Merry Christmas

I hope you had as nice a Christmas as we did this year. We spent time with all of our families (multiple trips to each parents' house for food, family and fun) over the past few days. I was just about to post all the details of the festivities, but I noticed that Gwen already knocked this one out of the park. I hereby give Gwen the Best Storytelling Award for 2008. Please check out her blog for all the juicy details of the Becker Christmas Extravaganza!

And if you're in the mood for another good story, take a look at her post about our cookie making day last week.

Now, if I was as thoughtful as Gwen I would have taken pictures of Mark and I at his Mom's house where we spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day. But I didn't. :( Maybe Gwen can tag along with me next time as my personal historian. Or she could at least remind me to bring my camera!!

Here's to a happy 2009!

P.S. Is this cruel or totally okay???

A Christmas Cat Story

This is an exerpt from a recent email I received from Sheona & Jon:

So Jake likes to climb through the tree. And not just at the bottom of the tree. He's been climbing up about two or three feet off the ground and making his way around the branches. Then find a comfy place to stop. Max knows better. He'll put his front paws on a branch to test it out. The branch flexes more than he's comfortable with so he jumps down and just "squeezes" under the tree.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Its tradition at my work that we all go to the LA Autoshow every year together on a bus.  Its also tradition that we go to a museum after the show and then to dinner and get home late after driving back to San Diego.  Its a prety fun tradition.  2 Years ago we had the special treat of getting a tour of Jay Leno's garage (guided by Jay Leno himself!)  How fun!  Except I didn't get to go.  I had to stay back and work on an emergency paint issue.  Sad.  BUT.......

This year we scored* tickets to a taping of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  It was my first time at a taping of any kind of show and it was a lot of fun.  The guests weren't that great, but the experience was pretty exciting.  Jay is really good at what he does and the whole production team works like a well-oiled machine.

We were able to go down on the stage after the show to meet Jay and take pictures with him. 

Look at me!

*SIDE NOTE: One of our coworkers is a friend of Jay's (they are both Stanley Steam Engine collectors).  Hence the ticket hook-up.

Happy Birthday, Bro!

Ian's birthday was on Saturday, so we got together at my parent's house last night to celebrate it.   Although he is a handsome 33 man, he is a little camera shy.  This is the only picture I could get of him.  Charming.

Hoops & YoYo

I need to give a big shout out to Hallmark for its E-cards.  I love them and so does my sister Gwen.  She just sent me another one, and it made laugh (but not outloud).  I used to think their characters named Hoops & YoYo were annoying, but now I find them endearing.  And pretty funny too.  And it may just be me, but I think the pink one has similar comedic delivery as Ellen DeGeneres.  Check them out for yourself by clicking HERE!