Christmas

It was a strange year for Christmas.  None of our extended family was arriving until the 26th.  Papi wasn't here.  It was just me and the kids.  But we still went full speed ahead with the traditions that we've loved.  We may not have had much family around but the traditions kept the holiday spirit alive.

Our little elf, Jingles caught Santa on the Santa camera!  We were so excited to actually see a picture of Santa in our living room.  That sneaky Jingles is one awesome elf.

Halloween

We used to go to the Halloween store and buy new costumes for Trick or Treating every year.  It was fun. Then I decided we had way too many costumes that weren't getting used.  So the past couple of years I've had the kids come up with their own costumes using what we have.  They have a spending limit of $10 for little things that they might want like face paint, or suspenders.  I've loved seeing what they've come up with.  Alexandria was extra crafty this year and found this dress to be Elsa at Goodwill.  There was just one problem.  It was pink! So she brought it home and painted it blue. I was impressed with how well it turned out.  Well done on the costumes kids.  You guys look awesome! 

 

Easter Sunday in June

Oops!  How could I have forgotten to get our annual Easter party at Uncle Heath's on here, especially because it was Stella's first Easter Egg Hunt.  Can you tell?  She loved it!

 

Valentines

 

We're not a very creative family on our own but we can do a really good copy cat.  Thanks to Pinterest we had some way cute Valentine fun this year.  AJ did the minion from Dispicable Me.  DJ did the Minecraft guy.  And they all made little schools of fish to deliver.  Happy Valentines!!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

It wasn't a big Christmas but it was Stella's first Christmas.

The most important part was that Papi made it home.

 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Traditions Fa La La La La

Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la la!

Tis the season to make cute hot chocolate snowmen for teachers and friends.

fa la la la la la la la la

Now we get to see the Temple lights

fa la la la la la la la la

Papi even made it home

fa la la la la la la la la

 

Then there's the Nativity with the cousins

fa la la la la la la la la



 

Oh I wish the season would never end

fa la la la la la la la la!

Jingles

Can you believe the crazy things our elf, Jingles has been doing?

Yummy chocolate dipped Joe Joes he worked all night on

Selfies on all our phones and the computer

A early morning yoga

He even drew reindeer noses on the kids while they were sleeping,

wrapped their doorways to their rooms in wrapping paper so they couldn't get out

and came in on a wrecking ball!

 

He cracks me up!

Keep it up Jingles!

Last Christmas Sing

So bittersweet!

They are all growing up.  While I'm having such a blast with their big kid personalities it's hard to say goodbye to what was.  This year is the last Winter Sing where these four all get to be in it together. Isabel was the only one who wanted to go but I made them.  It was the last one!

We couldn't leave out the selfie on a big night like this, in the car, on the way to get ice cream.  Don't worry, I was at a red stoplight when we took it.

Nutcracker

Isabel had a blast in the Nutcracker this year.  She got to be a mouse in the battle scene.

It was fabulous!  You did wonderful, Isabel!!

Halloween

We had: Penelope Von Sweets, a headless man with his head in a jar, a nerd, a cow girl, and a clown. I can't believe we made it through. Now on to some slowing down and being grateful time before the big holiday hits. 

April Fools!

Where has April disappeared to?

It's the end of the month and I have all of April still to post, starting with April 1, otherwise known as 

APRIL FOOLS!!

It was late. I was tired.

As I walked sleepily into my room I was met with a toilet papering job to beat all other jobs.

My kids thought it would be funny to toilet paper our room

and even left us with a nice little tp star on our bed.

My sleepiness immediately disappeared and I began to think of a comeback.

I got all of them. It was awesome.

Teach them to mess with this momma.

Although I'm pretty sure I'll be in for it next year.

Happy Halloween!

Our Halloween starts a few days early.  We like celebrating our birthdays around holidays.  So Isabel, AJ, and DJ all get one big Halloween birthday party.  The best part of our Halloween party this year were Grandma and Grandpa. Or is that Edward and hippie chick?

Did you recognize them?  Neither did I when they walked in.  Here's a close up.

And I can't get the rest of these pics to go where I want them to go.  But for your viewing pleasure we have some of the yummies we enjoyed and a couple more awesome Halloween costumes.

July 4th in Collage

It's one of our favorite holidays.

American waffle breakfast at Grandmas,

awesome USA music playing off of their deck,

AJ giving us a concert while singing "Proud to be an American",

swimming with cousins,

ending the day with big fireworks in the sky

what's not to love?

This year was extra cool, literally, 71 degrees here in the valley of the sun at 3:30 in the afternoon!!!

We were so cold after swimming in the rain we actually ate chili to warm up....

 on the Fourth of July!

It was amazing.

Hope your fourth was just as enjoyable! :)

Happy 10 Years Old!!

My girl turns 10 today. Yes 2 digits from now on. 

It's so scary to think that in another 10 years she'll be on her own.

I wonder if I'm doing enough to teach her all she needs to know.

A few things I want to remember about her right now. . .

Pink is still her favorite color.

She's absolutely great with children, a natural mother. 

I still believe Heavenly Father knew I would need a spirit like hers to help me since Papi is gone most of the time so He sent her to me first.

 Because of her nurturing gift, even at this young age, she makes a great babysitter.

Her little sister, "sissy" as they call each other, may be one of her best friends and I love that they are so close despite their age differences.

Even though her school teacher has some issues Alexandria still wakes up every morning and gets ready without any complaints.

She's very responsible and gets her homework done without me ever asking her to do it.

Cold weather is her favorite.

Her dream is to go to BYU, yea!!

She loves anything that sparkles especially if it's pink.

She loves playing with makeup especially when I do a "makeover" for her.

She's turning into a beautiful young lady,

and growing up absolutely way too fast.

I love that her birthday is on New Year's Day.  It gives us a good reason to have great New Year's parties.  Now New Year's is actually one of my favorite holidays.

 Of course we had to use pink to decorate, and sparkles.

 What would a Cesar party be without the food?  Alexandria requested Mexican food.  So taquitos, flautas, tamales, empanadas, homemade salsa, guacamole and chips it was.

 We stayed up late. There were fireworks, a pinata and of course presents.

I love you Alexandria.  I'm so proud of the choices you are making and the person you are becoming.  I really have the best daughter ever!