Christmas 2009

Well, it officially took forever to download my pictures. I've at least recently come to the conclusion that it'll be much easier if I download the pictures before typing my post. Maybe my New Year's Resolution will be to be more patient...that'll never work!!

Anyway, it was another year and another great Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent at Mike's parent's house. We had a great time. Thanks to everyone for the gifts. Then Christmas Day was at my parent's house. It was rainy but we still had a great time. Uncle Billy was there to entertain us. This was the first Christmas with both babies. They were so well behaved ( I don't think that's how you spell that word, but you get what I mean), so adorable, and so much fun!! Can't wait for them to get older. I really can't wait to be able to play with all the fun stuff they'll be getting for Christmas.

Grandma Brown got the girls these vintage looking tops. They were the hit gift of the day. The babies loved them...as did the adults!!


As you can see, they're trying to figure them out. Samantha seems to be very determined!!

Grandma and Grandpa Brown...adorable!!

Uncle Robert and Aunt Annette...love them!!!

Dad and Virginia. Those two kids really do love their Grandparents!

Samantha playing hide and seek. She wasn't a very good hider!




Our niece Ashleigh. She got those very cool boots for Christmas. More importantly, she also got engaged right before Christmas. It's looking like an October wedding. Congrats to Ashleigh and Jason.




Mike's parents gift....some of my finest wrapping. When we got it to their house, we realized that we didn't get the whole thing covered. Oh well!

We are blessed to have such a wonderful and loving family. We love you all!!

Ah, Revenge. It is Sweet

This week myself and a few co-workers were able to get the last word (as they say) on a fellow co-worker. It was one of the best pranks I've ever had the pleasure of participating in. I'll tell the story but it is rather lengthy and I'm sure will not be as amusing to others as it was to the people involved. Ok, here goes....

Every year there is a door decorating contest for Christmas. A wreath is always involved and must be decorated according to the theme for the year. This year's theme was candy and it must reflect your personality. We have a new Operations Director in the building this year (transferred from another location). Therefore it was his (Ron) first year participating in the contest and he was determined to win. The ladies that work for him said they were scared they'd lose their jobs if they didn't win. Well, they decorated their door early and it was impressive.

After seeing their door, I decided to scrap my idea because it was lame. My department, Finance, decided that although Operations door was pretty, it did not properly reflect the theme and therefore, we could not let them win. We decided to spring our door on them at the last minute. The judging was to be this Thursday so we were going to decorate Wednesday after work.

Well, I got to work Wednesday morning and before I could even take my coat off, my co-worker, Sandy, was in my office and said "We're pissed". Coming from Sandy, them is fighting words. Apparently, the judging had taken place Tuesday night because there was a first place ribbon on Operations door and a second place ribbon on another door. I flew off the handle (surprise, surprise) and marched up to Operations and said to Ron "This is BS and we are protesting" (like we really could protest a door decorating contest). Well, I started to notice that all the other decorated doors had 2nd place ribbons. Well, Ron thought it would be funny to play this trick on everyone - you know, everyone else is 2nd and he is first.

While at lunch that day, we devised a plan for revenge. After Ron left that night we went up to his department and took his entire door off!!! We moved it to an unused office. We, of course, did not ruin the decorations. We put a sign in the doorway where the door was saying he'd been disqualified and we also left a ransom note for the door. He and his department were a bit shocked to come in the day of the judging and find that their whole dang door was gone.

Finance finished our door and we did indeed win the real competition. That made it even sweeter. Operation's door was judged as it leaned against the wall!!! I sent Ron an email that read "In your face...#1 goes to Finance. Merry Christmas." As many know, I love a little trash talking. I think Ron was surprised at my enthusiasm for the trashing talking. It was so much fun!!!!

Here are a few pictures to commemorate our sweet revenge...

We won a new car for coming in first place!!!

The Operations door - after the kidnapping.

The winning door!!!

One final touch on the prank. This morning, in the door less door frame, there was a bag of wood chips with a note that read "Ron's Door, R.I.P." He has warned us that the bar has been raised and there will be payback. All we have to say is...BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!

Visit with Samantha

Mike and I went to visit Susan, Joe & Samantha Saturday night. We finally got to see the room that Joe finished over the garage. It's his studio and it was very nice. He did a great job (Susan did a good job picking out colors and the hardwoods). Joe made some awesome chili for dinner. It was delicious!! The rest of the evening Samantha entertained us. They showed us her Fozzy Bear trick. That was the funnies thing I've seen in a long time. If you say to Samantha "Fozzy Bear", she'll open her mouth wide. They say she's never even seen Fozzy Bear. No matter how many times you say it, she opens wide. I almost spit my food out the first time she did it.

Another personal favorite is the blanket over the head trick. They'll put her blanket over her head and act like they don't see her. Samantha thinks this is the funniest thing. She'll just sit there with the blanket on her and and just shake her arms with delight. I'll be remembering that little game when I babysit.

She's a fun kid and we enjoyed our visit...Thanks Joe and Susan for having us over!!!

This is a classic Samantha look...the scrunchy eyebrows.

Nico and Rufus were full of energy.

Another Samantha classic. She would 'hide' behind the table and then pop up to surprise us.


Last but not least, the Fozzy Bear look!! Love it!!!

The kid just cracks me up. I can't wait until she starts talking. That's really gonna be funny. She reminds me so much of Susan!!

25 Years!!

Last night we went to a surprise party for Mike's sister and husband, Sharon and Keith. Their 25th wedding anniversary is December 8th!! Our niece and nephew organized the party. There were probably about 100 people there. I was really impressed with how nice it was. Ashleigh (niece) really put a lot of thought and work into the night. Brandon (nephew) put together a photo slide show and also had a mini 'roast' of the couple. Mike was happy because Shell's BBQ catered the event.

You couldn't meet nicer people than Sharon and Keith. It was obvious last night how many other people feel the same way. Congratulations to Sharon and Keith!!!!

Sharon & Keith

The kids greeting Sharon & Keith when they arrived at the party.

Ashleigh greeting her mom as she came in the door.

Brandon and Mike's Mom, Betty

Anniversary cake