It's Cold and Snowy Outside

It's been snowing here for over a week now. It usually only snows for a day or two at a time here. My car is the little silver one. It's been buried for four days and the snow just keeps coming down.

Here's the beautiful view out our back door that I took this morning. It's a Winter Wonderland out there.

My kids really wanted to go to their dad's house for Christmas this year (like every year) so Jeremy decided that we could make it to Seattle and back in his car in this weather. I took this picture above from the passengers seat. This is what I-5 looked like most of the way there and back. Jeremy had to drive a lot slower of course so it took us twelve hours round trip this time. We made it there and back safely and the kids get their Merry Christmas with their dad.

Christmas at Mana's and Papa's house

Awww....Jeremy and Taryn at my mom and dad's house.

This picture is so funny because my dad had just sat down on the arm of the chair and it started to tip backwards and my mom freaked out. It was really funny.

Here's my stepbrother Mike and his daughter Gabby. In the background is my bother in law Dominick, my dad and my littlest brother Jacob.

Here's Rachael and my little nephew Nicholas sitting in Mana's Chair. I think they were filling up Nicholas' pez candy dispenser?

Here's Dylan hiding behind his monkey Wild Hogs.

Here we have Dylan, Cody hiding behind his koala bear Buddey, my nephew Ammon and another nephew Trenton.

Here we have Gabby, Tamara and Dylan's back side.

Oh here's one of part of my niece Trinity, Trenton, Nicholas and Rachael.

Here's Dominick again, my sister in law Katrena, Jared and Teresa (Mike's wife) hanging out in the kitchen.

Tamara, Jacob and Trinity waiting to open presents.

Every year we go over to Mana and Papa's house (my mom and dad) for Christmas. We usually have this on Christmas Eve. This year my mom decided that because we can't all always make it on Christmas Eve that we should do the Saturday before Christmas so that everyone can be there. Well no body can predict the weather 6 months in advance. This year we actually got snow! Not everyone made it over this year, but we still had lots of food and fun gifts to exchange.

Build An Animal

Dylan picked a Monkey and named him Wild Hogs.

Here's Taryn waiting for her Zebra named White Lava to be filled with stuffing.

Rachael named her Elephant Ellie. Ellie got a pretty ballerina dress with silver shoes.

Tamara named her Bunny Kristen. How cute with her camo outfit and tent.

Here are the kids registering their animals and getting birth certificates for them.

Cody named his Koala Bear Buddey.

This year all of the kids wanted an animal from Build A Bear Workshop so we decided to get them all gift certificates instead of trying to remember who wanted what animal and how they wanted it dressed. The kids loved the idea of picking out their own animal, getting it stuffed and then picking out the perfect outfit and accessories. What a fun day.

An Early Christmas

Our little Christmas Tree buried in the presents.

This is the Big family gift this year. The kids were just dying to find out what was in the box.

OMG!! It Guitar Hero World Tour!! I think I was more excited than the kids on this one.

Okay, maybe Dylan was excited about this one too!

Here's my Rock Star Family Rockin out!! Jeremy on the drums, Cody and Dylan on guitar and Taryn on the microphone singing her heart out.

We had Christmas early this year. Taryn and Tamara are going to be at their mom's house on Christmas morning and my kids are supposed to be at their dad's house. With this crazy weather outside though they'll probably still be here at home. Yahoo weather predicts 5 to 10 inches of snow and then freezing rain in the next 5 days. We already have about 4 to 5 inched right now and it's been snowing for almost a week already. It's cold and windy outside.

Cookie Day 2008

Every Year in December my family gets together for Cookie Day. It's a day when all the kids get together and decorate cookies for Christmas. This year we had it a my apartment. There were 11 kids and 6 adults total. What a house full! We started at noon with the pizzas and then we got the kids ready to frost cookies. They each got to frost 4-6 special ones to take home with them and the rest are for our Christmas get together next weekend.

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday Jeremy and I finished our Christmas Shopping, Decorated the apartment for Christmas and then we had a small party for my Birthday. Jeremy bought me a Banana Cake from the best Bakery in town and bought me some clothes while we were out shopping.
My party was Scheduled to begin between 7 and 8. Ange and her kids were the first ones to show up and then Yvonne. Next Jared and Ammon showed up with chips and dip and then Jacob and Valerie. Jacob got me Season one of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I love it! That show is on in the mornings some times when my kids are getting ready for school and I find myself watching it from time to time. A little bit later my friend Jestyne came with her friend and then Jordan showed up with his friend. Around 10 o'clock Ange left with her kids, Cody and Rachael. Ammon stayed to spend the night with Dylan and Taryn was here. Everyone else left around midnight. We didn't play any games like I had thought we would, but we had some really great conversations. It's not very often I get to be with so much of my family at one time. I had a really great birthday this year. Thank you to all who came.

Awesome Author

Today I got to have lunch with Rachael at school. She was selected as an Awesome Author for the month of November. I am so proud of her. Each month only two students from each grade are selected for this honor. Parents are invited to join their student for lunch and then all of the students that were selected get to read their writing to everyone at the lunch. The writings are then posted for display on a wall for the whole school to enjoy. In the above picture, it was Rachael's turn to read her poem that she had written about her Dad. The man in this picture told me that her poem brought tears to his eyes.

All of the students got a cookie when they were done reading their writings.

Here she is with her award that will go on the fridge and then into her special box for her special things.

The pictures are of course out of order. I brought Rachael Wendy's today for our lunch because that's what she had requested for her special day.

My Dad

My dad is strong

My dad is thoughtful

My dad is not harmful

My dad is nice

My dad is healthy

My dad is meaningful

My dad has a lot of friends

My dad has a girl named Keri

My dad is my dad

That is all I want him to be

My dad will protect me

Anywhere I go

My dad will always be in my heart