Getting Ready For Christmas!

This year, Eriks and I decided to cut down our own Christmas tree!  I was so excited!  Every year his family goes up to this tree farm up on Skyline to get their Christmas tree.  We originally decided that we would just help cut the family tree and then just stop and pick one up for ourselves on the way home.  When the day came though be both decided to just go for it and cut one down ourselves.  (I think we have created a new tradition)

Looking for the Family Tree

We found it!

Ron and Eriks cutting it down

We officially have a tree!

Carrying it to the car

Making it perfect

Trying to get the tree on top of the car

We got it!  Yay!  Go us!

Off to find our tree!

We found it!

Cutting it down

We are AWESOME!  (If I do say so myself)

We put it in Indra's car.  Poor Ron didn't have much room :)

After paying for the trees, we all headed to Lauma's house to put up the family Christmas tree and to decorate the house for Christmas.  We all had so much fun.  We ate treats and drank hot cocoa while we feastivated (yes that is a new word that I just made up).

Indra getting the hot cocoa ready

Getting the tree up

Aivars and Eriks putting the star on top

Decorating the house

Beautiful!

After the big house was all done, Eriks and I took our tree home to decorate our home. We didn't take any pictures while decorating, because we were having too much fun, but here is the final result.

Harry Potter!

Harry Potter!  I LOVE HARRY POTTER!  I was so excited for the seventh movie to come out.  I bought my tickets online like a month in advance, and got my friend Sara to go with me to the midnight showing.  I didn't show up until around 430pm so I was worried that I would be too far back in the line, but it wasn't too bad.  This was the line in front of me. (FYI the exposure was on the wrong setting so all of the pictures are really dark.  It was driving me nuts but I just couldn't figure it out until the moment I got home.  Figures)

Not too bad if you look at this. This was the line behind me at about 10pm

I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind, but I actually had a lot of fun waiting in line.  There were so many fun people that it felt like we were all a bunch of friends hanging out.  Some people held our spot in line while Sara and I went and got a slice of pizza.  It was delish!  Here are a few pictures from while we were waiting in line.

They are letting us in!

Some awesome kids we met while in line and then sat next to in the theatre

The movie was AMAZING!  I loved it so much.  It was by far the best movie so far in overall quality.  I can honestly say that is was one of the most fun nights I have had in a long time!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, we went over to Eriks Uncle's house.  It was so much fun.  The house was filled with family, friends and food.  It was hard to wait until dinner because of the wonderful smells that filled the whole house.  The food was amazing!  We had turkey, buffalo, yams, green bean casserole, fruit salad, rolls, potatoes and so much more. My favorite was the buffalo.  Yum!  It was a really great time with fantastic friends and family!  (I forgot my camera so no pictures)

Squirrel Friends

Our neighbors had some pumpkins left over from their Halloween Party.  Instead of them throwing the pumpkins away, I asked if I could have them.  I thought they would look cute on our back deck.  Well I am not the only ones who thought it was a good idea.  We have had all sorts of squirrel friends enjoying our pumpkins.  I never knew how tasty of a treat pumpkins are for little furry squirrels.  Over several weeks, I enjoyed watching these furry little critters nibble away.  Not to mention how hilarious it was to watch my cats try to catch the squirrels through the glass :)

 

Sonoma Valley

Renate Aivars Eriks and I all made a trip up to Sonoma Valley for some wine tasting and a pic-a-nic. We first drove up to the city to pick up Renate and then headed north.

There is something about this bridge that makes me so happy

The view of the first winery that we went to 

Not only was it beautiful, but it had a pool and because it is owned by Francis Ford Coopola, it was like a mini museum.  Before we enjoyed some fabulous wines, we got to look around at all of the cool stuff from him movies and whatnot.

Awards

From The Godfather

 

Eriks and the boat from Maria Antoinette

From Dracula

From Apocalypse Now

Haha I thought this was really funny

After looking at all of the really cool displays and drinking some great wine, we went over to the second winery.  I thought that this was an awesome idea for decoration!

Aivars and Renate

Me and Eriks enjoying some fabulous wines

After the wine tasting, the four of us went out behind the winery and found a little table and had a picnic, I didn't get any pictures of it, but it was really fun.  We had wine, cheese, bread, and fruit.  It was so yummy.  After some lunch, the boys hung out while me and Renate went out and took some pictures.

These are some of the pictures that I took:

Me and the vineyard

When we went to the third winery, I didn't sample, and there were a lot of people, so I just didn't bother with any pictures.  But I did see this giant pumpkin, and had to get a picture with it.

The forth winery we went to was really neat and had this AMAZING view

First we did some wine tasting in the tasting room.  (I swear I can't take Eriks anywhere! Tehe) 

After some tastes, we got to go into the wine cellar and do some barrel tasting.  It was really neat because it is something that not very many people get to do.  We got to taste the wines that had not even been bottled yet.

After some great wine, the four of us went out on the deck to enjoy the view and take some pictures

The last winery that we went to was this super cute little family winery.  I just loved the sign!

Eriks and I were really enjoying the view and Aivars snapped this shot without us realising it.  I think it makes it that much sweeter

Wow!

I have not blogged in almost two months.  It has been so crazy with the holiday season that I just haven't made the time for it.  I believe some cramming is in order!  I am gonna blog the past two months in a total of 5 days.  Wish me luck and check back often!