Christmas Eve Tradition

Ever since I was born, my very first Christmas Eve at 7 months of age, I have had the tradition with my family to go to my grandma's(moms mom) best friends house. Joyce and Ed Wolf. Over the years it's always been the same foundation of people with the exception that some have added in the mix while others have since passed away, my grandmother being one of the ones we have lost along with her husband, my grandfather. For 30 YEARS this has been my home on Christmas Eve. Matt and I married and now we go every year with our 3 kids. We have NEVER missed a year(even last year in the blizzard). Joyce and Ed have a daughter and a son. Their son Edward is always a part and their daughter Susan now has a husband and 3 kids. Odd fact....Their oldest child, Chris, is 18 now, born April 7th. Our oldest, Ethan, was born April 11th. Their middle child, Jason, age 16, was born January 3rd. Our middle child, Corbin, was born January 6th. Finally, their youngest, a daughter, Nicole, age 13, was born July 14th and our daughter, Taya, was born July 11th. Coincidence? Or a power stronger than we'll ever know?

The meal over the years has always been the same. Crown pork roast with a side of mashed potatoes. The others sides had changed but the main course has never wavered in over 30 years. Dinner is always followed by a dessert of a chocolate yule log and strawberry ice cream pie with graham cracker crust. YUUMMM!

This year we did our traditional photo op...only difference...Matt and I were included. Here are a few of my favorites.







It was a great night. Always is. It's a tradition that now even our kids look forward to. Family traditions...what awesome ways to spend time together. Good food, good times and good family and friends. Nothing is better than that:-)

Tom Bean Elementary Presents

Tom Bean Elementary Presents...Greatness! The whole school from Pre-K thru 5th grade preformed Christmas songs. First up was Pre-K, Kindergarten and First grade. Mixed emotions when watching this as Taya will be up there singing with Pre-K NEXT year. Not being up there this year didn't phase her one tiny bit. She knew all the songs as we sing them to her EVERY night. She made herself right at home and sang away.


Next was Second and Third grade. Mr. Corbin. He was so shy, but did real well. Sang Jingle Bells, Texas style. Literally, with twang and all.



After that, 4th grade took the stage. It was Ethan's turn. He new EVERY word and looked so grown up. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this picture. He is a young man...UGH!



Here is good friend Blake.


Big Taya KNOWS she is beautiful. You should see her flinging her hair trying to find the perfect pose. She is a doll.


Big Taya and Little Taya.


Brothers...what's better? So handsome. I still am amazed everyday that we have been so blessed to not only have them in our lives, but to have them as our sons. True gifts from God.

Dinner Table Convo

The other night while enjoying our dinner we made small talk and conversation as we normally do. This night was different. One of those that you remember days later, yet still make you laugh at the thought(hints, my writing this now). Matt asked Taya what Abuela meant in spanish. The table was quiet, then you hear that little precious jewel reply with “MEMA!”. Yes folks, our 3 year old knows Spanish. Thanks to Dora, Diego and her daddy’s new found love for the Spanish language.

Then as we ate, Corbin asked if Matt knew what Frioles meant in Spanish. I, with my humurous self, decided to beat Matt to the punch. I was so excited! My answer: Fritos! To my letdown, Corbin chuckled and said “Nope”. I then say “Chips!” Again, “Nope”. Just then, my Spanish student husband calmly says “Beans”. What the heck? Beans? You kidding me? It SHOULD be FRITOS!

The priceless moment of the evening…Corbin. He was so excited and Told Matt and I that he knows how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish, which we all know as Feliz Navidad. We ask how. He replies, serious as can be, so excited and proud of himself “Buenes Nabada!”

Taya Talk

Sunday morning Matt and I spent 2 1/2 hours putting the Christmas lights up outside our humble abode, pretty much leaving our 3 kids to fend for themselves(you can't pay to have this kind of parenting skills). Of course, during this time they were little cherubs, seeing who could slide down the hall into the living room in their socks the farthest, who could throw the miniature football hardest and hit ornaments on the christmas tree, who has what it takes to master their computer gaming skills, arguing about which team they should be on PS3 and finally watching the entire first 4 seasons of the Home Improvement series(I still love that show even now, at 29 yrs old-that Tim Taylor, he's a hoot). Anyhow, at some point Matt decided to take a 5 minute break so I , like any good mother, sat down and watched a few moments of the show with my angels. As I sat there I heard sniffeling, I just asked whoever it was to please go blow their nose. Without any hesitation Corbin jumped up and went to de-snot himself. Approximately 30 seconds later, I once again heard more sniffeling. I looked at Ethan and told him to please go blow his nose. He got up and I tell you before he even had gotten out of the living room Taya hopped up off the couch. I asked where she was going and without even missing a beat she hollars to Ethan "WAIT! I SNISSELWING too!".

We Are Who We Are

Matt and I've been talking quite a bit lately about being fake. Whether people are genuine in their thoughts or just along to see that they're better than you. What makes them right and you wrong. Them cool and you an outcast. Are they being true...no matter if they are friend or family. What determines "Status"?

Does being underweight mean you're anorexic or bulimic? Does being overweight mean you don't care about yourself and you abuse food? Does having money make you happy? Does having less money make you less important? Does a degree make you smart? Does no college make you a nobody? All these questions go through my mind daily.

Does an older car make you poor? Does a new car make you wealthy? Do tattoos make you mean and rough? Does a big home mean it's filled with love? Does a smaller home mean it lacks love? Does a big yard mean you have lots of room to run and play or is it wasted space? Does a fat paycheck make you better and a smaller one make you worthless? Does a "Title" make you more special than me?

Does losing a home or a car make you unfortunate or a loser?

The reality of it is that YOU never know what ANYONE else is going through and why people look the way they do, act the way they do or feel the way they do.

Matt and I went through things as children and young adults that stunk and were hard. Were both considered different and not cool. Outcast. Just like so many other people. Does being the baby of the family mean you're spoiled. Does that make you a brat? Who decides these things? If us, who are WE for deciding them?

Against all odds, We got married very young and started a family right away. I remember certain people thinking we were pregnant and HAD to get married. Others said our marriage wouldn't last 6 months. Then you add in the long distance marriage for the first year and we apparently were doomed. We have lost cars and a home. We have been to hell and back financially. We have questioned our decisions through the years. One in particular is the decision to let our house go a little over 3 years ago. At the time it seemed right...we hated the neighborhood and all that came with it. Loved the house but that didn't seem to be enough. A few months later we began to regret that decision and started questioning our stupidity. That all leads me to this...happy as can be. Had all these things not happened where would we be. One thing I do know is that because of all the adversity and hardships, I am more grateful and thankful for everything we have now. Never take anything for granted. If I can go crazy and buy my children asinine amounts of things for Christmas and take them on amazing adventures to other places in this great big world, them so be it.

I love my kids. I love my husband. I love my parents. I love my brother. I love my niece. I love WHO I AM and the life I have. THAT makes it all worth it. The trials and tribulations. God knew what he was doing and he done good. The boys actually like going to school everyday. We love were we live and we are at peace in our lives and that's all that really matters.

God has a plan for all our lives and no matter who people think THEY are compared to you, they are NOT better than you. My husband is a trusting, very giving, genuine man. He takes people for who they are, not who he thinks they are, never questioning motives. This is sometimes a fault of his as numerous people take advantage of that.

Not sure what my point to all this was. Just thought it would feel good to get it all out. HA! I was right. I feel better already.

Ethan's Forest Mishap

Boys will be boys. And Ethan is definately a boy...from head to toe. Yesterday, as he and Corbin were playing with friend Blake at the gazebo, apparently an overwhelming urge to potty came over Ethan. Please keep in mind that we live 100 feet from the gazebo. Well, the adventurous child decided he couldn't make it to the house to potty so he sqauted right there in the woods and poo'd. You may be thinking that this is a normal thing. Grown men even do it. What makes my dear E so great is that after relieving himself, he needed to wipe of course(you see where I'm going with this). He just picked up a LEAF and wiped his bum! By the time he got home, his legs were "hurting". Hmmm, could it be that you have poison ivey on your behind??? Yes, folks. Poison ivey on upper legs and rear. Nice. So like the good mother I am, I tell him to shower and we will take care of this when you get out. I then put Cortizone scrub and Calimine lotion on the affected areas. How is he today you might wonder. When mema came to get the boys for school this AM, she asked how his bottom was. He simply replied "Oh, it's fine. Mom did the job". Priceless, I tell you, Priceless.

The Big Bro', Lil' Sis Cookie Shop

Sunday was an afternoon of Christams festivities. Tree decorating and cookie baking. Too much to tell on this one, folks. I'll let the pictures be your guide. Enjoy!










Daddy checking out the final product.



Uncle Brian was jealous of the raw talent.


Taya eatin' her loot.


Sadly, the boys loot looked better than my loot.




The rest of the loot.



Pepa lovin' on 1 of his 2 princesses(the other is in CT).




What a fun day...I LOVE Christmas:-)

Breakfast With Santa

The Christmas season is upon us! Yahoo! This morning we had the treat of having breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Pretty cool. We had a simple breakfast of fruit, cheese sticks, sausage links, blueberry muffins, apple juice and milk. Yuuummy!




They all jumped in the bounce house and Taya got her face painted.


What a beautiful unicorn!


We shopped and Ethan and Taya danced...



Great experience. We'll do it all over again next year:-)

Report Card Day

We've reached that time again. Seems like just yesterday was report card day. Well, this time Ethan had all A's with the exception of a 87 in MATH and Corbin got the STRAIGHT A's with a 99 in math!!! Matt wondered why he got a 99 and they couldn't just bump it to 100. Who knows...protocol, I suppose. Anyway, I'm so proud of the both of them. They amaze me more and more each day/month/year.

To this I must add, if you have children and they don't watch the Fresh Beat Band, they are seriously missing out. Taya knows ever song and pretty much all the dances and shakes her "Bau-yie"(bottom). Precious.

Side note: We are doing Breakfast with the big guy in the red suit(AKA Santa) Saturday. Tales and stories to follow...

Family Game Night

Last weekend we went to my parents for a fun-filled night of games. Accompanied by a delectible rib dinner followed by Chocolate pie...pudding really. We played Uno Attack! Let me tell ya, trying to explain the directions was a chore. The more I explained, the more the boys chimed in. After a about 15 minutes of mass confusion, we all had it down and the game began.

After playing with the big kids for a while and watching some TV, Taya found her a special spot UNDER the table.


She then decided to sing her ABC's and play at the fridge.


Then she felt the need for a workout on the tredmill...Taya style.


She even did her own card tricks.


It was a blast. So many laughs you hurt. Laughing so hard you cry and nearly pee your pants. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story...












So after many, many, many.....many hours of game playing we all went to our respected houses/beds and went nighty night.