my handy husband

I think Mark should get most home improvement projects of the year award. Seriously. This guy can do it all. And I can't thank him enough for everything he does on top of his full-time job. It's been a lot of fun, with a little headache inbetween, but worth it nontheless. The best part about living through the dust is knowing it will be fantastic when its done. After Mark finished the loft, we couldn't get carpet, mainly because how much it costs...holy cow, I never knew how expensive nice carpet is. So, we moved the toys upstairs despite no flooring and the kids didn't care about playing on plywood and I didn't mind especially since they didn't get any splinters.

Thanks to Mark's sister who happened to have some extra flooring and said we could have it for free...we JUMPED on it!! Mark had the flooring down with a little help from some more experienced wood floor friends (**thanks, you know who you are**).

So, here it is....finally finished...and I LOVE it!! Thank you for all the sweat equity you've put into the house. Thanks for making our house more luxurious than I ever expected, for not a lot of mula!

Cali's bedding

So, as I have been trying to figure out what to do as far as colors in Baby Cali's room, I found this beautiful Pink Paisley Park Bedding that I'm completely in love with. I have been debating also if I should just be frugal and use the crib bedding I got for Bryanna, or give in to my indulgent pregnant nature and get this super cute bedding. I've found another Paisley printed fabric that I love (namely MY BABY SAM PINK PAISLEY SPLASH bedding at target.com) but its a bit more pricey, and in these difficult economic times, I'm having a hard time justifying splurging on crib bedding.

I have also thought of obtaining some super cute paisley fabric and making the bedding myself. But seeing as how I don't have a sewing machine (but its on the wish list), my MOM does. And as crafty and creative as she is, I'm sure we could come up with something just as adorable as what I see here. But then I have to ask myself if its worth all the time? Most likely.

I am 6 1/2 months pregnant, so I do have a few months to decide what to do. I'll post when I get it all in motion!

A few days after Christmas...

I had been cleaning the aftermath of "our christmas"...and you could see, there was a huge tornado that came through our house and left presents and wrapping paper in its trail, and it carried throughout the entire house. So yes, the next couple of days I spent organizing the new toys, and going through closets making room for new clothes....and you can imagine getting lots of help from everyone else....NOT!

To get to the point....while I was napping with a headache on Sunday afternoon trying to recover from Christmas, my sweet, innocent 4-year old got to some SCISSORS upstairs ....and my sweet husband (although that day I wouldn't describe him as sweet, I was blaming him completely for this) was DOWNSTAIRS. As I could hear her up in the loft playing, I got out of bed to see what she was up to. There was hair ALL OVER THE COUCH, and I asked her what she cut, she showed me it was a new barbie Santa left her. The Diamond Castle Barbie now had a new bob thanks to her barber shop skills. Bryanna's hair was up in a a bundle of ponytails, so I didn't worry, EVERYTHING looked fine.

We got to my sister's house for dinner and just as we said the blessing over the food, I could see in a new light where the scissors had done some damage. She cut through one of her little ponytails!!!! I was so angry, mostly at my husband because he was supposed to be watching her.

After a not so great of a night's sleep, and a day of still being angry, but then giving in when Mark scheduled a massage for me...the damage is done, and hair is hair. It will grow again, and where she cut isn't as noticable as I was horrifcally imagining it would be.

And yes, she is wearing some eye shadow and lipstick Santa left for her in her stocking!
That's just a small amount of hair that I managed to pull up and snap a picture of. Now I'm even more grateful she was born with those curls, to hide all the short pieces!

LESSON LEARNED: KEEP THE SCISSORS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!

Our christmas...

...was filled with a wonderful visit from Santa, AND a visit from Robin, Mark's "half" brother from Germany. We love having Robin stay with us, and glad to have him in our lives after a decade of Mark and him not keeping in great touch. Robin lived with Mark during high school as a foreign exchange student.

Maddox loves playing swords and nerf guns with Robin...he made for a really nice target!!

Mark was Bryanna's favorite playmate, he was Ken as she was Barbie playing with her new Barbie Hot air balloon.

Our favorite part was just laying around, playing and having fun, enjoying one another. That is always the best part of Christmas, loving each other and showing it even more as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Evidence that Santa really comes down the chimney and leaves fun things in our stockings...Bryanna and Maddox were beyond JOY and EXCITEMENT this morning. Christmas is so wonderful to see and live it through your children's eyes. This was by far the most enjoyable Christmas with our children, for they are at the perfect age were they grasp the holiday and embrace it!

Merry Christmas!!

Dance Class

We went to Bryanna's dance class for parent's day, and us mom's also got together to make their skirts, it was fun and I think they all turned out super cute!!

They got to have a Christmas story read to them at the end!

Here is Miss Ballerina!

some funny kids

I caught maddox going upstairs packing his swords in his pants!
This is when I was asking him what he had in his pants, and we was very happy that I noticed! Oh my goodness, I love when my kids do the silliest things, it brings such a smile to my heart!
he's showing a little bum...I thought it was sooooooooooooooooooo funny!! needless to say, he loves his swords enough to share his pants with them!
Bryanna was doing some great tricks, and I had to pull out the video camera to catch her spontaneous twirls, and high kicks and some other funny stuff! Maddox was right there with her, trying to get some air time too!

This Season...

has been full of EVERYTHING!!! I am going full speed as the count down to Christmas is less than 13 days. WOW, where has the time gone? I'll tell you....if I could remember. I have been doing something every night for the past two weeks. It is time spent wisely, but it is busy, busy, busy. I have barely had time to think about blogging (which is a guilty pleasure of mine, I find I could always be doing something more productive than sitting on the computer blogging, but alas, I do it anways!)

I am grateful for this month to reflect daily on why I am so busy serving, doing, baking, cooking, decorating, addressing 100 envelopes...etc. Because I have been given much, I too must give. My heart overfloweth with love for my Savior. Mark and I slipped away last night to the Temple, and it was the best date we've been on in a while. We have much to do, but nothing better than temple work.

I have opened up to the New Testament and read the story of Christ's birth in Luke:2. It has helped me during the rush of this holiday season, finding the small and quiet moments when the spirit can speak to my heart and give me the stamina to keep up the pace. I don't think I've had a busier Christmas season in my life, ever. And I don't recommend it either. I am happy to be in the moment, but I am also looking forward to the New Year and welcoming our baby girl into the family.

The pregnancy is going well. The baby is growing and so am I! I am 6 months and my prego belly still doesn't look quite pregnant. But, I'm ok with not being so obviously pregnant, mostly because I'm not at that extremely uncomfortable stage yet. I am doing well with the weight gain so far...I'm really trying NOT to gain...but its inevitable. And if I haven't told everyone already, we are having a GIRL!!! We named her Cali, and set up her crib in her room already...and we all affectionately call it "Cali's room". Just by doing that has turned it all real for me. I am excited to start shopping for crib bedding and fabric...and once I get the color scheme going we will do some fun painting in her room. I have lots of baby girl clothing I kept from when Bryanna was a baby, but we have gotten rid of the infant car seat, so I am keeping an eye out for a good deal on a new one. It will be nice to have Christmas over and behind me so I can focus on preparing for Cali to come. I feel like my to-do list is a mile long, but I am happy to "do" it nonetheless!

Mark has helped with organization this week. He put in more shelving in ALL FIVE closets!! He is simply amazing and I am so grateful for this quality he has of being so handy and actually putting his talent to use around our house. He gets things done in no time! I am truly blessed to have him as my husband. He has dealt with a wild and crazy pregnant lady for the past 6 months...and that's putting it lightly. With the economic storm, he has felt more financial pressure than ever before, and it has been hard on both of us (and me with my prego hormones doesn't make for a good combo!). I know we can weather this storm, but some days it feels overwhelming. Even at the same time, I know there have been several BIG blessings that have come from this hard economic year, and I need to count those blessings everyday. I thank Mark for working hard and some days not feeling the compensation from it, and I thank him for getting up every morning ready to conquer a new day and putting on a can-do attitude to get us through. I love him so much.

It's a wonderful life and I am so blessed.

50% chance rain/snow???

Make that 100%!! We have been in much need of rain here in the desert. It's about time we get some moisture. Because of our low temperatures, the rain could actually be snow tonight!!



Last year we ended up with snow, which is unusual for las vegas....but it was pretty and beautiful, until it stuck around for a week and I lost some landscaping. But at least we have the pictures to remind us how much fun we had for a few days!


Maybe we'll see some more white stuff tonight!!

gifts this year

This year, our relief society did a fabulous friday (which was extremely fabulous...I got so much of my christmas done from it!) We did so many wonderful and cute things...and this is just a little tiny part of the crafts we did, Glass Etching!!
I nabbed these super cute vases from Home Goods at a steal of a deal price for all the gals in my family. I etched the first letter of their last name on the front.



So glad to have gotten those done and outta the way!! Thanks DH Relief Society!!

the cruise

Our cruisin' fun time....warning....lots of pictures!

Daddy and the kids....they had regular visits to the ice cream stand!

Maddox boy shooting some hoops with his dad!

Bryanna joined in the fun as well!

Here we are.......the Cruise group!!!!

Mom & Dad

My Nana and Grandpa came with us too!

Vyonne and Terry

Sal & Lee

Jen & Obteen

Shauna & Foi

Leigh & Vicko

Jan & Rob

Matt & Candy

Newly joined to the group....Mark & I!!
Family photo op!
The kids were outstandingly good while we went on our excursions. Here they are hanging out after we'd been shopping for a few hours in Cabo San Lucas!!
Me, Jan & Candy....getting ready to hop on a motor boat!

On the boat to head to the beach!!

Our Cruise Ship: Mariner of the Seas

This girl was an angel, she was soaking up every bit of the trip.

taking a small excursion on boat....

the sea lions, which smelled even from a distance!

we always seem to get in a family photo! :)

in the water at Lover's beach in the Sea of Cortez
...this is why they call it Lover's beach!!
If you walk across the beach to the other side of the water, you are in the Pacific Ocean


And they call this side of the Pacific Ocean, Divorce Beach because the waves are higher and crash harder!
The rocks are some funky shapes out there!

On our way to dinner. It was a fun day in Cabo San Lucas!!
It was Disco night that night....fun times!!
We are here on the beaches of Mazatlan. The kids took the horses for a ride, and didn't want to get off! It was a total crack up to see!!


The peddlers on the beach were distracting and annoying. Although I did get two new swimsuit coverups. These guys have the worst prices....they start off so high that its still a rip off when you finally decide on a price. I can get much better deals at the OC swap meet!!
I forgot to take my camera with me on our third excursion to Puerto Villarta. We went up to the jungle, and yes, my legs were eaten alive, and they still itch one week later....but it was fun. The group went on Zip lines...I didn't go (that's a no brainer when I'm 5 months pregnant!!). But it looked like lots of fun and if I ever get back down there again, I'll have to remember the OFF bug repellent to take with me while I "zip" through the jungle.

It was really hot down in Puerto Villarta, we were closer to the equator and it was so humid, I almost forgot that Las Vegas was going into Winter!! It felt pretty good to get back to 60 something degree weather.

Here is our second formal dinner night...lots of good company and did I mention you eat like kings on the ship every night?????

Yes, you read right....you eat like KINGS on the ship!! That's lobster tail we had!!

We went to the Motown show!
The last few days cruising back to LA, we mostly hung out in the jacuzzi!! And we got lots of ice cream...its self serve all day long!
The arcade....not my favorite, but I still had fun! I couldn't get Mark and the kids outta there!
Our last "hur-rah" was eating lunch on the ship in Johnny Rocket's diner...the waiters danced every five minutes to the songs...it was fun, but I couldn't get my camera to cooperate!

Until next time...............................................................................................................................................

HAPPY CRUISING!