Happy New Years EVE!!

The New Year is here so here's wishing you all the best of wishes and dreams coming true in 2010!!

Stay Safe tonight.
XOXO

Happy New Year's Eve Eve...

New Year's is coming up. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Some year's I am excited for the New Year to come as it resembles New Hope, New Changes, New Life. And other years I am sad to see the ending of a great year and worried about what challenges may lay in the upcoming year.

This year of 2009, I am glad to see go. It has been an extremely tough and hard year. Medically, Financially, Physically and Emotionally. I don't think there has been anyone in my family not affected by something this year.

I am really looking forward to 2010. It starts a new Decade and New Hope. Because as I like to say in my book "It can't get much worse so it's gotta get better, right?"

What are your plans for the New Year? Staying home? Going out? Big Trips planned? New Jobs? New Homes? Babies born? Major Milestones hit?
XOXO

Awww...Christmas Morning

Emily has been asking for months now for an American Girl Doll for Christmas. Her best friend got one for her birthday, and ever since, Emily has been wanting one too. So for the last month leading up to Christmas, I have been renting the American Girl Movies for her to watch so she can get to know them. So this is some video from Christmas Morning and her finding her "Santa" gift:

XOXO

Monday Humor...

Ok, Ok...I know...Christmas is over. But it's not New Year's yet, so officially it is still Christmas WEEK. And someone sent me this email with these cute cartoon funnies on it, and I couldn't pass it up! So I'm posting them all right now...so no more Christmas funnies after this, I promise! ;o)

That's a good one!

Just the threat of having to go would make them behave...LOL

umm...I don't have to confess to anything, do I?

Oh someone's getting Coal in his stocking this year!

ahh...I'm a new texter...I totally get this.

Not Funny...Not one bit! :o)

XOXO

Whew...It's over...

Christmas came and went with the speed of Nascar! Whew...All the prep work and the anticipation of the big day...and it's over! Bummer! Another 364 days till Christmas to go again! ;o)

We had a great Christmas. Even though we scaled Christmas WAY DOWN this year in dollar amounts, it was a lot of fun to get more creative with the spending and thoughtful gifts. We had a good time seeing what everyone came up with. The kids still managed to get spoiled, just on a much smaller scale. Even little Toby managed to make out from Santa! His stocking was full and presents under the tree.

DH and I both managed to surprise each other when we both thought we knew everything we were getting each other! And Emily's ear splitting scream of a wake-up call topped the charts this year!

The kids got to bed pretty late on Christmas Eve after coming home from my parents house with all the family. So it was midnight before they got to bed and I was sure this might be a Christmas morning we could actually sleep in. DH and I were working on 4 hours of sleep, when we heard Emily's bedroom door fling open at 7am and slam into the wall and this blood-curling scream emit through the house (sounded like she was being stabbed to death). Before I could fling the blankets off me to see what was wrong, I was catapulted back into the bed with a flying leap from Emily and her landing in my face! uh, gee...thanks honey...Merry Christmas?

She begins screaming "Santa's here, Santa's here!!" and ran to wake brother up. After calling 911 for my heart attack I was having after that wake up call, I got my adrenaline back down and proceeded down the stairs trying hard to shake the sleepy eyes, groggy voice, dead from lack of sleep off me. Both kids dove immediately into their stockings and then made their way to presents.

DH was stationed on the couch with the video recorder and I was in the chair with the camera and the morning went by in a blur!

Now remember that Austin turned 13 last month? And he's now a "Teenager"? And no matter how tough he talked the talked before Christmas about their NOT being a Santa...He still "believed" when he got his Santa gift! And kept referring to it as "and HE got me...and HE remembered". So no matter how many hints and clues I left around and "Accidentally" left presents out..I just couldn't get him to get it. I am afraid he's going off to High School still wanting to Believe in Santa! I just can't bring myself to be the one to break his heart and tell him. But I don't want him to come home devastated because he was teased for believing. So what advice do you have for me? How did you find out? How did your kids learn the truth?

Hope all your Christmas Wishes came true!

XOXO

I can't wait!!!

It's true! I can't! I am such a kid when it comes to Christmas. I love Shopping and giving gifts. I love watching the expressions on the faces as they open them. I love watching the bustle of the activity going on around us, listening to Christmas Music, having family all around us.

Christmas morning I race down the stairs ahead of the kids so I can watch their faces as they come down the stairs and see what Santa has brought them. To share in their pure delight. To have flashbacks to my childhood and the excitement and pleasure that came from running down the hallway and seeing what Santa had brought me.

The anticipation is boundless and the excitement is overbearing! I want to relive the moments through my children's eye's. I want them to experience all the joy of being a child and believing as long as they can in the magic of Christmas.
We always make a point in the season though to teach them that it's not about receiving as it is about giving. One year, we adopted a needy family through the post office Santa program, and delivered wrapped presents and a Christmas Dinner.

I hope your Christmas is full of surprises and wishes in "Believing" again!

XOXO

And the last one...

3 days until Christmas!!!

XOXO

Ain't this the truth...

XOXO

Need some more...

Here ya go...XOXO

It's almost here...

6 days until CHRISTMAS!!!

Let's have a "Nose" theme today...

Now that's funny...

I hate it when that happens...

XOXO

Girl Time...

We all know one of these...

And we all wish we could do this...

And my Brother did this once when he was little...

XOXO

Need some more...

These are entertaining themed...

Poor Frosty!

ha ha ha...

XOXO

Cartoons...

Because it's been so COLD here lately...thought I'd share some funnies...

Some Sports themes

My Favorite!

XOXO

It's Party Time...

Ok...Somehow, somewhere, someone turned my cute, cuddly little boy into a TEENAGER without my permission or knowledge! And since that happened, well, we had to celebrate the occasion.

Austin turned 13 a few weeks ago, and it fell during the week of Thanksgiving, so we postponed his party until his friends could all come. And well, 13 is a big one! You now have "teen" in your age. He will be going to, gulp, high school in 6 months. And he has been working really hard this year to get good grades. He raised his GPA to a 3.6 at report card time 3 weeks ago. And since then he now has a 4.0!! Plus last year he was dealing with a lot of medical issues, which meant he didn't get a birthday party. We just took him and his cousin to the movies. So nothing exciting. So DH and I decided this was the year to spoil him!

Soooo...we had 6 boys total (7 if you count DH!) and me (poor me, only girl!) and we had a Limo pick us all up and off we went on an adventure! We drove to downtown (25 miles) and went to the IMAX theaters to see the new Jim Carrey "The Christmas Carol" in 3D! OMG...it was so good! I reserved seats several rows away from DH and I and let the boys sit by themselves, after a stern warning that should they get kicked out they had to wait in the freezing cold until the movie was over! And DH and I sat behind them to oversee. We loaded them up on popcorn and large sodas and sour candy! From there they all climbed back into the Limo for the return trip and stopped off at an Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor that is Austin's favorite place to go. The Sundaes are literally taller then you with 4 scoops of ice cream in a tall glass with 2-3 different toppings. The boys eyes were bigger then their bellies! It was so cute, they made Austin stand on a chair while the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday to him. Then another party that was there with a bunch of girls his age was watching, and one girl ran over and hugged Austin and said Happy Birthday! It was so funny, he turned so red. The boys were all over that. They couldn't stop flirting then and running back and forth. I gave permission for them to run outside after the girls as they were leaving and they all goofed off. Then the Limo ride back home had them all wired and music blasting from every speaker and windows down (in 30 degree weather) with heads sticking out and talking to other cars! We got home with 20 minutes to spare before parents came, so they played Pool for awhile and were all grins and laughs! I had the best time ever watching Austin having such a good time! It's been so long since I've heard that giggle. It was totally worth the sacrifice to make this happen for him. But seriously, you gotta go see that movie! It was really good! Not for younger kids tho under the age of probably 8, the special effects and 44 speakers of doom music will scare them. Nothing like a 3D movie on a 10 story screen!

XOXO

Monday Humor...

XOXO

You can't steal my Christmas...

YOU CAN'T STEAL MY CHRISTMAS

Poem by Sharon Steege

I don't know who they are

Saying I can't greet the crowd

The way that I want to

Can't say **CHRISTMAS** out loud.

I walk into a business place

See things that I rather not see

But dare I not say **CHRISTMAS**

And ask for a "holiday" tree.

What happened to freedom of speech

And living in the land of the free

How can they take my **CHRISTMAS** money

But can't say **MERRY CHRISTMAS** to me.

Men and women have given their lives

So we could still go free

I wonder how they would feel

At saying HOLIDAY TREE.

Come on AMERICA let's wake up

Don't let our freedom escape

If they get by with doing this

What else will they take.

This is starting to get out of hand,

And I've begun to keep track

Well I've just about had enough

I'M TAKING CHRISTMAS BACK.

XOXO

Monday Humor...

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long

Take a heap of child-like wonder

That opens up our eyes

To the unexpected gifts in life—

Each day a sweet surprise.
Mix in fond appreciation

For the people whom we know;

Like festive Christmas candles,

Each one has a special glow.
Add some giggles and some laughter,

A dash of Christmas food,

(Amazing how a piece of pie

Improves our attitude!)
Stir it all with human kindness;

Wrap it up in love and peace,

Decorate with optimism, and

Our joy will never cease.
If we use this healthy recipe,

We know we will remember

To be in the Christmas spirit,

Even when it's not December.

By Joanna Fuchs

When you live in Cali...

Santa's are gonna look like this...
XOXO

I'm sorry it's so long...

But Christmas is coming...
XOXO

24 days until Christmas...

Happy December 1st!!!



XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened"

XOXO

I hope you all have a very...

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP,

MAY YOUR POTATOES AND GRAVY,

HAVE NEVER A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,

AND YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

AND MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER,

STAY OFF YOUR THIGHS.

XOXO

Thanksgiving Funnies...

How Pumpkin Pie is made...

XOXO

Where have the days gone...

I'm sorry - I don't know where the days have gone. Where did they slip away too? How could it have been so long since I last posted? It has been insanely crazy around here. Getting ready to have 16 people over for thanksgiving, getting the house ready, buying the decorating things, setting up tables, getting chairs out of storage, grocery shopping, prepping, pulling my hair out?

And let's not forget that a certain SOMEONE in this house just had to go and turn into a TEENAGER on me WITHOUT my permission and even grow a 1/2" taller then said person!! Yes, Austin turned 13 yesterday! I cried, I welled up and threw a fit. I told him to STOP growing up RIGHT NOW!! He did not have my permission to continue to age or grow or hit puberty or, or, or...he's my first born, can you tell?

Now, where was I? Oh yea, I was about to tell you that the rest of this week is CRAZY for me! I have to work! I have to cook! I have to Bake! I have to prep! I have to mix! I have to prepare! I have to fold, seal, pinch, stir, shake, and BREATHE!
So I may not get to my blog this week. But know I wish you all a very Happy Thanksiving and hope all your holiday's are warm and fuzzy!

Oh and um...yea...I'm one of those crazy people out on Black Friday at 4am shopping! So wish me luck...
XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

"Don't waste your time on someone, who isn't willing to waste their time on you"

XOXO

Monday Humor...

That is exactly how it is in our house...

XOXO

Did you hear...

Awww...can you see me? Can you hear it? I'm smiling. Nonstop smile. Smile across my face. And that sound? That's my heart. Beating wildly and very happy!

My begging, crying, pleading, stomping feet, using the whole "I fought to get pregnant with you, fought to have you" speech, even the "Dad & I live vicariously through you" speech. Whatever it was, something worked!

Because yesterday...Austin let me sign him up for Baseball!!! I know! He gave me the OK with 15 minutes to spare before sign ups closed and I would have to pay a late fee. I jumped in the car and raced off and made it with one minute to spare. I had him signed up before he could change his mind.

I did say the right things...like "I just want you to do this if it's something YOU want. Don't do it for us." So I covered my bases, but either way he's signed up and he agreed. So worse case scenario, he drops out. But one step at a time baby. :o)

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world"

Happy Friday the 13th!
XOXO

Soccer Pro in Training...

Thats Austin kicking the ball...#22

There is no words to describe the feeling when you see your child playing in a sport he loves and is good at and playing hard. The pride radiates out and the joy makes me beam. I enjoy watching my son play sports so much. To see him succeed and try is the best.

Go Austin!!

Soccer is really fun to watch when he plays because of the face expressions, the heart that they play with, the full steam, full force going head strong at something is amazing to watch.

Austin kicking the ball - and no he didn't hit that player with the ball!

I snapped some pics at the last game. Because I have been told by Austin that this is his last year. I knew it was coming. He warned me before. And I know from experience that at this age group, most stop playing. They go on to play school sports now. Or join school activities, and youth league sports is a thing of the past. My heart breaks to think this is our last couple of games. He's hit the growth stage of Puberty where his knees hurt all the time, and he's not a happy camper. It's hard for me to bribe...i mean...talk him into playing when he's hurting.

Ok - Can you see the ball right at his head? What a shot! he head butted it.

And to top it off...the flyer for Baseball came home. This weekend is sign-ups. This is the sport I enjoy the most - that he excels in the most - and he crushed my heart when he said...no mom, I'm not playing.

Austin has the strongest leg on his team for booting it hard and long!

I did the puppy dog look, i cried, i stomped my feet, and i threw myself on the floor...and then he rolled his eyes and said he would think about it.

We've been a "Bear's" Player for 9 years! Since he was 4 years old!

Last night...he said NO.

Our canopy we bring to every game for the players to sit under - and I make sure everyone has water.

This year he would have to move to the Junior Division. Which is a MUCH LARGER field. Farther to throw, farther to hit, and farther to pitch. And much STRONGER boys. He's scared. *sigh* I don't want to push him to do something he doesn't want too. But I know his heart, and it's sports. I see the grin he gets, the sparkle in his eye when he makes a goal or hits that triple. When he pitches a no hitter inning, or slams an offense player from scoring. It feels good. And I also know if I don't make him play something...that he will get lazy. A teenager has taken over his body. and once they go lazy...getting them back out is near impossible. So I softly push. And prod. Waiting and hoping.

And really...maybe it's selfish for me. I mean...where would I get that rush of cheering and screaming for him when that Home run flies? The socializing of other parents? The Team Mom Roll I cherish? The butterflies I get in my stomach when he's batting? The "can't sit have to stand I can't stand this pressure" feeling when he's defending a tough team? The clapping on back when a play has gone good? The big grin and huge sparkle on his face when he comes off the field and knowing that inning was all due to him?

Will I never have that moment again? Will they only live on in videos and memories now? My Momma's Bragging rights now put on hold? Will I hold him in my arms and wish for that little T-ball player in size 4 kids cleats and teeny, tiny baseball pants? Or dream of the days my little boy's legs barely kicked the soccer ball because he was only 4 years old?

I will honor what Austin wants to do with his future, and I will cherish the years we have had. I will forever be proud of him. Forever love him. For he is my #1 sports HERO!

XOXO