Really Really Trying to see the Glass Half Full

So, when it rains, it pours right?

In the last 5 days, Little One has gotten staples in her head, Miss A had to go to urgent care for an ear infection, Miss M was at urgent care for a sinus infection and Mike was also at the dr for a sinus infection. Our health insurance has got to be wondering that the heck is going on. Health wise I am good, but I also got a dose of sad news... a friend and sorority sister from college passed away. So, while my health is good, news like that just gives you a big dose of reality.

I am really trying to keep my resolution to see the glass half full. Thank goodness for all my "framily" here in Arizona... you guys know who you are. I am officially throwing a shout out to all of my girlfriends who have been so awesome (always) but especially lately. The vent sessions, the sanity checks, the helping hands with the kids... I hope you all know how much I love you. I am so lucky to have all of you in my life and you have made my resolution to stay positive and keep myself surrounded by positivity so much easier...

One thing that is keeping me positive are those AZ Cardinals! What an awesome game. The "framily" and I are already planning the Super Bowl party! GO CARDINALS!!!!

Ok, on to picture downloads... I have not even posted Christmas so hang on for the ride. Mike leaves tomorrow for the week and is taking the laptop with him so better get going on my updates or it will be yet another week!

Have a good week!

:-)

Where has the time gone?

So, I really cannot believe it is already January 14th. The time has just flown. I have totally slacked on posting and adding pictures. But, we had a great Christmas and cannot believe how quickly the holiday came and went. Pictures of Christmas will be posted in the next day or 2.

And here we are 2 weeks into 2009. I made a few resolutions and so far I am keeping them:

1. Go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week... mostly gone 4-5 times so I am on target.

2. Join Weight Watchers to learn about portions etc... and yes I did. Last Saturday I headed down there... People were nice enough and it felt good to step on the scale and see that I had already lost 7 pounds from the last time I weighed myself about 6 weeks before.

3. See the glass as half full instead of half empty... I feel alot of hope for this coming year. I am ready to surround myself with positivity and people who want to be around me for me... not for what I can do for them or my kids or any other reason but because they want to be around me. This has been my most freeing resolution. I feel so light and awesome. It is nice to rid myself of all the negativity.


So, the resolutions are going well... I guess I should have added no visits to the ER but I did not think of that and at 4pm today Little One and I were in the ER getting her first set of stiches/staples in her head. She fell off the bench at the park today and hit her head really hard. Lots of blood, crying and frazzled nerves later we had 2 staples in our head and some pain killers! YIKES! Hopefully she will get some rest tonight and the next week will go smoothly until they are removed. It is always an adventure here!

Hope 2009 has started off on the right foot for all of you... Would love to hear about some of your New Years Resolutions!

Pics to come in a later post!

:-)

We have been good this year Santa!

Even Little One ran right up to him and gave him a hug and climbed into his lap... The girls let him know that she loves babies and anything having to do with babies and anything she can push around... He took note. Miss M asked for cds, books, clothes and a Magic 8 Ball; "big girl stuff" as she put it. Miss A asked for an Easy Bake Oven and a Wii! :-) We will see what he has in store in just a couple of more days!

Tis the season

For baking and baking and baking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have been running a regular holiday bakery the last couple of days. The kids "helped" with some chocolate covered pretzels. I think they really just loved making a huge mess but I guess that is what it is all about. Little One was a little sneak... everytime I turned around she was sneaking another "treatie" into her mouth.

We also worked on the annual Gingerbread House. Daddy stepped into Pa's shoes for this year as we are only seeing them for a couple of days and those will be quite filled up. The kids were actually really focused on it this year and were giving their dad instructions on how Pa does it. Pretty cute. It turned out really good.
This would be Miss A giving Daddy directions on how to do it.

Miss A was really into the decorating part of it.

Little One was back to stealing more "treaties" when she thought we were not looking

Can you say "gotcha!"

We also had our annual "Surprise! It is time to go see Christmas lights" evening. The kids get readygenerated a nice and naughty list that used all the neighborhood kids names. They also had a snow machine that Little One for bed and climb in and then we say surprise! no bedtime... get your blankets... hot chocolate and cookies are ready. Lets go! We went to the neighborhood of one of Mike's old co-workers this year and it was amazing! The whole block was lit up. One house had all their kids acting out the nativity. Another house had a computer program hooked up to their second story where the decoration actually and Miss A LOVED! It was great... they had a blast!

Miss A and Little One loved the snow machine.. you cannot see the snow but they are trying to catch flurries!

Toothbrushes and potties

Little One is showing alot of interest (finally) in brushing her teeth... this has been such a battle for a long time. Literally holding her down and brushing teeth while she screams. Now that she gets a "turn" it is getting easier. Then we get a "turn".

We have also had more interest in the singing potty. Yes, you heard me. Everytime she sits on it it sings a "welcome back to the potty song". She has been spending quite a bit of time in there. I even found a diaper on the floor today. She had taken it off and sat there and then pulled her pants back up. Thank goodness I found her in pants but with no diaper before there were any accidents. She is a crack-up and hey, it is a beginning!

The tree...

Like I said... it took 3 weeks... we realized after the picture that we forgot the star. So, the ladder comes back out tomorrow... and we decided to bypass the ribbon we did last year but you get the idea. It is up and it is mighty! :-)

It's is FINALLY beginning to look alot like Christmas

So, with Mike traveling ALOT we have not exactly been on the ball this year as far as Christmas is concerned. I just have not been able to get into the spirit this year... not sure why, just having a hard time with it. But, today we finally got the 12ft tree finished... It only took 3 weeks! The stockings are hung, the kid tree in the family room is up, the advent calendars are up to date and for the most part the shopping is done. My goal for this week is to mail the Christmas cards and get the baking started.

This past weekend we were able to go to a Christmas pagent at First Assembly of God Church in Phoenix. It was such a great show... the kids LOVED it! Thanks to Grandma and Pa for the tickets... Mike was in town for it as well which made it even better. This week we are planning our "surprise" Christmas lights outing... we do this every year. We put the kids to bed super early... while Mike is putting them to bed I am loading up the car with blankets, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies... literally 5 minutes after they are in bed we go into their rooms and surprise them with our "Christmas lights outing"! They love it... the carols, drinking hot chocolate (yes out of sippy cups) and eating cookies.. We always hear lots of "oohs and aahs" and it is so great. We have a few other surprises and traditions up our sleeve as well for the next 2 weeks... Santa, ornament shopping, sibling shopping, cookie decorating, wrapping presents etc. Should be very fun!

Hope your Christmas season is just as joyful as ours is!

DECORATING THE KID TREE:



GOING TO THE TEMPLE IN MESA FOR LIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS CONCERT! BEAUTIFUL!