cHRIsTmaS dAy.....

Aubrie's Stocking

Brian's Stocking

Waiting for Grandma and Aunt Valerie....

Christmas was great again this year. I think that the one thing I really got from my dad was his love of being Santa. He was Christmas and if you knew my dad you knew his passion for Christmas and everything that had to do with the "giving' part. I love hunting down the perfect present and bringing happiness to someone else. No matter how big or small it is truly better to give then to receive. Now do not get me wrong I like presents too Ü
This year Dane decided to my surprise to get the kids both their own Quads for Christmas. I off course was not to thrilled but Dane was like a kid having a hard time keeping a secert. He was so excited I thought for sure he would tell them before. He waited though and after we were all done opening presents dane told them to some outside and see something. When they walked out the door Aubrie SCREAMED and Brian was speechless the pictures say it all. Dane rode with them down the street and they both loved it. They were so happy and that made Dane happy so I guess I will be happy. I am just a big DIRT fan so Dad and kids will have some trips with out me and that is ok because that gives me some mini vacations during the year Ü

gINgERbREaD tREes, sPRInkLeS, aNd rEINdEeR fOoD...

So we had our annual Christmas Eve celebration at my house this year. This is something that my Mom and Dad started years ago, when we were kids. A big fondue dinner, we had chicken broth in one pot ( used to be oil but health but Val Ü said that broth would be better) were we cook chicken, steak and this year scallops. Then we have a cheese pot where we dip chunks of bread into the gooey cheese. We all love it and now it has become a tradition with my kids Aubrie was really excited about it this year and she was able to use her own fondue forks with no help.
We then cleaned that up and went on to our new Christmas Eve tradition that my sister started and that is Making Sour cream cookies and making a Ginger Bread House. This year we made a tree and it was not as fun said the kids but from the pictures it looks like it was fun.Then it was time to open their one present for Christmas Eve which was a tradition that Dane parents did and so did my parents every year we would get a new pair of PJ's. It seemed to me and Dane that it took a lot longer for us to catch on, but Aubrie said this year I wonder what our PJ's will look like this year. ( that is it next year she is getting a book) They each sprinkled their own cookie for Santa and we put it on our Santa plate. Then it was off to make the reindeer's bowl of food, which was two carrots and two bags of Reindeer food. They put it outside and put the Santa key under the mat and went to bed......

hAPPy bIrTHdaY mOm....

So today is my Mom's birthday, we do not know how old she is but Aubrie and Brian have decided to steal her drivers license so they can figure it out. We took her to the Cheesecake Factory and had so me really good food and then we all ordered dessert. My sister had the 30th anniversary one that had chocolate cake and cheesecake it was so good, my mom had coconut with chocolate and Me and the kids had the peanut butter fudge ripple one. As you can see Brian only wanted to have the whip cream for dessert. We opened presents and then headed home it was fun. I am so glad that my mom lives close and that the kids have such a close relationship with her. Happy Birthday......

Christmas Oufits...

So grown up they were so excited that finally got to wear these to church. Brian is missing a tie because he was messing with it and the metal piece fell off. Good thing I already have pictures of the whole thing before Brian got ahold of it. Aubrie looked so pretty and grown up.

It was only going to take one day.....

So our baking that was scheduled for one night took on a life of its own this weekend. After i left the girls all stayed at Lisa until 8pm and we had to come back on Sunday to make our trays we all made five trays and they were loaded with cookies and yummy bread that Lisa slaved on for days before we even made the cookies. So we are officially done with baking this year and got some really good treats to share with all our friends and family. I took one tray to my Family Party and gave one to Rhonda and Bert and the votes are in the cookies rock but the best one is the Peanut Turtle cookie. Thanks again Girls........

fUN With THE cOUsINs.....

At the family Christmas party the cousins all had a great time playing Hide and Seek Tag. It was a lot of fun for them, my kids are so lucky to have their cousins so close. Kyle, Alyssa, Kelsea, Garret, Brian and Aubrie had a great time and thanks to Estee for the great pictures. Matthew we missed you!!!!!

Grandpa's 80th and Stucki Christmas

So we had our annual Stucki family Christmas Party that my Aunt Pam and Uncle Les have at thier house every year. Because they are the best and their home is gorgeous. They always make sure that every detail is taken care of. The food is always Amzing and this year it was nothing less then yummy. We had Carne Asada, Tamales, Beans, Rice, Salsas, Chips Dips and even Gourment Cupcakes for dessert. It is such a good time and I look forward to it every year. Everyone came expect Dane who was working and Matthew who is coaching wrestling at a highschool. We missed both of them and had lots of food left over because they were not there to eat the majority of it. Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for throwing another GREAT party and I can not wait till next year. You are the best!!!!!
It was also our time to celebrate my Grandpas 80th birthday, I love my Grandpa. I have always been his favorite Ü only because we are both grouchy as hell and are very just plain annoyed with people. I love that my kids love him just as much as me!!!! Brian always wants to go and see Grandpa and calls him on the phone i know that my grandpa gets just a big kick out of it as Brian does. Happy Birthday to the best grandpa ever!!!!!!!

Tons of Cookies....

So this weekend was crazy. Lisa hosted our annual cookie baking marathon. On Friday it started Lisa and Emilie and me started the baking and then tosh and her niece came over. We all baked until 9 and we still had so much to do so we all said goodbye and made plans to come over on Saturday. I came over early on Saturday and started right away. i left at 1 to go to my Grandpa's 80th birthday party and our Stucki Family Christmas Party.
Our cookies menu this year was:
3 batches of Rice Krispy Treats
2 double batches of Reindeer Pooh ( Marshmallow fudge)
2 double batches of 7 layer bars
3 batches of Buckeyes
2 batches of Oreo Truffles
2 batches of Peanut Turtle Cookies
1 fudge
1 walnut fudge
1 peanut butter fudge
2 batches of Candy Cookie bars ( one Peppermint and one regular)
2 batches of Swedish cookies
6 trays of sugar cookies
2 batches of sugar cookies to decorate ( which angel did a great job)
2 batches of Almond Bark
It is so much fun when we are all getting along it gets a little tense. Ü I am so glad that I have been invited into these girls tradition, plus it saves me from having to make all the cookies by myself.

Awards Ceremony for Aub...

Well Friday we had school not another snow day and Aubrie had an Awards Ceremony. She has always done so well in school and did not disappoint us this time. She got an award for Exemplary Effort, one for Extraordinary Attendance one for A-B honor roll and then she won a party for her and five of her friends to go the Mini Grand Prix. She was one of only three people to get this award. She was picked because her teacher said that Aubrie is always doing what is asked and always helping others no matter if Mrs O is watching or not. She was so excited and we are so proud of her. We then had her party in the classroom and all the boys in her class were bringing thier parents over to meet Aubrie, which I thought was strange, but her teacher informed me that all the boys love Aubrie and get mad when she plays with the girls or other boys. I asked Aubrie about this and she said they do like me and ran off to play. I am in so much trouble, with her and how her dad is going to react to her "boy friends".

Really in Las Vegas??????

So while at work on wednesday night I got a phone call from Rhonda that made me laugh and then she said I am serious it has been all over the news and I came home to this on the school districts homepage. I am shocked I remember snow days in Co there was so much snow, this is crazy it is still snowing and they say that it is going to keep going until tomorrow morning. My mom said that they have not had a strom here this bad since i was a baby. This proves you NEVER know what to expect.

No school Thursday due to bad weather

Due to weather conditions and for the safety of students, all Clark County School District schools will be closed tomorrow (Thursday). Students should not report to campus. All administrators, 12-month employees, and office staff should report to work as usual. Teachers, other classroom employees and bus drivers are not expected to report to work since a makeup day may be scheduled later in the year.

Snow Snow Snow

So as you can see it is snowing at our house in the desert. The last time it snowed was monday but I was at work and the kids were both at school. So today Aubrie has the day off of school and brian is always home ON Wednesdays so we ran outside with Rhonda and Andrew ( evan was sleeping) to play in the snow. It was coming down it is so weird to be playing in the snow the last time I really remember playing in the snow is when we lived in Colorado and it was a lot more then this. I think that i know that I belong in the desert because the whole time we were out there all i kept thinking is I just mopped the floor and the kids are soaking wet. AGHHHHH gotta love being a mom. I am so glad to see my kids having such fun in a new experience it amazing to see them experience new things with such amazement and glee. This was a very nice Early Christmas present.

Aubrie told me that maybe Santa called Heavenly Father and told him that he was tired of the snow and told him to send it to Las Vegas in the United States.
Brian then said that snow is only fun when you are outside cuz when you are in the house it is just boring white stuff.
HAHAHAHA my kids they are a laugh a minute.

cUTE kIDs And sNOW iN tHE vALLey...

So when we were having our party our kids were out on the town with my mom and sister they went to the movies and spent the night at grandmas house. They stopped and posed for the camera nut aunt valerie Ü. Then on Monday it snowed in Las Vegas yes it did, I lived in Phoenix for 10 years and it has never snowed it has snowed four times since we have lived in Vegas. These pictures are of Summerlin (thanks to Lisa) they got 5 inches of snow all we got was snowflakes that did not stick but the kids both caught them on thier tongues. What a great surprise almost a white Christmas.

OUR FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY..

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So this year we finally had a Christmas party it was an adult only party( it is nice for all moms and dads to have a night alone Ü) So the party started at six and lasted into wee hours of the morning. It was so much fun to have people come over and hang out, we had new friends and old ones there. Everyone got along really well and it was a lot of laughter and great food. Rhonda with her polish mistakes and Lisa with her meatballs and ham rollups and devil eggs and Emilie with her cake that she slaved all day in the kitchen on and Amanda who made a dip that was spicy just like her!!!! We had everyone that was on the guest list show up and some people who thought they could not come came at the end (yeah deano and tosh Ü) I loved it and will have to make my own tradtion of an adult only christmas party. thanks to all that came and i hope that you had as good as a time as Dane and I and my hobo socks (hahaha) Merry Christmas to all of closest friends and family.

pARtY At thE oTERo'S (a LIttLE LaTe)

So the Otero's had their annual Christmas Party and it was a blast as always this year was the biggest one yet and there were a lot of adults and kids. Rhonda had a really cute craft for the kids to do this year and they loved it as always. There was really good food and good conversation. Rhonda also made really cute gift bags for the kids and they were filled with magic reindeer food for us to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Our family loves the Otero's party and it has become a family tradition that we look forward to every year. Thanks Rhonda and Bert for the great time.

Family Crafty Oreo Truffle Night.....

So on Thursday night my sister and the kids and I had a Crafty Oreo Truffle Night. Valerie and I made 200 plus oreo truffles and then had the pleasure to dip them all my hand in chocolate, valerie was the smart one and rolled some just in cookies. Then she had a really cute ornament that she was helping the kids make my mom for christmas so I can not display the results because I think my mom looks at my blog but who knows Ü Needless to say I love the hussle and bussle of the holiday season, it is filled with family and fun things to make. Tonight is my first ever Christmas party and I am so excited so it is off to clean......
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!