Traditions

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas time is to get together with a group of ladies that I used to work with at Resources For Child Caring. It was about 10 years ago! We met at RCC, we were all case managers. One of them is my so called twin Stacy the other two lovely ladies are Bert and Janet. Now Bert and Janet are my mom's age - they are like "cool mom's". They are a complete hoot! We have been through a lot with these ladies birth of our kids, their grandkids, surgeries, retirement, etc, etc.
Let me give you a little more dish on these relationships that Stacy and I hold with Janet and Bert. Many many years ago, we took them to the Gay 90's, we have had sleepovers at Janet's cabin, we still need to get to Bert's. When Stacy and I left RCC to work at another job we bought them thong underwear as a joke - remember these are women that are my mom's age. I would never buy my mother a thong! Well, one of them actually wore them!
I honestly cannot remember when we started this Christmas dinner tradition it had to be years ago. We always get together about a week or two before christmas for dinner.
The reason that this tradition is so awesome - is that none of us work at RCC any more. Bert and Janet are retired and actually fly away for the winters. I'm at the salon and Stacy is a busy stay at home mom. It shows that traditions can be made not just with your family but your extended family and they truly are my extended family.
We talk about everything with these ladies from work, being mom, wives, menopause, hot flashes, grandkids - i mean everything if you know what i mean. We can talk for hours and have such a blast!
I am truly thankful for these wonderful ladies that are part of my life and that I call my "family".
This year we chose Wild Fire for our annual dinner - it was wonderful. We met on Sunday at 5:30pm and I did not get home until after 9:30pm! Here are some pictures from that evening:

All four of us - not sure what the waiter did with this pic:


Janet and Bert:


Bert and Stacy:


Janet and I:


Stacy and I:

Let the games begin:



The ladies were looking at Stacy's scarf I was trying to take a pic and told Bert to get in closer. She did and basically
sat on top of the people next to us!






Needless to say - we had a fabulous time catching up on family, life and everything else in between. We laughed, we cried because we were laughing so hard and more laughing! I can't wait for next year!
xoxo

Thanksgiving!

I hope that you had a wonderful thanksgiving with your family and friends. i sure did! This year it was only my family, my mom (since my dad is out of the country) and my little sister.
The menu was this: Apricot Glazed Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yankee sweet potatoes, squash and sauteed green beans! What a feast and we have so much to be thankful for!

Yummy!

Tyler and the food drive

Last week Tyler came home from school and handed me a piece of paper. The paper stated that the school was having a food drive - he kept telling me "mom, I have to bring food to school". I was like sure we will get it done. Well, by Thursday I was gently reminded by my son, mom I need to have this food to give to people that don't have any. He was very concerned and determined.
It was so sweet to see how passionate he was about the food drive and getting that food to school by the end of the week! I thought to myself - he gets it. He is understanding that there are families out there that need help and are not as fortunate as our family.
We went down to the pantry and picked out some items so he could bring them to the food drive at school the next day. He was so proud that he was doing something to help others! That's my boy!

Fathers and Daughters

The other night while I was cooking dinner, I found these two playing UNO in the living room. It was just so sweet the two of them hanging out together. I thought to myself that Mira is a very lucky girl! She is lucky because her father loves her unconditionally, he spends time with her, he teaches her, he encourages and he also corrects her when she is wrong. That alone makes me love this man even more! I wanted to share the lyrics of Fathers and Daughters by Paul Simon. Ron loves this song and way way in the future when Mira gets married Ron will request that this be played for the father and daughter dance.




If you ever leap awake
In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second
You can't remember where you are
Just open your window
And follow your memory upstream
To the meadow in the mountain
Where we counted every falling star

I believe the light that shines on you
Will shine on you forever
And though I can't guarantee
There's nothing scary hiding under your bed
I’m gonna stand guard
Like a postcard of a Golden Retriever
And never leave till I leave you
With a sweet dream in your head

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you'll get a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

Happy Halloween!!

I know I'm very behind with my posts -sorry. We had a halloween celebration at my sisters house : here are some pictures

Mira getting her done at Details Salon (where I work) in DT St.Paul, hair done by Brian Horst ( my boss and brother in law)



Liza's cheese ball goblin

My pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

The best for last - the kids:

Miras Bday Party at the American Girl Doll Store in the MOA

Mira decided this past spring that she wanted her 6th bday party to be at the American Girl Doll store at the MOA. She invited three of her friends and I was lucky to invite three of mine. It just happens to be that her three best friends mom's happen to be three of my best friends.
We decided to have an early dinner there, hoping to miss a mad rush of little girls. How could one not love this place, as a little girl? Everywhere there where dolls, fun clothes, pink, pink!!
We met her friends at the Bistro and of course each of the them brought their dolls. Last year Mira picked out Julie for her birthday. Julie is a little girl that lives in San Fransico and is from the 70's. She is a very free spirited, outgoing lady. That is so Mira.
The girls were able to sit by their dolls and the dolls got little treats, really?. That was a little weird but the girls thought it was soo cool. The girls decided to drink lemonade, you can to choose an appetizer and your main course. Mira went with the fruit kabob and chicken tenders with mac-n-cheese. For dessert we had the chocolate fondue with brownies, pound cake and strawberies -they LOVED that!
We shopped at the store after the party, Mira picked out Julie's christmas outfit and her basketball outfit. She truly is her fathers daughter. I knew that Ron would get a kick out of that it was the first outfit she picked out. That's my little girl! She also picked out the miniture Rebecca doll.
To top it off at the end of the night as we were leaving. There was a mad rush of kids, well there was Sponge Bob, did the girls go wild. It was as though they saw a rock star! They of course, got their picture with him!
Happy Birthday Mira!

The birthday girl:


Mira and her besties:





Dinner:

Birthday Celebrations at Barrio!!!

Today is my dear friend Taffy's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAFFY!! I have known Taffy for close to 11 years. We met at one of my first lovely county funded jobs as a case manager. Well, our birthdays are a week apart. About 9 years ago we decided that each year for our birthdays, we would go out to a nice dinner, basically an excuse for a girls night out. One year we saved money and bought new Coach bags. Then two years ago we decided to celebrate for my big 35 and her 40 we went to Mexico. Yes, we will need to go back someday, maybe for my 40th? Or now! Because I truly need a vacation.
This year instead of the two of us doing dinner, I thought it would be fun to get a group of us and go to Barrio DT St.Paul. That place is my new love. Love it , Love it. Great atmosphere, food and drinks.
Well, needless to say we did party that night. If you know me, I have not been crazy since I have had kids, would you say that I have slowed down a bit? I'll let you make the decision. I hope I do not offend anyone that actually might read my blog, I think there is just a handful of my friends. It has been a crazy few weeks. So, we let it loose. Well, actually everyone did!

Here are pictures of our night:

Taffy and I


Our bday martini glasses - thanks Taffy!


My girls:










A few birthday toasts:








Taffy and Fred


Ron and I


Taffy and her BOYFRIENDS



Just having FUN













What a fun and crazy night. By the way, we did close down the bar that night. Really!