mix-up dinner, nails, and dress-up

January Update...

We carried out the Mumford Family tradition of the New Year's Eve Mix-up Dinner again this year with friends and had a great time at the

"Starry Sky Diner"

The Menu ...

1. Saturn and rings (pasta and meatballs)

2. the moon's surface (garlic bread)

3. shining stars (corn)

4. meteor tail (green beans)

5. the milky way (jello salad)

6. the black hole (chocolate pudding/oreo dessert)

7. rain like substance (sparkling punch)

8. the little dipper (spoon)

9. a instrument used to hold a tripod (fork)

The items are served in 3 courses and the silverware gets served and taken away as indicated on each person's menu...

Ed's first course was a drink, a spoon and a fork...he sure missed these later on in the meal :)

Jim was also not so lucky and had fun slurping up his pasta, jello and pudding in one course

Zanna got lucky and actually had a normal course- past, fork and bread

James and Olivia both ordered corn, bread and one utensil

The night was messy and entertaining as usual and I loved sharing one of my favorite traditions from my childhood with our great friends! (dave wasn't able to come so that was pretty lame, but hopefully next year...)

New clothes from Grandma Francis-- thank you!!

James feels very cool in his new robot shirt and hoodie sweatshirt

Dave learning a new skill...

this was his first time painting nails

and Zanna LOVED being doted on by her dad...he did a great "AB pattern of pink and red" as Zanna described what she wanted!

Last Monday we had our lovely girly friends over since the kids were off for Martin Luther King day. Rachel (their mom and my amazing sewing friend) made these skirts for the girls and they LOVED wearing them together! I was supposed to make Zanna's and did all the cutting and the initial sewing, but then got too overwhelmed, busy, tired, lazy etc... and she finished it for me-- THANK YOU RACHEL!!

Zanna found this costume I picked up for her at our stake's "goods exchange" and was feeling the Wonder Woman vibe...she even told James that he should be "Wonder Man" for Halloween next year.

Jack and Mason came over to play and the kids loved being super heros together...they are a tough bunch :)

We traded baby-sitting this week and Dave and I went out on Tuesday and saw Avatar in 3-D and then had some amazing gnocchi in pomodoro sauce at Gino's... I'm going to miss the Italian food here in NY!

P.S.- we liked Avatar and would recommend it, but it didn't change my life or anything :)