Checking the Mail

Who likes checking the mail? There's hardly anything fun in there, as no one seems to send actual letters anymore. It's all junk mail, ads, and of course, bills. What fun is that? Until recently I hated checking the mail! But here is what our mail has looked like lately:

Beautiful, handmade card from my aunt Barbara, for Alexa's sweet sixteen.

{Photo Removed}

Sweet, sentimental card from Baba, with a VERY generous 16th birthday gift of money for Alexa's Europe trip. That was a fun one to open!

And-

These. Everyday. Since turning 16, or coincidentally(?) we have been getting SEVERAL OF THESE EVERYDAY! This batch of 5 came all in one day. I am not exaggerating, everyday we get more. I wonder if this happens with every TPA student? Michael got a few, but nothing like this. And she's only a sophomore. Sheesh! It's sure fun to see who is soliciting her though!

{I could get used to opening mail like this}

Sweet Sixteen

I can not believe my baby girl is sixteen years old today!

Here she is as a baby, awwww:

And since she hates her picture taken, here she is with some of her school friends when they went to see another classmate perform in the musical "13":

Alexa has grown into a smart, responsible, helpful, funny, athletic, beautiful, wonderful young lady. We are so proud of her and can't wait to see what fabulous things life has in store for her.

Happy Birthday, Lexi!

Cute Bags (Round 2)

I am having so much fun with this free, downloadable pattern from www.madebyrae.blogspot.com

Here are the latest round of bags:

With fabric Yo-Yos:

With removable flower clip:

And with removable torn fabric flower clips:

I have been asked by a few people "why so many bags, if you are not selling them?". Well, the amount of fabric I purchased for the width of the pattern pieces of each color was enough to cut out 3 sets. I chose 4 color combinations for me and my 3 girls, so, Ta-Da!, I now have 12 bags! They will make really great birthday gifts to have on hand. I could pay the licencing fee and sell them. Thoughts?

Baked by Joanna

Check out my friend's blog for a fun give away!

http://bakedbyjoanna.blogspot.com/2010/02/cupcake-lollipop-giveaway.html

Feeling Creative

Scrapbooks Etc (my fabulous place of employment) decided to start carrying fabric. Not just any fabrics, but the most beautiful designer quilting fabrics EVER. I decided I had to have some, so I found a cute little project online, called the Buttercup bag, on www.madebyrae.blogspot.com. It is a free pattern (if used for your personal use, not to sell) and I have made 6 of them! It takes a just a little bit of fabric and time. I have fabric for 2 more color combos. The girls have really liked them!

I added fabric Yo Yos to these:

And removable flower clips to these:

So fun and easy!

Ridin'

We had an awesome day today. It was my first Saturday off in I don't know how long, so we took the quads out for a spin. Believe it or not, with all the riders in my family, this was my very first time riding a quad!

OK, so I do kinda look like a dork, but it was pretty fun. I felt like I was being pretty brave and riding fast, but Tony informed me I was not going that fast.

Celeste sure was! She even caught some air:

She's pretty brave. She definitely takes after her daddy on that one. Here he is doing some donuts:

Sophie is more like her mommy, pretty cautious and nervous on her own:

She was getting more comfortable towards the end.

And one more of Celeste. She would have kept riding all day had we let her:

I think she may be ready to hit the dunes next Halloween with her daddy!

Long Time, No Blog

I can not believe it has been over a month since I blogged! I always feel so busy around the holidays. This year we (I) scaled way back on Christmas related busy-ness. We did not do our usual Christmas goody baking for neighbors and friends. I also did not do a Christmas card/letter, but may still get a new year one out, who knows?!?! I had less shopping to do as well because everyone but Sophie got cell phones as one of their gifts, and we did a family gift for the family we exchange gifts with, as opposed to 7 individual gifts. Alexa helped with all the shopping and wrapping, as she was not getting presents due to her Europe trip. We were able to surprise her with some trip related items (watch and travel alarm clock thanks to my friend Denise, and a small point and shoot digital camera from Santa).

Sophie would not see Santa for pictures, but was willing to sit with the grinch ( as long as Celeste promised to sit between them)!

Christmas morning before the kids got up:

And after:

New Years Eve day we spent at the zoo with friends. They had fake snow and a sparkling cider toast at noon. It was really fun and it had been so long since we had been there.

And, for the first time ever. Tony and I had no kids on new year's eve! We were supposed to go to a party, but it got cancelled. We went to a fabulous restaurant in down town Tempe called House of Tricks. I have been there a few times with lady friends. It is NOT a "Tony" type of place, fancy food, usually small-ish portions, etc. He agreed to go, even with my warnings. And you know what? It was GREAT! Tony ordered prime rib from the new year's specials menu, and it was the best we have had in a long time, and it was huge! Tony renamed that special menu the " fat guy" menu. They said they must have seen him coming. We ate Ceasar salad with olive croutons, spring salad with cranberries, pecans and goat cheese fondue, roasted yellow tomato soup with artichoke, vegetable lasagna with portabella mushrooms and squash puree, and wood fired prime rib with wilted spinach, mashed fondant potatoes with shitaki mushroom glaze. Tony even ate the spinach. AMAZING!