winetasting nov. 2011

winetasting nov. 2011, a set on Flickr.

winestasting with the besties in oregon! a perfect day!

party weekend!

oy vey... we are just coming off of a PAAAARTY weekend!

three on Saturday and one on Sunday. there was going to be one MORE on Sunday, but due to rain... it was cancelled.

we took a ton of pics, too many to post here - so, go see the album...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmenslage/sets/72157628083184529/

here are a few of the packages - i think one roll of paper, and lots of different ribbon can adorn a perfect package for anyone... a superhero, a princess, and a gourmet!

My "knight in shiny arour" he got this amazing getup at sheridan's princess partyhere he is getting his superhero on at connors party. Kurt and BFF Todd :)

Jump Jump Boing Boing Bounce Giggle - at Coles "Sky High" party

....yawn... Thanksgiving, here we come!

tree lighting at the promenade - a standing and a new tradition!

The Promenade tree lighting snuck up on us this year - I just heard about it pretty much the day it was happening. Luckily we all were in town and game to go!
We ran into the gorgeous Santiago family who we also saw there last year.
We even were able to hookup with a couple of Liam's besties - Andrew and Connor :)
We missed the Liljegren's this time around - but they were with us in spirit!

The gorgeous tree, and my gorgeous boys.

I think I saw mistletoe hanging somewhere!
A NEW tradition... we went into "Cost Plus World Market" which is a store in the promenade that sells all kinds of great Christmas tree decorations. We told Liam he could pick out ANY one he wanted. He picked out what he is calling "My Sunday School"... how cool.

Ghostly Lemon Cake Pops

Halloween seems like a distant memory with Thanksgiving on the not so distant horizon (it's NEXT WEEK!)

When flipping through the October edition of my favorite magazine (Food and Wine) ... I saw these super cute ghostly lemon cake pops and had to try my hand at making them for Liam's Halloweeen school party. They were a hit :) and pretty easy to make (messy, but easy) and best of all - it calls for STORE BOUGHT pound cake! great short cut! (also, i melted chocolate chips for the eyes - it called for a special marker that i didn't have, the chocolate worked fine, and didn't mess with the flavor of the lemon.)

Link to the recipe:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/ghostly-lemon-cake-pops

My kitchen assistant :) he is big fan of lemon!

The gang of ghosts.
Packaged up and ready to share.

trick or treeeeeat!

We had the BEST trick or treating session ever!
Liam's pal Connor's awesome mama hosted about a dozen of the "besties" from Cornerstone and the parents in an evening of festivities and trick or treating.

here is a link to some of the photos (some from the parade - some from the night) My camera battery died after about the 6th house - but I have invited some of the other parents to post their photos to the site, so hopefully some of them do - so we have more fun images to look at.
http://trickortreat2011.shutterfly.com/

Would you just DIE of cuteness if this dirty dozen of 3 and 4 year olds showed up at your door singing "trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!??"

In usual Liam fashion.. "trick or treeeeeeeeeeat"!