Life is Good

We have had an amazingly blessed January. I have begun scrapping again and am finding so much peace and joy while creating. I have cleaned out all my stuff and have it as organized as I can get it. I have assembled my kiddos school days kits that I bought 2 years ago and have also been doing Project Life. I hope to continue it a few nights a week and maybe every Thursday night with the ladies at my church who craft. I am so excited about enjoying the hobby again but the best part is how excited my kiddos get to see a page added to their books. Now if only I could invest in uniform scrapbooks and get rid of all those post bound Scrap in Snap albums.

I am reading an awesome book right now called The me I want to be. It is about becoming the person God called you to be, like the latest and greatest version of you. CR is doing a 5 week study on it and it has been very spiritual and fulfilling. I am very happy with our new church and like sitting back, getting fed. Every week I weep and can totally feel God's presence. Guess I have really needed that. We are wrestling with going to a friends small group also but we are waiting for God to tell us when to go. Reece & Raine are also enjoying the children church program. Reece came out of class last week saying it was such great worship. I love that they have the same teacher each week and they know my little ones names and welcome them with such warm open arms.

I have registered for my third half marathon. I will be running the San Diego Rock & Roll Half with my dear friends along side me. The best part is that it on my 37th birthday. I have always seen the signs for this race hanging all over the city while chaperoning the 5th grade Sea Camp trips. Every year I said I would love to run one, this year I will with 3 of the 6 bowlies! I can't wait, I guess I better start training and stop eating all the chocolate in my house.

Praise God for all of our blessings, we tithed more this month than ever before, which in turn means we made more. Trust in the Lord and He will provide...We do!

Super Citizen

Reece was awarded the super citizen award for Non-Violence this week at school. I found this quite humerus at first, thinking his teacher was just giving it to him because she couldn't think of anything better for my rambunctious lil man. Oddly enough, she told me he was the only one who knew what it meant and that he is so kind hearted. No matter how annoyed he becomes he never reacts with violence. Good for him, I thought. I guess going to church has taught him more than I realize. I was a proud mama.

Las Vegas Tourists

After dropping Amber & Aubrey off at the airport we decided to be tourist for the afternoon. Our kiddos have never seen the Bellagio water show so we walked around the conservatory for a bit, ate the most delicious gelato and then went outside to see the show. We had prime spots for viewing except that the sun was right in our eyes. All in all it was fun playing tourists; from Red Rock to the strip it was a good way to spend our day off of school.

Yay for the kind old tourist who offered to take a picture of our family.

3 out of 4 smiles work for me!

Disney on Ice

Thanks for the tickets Uncle Travis, we LOVED the show!

Raine and Aubrey dressed up for the event.

She was quite a sassy skater during "The Princess and The Frog" skit.

It was a pretty amazing Fantasia skit too.

Raine's favorite part! She was so excited that the Beast was a prince.

We all had such an awesome time sitting 3 rows from the ice watching the fantastic show! Our friends the Surettes sat with us and then Aunt Amber and Aubrey joined us for the second act. I think I was more impressed with all of the exciting skaters than my kiddos. Well Raine was pretty focused on the show because her snow cone was melting all over her dress because she seemed to forget all about eating it. The kiddos picked out cotton candy and snow cones to purchase with their Christmas money. They were so excited because they now have two Mickey head cups and Raine was able to buy a pretty purple Tinkerbell cup. We concluded the night by meeting Mo at Olive Garden to enjoy a yummy pasta dinner. It is the kids favorite food, so it was a perfect choice. It was an extremely exciting Saturday afternoon and evening.

Trip to the Park with Aunt Amber

Aunt Amber and Aubrey came to visit us for the long holiday weekend. They arrived late Thursday night and we hung out and chatted for a little bit. Mo & I had to work on Friday but I let Reece & Raine stay home from school to play with Aunt Amber & Aubrey. Did I mention what a super duper fun aunt she is? Amber asked me where the closest park was so I drew her a map. She packed a picnic lunch and had the kiddos grab something to ride on. Reece and Raine grabbed their Batman and Dora big wheel things and Aubrey borrowed Reece’s scooter. Little did Amber know that the trek to the Dinosaur park would be such a grueling experience.

When I came home from my training, Amber was on the couch and shared all the details about their trip to the park especially what went wrong. Raine closed the sliding glass door on her finger while getting ready to go. Amber had trouble keeping up with the kiddos; they rode too far ahead of her. She dropped Aubrey’s camera in the sand, twice. Raine and Aubrey went flying down the yellow slide way too fast and landed on their butts. While walking home from the park, the kids took off their jackets and Amber dropped Raine’s on the side of the road. Luckily, she called Mo and he found it on his way home. Amber said she was glad they went to the park but it was quite an adventure!

Happy New Year

Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today you can do it again tomorrow. I am hoping to post this so mewhere in my ho me because it may just help me with that horrible act of procrastinating. Yet, I' m not sure I will want to scrub the toilet to morrow.

New Years Eve Snow Day

We spent the last day of 2010 playing in the snow. It was super-duper cold up at nt. Charleston. The temperature in the truck read 9 degrees. I knew it was going to be bitter cold so I brought extra everything for the kiddos so they wouldn't have any excuses. We had it all extra hats, mittens, socks and even a change of dry clothes for the kids when we were all done. We invited our friends the Russo's to join us. Even though we were frozen it was a great time.

The snow was so fresh and new, we found a great spot no one had touched yet.

Reece was dragging the sled up the hill, he didn't even complain.

Raine held on for dear life as she flew down the hill.

She was so light she went farther than anyone.

Fun family photo after changing the kiddos out of wet clothes into warm dry ones.

Raine loves climbing up and down the huge mound of snow.

Reece packing a snowball ready to throw it at his daddy.

The girls having a snack on the bed of daddy's truck.

The Batcave By: Reece Hauguel

Reece was given this awesome present from Pe Pere & Noni. He and his daddy have spent a few hours building all the different parts of it. Yesterday, Reece started reading the direction book and followed each step in hopes of building the Batcave all by himself. Daddy went into his bedroom to help him but only on a few parts. Reece's replica wasn't the same as it said in the book but he was so proud of his creation. Today when it was time to read books and rest, he decided to journal about it on his new white board. I love his inventive spelling of 'stuff' and 'guys' and his messy left-handed penmeship. I love that he took the time to write six sentences about something he loves, Batman. I love this creative kid sooo much.

SPOILED

Our kiddos are very blessed, or shall I say spoiled! Whenever someone asked Reece what he wanted for Christmas he would say, "A DS but if Santa can't make that then I want a skateboard." Good thing Santa made the DS because it probably cost less than the visits we would have to make to the emergency room. Except Santa didn't make this one; Ma Mere, Mom Mom, Uncle Travis, and Uncle Andy all sent us Christmas money or gift cards. We told Reece this was a very special DS because it was from everyone who loved him.

"HOLY COW, I can't believe it, a DS!" he shouted.

I couldn't spoil my son without getting something just as awesome for my daughter. Black Friday online shopping was a success when I found the pink Leapster 2 for half price. Raine was just as excited as Reece.

She shouted, "A Leapster, I didn't even put this on my list."

Now look at what we've created; zombies who stare in to their magical little machines!

Christmas Song

This is one of the best songs ever written. I love it, almost as much as I love Reese Peanut Butter cups and pretzel m&m's. Listen, read the lyrics and enjoy on the Eve of our Saviour's birth.

She was his girl, he was her boyfriend

Soon to be his wife, make him her husband

A surprise on the way, any day, any day

One healthy little giggling, dribbling baby boy

The Wise Men came, three made their way

To shower him with love

While he lay in the hay

Shower him with love, love, love

Love love, love

Love, love was all around

Not very much of his childhood was known

Kept his mother Mary worried

Always out on his own

He met another Mary who for a reasonable fee

Less than reputable was known to be

His heart was full of love, love, love

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree

Said "Oh, Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be.

I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene.

Instead I fear I’ve spilled the blood of our children all around."

The blood of our children all around

The blood of our children’s all around

So I’m told, so the story goes

The people he knew were

Less than golden-hearted

Gamblers and robbers

Drinkers and jokers

All soul searchers

Like you and me

Like you and me

Rumors insisted he soon would be

For his deviations taken into custody

By the authorities, less informed than he.

Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers

Searching for love, love, love

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

Preparations were made

For his celebration day

He said, "Eat this bread, think of it as me.

Drink this wine and dream it will be

The blood of our children all around,

The blood of our children all around.”

The blood of our children’s all around

Father up above,

Why in all this anger do you fill me up with love, love, love?

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

Father up above,

Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love?

Fill me love, love, yeah

Love, love, love

Love, love, and the blood of our children all around

Parenting

Today while we were eating lunch Raine said, "When I grow up I want to be a clown." Trying to hold back laughter, I responded with, "Really, why is that?" Smiling she said, "Because I get to be silly all the time!" I turned and chuckled to myself and then she said, "No, I am going to be a heart and star and a rainbow."

I love this girl so very much. She makes me laugh right out loud, smile ear to ear and frustrates the heck out of me all in one day. She is very independent and strong willed just like her mother. ;)

During our holiday shopping she had a serious meltdown in Target because she couldn't get lip gloss. One where I had to carry her out of the store while she screamed and kicked her shoe right off. I was a good mom sticking to my guns but boy was I embarrassed. I know all of the other people watching had been there before but seriously, Raine is 4 and 40lbs. That was too heavy and hard to carry out into the parking lot; where she continued to yell, "Your hurting me!" Rightfully so, I was squeezing her legs so she would stop squirming and kicking. I finally was able to set her down in a dark spot and beat her. No, not really, but I asked her if she was ready to walk to the truck or not. While standing there with an ugly look on her face, I said you can stand there and pout while I walk to the truck. She didn't like that, she screamed wait for me and ran up along side of me. I took her hand and tried to make her walk fast with me because the parking lot was really busy. She purposely walked super slow. I scooped her up and carried her again. She wasn't real fond of that. When we got to the truck I beat her, no not really, but I was so annoyed. I really wished I had a wooden spoon in my purse.

Why is it I have to have parenting moments like this?

Gingerbread Houses

I love to watch my 5th graders make these tasty little homes in school, so I thought I would start a new family tradition. Reece made them in his first grade class so he knew what to do. Raine was very excited about the patterning of the m&m roof. We built snowmen out of marshmallows and even added some Phineus & Ferb gummies to play in the snow surrounding the house. Daddy would come in from welding a cool Christmas present for a friend and add the peanut butter cup shrubs and Hersey Kiss chimneys. It took the kids a good amount of time to perfect their masterpieces. I wonder how many pieces of candy they ate when I wasn't looking.

Looks like they ate a lot of candy when mama wasn't looking. ;)

A Visit to Santa at Bass Pro Shop

After a joyful musical at church this morning, we headed south to Bass Pro Shop or BPS according to Reece. Santa's Wonderland is a really neat place to play while your mama stands in line for an hour. Seriously, I earned some major mom points today. I joined the line at 11:10 and the kiddos sat on Santa's lap around 12:13. Yes, I timed it because I would call the hubby and tell him to bring the kiddos over to join the line. At least I was able to follow the Eagles game and enjoy their amazing comeback.

Daddy had no problem letting the kids practice with the Red Ryder Rifle,

yep the one from A Christmas Story.

I guess Daddy has the magic touch on how to get the kiddos to pose nicely for pictures,

look how sweet they look.

Santa had some serious words for the kids, look how intently they are listening to him.

All that time spent in line was well worth this priceless picture.

I will be one sad mama when my kids are too big for Santa's lap.

Christmas Decorations

This is the little Christmas Tree Reece made from a branch of our real tree. He came in with this branch and asked for some paper so he could make the ornaments and candy canes. I love how it turned out. Reece enjoys drawing, coloring and crafting all the time. When I went into his room to see where he placed it, this is what I saw...

I love that he set up all of his little stuffed animals to sit in awe and splendor. I had to zoom in to get a close up of the detailed candy canes.

Below are some pictures Reece took before we started decorating the tree. We were enjoying Sunday night football the Eagles beating the Cowboys, when he asked to take the pics.

Cute huh?

I bet your house looks just as festive. I love this time of year, MERRY CHRISTMAS!