Valentines, Wine Parties, and Presents

Hello blogosphere! These days when I log in, I really do feel like I'm getting to say hi to a set of old friends. Happy belated Valentine's! I hope yours was filled with whatever you wanted, be that chocolate, champagne, a round of Parcheesi, and/or an early night with a good book.

Tradition!

I've always enjoyed Valentine's Day. I've been married forever, so the "having a Valentine" part is baked in, and we've always kept it small enough to be sustainable, but sweet enough that I do genuinely look forward to it. We do cards, sappy ones we take time to pick out separately, and dinner- some years it's a fancy one that James makes, it used to be a heart-shaped pizza (we miss you Mangia in Austin), and lately it's been heart-shaped pasta with a pink tomato cream sauce or a heart-shaped pizza James shaped himself. It's fun and a little silly and any weekday with an excuse to drink a bottle of champagne and employ themed lingerie is worth celebrating.

This year our kids dominated both the daytime and nighttime schedule- a theme that I think will remain for the next 12 years, but we fit in takeout Thai, a Sparkling Rose, and even a well-timed round of Parcheesi in between the pick-ups and drop-offs.

The kids woke up to the traditional Valentine's table. The Target tablecloth and plates, circa 2015, cards specially picked out by James and some little treat picked out by me (this year a bigger treat than normal thanks to a "buy 2 get 1 free" special at Walgreens; also the fluffy rainbow llama spoke to my heart). And candy I want to eat later sprinkled across the table. And a bulldog, who understood this was where the stuffed animal were supposed to be.

I love the care with which James picks out the cards and writes his notes to the kids. They're very individual and completely perfect.

The bracelet in Cora's card plays a rousing snippet of "Happy" and it is her favorite thing ever. James has regrets.

That night, Cora had a dance at her old preschool that she was DELIGHTED to attend as a wordly Kindergartner. Landon had his final Cotillion, wearing his first tie since his 1-year photos. He's so cute. And Claire crashed our Valentine's takeout dinner.

After the Cotillion, where Landon danced five dances he claims not to remember the names of, there was an after party full of pizza and dodgeball that ended at 10:30. And so, at 10:45 on Valentine's Day, James and I were awake only because we were waiting for our child to arrive home. The beginning of a new era for sure.

On Saturday, I went to Orangetheory where I burned 615 calories and nearly killed myself running inclines on the treadmill and Landon competed in Spelling Academic UIL, where he placed 3rd! And then I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking, baking, cleaning, and decorating for our grown-up Valentine's wine party!

Score cards, pencils, 24 wine glasses, kitschy Valentine's decor, and new outfits!

My dress had a petticoat and I LOVED it. Maybe A-line dresses with volume are what I was always meant to wear? I had a waist! A fake one, but I loved it!

Food abounded (I made Caprese Skewers, Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip, French Dip Sliders, Valentine's Party Chex Mix, and Sopapilla Cheesecake (recipe below, it's AMAZING) and friends brought more,

Friends were present,

Maggie was petted,

Wine was tasted and tested and scored,

My friend Kim and I visited the same hair stylist before the party.

(It was her.)

(By the way I'm wearing the red lipstick I bought in 2010 and described in this post and pictured in this one and I can't believe it was 10 years ago that I bought it. Do lipsticks expire? I wear it approximately 1.5x a year and it could last longer than I do. Also, I've been blogging forever. Look at that Big Law attorney with two children, no hobbies, and a house in Austin? Who even is she?)

Scores were tabulated in excel, because accuracy and taking things out to the fifth decimal place are important.

As are reading people's comments are the wine they're tasting. Particularly when the wine they judge most harshly is the one they brought themselves. (The wines are placed in numbered bags by me and no one knows which is which.)

And my wine won! Good old MoonX, my "house" red blend, purchased from Trader Joe's for $6.99. Being the hostess, I felt that I should not take my own prize, so we moved to 2nd place, a delicious Garnache brought by our friends Haley and Julian. The prizes were donned immediately for a picture. I love a theme.

The final medal stand contenders:

1st: MoonX Silver, Cabernet blend ($6.99, Trader Joe’s)
2nd: El Vivero de Usaldon, Oregon Garnacha ($13)
3rd: Mother’s Choice, Cabernet Sauvignon ($11)
4th: Bucket List, Cabernet Sauvignon ($5, Albertson’s)

It was very fun. I love a themed party. And wine.

The next day, which is now Sunday, my parents arrived as a stop on their trek up to Colorado for the Spring and to celebrate my birthday a week early. As it would happen, Sunday was also their 40th anniversary! So we went out to celebrate at our favorite Fort Worth fancy restaurant.

Look at these two crazy kids: February 16, 1980.

and February 16, 2020.

It was a great night an I'm so glad we got to celebrate their love and commitment and the gift those two things have been to me, both growing up and now as an adult.

On Monday, a holiday for me and the kids but not for James (now that my parents are retired, they're quick to point out that everyday is a holiday for them!), we went on a long walk with all three of our dogs to work off our indulgent meal the night before. Except for Maggie who rode in her stroller and worked off nothing.

I wondered if she'd be embarrassed, riding in her chariot while my parents dogs who are 2.5x her age managed on foot, but no. She seemed quite pleased with her accommodations. It's as if she knew that's EXACTLY where she should be. Then she napped with her new friends all day to recover.

My dad took the kids on adventures all over Fort Worth while my mom and I did our traditional shopping. I had some birthday money to spend and we had a blast (and, per my phone, walked 15,000 steps, which feels exactly right). Somehow she talked me into this loose pants and cropped top shirt and I have to admit I kind of love them. Will I ever wear the out of the house? Unknown.

We picked out the most beautiful dress for me to wear on James and my 15th anniversary beach trip this summer, a Trina Turk number I love more than anything I've ever put in my closet, and purchased at the Clearance Dillards for 15% of the nearly $400 asking price. I also picked up a swim suit cover up I love, yellow sandals that make me smile, and a red skirt I wore today to speak at a local law school. It was a great day and each time I see or wear the things we picked out together, it makes me smile all the more.

For dinner that night we had my grandma's Mexican casserole, a cake they ordered as a surprise, and a fancy candle they brought from Houston. It's so fun getting to celebrate your birthday with your parents and your kids.

They left before dawn on Tuesday morning to continue their drive and our week kicked off with a bang. I worked all day Tuesday, taught my Tuesday night barre class at 5:30, subbed a TCU yoga class at 6:30, and then came home to eat dinner, tuck my kids in bed, and work until midnight reviewing exhibits and prepping for the testimony I had on Wednesday. Then I dragged myself back out of bed just after midnight because I remembered I had drafted and scheduled the PTA newsletter it's my job to send out every Wednesday morning. I'm very glad it's now Thursday.

I need to go to bed, so I leave you with this cheesecake recipe as my Valentine to you. It's from my friend Sarah (actually, from Sarah's grandparents, as the recipe is adorably signed) and it is DELICIOUS. It won our SEC dessert contest last year and only one piece remained after my wine party on a counter with MANY desserts. I can't recommend it more highly.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 - 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese
2 - 8 oz. pkgs Crescent dinner rolls
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar + 1 Tbl cinnamon, combined
Zest from half lemon

1. Sprinkle little bit of cinnamon sugar in bottom of 9x13 pan.
2. Unroll and flatten crescent roll dough on bottom of pan.
3. Mix sugar, room temperature cream cheese, extract, and zest; spread over dough.
4. Unroll second can of crescent roll dough and flatten on top of cream cheese mix.
5. Pour melted butter over top of dough and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake at 350 for 30-40 mins.

Happy almost-Friday to you and those you love!

Christmas in CO, part 1: Buffalo Plaid and all the Trimmings

We've been to Colorado and back, packed up all the things to head up there and somehow unpacked even more when we returned, and are now prepping for our fancy New Year's Eve dinner (each family member picked an element; it's eclectic, but the cheese board really brings it all together).

And so, on New Year's Eve, we're headed back in time a week to Christmas Eve. Or Christmas Eve Eve when we drove 12.5 hours to Boulder for a family filled Christmas at my sister's house.

That's right: the ski stuff, the Christmas stuff, the clothes, the toiletries and accessories, the hiking shoes, the snow boots, the food for my Christmas Day brunch, the bulldog's full winter wardrobe, car entertainment, car snacks, hand-me-downs for my niece, the actual bulldog and our three human children piled in the car and headed to Colorado!

It was Maggie's first interstate road trip and she loved every minute. Probably because she had by far the most room and slept for 775 of the 800 miles.

The drive was smooth (we pack our lunches and all the snacks and institute a 2 hours on electronics/1 hour off rule. Repeat x 4 and we're there!) and we arrived just in time for dinner. My parents had just come down from their house in the mountains with my brother and his fiance and we all ate together.

There was room for everyone to sleep in their own room, with all the cousins in the basement rec room, which makes for a comfortable holiday and while our new snow mountain dog objected to our basement bedroom, she was soon happily ensconced in my sister's master suite.

On Christmas Eve morning we dressed Mags in her finest puffer jacket and took her out to experience snow and meet my sister's chickens. Maggie was neutral on both, but the kids were pumped about the snow.

We headed out to Chautauqua Park in Boulder to hike the Flatirons with our full crew. We were ready early so we took the kids plus my 4-year-old niece Sky to play on the playground before the hiking could begin. Our kids needed exercise and James and I got to reflect on the 4th child I still wish we'd had. He wishes too. I think if hadn't just started a company and I hadn't just taken a big paycut and we hadn't just bought a 3-bedroom house, we would have. But then he got sick and we couldn't and it all worked out as it did. But it was fun to talk about the path not taken while watching the four of them run around together. I tried to naturally turn the conversation to why we need another pet, but he didn't follow the twist.

Eventually the full group arrived and we got to hiking. Behold, the Flatirons!

The hike was a little icier than expected, but we made it at least halfway with everyone!

My brother-in-law stayed back with baby Rio, but the rest of us took up much of the trail. As is tradition, we got a picture of the original three siblings. My kids remain baffled that I can be the oldest and the smallest at the same time.

A little side-story: while we were packing up on the 22nd and I was texting questions like "do we need hiking shoes?" and "what does 45 degrees feel like in Boulder?" I got a message on our family thread from my brother: "mom took a bad fall. ski patrol taking her down mountain now." Turns out, she was going, in her words "way too fast" (and y'all, she skis very fast) down a run, hit something, and flew completely out of her skies, parallel to the ground, and landed face-first, with her helmet hitting first along with the left hand she'd tried to throw out in front of her. Her radius snapped in half and the part of her ulna that makes the bony part of your wrist was crushed. It was bad. They set it in the village (worst pain of her life, from the woman of natural childbirths and a previously broken arm) and put her in a wrap and sling so the swelling could go down over the next five days before she could be casted. She was a trooper, but I know she was in a lot of pain every day of our holiday visit.

After deciding the hiking path was too icy for the youngest and near-eldest among us, particularly when the near-eldest is wearing 3" wedge "hiking" shoes and a sling, we decided to head back to the cars and drive a little ways up the Flatirons. The grown-up car turned back while our car (our five plus Sky) saw rocks that screamed to be climbed upon. So we got out and did that.

My boys! In their happy place.

There girls, feeling powerful.

There was much to discuss among the littles on hiking strategy.

And much pride when they made it to the top (or "top").

We headed home for sandwiches and ornament making, followed by posing lessons by Cora once they were dressed for church.

After church (during which the pastor noted his word of the year would be kindness because the country needed more of it; something I took to be an obvious nod to our president, which I enjoyed) we had dinner, which was trays from our favorite Italian place outside Houston that my parents had brought up. It was easy and delicious which was good because the cousins were READY FOR PRESENTS.

And Buffalo Plaid.

Are they not the cutest? We've never done matching PJs before, but when you have five cousins in one living room on Christmas Eve I'm not sure how you resist. As is tradition we all took turns opening gifts (as I'm sure I've mentioned before, we open all presents on Christmas Eve; Christmas morning is for stockings and your Santa gift), starting from youngest to oldest.

It took a while and the controlled chaos was pure joy.

Youngest. Preferred the trimmings to the actual presents, as is tradition.

James, who knows my heart, got me the greatest gift. Maggie's face on a yoga mat. I died.

Almost literally. She's so majestic. It's so ridiculous. I love it more than I can say.

The kids were, as always, totally delighted by their photo books. It does my heart and looming carpal tunnel good to see their true joy at receiving and reading them.

After several rounds of truly thoughtful and wonderful gifts, we put out cookies for Santa and sent the kids off to bed on their air mattresses in the basement so Santa could come.

For the first time in all our Christmas travels (we have traveled for 11 out of Landon's 13 Christmases) Santa did not bring the "big gift." Instead he rather brilliantly and helpfully brought the stockings and left the big gift at home for the kids to see when we got back the following Sunday. Because Santa knew that scooters (Cora) do not go in snow and Lego set pieces (Claire) will get lost in aunt's houses and big reading pillows (Landon) will obscure the driver's view out the rearview mirror. He's smart, that Santa.

And stockings are super fun. They didn't really seem to notice they might be missing something, which was nice and a fun bonus on Sunday when we pulled back up the driveway and started unloading the car...

The story behind that photo: my mom had set her favorite scarf on fire earlier in the week (while wearing it, two days before the ski accident; she retired on December 15th and it's been rather rough on her) and was just devastated. She'd bought it while we were shopping together seven or so years ago and it had a lot of sentimental value along with being one she wore most often. So I turned to the googles and I found it on Poshmark and rush shipped it to my sister's house to slip in her stocking. You think kids are fun on Christmas day? Try surprising your partially broken Gigi with the resurrection of her favorite scarf? It was the best.

My sister's dogs got new dog beds and Maggie appropriated one immediately. She did not move for the next five days.

Next up was playtime for the kids and brunch baking for me. I'd volunteered for this meal and I must say, it was freaking delicious. Thank you so much to all the food bloggers out there who create and test recipes and then write them out with tons of details and pictures. I love and appreciate you.

Here was the menu:

• Egg & Croissant Brunch Bake: I switched the ham for pre-cooked turkey bacon, doubled the spinach, and tore up full size croissants (I think it took 3?). This was incredible and by far the best breakfast casserole I've ever had.
• Even Better Sausage Balls: A Southern tradition, I made these with hot turkey sausage and all 16 oz of sharp cheddar cheese. They were SO good.
• Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls: these really were the best I've made. The dough had way more flavor than others and though I'd made them the week before and frozen them with their frosting, they warmed up beautifully in a 300 degree oven and were fluffy perfection.
• Warm Croissants: the rest of the dozen I'd bought at Costco (theirs are so good!)
• Strawberry Butter: take a stick of softened butter, add a generous spoon of good jam and a Tablespoon of powdered sugar. Whip with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
• Fresh Berries
• Poinsettias and Mimosas: Poinsettias are a mix of orange liqueur and Cranberry juice topped with champagne and they are delightful.

It was a great holiday, fun and special and smooth and that can be hard to do with 13 people in one house.

After breakfast we assisted with the giving the chickens their special Christmas Day brunch (dried meal worms! delicious!) and I got to hold Waffles, whom I love and wanted to take home.

Maggie needs a friend.

After the chicken feeding frenzy, we packed up to head to my parents' house in the mountains! We'd be skiing for the next two days and needed to get our rentals and settle in. My brother and Tamires would be flying back to Houston the next morning and then my parents would drive up to meet us. Before we left I managed to pack all our Christmas stuff into one bin and get my brother to hold a baby. Bam!

And then up into the mountains we went, winding our way through ice and snow while chatting about the fun Christmas we all had. In classic parenting tradition we don't allow electronics on that 2 hour drive because the views are spectacular and "you should be looking at the window" so there was lots of chatter. We left Maggie at my sister's because she generously thought they should bond and we weren't sure how Maggie would respond to high altitude and us being gone all day. It was -20 degrees when we woke up the next morning, so that was probably a good move.

It's beautiful though isn't it?

And so began the next phase of our Colorado Christmas: skiing! And this year, having aged out of the mountain village daycare, Cora was going to have to ski too! Those stories to come...

Happiest of New Year's Eve and wishes for a blessed 2020 to you all!