HE'S HOME!

As you all know by now Daniel was on school business in Brazil for 3 weeks. He had a blast! I must admit I thought the time away from each other would be HORRIBLE but it wasn't as bad as I expected lol. And I owe that in most part to great friends, or should I say friend lol, and of course my mom coming to visit! Now that Dan is home safe and sound life has resumed back to normal as I have returned to my wifely duties. But I don't mind! 12 more weeks and Daniel will have completed the MBA program at Thunderbird and a new adventure awaits us. What that adventure is, we do not know yet...but we are excited to see where life takes us!

Goodbye Dan, HELLLLO Momma!

The first week of January Daniel was Brazil bound for three weeks! Part of his school curriculum requires that he enroll in a three week course to learn and study more about business ventures abroad. He was selected to participate in the Brazil course learning about "green energy." As you may have guessed by now, NO...I did not have the pleasure of joining him in exotic Rio De Janeiro. Instead, I have to spend my time working and paying bills on top of all my other wifely duties. But seriously, I'm glad Dan has the opportunity to study abroad (again) even if it is just for a short while. It makes him happy, and that makes me happy.

Okay...what REALLY makes me happy is that while Daniel is gone my mom came to visit!!!

I was lucky enough to get two full days off work to play hooky with my mom. We slept in (oh thank you, thank you, thank you), visited old friends, went shopping, tried out hot new lunch spots, went to the movies, did some more shopping and really just enjoyed a nice long relaxing weekend! I appreciate her taking the time to come down and visit. I mean it really took some convincing...it was only 8 degrees in Kansas City! ;) 

Two weeks down and one more week to go until Dan comes home. I know I can do it! Without mom here my good friend Kylee and I spend our evenings together taking turns cooking dinner and watching movies. Good thing her husband is gone in Brazil too! 

2011 has treated the Tracy's well so far and we hope all our friends and family reading are just as fortunate as we are!!!

2011? Bring it on!

We started our New Years Eve off with an "adult's only" dinner at Genghis Khan Mongolian Barbecue, my favorite restaurant! It was my Mom, Dad, Sister Stephanie, Brothers Jason and Brandon along with our spouses.

After dinner we came back to my parents house and the partying began! We had our annual couples pool tournament that Daniel implemented last year. Last year we were the winners! This year, we were not as fortunate. In fact, I think we were dead last lol. Here we all are, showing off our wicked skills.

Stephanie and Dudley won the tournament! And Steph didn't even want to play at first! They snookered us!

My mom had lots of fun games set up for the kids and when it wasn't our turn to play pool we played Band Hero on the Wii, drank Pina Coladas and Orange Julius's. We partied till midnight and toasted to Martinelli's! Daniel and I agreed that this was the best New Years Eve we've spent since we've been married. I believe there was a year or two when I didn't even make it till midnight until this year lol.

Daniel's family has a New Years Day tradition that they go trap shooting! I choose not to partake in this tradition but Dan had a great time with his Dad and brothers as always! Looks cold doesn't it? It was 19 degrees! No thank you, Brrrrr!

New Years Day we had to say goodbye and fly back home to Phoenix. It's always bittersweet when it's time to go home. Daniel and I love going home for the Holidays and seeing our families but then it's always back to real life! Don't mind the misty eyes...they never stay dry when saying bye to our wonderful families. They mean the world to us :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope that 2011 brings much love and happiness to you all in the year to come!