Have I mentioned I love food?

One of the fabulous things about marrying into the family I have, is that James' dad knows how to dine. The week after I got back from Laurie's graduation it was Deborah's birthday and we all went to the Post Oak Grill. I met James at his new office because I hadn't seen it yet and we wanted to drive together. It was so fun seeing where he works and meeting his co-workers! Doesn't he look so smart here? :) 

 Children were not invited to this birthday, except for Brynn because she's so cute.

 Mark arranged for us to eat in this private wine room. WHICH WAS FREEZING! Cuz, you know, they have to keep the wine "chilled."

 Here are the ladies in the shawls the restaurant provides for the room. Parkas would have been more appropriate. IT WAS FREEZING.

 And for her big gift, the woman of the evening got an iPad. Lucky.

The restaurant was FABULOUS. I got two appetizers-yes two, because I could-the crab cakes and steak quesadillas, red snapper, and a chocolate something-or-other cake, as well as a bread pudding to-go! Look, Mark had minimum bill for the room so we were encouraged to order whatever we wanted... I was just doing my part! 

Congrats Grad!

Back at the end of May I went up to Iowa for Lauren's HS graduation. SO crazy that she's, like, a little adult now!  

Her graduation was on a Sunday-odd I thought-so it seemed only fitting that I throw her a Sunday Graduation brunch before the ceremony. We had fruit, danishes, Chile Cheese Puff Casserole, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and "mimosas" (made with alcohol free champagne! they were fab, and I was so excited to find alcohol free champagne because I've had it in my head for years that when I finally have a baby shower I would like a brunch with mimosas and bellinis!)

Here's Laurel with her best friend Jessica. 

The day after her graduation Lauren, my mom, and her friend Jazmin took a bus out to California to see her boyfriend, Jake, graduate from the Marines. I tried my very best to talk them out of it-the people who ride the Greyhound are shaaaaaady looking. But they lived and had a really good time. Jake surprised Lauren when she got there with the news that he had been attending the LDS church on base and had been baptized after 4 of the ten weeks he had been there! So exciting!

The graduation gift I pitched in on... a real pearl bracelet. Jealous! :) 

I love you Laurel and I am so proud of you!