Spencer Company Party

 I don't think I have blogged about Spencer's company and the changes that have happened in the last year.  His small Engineering firm that was made up of 12 employees was bought by Quad Knopf a huge Engineer corporation that has locations in 5 cities between Bakersfield and Roseville and over 150 employees.  We were a little hesitant about the change at first but excited for the opportunity and what it would mean for Spencer's career.  It has been wonderful! Spencer was promoted to a project engineer manager and we actually own stock in the business.  We could not be more happier.  It's nice to be part of something bigger especially around the holidays they had a huge Christmas party down in Fresno at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater.  We decided to make a weekend of it so my parents took the kids and we had a weekend together.  It was beyond wonderful!! I love this man more than anything and we really needed a weekend just us! It was fun dressing up that night.

The dinner was fabulous and the dessert was divine.  Spencer rocked the room by taking me over to meet all the other engineers that he has had to work with on projects.  All the other wives were so nice it was a very enjoyable evening.  

The show also was so much fun.  It was Smokey Joe's Cafe.  Music and dancing from 50's, 60's and 70's.  It was great we loved every minute of it.

After the show all the employees and some of the actors took a picture on the stage.

The company provided bus service from Merced but since we were staying in Fresno we drove ourselves.  We did jump on the bus for a Merced employee picture before they all left.

We stayed downtown at the Radisson it was really nice and fun that we were right in the middle of down town.  It's not San Fransisco but honestly it was so nice to have all the shopping, restaurants,  Christmas decorations, outdoor ice skating rink (walking distance from our hotel) and not the hassle and busyness of SF. 

Sunday morning we slept in and then went to a very yummy breakfast at Hunkleberry's it was so yummy.

My dad actually came and got the kids from us on Friday that weekend so we had a date night in Merced Friday night at our favorite Thai restaurant.  It was very weird being in our house alone all night that night.  Saturday we drove down to Fresno and went shopping and the party that night.  Sunday more shopping and then meet up with the family in Modesto to get the kids.  We were excited to see our little munchkins.

The kids had a great weekend with Nana, Papa, Titi and Gaga.  They got to help them put up their Christmas tree and decorate.  They made cookies, watched movies, played and even did some gold mining and rock climbing.  It is so wonderful to be able to go on a mini vacation with my hubby and know that my kids are having the best time with my family I just love that!  We decide that the first weekend in December is perfect for this kind of thing so I hope we make it an annual occurrence.  

My dad just sent me these pictures of the kids playing in their tree house in the moutains. 

We made it back to Merced just in time to catch the tail end of the Nativity activity our church sponsored this year.  It was amazing seeing so many different and unique nativities from all over the world.

It was a wonderful weekend!!

It's offically Christmas around here!

The first week of December and first week back to school was anything but low key.  It felt like the busiest week ever!! Spencer had meetings every night, getting back in the school routine was difficult, I think I had a couple meetings, all the fun Christmas traditions were starting and we were getting ready for an out of town trip that following weekend.  Needless to say it was a busy week.  

December 1st our elf "Frosty" flew in: 

Tuesday Carter came to work and played with all the life size nutcrackers.

 Aubrey has decided to take some time off dance class.  I was trying to push that she stick with it but for what? She is only 6 and if she wants a break she should take a break I think we have lots more years of dance in our future.  She says she has been doing it since she was 3 and she needed some time off so that's what we are doing.  It's nice to have our Wednesday afternoon free to make a ginger bread train.  The frosting in the pack was so hard so thank goodness I had some on hand even if it's pink, lol. 

 Wednesday Daddy was at work from 7am-10pm it was such a long day for him! The kids and I made this tree for him and took it over to his office to surprise him.

 We our loving our chocolate calendars and counting down the days to Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2014

What a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend we had! I was a little sad that it was the Supinger's side to have Thanksgiving day but it actually worked out that we got to see both sides.  I probably need to learn to share more.  Thanksgiving day we woke up to annual traditions of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and enjoying yummy cinnamon rolls.

After packing up the car we headed to Stockton to Uncle Brian and Aunt Angie's house.  Guess which kids hung out at the craft table the most......

Grandpa carving the turkey.

Sadly Carter didn't stay at the craft table that long.....

He found all his boy cousins playing video games (I'm not to sure how I feel about video games!) At least it was Mario so that is better then those fighting games.  I guess he is just one of the guys!

Here are the girls in the family:  

We celebrated all the November birthdays that day too.

It was a fun party and we ate and ate.  Then we said our good byes and headed up to my mom and dads for dessert.  Titi makes the pies from scratch and they are to die for. 

Aubrey had the superist wiggly front tooth that whole week.  We teased her all week that we were going to pull it.  It was so wiggly I think it was only hanging by a string.  She refused to pull it! It was kind of getting annoying since it was bothering her when she ate and brushed her teeth.  All day long family members were trying to pull it but she would just close her mouth and walk away.  Well after dessert we went down to the guest room which is really big and the kids were having a dance party while we were trying to get them in their PJ's.  Titi and I decided to join in the fun and started playing London bridges well when the bridge went down on Aubrey my arm hit her mouth and the tooth went flying.  Yay it was out! and it now has a story that she loves sharing with everyone.

We stayed at my parents for the weekend.  On Friday morning my mom brought out my grandmothers very old storybook dolls to show Aubrey.  It was a very sweet moment and Aubrey is looking forward to getting the collection when she is a little bigger.

Friday was a fun day.  We all went out to lunch and then my dad, Spencer and the kids went to see the new Penguin movie in the theater.  Mom, Titi and I went to the holiday craft fair.  It was a really big fair with lots to look at and do.  We enjoyed a funnel cake while watching a juggling show that I got drug up on stage to be a part of.  It was pretty funny my sister got it all on tape so one of these days I may upload it.  After the fair we all meet back up and headed down to Washington Street for the Sonora Christmas parade.

The theme was Frozen.  It was a really awesome parade the floats were amazing.

After the parade we headed back to Nana and Papa for Thanksgiving part 2 and to watch Christmas movies.  It was a great weekend and really got us in the Holiday spirit!

Titi ended upgrading her Christmas tree this year so she gave us her old one.  When we got home we put it up in our loft and put all our homemade ornaments on it.  It looks great!