Cathy...

Yesterday was my aunt Cathy's birthday!  I didn't get a chance to post her birthday blog so here we go a day late.  I will just mention a few of the many things I love so much about my aunt. First and foremost she is my favorite aunt and I know I am her favorite niece after all we share the name Cathryn.  She is hilarious and has the best sense of humor.  My favorite memory is her trying to sell personal items at a garage sale we had.  She marks the items slightly below what she paid for them and walks away with no sales.  She is so beautiful, so kind and a wonderful mother and grandmother.  She is a very hard worker and cleans like a maniac.  I was lucky enough to live near her and she helped me with so many things.  I miss seeing her as ofter as I use to.  Paisley loves her just as much as I do and calls her Grandma Cathy.  Cathy the Teele family loves you dearly and hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

My Love...

Today is a very special day.  It is Tony's birthday.  I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man.  He is so loving, kind, funny, handsome and a great father.  In honor of his birthday I will share my top 10 favorite things about Tony..

In no particular order... (I've always wanted to say that)

1.  I love that he is so willing to help whenever I need anything.

2.  I can talk to him about anything and he doesn't judge.

3.  He works hard.

4.  He gets along with any and everyone.

5.  He is super smart. 

6.  He supports in anything I want to do.

7.  He loves my family and tolerates Shelby. 

8.  He has great legs.

9.  He sends Paisley off to school every morning w/a full belly.

10. He loves  me unconditionally.

I could go on and on...

We love you Tony.  Happy 37th Birthday!!

skating

a couple months ago a friend of mine had a birthday party at skateland.   she acutally rented out skateland.  isn't that so cool.  this is the skateland that i went to in elementary school where i first hoped about becoming a rythm skater in stark white skates. well that dream never became a reality, but i was able to relive some old memories.  it was a dress up party and both shelby and i had a blast.  i don't remember falling so much when i was younger.  i fell on my way to the bathroom and seriously injured my tail bone and almost wet my pants.  it hurt for a couple days, but the fun was worth it.

we are finally back...

Its been a long couple of months...

I am happy to say that we have made it through the tough times of unemployment.  

It is good to be back.  We are so lucky to have family that loves us and has helped us get back on our feet.  We love you so much.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Unfortunately... during the break I didn't take much photos so there is not alot to blog about.  

Not a BA-Humbug!!

 I love Christmas and I love decorating my house for the season. Even though the decorating is done it this year it has felt different.  I must admit we have had a rough start this holiday season.   The economy is bad even though I love the gas prices. The weather never feels like Christmas in Arizona.  This year we don't have our stainless steel mantle to hang our stockings from-boy do we miss our little masterpiece.  To top it all Tony was laid off from work a couple weeks ago.  With all this going on I can honestly tell you I am not feeling it.  Not to sound like Scrooge-It is kind of nice not to get wrapped up in the stress of the season.  Most Christmas's its more stressful than joyful.  This year I am just so thankful to have a my wonderful family.  Tony and I have spent more time together the last couple weeks than I think we have in the last 6 years of our marriage.  It has been so nice.  His phone isn't ringing off the hook.  Ha Ha-he doesn't even have a phone.  He has been able to walk Paisley to the bus stop.  He even volunteered in her class.  So what if there is nothing under our tree.  We got each other and that is the best gift of all.  This Christmas count your blessings.  I love my family!

a fake tree and a few decorations

Happy Holidays!!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

Our family has started a new tradition of going to the rim the day after Thanksgiving to get cut down our Christmas tree.  We had so much fun playing in the snow.  OK-maybe not so much fun it was cold, the kids got wet, Thane got sick and poor Kristin was stuck baby-sitting for like 2 hours.  We are bad to leave her alone with all the kids.  I am so sorry Kristin.  I promise a full night of baby-sitting whenever you want.  So this year I needed a skinny tree to fit in a large corner of my house.  Nik has an eye for picking our trees so I was in love when she spotted our tree.  Tall and skinny just like Paisley.  We were the first to pick our tree.  It is so hard to find a good tree so about 3 hours later the remainder of the trees were selected.  We loaded up the trailer and headed back to town.  One by one as we unloaded each individual tree I thought WOW!  They all picked out large and full trees.  Our tree was one of the last trees since we live in Queen Creek.  When my dad pulled out our tree my mom about peed her pants.  Here we have this stick with a few twigs.  It looked nothing like it looked in the forest.  The next morning we took a better look at and decided it looked too much like a Charlie Brown Xmas tree.  So we put up my tall and skinny fake tree.  I love my fake tree.  I feel awful we cut down a tree so if anyone knows of someone that likes sparse trees it is in our garage sitting in water waiting for a home.  If we don't have someone to claim it we will make a wreath and put the rest in our fire pit.  I know so cruel.  Here are a few photos from the day and of our tree.