We had a white Christmas!

So we spent Christmas up at Tamarack again this year.  We really enjoy the area and all that there is to do.  We've all gone out snow shoeing, skiing, sledding and the adults drank a lot of wine. :)   (I'm in detox mode right now.)  Mike and I came back to Boise last night so we could put in a couple of days at work but we left the kiddo's up at Tamarack with the rest of the family.  I'm so jealous ~ they get to ski every day and play out in the snow!      

What a fun night...

Who knew that watching the Rockettes would help get me into the Christmas mood?! What an amazing show and we had perfect seats!  We didn't have anyone directly in front of us and we were only 5 rows back from the stage.  It was fabulous! 

After the show we rushed to the Deely house to watch the last game of the season.  

So sad the season is over - we always have so much fun hosting parties on game day!.  

Good bye blue and orange shirts - until next year!! 

The Rockettes...

Taking the kids to see the New York City Rockettes tonight.  Should be an amazing show and I'm sure we'll all be practicing our eye-high leg kicks all night long! 

Thankfully the show is over just in time for the game - couldn't miss that!  Go Broncos!!

Where are you Christmas?

This year I have helped out with the United Way and we’ve adopted a family for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ve planned a Christmas party for my team at work and have attended a few parties as well. We even went to Seattle last weekend to have the Warren Family Christmas and spent some awesome time with family. But with all that I feel like little Cindy Lou Who, from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I’m just not in the Christmas Spirit even though I have given it a good shot.


Last night we did our Christmas with the kids since we’re heading out of town for the holidays. Although it was a lot of fun it just wasn’t the same as the kids getting up Christmas morning and having them pull us out of bed so they can start opening gifts. I’m thinking I will be making a few changes after this year and I know it may not be liked by some but I want the tradition of Christmas back. Is that bad?

Listen up - Up with People on the Denver news...

Check out the group I used to perform with! 

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/26179080/index.html

Feeling proud ...

Yesterday I woke up around 2am with a horrible headache.  I tossed and turned for a few hours and finally got back to sleep around 5ish.  At 7:50 my oldest walks into the room and wakes me up.  I asked her what was wrong and she said "Mommy, its 7:50 and we have to go to school".  My head was still pounding and I was feeling sick but as my brain started waking up to what she was telling me I felt panic run through me.  I started to get up and was apologizing to her and she said "its okay Mommy, we got dressed and I made waffles for us and brushed Mikayla's hair and made our lunches." I just looked at her through my fuzzy morning eyes and felt tears building.  I couldn't believe my little daughter got everyone all ready and let me sleep in.  I was proud of her for doing it but a little sad too that she didn't need me.  She is growing up and she is amazing me every day.  She is such a polite little lady; she's self-motivated and always wanting to make people happy.  I love you Caitlin!  You make Mommy very proud.

No more snow...

See all of this snow - well it's GONE!  :(  If it's going to be cold then I want the snow.  

We had so much fun playing with the kids and dog in the snow - please send the snow back!! 

We're off to Seattle this weekend to see family and I am so excited!  I can't wait to see my sis! 

Did you get your heart rate up today?

You all know it's good to get your heart rate going on a daily basis.  Here are a few things I did today to do just that...

* Shoveled 8 inches of snow from the driveway
* Worked out
* Put my car into a unplanned spin while driving home (I was following all of my driving tips too!)

Yep - I think I've done enough!  Now it's time for a glass of one of my favorite wines - it's a Malbec - label name - Layer Cake.  If you haven't tried it you need to.  It's great!  You know, they (not sure who "they" are) say one glass of red wine a day is actually good for you.  I'm so glad I was so healthy today!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

Yes - I did the shoveling!! I'm a rock star!

Okay so I was half way through when a nice neighbor with a snow plow on his ATV came riding up and helped me finish. But I did do half of the driveway and it's heavy snow!!!

This picture was taken of the back yard - it's a winter wonderland!! We have about 6 to 7 inches of snow and it's still snowing! The kids have a snow day so I'm home today and I'm heading outside in a few minutes to start shoveling - that will be a great work out!

Betty and Cliff - enjoy your warm weather in Texas- we're thinking of you!

Driving in snow...

So I was born and raised in Idaho and grew up driving in the snow and I never got into a wreck. But I do have to wonder why most of the people out on the roads don't know how to drive in the snow! So here are a few tips that I wanted to tell my fellow commuters tonight as I was crawling my way home.

Tip 1 - down shift people! Even if you have an automatic you can down shift and it's better then hitting your breaks on the slick roads!

Tip 2 - Just because you're in a big truck does NOT mean you can drive fast on ice. Point proven when you pass me and then I pass you a mile down the road and you are in the ditch!

Tip 3 - turn into your slide. Don't fight it.

Tip 4 - do Not tailgate me - I mean - do NOT tailgate anyone! Sheesh!

This is not rocket science and we have at least 4 more months of this so please be careful out on the roads!

A new room.....

So as most of you know we are currently renting a house from some friends until we know what is going on with Homeland Security. (More on that later) Our friends have a little girl and painted her room in pink and green stripes. My girls are older and so the room just didn't work as well for them so I was given permission to paint. YIPPEE!! You all know I love to paint! This time around I actually let the girls decide on the color - Caitlin wanted a "warm and cheerful color" (Future Interior Designer) so here are the before and after photos.

Before

Before...

After... This is Kaylie's side of the room

After... Caitlin's side of the room!

The color turned out great and after a lot of sanding and priming I think the room looks fabulous! Warm and cheerful!! Good color pick Caitlin!

Thanksgiving photos...

The girls wanted to wear their Christmas dresses on Thanksgiving and since they looked so cute I said okay!

Kaylie sitting by the fire - looks like a perfect place to be!

Ms Caitlin in the beautiful dress she pick out

Happy Thanksgiving y'all ... a day late!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving last night! We enjoyed our feast at Mike's parents house. It was a wonderful dinner with many spilled drinks! I think that usually means a good time is being had! Now we get to enjoy a ton of left overs - I love Thanksgiving leftovers - don't you?

As for the weekend - I decided not to brave the crowds today and stayed home to clean and get ready to put out the Christmas decorations this weekend. Plus it's a little difficult to buy for the kids when they are with me - boy do I miss those days I could sneak things by them! I admire those of you who faced the crowds and made it out without too many black eyes!

Anyway I'm short on time tonight (too many football games to watch) but I just wanted to say - I hope everyone out there in blog land enjoys their weekend. Remember to think of those you can't be with during this holiday weekend and be thankful they are in your life. Just sayin....

Team Sue!!!

My BFF Sue is currently competing in Ironman Tempe and I am so proud of her. She has overcome injuries and she was really sick just weeks before the race. Right now she is running and doing great!

Track her at www.ironman.com. Bib number 2408

I will be staying up to watch her cross the finish line which you can watch on the live courage link. I really wish I could be there to cheer her on - she means the world to me! Last year she and I met in Tempe to cheer on our friend Pete so I got to see and feel the amazing energy that is there and what these athlete's are accomplishing. Congratulations to everyone!

"Team Sue" is rocking the house for you Sue!!

Adopting a family...

For the Holiday season my department at Boise Inc has adopted a family to supply Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas gifts for the 4 children! Guess who volunteered to be in charge of it? How could I not organize this - I love doing stuff like this! I'm overwhelmed right now at work but this is such a good reminder to be Thankful for what we have and to help others. How do you enjoy giving back to others less fortunate then you?

Just keep smiling...

It's been a tough week but I'm still smiling and looking for the silver lining. Between all the big meetings and deadlines at work and life outside of work I have almost thrown in the towel but the week is starting to turn in time for the weekend and things are looking better.

So here I am smiling at you - Just Sayin...

Meeting with the Officers...

So tomorrow I get to go into a budget review meeting with ALL of the officers at Boise, Inc. I'm sure I'll do fine but I'm a little nervous since I had so many issues with our budget this year. Maybe I'll say something really mind blowing and I'll get a big fat pay increase and bonus!! Oh and the COO in the meeting is my dad. I hope I don't embarrass him!!

Random Act of Culture...

This is amazing! I wish I could have been there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=player_embedded

A few family photo's from the year...

My brother Ben married his beautiful bride Liya in August of this year. The girls were 2 of 6 flower girls! It was a wonderful wedding that I was happy to lend my wedding coordinator experience for.

The girls spent most of the summer in a pool! They also went to acting class at the Morrison Center where they performed in Through the Looking Glass, they enjoyed golf and tennis as well.

A new love is kayaking. We took the kids to McCall and enjoyed Kayaking on the lake. We also had a moose come join us in the water!

A girls night out with my little ones. I took them to see Cats - they loved it!

Kaylie's b-day party with Mike's parents. She had a "Doggy" birthday party with her friends that next weekend.

Nothing like spending Christmas in Phoenix! Mom and I are enjoying a Bloody Mary in the hot tub. No worries the kids are drinking OJ.

Dad and I having a drink after a round of golf.

Family hike in the desert.

Here are the twins last Halloween.

We took a train ride up into the mountains to get our pumpkins last year for Halloween.

One of my awesome soccer players. I coached both of their soccer teams and loved it! It was great to see how the girls advanced during the seasons and actually listened to what I was teaching.

That is just a brief look at the year - we enjoyed several trips and lots of family and friend get togethers.