Happy New Year!! Hello 2009! One might ask, "What do two dogs have to do with the new year?" Well, it is my family's tradition to hold a New Year's Eve Olympics every year. Each year we get together for this momentous night and celebrate with two of the greatest things in life- FOOD and COMPETITION! We play game after game earning points that add up throughout the night. The team with the most points will win.....well, until this year we didn't have any physical object to win. It was just competitive satisfaction. But that all changed this year when we added the Holiday Cup. The Holiday cup is a hand crafted trophy that consists of glitter, velcro, a red and green cup turned upside down, glue, and a semi-broken Spanish speaking Christmas Chiwawa that is supposed sing and dance, but he only dances and open/closes his mouth. Now, if THAT doesn't motivate people to win, I'm not sure anything would. Our dog Benny was just as excited to win this as the rest of us.
Before beginning the games, we always kick it off with an assortment of fondues. Meat fondue, cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, pizza fondue...I think 99% of people have a new years goal of losing weight so why not stuff your face the night before?
For most people, the party ends New Year's Eve night, but not in our family! My brother, Tyler's birthday is New Year's Day so we all get up the next day and start the party all over again.
Usually I am not a very artsy crafty person, but my mom very much is. So when I go home, I find myself doing things I probably wouldn't do on my own initiative.
My mom has been so busy baking and cooking every day so I volunteered to decorate Tyler's cake. Growing up, Tyler loved frogs, and still likes them now. So the frog was kind of to tease him, but deep down I'm sure he enjoyed this kiddy looking cake as much as he would have 10 years ago.
Artsy Crfty project # 2: My mom, Lisa, and I went crazy making headbands and bows for little baby girls. I made a bazillion for Elizabeth.
Another favorite activity is her morning bath. She goes wild with the splashing, flailing her arms and kicking her legs. She smiles and laughs through the whole process. Her least favorite activity is tummy time. There is alot of crying whenever I attempt to place her tummy down. 
She looked so cute in her giraffe outfit, with her giraffe toy today. I couldn't resist the opportunity to take a couple pictures.
For most people, the party ends New Year's Eve night, but not in our family! My brother, Tyler's birthday is New Year's Day so we all get up the next day and start the party all over again. 
We have been getting tons of snow! (As you can see from the snapshot above of my parents' backyard). It makes for a scenic Christmas!
It was great to have little Jared around with all his enthusiasm Christmas morning.
Good ol Benny even got a few presents.
These remote controlled helicopters may look like kid toys but they sure kept the adults entertained.
Its been fun playing games and just hanging out with all the fam!
Jared walks around cradling his arms and saying, "Baby!!!" every time he hears Lizzy cry!
I have been up to my usual antics snapping photos of Elizabeth.
Lizzy sure loves her Grandma!
We did so many fun activites such as movies, shopping, Christmas gift crafts, etc. We even celebrated my birthday by going to a new restaraunt called BJ's, which is now my favorite restaraunt in the world. (The Pizooki is to die for) But mostly we just had fun spending time together.
Elizabeth just loved getting to see so much of her Grammy and Papa! 
