A great weekend filled with Christmas activities .

I had a great weekend filled with Christmas activities. Kelly came over on Friday to spend the weekend. Friday afternoon we went and had dinner with my Mom. After dinner we left the kids with her and we went and finished Kelly's shopping for the kids. It was very surprising how many people were out shopping and the amount of things they were purchasing. You would never know that the economy is as bad as everyone is talking about. Then Saturday morning Thomas and I made our famous hot chocolate for Kelly and Noelle. After breakfast Kelly and Thomas worked on the countdown to Christmas chain.

Then he and I worked on a foam Gingerbread house. It didn't work out so great. It came with the wrong pieces so we had to make some changes but it was still fun to work on. My Dad came at 11:00 to help decorate the Christmas tree. That was a lot of fun. Thomas is at a fun stage. He is enjoying singing Christmas songs, making Christmas crafts, and he has even enjoyed buying his friends gifts. He even wrote his first letter to Santa and signed his name himself. So the Christmas tree decorating was a lot of fun. Noelle helped but mainly by taking the ornaments of the tree and giving them back and playing with the hooks. Everyone had fun with what they were doing except.....

Indy wasn't so excited about joining in.

These (and the ones up top) are some of my favorite ornaments

After the kids naps we went and did some shopping at the mall. Thomas had been talking about his friend Kelsey and wanting to get her a gift so we took him to the store and picked out a couple of things and let him help pick what we bought. Then we let them ride the little motorcycle.

That evening Kelly and my Dad took the kids out to dinner and then to go see Christmas lights in Manteca and to see Santa while I went out with some friends.

Sunday morning we woke up and made a nice breakfast and then headed to my Mom's for Christmas pictures. Then we headed back to my Dad's for a nice relaxing afternoon and one of his fantastic Sunday dinners.

It was a great weekend filled with family, laughs and Christmas memories.

I have so much to be Thankful for...

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and we are on our way for Christmas.  This year has flown by. I woke up Thanksgiving morning remembering last years Thanksgiving feast.  Christina, Kelsey and I (mainly Christina) made dinner for an Army. We had 13 people for dinner and we had more dishes then we had people. We even made homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch twice because the first ones burned because we were having to much fun and weren't paying attention. It was such a blast.  Matt flew down from Idaho and spent the weekend and the day after we went to Big Tree's. I just can't believe how quickly this year has past and how much things have changed since then. 

This year we celebrated twice but it was much more low key and relaxing. Thanksgiving morning Thomas, Noelle and I went to my Dad's and spent time with him.  The kids love going out in Grandpa's backyard and playing so they went and played chase.  The  cold  weather (it was pretty foggy) didn't seem to bother them. 

I took Thomas to 7-11 for a Thanksgiving slurpee which he dripped all down his shirt so he had to wear grandpa's shirt while his was getting washed.

Thomas is such a good big brother.  Noelle was chasing him and she fell down so he went back to make sure she was OK.

 

Later in the afternoon I took the kids over to my Mom's for a perfectly prepared Thanksgiving dinner.  Kelly and Dave came to have dinner before leaving for work. We had all the traditional things and wonderful desserts!

My Aunt Paula and Scott came from Cotati and spent the day with my Mom. Aunt Paula helped with the wonderful dinner and desserts. It was great to spend time with them.  I haven't seen them in a long time.  It was great catching up. After dinner Ryan picked up Thomas to go back to his house.  I gave Noelle a bath and after that she passed out.

Mom offered to keep her overnight and I of course jumped on that so I went home and slept really really good (thanks to that lovely Thanksgiving dinner).  I'm not one of those ones who get up at 3:00am to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving so I slept in and enjoyed some time to myself before Mom dropped her off.  It was a great day!!!

Thomas is missing Kelsey and Stina

Tonight on the way home Thomas and I were talking about the parade that we are going to tomorrow. He asked me if Stina and Kelsey were at my house and if they were going with us. We talked again about Kelsey and Stina moving to Idaho but they would come to visit and we would go visit them one day. So, when I got off the freeway to go home Thomas yelled at me that I was going the wrong way. When I asked him what he was talking about, he said the airport isn't this way. We have to go that way to see Kelsey and Stina. Needless to say he was not a happy camper. So I told him when we got home we would send Stina and Kelsey a little video from him.
So, Kelsey here you go...

Here is another one for Kelsey... Thomas had more to say

And Stina this one is for you....

I hope you guys are doing well and getting settled. We will have to do the webcam with Thomas soon. He will love that!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Good Bye... Kelsey and Stina!!!

I have been dreading today for the past month. I knew the day was coming and I tried to put it out of my mind. I had been living with "Stina" and Kelsey since October and it truely has been a great experience. They were wonderful roommates and we had a blast together. I was really lucky that Stina needed a roommate at the same time I needed somewhere to live!

I am so bad at good bye's and didn't really have it in me to say everything that I was thinking and feeling so I thought I would write a little note to them....

Stina and Kelsey,
What a blessing in my life the both of you have been!!! Stina, I think I was the lucky one when you would go to school in the evenings and Kelsey and I would have time to hang out.

Kelsey, I loved the time that we had to hang out. I loved playing the Sims, Carnival, Super Mario Brothers, Monopoly and all the other games with you. No one ever wants to play boardgames with me and you always up for a good game! Now that your gone I think my myspace will never get changed. I loved the times that we had to just sit and talk. You are a great girl and you were a tremendous help with Thomas and Noelle. Sometimes I would jealous because Thomas would run in the house yelling for you (I will never forget "Where Kelsey") or he would call and ask to talk to you. You guys had a great relationship and it was fun to see it grow. Thomas and Noelle both love you so much! If you ever get a chance you are going to be a wonderful big sister!!!! You are so special and you will be missed. I know that you are going to do really well in Idaho and before long it will feel like home!! We will have to set up a date on the webcam for you and Thomas to talk, I know he will love that.

Stina, You have been such a wonderful and supportive friend. I'm so lucky that you needed a roommate at the same time that I did. We had such a wonderful time together. I will miss our late night trips to the DQ or the grocery store to get cake and ice cream in our PJ's. I also enjoyed our talks that would last to the early morning hours. You have been such a supportive friend that never judges or tells me that I am totally crazy. Together we could write a best selling book with all of our crazy stories from work!! Thank you for all of your help with Thomas and Noelle. They both loved you. I don't know why Noelle always wanted to snuggle with you but not me..... You have gone through a lot the last couple of years and have managed to accomplish so much. You went to school full time, worked full time, was a full time Mom and held a calling at church. Congratulations on your Graduation!!!! You are an amazing person and you have so much more to accomplish. I know good things are coming your way!!! Thank You again for being the example that I needed and always having a smile on your face!!! You are a true friend and you are really going to be missed!!!!

I know this move has been difficult for both of you to deal with and there are a lot of things that both of you are scared about but you both a very strong and you will be just fine!!! You have both accomplished so much and Matt and his family are so lucky to have you in their lives.

Matt.... you are a very lucky man to have both Stina and Kelsey in your life and I hope you take good care of them!!!! Kelsey, good luck to you in 7th grade and Stina good luck with the job hunt.

I love you both!!!