Christmas Eve

Alyssa opening a gift The kids with Grandma

We went up to Grandma's to open gifts with her before heading over to our Cousin's house for dinner. The kids opened some little gifts from Grandma (they have a few more special ones at the house under the tree). Aaron got a cozy blanket (my kids are freaks about their blankets). A few shirts for school and some chachki thing (fun little items). Alyssa gota blanket also (for her bed), some school gadgets. I got some comfy P.J.s (wearing them tonight) they are snuggly., A scarf from my Moms boss, Some red slippers. Plus $50 to get what I want. Tony got some cash and bought his Kenon Sun Glasses that look hot.

Mom, Grandma, J.J., Kristy, Aaron

Me, Alyssa, Changho, Unyee (Added second photo includes Tony)

We had dinner at my Cousin's house in Torrance. My 2nd Cousin who is 15 is from Oregon and came to visit us.

Tis the Season!

Friday night, my Girl Scout Troop had the honor of singing Christmas Songs to the elderly at the Season's Assisted Living Home located down by Home Depot. We sang in the dining room to the residents who were eating dinner. It was such a great feeling. They clapped and really appreciated the girls singing. Each girl brought a plate of cookies to walk around and offer them and they chatted with them and wished them a Merry Christmas. One of the cutest things was a 80 year old lady who lives there, recited the Girl Scout Promise and was so excited to share she was once a Girl Scout. Very Cool. Here are some pics. It is such a great thing to make others happy and to see the smiles on their faces was awesome. It happened to be Santa night there so the girls got to pose with him. Shari Nelsons Cadette troop joined us too.

GOURMET GIRLS CLUB

This is our 4th Gourmet Girls Dinner. Michele hosted this months and had us make up these yummy chicken breasts stuffed with olive temanade, feta cheese or a pesto version of it, Zuccini, salad and this out of the world cheese bread. We enjoy helping to cook, drinking wine and laughing. We got to dress comfy in our p.j's which was awesome because it was pouring rain.

Thanks Michele for a great night.

Kimm

Finally... My 10th Annual Cookie Exchange

Beth and Alyssa Kimberly Wendy The Gang!

I can't believe I have been hosting my cookie exchange for 10 years. It is so much fun having drinks and appetizers with friends I have had for years and with my new friends. This year we had 15 people come wich was awesome. Our variety this year was awesome and yummy (I sampled several this a.m. for breakfast). I look forward to next year my friends. I love you all!!!

Peanut Butter Balls

Here the kids are helping me make my Peanut Butter Balls. These are a tradition here at the Geria home. I am expected to make these every year for my Cookie Exchange. I also make a second 6 dozen because I love trying new recipes. We have been having so much fun the past week baking (peanut butter balls, chocolate snickerdoodles, almond rocca and candied pecans) Our house has smelled so yummy and just like the holidays all week long.

More December....

Having cake at 9 p.m.


Here we are at PF Changs

December also happens to be Tony's birthday (December 10th). Unfortunately we were not able to celebrate that day for his birthday as Aaron tried out for the Plus Soccer team (sadly he did not make it) but it was on Dad's birthday. We did come home at 9:00 p.m. and sang him Happy Birthday and had cake and let him open his gift from us. Friday the 12th we did go out to dinner to PF Changs for his birthday. Aaron didn't come with us as he went to a gymnastics place with Jacob Hanson which Tony was fine with. Tony, me and Alyssa had a great time and had some yummy food.

Wow I am waaayy behind on my blog!!

Well the month of December has certainly flown by. I can't believe I have blogged one thing for December. Well... where do I start? Well, my Girl Scout Troop went to the annual Songs and Smore's event which is always so cute. The girls dress in their P.J.'s and we go down where another troop leads us in songs and then the girls get a patch for their vest and some sort of smore's snack. Here are some shots of the girls. (December 4th).

Horseback Riding

My Girl Scout troop went to the San Juan Capistrano Equistrian Center on Sunday. The girls had a great time riding and learning about the care of horses. While half of the girls went on the ride, the others were taught how to take a horse out of the stable and to walk safely with a horse, also how to groom and clean the horses hoofs. Alyssa had a wonderful time. She loved riding her horse named Josh. After their ride the girls had a small snack of trail mix and some photo ops. What a great place to go. If you ever want to take the kids riding this is the place to go. It's close to home and the staff there are so awesome.

Happy Birthday Mom (Grandma)

Mom's birthday is today. We had to celebrate last weekend with her because Alyssa still had playoff's for soccer today. We took her to one of her favorite restaraunts Chicago for Ribs in Redondo Beach. We enjoy it there. It reminds us alot of Dad. He like to eat there too.

Here are some shots of us at the restaraunt.

Happy Birthday Mom. We love you!!!

We miss you Dad

November 13 was the anniversary of my Dad passing away. I did okay that day, but not a moment went by without me thinking of how much I miss him and what a funny and amazing Dad he was to me. The kids took time that day to think about him. Aaron wrote in his journal at school about him and Alyssa took time to pray to him and look at his picture. I called my mom and she went down on Friday to say her hello to him and bring him flowers. I don't get down there as much as I should. I tend to fall apart when I go. I will go during our Thanks Giving break for sure.

Here is one of my favorite pics of my Dad and Aaron.

We miss you Dad and love you very much.

Halloween - Sorry so late :o(

Better late than never LOL. It has been so buys the past 2 months with school and soccer. Here are some pictures from Halloween this year. We spent Halloween at the Calcaterra's house which was fun. We had a potluck dinner of Lasagna and lots of yummy appetizers and drinks of course for us big kids.

Alyssa was a candy corn (her wig wouldn't stay on so she had to improvise). Aaron was a wounded soldier. Our good friend Wendy put his make up on. She is a make up artist and put real looking bullet holes and wounds on his face. He looked cool. Tony was fireman and me my good old handy jail bird costume. Wendy was Carilla Duvill from 101 dalmations which she looked awesome. Deb was the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz. What a fun day.

Walk Against Drugs

This event has become tradition with me and the kids. We love doing the Walk every year and remind each other to say NO to drugs. Like they said at the kick off, it all starts in your home with us parents to set the example and also instill in our children the terrible things drugs do to people. We have all seen friends or love ones effected by the use of drugs.

The carnival at the end of the walk at the Senior Center behind Newhart was a lot bigger this year. There were so many great things for the kids to see and do. Swat and other emergency vehicles were there. They had a lot of great give aways and free hot dogs which me and Rose were running for at the end of our walk (we had no breakfast LOL).

It was great to see the turn out from Viejo. We have such a great group of parents, Teachers and kids that come together as our Viejo Family.

Friday Night Gourmet Girls

Friday night was our 2nd Gourmet Club meal. After a delicious meal last month at Michele's house we decided it would be fun to do this monthly. I hosted this Friday nights which at least 2 out of my 4 items came out perfect. Everything tasted great but didn't come out the way I planned which is fine. We had lots of wine and laughter which was the best part. Here are a few pics. My wonderful husband joined us and cooked our steaks perfectly. He is the BBQ King. Thanks Tony.

My menu consisted of: Filtet Mignon with a herb chive butter, scallop cheesy potatoes, asparagus and shallot side dish and Moutlon lava cakes.

Look forward to the next one at Christies.

GO AARON!

Aaron rocked this weekend at soccer. I was so proud of him. He had that spark and the speed this weekend which I haven't seen in a while but knew it was there. It was a tough game which we tied 1 to 1. Both teams played awesome. Aaron made the one and only goal on his team this game and also did such an amazing job playing defender. He was like flash lightening.

I had to boast, he is really an amazing soccer player and I love watching him play. Good job Aaron keep up the great playing.

Aaron's Birthday BBQ

Since we went to Las Vegas during Aaron's actual birthday we held his birthday BBQ this weekend. It was fun, just the right amount of friends and lots of yummy burgers and side dishes. Thanks Wendy for all your help with the food and clean up. Misha we missed you, Tony even bought blue cheese for you and his burgers. We will do them another time. Hope your feeling better soon.





Here is a quick snip of the party.





I ended up with the flu bug yesterday and still today. I have to miss another bunco :o( .

More Pics from Smith and Wollensky

Couldn't fit them all :o)