Christmas '09

After we visited LA for Thanksgiving, Ryan and I decided that for Christmas, we would fly his mom and sister up here for the holiday. Jan works as a manager at an apartment complex (the same one she lives in), so the poor woman can't even go to the mailbox that is right outside of her door without being hounded by tenants. Heck, she can't even have surgery without one of her tenants a few doors down in the hospital (true story)! Anyways, Jan needed to get away.

We had a wonderful week before Christmas came. Ryan and I took Kellie and Jan up onto the mountain to go snowboarding.

In all of our gear.

Kellie had been before, but Jan had never tried snowboarding! It was so much fun! Kellie got real good by the end of one run, and Jan did one run and was pooped (I understand, it's a crazy workout, and I could never imagine trying to learn snowboarding when I was over the age of 35!), so we all went down to the bar/deck and got food and some drinks. Jan and I both had tequila sunrises... and at 8,050ft we sure felt the alcohol!!

There was so much snow!!!

Jan, Ryan and Kellie (at the midstation) Me and Kellie

Christmas was spent making dinner from a box (thank goodness for supermarket's that pre-package dinner). We had a honey glazed ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and Sugar Pine Bakery french rolls - YUM! Then we opened presents. Kiefer got some Fancy Feast... From this picture you can tell he was VERY excited!

Ryan got some beanies, and a new sweater. Ryan got me a diamond bracelet! It's so beautiful, I love it. Ryan and I got Jan a snowman soap dispenser. She loves decorating her house in holiday attire. But she doesn't like to have Santa all over, she prefers snowmen. We are helping fill her collection of snowmen decorations! I bought Kellie a necklace off of Aunt Elizabeth's etsy site. It was an owl, and Kellie is obsessed over owl's so it was perfect!!! She loved it.

Christmas Time!

Diamonds??!?!!??!!!!!!!!

Jan was so excited with her snowman soap dispenser

Ryan and I in our scarves and hats and mittens!

They left a few days after Christmas, and it was so sad to see them go. Ry and I decided that we are going to kidnap them when we are visiting at the end of May (Kellie's graduating, so we have to go and see her get her diploma!) and bring them back up here for a graduation trip/present.

New Years was right around the corner after that. Ryan and I both had to work the next morning, so we stayed home and drank apple cider and were in bed and asleep by 11pm. I think that it's a sign that we're getting old.

It's Still Winter...

Yep, no doubt in that. We got about 3 feet out on my front deck in the past week. It was just one storm after the other. The snow was definitely more than necessary. At the end of the week, there was one day where the weather couldn't make up it's mind. It was rainy, and then snowy... and then slush.

Slush = no good.

Here is a picture (from my phone, so it comes out a little blue) of the snow on my deck

What you can't see in this picture (because I couldn't get a good angle) is that the snow is leaning over the railing about 6 inches. It just leaned. I pulled an Aunt Heather and drew all over my picture to show ya'll.

We're expecting a little bit more this Friday and Saturday. And then again on the Thursday and Friday following. However, I am sure this will change another five times over the next week. The 10-day forecast changes every day!

I can't believe it's already been a month since Christmas! Crazy! I haven't posted about Christmas, so that is the next entry I have to do.

Work Holiday Party

Last night we all went to my boss Cara's house for a holiday party with dinner and drinks. She made guacamole & a spicy queso dip for an appetizer and a wonderful homemade lasagna, ceasar salad and garlic bread for dinner. We finished the night off with brownies, cookies and a cake for our co-worker Thea's birthday! We had a few different bottles of red wine, which were delicious! We all had such a wonderful time and it made me remember how lucky I am to have such fun and awesome co-workers friends.

Me, Stephanie and Thea (all front desk girls)

Me, Pennie & Stephanie (Pennie is in reservations)

Me, Thea, Cara, Pennie, Nettie & Yoko

(Cara is the best manager, EVER)

James, Taylor, Pennie & Jordan (her husband and step kids)

Thea's birthday cake!

Cara burned her hand on the oven while getting out the lasagna...

and we were told putting lettuce on it helps the burn?!?? We'll see if it works.

Pennie & I

Birthday Girl Thea & I. Can you believe she's 34?!?! She doesn't look a day over 26!

T & Steph

After Ryan and I came home from the party we finished decorating our tree. We went and purchased our permit from the Forest Service, so we were able to go into the woods across from our house and chopped down our own tree! It was only $10 and last year I paid $55!!! So it was a STEAL! We still need to get some more ornaments, because the ones we have from last year are a little ratty... and they were the cheapy kind from Target... I also need to get a new tree topper. We had a metal one last year, but Ryan and I decided one that lights up would be better! We also need to get one more strand of lights. Since our tree isn't very full of branches, (it's kinda bare and has lots of room inside the branches) I want to add more lights to make it look more full.

Dun dah dah DAH!!!! I can't believe Christmas is in less than 10 days! I gotta get shopping. I get paid tomorrow, so I know where all of that money is going!!! Hahahaaaa

Thanksgiving in LA

Ahhhhh... Los Angeles. The city of smog, jam packed freeways,

over population and also home to my lovely and wonderful family.

Long time no post! Ryan and I visited LA for Thanksgiving a few weeks back. And I figured I should post some pictures... and some stories!

We drove all the way down and stayed with my friend Victoria's mom, Janiece. She's one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. She's from the south, so she can cook! We ate well every night that we were there. Her specialty is Chicken Parmesan... the BEST!

We took Ryan's mom - Jan, and his sister - Kellie, to City Walk at Universal Studios for some shopping and to eat at Tony Roma's. We took pictures in front of the giant tree, and giant guitar outside of Hard Rock Cafe. We kept joking about looking like tourists... but now that we live in Tahoe, we ARE tourists! Haha.

Kellie, Ryan and Jan in front of the tree!

Jan being distracted by sights.

Me & Ry at Tony Roma's

Kellie & I in the parking lot.

We had a fun time going into all of the shops. The magnet store, the candy shops. Jan bought almost a pound of Jelly Belly's. (Later she told me that next time tell her to stop sooner, because she made herself sick!

The crazy Marilyn Monroe made with candy... and weird Twizzler Haired Girl.

That was on Tuesday... Wednesday I took my sisters shopping, and Kellie tagged along. We bought lots of fun lady stuff and I got myself a really cute coat. I'll show you a picture of it later. Wednesday night was chicken parm night at Janiece's house! We had lots of friends over, played some cards, ate some chicken parm and drank some good champagne. We finished the night off with Janiece's Death By Chocolate Brownie... best thing EVER! It was a wonderful evening.

The next day was Thanksgiving. Ryan and I normally get lucky with our families both having their Thanksgiving in Redondo/Hermosa area... but this year his aunt decided to have it at her house in Pasadena area... So we drove to Hermosa and visited my family for a little while. We walked down to the beach with my cousins and played a little volleyball.

The sisters

Big Waves

We then took 5 different freeways to get to Pasadena (reason #349 why I hate LA). Saw his family and ate some food.

Ry, Jan & Kellie

Crazy weird salt & pepper shakers that I just HAD to take a picture of.

After we visited his family we drove back to Castaic to visit our friends - The Miulli's. We have visited them for the past 3 years and I don't think the tradition will stop anytime soon. They always have the deep fried turkey and sausage stuffing. They're half italian and half mexican so there is ALWAYS enough food to feed us by the time we get there.

From left to right: Back row: Dana, Brett, Nick, Robie, Ryan, Joey and Brenn

Front row: Allison & Me

The next day on Friday we went to Ventura and visited my grandma and aunt Linda, aunt Heather and cousins Jennifer and Jeremy. We also went and saw my friend Anna who just had her baby Ryder a few months back. He is so precious! I don't have any pictures of him quite yet, but he is SO cute you're just gonna have to take my word for it. He was the first baby Ryan has held since his sister!

The rest of the trip we spent with our friends and my dad and sisters. We went out to TGIFriday's a couple of nights with old friends and had some drinks. This is when I wore my new coat!

Left to right: Karah, Chelsea, Kelly & I

Me & Kelly

Me, Kelly, Gerry (I've known him since 4th grade!) and Chelsea

Another night with friends... it was Karaoke night... and there were some crazies!

Me, Argia and Ryan

Kristen, Claire, Me and Argia

We drove back home on Saturday and came home to lots of snow. I was surprised that we made it back in to town! It was so wonderful to see everyone, especially all of my family! I miss them SO much.

Another Blog That Touches My Heart

Like Matt Logelin, Erynn lost her husband a little under a year ago. Patrick and his father died in a terrible airplane crash in Colorado, while she was pregnant with their second child, daughter Reese. Erynn is so incredibly strong to be able to still be there for Will and baby Reese. Reading her blog is a true inspiration to all of us to over come the terrible things that may happen to us. I pray for Erynn, Will and Reese every day. As I do Maddy & Matt. Here is a link, if you want to look at what a beautiful family Erynn has. Rolling With The Rooney's

Three Year Anniversary

Ryan and I celebrated our 3yr anniversary last Monday, Sept 7. We both had to work that day so we didn't do much. However this week we decided to go and visit a few friends in Berkeley, as well as two of my cousins from my dad's side. We didn't have much time, only two days, but we packed in a lot of fun in two days, one night. When we were driving out of the mountains we stopped at Joe's Crab Shack in Sacramento. It is right on the river, and it was a beautiful day so we decided to sit out on the deck.

After Joe's we continued onto Berkeley/North Oakland and to our friends house. We dropped off our stuff and used our GPS to find a mall to get some new shoes. Our GPS tells you how to get there, but not where you are going. We ended up in West Oakland, very, very, very scary. Once we found the 'mall' we went into the one shop, that looked safe, and then we left, empty handed. Figured we could find a better and safer mall somewhere else. The rest of the night was spent at Zachary's pizza with my friend from high school Brit. We had an awesome time.

The next day we ended up in Emeryville at their mall. We went to Teacake Bakery and enjoyed some fresh cookies. Went into H&M (the best clothing store in the world) and found a shirt and some shoes. Then Ryan and I met up with my cousins Julie & Katie for a quick chat at the mall. One had just finished a run, and the other was at work so they only had a short time to catch up. We did a little more browsing and then went back to Brandon & Alisha's house so Brandon could show us UC Berkeley's campus and the view. We drove all the way to the top of campus, near the science center and took some pictures.

The whale was an art/science thing the students did

Golden Gate Bridge

At the top of the science center & another view of the bay.