3rd Annual Gammon Girl Baking Bonanza

For my birthday, Denise (and John) surprised me with a weekend trip to Vegas for the Gammon baking day. It was SO much fun. I am the luckiest girl in the world to not only have married such a stud but a stud with the BEST extended family! We baked, laughed, stirred, mixed, told stories, laughed some more and I took some of the best naps of my life:) I got to stay with Becca and Michael in their adorable house and had so much fun running around with Beccs. If she wasn't my sister, she would definitely be a best friend.The Allen Girls
The Gammon Girls. Karen, Denise, Greta (Goose) and Gramma Betty
The Chaos. These women were in the kitchen from 9 AM to 7 PM. The menu for the day: reindeer crunch, no bake cookie bars, fudge, rice krispy treats, peanut butter balls, bird's nests, pecan cookies and everybody's favorite-Bob's caramel corn!! Everyone had a responsibility. I was just there for moral support. I think I did actually pour four teaspoons of vanilla into Andrea's no bake cookie mix!
A few of the ingredients...butter was the main ingredient of the day.
Jake was such a big helper and so sweet all day
More loves for Karli
Debbie pouring some whisky. Diet Coke was a must with these ladies working all day!
Pretty sure Bob popped pop corn for the first three hours straight!
We used all of these tin containers. FILLED with sugar.

The ball makers

The Loot!!
Caramel corn, pecan cookies, fudge, peanut butter balls
Denise was a champ and decided to offer her services to roll the birds nests in pecans. And she hated every second of it. I wish I would have recorded her face and comments. I was peeing my pants!

Grandma's special contributions-bird nests cookies and pecan cookies. Two of my favorites!
After a loooong day in the kitchen, we all took turns in Bob's magical foot massager and watched two movies.

Things I should have taken pictures of but was too busy to even pull my camera out:

*Going to "church" at Silver Ridge (old person home) where Gramma B and Grampa D bring the sacrament every week.

*Sunday dinner at Beccas house

*Las Vegas youth symphony starring cute Maddie

Funny Girl

Just another funny story I don't want to forget...

John and I let the kids play games on our iphones before they go to bed. Sometimes they fight over whose phone they get because each one has different games. Well this particular night hey were fighting over my phone so I played the "I'm done" card for the night and sent John and the kids down the hall to figure it out for themselves. The next morning I woke up and asked John for my phone. He didn't have it. It wasn't with Liv, it wasn't in Johnny's room. It wasn't under a cushion or in a toy bin or in a closet or under my bed. I couldn't find it anywhere. I took the kids to school, came home in a panic and decided to call it one more time now the house was silent. It rang and rang and after a few calls, I could hear a tiny ring! I slowly inched my way through the house trying to find which direction it was in and I heard it in the kitchen. Laundry room? No. Cupboard? No. Fridge? Yes, it was in the fridge. So I opened the fridge but couldn't see it.
I could hear the ring loud and clear but the phone was nowhere in sight. Can you see it? Neither could I.
Finally, I opened the cheese drawer, got down to eye level and there it was, buried under all the string cheese. My phone had spent the night in fridge.

Livy, not wanting Johnny to play with my phone, had hid it in the fridge before she went to bed. And when I asked her about it, she totally played dumb. With a little smirky grin. She knew exactly what she had done, and it worked!

Thanksgiving 2010

My parents came to town for Thanksgiving this year. We went to San Antonio to the JW Marriott resort for dinner. It was beautiful and delicious. Dinner wast at 4:30 but dad was too hungry to wait so we stopped in their famous sports bar for some appetizers.
My dinner included shrimp cocktail, prime rib, two soups, sushi and the BEST lobster risotto I've ever tasted.
Kiddos got their faces painted and enjoyed mac and cheese and tons of dessert.



The temperature dropped 35 degrees from before dinner to after. We couldn't feel the fire at all and practically sat in it.

Time to relax after dinner. Mom and dad played chess.
Livy played with the iPad
John checked the scores of all the games.
Livy thought she was really driving and took it seriously

We spent a few dollars in the arcade, kids love that stuff.

Isn't she lovely?
Once again, we waiting too long to eat and the men had to get something to eat before dinner!
A little walk in the freeeezing weather.
I had to document this fit because she was terrified of the Mexican Elvis who was walking around the Mercado. We kept trying to avoid him and he would pop up again.
Spoiled Johnny boy got Mimi and Pap to buy him a balloon from one of the vendors. Sponge Bob.
Another lovely meal at Mi Tierra
Love them.
Johnny chose pink cake from the bakery?

Livy is such a funny girl...when she's not screaming and throwing hour-long tantrums!

The day after T-day there is a huge tree lighting and river boat parade on the river walk. Saw the tree, showed mom and dad the river walk but did not stay for the parade-too cold!
The happy couple
Daddy and his girl
The Alamo
First time on the River Walk. I love this tree.
They are best friends.
She was so tired after such a busy day.

It was soooo cold that night so we rushed home and made some hot chocolate!
Mimi brought Johnny some lego prizes for scoring goals during his soccer season. He loves these Bionicles lately and can put them together all by himself!
Family picture
We moved the swing set to the front of our yard and the kids play on it all day now. Every time we walk outside they run to the swings for a few seconds. Livy loves swinging on her tummy these days, just like Johnny used to:)


Loves for Papa
Liv and Mimi love each other. I have no idea why these pics didn't flip.

Papa got to take Johnny to school
John and my dad put the hoop together themselves to save the 75 bucks Academy would charge. It took five hours!
Johnny's first shot on his new hoop!
THE pork chop. Thanks for dinner hubby!
Dad doing some push ups before we consumed thousands of calories at Perry's.
Happy Birthday to ME! I'm 28 now.

After our weekend with the Allens, we had an early Thanksgiving on Wednesday before everyone went home. It was delicious! Denise and Andrea brined the turkey first and cooked it in a clay pot thingy and it was probably the best turkey I've ever had! The feast also included ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, uncle Bob's sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, apple/pear salad, rolls, creamed corn, pomegranate salad, green jell-o and cranberry sauce.The spread
hangin out
Yum.
The kids didn't have a spot so they got to eat on the stairs!
all done!