New Year's Eve Part 1

It's a family tradition to go to Disneyland for New Year's Eve. (Shut your mouth...it's fun for my kind). We started going with the whole Y2K crap. With everyone up in arms about how the world is gonna collapse, my parents decided that if it was going to fall apart (not that they believed it would, but just in case) that we should be at the "Happiest Place on Earth". We've been going ever since and it's actually a lot of fun. Usually it's packed and overwhelming. You never go to get on rides, it is more of the experience. People are generally in a great mood and everyone is super friendly. This year however, it wasn't that bad. I've been there during the summer and it's been more crowded. It was really slow and the ride wait times was nothing outrageous (except Indy which was 2 hours!!!) So this time it was quite a pleasant trip. Here is a photo recap.

Obligatory front gate photo

First year ever that Disneyland used an artificial tree.My parents and Mr. Bumblebee and I. Sister is usually with us, but this year she ventured out on her own with some friends to LA. They had a good time from what I understand.First ride of the day: MatterhornI am tall enough to get on...ya!The Subs just recently reopened as Finding Nemo. I'm a Disney purist and not happy about it. Funny story however, my Dad is claustrophobic. We thought we'd try to get him on the ride. Well he made it into the Sub but he did not ride the ride. I won't go into further details, as to not embarrass him, however I have never laughed harder in my life. I love my dad.Monorail Blue! The newest of the monorails to be built. They completely jacked up the design and now the sucker can't ride in weather that is hotter than 76 degrees...bone heads!I have never been in the Golden Horseshoe. I've heard about how great the show is, but I was never that interested. The inside is really beautiful though, lots of little touches. It was there from the day the park opened and has been virtually untouched since then. It's nice to see some of Walt's original work still around...I was actually very impressed with the show. Being a violin player myself, the tricks they did with their fiddles was amazing. It was hilarious as well. Each of them played at least 3 different string instruments and all of them were masters at it. While I'm not big on hoe-down stuff, this was entertaining and worth seeing once.

More to come in Part 2...

My Big Fat Mexican Christmas

So I am Mexican (100%). I love my culture. I love my family. We are loud and we make fun of each other. It's just a free-for-all at my family's Christmas Party. Tamales, Beans, Rice, Enchiladas, Albondogas, and pies. We don't do flan, we do Banana Creme Pie. It was fantastic. It's not really a photo family so there are only a few:

The Kids were wired...

Gotta love her...(that's my sister)

Family Photo...took forever to organize everyoneGoof photo...not everyone got the memo
It was good times and I can't wait to see all these people again.
Ok, that's enough Christmas...onto the new year!

Silly Christmas Story

I love my husband. He's so entertaining. We can make each other crack up until it hurts. This past Christmas, he pulled a winner.

I had mentioned in passing how much I wanted some really nice sized diamond earrings. I had no assumption that I'd actually get them, saving for a house and all.

Well my darling, sweet, thoughtful husband went out on a mission. To fulfill my Christmas wish. We always go to the same jeweler because he treats us well and his prices are reasonable.

So we had to open our gift to each other on the Sunday before Christmas because we weren't gonna be home after that and I didn't feel like dragging all the gifts to our parents' houses. So after we demolish our living room, wrapping paper tornado...I start to talk about how great of a Christmas it was...

Then my darling husband and I play out this scene:

Mr: What's that in the tree?

Me: What? What tree?

Mr: There is something in the tree, looks like a gift...what is that?

Me: ::shrieking at this point:: WHAT?! Where?! I don't see it!? Where!?

Mr: There, don't you see it? Look...see?

Me: ::after searching for about 3 minutes:: What is this???

Mr: Santa must have left it...

Me: Oh gosh...

:: I start to unwrap the small gift box.::

Me: Babe, what did you do...

Mr. Bumblebee is ear-to-ear smiles.

I open the box.

::silence::

I look at him ::are you joking me?::

Me: Babe?

Mr: You like them?

Me: Do I get the other one next year?

::I'm looking at a single, but beautiful, diamond earring::

I show him the box...

Mr: WHAT?!

Me: Is this a joke?

Mr: Where is the other one?

I realize what happened and start cracking up hysterically.

Mr: They forgot to put the other one in!!!

Me: How come you never checked?

Mr: Well, I just supposed that it was like shoes, you know...where they only put on out on display and the matching one is in the back. I thought he'd put 2 in the box after I bought it.

Me: OMG! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

At this point, I'm kissing him all over because I know he is heartbroken that his plan failed.

We talked about it and if the price for one of the earrings was what he paid, I don't think it would be a good idea to purchase the other...not if we are serious about getting a house (hey every penny counts!) We call the owner who gives us this reply:

"I was wondering why you only bought one...I'll give you your money back ::small chuckle::"

I love this man. His heart was in the right place and this will be a great story to pass on to our nieces and nephews (because we aren't having kids!)

Mr. Bumblebee's Big Christmas Gift

I thought I was a good wife going out and buying the PS3 for the husband...but my FIL out did me. He got Mr. Bumblebee the lowering kit for the Mini. I can't tell the difference...but apparently it's 1inch lower...

More Bumblebee Christmas

On Christmas Eve, Mr. Bumblebee's Mother's side of the family gets together. This is a huge get together. They have a lot of family. I don't have the group shot of that get together yet either but here are some of my favorites:

Santa always makes an appearance... That would also be my flower girl and ring bearers...they are getting soooo big!!Family photo, except Mr. Bumblebee didn't line our camera up right...we missed all the kiddies in the front row. Bumblebee SIL and Mountain Man cousin...(his hair wasn't always that long and he didn't always have a beard...but I've been calling him mountain man since it's appearance) Lovely decor all around. My super cute Steve Maddens.

Bumblebee MIL and I

FIL and Mr. Bumblebee

I want his camera

We do a gift exchange game that can get pretty brutal. It was fun though. We were sad to leave although Mountain Man, SIL, and I made plans for a party and I can't wait!

Bumblebee Christmas

Christmas Eve morning, we got together with Bumblebee ILS to exchange gifts. We don't see Bumblebee BIL and his family very often since they live in Virginia. The last we saw of BIL was in March for a memorial, the last we saw of his family was at our wedding about a year and a half ago! We were so happy to see them. BIL is hilarious. I always get a kick out him.

The Boys

The Girls
Brothers....

Wierdos

Uncle helping out a nephew

Brother and Sister Bumblebee

Tessa and her gparents

Extended Bumblebee Christmas

The extended Bumblebees are so much fun to be around. They remind me so much of my own family. It was especially interesting this year as there is a little Bumblebee in the family and she's just a great deal of fun to watch. Bumblebee MIL out did herself with an amazing dinner and it was so much fun to get together with these people.

Bumblebee Cousin

Bumblebee SIL and her BF

So Good.

She's so cute!

Brotherly and Sisterly Love

Bumblebee ILs and Mr. Bumblebee

Bumblebee Extended Family Portrait

We are a bunch of goofs.

It's great fun to be apart of this group.

Bumblebee's Loot

This Christmas Mr. Bumblebee and I, along with both of our families vowed to cut back the gift-giving this year. It was a good agreement and it did get cut back. However we still made out with some awesome loot.

Here are a few items the Bumblebee's brought home:

We had a great time at all of our various family parties over the holiday week for us. More details about all of them including photos will be coming soon.
Thanks to everyone who made our holidays brighter this year.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and your family a prosperous and happy year ahead!

-The Bumblebees

Goodbye '08 and Hello '09

So, I'm here to apologize for my lack of blogging. 2008 started as such an amazing year. And I am certainly still blessed in a lot of ways, my husband and I have our jobs, we still have a roof over our heads, our puppies are doing well, and we have our family and friends. However towards of the end of the year things got a bit rough. First my sister's whole incident. We all rallied around her and I spent a lot of free time making sure she was doing OK. Then I got really sick again. Then Mr. Bumblebee got really sick. Thanksgiving morning...Tucker got another cherry eye. Rushed him off into surgery (he's fine by the way). Spent a lot of time for his recovery. Then I've still been sick. Ugh. I'm finally feeling a bit of relief in time to get optimistic about the New Year. I don't usually get excited about New Year's but this year I really want a fresh start and this seems like the great opportunity. I need to get back into shape as I really haven't been trying in the last four months. I'm gonna start walking again, staying organized, trying to eat healthier and I want to continue to blog more often. I won't call them resolutions but a change. I will do these things and if I fail I won't feel bad about it. So there you have it!

Welcome 2009!