What we've been up to....

Starting from the most recent (since that is how the pictures were uploaded) we rang in 2012. Thanks to our amazing friends Areana and Eder, who watched Max and Jesse over night, we started our evening at Sweet Tomatoes with Anna, Ben, and our friends the Cabiness' (pictured below). Then we headed over to a friend's house for dessert, then over to the dance at the Stake Center. We were pretty much wall flowers there, except for the slow songs, where I danced with my Honey. We were actually out until 11:30, a first since ringing in 2005 while we were dating! Best New Years since!

This is the 7th birthday that I have celebrated with Michael, and I just love him to pieces! Can't believe he is half way to 40....and he is still HOT! I still had a #3 candle from when Max and Jesse turned 3, then I gathered 5 individual candles and ta...da...35! Mike wanted a carrot cake from Costco, he ended up settling for Betty Crocker :) Very yummy...and in budget! It was different from our traditional yellow cake with chocolate frosting.




If you have been in our home lately you will hear giggling birds followed by crashing sounds. Well, that is because Max and Jesse love playing the game Angry Birds. At first they could only play it on someone's phone, now, thanks to Google Chrome, they can play it on our computer. They even know how to click on the Chrome icon, go to bookmarks, and select the game. They are moving up in the tech world.


When not playing Angry Birds during this 3 week vacation from school, Max and Jesse have been coloring and painting with all the awesome art supplies they got for Christmas.



The other newest craze in our home is Skywalk. It is an indoor trampoline arena, and the kids LOVE it. We have gone twice now. The first time we went was to celebrate Damien's 13th birthday. Since Dad was on vacation from work, we went mid-week.





What do we have here.....ah yes....I have been couponing as usual, during all this holiday fun. This was my best haul during the Black Friday sales. I went to CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens spent $27 total out of pocket, saved $172 after matching coupons with instore sales!! And I still had $8.50 left for CVS and Walgreens! It just hasn't gotten old yet. I think I have been going 2 years strong.




It's been a long time coming for this guy to enter our home. I have fought, and postponed having a gaming system for various reasons, #1 Price, #2 I don't want my kids glued to it. Damien put it on his Christmas list AGAIN this year, hoping he would get it. Thanks to family, they made his Christmas wishes come true. He was in HEAVEN! Now we just got to get him from being so bossy over it :)

While the kids are playing on the X-Box, Dad is playing this when he has some free time. And he had a bit of that with his week off from work.


Christmas Day, we went to my parent's house in the afternoon. We had a yummy meal, and opened presents. This year we tried going "slower" to watch everyone open their gifts, instead of the usual free for all and no one sees each other's reactions. Sort of worked out, too many hands to control and keep back though. Katelynn ended up opening up Grandpa's electronic toothbrush while we were watching someone open their gift. 2nd year in a row, we had Becca and her family via Skype for the festivities. Maybe one of these years we'll be all together again in person. Below is Damien and my cutie pie nephew Mark.

We awoke Christmas morning to Max and Jesse saying, "Santa came!" We went out and found so many surprises awaiting us. We told Max and Jesse the night before that we would open gifts AFTER church, and they did amazingly well. We were very proud of them and their self control. Now, if my 13 year old was home....that would be another story. They did get to check out their stockings though.

One of their best outside gifts were these scooters! Best money spent! They love their scooters!

Damien arrived at noon and we watched him open his gifts. He got a wallet, some gift cards, a Diary of a Wimpy kid book that btw he has finished already, some clothes, and a big Hershey bar.

The Christmas Haul

Santa got out the easel and set it up with all the new supplies. He even left a note.

Setting out the cookies and milk.

Dad read T'was the Night Before Christmas before going to bed.

Christmas Eve Nana, Pa and Cady came over for a delicious ham dinner complete with some sparkling grape juice that I scored for cheap during the black friday sales. We ate, played with motorized helicopters, watched the Nativity Story, opened gifts and completed the night with a family picture (minus 5) :(

Thank goodness we just learned how to use the camera timer and we were all able to be in the picture. Came out pretty good.


Before the Christmas Eve festivities we went by the Temple so I could take a picture of the nice Nativity display they had out front and of course to show the children. Max and Jesse were so happy that Dad was with us this time, since last time we came he was at work. What a beautiful display. It helped to remind us the true meaning of Christmas.

Since the weather was nice on Christmas Eve, we decided to go to the park. We have actually been to the park 4 times over this holiday break. A record! Kinda miss those play dates at the park with other moms and their kids. We went twice with Damien, and he is border line too old for the park (he gets bored quicker, even sat with me and my friend for a little bit). Even the signs for the play structures say 5-12 years old may play here. Below we are trying to take a picture on the infamous Oso de Oro Park Bear. This is what we got:



On one of our outings together without the kids, Dad picked up this Styrofoam airplane for the kids for Christmas. He gave it to them early (since we were going to the park) we had fun seeing how high and far we could launch it.

Love these guys....even the one who is missing!

At the Ward Christmas party, Santa came. Max here, is asking Santa for an i phone.

Jesse asked him for a Transformer Bumblebee with "awesome wheels".

We went to Christmas Tree lane. It was nice to see all the new displays. But, I think next year we will not let the kids unbuckle to look at the lights. I had all 3 of my boys on my lap in the front seat fighting to look at the lights. Not fun! One would say, "Why don't you walk it?" I hear the crowds are huge and you are walking over people, plus Christmas Tree lane is soo long to walk back and forth. Not worth all the hassle. Despite the siblings fighting, glad we kept the tradition as a family and went. In the end..as usual...we were not disappointed!


If December could not get any busier, it does! We had birthdays to celebrate, and a milestone at that....Damien turned 13!

I cannot believe it! Damien is a Teenager!

Max and Jesse turned 6. Friday night we had pizza to celebrate. Once again Mom was the hero and received lots of hugs and cheers :) On Saturday we had family over for some red velvet cupcakes topped with cherry pie filling. Of course there was ice cream, rocky road and cookie dough. Below Max and Jesse are opening a Angry Birds board game they got from Mom and Dad. Yes, there is even a board game. The kids were spoiled as usual by loving, generous family.

Here's the crowd that came. We even watched a friend's baby while they went on their first date since having him. We felt honored :)

My handsome birthday boys!

Found the idea for the balloons online...had fun getting these ready!

Against my husband's wishes...thankfully he humors me....and we take pictures in front of the tree before church.





Again my husband humors me and braves the cold December air at the Clovis Christmas Parade. We have been every year, the kids and I love it. Now we bring hot chocolate. While waiting for the parade to begin, we saw some families with pizzas. Mike thinks that's what we should bring next year....I agree! This was the only best picture I got, sorry.

When we weren't busy, Pa came over to play.

Damien joined the wrestling team and was on Varsity. He was in the 100lb weight class (give or take). He had some wins and there were the real tough losses. He did his best and made us proud even with a full load of classes and homework.

I like taking goodies for my kids to school to share on their birthdays, even holidays. My mom did it, and I loved it, so now I get to do it for my own. My sisters and I were all in different classes too, wonder if she made cupcakes for all of our classes? Don't know. If she did, she has put me to shame :) Max and Jesse are in different classes which would mean me frosting 60 cupcakes. I think not!! Instead I made Hershey kiss cookies.

Judging by the crowd, I don't think anyone missed the cupcakes in Jesse's class.

Max shared with his friends too.

Before my Groupon expired, and we had Damien with us, we went to Storyland and Playland. Need less to say...we had a blast going from attraction to attraction.

Towards the end of November, I scored a Groupon for a Fresno State game. It was fun to go, however, we lost. Another loss for a very bad season for the Bulldogs.

Damien scored a t-shirt that was launched into the crowd. That was the highlight of the night!

And at the end of the day, (even during) I do a lot of self-evaluation. I am trying to be a good Mom, which to me entails teaching correct principles in loving ways, nurturing my family (which here, in the interest of time and space includes a lot), and filling our days with wholesome activities. On some days I am better at these things than others. I try not to get down on myself about it, but I do. I am thankful for so many people that Heavenly Father has put in my life to help me believe in myself. Most of the credit should go to Him.