Christmas Slideshow

Christmas Eve Fun

Nothing beats some bike riding in the backyard with Uncle Christian and Daddy. They can make anything SUPER exciting--especially when it involves going under tall, tall legs and being pushed really fast.

And congrats to Julianna for getting her first school award last week.

Merry Christmas to EVERYONE!

Recent events

Tuesday night Julianna performed in her first Christmas program. My mom got to come with us since she was in town. It was so cute to see her on the stage with her angel wings, halo, and (fake) candle! I was crying the whole time--I always cry when I see Julianna do things like this! Her class and the other SDC classes did "Macarena Christmas." It's a remix of the macarena with Christmas songs in the background. Each class came up to do one of the songs in the remix--Julianna's part was "Joy to the World". She was so proud of herself and afterward kept telling us, "I sang 'Joy to the World!'"

This past Saturday we went to my sister Cindel's baby shower in Norco at her in-laws house. It was fun being there with my mom and two sisters. My dad and the husbands went out for sushi while us girls all hung out. All three of my sisters are pregnant right now! It was fun to all be together again right before Christmas.

I am really looking forward to the break! Only one more day of school/work, two more church events, choir/flute on Sunday, and then we can relax! Christmastime is always busy!

Julianna Turns 6 on the 6th!

Eating macaroni for lunch

The Rodney the Robot cake I made (from the Robots movie)

Excited for the birthday festivities.

Blowing her candle.

Finally opening her Rodney doll! I'm proud I was able to keep it hidden for so long.

She likes her new reader books from Grandma and Grandpa!

Showing off her new Rodney doll! She loves it!

Julianna turned 6 yesterday! She now needs two hands to show her age--wow, she's getting up there! We really love having Julianna in our family--she is so smart and fun and growing so much every day! In Primary she was very excited to go up and have the kid sing to her. And this year she REALLY showed it was her birthday--she was in the best mood all day because she knew it was HER day. She's almost 4 feet tall--very tall for her age. She's doing well in school and making new friends and just a happy girl! Here are some of her favorites:

Movie: Robots

Food: Cereal and Macaroni and Cheese
Drink: Chocolate milk
Color: Blue
TV Show: Spongebob
Book: Rodney ("Robots") books
Primary song: Popcorn Popping
Letter: P
Number: 6 (of course)

Friend: Drennen

Ice cream: chocolate
Candy: M & M's

We love you Julianna!
And Happy birthday to Callie, too!

Blake the Superhero

"Pirate Boy" with his hook (the end of a plastic hanger)

"Pull-up Boy"

"Gun, Sword, and Hook (the hanger) Boy"

"Batman"

Lately Blake is REALLY into dressing up like any superhero he knows or creates on his own. He pointed out some hangers in his closet and said that could be his pirate hook, so then Joel helped him put the hook at the end of his sleeve and he ran around like a pirate. He used Julianna's pull-ups and waddled around for a while. He also used Joel's old belts and puts them around his waist (with my help) so he can put his guns and swords on his waist, ready to pull out to attack. And today he discovered his head could fit in the hole of my quillow (half blanket, half pillow) that my Grannie made me when I was only 9! After he got it on, he said, "I'm Batman!" He waves the blanket with his arms like he has bat wings. He comes up with the craziest things! And I really don't show him--he just has a big imagination. What will he come up with next?

Thanksgiving Week

The trampoline is back in business!

Joel with his sister Briana and brother, Christian.

Running on the shuffleboard court.

We all got a turn on Uncle Christian's "snakeboard."

A LATE movie night watching "Up." We let them stay up until 11!

The kids having fun in Nana's backyard.

Hail this morning!

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving break. We went to Nana's (Joel's grandma) in Santa Ana and had a nice Marie Callender's dinner at her house and then played games. It was fun to see his family. The weather was perfect and there was no traffic! Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving week.

Prayer time

Blake has just started trying to say his own prayers before bed. Ever since I let him try, he has to do it himself now. Tonight I was surprised when he said (between incoherent mumbling) ..."and Nana stop biting...and Nana stop screaming..." He really is listening to me! He probably hears me say, all day, "Julianna, stop biting your hands! Julianna, stop screaming!" And that's what he decided to pray about! It was so cute. How thoughtful of him to pray for my needs, as well!

Julianna won't pray by herself yet--she never gets past "Dear Heavenly Father, We're thankful for this day." Even though I know she can do it, she won't say any more than that, and then asks for help. But, in the Primary Program in Sacrament meeting last Sunday, she sort of said her part that I helped her memorize, without me standing next to her. She stood at the pulpit all by herself. I was so proud of her!

Happy 3rd Birthday to BLAKE!

Our Blake is 3 today! He had a fun birthday with family yesterday and got some fun presents. He loves his new scooter the best, I think! Blake is such a smart, active, imaginative, curious, thoughtful, loving, aggressive, and happy boy. We love him! Some of his favorites include:

Favorite movie: Wiggles (any one will do)
Color: Red
Holiday: Christmas
Food: String cheese
Toy: Spiderman toys (thanks, Grandma!)
drink: juice
TV show: Max & Ruby
Primary song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Happy Birthday, Blaker!

Listen to your heart

The other day as we were driving to the pediatrician, I was telling Julianna why we were going to the doctor (yet again). I said, "We are going so the doctor can listen to your heart." And after having this discussion a few times (so I could reassure her she would not be getting hurt by the doctor), a song came on the radio: "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette. Good timing, huh? Her pediatrician said her murmur is nothing to worry about, but this anesthesiologist insists Julianna be cleared by a cardiologist, so she still has another person who needs to listen to her heart.

Here's a link to the song below if you want to listen to it. By the way, how do you put a youtube video up on your blog, as opposed to a link? I'm lame and can't do it.

What a week

Blake said he's "Jokerf" (that was not a typo--this is how he says Joker. He also likes to dress up like Batman.)

This has been an interesting week for sure. Let's start from the beginning.
Sunday and Monday--Julianna was sick and in a lot of pain--took her to the doctor, she's much better now. It sure is a crazy house around here when she gets like that! That's all I'm going to say.
Tuesday--co-op preschool at our house. It went well. Watched Blake's preschool friend so his mom could do her once-a-month cooking.
Wednesday--did my once a month cooking (3rd month now.) This time my friend and I each picked 5 meals that we knew we would both like and split the days (instead of having all our kids at one house and trying to cook 10 meals together--this didn't seem to work too well last month.) I'm still LOVING once a month cooking. Also found out the little fender bender was my fault and now I will lose my 5-year good driver discount (which is a BIG discount) so I'm not happy about that. Anyway, later, had activity days at the church--came home feeling a little out of it...
Thursday--I woke up SICK AS A DOG. And I mean could not walk around, could not eat, and would not have gotten better if it weren't for my friend watching Blake for me after preschool, and she also graciously offered to have preschool at her house last minute (it was still supposed to be at mine.) I was sick pretty much all day and finally felt better when I woke up this morning.
Today--Felt well enough to run a few errands. One was to check out a garage sale at the really big fancy house right behind mine (on Ramona Blvd.) I didn't see anything, but I got to meet some people that live there. Accidentally locked Blake in the car. Had to borrow a ladder from these rich people, walk through the field to the fence behind my house, hop the fence, open my garage (good thing we have a code) and get my spare car key, and bring the ladder back. Quite an adventure, I must say. Why do things like this always happen to me? Am I the only one? Oh, and Blake got a booster seat today. Apparently, even a fender bender in California means you have to get a new car seat, and since Blake was going to get a booster seat soon anyway, that's what we did today. He loves being a BIG BOY in the car now.

And now I'm all caught up. How was your week?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

And HELLO to NOVEMBER!