Chocolate Covered Grapes

I used to make these little babies all the time

for showers and parties.

They were always the biggest hit!

Chocolate covered grapes...yum!

I just melt chocolate chips,

dip,

& cool!

But, if you make them,

watch out for Rocco.

He might just show up!

I like them straight from the freezer

so even the grape is frozen.

My kids like them straight from the fridge,

hard chocolate, soft grape.

Speaking of sweet...

Annie got a card from the girl who received her

Operation Christmas Child box.

Now I know that it is not really that lil' babes lips,

but it got me thinkin...

Roo could do that!

Pucker up baby!

Well, almost...

He's just lucky I didn't use this pose:

Maybe tomorrow.

:)

Painted

So with no school today the morning was sweet & slow. 

I LOVE the relaxed pace of no school!!!

I pulled out the paints & we just enjoyed creating together.

The boys lasted about 15 minutes and then

I got some time alone with Annie.

Of course I painted something I love!

(That is suppose to be Annie :)

She thinks I am the world's greatest artist so...

...I pretend I am  :)

All excited she says, "Now I wanna paint you!"

Of course, I say what every good mom would say,

"Honey, just make sure you don't paint me too fat."

"MOM!!!!!"

Well apparently that didn't work too well.

I take up the whole page!

And yes...my feet really are that big.

But hey...togetherness is good.

I'm just glad we didn't use bigger paper!

;)

It's Time

    Annie always helps me with the dishes at home, but on Sudays at my mom's, the moms always take over the kitchen. 

This Sunday when the cousins left early I decided it was time. 

Time for Annie to join the women in the kitchen. 

   She was excited when I asked her to dry the dishes

for Grandma while I fed Roo, "Ooooooo!  Really?!"

Then we told her all about the kitchen:

It's a privilege to be invited into the kitchen to help.

We don't let the men help because it is too much fun!

It's a bonding time for the women,

we talk about how our weeks went and all kinds of good stuff.

:)

As I listened from the next room I heard her,

"So Grandma..what did you do this week?" 

...and they talked.

And then it was true...all the stuff we said,

it is a bonding time...it IS fun. 

Made me smile as I remembered all the hours trying to get my sisters to do the dishes for me.

 And when Grandma rested on a stool to talk to me for a minute...

Annie peeked her head in,

"Grandma!  Get back to work!"

Made even me think of dishes in a whole new way.

Par-TAY!

Time to hang back up the party dress...

hers not mine :)

Jeans for me.

Up late...

Wild night...

You know the kinda party where

"Open Bar"

means no one is guarding the pop from

the kids & you have a lot of kids on a sugar highs,

with very loud horns.

Wild I'm telling ya.

Complete with our own fancy ball drop, of course :)

Not exactly Swarovski

but a broken Christmas ornament will do.

A house filled with family and friends of all ages.

(I heart my Dad)

And my favorite part...

the tradition

(maybe just my families?)

kids banging pots and pans outside

hooting & hollering,

"Happy New Year!!!"

to well wish all your neighbors

at midnight.

I bet they love me.

And to you?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

:)

I can't wait to see what the year holds!

What did you do last night?

I really want to know!