The night before Christmas 2010

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring....

Not even a mouse! Thanks to my exterminator! Merry Christmas.

My Monday nights

What do I do on Monday nights you ask? (Well, after FHE of course). The real fun starts at nine when I get to watch Castle. This is the best crime/drama/romance/comedy since Moonlighting. No one is allowed to talk to me when my show is on. My family knows this.

What undeniable chemistry! I hope you tune in!

Gettin' Ready for Christmas

 It's time to kick off Christmas! Yes! This truly is the most wonderful time of the year. The next best  thing to Christmas is Disneyland. Wouldn't it be great if one year I can combine the two? I spend one FULL week decorating with my collection throughout the years. I'd like to share some with you. Let's start with the real reason for the season: Baby Jesus. Here is my ornament with Jesus in a walnut shell.

Here are some ornaments made with some of my family's names.

My four precious kids' stocking ornaments.

What's Christmas without Miss Piggy?

A treasure from the '80s. If I can't control my hair, how can I control my life?

My fantastic sheep collection. Ewe's not fat, ewe's fluffy.

Maggie was talented with a pair of scissors wasn't she?

Stone Cold 3:16 joined us a few years back.

My German collection from my sister Michele.

My trademark flamingo.

One year for Christmas I made all my neighbors an angel ornament made completely out of noodles. Can you believe it? Don't you just want to eat her up? She was so cute I kept one for myself.

Dr. B was nice enough to make me this ornament one year. Look closely. The bottom is made from an old retainer.

Aaahh, isn't this what it's all about?

In case you didn't know, I still believe. Merry Christmas to all!

THANKSgiving

As is tradition this time of year, I love to highlight some of the things I am grateful for in my life.  I am so blessed.  I have a beautiful daughter and three other great kids.  I live for my grandchildren.  I have a posh work schedule that allows me to take 25 vacations a year.  Here are some other things I am thankful for:

These only come out once a year and are very difficult to find!

Even if you don't ask me, I'll still tell you.

Luscious.

The happiest place on earth!

 Love reading 3-4 books at a time.

My trusty Subaru- almost 15 years strong!

Say what you will, these are some great songs.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and 'amember what you are grateful for!

Guatever

Looking like a tourist makes you a magnet for agressive sellers.

Near our hotel in Antigua.  All of Antigua is very colorful.

The view of the Santa Clara cathedral from our hotel room.

Hanging out at the Cathedral in the main plaza.

I must check off everything there is to see in every city, no matter how far away or insignificant it is.  Here I am looking for the Concepcion cathedral, which we never found, and I know I'm going to regret it for years.

"No, gracias, it's very pretty, though."

One of the many ruins in Antigua.

Tanque de la Union- very famous arches in Antigua.  People do their laundry in the fountain.

Notice the volcano in the background?

El Arco de Santa Catalina- the most photographed site in Antigua and I could NOT miss it.

"No gracias.  So pretty, though."

The plaza at dusk with the volcano in the background.

We loved Guatemala!  So glad I got to go!  Another checkmark on my list!

Disneyland!!! Sept. 15-19, 2010

Matt reserved us a posh hotel just a few short blocks away from Disneyland. Here is a shot of the pool.


Sami woke up on D-Day (Disney day) with a swollen cheek from a tooth infection. I was fit-to-be-tied to say the least! Don't worry though, good old Dr. B called us in a prescription and we were on Peter Pan before we knew it.


Zach was a trooper.


Maddi and Sami in front of "It's a Small World". Maddi and Jack laughed uncontrollably on this ride.


At first glance, you might think this is my 1980s wallpaper from my house in Kearns. It is actually a wall on the "It's a Small World" ride.


My little angels: Jack, Evy, Sami, Maddi, Kate and Zach


The kids didn't want to get up and dance at the parade. Well I wasn't having that. No way. Not on D Day. I also really put my foot down when Casey stated he didn't want to watch "Fantasmic". He quickly learned that D Day is also called E day (Elena's day) and we enjoyed the show.


The next day, we hit Newport Beach. You may think this is David Hasselhoff, but it's actually my son Matthew. I brought along my trusty travel capris and sun visor for the trip.


Nelson and my "Seesee" Evy


Kate


Maddi


Jackboy


Samantha


We all buried Maddi. I was worried I was going to get TOO dark here. Can't wait to go again! I have already started saving money in my Planter's peanuts jar.