Happy Birthday Donna!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Donna

Happy Birthday to you.

I hope that you had a great day and enjoyed your family!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Merry Christmas!

We had a really nice Christmas with our family and the kids. Everyone had gone to Frank and Donna's for Christmas Eve except for Cayla, Miyah and I, the girls were sick so I stayed home and made cookies for Santa and we watched a movie. It was actually very relaxing just spending time with the girls (when they weren't sleeping or crying because their mouths hurt!!!). The kids opening their pj's, changed clothes and got comfy on the couch to listen to "The Night Before Christmas", this year Cayla read it and she had been practicing for 2 weeks. She did a beautiful job and her sister were right there in case she needed help. Miyah was sleeping and we just could not get her up to open her jammies, once she did wake up she REFUSED to put them on and stayed in her pants. LOVELY...that is good parenting skills. Ryan also refused to sit with the girls and listen to the story.

Christmas day was so nice and as usual we stayed home, played games, read books, watched movies, napped and ate. I hope that everyone had a blessed day and enjoyed being with family and friends.

6 weeks already?????

I cannot believe that 6 weeks have already gone by and it is time for Mackenzie to have her cast taken off. On the 22nd, Kenzie went back to Dr. Redal and he removed her cast. Kenzie knew that there was the possibility that she would need to have her arm recasted but everything worked out in her favor. She is so happy to have it off, but really surprised how weak her arm is. I think that the weirdest thing is the arm that was casted now has black hair growing on it. I told her that is just proof that she is a Mexican. Now she is working on building up the strength back, when they took off the cast her wrist bent all the way down and her hand touch her arm...it was a little gross. Kenzie was a trooper, never complained about the cast expect right before they replaced the first one because her hand hurt.

Of course I had to take my camera to end this series of photos and wouldn't you know that my batteries died!!! I still was able to take some great pictures.

I love you Kenzie Annie Anne!!!!!!!

Family Fun!

On Saturday the 20th we celebrated Christmas early with Corey's family since Hiedi, Matt and Carter were in town. I think that this is our fourth White Elephant exchange and just as usual everyone had a very fun time. This year it really shows a passage of time for us because Meaghan left early to go to a play that her friend was performing in. She stayed long enough for pictures and then Corey took her to watch her friend Olga, so strange it has always been the other kids that have plans. All the kids are getting so big and we are getting older. HEHEHEHEHE!!!! This year it seemed really strange not to have Helen there in the physical sense, but I know that she was there laughing with us. Well family I had a great time and we are looking forward to next year.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving

What am I most grateful for?

My children are my everything and even though it is tough to have such a large family I would not change anything. I am grateful for their ability to make friends, play in sports, keep nice grades in school, know how to read and write and to love one another. I am grateful for what my children teach me everyday and the laughs that they bring. I have a whole house of comedians and that is a wonderful quality to have. I am also grateful that they are watching how we struggle and they know that they cannot have everything handed to them, when they do get the items that they wanted/needed they are so much more appreciative of them.

My husband is my best friend and he is the one that I want to tell everything too. We have been through some tough times and some good times, I tend to think that the tough times out weigh the good. We have created beautiful little people that still make me think wow...all because two people meet and feel in love. I am so grateful for his willingness and ability to support his family. We have a long way to go and somedays I am grateful that we are holding on for the ride.

My ability to work. Even though I may not be doing what I enjoy doing everyday I am happy that I am able to supplement our income. I am grateful for the family that I work with and that I never have to ask for my pay. I am grateful that they are very generous and only work 4 days a week but pay me for the 5th day and give me paid vacations several times a year while they are enjoying their time together. Not to mention the fact that I love their little boy and his kisses are the BEST!!!!!

My parents and inlaws. Without the support of our parents I do not know how Corey and I would have been able to support our family. Never had they made us feel bad for having to ask for help. I just wish that we had the means to pay back everthing that was ever borrowered. I love you guys!!! I love that I have the type of relationship with both my mom and dad that gives me the freedom to speak my mind and still listen to their side of the conversation without turning a deaf ear. I have a wonderful relationship with both of them and feel blessed that I am able to see my dad when I want and can talk to my mom several times a day about everything and nothing at all. I am also tickled that my mom and I will be spending our last days as roommates in a nursing home. HEHEHEHE!!!

My siblings. My sister is the most graceful women and I am very proud of her. I enjoy having her around and knowing that she is very much a part of my live now. I love that she has a wonderful relationship with my children and Miyah thinks that her home is Miyah's home. I am grateful that even though she struggles she is still willing to lend a hand. I am so glad that God brought us back together. I am grateful that I know that my brother is able to support his sons and have a relationship with my sister. Maybe some year we can sit down and talk like adults.

My nieces and nephew, I am so glad that everyone is home and healthy. I love everyone of you with all my heart and hope that you all know that we are here for each and everyone of you. It is so much fun to watch each and everyone of you grow into a young adult and watch/listen to all the stories that are making you this person.

My friends that have been in my life for years and years. I love that I know that I have friends out there that we do not have to see each other all the time and can meet up just once a year and because of the internet we are able to just pick up where we left off at. It has been a joy to watch their children grow from their moms tummies into grown children with lives of their own. I am grateful for the ability to have friends in my live.

My Aunts have been a true blessing in my life and I love that we have the family site (thanks Mom!) to keep us all connected. What a blessing all in it's self!!!

I am grateful that we pray together as a family and thank God for all the blessings in our life. We have a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, our home is filled with warmth, we have a car to take our children to school and their activities, we have a marriage that has lasted a long time and that shows our children that love is hard work but worth every minute, we are healthy and we love one another.

We know how rich we are with the blessings listed above. That is what I am grateful for!!!!