Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 Santa dear came to visit us. We followed him on Norad to make sure we were fast asleep by the time he was heading our way. Note: Santa likes snickerdoodles.

 Pasadena In-Laws host a delicious and family filled Christmas Eve dinner. We always have a grand time eating yummy food and popping Christmas crackers.

 Many helpers this year made the evening go by so fast. The company great as was the nosh. Love being surrounded by the people you love!

 Christmas morning brought patient present opening (I don't have any rippers and tearers here). Stockings are free game as we wait for everyone to be up and ready. We breakfasted on french toast souflee´ and cinnabuns while opening gifts. We decided not to exchange gifts as adults this year but instead to focus on how much we enjoy the time of season and company of one another. I was surprised with treats from my Santas even still, what a lucky girl I am.

The Big Guy himself stopped by for a bit bearing ice cream sandwiches (you're the best SC) to take a few pictures. We then headed over to our LB Booth Family and visited for a bit before ending up the day with our Imbach Ohana in Ontario. Our tummies were SO full as were our hearts. We love this time of year. It was wonderful and could have only been better if our poor Jack Jack was feeling better. Thanks to blessings of the priesthood and lots of rest, he's on his way.
Here's wishing you and your family all the love, peace and joy of the season this Christmas and all year long. We're thankful for the love of our Savior and the opportunity to contribute goodness to the world.

Happy Birthday Dear JT

Introducing our hilarious and smart, precocious, clever, loving, kind and empathetic son has turned SIX years old! JT decided earlier this year that instead of having a party for his birthday, he wanted to spend the night at Disneyland. We spent two rainy days and one rainy night at the Grand Californian Hotel. Upon check in, JT was given balloons and an autographed picture from Woody and Buzz! We had a family room that had bunk beds and a trundle bed as well as a queen size bed. Our room looked out over Grizzly Mountain in California Adventure and the Monorail went by every now and then. We bundled up in jackets and ponchos and enjoyed time together wearing our "Celebrating" buttons.

 On Sunday morning after waking up, 6 years old in Disneyland, Maga, Breeze and Neilio met us at the StoryBook Cafe for a Character Birthday breakfast. After which we ventured in to the wet to meet Auntie Amber and GK in Disneyland. We hung in until about 3 o'clock at which point we were too soaked to continue. After a lunch at the Pacific Wharf (JT's favorite place to eat) huddled under a bread factory window hang, we finally threw in the towel. We had a wonderful time though and I think he'll always remember it.

 Before school let on on Friday, I sent goodies to JT's class and they celebrated his birthday (since he wouldn't be there on the actual day)! New crayons for everyone!

Monday night, for family night we had some of our close friends over for "Homemade Cards and Cupcakes". I got a giant cup cake silicone pan and so at the lilloman's request, we had mint chip cupcakes and watched Despicable Me.
We sure do love this boy and are so grateful for what he brings to our family. We LOVE you JT!

JT's IV

Poor J.T. has been fighting yucky viruses for weeks now. I took him in to the doctor to get a note for school and they said he was super dehydrated so they put him on an IV for a few hours. He was so incredibly brave and barely flinched when they drew blood from his hand and then had to insert the IV in his arms. He did breathing techniques on his own and was such a trooper. We spent a few hours watching Iron Man on my iPhone. He felt much better after getting the fluid treatments but has since been fighting another virus over the winter break. Here's hoping that my lilloguy feels much better soon!

Holly Jolly Parties

We celebrate the whole winter season long! We hosted a new and also a traditional party this year. For our new party...

 Our company, Rock Steady, had it's first Christmas Party at the Outback Steakhouse this year. We enjoyed dinner, stories, laughs and good times with some of the people we've worked with over this past year. We're so grateful to have talented, creative and dedicated people working with us and making us look good. Thank you Rock Steady crew... you're Rad.

Each year we host an Ornament Potluck party. This year, I'd decided to skip and keep things low key around the B's house. Maga was so disappointed that we made a plan to have the party but keep it very small and intimate... 60 guests and TONS of food later, we ended up having a grand time. Kiddos playing and decorating sugar cookies (prepared by the Lovely Mrs M), old kiddos mingling and munching, chatting and singing. Grown men and women stealing ornaments from poor children, well mostly just poor Abby. It ain't a good party unless somebody cries. Haha, just kidding. I ended up minus the beautiful geisha ornaments but with a lovely duck in a hunter's outfit to accompany the wonderful "chicken" ornament my hubs won at our first party ever. Lucky me. Good fun and good company, bring your ornament and something yummy next year for a good time... you'll see the chicken ornament i'm talking about, he hangs out near the star.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: the Eagles Silent Auction

Our Charter school hosted a Silent Auction/Spaghetti Dinner before school let out for the winter break. Monetary donations were collected from each class and then items to fill themed baskets were purchased. Room Parents put their classrooms themed items (our class was Lego based) in a basket and prettied them up, wrapped them in cellophane and listed and described the contents and set on display. The baskets were then posted on line and bid on for 4 days before the live silent auction began. We meant to only place a couple of bids and then leave for the evening so we went pretty early. The baskets were so amazing and our inner competitive nature came out. Mr B and myself ended up stalking our baskets the whole night. Needless to say, it came down to the 1 minute warning call but we won two of the baskets at the auction. 1 filled with AMAZING baby gear (a special treat for our wonderful friends the M's who are expecting lillofella number 2 in June) and the other an Italian themed basket... for $200 we got a $50 italian restaurant gift card, $250 in gift certificates to the Bellagio in Las Vegas, cook books, olive oils and balsalmic vinegars, pasta and bottles of italian soda! We felt like awesome winners and we supported the school too. While we boringly walked laps around the stage, Breeze and Neilio hung out with the lillo B's and did free crafts, listened to music and hung out with friends. We had a great time together kicking off the winter holiday!

Love Love Love Love her, Happy Birthday B!

Happy Birthday Breezer! Baby Sister and BFF Breezer Bean turned 22 and we CELEbrated! Maga of course decorated with streamers and balloons and signs all around her bedroom door. We breakfasted on Birthday Breakfast of pumpkin and custard pie. At our house, we'll stick a candle in anything and sing birthday songs! Our friend Neilio was visiting for the week and so they went shooting at the range with Mr B and the Imbachs, she has the bruise on her shoulder from the shottie. We had dinner at the Roy's in LA before being hosted as guests of our Amazing Magical Friends, Andrew and Maria at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. We saw some wonderful performances and Breeze was a part of all three shows! I'm so easily entertained and amazed and have zero interest in being skeptical so I'm a good audience at magic show. We spent some time listening to Invisible Irma who is the private victorian era castle's only current resident. She can play just about ANY song requested if you ask nicely. We heard Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Elton John's Rocket Man, Styx's Come Sail Away, a little Katy Perry, Bob Marley and even some Mele Kalikimaka! We had a great time celebrating such an incredible woman. She is bright and canny, kind and witty, sarcastically hilarious and bursting to the seams with love and talent. Happy Birthday Breezer, we love you as much as you think we do and more.

AGA Holiday Show 2010

AGA Holiday Show 2010Both Bugs enjoy gymnastics at the American Gymnastics Academy in Signal Hill.

Last weekend they both performed in the Holiday Show at AGA. JT's Mighty Tumblers group did a routine to "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and HeaBug's Mini Tumblers did a little obstacle course where she demonstrated back bends, forward rolls, backward rolls, jumping into hula hoops and over "french fries". They both did a great job and we had fun at a family date at Jamba Juice when they were all through!

They enjoy going to classes once a week and have felt really welcomed by the staff/coaches at AGA!

Winter Ball

Breeze was in charge of decorating for her YSA Lakewood First Ward Winter Ball. Thankfully, she knew a guy. haha. It was beautiful. I love that she has vision and I love that we have the capability of turning that to reality.