I got some great and much needed stuff for my big 2-7 but my favorites included the all elusive- cash, an awesome sports bra, cake decorating classes (watch for details) and the coveted bath tray. So happy to be able to read in the bath tub with a drink and a candle. Ahhh. So relaxing! (more signs that I actually have begun to grow up~much to my dismay)
After birthdays were over it was full speed ahead to Christmas. It was a pretty simple year for us as far as gift giving goes. There really just isn't much we need and figured most people were probably in the same boat as us- 'while we love you we're not rolling in the dough so please don't bother to go broke giving us gifts and we'll do the same!' We did manage to make some treats and spread some love and Christmas cheer that way! Isaiah had a big hand in this and we had a really fun day together- I'd say we baked for about 6 hours and then I made two cakes for class.
The next night we made a gingerbread house which is trickier than it looks. The frosting was SO tempermental and the consistency of old toothpaste. All in all it turned out pretty good.
We couldn't let another year go by without seeing what all the fuss about Zoo lights was- definitely worth a peak if you've never experienced the zoo in the middle of winter. Andrew's Dad, Paulette and her daughter Sara joined us and some of our other friends joined up with us after a little while too! Flash ruined some of the funner pictures but here you get the idea.
Then of course there was Christmas.
Like I mentioned before we just didn't go nuts with the gift giving this year. Don't mis-understand ~ everybody got plenty and Isaiah- well he always seems to pull off a good haul! I guess we have just been fortunate enough to have everything we need so when we found ourselves desperately trying to get ideas for each other we just said- bag it- and stuck with simple but needed items like slippers and sweats ect. Isaiah got his first gun - a 22 and I'm still unsure about that. Isaiah also got a alarm clock / charging dock for his IPOD. I'm excited about my new mixer- which is weired because 2 years ago it was not even in my top 100 list of things I never knew I wanted. : ) We also got a new TV from Andrew's Mom n Step Dad- who always treat us like royalty. And don't forget about paying off that last pesky bill that insurance wouldn't cover. That gift was the biggest relief- I sleep better debt free- although I'm sure the TV was the boyz favorite!
After Christmas we managed a trip to Saratoga Springs to try out Isaiah's new gun.
He's been booster seat free since his 8th birthday and couldn't wait to blow that thing to peices. (It was trashed anyway)
We also snuck up to the cabin for a day to help clear snow from the driveway and let Isaiah ride the snow-skoot for a little while.
Too bad he took his helmet off to play with the dogs because he ended up in a thorn bush and well his hair.... oh just look at the pics. : )
I know it appears as though I'm laughing here but I assure you- this face was just one of utter disbelief. He had over 20 of those thorns in his hair and eventually I ended up cutting them out. Poor kid.
New Years Eve was spent with old friends which was great. We met up with some girls I haven't seen in 10 + years and our kids played til 12 a.m.! How strange is that? It was really fun though.
On New Years Day we had the annual Manzanares sledding party which is always a good time- I just hope next year we have snow. This year we had... icy grass. The kids didn't seem to notice.
Here I managed to find the only pile of dog poop out there and... roll in it. Yummers!
Maggie the gorgeous!
Sibling Race
Andrew, Isaiah and Trevann
and the whole Shebang- well pretty close. (Missed Carmen and Jen who came over for dinner afterwards and Aaron who had to work) All in all I am again in awe of what amazing families we both have. The holi- DAZE were amazing and filled of fun! Thanks to all who made these priceless memories possible.
