New Years Eve/New Years Day

One of my favorite holidays is New Years Eve! Pretty much every year since 1999 we have had a party at our house with Matt's brother, and sister. We usually eat junk food, play games and enjoy the fact that the Christmas stress is over. I got fancier than usual and made some of the snacks...with the help of "Tastefully Simple". Here is a key-lime cheeseball that I, yes, once again I, made. YUMM!!
I also made this yummy garlic dip. I am channelling my inner Tina for the fancy set up.
I also made lime-ade = success and I attempted "little smokies" = fail. Dave usually makes them and he couldn't make it. It wouldn't be the same without them, I hope he can make it back next year to show me how it is done.

I love, love, love Alex's 7 layer bean-dip.

I also love her orange salad, I beg her to make it every year.

I also put up some New Years decorations. I love my mantle full of stuff, after Christmas-it is so bare.

Look at these two cute girls! My daughter and my niece, Bella. Perfectly adorable.

Matt and his brother and sister.

I think their mom would be so proud that her children are so close, that we get along so well!

Do they look alike? AND...is Kristen making fun of me and my posing ways?

This is actual proof that my son is the "drink stealer!"

Matt's brother Greg and his wife Alex. We are so glad that they are our friends as well as our relatives. We always have fun. Thanks for spending every New Years Eve with us!

Me and the hubs. New Years Eve attire and sparkling cider!

Look at my cute niece Maddie, she wouldn't stay put long enough for me to get a front shot!

Hmmm..is Matt trying to get an early start on his New Years Resolution?! Don't mind the Orange DC shirt-Matt had to work that night!

Jamie is such a poser, now who did he get THAT from?

Bella made it to midnight--no problem!

This little pipsqueak is quite brave. So cute, Maddie!

The kids ran around in circles with their noisemakers. Oh what fun!

Lauren was so cute in her hat!

Jamie wanted his picture taken too.

Everytime he sees Justin Bieber-he thinks it is him. Here is his New Years Hat-"Bieber style".

I love his crinkled nose smile. He is so huggably adorable.

It was so snowy that night....apparently our blow-up snowman had one too many. LOL.

I am lucky that Greg and Alex and Kristen made it to and from our house safely. Matt did some shoveling before bed. Only on New Years Eve!

Every New Years Day-it is tradition to go to Red Lobster. We call it "National Red Lobster Day". Matt was soooo looking forward to it. It never dissapoints.

Look at my two boys. Love them!

Lauren and her cousin, Zander. Our "Giant Baby". He is so chubby and cute.

Me and the hubs. Yipee we survived 2010!

My cute baby sister, even with no makeup. (she is probably mad at me for sharing this).

I wanted to slip this shot in of the animals. This must be how they spend their day. They are in the cage by choice-we leave the door open!

I bought them these shirts for Christmas. Am I a geek or what?

But I couldn't resist-they were too cute! "Big Sister" and "Little Brother".

It felt so nice to have a clean house, and to put away all the Christmas decorations. I felt like I could BREATHE! Hope you all had a great holiday season. From our house to yours. Happy 2011! Now, where exactly do I put THIS box?

Finally..my Super Long Mega Holidays Post!

We surely had a great Christmas this year. Let's just say that I am glad that it is over! All the hustle and bustle and a million things to do..it just isn't the same kind of "fun" that I remember as a kid! The best thing about Christmas though, is the joy and excitement in my children. Here is Lauren with Santa and Mrs. Claus. She is super happy!

Jamie would have nothing to do with Santa, but took a Candy Cane anyway.



Here is Jamie around Christmastime. He thought he was cute, so did I.

Okay...now for a second here my comments aren't matching up with the correct picture, and I can't fix it, so I apologize for that! Bear with me for a minute here....
















Matt's Dad, Leo and his wife Tina on Christmas Eve. We had a great dinner over there, and opened presents together that night. The kids always love seeing each other!

Lauren was having a ball playing with Maddie. They are both such darling girls!

Three Lovatos!

All the cute kiddos! This year there were 4, next year there will be 5! We are growing! We can't wait for Kristen to have her little munchkin in the gang!

Maddie loved the present I got her! She was laughing and kicking her feet. I adore that little girl!!!

Jamie loved the present that Pa Pa Leo and Grandma T T gave him. He was so excited for the bike that he was actually trying to ride the box! Silly boy!

This was gonna be a Matt and I photo, but Jamie had to butt in! Ha! I do love my boys!

Leo wanted a picture of his wife and grandkids, but

Jamie was having NOTHING to do with it! Go figure!

Here is a shot of my little family. The best one I know!

Matt's brother Greg, his wife Alex, and one of their daughter's Isabella. Our family AND friends!

Matt's Step-brother Steven and his boyfriend Collin.

Most of the Lovato clan. Coolest Peeps in WJ! Check out Lars! Strike a pose girlfriend!

Later that night we went to my parents house to open our Louisiana presents, a tradition that goes as far back as I can remember! Here are my hottie sisters!

So..that night my battery died, so I didn't get too many photos. I was able to snap one with Jamie LOVING the cars (of course) that he got from my brother!

Santa came to our house. This is what awaited my kids in the morning. Lauren was up a mere 1.5 hours after I finished it all. Whew! I always say I won't do all my wrapping the night before, but every year I do!

Jamie was THRILLED to get the "CARMACK" that he had been begging for three months. The smile on his face made everything worth it. What a cutie pie!

He was also thrilled to get to ride his assembled bike!

Lauren was EXCITED to see the Barbie house that she had been longing for. It really was nearly as big as she was as her dad told her it would be!

Christmas Day at my parent's house. My sisters..Sarah and Ashley and her boyfriend Victor..and my two little monkeys. There will be another monkey in this picture too! Can't wait for another munchkin!

This WOULD be a nice family Christmas Day photo..if Matt wasn't pulling an "Earl". Well, I guess that you will just have to imagine what it would look like if his eyes were open!

My little sister Sarah is prettier than she thinks she is! I love to have her as a sister, a co-worker, and a friend.

Victor and Ashley. Ashley, or SKIPPY as I call her...is also a great friend. Love to spend time with her...she is determined and brave and also prettier than she thinks she is!

And here are all of the kids. What a MOTLEY CREW...he he he.

Oh, and FINALLY a shot of my parents. They are the best parents and grandparents! My kids LOVE going over there. Thanks for all you do for us!

Sarah and Lauren, the posers.

Merry Christmas! Sure love my little kiddos!

The next day, the kids loved playing with their Zhu-Zhu pets. These were courtesy of our renters, Chris and Pam Crouch...so thoughtful of them! These hamsters are sure neat! More priceless smiles.

Here is Jamie in some new threads. I love going to his closet and finding all these new clothes! It was badly needed! He is not a baby, but a boy!

A couple of days after Christmas..it was Matt's sister's birthday, the kids loved playing with Uncle Dave.

Happy Birthday Kristen!

A couple of days later, I met Alex for lunch. We thought it was hillarious that our daughters were dressed IDENTICALLY! We didn't plan it, we didn't even know they both owned the same shirt. SOO cute! They love each other! I am so glad Lauren has a cousin close in age, they get along so well.

For New Years Eve, instead of the traditional party at our house, Alex and Greg hosted the shindig at thier house. Here is Alex and her mom, Claudia.

This picture looks so wrong! I promise though, that is sparkling cider NOT champagne! Nobody needs to call DFS!!

So, on Christmas Eve Jamie got a super-bad black eye. This picture was taken a week after the incident and you can still see how bad it was. Good thing he is so cute, you almost don't notice.

Three muskateers! The cute kiddos!

Greg and Alex and a "smiling" Dakota!

Gee whiz, can Matt take a normal picture?! I guess not! Oh well, I guess I will keep him anyway.

Kristen and Dave! Hopefully next year when they have a baby, they will still be partay animals!

Me and the best little girl and buddy I know!

All of the girls....I hate when there are three people with cameras taking pictures at the same time! No one is looking at the same camera! Oh well...

Jamie's first car-nap of the year! He made it to midnight and about 5 minutes of 2010! HA!

The next day we upheld another tradition. We went to Red Lobster with my family. I didn't take many photos that day (my camera battery died again!)...but I did get one of my mom holding Zoe like a baby. I think she may be ready for another baby.....BUT man, Zoe kinda has crazy eyes here!

My mom and Sarah. (my mom posted more photos on Facebook of this day, if you are wanting more)....

Jamie cracked me up when he came out of his room looking like this...hmmm...guitar, black-eye, hard-hat, and dirty face. Yup...all BOY!

Too cute!

A suprise for New Years is that my brother came into town for a visit. Jamie was excited to see his Uncle John. (ps..I think John has his hat like that so he would look taller than me, because I am really taller than him!)

Okay...rule of thumb...don't take pictures against a bright backdrop. Well...I am still glad to have gotten a shot of me and my favorite brother.

Well..that is my super long mega post! I hope you enjoyed it as it took me only a few hours to create it. Awww....hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you are all as relieved as I am that it is all over! The holidays AND this post! HA!