Shopping with help

Today I ran a MILLION errands which including plenty of the kids favorite (not) stores... Marshalls, TJMaxx, Walmart, ...you know. Usually these days are torture, but I didn't have any other options, so we did it.

It was like I was shopping for clothes and the What Not to Wear people were with me. I got lots of advice! I tried on a cute trendy top, one of those long and baggy ones... Brooklyn says, "Well, that's cute, but don't worry, you'll grow into it..." couldn't stop laughing...

Later on, I was just with Tyler, and I picked up a cute sheer shirt with a grey and cream zebra pattern... looked perfect for a girls night out or something. It was really fun. Tyler says, (with a confused and scrunched up looking faced)"Mom, that's a little too sassy for you." :)

Thank goodness for help!

Brooklyn's Sock Hop

Her party was a blast, we decorated poodle skirts, ate, danced, swung at the pinata and had a bubble blowing contest. 8 year old girls are an easy crowd, they pretty much entertain themselves! After the party we went to a live band performace and danced the night away, Brooklyn even got captured by a Chronicle photographer and was on their website. I'm sure wearing a darling poodle skirt and dancing around with her friends (who happened to be there after the party too) was part of the charm.

Waiting in line for the Juke box pinate which I bought 4 months in advance because I couldn't resist. Notice how carefully they are all lined up... I'm a teeny bit neurotic about pinatas ever since Brooklyn got pelted in the head with a metal bat at a Halloween party... lines are essential.

The girls had a yummy dinner consisting of hot dogs, fries and root beer floats, I wish dinner was always that easy and well received.


Showing off their cute skirts. They picked out the poodles and leashes.

It was a blast. I made poodle skirts for all the girls to decorate and then wear during the party. I now have a lifetime supply of black, fushcia, baby blue and baby pink felt... Why didn't that cutting lady tell me I had a ridiculous amount?

The cake was so much fun to make! The look on Brooklyn's face when she came home from school was literally the icing on the cake, she was giddy. The cake matched Brooklyn's outfit, her skirt was fuschia with a black poodle and the leash was a hot pink sequin strip.

In honor of the b-day girl, we went to Incredible Pizza (if you've never been, it's like a glorified Chuck-e-Cheese...really). The little games and rides are fun, but the prizes...oh the prizes. You know how at Chuck-e-Cheese they give you plastic bracelets, a chinese finger trap and maybe a lolipop? Well, at Incredible Pizza they give you stuffed animals, gumball machines, kites, games... wow, we've gotten some serious prizes there!

All the Jones girl cousins!

The best chocolate chip cookie pizookie!

Jeff and I had date night last week and went out to BJ's, we stuffed ourselves past the "you-should- stop-now" mark and ordered a pizookie. Yum. Not the first time I tried one, but it resurfaced a college memory. A good one! A delicious one. A treat I made often.

My mom bought me a cook book entitled, "Help, My apartment has a kitchen, now what?" I don't really remember anything about the cook book, except this one special one dish wonder. It served an apartment of chocolate hungry girls many a time.
After my brother returned from his mission, I decided he needed the book more than I. My only worry was , this recipe, I didn't want to lose it. Years have gone by, but luckily my sister-in-law still had the cookbook. Here is the fabulous recipe! It is fool proof, always impresses, and the perfect combination of slightly crunchy top, and soft, GOOEY melted chocolately inside. If you're looking for a one- dish, no mess, 30 min. dessert, you have found a treat, my friend!

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips (really A LOT, could lessen, if you don't want melted, gooey chocolate ;)

Put butter in a round cake pan on low burner and melt. Stir in sugars... turn off heat, add everything else. Bake for 25 minutes or until top begins to lightly brown and edges pull away at 350'. Enjoy. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream and glass of milk!

2009 Family Portraits- for real this time

I know that blaring flash is slightly distracting in this picture, but you get the point.

Here is my favorite, and the one Jeff has up in his office.

" the sweet one"

"the silly one"

"the PRINCESS"

our family

I'm finally putting these up here for my sweet friend Kelsey, who was the delightful photographer. She did a fantastic job on this shoot, in fact, almost every person who comes into my house asks who did the pictures... She really captured the essence of my kids through some of these, which is what I love. Forget those silly, school pictures with a "gray cloud swirly" background. None of those for me, please! I prefer them a little more creative, a little more real, a little more interesting, and frankly, a little more smiley. The only other pictures, besides candids, this year that have got a real smile out of Brooklyn have been the swim team pictures. Go figure, she's in the pool, what kid wouldn't be smiley?! Thanks Kelsey, I love them! (and Congratulations!)

Family Portrait-2009

Since I haven't posted our family photos up here recently, I am putting this very accurate portrait up. Lily drew this. I will translate this picture for you: our family is full of love- you can see that by the hearts above our heads.

My favorite part of this, besides Jeff and Tyler's hair is the special addition of our sweet rat Tickle, who Lily has become EXTREMELY attached to. They are BFF's! Actually, not just Lily, we all love her and are happy to have her in our home.