birthday so I made him smiley face pancakes complete with M & M eyes.
After breakfast we headed to his favorite playground for some serious fun.
That evening we had Bible Study and so we took tie-dye cupcakes to share with friends.
The weather here in Colorado is crazy! One day it is 70 , the next it is snowing and freezing, then back to 70 the next day. Seriously!
Last week on one of the so-so days we had some fun outside. Wasn’t too cold, wasn’t too hot.
The boys did floor puzzles on the sidewalks, we colored the sidewalks with chalk. We ate lunch on a blanket in the grass, fun! To top it off… the boys went for the costume drawer, which is always a hit.
Recently, thanks to Living Social I had a fantastic afternoon out with my Mom and Sister. I must say that since Groupon started it all, we have been able to do things we would never do.
This deal was for a painting class that includes a glass of wine, so it is called Painting and Sipping. Sounded fun. I have always wanted to paint on canvas but would never, ever go buy all the supplies. We have plenty of poster paint, finger paint and water colors but nothing fancy.
This was a great opportunity to get my hands dirty so to speak.
I sent the link to my Mom and she was in, she also bought one for my sister to join us. You can go to their website and look at a calendar and see the subject that is to be taught that day. Some are flowers, Van Gogh, Water Sunsets, French Rivera, Snowflakes, Dandelions, Sisters, and some others.
We went to a session they call “Standing Tall”… Here is the artists picture:
Sipping and Painting
The studio is located in LoHi (Lower Highlands) close to the restaurant Lola. We walked into a great space with rustic wood floors, high ceilings and artists stations set up everywhere.
Once everyone has put paint on a plate and had a seat, the artist goes up and starts instruction. She then walks around and helps you individually and returns to the front for the next step.
We all enjoyed it very much. It was really fun and relaxing.
Here are the final products (one note I must mention, our paint dried before we could blend so the reult with a bright flash looks like a striped background. To the naked eye the stripes are not that dramatic,*steps off of soapbox*):
my paintingMy Moms PaintingMy Sister's Painting
The do look lovely in our homes, what a great treasure packed with memories of a fun date with my Mom and Sis … Thanks Ladies!!
I highly recommend trying a painting class, just one session is fun! If you love it sign up for more.
I guess one thing about blessings in disguise, you don’t always see them right away.
Last summer and fall my husband was unemployed, looking for work. I had the opportunity to increase my hours at work and my husband became the primary caregiver during the day.
At the time I never truly stopped to think about what an awesome situation God presented us with, a time for a Dad to bond with his boys. I was steeped in work and admittedly, worried.
I am thinking about it now and thanking God for that time. I found pictures on the computer of their adventures together. What a time they had! Denver Art Museum
Museums, parks, mountains, rivers, library, downtown, you name it, they did it! I want to share some pictures and remind you that when you are going thru tough times God is always providing a ray of sunshine. Blessings in disguise. :O) Sam checking out the water Preston water balloons summer fun in the water kiddie train tracks A Visit to the Farmers Market at the pond Downtown Denver Fun at the Mall on the trail
Also so very thankful for a camera and a husband who wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
This time of year brings so many emotions. Reveling in family time together, enjoying evenings by the fire; attending Christmas concerts and plays, and strolling through the stores hoping to find the perfect gift for that someone special. Christmas can bring joy, peace and happiness but it can also bring stress, and depression.
Take this time to cherish friends and family. Don’t get bogged in what Christmas is not about. It is not about worrying. It is not about overspending. It is not about getting stuff, so to speak.
Christmas is about the birth of a Savior, about coming together and being thankful for all the wonderful gifts we have been given by God, family being at the top of the list. Slow down and relax. I know it is easier said then done. Try these tips to help ease the season and truly appreciate this time of year.
Take time each morning to pray and read the Bible or a Devotional. Ask for peace. Ask for direction and reminders of the reason for the season
Volunteer, be on the lookout to help someone. Know a family affected by unemployment, tragedy? Send them gift cards or deliver a care package to them anonymously. It feels good to help out, especially someone we know.
Treat yourself to a mid-day coffee or tea while you are out and about.
Don’t stress about sending out Christmas cards, go the easy route. Walgreens prints the CUTEST, custom cards around. They are colorful and unique. No more boring Christmas cards.
Don’t worry if you think you don’t have enough money to go around. Homemade gifts are making a comeback. Think jars from the Dollar Tree, add nuts or chocolates or mints, add a pretty ribbon. Everyone loves snacks!
Take in a Christmas concert and play. What a great to lose yourself in a live performance whether it is a choir singing carols or eclectic actors performing Christmas classics. A perfect way to unwind.
Host a few simplified events. Don’t get all fancy and involved. A cookie exchange is easy and a great way to enjoy friends and family around the holidays. Also, hold an Open House on a weekend. Invite people to stop in as they go about their holiday shopping. Finger foods can be whipped up in about 30 minutes. Serve cider, cocoa and tea.
Take a nap!! Or Two!
If you have children, create an Advent calendar. Each night gather the family for a Christmas story and a surprise from the Calendar. A nice way to top off each December evening.
Get a mani/pedi and if possible a message. NOTHING says peace and relaxation like being pampered! Look out for deals on Groupon or Mamapedia Sweet Deals.
In my family, the Fall means more than beautiful trees, colors, apples, pumpkins and cider. It also means it is time for green chiles to come up from Southern Colorado and New Mexico.
My mom used to get to actually go pick em with her parents but we just venture down the street to a temporary produce stand. The smell… AMAZING! Have you ever had fresh roasted chiles in your car? It is quite heavenly!
This year we chose a mix of Pueblo Mosca Hot and a Hatch Medium, we had them fired and bagged together, it makes for a nice mix.
The boys really enjoyed watching the process, we got to pick our chiles out and then the lady put them in the roaster and fired them up. Then we watched her pour them into a bag, then into our car. When we got home we bagged them, about 5-6 per bag, then froze them.
nice variety!yum!freshly roastedOliver watching the roasting
I happened to be making french bread pizza that night so I took a couple of chiles, chopped them up, added garlic salt, then spread on the bread after the sauce and before the cheese……. yum!
There are so many things you can put green chiles on, the possibilities are almost endless. I will be sure to post some recipes once I start pulling them out of the freezer.
Some more shots of the produce stand – the boys got to pick out a mini-pumpkin to decorate.
Chile Stand in SW DenverOliver found his pumpkinBoys with the pumpkins
