Christmas Party

Christmas.  Christmas time.  You know what Christmas time means to me?  It means sharing the holiday with friends and family.  With those you love.  With those you hold near and dear to your heart, and those that reciprocate back.

I love entertaining.  The fun of planning a menu or picking stuff to make.  Trying new things.  Thinking outside the box.  Having a real reason to clean the house.  Wowing others with a) yummy food, b) a clean, fabulously holiday decorated house, and c) a time well spent fellowshipping with friends.

So, here we are, me trying to get caught up and you peeking into my little corner of the world.  How about on to the pictures?  Yea, good idea.  Warning, these pictures are...flashless.  I don't like using the flash whenever possible.  And even when I should be, I don't.  I need to work on that.

I tried to get all cool and set up my tripod on the counter.  It didn't work out so well.  But hey, you can see the spread.  And from one end of the house to the other.  Oh, and just ignore that goof with the remote.  I need to learn how to be more sneaky with that...

George and Devon.  So cute...  George took the remote and had some fun with it.

Liz and myself.  She's fun.  She's in my Bible Study group (we consist of 1/2 the group).  She's single, like me.  So we commiserate a lot with each other.  Or we just get together to enjoy a glass of wine and giddy girl talk. 

Carrie and Katie.  Carrie flew in all the way from Chicago for the party.  Well that, and the fact that she's from California and it was Christmas break.  And she missed her mommy.  But I'm uber honored that she made a special trip to Turlock for my party.

Random.

Oh pretty fire...

Scott, not asleep yet, which is shocking.  He's a good, fun guy!  And he has an a-mazing voice.

Random.  How 'bout that angle?

The catering crew even showed up!  No, I didn't have the party catered.  The one with the cheesy grin, you make recognize her as my favorite future sister-in-law, Colleen.  The one sipping her hot buttered rum, that's my sis Paige.  Poor things had to help mom with a catering job.  I'm glad they where able to come over after though.  Colleen, next year, ugly sweater party!  At your place!

I ended up with about 75 candy canes.  No joke.  I wanted some to decorate with, therefore I ended up with a bulk pack.  Then more showed up.  I have about 30 left.  Anyone want any?  I use them stir my hot cocoa.

So concludes the party.  Good time had by all.  People are still talking about it (which makes me happy!).  Obviously there are more pictures.

Hummm... Now I need to have a reason to have another party...  Any ideas?

New Year's Eve Bash

New Years Eve.  Always a great excuse to have a paar-tay!  And an excuse to have an adult beverage.

Or two.

Devon and George hosted this year's (2009) at Devon's new house.  It was great fun!  And you know how I'm gonna prove it?  Yep, with pictures.  Brace yourself.  It's gonna get a little crazy up in here...

Room shots!  (not to be confused with the jello shots that were consumed later...)

 Amiee, George, Lori, Rachel, and myself.  Lookin' quite lovely if I do say so.

 Devon's family.  The tall one in Red?  He's the one I went to see in Reno playing football.

 Another room shots!

And there was some Rock Band...

 

Do I look haggard?  I think I look haggard.  And my hair wasn't cooperating.  It was supposed to be curly (like from an curling iron), but it ended up just going blah.

 Food shot!

 Goof shot!

We'll end with more Rock Band.  Don't mind the chopped off heads.  It's about 5 pictures "stitched" together.

And, yea.  That's about it.  I got home that night around 3am.  Then had to wind down.  In bed around 3:30am.  And then I slept.  And slept.  And I didn't get up until about 12 hours later.  And you know what?  My dog slept too. 

Check out all the pictures.

Do Not Open Until Christmas...

Of course the dog couldn't wait.  She was antsy from the minute I put up her stocking with a couple toys and bones in it.  In fact, she successfully pulled it down.  Good thing the stocking hanger-upper thing was basic and flat, 'cause it would be broke if it wasn't.

This is Riley...

This is Riley's stocking...

This is Riley trying to get her stocking!

Then I thought, hey you know what, I use to get to open a gift on Christmas Eve, so why not give her one of the toys on Christmas Eve.  And this is what happened...

And the results.  Oh, the results.  I'm still picking up the results.

(please ignore the messing bed)

Straight for the squeaker!  That's all she ever wants.  The fluff and stuffing is just in the way.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why you don't give your dog a new toy for Christmas.

Merry Christmas to Me!

True to my Christmas form, this year just the same as past years, I got myself a gift.  Something to splurge on.  Something that maybe I've been eyeing or wanting for awhile.  And this year, just as before, I did it.  This year, it worked out perfectly.  I've been eyeing what is called a Shootsac.  And quite honestly, I was gonna wait to get one. 

But then it happened.  Black Friday.  And Shootsacs went on sale.  Something that only happens once a year.  And by golly, I didn't want to wait another year before getting one.  I've been having...issues...with my current camera bag and have heard nothing but raves and reviews about this one.  So I did it.  I removed it from my Christmas list and ordered one. 

Let me say, there is nothing plan about any part of the product.  The detail, down to shipping, is exquisite.  Just take a look...

 

 

How pretty is that box?!?!  I saved it.  And then I used it to wrap a present for Rylen.

 

Everything was laid out so nicely.  Even after shipping things didn't shift.

 

 

The basic Shootsac.  Made of neoprene (like a wetsuit).

 

Come on!  Look at the metal pieces on the bag.  The strap is thick, thick like a seat belt material.

 

The basic bag.  On me.  Me standing on a chair so I can catch my reflection in the mirror on my buffet.  Hence the slight squating.

 

But since everything was on sale I didn't stop at just the bag.  I got a cover too.  A really pretty one.  The baroque patterned one.  I'm a sucker for baroque.  

And it's suedey on the back side (aka the side that is against the shootsac).

And here I am with the baroque cover.

I can't wait to get out there and put this to good use.  I'm excited for the ease and comfort of it too!

Now...I need to find out how to clean the cover.  You know, for future reference.  Or in case a certain brother accidentally spills red wine that gets on it... 

Turlock Lights Parade

A few weeks ago, I went to the Turlock Christmas Parade with some friends.  We walked downtown from Thomas and Katie's house, watched the parade, then walked back where we munched on pizza and conversation.

Bear with the pictures.  It was dark.  I don't like to use my flash.  Therefore, things may seem...blurry.  But remember this, dark + lights = cool effects!

 

Yeah!  One turned out!  I think because the truck was stopped.

 

High school marching band.  They were decked out in lights and santa hats.

 

And the parade ended with our very own Thomas, Mitch, and Scott following the street sweeper waving at the crowds. 

Where were their lights and santa hats...?

Thanksgiving - 2009 Edition

Thanksgiving came and went.  I know, like a month ago.  Again, are you shocked that I'm this far behind.  Honest, I'm trying to get caught up.  But, in the meantime, how about a quick recap?

Family came from far and wide.  Food was delicious, as always.  Company was wonderful.

How's that for a recap?  Now for some pictures.

Hobie's first Thanksgiving.  He did great.  Not much begging happened from that dog. Although, the same can't be said for the others...

Breanne and Kaitlin played a riveting game of billiards.  I thought I'd get all up in their business and get some good shots of them playing.  Then I feared for my camera so I backed off.

 

 

 

Annual cousin pictures.  (top l-r: Me, Will, Chris; bottom l-r:  Tricia, Whitney, Breanne, Kaitlin, Paige).  All but me are in college ('cause I'm done!), and 3 out of the 7 of them are going to Cal Poly.  Woot Woot!  The others, well, Stanford, Fresno State, local jr. college, and some online graphic design program.

 

Aunt Boo wanted pictures of her girls to use for a Christmas card, so while Aunt Missy was taking the "real" pictures I was snapping silly ones.

 

Looks like a fish eye lens doesn't it?  It's not.  Kaitlin makes the weirdest faces!

 

And Paige.  She knitted that scarf.  I think.

 

Chris...pondering? contemplating? irritated? annoyed?

 

A few of them of the hoodlums have a finger on their nose, not up their nose on their nose.  That's their way of getting out of praying before the meal.  Goofs!

 

After dinner conversations...  We had 2 non-family members over for dinner.  Gary and Denise, they have one son that recently moved to Hawaii and their other son is currently serving our country in Iraq.  They had no plans, so my parents invited them over.

 

Turkey coma...

 

The End.