$5 Dates

We love $5 dates... we have them regularly. :) The $5 usually goes to some kind of food or beverage, which we get to share.

Sometimes we'll decide to run errands together and we'll split a Los Betos burrito (if you've never had one, they really are huge, so splitting one is still plenty for both of us!). Sometimes we'll meander around a store (if I pick, it's usually a furniture store, if Josh picks, it's usually Cabela's) and then get a coffee. Actually, there are lots of things we'll do that end up with getting a coffee... Barnes & Noble is a favorite spot, where we'll have coffee and chat over the books we've picked to skim through while we're there, or we'll just go to the coffee shop and drink coffee while we play chess. Sometimes we'll drive through parts of town looking at houses, or we'll drive up to a hilltop overlooking town, and we'll get an ice cream. Sometimes we'll go somewhere and share a dessert (Cheesecake Factory is great for that... it's more like $10 with tip, but still...). And sometimes we'll decide to just walk through the mall, pointing out things we'd like to get for each other, and we'll share a pretzel.

It doesn't seem to matter what we do, we enjoy doing it together. And knowing that we can have a date at least once a week, and only spend $5 or so, is fabulous! It's fun to do things, and share things, with each other.

New Job Title...

I officially have a new job title. I've been in my new job for over a month, and I finally have a confirmed title of "Training & Project Development". I know, it's kind of vague. I enjoy it because the job itself hasn't been defined yet, and I get to create it. :) It is a little scary though, because there aren't set measures to metric myself against... I can go home at the end of the day, feeling great, knowing I was busy all day, but there won't always be a tangible result to the day... I have to get used to that!

I'm excited to really embrace this new challenge, and all the ups and downs that will go with it!

Christmas with the Kids

Since it was not our year for Christmas this year, we didn't get to celebrate until this weekend. The kids were spoiled with gift cards, so we spent the day shopping! Donovan chose electronics, and Audri chose clothes...

Donovan's first purchases - a charger kit for his XBox controller, and some candy...

He also bought some XBox games. As soon as we got home, he asked for XBox time so he could try them out. :) I actually had to remind him to take his coat off before he started playing!

Audri in her new favorite outfit - jeans included!

The assortment of shirts she was able to find...

A second modeling pose...

They were pretty excited about their shopping sprees, and got exactly what they wanted!

Michael, Amanda, and Kiddos!

Michael, Amanda and the kids were here!!! Pics from the quick visit:

Camdon playing on the floor - what a cute chunka-monka! :)

Aunt Jaime hanging out with Camdon... he is a bit of a wiggler!

Kaiya and Michael, playing the piano on my music throw...

Kaiya's turn to try...

We started the day with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... Kaiya watched the whole episode standing up.

Of course, the patio-door was a draw - there were ducks on the other side!

Michael and Kaiya outside feeding the ducks.

Kaiya wanted to feed them, but couldn't throw the bread very far! She wasn't sure about the ducks getting much closer than this, either.

Tearing bread pieces to throw...

Once Michael and Kaiya came back in, the ducks tried to follow... they got closer to the door than ever before... probably thinking they'd get more bread!

Kaiya hanging out in Josh's chair... it's a big chair, and she's such a little girl!

It gave her plenty of room to play. :)

No visit with Elbert family members is complete without an Olive Garden trip!

Kaiya decided she wanted to sit in the carseat while we were waiting for our food. Silly girl!

After naptime, she wanted to daddy-snuggle time. :)

It was fun to have the Elbert family here for a couple of days! I hope they can come back soon, and hang out a little longer!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! This year has had its ups and downs, as all years do I suppose. At the beginning of 2010 my resolution was to live a life of gratitude. I may not have done so each day as intended, but overall have found myself finding more things to be grateful for, and spending less time wishing for what could be and more time grateful for what is.

2011 will bring changes as well, and it is my intention to remain grateful throughout the year, regardless of what the external factors and forces of life may include. I am grateful for my family, extended and immediate, particularly for my husband. I am grateful for wonderful friends, and a career I enjoy working in an industry I find rewarding and fulfilling. I am grateful for my Lord, who guides me through it all.

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 brings joy and blessings - and that we are privileged to share in many of them.