Raining in the Desert?

So the past couple of weeks have been so fun! A couple of Friday's ago we went and promoted a new company to high school students during a Basketball half-time. It is called 979-text! The Bells agreed to come along and help us out!

Look at Josh just loving his few moments of fame on the mike... and his vanna white's assisting him!

BABY RYAN!
After the game, the Harris's met us back at our house for a night full of Ryan, games, and about five bowls of caramel popcorn! We had such a good time. We all stayed up til like 2 playing games (Cranium, 9's, etc.) Us girls learned that Datahead is not our cup of tea. We are seriously the LUCKIEST people to have such great friends! We could not ask for better friends! We love you guys!

So this past weekend, Josh and I went to see the Elton John concert at Ceasars Palace. The only down fall to our trip was that it was like 33 degrees and rained, like seriously poured, the whole time except for like 2 hours! We thought that it was pretty hilarious since Josh had only packed shorts... we were expecting sunshine! All for the memories!

(The picture above was taken during the two hours it wasn't raining!)

PS. Cole thanks for taking us to the airport so early in the morning!

"Just the two of us"

This picture is rather hilarious because we wanted a picture of us two next to the Elton John Red Piano poster and the lady completely left out the main point! ha ha, gotta love the bystanders pictures!

Circus Circus!

This is what you do when you don't gamble in Vegas!

I seriously LOVED this palm tree! It blew my mind.

Ran into an old friend while we were there,Ole' Nicky Cage

We HAD to eat at our favorite place... The notorious Cheeseburger in Paradise!

Arnie'

You might be wondering who Arnie is?? Well if you do not have the pleasure of knowing her, let me have the honors. Arnie, short for Arnecia (Ar-knee-sha), who is the cutest fish to ever grace this planet. This might sound kind of odd, as I am speaking of a fish, but Josh and I have grown a large fascination/obsession for our Arnie. We feel bad leaving her in her "shadow box" everyday, so we put her on the table or the countertop so she can enjoy new surroundings and sit with us while we do our homework. She is so interactive and will literally watch you and follow your finger if you put it on her glass bowl.

She always gets the best babysitter when we are out of town... AMY and enjoys two meals a day.

This is our ode to Arnie!

WE LOVE YOU ARNIE

Babababa Benny and the Jets...

This weekend we are headed off to the Viva Las Vegas to see Elton John, The Red Piano, in concert... courtesy of me and some other very special people! Josh got a special surprise present for his birthday in December, to see his "other lover" in concert. He has always wanted to see him in person singing "Yellowbrick Road" or "Benny and the Jets." Yay! We are going to try and fly on buddy passes (STANDBY) which is always a risk, but we are up for the challenge. I will report back to base with some great pictures of josh in his elated state of euphoria!

Can I just say that I love this time of year. I have always loved valentines, not just for the flowers, chocolates, kisses, cookies,valentines cards, balloons, hugs, hearts, or candy, but for the feeling in the air. I think that it is such a LOVELY holiday! I am currently working at the Odyssey House in the Children's services area. I work with kids and we get to do lots of art projects, just like I did 15 years ago. It brings back all of the fun memories of the excitement of making a big red hart and having the teacher hang it up on the wall for everyone to see. Or staying up til 12 AM getting my valentines just perfect so I could take it to school the next day and pass out Valentines! I also love the smell of a freshly opened bag of candy hearts! There is nothin better, especially the purple ones.

You've just been "Bushed"

Cowboys and Indians?

Ladies and Gentleman.... Mr. Elton John!

We must support our small business sucking, monopoly making, k-mart crushing, store...

Where EVER we go!

This is what we consider Hiking!

We have done what no other man has ever done before....

Golfed, Pooled, Bowled, Shopped, ate chicken right off the bone, tennis and hiked in ONE DAY!

The Start to a Never Ending Game of Pool!

We really got bushed this time!

Santa is comin.... came to town?

Santa came to town... and I am on the nice list!

The ShawBell Christmas Totem Pole

Calvin, thanks for the photo! You picked up some great colors!

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

The Shaws

The Borens!

A tradition of ours is to go to the festival of trees every year and marvel at all of the wonderful creations. This year we went with Brooke and Tomas and had a wonderful christmas evening!

We love you guys!
By the way Brooke.... Josh brought me home flowers yesterday! Has Tomas caught on to our "hint"?

These were my thanksgiving day creations that were a huge hit!

I saw them in the Martha Stewart magazine and decided to substitute the frosting pile head for a manilla wafer! Contact me if you would like instructions...

This is a new 'Shaw Tradition' !

This Week...

Davenports + Ice Cream = Trouble !!!

Josh, me, Karen, Baby Ryan, Chris, Lisa, and Cole

We love you baby Ryan!!!

Happy Birthday Shelley!!!

So on Friday, me and the girls went to see Twilight! So I started to read the book but could not finish it because it was so "hyped" and I was like 3 books behind everyone.

I LOVED the movie!! Since I had not finished the book, everything was still a surprise to me! And yes, Edwards look did grow on me by the end!

Me, Brooke, and Joanna

These are the girls of Incline Terrace. (Former Roommates)
I love you girls!

3 AM Hotdogs forever!!!

Thankful For...

This year I am so excited for the holidays. Thanksgiving is always the best kick-off to a season full of family and friends. This picture captured the essence of the warmth that Thanksgiving day brings. I wanted to make a list of the things I have been thinking about that I am grateful for this season:

* My Wonderful Family
* To have the greatest friends in my life
* That I have a roof over my head when I fall asleep at night
* Opportunity to go to school
* The Holidays and all of my favorite traditions spent with all of my favorite people
* Our Country and Freedom
* Beautiful Weather
* My Health
* Low gas prices
* The magic of Christmas music
* My new cabinets
*Soothing power of home-made cookies!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!