3rd Annual Friends Christmas Party

December 16 marked the day of our 3rd Annual Friends Christmas Party. I get so excited around this time of year and since we are all usually running around to our families houses and our business Christmas parties Mr. Randolph and I need to make sure that we always set aside a special night to celebrate the season with our friends.

The planning almost always starts months in advance with just hammering down a day. Then we start getting the menu together in the month of December and it usually changes so often. I mean if your dog eats a special cake mix you bought for cupcakes then you have to change the menu! You laugh....it happened!

We of course had the famous Candy Cane Martinis and they were a big hit. Nanny Wheazy has skills when it comes to making fancy drinks. She won't drink them though, lol.

There a few new couples and co-workers that were able to make the party. The more the merrier. It made for a lot more work but I am a great hostess and that is my duty. When the presents started getting handed out the excitement began. We were very proud of Tater Man because when the guest arrived and handed him a gift he would promptly bring it and place it under the tree. Mr. Randolph and I were in shock because not once in the past 3 years have we ever had to fuss at him for messing with the presents under the tree. He is such a good boy.

He was also acting a little shy this night and reserved because there were people there he did not know. Tater Man had a sit down talk with Uncle Kris about being courteous and always thanking the nice people that bring you gifts. Since he is a very spoiled child we thank God for him learning that being thankful for what you already have it whats most important. 

Uncle Kris always will to give the Tater his life lesson!
He is one lucky fella to have so much guidance and people to look
up too!

The Thevis' always seem to shine at this party lol!

Tater Man's first taste of pop rocks.







It was love at first sight!
I always try and get the picture taking done and out
of the way because the men's get antsy. They are
great sports though and always provide great memories



Love at first type! The future Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal!

His Aunt and Uncles Spoil him ROTTEN! I can't wait to
hook this up to one of our computers and let him show me
how to work the dang thing!

Curtis and Maggie!


I have been talking and whining about my old set of pots and pans for the past couple of years.  They were all scratched up and no longer non-stick! I hated them and made sure to tell Mr. Randolph each and every time I had to use them. Sorry honey! One of my favorites chefs is Rachel Ray and when she came out with a line of products I fell in love. I like the different colors she uses and her products are very well made. I was very overjoyed when I unwrapped this gift from one of my besties! Can't you tell!?

Tater was a huge help when it came to unwrapping!










....that's why I love them.

Yeah I believe it was made just for him!

Curtis, Joey, and Mr. Randolph cooking and drinking.

After a few of the guests left the boys got all relaxed and the video gaming commenced. This was my cue to head to bed with my nice buzz.

I was very proud of my little outfit I put together!

Until next year.....

Appreciation, I has it!

I have always been the type to profusely say thank you, send appreciation, and thinking of you cards. It always gives me great joy to write to someone and reiterate how I feel about them or just simply how much I miss them. Since all of the drama of switching jobs I have lost my way on that and feels the need to let those special people in my life know exactly how I feel about them and how much they mean to me!

My family first and foremost I owe so much to just for support and all the financial assistance you have given our family. Since I consider my friends a part of my family you fall into the same category. I don't thrive unless you are ALL in my life.

I know that I mistakes and I know sometimes I let some relationships slack but for the ones that mean the most to me I can guarantee that there is not a day that goes by where you are not on my mind. I pray for each of you every night along with sending virtual hugs and kisses all the time.

I do appreciate you, love you, respect you, and you will always have a special place in my family.

Caught a big Tater Fish!

I want you to know that the men folk squatters in my house were so very proud of themselves for out smarting the Tater man. What they don't seem to realize is that he WILL be bigger than them one day! LOL

                                                     I hope you all have a great day today!

Flamin Dr. P's!

Why oh why must a drink like this one exist? What devil person decided that Amaretto, 151, and fire is a good combination? Tater's Uncle Richey, that's who!

Ok so the night started off real slow with no big plans. I really like when my Friday nights are slow. Since I had my usual squatters at my house (3 extra guys) it was loud and full of video games. Mr Randolph's 32 in tv and the 46 in tv that we currently have was not enough for these guys so they brought and extra 40 in to the house so they could have a mini lan party.

While they were getting all set up and ready to play some Battlefield..Halo...League of Legends, Tater and I kept each other company. I am not sure who was playing what but there was a lot of profanities yelling at the tv.

Anyways, Nana and Papaw called to let us know they were outside and wanted to show off the new truck. Its pretty fancy and I would not mind having one. Of course when Tater saw them he kicked the beatin and abused  poor pitiful, unloved baby act into high gear. Nana and Papaw felt sorry for him and took him home to get spoiled. I really believe he would much rather live out in the country with them.....hell I would too!

Since Tater was out of the house that just meant that things were gonna get loud and crazy. The picture below shows you why it got a little crazy. I had one at 11pm and I am currently still paying for all 4 shots of liquor! It's 9am. Ugh.....

When I woke up I hated life and I looked like I had been through a war lol. I grumbled and demanded requested Joey make some coffee. I ended up cleaning up the drippings from the sweet drinks; meanwhile  denying all the sugar ants their morning totties. The only other damage was one of my dining room chairs just fell apart. I am sure that wasn't because someone was leaning back in the chair while they were toasted and lost their balance. Thankfully this someone did not get hurt....I will fix that though ;-)!

This was not a photo of our flaming dr p's. Ours were in beautiful red dixie cups and we were using my all time favorite LSU shot glasses.



2nd Annual Friends Christmas!

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I have to say that we are very thankful to be surrounded by the ones we love most this year. Also we realize that as the years go by true friendships grow and because of that I am lucky.

This years party was incredible. Although we were missing Mr T(Dr Shipleys Hubby) we tried to do our best and celebrate for him. Thankfully he did finally make it home for Christmas. He has done his service for our country and now he is home with his loving wife in time for their one year anniversary.

We had a few new people this year and boy was that exciting. The Guillots and the O'Neals were able to see the craziness that is the Friends Christmas. We also had my SIL there all dolled up with no sign of momminess on her!

From the left(SIL, Guillot, Nanny, Thevis, Me, Dr Shipley, Lee(O'Neal to be!))

The menu was a huge variety of things. We had Gumbo(perfect for cold weather), potato salad, shrimp cocktail, hummus dip, bread and the desserts were insanely good. Dr Shipley made her signature Candy Cane Martinis and the boys were not ashamed to carry around their martini glass rimmed with peppermint with pink deliciousness!

Guillots

After a little socializing and pigging out we exchanged gifts. Potato was of course spoiled rotten by all his Aunts and Uncles! I know that child will never want for anything with all these people in his life.

O'Neals

When the crowd thinned a little the party really went crazy. The Crown Royal Reserve that DH got this year helped loosen up SIL and she let her inner silly out and we were quite entertained. It was only her second time drinking and we all had fun tending to her craziness.

SIL

Ms Thevis got a crocheted goat for Christmas. Yeah you heard me right, a GOAT. She has been wanting one as a pet but knowing that she can't have one she was more than happy to get one specially made for her. She was wearing a sweater dress with pockets so Lord Gimli(the goat) road around in her pocket all night! ;-)!!!

Thevis

Potato's Nanny made sure to get him a great gift. He got a portable dvd player and oh boy did he(I) freak out! Let's just say traveling will be a breeze with Leap Frog playing for him.

Nanny and Potato

Mr Istre had to work that night so he made sure to play Santa before the party!
Istre

The party ended and the house was a complete wreck! A true sign that everyone had a great time! I can't wait until next year!

Randolphs!

Wordless Wednesday: To Sushi or Not to Sushi?

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He said there was no way!

Painting with a Twist! -- Your Fleur de Lis

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Dear Blogging Buddies,

I have found the ultimate activity for a mommy, wife, or girlfriends! Painting with a Twist! I am sad to say that there are not enough shops open yet. So if there isn't one open close to you I am sorry.

A couple of my girlfriends and I got together and decided we were in need of a little art therapy. I was able to get an insane discount with Sieze the Deal. If you are not signed up you should be, like go do it NOW!

I had heard how much fun it is because you can get a big group of your friends to go with you or you can just hold a private session. Pretty fancy, right?! Although our group wasn't big enough to be private we did take up a quarter of the class. A major plus with going paint with your buds is that they incourage you to bring liqour of your choice. FOE REELZ! So I brought a bottle of red wine.

When you go to a session they have all of the canvases set up with your template already drawn on, major plus for the non-drawer? I went to paint anyway...lol! This session was much different than most because they let us paint with which ever colors we liked.

Overall a completely amazing experience and can't wait to go back. This did ultimately put a little bug in me to pick up a paint brush and learn. My MIL, as you know, paints among her many other activities. She is being so kind to teach me the proper techniques and I am very eager to learn.

When you look below and see that my painting has a little blob on it don't get mad. I had to blob on it because this painting will make its debut in a couple months. I hope you enjoy the others though!

Supper Club ala Sammy!

Wow this is incredibly late but better late than never right? Sammy was our hostess and she made stuffed shells. It was incredible! I had salad for the side and Nicole brought adult slushies.


I am sad to say that Sammy was not feeling well and only stayed a few minutes before needing to head home. Thank God she only lives a few houses down from my house(where dinner was served). I had not being feeling well earlier that morning so needless to say that I was wore out from preparing the house for guests. DH was not able to eat anything because of his tonsil surgery and he was not too happy about that either.


Instead of our usual separation of the sexes where the men talked shop(video games) and the women talk about the men.....we all sat down and watched a movie. I did make it through the movie but had to go straight to bed afterwards. I think I was running a fever because my whole body hurt. I was not the social butterfly like usual and that ticked me off.


When I woke up the next morning I just knew I was seeing things. My kitchen, dining room, and living room were CLEANED! I got kinda teary when I realized that after I went to bed my friends had cleaned up all the mess. I mean everything. There wasn't a dish or a crumb left anywhere. I want to give them a big Thank You again!


Do you have friends that go out of their way? I am a very lucky girl! Here's hoping that I will have a great post about our next Supper Club meeting!

Wordless Wednesday: Sumb thuckers!

Potato is a bad influence.....even on adults!

Walking with Potato!

Our dear friend Joey created this masterpiece. I have watched it a million times and cried each time. It's amazing how fast our babies grow and I love that my friends want to help me capture all these special moments.

Wordless Wednesday: My Girls minus One!

We miss you Dr Shipley!

Wordless Wednesday: Mr T and Dr Shipley Wed

They haven't been married a year yet but I needed to remember.

Pictures before:

During:

The party:

The party ended but the Shipley Family has begun!