Happy holidays 2009

Christmas card 2009

Cruising with the co-workers

Michael, Luis and I went over to Diane and John's house tonight. Cathy, Nina and Pete were also there. The food was great and we watched Terminator Salvation (yes, again). But I enjoyed the casual conversations the best. It's nice to hang out with the people you work with outside of the work environment. I hope we have many more outings like this in 2010!

By the way, after a slow start getting myself together and ready, my pineapple-coconut bread pudding was a success! It was ono!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Law Abiding Citizen DVD

G's third and final movie of 2009 Law Abiding Citizen is coming out on DVD on February 16th! My collection is growing fast!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Gamer Blu-Ray

Mr. B's second film of 2009 Gamer is coming out on DVD on January 19th. One more Blu-Ray to add to my collection!

Christmas 2009 A wintery night

Taken from our front door looking out to the street...

Blu Ray and PS3 night

Mike and Tina came over for the first time to have a few beers and watch a movie. Since Mike got a PS3 for Christmas the boys tried out some of Aaron's many games, including Uncharted 2. We finally watched Terminator Salvation. It was a nice relaxing evening with friends!

Christmas 2009 Dave & Nikki's party

Later we met up with Aaron's high school friends. Congratulations Dave and Nikki on your engagement! We are very happy for you!

At the top: Adam. Back row: Nehemiah, Dave, Nikki, Jay, Andy and Jessica. Bottom row: Big Al, Matthew, Tasha, Emily, Jen, me and Aaron. Missing: Tom.

Da young at heart!

Christmas 2009 Grandma's dinner

We went over to Grandma's for Christmas day dinner.

What you got there, Grandma?

Christmas 2009 Goodies

Santa was good to us this year! We got movies and PS3 games, a PS3 controller charger, clothes, makeup, perfume and makeup travel case (all for me), a much needed new digital camera, a Calphalon pot, spa and bike shop certificates, pajamas and gift cards. Oh and I got Hello Kitty...

...and Aaron got long sleeve Hawaiian shirts (muscles not included).

Christmas 2009 Cookie dinner

Michael and Luis showed up soon after I finished eating. Dad and Grandma left and Cookie and Ken showed up. Second shift!

Who's that new person in my house? Oh, it's Luis!

It's hard work guarding this house!

Christmas 2009 Doggy treats

Keala & Ikaika got bones from Grandpa B

Christmas 2009 Brlas dinner

Christmas dinner at our house! I made pulled pork in a chili-ginger-garlic-pineapple juice sauce and Aaron made a three cheese mac and cheese. We also had sweet potato fries and Parmesan-garlic chicken. I ran out of time to make my bread pudding. Hopefully Cookie will bring dessert like she said.

We had Dad and Grandma over for the first shift.

Kyle and Becky joined us too.

OPERA ALERT: Les Contes d'Hoffman

Jane and Ben joined me to watch Les Contes d'Hoffman, the Met's performance from Crocker Park's Regal Cinemas. I was not familiar with the storyline but enjoyed it anyway. It's my first Offenbach sung in French.

I was really impressed with Kathleen Kim's performance as Olympia, the mechanical doll singing the Doll Song, Les oiseaux dans la charmille.

I also liked Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre, the song sung by Antonia's butler. Bravo!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Avatar

Aaron and I really enjoyed Mr. Worthington's new movie Avatar. The 3-D effects are amazing and the storyline is original. I admit I got a bit of motion sickness so I took the glasses off periodically. But everyone should see it!

Sam's new look - Jake Sully's Avatar

He's still a kick-ass!

Winter's here!

Keala and Aaron walking on a nippy afternoon...

...while Ikaika dreamt of pig ears and milkbones by the tree; I was test cooking my Christmas recipes in the kitchen.

Finals week

It's my busy week at work. Wish me and my crew luck that we stay healthy and don't stress out too much! Four more nights, four more nights...

G understands me!

Blue and Silva

Aaron and I finally put up the ornaments and garland. If I just had silver feather boas lying around... ha, like it needs more spunk! IT SPARKLES!!

Shopping... its like riding a bike!

My weekend started off slow. After staying up late and making my lists of what shops to go and what gifts to buy, I only managed to get out of the house on Friday at dinnertime. I met Megan at Fat Head's Brewery in North Olmsted. It's been a long time since we've had a dinner night and we had a lot of fun catching up. Megan got to try a handful of beers -- the bitter ales is her preference. I stuck to my hot tea. We were stuffed to the gills with my Divine Swine and her Fat Italian headwiches but managed to have a tasty pineapple and coconut with buttered rum bread pudding. Ono! (I have to get the recipe and make it for my Christmas dinner!) We vowed to revive the once a month dinner nights! Next up, a martini joint!

We said our goodbyes and I commenced shopping... it all came back to me! I miss shopping a lot! The cold weather did not stop me this time. I stopped by an Asian market to buy rice, then headed to Crocker Park and bought one of Aaron and Grandma Brlas' gifts and tons of stuff for my house.

Today I got an early start, returning a couple of things for the house, bought paint to update our weathered mailbox, loaded up on more dog food, picked up an ingredient for my Christmas dinner, bought Kyle's gift and finished my grocery shopping. I would have continued on if my feet didn't start throbbing. The high heels did me in. I intended on taking a break at home and head out later, but I fell asleep in front of the TV and didn't make it out. I settled under the covers and watch Terminator Salvation again (Yep, Mr. Worthington is still hot!).

With a little illumination

Light snow outside

We have lift off!

The tree is standing again! And it has lights. Aaron did a great job replacing all the burnt out bulbs and stringing them on the tree. You don't need me to decorate! Oh, we didn't put our ornaments yet. I guess the tree is still a work in progress.

The red accents are coming down and the blues are taking over...

Twinkles and pine needles

Aaron and I attempted to put our tree lights on and succeeded. It looked pretty with just the white lights. As we cruised on the couch, the tree fell down, again. Flat on its side. What a mess. We ended up dragging it out to the back porch until Aaron can recut the bottom flat and retry setting it in the stand. Don't want it falling on my babies when we are at work.

We spent the early morning cleaning up. No holiday cheer in the house...

GIRLIE UPDATE: New Moon

Michael and I spent the day hanging out while Aaron went to work. We finally saw New Moon. Go Team Jacob!

Jacob -- his abs says it all

Edward -- his tragic look hits the spot
We also ate dinner at Minh Anh Vietnamese restaurant in Lakewood, did a bit of Christmas window shopping and watched Coraline at my house. A great time!

One relaxing week

Amazingly my work week was easy. That's because it's the calm before the storm -- the busy desk period will begin next week in full force.

I finally went back to aerobics yesterday, and so did Michael. Melody seem to have missed us.

Today Aaron and I took Keala and Ikaika for their annual vet visit. They were on their best behavior yet! They made friends with the humans in the waiting room and behaved when they got their shots and nails clipped. I was so proud of my babies!

When we got home we finish putting the lights on our front yard bushes. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Aaron and I continued our errands and went food shopping. Then we went out to eat at the Texas Roadhouse compliments of Rick and Grandma.

Ikaika inspecting the purchases, and finding da doggie treats
We also attempted to put lights on our tree tonight. I say attempted because the tree tipped and almost came crashing down on me. Water went on the carpet and floors, and needles everywhere. Aaron and I tried to reposition the tree in the stand and ran out of steam by then. What a day!

Before da lights...