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!