Friday, December 18, 2009

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Its snowing! Woohoo! 

Friday, December 11, 2009

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Ready for the cold. 

Thursday, December 10, 2009

6 Years

Our little boy turned 6 on Wednesday. It's hard to believe how fast the time has passed. He is transitioning from the cuddling, kissing, sweet boy to the "I don't want anyone to see you kissing me mom", sometimes irritating boy behaviors (that some never grow out of...hehehe), independent, whatever I think is right, big boy. But underneath it all, he is still my little boy and I will continue to  kiss and coddle him as much as I can. He is doing great in school, holding the first place title in the most read books since school started. He has stared reading to Isa at nights before bed. Him and Isa are best buds and are inseparable. Happy birthday son. We love you always.


 Isa picked out a Nerf gun for Sam. Apparently, she was told by him that that is what he wanted the most. When we were at the store, I couldn't find them and tried to suggest something else. She looked me in the eye and with a wave of her finger she said, "NO mommy. He wants a Nerf gun. We need to get him a Nerf gun". Thankfully I found them.

Oh yes, I also had a birthday a few days ago. I turned 29 for the 4th time. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep this up. My present had been waiting for me for about a week and I did everything possible to get the kids to divulge what it was. But they kept a tight lip no matter what I bribed them with. They are such good secret keepers. I had been bugging Rueben for a sewing machine for years and he finally delivered. I'm not sure what he was so afraid of...maybe me sewing the leg holes to his skivvies or the cheesy holiday shirts that I am planning on sewing. I am just thrilled that I finally have a sewing machine and at the same time, I am kicking my butt for not taking advantage of learning when my mother tried to teach me. She is an excellent seamstress and I am looking forward to when she visits. In the meantime, my friend Elena, who is also an awesome seamstress, came over and gave me sewing lessons, along with the material and pattern to make me and Isa cute matching aprons. It was an awesome birthday present. Project Runway here I come...(maybe).
working progress

Yellow Belt

Last Friday, Sam tested for his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. He passed of course, and will be starting on another phase in his training. He has done really well and has established good posture and better body control. At this rate, he'll be a black belt before we know it. These are the tenents that he is learning: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverence, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit. We are so proud of our growing boy!

On another note, this is what Sam does when he picks out his clothes the night before school. I thought it was pretty funny. 

Friday, December 4, 2009

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"this is my happy face!"

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

My new hobby (for you Shirley)








Girl walks into a beading store and the rest is...


My first necklace and earring combo.


 
I've been working with Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, glass beads and sterling silver. The hardest part is combining colors and beads. I can spend hours the bead store and come out with two maybe three projects.


I had originally made earrings with the purple crystals and then decided to make the matching necklace, of course.



This one is Sam's favorite cause it reminds him of Christmas. I'm not much of a holiday jewelry wearer, but I hear they sell like crazy. I think I might start making snowmen, santas, and christmas trees.

I've also been learning different stitches. This here is a simple ladder stitch. 

This is a twisted triple strand with pendant.



Simple wire wrapped earrings. I'm looking forward to more wire wrapping classes.
The top necklace is done with a spiral stitch. It's my second favorite stitch to work with. The bottom is an even count peyote stitch bracelet that I still need to embelish somehow.
Cluster drop earrings. I wear them as much as I can.


And this one is my latest creation. I absolutely love it! Anything is possible when you follow directions. It is a double sided bracelet made with charcoal color pearls and embellished with ruby swarovski crystals (top flowers) and black diamond swarovski crystals on the side. When turned over, all you see is the pearls and side crystals. I can't wait to make more in different colors.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

And yet another one...


Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Gotta love JibJab


Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Deck the halls...


The kids had a great time decorating. They trimmed the tree all by themselves. 



The outside lights are up. Christmas better bring it cause we are ready!

Thanksgiving

This year we have a lot to be thankful for. Graduation for Rueben, employment, two beautiful healthy children, a loving marriage, amazing family and awesome friends. We have all the basics and some commodities that not all can say they have. The turkey was once again rocked by Rueben this year. Brining it with this tasty dry rub for 24 hours and baked just right. It's my favorite that he loves to cook the turkey every year.



The children looking nice. I am thankful that they still let me pick out their clothes on the days that matter.




Post turkey silliness.  I was completely overtaken by the tryptophan and shamefully fell asleep on the couch.
 
 Isabelle and her Big Giant Boy. She's always asking for him and when they are together she chases him all over the place.
 
Sam and Malcom 
 
 I hope everyone had a great Thanskgiving. We are thankful for you!

Monday, November 23, 2009

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This is Rueben most the time. Haha. Just kidding. 

Too much time on my hands Rueben


This is what Rueben looks like when he has too much time on his hands.

Work Rueben


This is what rueben looks like when he's at work.

Learning about Native Americans, pilgrims, and thanksgiving. Here she is shooting her bow and arrow.


Testing

Figuring out how to blog from iPhone.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, November 22, 2009

We're back!

Hello family and friends. I know it has been a few months since I have posted or even really been on blogger. I've let the daily routine keep me busy. But the other day I was looking through the pictures and it just brought a smile and I began to reminisce about everything we have done in the past two years. I realized that I am not just blogging for you, but for me as well. So, here it is, we are starting with Halloween and going backwards.


Halloween is just a special day all around. You get to dress up, carve pumpkins, eat lots of candy and best of all, it's Rueben's birthday.


"Dressed up like a million dollar trooper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Super-duper"


We were made for one another.


Rueben did an awesome job on Sam's face paint. He is so good at it, but then again, he's good at most everything he does. I think if this anesthesia stuff doesn't pan out, he could make it as a Hollywood Makeup Artist.


Sam's Tae Kwon Do place hosted a costume party. Our cute Little Mermaid won best costume. Even got a medal. She was thrilled.


RRRRAAAARRRR!


Isa really wants red hair.


Where the wild things are.


Our little girl has grown up so much this past year. She is completely potty trained, even during the night. Oh and she loves to talk. I remember when she didn't and we kept wondering when she was going to start. Now we sometimes ask for just a few seconds of quiet. Oh and her favorite word "why".


Party at the preschool. Isa loves going to school. She only goes three days a week, but she's always asking if she can go. Her favorite, lunch bunch.






Have you met our miniature horse Jake? He's a little over 80 pounds now and he is still growing. We get so many compliments when we are out and about with him. He loves car rides, going to the doggy park, running next to Rueben while he bikes. I tell him he would be the perfect dog if he just didn't shed so much. It's incredible the amount of hair I sweep and vacuum every day. We just love him to pieces.



The beautiful colors of Autumn. This is our backyard. The trees are all bare now. On the days that it doesn't rain, it's chilly in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Waiting for the snow to get here.



Having fun carving pumpkins.

"Isabelle, what's inside the pumpkins?"
Isa: (with this scowl on her face) "GUTS AND SEEDS!!"






"HUH?" Every time that the kids cry, Jake howls right next to them. As if my kids cry wasn't enough. But it's the funniest thing cause he only does it with our kids. I guess he feels their pain.


We have never cut Isa's hair and it's gotten so long. She loathes having it combed and most the time it's a big mess. A haircut might be nice, but I just can't bare to lose the curly ends.



And because I can't cut Isa's hair, I went and chopped mine off. I had been thinking about it for months and I finally dared. It's only hair and it grows back. I love it and I think I'll sport it for a while.


Pumpkin patch and hay ride.




Fun times at the fair.


Swim lessons. The kids love being in the water. Sam is swimming without his floaties and jumping off the diving board.






Isa has been taking dance lessons. She's learning tap, baton, ballet and tumbling. She absolutely loves it.


Early in October, this is what the kids wanted to be for Halloween. I think it changed about three times.






The best place to be.