HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!

We wish each and every one of you a fantastic 2009 filled with much love, laughter, adventures, rest and all that hope for. To good health. Thank you for all of your support as we had a crazy but fulfilling year:) It started off with the birth of our precious baby girl! Then we sold our desert house, bought the HB house and sold the RSM house. We took a few trailer trips and made many memories with all of you! To 2009 and whatever life brings! God Bless.

Taking down Christmas...

Some of you may have already taken down Christmas. I've been doing it at a slower pace this, since we really had a few weeks to enjoy it. I loved our tree this year. The way it glistened and sparkled with reds, golds and greens. The tree stayed fresh too! Thanks Target. I'm in a throw out the old mood. I'm tired of the clutter and I'm ready to evacuate the garage. I'm starting up S Factor this month and want to have my studio ready for additional warm ups. Every morning I've been waking up with sore old bones. My body must miss the movement. Once I get everything cleared up, girls come join me!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE SARAH!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday.....chong....chong....Happy, Happy Birthday Auntie. Hope you're feeling better today Sis. I'm so thnakful to have a little sister like you. One that is so thoughtful and caring for others. One who is so creative in everything you do. The way you write, or can make a room so inviting. Or how you share your emotions, as if I was there right with you. I LOVE watching you with my little baby girl and the joy she gets being around you. When she reaches her arms out to her Auntie and wants your attention. Your influences on her though, like when she burps, she smiles, or her fake cough. Gee, where did that come from:) I love you little sister! You're a wonderful sister, friend, daughter and soon to be wife:0 Lot's to be celebrated about you and the compassionate individual that you are. Happy Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GODSON!

JACK-A-ROO, my speed racer BMX'n boy! Jack is 9 today and I'm sitting here thinking of some of my favorite memories...when you were a weeeee little boy and your mommy had you in this cute, was it cream outfit? or baby blue...hummmmm anyway when I got to hold you I was so nervous. When we'd decorate the tree and go look at lights...or wrestling on the bed. or the time your mommy had me take you to the bathroom, when you were still potty training...needless to say we both didn't know what we were doing. I was just laughing like crazy:) still laughing. You and Uncle Straty had potty issues that day. oh when I was taking your photo in the pumpkin barrel that fell over and they were somebody elses pumpkins!!! Or when our tour guide led us off the wrong path on our camping trip! Oh the memories. How fun you are and how fast you're growing. I'll never forget the special candles your parents got us to represent us being your Godparents. You are my first Godchild. I love you so very much! Thank you for all the fun memories and so many more to come!!!! Happy Birthday Godson!!!

Amelia still unwrapping gifts...

It's not that she got a ton, but that I wanted her to enjoy each one and have time to play with it. So, yesterday morning she opened a couple and this morning after she wakes up from her morning nap, she'll open the remainder. She's getting the hang of it. I loved it yesterday, because she ripped the paper off the box with such an annoying look on her face. As if the paper was a nuciance and in her way. She tossed it up into the air, then leaned forward, opening her mouth as wide as she could and laughed. She loves watching herself in the mirror, doing the same thing. She's a hoot. Yesterday I rearranged the living room, then rearranged it again and then finally put the couch back to it's original position, moving the leather chair into the dining room until the tree is taken down. Eventually she's going to have to move into the master bedroom with all the stuff she has! That or we'll move her to the garage. j/k Straty and I are determined to make that our studio bonus room, where my pole will go and the WII. Amelia now has her own spot in the living room for her fire truck, wooden rocking horse and all her toys. I arranged the carpet, so she'd have more space to roam. After cleaning up a bit and Ame taking a bath, we settled down into our PJ's and watched Elf. I love that movie! One of my favorite quotes is "watch out the yellow ones don't stop." As he's running across the street avoiding the taxi! Then we put Ame to bed and watched The Dark Knight and organized my fun file. Straty is off to Home Depot this morning. I'm sitting here wondering why Santa didn't give me the brain I asked for about computers. Still no photos. Tonight we're going to hopefully make it to Balboa Island to look at Christmas lights. Yes, we're doing things a bit backwards. Now that the huslle and bussle of Christmas is over, we're enjoying our time together. Hope you all are doing the same!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope you and your families had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of Jesus. Being a parent now, it changes the meaning of Christmas for me. I get to watch the joyous celebration through our beautiful baby's eyes. Even though she's about to be one, I still want to do some of the things our family did as children and now, as well as create some of our own traditions. It was exciting to prepare our home for this special day and ensure Amelia felt how special this day was and is throughout her life. I think most importantly being a parent and having this over flowing love for my baby girl, I wonder how. How did the Lord bring his son into the world, knowing one day he'd be a man, that would one day be sacrificed for my life, for my sins. That love for your child is so strong, so unconditional, so powerful, how did he do it. Then I think of the Lords love for me and his earthly children and how strong, unconditional and powerful it is. Even though today is a celebration of Jesus' birth, I can't help but feel so blessed, humbled and thankful even more so for Easter and his death. Today is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but also the birth of our eternity. The journey that would lead to our freedom of sins. I'm sure this may not make sense. I don't expect it to, since I think I'm so emotional right now. Tired, but filled with love. Thank you family for today. Dad puts together this Santa scavenger hunt with many brain twister quiz es, games and searches. He puts so much into it every year! At the end we end up with our Fun Files.
Last night was our traditional ethnical dinner. Straty chose Bulgarian food. Everyone brought a dish or two of Bulgarian food. We had fun testing each menu item and participating in the gift exchange. Krista got Straty back from last year when he stole the blanket gift from her. This year, she got her own blankie:) What a great time! Thank you everyone for your gifts, cards and wishes. We are so blessed! xoxo HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Little Sister gett'n married!!!!

AND SHE SAID YES!!!!!!! Congratulations to Dean and my little sister Sarah. Dean purposed to Sarah Sunday at Disneyland. After she said yes, they headed to Krista's house for a family and friend celebration. I can't believe it.. my little four eyed, curly blonde hair, who STOLE MY BABY BLANKET, whom I still love so very much:) is getting married. Dean you bring her such Joy! The glow she had that night was heart melting to watch. I look forward to having another brother n law! My goodness, when it rains it pours. I always wanted a brother, but two in one year is a bit much:) j/k. I'm still the oldest, bossiest, mean sister:) Love you all love birds. (Sorry I'm not ignoring my blog, but I'm fighting with my once again fully loaded computer. I deleted everything! and still nothing. Santa, if you care for my sanity, give me a brain for computers:))

Amelia goes to Jessie's house

Amelia LOVES to play with other kids around her age. She got to spend some time with Jessie last night with Auntie Sarah and Dean. Not sure if they cared who won the season finally of Survivor, or if they were more excited that they had matching PJ's. Thanks Christina for the pics!

My Christmas Present came early!!!!!!

Straty surprised me tonight and took me to see heart throb Mike Ness. What a great night! Ladies, this man knows how to play a guitar and his voice is like no other!!! The way he moves is soooooo, well you'll just have to check him out yourself. The Mother Truckers opened and they were awesome too. Ali intoduced me to Mike Ness' music at Stagecoach and he was just as fine then. Thank you babe. I loved my present. Speaking of Stagecoach, we got our tickets for the 3rd Annual Stagecoach. This year Straty is coming along! YeeHaw. It'll be a great weekend of camping under the desert stars, a bunch of rednecks and some fine country music. We have several RV's going this year. Angela and Garth, you better be there! LOL.

Party coming to an end. What a night!!!

What a night! I'm so thankful to have such an incredible family. Last night was, well I can't even explain it, except the tears of joy are flowing as I write this. My parents have been through so much in this lifetime and yet you'd never know it tonight. They were proud parents and grandparents and soon to be in-laws:) Dad you're incredible at what you do and the respect you receive from others is so cool to watch. You're brilliant! Ah, my sisters. Thank you Drew and Dean for the happiness you've given to my sisters. Praise God!!! I have never seen such joy and love they have now. The love they speak of, for you, is so refreshing and so beautiful. Drew, welcome to the family, wow, do I get to say BROTHER, for the first time in my life? HOLY COW! Ok so marriage and then cousins for Amelia!!!! j/k...Enjoy marraige. It's a beautiful thing. Congrats Babe for winning $500 to Hyatt! We won the tickets his last hand in poker and then won a big gift! Such luck. Who's watching that baby? j/k. What a night.

Santa Baby...

Everyone got to see Santa! Drew was sworn in as Santa's little helper Elf. Auntie Krista was so proud. Dean and Sarah you two are beautiful!!! Every single photo I've taken, you gleam! I love it! Santa yelled out, "has this one been a good one?" (referring to Dad) The crowd was 80/20 Good/Bad. Babe, we really need to make sure we get our photo taken! I'm pretty sure we went together to the party:) Love you.

Visit with Santa Clause...not so much

Daddy introduced Amelia to Santa. She wasn't too pleased. She did enjoy dancing with daddy on the dance floor. Such a cutie. Every time I looked at that beauty, my heart just melted onto the floor. We are so lucky! Thank you lord for our wonderful bundle of Joy!!!!

What? No way!!!! CONGRATULATIONS AUNTIE KRISTA AND SOON TO BE UNCLE DREW

AUNTIE KRISTA IS ENGAGED!!! Straty, Amelia and I were standing in the lobby, when my sister walked in with this HUGE smile and glow about her. I thought she was acting a bit weird, until she flashed me her left hand with sparkly new ornament on it! We're so excited for the two of them! It'll be great to have more men in the family. Drew proposed to Krista on Balboa Island in a favorite spot of theirs.

Dad's Holiday Party (I'm almost caught up)

Last night was Dad's work party, which Congrats Dad! It was fun getting all dressed up and going to a big hotel decorated so beautifully. Everyone looked so happy and gorgeous!!!

Drive Thru Nativity

Wow, how cool was it to take my daughter to something I used to do when I was in High School! All three of us participated in the Drive Thru Nativity. I think we were all Mary "I do not think I'll be resting for long..." Krista and Sarah were also Angels. It wasn't the same though. The actors wished everyone a Merry Christmas after their lines, strange....and some of the lines were shortened. It was beautiful though.

Chili and Cocoa at Auntie Sarah's

Thursday night, (I'm almost up to date!!!!) we went to Auntie Sarah's house for Chili and Hot Chocolate! It was fun getting into the holiday sprit with our friends and family. I'm still so thankful to live so close to them! Thanks for a yummy dinner Sarah! Amelia read to Curious George, while Jessie had me photographing her, Bell and the Little Mirmaid chick. Jessie, you're going to have to help me know all the names. I'm still learning. After dinner...we headed to First Christian Church for the Drive Thru LIVE Nativity, which of course we walked:)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Amelia got her first Christmas ornament from Grandma and Grandpa. She got it ready to be hung on the tree. I can't believe how long it takes to decorate a tree! It was fun though. I love decorating for Christmas. I wish we could keep it up all year long.

Amelia's first Christmas Tree...

After seeing Santa on Main Street, we headed to Target to pick out our Christmas Tree! YEAH!!!!!!! Auntie Sarah and Dean joined us. They were being silly. Dean "Sarah have you been a good little girl?" Sarah "Ha ha ha, of course" Amelia "What? good? Auntie Sarah?"

Santa's arrival on Main Street in HB

Mr. and Mrs. Clause came down Main Street on a fire truck. Santa was sporting his Hawiian shirt. We waited for the Main Street snowflakes to light up, as we listened to Christmas music, sipping hot chocolate. Mom and Dad bought us all a flashing snowflake. We plan on taking them to church Christmas Eve:) It's so wonderful being close to family!!!!!