Merry Christmas!

Yes I've been MIA for about two weeks while I prepared for the holiday festivities. This is one of my favorite times of the year: Decorating the house, trying to find the perfect gift for those you love, spending time with family.

Traditions have changed in our house, as we are now celebrating with four adults instead of two adults and two children. The piles of toys have now been replaced with more adult gifts like electronics, clothes and movies. The 6 o'clock wake up call by the excited children is now non-existent...I actually had to go wake Austin and Alexxa up this Christmas, can you believe it?

I wouldn't say having adult children is better or worse, just different. I have to say that one positive to the kids growing up is that they appreciate being together as a family and are learning to cherish and appreciate those few special moments that we get to spend together.

I hope you and your family had an absolutely spectacular Christmas, and here's wishing you a Happy New Year :) Now go to bed.


RAWR!


Brenda the Christmas Elf.


Cowboy, I think you need a smaller hat size.


Epic Nerf gun war - Get 'em Lynn.


Mass chaos.


Kierra taking in all the craziness.


Watch out, Anne's on the prowl.


Bret bringing in the big guns.


Brie on the attack.


Robb and Alexxa getting in on the action.


Amy, Anne and Dennis hard at work.


Amy enjoying a little glass (cough, cough) of wine ;P


Brie in her human hamster ball. Check out the hairdo :)


Adam taking in the festivities. What's wrong with this picture?


Dennis checking out his awesome Christmas gift.


Those are some good looking kids there.

Thing I'm thankful for today:
Another wonderful Christmas spent with loved ones.

A Drive-By Hello

I thought I would check in before everyone decided to stop reading my blog. My computer has totally crapped out on me, so it is really difficult for me to update my blog. I am having to update from Austin's computer which is not always possible because he takes his computer to his friend's houses for game nights constantly.

Christmas is only 13 days away, and I'm happy to report that I am almost done with my shopping. I only have about four more things to purchase and then I am finished!

Also on the happy news front, my sister-in-law, Jay, is selling USANA now. USANA is a company that sells nutritional supplements, foods as well as personal & skin care products. Jay knows that I am constantly fighting intestinal problems, so I am trying some of the products from the USANA line. The products I have just started using are the Probiotics, Fibergy and the Digestive Enzyme. So far, so good. I am hopeful that they will help do away with my symptoms. I will keep you updated (with not too much gross detail:) ). If you are interested in purchasing some USANA products, Jay's email address is cjhenserling@gmail.com .

Finally, as promised, I have some pictures to add. Most of them are from our relaxing and yummy Thanksgiving. One, however, is of our trip home from Reno. I only have one picture because the others didn't load. They wouldn't have been too exciting anyways...just a picture of white nothing. We were basically stuck inside the hotel due to a blizzard / white out conditions. I have to say though, I didn't mind because it made us relax and have to enjoy each others company. Besides, spending time with each other, isn't that what the holiday seasons are all about :)


The cook, my mom, hard at work.


My crew digging in to Thanksgiving dinner.


Everyone enjoying the Thanksgiving feast (minus my mom).


Austin and his Mommers :) I think I might scare him.


Our clean windshield - had to use a water bottle to spray the window as the wiper fluid was frozen and couldn't be used. Fun stuff there!

What I'm thankful for today:
Great days that create awesome memories.

A Week (+2 days) of Bliss

OK, so I lied about being better about updating my blog. I have been in vacation mode and have little more energy than to figure out which way I'm going to turn while I'm napping. I have to say it has been 7 pure days (will end up being 9 days) of bliss.

Alexxa came home from Monterey, so on Saturday we spent the day together shopping and eating. Sunday the fam visited Dennis and Anne and Anne made a belated birthday meal for Dennis, Amy and myself....YUMMERS! Monday through Wednesday Todd and I went to Reno, got snowed in and ate ourselves into oblivion. Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving, and we enjoyed a spectacular dinner that my mom cooked at their house. Uncle Lynn came with us and we visited most of the day, that is when we weren't eating. Friday, we got our Christmas tree, went to Apple Hill and went out to Chinese food for dinner. Saturday we slept in, Lexx made homemade cookies, I did a little laundry and went to Grandys for some more food that Anne made for Lexx. Sunday, we just kind of hung out. Lexx went back to Monterey, Austin went to work, Todd went to Lynn's house, and I hung out on the couch and watched movies all day.

It was so nice to get away from the hectic work schedule and enjoy time with family. We don't really get to do that much these days as Austin and Alexxa have their own schedules. I am truly blessed this holiday to be surrounded by the people I love most!

PS - Pictures to be posted later because I can't upload pictures on Todd's computer and mine is broken.

Things I'm thankful for today:
My family
Getting to spend time with family.
Good food and good conversation - plus a glass of wine :)

Double A.W.E.S.O.M.E

It's getting to be that time of year where everything seems to speed up and go into double time. No, I haven't been great about posting lately, but it's not that I don't think about it. I really have meant to, BUT it seems for the past couple weeks that something has been more important - not to mention some technical difficulties with my computer.

My power cord pooped out on me. It still works, kinda, but I have to twist it into a little not and hold it with my right hand while I hunt and peck with my left hand. My left hand isn't used to so much work and it cramps up after I type for about 5 minutes. So, when I let go of the power cord with my right hand to give my left hand a break...my power shuts off on my computer - AWESOME!

There is also stuff to do around the house. I wake up, get ready for work, go to work, come home and cook dinner, pick up a little, and then do stuff like clean up after the puppy. Some puppy - who will go unnamed - crawled up on top of the dinner table the other night and ate cranberries that then gave her a tummy ache which she decided she needed to take care of in the living room, the kitchen, the hallway and then about 6 inches UP on our bedroom door - double AWESOME! I do have to say, I didn't have to clean up that one, Todd just so happened to take that day off from work, so I dodged that bullet! :)

On the good news front, Todd is working on tiling the kitchen. Remember months back when I showed a picture of all our old tile popped up and the white underlayment stuffy? Well, we've been walking around on that since that picture was taken. I am loving the way it is looking so I guess it was worth the wait. I follow up with pictures as soon as Todd finishes laying all the tile.

Beyond the above, everything is great. Kids are well, Todd is well, and I'm well. What more could we ask for?

Things I'm thankful for today:
Todd's baby computer - I don't have to hold the powercord.
Puppies not eating cranberries.
Everyone doing great!

Carpe Diem

That is all. Carry on.

Things I'm thankful for today:
Bed
Food
Todd

Vogue

So before I got sick last week, and before I headed down to Monterey the week before, Alexxa was visiting. I felt the need to put some time on my camera, so Alexxa obliged and we took some pictures. She kept telling me that the sun was really bright. I kept telling her that she is just a baby...ends up...she came down with the flu later that day. Worst parent of the year award here! I thought the pics came out great for not feeling well, see what you think.

WARNING - There will be a little Alexxa overload...just warning you ahead of time.













Not too shabby. I know what you are thinking though, what about poor Austin. Well, I hardly see him, he is either working or sleeping, and honestly, it would probably take an act of Congress to get him outside so I could take pictures of him.

Maybe I should make taking pics of him my new mission, we'll see.

Things I'm thankful for today:
Being healthy.
Having cute, cute, cute kids.
A nice camera to play around with.

One of Those Days

I feel you kid!

Caught the flu/cold (not sure which one)....feeling crappy....and also found out two of my favorite shows might be cancelled...Is it the weekend yet?

That is all.

Things I'm thankful for today:
Hmmmm, ummmm, Dayquil
A place to vent (thanks for listening to my whining).

Cuteness Explosion

I'm feeling the need to look at cute baby animals...this should do it. Can I get a collective awwwwwwww?

Things I'm thankful for today:
Getting to spend time with Alexxa in Monterey this weekend.
Having deep conversation with Austin...something about growing facial hair.
Resting next to my hard working husband while he sleeps soundly.

Weirdest Thing

I woke up about 1:30 AM this morning with my gums almost to the top of my teeth. I went to the mirror to look and the inside of my mouth, and it was super red and puffy. Panicked, I pulled out my handy dandy dental floss and went to town on my mouth. Something must have lodged itself between my teeth and gums, and boy did my gums not like it. As of this moment, my gums are back to normal, a little tender, but everything looks a-okay. Yippee!

Thing I'm thankful for today:
Dental floss

Happy Birthday To Me

I woke up Sunday morning to a cheery Austin wishing me a happy birthday. The conversation went something like this:

Austin: Happy Birthday!

Me: Who are you talking to?

Austin: You

Me: Me?

Austin: Ya

Me: Uh, Austin...it's not my birthday.

Austin: What? What day is your birthday?

Me: 9-10-??

Austin: Ohhhhh! I'm a month late.

I came home from work today (Monday) and Austin had purchased a box of some wonderfully delicious gourmet chocolates for me. What a sweetheart!

Thing I'm thankful for today:
A wonderful and thoughtful son :)

M.I.A.

Has it really been over a week since I blogged last?

I have been neglecting my blog posting duties this past week *hangs head in shame*. I was truly exhausted. I have been in bed asleep by 10 PM every night. I haven't been sick, overworked...nothing. All I can think of is that it is getting darker earlier, so my body says BEDTIME. I dunno? Anywho...I'm back!

Things I'm thankful for today:
Watching a swell game of soccer.
Spending time with my girl.
Relaxing Saturday afternoon.

You Vote

After agonizing over dinnerware for the past week, I finally came up with a few that are possible options. Some seem to go with our decor (is "early garage sale" a decor style?)and some don't. So because I told you I would let you help me pick out a style, and I'm a woman of my word, here you go:


#1 Gourmet Expressions Birdsong
Great color and cute design.


#2 Certified International Belle Isle
Pretty fancy but fancy edges and cool paisley design.


#3 Artimino Sienna
About as crazy colorful as I am willing to get.


#4 Artimino Tuscan Countryside
Plain, would go with pretty much anything, but I like all the little twisties.


#5 Misto Paisley
Love the design, but I'm not sure the colors completely match our decor.


#6 Misto Angela
I really like the colors and design on this set, but I'm not sure I like the little white dots.

In order to vote you will have to leave a comment to let me know your favorite *GASP. Happy voting.

Thing I'm thankful for today:
Your input - wink, wink ;P

Who knew...

I was so indecisive; Solids, patterns, I just can't decide. I've been looking for dinnerware since the last time I blogged. In six days I've found about five sets. I showed Todd my choices and he told me he didn't like any of them, to which I replied, "And your point?" He thinks we should just go to the dollar store to buy a set, or just purchase a ton of paper plates, this is why his vote doesn't count. Men!!!

I did find one set that I absolutely fell in love with, but I don't think that I will be getting it considering the plate alone was $135 (Yes that is 1 plate). I could just see myself pulling out the plate for company and the plate slipping out of my hands and shattering on the floor. Then I would have to cuss and be all upset, it's just not worth it.

So, I'm off to look for some more options on my dinnerware.

Toodles :)

Things I'm thankful for today:
That it is the end of the day and this god awful temperature - uuughh
My niece riding her rocking horse in her tutu. Bust that bronco Ava.
The Internet to help keep me so indecisive on things (just when I think I like something, I find something else I like more).

Maybe I Should Grow Up...

Very random, I know!

and get a set of dishes that match. At one time I had a lovely set, but as time went on the set slowly broke or disappeared (Austin - Alexxa!). When the kids were younger they liked to take assorted kitchen items outside. I remember looking outside and seeing Austin and Alexxa using our brand new spoons as shovels to dig in the dirt.

I just decided that this mismatched mess bugs me, and I'm going to start looking for a new set of dishes. I'll probably pick a few sets and maybe I'll have you guys help me decide which one to purchase. Do know...I reserve the right to veto your votes if I decide I don't like the outcome :P Why? Cause I can.

Stay tuned.

Things I'm thankful for today:
My lovely little family.
Loki talking to me when I get home...actually it's more like a long bark, but whatev
Awesome 80 degree weather, thank you and yes please.

The Terrible Two's and a Kayak

Todd and I had a great weekend. My sister and her family were out visiting from Phoenix, so we got to spend some time with them. My niece turned two on Friday, so we had her birthday dinner at Spaghetti Factory and then went to my grandma's house for ice cream cake.





On Saturday we went to Stumpy Meadows and kayaked. Ava had been bugging her mom about it since she tried it in Oregon, so we thought it would be an extra special treat for her. My mom made lunch and my dad, Todd, Karen, Ava, Loki and myself all enjoyed eating it! We then took turns kayaking and enjoyed the beautiful day.









After kayaking, we headed back to my parents house for dinner and football.



It was a fun time with family...I sure am gonna miss the little monkey (Ava)!

Things I'm thankful for:
Two year old nieces
Family
Picnics and kayaking on the weekend.

Holy Sweet Saccharine Batman

This is a chocoholics dream. Did you know that there was such a thing as a chocolate mousse body wrap? Me either. It's on Groupon today for $49 (http://www.groupon.com/sacramento/ ).
And in case that link doesn't work, just to prove I'm not pulling your leg, here is the actual day spa that does it
( http://www.blueskydayspa.com/services.asp ) for a not so sweet deal of $135.

I wonder if you don't like the body wrap if they'll let you lick it off...oh wait, that's kinda gross...:P

Things I'm thankful for today:
Hersheys
Nestles
Ghirardelli

21

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there were two kids and they fell in love.


They got married and had two beautiful children.


Years passed, their kids got older, but with each passing day their love for each other grew.


As for the rest of the story...I guess you'll have to stick around to find out.


Here's to another 20, 40, 60 more years. Happy Anniversary!

Things I'm thankful for today:
Being married to my best friend.