Happy Birthday Molly

While the general direction of my blog has changed recently (less of a "Look What We Did Today" and more towards "Life, Opinions and Look What I Ate Today"), I still believe sharing special moments with friends and family is exciting, helpful (mass communication) and relevant. It creates the ultimate journal of sorts, categorizing events in your life with both text and pictures. On my list of things to do is look into a company that will "blog to print" and get all this good stuff into a photo book. I would say blogging is the current, popular form of scrapbooking, which I have done since about the age of 12!!!

So that was my opinion... and here is my fun event to share...

This past Saturday we celebrated Molly's second birthday. Hallie and Chase hosted a Popsicle-themed party complete with a bounce house. Y'all know I love to host a good themed-party. And just as much I love attending one. In general, I love creativity, whether I am doing it or appreciating the work of others. The festivities started with a "Popsicle" invitation and went from there. 

Not one to miss out on any sort if dress-up opportunity, Matt and I made coordinating Happy Birthday T-shirts. (Because don't most people do things like this for a two year olds birthday party?) You might recall the Minnie and Micky T-shirts for Blake's first birthday party! Needless to say they were a hit and if there was an award for "most committed guests to the theme, I am pretty sure we would have won! 

My favorite part was the gift request: an unwrapped toy for Molly to donate to Toys for Tots. I love that Hallie and Chase decided family gifts were enough and that the rest can go to the less fortunate. I love buying gifts for the little ones in our life and I love buying gifts for the less fortunate, so either way it is a win!!!

So in a nutshell, the party was great, the company was great, the wagon of Toys for Tots was full and I captured some great pics for the special family. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday. 

Happy Birthday Molly!!!

Reuniting And It Feel So Good!

Traveling to La Juanta for Oma's funeral brought us through Denver. On our way to LJ we didn't get into Denver until 11pm, so we grabbed the rental car and drove straight there arriving around 4am. On the way back however, we had time to stop in Denver to have lunch with Heather and her hubby. It was SOOOOO good to see my woman! 

It is fun to have friends all over the world...always someone to see!

Matty Turns the Big 3-0

Well if I am going to make Matt's birthday weekend all about me then I can proudly say - I did it! I managed to hold in all of my surprises and make the weekend perfect. But realistically Matt's birthday is not all about me - so let's talk about the birthday boy. He. Had. A. Blast! When I asked Matt what he wanted to do for the big 3-0 he said "play golf with my dad and friends." So that is what he did!

I surprised him by getting all of his brothers in town. I flew in his brother and Nathan, and Mark drove in from Houston. Nathan and Matt played 18 on Friday, Saturday the entire group played, and Sunday they had a foursome with Nathan and his dad. 

Saturday night we had all of our friends over for a BBQ and the most amazing cake EVER! 

Hanging out before picking up Fred and Karen

Half of the Saturday morning golf crew! 

Seriously - greatest cake ever!

Party favors - homemade chocolate covered pretzels

I told myself I wasn't going to go crazy with decorations. (I tried!)

BROTHERS

With Nathan & Mark - love these guys!

My own husband "iced" me! Luckily little brother Nathan lent me a helping hand!

Happy 30th Jamie

17 years!!! That is how long Jamie and I have been celebrating each other's birthdays! Jamie is my oldest childhood friend and I love that we are still in the same city so that birthdays can still be celebrated in person! This year was even better as we added a fourth to our trifecta - Jamie's fiance Mark!

Yes I did order all of that food!

Jamie & Mark

I better live up the next few months NOT being 30!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This year St. Patty's day almost completely skipped by us. I passed up on decorating the house and went straight to Easter decorations...and at one point today I wasn't even wearing any green! Sooooo not typical! Luckily some friends hosted a low key St. Patty's BBQ last night so we got to all bring "our kids" - (quotes because our kid was Lucky) and wear some green. I only snapped a few pictures of the two sweet kiddos with Lucky! Next year I will have to double up on holiday festivities to make up for this year! Still a fun weekend though!

Lucky is so sweet with kids 

Waiting for Molly or Weston to share dinner

Somehow this turned into less of a post about St. Patty's day - and more of a post about Little Lucky. What can ya do!

Blake's 1st Birthday: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Style

Today we celebrated Blake's first birthday party! It doesn't seem that long ago we were just celebrating Sam's first birthday. Steph did an AMAZING job of all the decor / Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. We just love this family! And it makes me so happy we were able to attend the family birthday party as Sam and Blake's favorite non-biological aunts and uncles!

The Decor - AMAZING

Family

The sweet birthday boy!

Being silly! Love that Matt and Steph were both wearing red Toms!

I would like to point out the T-shirts that I made, just for this occasion!

And I topped off the theme with a homemade bag! B for Blake!

Blake - I know you have a lot of special people in your life that love you - and Matt and I are two of those people that think you are so special, love you, and love watching you grow. We look forward to decades upon decades of birthday parties to come - hopefully with your (one day) cousins! Love you!!!

Brian's SMU Quilt

My mother makes phenomenal quilts! The more she makes, the more requests she gets. Matt has a Packer's quilt; Mark, Nathan and Shelby have LSU quilts; Amy has a quilt with all of her favorite shades of purple; she is making me a Fleur de Lis quilt; Randy has gotten a Saint's quilt (just to name a few) - and most recently Brian got an SMU quilt. 

It was hard to not steal this from him!

She Said Yes...

This past weekend my childhood friend of 18 years GOT ENGAGED! OMG I am so excited. Jamie's fiance Mark sent out pictures and the sweetest email of how he proposed! I COULD NOT be happier for these two! Mark just got himself two new best friends!

The plan:  trick my girlfriend Jamie into thinking we are doing one last day trip flight in my plane locally somewhere in TX before I ground my plane for 3-4mos and do a major retro fit of the avionics.  So she thought it was just another fun field trip. So I planned a day to Corpus Christi to a museum of her choosing, lunch at the bay and a walk on the beach/board walk.

The USS Lexington Museum and lunch in the bay went fine...see the pics...she didn't have a clue.

Then on to the beach.  After walking around a bit I found a nice little gazebo and popped the question.  She said YES!

3rd Annual Vday Party

Yesterday we hosted our 3rd annual Valentine's day party and it was a success!

Wine tends to be the theme at our Valentine shindigs. Last year we brought in a wine sommelier. This year we gave the reins to the guests to bring their favorite bottle of wine & a cheese paring.  Courtesy of the Dollar Store I bought a wine glass for each guest, put their name on the bottom, and used the glasses not just as the night's glass - but as the party favor (pinterest idea). 

Matt made some yummy heavy appetizers - and we ended the night with the inappropriate game "Cards Against Humanity." Hilarious!  

Instructions were to wear "Cupid's Colors" - Rob won with a pink shirt and pink pants. 

While I didn't make an official invitation...(I actually used an evite)...I did enjoy sending a reminder email in the form of a poem!

You very special few,

have all responded yes!

So come on down to Lundeland,

and bring your favorite guest!

 

Appetizers we will serve,

To fill you up, as you deserve!

The evening's activities have been decided,

They'll be a blast for all invited!

 

Please bring your favorite bottle of wine,

and don't forget some cheese,

and dress in "cupid's colors"

I beg you, pretty please!

 

The night starts at seven,

We are absolutely delighted.

Let's wine and dine this February nine,

It's time to get excited!

 

Please don't make fun of my rthyme,

For you know it's almost that time.

The party is getting closer,

and I love playing host..er?

 

Excited to see everyone! Wine, cheese and your date - we've got the rest!

Chef's Club at Lundeland

January, the Lundes hosted Too Many Chefs Club. As per the rules, we were in charge of the recipes and ingredients, cooking something we have never cooked before! As most of you know - I LOVE hosting, so the table may or may not have been set two days in advance!

Mustache "wine charms" - LOVE

Yes I made laminated name tags 

I went with a rustic theme

Matt gave all of the boys aprons - So ADORABLE - just missing Rob

Appetizer: Bacon wrapped shrimp and pineapple

The ladies of TMCC - doing what we do best!

Entree: Homemade flatbread with balsamic chicken and grilled peaches

Salad was a homemade dressing with sauteed almonds and pears

Such a fun group

The idea was to have oreos for dessert - so we made homemade icecream with crushed oreos!