Merry Christmas to all!

What a wild ride we have been on this year! I love my life and the adventures we’ve been on. Here is our top 10 for 2009.

1. Steve was able to come home from Afghanistan in January! {instead of September, we loved having him home 8 months early}
2. As a family {and my wonderful sister} we went to Disney Land and had a great week!
3. After Steve got home we made a huge life change, we moved to Florida and Steve went back to school at Palmer Chiropractic School. {we will be here for 3 years}
4. We have traveled the whole length of I-10 {thankfully our kids are great travelers}
5. We have been to the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean this year
6. Tim loves his Geo-Tracks and… is potty trained!! {no more diapers for me }
7. I’m homeschooling the boys this year, I’m loving it and they are doing great.
8. I was able to coach spring track this year, it was so fun and I hope to do it again some time.
9. Tommy has turned into quite the artist, and we can find his drawings and artwork all over the house. {thankfully it’s always on paper taped to the wall}
10. James is a great big brother and is always willing to help out… he even likes to do chores! He is doing really good with his school work and is a grade ahead in reading and math.

We are always out for a good time and I blog about it as well.
We love you all and wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

The boys taking pictures again.

I think the boys are getting use to me taking a lot of pictures and have wanted to try their hand at it. Here are a couple mroe that the boys have taken... and they are getting good. {if I do say so myself}

Tommy was taking one picture of each of his pets, just where they were at. I showed him that he can put them together and take one picture. So he got them set up just so and was taking picutes.

Here is the husband at the computer... probably not hard at work...

James took this one and I was really impressed. I'm sure it was a luck shot but the fact that he got it at all was really cool.

Christmas Programs

It's that time of year again... Time for the Christmas programs. I love watching the boys up on stage and the boys love being up there. Well... James does anyway, Tommy only likes a crowd he knows, and is comfortable with.

First up... James'. He is part of a group called CAFA. It's a Fine Art program and they do plays and learn how to play instruments. {after the first of the year James will be learning the violin} James has been working very hard on his play and although he had no speaking parts there was a lot of singing.

I had to add this picture of Tim... look at how cute this boy is!

Remember how I said that James was singing a lot of songs. Well he sang those songs for many days and Tommy and Tim have learned the songs as well and were singing along with the show. It was really cute. {Tim always seems to have his mouth open...}

James was really cute, he was the 'Inn Keeper' while he was on stage he was signing "I love you" {for his next show I showed him how to sign I Love You with just one sign.}
James you did a wonderful job and I'm so proud of you and how hard you worked and practiced!James I'm sure someday I will see your name in lights!!

Next up was the Ward Christmas party. They also did the Nativity.

Tommy was a sheep. He was really cute {bleating all the way}

Santa came and Tim pushed his way to the front of the line to be the first to see the Jolly man. {I think more than anything he wanted the candy cane and there was nothing that could stop him.

Tommy, too wanted the candy cane, but paused long enough to tell Santa what he wanted. Which included some Cars' Mac Trucks and lots of candy.

James as a shepherd was busy giving Santa his list. The top of his included a violin, an oboe, a trumpet, and a piccolo. {what an odd child I have! but I love it. ps... one of those will be under the tree this year for him}

Here is Tommy... he is upset that I said no to a third piece of pie. I know, I know... what a horrible mother I am!!

SYTYCD Contestant?

James LOVES to dance! You turn the on the music and James starts moving and grooving.

He really likes to see his reflection in the sliding glass door.

{Steve is getting them while they are young.... did you notice the hat?}

James likes to dance with his eyes closed {and just peek at himself} which I think is so funny.

{Tommy wanted in on the action.... he drew a picture of dad, and it took some convincing from the husband to put hair on it.}

Something for Tommy to do

So Tommy was board one day and just didn't know what he wanted to do. I suggested that he watch the rain. So I opened the door and he sat there for about 30 minutes! I love this picture of him just sitting and contemplating something.

a HUGE thanks!!!

Thank you SO much to all those who commented on Monday! I can't believe all the love that is out there. The husband never really "got" what SITS was all about until that day.

I do have a couple things to say... SNAKES really people!?! and I thought I had problem in the bathroom!! I'll take my frog over snakes any day!

I'm glad that you can use my child proofing ideas, they definately came by trial and error!

And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has had an affair with two tasty men :)

I am going to work on getting back to everyone, I would like to just sit all day and respond to all my love... but alas... the children like to eat. So I'll do it as I can. {although... is it bad to just let them eat cereal and crackers all day??}

Everybody look at me!!!

I'm so happy that you are here!! Let me see what I can dig out for you... hum... not much... today is Monday, and today I am suppose to go grocery shopping. Oooo wait I found some crackers and cereal, and 3 apples. There you go.

Well, today is my day!!! Oh I love being the center of attention! For those that don't know why it's my day let me tell you. I'm part of a a great group of women {and the occasional gentleman} called SITS. Do you love comments??? I totally do! Anyway, it's about the comment love that we all love!



So today is my day, and here is a little about me. I'll give you the shortest version possible. The husband and I met on the internet way back in 1999. Six months after that we were married. {Holy moly!!! we are almost at 10 years!} When we got married I had just gotten my degree in Computer Aided Drafting and working as a residential drafter. The husband was in school to be a nurse. Then 9-11 happen and the husband joined the Army. Since then we have moved 8 times, been in 4 states, had 3 boys {really close together!} been through 2 deployments, and taken 1 neurotic dog with us everywhere. After the second deployment the husband decided to do something completely different, and we are now poor students again as the husband is going to Chiropractic school

I love my life it's crazy and unpredictable but it's mine. Like I said, my boys are really close less than 3 years between the three of them. It makes for interesting times at our house and creative ways of dealing with things.... here is how we baby...I mean child proof our house.

I like the outdoors, I like being outside and surrounded by Gods great creations, but I also like to be in my house. So I really don't appreciate being attacked by nature IN my house!

I know I'm not the only one.... just admit it!!

I think I'm clever every now and then, and here are some of my other posts if you have have time and would rather lock yourself in your room with your computer.
{your kids will be fine for another minute... I know :) }
My child got in a fight with the coffee table and loss!
Did you hear... we have world peace!!

Well thank you again for stopping by! I love making new friends! I love comments and I love when someone else cleans the bathroom... hey I'm just saying.

He stinks!

You know when you finally get to hold your new baby and all you can do is stare at him and smell him? Oh, I love those days! The wonderful smells of my babies, oh, I can't get enough!! {for those that don't know me.... I don't like other peoples babies, nothing against them, but I won't ever ask to hold a baby... it's not my thing. I totally love mine... just not yours}

Well trying to savor those moments as long as possible, I took a wiff of Tim today as he was cuddled up in my lap. Holy Moly!!!!!!
That baby smell is long gone! That boy STUNK!! A really gross stink. Like little boy, who had not had a bath in at least a week {he really was thrown in last night}

I guess now I will have to save my smellings to freshly washed hair as he gets out of the bathtub. That's the only time I can be sure off.

I love you Tim, even if you do stink....

Oh, Christmas tree..

So every year that we put up the Christmas tree we have some solid traditions. It includes the husband yelling at the tree for not being put up right. And getting mad that the lights are all screwy. Then there are at least two of the ornaments that are broken in the process. There is swearing that there is the Christmas music is to much. And... this year there was also swearing that it was to hot, and "could some one please turn up the AC?!!"

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!

what do you think???

Yeah, I don't think so.....

Merry SITS-mas going on!

We wish you a merry SITS-mas, We wish you a merry SITS-mas, We wish you a merry SITS

Good tidings we bring you you and your kin, Good tidings for SITS-mas and a happy new year!!

{go and take a look at what is going on down at SITS today, there are prizes every hour!!!

What you don't know what SITS is??? go and look, you will be pleasantly surprised!!

Birthday bowling!

For his birthday James had one request.... to go bowling. So we did. It was so much fun!!

Michelle, Brian, Riley and Tyler bowled two games in the time that it took us to bowl one.

It didn't help that Tim would send the ball down the lane at a whopping .94 mph!!! {ok, if that picture doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will}

I HAD to take a picture of this... do you see it??? I won!!! I NEVER win against the husband. This was a wonderful day!!!

We went to Red Lobster for dinner {another request James had} and then went back to the house for presents.

Tyler's birthday is also in December so there was a little gift for him too. There was $20 inside soap.... {he as suppose to use the soap to get the money... instead he broke into it... really cute idea though, and it was really easy to make}

James was really excited to open presents!!

James got pie...It was funny because when I asked James what kind of cake he wanted, and he asked if he could have left-over cheesecake. Lucky for him.... we had some.

What a lucky boy... last year all he wanted was his dad home for his birthday. So this year I tried to make his dreams come true. And what wonderful fun requests, bowling, Red Lobster, and dad. James I love you!! You are an amazing wonderful boy. You bring so much joy, and happiness to my life. I look forward to watching you grow into a young man. Happy Birthday!

I just had to show this again so everyone.... the husband... will remember who won that night!

Stories by the fire

Being up in North Carolina we got to be in the cooler weather {finally} so while we were up there we had a couple fire. Well if you have fires you NEED marshmallows and stories!

James really enjoying the marshmallow, this was one of five that he had.

James kept asking for stories, so Aunt Michelle told us a great story about a bride and a groom and a man named Chief.

Tommy is trying really hard to just sit and enjoy the fire....

But alas...he had to throw things in like any little boy.

And Tim he was just as cute as possible until....

Thanksgiving Holiday in pictures

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled up to North Carolina to stay with some family for the holiday. We left on Tuesday and our usual 9 hour drive took only 13 hours.. yup 13!! We got stuck in traffic and it took up 4 hours to go 5 miles!! How's that for you??


I thought I would give you a peek in to our holiday through all the pictures that I took {they ended up really good if I do say so myself... and I do}

Bread getting ready to be stuffing,

Look at those turkeys!! There really is nothing better than a fried turkey, honest!! If you haven't tasted one you are missing out.

Brie Cheese wrapped in a crust with a cranberry sauce, holy moly!!

Look at that baby coming out of the fryer. {this is the husband and his sister Michelle}

Here is Brian enjoying the smells. {Tim has given him the name of Uncles}

Here is our table setting...

Ok, really doesn't that look BEAUTIFUL!!!! {jen are you missing us yet?} Ok, on one side you see the stuffing, pretty huh... And next to that is the sweet potatoes. Oh, sweet goodness!!! It was good for dinner, great for dessert, and excellent for breakfast!!

Here is Riley and her turkey on a stick.

Dinner was wonderful, good food, good family, but really what family get together would be complete with out having something to laugh about later...So we karaoked.

Here are the boys and I doing Rock Star by Nickleback

Here are the boys singing Joy to the World

Here is James doing Your Beautiful, by Jame Blunt... when he was done he yelled out "I was INCREDIBLE!!" {yes James you were}

I had to add this one! Here is Michelle rocking out to Sheryl Crow's Soaking up the Sun.

And finally here is the husband singing One Week by Barenaked Ladies.

I am thankful for family, I am thankful for lots of great food. I am so thankful for my health and the health of my family. I am thankful for the safety that we had while we were driving. I am thankful for good friend, the ones that love me from so far away. I am thankful for my wonderful husband and my amazing boys.

On a Saturday afternoon

This past Saturday we were able to spend it as a family. {the first in awhile} So out we went...

After hair cuts and lunch we headed up to the Lighthouse. We happen to make a detour and go to the Marine Science Lab. It's an inter-active place and it look like fun.

We looked at a bunch of different fish, the boys really enjoyed seeing all the fish and turtles. The husband enjoyed sharing his vast knowledge of fish tanks.

Outside there was a rehabilitation area for turtles. Did you know that there is a species of turtle that is 8 feet long!!! Really.... there are HUGE things swimming in our ocean!

After that we walked over to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. It's the tallest one in Florida. It's actually really pretty. Capitalism at it's best.... they were charging admission to get up close and personal with the lighthouse, so we are saving that for a different day. but I did get some really nice pictures.

Next to the lighthouse was a park. {we LOVE parks} The boys ran off to play for a little bit. Tim started wandering off to a party that was going on. The husband ran to get him and direct him in a different direction. By the time the husband got there Tim already had a party bag! Tommy was watching a mom peel an orange for her daughter, and before I could get over to get him Tommy had an orange in his hand.

I think we need to re-address the issue of stranger danger... because apparently my children have forgotten.