Happy New Year

Well... another year has come and gone. And it's been a busy but great year.

We had good friends and family come to visit and we were lucky to have family live here in Arizona for a short time this year.

Joe's youngest daughter graduated from high school and his daughter Carissa turned 21 this year.

Almost my entire family got together in Nebraska before my grandparents moved away, I visited San Diego for the first time, and I went into a partnership at a salon.

We feel blessed for everything we have and everything we have done this year. And thank you to our family and friends...... for your love and for your friendships. We look forward to another year of happiness, good health and sharing our lives with you.

Happy New Year!!!

Below are some pictures from this past year.

My Cousin Michelle at the Balloon Glow

in Glendale Az. January

The Balloon Glow

January

At our friends in Oro Valley Az

February

Our good friends Pam and Bernie visit

from California. March

Our family gets together one last time in Nebraska

before our grandparents move to South Carolina
May

My childhood friend Bonnie visits Arizona

May

Our last get together with my cousin and

her husband Dusty before they move from Arizona.

We'll miss you guys.

May

My nephews come to visit

June

Lorrie graduates from high school
June

A sunny day in Seattle
June

Our favorite place to visit in Seattle

June

My partners in the salon Tammy, John, Tami

and myself. Three Tammy's

July
Visiting our good friends Pam and Bernie

in California. July

Visiting San Diego for the first time

July

The Balloon Festival in Albuquerque

October


Carissa turned 21

October



Sam turns 15

December


Merry Christmas Sam

We also had great sadness this year.
We lost a very special friend to an illness at the tender age of 9

We'll miss you Nikolas

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas day with my good friend Heather and her family. It's tough sometimes when you don't have family in town and going to Heather's always makes us feel like part of the family. Thank you Heather for all the hard work you put into that day. We had a wonderful time.

Sam-----Christmas Morning

Heather, myself and her dad Mike

Heathers daughters

Charlie and Alley

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was kind of quiet for us. Our neighbors Santana, Jordan and little Ayden were here for dinner. Joe made some awesome Italian steak sandwiches and afterwards little Ayden opened her gifts that we got for her. Which was a doll and then a few other things to go with it.

After they left, Joe and I opened the gifts we bought for each other. We agreed a few weeks ago to buy one gift for the home, which was a new Dyson vacuum cleaner (I know, pretty exciting) and then we would exchange a few small gifts. And that was our night. Quiet but nice.

Little Ayden with her gifts

Her little doll she named Pearl On her way home with her baby

Great Weekend

We had a very busy, but fun weekend. Friday night we had my girls from work over for a little Christmas party. It was just the five of us. Me and Joe, Tammy Tower, Tami Carroll and her husband Carl. We ate, had a few cocktails and played games. Just a small but fun little party. But the best part was when a few staff members from our apartment complex came to our door to tell us that we had won the patio decorating contest. Now, the funny thing is, I did not decorate the patio for the contest. I decorated the patio just for this little party. I put up very few decorations. Seriously.... just enough for some Christmas atmosphere on the patio. And we won a $300 gas card. We were just shocked. But happy.

Saturday I had to work all day and then it was off to my good friend Pat's Christmas party. It was a great party but I couldn't stay late because I knew I had a busy day on Sunday. Joe stayed at the party and I had a nice quiet night home alone with Sam. It was nice.

Sunday was a fun day. A few months ago we had decided to make our Christmas donation this year to a children's hospital. I had been purchasing theses little Pluffie's stuffed animals for the past few months and on Sunday my little neighbor girl Ayden and I delivered them to the hospital. Once at the hospital we were greeted by a very nice woman named Jo-Ann. She took us to a room where they were wrapping children's toys and we met her children Katie and Luke.

Jo-Ann then gave Ayden and I a few gifts from the hospital and Luke and Katie showed us around some of the children's areas. Frog garden, the trains and Andrea's closet. The closet is full of toys that the children at the hospital get to choose from if they are having a bad day due to their illness. All the gifts in the closet are donated. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I think Joe and I will make many more donations to this hospital in the future.

After the hospital, Ayden and I then hit the mall and shopped until we just couldn't shop anymore. And I could tell Ayden was also needing her nap. After dropping her off at home I took off again to go buy the gift she pointed out that she wanted for Christmas. Then it was off to my good friend Martha's house to pick up a banana cream pie and exchange Christmas gifts. After visiting for about 45 minutes I had to take off so Joe and I could get over to a neighbors house for dinner. It was a very long day, but very rewarding and I finished most of my shopping.

Overall...... It was a GREAT weekend!

Tammy, Tami and myself

Tami and her husband Carl

This picture was taken with auto-timer

Our patio decorations that
won us the gas card

My dear friend Pat, at her
Christmas party

Ayden at the children's hospital

Ayden with Katie and Luke

Shopping at the mall

Christmas Party and Art Festival

This weekend was our Christmas party at the clubhouse as well as the Tempe Festival of Arts.

Friday night we went to the Christmas part with our neighbors Santanna, Ayden and Jordan. The food was pretty good and they gave away some nice prizes but because Joe and I both work on Saturdays, we made it an early night. We were actually home by 8:00.

On Sunday I went to the Festival of Arts in Tempe with my friend and business partner Tami. The weather was awesome. It was a little chilly but we were dressed warm and it was perfect for walking around as long as we did. We shopped for 4 hours. Usually when I'm with Joe, I'm lucky if I can get him to stay for 2 hours. So this was really a lot of fun. I was pretty tired though by the time we were done. It was a great weekend!

Santana, Ayden and Jordan at the

Christmas party

Tempe Art Festival

Late afternoon.... the sun

finally comes out