Happy Birthdays all Around!

Happy 32nd Birthday to my cousin Jean, who will soon be moving back from Florida! I can't wait until you are back in town!!

Happy Birthday also to my sweet God daughter, Amelia (Mia). Mia turns 2 years old tomorrow!!

Liz Takes Manhattan

(Actually, West New York, New Jersey, but I digress!) I will be taking a long weekend this week and flying off to visit my brother, Chris, in New York!! Dad gave me a free airline ticket that will expire by the end of the month, so I decided to go for it! I visited Chris last year for the first time since he moved up there, and I had a blast. Here are a few pictures from that adventure:

I had such a great time and am looking forward to seeing even more things this trip! Unfortunately, the karaoke rematch will not happen, as Chris' bar (he is a karaoke DJ) will be closed for 2 weeks. We will be able to take advantage of Restaurant Week, where the ritzy restaurants have a week of prefixe menus where the average person can partake.

I will also get to spend a little time with my friend, Beth, from New Jersey. Somehow, I managed to spend almost 24 hours with her and didn't take a single picture!! I will not let that happen this time around!!

Wish me luck, as I am flying stand-by for the first time. I fly out Saturday morning, and should return Tuesday night.

OMG I think I wet my pants...

Thank you to my good friend Melanie for sending me the first pants-wetting blog of the year. You might want to grab a towel and a box of Depends before you go any further.

http://listoftheday.blogspot.com/2007/09/great-olan-mills-photos.html

Funniest snark of 2008 (so far...). Two thumbs up.

Another Year Has Come And Gone

I can't believe how fast 2007 flew by!! This year we spent New Year's Eve with Sarah, Javier, Maddy, and Javier's family. We enjoyed the crisp weather playing horeshoes and BBQing. Sarah and I also brushed up on our Spanish skills playing a game of Mexican Bingo with Javier's family. It was a ton of fun. Somehow, I managed to keep my camera in my purse the whole time and don't have a single picture of the evening. Ah well. Scrapbookers everywhere are pulling their hair out.

I make it a policy not to make New Year's Resolutions because I find them impossible to keep. Here is wishing you all a productive and happy 2008!!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Sarah & Javier's house this year. We had a great time hanging out with them, Madison, and my parents. The only person lacking this year was my brother Chris, and he was greatly missed. Chris stayed in New York this year to spend time with his girlfriend Katie, and it sounds like they had a wonderful time.

As has become our Christmas Eve tradition, I made a roast and we sat around watching our favorite Christmas movies: A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and Miracle on 34th Street. Madison got a suit this year similar to Ralphie's bunny costume that even has a bunny sewn on the front... except the hood has bear ears. I don't understand why, but she was definitely adorable in it.

We all had a good time unwrapping our gifts. Dad gave me a new 80 GB iPod, while Steve got me an underwater case for my digital camera for our trip to Cozumel, Mexico in March. I think we had the best time teaching Maddy how to unwrap her presents and showing each of them to her. I think she was more interested in the paper, but that is pretty typical.

I got Madison a ton of books and this really sweet rocking butterfly that plays Fur Elise (Madison's middle name is Elise). Her Uncle Steve bought her a set of Presidential gold coins from the US Mint. Just what every baby needs this year!! ;-)

Blessitt Family Christmas Party

We celebrated Christmas with my Dad's family, as usual, this year the Saturday before Christmas. It was great to see everyone and to spend time with those who live far away. A few were absent this year, and were greatly missed. Here are some pictures of the party.

Madison's first Christmas

Christmas was excellent this year, especially with the addition of my niece, Madison. We had so much fun shopping for her and teaching her wonderful new things like how to unwrap paper:

How to have a completely exhausting day of shopping:

(Yes, that is the Ninja Duckie guarding the angel while she sleeps)



Mostly we just had a great time celebrating this festive season and being thankful for the wonderful friends and family we have.