December to Remember!

This was definitely a month to remember, and we are so grateful for all that God has blessed us with!

We started out the month with our good friends, Shannon and Jonathan Badger, coming to visit us in Tucson.  While they were in town we saw the U of A football game vs. ASU.  Wished the game had ended better but we still had a blast with great company.  The guys played golf and we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson, El Charro.  We also explored Mt. Lemmon on Saturday and went to the U of A basketball game on Sunday.  Here are a few pics....enjoy!



Shannon and Jonathan enjoying the football game

Shannon and me ontop of Mt. Lemmon

Jonathan and Lee ontop of Mt. Lemmon



The next week was filled with my parent's 30th Wedding Anniversary....congrats Mom and Dad!!  We also had our Sunday School Class Leadership Team meeting at our house, the U of A basketball game vs. Cal State Fullerton, Lee's staff Christmas Party at our house, drove to Phoenix for the Sun's basketball game and spent the night at the Mospan's awesome house, spent the day with the Fulton's playing golf in Anthem, AZ and shopping, and finally our 241 Sunday School Class Christmas Party.  What a jam-packed week we had!  Here's a few pics...

Santa and his elf...a.k.a. Tom and Derek

Lee's interns playing Taboo

Lee and me at the Phoenix Suns' game

James, Baby Zack, Brandon, and Lee at our Sunday School Class Christmas Party

Ready for the white elephant gift exchange to begin at our 241 Christmas Party



The following week was filled with my Race for the Cure meetings, Lee's Development Staff Christmas Party at La Paloma's Azul Bar, U of A basketball game vs. NAU, my Komen "Holiday" Party, and a double date with the Ingram's....what a way to end the week!

Finally, the week of Christmas.....my favorite week of the entire year, quite possibly.....Lee started teaching his "winter-mester" class at U of A, I went to Lucinda's baking party (such a blast!), our friend's parents came to spend the night with us all the way from South Bend, Indiana.  This is the couple that we spend the weekend with when we go back for Notre Dame football games.  I absolutely adore the Ellison's and they are such Godly people to learn from!  While the Ellison's were in town, we had dinner at Sam Hughes Place before the U of A vs. Robert Morris basketball game and just hung out after the game and the next morning before work.  I really enjoyed seeing Steve and Caryn and hope they come back for another visit.

Ah, Christmas Eve!  This is the day we left for our first-ever ski trip with Lee and me and both of our families to Lake Tahoe.  Lee and I grew up skiing for the past twenty years but have never skiied together.  It was so fun to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the next two days on the mountain with each other, our families, and celebrating the birth of our Savior!  We had dinner every night at either my parents condo or Lee's parents condo, skiied Christmas Day and the next two days, ate lunch at the Snowflake Lodge over looking Lake Tahoe and at my parents condo, Santa visited us at the condos, had chruch while skiing at the top of the mountain, and had lots of laughs over wine.  We already wish we could go back!  Here are a few pics....enjoy!

Christmas Eve Dinner at my parent's condo

Mom and me taking a ski break on Christmas Day....don't we look festive?

Merry Christmas from Lacey and Lee!

Hubs with Lake Tahoe in the background 

Lunch at Snowflake Lodge

Christmas Dinner at Lee's parent's condo

All of us skiing minus dad...



The last week of the month was pretty intense but sooooo much fun!  We had 3 trips in 7 days and we will always remember how much fun we had this Christmas season!  We came back from Lake Tahoe the night of the 27th or more like 12:15 a.m. the morning of the 28th.  Went to bed at 1:30 a.m., woke up at 4:00 a.m., and left the house at 5:15 a.m. to catch the U of A football team chartered flight to San Antonio, TX for the Alamo Bowl.  We arrived in San Antonio on the morning of the 28th and headed straight to the official Alamo Bowl luncheon.  Then we took a 2-hour nap and headed out to another official U of A afternoon event, before taking a $60 round trip taxi ride to eat dinner at our favorite Tex-Mex place, Pappasitos.  Finally, on the night of the 28th we had one last donor event that started at 9:00 p.m.  I think we were back at out hotel (on the Riverwalk!) by 11:00 p.m.  On Wednesday, we slept in and had lunch at County Line BBQ on the Riverwalk with our good friends, The Engstrom's.  They drove in from Austin just to see us....so sweet!  Wednesday afternoon we had an early dinner with my best friend from college, Jennifer, and her sweet husband, Brett, before we headed off to the Alamo Bowl game and she headed off to work as a nurse in the NICU.  The game was a blast but too bad our football team did not show up....would have been more fun if they had won.  On Thursday, we woke up and headed straight for the airport to take the chartered flight back to Tucson.  Here are more pics....

Dinner at Pappasitos....Yum!

Texas BBQ Lunch!

Love Love Love the Enstrom Family!

Jenn and me...not our best pic but the only one I got that night.

U of A mini pep-rally before the game

The Alamo Bowl game....



Finally, to wrap up the week we drove to Las Cruses, NM five hours after we got home from the Alamo Bowl to spend the night before we headed to El Paso to watch Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.  Can you say third trip in 7 days?!  We woke up on New Year's Eve, drove to El Paso, and took pure delight in watching the Irish beat the Miami 'Canes., had dinner at Rudy's before driving back to Tucson, and crashed in our own bed by 11:00 p.m.  Can you believe we didn't even stay up to watch the ball drop on NYE?  It was FREEZING during the game (32 degrees and snowing) but we had a blast.  Here are a few more pics for you to enjoy!

Right before the game started....GO IRISH!

ND band playing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" with the TX flag and in the shape of TX....love it! 

The Army's Golden Knights flew in with the ND flag, the game ball, and the Texas flag 

Here come the Irish!!!!!!!!!

Irish victory is pure sweetness :)

And the winner of the Sun Bowl is....the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!



What a way to end 2010!  We have been so blessed this year and hope you all had a great year too.  Welcome 2011 and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Not to Mention November....

Well, as you can see my the date of this post that December has been a very busy month so far and I didn't want it to get too far from November before I made my November post....hence the title!

WOW!  We really did have a wonderful November.  God has truly blessed us more than we deserve.  It reminds me of John 1:16 "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."  God is so good and we are so loved by Him.

This first week of November is always a special one for our family.  It's the week of my dad's birthday and my grandfather's birthday which is also the same day Lee's grandfather passed away four years ago.  It's such a bittersweet week but one filled with many great memories.

Also, in the first week of the month, we enjoyed spending some time at the Stine's house watching Monday Night Football between Lee's team (the Texans) and Mark's team (the Colts).  Needless to say the Colts won big.  We also had our 241 Sunday School class Leadership Team meeting at our house, Lee had rehearsal for the worship band, my weekly late-night conference call for work, dinner with the Secrest's at a new steakhouse in town (and thanks to Alexis's parents for picking up the tab!  So sweet of them), dinner with the Ingram's, and finally Lee playing guitar at church Sunday morning.  What a great way to celebrate that week!

The second week was tons of fun too!  I had to work late on Monday night for the Race for the Cure all-committee meeting and on Tuesday, I planned a retirement party for the first-ever Komen Southern Arizona employee.  Lots of fun and hard work but well worth it.  We miss you Susan!  We also had dinner at the U of A Athletics Director's house on Friday night.  We were so honored to be asked to over to their house and had a great time with all of the former U of A Hall of Fame players, donors, and guests.  We really are blessed by Lee's job and the perks that come along with it! :)  Also, that weekend, I had a Director's orientation for the Race for the Cure on Saturday before meeting Lee and the Secrest's at Arizona Stadium for the Wildcats football game that night.  Finally on Sunday, after church, I leaded to one last final retirement luncheon for a co-worker while Lee went to the U of A basketball game.

The third week was another full week for us but again, so much fun!  We had dinner at the Pogue's house, Lee had band rehearsal for church, of course my weekly late-night conference call, U of A basketball game, dinner with the Ingram's and Rohret's, sweet Bridget's baby shower, getting my hair highlighted by the wonderful Andrea, Lee playing guitar at church, our Sunday School class annual Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch, another U of A basketball game, and finally dinner with the Hutchinson's.  We are so blessed to have so many wondeful people in our lives.  Are you getting the theme of me feeling so blessed lately?!

Finally, Thanksgiving Week!!! :)  Before we headed off to Texas for Thanksgiving, I had a VERY late night Race meeting and boy was I ever glad to get that meeting over with.  We then headed to Dallas on Tuesday night and spent Wednesday shopping and heading to Ft. Worth for Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family.  So much fun and for the first time in many years every member of the family was there!  Thanksgiving Day, we had lunch with my mom's side of the family and then headed home to watch the Cowboys game and the Aggies game.  The Ags beat the Longhorns to make it an extra special Thanksgiving Day for us.  On Friday, we had brunch with my mom's dad and some of the family before driving down to Houston to spend the weekend with Lee's family.



Friday night, we ate our beloved Luling, TX BBQ that Lee's parents picked up for us on the way back from San Antonio while watching the U of A football game on TV.  On Saturday, we had family pictures made, celebrated our Niece's 4th birthday, and watched the Irish beat the Trojans.....great day!  Sunday, we went to church with Lee's mom, went to the Houston Texans NFL game, and then had some of our Houston friends over for dinner.  So great to see everyone!  Then Monday, we drove back to Dallas and then fly back to Tucson.  Gotta love those travel days!


Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and November.  So excited for Christmas in a couple of days!

One & Only October

Oh, October....as most of you know, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I never really realized what that meant until this past month since I work at Susan G. Komen for the Cure now.  Wow!  I am just glad I survived that month (no pun intended!).  Let's just say that I worked at least 60 if not 70 or 80 hours each week and put on or worked 42 events in just the month of October.  No wonder I am completely exhausted!

In addition to all the craziness at my job, Lee's job was as equally as busy as mine that month.....and people wonder why we don't have kids.  We need to stop working so much first!

The first week of October was filled with a date night (rare these days) with Lee at On the Border (oh tex-mex how I love you), the Notre Dame vs. Boston College football game, meetings at church and for church, Lee's rehearsal, happy hour with all of my former co-workers at Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, working Tucson Meet Yourself folk-life festival in downtown Tucson, double date with the Ingrams, Lee went to 241's man lunch, U of A vs. Oregon State football game with the Roherts, and then Lee played guitar on Sunday morning.



In the second week, I worked early and late quite a bit with Race for the Cure and morning breakfast meetings.  That week and weekend my mom also came into town and we did a whole lot but didn't take any pictures.  What's up with that?  Lee also traveled out to Idaho and Washington with the U of A football team for the Annual Donor Trip for the Washington State and U of A game.

The third week was quite boring as we just worked mostly.  I managed to squeeze in time to get an eye exam....real fun, I know!  Lee also had worship band rehearsal and I had more early and late night Komen meetings and events.  On Friday night, our churh had a 50's Sock Hop that we went to with several couples from our Sunday School class.  On Saturday, we had the U of A vs. Washington football game and we brought the Welch's along with us....such a fun couple!



The fourth week was absolutely insane but fun at the same time!  I worked 7 days this week....eeesh!  I had Race for the Cure late night meetings, we went to Fleming's for Lee's 29th birthday (annual bday dinner!), I worked a drag racing event for Komen, Lee had a "guy's night" with the guys for his bday, celebrated Joshua's birthday at Blanco, went to Lee's donor's The Repp's Halloween Party, Casas Street Fair on Sunday morning where Lee worked the cotton candy booth, and I worked for Komen on Sunday afternoon at the SPAghetti Dinnner.

Needless-to-say, we are glad that October is over but I know that it was all worth it in the end. 
Imagine a world without breast cancer!

Spectacular September

I can't believe September has come and gone so quickly.  As most of you know, Fall is my favorite season of the year....too bad we don't have a Fall in Tucson....and September marks the start of Fall and my birthday month so, to me, it's the best month of the year! :)

To start off September was bittersweet for me.  It marked my last week at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, which included a board mixer for work, celebratory dinner with Lee for my new job, my last furlough day, the start of college football (WHOOP!), U of A Game Watch for the first Wildcats game at the Secrests' house, Gran's birthday, and the first Notre Dame football game.  It was a great opening weekend for us....the Cats, Irish, and Aggies all won!

The second week of September included Labor Day, a few appointments for me before I started my new job, lunch with sweet Betsy, Pi Phi meeting, some shopping, date night with the Hubs, and the first U of A home football game, which the Mospans came into town from Phoenix.  While the guys watched the ND vs. Michigan game, Tara and I got a pedicure....oh, how I love when the Mospan's come into town!  We finished off the weekend with church and lunch at Tohono Chul Tea Room.

The third week was a blast for me.  I started my new job as the Events Manager for the Southern Arizona Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  It has been a bit of a transition into this new job for me but I think it's going to work out nicely!  I also had my first Race for the Cure meeting that week along with Massage Envy's Massage for the Cure...that was fabulous!  I left on Thursday to fly to Dallas and then drive on Friday down to Austin with my mom for Candice's wedding.  I had such a fun time being back in Austin for Candice's Wedding Weekend.  Here's a sneak pick at the beautiful bride and me.



The next week, which was my birthday week, was really busy but super fun!  I didn't fly back to Tucson until Monday so I got to spend extra time with my family in Dallas.  Dad made my favorite dinner, chicken lasgna, I got to babysit my very sweet nephew for a couple of hours (loved every minute of that!), and spent some time with my grandparents for my bday.  So thankful that I have the best grandparents in the whole world! :)

On Tuesday, the day before my birthday, the girls from my Sunday School class surpirsed me with a "Surpirse Birthday Dinner" at Blanco in Tucson.  I absolutely loved it and had NO IDEA it was coming so it was a pure surprise....you can definitely tell I was surprised by what I was wearing.  Anyone who knows me, knows I would not be caught dead in public in a t-shirt and jeans....



....it was so sweet!  Everyone wore pink for me and my new job and got me the most wonderful cards and gifts.  WOW!  I am one blessed girl and love my Tucson friends all that much more!  Also, on Tuesday at work, my co-workers gave me flowers and a chocolate birthday cake.  It was so thoughtful of my new co-workers to do that for me that I didn't have the heart to tell them that my birthday wasn't until the next day. ;)

Finally, Wednesday...my 26th birthday...arrives and Lee wakes me up to hand me my birthday present.  It was a new study Bible with my new (well, not-so-new) last name on it.  We've been married for over three years now and I was still using a Bible with my maiden name on it, so it was definitely a fabulous present to receieve.  That night, we went to dinner at Bob's Steak & Chop House at the Omni.  It was so delicious and I loved every minute of it that we forgot to get a picture of us until we were on the way home in the car.  I would definitely have to say that was the best birthday yet....love you all who made it so special!

Oh, I almost forgot....my parents had a cookie bought delivered to me at work for my bday.  Love it! YUMMY!



We finished off my birthday week with Lee's parents and niece coming into town.  We spent the weekend having a blast with our niece.  We all had a birthday dinner for me at Gavi on Friday and then Saturday we watched the Notre Dame game as well as the t.u. game before heading off to Arizona Stadium to watch the Wildcats take on Cal.  We won in the last minute of the play and had an awesome time!  We topped off the weekend with breakfast at Cracker Barrell on Sunday before taking everyone back to the airport.  Why is it always so hard to say goodbye to family?

And now for the last week in September.  I had a Race executive committee meeting and another birthday dinner with Camille and Chrissy on Monday night.  Love those ladies and am so blessed to have celebrated my bday with so many wonderful people.  We had dinner with the Campbell's on Tuesday, and to finish off the last day in September, I had a U of A Athletic Department Spouse's Lunch at La Paloma Country Club.  It was a blast getting together with all the other wives (and husbands) and I'm definitely going to have to remember to do this one day when Lee's an AD.

Hope your September was just as spectacular as ours was.  Love to all!