Happy New Year 2011

New Year's Eve takes on a new meaning once you have children. Do you try and find a babysitter, do you eat out early to be home early, or do you just stay in and enjoy the day. Colby and I have had many exciting and fun New Year's Eve celebrations. We've partied in Avalon both at restaurants and at the black tie event at the casino. We've celebrated in downtown Honolulu. And we also rang in the new year at Times Square in New York, escorted down the media lane by a friend of ours brother who was a NYPD.

This year there was no going out. We decided to stay in with our kids, and have a small party of 4. We kept going back and forth on what to do. If we had decided to go out it would have been just for the sake of doing something. Our decision to stay home this year was a good one. It was a great time. We had a little champagne to ring in the new year, delicious food, and even movie night outside with the projector all bundled up in blankets. At 9pm we rang in the new year east coast time. We put on our party hats, shot off poppers, and blew on our horns. A great way to ring in 2011!

Delicious appetizers with a great champagne
Bailey and Raif in their party hats

Say cheese!

Raif gave up his crown so I could wear one

Raif in his version of a party hat

Raif wanted Daddy to wear the party hat

LA Zoo

Colby took the day off today and we went to the LA Zoo, along with my parents and Guyton, Colby's brother. The zoo was packed, but still so much fun. The zoo just opened up a new Asia Elephant exhibit. It was very beautiful, with 3 elephants that were once circus elephants.

Raif and Bailey by a statue
My dad, mom and us by the new Elephant exhibit

Our family

A bit too sunny for a picture

Raif loved the elephants

Bailey and my mom

The gorillas were up and about to eat leaves

The rhino was busy eating leaves as well, Raif kept calling it a hippo so we just went with it.

This beautiful tiger had just laid down after stretching its legs

Christmas 2010

Christmas to me is just not Christmas Eve, or Christmas day. It begins about the day after Thanksgiving, when the decorations go up. I love all of the parties, celebrations and get togethers. Here are just a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I didn't get many pictures, but more enjoyed the day. Sometimes trying to get that perfect picture takes away from the celebrations.

Our Family picture from boat parade day.
Raif on his new chair at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

My mom opening up one of her gifts

Colby opening up his beautiful new wine opener

Eli was very excited about his new gaming chair

Kelly and Lexy traveled to my mom and dad's still in pajamas

Jaymee was also still in her new favorite footed p.j.'s

Say cheese, Raif!

Bailey wearing a crown from her stocking.

Colby and Raif opening up stockings, and yes, the dogs also have stockings.

Coming down the stairs Christmas morning. Raif was still a bit sleepy since his sister woke up at 6:30am.

Christmas Eve with Grammy and Papa

Their gifts from Grammy and Papa, they had to find t hem down the stairs.

Christmas Eve, our tradition is you get to open up one present. Raif got new rain boots

Raif opened up his gift piece by piece, handing each one to Bailey

Bailey and her unopened present

Cuddling up with new pillow/blankets.

The Cuteness Continues

Raif sporting my new hat, a gift from my sister's much appreciated gift card to Nordstroms!

Merry Christmas!

I mean, really, how cute are they?

Long Beach Ballet Nutcracker

Last year Sarah and I took Reagan and Bailey to see the Nutcracker at the Orange County Ballet. This year we had a group of 9 attend the Long Beach Ballet. Tickets were a bit more expensive, but the show was worth it. There was beautiful costumes, pyrotechnics and a live horse! My mom along with our neighbor Anne and her two girls went to lunch at PF Chang's. We then joined up with Sarah, Shirley Molly and Reagan to take up almost an entire row at the theatre. It was a beautiful performance and can't wait until next year.

My mom with Bailey and me
Reagan and Bailey (Bailey is insisting on growing out her bangs, we are at an in-between stage!)

Birthday Dinner with Friends

When I turned 30 I was 8 months pregnant and in pain with Fred the Fibroid. I didn't get to whoop it up and have a big 30th birthday bash. I swore I was going to have a big celebration when I turned 35 to makeup for my lack of excitement at turning 30. I had many ideas of great parties, but as you get a bit older, sometimes dinner with a few friends is all you need. Sarah and Colby got a group of 15 friends and we had a delicious dinner at Park Avenue Restaurant in Stanton, CA. It sounds far but it's about 15 minutes from our house. We sat in the backroom the was adorably decorated for Christmas. It was a great evening and one I will remember. A few of us went down to 2nd street to Evo, Shannon's and Acapulco Inn afterwards. Just in case we weren't already feeling old enough...we decided to party with the 20nothing crowd! We ended up back at our house until 3 a.m.!!! Thank you to all who came, it was such a special birthday.

Colby and me
Rob and Laura and me

Rachel and Brian Anne and me

Sarah, Aaron and Kelly

Jami, Dustin and Colby

Our San Diego crew; Paul, Rob and Laura

Yvette and Curtis

Curtis, Yvette and me

Paul and Rob with me

Anne, me and Sarah

The afterparty at our house, note booze on bar

Somehow the eggnog came out!