Painting!

I bought painting supplies for the girls last christmas (2007) but I just decided that I need to let them be creative and not worry about what kind of mess it would leave behind. So we painted and they loved it! And the mess was not as bad as I thought it was going to be! I feel bad I waited so long. Anyhow they all made beautiful pictures but Becca's did stand out, I think I have a little artist on my hands. She was concentrating so hard and used all the colors and painted her whole page! I am one proud mamma!

Toddler Mania

I sometimes watch my sisters two kids or a few friends kids but usually not all on the same day but last thursday was an exception. Both my sister and Jasmine needed to pick up an extra shift and so I had 7 kids on my hands. One three year old, 4 two year olds, and two baby boys. It was an adventure to say the least! A good napping schedule and lots of entertainment was what kept things from getting too out of hand but I can easily say that I was exhausted by the time the last two munchkins were picked up!

A Snow Tradition

For the past few years we have gone up to Mt. Charleston with friends to go tubing in the snow on New Years Day. This year we decided to try taking Maile again and this time she loved it!! My little girl was so brave just going down the hills all by herself. Zachary also had a good time tubing and hanging with his buddy Taylor. The day was a lot of fun and really exhausting! Can't wait for next year!

2009

This year I am feeling highly optimistic about how good of a year 2009 will be for my family. I just have this resounding feeling of goodness when I think about the year up ahead. I was really excited for the holidays and now I am getting really excited for spring and summer. I just know it is going to be great. The girls are getting to be a great age where we won't be so limited in our activities. Zach and I have resolved to spend more quality time as a family this year and for me that is really exciting. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us. New year, fresh start, unlimited possibilities!!

It was a Merry Christmas!

Whew!! That is about all I can say right about now! I am really glad that Christmas turned out so great and..... that it is over! I love the holidays but I am just so worn out from all the last minute shopping, all the cleaning, cooking and baking... oh yeah and dog sitting!

Christmas Eve was at our house and I was able to make and entire turkey dinner all by myself! Zach's family came to help us celebrate and we all had tons of fun opening all the presents from Grandma Fayenette, she really know how to spoil them!! My mom also stopped by with Mary, Sam and Barbie and they also brought a special present! My mom hand made princess dresses for the girls and let me just say they are beautiful!! After everyone left we put our sleepy girls to sleep and Zachary went to spend the night at his moms. Then Zach and I had the nice chore of cleaning up the mess... Christmas morning our sweet little girls actually slept in untill about 8:30 and then it was Santa time. The loved all their presents and walked around dressed up as fairy's all morning! After we relaxed and lounged we had to get up and get ready. We got Zachary and then went to Aunt Susan's to see my side of the family for a bit. And again my kids were showered with presents! Then it was off to Auntie Rochelle and Uncle Nicks for another delicous Turkey dinner!
Overall I would say that this was the most exciting Christmas yet! The girls are getting to an age where they understand what it all means and it is really fun watching them take in all these great moments. I really loved being able to see and talk to all my family, it is the days that follow holiday's that I think about just how lucky I am to have such and amazing, husband, kids and family.

Build-A-Bear

My kids were in heaven!! It was a very fun morning and everyone got to make their own animal. The kids seeming right at home in this stuffed animal retail heaven.....now why couldn't I have thought of this place??? Anyhow, thank you sooo sooo much Grandma Liza, Mary, Sam and Barbie they love their new Rabbit, Dog, and Bear!!

Early Presents!!

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Marj will be in Laguna for Chrismas this year so they brought my kids their presents early this year, good thing they got in practice for the actual day! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa, we will miss you!!

Thank you Babe!!

This year I had a great birthday and I owe it to Zach! I woke up to sign's posted all over the house saying happy birthday and I even got to blow out candles on a cake. He scored major points actually getting me a cake this year!! So thank you honey!

Bake Night

This year my mom and aunt decided to start a new tradition of having a bake night with all the girls and it turned out really fun! A little chaotic with so many ladies waiting for oven time but it was fun just getting to hang out with all of us together. We did a gift exchange and all shared all the goodies we baked. It was pretty cool hanging out with so many amazing women!

Just Because...

I don't ever check up on them during their naps because they hear the door and wake up but they were taking a super long nap so I decided to see if they were OK and I guess they were just really content together...too bad my flash woke them up. They do say never wake a sleeping baby...

100th Post!!!

Wow, 100 posts!!! Whooo hoooo!!!!

ATA Christmas Banquet

Every year Zachary's ATA studio throws a semi formal Christmas Banquet for their students. We missed the past few years, but we actually made it this year and it was pretty fun. We enjoy getting dressed up and going out with just Zachary and seeing him on his turf. The food was really good and over all it was a great party!

Finished Project

Play Days

I really love my play days. I call them mine because although they are for the kids, I probably benefit the most from these events. It is a chance for me to take my kids somewhere where they will have fun and at the same time I get to hang out with my friends and have adult conversation. It is a very important outlet for me since it is rare that I can have a babysitter watch the kids. So our last play day was lots of fun. We went to a friends house and she had gingerbread houses all ready for the kids to decorate. She had every type of candy possible and it was just really, really nice so thank you Chrissy! Becca and Zachary were pretty good at decorating where as Maile and Lexi pretty much just wanted to eat the candy. Maybe next time they will be more into it!

We also got a chance to make our Stocking boards that Danielle and I saw at a craft fair. I could have bought it there for $35 but I am happy to say I was able to make my own way under that price and I got to make them with good friends! They all turned out adorable even if we only got them most of the way done. Oh, the last great thing about play days.....my kids take awesome naps after playing with tons of kids!

Lost Keys

Well today I was getting ready to go out but I couldn't find my keys. If this happens they usually turn up pretty quick, I had just not put them where they go. Well today was different. I could not find them anywhere!! I have been really keeping up with my house too so there wasn't any mess to sort through. So I ask Maile if she had seen them and she told me she opened the door and threw them under the tree. Well they were not under the tree and that was that. I gave up. Well when I go to turn the Christmas tree lights on tonight I decide to take a closer look and what do you know with a little light and digging there they were in the center of the tree just hanging out! Needless to say was serious.

My Almond Butter Disaster!

So I was invited to a cookie party this sat. night and of course I was going to go and I never gave a second thought about having an issue making cookies. I was told to bring something interesting so that everyone would get a new recipe, not just your usual chocolate chip, back of the bag cookie. So I decided to make Almond butter bars. I found the recipe on a blog I like to read and it looked simple enough, never mind I didn't know what Almond butter was (my sign to pick a new recipe but nope I have to make my life difficult).
So I get all the ingredients, measure everything out and start to make the mixture....everything seemed fine....that was until I got hung up on the mix till creamy but not too much direction. What is too much anyways?? So the final result was a crispy burnt top and mushy uncooked center. At $7.00 a jar, Almond butter was my biggest investment of the weekend and I should have just ripped the cash up. Anyhow, I won the prize for Disaster Cookie, and earned myself a reputation of the "girl who can't bake." Anyhow, I have a whole year to figure out how I am not only going to redeem myself but also walk away with the Top Cookie Award.

Christmas Card Creativity

Every year my Dad and Step mom send out the cutest, most creative Christmas cards. This year was no different! Let me tell you this picture is dead on, we didn't have to try very hard to depict the chaos that surrounds so many children 3 and under!

Trimming the Tree

Last night we put up our Christmas tree. This year everyone was old enough to understand that the ornaments go on the tree but we are still working on not taking them off to play with. We had a lot of fun listening to Christmas music and putting up the decorations and just spending quality time as a family. It is definitely feeling a lot like Christmas in our house!