2008 Year in Review

Today is the very last day in 2008 and I thought it was a perfect time to reflect on all that happened this year. We rung in the 2008 New Year in Albuquerque with the Macias side making & eating the traditional meal of tamales.

In 2008, we sold our house in Pearland and built a new one in League City, which also meant packing & moving with a 5 month old baby. (Thank you, Michelle, Debbie & Ray for all the help!!!).

In May, I celebrated my first official Mother's Day with a wonderful massage and spa pampering. In June, we flew to Albuquerque for Father's Day, Debbie's 55th birthday, and our 5th wedding anniversary. We surprised Debbie by just showing up while they were eating breakfast...what FUN that was! Bella & I gave Brian Cubs baseball tickets for a July game, and boy was he happy.

We were back in New Mexico evacuating for Hurricane Gustav, and then we evacuated again for Hurricane Ike. We were very blessed to have minimal damage from Ike, which also ruined all of the birthday festivites planned for Brian. October brought Bella's first birthday, I still can't believe my baby girl is ONE! She dressed as Pebbles Flintstone for Halloween, and before we knew it, it was already Thanksgiving.

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Panama City, FL with the Cebulas instead of hosting our usual family dinner. We had a great time with them playing Rock Band and swimming in their new pool. Christmas was here in a blink, and our house was filled with so much family. It was chaotic at times, but that's the fun part.

As for Bella's accomplishments this year, she's up to TEN teeth, walking everywhere, talking up a storm, and is such a sweet girl. She loves to play hide-n-seek, peek-a-boo, chase, and is outside every chance possible. She has started coloring and scribbles with a pen, which her Mommy thinks are masterpieces already!

This year we also lost some special family members that will always be cherished. My Grandma Dietz passed in February and I'm sure she's in heaven with Grandpa riding their motorcycle together again. We also lost my Uncle David in July, who was always such a happy guy and never had a cross word to say. In September, Uncle Gary passed after battling cancer and was such an avid hunter.

Hope your 2008 was a great year....and here's to 2009 being even better! Cheers!

Christmas, Christmas, and MORE Christmas!

We hosted our extended Christmas family party on Saturday and what a FUN time! The kids checked out Bella's new toys from Santa and Elisabeth had a great time showing Bella how to ride her new bike. (It'll be a little bit before Bella can reach the pedals).

The guys showing Donovan some stuff on his new guitar from Santa.

Stephanie and Oma after the Secreat Santa exchange

Has Jessica been sneaking some eggnog???

I didn't get too many pictures because I was too busy enjoying the party. We had a great time and it was so nice to have everyone together again.

The Macias' take on Kemah

Kristin flew in early Friday morning and increased our housefull of family to 10 people! It was time to get out of the house, so we ventured to Kemah to spend the afternoon shopping and riding rides. We started off strolling around the sprinkler area and of course the kids headed straight for it! (Thankfully it was still warm).

Donovan trying to outrun the water!

Bella joined the big kids and got SOAKED!

Most of the rides were open and we had a hard time getting the "kids" (Brian, Rob, Donovan, Candra & Kristin) off the roller coaster. But once they surrendered, we headed to dinner. We decided to celebrate Ray's birthday (12/28), my birthday (12/29), and Ray & Debbie's Anniversary (12/30) with a nice dinner at the Saltgrass Restaurant on the Boardwalk. What a delicious meal! Dessert was enjoyed back at the house and there was a ton to choose from....cheesecake, cobbler, icecream cake, and ice cream!

Our Kemah night wouldn't be complete without Brian & Rob trying out the sledgehammer game. Neither scored the 100 points, but they both came very close. Maybe it's rigged???

Brian swinging with all his might...

Rob's turn to show his strength...

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Oh, what a busy week it's been....BUT soooo much fun! We had Brian's parents drive in from Albuquerque on Tuesday and then the Cebulas arrived on Wednesday from Panama City. Christmas Eve we spent most of the day playing our Wii from Santa. (He came a little early for me & Brian to make sure he had plenty of time to deliver all the toys that night). We loved playing tennis doubles with Candra and Donovan, although our living room is too small for that. It seemed like someone was constantly being whacked.

Christmas morning arrived VERY early and all the gift opening was done by 7:30am! Santa brought Bella a cool riding horse that gallops and neighs, plus plenty of toys, books, clothes, and her own pink recliner.

Even though Donovan & Candra weren't in their house, somehow Santa was able to find their stockings and fill them with plenty of goodies.

We made chicken and sausage gumbo for Christmas lunch and Oma & Opa came over to celebrate with us. We even got them to play 9 holes of golf on the Wii!!!

What fun we had celebrating Bella's 2nd Christmas and spending time with family. Merry Christmas to all and hope you had a blessed day!

25 Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, no mess and safer.
3. When do you put up the tree? day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? a week or so after New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? EWWW, but Brian likes it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? my first Cabbage Patch
7. Hardest person to buy for? definitely my dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? Bella (or myself!)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, but we didn't put it out this year
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail cards with a personal note inside
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a hair clip...when I had short hair!
12. Favorite Christmas movie(s)? A Christmas Story
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? in November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? don't think so
15. What holiday activity do you look forward to? looking at lights, Midnight Mass
16. Lights on the tree? multi-colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? (to sing) Jingle Bells, (to listen) Silent Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? this year we're home, but usually travel to NM.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Bliztn...and of course Rudolph!
20. Do you have a holiday collection? a village
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning? one present before mass on Christmas Eve and then open the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the traffic or people in a hurry
23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? I love snowmen
24. Favorite FOOD for Christmas dinner? nothing traditional, chicken & sausage gumbo
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? pampering (massage, pedicure) and maybe a good book or CD.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The (Dare)Devil Wears Bracelets

After I stocked up Bella's diaper caddy in her bedroom, she started playing with the empty diaper boxes. I've always heard moms say that their kids had more fun with empty boxes than their toys, so I was curious to see what Bella would do. Clearly she doesn't climb IN them, but instead ON them. (Pay close attention to how she makes sure her "bracelets" are perfectly lined up before her climb).

Enjoy!

Getting ready for Santa!

We have been very busy this week getting ready for Santa to arrive...and also for all the out of town family we'll have staying with us!

I ask Bella "Who's ready for Santa?" and she points to her tummy and says "La La". (She tries to say Bella, but it comes out LaLa).

"Where is Santa?" and she shows me "Dunno"

Well, we better go look out the window to see...(she insists on standing on the window sill).

Santa will be here in less than FIVE days and Bella can hardly wait!

Just an ordinary Sunday

Nothing exciting here, just another ordinary Sunday. Brian is painting (yet another project!), Bella is taking her afternoon nap, and I finished baking a loaf of banana bread. We have a few football games on TiVo, so I'm sure we'll watch those this evening.

Here's a few pictures of Bella playing earlier, and of course, reading books!

Reading her fav "Silly Monsters" from A. Krissy....

It's SNOWING!

To some people (Kristin!), snow isn't much of a big deal because they get it every winter. But to us, it's HUGE! It hasn't snowed since Christmas Eve 2004...

Since it was Bella's 1st Texas snow, we bundled her up and went outside. She didn't like her hat & mittens while we were inside, but she was very thankful for them once we were outside. Yeah, Brian & I skipped the jacket part and were FREEZING by the time we got back in.

Exterior House Decorations...it's hard to see the lights & snow, but best I could get.

Hope everyone is staying warm tonight!!!

Happy Turkey Day!

We have hosted the last several Thanksgiving feasts, but this year we decided to spend it in Florida with my sister and her family. We left super early (5am!) on Wednesday morning and arrived that evening in Panama City. We didn't take too many pictures because we were more occupied with eating, playing Rock Band, and swimming....yes, swimming in November! Oh well, enjoy the pictures we did manage to take.

Bella enjoying her juice somewhere in Alabama

Bella & Opa playing Texas Hold'em

Jerry, Brian and Rob jamming on Rock Band

Michelle, Bella & Brian in the hot tub

Bella somehow managed to be skinny dipping in this picture, but she DID have a swimsuit on at one point in time. Hmmm, could she have been the one drinking in this picture??? (kidding)

Hope you & your's had a wonderful Thanksgiving!