Spritz and Sprinkles

Today was a good day. 

Today, we danced around the kitchen in our pajamas, singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs. 

Today, we made 3 batches of spritz cookies. Which, you know, is practically a million cookies. And we decorated them all. Luke's method involves pouring an entire bottle of sprinkles onto one cookie sheet. Hubs' method involved asking for tweezers to strategically place the candy cane sprinkles (true story).

Today, we delivered those cookies to our naighbors. We were welcomed in with open arms, and told stories of Christmas traditions of the past, where children are now, and of those that have passed on who are painfully missed, but joyfully remembered. 

Today, I was able to step back and realize just how blessed we are. A warm home, good music, an abundance of baked goods to share with those we love...and most importantly, a family to share these moments with.

He Needs to Stop Growing

Last weekend, I got the pleasure of watching my nephew while Ingy and Bar went out to dinner with some friends.

And, hear me out for a sec here...I know I say this EVERY time I see him, but this kid is getting way. too. big.

See what I mean?!

Let's just say that I was properly schooled in the correct way to put together a child's train track (don't laugh at me - some of those parts are complicated!).

It's hard to imagine that he's old enough to teach me something. I hardly recognize him anymore from when he first came home from the hospital...

...and then I see these little feet, and it all comes back.

Sigh.

Birthday Celebration, Part 4: Do I get to slide down the fire pole?!

Well, it's no secret that I have the world's greatest sisters...but yesterday, they sure outdid themselves!

Ing and Pin had been planning some super secret birthday celebration for me, and last night, I finally got to see what the big secret was. I was very pleasantly surprised to have one of my favorite meals made for me by my sisters: Mexican Stuffed Shells!

Throughout dinner, Pin kept texting some mystery person and checking her watch. Of course, every time I would ask what we were doing, I was yelled at.

Finally, we left for some unspecified location. As Ing pulled into the Schaumburg Fire Department under the pretense of seeing where Pin worked (the police station is behind the fire department), I knew something was up. Ing said she was just turning around in the parking lot, but she definitely parked the car and Pin definitely started getting out of the car. Thinking that they were messing with me, I started saying things like, "OOooo do I get to slide down the fire pole?!" ...but apparently we were actually getting a tour of the fire house!

We got to see everything...the old fire pole (there are no longer fire poles because too many people broke their ankles sliding down them. LAME.), the offices, their AWESOME kitchen that I would kill for, their "cubes" of beds. And then we got to ride the fire truck! For being a gigantic tank of steel and 500 gallons of water, it actually rode pretty smoothly. When we got back to the fire station, they even let me turn on all the lights and honk the horn. The whole visit pretty much rocked my world and made it the best birthday ever.

But much to my surprise, it wasn't over! Pin arranged for us to have dessert at the super swank Renaissance Hotel restaurant. Since I have apparently been on a martini kick lately, I ordered the Root Beer Float martini.

For dessert, I ordered the Renaissance Chocolate Dome. I don't remember what was in it other than chocolate mousse and ganache, but HC it was the most amazing dessert ever.
We got a little excited by these desserts, so we went a little photo happy.








Who gets to have dinner made for them, ride in a fire truck on their birthday, AND go out for dessert afterwards? I do!! All because of my awesome sisters...best in the world.

I have the best SIL ever!

A few days ago, Theresa (my Sistah-in-Law, but I prefer just Sistah!), wrote about her beautiful hydrangeas that are blooming in her yard. Now that I no longer have a yard, I posted a comment asking for a "donation" to a home in need...and look what I got!

I cowardly texted Theresa last night to ditch out on pilates because I wasn't feeling well, and she replied that she had just finished cutting some flowers for me (now I really felt bad for not going). A pilates class, Harry Potter movie, and a few car trips later, my flowers arrived safely to work this morning with Mrs. Chen. Thanks, sis!