A prayer request for the New Year

I've "blogged" about my friend Tana's baby boy in the past, but this time I'm asking for a little help. If everyone could please say a prayer for baby Ace, he's having open heart surgery on January 7th to close a hole in his heart. I know Tana is nervous about her son having surgery so please keep her and the rest of their family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.








Ace - November 2008

Christmas in Washington

My parents live up on the San Juan Island in Washington, I went up there for a week to visit them over Christmas. Kyle had to work so he couldn't go. My brother Brian and his family came up too, my other brother & his wife were suppose to be there but the weather was bad and they couldn't make it. After 30 years on this earth I finally got my very first white Christmas!!! It was so beautiful up there, it was very hard to leave. We all had a fantastic time together, playing games, sledding, building snowmen, making a gingerbread house, baking, watching movies ect... the only thing missing was my husband! As much as I miss being with Kyle over the holidays I am very grateful that I can spend it with the rest of my family. This Christmas was definitely a memorable one (one of the best!). I took 576 pictures while I was gone, here's just a few (dozen)...

Thanks everyone for a great Christmas, it's one I will remember forever!

"John & Tracy, we all missed you very much!"

"My" Christmas with Kyle's family...

The night before I left for Washington we did Christmas with Kyle's family over at his sister's house. We also celebrated my mohter-in-laws birthday which was on the 18th ("Happy Birthday Karen"). It was a really nice night, I enjoyed getting to watch the kids open their presents from us.

Jake opening one of his presents from Uncle Kyle & Auntie Julie
Jenna & Aunite Julie

Jenna & Karen blowing out the candles on "Grandma's" birthday cake

My new purse Kyle got me for Christmas (LOOK Sarah I got my purse!!!)

Kyle's Dad framed his Matt Leinart jersey for him

Kyle's Grandpa & Grandma

One of Jenna's Christmas presents from Auntie Julie & Uncle Kyle

"Thanks everyone, I loved everything! You guys really spoiled me (again!)"

"baby it's cold outside!"

It was 37 degrees on my way into work this morning. I know those of you who don't live in California are getting much colder temperatures but this is very cold for us Southern Californians :) They've gotten 2 feet of snow in Victorville and Palmdale, which is only like an hour form where we live - crazy!

Congratulations Pete & Becky!!!!

My friend Becky had her baby yesterday, he was born at 4:35pm. They named him Chase William Riehle Siris, he weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce and was 19 inches long. Both Mommy and baby are doing great! I am so happy for Pete & Becky, their little guy is so precious. "Congratulations guys, we love you!!!"

Here's "Auntie" Julie holding Chase for the very first time!

Chase William

I can hardly contain my excitement!!!

I am so anxious today, I can hardly contain how excited I am!

First of all my good friend Becky is in the hospital having her baby right now! I am over joyed that I am finally going to get to meet the little guy. The second reason I'm so excited is because I leave for my parents house on Saturday morning, they live on the San Juan Islands in Washington and they got more snow today!!! I've never had a white Christmas so I'm praying the snow will either stick or we will get fresh snow on Christmas day. Practically my whole family will be up there for the holidays so I'm excited to see everyone! Here's a few pictures I got off the web cam of Friday Harbor...



Snug Harbor...

Friday Harbor marina...

My 1st hockey game!

Yesterday my brother John called us and asked if we wanted to go to a hockey game with them. I've never been to a hockey game before so I was excited to go, we had a really nice time. The Anaheim Ducks won!!! they beat the Minnesota Wild 4 to 2 - GO DUCKS!

Kyle & I

Tracy & John (my sister-in-law & brother)

"Thanks John & Tracy, we had a great time!"

"An evening at Uncle Kyle & Auntie Julie's"

Kyle & I watched Jake & Jenna (our niece & nephew) on Saturday night so that his sister & brother-in-law could go to dinner for their anniversay (and do some Christmas shopping). We had such a nice time, and the kids were awesome! We played outside for a while with Levi & Diesel then Uncle Kyle took us to see Christmas lights. We found some really cool streets ("Thanks Casey for the suggestions"). Then we got some dinner at McDonald's, took it home to eat, got on our pj's and watched Christmas movies. We had a great time with the kids, here's a lttile slideshow of our evening...

"Thanks Roberta"

My nieces Mom (Roberta) works for The Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona, the other day the Arizona Cardinals football team went to visit the sick kids at the hospital. As most of you might know Kyle's favorite football team is the Cardinals, so you can only imagine how stoked he was when Roberta e-mailed us these pictures. Unfortunatley she wasn't able to get any autographs because it was against rules & regulations (which is understandable).

"Thank you Roberta for thinking of Kyle, he loved the pictures"

Christmas card photo

This is the picture we used on our Christmas cards this year. Kyle's sister took it on Thanksgiving.

Christmas decorations

here's a slideshow of some of the decorations we put up the other night

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

Every year I've had a real Christmas tree, this will be our first Christmas with a fake one. I've never been a real fan of artificial trees, I love the look & smell of a real tree. Last year we got a really good deal on a 9ft. pre-lit tree, and since neither of us are home on Christmas we decided that a fake one was the way to go. I made Kyle promise me that once we have children and they are old enough that we will go back to getting a "real" Christmas tree, some of my favorite memories as a child are going to the Christmas tree lot and picking out the "perfect" tree! I was a little hesitant when Kyle first took it out of the box, but once he got it up and it was all decorated-I loved it!!! Here's a few pictures of our 9 foot, pre-lit, fake Christmas tree...

Is the suspense killing you?
wait for it...

wait for it...

some final touches...

Tah Dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not too shabby huh??????

Cameron's school picture...

Most of my nieces & nephews live far away, so when I get pictures of them it makes my day! The other day I got my nephew Cameron's school picture, isn't he handsome?!?!

" We miss & love you Cam"

Ocotillo - Thanksgiving Weekend '08

Kyle & I went camping and riding over Thanksgiving weekend (Friday -Sunday) with a bunch of friends. The weather was perfect! I even found some mud to ride in (my favorite thing to do!). We all had a blast, I wouldn't of wanted to spend my holiday weekend any other way. "Thanks guys for an awesome time, we love you!"

THANKSGIVING 2008

We spent Thanksgiving at Kyle's Aunt & Uncle's this year. We had a really nice time.
"We are thankful for such a wonderful day surrounded by family"

HAPPY HOP SKIPPING

This is our niece Jenna, if you've ever had the chance to meet her you will know that she is quite the character, she's 4 1/2 going on 18. For the last two years Jenna has called Thanksgiving "Hop Skipping", now that she will be 5 years old this coming year I'm sure this will soon fade. She's growing up so fast and very smart for her age. I remember her asking her Mom last year "Is it Happy Hop Skipping yet?", these are the things I will miss the most as she grows up. So tomorrow when you're all sitting around the Thanksgiving table remembering what you are thankful for, remember the joy & innocence of your children, they won't be little forever.
..."Happy Hop Skipping" everyone!!!