Merry Christmas!

I'll Have a Blue Christmas...

I love blue and turquoise.

Brandon's grandmother painted these landscapes of Alaska.  My photo is not doing them justice.  In person, they look less flat and the color is amazing.

Paige's favorite part of the holiday season is the proliferation of snowmen.  So, we made snowman sugar cookies.

My mom made the yarn-ornament back in the '70s.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

My Pretty Pink Princess

My little girl turns three today.  I can't believe it.  We had a little party, just family, last weekend to celebrate three years of the girliest girl I've ever met.  And girly girls love pink and tiaras.  And Tinker Bell costumes.

We had pink pom-poms.

Pink Cyclamen.

Letters handmade by Aunt Amberly.

Macaroni bites.

Pigs in delicious puff pastry blankets.

Pink snowflakes.

Pink Lady Cake, from Smitten Kitchen.  So yummy!

Jules wasn't left out; Aunt Ginny brought her a present too.

So many presents!  And so much fun!

Pink princesses love jewels; luckily Paige received some beautiful gems.

Three year old princesses also like to change gowns.

Happy Birthday Paige!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Last week was my mom's birthday.  We invited over friends and family for champagne, cocktails, clam chowder, fresh-baked brown bread, and chocolate peanut butter cake.  I didn't take many pictures because I was busy having a good time, but I did squeeze in a few family pictures early in the evening.

My mom knitted the matching dresses the girls are wearing.  Cute, right?

 My mom with her BFFs, Linda and Suzie.  They went to nursing school together and apparently caused a lot trouble.  Flirting with sailors in Hawaii?  Not my mom!  Linda is partaking of the grapefruit ginger rum cocktails we made from fresh fruit my dad brought from Arizona.  Wholesome and healthy with a kick of bad, kind of like my mom, we named them Margarets in honor of the birthday girl.

Good times!