Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!!
Happy 2012!

So another Christmas and another year is in the books!
It seems as if time just flew by and December was just a blur.
But we cetainly had a fabulous and wonderful Christmas
and our annual trip to the Tri-Cities was of course,
the highlight of the month =]
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So, to start the holiday season off,
we had our own little Colorado Christmas at home with Kendall, Auntie Holly & her BF Casey.
As usual, it was full of smiles and laughs.

One of her favorite presents this year was the bobblehead AF Bird that Auntie Holly got for her!!
It's in her room =]

One of our favorite presents to her was the t-shirt ;]
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Ho Ho Hooooooooooo MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

So the Cuilliers were off to WA on December 21!!
And like usual, it's jam packed with plenty of stuff for us to go and places to go!
The big laugh this year was the Cuillier Itinerary excel spreadsheet that I had sent to all the parents, the siblings and to Chan & Trish.
Hardy har har!!
Glad everyone could get some good laughs from it!! It was pretty funny though.
I was just kinda excited that I have gotten some sort of handle on excel and wanted to share that ;]

(Let me back track, so you can try and understand the logic for "the spreadsheet"...
I have 2 sets of parents, and Danny has 1... I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters... 1 brother was only in town for 2 days.  I have 4 step siblings that have families as well that we want to see.  Should I tell you how many nieces and nephews?? I have at least 5 BFFs/Besties that live in the Tri-Cities and/or that were home on any given day.  Don't forget Danny's family & siblings.  Expand that circle to include my Boot Camp family, Danny hanging out with his Besties, family pictures, lunch dates, Christmas shopping, a Girls Night, a Kids Play Date, and a partridge in a pear tree...)


So here is one story that came from "the spreadsheet"...
Danny and I were out shopping and Crystal texts me and asks what we are doing. 
I text her back and tell her we are out shopping.
She texts back "Well, that's not what your itinerary says"...
As much as we got some good laughs, it was really helpful to me at least, to see what the heck we were doing everyday, and it actually kept us on time to most of our commitments!!
So,I'd like to say...
Duh, WINNING!!
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John & Katie~
So glad we were able to at least see you before you left =[
I didn't realize we weren't going to see you after you stopped in on the 21st...
otherwise I would've taken a whole bunch of pics ;]
xoxo
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December 22nd

Mommy's gotta date with the Boot Camp Crew!!

Daddy & Kendall have a date with Gramma & Papa Tom!

Boot Camp Reunion 2011
December 22nd
Had so much fun seeing everybody!!
Some of these people I hadn't seen since I had left in December 2005, so needless to say, it was a great great night!!

Love you guys!!

DC aka Santa and Kendall

Kendall with my Boot Camp family, Barb, DC & Sydney
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December 23rd

Kendall helping Gramma Linda with the rolls

This is serious business!!
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Dinner with the Shaws & Ayres Family
December 23rd

Ashlen & Clayten

The Girls

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Lil Night out in Tri-Town
December 23rd
Danny hooked up with his buddies and I hooked up with my BFF Trish =]
Had some yummy drinks at White Buddha
and was entertained by sisters Holly and Lori and friend Ana!!


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Annual Christmas Meeting of the BFFs
6:30 AM on Christmas Eve
So, we were a bit spoiled this year since we had our Girls Weekend in Breckenridge this past summer.
But with Chan and Trish and their busy work schedules, our phone calls and texts are far between!
So, even an early morning can't keep us away from catching up! 
So blessed that we were able to have that time together =]
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Chan & Trish~
It was great to see you and hang out even if it was for only a few hours!!
I don't think we will ever have enough time to catch up with each other =]
Love you!!
xoxo
This is what 19 years of friendship looks like...
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Christmas Eve at the Kalmbachs
This is the second year we've done Christmas at Tony and Crystal's house.
Love it!!

My Super Mom & Holly

Mum and her Girls

Getting some grub!! And ready for football!

Cheeeeeeeeeese!!





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Christmas Day
Woke up with Papa Green and Gramma Linda...
And then headed out to start the fun-filled Christmas that we have grown to love...
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First stop was Gramma Shaw and Papa Bud's to visit and give them Christmas hugs and kisses.


Second stop of the day was the Cuilliers!!
Faith, Brent, Crystal & Grace

Tiffany, Michelle & Matthew

Love this picture!!!

Let's open some presents!!


This is what "grubbin' on some bodeskis" looks like =]
I was busy eating them and didn't want my photo taken.


After a wonderful Christmas with the Cuilliers, we were off to stop #3!!
Gotta go see the Searches and Kjarmos!!

So the Togiai/Search/McMasters/Kjarmos have a fabulous Christmas game they play all day long...
the winner gets to wear this sweeeeeeet sweatshirt, that Brandon is wearing in this photo.

As you can see.  I am now the winner.

We had a FABULOUS family filled Christmas!!
Wouldn't have it any other way ;]
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December 26th
Family pics and dinner with the Cuillier Family!


All the Girls minus the "Wild One"


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December 27th
Still weren't done with Christmas yet =]
Finally got to celebrate with brother Justin and GF Jessica.
Got a visit with the Kjarmos and Search families that night too!!




Daddy and Uncle DJ watching football

Our hotel managers =]



Uncle Justin, Jessica and Kendall



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December 28th
A visit at the Shaw's house =]
Our Christmas vacation is coming to an end...
Hahahahaha!  Kendall wasn't happy about sitting for another picture!

Goofing around with Papa
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Girls & Mommies Night Out!!
What a great night to meet and catch up!!
The atmosphere was great and the company was fabulous!
So glad we could all get together during the busy holiday season!!

The GFs~ Jenn, Becky, Beth, Mindy, Karla and me
So, after dinner and drinks at Twigs,
Jenn, Karla and I headed out to Sam's Saloon to do some more catching up!!

Jenn and Karla~
I had a great time with you and catching up!! Time goes by, and we can always pick up where we left off.
Guess that's what makes our friendship so special.
I am still waiting to hear when you will be coming out for a visit this summer!!
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December 29th
Lunch date!!
Danny had a lunch date with his BFFs
so Kendall and I had a chance to visit with Lorenzo, Crystal, Lori and Lily!!





It was great to see you Lorenzo!!
xoxo
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Dinner with Mom & Dad
A last minute date to McGills is always a nice surprise =]


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December 30th
Bye Tri-Cities!!
See you soon!


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So here it is 2012.
January 3rd now. Gesh!!
It's amazing to see all the fun stuff we can cram into a 9 day visit to the Tri-Cities.
I know that I say I have a blessed life ALL the time.
I say it because I do.
Look at this family of ours.
Look what amazing friends we have.
Frickin' awesome!!
We are truly blessed with the family God has given to us.
Our families are the BEST!!
So many laughs, hugs, smiles and memories.
Our Christmases are so much more than gifts and presents, but about
the absolute amazing time we share when we are all together.

Life doesn't seem to get any better.

Thank you to our AMAZING parents for the cheap hotel room, the dinners, gifts, breakfasts, rental car, goodies, lunch dates and ALL the lovins you give to us.  We are SPOILED ROTTEN! We love you so much!!
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Thank you to our siblings for letting me take an insane amount of photos while we were all together AND laughing with me at "the spreadsheet".  Love you guys!!
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Thank you to our nieces and nephews for the great hugs and smiles!!  Each one of you is so stinkin' awesome!! We are super proud of you!! Come and visit us ANYTIME!! We'd love it!
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And thank you to my BFFs and Besties!  Our friendship is a true gift from God that I treasure.


2011 was a great year for our little family...
Hawaii and Maui
Vegas
Mariners Spring Training
Visits from our family and friends to CO ALL summer
Trip to the North Pole
Soccer
Watching the Cougs beat CU in Boulder
Swimming lessons
Seahawks playing in Denver
AF football games

Cheers to a healthy and blessed 2012!!
With all our love,
Danny, Heather, Kendall, Diva and Toothless
xoxoxoxoxo

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