Spring is finally here :o)

The snow has melted away. The sound of birds chirping fills the air. Kids are out playing. Most importantly . . . the weather is warm, warm, warm. NO MORE wearing snow pants, gloves, jackets, and hats!!

Today was 72 degrees!!! It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice!!! For the past 2 days (yesterday was 68 degrees) the kids have been out playing with all the other neighborhood kids! We haven't seen them since Thanksgiving so it was amazing to see how they've grown in the last 4 months of winter.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA :oD - We survived yet another winter here in good ol' Iowa. This winter was cold like our first winter but it was not as long (last year, it was still snowing in the month of April) as last winter . . . . everybody say "GOOD BYE, WINTER" and . . . . "HELLO SPRING :o)!!!!! YIPPIE-SKIPPIE :oD

A Special Birthday Shout Out . . . .

Happy Birthday to you . . .

Happy Birthday to you . . .

Happy Birthday dearest WESLEY . . .

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Wesley!!!

We love you very much!

BackTrack #3 - December 2008

I can't believe Christmas was 3 months ago . . . . geesh-louise . . . I'M SOOOOOOO BEHIND IN BLOGGING!!!!!!!

Have to get on track! Have to get on track! repeat . . . Have to get on track! Have to get on track! Can't waste anymore minutes/days/events!!!!!

OK . . . back to the month of December!!! That month we were busy trying to take family pictures, counting down days, baking, shopping, wrapping presents, prepping the house, cleaning the house, writing Christmas cards, and most importantly . . . . . HOSTING - HOSTING - HOSTING!!!

Hosting - Hosting - Hosting: We were BUSY counting down when we hit the month of December because we were expecting TONS of people visiting us for the holidays. Before we knew it, one by one each family member were coming in to join in the festivities. We had my parents that came in the 17th., Bac's sister and mom came on the 18th., my sister (who was suppose to come in on the 18th. but missed her flight) came on the 19th., another sister of Bac's along with Bac's dad and one cousin came on the 20th. I thought that was it but boy, was I in for a surprise . . . . the night my sister came in I wanted to go pick her up at the airport . . . as I was waiting for her . . . . I see a familiar face . . . my sister-in-law and my nephew! I did a double look and just stared and stared until I said . . . . "what are you doing here???" Of course, her visit was a surprise. Bac knew all this time. Apparently, she booked her flight back in Nov. and never told anybody about it cuz' she wanted it to be a surprise . . . . It was a NICE surprise! I'm glad she and Justin made it out :o)

Family: With everybody here for the holidays we were busy eating, shopping, staying up late snacking, watching movies, and non-stop playing for the kiddies. It was FUN having our family here with us . . . it made our first Christmas in Iowa extra special :o)

Baking: During the holidays we HAD to have goodies in the house so the kiddies got hands-on baking experience with making shaped-sugar cookies. Sebastian enjoyed rolling the dough, picking out the different cookie cutter to use, decorating the cookies with all the sprinkles, eating the sprinkles, and of course, eating the cookies. The only part Sebastian did not really enjoy was the waiting/baking time. He kept on looking in the oven and asking me . . . "Is it done now? Can we eat it now, Mom?" Alerina did not participate in the whole "making/baking" process but she did take part in eating the sprinkles . . . . . she REALLY enjoyed that!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=183959&id=1210394620&l=cb241

Fuzzy-Wuzzy :o)

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear

Fuzzy Wuzzy had no Hair

Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't Fuzzy

Was she?!?!?!

I was cleaning out Alerina's closet when I came upon this fuzzy coat she received for her 1st birthday. I tried it on her for the very first time tonight and it finally fits her now. I thought she would give me a hard time and want the coat off . . . . but to my surprise . . . . she would not take it off! So . . . you know what that means . . . . . Photo Time :o) I ran to get the camera and click-click-away . . . . never know when I'll get the chance to take another shot of her wearing the fuzzy wuzzy coat.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=184582&id=1210394620&l=16500

Back track #2 - November 2008

At the end of the month, we were hit with our very first snowfall of the season. It was a beautiful site to see. As we woke up that morning, everything was just white!!! There was snow everywhere but it was not that cold . . . so . . . we got the kids all dressed up to play in the snow. They had fun making snowman, making snow angels, and running around in the snow :o)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=176480&l=0ad44&id=1210394620

Back in November, I was getting ready for the holidays. Usually, I don't get the house all decked out till after Thanksgiving but around here, everybody seems to be getting ready as early as early November. I guess, with the weather getting colder and colder as winter approaches has something to do with people getting the front of the house ready early. So . . . it was my very first time getting our christmas tree up, getting the outside, as well as, the inside of the house ready 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. It felt weird at first but seeing neighbors having their tree up and decked out house . . . I didn't feel as weird :o)

Anyways, to kick off the holiday spirit early . . . I decided to do a christmas photo shoot of the kids. It wasn't planned but they were cooperating/behaving so well that day that I took the chance and boy, am I glad, I did! They were sooooooooooooo good and most, importantly, some of the pictures came out great!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=175688&l=66633&id=1210394620

The month of November was also the month that Sebastian started playing Guitar Hero. He usually watch Bac plays and he rocks out with his Elmo guitar but one day, he wanted to try so I let him. To my surprise, he was good! He started out playing using the "training" mode but before I knew it, he was getting it and he was better than me!!

So . . . 2 months now since he's been playing and he is just GREAT at it! He's playing "Medium" level these days and has picked up playing the drums when we play Guitar Hero.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=175276&l=295ca&id=1210394620

Back track #1 - November 2008

Back in November 2008 we had our first Thanksgiving in Iowa. We were invited to our neighbor's house who made the traditional Turkey meal with all the fixin' :o) They (our neighbor) too were newbies to Marion (moved to IA from Chicago 3 months before we did) so it was just their family (5 of the them with their mom), our family, and the B's (also newbies to Marion who moved from LA about couple of months before November).

Bac, of course, made his famous Egg Rolls for us to munch on before the BIG meal and I made the mac and cheese, green-bean casseroles, and desserts.

All the food was YUMMY :o) - the kids had FUN playing - and the adults had great time chit-chatting.

All in all it was a nice, cozy Thanksgiving with our family away from family here in IA.

Happy New Year - 2009!!

Happy New Year to you and your family!!!
Here's to year full of Blessings, Surprises,
and Sweet Memories :o)