New Years 2010

This year we decided to have a low key New Year's Eve.  We normally do broomball, but seeing as there were multiple injuries (Mike achilles and Dayton's thumb) and a recession happening, we decided to do something that kept us home for the evening.  We got together with the entire family, Gabby's family, Jaybee, Tori, and Tweedy to play BUNCO!!!! It was really a great night!! Jason was by far the worst player of the night... getting no Buncos and only four wins out of 24.  So he took home the "boobie" prize of Hannah Montana Mad Libs.  It was really great to spend the night with Gabby and Jason, before Jason had to leave for school again.  A quiet evening was really what everyone needed to bring in the New Year... 2009 was a really big year for everyone.  Matt and Kim got married, (in fact we had 3 family weddings last year), I graduated nursing school, my mom went back to school, Kevin signed up for the Marines, Debbi started a new job, Mike had surgery, and Dayton almost chopped his thumb off (lol).  Okay the last one isn't funny, but it is a little bit if Dayton tells you the whole story.  Anyways 2009 was a great year, but everyone seems to be ready for 2010... Mike and I just moved to Livermore and Matt and Kim are planning on moving also.  The year seems to be starting out great!!! Can't wait to see what's in stored for the year... hopefully its a job for me!!!

Four Christmases

Our Christmas parties started on Christmas Eve at Debbi's house.  The whole family came over, including mine and we had a wonderful dinner.  Honestly, probably the best prime rib ever... thank you Dayton ( and Costco!)  It was really great this year because my Aunt Jeannie just moved from Reno to here, so she was able to spend Christmas with us also.  Another special thing was that Auntie Cynthia was able to spend Christmas with us too, unfortunately Uncle Frank could not come because he had to work.  Anyways we had a wonderful Christmas dinner, it was a great way to kick off the holiday.  The next morning we went to Debbi's house first and opened presents.  It was fun to have the whole family there this year, because last year Matt and Kim went back East to spend the holiday with her family and Jeff&Josh were in  Europe.  so this year everyone was there, except for Jeff, who is still in Europe.  But it was a great morning of opening gifts...and getting stuff dor my new garden!!! YES!!! After we went to my mom's house and opened gifts.  Although my Dad was a little stressed trying to get ready for the Shadd Christmas party, it was a really great morning, for once pretty relaxing (as far as the Shadd household goes!)  Next the entire Shadd family came to my mom and dad's house.  It was really great to see everyone. It turned into a Christmas/Birthday party for my cousin who just turned one...so the house looked really great being decorated with CARS and Christmas stuff.  After the Shadd's party, we went down to San Jose to spend the evening with the Wood family.  It was really great because all, but one cousin was there, so it was good to see everyone. Overall, it was a great Christmas!!! Hopefully everyone else had a great holiday too!!!

Shadd Style Christmas

On Monday my family got together to decorate the house for Christmas...funny thing is the only free time we could all get together is Monday morning, oh the joys of a recession :0)  Our family wasn't going to get a tree this year, but one of Kevin's friend's family bought us a tree!! Which was very, very nice of them.  It was quite a nice morning, my dad made breakfast and we had awesome Ghiradelli chocolate mochas...YUMMMM!!!! We of course listened to Christmas music, however my dad and Kevin started to download rediculous songs by Elmer Fudd or Larry the Cable Guy.  Nothing makes it more like Christmas than Elmer Fudd singing Silent Night!  After decorating the tree Kevin brought out his guitar and started singing and playing songs.  He is very, very talented.  Once I figure out how to put videos on here, I will post him playing and singing.  Overall, it was a very relaxing morning and now the house is already for Christmas!!!

Christmas Craft Day

This past Sunday we had Christmas craft day as a family.  Tori and I spent most of the day making snowman chair covers, which took forever!!! If I never cut another piece of felt it will be too soon!!! They did turn out super cute though.  Kim spent the entire day making a pom pom wreath, which she didn't quite finish, as you can see.  But when it is done, it will look super cute.  After Tor and I made the snowman chair covers, I decided to embark on another project... the reindeer wreath.  Suprisingly it didn't take very long and it turned out pretty good.  Matt spent the whole day making ravioli for Christmas eve!!! I can't wait to eat them...even though brains are in them ;0) Debbi and Tweedy did all the mixes, which is awesome cause those take forever!! Now your probably thinking to yourself, where was Dayton and Mike?!?! Mike was our runner, anything we forgot or needed at the store he happily went and got it.  As for Dayton, well he had quite the morning...he was preparing the house to get solar panels.  In the process of putting up sheetrock he hit the phone line with a nail and cause all the phones downstairs not to work!! Let's say he was a little pissed and after he fixed it he just wanted to sit and watch movies.  We actually got to watch three movies this year...  Home Alone, The Grinch (Jim Carrey version), and of course everyone's favorite... Love Actually!!! Oh and yes Mad Dog was there, but she was a grinch!!!

Last Day of Nursing School

So this past Thursday was my lastday of school for forever (well at least as of right now).  Suprisingly it was kind of bittersweet.  I always imagined that day as a day of nothing but pure happiness, but I definitely was a little sad.  Its hard to believe that 2 1/2 years is already over!!! Although it was the toughest years of my life, it did go by very fast.  Thankyou everyone for supporting me through the program, I know Iwasn't the most pleasent of people at times and I am really glad that everyone stuck with me until the end!! After our class on Thursday we went to Mr. Lucky's for some drinks and had an awesome time pre-partying/ getting ready for the next day.  On Friday we had a huge party with about 170 people!!! Everyone in the program showed up.  Of course like the idiot I am, I forgot my camera, so I had to steal photo's from others...lol.  Anyways, thanks to Kimmy I looked pretty good that night ;0). Here are some pictures... I realize that the picture of me and Mike makes me look somewhat preggers (but I am not...by the way!!!) I have just put on a little weight since the begining of the program. The nursing 25 hit me hard...lol.  Anyways the night turned out really great and all my hard work paid off!!! Now it is time tostudy, once again, for the last test that I will ever take, so can get a job!! YAY for paychecks!!!

Which Ornament is best?

Here are the snowman that Matt and Mike each made when they were little... these ornaments are at the heart of the argument.  I realize the photo is a little far away, but the only detail you can't really see is that Matt's snowman is kind of jaundice (yellow eyes).  So what's the verdict people?!?!

Christmas Tree Hunting

On Sunday we went hunting for our Christmas tree in Morgan Hill.  It was very, very, cold, but fun.  Mike had a hard time getting around the hill of trees because of his crutches, but thank goodnes that it didn't rain cause mike could have gotten stuck in the mud....which actually would have been hilarious!! We finally found a tree after hauling Mike all over the mountain...which I am sure he enjoyed.  The tree was for Debbi and Dayton's house.  Mike, Matt, Kim, and I have decided not to get a tree this year, but are loking for alternative trees...so if you guys have any ideas let us know.  After we went tree hunting we had an awesome lunch at Chipotle and then went to papa's house.  We watched some football... New Orleans won!!! YAY!!! The Niners continue to suck (as usual), and the Raiders actually pulled of a victory!!! So not a complete waste of a football Sunday.  

When we got home from papa's we had ribs for dinner and started decorating.  Of course that was when the madness began.  Every year the boys (meeaning Matt and Mike) fight about who's homemade ornaments are better.  Well Matt's are pretty funky...lol So I have to take my husbands side on this one (sorry Matt).  However, it was figured out this year that Matt actually did not make some of the ornaments and that the room moms did.  Well, these room moms need a little help with their crafting...lol.  Yes they are that bad! We finished up the night with egg nog and homemade funfetti cake...which I had no idea could be possible, but it was very good!  It was a great start to the holiday season!! I can't wait till this week is over (school will be done forever!!), and Gabby and Jason come home on the 22nd!!! YAY!!!