My Birthday!

I turned 27 this year- woohoo, getting up there!  It was on a Monday and Zach's 1st day back at work from the long Christmas weekend so it was a little more low-pro than usual (no Morongo this year, snap!)  It was a beautiful sunny day so I decided to take the kids to the Irvine Spectrum and I spent the day meandering through the shops, having lunch and taking Noah and Sienna on the carousel (it was Sienna's first time on the actual horse!).  I decided on Outback for my birthday dinner and we invited family over for ice cream cake when we got home- basically the same deal we did for Zach's birthday.  So we get to Outback and it's a 45-60 minute wait!!  That plus the fact that Zach couldn't get his key out of the car wheel for some reason lead us to the pick up window to order to go!  It ended up working out perfect and we all got to enjoy our meal at our own pace at home.  I wasn't really expecting anything as far as a present this year aside from the usual flowers and card but Zach came out of nowhere with a surprise!!  When I saw the bag size I was thinking maybe it was this jogging arm band I had wanted but instead it was a....platinum diamond band!!!!!  I was beyond surprised and excited!!  Those of you who know the story of how my original wedding ring is now currently resting on the bottom of Lake Mead know I have been missing a "real" ring for a long time but this was the LAST thing I was expecting!  Wow, Zach really got me good!!

Hanging at Outback waiting to see if Zach can get his key out...am I a little dressed up for Outback Steakhouse?  Sure.  Do I care since it's my birthday??  NOPE!!

Me and my Sisi!

Carry out bag, ha!

Yum!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

Mint chip ice cream cake, my favorite!

Me and Noah digging in!

The Morning After (Christmas)

I love the day after Christmas because the social responsibilities are finally over and we can just sleep in and hang out!  Plus we finally get a chance to play with our new stuff!  It was too cold and drizzly for Noah to test out his NASCAR on Christmas so he was ready go the next day. Our street has two different grass islands that he likes to pretend are his race tracks.  Sienna was having fun playing with her very first dolly that she got from daddy and a new stroller walker- she's not quite ready to use it as a walker but it has fun toys on the front she likes to play with.

Christmas

We caught Santa leaving presents for us under the tree around 8:30 that morning (we asked Santa to do us last since we were up so late the night before at my parents and the kids sleep in).  After opening presents at our house, we headed to Gramma and Papa's house for a yummy breakfast and more presents with them and the Hardin crew.  After that it was time for naps at our house and back to Gramma and Papa's for Patti's annual prime rib and yorkshire pudding dinner - sooooo good!!  We hung out there with Uncle TT and family and headed over to Aaron and Michelle's where they were getting together with her family for a little dessert!  It was a long fun filled day with lots of presents and lots of food!!  

Noah's very own NASCAR!!

Sienna's first order of business: her morning baba!

Helping eachother open gifts, so cute!

Sienna was really into opening the gifts and playing with the box and paper more than the actual toy, haha!

Gramma and Papa's house

Cousins: Noah, Cammy, Ava, Payton, and Boston- pay attention to Payton in this picture: now you see him...

...now you don't!!!

Noah's parking garage- we put it together while he napped and he was so excited when he woke up!

All dressed up for dinner!

I can't figure out why these aren't turning the right way but oh well- Sienna's outfit is too cute not to post!

Matchy-matchy!

Started on the high chair with her own dinner and ended up on my lap eating mine too!  The girl can eat!

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve with my family at my parents house- it was a packed house with us,my mom and dad, my brother Jr. and his family, my sisters Liz and Yesenia, my Aunt and Uncle and about 5-10 of my cousins that came in and out throughout the night.  We had my mom's homemade tamales for dinner, yummmm!!  And of course it wouldn't be a Leyva family get together without a little poker! 

Nana with Noah and Sienna

My parents were cracking up at the fact that we couldn't get Sienna to look at the camera but what they weren't realizing and that she was looking at them because they were laughing!

Sienna opening her official first Christmas present!

You can't tell from the picture but Noah was BEYOND excited for this one!

Elena wearing the tutu I made her, this picture doesn't do it justice!

Mommy and Noah

Zach's B-day!

This year for Zach's 28th birthday we went out to El Torito Grill for dinner just the 4 of us and had cake (that me and Noah made!) and ice cream at the house with some of his family- his parents, sister Stacie and brother Aaron and family came over.  It was mellow but fun.  =)

Our family =)

Kisses for Sisi!

Noah helping daddy blow out the candles

Stacie and Sienna

It wasn't the prettiest thing but it was pretty darn good!

Tara's B-day!

Tara has been one of my best friends since high school.  We went to different schools, me at Fountain Valley HS and Tara and Edison HS (rivals!) but we worked together at my very first job - Planet Kids!!  Tara is now dating one of Zach's cousins, Justin- talk about small world!! This year Tara celebrated her 26th birthday at Yard House in Triangle Square- fun night!  

For the first time ever, Tara's hair is shorter than mine!!

Tara, Me, Zach

Displaying my gift to Tara =)

This one's fuzzy but I wanted to post it anyway: Me, Tara, Amber

Gingerbread House

We busted out our year old gingerbread house kit this weekend with high hopes of making it just like it looked on the box, HA!  Apparently it's a little harder than it looks- it didn't turn out too pretty but we had a ton of fun trying!

Santa

Noah and Sienna got to see Santa this weekend at a Christmas party hosted by one of our neighbors- it was a fun time with yummy food and wine with friends and neighbors.  Noah was so excited to see Santa, Sienna not so much!!

Ladera Ranch Tree Lighting Ceremony

This was our second year going to the Ladera Ranch tree lighting ceremony.  It's a fun festive time for the kids to see the big tree light up and Santa drive through on the fire engine.  This year was extra fun because we got to see my niece Camden perform with her dance class- too cute!

Family Photo Op.

Noah and his cousin Cammy