Mentos and Diet Coke!

Alyssa had a friend over and begged me to go to Hobby lobby. I had never been and really wanted to see what it was like. We bought some various craft items and as we were checking out I saw this little kit that was made for the mentos. It basically is a small tube and it screws on the top of a two liter bottle and has a small pin to hold the mentos up until you pull the pin and run.
We actually pulled the kids out of bed and took them to the park in the jammies to try this out. It was actually so fun. I bought enough for each of the kids to try it. I was surprised at high the soda shoots in the air.

Naughty but fun!

Ok I know this is really bad but it was so much fun! This was on the Sunday that the playoff game was for the Cardinals. We won the game and the entire neighborhood went crazy. We could hear people screaming and lighting fireworks and that gave us the great idea to join the fun. Christopher had these fireworks he had bought on a camp out with the scouts one year and we took them from him and hid them so of course we forgot we even had them. We took them out and the "boys" started having so much fun. I have soooo many good pictures but most of them the little ones are in their underwear. If you know us very well you already know that it is a daily struggle to keep clothes on my little ones.

Steve put a firework in a container of water and I got the great pic of it flying in the air. Christopher actually put them in this bottle and that was really cool too.

OUr Family Pictures for 2008.

Madyson's 5th birthday.

I know it's very late but better late than never right?

Madyson's birthday as before Christmas ans I completely forgot to post since it was finals week!

Madyson had a few of her friends over after school on her big day! I was way to busy to have an actual party so this year we just had her friends over for cake and Ice cream!

Cole.

Olivia and Lauryn.

Madyson and Matthew.

She actually sat here looking at the candles for way to long. I had to actually yell
" hurry up there is wax everywhere"!

GOODBYE 2008 FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so by the heading of this post you can tell I am ready to say goodbye to 2008. I have had the most challenging year of my life. I know so many people can say that but REALLY if you only knew I believe you would agree. I sometimes wonder when life is really really hard do we forget how hard it was after a long period of time? I am hoping that is the case for me! Now I am sure you are wondering just exactly what it is that has been so hard for me..... I will keep you all in suspense by starting a different trend..... focusing on the positives of the year 2008 and hoping for many more in 2009!

1. 6 of the most hilarious, cute and precious kids in the world.
2. Happy and thankful for the fact they are healthy, safe and happy.
3. Thankful for the hubby.
4. Blessed we still have a job.
5. Happy I let go of PTA position at the local elementary school.
6. Family.
7. Got grandma's house completely cleaned out for new owners.
8. Thankful I am alive.
9. Happy (mostly) for the 25 lbs I lost.
10. Completely healthy eating habits.
11. My new bike!
12. All my biology classes are over! (Acing the last one was the best).
13. Best friends any one could ever ask for.
14. Even thankful for the friends that were not the best since I learn something from them every day.
15. 4 I repeat 4 cars in my driveway!
16. No foreclosure, adjustable rate mortgage or second mortgage issues to deal with.
17. Election is over!
18. Chocolate even though it has become a rare thing in my life I can still love it right?
19. Trip to Catalina with the hubby.
20. My dog Shadow made it to 2009.


I am sure I can really stretch more out of my head but just thought I would throw these out there and end on the number 20.

There is one thing I want to try to be better about and have learned so much about this year. I want to be better about making judgements on how people handle things in their lives. Being judgemental is almost never a good thing. Do you ever hear yourself say " oh if that happened to me I would never......? Well take it from me do not test fate by even thinking it. And believe me the way you thought you would handle it is never as easy as saying it. So for 2009 I strive to be better at the following....

1. Be a better friend
2. Be a better wife
3. Be a better mother.
4. Do not judge.
5. Do not gossip.
6. Think positive
7. Do not gripe, bitch and moan.
8. See the positive side of things.
9. Keep in contact with family better.
10. Not lose my temper with my kids.
11. Cuss less.
12. Eat better.
13. Budget better
14. Pay off some debt.
15. Be a stronger ally to myself.(I am really hard on myself).
16. Take some quiet time for me.
17. Slow down.
18. Keep a cleaner house.
19. Make my backyard beautiful
20. LAUGH MORE!


I wish you all a great 2009!

Abbey's first time sitting with Santa.

Abbey has always had a great fear of Santa, as well as any other character like the Easter bunny and chucky cheese. Every time we even get close she just starts to shake and cry. She NEVER wants anything to do with them. This year before we left to go see Santa she told me she was going to talk to Santa but of course I did not believe her. Well she proved me wrong. Not only did she sit with him but she told him exactly what she wanted for Christmas. She wanted a boy baby that can go in the water and a princess guitar. Now how was I going to find these few things when all the stores were completely run over. Thanks to Grandma Swanson she actually got both the things she really wanted for Christmas.

Christmas Eve!

Every year our kids get a big box from their Grandma Santos. In this box is individual gifts for each of them. The point was for the kids to have something to open during the long dreaded waiting time before Santa came on Christmas. My mother in law thought of this idea years ago and has become a tradition. The kids open them Christmas eve every year. They get a pair of Jammie's, an ornament for the tree and a full packed stocking! This is the first time I ever got a picture of them all together in the Jammie's and holding the ornaments.

Madyson excited.

Alex being a goof ball!

Abbey just as happy as can be!