Thanksgiving

 January 4, 2013

From November 22, 2012...We did not host Thanksgiving this year for the first time in a quite a while. We went to Paul & Donna Binsfeld's for a lovely meal.  Grace & I made the vegi platters.  Hers is the pretty and colorful circle of peppers.  I also made a pretty good apple pie and a chocolate pie that missed the photo shoot.

I snapped this good picture of the kiddos in the food line.

Tommy with a mouthful!

Grace & Aunt Fissa

My cutie.

My other cutie.

After eating it was time to come home and go to bed early for the third annual BLACK FRIDAY shopping spree with Daddy!  This year it grew to include Grace's BFF Alex, and Emmie joined them again this year. They were up and out of the house by 4:30 am.  Crazies.

Suns Halftime Show

January 3, 2013

Grace's dance company performed at halftime at a Phoenix Suns game in December.  I forgot to bring the real camera, so here is the best I could do.

She's checking out the jumbo tron

Christmas Parties

January 2, 2013

December was a whirl wind of parties.  So here's a quick recap.

Mini high school reunion when Ronnie came back to town from Japan.   Some of the AHS alumni (plus Devney & Brenda) met up.  Anyone look familiar? 

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 Two nights and 3 parties later, Tom & I showed up at the Massimis Annual Christmas Party. Always fun, and always a ping pong game going on.

 The next weekend, I hit the Gingerbread Brunch party with Grace, Emmie & Aunt Fisa.  Although we made the best of it, it was a TOTAL bust.  Not a gingerbread man in sight, much less a house in need of decorating.  All they had were sugar cookies with frosting & sprinkles.  Big bummer.

Later that day, (see I told you it was a whirlwind) we went to Kathy's Christmas Eve Eve fiesta.

Mel & Ashleigh

Cooper Cutie

Allie, Emmie & Kate

Grace & Kackery

Tom & Michael & Ashleigh

Me, Grace, Emmie & Kathy

Happy 2013

January 1, 2013

New Year, New Post.  Last night Tom & I went out with our fun and fabulous neighbors.

The girls

Deb & Diane

Cathy & Matt

Jimmy & Diane

Jimmy & Tim

Amy & Cathy

Karens

Me & Tom

Tom, Tim & Keith

Justn & Tom G

Craig & Debbie

Amy, Cathy & Justin

The whole gang

Happy 2013.  Here's to good health, happiness, friendship, family, love, laughter, and peace.

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2012

So, yes, I know I am posted backwards.  Bear with me; I am way behind in my posting, so I figured it was easiest to start with the most recent and work my way back.  '

Christmas eve is usually spent at Kathy's house.  Usually, she hosts a big fiesta on Christmas Eve.  This year the fiesta was on the 23rd.  This meant Christmas Eve was a quiet family night.  The four of us went to church (and I got no pictures). Then we went to Kathy's for a small dinner with the Halters.  The kids continued the Halter tradition of opening one gift which somehow is ALWAYS new pajamas.  Given their ages, its hard to find matching jammies that a 9, 12, and 15 year old would be seen in.  So Emmie & Grace match, Tommy not so much.  

At our house we read The Night Before Christmas, like we always do.