Winter Break

We've been waiting for the chance to sleep in since Thanksgiving Break and finally it's here.  Yea!  We started celebrating the minute Alexandria stepped off the late bus.

Now it's time for my kids to just be kids, climb in trees, ride their bikes, play with friends and family and to just have fun.

This is what Christmas Break is all about.

Old and New Christmas Traditions

Yea!  I got my camera back.  The flash was broke and Canon fixed it all up since it was still under warranty.  So now I just need to get back in the rhythm of blogging again starting with a couple of Christmas traditions.

First is this guy, Jingles.  He's great.  The kids look for him every morning and they know they have to be good because Jingles is watching.  Fortunately, he's not one of those mischievous elves that are toilet papering children's rooms and throwing their underwear on the floor at night.  Eventually he might get bored and start some shenanigans but for now he's a wonderful little guy.

Next is a new tradition that we are starting this year.  We did this one year when I was little and I loved it and always remembered it.  When I saw this book I had to get it and start our own little Christmas tradition.  Isabel is especially excited.  She loves being a secret helper and loves it when she sees someone has done something for her.  DJ is having fun too but I think its more because of who he has this week.  He's been a perfect little helper.  

It's a Keeper!

Thirteen weeks is here and here's the little munchkin alive and moving.  I feel like I can finally think this is going to happen sometime in May.  Time to start figuring out how to move the girls into the same room and make room for baby.  :)  YEA!!

We Love Vegas

Mostly because my brother and his awesome family live there but, also because we have a great time every time we go.  There's always something new to do in Las Vegas.  

I didn't know the Bellagio decorates for the seasons complete with talking trees and scarecrows.

 The M&M movie was one of their favorite 3D movies ever.  But at $12.99 / lb for M&Ms, I promised them to buy them all a bag of M&Ms from Walmart when we got home.

Once again thank you to Adam and Fabi for letting us cause chaos throughout your home.

Love you guys!

Today's News

The kids found this GIGANTIC caterpillar.  We tried looking it up online but didn't find anything that matched it. If you know what it is my kids are curious to know.  They want to know what kind of butterfly it turns into.

Of course DJ was the only one brave enough to handle it.  Things like this make him so happy!

Sunday Mornings

I absolutely LOVE the 1:30 church time.  We get to sleep in.  Plus, it gives us all morning to hang out as a family and there's no rush (a.k.a. Mom doesn't have to play drill sergeant) to get ready for church.  This morning I did have to wake up early though because my cute little chefs were making a disaster in the kitchen.

 So what do you do when you walk into a kitchen full of shorty chefs and 8 glasses full of their "special of the day," milk, cinnamon and sugar all going to go to waste?  We made breakfast, one that Papi used to eat when he lived in the sugar cane fields.  It's called maizena and it's good.

Milk, cinnamon, sugar, cloves, nutmeg and cornstarch.  It did have a little too much cinnamon and sugar but the kids claimed they liked it better that way.

And what Sunday morning would be complete without an AJ Zoolander shoot?

And Isabel looking a little too old for her age, don't you think?

Every morning should be so enjoyable.

AJ has been asking me for two things lately:

"a shirt that has sleeves that roll and button up here"

and

"a shirt with a hood".

I finally found two shirts that matched his criteria. He was in clothes heaven when I showed them to him. His only dilemma was trying to decide if he should wear the shirt, with the sleeves that roll, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Fortunately he was looking good today at school when the "mean aide" put him in a timeout at recess. With his fashion forward sense and sweet personality he had about six girls (according to Alexandria) and just as many boys sitting by him to give him support during his timeout.  How could that aide think that my AJ would push a girl off the swing?  Did she not see the big group of friends he had that stood by him?  A bully would never be accompanied like that.  Principal Carpenter will be getting a call from me tomorrow.  "Mean aide" beware!

And DJ and I already had a talk since he was not part of the group of friends there supporting his twin brother.  He was busy swinging on the swing that AJ had worked so hard to get.

Afternoon Play

Remember when you were little and you would run through the neighborhood and play all afternoon? I'm so glad my kids are getting that chance now and that all the neighbors come to play at our house too.

Happy Dance

About a month ago after playing with a baby, AJ told me, "You know what Mom?  I kind of like babies."

Well, AJ, we're going to have a baby!! If my body cooperates and keeps this pregnancy (despite it's October track record of 0-2) you may have a little brother or sister to play with in May.  I realize the stats are not in my favor and I may lose it.  But for now just I'm just going to be happy that maybe something good is on its way. So picture me doing the happy dance!!

Movie and a Football Game

Did you know Harkins is celebrating their anniversary by giving away free movie tickets?  We took the whole family to see X-Men: First Class tonight.  During the movie DJ leaned over and asked why they are bombing turkeys.  The movie started at 9:15 so it made for a late night which got even later when we passed by Westwood's football stadium and saw they still had 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter.  Papi and I have been into Friday Night Lights lately.  We watched at least one episode a night until we had watched them all.  So, we had to stop.  It was my kids' first football game.  They were totally into it!  AJ decided he was going to play for a white team because he "looks better in white".  We saw one interception and one 38 yard pass, not bad for five minutes of a high school football game.