Finally... A date!

Dave had been working like a mad man. He said when he was going to be done that we would go on a date. That day finally arrived last Monday night. We went to dinner at Al Forno's, its a small Italian restaurant and its super yummy. Then we went to the Gateway for a few "errands" and desert. We had a fun time.

Game Time

We played Pit at Trevino's the other night. It was a lot of fun. Pit is a trade game where you want to get 9 of the same card choices being Oats, Barley, Sugar, Soybean, Coffee, Corn, Oranges and Wheat. After being dealt the cards everyone starts yelling out how many cards they want to trade and it is chaos... fun chaos! We laughed a ton and had a great time.


The two babies were sleeping and the older kids were making a fort downstairs. They made a huge mess with Grandpa's stuff and a huge mess with all the toys. They had lots of fun too.

Leah, Maddie, Nicholas and Mylo

I love playing games with Trevino's. My favorite is when they start laughing they end up crying because they are laughing so hard.

Our niece, Megan, took the pictures. I am glad she was able to capture the moments so perfectly.
Thanks Megs!

Christmas Recap and Picture Overload

Christmas Eve we went to Abuela's house to have a relaxed dinner of yummy pizza, appetizers, salad and treats. We had a fun time just hanging out with the family and the kids were pretty good. Here a bunch of pictures of Christmas Eve and some of Christmas Day...

Leah, Mylo, Dylan and I happy to be together
and having a good time.

Amy and Kylie

Esteban and Kylie, not too sure what she was doing of thinking :)

This year we made homemade gifts for all the kids. Esteban's kids made warm bags for all the cousins and they are super nice on these cold days. Way to go on the sewing.

Marcos' kids gave each family an I Spy Jar. Lots of fun with lots of things to look for. Hours of fun!

We gave all the cousins these "art cases". Our kids already have some and use them for church... Hope they liked them :)

Marcos and Esteban... I love my brothers.

The girls with their new vests and scarfs from Abuela.
Don't we look Oh SO Cute!?! Thanks mom!!!

Abuela gave all the kids p.j's and here is one of four attempts to take the picture.

When we got home Leah put Santa's cookies and milk out. Santa only ate two (of three cookies) and a bite of the other... doesn't he know he is supposed to finish ALL his food.

Leah and Mylo opening Santa's gift to them. They both got Nintendo DS... I guess they were good kids all year. Boy, they sure have Santa fooled

StarWars has been a huge deal at our house the last few months and both of the kids got each other StarWars stuff. They have loved it and have been playing tons.

After opening presents, Dave and the kids put together Mylo's Lego stuff...
I love their sleepy faces.

Mish and I just watched.

THEN, we went to brunch at Dave's parents house, where Grandpa made delicious eggs, basque chorizo, bacon, and toast. Later to open more presents and hang out with the family. Amy, Dave's brother's wife, had bears made for each of the family's out of shirts that Karen used to wear. We love our bear, it was a sweet reminder of our sweet Karen.

Christmas Traditions

I got my Christmas presents from the kids early, since I had to make my sugar cookies and my other cookie sheets were on loan. Leah got me a silicone mat and cookie sheet and Mylo got me a "sword" spatula. They were great and I love them!

Karen, Dave's mom, used to make sugar cookies every Christmas. On each cookie she would write our names. It was something we all look forward to around this time of year. I took on the tradition, in a smaller scale. Sugar cookies take a long time and they are gone so quickly! I only had enough to make one for each member of the family and they grand kids on both sides. Every one seemed to enjoy them and I need to make more. They will never be as good as Karen's but its the thought that counts right?


Abuela, Leah and I had fun with the frosting... It makes a great new shade of lipstick AND it tastes really good.

Bath Time Beauty

Mishi loves her bath. She can play there for ever and loves to be on her tummy and chewing all the bath toys. When she can't reach them she stretches as far as she can splashing all over the place until the toy eventually comes to her. I love her big smiles and her bright blue eyes.

Flip Flop

Leah and I flip flopped places for once. She did my hair and perhaps I got some pay back for all the times I accidentally pull on her hair. It was a lot of fun. I let her do whatever she wanted and I was very surprised with a couple of the dos. I gave her a challenge to put all the bows in my hair and then I looked like a "craaaaazzzy" Christmas tree. The pain of the hair pulling was worth the time spent together. I am glad that she didn't give me the 'challenge' of going out of the house with one of her dos on me!

Feliz Navidad!

This was our Christmas Card this year. Our first in 9 years!

Merry Christmas to all! I am so excited for the kids on Christmas morning. Christmas, having children, is the best. They make things so much fun. They have purchased gift for each other and that has been fun to see them get each other what they want. Anyway, I am excited for them... Should be a fun time, hopefully not too early.

Merry Christmas to all!

May the force be with you?!?!

Here's a quick story and reason as to why I have gone private. I have debated this one for a long time but since this will eventually be printed in to a book and this is part of our life and I simply cannot go with out remembering this one, I thought I better post about it.

The kids have been obsessed with Star Wars lately. I could personally careless about it, I know that makes me SO un-American, and I am fine with that. Dave and the kids have watched four of the Star Wars movies since Thanksgiving and will be done by the end of the year. Since then, and even before, the kids have NOT stopped talking about it. Mylo in particular has been talking about it non-stop to the point that I have had to be very honest with him and tell him that I really don't care much for Star Wars... he was SHOCKED! They play Star Wars all the time and Mylo has a great interpretation of JarJarBinx (sp?)

Anyway, the other day Mylo was using his "forest" (that's what he calls his "force") all day long. As he still requires some potty assistance, just because he is a bit lazy to go by himself, I was "helping" him go peeps (standing up, like a big boy). Well, after he was done I told him to "shake" and he put his hand up, sort of pointing to you know..., and said "I am using my forest to shake mom, see"... I busted up laughing and even though its been almost a week since this incident I can't help but laugh. Where did he come up with that is beyond me. He cracks me up ALL the time.

Never ending....Laundry!!!

I am the worst at doing laundry. I don't shrink things or wash a red shirt with my whites to make them look pink... that is not what I mean. I just suck at doing laundry. It will take me a week to get things folded and then another week to put them away. Just to turn around and have another gazillion loads to do! It's a never ending task at our house. Here's a list of all the things included in last weeks hamper:

burp clothes - 2
shorts - 2
sweatshirts - 1
bib - 3
dish towels - 4
baby blankets - 1
peed on sheet set - 1
socks - 42 pair
pants - 25
T shirts - 19
kid t's - 32
onsies - 18
p.j's - 21
undies - 32
towels - 3

It took me about 3 hours to fold 216 items. Way too long! I just can't get a handle on the laundry. I already have two loads waiting to be folded and one that is waiting to be hung! This doesn't even include all the sheets, towels and rugs needed to be done weekly as well. I don't know how others do it. But I am ALL ears, please tell me what you do to stay on top of your laundry. I need advice!!!

Open, Please come in

"The store is now open, please come in!" That is what I felt like saying this past Saturday, after working in the kitchen for 10+ hours making our neighbor gifts. Asialene and I made 300 lollipops!!! The time went by very quickly and we had a good time. I am SO glad they are done. I spent an additional two and a half hours arranging these lovely treats Monday night with my mom. Soon to be delivered. I still have more neighbor gift to make but for now the lollipop factory is closed and out of business until 2009.

Thanks Asialene for all your help! I had a great time.

Click here for Lollipop recipe

Bitter Sweet

I feel like I should post this now that I am in a mood to do it. For the last 2 year and 9 months I have had the privilege to work with the Young Women in my ward. When I got the calling I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to do what the Lord wanted me to do. I have done just that. I am sure I could have done an even better job in many areas. However, I felt that I was the one to that has benefited most from my calling. Going back to the basics that the YW program offers was what I needed. First and for most I learned to truly love the YW. They have it so much tougher than I did, yet they have such an amazing testimony! I learned from them a great deal. I felt like a youth myself at times and it was a blast. Girls camp was always the highlight of our year and we bonded with the girls. That of course is do to the spirit the Camp Directors brought to camp and the atmosphere that the outdoors brings as well. The girls are "M-Azing" to say the very least. I also gained some great friends. I learned a great deal from the leaders I was blessed to serve with. My almost daily phone calls from Adriel, our President, will be missed. She wasn't just my 'co-leader' but an amazing friend and listener. I learned so much from her. I have no idea how she did it all. She had unconditional love for the girls, there is not question there. I also learned a lot from our other counselor Jeanine, man that girl is a fountain of knowledge, fun and sarcasm that was so much fun. I was always so incredibly impressed with Geri, our other counselor. I don't think I would have ever even talked to her had it not been for this calling. She is a wonderful person, inside and out! She lives the gospel to the fullest an you can see that in her eyes. I really enjoyed serving with the two secretaries. Caroline was always on the ball and could have ran the show on her own, simply amazing. Sarah, her lessons touched me tons. Perhaps because she had a simple way of sharing her thoughts and always had something super 'cutsie' to hand out. The spirit was always felt as she taught. I think the girls learned a lot from her, as did I. I really loved to serve with them. Sunday we all got released and tho it was bitter, it was also very sweet. We had one last lesson with the girls where we were able to discuss the association we have with others. I am so proud to have been able to associate with these fine young women. My testimony has been strengthened and grown more than I can express. More than anything I know my Father in Heaven loves ME, and I too love him for these wonderful, yet trying experiences given to me. I feel a great deal of debt to Him and of course my Savior. Life would literally be unbaerable with this gospel.

Frustrated.... but Happy!

This morning I woke up in a very grumpy mood. I came up stairs and the kids had a great big mess in the play area and I had just had it with all the mess! I ask them twenty times a day to keep the toys in the toy area and I find them every BUT there! I know they are kids and they should play, but there comes a time that I need them to PLEASE do their part. Maybe I am asking too much from them in that department. After I asked them to please clean up, Leah was not a happy camper and she said "You are the rudest mom ever. You are just really tired and need to go back to sleep". I was so grumpy I didn't even crack smile at what she said, and it sounded just like me! (scary). Her comment put me over the edge and everything was simply irritating to me. I have cooked EVERY meal for the last week and I was not in the mood to cook breakfast, but I had too. Then I finally took a shower and then had to do my hair, because all my new baby hair is coming back (I lost a lot of hair after Milli was born) and I can't just put it in an ugly pony tail. I had planned to doing some errands with only Mylo while Dave watched Milli, while she was taking her nap. As soon as I finished getting ready Milli woke up. UGH! I need her to be more consistent and more predictable. I told Dave I was very frustrated and overwhelmed with how crappy I am at my "job". I can't get things done that I need done. I was never like this before. I have always been very organized and my house was always clean. I am a scheduled person and I have not been able to be like that for a LOOOOONG time. I had to go to Costco anyway, so I took the two little monkeys with me and saw a friend at the return desk. As we chatted for a bit I almost cried, for no reason at all. Whatever, then we went to do our shopping. As we walked in Mylo saw a picture of Jesus in a display. He loudly said "look mom there's Jesus!" Yeah Mylo!!! You just made my day. Jesus knows how I feel and I also know how much he loves me as does my Father in Heaven. Crazy, but I felt the spirit as I walked through Costco with that picture in my mind. That didn't cure my "frustration"... but it did bring me some peace of mind and a certain calmness. I came home with a renewed desire to be a bit more patient. God has entrusted me with these precious kids and I have to do my part to help them return to him. They do bring me much happiness and lots of laughs every day. Even when they sound just like me.

Why the cute picture of Mylo along with this post? The other day I had him wear this shirt and he did not want to wear it. Well, too bad buddy this is what you are wearing. He was bawling and he said "this shirt makes me be allergic!" hahahahaa... very funny Mylo. I had no idea he was "alergic" to this t-shirt. Then today I made him wear it again (most of the other clothes is in the massive laundry pile, which is another reason for my frustrations), he said "this shirt makes me nerveous, I want another shirt". I told him when he could count from 1-100 he could pick his clothes out on his own, so he said "1,2,100. Now I can change my shirt". He always says the funniest things. My kids melt my heart and make me smile all the time. I need to look at all these things when life seems to be frustrating and hard.

Two Little Piggies

Can you see those tiny little pig tails on the top of Milli's head? You know the ones with the mismatching bows. These are her first piggies! I am so happy about it. Leah was 2 months when she had her first piggies and they were think and long, super cute. Milli's hair is still super fine and short (mind you I scalped her once... hahahaa). Milli is 7+ months and here she is with her piggies...now I need to make her some matching tiny bows. SO CUTE! (not biased or anything)

Christmas Traditions

For the last 4 or 5 years Leah and I have made a gingerbread house together. Its a fun time and we love eating the candy that is left over and it just a fun time to spend together doing something we both enjoy. This year Mylo joined us and ate A LOT of candy, more than decorated. Still we had a good time. The ginger bread house doesn't last long. The kids beg to "PLEASE let me have one star" or "PLEASE just one red one". The answer for many days is no until I give in, just to see our creation destroyed. For now it very beautifully is displayed on our kitchen table for all to view. It feels like Christmas is around the corner when the ginger bread house is finally done.

I have wanted a Christmas Counter for a LOOOONG time. Ever since we have been married I have looked for the perfect one. I love the idea of getting a treat and seeing those numbers disappear as we get closer to the very special and exciting day. As I was on my search this year I came across this one at Heartland Paper Co. It didn't turn out exactly like theirs, but I love it! I made it with love and I think the kids will love it. It is proudly displayed in our kitchen. So appropriate, since its a mini-muffin pan! The numbers are placed with magnets and a sweet treat is hidden inside. I think it turned out pretty good... I will keep this one going forever now and will be adding some other Christmas Counters next year.

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. Its such a wonderful time to spend with family and reflect on the things we are thankful for. I am sure we could all write a book on all the things we are thankful for. Here is my top 10 things I am thankful for: (in no particular order)

1. Jesus Christ, because of him I have a chance to return to my Father in Heaven
2. Family, I don't have enough words to express the gratitude I feel toward my own little family, my extended family and my family-in-law, they ALL mean the world to me.
3. My Home. My husband, my kids and the love we share is what make our house a home.
4. My very skinny but working legs, that get me from place to place and allow me to kneel in Thanks to my Father in Heaven.
5. A job for Dave. We are blessed that he has a job that he enjoys and allows me to stay home with the kids and play.
6. Food, YUMMY food (Dt. Coke is included in this one)
7. Testimony, where would I be with out it? LOST!
8. Blessings, small and large.
9. Trials, they simply make me stronger and help me grow.
10. Friends who are there when I am feeling down or up for that matter.

We went to my mom's house and we had A LOT of food and a great time. The kids make little fall wreaths and then we played a SUPER hard game. You have to "fish" for diamond hearts or tires (see picture) and it was SO hard and took us for ever, even cheating. Oh well it was a fun time. We had tons of yummy left over. Now its time for Christmas and I can't wait. I love Christmas!

I made my version of Thanksgiving a few weeks ago and NONE of the pics were any good. Maricela and Roslyn came as well and we enjoyed our fun time. I made Turkey Roast that took FOREVER to cook, some funeral potatoes, green beans, rolls, jello and Maricela brought the yummiest desert! Chocolate Raspberry Jello Deliciousness with an amazing Oreo Crust. What else could we have asked for? Family, Friends and Food is all we need!