Post Christmas

Christmas was nice this year. The boys were very excited. Grandma came over Christmas Eve and made homemade tamales a little tradition we do every year. On Christmas day Andrew woke up Grandma and asked if he missed Santa and she said no. So we all got up and the kids were very excited to see all the presents.

Santa brought the kids their very own excavator and they were so excited that they wanted to go play outside at 7 am.

Grandma Herme bought the kids clothes and when I say clothes I mean lots of clothes. Andrew got 2 huge bags of Jackets, sweaters, pants, vests, and shirts.  Adam got his own bag full of clothes too. That's how grandma rolls -- she shops throughout the year and tucks everything away, but then forgets about it. Then when Christmas comes she nearly has a heart attack because of all the clothes she bought.  We love grandma!

Holiday Baking

I decided to do some baking this holiday season. I found a fantastic recipe for Oreo Cookie Fudge. This came out so good that I had to make another batch last night. I know, I'm on a diet, but I did pretty good and only ate a few pieces.

Here is a the recipe

I also made chocolate fantasy fudge that came out fabulous. You can find that recipe on the back of a  jet puffed marshmallow cream jar.

Happy Baking

Suck it up Santa

On Saturday we ventured out in the cold, wet rain to visit Santa at The Grove. I've been wanting to take the kids there to see the Christmas tree, the lights and it snows every evening. However, thanks to the rain we only got to see a cranky ol' Santa.  Raul's brother went as well, so we had all the kids sit on Santa's lap. Of course my little guy cried his eyes out when I handed him over to Santa, but it will make for a classic Holiday Christmas Photo.

Santa looked very annoyed as all the kids settled next to him and then I handed him a screaming 2 yr old.  After the kids took their picture, they were given a little treat. My husband didn't realize Andrew already received one from Santa until he snapped at Raul "he already got one."   Lighten up Santa, it's Christmas!

Happy Monday 

School Days

On Tuesday I went to Andrew's Winter Program at his school.  Each grade sung a Christmas song and a Hanukkah song. I watched the 5th graders singing and imagined Andrew and what he would look like when he was a 5th grader! I can't think that far ahead; I can't picture him being such a big boy.  After all the big kids, the little pre-k's finally got on stage. I could see Andrew looking for me in the audience. I hid because I knew if he saw me that he would run off stage.  His teacher told me that during rehearsals on Wednesday Andrew pulled his pants down on stage. I was praying he wouldn't do that during the show, and he didn't. But I secretly thought how funny that might of been. I tried to get some pictures of Andrew but the lighting was horrible. He's on the top row, 2nd from the left side.

I'm still stuck on the fact that Andrew is growing up. He's going to be 5 in April and starting Kindergarten in the fall.  I watch him and I can't believe he can spell his first and last name to me and he can write his first name .. not perfectly of course but he's learning. I was watching him do his homework the other night tracing his letters - loves it!

Christmas Tree is up!

We finally got our tree on Sunday! I love the way the tree looks this year. I usually go for an all silver tree, but this year since Andrew is so into rainbow colors I decided to go with that and I loves it.

Andrew requested rainbow candy canes. Hopefully Santa will bring some new pj's.

School Pictures

Ah, school pictures. You always hope those pictures come out good. I prayed Adam would not cry as he hates getting his picture taken. I couldn't even get his 2 year pictures done because he was crying.  Of course the day of his pictures he wouldn't sit still and cried. The teachers and photographer did their best to entertain him but it didn't help.  Andrew took an awesome picture but for some reason there is dirt on his nose. Ah well, these pictures will make for great memories.

(Arrghhh...can't upload my cute photo of the boys. I guess that's what I get for scanning at work -- photo to come soon)



Andrew's New Pet

Oh that Grandma Herme. When Andrew was over her house they went for a walk and saw some roosters. Ever since then Andrew has been fascinated by this ... animal.   Last weekend raul brought home a bag of things from Herme. There were Christmas mugs, a tablecloth, and then there was a ceramic rooster dish set. At first I thought "awesome" she bought me a new dish set. Um, no. She bought Andrew the dish set it. I thought that was cute and thoughtful.

Then, last night grandma cameover to decorate the kids bedrooms for Christmas, very cute. Do you see what's on the corner of Andrew's bed? Yup, a rooster. His very own metal, sharp -- rooster.
Of course he loved it.

Andrew also inherited a rooster place mat and a rooster mat, which is really meant for the kitchen sink but Herme thought it would be cute in the shower, and it kind of is.

Here is a picture of the rooster ensemble.

Adam loved the rooster too and of course now they fight over it and Herme said she'll buy Adam a wooden one. Awesome.

Cute book alert!

I love books that teach lessons and manners. A couple that I already have and the kids love are:

The manners book: This isn't the copy I have, but it's close to it. The book talks about manners at school, in public, at the library and at home. Andrew always reminds to put our napkin on our lap at dinner.

The other one I own is Hands are not for hitting. This is perfect for Adam as he is at the phase of hitting and just about anything.

Here are a few other books that I look forward to getting.



*sigh*

That's a *sigh* for two reasons.

1. I had an awesome time at the cookie exchange party on Saturday. I got to see my old boss and his family. Plus, I got to catch up on things with my co-worker who I haven't seen in a long time because she's out on maternity leave and I got a little break from being wife and mommy.  I boxed up so many cookies I couldn't believe it and we went back for seconds.  Now here's were the first *sigh* comes in ... my friend Kristin has lost 20lbs since July doing the Atkins diet. I started that diet in August and lost 6lbs, but of course gained it back. I just thought to myself, "if I would have stuck to it, I would be down my 20lbs." I know, I can't beat myself up about it. But what I can do is move on and I have. Yesterday was my first official day of the Atkins diet and I feel confident. So confident that I turned down chocolate cream pie yesterday, which didn't look very good, but I would have eaten it anyways. So here's to a new outlook on the diet plan :)

2. Ok, so like I said, I did get a break from family life on Saturday while I was at the cookie party. I thought awesome, Andrew will go with Grandma and Adam will take his nap while i'm gone. I'll get home around 5 ish to cook dinner and it will be a quiet, peaceful night (insert laugh here).  It's 5:30 pm and I call Raul to check on things. He tells me that Andrew had a tantrum with Grandma at Walgreens, so Andrew was ordered to come home and he didn't to Grandma's. Then they all took naps until 5:30, awesome.  Well I don't end up getting home until 7 ish. In my foolish mind i'm thinking oh that wonderful husband of mine probably fed the kids leftovers, has the them bathed and at least has adam in bed (insert another laugh here). I walk in the front door to Raul watching football and the kids running crazy. I ask him if they ate, he said no he was waiting for me to come home, arghhhhh.

Anyways, that's my rant for today, which was actually yesterday's rant.  I could go on and on about that wonderful husband of mine and how helpful he is. Sometimes he is, but last night ... um not so much. Ok, time to stay positive. He is a good guy and does a lot for us ....

Pity party is over.

I found some cute shoes for our office holiday party. While I think i'm old and out of the fashion loop, i'm going to try and pull of these shoes at Friday's party:

I'm thinking of a black dress with these shoes. We'll see how this ensemble works out.

Happy Tuesday!

Yay for Friday!

It's Friday! I'm waiting to get off of work. Such a busy day today, but that made for the day going by faster. Tomorrow i'm heading up to Santa Barbara for a cookie exchange party.  I've been looking around for a fun cookie treat.  I found a great recipe for sandwich cookies:

The recipe seems pretty easy.  Just use pre-cut Pillsbury cookies, put frosting in the middle and sprinkle the edges.  I hope they turn out ok.

Other than the cookie party, i'm hoping to get in some decorating and Christmas Shopping. I found some super cute rain boots at target for the boys. Not that it rains so much here, but they're cute and the boys will like them.

....and I have to make sure Transformers are the shopping list. Ah, boys. 

I can't wait to pick up Andrew from school (and Adam too) because I bought a Christmas CD with Frosty the snowman, and other Christmas classics. He'll be happy.

Happy Friday



Bah-Humbug

I don't know why i'm not feeling Christmas this year. It always comes too soon and I already feel i'm behind on everything. I got a Christmas card in the mail yesterday. I haven't even bought cards or even thought of a photo to use.  Christmas lights are up in our neighborhood and our decorations still sit in the plastic bins in the garage.

I feel bad because Andrew really loves the holidays, decorating, the lights and songs. I told him I would by rainbow christmas lights and I would buy him a frosty the snowman dvd.  I need to get out of this funk, get the bins un-packed and decorations up.

I think i'll feel better when I add some new decorations to the stash. Of course my husband says, "the decorations we have are fine." yeah, but they're 5 yrs old. We need to add new things.  I love the kids' school because the director really goes all out with her decorating. She said Andrew helped her decorate all the trees. 

All right -- snap out of it and get into the holidays, right? Right!

...and it's not Christmas until someone get's dressed up as as santa...

Adam as santa -- thanks to grandma

Yes, I'm a fan ....

I must admit that I am a Twilight fan and have read all the books and I have seen all the movies. So, I have to mention that Eclipse comes out on DVD this Saturday! I loves me some Edward.

.....and a sneak peak to Breaking Dawn has been released...

Can't wait until next year!