Happy New Year! 2010

We had a great time with the kids bringing in 2010. We always celebrate the east coast countdown with them at 9pm. They get to bang on pots and pans and we just let them go a little crazy for the night. Mom and Dad came over for some homemade pizza and snacks. Then we saw a show. It was the best show/concert i have ever been to and I've seen a lot of talent out there but, the show Noah and Ella put on for us was so cute. after the show it was time for the countdown. Then off to bed they went and the grown ups watched the No Limits stunt jump that Travis Pistrana did, it was cool. Man that guy is crazy...Mom and dad left and Tim and I actually stayed up till midnight and rang in the new year in bed watching the fireworks on tv then fell asleep. 5 years ago I would of thought our celebration was lame, but, man how things have changed I seriously loved not being out in the crowds and chaos this year for a change. As for the first day of 2010, we took the Christmas tree down and Tim took Noah to Bass Pro shops, on the way got a speeding ticket and came home while I cleaned the house and cooked all day. It was great (except for the $200 ticket) Good thing it hasn't ruined our mood. Hope this year brings us lots of blessing and NO more tickets...haha.

Christmas

Our Christmas started about 6:45 a.m. I felt like a kid again, I was waking up all night long waiting for the kids wto wake up and see what santa left for them. Ella woke up first and we ran and got her in bed with us then Tim went to get Noah so they could go to the tree together. So for just a minute or two we all just laid in bed together then, once the kids realized Santa had came we all ran to the tree. Noah had been asking for a football machine and pool game, Ella wanted the baby alive (oopsie doll) yes the one that poops and pees. Since they were on the good list they got what they asked for. it was hilarious Ella kept saying "Woook" (look) and Noah was like WHAT? They were in awe...then we opened a few gifts here and headed to yaya's and papa's for more presents and breakfast. We got there about 8am and had a great breakfast LOTS of coffee and then kids opened up all their gifts and saved for last Noah went in the man cave and saw that santa had left a 3-in-1 game table (Pool, air hockey and Ping pong) We rarely saw him after that. Mom, like always was in the kitchen cooking the Christmas feast and I did my usual sweets. mom and i went to pick up GG (recovering from her surgery and doing well) and went to visit Bob in the hospital (had a pacemaker put in) then back home to eat. After Molly arrived we did our First annual adult gift exchange aka Dirty Santa. It was a blast! I was so happy with the date night tim and I ended up with and think everyone was happy. Totally took the stress out of buying each person gifts and we could just focus on the kids and the important things. then we just kicked back and relaxed the rest of the night. Kids had an amazing time and so did all of us. It was our BEST Chritsmas to date. Nothing tops seeing your babies light up and just hanging with the family for days on end...Happy times.

Night out with Mom~ ARIA at City Center

I am so lucky to have my mom. She is so giving and does just about everything for all of us. Not only do we talk 25x a day and still i have stuff I need to talk to her about but, as a mom myself now I still learn so much from her. I love the relationship we have and any time I get to spend with her is always a fun, good time. But, this night was pretty special. Aria at the new City Center project was having some employee play days. Where all the CEO's, Presidents and Architechts, all the KEY players attended and got to first hand experience the amazing property. It started with cocktails and appetizers with live band in a very modern/ retro room with ladies hanging from the ceiling in guitars. Crazy...I was able to see some old work friends, that was fun! Then off to the ballroom where we enjoyed a 5 course extravagant meal. I so don't eat red meat but, had to try the beef it was pretty amazing. Literally melted in your mouth, never had meat do that before. After all the festivities we also got to see the new Cirque show Elvis. Wow, I really enjoyed that as well. it was still a soft performance (I believe their first with a real audience. So there were a few minor hiccups but, hello it was all FREE and I assumed that's why we had free drinks all night long also. We had a GREAT time in the extravegant, gigantic ARIA but, honestly just hanging out with mom was the best. THANKS MOM!!!

Noah singing at church

I can not tell you in words how long he has waited for his day on stage. He did so well. Enjoy the video, sorry for the singing. I was helping in his class (4 & 5yo) and some didn't know the words well.

Family Trip to Texas

A couple weeks ago Tim's dad Roger and wife Jan hosted an amazing open house Christmas party at their house in Corpus Christy. We left on Friday 12/11 to Houston for a lshort ayover and then to Corpus. Kids did really well on the plane. Thank God for DVD players! when we got in you could hardly see anything the weather was rainy, cold and very foggy. I LOVED it! We got all checked in to the hotel and thanks to the father in law they upgraded us to a 2 bdrm suite. How sweet is that, seriously don't think I've ever had luck like that before. Anyway, we went over to their house for some pizza, enjoyed the real fireplace, their super comfy house and watched the grinch. Roger surprised us with a new camera as a Christmas present. I was so happy, since ours broke right before disneyland. So the next day they had about 50 family and friends over. Jan really out did herself with all the food, and baked goods. Wow, it was an entire room full of food. We had the best time hanging out with everyone, we haven't seen since their wedding 6yrs ago. kids are all in the mix now so they all had fun meeting eachother and playing. What a great time we had. Sunday we had to leave but, had a great breakfast and some relaxation before getting back home. It was a short visit but, so nice to be there with all them. Kids just love their Nana and Grandpa.

Santa Train in Boulder City

Mom bought the whole group tickets to the Santa Train in boulder city dec. 5th. We have never been and it was so neat. kids loved it. Santa and Mrs. Clause visited with all the kids and since GG was in the hospital Noah's buddy Hunter and Stephanie joined us too. Think we're gonna make it an annual thing, ride was short but, kids really enjoyed it. great way to start off the season.

Cookie Exchange

My good friend Stephanie hosts an annual cookie exchange. This was my second one and what a blast. You bake umpteen dozen cookies and then exchange and bring home a yummy variety of everyone else's recipes. Not to forget to mention some great company of ladies. She did such a great job and really out did herself with soup, sandwiches, homemade rolls, pepermint bark and pies, and cider. tim now loves sending me to these as when i get home it's like a party we dig in and take bites of every cookie. Thanks so much again for hosting a great cookie exchange Steph.