After Christmas Shopping!

Today I went into work and after 15 min, was sent home because there were too many servers. Since I have been working 6 days a week (40 hrs) I was glad to go home. I took the kids shopping to spend their gift cards, Christmas money and savings (they have not been able to buy anything in the last couple of months). We started at Michael's to buy erasers that look like food and colored duck tape for Cori to make wallets out of.

Joel's toilet erasers

Cori's Chinese Food

Next, we went to Kohl's where Cori had a 3 gift cards from the family. Joel followed us around while we shopped. He just played on his DS. Cori got 2 pairs of jeans, 4 shirts, and a vest.....with my coupon she only spend $5 of her money. Most of her clothes came from the junior's department. 

New Shirt and Jeans from Kohl's (new shoes from Payless)

Shirt has Peace symbol in rhinestones

New Shirt and Jeans 

Blue shirt was Christmas gift and the gray vest is from Kohl's today. ( I may be borrowing this vest)

Next stop was Best Buy for Joel to get a new DS game with his gift card from Aunt Jenny and Uncle Matt and Bryce. He was playing it before I got out of the parking lot. 

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Then we went to the mall where Cori got two pairs of shoes. We also learned that Joel wears a bigger size in shoes then Cori. 

Our last stop was Target, where Joel spent the last of his money on some Lego Hero Factory sets. 

Finally home to relax and watch a movie. The kids are now playing quietly in their rooms with their new toys. I want to thank all the family and friends who sent money and gift cards to help my kids have a WONDERFUL Christmas! We love you all. Thank you's from the kids coming soon. 

Christmas and Such!

Christmas has come and gone. It is all a blur but I have pictures to prove I was there. I worked a lot of days leading up to Christmas and a bunch of days after. I did get to spend Christmas eve evening and Christmas day with Nate and the kids. Christmas eve Nate cooked dinner and then we watched "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". I did not get to finish the movie but Nate and the kids said it was pretty good. Christmas Eve the kids went to bed and Nate and I put all the presents under the tree and stuffed the stockings. We told the kids that they could get up after 6am and that we would get up at 7am (shower 1st) and then start opening presents. Joel was up first (of course) and then Nate woke Cori up at 7:45am with a blaring noise from her radio. Nate made muffins and then we went to opening presents. The kids loved all their gifts, including the Wii from Nate and I. We set up the laptop in the living room and took time to call both sets of family on skype. The rest of the day was spent playing wii together, watching football, and resting around the house. It was really nice to be able to relax for the day.

Nate's muffins - from Jen

The first present

Nate's new programming books

The Wii

The aftermath

New Shoes

Playing the Wii

I was back at work on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday.....

Monday night Nate and went to IKEA and bought a couch, coffee table and throw pillows. Special thanks for all the family who sent Christmas money for the couch. It took us an hour to load it into the car and then like 3 hours to get it put together and the pillows covered. We got to sit on it for a minute before going to bed because we both worked on Tuesday.

The New Couch

Tuesday night we rearranged the tv and finished setting up the living room. I also have bookshelves in my bedroom now. I always wanted a wall of bookshelves. Then we both got to spend a little time on the couch before bed.

My book shelves

Today, I have the day off from the restaurant. I cleaned the house, did laundry, and took down all the Christmas decorations. Now I am trying to get caught up on facebook, blogging and bill paying.

This month Nate and I have been very blessed with what God has done in our family. Nate has had great opportunities at his job and been able to still work at the restaurant. I have been able to work lots of shifts and God blessed us with a great Christmas with the kids and the money to pay for it. This is the first month out here that it was not the last day of the month and I was worried about paying all the bills. I can't say it enough, We are truly blessed and God is blessing us through the people around us.

My magnet of Bryce Dillard

Bought with a gift card from Mom and Dad Barber
(waiting on this to get here via Fedex)

Window Shopping at South Coast Plaza

The Mall that Nate and I work right next to, is South Coast Plaza. This is a Very high end mall with very tight security. Here are a couple of pictures of the stores in the mall....That we could only dream about shopping in.

The Christmas Village and Mountain....behind is Santa

This is for Carrie....When you visit we will shop here!

The Christmas Tree in the middle of the Mall

I only Dream of Jimmy Choo Shoes!

I did not even have a chance to go into Barney's!

Weekend of Christmas Parties and Boat Rides!

Nate and I had a great time Friday night! We went to Nate's work Christmas party at a Mega-Mansion in Newport Coast, CA. The owner of the company bought 2 mansions in Newport and tore them down and built one Mega-Mansion. It was a castle that we enjoyed roaming around all evening. Here are some of the pictures from the evening. I took them on my phone since it would look really weird to take the giant camera to the party. We had great finger foods...I ate my first lamb chop. We played Kinect on 360......I was the only girl who would get up and play in front of the entire room of people (the other wives and girlfriends sat on the couch). There was a fireman's pole from the second story to the main level....I tried to go down it, but the door was locked. We had a wonderful time and it was a great experience and everyone loves working with Nate!

Dressed up and ready to leave

Foyer with Christmas Tree

The Front Door

The foyer

                                  

                                          The Open Bar

The pool tunnel....This is the indoor pool that you swim through the tunnel to the outdoor pool

Caesar hid a secret room

The secret room

Nate in the Sauna

Nate in the downstairs bathroom...off the pool

My Turn

The White Marble Bathroom (there was a black one right next to this one)

I love to sleep (take naps) but I do not sleep late. After the party, Nate and the kids let me sleep and I did not get up till noon. Aparently my body really needed the sleep. We cleaned house and watched movies all day. On Saturday night, we went to Huntington Harbor Christmas Light Parade. We had free tickets, given to us by a friend, to go ride on the boats through the harbor to see all the houses and boats decorated with lights.

Let me set the stage for this evening. It does not rain here in Southern Cali. It only mists or drizzles.....and it has been doing this for 4 days now. On Saturday night, we asked if the boats were covered, and were told Yes! So most of us bundled up (Not Nate) and got ready to go. Once we got to the harbor, we were put on the only boat WITHOUT a roof and thus were in the drizzle the entire ride. It was not the most enjoyable hour but I am proud of everyone for making the best out of it. This was the first time my kids have ever been on a boat. While on the tour, the tour guide told us that it took 200 million dollars to build the harbor from wetlands.....which is the same as 10 of the houses you see on the harbor now.....(What, these houses are 20 million each!....Nate and I were totally shocked at this price tag). Here are some of the pictures from the boat ride.

Waiting in line for the bus/shuttle

About to get on the boat

The other boat....that was enclosed

On the Boat!

Nate smiling before realizing we are about to get really wet!

Another enclosed boat

House and boat/yacht

Wagon boat/house

Butterfly Boat

Another House