Christmas Happenings 2018

Decorating the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend

Wrapping the huge saguaro in white lights

Building a German gingerbread house

The finished product

Mission Bay

Dave's company Christmas party in San Diego

San Diego in December

Christmas tree on Pacific Beach pier

Our hotel for one night

Paradise Christmas tree at the Catamaran

Brought the centerpiece home on the plane

Dave's company Christmas party in Phoenix

Zoolights with the boys

The awe of a child

4-D Rudolph movie

Snakes with Grandma

Otis addressing Christmas cards

Christmas Eve service at New City Church

Silent Night

Horton Christmas Eve

Mexican dinner theme

Family get togethers

Santa!!!

Not too fond of Santa but ok with the present

Soap from Santa

Naughty or Nice?

White Elephant/Yankee Swap

Christmas Eve hiking at Gateway Trailhead

Christmas morning

First married Christmas

with Otis and Sam

Austin City Limits music fest in October!

Getaway to Northern Arizona

Otis at Christmas

Bacon, bacon, bacon

Nephews

Siblings

Original 5

Presents...

and more presents...

and even more presents

Christmas dinner

Our home

Was a wonderful Christmas season with lots of memories made.

Thanksgiving 2018

Thanksgiving this year we continued our tradition of running the downtown Phoenix Turkey Trot - this was my 7th year in a row of doing this. It is a fun little run and I also feel good about getting a sweat in before indulging in Thanksgiving dinner.

Amy, Gina and I

Dave and I

Finished! This was the first year they handed out medals.

My results. Not my best time, but my place standings continue to go up the older I get. I guess the competition gets easier :)

After the run we went to the Brown's for the Krown Thanksgiving Brunch. Brian made me a latte.

We didn't stay long at brunch as we needed to get home and shower before heading up to Prescott with Dave's family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Dave and I ended the day making popcorn and watching a movie at home.

39!

My birthday this year started with a 5am BODI Sweat workout with Kellyn. She had never been to a 5am class before so she surprised me by showing up that early to the gym. It felt great starting the next year of my life with a good workout and even more fun to workout with Kellyn!

I came home and got ready for work and Dave made me eggs and fruit for breakfast. He also went and got the mail and in it was my first ever daughter-in-law card.

I got to drive a fun car to work...

...with a stop at Starbucks first for a free birthday drink.

My parents took me to lunch at Liberty Market in Gilbert and Kellyn and the boys came too. Uriah made me a birthday card and told me this is a picture of a "windstorm."

Kellyn had Owen dressed in the "Awesome Like my Auntie" onesie. Uriah wore this same outfit for my 36th birthday.

(Throwback pic to 3 years prior.)

Family pic in downtown Gilbert.

After lunch I went back to work and then came home to Dave cooking fajitas for dinner. That is my favorite meal that he cooks, and I especially like it now that there are the Siete grain free tortilla chips and coconut flour tortillas. After dinner we went to That's Amore for dessert - the owners are Italian and they make the best gelato!

On the Saturday after my birthday Dave planned a dinner for a few friends at Pomelo.

And finally, the Tuesday after my birthday we went to True Food for a free birthday dessert. I am so glad my birthday falls when they have the squash pie in season...my favorite (and they make it GF)!

All in all a great birthday. I don't know how it is already my last year of my thirties, but am thankful for another year of life. #thebestisyettocome