birthweek

Dan had a birthday

and we celebrated four days in a row.

it all started out because his birthday fell on a monday this year, and I have school until 7:30 pm, and seeing as he leaves at 6:00 am, it wasn't going to be a party....

So, Saturday night we went on a date. I invited Dan's brothers Tony and Mike and their wives.

It was so fun to go out on a triple date no kids - this is the first time we have ever done that!

we dined at the Counter. And had Claimey's chocolate chip calzones back at Tony and Suzannes.

Sunday morning, Dan slept in while Presley and I made his favorite breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, cinnamon syrup, and some milk and oj.

Monday rolls around only for Dan to get surprised at work with a party. He was spoiled and loved every second of it.

I got home that night and we fine dined with Presley at Jalapenos, and topped it off with some frozen yogurt.

Tuesday night was the annual Dan and Candi birthday dinner.

Their birthdays are a day apart.

It was fun to celebrate Candi too.  I love you candi, I am lucky to call you a sister and a friend.  You are such a beautiful wife and mother, our family is better with you in it!

We headed to one of our favorites, El Torito Grill.  And had to finish the night off with Sprinkles!

helping daddy blow out the candles.

I really lucked out with Dan.  He is so handsome, kind, funny, passionate and loving. 

I am grateful for my best friend and honey by my side every day.  

love you.

a day with my girl

most wednesdays i am in school, but not this week!

i can't tell you how nice it was to have three days in a row at home with presley...

we had so much fun together, no plans, no schedule.

no one knows when she turned fifteen, but this week she did.

i can't get over how old she looks in these photos.

such a happy girl.

love you pres.  

kisses.

queen of the kitchen

Presley has become quite the queen of the kitchen.

she has had a taste of baking

up on the countertop,

and there is no going back

eyeing the candy

giddy that mommy hasn't taken it away...

because it isn't going anywhere anyways

she doesn't understand that there is something underneath the wrapper

good girl presley!

halloween night

last minute we decided to host a halloween dinner with our family.

mom, dad, steven, julie, michael, candi, jordy and tyson were our guests.

we had so much fun at our festive dinner pre trick or treating!

table setting

the spread:

chicken chili, corn bread with honey butter, salad and my mom's homemade apple pie!

how o you decorate last minute?  print out photos of halloween festivities?  sure.

cheap and easy.  

we still have these up, presley has to go through all of them everday pointing and saying "mommy"  "daddy" or "baby!"

the chickie with grandma and grandpa

after dinner we met up with tony & suzanne & kids, and mike & shannon

presley's first house trick or treating,  

she was loving it!

gigi and cinderella

presley was obsessed with all the scary decorations.  her cousins would run from the decorations and she would get real close to it asking "was dat?"

too young to get it.

some of our group

michael, candi, jordy, presley, me, mom, dad and tyson

presley and uncle mike (she's obsessed) and grandma and tate.

chickie and sleeping beauty 

after we hit a few streets, everyone came back to our place for apple pie.

it was such a fun night, we hope to do this every year!

halloween happenings

we had so many fun halloween festivities leading up to the big day.

I love this time of year!

presley and her rooster of a father strutting down the runway at the trunk or treat.

dan was getting compliments all night about being such a good sport dressing up like that,

little did they know he begged me to make him this costume...

this costume seriously could not have been more precious on our girl, we were dying all night!

it was worth every burn from the glue gun.

mommy and chickie

Gigi planned a fun day at the tanaka farms.

they had pumpkins you picked off the vine, a real corn maze, and lots of fun animals.

the kids loved it, and it was such a gorgeous day! we lucked out.

presley could not get enough of the tractor ride out to the pumpkin patch. she could have done that all day.

tyson and candi

p and me

jordy and presley

we hit up another pumpkin patch with Tony, Suzanne and kids.

presley loves being with her cousins!

my handsome honey with his baby girl.

livi, luke, tate and presley.

presley can not get enough of luke. he is so good with her!

heartbreaker tate with his mama

pumpkin carving at the mullen's. i had class that night, so we went late and didn't carve pumpkins, we just ate too many of the delicious sugar cookies ....

and our sad little house at a very fun halloween party!

so good

i can't stop making ...

this, and  this.  both are seriously so delish!  

*the broccoli I make it super easy without using the garlic or basil, both ways are good.

happy halloween

this little chickie is wishing you a happy halloween!

early mornings with my girl

one sunday, dan's day to sleep in, we were up extra early.

so, presley and i baked up a storm.

p felt so special the whole time getting to help and hold all the spices.

it got me excited for the all the years ahead baking with my girl.

i of course had to get some shots of my precious presley. but things got a little too fun for presley as i was behind the lens.

uh oh!

these pumpkin cookies came out so pretty from the oven.

but i couldn't resist frosting them with my favorite! homemade cream cheese frosting.

uh oh ...

uh oh is right!  

Dan got caught red handed by our little copycat. 

 i was rolling.

pumpkin patch

we took this fancy girl to the pumpkin patch.

we have decided we are at a great age with presley, she loves going and doing like activities, but we don't have to spend a dime since she is entertained by just watching everything!

presley and her daddy.

dan decided to get real into the camera,

i asked him if he could warn me the next time this would happen.

maybe then i would get ready for our family outing.

big pumpkin. tiny presley.

we kept trying to get a pic of presley's height, but she bolted the second dan let go.