Decorating the Christmas Tree!

While Decorating the tree I spotted a rainbow

Our tree is so tall, I had three ladders to get everything on it.

Dexter helped decorate the tree...actually what I think happened is that he flung his toy and it landed there.  I didn't notice it until I went to put an ornament there.  

All the little details

Adding ribbon

It took me all day, but it is done.  Now for the rest of the house

Dexter was pooped after decorating all day.

He's so cute when he's recharging!

Putting Up the Christmas Tree...

Dexter and Caesar sit infront of the heater instead of helping!

It is such a huge tree... it takes a big ladder.

Rob "fluffing" the tree

He kept asking who's idea it was to get such a big tree?  HMMM wonder who?

We learned to hang the icicles in the window first before decorating the tree.

He was on the ladder and I just handed him the ornaments (and took pictures of course)

Now to decorate it!

Celebrating Samantha and Pamela - 31 years!

Do you know how hard it is to say the you have children that are 31?  Yikes, how did that happen?  At least we had a wonderful evening with dinner, dessert and presents.  Rob made tri-tip, and roasted asparagus and I made homemade bread and the cake.  Patsy brought her famous salad.  We missed Emily and John, but everyone else was there.  I attempted to play the piano while the kids sang along.  Bubba wants to play the piano when he gets older, so we gave him some time to try it out.  Fun times!

Parade of Lights...

How fun was the parade of lights!  We got to visit with Prathers and Smiths.  It was a fun and festive night.  We didn't let the rain slow us down.  Everyone decorated their floats and turned on the lights, while the rest of us enjoyed it from the sidelines.  After the parade we headed to Pamela and Jeremy's and had dinner with them and their friends.  Madi and Grandpa played Shoots and Ladders.  It was so cute to see them play.  It was a great night and now the season has officially begun.

Lighting of the Minden Gazebo

I love our little town and all the fun little things we get to do to be involved.  Friday night Rob and I joined the town in starting the Christmas Season by lighting the Gazebo.  Santa came for the children, we went to the old COD Garage for the craft market and listened to Hanna sing with the Jazz Band from DHS.  Then it was dinner at the JT... nice evening!

Visiting the Hoover Dam and Walking from Nevada to Arizona and Back!

The day after Thanksgiving while everyone else went shopping, we took a drive out to Hoover Dam.  We past Lake Mead and saw the dam as well as the new bridge.  While we were there we ran into Clea and Wes Reeves.  We hadn't seen them in years and we had a nice visit.  Rob and I crossed the dam while Momma and Daddy stayed back.  Then we all had a little snack before heading back to their house.  I got to say that I walked to Arizona and back that day!  

My Busy Weekend...November 14, 2010 (oops this was still in draft)

It never ceases to amaze me how much we try to cram into a weekend.  Saturday went to Hayden's last flag football game and then headed to Costco to get food and supplies for the next month.  We raced home and put away all our treasures and made it to my piano recital in time for it to start.  I, like normal, am always nervous to perform in front of others, but managed to make it through it.

Then Sunday we went to church and then came home had lunch together.  Julie met me at the house and then we went to the Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson to see their store transformed into a Christmas Tree "wonderland"!  All the ornaments and trees were beautiful.  I got some great ideas and of course bought a few ornaments.

Julie and I then headed to a scrapbook store in Reno to attend a "Make and Take" class.  We made a spool ornament and a "joy" banner.  These would be great for gift ideas for the upcoming season!  We headed to Mimi's Cafe for dinner....mmmm crabcakes and salad!  Yum!!!!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog!

Izzy shows us her olive covered fingers

Greg, Will, April and Gina

Rob and Michael

The brothers... Greg and Will

Shelly and Momma

Watching football and checking out ads for Black Friday

Gina reading to Anya and Izzy

Robbie playing the piano for us

Talking and texting with those who couldn't make it

Anya

April and I

Daddy and Anya

Matthew, Shelly and Rob

Grandma and Anya

Grandpa and Izzy

Will and I

Zeb and "Bob"

It was really fun to go to Las Vegas to see everyone, but so nice to be home even though it is cold.  The pups were really excited to see us and always make us feel welcomed.  Pamela took great care of them.

I made fruit salad and 144 dinner rolls for the family... and they were all gone!  I guess they liked them.   Of course everyone took some home to enjoy after the holiday.  We all sat around the livingroom looking at all the Black Friday specials and visiting.  It was great to get together with those who could come.  It was nice just to relax with everyone.

Michael was so funny... he had this stuffed animal and was pretending to talk for it.  He named it Bob and then at the end of the night, Zeb wanted it.  It was pretty funny!  I am Thankful for Family!

Happy Thanksgiving...

We are headed to my parents tomorrow to share the Thanksgiving holiday with them and a few of my siblings.  It will be nice to see everyone and share some time together.  It will be hard being away from all the kids, but the trade off will be Christmas with all the grandkids and kids!  The weather is supposed to be a little warmer than here.  Tomorrow we will be waking up to only 6 degrees with a high of 26.  Icy and cold... burrrr.

It is only 33 days until Christmas morning... I have lots to do before then.  Feeling a little overwhelmed already... yikes!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Soup and Sweater Weather!

Today we had our first snow fall... perfect for Soup and Sweaters!  Rob and I got a late start but then headed out to do our Costco run and to spend time with Evan Marquardt for his 5th birthday.  We went to the bowling alley and then to their house for pizza, cake and ice cream.  Then home where it is warm to work on crafts for Christmas and play with the pups!

Happy Veteran's Day!

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check, payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact. Copy and paste this as your status if you are a Veteran, know a Veteran, Love a Veteran, or Support the Troops.

Thank you to my 5 brothers, my brother-in-law, son-in-law, numerous uncles, and grandfather-in-laws...(I'm sure there are others that I'm missing)...but thank you for my freedom and for serving! Happy Veteran's Day tomorrow and always!

My Monday....

This weekend I took the pups for a fieldtrip to Petco... they had so much fun picking new toys and riding in the cart.  I think half the fun is to ride in the buggy and buy snacks from the "snack buffet". 

Good day today...cold but beautiful just the same, had lunch with Hunka, Hunka, talked with all my girls and hosted a web chat for MemoryWorks this evening and got to attend a weight loss support group this afternoon.  Been on the computer way to long today/tonight, so headed to bed. Hopefully tomorrow is as wonderful!