Christmas Cookies

Growing up my Grandma Gloria was a HUGE baker and cook. Everything was from scratch (still is) She would have me over for a day every year right around Christmas and we would make homemade sugar cookies. It was GREAT! She let me do them how every I wanted. (they looked awful) But looking back it's the best memory I have with her and it was so nice that she would do all that with me. I want my kids to grow up and have that memory with me. I usually bake goodies for my friends and neighbors every year. But, After deciding I didn't want to bake my usual Christmas goodies this year, I kept hearing people talk about all the goodies they were baking or the cookie parties they were going to. I then contemplated the daunting task of baking with myself and 3 kids. In the end the verdict was yes and we set out on our long baking adventure.

I went straight to my recipe box and got my paper and pen. I grabbed my holiday favorites as well as some family recipes. Dug to the back of my pantry and made a shopping list of the things we would need. We set out to the store and 3 hours after I decided we would bake the Baking actually began.

I laid Diesel down for his nap and put Christmas tunes on. As I was setting up I looked up to see the girls dancing away to the Christmas songs. If they weren't dancing they were singing. It was very cute!

The girls traded off in helping. They each would help with a recipe. There were some things they both could do like adding the kisses to the Peanut butter Kiss cookies.

When I was little at Grandma Gloria's house for dinner she always had some homemade desert. Some things I would never try or thought I didn't like. Lemon Squares was one of them. I think they just sounded gross. I decided I would switch things up this year and make some new goodies and Lemon Squares was one of them. After I made a small batch I decided to try them. I must say all theses years I have been missing out. They are Delicious!!! I even made another batch just so I could have some for me!

Every year I make Haystacks. They are so yummy. The girls liked eating the butterscotch chips. I think half the bag ended up in their bellys.

Another dessert I wouldn't eat as a child was Magic Cookie Bars. I am not a fan of coconut. I knew if I made them I would have to give them all away. In the end I am still not a fan but Taylor loved the coconut. I think I might have made them wrong too they didn't seem right.

The Peanut Butter Kiss cookies. They had extra special love this year as the girls placed each kiss on the cookies.

Then there was my mom's famous Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins. I again am not a huge fan but I swear everyone else loves them.

We also made Chex Muddy Buddies. So good and Jer's favorite. He was happy when I sent him to work with 2 plates full of Holiday cheer. I bet he saved the muddy buddies for himself.

We started at 2 and finished after 8pm. I had planned on making Crescent cookies My favorite but I was so worn out by the time we were done. I was also going to make Homemade Carmel Corn but I was using all my cookie pans and knew it would be a few more hours it I went ahead with them. I think in all everything turned out great. The kids got to lick the spoons. No one died from the cooking and I handed out all my plates!

4 Day Turkey Vaca Fun

For the Thanksgiving weekend we set out to Fabulous Las Vegas! Jeremy's family was having a reunion/Thanksgiving Dinner. We woke up Thursday morning packed up the car and set on our way. Aaron followed us there. I must Say, the drive to Vegas from Arizona was the best drive ever! It's ever scenic and pretty fast. We were on the back end of the Grand Canyon and some of the rock formations on the way were awesome. Plus we got to drive over the Hoover Dam. Something we have never done. The Dam was amazing.

We stopped at the top for a quick potty break and Aaron took a picture of us.

It's incredible to know the story and history behind it. Jer had lots information on it. The scene was awesome.

Did you know the middle of the bridge is the Arizona Nevada border?

Notice the time difference. Arizona has it's own time. We are the only state not to change time for Day Light Savings.

This was so cool. They are building a new bridge so that you don't have to cross the dam. The suspension bridge was huge and to think of the men that build it. It's insane! Definitely not a job I would want Jer to do!

We arrived in Vegas at about 2:30 -3pm Thursday. We all relaxed and checked in to the hotel. WE got ready and went to the dinner at the hotel. It was turkey and prime rib buffet. It was yummy. They had the best carrots. I am not a huge carrot fan but the flavor was awesome!

There were so many Aunties and Uncles and cousins. There were 2 boys about Diesel's age there and he had so much fun with is cousin Owen!

Rye, Taylor, Diesel, Easton, Owen and Johnny

This is Jer's part of the family. That would be Jer's Grandpa and Grandma and their kids and grandkids etc... This is only about 1/4 of them. There were about 55 people there in all and we were the smallest group.

It all starts with the core. They are Jer's grandpa and his brothers and sisters. Here they are with their spouses. They all have a ton of kids who all had a ton of kids! In all there are over 200.

Grandma and Grandpa with their Great Grandkids. Aren't they just the cutest! We just adore them!

Friday we were able to hang out and relax. My cousin Nicole lives in Vegas. We had planned to meet for brunch but that didn't work so we meet for Dinner instead. Nicole and her son Jason joined us at our hotel for an all you can eat seafood buffet! Poor Jason wasn't to happy but he finally gave Nicole a chance to eat.

Jason and Diesel

All the kids

Nicole and Jason

Saturday we meet the family again for a deli lunch buffet. It was short and sweet. Since we were done early we decided to take the kids to the strip.

We visited The Secret Garden at The Mirage. It's Sigfried and Roy's attraction with the Lions and dolphins.

Don't you want to just go cuddle with the lion. He looks like a giant stuffed animal.

We didn't get to cuddle them but the kids got to ride one.

We didn't get to see the dolphins real well but here we are in front of one of the ponds.

After the Gardens we were hungry and decided to hit McDonalds. Diesel is such a ham!

Saturday night we went to bed early. We had a drive ahead of us on Sunday.

Of course anything Daddy does Diesel has to do too. He sleeps in his own bed and in his own room so having his porta crib and all of us in the room was an experience.

Ofcousre you can't take a picture of Diesel with out the girls wanting their own Photo shoot.

So we didn't leave as easily as we wanted to but we decided to take a tour of the Hoover Dam on the way back. Not they Vegas wasn't fun but the best part of out 4 days was the tour of the dam.

These angles represent all the lives lost in building the dam. Rumor has it over 100 people lost their lives. Back then when they built it there was no record of the workers and people came and went. Also say that some of the people fell into the concrete pour and are buried in the dam walls.

We took a 90 second elevator ride down to the bottom. We were over 500 below the dam and over 400 feet below the water. They took us into a room where they had pipes with water running though them. We stood on top and you could feel the water vibrations from the massive force is the flowing water. The pipes were used to detour the water when they were building the dam.

Here we are in the generator room. we only saw the top 3 stories of the generators. They good about 7 stories down from where we were. Did you know that Cali gets about 65% of the electricity produced at the dam. We thought that was funny that the 2 states that are part of it get less. Vegas only gets about 15%

The dam tunnels aren't made of concrete. They are the moutian/rock it's self. You could see the spots where they would drill to insert the dynamite.

At the end of the tour we went up to the observation deck.

You could see everything there. It was such a beautiful view.

On our walk back to the car. Diesel wanted his daddy. He sure loves him. This was just such a sweet picture I couldn't resist.

We got home late Sunday night and in all had a good time. To everyone in the Keefe family I think we should have a reunion too! I will help plan it. Who's in?

Zoo Fun

With my parents in town for Jeremy's graduation, we decided we didn't want to sit home and do nothing. Saturday we decided we wanted to go to the Safari Park. After everyone was up and my Dad's famous Heavenly pancakes it was too late to dive an hour and 1/2 to the park. Instead we decided to head to the World Wild Life Zoo. My friend Shonna joined us. Rylee Diesel and I have been there before. It was Jer and Taylor's 1st time and of course my families.

Papa Glenn had the job of carrying Rylee around the park!

The zoo is so neat. It's mostly African animals and lots of Monkeys. But the animals are so close.

My Mom and Sami had a good time. I thought this was a cute picture of the two of them!

Here's a group Shot. Of course Jeremy had to have some fun with it.

After the Zoo we went to the mall for some lunch and as part of Jer's Graduation gift my parent's bough him some shoes. That night, Aaron came over as well as Shonna and her daughter. Jeremy and my dad made some awesome Chicken and Steak tacos. We had a great time just hanging out. It was sad to see my family leave Sunday morning!

The Graduate

It all started with an idea to move to Arizona and follow his passion. After 1 year 8 months 2 days .... 5 days a week for 5 hours a day with only 1 week off at Christmas

Jeremy has GRADUATED!

Our Girls got to see their daddy graduate. It was a great day for all of us!

Here he is with his favorite teacher.

He made lots of friends. Most of them graduated before Jeremy and moved on. Rob and Jer started the 1st day together and graduated together. Rob is now back in Cali but they keep in touch.

For his Graduation Dinner my family took us to the Tilted Kilt and fun restaurant.

I am so Proud of my man! He set his mind to something and he followed through. Jeremy went to school Monday -Friday and worked full time. There were many days he was going on only 4-5 hours of sleep and he was busting his butt to support his family.

Of course my Best Friend was there to help us celebrate.

Although I don't have a photo of Aaron Jer's older bother I did get a picture of Aaron's gift for Jeremy. I think Jeremy liked it!!