She's gonna BLOW!

The past two weeks have been filled with dozens of cookies for my cookie party, boxes full of disposable dishes for dinners that I hope were edible for some families I wanted to try and help, and my friends' kids have been over for playdates or babysitting. So, after two solid weeks of people (or kids) at my house EVERY day, I dropped my kids off at Chad's and Beth's to head to Vegas for 2 days with Chris at his SOMOS (Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons) conference. We got an idea of where we could be shipped off to in June, met up with our friends Carol and Kevin Stephens for a dinner out at the Venetian, and flew back Saturday morning to throw Brooklyn her first ever "birthday party". Aka: a bunch of food and a few girls! Anyway, I'm back in the saddle again with a list of 'to do's' that is going to make my head explode.

Cookie Palooza

This is my last cookie party here in Lacey (unless I fly in for it next year). Between AZ and here I've been doing this for 8 years. I love it!!


We had a contest for the best tasting and these were our winners:
Cream Wafers

Cookie Candy

Prettiest:
White Chocolate Peppermint

The rest:
Cranberry Pinwheels

Peanut Butter Buckets

York Peppermint Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies (x2)

Coconut Macaroons (What was left of them)

German Chocolate Cookies

Tears to my Eyes

My kids may not always be 'presentable', they may complain, they may whine, they may be a little (lot) mischievous at times, but they know how to clean a toilet. I haven't completely failed as a mother!

Chevy Chase Christmas Tree

We had a Chevy Chase moment this year as we hunted for our Christmas tree. It was as if a pillar of light shone down and told us which one to cut. Okay, okay...it wasn't quite that dramatic, but almost. It was the biggest one around and the kids and I wanted it desperately - flaws and all. Chris and I 'discussed' whether it would fit or not, but I prevailed and we got the tree anyway. Well, it didn't fit and Chris had to cut about a foot off the bottom. It takes up a ton of space, but what's space anyway? The kids took pictures of everything for me, which was a good thing, because after 'discussing' and decorating, I was busy raiding my chocolate stash to make it through the rest of the evening.

Work off that Turkey

Yesterday we went for a hike in the Olympic National Forest up to Lena Lake. It was 3 miles into the lake, and then 3 back out. The kids hiked the whole thing (except for about 1/2 a mile where Chris had to carry Braden). They did great! We were in and out in less than 5 hours.

Thanksgiving

Wives and girlfriends of the Orthopedic Doctors at Madigan decided (Yes, yes...after my suggestion) that we do service for those active duty and prior military patients on the various surgical services at Madigan during the holidays. Thanksgiving was our first go at it. I was overwhelmed with baked good and some cash donations for treats, but...it ended up being Chris, the kids and I who spent nearly 2 hours this morning getting the final touches put on everything and delivered throughout the hospital. I have to say that it was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had.

Marcia Lynn McClure Party

FYI: Chris is not thrilled with this post. He wasn't too excited about my "kissing book club party" either. But...it was fun!

Okay...thanks once again to my nuerotic cousin Tia...I threw another themed party. For all those lovers of Marica Lynn McClure (Tia, Keeley, Carol, Stephanie & I) here are the picks for our movie casting:

According to Carlie:

According to Keeley:

According to Carol:

It all began with Pumpkin Pie

12 years ago...just 2 months after getting married, I made pumpkin pies with a girl I'd just met in the NAU young married ward in Flagstaff, in her little studio apartment/dorm room. 12 years later, I consider her a better, dearer friend than I did back then. And...as an example of how awesome she is...she flew up here to Seattle last weekend for the most incredible Girls Weekend EVER!! I love you Carol!

P.S. The following pictures are NOT approved by Carol :)

Movie Night 1996

Carol's surprise b-day party: 10 Dec 1997

I stole these Seattle pics from Carol. We WALKED all through downtown Seattle, shopping, going to movies, shopping...

Here are some funky robes from our hotel...

Poor Carol - I was scared to be doing a lot of this without Chris, but we managed to get the car on a ferry across the Sound from Seattle toward the Peninsula then back down around the Sound again toward my house.

We tried SO many time to get a shot of Mt. Rainier before Carol left, and this is the one she got from her plane back to AZ.

Until next year...