After Holiday Pictures/Post

My Family...so blessed to add our new son lil' J

Well we made it through Christmas and the New Year. It was actually pretty smooth. I had my shopping done before Christmas Eve (miracles can happen!) ALL my kids were with us this year along with their significant others. We went to an awesome Christmas Eve church service.

My boys gettin' down to the Christmas songs

Family + Beautiful Girlfriends

Next stop was my brother & sis-in-law's for dinner and a gift exchange.

The older kids exchanged gift cards (white elephant style where they picked numbers, then blindly picked cards and could steal from each other.) it's always so much fun.

This was a pic I took at my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary...we had it put on Canvas.

Then my competitive family headed outside for a basketball game. They peeled the layers of dressy clothes off as the sweat began to build. We take our sports seriously. I loved that the girlfriends joined right in. You better be ready for adventures in this family!

Elijah trying to dribble around his big (little) sister;)

We got home by 11:00 p.m. and all the kids stayed the night. We had hot chocolate, popcorn and watched Elf. Then it was present opening chaos first thing in the morning before every body headed off to make the rounds to other family members houses.

And this is my heart!

This was seriously one of the most special Christmas's we've had in a LONG time. ALL the kids together makes my mama heart soar. Yes...I'm SO BLESSED!

Celebrate, Reflect and Enjoy-4th of July

My family was all in Utah together for the 4th (we couldn't afford to go), but made the best of it here. It's always hard for us because it's the anniversary of my brother John's death. I usually start to get a little edgy and emotional the week leading up to the 4th. I try to make sure we have lots of plans, the busier I am the easier it is.

I decided to treat myself to a new bike this year...last year we were the Beverly Hillbilly's of OC with our crappy, squeaky, rusty bikes. I haven't had a brand new bike since I was 14 years old! I figured it was time...also I thought it would encourage me to get out and exercise more. I was going to get my usual boys beach cruiser in black, I'm such a tomboy that I don't usually like flashy. But I decided at the last minute to get a shiny purple and silver girl bike. What do ya think?


We rode down to the parade, stopped by to meet some friend's at a house party, but it was all adults and the little guys wanted to hang out with us for a while (we wont have very many years left of them wanting to be with the "parents" since they're 14 & 15. So we told them we'd be back later and rode around with the kids.

Anthony's sister's and all their kids ended up coming down and we met up with them, got some lunch and had a picnic at the park with them and some other friends who met up with us. The boys ended up leaving and me and Anthony headed home for a quick rest before we had to ride back down for the fireworks show.

I had to leave and go pick up Josh from work. I was sitting in the LONG line of cars waiting to turn, when a group of bikers came riding in between all the cars and some parked cars. Some girls were obviously drunk...one girl turned around to talk to her friends and ran smack into the back of a parked car and flipped over the top of her bike, denting the car. Okay now you are all going to know how mean I am...I LAUGHED so hard. I always do when someone trips or falls. I can't help it! I wasn't alone, all the other cars were yelling, honking and laughing too! I didn't feel as bad. She was okay, but she did a bike hit and run. The owner of the car came running out of the house party, but the girl was long gone. I'll take entertainment anyway I can get it.

When we got back down to the beach it was FREEZING. The little guys never came home and had only swim trunks and tank shirts. They were shivering and complaining...we brought them some jackets and I got these pics of them racing toward the backpack and then fighting with a friend for the warmest one.

Elijah, Adam & Friend racing to the backpack for sweatshirts.



The Boys fighting over the warmest sweatshirt.

Even Anthony was cold.






Crowd in the ampitheatre.

Crowds watching street performers.

More Crowds in the dreaded Out House line.

My hubby & me trying to stay warm.



Waiting for the fireworks to start.

YAY...FINALLY!

All in all it was a good day and I didn't even cry once...which was a first. We love and miss you John!

My brothers...John hugging Troy.

Valentines Day-A Little Different

I had a very different Valentines day this year...we stayed home and watched movies. We decided that we would wait till after payday (when I say decided, that's a nice way of saying~we have no money). We both agreed that restaurant's on Valentine's Day is too crowded and over priced. So next weekend we will celebrate our Valentine's Day.

It was actually kind of nice to just lay around. We watched a triple feature...action~Death Race, romance~Nights in Rodanthe and then a war romance~Closing the Ring. My husband let me have 2 romance movies in one night... NOW THAT'S LOVE! Death Race was pretty gory...but I like action and it was definitely full of that. Nights in Rodanthe wasn't as good as I had hoped. But I was pleasantly surprised with "Closing the Ring," I had never heard of it but it was actually really good.

I'd have to say my day was pretty good and I still have my real Valentines Day coming next weekend. Next year you guys should try it. You actually get a longer BETTER Valentine's Day. A girl can definitely use more romance...especially after being married for 9 years.

Hope you all had a great, romantic day!