We ventured outside yesterday.

It was 70 degrees and beautiful out, so we decided to go visit Mama.

The boys rode the scooters that they got from Mama and Papa for Christmas.

Christmas Day

Santa came to our house and dropped off presents.

Tearing into some gifts.... what is it? We got a Wii - what else is there???
Ah, a Wii Fit -- what else????
Lazer Tag... the best present!!!! from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Alissa - THANK YOU!!

Cameras! Randy got one too!

Another remote control helicopter! From Grandpa in Jersey. Thank you!

Remote control robot, from Grandpa in Jersey.

Old Navy stuff for Mom!

Clothes and a movie for Dad.

Tons of stuff - made for a great Christmas!

Christmas breakfast - Anyu, Apu and Auntie came over.

Anyu and Cathy opening their gifts.

Apu got a shirt and a gift card to the Yard House.

Happy 9th Birthday Randy!!Not quite sure what he was planning on doing here...Number 1 - Amare Stoudemire shirt!The ultimate gift, from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Alissa - the begged for, Nerf gun! Mama, Keith, Randy, Laser Havoc Helis and Papa.

Disgusting Gags and Pranks from Jacob and Andrew. Thanks guys!

Even Keith got in on some present action... Mama got him Kung Fu Panda.

The Zoo, before the Zoo... Keith's class prepping for the field trip.

Friday

The boys had a Winter Music Program at school. Jeff and I were both able to attend. First grade sang a Christmasy song. And third grade learned two songs - one in English and the other in Japanese!!!! The Japanese song was about New Year. It was pretty cool.
Friday night Jeff and I got all dressed up and went to his work's Christmas party.
It was at Cartwright's in Cave Creek.
I didn't get a sweater dress

- just wore my little black dress.
It was all good. The food was good and sitting with Mai was good.

New stuff

We've gotten two different sets of couches in the past month.

Before Thanksgiving, my parents got a new couch, and they gave us their old ones.

We put those in the living room (above). Thanks Anyu & Apu!

Monday night we went to Zoli and Chris's house and picked up their couch

and put that one in the family room (below)!

Thank you Zoli & Chris!!!! It's so cool! It's a semi-circle.

Randy calls it the cheese couch - because it looks like wedges of cheese.

The anticipated arrival of Atropix....

A few of the ever so happy, members of the LMB clan... (I will not tell you what LMB stands for, cause it's not nice) yes, that is what they are trying to spell. And yes, the B is backwards, but you get it anyway.Frank- (a.k.a. Hamferno), Ross- (a.k.a Phi-lupino), Randy- (a.k.a. HawkeAssault2), Josh- (a.k.a. Atropix) and down in front, Homer- (a.k.a. Test4echo3_Sup). Keith- (a.k.a. SniperHawke) had passed out already in the car at this point. The crew had just returned home from their Rosita's dining experience. (I'm not going to be the one cleaning the toilets.)

In case you didn't notice, I gave Jeff a haircut Sunday morning. That's the new do, in the picture above. We then went to IKEA and bought the boys' desks for their rooms and once they are put together, I'll post pics.

No, it's not Halloween - they were just playing around.

Josh spent the day in Tempe and had dinner at the Melting Pot in Scottsdale.

This is how Keith decided to decorate my candles... pretty funny!

Monday morning -- Josh leaving... continuing his journey to Georgia and then on to the middle east! Thanks for doing your part in protecting our country! Have a safe trip and be well!

(P.S. Saturday, the boys went to the Goodyear Community Park - for the Holly Jolly Festival. There were bouncy houses, vendors and snow! Pictures will be coming soon.)

A bit of info....

Thanks to my friend John, I am no longer quite as freaked out about the registered sex offender who moved in across the street. John is a detective in California and he deals with juvenile crimes, including child abuse and juveniles as offenders. He's also in charge of registering and monitoring his city's sex offender population. And he's lucky enough to talk to crazy people like me when they get freaked out about a child molester moving into their neighborhood.
What you need to do is educate your children. Make sure they know what is inappropriate as far as touching goes.... when it's ok, when it's not. Warn them about strangers, of course. Tell them that if someone does something to them, and then tells the child not to tell anyone because it's a secret or they threaten to hurt mom or dad if the child tells -- make sure that your child knows to tell you!! Just because you know that there is a convicted sex offender living across the street, doesn't mean you should keep your child in a bubble. And who knows about the guy next door that has never been caught? So, talk to your children!! Thanks John!!!! :-)

Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree...

The boys and I put up our tree yesterday. I finished cleaning up the Christmas mess this morning after breakfast with the girls. As soon as the boys are finished with their homework, we are going to go put up the lights and decorations outside!

Saturday was really busy for me at work. It was a pretty good day. I had one customer, who I haven't seen in a long time and man, did I miss her!! She tipped me $50 for doing her hair!!!! The rest of my customers were ok too, but none could compare with Maria!!! I picked up some Wendy's for dinner on my way home from work and the troops took a few minutes away from their gaming to eat.
I need a massage! And I still have one coming to me... from last year's Christmas present!! I better call tomorrow and make an appointment!
Sunday - otherwise known as laundry day, was pretty good too. In between loads, I went to WalMart, Target and Michele's house for a Christmas card signing party. My Christmas cards are almost ready to go out. And the clean laundry is all folded, but still sitting in the baskets!
Today I went in to help out in Keith's class. I found out that they have a field trip scheduled for Dec. 19th (that's Randy's birthday!!!)- to the Phoenix Zoo -- as if there wasn't any other place that they could possibly go. I'm sick of going to the zoo with a billion kids! But I suppose I'll be going anyway.
I also went to Kohl's today -- why do they only have sucky stuff at all these stores? Maybe it's just because I don't know what to get for anybody. I guess I'll just have to keep looking.
Very lame, I know - but I'm lacking in the brain function department at the moment.

Black Friday

Jeff went out first. He went to Circuit City and bought nothing because their prices are still high even though they are closing the store. Then he went to Best Buy and got a few things, but nothing for himself. He ended up at Linens 'N Things - that store is also closing down. He bought me a set of "Rachel Ray" pots and pans. Very nice - they're blue and I already used one.
I went to the post office - which amazingly wasn't crowded - it doesn't have to be near Christmas, that post office is always crazy. I needed boxes and stamps. I went to Walgreens and Old Navy afterward. Neither place was too busy.
We spent some time doing nothing at home for a while, but then we went to Zoli and Chris's house for coffee and dessert at dinner time.
Now I'm waiting for my cream cheese filled, breaded jalapenos to be finished because I'm hungry!!!!!!

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving at my mom and dad's house.

Randy, Billy & Keith

Louis, Maria, Apu & "Old" Papa

Everybody, except Chris because she took this picture.
Courtney, Cody, Zolika, Zoli, Cathy, Maria, Jeff, Randy, Apu, Louis, me, Anyu, Billy & Keith

The high was 67 degrees today, Billy wanted to go swimming anyway!
Don't ask me what the temp. of the water was - I wasn't getting anywhere near it!

Maria and Anyu

Me and the boys (yesterday).