Christmas Morning!!

We had a wonderful Christmas! We spent 9 (very too short) days in Idaho Falls with my sister, Monica and her family. Everyone had a wonderful time! The cousins especially loved being together. Next year we will have to convince Matt and fam to come join us; then we will make it a tradition ;)

(Birthday Cont'd) Read the One Below First :)

Sharon treated me to a yummy Chicken Marsala at Olive Garden.

Natalie N. texted.

Hubby called.

Mom & Dad called.

Picked up Tanner and brought him and Roman to our house to play.

Melly dropped off a gift (forgot to take a pic, so here is their fam's Christmas pic from 2007)!

Took Tanner and Roman back over to Katie D.

Kris B. saw me dropping off the kids and told me Happy Birthday!

I got to read with Courtney at school & the rest of her class! One of my favorite things to do ;)

Stopped by Mrs. Tenney's class of '07 Christmas Party! Jaden had fun.

Took carpool home. Christy R. wished me Happy Birthday!


Glade & Marilyn called.

Family had a quick quick dinner.

Jake R. called.

Took off to take Jaden to her choir performance at the Mall. Five car accident on the freeway, we were late. Talked to Matt while waiting. . .waiting. . .waiting for traffic to clear.

Choir gave a great performance (she only missed two songs) then the fam played at the mall.

Rich W. texted.

Saw beautiful Christmas lights on the way home.

Mitchell's came over for Birthday cake.

Opened gifts: letters, $, gift card, clothes, jewelry, birthday platter, olive oil dispenser (Jonathan's fave - HA!)

Monica W. sent me birthday wishes on my blog.

Christy B. emailed me.

Tina C. emailed me.

Carrie N. sent me smiles on my email.

Lights Out!!!

I got a good jumpstart to a new year. Gonna be hard to top this one for next year! Everybody start preparing now to help celebrate the big 3-4!

Thanks friends and family for helping me celebrate. I really had a wonderful day!!!


Love,
Mel

A Day in the Life of Melanie - MY BIRTHDAY!!!

So I documented my birthday this year! Mindset of a blogger I guess. My Birthday was Dec. 10th. I need to say that my Day was the best. I am now 33! Jonathan's basketball number ;D

I woke up to a delicious sign on the kitchen island with candy, balloons, and party hats. Compliments of my adorable husband.

Jasmine W. texted and then called.

Sharon M. texted.

I took Tanner to Katie D. for the morning to play with Roman.

I picked up carpool kids and took them to school.

Ran into Christy B. she wished me Happy Birthday!

Jake R. texted.

Monica W. called.

Matt B. called.

Picked Sharon M. up for a morning on the town. I convinced her to go, even though she had major jetlag from just gettting back from California the night before. What a friend!!

We did some Christmas errands and fun shopping: Target, Dollar Tree, Hallmark, and Ross.

PEANUT BUTTER TEMPTATIONS

Here is a cookie recipe I really enjoy; thought I would share!!! ;)

PEANUT BUTTER TEMPTATIONS

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
54 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups, unwrapped
semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted (for drizzle - optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat together peanut butter, butter, and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla.

Stir together flour, and baking soda; add to the peanut butter mixture.

Shape into 1-inch balls. Place each ball in a mini muffin pan cup.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes.

As soon as the cookies are removed from the oven, press one unwrapped peanut butter cup into each cookie. If desired, drizzle with melted chocolate.

Makes 54

Two New Things - Both Happen to be Silver

So we recently acquired two new things that both happen to be silver. Our Christmas tree is new this year, I thought it was time for a new tree. We have never had a new tree and our old one was a garage sale purchase, who knows how long they had it before we did! Anyway, this 12 ft. tree makes up for the past 13 years. We had a fun time decorating it. Jonathan is tall, but even he had to stand on a ladder.
Our other new thing is more for me. I needed a different car and went shopping and we found one we both liked. Now I hope to be able to make it up our street come the winter; last year was a little iffy in our mini-van. It is a Chrysler Aspen and I really love h0w it drives.
Now, if only I can figure out how to convince my husband that we could use one more silver thing - say a platinum diamond ring. Best things come in three, right?!?!

Reflections

We attended an awards assembly for Jaden and Courtney Thursday night where they received trophies for their participation in the school's reflections contest. They were so excited!!

The Wait is Over

Twilight came and went way too fast. I can't believe this old body was able to stay up for the midnight showing, but once the movie got started it was really quite easy. I thought the movie was fabulous and am going again with Jonathan and anyone else who wants to join. Thanks for the fun company friends. Thursday happened to be a birthday for Shauna, so we went to dinner before and sang to her. Happy Birthday Shauna!!
I got two words for all y'all: BITE ME!! (Sorry about the red eye, still figuring out my camera, looks kindof vampirish!)