Happy New Year

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!

Tim and I enjoyed the evening last night with all the girls. We have a tradition of making all sorts of fun snack foods like little smokies, veggie tray, nachos, and the favorite... puppy chow. The girls get fancy cups (plastic) with sparkling grape juice. They think it's the coolest thing ever! We play games all night and have a wonderful time. The last couple of years we did this on actual New Years Eve, but this year we celebrated early because we weren't all going to be together. We never got around to playing any board games last night. We have some very fun new Wii games that kept us pretty entertained. If anyone is looking for a fun game and enjoys playing board games I recommend the Hasbro Family Game Night. Tim and I have been battling it out on there after the kids go to bed. The yatzee, boggle, and battleship are pretty fun! It's been keeping us (me) up late at night cause Tim doesn't like to lose (especially to me :) and keeps playing until he's the ultimate winner, no matter if I still have to get up early the next morning or not.

Rachel was taking the pictures last night. I will have to get them from her camera and load some up. I know we have a pretty funny one of Amberlea with a good story behind it. You'll just have to wait and see....

We were also singing and dancing with the girls playing their new Superstar Boogie on the wii. Tim also joined in on this. He wasn't happy there are only girl songs, and let's just say, we didn't let him have a turn that often... ouch. I thought I did pretty well on the dance challenge, but it turns out Tim can shake it better than me and barely beat my score. I'll have to see if Rachel has pictures of this too... lol.

We are off tonight to join some friends and play more games to ring in the new year. I hope your 2009 is filled with much love, happiness, laughter, and good health for you make some special memories with your families this coming year!

Christmas Time

This is definitely my favorite time of year, minus the ice. I love Christmas shopping for the girls and start months ahead of time making a list of things they had mentioned they would really like to have. I am not one to put it off. I always think that if I'm going to spend my money I am going to find the best present for the best price and not just buy something to be buying it. It's a lot of work, not really... I enjoy every minute of it especially when I see their faces and I know that was exactly what they were wanting (even if they knew it or not).



This is a picture of Rachel with her new camera Santa left her. She is thrilled with it! Also notice her other favorite, the Twilight shirt she is stylin' from her mom. She couldn't be happier!

Josie got a new ipod from Santa. She loves listening to her big sissies and is always dancing around or singing, so this was a good present for Santa to bring her. If you were listening to her, after every song that comes on, she says that it is 'HER FAVORITE'! it's pretty funny!

The only thing Cailyn would say she wanted was a big girl bed. That's what she got. Santa left it in our living room for her. Tim and I woke up Christmas morning to the squeals of them jumping on the bed. They didn't bother waking us up to see if Santa came. They just came right out and started playing with their things. Josie and Cailyn are sharing this bed since they share a room for now. I was worried how this would work out, but so far, so good. They get a little chatty before bed and I have to tell them it's time to go to sleep. Since they got it they haven't asked one of us to lay with them before bed to fall asleep or get up in the night to come into our bed. I'm THRILLED!!

And last but not least Amberlea got a new stereo from Santa. She also got a pogo stick from Tim and I. She never asked for one, I just thought it would be something she would really enjoy. The first day she could only do about 5 or 6 jumps in a row. Now she's way up in the double digits. Anyone that knows Amberlea, knows she is a ball of energy that doesn't sit still too often. This was perfect! Now everyone pray we don't end up with any broken bones!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas with their family and made some great memories!

--- Sorry for the pictures being off, I'm still trying to figure out this whole blogging thing. I'll get the hang of it soon.

Puppy Love

This is a picture I took Christmas morning of our newest additions to our family. They are very playful. Larry and Penny's dog had pups and some how we have ended up with 2 of them (for now). I keep reminding the girls that we are not keeping them both. Josie had the back puppy picked out from the first day they were born. If it was up to me we would have none. They are cute as can be, but I feel like my hands are full enough with the kids, our dog Oscar, and our 2 cats. I did not want to disappoint the girls so I agreed to one, but we came home with 2! They have now been with us for about a week and it's getting very hard not to get attached. So if anyone is looking for a new puppy, please let me know. They are part Terrier and Bishon. They shouldn't get that big. But for now.... my girls are in Puppy Heaven!

Josie really wanted to name hers Santa Clause, but I talked her out of that one and she then agreed to Rudy (after Rudolf the red nosed reindeer of course). The other we are trying not to name, but the name Toby keeps coming up.

Giving it a shot

Well, like so many others out there I have several blogs I follow. I have often thought that I would like to give it a shot and try having one of our own. Not that I have anything exciting to write about besides my kids, and I am grateful for that. I do enjoy taking pictures of them and we often have something going on that I could write about. I have never claimed to be a writer, so please excuse all my errors. Here we go ..........