Valentine’s Day Late :)

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Ok, I know I’m a bit late but I have been busy doing fun things. I also have found a new way to add posts to my blog…testing it out today – Windows Live Writer. It already seems easier then posting directly to Blogger. At least the pictures are seeming easier to add.  We’ll see how it goes :)
My boys and I made Valentine cookies on the Sunday before the big day. I think they turned out really pretty and very tasty! The cookies are a basic sugar cookie but we used a cream cheese frosting on top…what a great combo…they weren’t over the top sweet (well, until we added all the red sugar and sprinkles that is!). I love getting the boys involved in the kitchen….my youngest loves making lasagna and my eldest loves making coconut shrimp, he even peels them! I think the real motivation is to help make food they Love to eat!
 

Above…my son wearing his appropriately colored shirt for the holiday and my new apron, not quite the right colors but it happened to match my sweater that day!! The apron is by Now Designs, a Christmas present from my hubby…finally I get it dirty!

Miss Bear likes when we bake!

Monday morning, Valentine’s Day, it was all about the red! I’ve been making a red table for my family for years now (I need to make or get a red tablecloth though, I keep stealing the boys red bed sheet, maybe for next year!!)…they always get a kick out of seeing what red things I find for them! I tried not to make it all chocolate because I’ll eat it all ;)  My Valentine’s day gift for my husband was supposed to be a beer tasting event (also a fundraiser) but it got cancelled due to all of the protests at the Capital…still waiting to hear when it will be rescheduled :( The good news is we just went on our Valentine’s date this past week….we saw an awesome concert and had a night away in Milwaukee…stay tuned, I’ll share that story in another post!!

Happy belated Valentine’s Everyone!

Business in the Front, Party in the Back!! Happy Birthday Cyndi!!

I'm so excited that I have finished my first "wordy" quilt ever!! It took a little playing to get it all together and quite a bit of improvisation! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I was going to make two house blocks for the front of the quilt - one of my friends house and one of mine because they are reversed colors--hers in white with purple trim and mine is purple with white trim....but alas I didn't have time. Her house became the focal point of the back of the quilt. I found a great Birthday fabric and a cupcake fabric that I just had to incorporate into the quilt because it's her 40th! I didn't want it screaming Birthday on the front but I was happy with it screaming on the back!! Ha...business in the front, party in the back....reminds me of my husband's hair in the 80's!!!!!

Happy 40th Birthday to my dearest friend, Cyndi!!

Ahhh....dreaming of spring!! Have a lovely day everyone!!

Weekend Highs!!

Hi everyone,

Have you ever had a weekend start on a high note and keep floating along for the whole next day? I'm hoping it will float right through today and go even higher!! Of course, there is a little bit of a low note (haven't heard from my really good friend in awhile and I think I have a cold coming on!)....but every song needs it's range of notes to make it interesting...a little sweet and salty right!?!? 

I have to say that playing a game with my kids can be so much fun but can also be challenging if you don't pick the right game! We had family night on Friday, starting off with Smoothies and America's Funniest Videos (normally it's "Smoothie and a Movie" but it had to be shortened for our game time..:) We decided on Charoodles for our game...what a fun game! The boys just love acting out the different topics, well we all do! It can have us rolling on the ground...so fun! We do skip the scoring though, just try to each beat the clock...makes it a little more relaxing!!

Saturday, I was up early and had a chance to continue work on my quilt project. I'm almost done with the top, I'm so excited to be moving along with it!! It is definitely not perfect but I think perfect can be a little sterile. I'm hoping to finish up the top this morning and start on the back. Of course we have plans this afternoon so I won't have as much time to get stuff done...better start soon!

Playing with the border!



A couple of my letters!



We also had a chance to help support our community yesterday but attending the Souper Bowl! This event is put on by Habitat for Humanity with the proceeds going to help their building projects for new homes for those in need. It is such a wonderful event, you get to choose a handcrafted ceramic bowl from an overflowing table of artsy vessels and then eat soup, salad, bread and homemade goodies. We also got to

listen to the music of the UW Marching Band and Jazz West. Bucky Badger even showed up to join in the fun! The boys had a great time and we did too! Looking forward to making this a yearly tradition...we'll just need to make space for all the awesome bowls!!

Today, of course is the real Super Bowl...we are just a little excited here at our house....Go Pack Go! We are off to my folks house for a big Super Bowl party this afternoon...I just really love going to a party and eating snacks and yelling at the TV...I get a little worked up though with our team playing so I may have to hide in the basement at the tense times and watch the Puppy Bowl! I am making Jalapeno Poppers wrapped in bacon and Nestle Toll House Chocolate and Cookie Crumb Bars (YUM)--adding M & M's for color!

I'll try to post the recipes and pictures if they turn out!!! Sorry, gotta say it again -- GO PACK GO!!!

Hope you all have a floating kind of day and week!!

Birdie