I'm having issues with my pictures again. Some will enlarge, and others won't. I don't get it.

Jason turned 33 this summer, and where did he want to go to celebrate? Sin City! We had a free room at any one of the Harrah's owned properties, so we took advantage of it and went over Labor Day weekend. And because we're high rollers, we upgraded the room for an extra $40. Oh, ya, we don't mess around.

After King Kamehameha Day and Kilauea, the next most incredible thing we did was drive to the top of Mauna Kea and stand on top of the world. We were at almost 14,000 feet above sea level and the view was breathtaking. Looking out, instead of an ocean of water, we had what looked like an ocean of clouds. We spent a couple of hours up there before we made the treck back home. Oh, and it was so cold and windy up there. There were even a few patches of snow.



Also on the agenda of our trip included sailing along the Kohala Coast, an overnight trip to Hilo, visiting a lava tree forest, standing at the eastern most point of Hawaii where the cleanest air on Earth is found, checking out waterfalls, taking a swim in the ocean, and of course, taking lots and lots of pictures. Here are a few more of our favorites for your enjoyment.

Waaaaaaay back in April, while on their way to Hawaii, Jason's brother, Curt, and his girlfriend, Stacey, stopped by for a short visit in Arizona. This was our first time meeting Stacey, and we're only sorry that we didn't meet her sooner. We love her! We wish we could have spent more time with them, but we'll get to see them again at Christmas.

Now that my sister has made it official on her blog, I am sharing the great news that I am going to be an aunt! The big day is set for June 13, 2009. Jason and I couldn't be happier for Mattie and Paul!

We're also working hard to add a cousin soon!

After vowing that I would be good and update more often, I didn't. I'm so sad. Okay, so here goes my second attempt at updating my blog.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

We just got back from the movie theatre. We watched Cloverfield. Thankfully, no one puked in the theatre. But, wow, do our heads HURT! The camera was shaking from the first second the movie started. I had to close my eyes a couple of times because it was too much.

If you haven't seen the movie, you may want to take an aspirin before you go to the theatre.

December was a busy month filled with shopping and getting ready for Christmas. We had to buy a new artificial tree because our other artificial tree would not fit in our great room anymore. We put an entertainment center around our TV, and we needed a smaller tree. I was a little concerned having a slim tree, because we've always had a big, full tree, whether real or artificial. But I love having a slim tree! It was so much faster to decorate, and I think a tree looks better when the ornaments fill the tree. I don't like to see too much tree. But that's just me.


The Newleyweds had an early Christmas dinner at their house. Their first Christmas! Mattie and Paul cooked us some yummy and healty Italian food, and there were so many desserts to pick from (and offset the healthy food). Then there was the Scattegories tournament that ended with several tie breakers. It was a really great night spent with the two families, the first time we'd all gotten together since the wedding.


Christmas was spent going to Mass on Christmas Eve, and getting together on Christmas Day at my parent's house. We all got awesome gifts! Rogue got a new bed and a new chew toy, Jason got me a Sirius Stiletto, and I got him a new clock radio for his iPod and some really nice shaving and skin care products. Mattie and Paul got us some movies and video games, and ASU hoodie, and my parents totally spoiled us with slippers, pajamas, L'Occitane products, and a gift card. I spent my gift card on a Bulova watch. It's beautiful (and a great deal, thanks to Overstock.com).


But the fund didn't end there! On December 29, I participated in the Fiesta Bowl Parade with my mom and dad. The ASU Foundation needed some balloon handlers, and I thought it would be fun. We got to hold onto Sammy D. Cowboy, and was the second to last balloon. We had to be there by 9:15 am even though the parade didn't start until 11 am, and we actually didn't go out onto the parade route until almost 1 pm. It was actually more fun that I thought it would be. I see a former coworker and some family walking down the parade route.

And the best part was that we had Sparky with us! I could not believe how many little kids knew who Sparky was. I didn't know who Sparky was until I was in high school. The little kids screamed with joy, just like they would when meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time. And Sparky was great, high fiving little kids, hugging them, just having a great time with the kids. Even adults were thrilled to get so close to Sparky and get their picture with him.

We ended December and the year by celebrating at Mike and Rebecca Fleischmann's house. I think we've been celebrating New Years with them for the several years. We used to go down to the Fiesta Bowl Block Party, but it was getting too crazy down there. It's much nicer hanging out with friends in a warm and safe environment. By 10 pm we were starting to get tired, but we were able to hang on for midnight. We went home around 1 am.

For some reason, my pictures under the Novemember post are not working properly. You can't click on them and make them bigger. I don't know how to fix it. Sorry!

Whoa! We just found out at work that Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment. How very sad. I really liked him as an actor, and was really excited that he was playing the Joker in the new Batman movie. Very, very sad.

November was a great month for us. In early November, just a few weeks shy of my first anniversary at the ASU Foundation, I officially became the new Scholarship Coordinator.

After all the wedding excitement, October was a quiet month. We had three family members celebrate birthdays, but we had to celebrate with them in spirit because they don't live in Arizona. They were our nephew, Caleb, Jason's sister, Joan, and Jason's brother, Curt.

The Arizona Wind Symphony had it's first official concert at the new Tempe Center for the Arts. It is such a beautiful facility, I just love it there!

Jason and I realized that we have lived in our house for three years in October.

All in all, a pretty boring month.

The month we were all waiting for - September! I couldn't believe how quickly the month came. It seemed like it was just recently that Mattie was calling from Paris informing us that she was engaged. Although there was the huge issue with the church, everything went smoothly. Well, except the makeup, but we were able to fix that. More on that later. First was the rehearsal. Thank goodness it wasn't the wedding day because it was pouring rain like crazy! When I got to the church it was starting to sprinkle, but lots of members of the bridal party came in soaking wet. No problems during the rehearsal, just had to remember when to walk into the church, who to stand next to, when to walk up to the alter during the vows, remembering to hang on to the ring. All that fun stuff. Once that was done it was off to Buca de Bepo for some dinner.

Mattie spent the night at our house. Poor thing was so nervous. But at least the house was calm and quiet, and there was no else but me and Jason. Unlike the night before my wedding. I'll always remember going out into the street with her, wearing our wedding day shoes and scuffing them up. Even though it rained earlier, the sky was absolutely clear that night, and the stars were twinkling. The next morning we were up and ready to go to the salon to get our hair done. Mattie, our mom and four of the five other bridesmaids were at the salon for some pastries, mimosas, hair and makeup. It's amazing how much they have to curl, tease and smooth out to make such a simple and elegant hair style. Once we had our hair done, some girls went to the mall to get their makeup done, while Mattie, our mom and I went to go pick up the flowers to take to the church. One of Mattie's good friends is a florist, and while she was busy working on the flowers at the reception hall, we took the flowers and all six bridesmaids worked on setting them up.

Once we were done with the flowers, we had to finish getting ready because it was almost show time. I was waiting in the lobby when I heard that Mattie's makeup smeared due to some crying. And the makeup lady was gone already. Yikes! We grabed whatever makeup we did have and touched it up as best we could. When you look at the wedding photos, you can't tell, thank goodness! And then it was show time. As I stood there, waiting for my turn to walk down the aisle, I couldn't believe it. My baby sister was about to get married. It was too weird. She cried walking down the aisle, Paul looked a bit pale during the vows, and before you knew it, they were Mr. and Mrs. After some pics, we hopped into the hummerzine and were off to the castle for the reception (with a quick stop at the Circle K for some booze).

As Matron of Honor, I had to give a speech. I started writing it last October, almost an entire year before the wedding. I practiced it several times before the wedding, each time crying at a certain point near the end. When I got up to read it at the reception, I to started crying after the first line! The party was a good time. Good food, good drinks, good music. They did all the traditional stuff, first dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, dollar dance. And then it was over. It was a beautiful day and night, lots of love in the air, lots of family and friends. The newlyweds spent the night at The Pointe and then left for Aruba the next day.

August was a busy month. Not only do Jason's and Mattie's birthdays fall in August, but Mattie had her bridal shower and bachelorette party in August.

The bachelorette party was in Las Vegas. There were about 8 of us that drove up for the weekend. The first day we walked around a lot and then went to Bobby Flay's restaurant at Caesar's Palace for dinner. I think this was the first time that I ate dinner at 9 pm. We thought about going to Tao at the Venitian, but it was crazy trying to get in. If you are ever in Vegas, don't ever fall for the club passes. They don't get you in at all, they are just a big ad to get you to the club. When we got there, everyone had a card in their hand. As we were walking back towards our hotel, we found a dueling piano bar (Mattie's favorite) at Harrahs. We met up with a Bachelor party and hung out with them until they left for the nudie bar. It's always a good time singing to your favorite tunes while having a drink or two.

Happy New Year everyone! I see that I have completely ignored my blog for about five months. Let me get you up to speed. We'll start back in August where I left off.