Happy New Year!

Wishing all of my friends and family a wonderful, healthy, happy and prosperous new year! My goals for 2010 include managing my money better (haha!), losing a few pounds and organizing my digital scrapbooking material. I'm on my way to the third, making strides towards the second and really scared about the first! Tonight we celebrated with chinese food, champagne and sparkling cider. This afternoon we celebrated with friends at our "Countdown to Noon" party. Now it's 11 and everyone is asleep. Big day ahead tomorrow. We are off to the Rose Bowl! Woohoo! Go Ducks!

Christmas in Arizona with my Nana!

We left for Arizona on Wednesday and spent a great two days with my Nana and Pat. We got in on Wednesday evening and enjoyed visiting for the first time in a long time! We haven't seen Nana since summer 2008. It had been way to long! On Thursday we all took the kids to ride the train at a local park. Then we went to dinner at the Olive Garden (nana's favorite restaurant)then headed back to Nana's to let the kids open a present, make their reindeer food (thanks to Erin's recipe) which Ava decided that she was going to eat instead. We set out cookies for Santa and Zach had one for himself too :) That night he was up until past midnight due to the time change. He even managed to wake Ava up around 11 so Santa had a late night with those two. On Christmas day we woke up and opened our stockings and presents. The kids loved it! They liked the opening presents part far better than the actual toys. It was just after we were done that we got the call about Bella. I'm kind of glad I missed the first call because at least we got to enjoy some of the day. The rest of the day was spent in a mad rush to get home. Christmas will never be quite the same for me.

Rest in Peace my Bella :(

We lost our poor Bella today, on Christmas day. The morning was lovely, but the rest of the day was filled with driving and crying. The vet isn't sure what happened exactly, but it was neurological and she was not breathing on her own when my neighbors brought her in. I'm so sorry that I wasn't with her for her last days on Earth. I know she is in a lovely place now and playing with all of her doggy friends that had passed before her. Rest in peace my Bellarina. Mommy loves you!

Merry Christmas!

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends! Eat too much and worry about it later :) Here is Ava's version of jingle bells to make you smile.

The Lights on Thoroughbred!

For the past 4 years we have gone to see the lights on Thoroughbred road. Each year it doesn't cease to amaze me. This year we found a new house with the cutest gingerbread cookie decorations. It has a new owner and the owner saw us trying to take pictures and let us sit on the grass :) He thought Ava looked like she belonged in the setup. She had her gingerbread shirt on so it was perfect.

Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa!

We let the kids open their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa a little early and they had a lot of fun! Zach loves to "help" Ava open her gifts, but she really doesn't appreciate the help!

Scrapbooking Layouts!

Some layouts from the season :)

Wine Tasting Christmas!

The list for judging, care of Libett!


Me and my wonderful hubby!


Me and my T!

Last night we got a babysitter and went out for appetizers then to Tanisha's for a wine tasting Christmas party. It was a lot of fun, but I did realize that I am still allergic to red wine. I started itching from just a few tiny sips. It was so nice to see our friends and have some adult conversation. Many of them didn't have little ones so it was fun to talk about other stuff :)

I've failed :(

It is now December 18th and I have not taken a Christmas picture since Sunday, I believe. My parents left on Monday and I was pretty sad. I hate being away from them during the holidays but traveling with Ava right now is no fun. Plus the chance of getting stuck somewhere due to snow just freaks me out. When they are a bit bigger we will start the winter traveling again. Next year I really plan to be home. I had said I would do every other year and now this is year two away from home. Ava hasn't celebrated a Christmas back east yet or even seen real snow. Zach loved it at her age. He was 15 months the last Christmas we went home. I am really excited to be spending Christmas with my Nana though. It will be a rough drive, but at least we can get out of the car from time to time.
We had a holiday playdate here on Tuesday and I completely forgot to take out my camera. What a bummer! I've just been so tired and out of it lately. To top it off, Miss Ava had a horrible night last night. Up a few times and thinking it was time to play. Had to let her fuss herself to sleep. It's been a long time since she didn't sleep through the night. I'm sure she is working on something new. She is definitely talking a lot more. Plus they had a Christmas party at school yesterday with lots of treats. They were both wired for sound all evening!

Santa! (December 13th pictures of the day)

Eating the gingerbread house we worked so hard on yesterday, LOL!


Today is my parents last day here :( We went to the mall as a family today to get the kids pictures taken with Santa. After about an hour long wait, Ava was so tired that she cried when we walked up to him. She didn't smile for Santa a couple of weeks ago, but she didn't cry either! I felt like the horrible mom torturing her poor kid for a picture. Eventually she just resigned herself to sitting there and letting them take her picture. Nannie bought them both lollipops afterwards and poor Ava fell asleep on the drive home with her lolli in her hand. Zach was a trooper until we started heading home. Then he threw an I'm tired and hungry fit as we were walking out of the mall. There were tons of people with kids and I said, I'm sure these parents are just happy it's not their kid doing it!

Early Christmas with Nannie and Papa (Dec. 12th)

On the years that we are unable to fly back east for Christmas, my mom and step dad come here to do an early Christmas with the kids. They always spoil them rotten! This year was no different. Ava got a piano! It is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Elves, Crazy hair and cookie exchanges! (Dec. 11th pictures)

Ava woke up with some crazy hair this morning! We all got a kick out of it and I had to take a picture. We also noticed that someone was living in our tree! It was one of Santa's elves and Zach likes to call him Elfie. He keeps an eye on us and reports back to Santa every night.

In the evening I went to my scrap groups Christmas party and cookie exchange. I have to say that I had a really good time and wish I had the stamina to stay up late still. I am so old!

Making Cookies! (Dec. 10th pictures)

Ava's finished product


Zach's finished product





There were lots of pictures from this event so there is more than one or two pictures of the day. We all had so much fun baking and decorating Christmas cookies with Nannie. Zach got right into it and I think he will be the family cook just like his daddy. Ava just wanted to eat everything (what else is new!) What a great way to celebrate turning 20 months old!

The Family Bed (Dec. 9th picture of the day)

This is what I found on this morning! All snug as a bug in a rug :) Andy and I also went on a Disney date night on Wednesday, but wouldn't you know my camera died on the first picture we were trying to take! Figures!

Gingerbread Cookies! (December 8th pictures of the day)

Nannie and Papa came in today! They bought Zach and Ava some special gingerbread cookies to celebrate being together again :)