PCMC Mardi Gras Celebration

My work had a "Mardi Gras" Celebration.  We were asked to bring a bright/colorful potluck!  I wanted to be a bit adventerous so I decided to make a "Mardi Gras" Cake and got the indea from Pinterest and their rainbow cake.  Instructions were to make a white cake from scratch.  Well, I "scratched" that and Western Family and I made a white cake! :)

I divided the cake mix into thirds and added food coloring.  The purple looks "perwinkle" in this picture, but it was truly a bold medium purple.

And in the oven they went - all 3 for 20 minutes.  Look how good they came out.

I made a 3-layer cake!  I frosted and sprinkled colorful sprinkles on top (they just didn't have purple, green and yellow sprinkles).

That day I also wore purple, green and yellow to coordinate with the festivities. 

We have an intern that decorates cakes on the side.  When Bonnie, my coworker, put her food in the fridge at work, she thought, "oh good, Kristen baked a cake."  I took that as a compliment!

Our celebration at work was a lot of fun!  We had a lot of bright, colorful and delicious food!

Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas PJ's for Everyone!

 My mom, my sister Carmen, 6-month Breast Cancer Survivor, and me!

 The Jackson/Thompsen Family

4-Generations...

Great-Granddaugher, Granddaughter, Grandma/Mom and daughter

 All my Christmas Animals collected throughout the years

 Christmas 2011

 Christmas Projects Rachel and I painted one night while the guys went to a Jazz Game!

Love this with the snow and glitter...

We mod podged paper

A little bit of both.  Entered them at the Wood Connection Contest but didn't win!  Oh well...

Our Nutcracker Christmas Tree and large Nutcrakers!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving with Bruce's Family

Robby, Ted, Travis

Ted & Ryan helping Bruce carve the Turkey

Travis, Grandap Jackson Susan, Ryan, Sean Rachel, Robby, Bill & Danny

We had 12 people for Thanksgiving!

We all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!

What did you do on Black Friday?

Our assembly/painting line...

It truly makes you feel peace!

I painted the red and black.  Rachel did the snow and puffy stuff on Santa's hat

Cecelia gave this to me last year for my b-day. This year I finished it with Rachel's help!

I think this turned out very cute!

Rachel and I painted (and Brynlie) and had so much fun!  Thanks, Rachel!  I loved have the three of you here this weekend!  Love the holidays...

Happy B-day to....

Bonnie, my co-worker and partner in crime, asked one of our interns, who is practicing how to make cakes, make a Purple Birthday Cake for me!  I was so surprised cuz generally a cake is not brought in for someone's birthday!  And it is even PURPLE!  There were several of coworkers and providers who wore purple in honor of my birthday!  I thought it so nice.  One of our APRN's went out and bought a purple sweater to wear because she didn't have anything purple!  It was a very fun morning! 
I met Rachel and Brynlie for lunch and shopping until we dropped at noon!  Not knowing anything, Rachel and Brynlie wore purple too!  We had lunch at Archibald's and shopped around at Gardner Village!  (oops...those pictures are on my other camera.  Will download and post).  Then we went home while Brynlie took a 20 minute nap (I talked too loud) and off shopping once again.  We ended at Kimberly's house, who was having a jewelry party!  It was a very fun and exciting birthday!  Thank you everyone.
On Saturday, Bruce and I, Robby, Rachel, Travis and Brynlie met at The Lone Star for my birthday dinner and I brought my camera but forgot to take a picture!  Once again, I LOVED MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

 Me at Gardner Village

 Rachel and Brynlie - notice the witch in the boat?

 My cute girls!

 Me, Rachel and Brynlie enjoying the afternoon at Gardner Village!

McKayla (Kimberly's daughter & my great-neice) playing with Brynlie! 

Halloween Pictures

This year Rachel and Travis invited us to come to their Neighborhood Trunk or Treat!  We have never been to one but have heard how fun they are!  And they are truly a lot of fun!  Rachel dressed Brynlie as a cute little witch.  I made a sewless witch's skirt with Black, Orange and Purple Toule (gotta get purple in there) and bought Brynlie this very cute headband with a tiny witch's hat!  PERFECT...

After the Trunk or Treat, Rachel and I took pictures of ourselves (I know I know).  We got so cold we went inside and made Pero for everyone while Brynlie was eating her peaches!

                                               Hope all of you had a Happy Halloween too!

Just love my Brynlie Rae

Had so much fun at Swiss Days and Brynlie!  What a trooper!

Brynlie was GREAT during our many many hours

of shopping Friday afternoon!  Rachel and I

shopped until we dropped!  Brynlie kept on going!

Gonna love shopping with my Brynlie and Rachies!