Advent Week 2 - Date Night and Cookie Contest

Jimmy and I got out for our typical holiday date night.  We grabbed dinner at Cheesecake Factory.  Jimmy got the french dip cheeseburger and I got the Louisiana Chicken Pasta.  We love looking back on what we've ordered previously and I got this not too long ago, so it's clearly becoming my favorite on their never-ending menu.

We got lemon raspberry cream cheesecake for cheesecake roulette and it was delicious.

I made a chili slaw dog for the Vikings 42-21 win over Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons.  We all opened our stocking gifts when Jimmy got home.

Yesterday was also the annual cookie contest (and business meeting) at church.  I made t-shirts for the crew that was running things and I think they are adorable.  Jimmy was defending his title from last year and put a lot of thought in to his entry.  Mine was a bit of a last minute one.  Here were the contestants.

Jimmy made some chocolate cookies with peppermint buttercream and a junior mint on top.

I made Jimmy's mom's cream wafers that are my favorite Christmas cookie.

Jimmy and Parker arrived after dropping Esme off at her final play practice.

Alex was the winner with his pine cone cookie and Jimmy got the people's choice award.

He's already brainstorming for next year.

New Washer and Dryer (Parker's Best Day Ever)

If you've been here for any length of time, you likely know Parker's love of laundry.  Jimmy loves some new tech too.  Here are pictures from our old house.  The first is when we got a new set 4 days before our wedding.  Then Parker at about 22 months old watching them run.

He's been in love ever since and we make trips to stores just for him to check them all out.

So, we knew this day would be an exciting one for him.  This rivals the day we got a new air conditioner in 2020.  He lucked out with the delivery time and was home to witness it all.

He was so eager to learn how the new units worked.

Unfortinately the washer had some damage on the unit.  We hooked it up since we needed to wash clothes and it works, but makes a gnarly clanking sound when spinning fast.  We have a replacement scheduled to come next week.  Parker knows something is off with it as well and has asked to get a new one.

Advent Week 1

Esme has been asking for a vanity to replace her desk for a while and I finally found a free one online.  We picked it up Saturday and she was elated!  I just need to find a mirror and she will be set.  I moved the desk to Parker's room.

We partied for Parker's birthday a couple weeks ago, but went to Perkins (something we used to do every year) on his actual 13th birthday on Saturday.

Sunday was the first week of Advent gifts and the kids were itching to open them.

I made Sonoran hot dogs for our 23-22 win over Arizona.  This was bacon wrapped with pinto beans, tomato, onion, mustard and mayo on a bolillo roll. I also got this cute picture of the kids playing a game together.

I had a bit of a hair brained idea on Monday and got rid of the last 2 parts of our brown sectional.  We've had so much furniture in our basement since moving here and it was rarely all used.  I moved the reclining loveseat and sofa in to a new configuration and we have space to add a chair at some point if we want.  

The sectional was in rough shape and had several DIY repairs.  It was in no condition to sell or even giveaway so I am in the process of cutting it in to pieces and throwing it in the garbage.  We are all loving the more open layout.

As expected, Esme is excitedly working on her pool skills. She gets a little frustrated, but it making quick progress.

Esme got back to gymnastics this week and was working on some beam skills.