MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

every day is flying by...

Christmas is coming so fast and I feel like it is sneaking up on me so FAST.

I wanted to get cards out early and pictures taken really well for it.

Brandon's birthday party was fun....and of course I forgot the camera in the rush of getting it all together. Jim got pictures and I have to get them from him...for both his birthdays...the last birthday accidentally got deleted.

After that it has all whizzed by.

I finally got the time to get the pictures in and these pictures should tell you how it went...

ENJOY!!!

Busy bee's...

We have been super busy since Ella's birthday. After her birthday we prepared for family to come for thanksgiving. We had thanksgiving on the day before and had about 20 of us there. We ate and then played games like white elephant and bunko. We normally play bunko but my parents wont be back for Christmas so we did the white elephant this time...trying to tie the holidays together.

We left thanksgiving the day for my parents and helped them to get there house in order for renters. We did putty and sanded and primed and painted. It was a busy 5 days. While we were there I got a bad bad cold. It was not fun I was trying to keep the kids busy and having fun sicker than a dog. we got home on Monday and my hubby ended up taking the day off and I slept all day. He couldn't move his arms. It was funny!

That week I spent trying to get better. I still have that lingering cough but I am feeling better. but by the end of the week Ella started to get the cold and I started her on her inhalers ASAP. I didn't want her getting RSV.

that weekend Josh went back to my parents. I opted to stay home. The kids were sick and more content at home. So I was home alone this weekend.

My mom came down and helped me and my sister pump out the 250 cards that I had to do because I won the card contest and I had to have them in by the end of the month. it took us all day because we ran out of tape 3 times. I will get a copy of the card and put it up here... so you can see the way they wanted me to change it!!


By that night the kids were not feeling well at all and I took them home to rest. We rested all Sunday both kids cranky sick and laying around. By Monday Ella was happy to inform me that her voice had come back. It was funny she had been squeaking since Thursday.

We (josh and I) spent the night discussing the possibility of moving to my parent house...an opportunity that is a great option. it is just a ways to drive. My parents offered us a great deal. they travel a lot for work and there house is just sitting there. We are still sifting through the pros and cons of that.

Sunday was Brandon's birthday. He is the Big 2. He has no Idea that it was that day. we didn't tell him. We are doing his birthday on Monday after we get paid. He is to little to know any way so...I figure it is ok. later in life I will have to be more prepared. We have so much crammed into that time. Ella's Birthday is the 16th, Our wedding is the 29th and Branden's birthday the 7th. Not to mention thanksgiving and Christmas and my birthday all in the span of 6 weeks. So I will have to work that out!!!

I have spent the rest of this week taking care of Avon getting my last books out before Christmas and prepping for everything Else....like the fact that we have another weekend at the ole parents. this weekend is laying tile!!!! I have a Avon Christmas party tonight and I still have books I have to get out. UGH!!!! I will spend all of Thursday & Friday prepping for Brandon's birthday on Monday.

Sorry for the delay in writing. I will post pics of my parents house, the party and the card as soon as I can.

I hope this finds everyone well....

Ella Is the big 4 now!

Ella is ready to grow up!

So on Saturday I get this postcard from Ella's Dr. wishing her a happy birthday! So I tell her about it and give it to her telling her it was a little early. She was so excited that she hugged it and carried it all day. Every time I would stop at a red light or park she would show people her post card and tell them that they were invited to her birthday party. We went to Jen's house and she had to show them! Ella is a birthday fanatic! she loves the cake the song the presents the fact that every one gets cake on other peoples birthday. She thinks that all birthdays are amazing and when it is her turn all the better!

When I first told her her birthday was a month away and that she would turn 4 she said I don't want to be that old! She was happy With being 3 she thought that is was a good age and wouldn't mind staying that age. I think that turning 4 has grown on her and she is ready. Plus she realized that she would have a party! so now she is counting down the days to her birthday!

the final dress up...Halloween day!

Halloween was funny this year.
Last year it was a new experience for Ella that she didn't forget from last yr. She counted the days down...asking every day if this was the day to Trick or treat!

Brandon didn't mind dressing up and even left his hat on every time we dressed him up! I think it was because he was to busy getting sweeties from every one!

Brandon was not sure he was into the trick or treating...we hit a couple of doors where no one was home and he thought we were nuts walking to every house and just knocking on doors and leaving.... UNTIL we got that first bit of candy and then he had an Epiphany! He then ran to every door. Yes Ran. he knew that these people were handing out free candy and mom and dad were OK with that! What is better than that??? he even learned to Say trick or treat Because the people thought it was so cute they would hand him HAND FULLS of candy ( smart kid)!

Ella on the other hand was done after about an hour and didn't even care if she went to any more doors!

Brandon was mad about his 5 o'clock shadow!

there they are...so Cute!

Ella's fashion sence!!!

Ella came to me after breakfast with the tie dye tights and shorts and tells me this is what she wants to wear today. So I tell her to go grab a shirt and she got into her closet and grabbed the shirt and the little sweater jacket. I thought she looked adorable...here she is in her first amazing outfit!

notice the high school musical pin in her shirt...she also picked that out too!

she is such a poser! every time I get the camera out she tilts her head in exaggerated ways...

I did...Did you???

I let my opinion be heard!!!

It is election day make sure that if you can vote...you let your voice heard!!!!

halloween party pics

they had some one come in and take the pics! I hope you all like them!

halloween Cuties!!!

so here they are...

Ella is a Kitty!

Brandon is a Cowboy!

Most of the pics for the winning cards!

People have been asking for single shots of the cards we made!

This was the first place card above that I made. I think that they picked it because they saw potential to be made in all the companies colors. ( when I make the cards I will post one here)!
This is the 3rd place anniversary card Jen my sister made this. I really thought her cards would be the ones that won!


This was the 3rd place Fall theme card. Jennie made this one too.

Justin's card that won 2ND we didn't get any pics of it because he made it after we had taken all the pictures and called it a night! So if I can get a copy of the pic I will post it on here!

And there you have it!

ER is the life for me????

So He isn't even 2 yet! wont be for 2 more months and he has already picked up on this.
If you notice he has one pant leg rolled up. He kept getting bugged that it was long and going under his foot. He started yelling Help! so I rolled it and after that he did so well.


He did fall a couple of times!

But for the most part he did amazing for a first try doing this!

this is him trying to adjust the handle bars!

So these are video clips of him in action!!!

The little girl who lived next door was really patient letting Brandon play with her scooter. After about 15 Min's I made him give it back. He tackled her a few times to get it back. I finally had to put him in the house...For the girls safety...Brandon was out for total domination!!!

He then learned how to get out of our safety gate Really FAST! he is a boy who knows what he wants!

The annual card contest.

We finally got the winners back from the card contest.

For those of you who don't know my dad's company does a card contest every year. It is a fall theme. But this year they made 3 contests. One for anniversary with their Company and employee birthday cards.

We all worked on them Jennie, me, Justin, Kaylee, Jessie, and Ella. We had a great time. We should have taken picture.

But the winners ARE....

Drum roll Please.........

The awards we won are:

3RD in Fall theme Jennie $75.00

3RD in anniversary Jennie $75.00

2ND in Birthday Justin $100.00

1ST in Anniversary Debbie $200.00

We are prepped and ready to Win Next year!!! Fun!!

the She curl-hawk...

Ella has been watching me put Brandon's hair into a Faux Mohawk...basically spiking the center of his hair up in a row. She really liked it. So She started begging me to put her hair in a Mohawk. This is the best I could come up with! She loved it. Eventually I braided each strand to each other and it looked more like Mohawk. But I didn't get pictures of that. She also wanted to dress in a Toto and striped tights...it was quite the outfit!!!

Back by Popular Demand...

Ella Enjoyed her Fans comments and wanted to sing again first thing this morning to give her fans a new show!!!

I hope you all enjoy...Again this is to the Grandparents!

An Ode to the grandparents...

ELLA MISSES YOU AND WISHES SHE COULD SEE YOU!!!

Our New goals!

(As a side comment this picture is supposed to look like I am thinking...how ever it looks like I am trying to hard to be sexy or something! This was my attempt at being funny!!! However I look like a lame-o)

I haven't been on here in a bit. We have all had a chest cold and we are finally coming out of it. We have been home a lot and just getting things around here done.



Josh and I have been setting goals together as couples and we have made some super decision money and for family temporal and spiritual needs. We are actually getting more focused. We have dreams of getting into a house but we have to be debt free first.



Setting up a goal and achieving it are by far, two different things. How ever we have been making big changes on how we spend an look at our income. That helps a lot! We don't eat out often and we do not shop for things unless they are needs. We are also trying to pay off anything that is accruing interest quickly. Less money in there pockets and more in ours. We are also starting a savings! We haven't gotten to the saving part yet but, this goal we will get to! As we get things paid off more money will be moving to pay off other bills and into savings. I hoping that by March of next yr we will have all but the cars and student loans paid off. that would be a Major accomplishment.



Our marriage started off with very little money. I think we got use to spending when it was there. Now it is time to save and be thrifty as much as possible. I don't feel that our kids are hurting for anything. I feel that my husband does a great job of taking care of us! I feel that we are content and we just need to get a bigger place to live.



I also have to start thinking about schools. Ella could start school next school year. (EEK)! I want to get us into the school zone of one of the better schools around here. It is important to me for her to go where I know that she isn't going to be held back by teachers having to teach other kids English at the same time. We live in a area that has such I diverse group of nationalities. It is really neat to have so many different types of people. But I don't want Ella held back because of it. I do like that she will grow up with such a diverse group so that she will learn that we are all equal and on the same playing field here. I am hoping by January to get her into a preschool here. I want to get her in for 2-3 days a week but it is expensive! So I have to prioritize!!!





We have just been trying to get our life into focus. I think we both feel that we are making enough money that we shouldn't have to live pay check to pay check. Don't get me wrong we are in no way Rich, not even close. BUT we want to be able to plan trips and not have to opt out because we can afford it. It would be nice to have money saved that we can choose to use on a vacation!!



So we have also made a plan with our tax returns... Yep those are not excluded from my money pinching goals. We need a new bed and we are looking in the king size department. So as part of our goals we have decided that we will purchase one Huge need and the rest has to go to bills and savings....To play another day!!!! We know that we will have to buy everything for the bed including sheets and blankets so it will be a large purchase. We need it! Our kids like to lay with us in bed at night before going to bed. There is not enough room for us all in a queen! We have decided to purchase from Costco or Sam's they have great mattresses and for a great price!!! I am so excited our bed is 15+ years old! It isn't so friendly on the back any more!

So there you have it...Our goals in Black and white...Any one have tips?

this week

Risa and Chris came for a couple days to relax and hang out.

We got Oreo's for a treat and we gave some to the kids. Brandon went to town! He really likes them I discovered!

Chris with his Milk mug!

Me and Risa goofing around with the camera

He is proud of his chocolaty face!

the close up!

Josh and I were in the back of the house discussing what we needed to get done and we cam out to find the kids watching TV like this! it was so cute they were so content.

This is a clip of the kids. I took out the camera cuz they were dancing..this is what I got!