A look back at 2008

Make a Smilebox photobook

New Years Eve

Jeremy and I spent New Years Eve together. Our friends Jestyne and Tom had invited us over to hang out with them at their house. There were two other couples over there until just before ten and then one of the couples had to leave. We all ate lots of good food and drank some drinks. We all decided to play a board game that Jeremy and I had brought with us. Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars. It's a couples game and the couple that can answer their questions correctly first wins the game. Sadly when Jeremy and I play this game, we never win. We finished the game just before midnight. Later we all decided to play Guitar Hero World Tour. (I was so excited that I actually knew how to play!) We all took turns rotating from the drums, to the guitar and then to the microphone. I don't know how to play the guitar and I'm not that great of a singer, but I do pretty good on the drums as long as they are set on easy. We stayed until after 2 o'clock rocking out.

Girl's Night Out

Last Friday (the day after Christmas) I was invited to go with my friend Jennifer, her mom and her mom's friend to go across the river and go shopping and stay in a hotel for the night. It's her family's tradition for the girls to do this every year. To take advantage of after Christmas sales. Jennifer's sister and niece we unable to make it this year.

Jennifer and I worked until noon and then headed over to the hotel shortly after. Our room was ready early so we were able to check in. After we checked in we walked across the street to Red Robin and had some lunch. After lunch we walked from store to store and went shopping. After our arms were full and our feet were tired we walked back to the hotel. Jennifer's mom and her friend were done for the night after that. Jennifer and I rested for a little bit and then headed over to happy hour at the sports bar down the road. Unfortunately we had just missed it so we had to pay full price for our dinner and drinks.

After dinner, we brought back some pizza for the other two and then headed back out to shop some more. After the stores closed, we went and dropped our things off and headed to the bar down stairs. The picture above was taken at the bar. The counter tops were very cool. They had lights in them that changed colors. We stayed until the bar closed and then went to bed.

In the morning once we were all up and around, we had breakfast at Starbucks and then headed home. What a fun night we had.

It's Cold and Snowy Outside

It's been snowing here for over a week now. It usually only snows for a day or two at a time here. My car is the little silver one. It's been buried for four days and the snow just keeps coming down.

Here's the beautiful view out our back door that I took this morning. It's a Winter Wonderland out there.

My kids really wanted to go to their dad's house for Christmas this year (like every year) so Jeremy decided that we could make it to Seattle and back in his car in this weather. I took this picture above from the passengers seat. This is what I-5 looked like most of the way there and back. Jeremy had to drive a lot slower of course so it took us twelve hours round trip this time. We made it there and back safely and the kids get their Merry Christmas with their dad.

Christmas at Mana's and Papa's house

Awww....Jeremy and Taryn at my mom and dad's house.

This picture is so funny because my dad had just sat down on the arm of the chair and it started to tip backwards and my mom freaked out. It was really funny.

Here's my stepbrother Mike and his daughter Gabby. In the background is my bother in law Dominick, my dad and my littlest brother Jacob.

Here's Rachael and my little nephew Nicholas sitting in Mana's Chair. I think they were filling up Nicholas' pez candy dispenser?

Here's Dylan hiding behind his monkey Wild Hogs.

Here we have Dylan, Cody hiding behind his koala bear Buddey, my nephew Ammon and another nephew Trenton.

Here we have Gabby, Tamara and Dylan's back side.

Oh here's one of part of my niece Trinity, Trenton, Nicholas and Rachael.

Here's Dominick again, my sister in law Katrena, Jared and Teresa (Mike's wife) hanging out in the kitchen.

Tamara, Jacob and Trinity waiting to open presents.

Every year we go over to Mana and Papa's house (my mom and dad) for Christmas. We usually have this on Christmas Eve. This year my mom decided that because we can't all always make it on Christmas Eve that we should do the Saturday before Christmas so that everyone can be there. Well no body can predict the weather 6 months in advance. This year we actually got snow! Not everyone made it over this year, but we still had lots of food and fun gifts to exchange.

Build An Animal

Dylan picked a Monkey and named him Wild Hogs.

Here's Taryn waiting for her Zebra named White Lava to be filled with stuffing.

Rachael named her Elephant Ellie. Ellie got a pretty ballerina dress with silver shoes.

Tamara named her Bunny Kristen. How cute with her camo outfit and tent.

Here are the kids registering their animals and getting birth certificates for them.

Cody named his Koala Bear Buddey.

This year all of the kids wanted an animal from Build A Bear Workshop so we decided to get them all gift certificates instead of trying to remember who wanted what animal and how they wanted it dressed. The kids loved the idea of picking out their own animal, getting it stuffed and then picking out the perfect outfit and accessories. What a fun day.

An Early Christmas

Our little Christmas Tree buried in the presents.

This is the Big family gift this year. The kids were just dying to find out what was in the box.

OMG!! It Guitar Hero World Tour!! I think I was more excited than the kids on this one.

Okay, maybe Dylan was excited about this one too!

Here's my Rock Star Family Rockin out!! Jeremy on the drums, Cody and Dylan on guitar and Taryn on the microphone singing her heart out.

We had Christmas early this year. Taryn and Tamara are going to be at their mom's house on Christmas morning and my kids are supposed to be at their dad's house. With this crazy weather outside though they'll probably still be here at home. Yahoo weather predicts 5 to 10 inches of snow and then freezing rain in the next 5 days. We already have about 4 to 5 inched right now and it's been snowing for almost a week already. It's cold and windy outside.