Who needs a fireplace...

to have a mantle?

Before paint...

Merry Christmas to me!

What is it?

The final product should be appearing soon...

Back to School

I can't believe another school year has begun. This year we have kids at three different schools!

Ashley and Madison are both in Primary School.

Ashley is in 2nd grade this year.

Madison is now in 1st grade.

Welsey is in 4th grade at the Elementary School.

Allen is embarking on the adventure known as Middle school, in 6th grade.

They are all so excited to be back at school! We are so happy with the teachers they have and their choice in friends. This is going to be another amazing year:)

As for mom and dad...Chad returns to school the end of the month, and Aubrey will be Substitute teaching again as well as spending time with PTO for all three schools. Nothing slows down around the Pena home.

New Year

I'm not one to join the "Resolution" Bandwagon...I figure setting goals as the need arises should happen on any given day and not just the first moment of a new year. However...I have decided to make it a goal of mine to put my blog post count back into the double digits for 2011. I can use the excuse of *broken computer and *moving TWICE for the last year, but no more! All the kids are in school. I only substitute teach every other week or so. So, I should have more time; Right? That is the theory anyway:) So those sweet friends who still check- thanks for your faith in me! I am excited to rejoin the blogging world and document the crazy life at the Pena house!

I leave you with our Christmas morning traditional picture of kids lined up in the hall...

Merry Christmas!

If you didn't get your card yet, its on its way...if it doesn't come, let me know:)

Happy Halloween

Direct from Alice in Wonderland...I Present to you-

Allen-as the Mad Hatter (yes everyone got this one right)

Wesley-as the Caterpillar "Who are yoooou?"

Ashley-as the Queen of Hearts "Off with their heads!"

and Madison- as Alice!

Hope you had as much fun last night as we did!

(Thank you Grammy for our amazing costumes!)

Preview...

I know you are all just dying to know what the Pena's are going to be for Halloween. Well, much to my glee (and on their own accord) the kids are going with a theme again this year!

I can't wait for the real pictures!

Anyone want to put in guesses for each child's choice?

Madison's funnies

Allen was telling us about his day at school where someone got hit in the arm and had a big purple bruise on their arm...
Madison's response - " Well, do they like purple?"


We found a cricket that needed relocating. I asked Chad if he could come help because it was going to take some finagling to get to it...
Madison's response - "Will finagling kill it?"

Madison is 5! Happy Birthday!!!

Madison Riley, the Princess of Purple

After Ashley was born we felt so strongly that we were still missing a piece of our family. We knew someone else was coming, we just didn't realize how soon she would be there!



Madison Riley had the same due date (just a year later) as Ashley. Yes that was a surprise. We decided pretty early on that we wanted them to each have there own special day. So, when the time came to schedule her delivery, we made sure it was the day after Ashley's birthday. We had Ashley's 1st birthday party at my parents house in Gilbert and then brought my sister, Meghan, back with us to help so I could go to the hospital the next day. What a blessing it was to have her there! Madison narrowly avoided being a C-section baby (there were 17 people in the room for her delivery because she was prolapse and they were prepping me for emergency surgery!) Then an overzealous nurse decided she looked like she wasn't breathing well - she was bruised from the delivery- and put her in the NICU. So we were there for 3 days.



Madison is so mild and patient. She wears her heart on her sleeve, so sometimes she can be a little too teary eyed. But she loves like no one else!




One of my favorite things about Madison is that she will tell you like it is. There is nothing malicious or mean spirited about anything she says, but she will tell you if you are "doing it wrong" or if you "don' t know all the facts". Sometimes its just so stinkin' funny you can't take her seriously.:}

Madison started Kindergarten this year. There were a few reservations from teachers and administration because she is obviously on the youngest end of the class list. (she even added to these reservations by getting a little teary eyed for the first few days.) But she is just thriving now. She loves to learn new things and explore new ideas! Happy Birthday Madison!

We love you!!!