Happy Trails

We have been having so much fun @ Rancho in the last few days. On Monday we went with a group of our friends, and Tuesday we did our StrollerHike.

I have been logging some serious time at the Y, and it's nice to mix things up with a few outdoor hikes.



Everyone showed up , and we hit the trails with our joggers. Thankfully, the weather was cooperative and beautiful.

Alyssa and Ryan

Team Atwood

Kristine and Little B

Inger and Colin--look at that smile!

The park's farm was closed because we hit the trails on the late side. However, the cow was still out, and it delighted Beezie.

Sittin' on her country fence...

Today we went to the 'Diaper Days' movie at The Pruneyard. Gnomeo and Juliet was showing--it was super cute. The Grays went as well.

B did quite well at her first movie--no yelling or fussing, even thought that's allowed. She sat in my lap like a good little girl, and took in the whole thing. At one point, she picked up my phone out of the cup holder, and chucked it across the aisle. Good display of those fine motor skills.

Giving Thanks

Who knew last Thanksgiving we would have a 2 month old bundle 'o' joy?? Not this lady! I'm thankful that I get to rock a bye with this baby all the time!

Especially when I get adorable smiles like this! We are so grateful and thankful for Blakely!

As we keep stating, we are tired peeps. We decided that doing a potluck Thanksgiving spread was the best option possible. We did the turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn pudding, cornbread stuffing, and gluten free pies. Our friends brought the rest.

I was totally proud of my bird. We have always smoked our turkeys, so this was my first year doing the bird. I was so excited by the prospect that I went out and bought a sweet Calphalon roaster to ensure a proper bird. It didn't disappoint. I'm in love with that pan, and I'm dying to roast a rack of lamb or some other fancy offering just so I can use it!

Lancer carved the bird, and we dug in.

Turns out the bird was as tasty as it looked--we made quick work of that baby.

It was a fun and relaxing day with friends and our little family

As always, my crazy friends and I did Black Friday. I love the crowds, the pushy shoppers, the rock bottom prices....the crazier the better. It's like an insane concert, but I get to come home with booty. This year we outdid ourselves and got up at 4 AM to shop. We hit Target by 5 because Hayley really wanted to get Toy Story 3 for $13. We had to hear about it all.week.long.

We entertained the crowds with singing and dancing. They looked at us like we were insane. Life really isn't like it is on Glee afterall!

After Target, we hit Kohl's. I told Whitney to put the gross footie on her face and pretend to rob the place. She was so tired she agreed, and then we both got in on the robbery action.



After Kohl's, we hit up the Great Mall in Milpitas. It's kind of a ghetto dive, but there were great deals to be had.

Like this hat!! Hayley decided that she wanted to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown. It's a solid look.

Look what Whitney did to this boot aisle in a shopping frenzy. For shame.

I cleaned up at Carter's. I bought Beezie's 6 month old fleece jammers, and a bunch of tops and leggings. They're Christmas gifts because she's too little to know that clothes are a crappy gift. I can probably run this con until she's about 3.

I also cleaned up at The Children's Place. The store was organized chaos. The hem of some pants brushed up on a lady's forehead, and she accused me of "hitting her in the head." I almost threw down with her--Black Friday is a contact sport. Besides my almost brush with the law, I bought a ton of cute tops, leggings, and shorts for next summer. I spent about $50 and got $400 worth of clothing.

I also got this cute fleece suit for the cold weather we've been having. It's freezing!! I'm about to bust out a little "Brrr...it's cold in here! There must be some Torro's in the atmosphere!!"

Gobble Gobble everyone!

A Little Lovin' and Some Piano Men

Ashley just yelled at me. I am responding. Here's what we've been up to.

The Atwoods Annual Valentine's Day Bash!

This party is always hilarious. People come and eat tasty treats, mingle, and then we play a game. In the past, we've done love poems for our men (I did not win), love poems for the women (Lance did not win), and the Battle of the Sexes.

This year, we played Battle of the Sexes again. I brought home one solid point for team HOT CHICKS by knowing where the HQ for ESPN (Bristol, Connecticut!) and Lance brought a point home for team HOT STUDS by knowing what H & M stands for. We're serious team contributors.

After the game, we do a white elephant gift exchange. Everyone wraps up their crap all fancy-like to pass it off as something worthwhile--it never is. Ever. And the larger the present, the bigger the crap. Go small and compact.

I won this "fabulous" space shuttle phone. Sadly, after this convincing photo was taken, some unknown bearded man stole it from me for his kid. Lame. But then my other friends stole it from him--I felt better about that.

That's Amore!

On Tuesday, Sharla and I went to see Billy Joel and Elton John face off on their respective pianos. This was a seriously funny crowd--all types. I had originally tried to entice Sharla into going with me but she wasn't having it. But then I wistfully said something about hoping we see them before one of them died...and she relented. We were both glad.


Our seats weren't that bad for cheap, last minute crap seats. We were technically behind them, but they sit sideways, so our view was great. No creepy backsides performing for us.

Elton is a tiny man. A tiny, wonderfully talented man. They are both amazing performers. I was blown away. It's hard to find artists who are as good live as they are recorded, and I got two of them in one night. I feel so 'adult contemporary.' Is this what it feels like to be old?


When they played and sang together--MAGIC!! I love how EJ would sing a few lines from BJ's songs and vice-versa. They play very well together.

I got a little aggro and yelled at the people in front of me to sit back because they were blocking my view. I will only put up with so much, even if I'm in the cheap seats. Security!!

These horrible dancers were not only blocking my view, they were assaulting my eyes with craptastic dance "moves" and heinous air guitar and air drum performances. Totally unacceptable.

Then they were joined by 2 more horrible dancers.

I was about to go all aggro on these chumps, but Security swept in and took care of the problem for me. Thanks Arena Security!

Thanks for another great concert, and fun night. I love Billy and Elton. I had many phases of loving Billy. My sister Eriika and I used to act out "uptown Girl" in our living room. BossyPants always made me be Billy Joel, and she always got to play Christie Brinkley. I also have a party trick in that I know all of the words to "We Didn't Start the Fire." In fact, I once used this song to help me on a history question--"Ayatollah's in Iran." Thanks, Billy!


Being the party animal that I am, I am heading back to this same arena next Tuesday for Bon Jovi. That guy has seen a million faces (and rocked them all) but I haven't been one of them yet. That will all change after Tuesday. Until then, Tiny Dancers!

PS--If you are interested in my Valentine's Day Party Mix, here you go:

Kiss-Prince
How Sweet it is to be Loved by You: Marvin Gaye
Can't Get Enough of Your Love--Barry White
Let's Get It On--Marvin Gaye
What I Like About You--Romantics
Can't Help Falling in Love With You: Elvis
When a Man Loves a Woman--Percy Sledge
My Girl--The Temptations
Have I Told You Lately--Van Morrison
Pour Some Sugar on Me--Def Leppard
I Got You Babe--Sunny and Cher
You Sexy Thing--Hot Chocolate
Wild Thing--Troggs
U Can't Touch This--Hammer
Together Forever--Rick Astley
I Just Called to Say I Love You: Stevie Wonder
You Shook Me All Night Long--AC/DC
Love Shack--B-52's
Don't Stop Believen-- Journey or Glee!
Baby Got Back--Sir Mix a Lot
Brick House--Commodores
My Girl--Temptations
Come on Eileen--Dexy's Midnight Runners
Crazy in Love--Beyonce
Bad Romance--Gaga
Get Down Tonight--KC & the Sunshine Band
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, PYT, Billie Jean--Michael Jackson
I Want You to Want Me--Cheap Trick
Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
Sweet Child o Mine--Guns and Roses
Bust a Move--Young MC
Let's Stay Together--Al Green
September--Earth, Wind & Fire
Forever--Chris Brown
I Can't help Myself--Four Tops
Rock Your Body--Justin Timberlake
All You Need is Love--Beatles
I've Had The Time of my Life--Dirty Dancing--my own personal fave!!
White Wedding--Billy Idol
Walk This Way--Aerosmith
Take on Me--Aha
Gimme More--Britney Spears
Getting Jiggy--Will Smith
I Saw Him Standing There--Tiffany or Beatles
Are you Gonna Be My Girl--Jet
You Dropped a Bomb on Me--Gap Band
Pretty Woman--Roy Orbison
Lovesong--Cure
Close to Me--Cure
Groove is in the Heart--Dee-Lite
Take a Chance on Me--Abba
Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
All Shook Up--Elvis
Melt with You--Modern English
Whip It--Devo
Careless Whisper--George Michael
True--Spandau Ballet
Always on my Mind--Pet Shop Boys
There's a Light That Never Goes Out--The Smiths
Keep on Lovin You--REO Speedwagon
Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
Tainted Love--Soft Cell
Don't You Want Me--Human League
Need You Tonight--INXS
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club/Boy George
Love My Way--Psychedelic Furs
Tenderness--General Public
Always Something There to Remind Me--Angel Eyes
You Spin Me--Dead or Alive
One Thing Leads to Another--Fixx
Just What I needed--Cars
The Right Stuff, Dirty Dancing, Full Service--NKOTB