It's Christmas Time

It's that time of year again. Christmas. Usually the thought of it makes me incredibly anxious and nervous. My stomach starts turning about mid-October when I walk through stores and they're bringing out the decorations. It's normally such a stressful and frantic time for me I don't really enjoy it. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are wonderful and I love spending time with the whole family, it's getting to that point that just about kills me. Every year I say I'll do it differently next year and never have. Until this year. I'm loving it. It's not quite here yet and I still have an office party to take care of, a birthday get together to plan for Joni and his brother this weekend, Christmas Eve dinner to plan, and I don't even want to think about New Year's Eve but so far I'm way ahead of where I'm normally at. Because I wasn't running around all weekend trying to get things finished I spent a few hours with Blake Saturday baking Christmas treats. It was great, I had a really nice time. Joni came over Sunday and got the outside lights hung so I can now say I am officially done. Shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, cards, everything is done. I am patting myself on the back right now :)

What's a post without an embarrassing photo of my girls? Baileys 1st Christmas, 12/97. Are they adorable or what?
I got her to smile for this one

Some of the finished product

The future pastry chef

"Perfection" -that's what I kept hearing every time he stepped back to admire his work. It is perfect Joni, thank you!!

It's nap time for all 3 of them after a couple hours of hanging lights for Joni and barking at the tree for the puppies

My tree

I told you it was up & there are wrapped presents underneath it!! This is the first year I didn't get a real tree. I will admit it was a lot easier to put up but it just doesn't feel the same. I got pine scented candles and pine scented air freshner but it's just not doing it for me. I'm spraying the house so much it's making the girls gag and the puppies sneeze. Of course I won't be finding dry pine needles all over the place for the next 6 months either.....

The family that bowls together........

The Saturday night after Thanksgiving a bunch of us got together and went bowling. It was Nate & Jaelynn, Blake Bailey Joni & I, my Grandpa, Mom, Joni's brother Tony, his wife Gladis & their 3 kids-Tatiana, Antonio, & Angelo, Joni's mom Almas, and some friends-Youel, Tommy, & Sarkes. We were definitely not the best bowlers out there but I know we had the most fun! I think it's great doing things with a big group like that, especially when I love everyone that was there so much. How can you not have a blast?? I can't wait to do it again! Here's some more pictures ~
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8237&l=9d55b&id=1436413128

Nate & Jae~ Maybe some bowling shoes and her own ball for Christmas???
Nothing like chicken wings and soda to get you energized for a long night, did I mention we bowled for 4 hours?

Antonio almost gets a strike

Some of the group

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I know I'm just a little late with this post. I've thought about it every night but have had so many other things going on I kept putting it off. I am very proud to say that my house was decorated for Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I had about 90% of my shopping done and ALL of what I have bought so far wrapped last week. I've never done that before, ever. I'm the one that's wrapping everything 5 minutes before people come over Christmas Eve or as I'm walking out the door to my Mom or Dad's house to exchange gifts. Even all of my Christmas cards have been sent. I am getting way to organized in my old age! So, that's my excuse for why my blog hasn't been updated lately. Anyway, back to Thanksgiving. My Grandpa came in for a visit which is always nice. The holiday started with a pregame at my Dad's house on Wednesday night. It was supposed to be a quick dinner and some business talk. Then Joni & my Dad thought it'd be fun to do just a couple shots. Well, 4 bottles later I had to drive everyone home. I had a great time, but not as great as the time had by the people that were drinking. It was funny to see my Dad, Joni, Raelynn, Nate, & Derrick having so much fun. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I wasn't able to catch any of the craziness on film but it will be awhile before I forget it, no matter how hard I try :) It was rough getting up early the next morning for Church but we made it. We went to Dale & Elvia's to eat dinner that afternoon. It was delicious and very nice visiting with everyone. Later on it was over to my Mom's for more late night visiting and of course more cocktails. I gave up and turned in around 2:00 am but was woken up when Nate, Joni and Grandpa decided it was time for them to go to sleep, at 4:30. It was a long day but a lot of fun, spending all that time with family was worth getting no sleep! I'd do it again in a second, and I'm sure we will soon. Christmas is just around the corner. Thanks to everyone that opened their homes to us, it was wonderful! Click on this link to see more pictures of the day
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8236&l=85820&id=1436413128

Thanksgiving centerpiece

The family playing cards
Dad & the girls at church. You hide your hangover well Dad :)

Family Photo Session

We had our family pictures taken yesterday. My good friend is an awesome photographer, she took our pictures last year to. This time I convinced Joni to join us and they turned out really good. If you need a photographer for your family pictures, a wedding, maternity shots, etc. you should definitely use her. Her website is www.mandyhank.com, check it out. If she can make us look this good she can make anyone look good :) Look at all of our photos by clicking on this link
http://www.mandyhank.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?Slideshow=Roe%252B08
Thanks Mandy!

What happened to my little girl? Look how grown up she is
My babies and I

Talk about looking grown up, oh my God

All of us

Saturday night at Dale & Elvia's

My cousin Dale and his wife Elvia moved to Arizona a few months ago. Joni and I hadn't been to their house until last night. They invited a bunch of us over for a barbeque. Delicious food, cigars, lots of drinks, laughing, and the best - visiting with family. Thanks for having us, your home is beautiful and we had a great time!! To take a look at more photos click on this link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6917&l=eaa43&id=1436413128

This bag was full when we started
There's Mr. Jagermeister again, never misses a party!

Dale, Joni and Mo- their eyes aren't red yet so this must have been taken early

Elvia showing us how it's done

It got pretty cold so we broke out the blankets. I think Nate is praying not to get a hangover!

YES WE CAN

I voted for the very first time yesterday. It was such an incredible feeling. Watching the election results last night meant so much more to me than ever before. Maybe because there is such a need for change or because I have never been more scared about the future of our economy or the war or maybe it was just because I voted. Whatever it was that made me feel the way I did, it made for a great night. I woke up this morning feeling so full of hope and I am looking ahead to the future with a positive attitude again. I am so proud to be part of a country where absolutely anything is possible. God Bless America!!

Jaelynn is 7

We had a birthday party for Jaelynn last night at Amazing Jake's. She turns 7 on November 3rd. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Seems like she was born yesterday! She is a sweetheart and plays the princess role perfectly. I love you Jae, can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful young lady! Happy Birthday honey, may this year be the best yet!!

Thanks to everyone that came to help us celebrate! You can click on this link to see more photos
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6541&l=e193f&id=1436413128


Jaelynn and I the day she was born, 11-3-01

Her princess cake, totally appropriate!

Daddy's girl, he's having a hard time accepting her turning 7. Don't blink little brother, she'll be 16 before you know it

The whole gang

Grandma Joy, 11/1/28-4/11/08

My Grandma Joy would be turning 80 tomorrow, November 1st. She passed away in April, I think about her everyday. I've put together some pictures of her and the family, it has brought back some good memories. I am so thankful that I had 32 years with such a wonderful Grandma and that Blake and Bailey got the chance to spend a lot of time with her to. I know she's watching over us and is still loving us unconditionally. I will never forget what she said to me the last time I saw her. I was leaning over her bed kissing her forehead trying not to let my tears fall on her face. I grabbed her soft hand and looked down at it so she wouldn't see how much I was crying, she said "Don't cry Amy, we'll be together again someday." So until then Grandma save me a spot on your lap. I love you and miss you more than I could ever put into words. Happy Birthday.

Grandma and Grandpa's wedding picture, wasn't she beautiful?

60 years later, still together

Me sitting on her lap, the best spot ever

Joni, Grandpa and Grandma on a visit to San Francisco

This was the last picture I took of her, March 2008

Grandma, always doing whatever it took to make her grandkids smile

Grandma and Jaelynn, December 2007

Grandma with Blake and Bailey in Las Vegas, June 2007

A new cast, 3 Raiders, and an 80's chick

Happy Halloween! It started off with a trip to the hand Doctor this morning. Blake had to get her finger set and put in a cast. We go back in 10 days to make sure it's healing properly. Hopefully it will be and we can avoid any kind of surgery. We carved pumpkins on Sunday night and they were rotten by Wednesday, look at the gross pictures. Yuck, I sure don't remember then rotting that fast when I was little! My doorbell is ringing so I better start handing out this candy before I eat it all!

Her new cast. It's black so we are all going to sign it with silver marker!
Bailey's moldy pumpkin, eeeeeeewwwwwwwwww!!!

Our front door

Love the leg warmers, side pony tail and blue eye shadow. I sure hope that style doesn't come back

Bruno doing what he does best, eating

Tootsie, taking a break from barking at everyone ringing the door bell Our candy dish, yum yum

Blake's moldy pumpkin, eeeewww again

Even the puppies are Raider Fans

Ok, so maybe they have no choice but you still have to admit that silver and black looks like it belongs on them. Joni wasn't exactly thrilled, he wanted to know why I didn't get Bruno a Bears jersey. Blue and orange is not allowed in my house!! I got them these to wear for Halloween but I don't know if I'll ever take them off!

Halloween a little bit early

Bailey went to a Halloween party last night. She hasn't gotten the costume she wants to go trick or treating in yet so she didn't know what she was going to wear. I suggested the back up costume I've worn 5 or 6 times, my Raiders jersey. She was with her Dad this weekend so I didn't get to see what she looked like but Blake took a picture of her and sent it to me. She looks so cute! I wasn't going to post it but when I went through a drawer looking for something this morning I found an old picture of Bailey dressed up for Halloween. I just couldn't resist posting both of them together. She's going to kill me, my little french fry!!


She'd probably be able to play better than some people on the team this year. Oh well, GO RAIDERS!!!
Bailey on Halloween 1998, she was only 15 months old so she couldn't complain about what I dressed her up as. Isn't she sweet?