the white house at the right time

 Every year the Institute, and now the YSA (young single adults), host The Sweet Meet.  Basically a Valentine's dinner and dance. The twist is dessert is made by the guys.   The gals then vote on the desserts by dropping in tickets to a box or bag placed in front of the Valentine inspired dessert, of course not knowing who made it (but really, I think a few did!).  A ticket for each dessert is pulled out and "whala" you have a date and a dessert for the evening. The rest is up to cupid! Pictured above is what we made.  Fruity and fresh.  While I spent most my time in the kitchen helping with dinner (and thinking never do catering, never do catering), I stepped out to help with the judging. Naturally, chocolate desserts got extra points in my book. There were some pretty good entries. One year, somebody made a love bird's cage out of Twizzlers. Nothing quite that spectacular this year. However, flavored chocolate was new this year. Afte...

Cayleb's valentine invitations.  Loved these! Copied the cute idea from a suggestion on http://www.eighteen25.blogspot.com/ .  Cayleb was so excited to pass them out.  He carefully cut out the copies faces of his classmates, glued them on the back and then taped on a Valentine's, stretchy monkey. Thoughtfully, he selected pink for the girls and blue for the boys with a few getting green.  At this point in February, we were so cupcaked out!  So instead of putting cupcakes in my cupcake holder, I put yogurt dipped pretzels, chocolate covered almonds, and chewy, red hearts. Red, white, and chocolate!   I was picking up photos at the Costco photo center, when the lady handed me a stack of our Christmas cards.....three months later! Back in December when I went in to pick up our Christmas card order, the clerk couldn't find it anywhere so reprinted them while I shopped for a 50 bag count of chips, 10 lbs. of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and toile...

one being fun loving friends makayla , maddi , and emily playing shadow games.... the other is 14 days plus 351 more to gush over this guy..... hey valentine glad you will always be mine!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo yeah, he looks amazing and IS amazing! (a little photo editing just highlighted his "in the best shape of my life body" a bit ;)!

Cupid Cafe. Fine dining. Amazing guests. Fabulous ambiance. A family tradition. For the last several years, Randy and I have decided to spend the holiday of love with the ones with love most, our children. Several years ago, my youngest sister's boyfriend (now husband) was in town. She wanted him to meet all the family. A family dinner. Perfect. It was Valentine's weekend. My mom, the clever, imaginative person that she is created CUPID CAFE. A meal created with love for the ones and edibles you love! Cayden introduced the formal dress code when, a few years back, he showed up wearing his crooked clip on maroon tie and slacks. A surprise visit by the resident make-up artist. We made a visit to Boehm's candy for chocolates. http://www.boehms.com/ Enumclaw Chocolate Festival for chocolate dessert cups and red dutch cocoa. The kids really look forward to this special meal. Cayden was intent on not missing it even though he was flying out on Valentine's Da...