Abbie and Nina Sleep Over!

Jack and I were so lucky to get to spend a day and night with Abbie and Nina. Arne and Beth had a fun wedding to attend and we got to have the girls!

We met Arne and the girls at their school where Abbie was doing a cheerleading routine at halftime of a basketball game. (Btw, I was impressed that their uniforms were t-shirts and gym shorts and not skimpy little outfits.) Afterwards, we went out to lunch at Chili's with Sally. After not having been to a Chili's for several years, I have gone there twice in two weeks! 

^there is our cheerleader!

Abbie, Sally, Nina and Jack

After lunch, Nina rode with Sally to pick up Matt and Otto so they could all come to our house and hang out. Abbie rode with me and Jack. Abbie is working on a report on Annie Oakley for her third grade class and she shared with us all sorts of interesting information about Annie. It was fascinating! When we got back, Abbie began writing a book about Annie Oakley's life. It was pure joy to watch her do that, with such energy and enthusiasm. Nina decided she also wanted to write a book and chose to write hers about the Peabody ducks. She loved that Jack had a video on his phone that he took of the ducks at the Peabody in Memphis. 

our writers

This morning we had a gourmet breakfast at the McDonald's at the nearby oasis. We sat at the window while we ate and watched the cars zoom down the highway below us. Simple pleasures! We gave them Susie's old point and shoot camera. We took out the memory card (have not really looked at what is on there; not quite ready for that) and Jack got them a new one. Abbie is developing an interest in photography and has an eye for it. We want to encourage that!

great seating

One of the best parts was catching up with Arne and Beth when they came to pick up the girls. 

chillaxin'

Abbie and Nina are getting so grown up. They are responsible, polite and helpful. It is a privilege to be a part of their lives.

Frigid February Friday

It is frigid February and there is not much we can do about it. We had another day off of school yesterday because of wind chills at -25.
Aw geez.
Today the weather was a bit better, but the wind chill was fine for schools to be open but still too low to walk this morning. Jean and I will not chance walking in wind chills below -10. That's our limit. It was -13, so I got back under the covers and slept some more. It is interesting that I feel so much better and I am so much more organized when I have my morning therapy/walk.
All in all, it was a fine Friday. I love my Friday friends (those talented folks with whom I spend my Fridays)
Today was made ever so much better by the gift of Julie and Wayne's wedding pictures! The link to all 555 of them arrived today via email and I have had the best time looking through them. I love reliving the day!!
Here is one of my favorite pictures:

opening his present from Julie

In this picture, Wayne has just opened the watch...see previous post about Wayne's watch. Love the emotion that is captured!!
Here is another great one:

praying over the bride, minutes before the ceremony

I can't wait to share more pictures from this amazing day.
These photographs certainly have brought a bright ray of sunshine into this cold winter day and have reminded me of how much God has blessed me and my family.

Relaxation weekend

Jack and I have enjoyed one of the most relaxing weekends ever. It doesn't hurt that it is a 3 day weekend (Presidents Day). Wayne and Julie have been in Breckenridge and Sally is in Florida with Lauren visiting Jack's dad. Many of our friends (and therefore our social life) were also out of town and so it was just us.

We started the weekend off on Friday with a movie, Fifty Shades of Grey. I read the trilogy and thought the storyline was good. Not particularly well written, but an interesting look at a damaged guy. It made for a pretty steamy movie. 

On Saturday, Valentines Day, we did a little grocery shopping and had awesome homemade lunch (incredible BLTs made by Jack) and delicious dinner (beef tenderloin filets, homemade twice baked potatoes and asparagus. We had See's candies for dessert (LOVE See's!). 

On Sunday, we slept in and went to 11am mass. We had leftovers for lunch and did a Target run together. We topped off our exciting day by watching a Sunday edition of The Bachelor! We had totally forgotten it was a two night event (!) until Sally reminded us via phone. 

Yaaay for a chill weekend, a time to recharge and catch our breath. 

Happy Valentines Day!

I am so blessed to spend another Valentines Day with the love of my life and my best friend. I don't take for granted for one minute the relationship that Jack and I have. Van Morrison's song, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" captures my feelings perfectly. 

In good times and in bad, Jack can always make me smile. 

I love my honey. 

Happy birthday, Bob!

me and Mary with the selfie stick. Not too steady by this point in the night!

Yesterday was Matt's dad's birthday. Bob and Mary graciously invited Matt, Sally, Jack and me for dinner. Mary said she let Bob choose the menu and playlist for the evening since it was his bday and he was cooking. It was a total Polish fest! I can't even name all the items on the menu, but they were delicious! Pierogi, golombka (sp?!), cabbage soup... Yum!

I have no pictures of Bob because he does not like to have his picture taken and I honored that. But I do have to share a picture of the tray that Bob made for us for a Christmas present. How gorgeous is this??

such incredible craftsmanship

Bob and Mary are such great in-laws to Sally. So blessed that they are great friends and family to us as well! 

Pizza Lessons

Jack and I hosted a pizza making class on Friday. The two students? Lauren and Sally. They had both been wanting to learn how to make the homemade pizza that I have been making for the last 8 or 9 years. I learned how to make them via Jean. The crusts are a little tricky because of the yeast and all the necessary equipment. Once you have made the investment and know how to do it, they are the most tasty, fun and easiest to make pizzas ever.

Lauren, Sally and Otto arrived around 5:30 and I showed the girls how to make crusts. I had some other crusts that I had made earlier in the week that we used for our dinner so we didn't have to worry about the rising time. The first pizza we made was Gorgonzola, fig jam and prosciutto, then just a typical cheese and sausage. Matt arrived around 7:30, having just gotten back in town from NYC, just in time to eat. 

It was one of my most fun Friday nights! 

making the crusts!

selfie stick pic 

Snow Day

It's our third snow day this winter. It's definitely justified. It was blizzard-y all yesterday afternoon and evening. Today it's sunny and the sky is cloudless and the brightest blue, but there's tons of digging out to do.