Playing Catch Up

Better finish blogging about stuff from this year because before we know it 2013 will be upon us and I am really bad at catching up.  Anyhow, here are a few things that have been going lately.

 We celebrated Thanksgiving with just our little family plus Jimmy this year, it was also Zach's 34th Birthday so we also got to sing Happy Birthday.  It was a fun day and kinda nice to just stay home and relax but we missed all of our family for sure. 

 We drove out to the LV Speedway to see the Glittering Light show, it is always a fun Christmas activity with the kids.

 We started the Elf on the Shelf tradition this year and so far it has been really fun and she has caused some mischief around the house. 

 The girls love going to find her and it is the first thing they want to do every morning.  Love those smiles!

 Zach finally had a Christmas party that we both could go to and it was so much fun meeting all the people he works with.  It was especially fun getting to see my hubby win an award for his awesomeness!  Proud wifey for sure!

My baby is getting so big, couldn't believe she fits in one of the girls old dresses. Such a pretty girl all dressed up!

 Another fun Holiday activity for the kids is the Ethel M Cactus Garden.  It is so darn pretty with all the lights.  The girls had lots of fun posing for pictures.

 I said goodbye to my twenties with an ugly sweater party, it was such a fun night playing games! I am so lucky to have been friends with all theses girls since I was just a kid! Thanks Maren for the party!

Turned 30 and it was such a fun night.  I can't remember a birthday that was so much fun!  First, my kids sang happy birthday to me and we set off all the fire alarms in the house with Zach's firework candle.  Next we headed out to dinner with friends and I was surprised with an awesome 3 tiered cake that was so yummy!  I love surprises!  After dinner we went  back to our house where we played games and and hung out.  It really was an awesome day!

 

My birthday made me realize how lucky I am to have so many awesome people in my life.  I have a studly hubby who loves me, kids who are amazing, the best family that is always there for me and lots of wonderful friends.  I am truly blessed and fortunate and I am thankful for that.  My 30's are looking pretty good!

 



Tree Tradition

We love putting up our Christmas tree every year.  The girls can't wait to do it and beg and beg till we finally get it up.  Anyhow, our tree is not the most fashionable tree but it is certainly authentic.  The ornaments are put on and left where they were put even if the top is not feeling the love.  Eventually as our kids grow I am sure the beauty of our tree will grow and the ornaments will be better spaced.  Until then, we will enjoy it in all its bottom heavy glory!

Family Pictures 2012

 

 

iPhone Memory

I love that when I go back a scroll through my phone photo's I find so many pictures of things that might otherwise be forgotten. Anyhow, just did a download of the last few months, here are some of the highlights.

 

One of my very best friends in the whole wide world got married in September.  It was such a beautiful wedding and so much fun.  I was as a bridesmaid and all four of my girls got to be flower girls.  They will never forget that Jasmine wanted them in her wedding, they are still talking about it on a regular basis.  Thank you Jasmine for making their year! 

 

Alexis, Maile and Rebecca started dance in September and all three girls are really enjoying it which is good, but I am also happy Rebecca said she still wants to play soccer.  I am hoping to have at least of one of my girls love soccer as much as I do. Until then I am content watching my pretty little ballerinas.

 Zach and I recently got away for the weekend and headed to Newport Beach for a conference and some alone time.  It was a quick, inspirational, educational and fun weekend. 

 Bite of Las Vegas featured my old school favorite band, Matchbox 20. I didn't want to go alone so I begged my sister Anna to go with me.  Even though she was a few days post surgery on ther thyroid,  she came and brought Sammy also.  We ended up having a pretty good time despite the huge crowd of crazies that apparently love Matchbox 20 also. 

 Natalie just hanging out at Town Square. We try to do something fun at least one day a week, otherwise we are cooped up studying-thank goodness this semester is almost over!

 Big girl time is hard to come by so when we get a chance, I like to take advantage of it.  It is a very different dynamic when I don't have a toddler needing most of my attention.  This was a fun afternoon, just climbing the Mt. Edge hill.  Love the sun rays shining down on my precious girls. 

 Conference day.  So interesting learning what each of their strong points are in school.  Alexis is blowing first grade out of the water.  Pretty sure she is going to be board by the end of the year.  Maile is excelling in reading but having some struggles with math.  Rebecca is excelling in the friend department but will need to buckle down on all her work. 

 

Last but not least, here is Zachary in his Halloween costume.  He spent the holiday with his mom this year but I did get to take him to pick out his costume and I was so excited he was ok with being a NERD.  I think he looks adorable!

Halloween

Halloween is always such a fun holiday for our family and even though I had to go take a exam right in the middle of everything, it all turned out perfect. 

When my mom said she would make the girls costumes this year I knew exactly what they were going to be.  They love the Tinkerbell movies and have been wanting to be fairies for a long time.  It worked out very good. Mom did an amazing job making the girls costumes, she worked very hard to get them done and they turned out so good! 

 Since I had a test and my Mom had to work my sister Lezlie drove all the way to our house just so we could get all the kids together for some pictures.  I am so happy that we got to see them even if it was just for a few minutes.  They all looked so darn cute dressed up. 

After pictures I drove my mom to work and took her car to take my test.  I was a few minutes late but oh well, who plans a test on Halloween anyhow.  While I was at school Zach took the girls and started trick or treating.  He got to take them where he wanted to go, I am sure he was loving making the decisions.  When I got done with my test I was able to meet up with them and didn't miss much since they happened to go to this awesome neighborhood pretty close to school.  There were some houses here that were completely decorated, it was really cool.  The highlight of the night was the big girls going with their daddy into a haunted house.  Maile kept reassuring her sisters that the scary people were just wearing costumes.  Smart girl. 

When we were done trick or treating we had to take my Mom's car back to her work.  The girls wanted to check out the hospital so they went with me to take her her keys.  It was so funny when we walked into the hospital Natalie asked, "what happened to Grandma?"  I didn't realize that she knew what a hospital was and  that people who go there usually have something wrong.  She is such a funny girl.  Good ending to a really fun night!