A Very Merry Christmas

As I was sitting at the computer I heard little feet running to the office and a sweet little voice saying, "It's Christmas morning, it's Christmas morning!"

Funny thing is, she was so excited to give me a little shoe ornament that she completly flew past the couch where Santa had dropped off all of her gifts. After Daddy pointed out that Santa had come, she forgot about the ornament for a bit. "Santa got my letter! He brought 2 skateboards." Ella had written to Santa that she wanted a skateboard for her and one for her daddy. Such a sweet unselfish thing to do.

Then it was time to open the gifts we had gotten for each other. My ornament was the first thing that needed to be opened. She was so excited, because I had pointed it out to her one day and she remembered to go back and get it. Ella got her favorite things...movies, books, and clothes. THEN it was time for the guitar. She knew she was getting it, but had sorta forgotten...out of sight, out of mind! "It is just like Taylor Swift's guitar!" made the whole UPS incident OK. Tucker hates it...the noise scares him. Maybe once she starts lesson, it won't be so bad.

We spent the rest of the day over at Amy's with the Trinkos and the entire Koch clan! It was a good day of wiffle ball, Frisbee golf, and good food.

The Nutcracker

This year Oma decided to take Ella and me to watch The Nutcracker Ballet in Laughlin. This would be Ella's first ballet. The performance was good, and was perfect for her first time. Not too long...but not too short either. Mom had gotten us seats right in the center and up one level, so we could see the entire stage without being blocked. The lady with big Texas hair sort of blocked Ella's view, but I honestly think she just wanted to sit on Mommy's lap. She was in awe of everything happening on the stage. Afterwards, I didn't even bother to tell her to stop dancing. She was just so happy!



Our timer shot taken using Oma's cell phone as a tripod! Not to bad!



Afterwards, the main dancers were outside of the theater (literally outside the door...which caused chaos!) We had no intention of stopping for photos because there were so many people. But, it it just happen that the Prima Ballerina was free as we walked by. So I quick to the opportunity for a shot!

Sosey's Annual Hay Ride

One of our Christmas traditions is the Sosey's Annual Hay Ride. Walt owns an old John Deer tractor which he hooks up to 3 flatbed trailers covered with hay bales each year. They invite friends, family, and friends of friends and family. Hilary makes up some of her homemade chili (which Kevin made me get the recipe for years ago), macaroni and cheese, and hot dogs. The kids eat and play and the adult relax and talk.

Then it is time to take a ride. Adults and children pile on and sign Christmas carols as the hay ride heads down the street to a neighbor's house.

The Eastman family provided cookies, frosting, and sprinkles for all of the kids to decorate...this year there was 54 children.

After cookies, it is time to hit the pinata. Randy Eastman figured out year ago that with so many kids we need more prizes than can fit in the pinata itself. His solution 10 extra boxes of prizes held by different dads to dump when the pinata breaks.

It was funny to watch Ella as she picked up her prizes this year. Since she is allergic to chocolate and we don't really let her have candy, she picked all of the animal toys, pads of paper, bracletts, and pencils she could find and left the rest for the other children. It is all great fun and something that Ella (mom and dad too) looks forward to!

Picture with Santa

Kevin was able to get my scanner to work....so here is the picture of Bean with Santa.

Tis the season...

for SANTA! This is the time of year when being a mom is fun.

A few weeks ago we were in Wal-Mart and Ella kept saying she could hear the reindeer on the roof. Both Kevin and I were trying to ignore it....then they announced that Santa was in the photo department. Ella and I rushed back so she could tell him about the guitar and skateboard she wants. The photo department took a great picture of the two of them, but I can't get the scanner to work to post it.

Next, we went to the Parade of Lights and she kept asking do you think Santa is here. Sure enough he was on the last boat. Campbell Boats decked their boat out to look like Santa's sleigh and reindeer and he was on the back.

And just this week, Santa sent Ella video message. I loved how she crawled up on my lap and crossed her fingers as she watched her message. When it showed how Santa would get to Lake Havasu from the North Pole she was amazed. When the pictures of her playing in the corn and on the soccer field popped up she was in AWE! "Santa sent elves to watch me?" she asked.

Next weekend we have the Sosey Hayride. I can't wait.

A Successful Weekend!

This past weekend I ran the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Since Ella, Mom and I were going to be in Vegas, I decided we would cross #19 off of my list. We went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. I was both excited and disappointed...the statues were amazing, but there was not as many as I would have thought there would have been. We also thought that the new Taylor Swift was going to be in Vegas...sadly it wasn't. Ella was sad about that.

Me and the Babe
Ben Affleck, mom and I

Ella said we had to have our pictures taken with Jeff Gordan for daddy. I can't figure out why it keeps going sideways....and it is getting late, so I give up!

It was a warm 44 degree Sunday morning, which was 12 degrees warmer than last year. This made me SUPER happy!!! My goal was to finish under 2:15 and I did. I had a course best at 2:13:42. I could have been faster probably, but I was having fun. I sent texts to Mom and Kevin throughout the entire race, so they knew where I was. Kevin couldn't come this time, because he was tearing apart our kitchen...that is another blog entry! Then I had to stop and take a picture of a shoe on Fremont Street at mile 6.5 and upload that to Facebook. It was just too perfect that the halfway point was at a SHOE!!!

Ella and I before my 13.1 mile run.

Ella and I after my run! Still smiling!

Karolynn and I...I love that my best friend will get up early to drive across town, just to see me cross the finish line. Thanks for coming!!

My Cheerleaders!!! Thanks mom for driving me up to Vegas and cheering me on! I love the support.

Parade of Lights

Last night, Kevin, Ella, and I went to watch the Parade of Lights in the channel. This is the first time I have ever seen the Parade of Lights. Kevin took Ella a few years ago, but she was actually too little to remember watching it. I always seem to have something else already scheduled for this weekend and don 't get to see it. I was determined that this was the year I was going to get to see it. I even made Kevin bring home his heater from work so I would be warm. I bundled Ella and I up and packed a blanket and we were off. Only problem....we could not find a parking space at Rotary and it had already started. Kevin whipped through the London Bridge Resort parking lot and happened to find 1 lonely spot in the middle. We snagged it and rushed down to the bridge. Found ourselves a spot on a little hill with a perfect view between 2 trees. The weather was perfect so we did not even need the heater or beanies and just used the blanket to sit on. Ella loved the lights and Santa on the sleigh at the end. Thanks Kevin for taking us!