Recipe Club and EXCITING news for 2015

Happy Wednesday, girlies!

Today is the LAST Recipe Club of 2014!!! How on EARTH did that happen?!?!  I have had SUCH a blast checking out all of your recipes and getting some great ideas.  I haven't tried as many as I would have liked, but I have LOTS bookmarked for this upcoming year.  ANNNNNND..... I think it's been so much fun I want to continue for 2015!!!

The recipe that I'm sharing today is a PERFECT last minute appetizer (hello NYE Party tonight!).  My friend Jeni brought these to Shay's recipe party and it was instant love.  I am a total pesto girl so these were right up my alley.  I don't have the typical "step by step" pics that I usually do because 1) I forgot and 2) I forgot  But it's super easy, so no worries.

Here's what you'll need....

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons jarred pesto

2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

2 packages spinach tortellini, cooked and cooled

2 pints cherry tomatoes

12 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Step 1:) Mix together the olive oil, pesto and vinegar in a bowl.

2) On small skewers, thread 1 tortellini, 1 cherry tomato and 1 mozzarella cube per skewer. (I did 2 of each).

3) Lay the skewers on a platter and lightly drizzle the dressing over them with a spoon.

4) Serve immediately or refrigerate. Sprinkle on the minced parsley just before serving.

SIDENOTE: I prepped all of mine EXCEPT FOR THE DRESSING, put them on the platter and covered with saran wrap in the morning . When I was ready to serve them, I drizzled them with the prepared dressing and parsley.  Mine tasted DELISH the next day as well (the tomatoes just weren't quite as crisp). 

Next up is one of those ideas that popped into my head randomly a few months ago and I've been tweaking it ever since. I've loved the "Come On In!" and "What's On" series, and I wanted to continue sharing glimpses into our homes, but expound on it a bit to include some topics that I think would be fun to share about.  Which brings me to...

Now's the time  go grab your fancy pens, ladies!  

You can right click on the image below, save it and print it out for reference if you're a dweeb like me :)

The topics are totally open to your interpretation!  Have fun!  I have so appreciated your sweet words of encouragement and support this past year of blogging - I've mentioned it before - but the community that this has created has been so much fun and totally worth the time and effort to keep it up.  Y'all are seriously the best!!!  And now I can't wait to get to know all of you a little bit better over the next year!

I hope that y'all have a fun and safe NYE!  We have family-friendly plans with our kiddos and several other families and we're so excited!

See you in 2015, peeps!

Year in Review

Since tomorrow is "Recipe Club Day" - I bumped my Year in Review post to today!  I'm not going to lie - this post is a BEATING to put together - looking through pics, putting together the collages, etc. - but it is by far my very favorite post of the year.  I LOVE looking back on the year and remembering all the fun things we did and seeing how much my babies have grown and change.

I feel like 2013 was a crazy year - lots of surprises and lots of change - and I think that 2014 was the year we "hit our stride" as a family of five. 

- January -

We started the year off with lots of time outside.  Dave went hunting, we spent many afternoons at the park and the days that were too cold we spent inside playing with Christmas presents.  We got to watch some of our besties on Live TV (so cool!!!), I recapped a day in the life and Luke performed on Nursery Rhyme Day.

- February -

February was FILLED with love :)  Dave threw me a big surprise 30th birthday party with all of my friends and we celebrated Valentines Day at home and school.  We played with friends, visited the dentist for Luke's dental week at school and Mason discovered his love of cheetohs.  We celebrated Dave's Grandma's 92nd birthday and Luke was taken down by strep.

- March-

March means Spring Trips (I traveled to NASA with the 8th grade) and Spring Break! WOO HOO!!!  We celebrated St. Paddys with a decorated table and special cupcakes and spent lots of time working in the yard.  Haha joined us at the Perot, we brunched with one of our favorite girls and Mason and I enjoyed our first "Mason-Mommy Day".  Luke perfected his pose, Griffin got cuter by the day and we had our "turning point dinner".... the one where the kids all sat, ate and behaved and we were complimented by an elderly couple on how well-mannered our kids were.  I think it was that dinner where we started to feel like we kind of knew what we were doing :) hahaha

- April -

Birthday month was NUTS as we celebrated Luke turning 6, Mason turning 3 and Griffin turning 1 with a "Monster of a Party" and the 6th Annual Luke McAnally Birthday Pancake Breakfast :)  Griffin got to have her pictures taken by Miss Narci, I hosted girls night at my house and the kids and I coordinated for Easter. There were decorative eggs ALL over my house, candy filled eggs all over the boys room and all of the kids were OVER their well checks :)

- May -

As school wound down, our schedules ramped up.  Griffin posed for Julie Klaasmeyer at her photography school in Dallas, we spent lots of time outside in the new sandbox and on long walks and the super talented Kelly Walsh took our family pictures.  I planned the Middle School semi-formal, Griffin perfected her walking and we celebrated Mother's Day at Chipotle. :)  We were honored to be a part of Dave's moms retirement party, I took Luke and his bestie, Lincoln, on a special trip to Dallas and we had the cutest horse fly EVER in the bug day parade.  My desk got "wrapped" in foil as an end of the year prank, Luke had field day and I got to go hug on my former middle-schoolers before they walked the stage at graduation.

- June -

June brought our annual breakfast with Woody and Jessie, golf camp for Luke and swim lessons for the boys.  Luke gained a TON of confidence in the water and mastered the diving board later in the month and we spent lots of time with friends... including a day at the Perot that ended in Shay holding Mason's hand as he walked pantless down the streets of Dallas (don't worry - he was wearing a diaper.... wait, does that make it better????) hahaha  We stayed cool at the mall, where Sheaffer bestowed fashion knowledge to the next generation and we capped off Father's Day with the most epic picture ever :)  Griffin caught "herpangina" (EWWWW!), the boys attended VBS and I drove the "party van" to and from dinner with my girlfriends (what happens in the minivan, stays in the minivan). hahaha

- July -

The summer wrapped up for us in July and we savored the last few weeks off with Camp McAnally, snow cone nights and bringing our obnoxiously large pool floats to our friends house :)  We got our red, white and blue on with lots of decorating, crafting, patriotic playdating, parade watching and firework playing (I say playing, since none of our kids actually watched fireworks. hahaha).  We visited a nursing home, Mason flirted his way to shaved ice at the pool bar and Shay and I hosted our Kindergarten Kickoff Dinner.  Kensington came over to "babysit", I spent a week at AP Math training (and drank WAY too much Starbucks!!!) and Griffin and I wore matching headwraps as often as possible :)

- August -

Inservice started and we wrapped up our summer fun with nights riding around the golf course on a cart, a few last pool trips and an end-of-summer pool party with our Sunday School class.  Dave turned 31 and we celebrated with brunch, I got my classroom back in order and after a "second lap" of Pre-K Luke was AMPED and ready to start Kindergarten.  The school year started off rough for me - and I ended up with pink eye, bronchitis, laryngitis and several other ailments.  Mason had his first dentist appointment, I got to meet a blogging friend in real life and G and I were FIRMLY part of Team Pink at Baby Griffin's gender reveal party.

- September -

When I think back on September I think about crazy weather.  Luke started soccer and on Saturday morning games we were either sweating or freezing (but G was happy to be there either way. hahaha).  Scooter spent some time at our house, Luke and I spent a GLORIOUS Luke-Mommy day together and we spent some time on Stephen's motorcycle after his birthday celebration.  Griffin broke out some of her fall wardrobe, my girlfriends and I broke out the scarves at our annual exchange and Erika and I broke out with a case of the crazies when we decided to order pizza and let our kids run amuck at my house on a Friday night :)

- October -

October was a huge month.  We spent lots of time at Pumpkinville (visiting and volunteering), bats took over our house and Griffin struck a MAJOR pose :)  We wore our costumes at every chance we got - including a nursing home visit, sunday school party, trick or treating and to the babysitters house.  When Griffin wasn't in costume she was in a festive outfit and Luke's favorite day was getting to wear pjs to school for the pajama parade.  Mason's ear swelled to twice it's normal size, I made it through another Homecoming week and my amazing group of friends got to surprise Manda with some pictures that we will all treasure forever.

- November -

November was ROUGH!  Rough, I tell you!  It started off well enough with Luke's last soccer game (they won!!!), but quickly went downhill when GG contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth and then, just as she was recovering - the stomach bug hit our house HARD and took us down (except for Super Dave) one by one.  Thankfully, we were able to sprinkle some memorable moments in including Luke's Thanksgiving Feast and Grandparent's Day at school, walks in the woods, family pictures, Luke's Jog-A-Thon and a trip to the Perot.  Griffin managed to look stylish through it all :)

- December -

We ended the year on a high note with a month jam-packed with festive fun.  North Pole Breakfast, Home for the Holidays on the Square and TONS of antics from our silly elf, Buddy.  Jammie-Cocoa Christmas, a trip to the Gaylord, and breakfast with Santa.  Our BFG Christmas Party, watching the Christmas parade with friends, Luke's outstanding performance at his Christmas concert and the most epic Santa pictures of all time.  Our halls were decked, our hearts were full and I was loaded with caffeine courtesy of tea from Starbucks :)  The month was a whirlwind, but I refuse to dwell on how fast it went, but instead am loving all the memories we created as a family.

In case you have some time on your hands :), here are my recaps from 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

And last, but not least, I'm super excited that Erika and I decided to bring back our Photo-A-Day challenge for 2015!!!  Save this pic to your phone and start hashtagging your pics on January 1!!!  We can't wait to see all of your pics!!!

Happy Tuesday, Friends!

(and don't forget to link up to your recipes tomorrow!!!)

Christmas-Palooza 2014

Grab your coffee, ladies - I'm going to attempt to recap our Christmas in one post.  Wish me luck!

We woke up on Christmas Eve and found the presents under the tree - and Buddy left the kids a "subtle reminder" that they aren't allowed to touch the presents ;)

I have LOVED doing Elf on the Shelf for my kids - but I wasn't super sad about seeing him go either ;) 

The boys headed to the airport to pick up Oma (my mom's mom) and Griffin, Rudolph and I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few last minute things...

... including some salami. hahaha  Seriously though, she couldn't get enough ;)

Since we were at the store and were flying solo from the boys, we picked up a latte to bring to Gibi at work.  Griffin ran around and smiled at all Gibi's coworkers and then spent some time doing some accounting and answering the phones ;)

The afternoon was busy busy - the boys got back, I had a stove repairman come, our fence was being stained, we prepped appetizers, took showers, etc.  

When Dave got home from work we got dressed and ready for the night and this pretty much sums it up...

... they were WIRED!!! hahaha

we attempted a group pic before we left...

 

And then again at Dave's grannys house ;)

Dave's Granny (far left in the pic) is his Dad's mom and she's amazing.  She's 92, still lives alone and is one of the most joyful women ever.  Her and Dave's grandpa started the Senior Center in McKinney years and years ago.  Also - please note Dave's Uncle Mike's shark tee ;) hahaha

We ate, played games...

... and then the kids opened a few presents.

It's a shame they get no attention ;)

One of my favorite parts of going to Dave's Granny's house is that I'm fairly confident that she has every picture she's ever received up on her walls :)  This GEM of Dave always cracks me up...

We met my parents, Oma and Mark and Diana at church for the last Christmas Eve service - and GG got restless, so she and I headed for the lobby.  One of her besties, Declan, was also hanging out with his mom so they had a blast running around like crazy people through the empty church hallways. :)

GG and Aunt Diana!

We tried to get a family picture after church - and believe it or not this was the best we managed.  I know that a day will come when they all smile and oblige my requests for a picture (probably after an eye roll or three), so for now, I'm going to treasure these crazy pics. hahaha

After church we came back to our house for some desserts and appetizers and presents with Mark and Diana.

Mason got a marshmallow gun and Luke was already in the kitchen checking out his laser game :) 

This happened after everyone left...

... and then once we got everyone brushed, bathed and jammied - Santa came!!!

Luke was up first and in our bed by 6 a.m.  We snuggled and matched a few episodes of Lego Chima until 7:30 when we went and woke up the Littles.  We did stockings in our bed and then it was present time!!!  And yes - Mason is wearing green Natives :)  What can I say - the boy knows what he likes.  He asked Santa for "green holey shoes" and "stripey pants".  When we make him wear something other than Boden baggies he cries and cries. hahaha  Santa got the memo and some green natives (found via eBay since you can't buy them any more!) were in his stocking.  He was so pumped!

Luke immediately gathered up his Legos and started building :) 

They were totally annoyed I interrupted their playing for a pic :)

We played and made breakfast while we waited for Gibi, Haha and Oma to come over and Chef Mason helped me cook :)

We had the best time opening presents, reading books and enjoying the morning together.

Mason LOVES superheroes and his cape and Captain America hoodie was right up his alley.

That afternoon we headed to Dave's Aunt and Uncles house for lunch and hanging out.  I took zero pics and so I stole these off of Uncle Stephen's facebook :)  Thanks, Uncle Stephen!!!

After lunch we headed home for cleanup and naps.  That night my parents and Oma came over for some snacks and card games.  It was the PERFECT end to a fantastic day.

I hope your Christmas was full of fun and family!!!  I'm ready for y'all this week with some exciting "linky news" for 2015 and some regularly scheduled programming (like Recipe Club on Wednesday and Friday Favorites!).  Happy Monday, Friends!!!