People's Choice Awards 2011

This was yet another FUN year at the People's Choice Awards! We had a blast. We started our day off by going to the Grove to grab a bite to eat for lunch...we noticed a bunch of lights and cameras and decided to stop and take a look...they were taping for EXTRA with Mario Lopez! We ended up watching the show the next day and saw that we had made it on the show! It was quite attractive...me chewing my gum like a camel, my sister squinting because of the bright show lights, all of us dancing and singing to "firework"...oh what 15 seconds of fame can do!

We finally made our way to the show! Our original seats took us to the back of the venue. I had enough guts to follow Joy (to the front) because she always seems to know how to work her way to the top of everything. The rest of the gang finally gained enough courage and came to the front of the venue with us! What a blast we had while people watching. Joy and I were the first to get moved =/, but we had great seats so it didn't matter! We ended up going back to our original seats at the very end. Of course, the ones who moved first, were the first to move.

We saw great celebrities and I would have to say that this year's show seemed like there were so many more celebrities that I really wanted to see (the Kardashian sisters, Katy Perry, etc.). I am so excited to see what 2012's show will be like!

New Years Day 2011!

New Years Day was so relaxing and we had a great time having fun together! Uncle Mike was setting up the Wii so we could all play! Makena and her mommy and daddy were obsessed with Mario Bros. Ok, so are Mike and I =/
We had delicious paninis! Yum!
Well actually, I made them! I was the cook while...
my dad supervised! We dressed him up! =)

We played board games and the Wii of course!




Happy 2011!! We hope you have a fantastic year full of love, happiness, and good health! xoxoxo

New Years Eve 2010!

As soon as the Christmas decorations get put away, I find that the house looks too plain at first! Why not decorate for New Years?! I just had to add some silver and black touches around the house!

We were in charge of bringing dessert to the Benson's for New Years Eve...so we made the yummy marshmallow treats! So Yummy!

My new New York plate worked perfectly! Thanks Mom! ;)

Makena called them "Midnight cookies"....I thought they were pretty festive myself! haha!

Good thing the kids loved them! ;)

Happy 2011! Maybe this year I will be Mrs. Weeks?! ;)

Sarah and Bob were great hosts! =) We had so much fun hanging out and playing games!

Amber and Brian

Sarah, Adrian, and Baby Atilano (the baby waited until after the New Year to make her appearance!)

March Airforce Base Adventure!

We were so excited to have the opportunity to visit March Airforce Base with Jengi! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful neighbor and friend who is so willing to take us to this fun place! We started the day off with a tour of her jet (the C-17)! When the pilots need to sleep, this is where they go! Yikes! Not very luxurious!
The crew was just about to take off for a short trip, but we were able to ask questions and take a few photos before they did! =)

So exicted to get a picture with Captain Jengi Martinez! =)

This is the only plane that the wings are one piece (not like a commercial jet or any other large jet)

Jengi's missions consist of her flying into Germany and then flying into Bagram, Afghanistan to pick up critically wounded soldiers and their doctors, nurses, etc. She has told us many stories that just bring tears to your eyes thinking about how young some of the soldiers are. There are so many factors that she has to take into account when flying them to Germany (altitude- depending on the type of condition, etc). Her jet becomes a "flying hospital" equiped with all of the necessities needed to care for these patients. She takes the critical patients to Germany where they are taken to the base hospital. Other missions consist of her taking cargo (tanks, fire engines, the president's cars, etc.).

I added a link to a YouTube video that I thought did a good job of showing what her missions are all about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htiYVoZwLGE

(I hope it works!)

The jets are HUGE!!

Our day didn't just end here....we had 3 hours to fly in the C17 Boeing simulator! What a treat! We each flew (into anywhere we wanted to go...Afghanistan, etc.) and then watched Jengi do some landings, take offs, air refueling, etc. I was so excited to watch her in action. It is beyond amazing how real the simulator is...the Airforce uses the simulator so that they can practice emergency situations, etc. This piece of equipment could not get anymore high tech! The cockpit is exactly the same as the one you saw above!

This was such a fun day! We are so thankful for having this experience! Thanks Jeng!

Christmas day is always split between Fallbrook and Temecula!

Santa visited the Falciano's house and brought her a makeup stand and lots of girly things to go with it! Yeah! Now she won't ask me to borrow my makeup anymore! ;) Such a girly girl!
We enjoyed a yummy breakfast! =) I laughed when I saw that the dogs even got in the picture! =)

They cooked a delicious breakfast together! Can you see my sis's belly?! A BABY BOY is on the way!! We are soooooooooo excited!!! =)

Makena and Pop Pop enjoyed some snacks!

We ventured to Fallbrook to enjoy a (2nd) yummy breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Ese and Aunt Kathe! We had a great time together (again, where was my camera?!)

My mom made my sister and I an adorable cake stand out of this cute plate! She's the crafty lady!

Duffy loves his Uncle Mike! He kept track of his every move!

Mike wanted this book so bad! He was very surprised since I tricked him into thinking that they were sold out everywhere...NOT!

Guess who got him a Polly Pocket?! Just what he wanted as one of his gifts! haha!

She then decided to make him come to her salon so she could do his hair and makeup! She even made him pay for his haircut for $105.05! LOL! (Notice her "tip" jar!) What a good sport Uncle Mike was!

We had a lovely Christmas! It sounds silly, but I feel like Christmas is literally right around the corner AGAIN! Yikes!

Christmas Eve

***My picture taking skills on both days were HORRIBLE! I failed to have my camera by my side most of the time... =(

We had Christmas Eve dinner with Oma and family in Dana Point! We stuffed ourselves with yummy enchiladas for dinner and crepes for dessert (both traditions on Christmas Eve at Oma's house)!

Mike and Doug helped make dinner! =)

We were shocked to see that Ryan's hair was soooooo short!

We always enjoy visiting with Bob and Stephanie!

After stuffing ourselves at Oma's, it was time for Christmas Eve #2 at our house! We always enjoy delicious tamales (also a tradition!) on Christmas Eve! Yummm! Again, I did a horrible job of capturing memories =(

This was the one goofy picture I got while we were all eating yummy dessert!

Cinnamon chips, caramel sauce, ice cream, and whipped cream! What a great way to end the night!! =)