The Blur know as December 2010

December started out with D.A.R.E. graduation. So proud of my little graduate...

The best part about it was my little guy coming home and telling me how Officer Dave told him how terrible drugs and alcohol are and how he doesn't know how anyone could ever do either one...
Now if this cute kid will remember those words for the rest of his life!
The first weekend of December we headed down to Wild Horse Pass Casino for
"Tim and Willy's Breakfast show at Night"
Chad used to be in a band called "The Trailerpark Troubadours" his partner in crime "Antsy" still has the band so he asked Chad to come to Phoenix and play a couple shows...
See more photos here:http://kmle108.radio.com/2010/12/05/photos-from-tim-and-willys-breakfast-show-at-night/

Partners in Crime.....seriously!

They picked up right where they left off.....after not seeing each other for 5 years!

Martina McBride was the headliner so we got to hang out back stage with her.
Then we spent the next several hours checking out crazy youtube videos like little kids....didn't get any pictures of that....darn!
So since we had just started our crazy month of being out of town and my kids would be gone during Christmas we decided to have our Christmas a little early...ok so a lot early

The house got decorated 4 days before Christmas and got undecorated Christmas Eve.....

bah-hum-bug

Of course the kids didn't care they just wanted the presents

They were happy to see the shirts that came all the way from South Africa...Thanks Nana!

Then it was off to Grandma's for the annual Family Christmas Partaaaa

Let's Get This Party Started Yo.....

I think he's the favorite son-in-law.....

And of course Santa came to see us

and the kids got their Christmas jammies from Grandma

and of course the boys had to try the soda bottle rocket.....

EeGee helpin Unc Chad with his work....

MayMay would only get his close to Unc Brian....cause Jen was holding her...it's okay Brian she'll come around I'm sure

Then there was the adult gift exchange...consisting of some air freshener, the same rice steamer from last year, flashlights, and of course Shaliece LOVED the Justin Bieber calendar

the kids always LOVE their jammies

Then we were off to

Music City....to see Mogie

Mogie does Ballroom dancing with this guy....her teacher....so we came all the way across the country to check it out

Amazing to think she's ONLY 13!!

Fancy boots they accent the dress nicely!

Of course we had to go into Nashville and check out the sites...and see Elvis..duh

and become a Rock Star...helloooo

and eat LOTS of AWESOME food....with Chad's really good friend Terri...who put us up for the weekend too....Thanks Terri you're the best...sorry about Chad being sick...yikes...I won't tell that story...YUCK!

and we had to check out Grand Ole Opry Hotel...The Grand Ol Opry was still under renovation due to the flood....darn

It was too much for her....we wore her right out!

And if you thought we were done....you're wrong!!

We we're off to Santa Cruz California so Chad could play with the "Troubs" for New Year's Eve

We ended up renting this little peanut for what ended up being an adventure of a lifetime! Chad was only supposed to play one show while in CA.....we ended up driving 5 hours one way, staying up 24 hrs getting 2 hours sleep and then staying up another 24 hours, playing 3 shows in 3 cities 3 nights in a row! What a blast!

He didn't fit very well......which made it all the more fun!

stretching out before running out to surprise the band in Grass Valley, CA

The crowd went wild when "Flem" showed up after 5 years!

Chad's dad grew up in Santa Cruz and they have a lot of family history there so we did some site seeing....oh with Tyler and Janell too....thank goodness!

The house Chad's dad used to visit when he was a kid...which is now a Women's Center at UCSC

SO happy Tyler and Janell flew out to hang out with us for the weekend....whew!

and of course....Cardiff street!

There were TONS more adventures and lots of funny stories to along with them but I'll save you...and me the trouble....that's enough for now.

Except if you want to see the videos of Chad's shows you can go here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TYszgPuZ0k

That's ALL we did in December..we'll see what we can fit in next year!

Thanksgiving 2010

We were the Thanksgiving Host this year! YeeHaw did we have a crowd! I cooked for 2 days before everyone even came. We had 33 mouths to feed ......25 of them 3 meals a day for almost 4 days and 25 of them stayed at our house. AND we LOVED every minute! The pictures tell their own story!

All the pictures tell their own story....except for this one......not real sure except I do know Amy LOVES the smell of his deodorant!

A "friendly" game of brothers basketball........

We are so thankful to have such great family. We can't wait to do it again....just give me a month to recover! :)

Of course the girls had to do their much anticipated skit........now this is funny!

The BEST Friends and Husband I could EVER Ask For!

Chad is the BEST. He's always willing to do pretty much anything I need...or want...him to do! A couple weeks ago I came up with the big plan to take this GARGANTIAN chandelier down so I could paint it! Only problem....it's about 20 feet in the air and weighs hmmm A LOT! So Chad called Todd (which I forgot to take pictures of the getting it down part) and Todd came over with his Crazy Tall ladder.....and after some serious sweat and muscle and me laughing really hard.....they got it down! THEN........

It was time to put it back up.....oh yeah I painted it first but forgot to get a real good picture of it so that will come later in my "before" and "after" house post....coming soon to a blog near you?!?! Anyway back on track...oh yes the chandelier...
Brady came over to help put the beautiful piece of work back up....
Whew....with a lot more sweat and laughter.....they got it back up!
Thanks boys you're the BEST!
While all that was going on....Denise and I were busy bee's making curtains....hmmm hmmm you heard right...MAKING curtains....

Denise is the BEST! She too is always willing to help me with my crazy DIY projects(see wallpaper stripping)....and even does it with a smile!! And she's the one that OFFERS....silly girl!

She sewed those bad boys right up! And even though we changed our plan half way through they turned out SO cute! And of course I didn't get a picture of the finished product so that will come in the "before" and "after" post also.....it will make it more dramatic!

Chandeliers were painted....curtains were made.....just in time to have friends come over for a BBQ

Chad appears to be telling a very dramatic story....I'm not so sure that Paul and Krisha are understanding it!

Love Love Love these kids....they are the cutest!

REALLY LOVE LOVE LOVE this kid! Look at that face how could you not!

Todd decided to see if he could tell the story Chad was telling....with a little more action!

The whole crew!

Of course this is just a few of our friends but we by far have the BEST!

Oh Heavens.....I'm behind again

So the last two months have been a crazy whirlwind.....we made progress on our house

Yea for getting the floors in....this was exciting progress

We sprang ANOTHER leak.....in the sprinkler system....oh boy are we glad we bought this house....

So Rich and Chad spent the day "bonding" while fixing the new water leak.....

While I

went out with the girls!!

and had a BLAST....we first went on the Flagstaff Haunted Tour....yeah I don't recommend it AT ALL...but regardless of the ridiculous tour...I had so much fun getting out with the girls!

Then....

I once again conned Sommer into another crazy project with me....while the carpet was out of the K Monster's room I decided I wanted to paint it....

so pink it is.....

Finally.......

we moved back HOME.......yea.....this was the move out day at the Residence Inn....what a great day! After 7 weeks we were relieved to get home. Of course I haven't had time to take any pictures of the remodel so those will come later.

It was time for Halloween.....already. The kids spent Halloween with their Dad so I went with Chad to his show at the Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon

Wow.....nice outfits boys!

the crowd was rather entertaining to say the least

But it was a great show as always!

This past weekend we headed back to the Canyon for another show....

Buckit's biggest fan even made her final appearance! We will definitely miss Ken, Sharon and the cute little one!

John even got up on stage and rocked it with them!

Well there it is.....all in a nutshell!
On To Bigger and Better Things!

Bring on Thanksgiving!