Happy Birthday Laura!

Happy Birthday Laura!

You Sexy Thing!

Laura and I became friends in High School. 

I have fond memories of driving around in her Jeep with the top off hollering at anyone that would listen, and having not a care in the world.

Good Times.

Little did we know....

Better times were in our future.

Laura was the first of The Girls to have a child. 

It may have been sooner than any of us had anticipated, but man did she make motherhood look like a breeze.  I remember watching her with her son Dominic and thinking....

Will I ever love someone as much as she loves that baby?

I was there the day she gave birth to her son. 

And she was there the day I gave birth to mine.

In fact- She not only was at the hospital, but she held my leg as my son came into the world. 

Our friendship grows stronger and stronger with every year that passes.

When I became pregnant with Jack, shortly there after, she became pregnant with Connor, and history repeated itself when we were pregnant with our daughters.

(Laura pregnant with Emma Kate-12weeks, Me pregnant with Madeline- (My water broke 6 hours after this photo)

There is something so special about being pregnant at the same time as one of your close friends.  It makes the whole experience even better.

You have someone to complain about your aches and pains, and someone to call when something crazy is going on somewhere in your body.  Someone to read you "What to Expect when you are Expecting" while you are in labor...to confirm you actually are in labor....(and because you bought the book....but didn't read a single page)

It should be said that there is more to Laura and Heidi than just Birthin babies....

Although....

She is the only woman I know that can make driving a Mini Van look Sexy.

That being said....

We still know how to have a good time.....

No matter

The occasion....

She is a true friend. 

I know that she will always be there for me.

Laura and I talk everyday.

Sometimes twice.

or more....

:)

And we still haven't run out of things to talk about.

Sometimes our days are hectic and our phone call happens after the kids are in bed.

Laura will call me from the tub.

Seriously.

The call goes something like this:

Me: Hey! What's up! I didn't hear from you today! What are you doin?
Laura: Nothin....Just got the kids down..having a glass of wine...
Me: In the Tub?
Laura: Totally.

;)

It takes a true friend to talk to you when she knows you are totally naked....
Or sitting on the toilet....

Either way...

(Hey!  You do what you gotta do!)

It's all about Multi Tasking...

I cherish our Friendship and am so thankful she is in my life.

She is honest and kind and thoughtful.

She will tell me not to buy those expensive shoes and to pay PG&E.

She is my husbands advocate when he occasionally needs one...

She is my sounding board, my advice giver, my advice taker.

She is my friend.

And I love her.

Happy Birthday Lor!

Here's to many, many more!

(it should also be said that Laura is the original picture whore...and had she been the poster of this post, she would have had pictures of our friendship from 1994-Present....she's awesome like that....and organized...  I on the other hand do what I can..... and in my defense....for what I lack in pictures, I made up for on Sunday when I started her Birthday week with Cheesecake Bars and Double Chocolate Brownies, Delivered.  So. There.)

Here Comes the Sun!

For the first time in weeks......

The Sun came out to play

And so 

did we!

Maddie could not get enough of the geese...

(outfit compliments of Aunt Mary)

:)

Jack-man could not get enough of everything....

So Glad Spring is on it's way!

Hope the weather stays!

...at least for a bit.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a high of 76...

Woot! Woot!

I wonder what the high will be in other cities...

;)

Have I mentioned that I love it here???

Friday Night!

One Bride 

One Matron of Honor

One Mac.

One Toshiba.

One glass of Red

One glass of White.

One Wedding less than 357 days away....

Let the research begin.

One of us is looking at Black Long Evening dresses that are waaaaaaay out of her price range.....

and 

One of us is looking at invitations online at Costco....

hmmmmm......

Wonder who is sitting in front of which computer.......

Happy Friday!

The weekend that just won't end....

Let's Review.

Friday:

Full day of prep-Shopping: Check

Lots of Chopping: Check

General Chaos: Check

Saturday:

More Chaos: Check

Bridal Shower: Check

 Bachelorette Party till 1 am: Check

Sunday:
Wake up too early with a *tiny* wine hangover: Check

Drive to South Lake Tahoe in worst storm conditions in years: Check

 Miss an avalanche by miles: Check

Find a Wedding Venue for Brother and Fiancee: Check

Drink entirely too much celebrating Venue find:Check

That's right.

She loved it!  

He loved it!

Now we just have to book it!

If all goes as planned Brittany and Ben will be Married at Embassy Suites in South Lake Stateline.

Off to dinner we went to celebrate!

When we arrived at dinner, we were seated immediately, complete with the best view at in the house and  served Champagne.

My very good friend Roseanne, called ahead to the restaurant, bought us dinner and Champagne to thank me for helping her with Anna's Baptism.

I was in Shock.

I am VERY difficult to surprise.
VERY. 

But they did it!

I cannot thank her enough.
So, So nice.

We made a toast in her honor.

Love you Rose!

After Dinner it was on to Gamble....

You know...

When in Rome....

Clay had some winnings.....

Woo!

I decided I should try my luck

Winner!

We took our winnings and ran...

To Dance!

After a few $2 Corona's......

it was just a short walk back to the Hotel....

But just long enough to stop and make some snow angels.....

We had such a good time!

I can't wait for this Wedding!

It was a long drive back with the weather, but it could have been so much worse....

and on our way home, the Jeweler called, and my ring, which has been out of commission since August was repaired and ready to pick up!

Yay!
I've felt naked for so long!
(P.s. Don't you just love it when your ring is just cleaned?)
(P.P.s. How old is my hand starting to look??  *mental note* Must buy moisturizer and begin using immediately)

Okay.  That was it.

Weekend over!

I told you it was a whirlwind!

My Entourage. Mary's Party-Part 2

Lately......

I have been off my game.

I'm usually so on top of my parties.  I know all the details, and can anticipate the parties demands even before the party knows it has demands.

With Anna's Baptism....

I brought my "A" game.

I was so organized, so prepared.  I kept thinking to myself....This is so much fun!  Why don't I do this for a living???

Even with the Flu, I pulled it together and with the help from others pulled off the party without a flaw.

But Mary's party.....

Mary's party snuck up behind me and knocked me on my ass.

Maybe it was because Mary is so breezy and easy.  We were eating Mexican food that was catered for God's sake?!  How much easier could it be???

Regardless...

I could not have been less prepared for her party.

And even still.... by some miracle.....

It was a wonderful party.

I have been known to bite off more than I can chew at times.....

This month with the Flu, Anna's Baptism, Work Demands, Sick Children, My husband working nights, planning a last minute trip to Tahoe to help Brit and Ben choose a wedding venue......

I was a bit stretched.

But I wouldn't change it for anything.  I love doing this stuff, and sometimes you just have to think outside the box and drink some extra Soda's to get it done.

When Coke Zero does not do the trick, sometimes you have no choice but to completely rely on your Entourage.

Every woman has an entourage. Whether they admit it or not.

I'd like you to see what my living room looked like the Morning of Mary's Party

and my Kitchen:

And here I am trying to get ready for the day with Madeline as my Make up assistant, and holding the phone making last minute party plans

(Mom thought it was hilarious that I was multi-tasking and quickly grabbed her camera)

I felt that my Entourage needed some recognition.

They truly saved my butt this time.

I was still in jeans with no make up when the guests started to arrive.  The party started at 4pm.  At 3:55 I was still cutting tomatoes for the tossed salad.  I had not wrapped my gift, or two of the game prizes.  All the food was not out, and my hair was not done.

I was a mess.

Without the following people this party would have been a disaster.

My Husband, for understanding how important these events are and being extremely accommodating and doing whatever I ask of him- including leaving our home for 8 hours so we could have girl time.  My Mother for coming down on a moments notice and being my right hand gal, even though she was supposed to just be a guest and enjoy the party.  She went to every store, cleaned up after what she calls "Hurricane Heidi" and completed tasks before I even asked her.  She also whipped up Mary's sash she wore, and helped me pick out all the gifts and picked up the catering. My Grandmother who decided Jack should have a sleepover the night before the party, because she knew how much I had on my plate. My MIL and FIL who had the kids Saturday to Monday and really made it possible for me to host 2 events at my home on Saturday. My good friend Laura who showed up ready to party and could immediately see the look of "I'm a mess" on my face, swooped in without hesitation and wrapped my gifts, helped plate food, and became my other right hand gal.  She really saved the day.  She also cleaned up after the party- She did all the dishes.  Including my chafing dishes!  My entire kitchen was immaculate!  Laura made the party transition from Bridal Shower to Bachelorette party so easy for me.  Brit came over on Friday night to help me prep, and she was with me Saturday Morning as well. Love that Girl.  Lynne next door who had 30 pens for all the games we played, and let me take all her folding chairs, and her folding table, and dug out a table cloth 1 hour prior to the party-Lynne always has just what I need, no matter what I ask for, and usually I'm asking 10 minutes prior to every event I throw at my house..   Mary, the Guest of honor- hired a maid to clean my house as a gift, so I would have more time to prep for the party.  Who does that??  She is amazing, and when I told her I would not let her , she told me she would not take no for an answer.  The other Bridesmaids, Lisa and Debbie. Debbie took on part of the cooking and did the cake, and Lisa printed all of the games, coordinated Mary's bachelorette accessories, and helped plan the whole party from Texas.

How could I not look like I had it all together with all of this help????

Sometimes I feel like the Great and Powerful Oz, but know deep down I'm just a tiny person, with a huge curtain hiding the truth.

Thank you to my Entourage for making me appear like the Great and Powerful Oz.

I love you all.

Let's Party!

This weekend was quite a whirlwind.

Saturday was the Bridal Shower for my longtime childhood friend Mary.

I could go on and on about Mary, but that's for another time.....

I will say that she is a wonderful friend, and I could not think of anyone more deserving of all the happiness in the world.

Mary has three besties Debbie, Lisa and me.

Combined there is 64 years of friendship.  That's a whole lotta friendship!

The shower was thrown at my home, and hosted by the three of us.

Mary received so many gifts.  It was clear that her favorite were the ones monogramed with her new last name.

I'm not usually a fan of games at parties, but that was Mary's only request.

There had to be LOTS of games.

So that's what we did.

We played Wedding Bingo, and "What's in your Purse?", "Mary can't say the Groom's Name", We also played "How well does Mary know the Groom?".  Every time she got one wrong she had to chew a piece of Bubbalicious.

I have to admit....this one was my favorite.

I wish I had more pictures.

The food was catered by Los Panchos- Mexican food was the Bride's request.  We had Margarita Punch, and Chips and Salsa. The house was decorated with purple and pink flowers (the Brides favorite colors), There was a HUGE cake Debbie made in the shape of a wedding dress.

Since Lisa lives in Texas, we decided to do the Bachelorette Party immediately following the Bridal Shower.  So the Bridal Shower was from 4 to 7, and then the Bachelorette Party was from 7:30 till......

For the Bachelorette Party we had lots of wine, assorted cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, shrimp cocktail (requested by the Bride)

I have no pictures of the tables of food, the favors, the cake........

People were taking pictures like crazy......but none with my camera....

So boo.....these are the few that I have above.

I will say Mary had a fantastic time, and we were still living it up until the wee hours of the morning....

but no photos to prove it..

I don't have a single photo from the Bachelorette party.

Maybe that's not a bad thing.....

Mary's wedding is April 16th.

I will be taking lots and lots of photos then.....even if I have to hide my camera in my bouquet.

Love you Mary!  Can't wait for your Big Day!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

In our house, St. Patricks Day is a BIG deal.

Like Christmas Big.

Gram has been throwing her annual St. Patricks Day party for YEARS now.

This year.....

was super low key.

I missed seeing all the family and friends, but did not miss helping with clean up.

;)

We still had all the fixin's

Gram makes the best corned beef on the planet.

Mashed potatoes with spinach, home-made horseradish cream, and of course Cabbage!

Madeline especially loved the Cabbage

(shocker)

I washed it all down with some Smithwick's- my FAVORITE Irish beer.

I wore green all day...

And so did

The rest 

of the gang.

:)

Dessert was equally delicious

Irish Potatoes from See's

and 

Yum!

The main topic of the night was NEXT St. Patricks Day

When these two TIE THE KNOT!

WOOT! WOOT!

We are going to look at venue's this weekend!  Stay Tuned...

Even though this year St. Patty's was on the down low, we still had fun!

Hope your day was good too!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!