Christmas 2009

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year, I love this season and I love the true meaning of Christmas and that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I love that I can teach this to my children and let them know that Christmas isn't just about the presents. I have taught my children (or at least tried to explain to 2 toddlers) about giving gifts and the thought that goes behind it. This year has to be the Christmas I have ever had. Seeing the excitement and joy through the eyes of a 3 year old and almost 2 year old was priceless. The month leading up to Christmas was so fun for me, explaining what Christmas was all about, showing them lights on all the houses, decorating our tree, singing Christmas songs, seeing Santa, baking, and the best of all, just being able to share this season with my greatest gifts off all, my two children and loving husband.

As much as I enjoy this season and time of year, Christmas really did come and go for us, moving in December is really not a good idea when you want to enjoy the whole month, but we did the best we could. I was so last minute on gifts and wrapping and was shopping up until Christmas Eve, but I did it and everyone loved their gifts. The weekend before Christmas my parents had their annual Christmas party which I love so much because I get to see all of my crazy, loving, loud family and we all love getting together. Then Christmas Eve we went to my parents house for good ol' homemadeTamales (and yes of course my mom caters to me and makes me chile and cheese ones) and they were oh so good! I look forward to them every year. The little kids this year were so cute to watch, and they really all do love each other so much. We were there until midnight so "Santa" was up late wrapping last minute gifts and needless to say didn't get to bed until 2am and was up at 7:30am! But it was so worth it.

Christmas morning was like heaven for the kids and for us to see the joy on their faces, Santa left their stockings on the end of their beds so they were very excited to know he came even before they got out of bed. Taelor's face was filled with so much surprise and excitement when she saw all the presents under the tree, Ethan on the other hand was a bit tired and cranky but sure perked up when he saw his little bike! Our morning was relaxing, and so much fun. Taelor was excited about her princess blanket and her Barbie "laptop". Out of all the presents, Ethan loved his bike and his trash truck, once he opened that he wanted nothing else to do with the rest of the presents, it took him about an hour to get around to his other presents, so trash truck comes along with us everywhere even to bed. The rest of our day was spent lounging around the house until mid afternoon and then headed to Gamma's house for dinner. It was sooo good and the English trifle and plum pudding was SO delicious! I really have a lot to live up too as my mother in law is the best cook and baker!

As the holiday season nears to an end I look to the New Year ahead I look with my head held high and with new hopes, dreams and aspirations for my family in 2010. I look forward to new beginnings and will say good bye to 2009 with a tear in my eye. I hope everyone had a wonderful, joyous and peaceful Christmas.

Maybe I am just like my mom

This past weekend I was at my parent's Christmas party and was chatting to everyone as I always do and when I got to my dad's cousins Art and Lucille they were both so in shock of how much I reminded them of my mom. They said my mannerism, the way I spoke, my hand gestures, everything, was just like my mom. I loved it, for a moment I felt like I WAS my mom.

The past few weeks a few people have made mention of my mom and it always hits me this time of year, she passed away on December 2, 1979, at the young age of 36. I can't even imagine that Christmas for my dad and sisters, it was probably the hardest and difficult time, but it always reminds me of her, reminds me of the wonderful person she was and that she left such a lasting footprint on every ones life. As I near the age she was, I feel that many are being reminded of her and her radiant ways, and it makes me happy to know that her spirit lives through me and that she is always a part of me. Thank you Art and Lucille for saying that I am my mom, it touched me more than you will know. I can only hope that I am half the woman and wife that she was.

A birthday party for Taelor.....

As I was walking down the stairs I could hear Taelor's sweet little voice singing happy birthday, as I walked into her room she had all her dolls and stuffed animals sitting side by side on her bed, she had put ribbon along the dressers and some other "stuff" lined up on the floor and she was happily singing away to herself. I asked what she was doing and she said "it's a birthday party, for ME!" Too cute that I forgot to even get out the camera to take a picture but instead I just joined in on her birthday celebration.....that is until Ethan came running through the door and moved everything out of place. I love the imagination of a 3 year old and the fact that she knows her birthday is next week on New Year's Eve! I love you sweetie.

Good bye Ladera....and hello Woodbury

I am very sad but yet happy that we have said good bye to Ladera Ranch and we have moved on to Woodbury, Irvine. Ladera Ranch has been our home for the last 5 1/2 years but God has bigger and better plans for us in 2010 and has found us a great townhouse in Woodbury, Irvine. We moved last weekend, and boy was it a move (really should have hired movers this time). But we are in with boxes stacked up in the garage and we have made our cute place a home again. we absolutely love our new place, it is closer to my work, closer to Gamma (which she and we really love), and is walking distance to a Starbucks and Trader Joes, just that is heaven for me!

Moving out of Ladera Ranch has not quite hit me yet but I have many friends that are there and have made many fond memories there, but it is not far and I know I will still go back to visit the waterpark during summer! We are looking forward to 2010, for a new season in life for us on many different levels. As we enter this new season I pray for contentment, for support and for love from God and as we have been through many tough times this year, I know God can move mountains and He has for us, He has just put us on a different mountain for this chapter in our lives. We look forward to our new lives in Irvine as we settle in and make our selves at home.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I wanted to write down a few things that I have been so thankful for this year:

• My family- husband, kids who always love me for who I am and support me in all I do, for my kids who run to me and say "MOMMY" as I walk through the door
• My friends- couldn't live without them, they are always willing to lend an ear for listening and a shoulder to cry on when I most need it
• My job- even though I would love to be at home more I am thankful for my job that I have been at for almost 11 years!
• Church- I love all the wonderful people at my church and I am so thankful for having them in my life, they have all made me a stronger person
• Struggles/challenges- I know this may sound wierd but I feel that this year I am so thankful for all the struggles and challenges we have had to face this year, it has made us stronger and we can all learn from the different paths that we walk down in life
• My family's health- even though I live with a heart condition I am so thankful that I am still a healthy person and that my family is healthy too
• Love- from my family and loving on others, this is really priceless
• Long talks with my hubby
• When Taelor and Ethan say "I love you mommy", so thankful that I can hear those words come out of thier mouths
• God and Faith- my most important thing I am thankful for!!! If it wasn't for faith I really do not know how we could have gotten past many challenges this year! He really can move mountains and I am so thankful for Him!

There are so many more things I am thankful for but I would go on for days, these are just a few that came to mind first.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, we did. It was one of our best, kids are at the age where they can both feed themselves and can actually sit throuh a dinner without too much of a fuss. We had only one place to go on the day of (my parents did it on Sunday), so that was a treat in itself. Taelor and I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and she loved it. I am so happy to start the rest of the holiday season and for Christmas to be here and for my baby's girls birthday on New Year's Eve!

Sandwhich Thins

I love these new Oroweat Sandwich Thins bread. They are great tasting and good for you. They have only 100 calories, 5g fiber, and 1g fat. My friend at work started bringing these for lunch and loved them, so I went to Costco which sells a pack of 16 for around $4.50 (I think or somewhere around there). The great thing about these is that my kids LOVE them. I also have used them for burger buns and it was so much better than regular buns. They may be thin but they are filling and they come in 3 flavors, mulitgrain, honey wheat and whole wheat. Try them you will love them.

Sweet things....

It's the little things that come out of a toddlers mouth that sometimes make you melt. Taelor looked at Ethan and said "Your so handsome little dude". I thought it was too cute. She loves him so much and she is always saying sweet things to him, whether it be that she is comforting him while he is crying or just giving him a hug when he needs it (or at least when she thinks he needs it). I hope these two remain close as they grow up and that they are always there for each other. I love seeing the two of them together (even though sometimes it's not so happy go lucky)!

Big girl bed for Taelor

My little girl has graduated to a big girl bed! She was so excited to have daddy "make" her "new" bed. Taelor was ready to be out of her bed but we were going through a rough month of her "stalling" on the bedtime, so we made her a deal, when she could prove to us that she is ready for a bed then she can earn stars and get the bed. So she earned them, and it has been 3 nights now and she has been great going to bed. She hasn't even woken up to go potty in the middle of the night so mommy is actually getting some rest around here! I am not holding my breath on this one though because I am sure this will end soon, but I hope not. I am so proud of my little Binkie, she is growing into such a "big" girl. I love her so much but I feel that the baby in her is slowly slipping away and it makes me sad but I know in my heart she will always be my little girl. Night night Boo, we love you!

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year! Taelor and Ethan were so into it. I think the fact that they got candy was what made their nights! After the first few scary houses, they were both brave enough to walk up to the doors themselves. We had a great time trick or treating with our neighbors Noah and Tommy. We had lots of kids come to the house and Taelor just about gave away handfuls of candy to each trick or treater. I LOVED our Halloween, it was fun to see the kids faces and even though they were a bit sugared up by the end of the night, it was all worth it!

Taelor as the "pirate" and Tae as "Tinkerbell"

Daddy and his little buddy

Gama and her grandbabies!! Thanks for coming with us!

Noah the gladiator, Tommy as Handy Manny, and Tinkerbell (Taelor)

Arggggh..

Taelor and Hailey the two Tinks

Tanaka Farms

Fall is here but the weather sure isn't. Going to Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch in 80 degree weather is not what I would have wanted but despite the weather it was fun....