Fiesta Bowl Parade- New Years Eve

Kenny, Brian, the boys and all went to the Fiesta Bowl Parade in downtown Phoenix. 

Jacob and Kenny

Little Brian

Brian and Little Brian

Kenny and Jacob

Little Brian

Little Brian, Me and Jacob

Little Brian eating cotton candy

Jacob and his dad

It was a fun morning (a little warm) and everyone enjoyed the parade. 

Date Night 12/29

Have you ever had an some great plan, but nothing, not one part of the plan worked out? Well that is how tonight went..

The plan was to go to Old Town Scottsdale and try out their outdoor ice-skating rink made from plastic and then go to the Rusty Spur for some delicious Burgers.

Old Scottsdale is a good hour drive from our house and with evening traffic... a little longer- so we were happy to get out of the car and eager for some 'plastic skating'. After walking around several blocks of the area where the rink was supposed to be we finally  submitted and decided that it had been closed up early, despite the website indicating it ran thru 12/31. Drat.

We walked through the beautifully lite streets checking out the shops still adorned with Christmas decorations. Most places were closed, but the area is still very neat to walk around. We headed over to the Rusty Spur and took the last empty table in the place. As we sat and listened to the live music in the tiny old bank building now a bar and grill, we noticed no one had food. Turns out they don't serve food in the evenings... Weird. Strike two.

The night was still young, but with Vampire Diaries and Castleville calling my name I would have been content to grab some fast food and head home. Kenny still wanted to save the night and we ended up going to a 50's themed diner down the street. It was cute and the food was decent and cheap. After we ate Kenny took me over to the famous Sugar bowl for a Top Hat Sundae and he had a shake.

It turned out to be a pretty nice night even though nothing went as planned.

Our pups

Random pictures from my phone of our awesome pups!

Mom's 57th Birthday

My wanted to go to Scrapbooks Etc for her birthday so Kenny and I took her out there. I never miss a chance to go to my favorite store! 

After shopping Kenny and I treated my mom to lunch at the Golden Corral... she had been wanting to go there (commercials work on my family!). Lunch was great and when we got back the guys (My dad, Brian and the boys) had decorated their house to surprise her. It looked great and she loved it.

Happy Birthday mom! 

Christmas Day - 2011

Christmas morning Kenny and I got up and to the Taylor House by 7 AM to discover that Santa had been there! 

After a little help from Uncle Kenny the boys sleepily came out of their room to check things out. 

When Jacob came out the first thing he saw was a little rubber snake on the ground. He quickly picked it up and said, "Santa left this for me?!" and put it around his neck just like his Jake the snack picture  . I love how kids delight in the simplest things.

After the boys finished their Santa presents and everyone checked out their stockings, my dad opened his gifts from the boys and my mom. Little B gave my dad his gift and said, "Open your new wallet" lol

• Emma in her little cowgirl boots 

After we had a nice big breakfast of waffles, eggs, bacon and sausage at my parent's house, Kenny and I went home to change and then headed over to the Ross house to visit, exchange gifts and do our stocking exchange.

My God daughter and I (She was smiling right before this picture) 

Kim spoiled Andy and his fiance, Joanna and bought them a brand new fully furnished house and 2 brand new cars!!

Zack was very pleased with his new Cars PJs we got him! Michelle said this year clothes were his favorite items, specifically the underwear he got earlier in the day! Too funny... you never can tell with kids and clothes is you will have a winner.

The boys and I made these blocks for the Ross family:

Michelle got a little teary eyed when she opened them and just loved them. The kids... loved the styrofoam peanuts AKA snow even more!

Matt is not the biggest fan of the chaos of Christmas, but did come into the room to open a few presents.. then he was gone again playing in the kitchen or outside-- any quiet spot he could find.

Matt with our pickles 

Michelle made everyone 'sweet dill pickles' like her Grandma Ferar used to make... I am not a fan of sweet pickles, but these pickles are THE BEST PICKLES EVER! I really want to try to make them myself... my family ate a whole jar Christmas night :) yummo!

Kenny and his beautiful Nana 

Kenny and Matt

Matt

Andy and Joanna opening up presents- notice the foot stool - Christmas Crazed Zack 

Emma- I cannot remember why she was crying but it was adorable 

After we did the stocking exchange  we headed out to the movies; a tradition Kenny and I started last year and my mom, brother and the boys met us up there. We saw Arthur Christmas which was an absolutely adorable movie ... for kids. Kenny and my mom liked it, but my brother and I were a little bored with the movie.

Jacob was fascinated by the movie, and why wouldn't he be? He is Mr. Christmas! I tried to snap a quick picture of Jacob, but somehow he saw me about to take the picture and like any child that knows me instantly put on his best "Cheese" smile!

After the movie we headed back to my parents house for a nice Ham dinner. It was an exhaustingly wonderful holiday! I am glad we have 2 more days off to recover!! 

Christmas Eve

It was super amazing to have the boys on Christmas Eve!! In the morning my mom, Kenny, Brian, the boys and I made sugar cookies from my Great Grandma Aue's Sugar Cookie recipe. My Great Aunt Mabel was kind enough to send it to me last year and I wanted to try it and maybe start a a tradition like their family has to make cookies at the holidays using the recipe. 

I have to be honest here... the sugar cookies were horrible! The only one who would even eat them is my dad... he will eat almost anything! He said they did taste like hers. I think it was the small amount of sugar and the anise spice in it that didn't agree with our taste buds!

We also made some Big Soft Ginger Cookies that were amazing!!

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup margarine, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 tablespoon water 1/4 cup molasses 2 tablespoons white sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2.	In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3.	Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

We headed over to the Taylor house in the afternoon so my brother could surprise the boys with the
remote control cars that HE bought for them. Its a pretty big deal. they of course loved them!

Jacob

And he surprise the boys AND ME with brand new bikes! It was pretty exciting!!

Later we headed to Radiant for the Christmas Eve service. The boys stayed with us since it was family service. Little Brian has SO many questions about religion. I wish I had the right answers and knew what to tell him... It was a beautiful service and I am so glad we have made going a tradition.

Kenny holding Jacob next to Little Brian

We spent the evening at our house. My mom read the boys a Christmas book (only Jacob was interested)

And then the present opening started... we let the boys open all the presents from us on Christmas Eve every year.

Little Brian and Jacob

Little Brian was SO excited about the DS we gave him, but they loved everything pretty much. I made the family calendars this year to carry on my grandma's tradition, I think that was hard on my mom. Everyone seems to get lots of neat things and we all felt loved for sure. 

We got to do something this year that my mom and I have pretty much always wanted to do... we sang Christmas carols. Remember I am a VERY VERY beginner on the piano!!