Tacky Christmas Sweater Party and cookie exchange

This year we started a new tradition.....a Christmas Cookie Exchange....with Tacky Christmas Sweaters. Enjoy!
Michelle's yummy goodness!
The Tracy Specials
Shelly's Peanut Butter Overloads
Anna's Pretzel Things
The assortment deand the Peppermint Candy Tarts I made
Even Pippin got into the Tacky Christmas Sweater Action
Anna...no sweater, but tacky tie!
My homemade beauty..out of a tree skirt and other stuff
Shelly was the big winner...she found all of this in a thrift store for under $3.00
Tracy's Homemade sweater
Shelly and her winning combination!!!

Kauai 09

Ryan...excited to be in KauaiThe rooster...official bird and alarm clock of Kauai


Beauty everywhere! Ki'lauea Lighthouse
The Beautiful Napali coast....we took a 65 foot Catamaran out to see it! AMAZING
Hanalei Valley
Off the Napali coast
Sunset on the Napali Coast
More sunset on the Napali Coast
Lunch in Poipu
Spouting Horn
fun times
Ryan enjoying our view from our lanai
At Ke'e beach.....we went looking for Sea Turtles....but no sea turtles

Ryan and I were able to get away for a week and spend some time in Kauai! We had booked our resort last February and have been looking forward to this for such a long time! Kauai is such an amazing Island....we have been to Oahu and found it to be a beautiful Island....but this is so much different. For one thing Kauai is much less developed. There are fewer big citys....we saw no high rise buildings (other than the St Regis). There is so much natural beauty around you that you just sit in awe of it! By far one of the most memorable things we did was go on a boat trip to the Napali Coast. The Napali's are AMAZING.....one of God's most beautiful places. You can not get to them by car....you either have to hike them, fly over them in a plane or helicopter or take a boat. We took a boat....a 65 foot Catamaran. Fun times for this girl who gets sea sick....but so worth it! If you are ever in Kauai ....take a trip with Holo Holo Charters!!!! Great group of people! At one point they made me keep a bucket in front of me....just in case! But I didnt need it! ( the waters of the Napali's are rougher during the winter months) All in all..it was a great trip. We are looking forward to our next adventure...which wont be for some time!

Halloween 09

Halloween 09 was a fun one! We hosted the party in our backyard and had a great time! The Smurfs (Randy and Tracy) came for a visit along with a Twister Board (Rachel). We also had an Olive Oil (Michele) The Snuggie Family (Ryan, Angie and Bozley...who later turned into the USC fans) EG and Anna came as Red Shirts and brought Pippin the Cow. April came as a flower and Avalee was the most precious Butterfly you have ever seen! Todd...the DJ was " As seen on TV man"..Eric came as a Referee ( we didnt need and officiating though)....there were several others! It was a fun night! We also had a lot of trick or treaters...enough to empty the bowl of candy!!!!

Megan and Annika....pumpkin carving

Megan is now in High School and is taking german....she had the honor of hosting a german exchange student for 3 weeks. In Germany, Annika does not celebrate Halloween....it is not a German tradition like it is here in the states. She had her first experience with carving pumpkins .....it was fun to watch!

Star Wars in Concert.....

A few weeks ago we went to Star Wars in Concert! It was such a fun show.....the orchestra played all the music, while the screen showed shorts of the films. Made me realize that I havent watched those films in a million years. What really made the night fun was that we got to hang out with our good friends EG and Anna. Anna is perhaps the biggest Star Wars fan I have ever met....her husband is a close second....lets just say that if they could they would probably have a room dedicated to all the Star Wars stuff they have! It was fun to watch them...like kids in a candy shop!

Anna was super excitted to get her new C3PO shirt !

The force is strong with this one....Anna has a slight love of Yoda!The famed Princess hat that her Sister in law made for herget em!oh no not the light saber!!!the show was so AMAZING..all the lights and special effectsand probably the highlight for all...especially Anna as she loves this man....Anthony Daniels who was C3PO was the MC for the evening.....he even did the voice! So Fun!

Birthday fun for Amy at the Happiest Place on Earth!

This past weekend my oldest and dearest friend came out to California to CELEBRATE her birthday! Is there a better place to CELEBRATE other than Disneyland??? I say not! Not only was it her birthday, but it was also her husbands FIRST visit to the happiest place on earth!

4 of the 6 f us have names that start with the letter A

Amy and Andy

Amy and Andy again!

Its tough to be a bug

Abbie and Theo! They made the trip up form San Diego for the day! Feeling a little silly..but totally worth it! Ryan is a tough bug!

My GREAT Aunt Candy's 80th Birthday surpise!

HAPPY 80th Birthday Aunt Candy!!!!

A few weeks back we went up to Simi Valley to a surprise party for my Great Aunt Candy! Aunt Candy is married to my Great Uncle Smitty, who is my grandma's youngest brother.

Aunt Candy and Uncle Smitty and all of their kids!
Tom, Steve, Scott and Sherry

They didnt put 80 candles onthe cake, but put them in the shae of 80

Aunt Candy with all of her Grand kids

Aunt Candy and Uncle Smitty and all of the Great Grand kids!