Burn the Floor

For Christmas, my sister got me tickets to go see Burn the Floor on Broadway in NYC. We went on Monday, Dec. 28th, and had a great time. The show was amazing and had some familiar faces dancing ballroom, such as Kym Johnson and Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars and Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance. Of course when they came on stage the audience roared with screams and applause! The rest of the cast was fantastic as well! Here's a synopsis of what the show is about:

"nonstop display of pop variations on classic ballroom-dancing styles, from relatively sedate waltzes to the lindy, the rumba and the sangria-scented paso doble." (theatre.newyorktimes.com).

"From the producers:"Burn the Floor" is a breathtaking blend of Latin and Ballroom dance. From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, "Burn the Floor" takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. It's Ballroom dance with a sexy 21st century edge.The cast includes 18 award-winning international dancers from from around the globe. The dancers, who collectively hold more than 100 dance titles, move to the vision of artistic director and choreographer Jason Gilkison." (www.entertainment-link.com)

After the show, we were informed that the dancers will come out and sign autographs and some will pose for pictures. My sister and I waited around because we have been watching Mary, Kym, and Maks on TV for years...why not stay and meet them? Low and behold 10-15 minutes later, the cast began to come out the stage door outside...

Kym Johnson (Dancing with the Stars)

Mary Murphy (SYTYCD)

Maks Chmerkovskiy (Dancing with the Stars)

Before the show, we grabbed some dinner at Vynl on 9th and 51st near Rockafeller Center (I believe). It's a cute little restaurant with really good food. If you're ever in town, definitely go there for dinner. Inside, they have shadow boxes with figures of singers and bands. One of our favorite was the New Kids on the Block shadow box (see pic below).

NKOTB!

We also headed to Rockafeller Center to see the tree. A passerby mentioned that the tree was "too green"...whatever that means?! Isn't a tree supposed to be green??? It was smaller than I thought it would be, but pretty nonetheless!

Aunt Bev and Uncle Al's X-mas Party

Last night was the annual Christmas Party at the Gonzalez house. We always know that there will be lots of yummy food cooked by the chef of the family, Jason, and his wife, Danielle, as well as fun with family, and friends. There was definitely all of this last night...amazing farfalle with peas, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, & some other stuff (LOL), filets, green beans, roasted potatoes, and desserts covered the dinning room table! The rooms were all a buzz until food was served and then we were all as quiet as mice :-) . Lots of conversation with family and friends, and of course playing with Jack and Sophie's new toys!!! Below are some pictures to capture the night! **Shana, Sophie and I**

**Moie and I...and Shana peeked**

Sophie, Kim, Moie, myself, and Shana

(Grandma w/her 3 granddaughters & 1 great granddaughter)

** Joe, Richie, and my dad**

Mom, Moie, Shana, and I

**Our feet**

**Richie and I**

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas...I know we did! Christmas Eve we spent with Richie's family at his parents. His brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews all come over for dinner and presents every Christmas Eve! The kids ripped through their presents and seemed very happy with everything they had gotten! Richie and I received a glass lazy susan for h'ors d'oeuvres, a Christmas chip and dip bowl, and a few bottles of liquor to add to our collection. It was a great night spent with family!

Christmas began with Riley waking up at 6:40ish (I guess she was excited!). We woke up a bit and had a french toast breakfast. After that, we let Riley open her presents. She went right to the tree and picked one out that was hers and opened it. It was pretty cute! She got lots of puppy chews, rawhides, a frisbee, a new Kong ball, a new squeeky Kong, and a new bed (that she is sleeping in right now as I type)! Then Richie and I exchanged gifts...a football, new hat, drill bits, tool bag, and a Chiefs decal for Richie and a box full of new clothes for me!

Around noon-ish my parents, sister, and grandma came up to open more presents (two cars full of presents to be exact)! We got a lot of great things for ourselves and for the house...and of course Riley got new toys from Gammie. When I lived with my parents, we would always start with the gifts Shana and I got for them, so this year we began with the gifts Richie and I got them (since they opened everything at home and brought their stockings up here). We made my mom cry with her photobook we made her from Shutterfly of our wedding (definitely recommend this-they come out awesome). Stockings are my favorite gifts to open and ours are very tall! We got many great gifts and are grateful that we were able to spend time with the family.

Richie's parents, sister, nephew, and niece came up for dinner later in the day. My mom and dad cooked an amazing meal that consisted of Filets, baked stuffed shrimp, baked potatoes, corn, etc. Richie's mom brought up tacos, pasta, rice, and few other things as well to add to our feast. We were all stuffed after an amazing dinner that no one left room for dessert :-( ... so most of that is still sitting here this morning waiting to be eaten, which it will be eventually!

After an amazing Christmas Day we were exhausted! Thank you to our families for making our first Christmas such a special day! We love you all!

**Riley's new bed**

**Richie and his gifts**

**my box of clothes**

**Riley opening Gammie's gifts**

**Riley's dress #1**

**dress #2**

**Shana, Tatiana, and Riley**

Happy Birthday Richie!

The 23rd was Richie's birthday, but we celebrated it on Sunday (the 20th) with my family. My mom baked funfetti cupcakes with chocolate frosting and wrote "happy b-day Rich!" on them. After we sang, I pretended to go cut the cake! I did a pretty good job, look how round I got them!

As for presents, my parents bought him a new ladder (so we could give my dad's back!)!!!! LOL :-)

Happy Birthday Richie!

**Riley with her Gampie**

**He was very surprised!**

All Things Christmas!

I know it's still 8 days before Christmas, but I thought I would post and All Things Christmas post anyways. Check out some pictures from around the house:... the lights on the house...

...Garland on the stairwell...

...fresh fruit from Florida from Aunt Roni and Uncle Ray...

...yes, we actually found a puggle ornament at a kiosk in the mall...

...an "Our First Christmas" ornament from Aunt Roni and Uncle Ray...

..."Our First Home" ornament my mom got us last year bc we were supposed to be in the house before Christmas last year...

...ornaments Richie got me for my birthday; "Our First Christmas" and "Good Dog"...

If I don't get to post before Christmas again...Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Christmas decorations!

Every year on Black Friday my family would put up their Christmas decorations...so to carry on that tradition, we decorated the house yesterday. The tree is up (prelit!), garland on the fireplace and outside on our railing. The Christmas season has begun! Oh-and thanks to Nay Nay-my shopping is officially under way! The stores had our names on them at 6am yesterday! Yes- that's a tradition of ours as well.

Riley likes Starbucks!

Yup-even Riley likes Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes!

Graduation for Advance Obedience Class

Yesterday, Riley had her third graduation...this time from advanced obedience class. We had our "pretest" for the Canine Good Citizenship test before the graduation ceremony began.

Kathy and I trying to keep the cap on Riley.

Looking @ her certificate

The graduating class (from L->R) Spencer, Jersey, Maggie, Isabelle, Lexie, Riley & T-Bird

Happy Adoption Day!

A year ago today, Richie adopted Riley from Long Island and brought her home for me as a birthday present. How much she's grown in a year! She's moved twice (from Richie's parent's house to my parent's house, then to our home now), she's taken 3 obedience classes, and shown so much love to everyone! Here's to many more years with my Riley girl! :-)

...*Riley then*...

...*Riley now*...

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Hope all the kiddies had fun trick-or-treating on this rainy Saturday night!

Waiting for the trick-or-treaters to come!

The Rocky Horror Show

Last night Richie and I went to see the Rocky Horror Show at the Playwright in New Haven. I had never been to the Playwright or seen the Rocky Horror Show so I didn't really know what to expect. When the show/play first started I was totally lost...well actually I was kind of confused the entire time, but it was a lot of fun! The actors and actresses were really good and I felt good because we supported local acting! Our Prop Bag that we used throughout the play. Oh- I guess I forgot to mention it was an interactive play! They interacted with you, you interacted with them.

...to winter!

Yes, October 15th and we had about an inch and a half before the wonderful snow was complete. It was WAY too early for snow! But Riley was enjoying it! As soon as we opened the door to the backyard, she dove onto the deck and started eating the snow. All she wanted to do outside was run around like a nutcase, eat snow, and play with her ball!