A Wonderful Holiday

Tori modeling the blanket Bama made for her, it was so cute, she just loved it and was so excited that I MADE it for her.

It was so cute, Mason opened one of his presents from us, which was a bunch of books, he got so excited, then Mommy took them away so he could open up another present and he just started crying, and looking for those books, he wouldn't have anything to do with the next present, and wouldn't stop crying until she gave him his books back, too cute! I love it, three of my Grandsons love, love, love, reading or being read to.

Tori listening to some tunes we had loaded on the new mp3 player from Bapa & Bama. Our Grand daughters love their music, just so cute.

Mason with his blanket Bama made him, he was so funny, he just kept staring up at Bapa, he had just woke up from a nap and I think he thought he was dreaming and that Bapa was Santa.

Tori was so cute, it was like she felt bad tearing open the wrapping paper.

I didn't get to capture it on camera, but it was so funny, every time he would look at this toy he would just start cracking up, I mean belly laughing. So Cute!!!

I was having so much fun playing and watching the wii activities, I didn't even get any pictures.

This was the first time we've spent Christmas in Arizona.

I decorated our tree in a candy land theme, I loved the way it turned out. The inside of the house was all decked out for the holidays, but we skipped the exterior decorations this year. (tear)

I will be the first to admit, I am just a kid at heart, I love all the sights and sounds of the holiday season, and yes, as a matter of fact .....

I do believe in "Santa".

Christmas Eve,

we had a quiet romantic dinner, just the two of us, candles and all. We had a scaled down version of our traditional appetizer feast,

(the girls and I usually do a grand version when we are together)

Then we cuddled up on the couch and I watched some of the sappy made for t.v. Christmas movies, while Robby teased me for watching them, and made fun of how cheesy the are, I agree for the most part, but I still love watching them.

Christmas Morning,

Christmas morning was just the two of us, we stayed in bed late for us any way, enjoying talking, laughing, and some cuddle time, then we headed to the kitchen, put on our chef hats, and whipped up a yummy brunch.

Then of course we headed outside to wish the "kids" a Merry Christmas, Monty and Felix enjoyed their special Christmas treats. (by the way these "kids" are our dog & cat). They are so spoiled.

Christmas Afternoon

We played a few games, I finished up a couple last minute gifts I had almost forgotten about. Then we loaded up the car and got ready to go spend the rest of the afternoon with Nick and his family and have dinner at their place.

Christmas Evening

When we first got there Tori was so excited to show us all the presents she got, she is just so cute, she showed us all her barbies, their clothes and accessories, she especially like the fancy barbie that she got with the money from GGMA, I think it was one of her favorites.

Then it was time to open the presents we brought over, Tori played Santa's helper and passed them out. It was so much fun watching the kids open their presents, that really makes it feel like Christmas. They were both so excited.

Tori, was so excited to watch us open our present from her and Mason, she had picked them out all by her self (well with a little guidance from Nick) we loved them, she did a great job.

We sat around talking and laughing and enjoying family time together. It was a nice chance to get to know Tori better and spend time with her, also with Melanie's Mom Pat, who has become a dear friend as well as a co-parent and co-grandma.

Then it was dinner time, Melanie and Pat did the whole dinner, it was weird for someone else to fix all of the Christmas dinner, because usually I'm fixing it or at least helping, but I think I could get used to being spoiled like that, I just got to play with the kiddos longer, one of my favorite things to do.

We had ham, mmmm, yummy ham, and they fixed some of their traditional fixings, I brought funeral potatoes, needless to say, I left the table feeling way too full. Thanks Melanie, it was wonderful.

After dinner it was wii time, oh so much fun. We bowled, of course Bapa was the champ, Melanie was a close second, maybe she was just being a good hostess and let him win (hee, hee).

Bapa starting giving Tori tips and instructions, and she got so good she was trying to become a "Turkey" just like Bapa,

(that is when you throw 3 strikes in a row).

We did some golfing, and Bama was the pro there, can I get a Woot-Woot, because I don't ever play video games.

Tori really rocked it in baseball too, she was kicking us all in that one, I think we all had the most fun watching the two Men duke it out in a boxing match, Father vs. Son, man let me tell you, that is exhausting. Bapa got a KO in the second round I believe. I'm thinking there will be a rematch.

We finished up the night with some homemade cookies and candy, and a rich, rich cheese cake Pat had gotten from some famous place in NYC. Oh, so good, but oh so rich. YUMMY!

A Few Days after Christmas

Nick, Melanie, Pat, Tori and Mason came over to our house for dinner. Torie had told us Christmas day, she would love to come over and challenge Bapa to wii on his BIG t.v.

This time Nick took Tori on in a boxing match, too funny watching them go at it.

Tori won Bapa & Bama in bowling this time (wink-wink) and thought that was pretty awesome.

Bama was still the pro at golfing, and challenged Nick to a boxing match, I won by KO I think at the end of the third round, man was I tired (for real, it is exhausting) I think, Nick just couldn't bring himself to hurt his Mother even in the virtual world, (such a good boy).

Bama even let Mason help her bowl, he did pretty darn good, he thought it was oh such great fun, matter of fact it was hard to keep the remote out of his hands (and mouth, yuck)

Dinner was delish, even if I do say so my self (but so did everyone else)

I even managed to fix something Tori liked, I was thrilled about that. All though she didn't like the salad because it had the dressing mixed in it, plus it's salad and she is a kid, so Bapa couldn't help but spoil a bit, and substituted jello for her instead, oh Grandpa's and their girls.

Mason just played on the floor with his toys and entertained himself all through dinner, giving Mommy & Daddy a chance to eat their whole dinner uninterrupted. (good times)

Tori drew pictures for all of us, while we watched a movie, she left us with some great art work, and it's signed, so some day when she is a famous artist, we can say we have early signed originals. I love when my Grand kids do art work for me, we have some really good artist.

We also found that Tori has something in common with Urban, she likes to see Monty, as long as there is a door, window, or wall between them, she is afraid of him too, plus she explained that she might like him if she were a dog person, but she isn't so that is why she is afraid because she just dosen't like him. Kids are too funny with the things they say.

New Years Eve

It was just the two of us, we had been invited to a party, but Robby is more a home body.

We had a movie marathon, we watched four movies, had a nice dinner, and I made him stay up with me until midnight, so I could get my New Years Eve kiss, make our New Years toast, and say good bye to 2009 and ring in 2010.

New Years Eve is special to me because it was on a New Years Eve we had our first kiss, it was on our second date, at a youth church dance.

Sweet Memories. Love you Babe.

It was a wonderful Holiday Season,

and the best part..................

we still have presents under our tree and so do Nick and Melanie, waiting for us to take up to Utah with us for a second Christmas, as soon as we can get up there. (well actually we took our tree down already)