Christmas 2009

This Christmas was a complete departure for us from years past. For starters, we had Christmas Eve dinner at LoHi Steakbar before we headed to mass. (We'll be headed back there for another meal - it was great.) Then on Christmas Day, Jeremy and I agreed not to exchange gifts and we didn't have any children with us on Christmas Day.

So knowing this wouldn't be a "traditional" holiday, Bec and I planned a mystery dinner for our loved ones. I say "loved" ones since they weren't thrilled when they saw what we had in store for them. Here's our dinner menu Bec prepared:

We had perfect numbers to sit our guests in the dining room, all 8 would be contained for the festivities while Jeremy, John, Bec and I served dinner from the kitchen. The highlight was really watching everyone eat their very traditional meal (roast, ham, baked potato soup, sweet potato souffle, corn casserole, fruit salad, spinach salad, roasted carrots and potatoes and rolls) with limited use of a fork, spoon, knife, napkin, toothpick or straw. It really did shake up the typical dinner and had us laughing really hard. I don't know if I'll be hosting Christmas for a while, this may have been a good scare tactic.

Impressive use of the spoon and straw by Mom.

Corey - the big cheater of the night - kept unloading forks from his pocket. Here he's stuck with the straw & knife and doing just fine.

Grandpa did great with his toothpick, although we did let him borrow a knife for the roast and ham.

Grandma & Grandma Josie were a real team, helping each other all night.

After dinner we did stockings, unwrapped gifts, then watched the Hangover and played some board games. It was so relaxing and was great to have the grandparents at the house. I still say Mom does the best stockings ever. I also have to say that my new apron from J is wonderful. It's the perfect apron for this girl! I know it sure beats the one her son gave me for our first Christmas 10-years ago. Yep - Jeremy gave me an apron for my first Christmas gift and it didn't even scare me off;)

There's some more of that Grandma teamwork!

Grandpa & Grandma

Our guys with the new beer coozies - courtesy of Mom.

I hope you all had as memorable of a Christmas as we did here.

I love a LONG weekend!

Lots to look forward to this weekend:
- A family BBQ on the Ross side where we'll meet more of Jeremy's relatives.

-Paris Street Market & some window shopping tomorrow morning.

-This gals Bridal Shower! (She's going to make a lovely bride!)

-The return of college football!

-Hosting the CSU/CU game at the house with family and friends. Go State! (I'm preparing like a mad woman with my menu.)

-A Monday morning golf outing with dear Jeremy.

-Free Chick-fil-a on Labor Day!

Housewarming Gift

A few weeks ago I went to the Paris Street Market and found this great Coca-Cola crate that had Denver written on the ends. I picked it up figuring that I'd use it somewhere around the house. Well, I figured that it would be best for Bec and John's housewarming gift. Just a little something for the new house while they figure out what they really need and what is on their future wish list. It came together pretty cute and I threw in the latest basket I picked up for the guest bedroom. They'll use it far more than our very infrequent guests. I think it turned out pretty cute. What do you think?

Scooter Love

My drive into work is a very boring, straight drive that takes me down Colfax into downtown. (I'm not complaining, I wouldn't trade my drive for any other drive, it is the best drive I've ever had.) That being said each morning I see the usual drivers and I see the same scooters each morning...aAnd every morning I can't help but wish I was riding a scooter. My girlfriend Joy has hers, a Tangerine Buddy and she loves that thing.

Joy's Buddy - LOVE IT!

I did a little recon at our lunch today and now I really want to test drive one. Maybe with enough effort I can convince Jeremy to go with me HERE this weekend for a test drive.

Love the VESPA!

The Sweetest Thing

Look at the photo I got in the mail yesterday with the sweetest card from Julia...Sofia (4) & Maria (2)

They are the sweetest and cutest things and I miss the Carmosino's so much. Julia is such a dear friend, she really made my day. Her girls always melt my heart, I'm so lucky she shares them with me like I'm family. Love you girls and I hope you move back to CO soon!

Monday's aren't that bad.

My dream weekend turned out to be darn close to what I imagined. It actually was so enjoyable I didn't mind getting back to the office today.

Friday Jeremy and I went to John's where he and Bec had a little BBQ. We were able to spend time with her friends and even Corey and Nolan. The Art Walk on Tennyson was rained out but it was a fun time.

Saturday morning my mom picked me up for A Paris Street Market, we went early and met up with Jessica. My first purchase was this great sterling silver ring that is in the shape of a rose, very cute. Just like I thought as soon as I saw my big purchase I knew it would be perfect for the house. The extra room upstairs (not the guestroom) is my quasi office/pilates room that has been begging to be finished for the last three years. Well when I saw this chair I thought it would be a fun thing to add to the house and for the price it was a steal! The gal even threw in these prints my mom was eyeing.
I made two more purchases, a vintage yellow leather clutch that honestly matched the chair perfect and some new dish towels. A great day at A Paris Street Market, next event is July 4th.

We did great on timing and were out of there in less than 3 hours, which included some shopping at the stores at Aspen Grove. I was able to stop in at Vinnolas where I bought some almond biscotti and cookies then it was off to Hallmark to stock up for the June events. Once home Jeremy and I lounged outside for a good four hours. It was perfect weather, not too hot to sit in the sun and just the right breeze. Heaven!

Instead of an elaborate dinner, we made the crustless quiche. It turned out phenomenal considering that we added some diced red pepper and ended up using 3 large eggs since that was all I had left. That variation worked out great!

I woke up at 4:40 AM on Sunday with Jeremy to heat up the quiche for breakfast so he had something in his stomach before his round at City Park. That is TOO early on a Sunday but it did get me up and out of bed without wasting the day. I made it to the Spring Whale of a Sale right at 11 and it was packed! I couldn't believe the crowds this year. I had a plan going in and that really helped me save time. I needed to check in the fiction area for any new reads, hit the sports section for Jeremy's books and then head downstairs for Nolan. That boy LOVES books! Check out my finds -- ALL FOR $5! (Nolan's pile was already delivered - I found some great ones.)I'd say that this was a FABULOUS weekend. Now its back to realty, the laundry is calling my name!

He's the Best!

I'm the luckiest wife or he's the luckiest husband, hard to tell some days. I came home from work last week to this:

Yep, he's a keeper! (Even if he can't understand why I do this blogging thing, and I don't even do this very well.)

Incidentally, Jeremy had a good weekend playing in the President's Cup. He won a playoff with three other men for 1st Net in the Championship Flight. Then he went to the shootout with 9 others and ended up in a draw with five others when darkness fell and the rain started. Not a bad weekend!

POSITIVITY!

Courtesy of this great company my cousin owns, the whole Lang family is keeping a positive outlook during this down time. I've shard this little bracelet with my fellow manager's at the office and some girlfriends. The response from everyone has been amazing. Such a little message on such a great piece of jewelry. The fact that dear Jeremy wears his and I can wear mine at the gym says a whole lot! It really does help pull you out of a funk. We all have our shoulda-woulda-coulda moments but the truth is we all have so many blessings to count. Beth has the biggest heart and she has the best taste, I love all of her pieces. I'm so impressed with how she's built her company over the last 10+ years. Stop by and take a look - I know you'll be impressed!
Cute