Christmas Day

 
The morning started off with Zara running in to tell me that Santa had left her Butterscotch. Then she was back out in the living room where they played with their Santa stuff until 9:00, thank goodness they are not like normal kids that wake up before the sun. We opened presents,which consisted of video games, horses, coats, shoes, watches, bath stuff, clothes, microphones, Cd's, DVDs, camera stuff, and so much more I can't even remember. The rest of the day was filled with nothing and then off to Hemas to open more presents. Once again to many to name, but all perfect. Yes that is a curling iron burn on Zara's head. She jumped into the iron, because she was trying to get away from the heat. Finally, after 2 days of finding a place for everything I am done. Now we can start planning for the best part of the new year my birthday!

CHRISTMAS EVE

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The day started off a bit strange with a phone call from Sheryl saying that her cat had died, so we took the cat to the vet to be disposed off. Zara then played with Blackjack and Zach did whatever he does in a day. Then it was off to mom's for dinner and presents. On our way we drove through the Christmas lights every year that neighborhood out does themselves. After dinner the kids opened their presents Zach got a calendar, a necklace and some other stuff. Zara got clothes, scrap booking stuff but most importantly a camera. She loved it and pretended to take pictures of everything we didn't have any batteries. It was another perfect Christmas Eve and tomorrow we get to do it all over again twice. Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas filled with many new memories and lots of laughter. Merry Christmas.

Metro express

 
Sunday we went to see Santa come in on the Metro. Mom and Richard came up for dinner and then we all bundled up to go. Zach said he was to old to go,but ended up going anyway and strained his neck to see the train come in. He tries so hard not to care, but he is still a little boy inside. Zara and Richard enjoyed the entire show. Mom was excited because she knew one of the main people on the train, and got a shout out in front of the entire crowd. There were singing reindeer, scary elf's, a Santa hog, snowmen, Santa and Mrs. Clause. After the show the lady that mom knew called us over before the train left and gave Zach and Zara a hat, I thought we were going to be mobbed, but we got away with our hats and took some cute pics. It was fun and the kids saw a lot of people they knew.

WHAT''S MISSING??

 
Here is a hint NO MORE BROKEN TOES!!!!! Yep the printer is gone and now I have to finish that wall, or at least paint it to match the rest of the wall. The room is getting back to normal. Now if I could only get the desk out of the dining room. One thing at a time.

FINALLY !!!

 
Finally the kids were in the house at the same time. So today we finished the tree. It is their job to put the ornaments on, it is always interesting to listen to the arguments they have while putting them on. Today Zara just stopped and Zach finished. Then for their pictures together she did everything she could think of to annoy him. She is such a sister. The tree looks perfect and now all I have to do is wrap the presents. This Christmas thing is exhausting.

DANCE PARTY

 
Today was Zara's dance Christmas party. She was so worried because she had to perform 2 dances this year and they missed last week for final touch ups. She kept saying she wasn't ready and didn't want to go. She went and did great, even with the jazz dance. Jazz was all about the tights and tap was all about the scarf and hat. I was lucky to find an outfit that coordinated both together. She looked very cute and had so much fun. One more year in the little kid party and then on to the big kid party. It goes by so fast.

DAY AFTER

 
This is what it looked like when we woke up on Thursday morning. It snowed through most of the night and by morning the sky was blue and everything else was white. It was so beautiful. It took hours for the freeways to open, but the side roads opened pretty early. Schools were closed for the last half of the week giving the kids 3 days extra to winter break. The sun is shining but it is not very warm and the snow is still on the ground, in some places pretty thick. We are supposed to get another storm on Monday so we'll see what happens then. Cross our fingers and we may have a white Christmas yet.

SNOW DAY CONTINUED !!!

 
After the morning excitement the kids went to the window to watch the snow fall. Zach soon found his way to his room to play some games and Zara had her toes painted. Each was waiting for a good time to call their friends. I didn't think 7:30 would be a good time to start calling people. By 10:30 each of them were gone. Before leaving Zara found her way back outside were she played with the dogs, made snow angels and measured the snow. She made up songs and completely loved being outside. The dogs weren't too sure but by the end of the day Roxy and Kiki were running around having the best time, Pixie just followed them and soon just stayed in her house. Zach spent hours at his friends house sledding and doing what ever boys do. Zara went to Megan's and built a snowman and played outside until almost dark. At last check the snow was at almost 10 inches and still falling. It is beautiful but has cause a lot of stress for many. The main freeway and all side roads have been closed, many did not make it home tonight. I am sure the schools will be closed tomorrow also so check back for more pics and an update.

SNOW DAY !!!!

 
The morning started off with a mad dash to get Zach out of bed, with a half hour to get ready and be at school. Then I remembered the phone rang at 6:00 and went to the window to check just in case and sure enough it was snowing. The kids flew out of bed and were in what ever they could find to head outside. It's one of our better snow storms and should put down a good amount. Zach was on the phone with his friends to make plans for being in the snow. I'll post more pics toward the middle of day to show how much we got. SNOW DAY !!!!

MID WEEK CRAZINESS

 
 
 
 
With cross country over Zach has gone back to karate, he was so excited to go. I tried to get him in a class at the same time Zara was at dance since the two studio's are next to each other. However, that didn't happen. I have just enough time to get home and her to dance and then go back home pick up Zach drop him off go home cook dinner and then go back to get him at 7. By Friday we are all exhausted. But oh well they love it so that is all that matters, its a good thing we live in a small town. These pics were taken in Zara's jazz class, she has decided this is her favorite class and is getting better. I did not choose her outfit this day, just so you all know. Hopefully Santa will bring her some new dance clothes that will match no matter who choose them. Zach sometimes helps out in the earlier classes with the smaller kids, its kind of funny because he get such a serious face. He is doing very well and should be ready to test for a new belt in a couple of months.

On My Way to Work

 

The other day I was driving to work when I saw the most incredible rainbow. As I drove around the bend it became more incredible, it was a FULL rainbow that bridged the entire freeway. One end in the aqueduct and the other in an open field it was beautiful. By the time I got to a spot where I could pull over only half of it was left. The antelope valley doesn't have much to offer except desert, but it sure does produce lots and lots of rainbows!

BEACH DAY!

 
We spent the day at the beach today. We started off at the tide pools, which Zara loved but stress about falling in. Zach was off and running straight out of the car. It was a perfect day, for the beach. We didn't see many sea creatures, just a few hermit crabs, urchins,and anemanies(surely spelled wrong). Then we were off to the local WWII bunker and lunch in San Pedro. The kids had so much fun and I had lots of picture opportunites. They maybe tired of the camera now, but someday when they are old and going through the scrapbooks, they will thank me. It was a fabulatic end to the Thanksgiving holiday week, tomorrow they are both back to school.

TURKEY DAY !!

 
Everybody helped to prepare the dinner. Zara and Sophia got the bread ready for the stuffing,Zach helped to get the house ready, Eddie made the yams, which were perfect as usual.I ROCKED THE TURKEY!!and Nic made a fantastic pumpkin pecan pie, that was delicious. But could have been better if we would have remembered to bake the pie crust = ]. The day was fabulous!! Good food, friends, laughs and a movie.
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ALEIN BUGS!!

 
 
This potato bug was in my front yard. You don't see them very often but they are always disgusting

MOTO STICK ANYONE?

 
 
 
 
Anthony and Julie came up and we ended up outside with Zach's motostick. Julie wasn't heavy enough to make it bounce Connor got the little one and was doing pretty good. With some more practice he will be on his way. Zach was all over the driveway, he loves to pogostick

WEDDING DAY !!!

 
We were off and running at the crack of dawn, down to Nana's to pick up Ashley and Sophia and on to hair and make up. We were at the salon for what felt like for ever, I have to say Zara was fabulous. Then we were on a race to the church where we were going to get dressed. On arrival at the church we learned it wasn't open, there was know where to get Sophia ready and Nic was standing off somewhere in the sun so he wouldn't see her. There we stood for about a half hour trying to find someone to open the church. Anthony found someone in reception, thank goodness. On the stage behind the curtain standing on a blanket with NO air conditioning we dressed Sophia and all the girls. It was miserable, sweat was running down their backs hair and make up was melting off, what a morning. But it all worked out and she looked perfect. Then it was time to sign the papers and the civil marriage license was no where to be found. Sophia had forgotten to bring it to the church, so off Marco went to get it from Nana's, thank goodness it was here in Ca. not DC. Now we are running about 40min. behind schedule. Zara has fallen asleep in a chair and everybody else is just standing around waiting. Finally, with everything in place its time to start the ceremony. All went well pictures were crazy and the reception started off rough but settled in once everybody had eaten. What a relief to know that it is over.

FLOWER PRINCESS

 
 
 
To convince Zara to be the flower girl in Sophia's wedding we told her she could be the flower princess. She held us to her title and here she is in her dress. She couldn't wait to put it on, and was completely comfortable in it. Just a little preview for the day. Next week will post more picture's of Zara and Sophia I don't want to give anything away yet.

THIS WEEKEND !!

On Friday when I put Zara to bed she was complaining that her neck hurt when she swallowed. Not much you can do for a sore throat, and with our up coming very busy week and weekend, I told her she didn't have time to be sick and told her too go to sleep saying I am not sick, I am not sick. She laughed and went to sleep, well was I ever Godsmacked in the morning. She woke up at 5:00 crawled into bed with me still complaining about her sore neck. We slept another hour and then were up on the couch with a 104 fever, that went up and down all day. She never moved from the couch, and slept on and off all day. It was very sad to watch, however, I was able to clean her room without her help. Which means I got to throw away alot of stuff!! She fevered all day and finally went to bed around 11:00. This morning she was up and dressed and outside before 8:00 in the morning. Strange child you never would have known she looked so awful yesterday. Amazing how they just bounce back.

BETTER THAN SCHOOL PICS!!

 
 
 
Yep more pics of the kids. Gotta love'em !! Well at least I do.

CRAZY DAY !!

Today was Zach's last race of the season. He was not too happy when I made him run because he missed his race and had to run with the Varsity. He thought I would just let him go home. DUH, I'm the mom I made him run and threaten him with everything he treasures the most, the video games and everything electronic. He tried everything to get out of running, he pouted, he was really a Butt, that's putting it nicely, he avoided warming up and complained because it was cold, which it was but, he wasn't not running the last race. We argued and had very serious not nice talks. By the time they were lining up to start he wouldn't even look at me. The show down was on between the two of us. You would think he would have learned by now, he wont win. So off he went, he was so mad at me he ran his best race yet on that course and beat a varsity guy from anther school. I should have made him mad at me a long time ago, who knows what he would have done then. So with quick congrats to him for his new Personal Best, I was off to dance with Zara
She started her Jazz class today. This was nothing like ballet or tap, which she now takes on Thurs. Today's class she was not to confident in, but was a trooper and stuck it out. She was so lost with some of the moves but by the end of the class was looking some what like she should. She tried to do everything like ballet, but they kept correcting her, oh and she kept turning backwards, who's to know what she was thinking with that. They started their dance for the Christmas show, Way Cute if I do say so. She has no idea how to do some of the steps but she sure does have the attitude the teacher was looking for, I think it comes with the girl genes. When we got to the car she said ' mama, I just feel like a toy in there' So next week is another class, filled with all new steps and techniques. Hopefully she continues to like it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

 
ZACH AND ZARA POSING FOR THEIR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PICTURE
 
ZACH AND HIS FRIENDS
 
ZARA AND HOPE GETTING READY TO TRICK OR TREAT
Here they are Zara is a queen, not a princess. Zach is in his paint balling gear, which is already too small of him. If he keeps growing he is going to bypass everybody in the family, and still only weigh a 123 pounds. He eats ALOT but never gains any weight!
This was the first year that Zach didn't trick or treat with us, instead he went to a Halloween party with his friends, and then trick or treating with them. I guess that is the first sign, of the next stage in his life. Zara got to be the big trick or treater and show Hope how to knock on the door and yell. We didn't get as much candy as we usually do but oh well it goes in the trash anyway. Hope everybody had a fun Halloween, too.