Shaking the Tree

I've been gone, gone, gone.... but now I'm back. Sorry no new exciting gigs to report on, its always scary slow during the Christmas ~ New Year stretch. I made a quick cash on New Years Eve at the Bellagio , I was back home by 9:30 pm covered in glitter from the Ice Princess Atmosphere models we prepped for the grand ball. Of course, I forgot my camera.. sheesh , someday I'll get the hang of that. But I didn't forget my camera on this day a few weeks ago. My siblings (and cousin Angie who is like my little sister) and I got together to cook a few days before Christmas, in an effort to bring our family traditions to Vegas. Our mothers spent hours over the stoves in one another's homes making tamales, posole , tortillas and cookies for the holidays. So we did the same for a day, it was well worth the calories just to revisit good childhood memories and make new ones with our own kids running amok. The day after Christmas we headed to the snow in our Taurus. ...

Back in the days of toddler my house was oh so baby proofed. But I longed for grown up decor so much that I could sit and look at decor mags for hours on end. With each developmental stage my children achieved, I awarded myself with a breakable or two and happily discarded or gave away something made by Little Tykes or Fisher Price. The day I handed down our high chair was an oh so wonderful day. The day the toys were no longer stored in the living room was a bliss full one as well. So naturally when Christmas came around, I gradually changed my decorations as well. We've gone through many stages. The newlywed stage of popcorn on strings, paper chains and lots of ribbon from the dollar store. The toddler stage of plastic ornaments and anything else that had unbreakable on the package. Which by the way, if someone made these in a more stylish fashion..... oh yea.. money.. but i don't have time so feel free.. The Pre -School and Early Elementary School stage of all Christ...