Christmas 2010

Why do I love Christmas?

(sorry you weren't here, Funks)

This is why. What a great year!

Nutcracker

This year I decided to start a new tradition and take all of the "girls" to the Nutcracker matinee performance. I knew Mabel would love it, but was a little worried about whether Annie would be able to sit through it. Annie was enthralled and Mabel had never seen so many "princesses" at once in her life. She was hesitant to leave during intermission because she wanted to make sure she would be able to come back for the rest of the performance.

Shady probably enjoyed the art as much as the music.

Bethany and her beautiful girls

Mabel wanted to share her drink with her nutcracker doll.
We missed Carrie and Caroline and Brianna and Atley, and Violet. Maybe next year!

Dancing with the Stars

Anybody know Corky Ballas?
Yeah, me neither,
until last night.
He was at the Tomball Hospital Christmas Party.
They hired him to come perform.
As a side number he gave the group dancing lessons.
Then he and his partner roamed the room looking for "problem students,"
and guess who they found?
DTB danced with Natalia - his sexy, volumptuous and extremely talented partner,
and Corky took on me.
After a few short minutes of instruction we both looked pretty impressive -
until we got back together.
but that's where we're going to stay. In spite of the dance missteps -
he's still the one.

Poodle

Happy 30th Birthday Poodle!
We love you!

Thanksgiving

So grateful . . .






and so many more.

Nieto #9

Congratulations to Ryan and Brianna for making us grandparents again.
Little Atley is beautiful!
and Asher - well he's adjusting quite well.

Halloween

We encountered quite a few spooky creatures on Halloween:

the beautiful Peterson girls . . .

brother, Shady and company

the cutest little cowboy EVER . . .

Paul, the octopus (predictor of the World Cup)

(I guess she would have to be his ghost, since he passed away this week)

Princess sock hop

Lego my Eggo Annie

and, scariest of all - the lovely Yoda!

One last hoorah

So, I'm a little behind . . . but. . .
two weekends ago we returned to Mexico for one last goodbye party hosted by our good friends Oscar and Vanessa Roja.
While there, we visited a few of our favorite spots.

Tacos Chamisal - the best food in Mexico is on the street. (not the safest, mind you, but the best)
Now THIS is a taco!

our favorite bancas on Reforma . . .


other art on Reforma . . .

and wonderful friends!
We forgot to bring our camera to Oscar's party, so no photos of them. Thanks, Oscar and Vanessa for a wonderful evening!

Happy Birthday, Fernash!

Today you turn 28.
I can't believe how fast the years have gone.
You came into the world in a hurry
and have not slowed down yet.
Every time I think of you
I smile!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful daughter!

Super Saturday

an early morning run with a cool breeze +
hamburgers at Barnaby's with the Harpdogs +
splashpad at Discovery Green with Violet +
pomegranates from Kroger with Shady =
a Super Saturday!

The Nashville cats

Highlights from our trip to visit the Funks:

Loveless cafe - the food: school lunch fries, flavorless, but juicy chicken, and great biscuits. the experience: couldn't be better! (and that's saying a lot for taking three kids out to dinner)

Caroline's soccer game: the photos tell it all




I'm not sure they were aware that they "lost" the game.

Cheekwood - a beautiful place, the kids were even excited about going through the museum. I loved every minute of it.


Here's how we occupied ourselves during Devin's surgery:



Poor little post-op Devin: hungry. drugged. hurting, but not knowing why.
The only things he said: to me "I want more crackers (or donuts, or . . .)", to Caroline - "stop looking at me!" (she was very interested in why his eyes looked "different.") Poor baby!
We can't wait to visit again!

Ladrones!

I'm working in Spring, Texas, which is a very nice suburb in north Houston. I've found, though that even in nice suburbs there can be a little rifraf.

Yesterday when I arrived at the office the electricity was out. This time we couldn't blame a nasty hurricane or the power company. Apparently, the night before, a couple of thieves decided to steal some copper wiring behind the shopping center. The cut the large cable containing copper, hooked it up to their truck, and drove away, ripping the copper-filled cable out of the ground. And with it - all of the electric wiring. Although our office had power the next am, the power company shut off power to the entire shopping center due to the live wires.

So, for the small gain of about $50 worth of copper for the thieves, five businesses were shut down for several days, at a cost of thousands to each business. Our business was the only one that stayed open, thanks to Tad, my partner and the owner. Within a couple of hours he had a generator hooked up, fans throughout the office, lamps in every room, and sheets printed out to replace our computer system. Given the humidity from the tropical storm and lack of A/C, we looked pretty frizzed by the end of the day.

JERKS!

A Few Good Women

This weekend I ran the Provo River Half Marathon with some chilanga friends from Mexico City.
These ladies can take on anything
and still keep smiling.
I'm proud to call them my friends.

Fun with Poodle

Poodle was here last weekend and we had so much fun:

Yep, everybody loves Poodle! Thanks for coming!

Happy Birthday, America!

Oh thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes, and the war's desolation,
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just
And this be our motto, "In God is our Trust."
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Francis Scott Key - 4th verse

Thank you to our troops!

Love/Hate

I love getting my hair cut and styled into a cute hairdo.
I hate getting caught in a flash flood without an umbrella 15 minutes afterward.

to my favorite son . . .

Happy Birthday!

You're the best son a mom could ask for.

The big 80th birthday bash

Mom's birthday bash was lots of fun. It was great to see everyone again.

Matt and Vanessa with all their kids . . .
Dave and Marla with Stephie and Jackie - such cute girls!

"the cousins"- Matt and Paul (although it is a bit disappointing that they don't run to us and jump into our arms anymore)

Tiffany and Brian - they had an exciting announcement to share!

Aunt Ashley flew in from California and Bethany's family flew in from Houston. Here is Ashley trying to be the favorite aunt.

David and Alissa made it after an adventuresome day packing an entire apartment into a single axle U-haul trailer. Strong work, guys!

Bethy and Annie
Cindy was there with her entire family, looking beautiful, as always.

and, of course, the special attraction and guest of honor: mom. Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!