Merry Christmas 2012!!!

Saturday chores

Mounting that tv we bought last Christmas! Next up? Downstairs tv. I'm not sure if these presents I wrapped in our room will ever make it under the tree. Oh well. That's what Christmas Eve is for.

The most beautiful little girl!

Isn't she just darling! Often I find myself wanting to take her picture every day because I never want to forget a single moment of her sweetness. Life, of course, interferes. For today, I got my picture.

I can't describe what a moment with a child is like for those of us who are divorced, adopted kids, had to use services for our children that took away time at home together... Every day with my kids is a gift, every chance to play I've cherished. It has made all the difference in never feeling like I miss out on my kids lives and I thank God for that desire and time every day. He truly makes up for everything we and our lives lack, if we let him.

Freezing night

Fall brought us a delightful change- a week of chilly weather. Unfortunately our heater went out and the repair people can't come until Thursday. Meanwhile, it's freezing in here. All the kiddos bunked in our room with every blanket we have and a tiny little space heater. I have a feeling they will remember this camping in our room for the rest of their lives! Thankfully, the fireplace and oven downstairs help some. The fireplace in our room doesn't generate much heat. Here they are, dominating our floor.

Never to big

My kids are all very close and love playing together. It's fun to watch them get bigger and their play change. They will never be to big to sit close, now it's just sitting on each other. Kaiden collapsed on Kelsey at church. She is writing "SOS" on the little kids' drawing board!

Kids and Hair

I am completely in love with my son. This week he didn't want to wait for dinner to finish cooking for a haircut, so of course he asked Kelsey to cut his hair. They snuck upstairs. She tried. When I noticed, he told on her. She expressed her thoughts. "Kaiden!!! You promised you would take all the blame!"

I gave him this darling, very short haircut to repair the damage. This afternoon I noticed the eyebrows. He took a shot at making sure he didn't have a unibrow. Only time can fix that one.

Painting with kids

Kelsey and Kaid were kind enough to help me paint the playroom. I have a feeling this will be quite a project!

Happy Halloween!

We got to Trick or Treat at Daddy's work. It was very well done and the kids filled the candy bags I made them!

Sleeping angel

She is so precious, I just have to share.

Little winners!

I love the Reflections program, and how it encourages creativity in my children. This year Isla's literature piece is moving on to district level. She looked so sweet up there on stage, the tiniest kid. Way to go to both of my creators!

Horse pictures

We went to a horse rescue today where the kids are going to start caring for and riding rescued horses and give them companionship during their road to rehabilitation. They wash and brush them and then saddle up and ride.

January tradition

Every year in January we visit a local park and pick a few bags of oranges. It is so much fun!

Disneyland!

Our family vacation this week was a theme park adventure. We are, of course, exhausted from our trip, though we were treated to seeing a couple different sets of friends at the park. One would think we would have time to enjoy the OC culture outside the park, but all we seem to be able to do is get there and back and fall asleep. The RV has served us well; I feel spoiled to get to make a sandwich in the parking lot! Today is our last day at Disney and tomorrow will be Knotts Berry Farm. Alex has the rides all figured out, and Isla got to go on Space Mountain after we put gloves in her shoes to give her that last inch! I will be sad when school starts Monday.

What a lucky week!

Our ever talented children have impressed their mother this week. Kelsey and Kaiden BOTH won the excellence award for their reflections entries and are moving on to state level. Kesley for her painting and Kaiden for his musical composition.

Want more? Kelsey designed a bookmark for her school library contest and won that! More? She was chosen to be drum major in the Christmas Parade and will be leading the middle school school band! That 7th grade kid won out 8th graders on all three winnings this week. Way to go, Kelsey!

What talented children we have!

Their mother is busy at work preparing for company this week. We have a bunch of people we love coming to celebrate the holiday with us and I'm very excited! Yams and fudge made, cinnamon rolls made and ready to bake, rolls made into brown and serve and frozen. I'm so domestic this week! What could make things even better? Nothing but the stores choosing to start the black Friday sales today. That will make for a fabulous Saturday afternoon!

We bought this. More specifically, we saw this and had to have it. Then we bought it. Let the fun begin! (It looks like a regular motorhome inside and has enough sleeping room for us all).

Adoption

We signed adoption papers today. Not so sure what that means... all they can tell us is they aren't foster kids anymore. That takes county visits and inspections out of the picture- more time for fun!

Yay!!!

Watching the temperature reading on our thermostat drop!!! 92...91...90...89...88... H Vac man told me that the vacant houses are usually out of freon because local teenagers break in and suck it out to get high! No wonder our a/c never really worked- turned out freon was completely empty (We bought a foreclosure that was vacant for a year). Go figure.

It's toasty

It's not usually too hot here, and the weather is rather dry. Running an evaporative cooler generally keeps our house at a nice 75- 85 (perfect for me since I tend to get cold). However, today it's 108, and the forecast is for thunderstorms- which means it's humid and my swamp cooler adding water to my air isn't exactly cooling things off. Turns out our ac is out of refrigerant. Lucky for me the H Vac man is willing to come pump it up for us today. Looking forward to dropping the temp in here (house is hitting above 90 and needless to say, we're all too hot). If the kids weren't sick from the sudden temp hike, we'd be in the pool. Instead, everyone is just plain hot- and sick too, poor kiddos. Can't wait for those thunderstorms to start!

Funny Baby

We are potty training Alex, who is doing quite well. Today I gave him his first pair of underwear. He got so excited and kept singing about his, "big girl pammies" (panties). Obviously he has an older sister.

A little word of advice

After church on Sunday-
"Daddy, next time if you say we are going to Disneyland instead of church then we will be so happy!"
-Isla (3 yrs. old)