Happy New Year!

So I feel like I should tell you that I have been sitting on this post for almost three weeks but I haven't posted because I was waiting for other pictures. Now I am just going to show you how awesome or New Years Eve was.

New Years Eve was Rockin!

We decided to have a little party with two of our closest family friends.

With all the kids, and no sitters.

Ben and I took down all the Christmas decorations and decorated the room in black, white, gold and silver.

My stylish and beautiful ladies.

Aren't they beautiful?

This and That

Hi. It's been a while.

It's been a long, eventful two weeks.

Let me explain,

There is no time.

Let me sum up,

"Buttercup is going to marry Humperdink in a little less than half an hour..."

No,

Wrong series of events.

Since we spoke last.

I turned 28.

Went to the Zoo with my family and had an excellent time.

Had the best cupcake of my life.

(True story)

Bought pretty things at Anthropologie for my Birthday.

Almost pulled out of building the house. :(

Ben gave his first midterm.

(it was harder than he thought)

Figured out a way to keep the house. :)

(fingers crossed they accept our new terms)

Ate more cake, and fondue

ooooh the fondue.

Had dinner with friends, twice.

Attended a Valentines Party for the girls

(Jocelyn helped make Valentines and cookies)

Hosted by the divine Jessica.

And finally... got a dog.

His name is Strider

Future King of Gondor

We know...

We're nerds.

We love him,

and he has only peed on the carpet twice.

POW 5

My man in Chucks and a Kilt.

The story on that later.

Good Day

Today was kind of wonderful.

I needed a wonderful day.

Maybe it was because I went to bed at 8PM the night before and slept until 7:30.

jealous?

Today

I read my scriptures

Yoga

Caught up on laundry

Made Molasses cookies with two little helpers and let them snitch as much as they want.

My house has never smelt so good... never.

Played, like really played with my kids, we had a tea party.

Brought Ben lunch and drove over to our house to check out the progress.

Made a fantastic side dish for the Ward Christmas Party

(mashed white sweet potatoes, red potatoes, rosemary, onions, garlic and butter)

It was fantastic

Discovered Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy is now on hulu.

Practiced counting with Jocelyn.

Did I mention my kids have not watched TV once today?

Now onto the party

Seriously how cute is this train? They passed out kits for the kids to make?

I don't think I will ever make a regular gingerbread house again.

The live nativity.

Jocelyn still in nursery was not actually supposed to be in it. When I told her she burst into tears. My very sweet friend Lisa grabbed a piece of tulle, stretched out a hole and ta-da instant Angel! The whole thing was wonderful.

Very sleepy baby up way passed her bed time.

Right now Ben is having a boys night, Tron with all the men from the activity.

I am here avoiding the dishes... and watching Grey's Anatomy.

Like I said, really good day.

Tea Party Love Maddy Cakes Style

The Delightful Michelle has showered her MaddyCakes love on our Tea Party.

Check it out!

Thanks Michelle! You are AMAZING!

*down the rabbit hole

Follow the white rabbit...

Alice, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, The Red Queen, the White Rabbit and

the Mad Hatter are waiting to greet you.

*Jeri pic

Don't be late for a very important date

Curiouser and Curiouser

How about a nice cup of tea?

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers...

Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?

How's *this* for muchness?

"Up above the world you fly, like a tea tray in the sky. Twinkle twinkle..."

Goodbye, sweet hat.

This is impossible... Only if you believe it is.

*Jeri pic

This party is something Jeri and I have been dreaming about for months. It was to be Simone's birthday party but since there was still three feet of snow on the ground it became an unbirthday party and photo shoot. For the next three months we planned and searched and dreamed. The brilliant Maggie joined our team and together we were able to put together that was magic. (Crazy, but magic)

I would love to say it was for the girls, but that would be a lie, It was for us, our children were merely props,

(but they didn't mind in the least).

Maggie made all the little notes that quoted Alice in Wonderland:

Curiouser and Curiouser

Where is your Muchness?

Eat Me

And shared with us her beautiful tea pot she got in Italy. (She has loads of beautiful things from Italy) She also provided the colorful lamps in the background from the dollar store and had little candies around the table.

Jeri made mini cupcakes and found hats so that our girls could dress up like all the characters. She raided her house and brought so many little treasures, cake stands, bunting, beautiful vases.

The tea sets were from Ikea (an early birthday present that Jocelyn will get in two months) The tissue Pom Poms were left over from Brooke's birthday and hung in our living room until the party started. I made the cookies and decorated our little vignette. It was so much fun collecting things that reminded us of the Mad Hatter and Alice. I decoupaged the clock with scrapbook paper (now it hangs in the girls room. And the bottles used to hold frightening pickled veggies until Jeri dumped them out and filled with colored water. The hydrangeas were gifted from a neighbor (aren't they delicious?) The felt white Rabbit is a beloved treasure made by my mother who also made the dresses that Brooke and Joce wore. (They were mine when I was little)

It was an honor to play dress up with these ladies.

Now, what’s next?

To see more wonderful images from this party here and here.

photo of the week 32

we had a little party over the weekend

more pictures soon

I have the most talented friends

more tea party bloggin love

Our little tea party has received a little more love bloggin love

check it out!

Dear Miss Brooks

Last week you turned one.

We had a little party in your honor

with some friends

and cupcakes of course

You didn't need any instruction on how to eat them

You were a Pro

then we opened some presents

you had some help, LOTs of help

You are our big little girl now and we love you!

Mad Skills at the age of One

Walking/Running

You say "Hi" (sort of)

Lots of grunting (like a cave baby)

Eat everything we put in front of you (thanks for that by the way)

You love babies, your pink kitty and your new stroller

Splashing in the Bath (but you don't like any other bodies of water)

PS you scream every time you turn the shower on yourself

Your light up for Dad, Jocelyn and Me

Last night your sister crawled into bed with you and you both slept like angels

You liked to be chased in circles around the kitchen

"No" means "go faster"

You are endlessly fascinated by all toilets (we wash your hands a lot)

you can go backwards downstairs (with minor assistance and complete supervision)

You giggle with a deep alto voice

your hair sort of looks like David Bowie in Labyrinth but were so excited you have any at all!

You go to sleep easily by yourself almost every night

You are calm and sweet and such an angel baby.

You make us so happy.

Love, mom

look to your right

Do you see something new?

I do

I am so excited to be featured on

check it out!

PS I LOVE this website

more giddy jumping dancing

this time in the kitchen

photo of the week 29

Happy Birthday Lena!

We adore you! (your parents too)

featured on Maddycakes

The wonderfully talented and eye candy filled party site Maddycakes Muse featured my tea party!

go check it out here.

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Yahoo!!!!!

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I may have done a crazy dance of Joy while the girls were taking a bath

polka dots and pinwheels inspiration board

Miss Brooks is going to be one in just a few short weeks and my mind is racing about how to celebrate it. I put together a few images to help keep my thoughts on track as we prepare for my baby to become a toddler

Do you have any ideas that would be fun?

the hats

All day I kept reciting this poem in my head

Amazing... every single one

and seriously... how cute are the women in my church?