Christmas

I had a great Christmas and have a lot of cherished memories. It was especially fun this year because Thomas was really excited about Santa. We did a lot of fun activities with him all month long so by the time Christmas day came he was really excited. The look on his face when he saw all of his gifts from Santa was priceless.

Troy, Julie and Tyler came Christmas morning and stayed until Friday afternoon. It was especially fun with this being Tyler's first Christmas. I don't get to see Tyler as much as I would like so any time spent with him is precious.

As I talked about earlier in my blog I was able to decorate my house for Christmas this year and also made the season especially fun. It was nice to come home after work and see the Christmas tree lit up. I also had a great time listening to Christmas music while wrapping gifts.

Here are a few pictures from our family Christmas celebrations.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas Eve fun

Noelle and I spent Christmas Eve together. We made a cake, put presents under the tree, sang Christmas carols (well I did) and Noelle put cookies out for Santa in her own special way. Take a look....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

What a perfect way to end the week...

As many of you read (if you haven't read the "December 8th" entry then you should before reading this one) I had a difficult day on Monday. Like I said in the entry I knew by Tuesday I would be fine. I woke up Tuesday morning feeling energized and ready to take on the world. The rest of the week went well. Thursday we were finished contract negotiations at my work, thanks to a federal mediator. Friday I got to work from home and I finally was able to return all those phone calls that came in over the week that I hadn't had time to do earlier in the week.

Then early Saturday morning I received a phone call from one of the administrators (Jan) from a care home that one of my clients lives at saying that Ashley's water broke during the night and she was admitted to the hospital. She wasn't due until December 31st so it was pretty surprising to get the call. I had given Jan my personal cell phone number when I was out visiting Ashley a couple of weeks ago because I was going to be on vacation on the 31st and wanted to be able to go and Ashley while she was in the hospital. I told Jan to keep me posted and once Ashley had the baby to call me and I would come by and see her. I was getting kind of nervous Saturday evening when I still hadn't heard anything from Jan. Then around 8:00pm I received a phone call from the hospital saying that Ashley was alone and they needed me to come and sit with her until she had the baby. I was surprised to get the call but I was also concerned and worried that there was no way that I could go and sit in and help her. I would be an emotional wreak. I told the nurse to call Jan at the care home and ask her to have one of the staff at the home go and sit with Ashley. She said that was fine and would call me back if they needed further assistance. About 10 minutes later I received a call from Jan saying that they didn't have any extra staff at the home so she couldn't go and sit with Ashley and wanted to know what to do. Immediately I said that was fine and I would go and do it and call her once Ashley had the baby. After I hung up I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Not only was I watching Noelle, I had just put her to sleep, but I had just gotten over my emotional roller coaster. I sat and thought for a minute and called my Mom and asked if I could drop Noelle off while I went to the hospital. Of course she said yes. I packed Noelle a bag and myself a bag and off we went. I said a long prayer on the way asking that I would have the strength to help Ashley and be able to support her in the ways that she needed me to. I got to the hospital at about 9:00pm. I was lucky that she was at the hospital that Kelly works at and was able to park in the emergency lot and she walked me up to the floor where Ashley was. When I got to her room she had just thrown up and the nurse was helping her get cleaned up and cleaning her bed. Again I started thinking about how I was going to handle this and questioning whether I would be more a nuisance than a help. I was getting really nervous and I became a little teary eyed and then decided to say another prayer. I sat back relaxed and got myself together and then I sat and talked with Ashley for awhile. While talking to Ashely I had an amazing feeling come over me that I could handle this and everything would be fine. We had a long evening!! Ashley didn't really understand that she was having the baby that night and she really didn't understand how it was going to work. I tried explaining the best that I could but she wasn't understanding. She didn't want the nurse to help her with anything so I helped get her up to the bathroom, turning her and get her to drink the water that she really didn't want. We got about 2 hours of sleep. Then at 2:15am the nurse came in to check Ashley's progress and low and behold she was very very close. She started to prepare the room and I asked if she was going to give Ashley any pain medication. The nurse said she didn't think Ashley needed anything. She had gotten a shot of Demerol at 9:45 and that was all she thought she needed. I didn't think that was cool but what do I know? So Ashley started pushing at 2:40am and at 2:50am a beautiful baby boy was born.

It was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. Ashley asked that I hold the baby because she was scared so as soon as the cut the cord they handed him to me. I thought at that point I was going to loose it but I didn't. I was very strong and new that I needed to be strong for Ashley. While the baby was getting cleaned up, I sat and talked with Ashley and explained to her what they were doing and what would happen next. Then I got to go with the nurse to take baby Justin to the nursery to get a quick bath and all the other things that they do to the new baby's.

I am a strong believer that God never gives you anything that you can't handle and this made me more of a believer. I never would have ever thought that I would be able to witness this kind of miracle and not become an emotional mess but I did and I got to help and I was just fine!!! I am so proud of Ashley. She did an amazing job. Not once while I was there did she cry, scream, or get upset. She did what nurses and I asked her to do and she was amazing.

Once again I have been blessed. I was able to go and help someone that needed me, and I was able to witness the miracle of childbirth. WOW, this was an amazing week filled with sadness and JOY!!!

**for confidentiality reasons I changed all the names of the people involved**

My attempt to be creative

One of my favorite things at Christmas time is Red Velvet Cake. So, this afternoon, I decided to make one. I thought Noelle would like to help me frost it this evening. As I started to frost the cake I decided to get a little creative. I got out the cookie cutters and thought I would put them on top of the cake and then put Christmas sprinkles in the cookie cutters. Some times I should ignore those little thoughts! Noelle was interested in eating the frosting and not so much putting it on the cake so I decided to take her mind of eating and and got her interested in one of her favorite books. So, she sat in the kitchen very nicely while I TRIED to be creative.

So my creation didn't turn out like I had pictured it in my mind but as you can tell Noelle didn't care that it wasn't so cute while she was eating it.

As Noelle gets older the more she acts just like her Auntie. You can see in this video that Noelle really doesn't care about the cake. What she really wants is the frosting and the sprinkles. Hummm... who's kid is this?

This last video shows her doing some of her sign language although she didn't participate very well. She was way to interested in making a mess.

Time to get cleaned up and in to bed...

December 8th

I know that in time December 8th will feel like a normal day. I would have thought by now it would feel that way and now that it has come all I can hope for is that next year it will be a little easier. It will always be a day for me to remember but in time it wont be as difficult to face. Today is the 4th anniversary of when I had my hysterectomy. Those of you that are reading this are most likely my friends and family and already know the reasoning behind it so I don't feel the need to explain. For the past 3 years I have taken the day off work because I have felt the need to take a day for myself and reflect on my life and all that I have been given. Having had the hysterectomy has been bittersweet. I know that going through with the hysterectomy was the best decision I have ever made, health wise. Emotionally I'm not so sure. I have never felt better and I know for a fact it is what I needed to do.

For me writing this is a way to express what I am feeling today and then by tomorrow move on with the next phase of my life. If you have asked me years ago how my life would be now, it definitely wouldn't be the way that it is. I think as a young girl that you always grow up thinking that having a family and children is just something that happens and happens for everyone. Well at least that is what I thought. In that respect I feel robbed. Whenever I hear of a friend having a baby I feel excitement and sadness all at the same time. Knowing that I will never get the opportunity myself is heartbreaking. Throughout the year I often think about it but I am able to put things in perspective and move on. Last week was probably the most emotional and difficult week I have had since I had the surgery. I'm not exactly sure why but I think my body knows and goes through a hormonal roller coaster. I think I cried more last week than I have in years. And although I was sad I was able to remind myself how lucky and blessed I really am. My circumstances may not be what I would have chosen however I have so much to be grateful for.

I have an amazing sister who has allowed me to spend as much time as I want with her kids. I have been able to see Thomas and Noelle through every milestone of their lives. I've been able to take Thomas on a special summer vacation, just him and I, every year since he was born. I get to keep both of them several nights a week at my house. I've been able to take them to my friends children's birthday parties. I have a special bond with Thomas that I can't explain. I have tried to put into words how much he means to me and how much I love him and I haven't been able to come up with the right words. Noelle has been a blessing in my life that has taught me more about myself and she brings such happiness and joy to my life.

I have a sister-in-law that never forgets to call and has always been a friend. This year Tyler has also been such a blessing. The phone calls that she makes to ask me questions about Tyler mean so much to me. She sends pictures all the time and calls for no reason at all other than to talk about how Tyler is doing or something he has learned to do. Our webcam dates with Tyler are amazing and even though it's for just a few minutes they mean the world to me. I have been able to go and visit Tyler 3 times in the past six months and those visits have meant so much to me.

I have a wonderful family that loves me and supports me in everything that I do. I have great job that 98% of the time brings me joy and happiness, I have been blessed to live in a beautiful home that I can call my own, I have friends that love and care about me, my health is good and I have a wonderful little dog that no matter what I have done or what kind of day I have had will always greet me a the car door and will always love me.

So, today I reflect on my life, the blessings that I have, the trials I have endured and know that I am a better person for all I have experienced. I am truly blessed!!!

A great weekend filled with Christmas activities .

I had a great weekend filled with Christmas activities. Kelly came over on Friday to spend the weekend. Friday afternoon we went and had dinner with my Mom. After dinner we left the kids with her and we went and finished Kelly's shopping for the kids. It was very surprising how many people were out shopping and the amount of things they were purchasing. You would never know that the economy is as bad as everyone is talking about. Then Saturday morning Thomas and I made our famous hot chocolate for Kelly and Noelle. After breakfast Kelly and Thomas worked on the countdown to Christmas chain.

Then he and I worked on a foam Gingerbread house. It didn't work out so great. It came with the wrong pieces so we had to make some changes but it was still fun to work on. My Dad came at 11:00 to help decorate the Christmas tree. That was a lot of fun. Thomas is at a fun stage. He is enjoying singing Christmas songs, making Christmas crafts, and he has even enjoyed buying his friends gifts. He even wrote his first letter to Santa and signed his name himself. So the Christmas tree decorating was a lot of fun. Noelle helped but mainly by taking the ornaments of the tree and giving them back and playing with the hooks. Everyone had fun with what they were doing except.....

Indy wasn't so excited about joining in.

These (and the ones up top) are some of my favorite ornaments

After the kids naps we went and did some shopping at the mall. Thomas had been talking about his friend Kelsey and wanting to get her a gift so we took him to the store and picked out a couple of things and let him help pick what we bought. Then we let them ride the little motorcycle.

That evening Kelly and my Dad took the kids out to dinner and then to go see Christmas lights in Manteca and to see Santa while I went out with some friends.

Sunday morning we woke up and made a nice breakfast and then headed to my Mom's for Christmas pictures. Then we headed back to my Dad's for a nice relaxing afternoon and one of his fantastic Sunday dinners.

It was a great weekend filled with family, laughs and Christmas memories.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This is the first year that I have had my own place that I can decorate for Christmas. I've lived in apartments by myself before, but never really felt like it was home enough to decorate. This year I am really excited to put up things that I have been purchasing over the past few years!!! My Dad came over this morning and helped me get the tree up.

The tree looks a little funny here. I put the random loose ornaments on the tree so they wouldn't get lost.

I'm going to wait to put the rest of the ornaments on it when Thomas and Noelle can come over to help.

While Noelle took her nap, I decided to attempt to put the Christmas decorations up that my Dad brought over. I was so excited to have some of the ornaments and decorations that we had when I was a child. They brought back found memories. I hope that Thomas and Noelle enjoy them as much as I did. I want to start traditions with them that they will always remember doing with Auntie and Christmas. This is such a special time of year and I'm really lucky that I get to share it with them.

This calendar was such a hit when I was a kid. Troy, Kelly and I loved getting up in the morning and checking the calendar to see what the elf's brought during the night.

A few years ago I picked out a snowman theme for my Christmas decorations and have been picking things up slowly. A lot of things that I picked out are Red, White and Blue.

That worked out great because I figured out that it is difficult decorating for Christmas when your house is decorated like the 4th of July the rest of the year.

I put all of the things that can't get broken on the coffee table so I don't have to worry about the kids getting them. It's a little hodgepodge but Thomas and Noelle wont know it.

I bought the stockings last Christmas. I think they are totally cute!!

Just as Noelle was waking up, I was finishing putting all of the boxes away. I just couldn't wait so I decided to put the lights on the tree. I put up two of the stings and then the third one of course didn't work. So, I packed up Noelle and we headed back to Target to return the broken box and get a couple more boxes . It figured that they were out of the flickering ones, so I'm going to have flickering ones on the top and the plain ones on the bottom of the tree. I didn't care though. I was so excited to have a tree with lights on it that it didn't matter that they all didn't match (they are all multi color) and those of you that know me well know that having things that don't match perfectly makes me a little crazy. As soon as we got home I got Noelle settled eating her dinner so I could finish putting the lights on the tree. I'm sad to say that the tree of lights wasn't such a great hit with Noelle. When she was done eating I took her over to the tree and let her look at it. As soon as I put her down she started crying and ran away from it. Needless to say she didn't really like it. I think it will be a matter of time before she loves it as much as I do!!! At least I hope so.

I don't have a picture of the tree with the lights because I'm to tired to take one and download it. However, while I was sitting there admiring all of the decorations and the tree I got a little emotional. I feel so lucky that I have such a nice home. I'm so lucky to have such a great family that loves and supports me. I have a great job, great friends, food on the table and good health what more could I ask for.

I got some great pictures of Noelle yesterday when she was playing on her new Toy. I thought they were cute.

I have so much to be Thankful for...

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and we are on our way for Christmas.  This year has flown by. I woke up Thanksgiving morning remembering last years Thanksgiving feast.  Christina, Kelsey and I (mainly Christina) made dinner for an Army. We had 13 people for dinner and we had more dishes then we had people. We even made homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch twice because the first ones burned because we were having to much fun and weren't paying attention. It was such a blast.  Matt flew down from Idaho and spent the weekend and the day after we went to Big Tree's. I just can't believe how quickly this year has past and how much things have changed since then. 

This year we celebrated twice but it was much more low key and relaxing. Thanksgiving morning Thomas, Noelle and I went to my Dad's and spent time with him.  The kids love going out in Grandpa's backyard and playing so they went and played chase.  The  cold  weather (it was pretty foggy) didn't seem to bother them. 

I took Thomas to 7-11 for a Thanksgiving slurpee which he dripped all down his shirt so he had to wear grandpa's shirt while his was getting washed.

Thomas is such a good big brother.  Noelle was chasing him and she fell down so he went back to make sure she was OK.

 

Later in the afternoon I took the kids over to my Mom's for a perfectly prepared Thanksgiving dinner.  Kelly and Dave came to have dinner before leaving for work. We had all the traditional things and wonderful desserts!

My Aunt Paula and Scott came from Cotati and spent the day with my Mom. Aunt Paula helped with the wonderful dinner and desserts. It was great to spend time with them.  I haven't seen them in a long time.  It was great catching up. After dinner Ryan picked up Thomas to go back to his house.  I gave Noelle a bath and after that she passed out.

Mom offered to keep her overnight and I of course jumped on that so I went home and slept really really good (thanks to that lovely Thanksgiving dinner).  I'm not one of those ones who get up at 3:00am to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving so I slept in and enjoyed some time to myself before Mom dropped her off.  It was a great day!!!

An Early Thanksgiving

Yesterday we had a wonderful early Thanksgiving.  Kelly and Dave are working on Thanksgiving day and Thomas will be with his Dad so we decided to "pretend" that it was Thanksgiving.  We had a great family day.  Thomas and I made hot chocolate in the morning and as Thomas would say it was "fantastic".  We then met Kelly, Dave and Noelle at my Dad's house for a day of Thanksgiving activities.

Thomas, Noelle and I went on a walk to collect leaves for a little art project.  Since it was pretty foggy here the leaves were wet so we let them dry a little before we did our coloring.   

Then we had a nice lunch and a very short nap before making our Thanksgiving cookies.  Saturday morning I was finally able to find some Thanksgiving cookie cutters.  Thank You to Beyond Pots and Pans!!  We had a turkey, leave, acorn and apple.  Thomas did a good job at cutting the cookies out.

Then we waited for the cookies to cool and for Noelle to wake up from her nap.  Then the fun started.  I don't think I need to write much... the pictures will tell there own story.

Noelle was signing she wanted more in this picture. 

Thomas' first creation.

Then Thomas and I went and delivered some of the cookies to Grandma. We got home just in time to eat dinner.  Dad and Kelly made a fabulous meal!!!! I am very Thankful for my wonderful family.

Now I get to look forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Mom and Aunt Paula and Scott.

A great weekend in San Diego

I had a great weekend in San Diego.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Thanks Troy and Julie for a fantastic weekend. Happy Birthday Julie!!!!

The month of HALLOWEEN activities is over.

October was filled with Halloween activities. We did a lot of baking, decorating the house, watching Halloween videos, you name it we did (several times) we even carved pumpkins twice. As Thomas and Noelle get older it makes the holidays so much more fun. Last year Thomas was afraid the pumpkin "guts" and wouldn't go near the pumpkin until it was all cleaned up. This year he dug right in and had a great time taking the "guts" out himself. This is a huge improvement coming from the kid that doesn't like to be dirty. Overall, we had a great Halloween and we are all looking forward to a month of Thanksgiving. And this year, we all have a lot to be thankful for....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Apple Hill 2008

Last weekend we were quite busy with Halloween activities. For years we have been going up to Apple Hill in October. I love to see the leaves changing colors and falling. The apples are fantastic and watching all the families with their children having so much fun makes the long drive well worth it. And, the apple crisp at Kids Inc. makes us come back every year!!!! Kelly and I decided to make it a whole weekend of Halloween activities because Thomas was going to be with Ryan on Halloween. So, we started the weekend making Halloween cupcakes. Thomas made is special friend, Sarah, her own personal cupcake for her birthday. It was very cute. Then that evening we watched a few Halloween videos. Then Saturday we went to Apple Hill. Thomas and I had a lot of fun getting lost in the corn maze. Noelle had her first pony ride. It took two tries to get her on the pony. The first time Kelly couldn't get Noelle to even sit on the pony so she let a few kids go before her. Then after seeing the other kids Noelle got right on and loved it. At the end of the ride Kelly could hardly get her off. We had a nice picnic at our normal stomping ground and watched the other kids fish. We went on a long hay ride per Thomas' request. He thought that was great. Then we went to another orchard and walked around to see the farm animals. They had lots of pigs, chickens, ducks, horses, and a donkey. Thomas really enjoyed the donkey until it sneezed on him. He did not find that funny at all!!! Then at the next apple orchard we saw a clown doing a show. It was VERY funny and the kids really enjoyed it. Until, the clown tried to use is dog as a cannon ball and well the trick didn't work so well. The clown picked a man from the audience to help. He had a huge net and was suppose to catch the "fake" dog in it, run to the clown so he could put the real dog in the net. Well the man didn't catch the "fake" dog and instead ran to the clown with the "fake" one still laying on the ground. It was a bust!! It was pretty funny though. Then on Sunday we went to Grandpa's house and carved pumpkins. It was a perfect weekend.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook