Christmas Day 2012

This year we finally convinced the kids to let us sleep in a little. And by a little, I mean 6:30 am. No wonder I'm always so exhausted by the end of the day!


We woke up, had breakfast, and spent the morning taking our time unwrapping and enjoying our gifts...

 Jordan's....

 

What's better than clothes?

 Angry Birds...obsessed.

 Cowboys...whatever.

 These things are like Academy Awards at our house.

 Camera case

 More of "the" shoes

 Clothes, that's all she wanted.

 Camera for our little photographer.

 We finally broke down...XBOX

 Pj's from grandma

 I wonder if my boys like sports?

 Nike's

This is what we woke up to...Merry "White" Christmas!!

Pyjamas for Christmas

A tradition of ours every Christmas Eve...new PJ's.

Sleep tight...

Dinner Theater

This year Delon wanted to do something special with his "girls". So being the thoughtful person he is...(he is trying really hard) he took Emilee, Gracie and I to a performance by Pickleville Playhouse. They did a spoof of The Christmas Carol. The thing that made it fun, was that we actually know a couple of the performers, and it was great to see them with their families on stage.

There was a dinner before the show, and the show was hilarious! All the songs were original and the jokes just kept coming. I'm grateful that Delon has caught on...I think he enjoyed it more than the rest of us. Who knows, maybe this time next year we'll catch our next show in NY....Broadway baby!!

Before the show... Emilee is so refined, don't you think?

 Me and Gracie

Always so amused with her Dad...I know Emilee, you can sit by me if you'd like.

Christmas in Paris!

Ok, so we didn't actually go to Paris...For our annual Mother/Daughter Christmas shopping day, everything was "Paris" themed. My mom pulled out all the stops for this one. She always does such a good job, thinking of every detail, making it special and making it memorable. There is a lot of time and hard work that goes into this day and I hope she knows how much we appreciate it and look forward to it.

Spending time with my sisters is somewhat similar to watching the best of SNL or stand-up comedy night. We may not all be alike, but we ALWAYS have a good time! And of course time with mom is always great for me being as I don't see her very often.

Was it all I hoped it would be?..."oui oui!" Can't wait for next year and I'm so glad we have this tradition. Until next time....Bonjour!

 Menu for dinner and dessert....:)

Goodies Galore 

Seriously?!....How long did it take to do this? 

My very attractive sisters....couldn't be prouder. 

Sweet line-up, don't you think?

Thanksgiving 2012

This Thanksgiving we decided to host again. So this year we had the Hillesheim family over with my Grandma Nielsen, my Aunt Shauna and her husband Kent. I missed my brother and his family terribly....but all was well and I had so much fun with everyone here.

Last year Emilee took over my camera and took lots of photos. This year she was busy and so was I, so the photos are minimal :(

I love my family so much and love how we all get along when we're together. I have the best sisters in the whole world and parents who have the kind of relationship I strive for. So lucky to have all of these people in my life.

Thanks Wendy for coming the night before to help out :)

Me and my 92 yr old Grandma...love her.

 Mom and Dad

 Before...

After...much better.

And to "my" little family, I'm so thankful for who they are, even when it gets hard and frustrating. I may not have the perfect life, but it is definitely the most entertaining. And everyone who knows me knows how much I love to be entertained.

Breaking Dawn 2...THE END

Oh, the finality of it! Well, here we are...can't believe it's here already. Time sure flies. My mom, sisters and I went to see the last installment of the Twilight series. Keeping with our tradition, we went to dinner and then "the" movie. Sort of sad in a way. This movie symbolized the end of a few things...the series of course, but the end of turning to the person next to us at the close of a movie and saying, "Well, until next year."

 True colors...

 Much better...

The waitress that took pictures for us apparently repels technology...this was the best out of four.

 I think we looked forward to the movies that followed this unrealistic love story and the excuse it gave us to get together. It reminds me so much of the feeling I get when I finish a great book. Grateful for the experience, but sad that it's over. We had some good times and I will remember them ..."forever and forever and forever."

NYCDA

Emilee is participating in a competitive dance group this year and is really enjoying it. One of the requirements is to attend a couple of the several dance conventions throughout the year. This year Dance Source went to NYCDA in Salt Lake, UT. There were a few guest judges from SYTYCD and one of the choreographers for Michael Jackson's "would-be" tour. It can be pretty intimidating and there are thousands of dancers that attend. They are long and physically challenging days, but the girls always have a pretty good time. Emilee's group performed "Everybody Talks" and "Rumor Has It". I'm really proud of her and am glad that she enjoys music and performing like I do.

 Stage

 Rehearsing

 Shopping for a keepsake with friends Shae and Jordyn.

Dance workshop...nothing like learning choreography with a hundred other people.