ok... this is just one I don't want to forget.

So I should be writing about the kids and the fun days and milestones but nope.  This is all I have for now...  YUMMY!!
from That's so Michelle...  blog

Cranberry Margarita

I had planned on posting these really delicious baby red potato bites (a perfect Sunday football snack or party app.) but I'm in such a cranky mood right now that a cocktail just seemed much more appropriate.

It's Friday and I could use a margarita, how about you?

A postal services truck that was going only 10 mph some how managed to cut me off this morning and it was enough to make me curse out loud. 

Coffee splashed out of my mug on to my desk and I almost cried about it because I had just finished cleaning up coffee that I had already spilled in the bathroom while doing my makeup.

I don't know what's going on with me ....  but it's been a rough 24 hours.

All I can say is TGIF.  Tonight we will hop in the car with the Honey Bear and head to Southern Virginia to spend sometime with the grandparents and I think it's just what I need.

Long games of evening scrabble, fall leaf rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains, family brunch and maybe even a trip to a vineyard.

Ahhhhh all better.  Now, about this margarita, local grocery stores just started stocking fresh cranberries in the produce section. Their tart factor is just about the same as a regular lime margarita but the color is GORGEOUS and it's so seasonable.

Rim the glass with sugar and you've got a crowd pleaser, or a mood tamer, whatever you need ;)

Shopping List (makes two cocktails)
1 1/4 cup cranberry juice   
1/2 cup sugar   
1 1/2 cup cranberries (fresh)   
3/4 cup lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup grand marnier
ice

Place your cranberries and sugar in a sauce pan on medium heat until the berries burst (about 10 minutes). With a bowl or large glass under a strainer, pour your cranberry and sugar mixture into the strainer so that the syrup runs out into the glass or bowl below.

In a cocktail shaker add your cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, grand marnier, ice and cranberry syrup. Shake vigorously and pour into a sugar rimmed glass.

Catching Up

OK..  I am so unbelievably behind but here is my shot at catching up with our very busy spring.  Just trying to remember the small things between all the big steps--so here's what we've been up too-
-Oma visited this spring and had a great time with the boys and helped with Ian's surgery.  She and Luke really became best friends during the visit.
-Ian had his tonsils out after too many cases of strep and came through it like a champ!
-We celebrated Easter with a quick trip to Knoxville and the most fun Easter egg hunt ever with all the cousins.
-Ian won the game ball at his tball team game after his surgery.
-We took the boys to Disney.
-Luke had his 2nd birthday at T-Rex at Disney.
-Ian had his end of the year party at school, end of the season party and field day at school.

Lots of pictures to come and lots of fun details when I can get my head together!  The boys are growing so fast and changing every day--takes my breath away!! 

Jedi Training Camp--AKA Gymnastics BDay

OK--I'm nuts when it comes to parties.  Love them and I swear in another life I will be an event planner.  Secretly it's one of my passions to throw a fun party.  Ian had his 5th birthday party at All Around Gymnastics and they did such a great job with the Jedi Training Camp.  Starwars is his newest passion and we had so much fun with it.  Kids loved taking home lightsabers too!!!  Seriously--would love to do this all the time but with every fun event is a bit of learning that comes along.  What did I learn? 

-Parent drop off parties are still lots of fun!!  I wasn't sure about it this year but it really was a blast.
-Kids really get it at 5.  (Example- we had a small cake for Ian decorated with Darth Vader that was at most a 4 person cake.  Well--the kiddos at the cake end of the table had a very heated and engaged debate on how all the kids at the party were going to get cake when the cake is so SMALL...  I loved it!!)
-5 year old kiddos are not quite ready for sparkler candles--I think I terrified half of the kids at least 3 peed their pants--not really but it was definitely an attention getter)

-5 year olds can have a TON of fun!!!!!

Silly Sweet Naughty and Nice Luke Man



What !?!?!  I have a dirty face???



You have to be kidding me!

Fine--maybe it's dirty but YOU will not wipe it off!!

Even Batman loves a good lollie!!

Tiny Town

We wrote a letter for Oma and mailed it

Clean shave

No 5'clock shadow here

Ian and his best buddy Owen

Ian is the traffic director for Owen and Nicholas

Ian's school had a tiny town and it was so cute to see the kids work in the minature town.  Ian and I worked at the hardware store, mailed a letter in the post office, Ian had a shave and a cut in the barber shop, drove the cars through the car wash and went to the city hall to meet a police man.  Serious cuteness!

First Sleep Over

We had our first real sleep over and how much fun!!  Mia and Eli had a blast spending the night and all four kids played SO well together.  It was a blast to see them all gel together.  I think it will be the first of many.

Happy 5th Birthday!!

My big man really is getting BIG!  My super sweet first born turned 5 this week and it seems like such a big birthday.  He has officially left the preschool stage and it now a BOY.  He has had such a break out year-shedding lots of his shyness and really taking on a bolder personality.  Can't believe it was just 5 years ago that Marco and I jumped into the most amazing jobs that we could ever imagine.  It's been such a wonderful trip and getting to see the world through his eyes has been oh so fabulous!  We've had lots of fun, laughs, giggles, tears, screams and it just keeps getting better.