a BROWN christmas

Every Christmas Eve, my extended family gets together for a delicious Christmas Dinner and the "Cousin Gift Exchange"

All the cousins (usually under 18) exchange "secret" gifts with one another. We have been doing this for like 9 years now and every year it gets better and better


haha this was my favorite picture
Alo could not believe that Paris got him


yup. Jas is a nerd
Alo jus had to get her "grandma glasses" lol


Baby Chance couldn't make it, so Dad was the substitute


I swear. They get each other like every year! Manny and AG


the two nerds :)
Manny jus got glasses


They announced their two month pregnancy
(not a good picture of them cuz they sure are happy)
Congrats Pier and Crystal!!


Sisters for Life


Paris. The biggest brat but the cutest lil boy!!

P.S. I will post Christmas Part 2 as soon as I get pictures from my bro in law :)

Christmas Time

So Billy and I finally got our FAKE Christmas tree (he refused to buy me a real one. So we agreed - or I decided- that I'd pick the fake one). If I say so myself, we did a superb job, Aku even loved it! I've got pictures to prove it.

Billy adding the best part


He may seem confused... but he sure loved the tree skirt
That lil bugger!!


Merry Christmas!!

Yay for Dances!!

My lovely and talented sister made the Advance Dance class this year. Her first dance recital was yesterday, December 12/10/2008.

Unfortunately, Billy and I came late (dang School! dang Work! and dang TRAFFIC!) so we saw the last 5 dances, which included Panzer's last dance and the grand finale


Here she is getting ready

She is an AMAZING dancer

I jus dont understand why
she's always in the back

She was definitely shaking it Like a polariod picture

Mandze and her biggest fans
(Jas and Billy)

Congratulations Viv and Pablo

My cousin Vivianni finally got hitched yesterday, December 6, 2008. The lucky guy: Pablo Martinez

After dating for 6 months they finally decided to tie the knot. And just in time for Christmas!! Welcome to the family Pablito

Pablo, Jas, and Viv walking down the aisle


Cute lil Jas


"I Do"


Aw so precious they are about to have their first kiss
as Husband and Wife


Pablo, Alfredo, AG, Unise, Jas, Viv, and Cas


Pike, Pablo, Viv, and Manny


Me, Billy, Pablo, and Viv

Oh Christree Tree

Emily tagged me ...
and I also TAG EVERYONE!! Yes this means everyone who reads this has been tagged (you too billy)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Definitely wrapping. I love ripping the paper to uncover my surprise

2. Real tree or Artificial? Well i would like a real tree this year since i've never had one and it's billy and my first christmas... but he's being a poop about it

3. When do you put up the tree? My family puts it up a couple weeks before christmas

4. When do you take the tree down? Dia de los Reyes (basically January 6)

5. Do you like eggnog? YOU KNOW IT!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Well i always loved getting markers, crayons, scrapbooking essentials... and i still love it!!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom and occasionally my dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself! lol
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope

10. Mail or email Christmas Cards? I enjoy getting them in the mail. There's something about getting mail in general

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothes from my dad's side...The thought was nice...but definitely not my style
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hmmm i like "Jingle all the Way," "The Grinch," "Home Alone"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I have money
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I might have

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candy canes are my favorite!! and egg nog of course
16. Lights on the tree? Yes but i hate checking if they all work. It's hell!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have alot!! But I'll list my all time favorites: "The Christmas Shoes" "Where are you Christmas" "Angels we have Heard on High" "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Only when i sing along to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" lol

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? When we get our tree, I'd go with a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Right at 12:00 am. It's tradition

22. What's the most annoying thing about this time of the year? The lines at the stores!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Meh whatever works

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Not anything specific, but I love mashed potatoes

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Too many things to name

26. Who is most likely to re post this on their blog? Those that have a blog, better! And those that dont...comment me with your tag! muahahaha

St George

I must first say: What a wonderful weekend i had!!

We left early on Black Friday (dont worry I still did my midnight shopping lol) Billy drove the entire time. We all (James, Emily, Lilly, Carter, Addisyn, Joyce, Bill, and me) got there about noonish, I believe. Here's a few things we did throughout the relaxing weekend:

Swam



Strutted our stuff


Played at a Park


Saw Santa Clause at Tuacahn


Hang out with Carol, Wendy, and Scott


Drove Billy absolutely nuts lol and vice versa


Played Phase 10


Went Shopping at the Outlet Stores


And drove Wendy's awesome car that I jus might buy...
(It looks like this)


Ah, St George the beautiful

i LOVE my job

And you thought you'd never hear me say "I love my job" HA! in your face!

Well with the awesome discount Marketstar employees get with Whirlpool, Billy and I decided to get a new stove. Pretty sure, ours sucked BAD. The stove temperature goes from 1-10. If we wanted to boil water, we HAD to set it at 10. If we wanted to cook eggs, 9 was the key. If we wanted to cook anything, our best bet was 8, 9, or 10.

So getting a new stove was a necessity.

Billy couldn't believe that I actually wanted to start learning how to cook after we got our stove....
Honestly, who could resist?

Before and After

Its a beauty, isnt it?


I am very proud to say that I made two of Joyce's delicious and famous
Apple Pies in this baby