The big 3!!!

Man my little Race dog is getting so big and naughty!! We always joke that he's lucky he's so cute because I would sell him!! Actually most days I would give him away, but he sure knows how to melt your heart too!! I love when he comes and puts his chubby little arms around my neck and tells me how much he loves me then gives me a big kiss!! He is such a fun little boy and he sure keeps us on our toes!! Oh and one more thing if anyone wants to potty train him you will be seriously blessed in heaven!! He tells me ''mom I can't like big boy underwear"!! ugh little stinker well I can't like changing butts!!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

WINDY CITY CHICAGO CHI-TOWN

I was so lucky to be able to go to Chicago with my Mom my Aunt Stephanie and my brother Tosh. Well ok Tosh lives there so that is the reason we went. I couldn't have traveled with better people!! I hadn't been on a plane in almost 15 years. I was a nervous wreck and kept losing my stomach with the turbulance (didn't puke!!) My mom and Steph kept teasing me. I did alot better on the the way home though and I decided that I want to travel more maybe that will encourage me to get 'stuff' paid off. Ok back to the vacation.......we ended up buying a Chicago Go Card which gets you into 30 attractions for 3 days (they have them in lots of big cities). It ended up being alot cheaper than if we paid for each attraction on it's own and it got you to the front of the line. It saved us alot of time waiting at the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum.

Here we are with the view of Chicago buildings behind us.
We were right outside of Shedd Aquarium.

We really wanted to try lots of 'different' foods. My mom and I watch alot of Diners Drive Ins and Dives on Foodnetwork and we wanted to find a couple places to go.

This is Fried Catfish from Glen's Diner. It had Shrimp Stuffing on the bottom of it and it came with a spicy sauce to dip in. It was to die for!! Since then I've hat fried catfish at 2 different places tying to compare and I can't find one that even compares.

HOT DOUG'S!!! They are on the Food network show as well. They make all there sausages ans dogs there. They have lots of different kinds that were pretty fun to try. I didn't take any pictures of them because Tosh kept telling me I looked like a Japanese Tourist. In my defense I only took 170 pictures in 5 days that's not that bad.......right?? hahaha

At the Field Museum they had the "Man Eaters of Tsavo" they are the lions form the movie The Ghost in the Darkness. I still haven't seen it, but my aunt said it was one of her favorites so I think I need to search it out!!

The Navy Pier had lots of cool little shops and we went on an awesome architectural cruise. It was part of our pass so We got to walk right on and relax as we heard some of the history of the buildings in Chicago. There are so many cool buildings with detail beyond imagine. Our tour guide had an awesome personality and kept it interesting the whole time.

About a year ago the Sears tower was renamed Willis Tower. Most of the people from Chicago still call it the Sears Tower however. It was like 100+ stories high and it sways up to 3 feet I believe I guess I should have listened better on our cruise!! oops!! They have a place where you can stand out over the city on a clear platform it was pretty intense.

The first thing we ate in Chicago was........Chicago Stuffed Pizza from Giordanos. It was the cheesiest pizza I had ever eaten. I couldn't believe how yummy and filling it was. It was just as good cold that night I think.

You know we had to go to Oprah. It is her last season and we out in for her ticket 'raffle' so we could get on her show, but no such luck!! darn that would have been awesome.

Giada De Laurentiis!!!! Holy Smokes!!!! If you know my mom and myself very well you would know she is one of our all time favorite chefs. That is why we both look like we just won the lottery!! We obviously were grinning ear to ear!! I couldn't believe it how did we get so lucky to have our picture taken with GIADA?? She was very nice and was so excited to have our picture taken together! Her smile and personality were amazing!! P.S. I HATE this picture of me!!

For my friend Amber I had to have my picture here!! She is a Louis Vuitton fan and so I had to rub it in that I would be by a store. We did walk down all of Michigan Avenue aka The Mag Mile. There were lots of big spenders there!!

I have decided that I would really like to go back!! It was an awesome experience. Although I missed my babies and hubby at home it was so nice to get away for a few days!! I seriously can't wait to win my millions in the lottery (going to start playing now) so I can go back!! Thanks tosh for letting me be a tourist with you even though you kept yelling at me for popping my gum and taking lots of pictures!! Can't wait to go back!!

Fishing

We had lots of fun outdoors this year. I couldn't remember if I posted these pictures already and I didn't want to hunt for them on here! I figured they were cute enough to post again anyway!! We went out to Burch Creek. the kids and I had been out there for the Fourth of July weekend with my family, but Quentin really wanted to go out there so loaded the kids and went on our way!! I don't have pictures of the fish but there we lots caught!! We also went to a lake for a family reunion with Quentin's side of the family. I'm pretty sure it was Lake Walcott!! Living in Idaho is so nice because we get to enjoy the outdoors!!