Christmas 2009

This year we spent Christmas in L.A for the first time since we've been married. It was so nice to wake up in our apartment and open gifts together. I go a little overboard at Christmas because I love watching people opening gifts, and I probably learned it from my mom. Here is a picture of how I grew up at Christmas and a picture of our tree. It's not up to par yet but once we have kids I hope it will be the same :)

After we opened gifts we headed to Phil's parents house. We opened some new wii gifts that we brought with us. We had fun playing the games with the family. It was great to have everyone together.

Uncle Phil and Sam doing target practice.

The kids all opening their gifts.

We also took a Losie Family portrait that day. Phil and I after the shoot taking our picture :)

This was my first year of Christmas Pudding. It was very exciting :) You add a little alcohol and mom lights it on fire. VERY cool!!

Great Christmas in Los Angeles!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year it was our turn to go to Lauren's parents for Thanksgiving. My mom decorated the table for the 17 people who attended. It was delicious as usual. My moms cousin, Noreen, and her family, came to visit as did family friends The Faubions and The Barracos. We all had a great time eating great food and drinking great wine :)

Cruise to Mexico

For our first anniversary we took a cruise to Cabo San Lucas Mexico, leaving from San Diego and stopping in Ensenada. We sailed on the Royal Caribbean ship Radiance of the Seas. This was Lauren's first cruise she could remember. I had been on one when I was 5 but can't remember much. I definitely didn't remember how HUGE the ship was and how it's basically a Vegas hotel on water (which by the way, we LOVE vegas!). We were more impressed with the ship than any of the ports. We weren't off the ship for more than 2 hours at each stop because there really isn't much to see and you can only be hassled so much to buy a turtle ceramic necklace! Other than the stops we will definitely be cruising again, we had a blast!!

Our ship from the parking lot in San Diego!

Phil playing miniature golf on our ship... he won... pretty sure he cheated though :)

The rock climbing wall on the ship. We tried waiting a few times but the lines were always sooo long! So we worked out at the gym instead!

Me outside the casino, where we spent most of our time.

First stop - Ensenada! We had to pose with the... chili pepper? Not really sure :)

Second stop was CABO! Our first stop was at the wild animal booth. We had a choice to hold the baby lion or Tiger. Phil chose the lion. See the Tiger below playing with one of the workers.

At the docks in Cabo.

Phil hanging out in the pool on the ship after our hour trip into Cabo :)

The Newlywed Game!

Phil and I were chosen to be on the Newlywed Game Show! We went to the taping last night and it was an experience! When we got there at 2:30 we were sent immediately to our green room to fill out a bunch of paperwork and then to just wait.... and wait and wait.....

We took our "photobooth" pictures and got our make-up done. Yes, Phil got his make-up done too :) After the make-up we were sent back to our green room to wait and just hang out. We weren't allowed to bring ANYTHING. No books, phones, cards, Ipod... nothing! So it got boring pretty quickly, until the fire alarm went off in the building. We were all escorted outside and then brought back in. Then we had to go back outside for the fire department to check the building.

We went back to hang out in our rooms a little longer... and around 6:00 we had our briefing. They basically tell you all of the words you can't say, and that if you tell anyone the outcome of the show you will be fined. All that said we had a great time. We were able to have friends in the audience so that was also fun! Here's some pictures Sarah (Phil's sister) shot of us on stage.

Who won? Tune in!!These were our Photobooth shots that were behind us through the show

Just a little touch-up :)

Dancing with the Stars Premiere!!!

On Saturday morning my mom called saying she was on a waiting list for DWTS tickets and she could get them for Mon, Tues or Wed. Well because of work and the first night I chose Monday. We had these printed out "tickets" and went to the CBS studios (weird since it's on ABC?) . Anyway, my friend Lisa and I went and stood in line for about 2 hours outside. They were getting to the end and told us we would need to sit in a balcony which has a obstructive view. At this point our feet hurt and we were hoping we didn't have a horrible seat. (the way the girl said it made it seem like balconies were horrible seats). So they call us in and as we walk in she says these are fillers now so you will be filling VIP seats. WHAT??? Did we hear that right? Sure enough we walk into the studio walk all over the dance floor and she find us seats right in the FRONT ROW!!

We took BROOKE BURKE's seat!! It said her name on that back of our chairs but apparently she was a no show! Good news for us :) So we sat next to Steve-o and Shawn Johnson from last season. Anyway, the show was great. A little long because you can't fast forward through the commercial breaks like at home! haha! But it was awesome! The dancers did well and it's pretty funny seeing them watch themselves practicing. Lisa's mom took these photos off of her TV :)
Me (right) next to Steve-o!

Lisa and I at the very beginning of the show!

Steve-o was really nice and friendly. He introduced himself and talked to us throughout the show. Not too often but he could have ignored us and we still would have thought it was cool sitting by them! :) And I have to say Melissa Joan Hart looked the best out of the woman. She is beautiful in person!

What an evening!!!

Dave and Andrea's wedding

Last weekend we drove up to Aptos (near Santa Cruz) for Dave and Andrea's wedding. Phil lived with Dave before we got married. The drive wasn't too bad, didn't seem very long. We got up there and had time to jump in the pool and rest a little. We stayed at the Best Western and it was a great hotel. The wedding was at the Seascape Golf Club.

This was where the ceremony happened. It was overlooking one the holes on the course. It was perfect weather and in the far distance you can see the water.

Phil and I waiting for the ceremony to start. Should have worn sun screen! :)

This is Dave and Andrea's beautiful 1 year old daughter. She did so great. Grandma dropped her off right there and she walked up to grandpa at the front! She kept turning around to the "audience" and waving while saying "hi!". It was very cute! You know me, I'm a sucker for little ones!

The beautiful Bride and Groom saying their vows. It was a beautiful ceremony and a great party! Had my first ever Cadillac Margarita... SO good! On our way back we stopped in SLO for Sunday Night. We got to see some old college friends and eat at Firestone's :) Great weekend trip!

San Diego!

This past weekend Phil and I drove down to meet my parents in San Diego. My Dad was there for a work trade show and it was Mom's birthday. We drove down Saturday in terrible traffic. It took us 3 hours to get from L.A to San Diego which is not normal! My parents flight was also canceled so they had to take a later one, but we all made it! We stayed in the Gaslamp district, which I had never been to.

For lunch, we went to Dick's Last Resort. I wish I would have gotten pictures of this place.... It was a bit crazy. It's called the Last Resort for a reason! :) The waiter was making fun of everyone and also the service was terrible. But wait, it's supposed to be bad service! He called Phil Hair Product, my dad a bastard and told my mom she could do better. He asked her "Were you on drugs when you said yes?" Personally, not my cup of tea but everyone else though it was hilarious. There are bra's hanging from the bar ceiling and it's a fun atmosphere. Just not what we were expecting! Good thing we are easy-going :) Here's the restaurant website to give you an idea.... http://www.dickslastresort.com/

After lunch we went shopping around the Gaslamp district. I bought a dress :) There are a lot of cool boutiques and great restaurants. We went out to dinner for my mom's birthday about 5 blocks from the hotel at Greystone Steak House. It was AMAZING! Here's some pictures from dinner...

Excuse the purple teeth :)

Lauren's first time to the midwest!

In April we took our first trip to Kansas City Missouri to visit Phil's sister Michelle, her husband Justin and daughter, Lily. We had a blast! Apparently a trip to Kansas City would not be complete if we didn't make a trip to Lily's favorite store... Cabella's! Here's a few pics from the store.
Uncle Phil and Lily check out the fighting stuffed Elephants. Never have I seen something like this...
Don't worry... it's just a Moose in the middle of the "pond".
Lily feeding the fish.... yes fish.
Another first for Lauren was shooting a gun. The first time I did it was frightening... really. I didn't think I would do it again but I got up the courage to try a few times. And... I hit the target!!! Woohoo!! Thanks for teaching me Justin!!

Phil and I were happy to be a part of Lily's first Easter Egg dying experience. She loved it. She was very careful not to spill and was complimenting everyone on their good eggs. Saying "Good Job". Very cute!Uncle Phil and Lily dying eggs together.

All done! Posing with Dad!

Nothing like a good bowl of ice cream to finish off Easter Egg Dying! We had a great time and can't wait to go back!!

Holidays!

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Glendora and Christmas in Pleasanton. Anyone who knows my mom knows she always goes all out for Christmas. Jane, my sister's girlfriend even said "I've never had a Christmas like this!" A little overboard but who's complaining?!









Phil's parents were able to make it up to Pleasanton the day after Christmas. We all went up to Napa for a little wine tasting :) We also took everyone to go see Deacon Dave's in Livermore. He puts up these lights every Christmas Season.













Great first Christmas!

Our Babies...

Before we got married I had our kitty Izzy. She is the black and white one, also known as our special needs cat. If you ever meet her you'll know why. Before we were married I lived with my friend Lisa and she had a cat. Well needless to say I feared Izzy was lonely so I talked Phil into adopting just one more :) Welcome.... Harvey! Here's a few pics of our babies

Through sickness and health... right??

Phil definitely proved to be a wonderful husband FAST! I have (since I can remember) had a small bump on the right side of my neck. It never bothered me before but soon after we came back from Maui it started getting noticeably bigger. Then.... it got red, then redder, then bruised. You get the idea. Well, it ended up being a benign cyst that somehow got infected in my neck. They had to operate to get it out and they couldn't close the wound so we had to pack it with gauze twice a day.... or should I say, Phil had to pack it while I sat there screaming and crying. Here's a picture of my neck while we were in the waiting room before surgery.... Ewwww.