2007!

This will be my last blog entry for 2007! How the year has flown by. Here are a few highlights to wrap up the year:

*Asha finished her first year of Kindergarten. What a fun year that was! With lots of new friends made! Then came first grade. A bit harder on Mom since she is gone all day now.

*Luke started gymnastics....rough start but it has turned out to be a great blessing. Later Lana started gymnastics too. They are so cute to watch!

*Jeffrey began walking for the first time in 2007. He was a late walker, but that doesn't slow him down now.

*I got to go to the Lavender Festival with a friend from church. I loved it so much that I decided to have a lavender theme in my kitchen (painting the kitchen will come in 2008).

*Got to do some Blackberry picking with our dear friends, Sarah & Kasey. It has become a summer tradition. Plus lots of trips to the beach! Sarah introduced us to "wish rocks".

*Got a treadmill for my birthday. Has come in great use to many! Even Matt's Dad uses it when they come to visit.

*Matt and I got to go on numerous dates in 2007. The theme this year seemed to be Indian food. We love it!

*Got to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my Oregon family. What a treat! Bonus was all the weight I put on from all my Mom's wonderful cooking! =) My Mom prayed for there to be a spirit of joy this year at Christmas, and boy did we all sense it!


Every year I start the year off by writing New Years resolutions. My Mom asked me a while back if I keep them all through the year. I said, "No, but at least it gets me off to a good start." Maybe on another post I'll share my New Years resolutions for 2008. Until then, Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

 

Today is my Mom's birthday! The above picture was taken on Christmas at my parent's house. My Mom is the one pictured in the middle and my sister and I are on the sides. Believe it or not, she turned 67 today! Isn't that amazing? I keep telling her that she looks around 55. In fact, she regularly gets carded when she asks for the senior discount at stores. She is beautiful INSIDE and OUT!!! I love you, MOM!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends that are faithful to read my blog!

I have to share one funny story before I head to bed tonight. The other day Matt and I were reading a story to our kids around the dinner table about Jesus from a Bible Picture Book. When we were done we went around and asked each one a question about the story. We didn't want to leave Jeffrey out (even though he wasn't really paying any attention to the story), so we asked him, "Jeffrey who is this baby?" (pointing to baby Jesus). He looks at it real closely and says "Big Bird". That gave us a good laugh! He is such a crack up!
 

Lots of kisses to you all and a very Merry Christmas....!

Back Seat Drivers!

I'm sure you've all heard about "Back Seat Drivers". People who sit in the back and tell you what to do when YOUR driving. Drives me crazy! Well, now I have four back seat drivers in my car. This week it has almost made me laugh or go crazy....I don't remember which one! Here is a few things I hear from the back when I'm out and about:

"MOM....you just went threw a yellow light. That was pretty close."
"MOM....your going so fast!"
"MOM....turn the music louder!"
"MOM....turn the music we want to listen to something else."
"MOM....do you know where you are going?"
"MOM....are you lost?"
"MOM....do you have your lights on?"
"MOM....did you turn your blinker on?"
"MOM....there is a parking spot, why don't you park there!"
"MOM....why are you parking so far away?"
"MOM....do we have to go on the freeway?"
"MOM....are we almost home yet?"
"MOM....do you have your seat belt on?"
"MOM....I think your going the wrong way!"

NO JOKE! These things really are said all the time from my back seat drivers!

Well, I guess it only gets worse. Someday I'll be doing it to them when their in the drivers seat! Hee hee!

Jeffrey's 2nd Birthday

Yesterday our youngest son turned 2! He is still my baby even though Asha reminds me often that he isn't a baby but a toddler! We had a fun day though! Here are some hightlights and of course some pictures.


My first layered cake I've ever made. Pretty fun!!!


We had the "Cars" theme. Jeffrey loved it especially since he knows all the names of the "Cars".


Luke, Jefferey and their friend Kasey.


Make a wish!


He just picked up his piece of cake and dug right in!


Our friends Sarah and Kris joined us for the celebration (and their son Kasey). We just love our friends!

How To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies!

Today for lunch I had given my kids two carrot sticks along with their sandwich. I could convince them to eat one carrot, but they just didn't want to eat the other. So, I got this idea and I tried it with Luke. Hee hee! I said to Luke, "Hey, Luke I was just talking to your carrot on your plate and he told me he is really sad! He feels really left out that you ate the other carrot but not him. He really wants to be eaten! Look I can almost see a tear on his little carrot face." (Okay, I might have taken it too far at the end there). But it really worked! He looked at the carrot for a moment and then popped the whole thing in his mouth without another complaint. Lana did the same! Yes!

See how carrots make you have a great smile!

 

Marshmallows

This weekend I bought a big bag of marshmallows so I could make my Mom's Famous Rocky Road Fudge (she makes it every Christmas season). I rarely buy marshmallows and they sounded really good! I read this quote below and I had to laugh:

Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.
- Tommy Cooper