Happy New Year

Ralph and I had a fantastic day finishing our Christmas shopping...which was such a delight! We had the luxury of having a "date" day. Which included Rubio's in the food court and lots of presents for those special ones in our lives. Our nanny watched Gia today and we had our first "alone" day in....over two years!

Tonight, we are having lobster, steak, champagne (sparkling cider for Miss G), and S'Mores...you read that correctly S'Mores...what a better way to bring in the new year!

I hope that yours is as much fun as ours. While years past brought big plans and much excitement, our quiet night at home is filling us joy today!

Happy new year!

H-town...you feel like home

The Talamantez's in Texas
Mimi and Gia reading her Elmo book
Popa and Gia playing

Mimi and GiGi making rolls

Mrs. Burke and Gia "cuggling"

Well we arrived. This morning around 6:05am, we touched down at Bush Intercontinental Airport. We were greeted by my dad anxiously awaiting our arrival (my mom, Ralph and I like to pretend it was for us, but really it was for Miss G.) We then came home (to my mom and dad's house) where we took a LONG nap.

My dad made us "Thanksgiving" dinner...YUM-O and Mrs. Burke joined us. Needless to say everyone is having a blast. We leave for Dallas tomorrow morning and will be back in Houston on Saturday. Feels good to be in Texas!

Christmas in San Francisco

Christmas in San FranciscoWhat a lovely place to beSeeing the hills being all lit upLike a diamond Christmas treeHearing children singing carolsPeople come from everywhereTo sing along with the childrenStanding all around Union Square
Christmas in San FranciscoLooking like some fairy landPeople with gifts in the crispy airGiving old Saint Nick a hand
Let’s take a peek in ChinatownEating lychee nuts and barbecued boarWhat can you say about the Golden GateThat hasn’t been said before
Christmas in San FranciscoThere is no place quite so dearIt’s the closest thing to heavenHow I wish that you were here.
What can you say about the Golden GateThat hasn’t been said beforeChristmas in San FranciscoThere is no place quite so dearIt’s the closest thing to heavenHow I wish that you were here.

Today....we DEPART!!!!

Well, actually at 12:05am. We will leave SFO and arrive at IAH around 6am. We will spend the day in Houston and then travel to Dallas to have Christmas...this is the first time in ten years that the original four Zansler's will be together for Christmas. EVEN BETTER! WE GET TO SHARE WITH OUR FAMILIES....Ralph, GiGi, Jenna, Kate....what fun. I am so excited and THRILLED. Merry Christmas...tis the season!

I am pretty sure this is the last time we were all together.....wow, that was a LONG time ago!

Gia the hugging girl

Gia's favorite part of visiting Santa was hugging Grace...the little girl behind us in line! Bless her heart, she just loves big girls with blonde girls!

Santa, WE KNOW HIM!!!

Gia LOVED her visit to santa. She spent her time in line hugging the little "big" girl that was behind us in line and wooing everyone that crossed her path.

Tamale Making. Part Two.

The sauce to pour over the meat
Mixed masa.

Corn husks soaking.

The biggest helper of all.

I will post later of us enjoying them!

Tamales. Part One.

Gia and I are making tamales. We are making beef, pork, combo, chicken and pineapple. We went to the store today and got everthing it takes to make these fantastic treats. Right now, the meat is cooking. Then we will shred it and get on to the assembly line! Masa, corn husks and lard...yes lard...I never thought I would have that in my pantry.
The beef cooking away in the Crock Pot.

The chicken...which looks rather fowl in this picture.

My pork roasts.

and my HUGE tamale steaming pot. I am so excited about this pot. Last year my biggest challenge was steaming them all after I had put them together...well low and behold, they make pots just for this task, and I am now the proud owner!

Sleep.

Dear Sleep,

Oh, how much I miss you. We have always had a good relationship...until just over two years ago.

It started when you would leave me because I needed to go to the bathroom. Then, you would leave me because of the sweetest cries. Now, you leave me with the most angelic two year old....who wants to play at two in the morning.

I have read every book. Tried every method. To no avail. What do I need to do to win you back? What is it going to take for you to grace me, my husband and my daughter with eight un- interrupted hours of you again?

I am willing to make a deal. Let me know what kind of negotiations you need. I am at your mercy. I will sweeten the pot.

Sincerely, Allison~ (AKA sleep deprived for 2+ years)

Nina and Uncle Steve came to visit

Steve and Felicia came to visit us from San Diego! What a great time we had! We were super busy with the Kings game and the Raider game and enjoyed the cold rainy weather....Ralph and I are now super nostalgic for the lovely bay area....maybe we will take a weekend trip just the two of us to shop in the city soon! Mommy and GG...getting tired!

Gia, Frances, Ralph and Jimmy...what a nice surprise to run into them!

GG eating doughnuts that Aunt Lupe brought her...just her size...mini!

Our tickets...thank goodness for the suite...otherwise we would not have had such a nice time!

Nina and Gia on the way to the Raider game....GG has on lipgloss..reason number 2,987 why we love Nina!

The break dancers at the Kings game...they were AWESOME!

The dancers at the Kings game

Nina, Gia and Uncle Steve walking into the Arco Arena

For whatever reason, they are in reverse order. Fun was had by all. We can't wait to have another great weekend with Felicia and Steve....maybe we will make it to there house in San Diego so we can play with Sierra~

Gia the baby

It is no secret that our beloved Gia is a tiny tot...to say the very least. Gia's wonderful Aunt Mary blessed us with all of this Graco baby stuff. It is also no secret that she HATES to go to sleep. Crys, crys and crys some more EVERY night...no matter what we do. I put all of her new Graco toys in the formal living room today for her to play with....and here is the result. Hey, if she really doesn't have a problem in there, we may have found her new bed....just kidding....kind of.

So sweet....

Such a mess!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We are officially festive in the Talamantez home. We are going to be in Texas for the actual "big day", but I am hoping that our tree last until mid January...one because I LOVE the holidays, and there is something just kind of sad about having to take it down....and two because we are hosting a dinner to celebrate with Ralph's family and I want the house to be festive....two Christmas's in one year....what lucky people we are! the mantel
Frosty...this is Gia's favorite thing in our house right now...


The tree and stockings by the fire with all of Gia's Christmas books

The sofa table

my island.....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

An engineering degree...anyone...anyone...ANYONE!!!!

Why is it that one must have an engineering degree to be a parent of a two year old these days? All I am trying to do is put together one stinking Dora the Explorer kitchen set for one darling toddler and I must have forgotten my engineering degree in Oklahoma.
So if anyone has any advice, I would gladly accept it. Here' s the mess around the Talamantez home for my lack of ability....

Bib #7783

Crossing the finish line
Off I go...starting fresh

Getting ready to leave the house....

I figured I would save my best picture for last....it was a blast...now, no more running posts for a while...I promise

Wednesday....the new Friday

Deidra and I....my work wife ;-)
I think most of you know, as of December 1, I started my job share. Which means I am in the office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Deidra is in the office Wednesday, Thursday and Friday....which means WEDNESDAY IS THE NEW FRIDAY....needless to say, this brings a smile to my face.

It does wonders for my work/life balance. Tomorrow Gia and I are having a jam packed day of running, park time and library fun...who knows, I may even get some Christmas shopping out of the way....or just do it online by the tree and fire while Miss G naps....either way it is going to be great!

Hope your Wednesday is a great one!

Ice on the ground

I wish that I could be writing about the ground covered with snow, but here in California that is NOT going to happen. However, when I departed from home this morning the ground was covered with frost. The roads had a blanket of fog over them.

As I drove and sipped my beloved Cafe Bustelo, I couldn't help but think that it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas. This tickles my fancy beyond belief. Thrilled beyond belief to have frost (which was no where to be found in Los Angeles) I can't wait to head home and cuggle (Gia's contraction of snuggle and cuddle) on the couch in front of the fire with my lovey, my Godson, my comadre and Delia.....WHAT A LOVELY NIGHT.

The boys will be at the Kings/Lakers game. So, I am sure that some fabulous wine, tantalizing conversation and fun times will be had by all!

Inspiration.....

I did it!!! I ran...ran my entire leg without walking....with my husband cheering me on!

The best part about the whole thing!? When I crossed the finish line Ralph was right there, telling me he was proud of me and that I inspired him....I INSPIRED HIM!?!?!?! What a great day in the life of one Mrs. Allison Talamantez.
Ralph, you inspire me everyday and I am so fortunate to have you in my life. Thank you for always being my biggest fan and making me a better person.

I love you! And, here's to Shamrockin' 13.1 on 3/15....here we come....Mr. and Mrs. Talamantez will cross the finish line together! I love you!

Run, Run, Run some more....

I am up reading Runner's World by the light of the fire, guzzling coffee and waiting for it to be time to go run my leg of the CIM. I have some tight calf's, but I think that the adrenaline from being in a "race" setting will take that away. I am super excited. I am also pretty dern proud of myself. The great thing about running is that it makes YOU feel like YOU can do anything. Because every time I push myself past what I think I can not do, I am the only one that kept me going. I have the option to stop or to keep going. It is just like life....there is always a choice.....

.....also, after the CIM, we are going with Tony, Corina and Baby Jace to the Original Pancake House for breakfast....I AM PUMPED....

....Happy Sunday!

.....the tree is up, the house is decorated and I will post pictures soon!

Dinner at the Talamantez House

Gia and Ralph reading
Me making sure my running shoes are up and ready to go for Sunday morning...

Oatmeal apple cookies...YUM

Texas Chili

some work on the computer....

Happy Friday night to you all!

Getting ready for Christmas

I think that I am going to pull out the Christmas decorations tonight in anticipation for our Christmas tree hunt tomorrow morning. I am so excited. We had such fun last year, but Gia was still to young to be THAT excited....I think she will be beside herself this year. So, in anticipation of our home being decked to the halls, I thought I would deck the blog!

....oh, and I am making true, blue, homemade Texas chili for dinner tonight!!! YUM-O

Run, run, run!!!

This weekend I am running a leg of the CIM. I am so excited. I will have both RT and GG there to cheer me on...I can't wait....

I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free
-Psalm 119:32

Thanksgiving in Pictures

A very tired Gia and a very tired Mommy

Felicia and Ally....up to something....we LOVE them!

Gia in Jace's Chair.....she's the first to tell you that Jace is the BABY!

Ralph with Baby Jace and Gia

The gang eating....Rachel, Tony, Corina, Tony Jr, Desirae, Memo and Ralph

Happy Holiday Season!