Italian Night with the Thorntons/Steeles!

You may know (or you may not know) that while Brandon and I were living at home, every Friday night was "Italian night."  Dinner included some pasta dish, caeser salad, garlic bread, and lots of wine :)
Since we were home, and craving Paula Deen's "Lot's O Meat Lasagna" (it's our favorite!  you can find the recipe here: Lot's O Meat .  We invited Pat, Bing, Adam, Amber and Miss Kimber over for dinner!

GREAT company, GREAT fun, and GREAT stories told from the 26 years we have known each other!!!!
Well, most of us anyways ;)

The family table....

 

 

Me and Miss Kimber!

Notice her soggy garlic bread - she later handed it to Brandon and he ate it!

 

 

Kimber giving bye-bye kisses - she made a new friend with Brandon ;)

After everyone left, I wanted a picture of us by the Christmas tree:

 

Take 1

 

Take 2

Yay!

Amber - send me your photos from tonight!!!

Annual Gaddy Visit

Every year, the Gaddy's Family display hundreds of lights in their front yard.  So many in fact that you get to drive in a large horseshoe to see them!  They turn on Thanksgiving night and run through New Years - we always comment how we'd like to see the power bill!  Since it is down the street (almost) from Grandma Juanita's, it's easily become a favorite Christmas "DO" of mine :)

Snow!

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Bibee Family!!!

 

A Very BIBEE Christmas

As tradition goes.....in the morning after waking, the Christmas music is turned on, Mom begins cooking the famous "cheese grits," the excitement builds as the gifts are discovered under the Christmas tree and evidence of Santa is viewed by the cookie crumbs left behind on the table.  However, this Christmas, Santa sent an elf to the Bibee household since the cookies were forgotten:

 

We opened our presents, got dressed, and headed to Grandma Juanita's for the rest of Christmas morning.  We ate our traditional breakfast of biscuits and country ham, cheese grits, and "eggs-a-la-Brian."  Yummy!

Grams' lovely little tree - I look forward to seeing it every year!

 

Grandma got new hedge clippers!  A little scary.....

(sorry for the blurry photos!)

 

And I got a Harley do-rag for my helmet!

A true Harley Princess now :)

As we began to pack the car to head back home, it started snowing!  I haven't seen snow since living in New York!  But very glad I missed their blizzard this year :)  It didn't start sticking until much later:

 

First white Christmas in Georgia since 1882!

After everyone arrived at our house, we watched a movie, ate dinner, then had our 2nd Annual White Elephant Christmas - or Dirty Santa Christmas - or Secret Santa Elephant Christmas - as we all called it different things!

 

Sharon got a Christmas piggy bank!

 

Brenda got an Elvis popcorn filled guitar!

(Look at Grandma Janet in the back!)

 

Mom's SO EXCITED!!

She got a Shake Weight!

 

Ryan got Grinch pj pants!  

He's so tall, they are cropped pants!

 

Dad some Italian wine and olive oil - yum!

 

And Grandma Janet ANOTHER Shake Weight!

Brandon got an Ov-Glove and lottery tickets, Kaitlin got a basket full of yummy snacks, Matt got a California water globe and bbq sauce set from Mickey Mouse, and Steve got a candy cane full of Baileys!  Fun times had by all!

As everyone prepared to leave, the snow was beginning to accumulate - so pretty :)

 

 

One group shot before leaving:

 

 

A wonderful Christmas with family and many memories made :)

Happy Christmas Eve!

And we're in GEORGIA!! 

We had a good (but long) flight:

 

Lost 3 hours of our day - left LA at 2:25pm and landed in ATL at 10:30pm....

Had Chick-fil-A for dinner!!!  

And wrapped our presents for everyone (I had them all shipped home) while mom and dad went to bed.  Mollie helped us wrap the presents :)  Goodnight!

Happy Birthday to Me :)

I had a GREAT birthday this year - new boots from Mom, surprises at work, and surprises from Brandon!
At work, I was in a meeting with Susan and vendors when she ran out of the room - next thing I heard was "Happy Birthday to you" being sung by members on both of my teams!  We had chocolate cake and milk to celebrate :)

When I got home, Brandon had me a new work out watch that can calculate your heart rate, calories, target zones, and much more.  And, in the fridge this:

 

My most FAVORITE cake!  Betty Crocker Funfetti with the Rainbow Chip frosting!!!

He baked it for me :)

SO YUMMY!!!!

That night, I went to dinner with my girlfriend, Michelle, who lives in our apartment complex.  We had sushi and saki and they gave me a free t-shirt and fried green tea ice cream :)  So fun and yum!  

A great 27th birthday indeed!! :)

80 degrees and Sunny

Mom flew back to Atlanta today - when she lands it will be 18 degrees.  It's currently 80 degrees here.
This is what December looks like:

 

Shorts, T-shirt, & Flip Flops!

 

Our last night together with Mom - we were walking to the restaurant....

so pretty :)

Again, December in Cali....

Mom Visits!!!

And what will you (yes, you) do when you visit me in California???  Go to Disneyland, of course!
That's exactly what Mom and I did!  To the park, I say, to the park....

Unfortunately, (fortunately) I had to check in at my job at Disneyland for a couple of hours (I know, I know....I leave my mother to go to work AT Disneyland....like I said, I know...on both accounts!)  But it was okay - she was fully self-efficient!  She rode rides by herself and photographed the park.  We met up when I was finished and spent the rest of the day together :)  The highlights:

 

 

Tink!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Haunted Mansion - remains decorated for Tim Burton's

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" through New Years....

 

 

Our view inside Indiana Jones for 25 minutes - we were STUCK!

We were told to stay in the vehicle as it could move at any moment - it finally moved and we finished the ride with work lights and no music.  When we pulled into the station and the cast members let us ride again with full show on....Mom got a FULL behind the scenes experience!

 

The new Tangled area in Fantasyland!

 

My current project at work - Star Tours!

Re-launching May 2011 - go see it!

The giant Christmas tree on Mainstreet - remember the Santa Claus dolls I mentioned in an earlier post??  Here they are!  Love them!

 

!!!

 

Lunch @ Cafe Orleans:  French Onion Soup and Parmesean French Fries - YUM!

 

Over to California Adventures!!!

 

 

We loved the popsicle stick benches :)

 

Carsland construction....that's the Cadillac fin mountain range in progress....

 

Blue Sky Cellar - you can see the concept art and work of fellow Imagineers....

 

Our very special and prestigious hardhats - I'll have one some day :)

 

 

We are having FUN!!!

 

Ended the day at the World of Color water show - great (long) day!

We also house sat for my mentor, Susan, while she was in Florida on business.  She has two kids:  Elliot (her daschund) and Karma (her silken windhound).

This is how Karma sleeps:

 

Too funny not to share!

On Friday, Mom and I went to the showing of the new Disney movie, Tangled, at the famous 

El Capitain theatre in Hollywood.  It's like watching a movie at the Fox in Atlanta.....we had VIP seating in the balcony with popcorn and drinks waiting on us when we arrived....

Great movie!  Go see it!

 

Live show before the movie with several characters including Mickey & Minnie!

Great visit with my Mommy!  Brandon and I will see you in 2 weeks in GEORGIA!!!!

Love you!