More Christmas...

Most fabulous dinner of the year!  Prime rib, mashed sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts!  I cooked the dinner, but am not too proud to tell you...it was fabulous!  Mom, dad, Grandma Dorothy, Aunt Thelma and the Satakes all here for christmas dinner.  This is my 3rd year of prime rib...I would say I have perfected it.

Derek said this was the best dinner ever....but he needs to work on his acting skills...anyway,  we had a great dinner!!!!

Now that I am done bragging about my dinner...santa came this morning and we all made the nice list this year.

Grace got her "fur real" kitty, which is pretty darn close to the real thing...

Ryann got a sit and spin...

and our nephew Gavyn got every Thomas the train accessory known to man!  Wow!  I had no idea there was so many trains out there!

Uncle Steve's feet were cold, so he borrowed a pair of Gavyn's new socks to keep them toasty in our 19 degree weather.

Grandpa Larry and Gavyn had a little quality drawing time.  Gavyn was very quick to point out that Grandpa missed a piece of the train.  I think 2 year olds are smarter then we are these days!

Grandma Kathleen and Ella shared some time together while mommy ate dinner!  Awwww.  She is such a good baby!

What a wonderful day.  We count our many blessings this year and wish you a very merry christmas.

Merry Christmas

We have been crazy with christmas festivities!  The big day is finally here, and I actually have time to share some great pictures with you!

Christmas week started December 14th with a christmas program at Grace's school.  I was so proud of her  She sings like an angel...we'll share that another day...

The Christmas party was that Friday.  They played games and had snacks and it was a great chance for me to go into her classroom.  We don't get to do that a lot. I have to brag a little because Grace loves school and is an excellent student.  It was fun to spend time with all her friends.

Winter break has been all kinds of fun getting ready for company.  Aunt Karen, Uncle Steve, Gavyn and the newest addition to our family, Ella, arrived on Tuesday.  What great time the cousins are having playing and learning to share....

They get to stay with us until next week!  So much fun!







Derek, Grace and I went ice skating the other night to get us in the holiday spirt.  Ryann isn't ready for that yet, so she stayed with Grandma and the Satakes.  Like the scene out of a christmas movie, it was perfect with snow, the lights and holiday music!  Grace is a great ice skater!

Christmas eve Grace was a star in the pageant at church.  We were so proud of her!  No pics allowed in mass, but you get the idea.

Then we shared our traditional soup night at my mom and dad's with the Murnins.  Let the presents begin!

Grandma and Aunt Thelma were thrilled to get a picture with my adorable husband  Even the older ladies think he is pretty neat!

Gonna sign off for now.  I have a 12lb. prime rib in the oven and some other christmas dinner to prepare.  I will be back with pics from our morning and our fab dinner later!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Vegas baby!!!

Ok...did I tease you long enough.  I haven't had time to blog with all the Christmas blah blah going on.  I will fill you in on that in later.  I thought I better get a little somethin' out about Vegas before I forget.  Well, we had so much fun, I wouldn't forget!

This was our 2nd annual birthday trip.  Erica was celebrating her 30th and Noelle and I our 35th!  Whoo hoo!  Holly and I got there on Friday morning at about 7:30am.  Our friends Noelle, Erica, Odem, Karen, Rose and Karen arrived the night before by car.  We headed straight for the hotel to get everyone for a fab brunch at The Wynn.

There I met up with my Great Aunt Beth and Cousin Maryellen who live in Vegas.  We had fun catching up and it was a great way to start the morning and get ready for the big weekend ahead.  The Wynn has a wonderful breakfast!  If you've never been, put it on your list!

After breakfast we all felt a little sleepy, but headed out to do some shopping!  I think we figured it was better then gambling because we would have something to show for our money.  After spending a couple of hours and about $900 later, we left the MAC makeup store to rest up and get ready for a big night out.

We decided to go see Le Reve at the Wynn!  We were running a little late, so grabbed a limo outside our hotel.  It was a blast to squeeze in for a few minutes.  We felt like movie stars, even if it was a rickety, old thing!

Out of all the shows in Vegas, and I have seen a few...Le Reve....THE BEST.  Again, put it on your list!  Couldn't take pictures inside, so you'll just have to go see the show.  My cousin Maryellen (3rd in on the left), husband John, and their friend Maryfrancis (3rd in on the right), went to the show too.

After the show we said goodbye to my family and headed over to The Toby Keith Bar at Harrah's.  It was early then, about 11:30 p.m....and we hadn't had any cocktails yet!  We spent the night dancing our little butts off!  We ended up meeting the band!  They know my dear friend Jolie and as soon as they found out I was her friend, they thought we were pretty cool!

The kiss on my cheek was meant for Jolie, but she wasn't there...so here's to you girl!  We missed you!

We closed down the bar and went home about 3:30 a.m.  Too much fun!  We felt like high school girls again.

The next day it took us a while too get moving.  It was then we realized, we aren't in high school anymore and require a lot more sleep!  Sorry I don't have pics, but we went to breakfast in our PJ's and gambled a little before taking a little nappy.

Finally about 2:30 p.m. we rallied for a little more shopping and frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity!  I haven't any pics, but chocolate lovers take note...it's very special!  And, the food was good too.

The hottest redheads I know!!!!

I got to spend some quality time with some of my oldest (not old) and dearest friends from childhood, Noelle (right) and Holly (left).

We also had to check out the garden at the Belagio.  Always a treat to see what they can do...beautiful polar bears and a wintery cabin scene made of all flowers.

Then it was back to the Westin to get ready for another night at The Toby Keith Bar, more dancing, beer pong and more breakfast in our PJ's!  I have to go bed.  Stay tuned for Vegas post #2.

Vegas tease....

So...I was cleaning out my purse from the trip.  These are just a few of the souveniers I found.  I didn't buy anything too exciting while shopping, but thought this would give you something to think about while I sort through pictures and work on my post.

Decorating and Getting ready for Vegas...

The week after Thanksgiving was sooo crazy because I was getting ready for a little birthday trip to Las Vegas with the girls to celebrate my 35th.  Well, the tree is up and the trip is over...still recovering and working on the post to share.  Some of the stories I can tell and some, well, it's Vegas.  What happens in Vegas....you know.

Don't worry nobody was arrested or anything crazy like that....a lot of good girl talk, shopping and dancing our little feet off.  Stay tuned...

Thanksgiving

We went to Colorado for Thanksgiving to visit Derek's family.  It was a very nice family weekend.  Grandma Barb took Grace to the Nutcracker for her birthday.  She loved it and they got to spend some time together.  We also got to meet our niece Naomi for the first time.  She is a very sweet little girl.  Derek's cousin Katrina and her husband Andy came from Fort Collins to spend the day with us.  All of the cousins had a great time together.  We wish the miles didn't seperate so....thankful for a wonderful weekend with everyone.  Thanks again the Colorado Sims (and the Whites too)  for a wonderful holiday and birthday weekend.

Happy Birthday Grace!

Can't believe she is 6! Happy birthday! Mom and Dad love you so much!

It was kind of fun to pull up all of her birthday pics and see how she has changed over the years...we are so blessed to have such an angel in our life!

Re-decorating, birthday stuff and New Moon.

Sorry I have been MIA for over a week. I think this is the busiest week of my year...Grace's birthday, Thanksgiving, my birthday...and life always gets in the way!

As promised here are a few pictures of the re-decorating around the house. First, is Grace's room. Before it was green. You can see it in the background behind Grace and Grandpa. I liked it, but her dream is pink. I fought pink for a long time. Not sure why I waited so long because it is beautiful! It really is a room fit for a princess.

After decorating her room for the 3rd time I realized it was mine I was unhappy with. It is still a work in progress, but we started with a new bed. And a new ceiling fan. The old one looked like a space ship...not good for a bedroom!
The other furniture, bedding and paint will come in time. I am trying to be patient until I can find what I like!

We had a crazy week last week getting ready for THE PARTY! Grace's birthday party was a blast complete with a magician and 14 of her friends. It was CRAZY, but so much fun. Before the party Grace asked if she could get her ears pierced for her birthday. She was so brave and said it didn't even hurt!
I was so proud of her!

Finally time for the party!!!! Nothing like 14 screaming kids running around your house, but I would do it again. Everyone got to make their own magic wand. A little craft I came up with on my own....Grace is holding mine on the left and her's on the right. I was kinda proud of myself...and then the real magic began!Yes, that is a live bunny! Paul Brewer, a local magician performed 45minutes doing magic tricks. Grace was the star of the show. It was great! I highly recommend him if you ever need some good entertainment for an event...he kept the kids and parents laughing the whole show. Of coarse the camera batteries died before the fabulous juggling and live bird acts, but you get the picture.It was great fun!

Then it was presents...and birthday cake!The magician gave Grace a hat full of magic tricks to try for herself, and she has been having a lot of fun trying to figure them out! What a great day. Tomorrow is her actual birthday. I am going to have lunch with her at school for the Thanksgiving feast. Probably will be a little mellower day. Wow, what an event your kids birthday can be.

Some friends invited me to go see the NEW MOON movie on Sunday. I saw the first movie and was not that into it. I haven't read the books either, because, well...I haven't made time for it with all the kid stuff these days. Anyway....I had no idea vampires or ware wolves were so fascinating...and worth looking at...you girls know what I am talking about!!! I can't wait for movie three! Thanks Noelle and Erica for including me in the fun. If you want to lend me your books, I am reading to start reading.

Now you know why I haven't had time to blog...forgive me.