My Big Fat Greek Cooking Class

As many of you know (from asking you your opinion) for Christmas came up with 12 dates for Josh and I to go on over this next year (one date a month).  The rule that I used was the date had to be just the two of us (no double dates) and it had to be something we don't usually do (no dinner and movie).  Now we couldn't afford to go out every month so there are several dates that are just staying home but doing something we don't usually do....a spa night, a game night, etc.  

Well Sunday was our first date night of the year.....a cooking class!!!  We went to a cool little kitchen in downtown Portland....Hipcooks....and learned how to cook a big fat Greek meal!!  We had a blast!!!  We had no idea what to expect, but it turned out really awesome and the food was amazing!!  There were about 14 of us there total around a U shaped counter space and we cooked this seven course Greek meal using all natural ingredients!!  Our instructor, Monika was super upbeat and full of energy which made the class all the better!!  

  Standing around the bar ready to cook!!!  Monika is explaining how everything will work!!

Time to get your hands dirty!!!

Making Spanikopita

M'mmmmmmm.....look at those caramelized onions!!  Don't they look amazing!!  By the way....did you know that if you have a pot with a non-oven safe handle on it all you do is have to put foil around the handle and it becomes oven safe!!!

Finishing up the Baklava....the BEST EVER!!!

Some of the amazing food we made!!!!  You'll have to come to our house for a Greek Party!!  We are ready to cook now!!!!  

Next month.....Romantic Dinner at Home!!!

Isla Cole Schwisow

One of the ladies in our playgroup had a baby right before Christmas.  Isla Cole!!  Isn't she a doll?!?  Isla is also my friend Suzanne (my friend from NM) niece.  Suzanne threw a Sip and See baby shower for Isla.  A little get together honoring Isla and her mom Valerie.  It turned out so cute!!!  Suzanne made little bite size savories and I made baby cupcakes (S'more, Vanilla Salted Caramel, Chocolate Salted Caramel, and Boston Cream Pie).  

Congratulations Valerie!!!

Having Fun Being Busy

So we are back into the grove of things.  Garrett and Josh are back in school, I'm back working normal, and Haylee and I are back to hanging out and having play groups.  We had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed our company but it is kind of nice getting back on a routine.  

The Portland Children's Museum is sponsored by Target the first Friday of every month, so from 4pm-8pm admission is free!!  We took Garrett and Haylee this month (it's Lego Time) and they had a blast!!

The theme this quarter is Lego Castle, so Haylee was dressed up like a princess!!!

 

Garrett building a Lego Castle.

"I hear his Heart!!!"

They had this building where you could look down from the second floor to the ground floor.  Garrett thought that was the neatest thing!!

Haylee putting on her makeup

What a fun Friday night!!

This week play group was at my house so I had the brilliant idea to let the kids decorate chocolate cupcakes!!!  

KIDS + CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES + FROSTING + SPRINKLES = YUMMY MESSY FUN!!

The BEST picture!!!  June digging into her beautifully decorated cupcake!!

Yes that's right.....ELEVEN kids!!!

Kids having fun playing together!!  

New Year's Eve

We had a New Year's Eve party at our house and had so much fun!!  There were four couples total (one couple had to leave early because they had a new born and needed to sleep during their babies long sleeping stretch...don't blame them at all!!  :)  We had appetizer foods and sparkling apple cider!!  We even let all the kids stay up to watch the ball drop (aka 9:00pm Pacific time).

Hope everyone has an AWESOME 2012!!!

Merry Christmas with Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us last week.  They arrived Christmas night and the kids went straight to bed when we got home....they then filled under the christmas tree again, and when the kids woke up it was Christmas all over again.  The funny thing was we (the adults) were all downstairs when they came down and they BOTH walked right past the tree (and presents).  We had to show them, but they were super excited!!  

Garrett and Grandpa playing "real" angry birds!!

After we opened gifts and ate breakfast we got all of our warm gear together and headed for Mt. Hood.  We had a blast!!  It was a perfect day (the only good day they were here).

  

A coworker of mine told me to keep walking about 1/4 of a mile at the sno park.  We did and this is how the kids RODE!! 

I love Josh's face in this pic!!!  "Are you kidding me, do you know how far that is???"

Once we got to the hill....it was HUGE!!  We didn't get how to steer until after a few times!!

We were trying to steer with our feet which made for a face full of snow!!!

Poor Haylee....she was the first to go!!!  She was such a big girl though...although she decided to stick to this.....

Nice and Slow!!

CRASH!!!

Josh talked Haylee into going again...she learned from the first time to cover her face!!  She loved it!!!

Snowball fight!!

What a great day.  We ended it with a warm drink and treat at our usual place on the way home!!!

We also took a trip to see little Ms. Baby Avery (Ivan and Emily Godwin's baby).  

She has grown so much since the last time we saw her!!  What a doll.  Haylee was LOVED her!!!  I asked Garrett if he wanted to hold her and his was response was, "I want to hold him" pointing at the hamster!!  Such a boy!!!

We had a great time with you Grandma and Grandpa!!  Can't wait until the next time!!!

Happy New Year.....

Happy New Year to every one!!!  I am starting out the new year updating!!  A lot has happened in December and I had a hard time keeping up with the posting with all of our fun activities.  We had Christmas parties, visitors, lots of yummy food, Christmas lights to see, Santa visits, and lots of Daddy time!!!

My work's Christmas party!!!

We also had a Christmas party of our own.  We invited our friends over for a magical night at the North Pole.  We made reindeer food, went caroling, exchanged gifts,  had a special visitor and of course had cookies and milk!!

I got the idea from this fantastic blog!!

Haylee's Ballet Parent Watch Day

Daddy and Garrett were out of school so we all got to go see the princess dance!!!

We made it to Zoo Lights this year!!  It was crazy but fun!!  We rode the Max Train there so we didn't have to deal with parking (we already tried that this with a big fat FAIL!!).  

  

Christmas Eve!!

Garrett and Josh both got Mario Pj's!!

Dumping out the Reindeer Food (which consist of Tang, bread crumbs, marshmallows, coconut, and of course glitter so it shimmers under the moon!!)

Before Santa

After Santa

Christmas Dinner (Traditional Mexican Fiesta)

Christmas night my parents came into town and we had a lot of fun.  We went up to Mt. Hood again for some sledding fun, played with Christmas toys and went and visited baby Avery Godwin...but those pictures will have to wait.

Haylee is fighting croup right now and it's time for a nap (for mommy and child!!)  I will try to post the rest of the pictures this afternoon!!  

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!