Welcome Home Beth

Last night I got to go hang out at my friend Erin's house to have a little shin dig to celebrate Beths weekend home. Beth and most of the people there all went to highschool with me at Bellarmine. Beth lives in New York and works in the fashion industry. The stories she tells are so great and I think she is living the life I have in my dreams. The evening was full of old stories, pickleball and lots of wine. Thanks for adding more memories to those yearbooks ladies.

Festival of Trees 2009

Hello friends..

You are going to think that this is early in the game but I am just being efficient! This year I was recruited to work on the Festival of Trees which is a huge fundraiser for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital(2 million dollar event). The event is sponsored by community volunteers and the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. I feel very passionate about the hospital and all it does given that I have 2 little ones that have used the facilities many times (hopefully not much more in the future). There are many little ones that need our help to receive the care and services necessary to function as healthy children. Some day it could be your little ones!

My job this year is co-chair of the Jingle Bell Jam(Saturday December 5,2009). This is an evening of dinner, auction and dancing. At this time I am in search of items that could be auctioned off. It could be something small and simple to something even bigger. Services, boat rides, trips, massages etc. If you don't personally have something that would be of value then you may know somebody that does. I know this seems really early but once the bug is in your ear it may open up a procurement opportunity for the event.

If you do have an item or have a contact number for somebody that does please direct them to me and I will be happy to speak with them. Also if you do not have an item maybe you would be interested in volunteering? If so there is plenty to do and we would be more then happy to have you. There are open positions on the committee but you could also just help the week of the event. NO help will be refused!

I will be procuring thru the summer and fall so if anything crosses your path to give I will take it!

Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from you!!!
Marquelle
marrky1@hotmail.com

Precious Peanuts

My 3 girls passed out on my bed. How did I get so lucky?? Now if only they were this peaceful all of the time! They sure are my precious little peanuts! I love you..

Invites

Sunday evening I went over to Shelly and Toms house for an invitation party. Shelly has become such a dear friend to me and I am also coordinating their wedding in August. Shelly cooked a fabulous supper and afterwards we assembled all of the beautiful invites to the wedding. Although there was work involved we had so much fun! Can't wait for the big day.. It's almost here!!

Congrats Joanie and Butch

Melissas kiddos(Madi & Nathan) and Mara



Sunday was Melissas moms wedding at the Tacoma Lawn and Tennis Club. I did the floral arrangements and bouquets. It was such a beautiful afternoon and love was certainly in the air! Congrats guys!

Buster and BBQ

Sharon.. Love this girl!! My other half in Texas!

Really quick..

Babysat Buster Sharon and Kiels dog on Saturday. It just reconfirmed that we will never be getting one. Really super cute but so much work.. Not for me!!

Beautiful evening out so we decided to have a cookout. Good friends, good food, good times!

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our life! Thank You..

Taylor Swift Surprise

Last Friday I picked Mara up from school and told her that her, Alayna and I were going shopping up in Seattle. Awesome.. Great! was the reaction. The truth was that we were really meeting Jaclyn and that we were all going to the Taylor Swift concert. Once we arrived in Seattle we went to the Science Center food court. As we were sitting there eating Jaclyn(who drove down from college at Western) walked in and wrapped her arms around Mara. The moment was priceless!! Mara asked her what she was doing and she said "shopping". Mara said "Oh so are we". Then Jaclyn said "and I thought maybe we could go to the Taylor Swift concert together". Mara flipped and started to cry. The rest is history and they were glued to each other the rest of the night. They even got matching T's. Mara is so lucky to have a big sis like Jaclyn. I know what an influence I had on her life and I know she is having that same positive one on Mara's. I love you Jaclyn! You really made Maras night..







Oh and other then the 12,000 screaming little girls that were there the concert was awesome!!

Mothers Day

Today I was blessed to have my girls make me beautiful cards, let me take a nap and then treat me to delicious fish tacos at Anthonys for dinner(my fav). After dinner we let the girls ride their bikes along the waterfront at Point Defiance. It was so fun to walk behind these two little bike riding kiddos and know that I got to celebrate Mothers Day because of them. Along the path we stopped at my favorite broken tree stump for a couple photos. Thanks family for a great Mothers Day!!

Happy Big 5-0 Randy!!

Saturday evening we celebrated Randy's 50Th birthday out at the Chopps beautiful home on Fox Island. Randy is Michael and Jaclyn's dad and Michelle's hubby. There were many friends and family there for the celebration which was so much fun! Michelle cooked up delicious Steak and Lobster dinner and we of course ended the evening with yummy desserts from Suzanne's Bakery. The gifts were hysterical as well as the many speeches or maybe I should call it "roasts" that were given. I got to catch up with the kids as well as my extended grandparents "Tony and Bob".

Randy I hope you had the best 50Th ever. You deserve it!!

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mommys out there. I am so thankful to have always had such an awesome mom in my life! Thank you for always being a friend to me. All the grand babies love you and are so lucky to have the bestest Mammie in the whole wide world!!

Here is a pic of my mom and my girls along with my sister Cara and her little peanut Scarlett.

Happy Mothers Day!!

Old Friends

Last night Justin stayed home with the girls so I could go meet some old friends that I had not seen in a very long time. Becky is a long time fiend from high school who is just the sweetest girl ever! Mikki is the wife of my longest best guy friend Chon. Chon and I have been friends since birth and we were all so lucky to get Mikki out of the deal They married a while back and she is amazing, smart and such a dedicated person! Chon could not have found a better fit for himself! Time flew by at dinner because there was just so much to chat about. Thanks ladies for such a fun evening out I really enjoyed myself!!

Mothers Tea

It is that time of year again where I get to go to school to celebrate being a mom with Mara. This is one of my most favorite days at school. The kids prepared snacks, songs and art projects for us. Here are a few pics from my lovely afternoon.

Family Favorite

Last night we made Yummy Oatmeal Scotchies..
Here is the end result and here is the recipe. A sweet treat for my 2 sweet girls!

4 dozen cookies or bars
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups unsifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups Old-Fashioned Quaker oats
1 (11 ounce) package Nestle Toll House butterscotch-flavored morsels (about 2 cups)
Directions
1Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside.
3Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
4Gradually beat in flour mixture.
5Stir in oats and morsels.
6Drop by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
7Bake 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies, 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies.
8Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely.
9Pan Cookie Variation: Grease 15x10-inch jelly-roll pan.
10Prepare dough as above.
11Spread in prepared pan.
12Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned.
13Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Mud

Last night when we got home the neighbor met me outside my car to talk about neighborly stuff. As we were standing there chating Gracelyn decided to jump right into the biggest mud puddle. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!! There was no hesitation at all. Then she walks up to me, pulls off her dress and decides to go in with shoes, socks and just her panties. I figured that what's done is done so I let her continue. Fortunately after a super sized load of laundry everything came clean and my little mud monster did too!!





Gracelyn is constantly reconfirming to me that I don't need a boy.. she is our boy!!

Fun in the Sun

Yesterday Gracelyn invited Mia and Clara over for a play date. The girls have been getting along so well that we have been trying to make it a weekly event. The girls played in the water, ran around, blew bubbles, ate lunch and had a fabulous time. The mommys enjoyed tasty Margaritas on the patio while we caught up with conversation and tried to catch a tan. Cheers to many more sunny fun play dates!!

Happy May Day

Happy May Day..

I know it was yesterday but I just love this day. As a little girl I used to make the cone shaped containers, fill them with blue bells and run around the neighborhood knocking on doors all the while leaving the person a fun little may day surprise.

I have taught my girls to do this as well but this year my girlfrind Kelly brought me a May day surprise. These beautiful tulips from the tulip festival in Skagit Valley. I placed them in the great mason jar which is an item right now that I can't get enough of. I love the way they look and feel. I am hoping to find the smaller ones with the handles this summer so I can make some sweet tea and serve it up right. I think I am missing the south a bit... Everything they do there appeals to me!!

Thanks Kelly for the beautiful flowers they completely made my May day!!