Tuesday, December 30, 2008

AZ Wrap-Up

So the rest of my AZ trip was spent whirlwinding around making last minute visits to people I haven't seen in awhile (like my friend Amanda, she was pregnant with her second when I last saw her...he's two now!). I also headed over to Garcias and hung out with their three kids (uh, teenagers actually, which makes me feel OH so old!) We watched Doctor Who. Coolest kids ever.

I got waylaid with some throat/fever/cough nastiness on Saturday that is still rearing its ugly head as I type, but at least it happened at the end of my trip :)

All in all, a very good trip.


At Nancy and Quique's house- in their rehearsal room (they have a band). John Michael is hidden by the drum set



Amanda helping JM rock out



Monica got her wedding dress!!! And we got the bridesmaid dresses picked out too. Maid-of-honor can check those boxes off ;-)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Fun with the Family



John Michael got a wagon from Santa...and he refused to get out of it...so he ate his breakfast in there.



The grandkids with Grandma



Notice the rock sitting on the cat's head? That was his hat and John Michael was showing me where his hat was. He really liked that cat. He even gave it kisses (my suggestion), much to the consternation of Nana and Monica :D (I'm such a bad example, hehehe)



John Michael with his Daddy (John)



John Michael and Monica always match...its kinda funny



Family picture



Sibling picture


Me and Zildjian (yes, named after the cymbal)- my cousin's son

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we have an open house-type party at my parents. People just randomly pop in and out as they head to other Christmas gatherings. It's a fun way to see a lot of people. Good food too :) The ham came out great, even though Mom's oven literally stopped working the day before...ham made in a crockpot? Best ever!



Mom and Grandma


John Michael getting ready to go outside and play with Daddy and Uncle Bobby




me and Bobby (who wasn't exactly please to be subjected to my picture taking)



My sister is weird...



Me and Monica

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Art project

My mom has her class make presents for their parents for Christmas by stamping their hands on a fabric wreath and then stuffing the wreath. So Monica and I had John Michael make one for them, and both Grandmas. This kid does NOT like to get his hands messy!






Finished product

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Nephew pictures



Reading a story and getting distracted by toys...



Well at least he likes boy shoes too :)



hehehe


John Michael helping me blog (I distracted him with a pen and paper so he would leave the mouse alone :)...notice that he's still looking at it...)

Tamale Day!!!

My mom and I drove up to Florence, AZ today to make tamales with my best friend, TimaSue, and her family. We've done this for several years and it is always a lot of fun...and a lot of work...but soooooo worth it! Yummy tamales!


Meat tamale fixins



Micki, me, Tima, and Mark


Micki, Tima, and Mark


Tima and Andrew mixing masa


Mark's first time mixing the masa (masa is the corn mixture that is in tamales)...you mix it all up with your hands...its fun and gooey :)



Me, Mark, and Tima (they are Cowboys fans if you couldn't tell ;-) )


Katrina and Micki chopping cheese

Friday, December 19, 2008

Random sister pictures



Wow, my sister and I look like twins! (hahahaha, yeah right)



Monica and her bee-yew-tee-full engagement ring


Minding the kiddo (and the dogs)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My Apparently Annual Christmas Party

So the past couple of years I have had a Christmas party when I get into Phoenix so I can see all my friends at once (since I usually have limited time to visit before heading down to see my folks) so, this year, my friend Kristi volunteered to host my party. Thanks Kristi!


Me pulling weeds with Kristi...



Lynn's meat lasagna and my veggie lasgana



Doing the white elephant thing...



Mark and Randy chowing down


More white elephanting...

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Okay, last snow post

It is still snowing...3 hrs later!





Yeah...my plants are toast...


And I capped of my snow evening by making a snow angel :)

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warning: I am from Arizona. I live in Houston. Snow is a BIG deal for me (so all you Northerners and Easterners can keep your condescending comments to yourselves...that includes asymmetrical snowman comments).

So, it's snowing in Houston right now and I MADE A SNOWMAN!!!! Wait! Actually, I made TWO!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!


Ha! You can see my footprints in the...what's that!? Oh that would be snow!



Hehe...snowman...



Awww...



Ahhhh...more white stuff...



Family portrait :D

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Picnic Time!

Today was what appears to becoming our church's annual picnic. It was a beautiful day and fun to spend some time out in the sunshine. Here are a few pics...album at the bottom




Jolene, Patricia, and Mikaela



Three of my girls: Karmetra, Kamyl, and Corrine



Claire, Pam, and Brenda (Pam and Claire are going to be my roommates in January!!!)



Me and Jillian



Nathaniel and the ball


Church Picnic 2008