A month....

It's been a month. Yup, a month...well..actually longer than a month by now. I know that life is busy and things happen but the truth is that I just didn't want to sit here and write. I had homework and housework...and work... I'd look at the computer and say..."I should blog" BUT... I wouldn't actually do it. I'm just tired.
I don't know about you...but life tends to get exhausting.

So to recap a whole month...*whew* here we go...you might want to get comfy...grab a cup of coffee or tea...or PEPSI! and start reading!

Hailey did great in her Oral Language Festival. She didn't win the district competition and was disappointed but we were so extremely proud of her.

She asked to have a Christmas Cookie Party on the last day of school and so I made dozens of sugar cookies. I was at Albertson's and I saw that they had pre-made cut out sugar cookies...I was excited because I figured that if I bought those it would save me hours in the kitchen! But...just to my luck...they sold out and I had to slave in the kitchen anyway. I was happy to do it for Hailey but man! It was not as easy as me just buying them! The girls had fun though. I took some pictures which I'll post later. (along with my not wanting to Blog...I also haven't loaded any pictures on the computer and my camera is quickly loosing memory space!).
Of course, Steve had to go on a business trip the last week of school so he missed the 8 screaming girls! but I'm sure he wasn't too bummed about that!

He was bummed though because he missed Jeremiah's program at school as well as Will and Annabelle's. It was so extremely adorable to watch Bella sing in the program. She kept getting up and down off the risers! William was an old pro since he had already been in Christmas programs. Jeremiah the same...still adorable and still making me proud to watch them.

So...Family Feud...
ready for this one?!?!?


We went to the studio on a Sunday. Traffic to LA wasn't so bad...it only took me about 1 1/2 hours. Anyway, we got there early. Rachel did my make up because apparently I'm not too good at it! We were excited to get in the studio. There were 7 other teams and then us. We had a light breakfast (provided by Family Feud). We went through the briefing and we headed over to the actual stage for the rehearsal. It is smaller in person than it looks on TV. Actually, really small. Anyway, we KILLED it in rehearsal! Killed it! We were the only team to actually sweep the board! It was So EXCITING!!!! My dad was the captain, then me, then my sister, then my brother and lastly my mom. After rehearsal we were seated in the audience. (We'll be in the audience for 5 shows starting March 27th holding signs for the other teams and clapping until our hands hurt!)

So...as luck would have it... they changed up our order. They made ME the CAPTAIN! Seriously! I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I didn't want to be the captain because I didn't want to have to talk or have the pressure of making decisions! The casting director said to me... "You shouldn't have been so perky then!!!" lol! They were really fun people and we joked around alot. Ok..so... they changed our line up. No biggie.
We weren't chosen for the first game ... or the second... or the third... We figured that since they came over to tell us that our order was changed that we were definitely getting on the show. I mean, seriously there was another team there that froze up in rehearsal and we all thought for sure they wouldn't get on....but they did. To make a LONG day shorter.... we didn't get on that day. They asked us to come back and gave us a confirmation of when we'd be on. After much talking about schedules and such...we agreed and went back the following Saturday night.

The great thing about going on Saturday was that they offered the green room for our kids! (we were really debating about if we should go back because Steve was gone and we didn't have anyone to watch my kids). SO.... we had the large green room for my 4 kids, Rachel's 2 kids and my Jessica with the baby. Jessica and Michael (my bro-in-law) came to the taping so that they could sit with the kids. Hailey and Jeremiah were SO EXCITED to be there. They were thrilled to see the set and even more thrilled that they got to watch the taping from the green room! They watched the live feed.

Ok so... this is how it went... We went up against a team that had already won 3 times BUT hadn't won the Fast Money for $20,000. We were stoked so we were ready to play and beat them!!!! We did great. I was captain and I think because I had a week to prepare myself...I was fine... =) Not too nervous so that was good. We stole some points and we got our own points....and we WON!!!!!!! YES!!!!!! So, Rachel and my Dad played the fast money. My dad did great! Rachel went next and had fabulous answers! We did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!! ...

Ok so we air on May 7th and May 8th. We got to go back to play again because we won but the team we played was really good and we had weird questions.... we were doing great until the last question...then we lost. But that is ok! We won't the $20k so we were happy! It was even better since the kids all got to watch us win! Awesome!
John O'Hurley was quite the gentleman and we had a great time laughing with him.

Here's some fun pics




Hailey was excited to see a dressing trailer from Hannah Montana's show. I'll post that picture later too. I drove the kids down Hollywood drive so they could see the Walk of Fame. Hollywood isn't as glamorous as they thought...Jeremiah said it was boring! Hailey wanted to know where the famous people live and Will and Bella could care less! We also saw Nickelodeon Studios on Sunset. She was stoked!

After the taping my family and I went to this great place on Hollywood and Highland and it was fabulous! If you ever go down there you have to check out UWink. The guy who created Chuck E Cheese and Atari created this concept restaurant. Click HERE it's a fun restaurant that has you order your food on a monitor...it's a touch screen and you are able to see what your food will look like, all the ingredients, the nutrition info, you can request refills without trying to flag down your waitress, and you can play games with everyone at your table. They had the Steelers football game projected HUGE on the wall along with a bunch of other games. It is an awesome place!

Ok...so all in all... that is our update. We had a great Christmas...I was blessed enough to get a laptop (much to my surprise and I almost made Steve take it back but I didn't and I'm typing on it now!). I love it! It will come in handy for my school. It's almost funny that I have to fight the kids for computer time....but not anymore!

So, that's it. Our month in review. I'll put some pictures up as soon as I get them off my camera...

So Cheers to you. May you have a wonderful New Year's and May you be blessed as we go into this new year. I promise to keep up on my blogging ... especially now that that I don't have to fight the kids. =)

xoxox

Family Feud HERE WE COME!!!

Whooo Hoooo!!!! Can you hear me cheering?! If you could only see my smile! =) Family Fued finally called and we are going to be taping a show in 2 weeks! We are stoked!!!!! My sister tells me I have to get a hair cut...not negotiable! =) That's ok...because I know I need one. You know as a mom...we tend to put ourselves last on the day to day stuff. I haven't had a real haircut in nearly 2 years. My sister has trimmed it but a real hair salon...yea...I almost forgot what ones looks like. It's hard to find someone that knows how to do my hair...it's thin and very fine and just kinda unmanagable. I've found a couple of ladies...but they're not local. I didn't have anyone in Arizona...nor do I have one now... so... anyone in my area want to share their hair girl with me!?!?! =)

Ok...enough of my ranting. Family Feud! I'll keep you posted on our outcome! Keep your fingures crossed...and toes...eyes...and whatever else you can cross! =)

The competition!

Hailey and a classmate competed in the Oral Language Festival this past week. They memorized a piece and said it for the judges. There were a few other "duo's" but out of all of the 4th grade....Hailey won FIRST PLACE!!!!! Whooo Hoooo Hailey!!!!



They will now go on to compete in the district competition. It's a 4th and 5th grade competition. The students had the choice of doing it alone or duo or with a larger group. She chose to do the serious duo. She had wanted to do the humorous duo but there were already 2 groups that were already doing that ...so serious it was. There should be about 15 duo's... so it should be fun. If she goes on from there it will be to county. She is pretty excited and we are extremely proud! They won a medal and she wore it all weekend long and took it to church! =)

Keep her in your prayers for this Friday morning. She will be riding the bus to another school for the competition. We'll be there cheering her on...quietly of course. =) The video clip isn't all that great...sorry. Eventually,we'll get a new camera but until then....here ya go!

Why?

Why does it take me nearly a week to post on my blog? Um...I was lazy this week. Steve was gone for over 2 weeks and I had a lot to do. I just didn't want to do it all! I was supposed to go to the dentist. Yeah, um.... I am terrified of the dentist. I need to go. If I told you how many year it has been since I last went to the dentist...well...I wouldn't. Let's just say...it's been a very LONG time!

So let's play catch up....

We went to the Outback before Steve left because we had a gift card and he was craving steak. Jeremiah decided that he wanted ribs. He hasn't had ribs before. He gets his plate and he looks at me and said... "How am I supposed to eat these?" He picked up his fork...lol We were trying not to laugh. Steve told him to pick them up and eat them. He didn't want to at first but after some nudging he did. He took a few bites and said..."What is this? Chicken?"... Oh my gosh! We couldn't hold back our laughter on that one! We said now...that it was pork. To that he said..."what is pork" lol! Pig. Yeah, um...we got a pretty funny look and then he just kept eating. That is, until his hands got pretty dirty. He then asked for a napkin. At the Outback....they use cloth napkins. So, Steve hands him the napkin. He looked at Steve and said..."I can't use that, I'll get it dirty". Sweet boy! Steve had to convince him that the cloth napkin WAS the napkin and it was OK to use it and get it dirty.... they just wash them. He looked at me for permission! It was cute! So, when I told him that he could use the napkin, and it was ok to get it dirty, he giggled while he wiped his hands! He LOVED the ribs and said he will definitely eat them again!


I couldn't leave out Hailey....so here is a picture of her eating her kid sized steak. She laughed because it was so tiny....then very un-lady like....picked it up with her hands! Yeah...we're working on table manners and etiquette!

Steve and I went to my parents cabin for our anniversary... Lake Arrowhead is beautiful in the fall so here is a picture of the lake side. Lovely!










So, Halloween. We don't really do Halloween. I just don't like what the day represents and the fact that 364 days a year we teach our children not to talk to strangers and not to take candy from strangers YET 1 day a year we allow our children to knock on doors and ask for candy... besides the whole spiritual battle we have this battle... it is my preference not to do trick or treating. We went to the kids' preschool for their "Harvest Fest" and they had food and bouncers, games and candy. The kids dressed up and had lots of fun and it was easy for me since Steve was still gone. So... with that said... Here are their adorable faces! =)
Bella was a princess in the dress my niece wore at my brothers wedding....












Jeremiah was conflicted... he didn't really want to dress up (even though he dresses up daily! Will and Jeremiah have costumes galore...Spidey, Power Rangers, Batman etc)
I tried to get him to dress up in my Starbucks garb! =) That lasted about 2 minutes...enough for the picture....he went....as him self! =)




Hailey was tough. She isn't really a little girl anymore. I tried to get her to wear the dress she wore at Jake's wedding so that her and Bella could match but that was a bust. I let her try on one of my dresses that we tied up in the back. She tried on my shoes... so I guess she went as Me! =) She wore a sweater over the whole dress....so this picture is just at home...


William was Batman. He dresses up daily so this is one is his favorite...

They got their faces painted, went on slides and played some games. It drizzled and was kinda cold...but it turned out to be pretty nice!

Eggnog?!?! WHAT??

So, I was just at the grocery store... picking up a few things...and I saw it. It's October 31st...I know it's the last day of the month but c'mon....already? As I walked down the isles I noticed...Halloween stuff marked down...barely any thanksgiving stuff....and WHAT IS THAT??? Christmas? Seriously! I heard the Christmas music playing throughout the store...aren't we rushing this a bit?

I noticed all the baking stuff being displayed in the middle of the isle.... and then I saw it.... EGGNOG. Yup...Eggnog. And not just one kind....3 different varieties.... Regular, Light (c'mon...if you're going to have eggnog...make it the real stuff!!!!), Cinnamon, and Caramel Apple. Interesting....

I also noticed some mulling spice. Yea... I don't think everyone knows what that is but can I just tell you...it's yummy!!! My parents took the kids up to Oak Glen last weekend while Steve and I were enjoying our peace and quiet... and they brought us back some fabulous Apple Cider from the apple farm. I can't wait to warm it up and add the mulling spice... =)

Oh and .... I bought some eggnog too! =) I like to add it to my favorite Chai and it is such a heavenly drink! I'm glad it only comes around for a short while because if I had access to it all the time...I might be a little rounder than I already am! =) As soon as we get the eggnog at work...we're screwed! It is quite possibly the most popular drink of holiday's! You should try an Eggnog Chai. I'm going to go make one right now...you'll just have to wait until Starbucks gets the eggnog in...or... I can tell you how I make mine at home! =)

Don't all rush out and buy eggnog now....it'll be around for at least 2 more months.... =) Lucky me!

My brother had a picture published!

Ok, sorry.... I'm just SUPER PROUD of my brother. I know I brag about his pictures and stuff but seriously..... he just took some pictures for a law firm (their lawyers, offices etc...marketing stuff) and they used on of his pictures in a magazine! Check out my brothers page to see it.... click HERE

Yeah Jake!!!!

A week? Already?

Um... sorry for not posting for a week. Time sure does go by fast.
My excuses - I mean reasons for not posting are as follows....

I had 13 loads of laundry. No...I'm not joking.

I had to pack suitcases for 4 kids, myself, and a husband that needed 2 weeks worth of clothes.

I had to play with my new dogs.

I had school work.

It was our 10 year Anniversary on Saturday and we hid at my parents cabin for the weekend.

Steve left for a business trip (2 freakin weeks!).

Came back from our weekend and um...I'm tired.

Do I really need to say more?!?! =)

So, it's true. It's been 10 years. Steve and I can't believe it.

We purposely ran into our college roommates (they married each other) this weekend and we visited with them for a bit. We were driving up to my parents cabin and they live up in the mountain community. So, as we drove by Steve says..."If their light is on...we're stopping!" **sorry Ryan and Jaime!** They were gracious enough to visit with us unexpectedly. =) Jaime was my roommate my sophomore year and she had lived next door to me our freshman year. Ryan was Steve's roommate in the...um...1 year that Steve was actually in school.... =) We used to hang out a lot so it was nice to visit with them.

They live up near my parents cabin so it was nice to see them. One of their daughters is Annabelle's age and the other is just a sweet, happy 10 mo. old baby. It was fun because they were having their littlest one dedicated on Sunday and all of their family was going to be there. We went to their church for the dedication and were able to visit with their families.

Steve had a wonderful guidance counselor at college and he truly respected and loved her....well, she was the aunt of my roommate, Jaime, so she was there at the church. It has been about 10 years since we've seen her (at our wedding I'm sure) and Steve was stoked to see her. They are just a great family.

Anyway, Jaime's mom and aunt were reminiscing about our wedding and we just laughed because it rained on our wedding day but they remember it as a "wonderful, sweet mist" !!! lol I love it! I just remember it as RAIN! =)

So 10 years later and 4 kids later....we are still together. =)

The cabin was wonderful. The weather was great and we walked around the Arrowhead Village for the day. We actually shopped and Steve got me an adorable dress and some new shoes! =) Yeah! It was strange that we didn't have the kids... but it was nice to be able to relax. We spent a couple of hours with Ryan and Jaime and the girls. Their littlest one had surgery this past Monday for a cleft palate. She is so little...it's hard to imagine such a little one having to deal with something so horrible as surgery. But she is a trooper because she has already dealt with a feeding tube and other medical things. Keep her in your prayers.

I guess that's about it for this week. I am not working for the next 2 weeks because of Steve being gone so that is kind of a bummer. I stopped in there yesterday and they were busy.... I miss it already!

Oh... it is Parent Teacher Conferences this week at the kids' school. I met with Hailey's teacher today. She has a wonderful teacher who is just the sweetest thing. Hailey is doing well...which is great. Tomorrow I'll be talking with Jeremiah's teacher. We love her too....so it's a good year! =)