Not on the program...

Dennis and I have been making a concerted effort to eat healthier in the new year. We've been doing pretty well - OK, except for Matthew's birthday. And...notwithstanding what I made this morning.

You see, I had lots of bananas leftover from last weekend's banana splits, and there's just nothing I'd rather do with leftover bananas than make Barefoot Contessa's Banana Crunch Muffins. These things are to die for. Check 'em out...

With 2 sticks of butter and a cup+ of coconut, these are SOOO not on the program. I'm pretty sure that having eaten two of these already I've used my calorie allowance for the entire day. Oh well. It was worth it!

Party on, dudes!!

Since it's already been a week since Matthew's First Birthday party, I figured it was about time I posted some pictures.

We had a monkey theme - since he just LOVES monkeys - complete with a monkey cake, monkey cupcakes and banana splits with all the fixins. It was a swinging good time!

Daddy was in charge of balloons, and he picked up a bunch (bah-dum-dum), including a gi-normous Curious George balloon. And, because no Massachusetts boy's birthday party would be complete without them, he also picked up Red Sox and Patriots balloons, too! (Mommy says next year will be Cowboys and Yankees.....)

Matthew got tons of great presents, including a beautiful sock monkey handmade by Nanna. If I had to pick, though, I'd have to say the tissue paper in the gifts was his favorite!

Here are some shots of the day....

As you can see, he really enjoyed his birthday cake, and even tried a bit of Mommy's banana split. Of course, he was promptly cleaned up and had his teeth brushed. Can't leave a mess like that!

Take Me Back Tuesday

Those of you who read my sister's blog know that she's recently started a weekly post she's calling Take Me Back Tuesday, wherein she posts an old picture and tells a bit about it.

I've decided to copy her idea, and do my own Take Me Back Tuesday posts. So, here's the inaugural edition....Hah! Get it?? Inaugural edition? Man, I crack myself up.....

Anyhow, I grabbed an old CD of pictures and found this one....appropriate for today, no?

This was taken on October 3, 2003. Dennis was interviewing in D.C. and we had a couple of days to see the sights. It was one of our favorite trips, and is someplace we really want to go back to when we can spend a lot of days. So much to see. If you've never been, you simply must go, even if you're not political junkies like we are.

It's a new day!

What a year...

Today is our baby boy's first birthday. Hard to believe that it's been a whole year since he came into our lives, filling it with so much love and joy, making us a family. The year has flown, and as I looked back through literally thousands of pictures we've taken in the last 365 days, I was brought to tears by the enormity of the love I feel for this little man, and for my husband and best friend, who is his amazing father.

I struggled to choose from among all the pictures - so many different phases and stages, each beautiful and wonderful in its own special way. So, I decided - keep it simple. I think these sum it up perfectly.

Then....

Now....

We love you, Matthew Francis.