Hanukkah, Zoo Lights and Lisa's Birthday ...

We have had a lot of fun and relaxation the last few weeks. Mike and I have been on vacation and the boys started their winter break last week. I have to admit, I have been in my pj's until noon almost everyday and it has been WONDERFUL.... I am not looking forward to getting back into the swing of work tomorrow, but at least I just have to get myself ready and everyone else can stay home and have fun. I can't complain too much since it's a short week for me and then I will have a three day weekend.

We celebrated a belated birthday for Lisa's "40th" a few weeks ago and had a nice dinner at a local Japanese restaurant.

The boys were very excited for Hanukkah to start this past weekend and it has been non-stop fun at our house. The boys have lit their very own Menorahs each night and Jordy has been leading the prayer for us. It really melts my heart to see them lighting the Menorahs and waiting in anticipation to open their presents. I have to say with Christmas yesterday, I was a bad Mom and told the boys that we were skipping Hanukkah last night, Jayden was not very thrilled with me.

It would not be winter break without having someone under the weather and this time around it's Jayden. He has been fighting a fever and a horrible cough. Luckily, he was able to enjoy Christmas yesterday and is back to the couch today building up a little more energy for the rest of Christmas break.

I will be back with some Christmas pictures and then this weekend will be our Annual NYE bash at The Callison's.... I hope everyone got to stay in their pj's a little longer this weekend too!

December Holiday Parties...

We have had a really busy week at the Callison's, which reminds me that we must be right in the heart of December. I had my Annual Divas and Bunco holiday parties as well as our monthly J-Crew get together. They involved gift exchanges, White Elephants and cookie exchanges. They always seem like a lot to get ready for, but once I get there I am always happy to be with friends and having a good time. Oh, and how can I forget that at two of the parties we had to wear an ugly holiday sweater. So, I decided to break out my Mom's sixteen year old Hanukkah sweatshirt and I was the winner at one of the parties. You can see this gem in the first picture. The other fun pictures are from our J-Crew evening and some fun we had with the White Elephant gift exchange.

We still have lots of fun things planned for the month of December. So, check back in as I will have many more pictures to share.

Lady A......

Besides seeing Bon Jovi two years in a row in Phoenix, I can't remember the last time I was really excited about going to a concert. But when I heard that Lady A was coming to town I couldn't find a friend quick enough to agree to go with me. My friend Sandi was just as excited as I was and last Thursday we finally got to go to the concert. It was a great girls night out and Lady A put on a fabulous performance.

I love music SO much. It brings me back to the days when I would visit my Dad in New Jersey and I would wake up and his stereo would be blaring downstairs. He was always playing a new song or new artist for me. When I first heard Lady A's music I just knew that my Dad would of loved them. It's kind of gone full circle now, because my Jordy loves music too and it just warms my heart when he wants to listen to music with me. It reminds me of my Dad and puts a huge smile on my face.

Sandi's Birthday Celebration...

If you didn't already know I LOVE my birthday but I think I have found a friend who loves it even more than me. My friend Sandi had myself and two girlfriends in a tizzy for two months trying to make her birthday celebration the best. Well let me preface this first - my friend Sandi puts everyone first before herself and always makes sure to make you feel special, so we wanted to make sure her birthday was the best....

So, we started off the day at Dolce and the girls got massages and then we shopped (who can resist a little shopping) and then we headed to a late lunch at Pita Jungle. By this time the guys had met up at The Legacy and to Sandi's surprise had decorated the suite and stocked the fridge with lots of yummy stuff for later on. The girls showered and the boys drank and then we were off to dinner at Va Bene.... Oh what a great place. We had a great table and even bumped into two favorite gals celebrating a special occasion with their families. After dinner we went back to The Legacy and had a great evening. There were many laughs, giggles, and memories to last a lifetime.

I am so glad I have these ladies in my life. I hope you felt special Sandi and had a great birthday weekend. Love you!

JCC Shabbat Family Dinner

The JCC had a Shabbat family dinner a few weeks ago and it was really cute. All the pre-school classes made the centerpieces for the table and we walked around until we found the one Jordy's class made. They were adorable flower pot centerpieces that had his picture in the center. It's really funny how my kids take pictures when I am not around vs. when I am there. Sometimes I don't think the child they photograph is actually mine. Especially my busy, yelling, singing Jordy....

We brought J & J's favorite Nic n' Toni's pizza and called it a night. It was lots of fun... Oh and we couldn't end the night without stopping at BR for some ice cream....

Crockpot Chocolate Fondue

As you know, I LOVE to cook and also love finding new recipes. I think my love for new recipes has taken over my love for shopping. I don't know which is worse. I made this yummy Chocolate Fondue recipe to take over to some friends and I had to share. I made two platters for dipping - one sweet and one refreshing. Take a peak and here is the recipe too.

Crockpot Chocolate Fondue
•18 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
•1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
•6 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
•13 oz. can evaporated milk
•1/4 cup powdered sugar
•1 tsp. vanilla
•Fruit, cookies, and cake pieces for dipping

3rd Annual J-Crew Labor Day...

I am going to go back to the beginning of September because I don't want to miss posting some fun pictures. This year we spent Labor Day at the JW Marriott with some great friends. The J-crew has become extended family to us and we all had a great weekend with lots of sun and fun. We ate lots of food, played in the pool for hours, ate great street tacos (by the pool), drank yummy drinks and just had an awesome time on a weekend staycation.... Here's to many more J-crew memories....

Camping With The Callison.....

So last month we finally went camping with some great friends at Canyon Woods, which is a little past Payson. I know this is shocking to many of you, since I am not the most spontaneous, outdoors person in the world, but I took one for the team and went camping with my crew for the weekend. There were four families in all and we had a great weekend filled with S'mores, fishing, boating, campfires and experiencing no bathrooms ANYWHERE in sight.... I thought I was clear with my request for needing a bathroom before the trip but when I realized what my options were, well let's just say the woods were a much better alternative.

J & J thought the weekend was awesome and can't wait to go again. I still think camping on the San Diego beaches is more my speed, but I did agree to go again - BUT there must be a functioning bathroom in sight!!!!

First Day of School...

I am SO far behind again, but I need to get these first day of school pictures up for the memory book. Jayden started 2nd grade at Islands Elementary this year and Jordy started his Pre-K class at the JCC. Can you believe I will have a Kindergartner next year??? Wow! Time is flying by.

Summer Colds, Sunshine and Lifetime Fitness...

Well as I mentioned in my previous post, summer is here.... I think I forget every year how the heat starts and hits you like a ton of bricks. I got home from work the other day and couldn't wait to get my Chase attire off and put on my thinnest sun dress I have. I literally fell on to my bed and laid under the fan until I had not more than a minute to spare to pick up the boys from camp. Every day I remind J & J to drink water and then their smart Momma forgets to drink hers.... Well I paid the price that afternoon as I felt sick all day.

We have been staying busy this summer with camp, play dates and swimming. Jordy started with a runny nose and I told him he had a "Summer cold" and he looked at me like I was talking another language, it was pretty cute. "He said, what's that, Momma". I remember being a kid in New Jersey and getting a cold that didn't last long, but my Mom always told me it was from going in and out of the air conditioning. I guess it's one of those childhood stories I remember. As quick as Jordy got his "Summer cold" it was gone. I am SO grateful that we are four months past his Tonsillectomy and the surgery seems to have been a great decision.

After six years of being in our house I am finally wishing we had a pool in our backyard. It was really great when J & J were little and I didn't have to worry about the backyard, but now the thought of opening my back door to my own backyard paradise sounds very appealing. So, one day last week after I picked J&J up from camp I had enough of sweating and decided it was time to renew our Lifetime Fitness membership. It's been great and the boys love it. Jayden goes up and down the slide over and over and Jordy loves that he can play in the zero depth entrance that they have. Any friends out there want to join us at the pool????

That's the latest over here. Will be back with pictures soon. Looking forward to a fun Fourth of July weekend filled with BBQ's, friends and lots of yummy foods. Maybe I will post a few recipes that I am making this weekend....

Summer Is Here In AZ.....

I'm looking forward to spending lots of quality time with three of my favorite people this summer.. The heat has started and it won't be going anywhere until October, so we just get used to it and take advantage of all our good friends and their pools :) It's crazy when 100 plus degrees are the norms and just part of your everyday.

We have some fun things planned over the next few months. My Jordy will be turning four (is that really possible) on July 9th, so Mommy is getting busy preparing a "magical" party at our house. We will have a fun July 4th weekend and a few birthdays to celebrate in between. Then Mike and I have a week off and are trying to decide how we want to spend it. We might just stay local and enjoy some family time close to home. Then we will look forward to our Annual Labor Day weekend with some great friends. In AZ a list comes out every year of Summer deals at the resorts and this year we will be staying at the JW Marriott. We can't wait to have some fun and make new memories!

Stay tuned.... There will definitely be lots of pictures to share.