Wedding Fun

It was such a wonderful wedding, the ceremony was beautiful (Anthony cried when he saw the beautiful bride and was all choked up saying his vows - its was so touching). The bride and her mom were so gorgeous - they both looked so amazing! The Westmount Country Club was just beautiful, I have herd such wonderful things about it and finally got to experience it. The cocktail hour was awesome - I have never seen so much amazingly yummy food in my life! The shrimp cocktail was the size of my fist, there was a dumpling and sesame chicken station, a roasted pig station (amazing), a Italian feast outside on the deck with clams, sausage and peppers, italian hot dogs and mini sliders, there was a pasta station with about 6 different kinds of pasta, there was a fillet of beef station with the most perfectly rare meat, there was a California wine station complete with meats and cheeses, there was a martini menu with all kinds of fun drinks, there were passed dishes of fried mozz, beef and tuna tartar, mini dogs, etc., there was a sushi station, a eggplant parm station - I could go on and on and on - it really never ended, I don't even think I got to half of it!!!! The band was amazing and played soft music and sang during cocktail hour and got us all up and moving during the reception. Dinner was amazing - I had a seafood medley over pasta and Alex had the prime rib. The venetian hour was incredible - all of a sudden the dance floor was turned into this amazing display of delicious deserts - they came out with these rolling tables and performed this amazing show - there was a flaming cake and all kinds of flaming fruits, there was a port wine and cigar station and countless others, there was a cookie and pastry tray at the tables - again I think I only made it through half...

I deleted every picture from my camera by mistake trying to set it back to the original settings (Katrina was messing with it)! I was so mad! Here are a few a friend took and sent over!

Somebody's Getting Married!!!

I am so excited for one of my oldest/best friends wedding and I feel SO privileged to be a part of the day!!! Lauren is the most amazing friend ever - we have been friends since the 4th grade and on Saturday she is marring Anthony - a really great guy!

Lauren is always the first one there when things are really crappy and when things are great she is the life of the party (something she got from her dad). She is magnetic - once you meet her there is no turning back, you are stuck and can't get enough! Her fiance is great - Anthony is one of the best guys I have ever met, a true gentle giant - he is kind and loving, but most importantly he puts up with Lauren AND THE REST OF US!!!!

I am SO EXCITED for what is going to be the BEST WEDDING EVER!!!






Here is a oldie but a goodie of Lauren and I before one of our Jr. Lancer cheering leading games!




*side note, unknowing to me I was cheering for my future husbands football games all season (he was the star quarterback and we had yet to meet)!!!

Sunday Breakfast - Bacon Cheese Pull Aparts

Got this one off the Pillsbury website - turned out SO YUMMY!

INGREDIENTS
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits
1 (2.1-oz.) pkg. precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 oz. (3/4 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 11x7- or 12x8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth.
2. Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly. Fold in bacon, cheese and onions. Spoon mixture into sprayed dish; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer.
3. Bake at 350°F. for 23 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares.

I used two eggs instead of one, taylor ham instead of bacon, and crescent rolls instead of biscuits because thats what we had here.

Even AJ really enjoyed this one! And sorry about the pic - by the time I remembered to take one it was half gone - this is all that was left!!!

Looking Cute!

AJ got a new vest from Grammy and now that it's getting cold outside it is being put to good use - she looks super cute in it!

MOOOOO!

Grammy got AJ a cow from Neiman's that moo's and sings Old McDonald Had A Farm - she LOVES it, we hear it ALL DAY LONG - she dances to it and carries it around under her arm or over her shoulder!

Pallet Pleasing Panini

On Wednesday at a play date, Juna made awesome paninis for lunch - they were so good I went to Target the next day to purchase a grill pan and press. Alex LOVES sandwiches and I just knew he would love a home made panini! On Thursday I made one with ham, swiss and home made honey mustard (also from Juna) and one with turkey, bacon, cheddar and honey mustard - they were EXCELLENT - so good that we had them again on Saturday night!

GOING...

GOING...

GONE! Sold to the man in the red t!

Friends

It's so fun to watch them grow up together and play! Shane is crawling, AJ is walking and Fiona is talking a mile a minute! They are all so amazing!

AJ's Pet Rock!

The doorway on the backyard fence is broken and Alex and I have been using this piece of rock (more like a broken piece of concrete) to keep it closed when Marley is back there so he doesn't escape. Well AJ discovered it and took quite a liking to it. She was carrying it around and even tossed her baby out of the stroller to give the rock a ride! It was cute to watch - strange, but funny!!!

Walking in the Grass!

It was beautiful out today - in addition to our normal walk around the neighborhood we played in the backyard with Marley for an hour before dinner!!! This was AJ's first time walking in the grass and she did great - my little walker is SO MUCH FUN!!!

Oh and in the second video AJ say's "Marley" in the beginning for the first time!!!

Grandma & Grandpa Matrale

AJ, Alex & I had such a fun Sunday with Grandma & Grandpa! It was so nice out so when they got here they took AJ & Marley for a walk to the park - AJ had fun on the slide and Marley met some new friends - Grandpa gave them them his whole story on everything from his breed to his dental hygiene! When they got back we watched some football and snacked on some cheese, pepperoni, veges with ranch, and chips with dip (oh a few bottles of red wine)! AJ showed off her walking skills and walked all over the house for them - she even attempted the step out to the porch - she got up and down it pretty good holding on to the wall - GO AJ! AJ napped for a bit and then we decided to go out for a early dinner - after a small debate on eating in or taking out we all decided seafood it was! For our appetizer we shared some clams in a garlic sauce that was really yummy and for dinner Grandpa, Alex, and I all got ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS (SOOOO GOOOD) and Grandma got lobster & shrimp - everything was AMAZING - I even ordered a extra butter halfway through because mine was all gone (My name is Lauren and I am not ashamed to say that I am a butteroholic - I can and most days do eat it all day long on ANYTHING - really anything)!

So we had a great day and will miss Grandma & Grandpa while they are in Florida - can't wait for our visit to them and Uncle Peter in November!!!!

PS - Much to Grandma's delight I am sure, none of us remembered to bring the camera to dinner!!! UGH!!! I will however remember it in FL and will make sure to torture her with it!!!

Anniversary Dinner at Benihana!

Alex and I decided to go to Benihana for our anniversary dinner - we picked Benihana because we knew AJ would be entertained by the teppanyaki style cooking. Well the teppanuaki cooking wasn't the only thing she loved - can't you say rice, shrimp and lobster? That's right - AJ LOVED the rice and shrimp and liked the lobster - next time I may have to get her her own kids portion - I got NONE of my shrimp apppitizer! She ate so much there was no room for ice cream even!!!! We all had a great time!!!

More Walking!!!!!

We are so amazed - we really can't get enough of this!!!! Isn't she SO GREAT????

Happy 4 Year Anniversary!

4 years married, 12 total years this past June and I can't imagine my life with out my best friend and love of my life - we have been through so much (happy & sad, easy & hard) and are stronger because of it. We created the most beautiful child/family together and couldn't be any prouder of her or imagine our lives with out her - life is very good!






"You're still the one that makes me laugh
Still the one that's my better half
We're still having fun, and you're still the one "
- Orleans

WALKING!!! Go baby go!!!!

We really couldn't be any prouder! This is the best anniversary gift we could have ever gotten!!!!

Uncle Peter Visits from Florida!

Uncle Peter came for a short weekend visit from Florida - it was great seeing him and we can't wait for our visit to him in November!!! We are really looking forward to bringing AJ to see where her uncle lives!!!

Pumpkin Picking

Today we went pumpkin picking in Vernon with the family - we had such a wonderful day! There were rides, farm animals, a pony ride, a hay maze and a hay ride to the pumpkin patch! A really great day was had by all!!!!