Goodbye to 2007

These are some of my favorite photos from 2007.

Our 5th anniversary.

2007 was a great year in so many ways, it started with a family trip to Kauai, maybe that is why. G started the 5th grade, last year in elementary, and Wy started preschool both of them grew not only physically but intellectually.We are so blessed to have such smart and funny children. Garon and I never have a dull moment. From cheer practices to cheer competitions we almost never have a second to catch our breath. What is in store for us this year? Not sure but I hope it is as fulfilling and action packed as 2007.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas for us was was magical this year, both kids were very excited about Santa coming and we had loads of family events to attend. G and Wy got exactly what they both wanted and mommy and daddy were both very spoiled.

My two sweethearts!

Daddy and G with the

WII!

Just a few shots from our bountiful Christmas.

Wyatt just loves his new guitar that sounds so real.

Amazing Women

For the past few years I have been struggling with trying to make every Christmas as good as it was when I was little. Grandma and Grandpas house, Grandma in her Christmas caftan and good old Grandpa with a glass of creme de' menthe sneaking me a little sip or two. The Christmas tree sparkling and shiny and mountains of gifts under the tree. Not only all of that but every year Grandma and Grandpa tried very hard to decorate the house as festive as can be. The nativity in the corner with little bits of hay around baby Jesus, I swear I sat and moved the shepards and animals around for what seems like hours. Grandpa always hung a piece of mistletoe under the doorway leading to the kitchen and never hesitated to kiss his girls whenever they found themselves under it. Did I mention the sweets? Peanut butter balls, my favorite, decorated sugar cookies with frosting and little silver balls (come to find out they had lead in them so they stopped selling) and the creamiest fudge I have ever tasted.



Well, as the years have gone by the tree didn't seem as sparkly and the nativity was too much for my grandparents to get out, and then they sold the house I grew to know and love. I thought I would never feel those childhood feeling again, but all of that changed last night thanks to three very amazing women. Karen, Marissa and Alicia....the queens of party giving.



I finally scored an invite to the most coveted Christmas tea in my circle and I now know why everyone loves it. An old victorian house decorated to the "T" with Christmas trees and ornaments, even a really old pair of ice skates by the front door. We started the evening with the most delicious food and tea. Then headed out into the chilly weather where they set up fire pits and invited guitar players to accompany us for Christmas carols complete with an acted out version of the 12 days of Christmas, thank God I was the drummer drumming, only had to get up once. Did I mention that Sage was sitting right next to me during the sing-a-long and we sang together, god I love people who really sing not just open thier mouths. After singing our hearts out we headed inside for warm homemade drinking chocolate and the most beautiful Christmas goodies I have ever tasted. Next was the gift exchange..........insane!



I alot of great women, connected with a few and had a fabulous time. I left with a renewed sense of Christmas spirit and excitement. Thank you Karen, Marissa, and Alicia, you are amazing women!

1st ones on the block

Can I tell you how many years I have been trying to get Garon to put up Christmas decorations out front, not just lights but DECORATIONS. Finally!

Garon, I mean the family got a new train for the Christmas season, I don't know who was more excited, Wyatt or Garon.

Thanksgiving 2007

Chow down!

65 years and still growing strong.

5 years, hope we're in love as much as Grandma and Grandpa after 65 years.

My babies, aren't they adorable?

Wyatts First Preschool Party

Turkey with all the trimmings.

Wyatt and his girl, Sierra.

Wyatt is absolutely smitten with all his friends.

Guess who Gabrielle met?

Before the Hannah Montana concert Gabrielle was hungry and picked Chick-A-Flick, we reluctantly left the line for the MileyWorld Club party and went to grab a bite. We walked up in line and the cashier whispered to Gabrielle that Hannah Montana was right behind her and guess what? She was! I didn't recognize her until I heard her laugh, what an unmistakable laugh she has. She was so nice and sweet she came over and took a picture with Gabrielle on her way out. What a lucky girl Gabrielle is, here we were trying to win a raffle to meet Miley and guess who showed up right in front of us.

Male Model in Training

Wyatt found his hat and said "Mom take a picture" Wow, was he posing.

HALLOWEEN

Pumkin Spice, Alex the Lion, Clone Trooper and Little Pumpkin.

We had a great time Trick-or-Treating!

And this is what too much candy does.

Pumkin carving!

Every year the night before Halloween, Garon helps the kids carve thier pumkins. We roast the seeds, set them pumpkins out on the door step and light them up. This year was especially fun because both kids were totally into it. Although Wyatt couldn't stand to put his hand in the gooey pumpkin to clean it out. Gabrielle was completly in charge of her pumpkin this year and took us by suprise when she came up with a castle design, I told her the way she was doing it wouldn't work but low and behold it looked amazing all lit up in the dark.

What we did during the fire...enjoyed each others company.

Fire on the hill

Deja Vu

As all of you remember 4 years ago the cedar fire ripped through our neighboring community Scripps Ranch where my parents lived and where I resided for a few years before I got married. Well in four days it will be the anniversary of those fires and I am sitting exactly where I was four years ago, my moms work here in Miramar. This morning we spent glued to the tv watching the devastation that fires bring to our lives. We sat there thinking that we were out of danger, how could it possibly touch our lives once again? Realization set in when I got a sobering phone call from Sage telling me that the parents of our best friends Kim & Nicky lost their beautiful home in Highland Valley. They lost everything. And in some ways I feel like Kim & Nicky lost also, childhood or teen memories good and bad. I love you Kim and Nicky, we are praying for you and your Dad and Dena. When Garon and I received that news we started packing, pictures, papers, handy-cam videos, everything that meant one iota to us. Thank god Wyatt was napping because we were able to get it done quite quickly. Gabrielle on the other hand was very scared and wanted to take everything that had memories for her even if it meant bringing her rock collection, our words to her were bring anything that is not replaceable. Let's just say she has alot of irreplaceable stuff. So we packed everything up and set it by the front door just in case. Just in case we woke up in the middle of the night with our neighborhood on fire we could grab and run. Grab and go? WTF! I hate this, I hate this! I hate that people are devastated by this, I hate that people are getting hurt or will get hurt. I have been on the internet looking at houses and jobs in far away places. Places that won't have fires that take away homes and lives. So here I sit, after being sent away by my husband to safer ground, with two kids and two dogs. Four years ago I sat at this computer pregnant with Wyatt and little old Baby (RIP), in my lap.

Lot's of time on my hands?

This week was pretty much non-eventful which I hate to say was wonderful. The week went fast and nothing bad, scary or expensive happened. I have been doing a lot of snooping around other blogs and the one I found most interesting this week was www.lauragallagher.com/blog/ you can find it through my "ordinary mom" link. On one of her previous posts she talks about SMART Habit Saturday. Saving Money, Associations, Resources and Time, I really never knew there were people out there that actually think this stuff up and not get paid for it, well maybe she does get paid for it, but it sound very interesting and makes making new good habits easy. I am always up for self improvement, so I am definitely going to give it a try. I want to try to make my bed every morning, clean off my counter top every night and walk my dogs three nights a week, I used her suggestions because as all of you know I am pretty perfect already. I will let you know how it goes, if it isn't going so well you won't hear one word.Did I tell you I want to start scrapbooking for the kids. When will I find all this time?

Julian

Julian is where we go every year to have breakfast, pick apples and pick pumpkins for Halloween. This year it was a little sad because due to the frost the apple orchards were closed, dang that frost. Other than that our day was pretty much perfect. We went shopping on Main Street, love the little shops that already have Christmas decorations. Then it was pumpkin time! Which was really fun until Wyatt decided to poop his pants, pee-eew! Oh yea, I almost forgot, we had to stop and get a apple pie of course. We love Julian!

Julian

Rainy Day

I love rainy days. Especially when I get to make cookies with my chillins. Saturday was perfect day to get out the Halloween cookie cutters and roll out the dough. Actually this was Wyatts idea, his exact words "Mama I want to make cookies, want to roll them and eat 'em" and that was exactly what he did.

Growing up?

So is this how life goes when you are raising a pre-teen daughter? One minute she is wearing ruffles and pigtails and the next minute she is sneaking clothes out of the house. This morning I noticed the outfit Gabrielle had set out consisted of a tank top and an old pair of jean shorts, ok not so bad but didn't I just go out and spend almost an entire paycheck on new school clothes? Nordstrom, Abercrombie, etc. Yea, she's spoiled. So I mentioned to her the nice new shorts I had recently purchased for her, and with a little argument from her she agreed to wear the new ones. Well, Gabrielle goes to my moms every morning and on this particular morning she took her clothes with her to get dressed. I saw her grab her "new" shorts and a belt and "Goodbye mom, luv ya" off she went. As she was walking to the car after school I noticed those dingy, tad bit too small jean shorts on her. When I asked her when put them on, I was thinking she was going to say the other shorts bothered her but she said "I put them on at Nanas" WHAT? "Gabrielle you hid them from me and purposely took the ones I wanted you to wear so I wouldn't get mad?" You know what the kid said! "Yes" She totally admitted lying and being deceitful to me. I never remember doing something like this to my mom, I was perfect, I was! What am I in for?

Is it the weekend yet?

Our weekends have been so great lately that it is all I can think about. The one coming up means Julian for apple and pumpkin pickin. We were going to wait till October 20th but Garon swears that it will be crazy that weekend, oh well I am ready anyway. Fall here we come!

Gabrielle made "Playground Patrol" I am so proud of her, I asked her what it meant and she said she gets to help with the kinders at lunch assisting them with opening their milk and throwing away their trash, how cute. It seems like just yesterday when Gabrielle was a kinder. Time fly's so fast now a'days. Wyatt is doing great at preschool I think he is the most popular with the girls, he came home the other day and wanted to kiss just about everything even the front door. I wonder who is teaching him these things?
So, Marissa what is the date? You know I am ready! Oh yea, you can now comment on my blog, cause you know I really want to know what you have to say.
I am off to get dinner done, tonight it is Braised Apple and Sauerkraut Pork Chops and Mashed Potatoes, yummy!

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