Christmas x 4

1This year we had a very blessed Christmas multiple times. The first Christmas was two weeks ago in Simi Valley, CA with my aunt and cousins family and friends. The highlight of this trip was a visit to the Christmas tree farm. It was so much fun helping Billy and Ann and Dan find just the right trees. Ann was also the hostess with the mostess and provided many good meals the highlight being Lasagna mmmmmm. Dan's family came over to celebrate his Grandpa's birthday and my Dad's birthday along with Christmas there were about 15 people over for dinner. We were all eating at the table and Grandpa (94) was in the living room and asked "Should this be on?" we all look up to see hard core porn on the big screen ooops (the program that was on and ended and the History of Porn came on HBO.) We also had a great time opening presents and playing Wii together.

My favorite thing as Sydney snuggling into me and falling asleep. Opening Presents- Sydney needed a short break Saturdays breakfast and Sydny's first donut She LOVED it! Billy and mom looking at trees Billy consulting with dad about the possible perfect tree The boys cutting Billy's first tree for his new home. Strapping the trees onto Ann's car Sydney and aunt Luann exploring the trees

2 Christmas Eve at Grandma's The whole family went to the Children's Mass at St Francis De Sales, then we headed to Grandma's house. For a great feast for 30+ the table wrapped through 2 rooms. After dinner we handed out presents and had a great time sharing time with others, and watching the kids discover all of their new toys and games.

Trey and Macy
Chico Teresa's new family member exploring the chaos
Ally taking pictures of everyone
Brooke working hard to crochet napkin rings for everyone

Aunt Sharon and Grandma ready to open presents and get started
3a CHristmas morning at our home. Max actually let me sleep in a few minutes past the sun rising this year we woke up at 6:45. The first thing we did was give the girls (dogs) their gifts new doggy beads and stockings. Next stockings, then presents. It is easy to tell present in our house wrapped gifts are for Max and stapled gift bags are for me. It was a very camera Christmas for me with a new lens and flash along with gorgous earings. Max was delighted with a long longed for coffee grinder (goodby more counter space) and the girls gave us a Wii (SO MUCH FUN!!!!)

The girls delighted with their new beds

Our stockings
Max opening his presents
Lu carefully opening her gifts ****Beware fo staples*****

3b Christmas at mom and dads house. This year Christmas started late Max and I had so much fun playing the new Wii we lost track of time. We picked up Billy and headed to mom and Dads for traditional orange rolls and fruit for breakfast at 2pm ooops. It was weird celebrating Christmas with out Chrissy and her family but they were in Colorado with Tom's family. As you can see we had a great time opening presents taking pictures, eating a great meal I look forward to Dad's Christmas dinner every year. We ended the evening by hooking up Billy's Wii and having a family Wii tournament.

Me having fun Billy shocked and surprised My little family Mom and Dad Billy and Max at dinner Wii

4 The day after Christmas we gathered at Mom and Dads to celebrate Christmas with Chrissy and Tom's family (the just arrived back from Colorado.) We had a pizza dinner at 6 and then the family came over at 7 to see Sydney open her presents. The little kids enjoyed helping her out, since she was not the fastest unwrapper. While we were not able to celebrate Christmas all together this year it was fun having 2 weeks of Christmas fun.

Look what Santa brought Chrissy and Tom

Unwrapping
Tiger missed Sydney while she was in Colorado
Macy, Brooke, and Trey helping Sydney
Paper is so much more interesting then toys
Grandma delighted as she watches her granddaughter having fun
Chrissy helping her wonderful daughter open gifts (I love the concentration on mommy's face)

Locks of Love

On December 15th I was in California with my family see the big Christmas post coming soon for greater explanation of why I was there.

Any who back to my story my mom had a 9 am hair appointment I woke up and asked if she thought they could get me in, and did the salon do Locks of Love cuts, she said yes to both so I headed down like this and then


snip snip snip in two long braids off went almost 10 inches of hair



with a few more snips I ended up with a cute fresh hair cut. Later in the day I called my dear hubby and left him shocked on the phone when I told him what I did in the morning.

Thank you for before, Auntie Patti for cut, and Mom for after shots.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a very special Christmas holiday. My Christmas will extend over three days, so I am not sure when I will update with new pictures but I can't wait to share, even from the few that happened earlier this month in California. Update to happen soon, now i am off to bake my pies for dinner at Grandmas and finish my moms Christmas shopping and wrapping.

NFR 2007

Possibly a little known fact about me, I love rodeo! This is the 5th year I have had the pleasure of going to a night at the National Finals Rodeo. I have gone alone the last 3 years and don't mind at all. It is so much fun seeing the pre-concert , and the sponsors games and activities, and food. I was excited to a see a corn stand this year, I LOVE FAIR CORN!!!!! This year I was lucky enough to go to Opening night (thank you wonderful hubby!) The energy was great. I was so excited that I was able to bring my camera in since it is an SLR I was worried they would call it a pro camera. As I took some great pictures from my nose bleed seats I giggled with glee wondering if they would have let my camera in if they realized how freaking cool my lens is!!!!! Have I mentioned in the last 5 minutes that I love my camera and taking pictures again.

Rodney Atkins and his band

Bareback Riding- Ryan Gray
Steer Wrestling

Team Roping
Saddle Bronc

Tie Down Roping
Barrel Racing- I think these two guys were related or fans of this particular rider they were very excited for her.


Bull Riding- This bull not only wanted to get rid of the rider but was going for the double bonus of taking out the two cowboys working the shoots.
Bull riding- Riders 0 Bulls 6

You never know...

You never know what an everyday thing will lead to. 4 or 5 years ago I substituted for a kindergarten teacher on maternity leave over my summer break. One of the students in my class was an adorable kid DJ. Well DJ had a little brother Dalton who I ended up selecting to be a typical peer in my special education preschool program. One thing lead to another and Dalton ended up being in my class for a speech delay, and was in my class for two years. One day my plumbing went crazy and I called in sick and payed way to much to get it fixed and had to cancel a home visit with Dalton's family. When I told Julia (mom) the next day why I canceled she yelled at me for not calling Dan (dad) to fix it since he is a plumber! DUH! I knew that well you can bet I remembered his number after that day. I have become friends with the family despite no longer being at that school, and enjoy getting to see my favorite family (that is not related to me.)

A few weeks ago Julia called me and DJ invited me to watch him in the super bowl. Well today I braved the cold with all of the other proud families and fans and watched DJ and his football team won his football league SUPER BOWL! It was so much fun cheering him on he is quite the lineman. I loved watching his parents watch on with pride and his little brother and sister yelling for the team. His grandparents were also there watching with pride. PICTURES BELOW

I am so lucky that fate twisted in so many ways and lead to a friendship with the wonderful Walters Family. We had many funny phone calls over the years as the kids have grown into little people. Heck, Samantha was not even walking when I met the family.

DJ 99 making a tackle
Block him DJ
Super Bowl Champion DJ


Soaking the coach (poor guy it was very cold outside)Proud Parents Julia and Dan
Dalton (he was so cute he was so proud to introduce his Grandma Janice to me and tell me "I can say her name now!")

Samantha