Valentine's Dinner Party

So I decided to have a Valentine's Dinner Party. And it really was an absolutely fantastic evening. My dear friend Nancy lost her husband 15 years ago and February 14th is her wedding anniversary. My other dear friend Elise is recently divorced, not her choice (she doesn't know it now but in the future she will realize she is better off). So I wanted to make sure they had plans and those plans would be fun. We invited Chris who brought, really the most darling date, and the Little Miss just loved her (she cried when she left - this is a good sign right? Maybe Chris should pursue this one?)

I didn't get a picture of the food but it was delicious. We feasted on King Crab Legs, loaded baked potatoes, strawberry spinach salad, Brazilian lime aid, and for dessert Cherry cheescake. Because you know, the food is the most important part of a dinner part. 

It was awesome company. A whole lot of food and laughter. And we were entertained by this video: (We all have a common friend who is a crazy cat lady and we couldn't help but watch this and think of her.)

New Things

 

We are thinking spring! 

It may still feel like winter here, but we are getting our spring on. I think I need to avoid Target for the next month until spring like temperatures begin (which here, I probably should avoid it for the next 2 months). Just too much of a temptation to want to buy everything springy. 

Nanny Saves the Day

When my grandmother heard of the little Miss's plight of her favorite shoe becoming a chew toy, she wasted no time and when straight to the Disney Store. She couldn't find the exact ones but as you can see the little Miss hasn't noticed. She is in love with these new shoes. I couldn't get them off her feet. She was twirling and tapping all over the house.

I was able to capture a picture of just one, but you can see how darling it is.

Thank you Nanny for thinking of us! The shoes are a hit.

Sister Sister

 We are having another girl!! 

and for a lady with no sisters, I cannot tell you how excited I am to have sister daughters. I can't wait to say, "My girls". 

The above picture is after many (failed) attempts to have Brooklyn hold the sign and picture (see the crinkles). 

Here are the attempts:

BFFs on Hold

until further notice.

Recognize this shoe? 

It is what is left of a sparkly red Minnie Mouse shoe. You know,  the Miss's favorite pair of shoes. We came down the stairs to find Dixie chewing it. What on earth was going through that dog's head is beyond me, but the Miss was devastated. To say she was in the depths of despair is an understatement. Usually the two are the best of friends, today not so much. Regardless of what Dixie does, little Miss just keeps shouting "NO!" to her. Dixie is minding her own business on the dog bed, little Miss walks over and shouts, "NO!" She is a girl scorned, and hell hath no fury like the Brookie Monster. Good thing Meme and Pop Pop are headed to sunny Florida, they can pick her up another pair... or 2.

A Blue Sky Day

It finally came. A day I have been waiting for, for a long long time (feels like a lifetime). We finally could see the blue sky. The air was clean. We enjoyed ourselves.

As I am on the phone often complaining to my dad about our nasty inversion I try to explain it is just like Dr. Suess's book, "The Lorax". You can't see the blue in the sky because it is tainted by the brown air. You can actually see the smog as you are about to drive right into it. You can feel it in your lungs. 

Here is a picture:

You see what looks to be dirty clouds? Those aren't clouds that is our inversion. Just stuck in the valley no where to go but just get dirtier and dirtier.Yes, we inhale that. 

However, yesterday we had a storm. A glorious beautiful storm. Full of snow, wind and rain. It is exactly what we needed to clear out that nasty air. 

So we bundled up because it is still 25 degrees outside and played in the fresh clean air! It was so nice, so needed. It made my soul happy.

Positivity

My new favorite picture. It captures both their personalities and their relationship.

 It's so cold even Dixie thinks so.

Peace, love, sandy feet. Must I say more? 

So sick...

Okay, I lied. I am not through with whiny posts. I am sick. The barely-crawl-out-of-bed-I-feel-like-I-was-hit-by-a-train sick. We have had our share of colds this winter. I thought we were out of it. Thought, seems to be the magic word here. And then I was hit with whatever is in the air. I have been told due to the inversion, the germs are just stuck in the air. The germs are RSV, strep, cold and flu and most people are getting all of them... at once. Apparently, I have a mixture of RSV and the common cold. My main goal is to get through this without another single member of our family getting it, particularly the child. Which is hard! We are BFFs people! We chill every day together. We have been watching a lot of tv, and a whole lot of Finding Nemo. I have been pumping us full of vitamin C and strawberries and blueberries for the antioxidants. I have been washing my hands until they are bleeding. I have been only using the tissue once. I have this thing where I hate throwing away a tissue only used once, it seems so wasteful. But I have been using it and then getting it out. I have been washing the child's hands as often as mine with my new favorite thing:

 Norwex, baby cloths. Have you heard of them?

 All you need is water. No chemicals and they are antibacterial. It is hard to wash a little's hands properly, but with these they are efficient and effective.

Lucky, for me I called my doctor to check in and he prescribed an antibiotic since I am not getting better only worse. Cheers to penicillin! (That isn't what he prescribed but it sounded better than, "Cheers to antibiotics").

Anyway, while I lay in bed forgetting what it is like to be healthy, I think of better days and places I'd rather be and what I'd rather be doing.

Wishing we were back here (we visited my Grandparents in Florida last year)

 

Or talking my husband into taking us here.

Because, you know, being sick makes you feel like you deserve a tropical vacation. However, I feel if I can get over this without another single person getting it, I do deserve something. Then get over it and get somewhere warm and sunny fast before the sickness comes back.

Winter, are ya done yet?

I am ready for this weather again:

Our next 10 day forecast is looking cold, bitterly cold. And do you know how I make it through it? By grumbling, and whining, and moaning and complaining. I try to have a positive aspect on life... except when it comes to winter.

 I hate winter.

(Have I ever mentioned that on here before???? :) You poor people have to read my grumblings every winter). I am grateful for the snow fall. We do need snowfall. And I have to say, I much rather go through bitterly cold weather with snow on the ground than without it. I have no explanation behind this. I just figure if it's going to be cold, I would prefer for the brown to be covered up with a pretty blanket of white snow. It helps disguise the deadness and brownness aka ugliness, oh and don't get my started on the inversion. I just read that the inversion puts our air quality as one of the most polluted cities in the world (yep, worse than Beijing). Breathe that handful of deliciousness in.

*I will not post any more whiny complaints again (this only pertains to this year - expect another next year). I will try to find the good things winter brings.*

Christmas

We headed to the East Coast for the holiday. I remember my first plane ride with our Sweet B at 4 months old, and how nervous I was. Why was I ever nervous??? It is easy to contain a child that isn't mobile. Do you know how hard it is once they are??? luckily, Brad was with us to and from and it went fairly well.

Here are the two cuties on Christmas Eve Morning.

 See the Cinderella slippers? Apparently, they are perfect for sweeping.

 And walking.

 And more walking. She walked Daddy around the island about 35 times.

We paid our respects to Brad's personal hero, Major Richard Winters. 

For a hero, his grave was modest. Which is expected from a man who never considered himself a hero. 

The many faces of our Sweet B

We visited Manhattan. It was insanely busy, but we managed with a stroller and a youngin.