So long 2011

2011, you've been memorable! I was looking back at the many things we did, places we went, people we saw, and events we attended, and OH BOY, I had to be picky about the pics I chose. Too many memories... enjoy my look back at 2011...

First trip to Lake Tahoe.

San Diego-ish area for Cristian's baptism.

Peace Granny. You are missed immensely. Juliana reading the mass card at the funeral.

Mommy/Juliana trip to Tahoe.

Back to Hollywood/SoCal. This time with Grand.

Kindergarten graduation.

Spending time with Chase while on our annual vacay to the other coast.

Saying goodbye to my Escape. Yes, I cried too, but on the way home from the dealership. :)

Look who turned 6!

Welcome baby Diego! xoxoxo, from Auntie.

There is no way MY girl is 10 years old already!

Riding a two wheel bike, whoaaaa!

Nana n' Grampy came to visit twice, once in March, and once in December.

To wrap up the year... our trip to Yosemite!

Bye bye 2011. Welcome 2012.

Santa Day n' more

Going ons A G A I N...

Here are "the cousins", minus 2 (Cristian and Diego). Oh, plus twins arriving in June. Sooo, this will be an even bigger picture next year. Excuse the flash in the mirror and HORRIBLE picture. I pride myself on fant-abulous photography skills.

Nana and Grampy are visiting from a far away place. This pic is Grampy and Kev creating a gingerbread tree. Grampy is so good to do silly holiday things like this with the kiddos.

My mom came to visit us today, along with Nana and Grampy still here too. Lots of fun to have so many grandparents at one time.

Best Christmas gift ever... the whoopee cushion!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Happy Santa Day to you.

Going-ons

Very often I do not share about going-ons around here. WHY? I dunno, probably because I do it on Facebook, so I leave it out on here, and sometimes I just plain ol' don't talk about it. I thought I'd throw in a few going-ons from the last couple weeks...

Juliana's birthday sleepover. This was taken about 9pm. They all chose to read, and I thought I was in for a quiet night. BOY WAS I WRRRRRRONG! Haaaa, fun pic though.

Slobbery Shadow birthday kiss!

Grandpa decided to come over to make gingerbread houses with the kiddos again this year. Always a highlight of our holiday.

Happy Holidays!

This is going around Facebook, and has been since Facebook began. A person close to me posted this today, and I have to say, it makes me giggle.

Just so everyone knows, I have a CHRISTMAS TREE in my living room (not a holiday tree), my kids and grandkids are getting CHRISTMAS PRESENTS (not holiday gifts) and we will eat CHRISTMAS DINNER (not a holiday meal), and I will attend a CHRISTMAS PARTY (not a holiday party). I will also very cheerfully wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS! (not... happy holidays). By the way, if you want to have a Happy Hanukah , by all means do, I respect that. If you want to have a Blessed Kwanzaa, I also respect that. I want to have a Merry Christmas, so I ask YOU to respect that! Repost if you agree

YES, I have a Christmas tree too. Yes, my kids will have Christmas gifts under our Christmas tree. I cook a Christmas meal. I do send Christmas cards. And frankly, nobody I know has a problem with it. I was actually just over at my friends home, who is from Pakistan, and practices Islam, and she was telling me how behind she is putting up her Christmas tree this year. Haaaaaaa! One of my Jewish friends joked with me on monday that she hasn't received our Christmas card yet. One of our friends does not celebrate anything whatsoever, and she still allowed her child to stay overnight in a house full of Christmas cheer, and even wished us a Merry Christmas upon picking up her daughter after Juliana's sleepover, plus, she didn't freak out when she knew her daughter sat on Santa's lap earlier that morning.

Needless to say, let's stop being selfish about OUR holiday as if it is the only one being celebrated, and stop thinking that the other people are out to sabotage Christmas. They don't expect us to celebrate their holidays nor do they shove it down our throats. America is a great place to be, so let's stop being so selfish thinking that Christmas is so fantastic or better than something else. Frankly, the only ones I find who have an issue with Christmas being knocked to the curb is Fox News spreading useless crap, I mean fear... just sayin'.

Oh, and no, I won't say who posted this on Facebook. I've seen it from this person, and heard it from others, it just struck a nerve with me today, that's all.

Have a Merry Hanukkah, a Blessed Kwanzaa, a Happy Christmas, and oh, crap, Ramaddan has passed already. Happy Holidays!

Happy Decade

So, the big day is here! I've thought about what I'd write on here, and the only thing that comes to mind is how proud I am of this girl. While the pictures I chose for today may not make much sense to you, I'll make sense out of them for you...

Dearest daughter of mine,

I'm so proud of you because you try your hardest to be carefree. You dress up, you sing at the top of your lungs, you run like a champ, you dance.

Your smile lights us all up, including people around you who've never met you.

You're quirky. You're different. You're a little backwards, yet do it with bits of humor, and tons of grace.

You love all of us and show it. We appreciate the snuggles, the random plops on our lap, and kisses on the cheek.

Most of all, without you, our family circle would be broken. Thanks for completing our family. Happy decade girlie girl. Love you tons!

Wondering

I'm sure I am like every parent, or am I? Haaa, kidding. NO really, I think I'm like any parent who sits back and wonders what their child will become? What will she be like 1 year from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, and beyond? Or will we be that lucky to share that much time together? Will she be happy? Did I screw up? What will she tell her friends about mom and dad?

Will it be that we gave her plenty of kisses?

Will she enjoy the simple things in life, like running around in the summertime?

Will she remember to be silly, even when she's 50, 70, 90 years old?

What will she look like next year, how will she change?

The real b'day is almost upon us, and I just can't help but thing of these things over and over. I get caught in the days occasionally thinking like this, although not quite like I've been lately.

All for a photo!

The (almost) birthday girl post AGAIN... this is fun stuff!

Ya know, sometimes she contorts herself in such ways, or moves so darn fast when I try to take a picture, I never know how it'll turn out. I suppose she does me a favor. Looking back on the pictures really gives me a feel for how much enjoyment she gets out of life. There she goes, she...

... jumps!!!!

twirls!!!!

throws herself to the ground (this time for fun, and not 'cause she's ticked off)!!!

gives random objects zerberts, and sometimes other children too!

Here's the contorting. Gotta get the pic with MaryKate and Ashley's star in Hollywood!

I see a theme!

Looking back at the countless photos I have, it cracks me up to see Juliana's interests and how they've changed over the years, yet sort of stayed the same too. You may notice a theme with her interests, I did.

Dancing. Boy, I'm glad this picture isn't 5 years from now. She may end up not getting an interview. She looks a bit under the influence... she is... she's under the influence of attention on the dance floor of a wedding.

Cartwheels. She STILL does this on the grass. This pic was about 2 years ago.

Balls. This kid loves to throw a ball, and still does.

Baking. This is new in the last year or so. I got her baking lessons about an hour from our house for her birthday gift. Shhhh, don't tell.

Giggling and being outside. Some things don't change.

Easy Bake Oven. She's 4 in this picture. Again, a theme here.

I gather from these pictures that she will always enjoy fresh air in one way, shape, or form, and she'll enjoy cooking too. Love my girl.

Welcome Dec. 2011

December 2011 has arrived! Gosh, I wish I could have blogged about December 2001... oh how fantastic it would be to look back upon those memories. Since I can't do that, I'm doing the next best thing. I'm posting pics from December 2001-December 2011... my baby will be 10 years old next week. Holy moly! I know one day soon I'll wish she was only ten, but until then, I'll pretend she is super duper grown up. In the last 10 years, she has been...

Über vivacious n' healthy,

well, and let's just say, not so vivacious and healthy.

She's kicking (literally), happy, and healthy today, so that's all that matters, right?!?!? More tomorrow.

Gobble Gobble

Turkey Day has come and gone. Jason smoked the turkey, as planned, and it turned out really yummy-ilishious! We spent the whole day doing this...

feeding ducks, taking walks along the water,

fulfilling some Grand time,

and seeing first baby smiles too!

Just be

Day ??... I'm just thankful.

I am thankful for the

past,

present,

and whatever the future holds.

Happy Thanksgiving (tomorrow)! Be thankful. Be grateful. Be happy. Be smiley. Be healthy. Be safe. Be yourself. Be loving. Just be.

Day 21, maybe 22

Day 21 (I really need to check a calendar)... I'm thankful for... HIM. No not Him, but HIM, like Hubby.

I've probably done a post or two or three about HIM before. He deserves one at least every week, ehhh, maybe every month. He's so fantastic, he's just what any kid would want for a daddy, and what I totally love as my hubby. He is...

willing to take family photos just for the heck of it.

He somehow manages to be goofy and serious all in the same breath.

He's a cuddlebug.

Come on, any daddy who will scrape the ceiling with legos is a pretty awesome daddy!

Told ya... BFF's I tell ya. This is Chelsea, Jason's Aunt Deb's doggy, but Jason loves animals.