Can't believe 2013 is almost over.

 

Merry Christmas to all,

Sorry we haven't kept this site up this year, will try to update more in 2014.  Over all it has been a great year.   Mondo and Terri are both doing well in their jobs.   Mondo received a unexpected promotion halfway through the year.  We are all proud of him.  He has joined a toastmaster class, to continue his growth in speaking, and is hoping to become manager in the future.   Terri is now work at home as of November.   She still takes incoming calls, just like at the call center, but now is home with the family. This has especially made it nice since she works weekends.   Working at home has allowed us to no longer need before/after school care, and saved on gas.   We were really excited about that.    We  started off the beginning of the year eating a lot healthier, like many, and became lazy through out the year.   We have started to refocus the lifestyle change, and know 2014 will be a successful year with health.  You can see some of the earlier post for some healthy eating.   Terri did have surgery in the start of the year to repair her shoulder.   She has recovered well.  The surgery also took care of the year long migraines she had in 2012.  It was the best decision we made to have the surgery.

 

The children are all growing up so fast, and blossoming in to their own selves.

 

Miss A,  is 12 years old and in 7th grade.  She is 5’7 and almost as tall as Terri.   She is attending a charter school with small class sizes this year and loves it.   She loves to sing, dance, and play basketball.  For part of the year she was taking voice lessons, and hopes to resume those in the next year.   She is rarely home these days.  There are many sleep overs, school outings, basketball games, and hanging with friends.  We are very proud of the young woman she is becoming.   She earned some extra money this year with assisting us with watching little man during the summer.   She is the resident prankster of the house.  Did you know if you take the cardboard from the toilet paper roll , wet it, and roll it in your hand it looks like poop? ( Sorry so gross)... Well she did and thought it was hilarious to leave it by the front door. Might have been a little more believable if we had a dog.  We got a good laugh out of it though.

 

Miss K is 9 years old and in 4th grade.  She is doing very well in school.  She has been selected to go to 5th grade for  5-6th grade math. She is very proud of herself, as are we of all her hard work.    She loves to sing, and is part of the school choir.  She is looking forward to when we move next year, as she wants to start taking hip hop and ballet.  She loves to dance, and can be found dancing , cartwheeling, and doing the splits all the time.  She has also made a lot of good friends. 

 

Little man  is 5 years old and in Kindergarten.   He is very out going and loves to help out around the house.   He is such a little  gentleman, and  is often seen holding the door for his sisters, and mom.  He loves Lego's and Star Wars.  There are many days where he likes to pretend he is a storm trooper. He can be found digging in the dirt, taking a part electronics ( really likes dad and grandpa;s flashlights) , and bird watching on a regular basis.   He has been taking a music class every Wednesday called Let’s Play Music.  He loves it.   So far he wants to play the trombone, drums, and violin.  Should be quite the combination.  

 

We did have some exciting news in the last month.  We have found a house to buy.  We have been renting for  2 1/2 years, and are looking forward to owning a home again.  We have loved our time in here, but look forward to moving back to where many of our close friends live.  Right now we live 45 minutes to an hour from them.  We have already put a contract on the house, and it is being built now.   It should be completed by the end of the April.  Perfect timing, as we are in a lease here until the end of May.    We truly do feel blessed this year with the job growth, our friends, and family.  

We love you all, and look forward to seeing and hearing about your year as well.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving that my sister took, and some others of the kids through out the year.  

 

                                                                                 
                                                            Miss A this year

 

Little Man this year. 

                                              

                                             Mondo and I 

Miss K this year

Legoland California

We had a great weekend.  One of my friends/ co-workers Jess moved to Carlsbad a year ago, and was nice enough to let us stay the weekend with her family.  The weather was Awesome!  It was about 100 degrees when we left Phoenix , and  68 degrees when we arrived in Carlsbad.  

 

We surprised little man before leaving Phoenix, letting him know we would be going to Legoland.   He has wanted to go there for so long.  Yes, he loves Legos, but more importantly he loves the Star Wars Lego exibit.   I didn't even know there was one there, but he looked it up on the computer and proved me wrong.  

Overall, Legoland is for younger children, but the girls enjoyed themselves too.   They especially liked the water rides and Sea Aquarium

 

Miss K's favorite item was the mini towns made out of Lego.

 

 

 



 

 Thank you Jess for letting us stay.  Your family is amazing, as are you, and you are welcome at our house anytime.  Can't wait till the next time we get together.

Mondo and I



He loved the water.  The girls would not let me take their picture .



Mondo and Little Man



My beautiful children.

The whole family

HELP!!!



 

Fun at the beach

The weather in Carlsbad was perfect, 68 degress! This was the first time that Little man has been to the beach. He was not to fond of the seaweed, but other than that loved it . As you can tell by the pictures they had a blast.




 

Our view at dinner

 

 

 

Sunset

Relaxing at dinner
 

Playing in the ocean.
 



 

Terri and Little Man. He  was upset about Seaweed on the beach.

 

Kindergarten here we come!

Little Man and his teacher Mrs. O

 

Little man was so excited to be "graduating" preschool, and is ready to start Kindergarten this coming August.   The school had a little graduation.  Unfortunately due to a work conflict Terri was not able to make the graduation so Mondo and Julie, Terri's sister, took these pictures and video  to show her the special day.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Happiest Place on Earth

Recently our family went on a vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland.   We had a great time.  In the past we have only gone for 1 - 1 1/2 days.   This time we decided to go for 3 days.  It was nice, as we didn't have to fit everything in all at once, not to say I still didn't try.   We had a great time.  My cousins Ronnie and Bridget met us up there and the girls also got to hang out with their cousin Miss C.  She is such a sweet girl, and has become a beautiful young lady.   

The three cousins
 

Two beautiful young ladies.
 

One of my favorite parts of the trips is when the girls went to Disney Studio 365 and got their hair done.  One of my daughters best friends came with us too, and they all turned out beautiful.  It was a lot of fun to be spoiled for the day.  

My other favorite part was World of Colors show in California Adventure.  We had never seen this show, and it was amazing.  The water changes colors and dances to music.  The pictures really don't do it justice.

Little man, who hadn't been to Disney since he was 1 years old, had a blast.  Every time he saw a character he would take off running up to them.  Here are some of the pictures:




This is one of my favorite pictures of him
 

Mondo and I were also able to get a way for some much needed a lone time.   Mondo has always talked about eating at the Blue Bayou, the restaurant in Pirates of the Caribbean, and I was able to surprise him with a lunch date there.   The atmosphere was nice and relaxing and it also gave the kids time with their aunt Ronnie and Aunt Bridget.    We decided we need to make sure that we set a side more date nights for ourselves, as we don't get out to often without the kids. 


The lines weren't to bad, except for Sunday.   We waited two hours for the new Radiator Springs Car ride.   It was Awesome.   All the children loved it.  

Overall it was a great trip with family and friends.  We even met some new friends, Bridget's sister and niece.  Her niece is such a cutie too..

Ronnie and Bridget.  Love these ladies xxoo

Bridget and her adorable niece.

Bridget's sister and her beautiful daughter.

  I will say we were very sore from all the walking, but it was well worth it.   I can't wait until our next trip with everyone. 

Other Pictures from the trip:

I faced my fear of heights.

Little man went on the ride to make sure I wasn't scared.

Handsome Magician
 

Right before the drop on splash mountain.

The whole gang . Waiting in line for the Rockets.
 

Best Friends

Three girls rocking their hair .