Dinner Date

I got a big treat this past week when my friend Robin was passing through and we had a chance to plan a dinner date!  Robin is one of my sorority sisters and close friends from college whom I never get to see because she has lived so far away...but, whenver I do see her...it is like old times!

She had her son, Finn with her...so I brought Reese and we met up with our other great friend, Jennifer and had a great time!  Finn, is full of personality and I loved being around him.  Reese, has become a little more reserved over the past two years (at first meet at least), so it took her a little bit to warm up...but by the end they were buddies!

Finn and Reese...making wishing...and then running around the edge of the fountain...thankfully we avoided anyone falling in.

 When Robin and I were deciding where to meet...Mexican was a go-to for both of us.  Parents know that you need a loud environment when you have littles with you...just in case you don't want to draw attention to yourselves!  Finn, was telling Reese all about his trip to lego land...and telling her about some superheroes...Reese was intrigued.

A story worth sharing...Robin, Finn, Reese and I were talking and hanging out inside the mall before we left...and these two had a little fun.  They were running around and laughing...then Reese came up to Robin and said, "Um Robin, Finn went up the escalator", to which Robin and I both run around the the bottom of the escalator to look...only to have Reese and Finn jump out from behind a pillar and yell "we tricked you!' Kids make me laugh!

 The dinner crew...I hate to say this..but I did not want to post this picture...I really just don't like it...I know things are not all about me..but it was one of those pictures where I made the decision....

HAIR CUT PEOPLE!  It was not a good hair day to being with...but seriously that needs some help...so off to the salon I go...fingers crossed!

Happy Halloween 2011

Halloween came to the Beckner house again! Two little ballerinas and one little poodle made the rounds! The poodle costume has officially been worn by all three Beckner girls. It is crazy to think that Hadley was in the poodle costume just last year!

Little Miss Poodle

We headed over to the Morrows for a wonderful dinner and some trick or treating fun!

Reese and her best buddy Graham the fireman!

Hadley and her buddy Ethan (so cute in his little plane costume)

Daddy and his poodle

Shelli and Ellie as a cute flower!

Most of the kiddos...we were missing Ethan...but aren't they cute!

Before we set out to get some candy everyone went wild about the idea of getting candy!

Really wild

Not a great picture...but one of the first houses...they just had a bowl of candy set out...and everyone was so good...the all just took one...I think!:)

Little Bryn just hanging out in the stroller...she was so content...at 8 pm I thought she would be out...but I peaked down and just saw her grinning at me...then she just started saying "da da" over and over!

Hadley taking a break in the wagon with Ellie!

Then we found someone's nicely raked leaf pile...well it was a nice pile until these cuties found it

We had a great time and are so grateful for the Morrow's hospitality!

Day with friends

I took the girls out to spend a day with one of my best friends, Katherine, and her two boys, James and Luke. We had a great time and the girls were whipped by the time we came home. I love when we get together...Reese and James are just a few months apart, Hadley is about 9 months older than Luke and Brynlee is about 9 months younger. One of my favorite things is to watch my girls playing with some of my friends little ones...just one of those moments!

Hadley, Luke, James and Reese enjoying a mid morning snack after playing hard with toys, water balloons, water and chalk!

Speaking of our snack...check this out...a yellow watermelon! Katherine had a huge one and the kids ate tons of it. It was sooo good...it was my first time to have a yellow watermelon!

After playing hard, we took a break inside, and these two watch the movie Oceans for a bit...they sat this close...too cute!

Then we loaded up to head over to the lake for some fun. Reese wanted James to ride with us...he was not too excited about being in a car seat with butterflies on it...but they had a great time back there! The whole way home Reese kept saying how sad she was that James was not riding with us anymore.We kept these two contained at the lake...and I put Hadley in her vest just in case she decided to check out the water.

Katherine brought a fishing pole and we really tried to catch something...but for some reason the fish were just not around us! But Reese and James still had fun "catching" some sea grass and other things in the lake!Reese really wanting to catch a fish!

A little moment between friends...hopefully these friendships will continue to grow! Thank you Alexanders for a great day of fun!

You have to make this...

Pepper and Chicken Nachos
Seriously...they are good! I wish I had thought to take a picture of mine when I made them...alas, I did not so I am using the one from Southern Living...where I got the recipe! Southern Living is one magazine that I love! It always has great recipes!

They are a variation of the old nacho...which to be honest...I would really never make! I am not a nacho fan...but I am a fan of nachos like these! Like I have mentioned before...I AM NOT A COOK...I mean, I can copy a recipe and I like to try new things...but I am not one of those who can come up with something just by tasting it!

Anyway...so the other night we had our friends, The Morrows, over for dinner and I decided to go out on a limb and try something I had never made before! I am pretty sure it was a big hit!

Here is the recipe...I thought about typing it here...but, they have it all on the my recipes site...sooo much easier! I will say that I made a few changes...I used less olive oil, salt and cheese. I mixed the cilantro into the bean mix instead of adding it at the end (honestly I did not mean to do that) and I did not grill the peppers before hand...I just broiled them before and once I added the mixture!

I made this for a meal...so to "beef" it up I used the mixture and did some on peppers and then I did two variations on blue corn tortillas...one with the chicken and one with shrimp! (Jason was a little nervous that the peppers would not be enough...but once we ate...he said he was wrong...hehe)

We had a great time with the Morrows and the kids had a great time playing...

Ellie, Hadley, Graham and Reese...I think Bryn was in her swing

Graham pulling Reese around the room by her feet...so fun

Reese pulling Graham...it was fun to watch!

Adult Interaction

6th Annual Ornament Steal Gals

This is something I truly look forward to hosting every year...and this year was just the same! We had the 6th Annual Ornament Swap/Steal and I loved every minute of it. Honestly...over the past year I have realized how few and far between are my moments of true adult interaction...and by true...I mean just me and another adult...no children! This rarely happens and I do miss it. I love my girls with all of my heart...but honestly when they are with me I just can't focus on conversations with other people!

Jason was wonderful as always and took our girls to Chick-fil-A a few hours before the party so I could finish cooking and clean up the 500 pieces of Tupperware that Hadley had deposited all over the house! Then, they headed to Aunt Memi's house to sleep and hang out until the party was over!

I am so grateful that all of these girls came and we missed the ones who could not make it! It is so fun to see how things change in a year...some have had new babies since last year...a few pregos...new jobs...newly married and newly engaged! I love all of these girls(even though my interaction seems scarce at times)!

Summer Fun

What better way to burn off some 3 year old energy and cool down...SPRINKLERS!
Katherine brought James and Luke over to play (ok..well Luke mainly slept...as all 2 month olds do) and Reese and James has a blast!

Hadley did not get in the sprinklers, but she got a good seat to watch all of the action!Then later in the week, we ventured over to the zoo...and Reese finally got to ride a camel...she has been wanting to for awhile now.
Hey guys...are you watching?

HMMM...I wonder if mom would let me bring him home?

**New post below**

Going to the Chapel...

And...

We're...

Gonna get maaaarried?!

No, seriously...those two were the cutest ring bearer and flower girl ever...and they actually walked all the way down the aisle hand in hand (or maybe Reese was pulling
James just a little bit...she likes to take control...not sure where she gets that?)

Here are the true show stoppers for the weekend! This was one of the most beautiful weddings...and of course Bethany was one of the most beautiful brides. I am so happy for them...not every day that your best friend gets married...and it was perfect!

To even make the weekend better having all of these girls in the wedding party together...we had so much fun!
Bethany and me before the wedding...she looks amazing and this picture does not really do her justice!Little Miss Hadley with her Memi!This weekend's hero is for sure this guy...he took care of the girls all week and weekend so I could do all of the wedding stuff! He is amazing! Reese with her Aunt B

(when Reese saw Bethany she said, "Mommy she looks like a princess!)

Taking a break from some dancing!

It was for sure a bittersweet weekend for me. I loved every minute of it...but once the night ended it was exciting to watch Bethany and Steve to leave together knowing they are going to have an incredible life together...but sad knowing she is moving away from us!

Welcome Baby Luke!

Luke William Alexander made his entrance yesterday and we had the privilege of meeting him today! He is adorable and so little...Katherine looks wonderful, Dan is a very proud daddy and James is the sweetest big brother! I love that one of my best friends has children so close to our girls ages...and I only pray they grow up being as close as we are!

I love these pictures...the two sisters with the two brothers! Crazy to think...that a little over 3 years ago none of these little ones were here!

I wish I had gotten a close up of little Luke so you could see how precious he is.