Joy

If I could use one word to sum up our Christmas this year it's Joy!

Joy is Karissa waking us up at 2am whispering, I can't believe I got my bunny. She told me the next morning she couldn't sleep after that. She kept peaking downstairs.

Joy is Addison standing at the top of the stairs looking at her doll house and pink kitchen saying, "My dream."

Joy is Andrew being such a sweet happy baby.

Joy is spending time with our family, keeping traditions alive and enjoying Christmas through the eyes of my children.

And Joy is welcoming this sweet girl to our home. We found her online and she desperately needed to be adopted. The best part is that she is socialized, used to kids and potty trained.

Mary

On the side of my fridge where no one can see, I hang things. Things like reminders, quotes, pictures, etc.

For the past few years I have had my favorite depiction of Mary just after Christ's birth hanging there. It serves as a reminder of sacrifice. A reminder of that moment after 9 long months you finally get to hold that baby in your arms. It also reminds me of my responsibility to my children to teach them as Mary taught Jesus.

Last night at the living nativity at
St. Mary Magdalen I was reminded again all the reasons why I love and respect Mary. I pray that one day I have the opportunity to sit at her feet.

The Holiday Season

It's been so busy yet so incredibly fun!

Karissa went to see the Nutcracker with her class.

We've been to the Camarillo Christmas parade.

Both girls had Christmas Sing-A-Long's.

We've seen Santa...more than once.

Grandpa celebrated his 90th birthday in style at the Las Posas Country Club.

Addi fell asleep during the Christmas program at church.

Andrew is 8 months old and getting bigger by the minute. His clothes size is 12 to 18 mos. He's crawling and climbing up on everything. This is going by way too fast.

Candy Cane Lane has landed on our list twice. The girls even took in the view aboard Thomas The Tank Engine.

It's busy and yet I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ten years

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

Louis De Bernieres

I stole this quote from Nie Nie.
It pretty much sums up my feelings on love.

Matt has given me the best gifts in the entire world.

Hell Week (you read that right)

So far it's equivalent to a sorority rush week. (except I never joined one of those because I thought the girls were too stuck-up.)

We're into day 3 and it ain't pretty.  Both girls have had a school functions every day this week.  Matt and I are trying to attend as many events as we can.  I (stupidly) offered to be the "virtual" Room Mom for both girls classes.  (I won't be doing that again!)  Each teacher needs a teacher gift and the coordination of contributions for a group gift.  Oh, and dance teacher gifts, book exchanges, white elephants, yankee gift exchange, (this was a new one for me).  I am seriously ready to pull my hair out.

Oh and yes, my milk decided to dry up.  At first I was like FINE, Andrew can have formula. 
Well unlike the girls he hates formula and got a seriously bad diaper rash!!  I called my OB and whined so now I have a prescription to increase my milk supply.  So far it seems to be working quite well. 
Let's keep praying it increases.  (Yes, I'm asking you to pray that I will have milk.  Just kidding.)

Other than that, things are boring!  What a joke. 

Just wanted to publicly thank my neighbor Amy for taking care of my kids.  I know that she had several other reason why she moved to Camarillo from AZ, but I think she was sent to me.  She is really the best and I needed her sooo much.  Karissa and Brock are the bestest friends ever.  Addi and Andrew love them too.

Christmas arrived early

This past week Matt and I received an abundance of blessings that we are incredibly thankful for. 

After 2 months we finally got a new tenant in the Vegas condo!  (Whew.  I was starting to panic a little.)

Addison was on her way to getting another set of ear tubes and after a hearing test and another visit to her E.N.T., Dr. Feinfield, on Tuesday and her ears were given a clean bill of health.

Karissa received this award at school.  Matt and I almost cried.  We are so proud of her.

This is a tarantula.  Addi was so excited to show me this picture after school she nearly fell over.

This is the most exciting news of all.  Matt has worked his tail off at the Auto Club and has been promoted to Branch Office Manager.  His first day at the Camarillo office will be December 19.  We are so excited!

We are so thankful for these blessings.

Quotes of the week

Karissa- Santa has glass and plastic. He can make an iPad.

Addison- Don't be disappointed. It was just an accident. (after yet another potty accident.)

Andrew- Dadadada

Matt- Friday nights aren't good for me.

Me- Holy crap! I didn't think I could do that.

Smart Car

Just the thought of my brother Ryan driving this around eastern and southern Utah brings a smile to my face. And not because he's being Eco friendly; because he's over 6 ft tall.

This made my Monday

Thanksgiving

There are so many things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.  These photos pretty much sum it up.

My husband who works very hard to provide for our family while going to Law School 3 nights a week.  

My children who light up my life in ways I never imagined possible.

My 16 nieces and nephews who love to be together.

My 4 brothers, 2 brother in-laws, 3 sisters and 4 sister-in laws who lead, guide, help and protect me on the journey we call life.  I wouldn't be the person I am without their influence, support and love.

My Grandpa who at nearly 90 years old still makes sure all our needs are met.

My job at Rocky Mountaineer which gives me a way to help support my family.

My friends Samantha, Amy and Marie who help me daily and are wonderful mothers.

My church for giving me the guidance I need to be a better wife, mother and a closer relationship with Christ.

As you can see I have much to be thankful for.

 Brett and Addison

 Breann and Karissa

 Brett, Karissa and Breann with their Dads on a quad adventure.

 This little charmer.

Despite the fact the rosemary we had sticking out of the cavity of this 21lb turkey catching on fire, our turkey was delicious!

Betsy and Saint Kristy

Paging Mr. Batali

Over the past few months every time I make spaghetti for dinner, Karissa refuses to eat a single bite.

"I hate your spaghetti."

"I only like Auntie Beth's or Mommy Eikos's spaghetti!"

Ugh.

Monday night the stars aligned and I had some extra time and all the ingredients to make my favorite basic tomato sauce (recipe courtesy of Mr. Mario Batali). The sauce was perfect and served on top of whole grain thin spaghetti.

As soon as Karissa caught on, the whaling started. I told her Auntie Beth gave me all the directions on how to make her sauce. She decided to try a bite.

Lo and behold she LOVED it.

Thank you Mr. Batali for rescuing my meat sauce.

And just like that

Karissa fell asleep in our bed last night. When I went to move her to her own bed I realized she's too big to carry.   And just like that, my baby is not a baby anymore. 

After Karissa was born everyone told me she'd grow up way too fast. 

I didn't believe them.  At the time I couldn't wait for her to grow up.

Now it's going way too fast. Slow down! She's only 6 1/2.

Eleven-Eleven-Eleven

This little guy decided to get some teeth. Both bottom teeth have cut through.

pickles

Last week we said goodbye to our loyal dog,

Mr. Pickles.  It's been hard trying to put into words my thoughts and feelings about Pickles.  Here are a few pictures our of life with him.

Above is Karissa, Pickles and our friends dog.  To the right is also Karissa playing with Pickles in our kitchen.  Pickles favorite place was the kitchen.  Any morsel of food found on the ground was his - period.

Addison and Pickles loved to cuddle together.  She loved to cover him with blankies, he tolerated it.  Pickles also loved Addison because she'd share every meal with him. 

Pickles welcomed home each of our babies.
He was never aggressive.  He loved and

 protected them.  Disregard the pink ring on the

carseat, this is Andrew and Pickles.

One of Pickles most endearing qualities is simply that he put up with us.  In the beginning he was walked 2 times a day, played with, bathed regularly and allowed to sleep in our bed.                         

Then baby after baby arrived and Pickles grew older and older.  His walks became less frequent, his baths were given at the groomer and he had been kicked off our bed.  

This February Pickles developed diabetes.  The treatment prescribed was twice daily insulin shots.  At first this seemed easy.  It took a little adjusting in the amount received and times when he got his shots.  

As the year progressed Pickles lost his sight.  A side effect from the diabetes.  He also lost his hearing, probably from old age.  Or that Pugs typically has ear problems. 

In the last few months Pickles, was really started to slow down and we knew the end was near. 

We love you and miss you and know we'll be with you again. XO.                        



Halloween Self Portrait

Happy Halloween

Right Now

Right now, Kariss is reading this book to Andrew. She's holding him on her lap.

My heart has melted.



Conversations with Addi

"Mom, I hear sirens." - Addi

"Me too.  I wonder where they are going?" - Me

"Prabaly to a fire or to arrest somebody." -Addi

"Oh, how do you get arrested?" - Me

"Well if you hit somebody really hard and they have blood, then you get arrested." -Addi

"Oh." -Me  (That's about all I could say.)

Dear Grocery Cart Police

(Sadly there are not actual pictures to go along with this post. Just use your imagination.)

Dear Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman,

It's been just over a week since we met in the Ralph's parking lot. Since then I've been going over several plans should I have the opportunity to meet you again. Not sure exactly what I'll do, it may involve blood and your handy reusable bag smooshed under my big SUV tire.

You see that special Friday my family and I were on our way to San Diego. Ralph's was our last stop before jumping on the freeway. It was 1:00p and I had been up and running since 6:00a. The morning was spent packing for 5 people including 2 children and 1 infant. Matt making several trips to Fedex Office picking up my brochures, poster and flyers for the travel conference. We rented a car (cause it was free) and it turned out to be a little smaller than expected and my 3 kids in carseats were smooshed like sardines in the back. Matt's blood sugar was on the verge of collapse. We needed car snacks and baby food before we could begin our journey into lovely L.A. Traffic.

As I ran out of Ralph's I could see my 6 year old starting to meltdown in the back seat. She was complaining she was "carsick". I handed her an apple reassuring her she'd feel better. The rest of the groceries were stuffed on the floorboard of the backseat as I made a snide remark to my husband that I'd take care of unloading all the groceries. I placed the grocery cart safely in the open parking space next to our car.

Then you, Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman, walked into my life. (For you readers, this was an older gentlemen, who may be stereotyped as a tree hugger.) As you walked by me placing the cart in the open parking spot, you called out, "The cart return is right there", pointing 6 parking stalls away. My first thought was to yell back, "Thank you jerk!" But since my kids were in the car, I refrained. I got into the car and started it up. My six year old asked her first, "When are we going to be in San Diego?"

As I was settling the kids and starving husband I can see Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman walking into the store turning around several times and shaking his head at me. I'm staring at him unable to move because I'm thinking , do I get out of the car and put the cart away? Next thought, heck no! That jerk isn't going to tell me what to do. He has no idea what I'm dealing with right now.

Just before Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman enters the store he turns around and gives me one more disapproving shake of his head. Matt asks, "What is that guys problem?" I tell Matt what he said and Matt, flips him off. (Now, if you know Matt this is totally uncharacteristic of him.) Then to my shock, Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman starts running towards our car. Matt then rolls down the window and both men our hurling insults to one another while Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman's hands are on making coo-coo signals at us. I throw the car in reverse and start speeding out of the parking lot as he's chasing our car. Karissa is fully aware of what just went down. Of course I was less than thrilled with Matt and he was less than thrilled with me for not being happy he defended me.

So, Mr. Grocery Cart Policeman, I dare you to shake your head at me again. And just for you, I will always leave the cart in the parking space next to me. Because I have kids in the car and don't want some lunatic to take off with them while I walk 25 yards to the cart return!

Pumpkin Adventure

We had a fun adventure gathering pumpkins at the Borchard family's farm. The kids loved picking as many pumpkins as our cars could hold. I loved that they were free!

Thank you Borchard family.