Baking with Mommy!!!

I know its been a long time since I have posted anything ... but really you haven't missed out on too much. We haven't been doing a whole lot around here lately. We have had some friends for dinner, kids over to play, hosted a girls night out, watched alot of football and that really sums it up. This weekend we were stuck at home as Miss Payton came down with a ear infection and upper respiratory infection on Friday. So ... we really needed to find some entertainment ... I hate being stuck in the house. Today I decided to let Payton make some brownies ... I thought just maybe she would try it if she made it.... and it worked. My super picky, I am not eating anything child ... LOVED the brownie mix. I have tried everytime I have made brownies to get her to taste the mix ... but she always refused. I guess since she made it ... she thought why not. Looks like we have to try that method with other foods :)

So I finally found a reason to like that stupid xbox 360!!!

So as most of you know ... Nick is completely obsessed with the Xbox 360. Its consumes all of his free time not spent with Payton and Myself. You really have no idea how much he LOVES his xbox. When I first bought it for him ... it wasn't that bad. It got bad with Steve and Rachael gave him the wireless adapter to get online... and now ... man - I am the Xbox Widow. Thanks Rachael and Steve ... I really appreciate it... well not really.

Anyway ... this weekend, I finally found a reason to like that stupid machine that consumes all my husbands free time. Netflixs movies play instantly through it ... I mean ... I signed up for the watch movies instantly through your 360 ... and once I pick the movies I wanted to watch from my computer, they instantly appear on the video place on the 360. It is truly amazing and wonderful. I picked a bunch of kid movies and started them one by one ... to see if Payton would like them. It was wonderful ... we tried like 4 movies until we found a hit... Underdog. I know what your thinking ... Underdog??? But its so much better than Milo and Otis that we have been stuck watching for the last 2 months.

I LOVE this new featured!!!!! Who would of thought ... instant movie watching on a game system :) But at least it gives me one reason to like the machine that stole my husband.

Dinner with the Scowdens

With the Holidays ... it seems like we haven't seen many of our friends in ages ... I know its only been 2 weeks or so ... but when you have a 2 year old that asks to play with her friends on a daily basis ... 2 weeks feels like forever. We have been so lucky to make so many friends here that have children the same age as Payton ... which is perfect as the kids play and the adults get to hang out. So tonight we had the Scowdens over for some dinner and playtime. Payton was so excited to get to play with Ellie and it was so nice to be able to catch up with Michelle and Chris.

The girls dancing with Wubbzy!!!

Doing the wubbzy wiggle!!!

All smiles while playing!!!

Payton and Ellie sharing her chair!!

Such good friends!!!

A Saturday of cheering on the Chargers ... I know ... not typical!!!

Since The Cowboys are no longer in the play offs ... hell ... they didn't even make it to the playoffs, we spent Saturday evening cheering on The Charges with the Winters family. The weather was perfect and the kids were able to play outside all evening ... they had a blast. Jill cooked up a pot of chili and we all hung out and watched (well .. Jill watched) the game. Becky and I hung out the kids outside and the boys drank some adult beverages and chit chatted. It was a great evening ... and Jill was super excited when the chargers won ... at least someones team is still in it.

Payton trying to scare Ava and Gybson!!! It looks like she was successful!!!

Not sure when she started to like screaming so loud ... but she loves it!!!!

The girls loving on Becky!!! Gybson, Ava and Payton playing outside!!!

Testing out my new camera lenses!!!

So I got 2 new lenses for Christmas this year and it was a beautiful day outside so I thought it was the perfect day to try them out ... I guess I didn't take into account that it was 20+ mph winds. Needless to say ... it didn't go very well ... way too windy, but we made it to the park which is what Payton really wanted to do anyway. Here are a couple picutres that I thought were cute ....

The New Year!!!! Happy 2009!!!

As we start 2009, its hard not to look back on the previous year and reflect on the goods and bads of that year. I can't say that there were really any bads this year ... Nick and I are truly blessed and each year it just gets better. Its so funny to think back to when we first met ... we were so broke, we could barely afford dollar beer night. I just started my first job after graduating from college and was adjusting to a very new way of life ... responsibility. I can't say that I wasn't responsible before ... but it was a different type of responsibility. This was my first REAL job, where people actually depended on me. I had new bills to pay as the grace period of my MANY school loans started to expire and it was time to pay up. WHEW ... I am still paying on them today ... one more year to go ... WOO HOO!!!! I had a very different way of life in college ... never really committed to anything other than my friends, sorority and school itself. So the whole growing up thing was in full swing.

Then I was sent to Atlanta (was supposed to be in Australia for the Olympics) but I was low man at work and was booted off the trip ... so I was sent to Atlanta to a training class to give me something to do. Thats were I met Nick ... hmmm ...

Nick moved to TX after only a couple months of us knowing each other and the rest is history .... I was blessed with my best friend, partner for life and amazing daddy for our kids.

We have come a long way since meeting 9 years ago ... from our tiny one bedroom apartment to our 2nd house. We have a amazing 2 year old daughter and 2 wonderful dogs. We have been blessed with super supportive families and awesome friends!!! We have jobs that are both secure and rewarding ... who could ask for more!!!

So heres to the past ... and I can't wait to see how amazing our future is going to be :)

Happy New Year!!!!

Gybsons Bling in the New Year Birthday Party

On New Years Eve, we went to Gybsons Bling in the New Year Birthday party. Becky and Chuck had a wonderful set up for the kids. They turned their garage into a little dance club ... a DJ, Disco ball, balloon drop, popcorn machine and all. Payton had a blast dancing ... or shall I say running in circles and jumping!!! There was also lots of arts and crafts for the kiddos and even a game of pin the bling on Gybson. It was a wonderful party ....

Payton and Ava Dancing!!!

Paytons first time to eat popcorn ... well she only had one kernal ... but at least she tried it!!!

Nick had to work ... so it was just the 2 of us!!! Payton and Mommy!!!Dancing and getting ready for the balloon drop!!!

After the balloon drop it was time for the kiddos to go to bed. Once we had them all safely tucked away for the night ... the adults got some time to relax and ring in the new year!!! It was a great night with friends ... the only thing that would of made it better was having Nick there... but what can you do :)