Bear-E-Chuck, or was it Chuck-A-Bear?

The weekend before Christmas break was over we took the kids (along with Rob, Tracie, Hannah, and Kolton) to Build-A-Bear and Chuck-E-Cheese. I know, we must be crazy! It went really well and the kids had oodles of fun. Yes, I said oodles. We started at build a bear which went incredibly smoothly. We got in as a crowd was leaving and just before the next crowd came. Perfect timing really! Anyway all of the kids picked out different animals and made their way to the stuffing station.

If you are not familiar with build a bear I will explain. It is a huge process. First you choose an animal, then you pick out a sound for your animal, then you stuff the animal and give it a heart, then you fluff and brush, then you choose clothes and dress the animal, then you name it, THEN you check out! WHEW!!

The kids are at the stuffing station in this picture. They are rubbing their bears' hearts on their foreheads to make them "smart".

This is the "fluff and brush" station.

And here is Bianka naming her bear (as well as a nice shot of Josh's butt!). She picked out a Hannah Montana bear (surprise, surprise) and named it Rock Star. Lexi choose a blue sparkle bear (surprise again) and named it Hannah Montana. Hannah picked out a puppy and named it Barky and Kolton picked out a tiger and named him Stripes.

They all were so cute with their build a bears!

Onto the next part!!!

We were then off to Red Robin for a bite to eat the straight to Chuck-E-Cheese! The kids had fun, the parents not so much. There had to be 500 people stuffed into the play area. There wasn't even one table open. I was so nervous that I couldn't see straight!

Well we were already there so we couldn't very well tell the kids it was to busy and leave. Well I guess we could have but I don't think that any of them would have ever talked to us again.

Tracie was the calmest out of all of us. She took her shoes off and jumped right into the tunnels and slides with the kids. I think she just did it to make me look bad. Joking, joking! I never get into the tunnels. Why, you ask? Because some snotty little kid always pushes me or my kids, steps on me, or just plain annoys me. Then this snotty kid proceeds to follow me and my kids around the tunnels and I end up feeling like crap because I don't like an innocent but annoying little kid. Selfish right? Oh well, I am who I am!

Here are some pictures of the kids and Tracie in the tunnels.

  

When the kids were done with the tunnels we braved the game area for a short time. If I didn't know it about myself before I know it now. I HATE crowds!!! Anyway, here are some cute shots of the kids playing games.

And we ended the excursion with a ride on the clock. Weird I know but the kids wanted to do it before we left.

Well that was our day! I would like to say that it was a one time thing, but I know we will probably do it again next Christmas. What can I say? I am a softy!!

New Years Resolutions

OK its that time of year again folks! Here is my list!

• Lose Weight, Biggest Loser Style! (typical I know.... but it has to be on here!)
• Eat out less/Cook more
• Do something fun with my kids every day.
• Kiss Josh every chance I get.
• Blog more.
• Travel more.
• Become an organized person (yeah right)

Well it is a short list. I guess we will see how it goes. I sometimes think that by making a resolution you jinx yourself. I am hoping to prove myself wrong.

Wish me luck!! :o)

New Years Party!

Happy New Year!! We had a party at Tracie's last night to ring in 2009. It was the perfect way to celebrate the New Year. Good friends, good food, and some (several bottles of) very good wine! Rob and Tracie always throw the best parties. I have to say that this was the best yet! It was nothing like last year when I was sick on Tracie's couch all night!   (New Years Eve 2007)

In addition to Tracie, Rob, Hannah, and Kolton; Sandy, Chris, and Avery joined us for the party. J.C. also graced us with his presence.

I know, I know. You all want me to stop jabbering and show you some pictures.... your wish is my command!

Tracie with an evil grin as we popped open our first bottle of wine!

Lexi and Bianka playing Disney Sing It on the Wii. (Funniest thing to watch... EVER)

This is us fighting over the game Scattergories. This discussion got pretty heated. LOL :o)

I think we were boring Chris. Hehehe

You can't run and you can't hide.... I WILL eventually get your picture!

(If you didn't know this, Josh hates pictures...... unless they are with the girls.)

This is Tracie cleaning up the mess that I made. Somehow my wine glass jumped right out of my hand and hit the wall. Stupid possesed wine glass! I was going to drink that!!

I think that this picture was taken at the exact moment that Sandy caught up to Tracie and my wine consumption for the night.

This picture speaks for itself. You know that saying a picture is worth a thousand words? Well here you go!

Josh and the girls about two minutes before midnight.

CHEERS!!!

(Sparkling Grape Juice People!)

Chris kissing Avery at Midnight!

The night is winding down. I can't believe my kids made it this long!

Tracie, on the other hand, did not!

She is SO going to kill me!

Well here was my new year, honestly one of the best I can remember. I hope you all had one just as great!! :o)

Toy Shop Madness

This is the living room transformed into Bianka and Lexi's Christmas Wonderland! Let me tell you that this was not easy! Santa went a little overboard this year. I thought that he was oing to have to move the furniture to fit everything in there! It was all worth it to see the look an the girls' faces when they walked down thoses stairs.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

"Stop taking pictures Mom, we want to open PRESENTS!!"

The presents drove our cats CRAZY!! They had no idea what to do. They were in the middle of everything all morning.

Lexi (who is 3) decided that the only thing that she was going to ask Santa for was Bunny Slippers. Yep.... Bunny Slipper! Let me tell you, Santa had a heck of a time finding them! But I guess she was a good girl because at the very last minute as if by miracle Santa found the coveted Bunny Slippers at Old Navy!

Bianka LOVES puzzles! This is one of about 10 puzzles she got this Christmas. This particular one was left for Bianka and her Daddy. They get a puzzle to do together every Christmas.

This Christmas was extra special because J.C., Nathaniel, and Perry joined us. I hope this is a tradition that we can keep up. I really enjoyed having our family there on Christmas morning.

YAY! All the presents are open and it is time to go to Meme and Papa's for more!

Santa went overboard at my Mom's house too. Geeze, our family must have been like flipping saints this year! :o)

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!! I hope that you all rang in the new year in style! Let me know what you did! I will be posting pictures of my (as usual) very interesting night as well as some great pics from Christmas!

Toodles! :o)

Chrissy