I heart faces photo challenge: Best 2010 face

I heart faces is having a "best of 2010 face" contest. I had so many to choose from, but I feel like this was my most powerful image this year. 

Just a memory: Christmas

So, our entire Sunday was spent cleaning, putting away the x-mas decor, cutting up, and burning our 15 foot tree! What. A. Mess. that tree made! We saved the trunk of the tree to burn in our fireplace. It feels so empty in my house now. It always does the day we pack Christmas away! Makes me wish Christmas was everyday. I'm going to miss the gatherings ... the food .. the pretty lights .. and of course my beautiful tree! Until next year =)

A New Year

I don't like making resolutions for myself and these past few years I've set small resolutions hoping to reach them all. And I do, some. Even something like taking to time to blog everyday is hard! My goal is to blog once a day and hopefully include a photo to get me picking up my camera for myself, but it seemed last year once I missed a few days I stopped. So, this year I'm not going to be so hard on myself for a few missed days. I'll keep on and hopefully can get a year of our life documented.

Anyway here are a few of my New Year resolutions - not all just a few I'm sharing here are:

1. Read more books (I think I read 3 books last year and all were Autism related). I want to read more novels.

2. Find and be apart of something - weather it be a support group for moms with kids that have autism or a group with our church - something! Maybe I'll even get really rambunctious and start something .. =)

3. Go to church more

and since my husband is going to be deployed for all of this year ....

4. Spend more wisely, save more, and pay off debt

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year!

College Football Holiday Bowl: GO BIG RED

Well we scored some last minute tickets to go see my favorite college football team, Nebraska Cornhuskers. I know most people are surprised when I say I am a Huskers fan. I was born and raised in New England and love my New England teams but for some reason, and I'm sure there was one, I became a Huskers fan when I was in my teens. This was my first game I got to see at a stadium. It was was disappointing, yes because they lost, but the game overall by both teams wasn't a very exciting game. Not like I thought it would be. I guess I'll just have to keep my plans to see them play Ohio State in October at Nebraska. Now that'll be a game worth seeing! Here are some pictures of the night.

These two were great! So glad I got to sit next to them. I wanted to steal her hat!!!!!

Hot cocoa was needed it was COLD for San Diego!

What do you think they were talking about? LOL

Replay anyone? He looks proud of that shot!

There are ALWAYS one of them! haha

The popcorn man! 

The band - they were good

We did originally have seats together, but we traded them for better seats - we still sat together. 

What a show. The fireworks were insane ...

A chef in the making: Amelia

Amelia has been showing more and more interest in cooking.  She likes helping me make bread - adding the ingredients and all. She likes to watch me cook dinner. Although, she won't peel potatoes or peel the carrots ... it's too much work for her! She loves baking cookies with her dad. As far as cooking on the stove I've always been a bit nervous about. Well, I don't know why I was - she's a natural =) She now can mix the pancake batter and cook us up breakfast! This will be great for when daddy is gone and mommy needs a helper in the kitchen and someone to serve me breakfast in bed!

Sailing the San Diego Bay

We got the opportunity to sail with Heart of Sailing - a program for families that have children with cognitive disorders such as Autism. George is the founder of this AMAZING organization. He took us out for an hour of sailing. This program is to help families create memories, help build team work skills, RELAX, and spend time together sharing the experience. It does so much more for the child that has a disability. My son with Autism became relaxed, less impulsive, and aware. It was a very calming stimulation for him and he enjoyed the sail, so much! 

Ashton with George

Nick, Amelia, and Anthony - after the sail.

So much to be thankful for ....

We had an amazing Christmas this year. We got to celebrate with long time friends. I made a beautiful Ham dinner with all the fixings. The kids got everything they wanted and more. We spent the day swimming in the pool - thanks to the beautiful weather! Drinking lots of wine. The adults even had fun playing Mad Libs - how I forgot how much that game can make you laugh. After it got dark we lit the fire pit and roasted marshmallows over the fire for s'mores - yum! It was everything Christmas should be. Here are a few pictures from our day. Mainly just some of the kids in the morning. I put the camera aside once the wine got opened. I need a point and shoot, I know! =) I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas like we did.

The tree =)

Some was excited for Santa to come!

Opening gifts

Orange juice anyone? 25 cents OR $1.00

To be a kid again!

Cheerleading Competition

Such a fun day! The girls did wonderful =) Made me miss my cheerleading days!

Remember Miss Mary Mac Mac Mac all dressed in black black black =)