Merry Christmas to all!!!

Merry Christmas to all my blog readers!!!! I hope every one had a great holiday. I spent my Christmas day with our immediate families. Jack made some delicious homemade Alfredo sauce with shrimp and a batch with prosciutto wrapped chicken. I must say it was fabulous! I also made a pan of Lasagna. It was yummy but not as good as the Fettuccine Alfredo!

The girls (Riley 8, Nattie 3) got a ton of presents from all the family. I think it took us an hour to unwrap presents! Jack and I got Riley some Nintendo DS games and we got Nattie a few board games and a Princess couch that folds out. She LOVED it! After presents we just hung out and chatted, ended up playing some games a little later.


Jack and I opened our gifts on Wednesday night. Jack got me the BEST gift ever. As you should know - I LOVE and I mean absolutely LOVE Patrick Swayze. My wonderful husband got me some Dirty Dancing T-shirts from www.80tees.com

On Christmas Eve we got to see our Owen Monster! (Jack's best friend Ryan's kid!) He is one of the most amazing babies- I just love him to pieces. We got him a truck that makes truck noises for Christmas. He absolutely LOVED it. He wouldn't put it down when we were taking pictures!!

My wonderful Husband and I

Nattie on her new Princess couch. She had to sit in it all night!

Christmas is in the air!

Holiday time can be a very stressful time. In my family I am very lucky and I get 4 Christmas'! Since my parents are divorced I have one party on my mom's side and one on my dad's. On my dad's side of the family we do Christmas on the Saturday before Christmas. It works great for everyone. On Christmas day we have Christmas at our house, anyone is invited. The day after Christmas we go to my aunt's house on my mom's side. Then in January we go up to Jacks mom's for Ice Fest and celebrate Christmas there. I love having my Christmas last a whole month!!!

Saturday we went to my 2nd cousin Erin's house on my dad's side. Unfortunately this year there was a misunderstanding between the cousins this year and it resulted in half the family up not coming. This actually really sucks for my family and I because we only get to see these guys once a year. Hopefully by next Christmas things will be better and the family will be whole again. My aunts live up north by Thief River Falls (about 6 hours from the cities) and I never get to see them. My aunt Darlene didn't make it down this year- due to bad weather and her health- but aunt Jean was here and I didn't get to see her.

Here is our Family photo from Saturday!

Cousins!

Santa and his Reindeer

On Friday I went to my good friend Rachael's house and we baked! I am not a huge baker, so instead of baking I created! I found these SUPER cute recipes for cookies online- and NO BAKING was involved!!

Santa Cookies

Santa can't to far with out his Reindeer ......

These cookies ARE super easy to make. Great for kids ages 8 and up. All you need is:

* Nutter Butter Cookies
* Pretzels
* Large bag of Plain M &M's ( sort out the brown and red ones)
* Red Hots
* small Marshmallows (cut in half)
* frosting
* Red food coloring (make Red frosting with this)
* Mini Chocolate chips

For the Santa Cookies:
Grab one of your Nutter Butter cookies, begin with adding a strip of white frosting just above the middle of the cookie, once you have that fill in the top half with the Red frosting. Now take one of your tiny marshmallows and place it on the bottom side of the "Santa Hat". From here I would recommend doing his face next- but you can do these steps in any order. Grab 2 mini chocolate chips and add frosting to the bottom. ( The frosting will act as glue). After you have your eyes placed where you want them, you can create the beard. Take your white frosting and spread it on the bottom half of your Nutter Butter cookie. To add texture to your beard take your utensil and make "swirls" in the frosting. After your beard is as big or small as you want it next you will take a Red Hot and dip it in frosting and place where you feel is best on the cookie. I placed mine on the top of the beard in the middle. This made the effect that the beard is coming out from under his little red hot nose!

For the Reindeer cookies:
These are also made from Nutter Butter cookies. I prefer the Reindeer cookies because they are SUPER easy to make. First you may want to start by breaking up your pretzels so they look like antlers. I recommend being slightly gentle when doing this- so your pretzels don't crumble. Once you have done that- take your white frosting and dabble a little on the top of your Nutter Butter cookie. Then place your "Antlers" on top of the frosting where you want them. Once again the frosting will be acting as glue. From here you can add your eyes (Brown M&M's) and your nose (Red M&M). Do this by dipping your M&M in the frosting and placing it where you think looks best! I preferred have my M placed down.

Christmas just isn't Christmas without snow....

These little Snowmen are actually very time consuming. Not my favorite thing to do- but they turned out super cute.

For these you will need:
* Large Marshmallows
* Orange M&M's OR any small orange candy
* Mini Chocolate chips
* Pretzel sticks
* Frosting

First I would start by breaking your stick pretzels in two- these will become your snowman's arms! Then take your Orange M&M's and cut them in half and then in half again- these will be your nose. I would not recommend using the M&M's as the nose. It was hard to do and doesn't stay on very well- I just couldn't find any other orange candies. After you have done that, take a few Marshmallows and cut them in half. If your scissors get sticky dip them in HOT water in a tall glass in between cuts. I also would recommend doing this in spurts so you don't over cut marshmallows. After you have all your things cut up and ready take your frosting and spread on the top of a non-cut marshmallow and add the half cut marshmallow on to it- the frosting is acting as glue. After that I would start from the eyes and go down. Once again dipping your mini chocolate chips and M&M's in frosting and placing them on your marshmallow. When you have completed the face and buttons, grab your "arms" and jab them into the sides of the marshmallow and you have a yummy little Marshmallow Snowman!

My Holiday Cookie Platter

Girl's Annual Christmas Gala

On Saturday December 4th I hosted our Annual Girls Christmas party at my house. This was the 3rd year we have done this. This year we had a total of 16 girls, it has gone up from 9 the first year! The first 2 years we did a cookie exchange- well come to find out most of us don't really eat cookies and we don't like baking! This year we decided to change it- everyone was to bring an appetizer to share. We had wonderful food, great presents and a amazing time chatting the night away.

Every year I give out rewards. It is mandatory you come as though Christmas has vomitted ALL OVER you! From head down to your toes.... I want you covered in it! the 2010 Awards go to:

Best piece of Holiday Flare: Amanda and her bird!

Most Tasteful Appetizer: Heather and her Buffalo Chicken dip!

Most Tackiest Sweater: Tracy and her snowflakes!

Best Overall Outfit: Kristen and her GOLD pants!

Most Holiday Spirit: ME!!!

Oh Christmas Tree... Oh Christmas Tree...

For the last 6 years it has been tradition to put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving. Either before we go to dinner or after. This year we did it after dinner (and a nap!). I absolutely LOVE our tree- it is my favorite tree ever! It is so elegant and gorgeous. The color scheme is just perfect for our house and our personalities.

Every year I get a personalized ornament for our tree. This year is the first year I am a Wolters! I got a beautiful W ornament and it looks just perfect on our tree.

This is my all time favorite ornament. Not sure where it came from but I just love it. It is always the last ornament that goes on the tree. Well besides the big RED star on top!

Even though I am not very religious, a Christmas tree is not a Christmas tree without a Nativity Scene under it. I grew up with one just like this one. When I was Little I used to always play with the figurines and rearrange the manger, eventually most pieces got broken or lost. When I saw it at Target and I HAD to have it and all the pieces to go with it. The only piece I am missing for my manger is the angel that hangs about baby Jesus.

Happy Turkey Day!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I know this is a few days late but I still consider today Thanksgiving weekend! I hope everyone had a great and safe holiday. Jack and I went to my Aunt Nancy's (my mom's sister) for Turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day. She always has the best food! I tried my best to control my portion size but I failed slightly. I had 3 dinner rolls instead of the I told my self I could have! On Friday we went to Jody's (Jack's sister) for some lasagna! It was a small gathering but very nice to see the family. Our niece Nattie is becoming such a little lady. It is crazy how fast they grow up. She is talking wonderfully and asking question as if she were 25!!

A few things I am Thankful for are:
My Wonderful LOVING Husband
Family
Friends
Computers
Cell Phones
Comfy Sweatshirts
socks
a roof over my head
a table to eat on
Food to put in my belly
water
Christmas decorations
The Dollar store
My Jeep
Laughter
Blankies
All the scrapbooking supplies
My camera
My diamonds!!
candles
picture frames
make up and hair products
spinach and artichoke dip
Hawaiian bread
crock pots
entertaining
wisdom
Cold Medicine (I currently am battling a cold monster!)
When my husband smile at me!
my microwave
tape and scissors
pens and paper

Baby, it's cold outside.....

Winter has hit Minnesota and let me tell you I hate getting into my car freezing cold after a long days work and having to wait 5-10 minutes for the car to warm up before I can even start driving. SO I began to think maybe I will reward myself with an automatic starter system for my car instead of an Ipod for my 15 pound weight lose! It is about the same price give or take $50.00!! I believe that it would be TOTALLY worth it. I have always wanted one but just never saved the money to get one.

I did a small bit of research and Best Buy as one for $199.99 (with installation) that has had great reviews. The VIPER -5101 SUPER CODE 1-WAY REMOTE START SYSTEM!!!

The VIPER features:
* Compatible with most vehicles that are equipped with the correct immobilizer interface.
* Remote starter allows you to start your car at the touch of a button.
* 2,000' range for expanded connectivity. (HOLY MOLY!!!)
* Slim, 5-button remote with a priority user interface for easy 2-car operation.
* Control Center with integrated status LED and valet switchTo ensure easy operability.

I think Black Beauty would love this device hooked up to her engine! For those of you who don't know- Black Beauty is my Jeep Liberty! She means the world to me- my baby!! She's 8 years old now and can't warm up as fast as she used to! I see nothing wrong with enhancing her engine quality and her self esteem to make her mommy proud, and warm!!!

Happy Halloween 2010

Jack and I went to Debbie's party on Saturday. There were some GREAT costumes this year!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Jack and April (Zombie Cheerleader and Football player)

Jody and Jeff ( Loofa and Mr Bubbles)

Danielle and Jacques (Paul Bunyan and Babe the Ox)

Debbie and Karen (Exorcist and The Priest)

Maria and Neil ( The Smurfs)

The Love Boat !!

All Hallow's Eve...

I can't believe it is Halloween in 4 days. I wait all year for this day. I usually start planning my next years costume on November 1st! I would have to say Halloween is my most favorite holiday of all. I love dressing up and celebrating.

Every year we get dressed up (and I mean hard core) and go to our friend Debbie's Halloween party. We always have a great time. The host has a Best costume contest and just recently started a "Sexiest" costume contest. The Best costume contest has 1st and 2nd place prizes and the sexiest just has 1st place prize. The prizes consists of a bag full of Halloween goodies and a trophy- I believe the year we won we got a Horror movie, Hannibal, in our bag of goodies.

Jack and I have had some pretty GREAT costumes over the years. Most of you have seen them and some of you haven't....

2005 Mario and the Princess

2006 1920's Gangster and his Flapper

2007 Fred and Wilma Flinstone

2008 Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompa

2009 Beetlejuice and The Receptionist

2010 Zombie Cheerleader and Football Player

New Tab - THE BIGGEST LOSER

From now on if you would like to follow my weight lose journey you will have to click the BIGGEST LOSER tab that is above- right next to the JACK & APRIL tab.

JACK & APRIL will be for Jack and April updates and THE BIGGEST LOSER tab is for weight lose adventures and bickering!!!

BBBBRRRAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNSSSS!!!!!!

Saturday was the Zombie Pub Crawl. Over 11, 000 ZOMBIES stagger around the streets of Minneapolis West bank eating brains and drinking blood from bar to bar.

Sarah and I dressed as Cheerleaders and Jack was our Quarterback

One year ago today....

Some say I 'm crazy, some say I 'm weird, creepy, delusional, obsessed, and some call me a wanna be stalker, but that does not stop my love for the late Patrick Swayze! One year ago today he past away from an evil evil monster known as pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years old.

I call him my celebrity soul mate. He loved all the same things I loved. Plus he was the most handsome, sexy, caring, inspirational, outgoing, interesting, talented and free spirited man on earth. My heart has a small hole in it now that he is gone.

I still have troubles watching Dirty Dancing, which I know the whole movie by heart.
I started watching Dirty Dancing probably when I was about 5. I can't even count how many times Patrick and I have shared that 1 hour and 40 minutes together. I still get butterflies in my stomach the moment he walks into Kellerman's and speaks the famous words to his love "No Body puts baby in the corner!"

My all time favorite quote of the movie is:

"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."

I truly feel that way about my husband- whom which I may remind you if you haven't noticed yet looks a lot like Johnny Castle (Patrick), he refuses to see it! Ever since I was a young girl I have always based my future husband by Patrick Swayze ways. I got what I wanted!

Check out the comparison... come on.. you can't tell me they don't look alike!!!

Here are just a few of my Favorite pics of Patrick....