Go Daddy Christmas Party

Last night was the Go Daddy Christmas party at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Ever since I stared working for Go Daddy earlier this year people have been saying 'oh you'll get to go to the Christmas party'. It's kind of legendary! But really I had no idea...My bff Bill was my date for the night and he and Jon were sweet to give me door to door transportation to and from the party Jon is the best!
Well we arrived at the ballpark about 6ish and waited in line for about 15 minutes outside to get in...they were expecting about 6k people. All the offsite employees and employees from our Denver and Cedar Rapids offices were flown in for the party too.
Once we were all checked in we passed through the rotunda and out to the stadium...this is what we saw this....

A full blown carnival complete with a centerpiece Ferris wheel with the Go Daddy guy in the middle of the wheel.

We headed down to the field and walked around just taking it all in, a fantastic band called Big Swing and the Blasters were playing. All the different areas of the field were set up with themes. There were popcorn, cotton candy and pretzel carts, a french fry stand, a deli, a seafood restaurant, an area that looked like a park, an Italian restaurant, a cheese steak stand on and several full service bars ;)

We grabbed a drink and headed for the merry go round.



I seriously love merry go rounds, and until last night I'd never ridden one in a fancy dress and heels with a cocktail.

















The Ferris wheel was really the centerpiece of the whole place, and it was right off the huge dance floor set up in front of the stage.























W took a ride on the Ferris wheel and our timing was perfect, while we were riding Bob Parsons came out on stage to welcome everyone and tell us how much he loves putting on this big party every year.







Bob coming onstage to the Go Daddy theme song surrounded by Go Daddy Girls. Not on stage here but all the girls from the commercials were there too...Danica Patrick, Candice Michelle, Jillian Michaels, Vanessa Russo, oh and some famous guys too...Michael Andretti, Ryan Hunter Reay and Sheriff Joe.



















Here is the amazing view from the Ferris wheel.














When Bob was done with the introductions, he introduced Jewel...she sang the National Anthem...BEAUTIFUL!!!!




Then she said she had written a song about Go Daddy...it was spot on AWESOME! They showed Bob on the monitors while she was singing, he was totally moved you could tell! There is a great video of the song on You Tube here. She did totally great set of about 5 songs, then said she was going to do one last song and said she could do Who Will Save your Soul or Yodel...the crowd screamed YODEL...you've got to see it!!!! Watch it here.








This is my adorable friend Ally and her husband Mike eating cotton candy and chocolate eclairs for dinner.














A yummy bomb pop before dinner...UMMM yes please!

























We played about 10 rounds of the water gun game and won lots of cute stuffed animals.














Bill won me a hilarious fat stuffed cow with a t-shirt that says BFF.


















After Jewel, Big Swing and the Blasters came back on for about an hour more, then it was time for George Thorogood to take the stage, he was great! Bad to the Bone was amazing!




















We had a blast racing and smashing and taking pictures on the bumper cars.....
















After George Thorogood was done, it was time for the BIG band, yeah like Jewel and Thorogood aren't big....seriously! They introduced ZZ Top! The Little Band from Texas...Legendary! It was awesome...here is Bill playing Ms. Pac Man at one of the Arcades. He said playing Ms. Pac Man in the middle of chase field while listening to ZZ Top play live was surreal...yes I would have to agree!






















We played a few rounds of ring toss and won another stuffed animal.
















Then we headed over to the infield area that was set up like a park, with benches and picnic tables and tress all with lights, we had a perfect spot under a tree to watch ZZ Top on the big screen. Here they are singing Legs, complete with fuzzy guitars!
















Bill was a perfect date, and we had a fantastic time!
















They shot off fireworks several times though out the night!

This is kinda blurry but we realized the big tree we were sitting under and the bench that was built up around it was actually built on top of the pitcher's mound. Crazy and surreal is right!

All the cars were on display up in the foyer...here is Danica's Indy car.

Over the course of the night they gave a way a total of $1million dollars in cash to employees. They drew names for amounts from $500 up to $10k at the end of the night....I didn't win anything but it hardly felt like I lost it was such an amazing night. Bob and his wife Rene also donated $500k to a women's HIV and Aids charity in Phoenix.

I am so grateful to work for such an amazing company and continue to be amazed at their generosity to us an the community.

If this doesn't get all of us in the Christmas spirit nothing will!

Fall....really!

Where have the last couple months gone! I have been a terrible blogger....we have been just going full speed but that is how we love it! With birthdays, half marathons, two AMaZing concerts in Houston (Uncle Jerry is the greatest!), and our favorite holiday it's been a great few months...here are a few pics!

Em's Bday at Disneyland...LoVe the Matterhorn!














Love these girls! Me, Tanya, Shannon, Timi and Ann partying with Mickey before the Disneyland Half Marathon.















13.1 miles later!

Pit seats at the Dave Matthews Band show...such a great night!



Oh and the next night....Em gets to MEET the Jonas Bros....she'll tell you Joe has his hand on her back in this picture and then told her to enjoy the show! We were lucky and were able to bring Reagan and Timi with us for this amazing night!

















Here is Em again checking out Joe and Nick from the front row (again Uncle Jerry is the best)...it was a fantastic show!
























Disneyland and Halloween...could anything be better! We went to Mickey's Halloween Party and got to hang with the Peter Pan peeps!
















Tinkerbell was so fun to take these pics with!
















The park was decorated so great for Halloween!
























A Boxer, A Bee and a Peter Pan!
We had Elle and Grey over for trick or treating.

Birthday Eclipse

Today my baby turned 14! Yikes!
As much as I wish time would slow down, she is growing into such a great young lady and is so much fun to be with I am enjoying every minute with her so much!
I am super lucky to have the two best besties in the whole wide world! Emily has been blessed with one too, who (since her birthday) I'll say takes the cake! Grey and Emily met in Montessori school when they were two years old, in Ms. Erin's toddler room, and have been BFF's for the past 12 years. Kim and I met in 7th grade so going on knowing each otter for 27 years. Em always reminds me that her and Grey will have been friends longer!
These two have spent every birthday,holiday, school vacation and too many sleepovers to count in the past 12 years.
Last night Grey called and asked me if there was a way they could come over to the house to set up a surprise for Emily before we got home from work and school today. We got things all situated and Em was in for the bestest birthday surprise Ever!

When we got home their car was in our driveway and we found this on the door in the garage.






We went in to find Grey, her sister Elle and her mom. Em headed to her room and I heard a LOUD shriek!!!!

Alice, Jacob, Bella and Edward were there to wish Emily a happy birthday!




















On Jacob's arm were two note cards, that started Em on a scavenger hunt, that would take her to the kitchen, the family room, my room, the scrapbook room, the freezer, the washing machine, the book cases, her bathroom, the couch.....













.....and 14 stops later her closet where she found this awesome ASU hoodie! Did I mention this girly knows Em better than ANYONE!



Each of them had had personal notes written on them wishing Em a happy birthday!

Of course a hug for Team Jacob!

Making the surprise all that more, a surprise....the three girls had tracked Em down after school to wish her a happy birthday and give her a chocolate marshmallow sprinkles cupcake....masters of diversion! Em was thrilled to have seen them and had no clue she'd be seeing them again so soon!

Another FAB gift from Bill and Jon, Glee The Beginning! We are all big Gleeks, can't wait to read this fun book!

We made some grilled pizzas for dinner and finished up with a birthday s'more.

Heading to our FAV place Disneyland for some more birthday fun and celebrating this weekend !

I love you sweet pea! Happy happy birthday!

Today is where your book begins....

I love this song, it so reminds me of the closing dinner at last years Creative Escape. The end of a fantastic weekend that cemented some special friendships I know will be lifelong. Lately this song has been in my iPod, specifically in the playlist I've been listening to wayto much on the treadmill training for a half marathon.



Four of these special girls and I are competing in the Disneyland Half Marathon over Labor Day weekend in Anaheim. We are all competing for different reasons, and none of us were runners but decided to take on this challenge. We have each had unique and life changing circumstances to face in the last year since we were together that night last August. But like this song reminds us we've all chosen to live life with arms wide open. That something in the distance...it's the finish line...in the race at least! We will get there, because we are amazing!
I love your girls! Can't wait to see you all soon!
So lucky to have you in my life!

Just Wondering..

where does the time go....

Twelve years ago in August I dropped this girl off at Rainbow Montessori School for her first day of school!



She walked in ready for the challenge, didn't shed a tear, and didn't even look back at the car.

Well tomorrow this girl starts High School....




















The only one that may be crying is me! Half the time I feel like crying because I am so happy and proud to be the mom of such an amazing girl, but the other half the time i want to cry because it seems like the time between dropping her off at her first day of Montessori school and tomorrow has gone by way too fast.

I am so proud of all she has accomplished , how she has matured and grown into such an amazing young lady.

Just like that August 12 years ago I know she is ready and will reach all the goals she has set for herself. I know the next four years of high school will go way too fast, but I am excited to watch her achieve, learn and experience all that awaits her. I am lucky to be her mom.
I love you sweetpea!

4th of July at Lynx Lake

We spent the 4th up in Prescott at Lynx Lake. We love this little lake with it's beautiful little coves for finding shade and exploring.






We paddled a while and then had a yummy picnic of fried chicken that Bill made. YUM!



Then it was time for more paddling.





There were some weird duck birds that were diving under water to get fish. They were all hanging out in this tree. They reminded me of the buzzards in The Jungle Book.



No trip would be complete without at least one coonskin cap picture. Here is Bill rocking his kayak.








After a full day we headed home for the traditional fourth of July weenie roast and Bill's killer blueberry pie!!