Christmas Eve Pictures

It's tradition in our family to hang out with our Aunt Bonnie Christmas Eve. We went to Elephant Bar this year for a fantastic dinner. Some years we go Christmas caroling after, lately it's just dinner & then gift exchange. Here's some pics from my side of the table:

Piper & Sarah

Brett & Jake... who only smiled when I bribed him with an extra Christmas present!

Katie & Piper... Pretty in Pink!

Soni & Me (Catherine)

Debi & Colee

By now you realize that my side of the table consisted of the Danley Family, Soni & myself.

After dinner Soni & I booked it over to Target to see if we could find any DIET Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash (It's our new favorite drink!) They only had 1 case... :(

Anyway, then we headed over to Bonnie's to help her install her new DVD player! It was actually a fun night.

Disney w/ Danley's II

I totally forgot about these pictures! Soni & I met Debi's family at Disneyland again!! What we thought was Dylan turned out to be a neighbour. (He turned out to be hilarious!!)

Piper on the Haunted Mansion.

Jake's friend covered his ears the ENTIRE time! Seriously!!!

Jake telling him it's OK and he can uncover his ears and look around. "This ride is fun!"

It's tradition now to take an upside down picture. Katie: "I'm not scared on this ride anymore!"

Oh yeah... Jake's friend refused to ride with Jake, he insisted on squeezing in w/me & Katie!

Jake proud of the fact that he wasn't scared to go by himself!

Spider alert!

Got home today and did my usual spider check (it's not REALLY a Full-On check... I just glance around so I'm not surprised by anything... the surprise is what makes it scary to me. I hate when they just pop up unannounced! How dare they!) and...... NOTHING! YAY!

Got down to some business: sorting & doing laundry, making some lunch, the usual.

Long story short... It was dark in the front room, I hadn't turned on the light yet, but you know out of the corner of my eye I totally saw it!! Yup. A spider. I wasn't sure... so I climbed, yes,

Climbed, across the furniture to switch on the light. Moved the coffee table and there he was. He? She? IT!

I thought I acted very calm. Grabbed the dust buster, and IT didn't even stand a chance. Really IT didn't even put up a fight. It went right up that dust buster like it knew its fate beforehand. It wasn't huge, but it was bigger than the other ones I've killed... and it was DARK! *Shudder* Let's get something straight though, I am not racist UNLESS it comes to spiders... the dark ones are always the dangerous ones! i.e. BLACK widow, BROWN recluse... Ok, Those are the only ones I can think of with the DARK color in the name. But, the hobo spider is dark too! (see chart below) I know I'm obsessed! I was watching a show the other day about infestations and these people had a spider infestation and I knew they were hobo spiders before the show announced it! I guess I like being informed about my fear. I then know what to avoid!

Can I ask a question? Why do spiders come indoors in the first place? The food/bugs are OUTSIDE! Maybe if I come to the conclusion that spiders are dumb they won't scare me as much. I wonder what sort of therapy methods they use to get you over a fear of spiders? Do you have to let them crawl on you? That thought keeps me from seeking help for my phobia!

Anyway, now that I have bored you to death, go see if you can find a spider and identify it!

Irrational Fears... tales of Condo spiders Part II

... Sorry for drawing the spider stories out, but there are just sooo many of them!!

After that spider on my sweatshirt, I was totally on the lookout! So one Sunday night Soni & I were sitting on the couch watching TV. (Aaron & Marly had just left). I'm totally just relaxing and BAM! Spider crawls out between the couch cushions! I jump up, turn on the light, and start complaining that the spiders seem to be 'coming after me'!! Soni kills it and just laughs, as I'm frantically trying to figure out where it could have come from. I know. They come from all over, but I'm male brained. I like to figure out where the problem is coming from and FIX IT!!

Next day in the morning as I'm just sitting down to put on my makeup one drops from the ceiling on a web. (small one, I was totally OK with smashing that one!)

That day when I come from work there is one on the floor next to my laundry basket. (Sucked up in dust buster... ran the dust buster for like 5 minutes to make absolutely sure he was DEAD!)

Next day... I should stop and tell you that at this point, I seriously walk slowly up the stairs and look everywhere! So, I look all over the floor and am relieved to finally find NO spiders. I turn to walk into my bathroom... and, YUP, as I'm sure you've guessed a spider runs right into my path. I guess he was hiding by my dresser.

I should also tell you that I have become quite paranoid. I leave lights on, can't sleep, all I'm doing is thinking about where the next spider will be or when I'll see the next spider! I even told Soni that I was ready to move b/c of the spider problem!! I bought some spider spray and sprayed all around my floorboards, the A/C vent, everywhere I've seen the spiders... and I am very happy to say, I have not seen a spider since!! Whoo-Hoo!

Downside: I have not been as vigilant in watching for them, and I'm worried that one will catch me off-guard! Also, everywhere I've seen a spider I keep thinking I'll see them in that same spot!!

Book Challenge!

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be a fun thing to try. I LOVE to read!!

Click on the link and sign up!

My list

Irrational Fears... Tales of Condo spiders Part I

I have told you I have a total irrational fear of spiders, right? Remember THIS post? One December my family was out caroling. I was riding shotgun in Darrel's car. Me: "Is that on the inside or the outside?" Darrel: "Is what on the inside or outside?" Me: Frantically scooting over to my right just in case it was on the inside... "That spider! Is it inside? Voice getting panicky... "It is on the inside!!" Getting more panicky now... " I need a tissue!!!!!!!!" Soni from back seat hands me a tissue without a word. Me: Try to kill spider and miss... and start screaming, "Where is it? I missed!" Darrel: "It's JUST a spider!" Me: "WELL FEARS ARE IRRATIONAL!!!" I screamed that and threw down my tissue as I started sobbing.

So as you can see, TOTAL fear!! Since moving in over here I feel like the heavens are trying to get me over my little fear. One day, I had just bought a sweatshirt from Disneyland & hung it in my closet close to the door so I could wear it the next day. When I put it on the next day, just as my left arm went into the sleeve and my hand came out a spider came dangling off (I just got chills up my back remembering this!!) and dropped to the ground. I had already let out a high pitched squeal and jumped back, and am now just starring at the spider as he races for cover under my bookcase. Finally, rational thinking starts in my brain and I grab a shoe. I had to just squish him enough to make sure he wouldn't come back to life, send a signal to all his friends to attack me, and jump up in my face and then suck my bodily juices dry... but not too much b/c the carpet is new and I didn't want spider guts permanently stained into my bedroom floor! I then proceed to get the dust buster, suck him up, and flush him! I was still teary eyed when I arrived at work 25 minutes later. (This is really a problem!!)

To Be Continued...

Merry Christmas..

.. ya filthy animal! ... and a Happy New Year!

Home Alone anyone? Anyone? They didn't have that as an option at Costco.com, but maybe next year! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!! Love to all my friends and family! Let's make 2011 even better!!