Limo and Lights

This past Friday night we started a new Christmas tradition with our friends.  It all started with a daily deal email about a holiday lights tour on a bus.  The emails started going back and forth between the gang and before I even knew what happened, Cook had booked us a private limo for an evening, and I was calling to see if Ms. Barb could babysit.  I'm still not sure how all of this came together, but I'm glad it did.  Max and I had such a fun night out on the town!

We started the evening out with dinner reservations at Jax Fish House downtown.  This place has the best happy hour and seafood in town.  

I think we ordered about one of everything on the happy hour appetizers menu.  Scallops, calamari, crab egg rolls, gumbo...it was all so delicious!

I also love the decor in this restaurant.  I really want a chandelier similar to this in our dining room.  

I love the little lobster bibs and crackers that they gave us all before the main course.  So fun!

The main course...lobster, shrimp, Alaskan king crab legs, and oysters.  It was all AMAZING! 

We had to play around a little bit with the bibs and the crackers.  

Jerad was so excited to eat lobster. 

After some incredible seafood and enough prosecco to give us the giggles it was on to the main event! We had to walk to our Escalade stretch limo at Union Station to begin our tour of lights.   

I love the way that Union Station is decorated for Christmas.  Why do Christmas lights make everything better? 

Cook talking to our driver.  Fun fact...Cook knew exactly where he wanted the driver to take us to tour lights.  He has all of the best houses addresses in Denver saved to his iphone..HAHAHA! :) 

Our chariot

It was definitely a party on wheels!

This is definitely a holiday tradition that I hope goes on for years! 

Friends Thanksgiving

Yesterday we celebrated our third annual "Friends Thanksgiving" at Drew and Tina's house.  Friends Thanksgiving was a little event that Max and I started when we moved to Denver.  No one is ever in town for Thanksgiving so we started celebrating Thanksgiving with our Denver friends/family on the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Every year the event seems to get bigger, more delicious, and more fun.  Friends Thanksgiving is quickly becoming one of my favorite weekends and holidays of the year!

We all gathered at Drew and Tina's around 2pm yesterday afternoon.  We spent the afternoon playing games in the backyard and snacking on all of the awesome appetizers that were brought.  Chance got plenty of attention. 

Kevin York made these amazing back yard games. This is my new favorite,  a giant connect four,  in K-State colors of course. 

Katie and I are still the reigning cornhole champs! Cornhole is always a backyard favorite. 

Tina and Callie trying to stay warm!

Nick entertained Chance while Max and I played cornhole.  Nick is the Chance whisperer.  It's amazing. 

Bret, Lauren, Megan, and Chance enjoying the outdoor fire.

Now, enought talk about games.  Let's talk food...Max and Nick began the turkey frying preparations. 

In order to make the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, you must first take your time and marinade it appropriately.  All of the flavor is in the cajun butter marinade.  So delicious! Max has perfected the art of turkey frying. 

Tina is queen of the kitchen.  She is an amazing cook.  I always take cooking notes whenever Tina is around. 

Megan and Katie chatting over what is left of our appetizer bar.  We had shrimp cocktail, a cheese tray, a vergetable tray, cookies, and so long rasberry dip.  All of it was so good.  I wasn't even hungry when it was time for dinner. 

Which is really a shame when the main course is as delicious as this. 

Max about to carve the turkey. 

Megan putting the finishing touches on the garlic mashed potatoes.

Drew feeding Callie.

Tina testing out the ham.

And now we're ready for the main course.  I think our mom's would be proud of us all.  We somehow managed to pull off a real Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a few veggie casseroles, stuffing, and rolls. 

The table is set, dinner is ready to be served.

Our friends gather in to give thanks!

Tebow style :)

After dinner we all sat around talking and watching Chance and Callie play together in their pajamas.  They are so good together.  I can't get over how cute they are in their little striped pj's.

I wish I could have recorded them babbling to each other.  It's like they have their own little language.

A toast to two beautiful babies and unshakeable friendships.  We have much to be thankful for.