Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great Thanksgiving! So significant to me for so many reasons. The first was our decision to spend Thanksgiving with my family for the first time since we have been married. Spending today with my family made it feel so much like the Thanksgivings I grew up with. The sights, the smells and the food were all so familiar. I didn't really even realize how much I had been missing this "Thanksgiving" over the past eight years. I am thankful for such a wonderful childhood and all the memories I have.

We had the unfortunate experience of losing my grandpa last month. He was truly a wonderful Christian man. He was always very healthy, extremely active and a strong patriarch for our family. After 95 years he suffered a stroke and passed shortly after. It was an easy decision for us to spend this holiday with my mom who had to say farewell to her last surviving parent. (She had been brought up by her grandma, mom and dad.) I don't know how that feels but can imagine that there is a loneliness. I am thankful that we were able to spend today with my mom. I am thankful for both of my wonderful parents. I am thankful for my grandparents and the influence they once had on my life.

Today was also Alyssa's very first Thanksgiving. She fell asleep 10 minutes before we sat down to eat and didn't wake up for two and a half hours. So, I guess she really didn't get to experience the feast part of the holiday but that's ok because she can't eat any of the food yet anyway. I am thankful for my three adorable children and my wonderful husband. I am also thankful for being able to stay home with my kids even during this terrible economy.

The flu hit our family this year. Yesterday I was in bed with chills and an upset stomach. I didn't think I would be up for Thanksgiving. When I woke up this morning I felt so much better. I didn't miss the feast! I am thankful for my health. I am also thankful for the good health of my kids and family.

I am thankful for so much this year. This has been a very memorable Thanksgiving for me. I truly feel blessed.

Alyssa is 6 Months Old!

This baby is just growing way too fast. I can't believe she is already 6 months old. She has become so much more aware of her surroundings. She now loves playing with toys. She's not quite sure what to do with them once she gets a hold of a toy so they usually end up in her mouth. She has a little duck toy that she loves. Briana loves placing the duck in Alyssa's hand. I couldn't even tell you where the duck is right now but it would only take Briana a few seconds to locate it for her baby sister.

Alyssa dressed warmly for our trip in Big Bear.

Camping in Big Bear

We went camping in Big Bear this weekend. This was our second visit to this particular camp site. We enjoy the mountain environment and the wilderness feel. The air is always crisp and cool. The kids loved putting on their coats, hats, scarfs and gloves. They also enjoyed hiking around the mountains, collecting pine cones and running around the campsite. We stopped by the Big Bear Discovery Center so the kids could look at the animal displays. They also had two donkeys and a horse outside for the kids to pet. William wanted nothing to do with the donkeys but couldn't wait to go up and pet the horse. As always the kids had a great time because we were camping. They love spending time in our trailer. :-)


Briana and William



Big Bear Discovery Center

Briana is gone again!

Another trip to Las Vegas to visit relatives without mommy and daddy. Briana has a cousin 6 months younger than she is and the two love to get together. I am really missing her tonight. I think William is too. He hardly knows what to do with himself. We had a William day today. We wanted to take him to Disneyland but plans changed real fast once we realized how much the recent fires have affected the area. So, we went hiking then to Red Robin. We ended with a trip to Petco and we were in luck, they had several cages with kitties and puppies. William had a great time with all the animals. If I were not allergic to cats he would have had a new kitty tonight. Briana should be home on Wednesday. In the meantime we all miss her very much. :-)

Halloween at the VFW

My dad has been hanging out at the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and they hosted a Halloween party for the kids of the community. So, we decided to check it out. The kids did have a good time with the free hot dogs, treats, candy and pumpkins. For me it was a little disorganized and I wasn't quite sure what the event entailed.

When we first arrived the kids got food right away. I was so hungry but didn't know what was available for us adults. I would have bought something but didn't know what was available. A woman came up while we were getting the kids something to eat and asked what we wanted to drink. So, we placed our order for diet cokes that were promptly brought out. When I went back to get another soda for my mom I was told I had to pay for that at the bar. Confusing? Yes.

Once the kids had eaten they began to get restless and I was still starving so I made my way for the door. At this point it was already 1pm. As I was walking out the lady said, we are having the magic show and costume contest soon. Well I had already been there for an hour and this event was suppose to end at 4. So, I didn't want to take the chance on this magic show especially since I hadn't had a thing to eat. So we left while my sister and her family stayed. I didn't expect to see them at all because we planned on going back home after our lunch. Just as we were packing up to leave we heard the door and they came back home just after 2. Apparently, others began to leave so they did do the magic show and my niece won first prize in the costume contest then everyone was kicked out. I feel sorry for the people who thought they would come by later. I'm not sure we will return next year. Just little too much confusion for me. My dad wasn't even there, he had to work that day!!

My Nephew

William fell asleep in the car and continued to sleep for nearly an hour.


My sister and nephew



Alyssa and Grandma

Ittle

William was such an early talker and he can say almost anything perfectly. He is probably the only 2 year old in the world who can say Briana. Which turns out is a difficult name for most little kids. He did call her Nana until he turned 2. Which leaves me to wonder what Alyssa will call her . . .

Even William has a few words here and there that are just too adorable to forget. One of these such words is ittle. Ittle is basically William's way of saying little. Ever since baby sister arrived on the scene I hear this word often. Briana and William have got each others back and will often grab stuff for one another in various situations. For example, William will get his haircut and afterwards he gets a lollipop. If Briana does not go with him he will get an extra lollipop and say, "This one is for Briana." Briana does the same for William. This is something I may have encouraged the first few times but they both do it with absolutely no prompting. I can't even remember how it all started but I love how they look out for one another.

Now baby sister is here. Of course mommy has to ask each time, "What about Alyssa?" To which I receive the reply from William, "she is too ittle." And for now he is actually right. A five month old does not need lollipops, stickers and other small trinkets. Now, I'll admit, I just ask so I can hear him say ittle. It seems to me you just get use to how they say something and love how adorable it is. Then just like that they learn how to say it the right way and even start correcting you!!

So, this is for my ittle guy. Stop growing up so fast!! Say ittle for as long as you want. :)

Alyssa's Second Tooth

Alyssa has been putting EVERYTHING in her mouth and drooling like crazy. I'm thinking all of this can't be just for that one tooth. Sure enough I looked inside her mouth today and there it was, a second tooth. So now my baby has two little teeth buds poking through.

As if teething isn't hard enough, she has also aquired that nasty cold that has been going around. Her first official cold. Briana had a terrible cough two weeks ago. William and Alyssa were just fine and I was thinking this is great! Then William gets a fever, cough and cold just before Halloween. Again, Alyssa is just fine and I'm thinking score my baby is NOT going to get this! Of course one week later she has it. I should have known better. Once one gets it, the others will get it too.

The Worst Photo Session Ever!

We have been getting our pictures taken at the Sears portrait studio for just about five years now. They have always done such a great job and we are always happy with the pictures . . . until today. We walk in as usual and there are no promotional posters on the wall and it looks like the place is just about to shut down. My heart sank when I didn't see our usual lady there to take our pictures. Keeping an open mind, I thought why not give someone new a chance. They had never steered us wrong before . . .

They have only one person working behind the counter and she is the same person who will be taking our pictures. She spends about 20 minutes taking all of our pictures and never once tries to get the kids to smile. Usually, it takes just over an hour to get the kids to cooperate and smile. So, at this point I'm thinking maybe she just happened to get some good shots and didn't need to work so hard at getting smiles.

Then we see the pictures. They were absolutely terrible. By far the worst pictures I had ever seen taken at a portrait studio. She managed to reflect light off of Briana's glasses with each shot. She did not work on the kids leg positions and so there were shots were their legs should have been crossed and they were not. Our faces were not at the correct angle on most shots. There were family pictures where everyone is looking in a slightly different direction. So, we politely rejected the photos and got the hell out of there. Alan actually was trying to schedule another appointment when I whispered to him that we were never coming back here again.
So, it's off to find another picture place for our photos this year. it will be an adventure but in the end I'm hoping for some great family photos . . .

First Tooth!

Alyssa has been drooling and fussy for days. So, today I decided to look inside her mouth and there it was, her very first tooth. I actually tried to take a picture of it but I'm not sure if you can actually see the tooth. She is right on track. Both Briana and William got their very first tooth at 5 1/2 months as well.

Halloween 08

I thought I would take one last picture of my kids in their adorable costumes. Although, this is actually the very first time I put this on Alyssa. They looked very cute this year and did such a great job choosing their own costumes.

William aka Buzz Lightyear

Alyssa aka Ladybug

Briana aka Batgirl