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

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

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

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

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)

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...