My Man

My Plate

His Plate

Just an example of how much fun it is to have "my man" in my life! We had a junk night a few weeks ago and he made it gourmet with the plating! Who else would know that I would want cheese slices with my fish sticks?? And ketchup, not tartar. . . :0)

Latest example: I got home last night after a long day of judging and an hour and a half drive home. . .my laundry was done, the office (his half) was cleaned/picked up (b/c I don't even know what the H to do with my stuff!!) so that we can stay in there while my parents are here, he had fixed the armoire in the bedroom, and had dinner waiting with the DH paused so we could watch together.

I am a very lucky girl!!!

Other Updates:

Saturday we went for a bike ride around Fiesta Island - some pics off of the island are below. And there is an updated mantle pic - we are now complete with stockings and ready for Santa!

Updated Mantle! We are READY SANTA! Come Visit!

It's beginning to look alot like. . .

Christmas!!

My Turkey Weekend

Hope everyone had happy turkey times! I was in Rochester, NY with family and we had a great weekend. Short, but great. Dad got a WII from mom for Christmas and I beat him in baseball with 3 home runs! For those of you who know me well, you know that will never happen again! For a dancer, I have ZERO hand eye coordination. Thus, no contact sports! It was fun. We got to catch up with our McIver cousins and Aunt, and that is always a blast. Decorated the house on Sunday, pics to come. . .I'm glad to be back in the sunshine!

Happy December!

Us explaining the WII to Dad. He was a Pro Bowler by day 2.

Always something computer going on. . .cousin Matthew, brother Rob, dog Baxter,

and brother David

Sarah in dancer pose - we did kids Christmas early since we won't be together

on Christmas this year.

Kid's photo in new clothes and Rob made good use of his new "work" gloves

The whole fam damily McIver side! We had such a good time hangin' with the cousins!

Cousin Johnathan and me

Dave and Lisa - both so small they can share a seatbelt. . .

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

happy thanksgiving to all my friends and family wherever you may be! today i hope you are happy, laughing, and eating good food in good company.

lots of love and hugs!

ALmost there!

This is what the turkey is sayin' right about now!

Charging through the holidays

In the spirit of an economically failing country, I like many others will be charging my way through the holidays this year. I usually do one person/paycheck starting in sept or oct, but that didn't happen this year! We keep losing students at the studio for financial reasons (it just breaks my heart b/c they are so sad! and it's not their fault - if i could pay for them i would!), so I keep losing privates. Or some clients are taking a break from privates until Jan - I'm sure this has to do with the upcoming spending sprees. The adults on Monday nights are nowhere to be seen. We've gone from 25 to 10 in the past two weeks, and last Thursday morning, my class didn't go b/c there weren't enough paying students. I'm hoping 2009 will be a bright beacon in my world and that people will be able to afford to come back to their recreational activities. Today, I made the decision to keep things normal this year (I don't typically go crazy anyway) . I went to Michaels and found BARGAINS to decorate my new mantle. You see, I LOVE the holidays. I LOVE to decorate. I LOVE to give gifts. So I will bargain shop, but don't worry economy, I'll still stimulate you - with American Express!!

the day after . . . pics for you!

HALLOWEEN 2008 was a success! Hope yours was great too -- pics for you!

back of my costume, a vending machine

front of the vending machine!
with g - he was a chef

alexis was a blackjack table

alexis, jackie (brittney spears), and me

kevin was a pair of dice
sneaking a kiss :-)

the gang

david the dreidel!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

hope today is "spooktacular"!

last night we pumpkin carved at the dillards . . . pics from that and some costume previews are below! stay safe!

g and alexis carving

kevin supervising - wasn't really into the carving part

g picked a hard pattern; was a little frustrated at first!

i went for simple with variation; the raised eyebrow and upside down nose!

kevin had to finish costume - he's being a pair of dice
my costume!! i'm a vending machine; here is the front
and the back!

more pics from the party tonight once i get them!

My Martha-Ness

I've wanted a Fall Wreath for a long time, but I couldn't find one I liked! So. . .I finally made one!

Our weekend getaway - Julian, CA Oct 17-19

On our way up - G took me to Dudley's bakery and bought me fresh bread! I got Sourdough Rye and he got Hawaiian Sweet Bread! YUM!
Our Inn for the weekend
View from the porch off of the lodge. These are the cottages you can stay in. They are larger than the lodge rooms where we were and they have a fireplace and fridge. We got free h'ordeurves and drinks both days for happy hour and enjoyed them on the patio.
Apple Pie with Sharp Cheddar melted over the top. I tried it, but you can't really even taste the cheese! Might have helped if I'd had any smell. The pie was tres good.

Personal welcome waiting in our room for us.
G relaxing in man pose.
Room
Room
Room - Very cute and bright! We stayed in room 5; each room is different.

Stopped on our hike for a photo op. There are two trails on the property of the inn. This first one was called the view trail, and there was a view, but it was steep climbing to get to it! I don't think anyone had been up there in awhile.

At the top! View of the small town of Julian. The town is literally 3 blocks long.

The biggest pine cone I've ever seen.
G liked this rock and took a pic.

Fire damage from the 2007 Wildfires
Along the trail.


On our way to the mine trail.

There was a little museum with cool mining things from back in the day.



The actual mine

Stone walkway leading to the mine.

The biggest pine cones on earth actually stay on the tree that big!

Front porch of the inn.
Up close
It was still warm so a lot of the leaves had not turned; these did!

The B on the mountain is for Borego springs we think! This was from a lookout that we stopped by on the way home.
Way in the distance there is water.

Fire damage along Route 79 - this tree is actually growing back.
Couldn't believe all of this.



We had an awesome time and I hope to be back there in the next year for some more R&R!