I LOVE you WINCO!!

So a couple months ago a WINCO Foods opened up in our neighborhood. First of all I never heard of WINCO and there was so much HOOPLA about it ever since a construction sign WINCO FOODS COMING SOON was advertised up.

The week before it opened we got a mailer of GRAND OPENING and we were BLOWN away by the prices..I mean 20.cents for Kraft Mac and Cheese, 75. cents for lunch meat ...and the prices STILL are really cheap. We wanted to go on opening day but the parking lots was completely filled, and there was a lines around the building just to get in. It was like Walmart on Black Friday so we got the hell outta there but Gabe went at like 7am the next morning and got a BUNCH of stuff.

So here is how I describe Winco..It is like Costco but with Cheaper prices for BULK food...cheaper than walmart...meets Sprouts or Whole Foods for the barrels of Bulk grains,pastas,nuts etc etc etc. The produce section is like a Farmers Market. I bought a HUGE bag of baby carrots for less then 2 bucks! A 10 lb bag of potatoes for 2.50. Cake mixes Brownie mixes 78. cents. Huge box of Cheese Nips for less than 2 bucks (Ralphs they are like almost 4 bucks a box) Big boxes of Life and Chex cereal for 2.58...I could go on and on...prices are amazing!!!

 Since I am kicking my New Year on better eating habits I bought a Lot from the BULK and Natural Foods section. I bought a lot of stuff to make my own soups to take to work such as Split Pea, 13 Bean, Tortellini's, Cous Cous, Powdered Stock for Beef and Barley soup. I also did buy some Chow  Mein Noodles to make Chow Mien Candy for the kids.
They have EVERYTHING you could imagine to purchase in bulk from trail mixes, candy,nuts,chips and crackers, dried fruits,pasta, beans, rice, seeds poppy,sunflower, sesame..., soup mixes, muffin and bread mixes, dog food and treats, rodent food, cat food, bird seed, flour,sugar, gum powder, coco powder, baking ingredients, special powders for protein shakes...I could go on and on....They have little recipe cards too on each item that you can take too.

 Like Coffee?? They have a HUGE selection of fresh coffee Beans you can ground

 Make yourself a container of fresh pressed peanut or Almond butter....

 Fan of Honey ..here are some fresh honey's  to choose from...

Looking for a spice ...just need a little for that special recipe...they have everything from cumin to cream of Tartar ...ALL FOR CHEAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!

Anyways I must have bought Like over 200.00 worth of groceries last night for a mere 90.00!!!  well 102.00 including taxes..

All I can say is THANK YOU WINCO for opening up in my neighborhood...I will never shop anywhere else!!!

New Years Weekend Getaway- New Years Day Part 2 of 2

New Year's Morning we were up BRIGHT and EARLY!! We were all a little slow paced but luckily we were all not hung over.

I cooked breakfast for everyone  (well Gabe and I did)..He did the bacon and I did the potatoes and eggs.

 Ava and Alex were watching Pixar ..they were so cute being little buddies. Alex is a Year younger than Ava but they are both the same size. He is a pretty big boy ..Ava is tiny.

 After breakfast and getting dressed we decided to go walk around and take in the fresh mountain air. Right behind us was a little creek but it was Surrounded by Poison Oak.

 Once we walked pass the poison Oak we went down a little further to the creek

 Parker was hanging with these kids who were running back and fourth crossing the creek with the pile of rocks and then putting this little log down to walk over

 Guillermo and Mary came by and we thought we would just cruise around..well they cruised ...we walked.

 We passed one of the couple lakes

 We stopped down over at the playground to let the kids play

 Ava was having a blast

 Parker's Favorite way to go down a slide..head first

 She went down every slide and played on every thing

 She was really going at it rocking this wooden airplane back and fourth.

 On our way back to the cabin we passed one of MANY comfort stations..Guillermo was cracking me up..He was all Comfort Station?? What do they have a little Grandma in there on her rocking chair giving free hugs and rubbing your back telling you everything will be ok and then handing you a cup of hot milk. hahahaha it was like the joke of the weekend everytime we walked by one.

 Once we got back to the cabin our plans were to head home cause I didn't have a pet sitter for the extra day and Guillermo was saying isn't there anyone you can call so you guys can stay again tonight. I had no cell service to make any calls however Mary's parents did and lend me their phone and Luckily I was able to check in and my dad and brother were still at my house and My brother said he would stay an extra night at my house with his girlfriend and pet sit for me So once we knew we were going to stay another night The mimosa's started flowing and then we headed off to the pool for some relaxation. Mary and I went to the Hot tubs again while Gabe and the kids were at the family. I then switched off and watched the kids while Gabe sat in the hot tub to mend his torn muscles in his leg that he injured 10 minutes after arriving to the campground the very first day...he was walking like Frankenstein all weekend.

 Back from the pool I showered up. The kids got in their warm clothes and the cabin smelled Great. Guillermo was roasting a few chickens and was making a big dinner for everyone. The cabin smelled like Thanksgiving.

 We stayed in and watched movies and had a big dinner and some red wine...it was a nice way to spend the evening. All the kids were just playing with toys. Ava LOVED this toy...We were cracking up at her face print..she would bust up laughing every time she stick her face in there...you could see the mouth moving of her laughing through the prong thingy's..too funny.

 and she LOVED LOVED Mr. Potato Head....thinking I may have to buy her one of these sets with her Christmas money she got.

 Gabe and I and the Kids And Guillermo and Guillermo JR all took a night hike. We did a pretty long walk and by the time we got to the cabin we were all ready for bed and so we watched some finding Nemo and off to bed we went.

We got up SUPER early in the morning and headed out. We all talked about heading out here to the cabin more often if not VERY often. We hope to come out after a big rain then maybe we could hit up the snow.
Bye Bye Lake ( in Ava's Words)

New Year's Get Away --New Years Eve...part 1 of 2

This New Years Gabe actually did not have to work on a New Years Eve. Since I had a long weekend and Gabe had the whole weekend off we took up our friends offer to stay at their cabin with them for the weekend.

We met up with them and their kids in Riverside at Farmer Boys and had a quick bite. Afterwards we headed to a few vintage and antique shops. This little space was full of sparkling and shimmery girl stuff...it kinda reminded me of my mom's house.

Afterwards we followed up our friend into the twisting and turning roads to the site

This site is a members only Rv camp resort but has lots of cabins.  I guess it is like a timeshare type of resort. It is located in LYTLE CREEK up in the San Bernadino Mountains

On our way in through candy cane lane!

 One of these days...I AM gonna sit in for a game of Bingo!

 We got checked in and walked into the Bungalow style cabin. Guillermo and Mary and the kids slept in the main bedroom, My kids slept in the bunk beds and Gabe and I took the Futon in the living room. It was just the right amount of space.

Parker getting settled in on the top Bunk.

 Once we unpacked  we immediately started making the cocktails. Mary's folks stayed in their tear drop trailer on the same site as the cabin. This little tear drop camper was so awesome. It is just basically a bed but the back opens up into a full functioning kitchen! There is a music player on the inside where you can play your music and the speakers come out of the kitchen area...I WANT ONE OF THESE!

After awhile we went to head to the little general store (cocktails in hand) to  just check what they got there and pick up some worms for fishing.

Parker and Ava waiting on the stone bench in front of the general store

 Inside while the adults drank and chatted and snacked..the kids played board games and watched Pixar movies on the TV that Guillermo and Mary brought.

The family center was located right next door to the cabin we stayed in. It was basically an arcade. Gabe and Guillermo playing some air hockey

Now it was the Mom's turns

Kinda hard to play Air Hockey when you got a pretty good buzz going on..I was laughing the whole time

Besides Games they had movies playing inside as well...the kids were with us here in the arcade..We stayed for a while playing games with the kids getting them worn out

I lost... After we were done with the Arcade...we left the little ones with Mary's folks and us adults filled up our cups and took a walk over to the Adult Pool where the hot tubs were at for some good ol fashion Hot Tubbing. We brought Parker with us since we knew he would not want to be left with the little kids in the cabin. I didn't take my camera cause in my non sober state and being near water I figured taking the camera would NOT be a good idea.
We hung out at the hot tubs drinking then went into the Pool and watched over at the next door lodge where the New Years Eve party was going on. ( we never ended up making it to the party)

We got back to the cabin with an hour left to spare until ringing in the New Year and put on our warm clothes and Mary's dad passed around Party Horns,and hats and streamers.

The kids were having a blast blowing on the horns...It was really hard for us adults but we basically had to FORCE ourselves NOT to fall asleep before midnight. Once Midnight came everyone went outside and Hooted and Hollered HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Afterwards we played some Logo board Game and Everyone crashed out HARD!

It was really just a super relaxing and fun way to ring in the New Year.

The Presents are Unwrapped

I didn't really take any pictures on Christmas because I was busy cooking in the kitchen. This year we did a brunch rather than a dinner so the family could all get together earlier so the kids would not have to wait so long to open presents.

I made my very first Scones and devonshire cream and Lemon curd just like they do at the tea rooms and they came out SO good. I cannot WAIT...to make them again.

 I tried to get some pictures on my phone briefly of the kids opening presents..Logan was tearing right through his gifts he was having a BLAST opening presents..

 Ava opened up one and then wanted to have that box open so she could play with it and then she didn't want to open any more presents..she finally opened the last of her presents after everyone was done.

 It was nice to have the twins there and watching their excitement

 My brother had Lexi sit on his lap to help open gifts

 I think after everyone opened their gifts the kids had more fun Swimming in the wrapping paper then the gifts.
Ava made out with some good gifts she got clothes, Barbie swim pool, Squinkies, a Mobigo and video games to go with it, a big stuffed animal dragon (which she adores), a singing mickey mouse toy, a porcelain tea set, a box of dinosaurs (her fave) , 4 play sets of mini houses with little mini people,  Yo Gabba Gabba Books
Parker made out with Video Games, Football, New Bike, Clothes, A few Huge Lego Playsets, and some other stuff..I can't really remember now...

I myself got a NEW RECORD PLAYER WOO HOO, Jewelry, A cd Boombox, a NEW flat Screen HD TV, Gift Certs and Cash..not too shabby

Oh and really there are kids under there...the proof is in the video below..

The rest of the evening My brother and His Girlfriend Stayed the night cause we all been drinki9ng all throughout the day..we watched Bridesmaids with my parents and after they left My brother and I and Gabe and Jessica drank some poor and played board games and watched a movie..I think I finally had to go to sleep at 1:30 - 2am in the morning...I spent my Monday relaxing at home and enjoying my day off!

Last Christmas Party and Christmas Eve

Last Friday was the start of my long 4 day weekend (it's never long enough) ..I spent the day finishing up my Christmas Shopping and baking cookies for the small get together we were headed off to that evening. We actually had a few parties to attend that we were going to try and squeeze them all in HOWEVER there was no babysitter for us so luckily our friends Josh and Vickie said we could bring our kids to the get together so at least we were able to make it to one event.

I made a tray of baked good which consisted of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies- I need to find a new recipe ..I used the one on the oatmeal box..MEH ..too doughy for me

 I also made by scratch Peanut Butter Cookies, Brownie bites that had melted marshmallow and dark chocolate chips melted in the batter, Sugar cookies with a hand made royal vanilla peppermint icing and crushed SOFT peppermint on top (not as strong as candy cane). I was going to make some MULLED Spice wine as well but I was told that there was already going to be Sangria at the party so I opted out...I guess I can always make some Spice Mulled Wine for a cold winter night.

 Greg and Maria brought a very cool Astro Weenie Tree!

 I love how the tiki played a festive role to the deco

 I didn't really take any pictures cause I was having too much fun drinking,eating and mingling..Ava slept the first part of the evening (notice the bed head) but was up and at it and being pretty well behaved..as was Parker. I love when my kids are good.

 Christmas eve was very mellow. Gabe had to work so I spent really most of my night wrapping presents..my dad came by a few times to drop off gifts for the tree and later on my brother and his girlfriend came to stay the night and put their presents under the tree as well. We just hung around for a while and watched SNL Skits...we were busting up about this SNL Opening Monologue all that evening...with Steve Buscemi
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/steve-buscemi-monologue/1371744

My little Foster Dog Vixen was laying down watching ym wrap presents..She has been adopted by the way and will be going home this coming Monday!! I am so glad it was our friends that had adopted her..now I can watch her grow up!

As I wrapped Presents and took a break to rest my aching back Ava was playing with the gift tags singing we wish you a Merry Christmas...how ever she played a bit of the broken record Mode..see for yourself..