Little Miss Ninja

I had dinner with Jena and Emma tonight. After dinner, Emma dressed up in her Ninja Halloween costume for us and entertained us by dancing to her Barenaked Ladies cd "Snack Time", this great cd written for kids. As usual, she had Jena and I in stitches.














Emma loves being in front of the camera!

































I love how I accidentally captured Rocky having his way with the pillow in the background.













What a cute little dancing Ninja!

My Absolutely Fabulous Bachelorette Party!

I recently returned to New York after a fantastic visit to Texas. While I was there, my bridesmaids and friends joined with Lizzie's bridesmaids and friends to give us a joint Bachelorette Party which was probably one of the most fun nights of my life!
The two brides-to-be, Lizzie and Cassie, and also the maids of honor for each other.

Joley, Jena, and Kristina

Cassie, Wendy, and Cheryl

Cassie, Missy, Anna, and Tracy

Kristina, Jenn, and Cassie

Thank you for the most fun night of my life ladies!!

Election Day and Victory Celebration

November 4th was a very special day for so many reasons. I was so thrilled that Barack Obama was elected our next President on this day, but I also got to spend the day with some very good friends back in Houston. I even got to spend election night in my old apartment which was really special!

After voting, Tracy (one of my bridesmaids) and I met for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. We both had the Cobb Salad and shared a slice of Macadamia Nut Caramel Cheesecake...mmmmmm! We had so much fun.

I spent the rest of the evening back at my old place which was very surreal and very fun!

Kristina, who once used to be my next door neighbor, (and also a bridesmaid) created a delicious meal in her kitchen next door for our election party.

She cooked bowtie pasta with a mushroom and sundried tomato cream sauce...
and tossed in fresh basil.
Then whipped up a vinaigrette for our salad.

The table was set next door at Meredith's (my old place!)

Meredith on the phone after dinner...

...and Kristina texting.
Obama just won a crucial state! It's getting really exciting!!!

VICTORY!!!! OBAMA WON!!!! We opened champagne and toasted the amazing win.
Kristina and Cassie during Obama's speech.

We all sit and listen to Obama's speech...what an historical moment!

I love Meredith's little needlepoint of downtown Houston seen here.

Notice Meredith's "to do" list on her chalk board...put a big check by that item!

More Hurricane Ike pics

Tracy sent this picture to me of her front yard. They believe a tornado may have destroyed this tree. From what I understand, this was their worst damage. Their house did not flood and her family is okay. Thank goodness!

Hurricane Ike

Kristina sent this picture to me during Hurricane Ike. This picture was taken from her apartment (where I used to live too) in the Montrose area in Houston.

Kristina took this after the storm. If you look closely, you can see water flowing down the street on the other side of the gate, but it didn't get high enough to flood the house, thank goodness!Kristina told me today that the entire area is without power and that trees have been uprooted all over the neighborhood. My friends Tracy and Jena stayed in Houston during the storm as well and are both okay, thank goodness! I hope that power comes back on soon so they can get everything back to normal. My thoughts are with you Kristina, Jena, and Tracy...and all the rest of my family and friends that are having to deal with the aftermath of Ike.

Happy Birthday Kristina! (belated!)

Kristina's birthday was June 28, so these pictures are getting posted a little later than I intended. But they are finally here as promised! When we were neighbors, Kristina would always refer to me as "Martha Stewart" because I was always baking. In the picture you can see one of my creations that I made to celebrate her birthday, white chocolate raspberry cupcakes. We took this picture in my kitchen just before we left for her party.

Cassie, Kristina, and a friend of Kristina whose name I do not know (sorry!)

Hope, Kristina, and Ed

More of Kristina's friends at her party. Joseph and Prince - Peace Out!

4th of July, Saying Goodbye to Some Friends

John and I spent the 4th of July in Baytown at the Bicentennial Park carnival. We started out at the church for the ice cream social, but showed up just a few minutes late after the church had been locked up. We did arrive just in time to see some church friends and take a few pictures.

Lizzie and Josh posing and looking super cute together.

Lizzie and Cassie

Cassie, Lizzie, Mom (with our glow-in-the-dark crosses) and church friend, Barbara Burg

Here we are at the carnival at the snake-petting booth...I did not partake in this activity - just took pictures! John was sooo excited to get to pet the snakes!

This was taken the day before at Outback Steakhouse. We had dinner with Josh's parents and their friends.

And here are the studly men waiting for our table at Outback.

Saying Goodbye to Some Dear Friends...
This is my dear friend Kristina and me in front of her apartment door (which was right across the hall from my apartment door in Houston). Notice the cool decorations that I made as a surprise for her 34th birthday on June 28. John took this picture of us hugging goodbye just moments before I moved out of the apartment.


A few days earlier I had dinner with my dear friends Tracy (a.k.a. Gelbaugh) and Patti, our principal at Shadowbriar. I swear these two could be related, but they're not!

I also had to say goodbye to my dear friend, Jena, but I already posted those pictures from her birthday party. Here is an absolutely adorable picture of her daughter, Emma, showing off her Kung Fu Panda kick at the movie theater. Jena sent this picture to me while we were in the car on the way to New York. I love this picture and I will really miss Jena and Emma!!

Lunch with Kristina and Meredith

Yesterday I met Kristina and Meredith for sandwiches at Bowl, a great little salad/sandwich shop. Meredith and I both had the El Capitan...prosciutto/brie/basil honey panini and Kristina had the Executive Grilled Cheese...grilled cheese panini with green apple slices and bacon. Meredith is the likely new tenant that will be moving into my apartment. She and Kristina work together at the CAMH.

Meredith, Kristina, Cassie

Next door neighbors of 4 years, Kristina and Cassie, at Bowl.

Jena's 33rd Birthday

Last Thursday I went to Jena's house to help her celebrate her 33rd birthday. Jena is my oldest friend...we have known each other since we were preschoolers at Walden Oaks in Baytown.

Jena, the day before her 33rd birthday and her daughter, Emma. What a beautiful picture!

Mary Jane, Jena's mom (and also one of my mom's closest friends) lighting the candles.

Happy Birthday Mommy/Jena!


Say Cheese!

Emma and Mary Jane (aka PawPaw)

Emma and Cassie