December is here at last....

So I will admit it......I love Christmas, not a little I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! I start thinking about the next year within a week of taking down the previous years decorations! What is not to love we are CELEBRATING the birth of CHRIST, not too mention the crafts, the music, the family, the decorations, the tree, the lights, and of course all the yummy treats!!!

MY TOP TEN LOVES OF CHRISTMAS

1. Watching our children bubble with excitement

2. Crafting, crafting and more crafting

3. Decorating the tree with my family

4. Setting up all our Nativity Scences

5. Doing for others

6. Creating JOY for those around me

7. Togetherness

8. Inspiring Stories

9. Wrapping presents

10. Not falling asleep until VERY LATE and then waking up before everyone (yes even the kids), and trying my very hardest to wake them up but doing it anyways because I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

Brandyn Painting a part of this years Nativity Addition

MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!



Dancing her heart out....

Taylor is getting ready for yet another NMDT Production, this one is the biggest one yet for her, she has 3 different parts, one being a lead with three costume changes.  She has been dancing 30 plus hours per week, including being the teachers assistant one day a week with the younger classes!  She sprained or twisted her ankle last week and went to dance 3 days later for a 5 hour rehersal! I am keeping her off pointe for now, sometimes I have to wonder if this is really good for her, she JUST turned 10!! I am amazed that she can keep up with this grueling schedule, it is just amazing to me!

Here she is in one of her summer classes! She got kicked out of this level and sent off to be with the middle schoolers and high schoolers.  Like I said she really is amazing....

Working Hard....

Well we have been staying busy with lots and lots of school projects these last few months!

Savannah is trying her best to stay caught up with her school work, it can be so difficult for her being that between all the trips to the doctor and her anemia being so bad right now that some days she really does not have the energy to get to it!  I wish I could do it for her, but I figure that is one of the many joys of homeschooling we can just take breaks when needed and if we fall a little behind we can and will catch up!



A lost tooth

Well guess what Savannah lost her very first tooth and she couldn't be more happier about it!

SEE:



This was so funny!! It was bothering her so much and I kept offering to pull the tooth!  Finally I convinced her to let me pull it out but only after I promised to stop when she told met too, well right when she told me to stop the tooth came out!  What a kid, I am glad she thinks it is a good story too!!!

What's been going on.....

Well life at hour house is enough to keep anyone busy!!! September brought us lots of work in the garden and of course getting things ready for our new school year which was a lot more work then usual because we are moving from schooling two children to three, Savannah "officially" started this year too! It has been fun watching her learn to read and see that yes she really is growing up.  We are navigating our way through High School with Brandyn as he is in the 9th grade and we are learning about transcripts and all the fun things that come with "homeschooling through high school".  Taylor is in the fifth grade and learning so much, she is a teachers assistant this year with her dance school in addition to her 4 days a week of dance and her weekend rehersals for her performance group.  I really hope she will be able to keep up, her dance teachers seem to forget that she just turned 10. In the last month Isaac has learned to walk, run, climb on our kitchen table, get over the gate that used to keep him off the stairs, open all closed doors, climb out of his crib, and find ways to get outside all by himself. After reading this I think I should list all things that he can not do yet, at 14 months old this boy keeps us BUSY! We are so thankful for these kids and all the joy and happiness they bring to us!

Here are three of them enjoying the end of summer fun.......

I forgot to mention, this boys loves the dryer....we have to make sure it is closed or this happens!!

In other news..... we were told that Savannah had Lukemia!  This really shocked Andrew and I and it was a very tough week here.  Savannah has spent more time at the hospital than any kid I know, her immune system does not function well so illness, hospitals, and all that goes along with this keep us on our toes!  After a long week, much prayer, and many hours spent with the Lord I was once again reminded that these lives are not ours they belong to the Lord and we need to serve HIM in hardship as well as during times of gratitude.  I am thankful that our dear daughter does not have Lukemia she has a severe case of A Plastic Anemia, which we can work with, well we would have worked with Lukemia too, but this is a little easier.  Now we have to make a lot of choices and decisions about how we will move forward with her care!  

More gardening fun

We froze over 75 bags for the winter!!! I am so happy that we were blessed for with a full garden this year. 

Why the blog is neglected...

We have been so busy gardening that this blog has been very neglected.  We have been having so much fun this year, I knew that I would get behind on some things and I guess this is one of them. We have pulled out every thing as of today with the exception of our pumpkins and are looking forward

to our very first year of cold crop gardening!! I will keep you posted!

Here is some of the squash as it gets ready to go into the oven.........

Marriage is a Covenant

Well Andrew and I just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and what a great 10 years it has been! So in honor of this past ten years here are just 10 of the things that I find irresistable about my dear husband....
1.  He tells me everyday that I am beautiful and that he loves me
2.  He still tells me the dumbest jokes just to make me laugh or smile
3.  He calls me from work every morning just to say Good Morning
4.  He covers me up at night if I kicked all the blankets off
5.  He can fix anything
6.  He listens to me dream, scheme, rant and rave all while making it look like I am saying the most important
     thing in the world
7.  He still gives me butterflies when he comes in the door
8.  He is the best daddy in the whole world, just ask our kids
9.  He works so hard for us and makes sacrifices that most men wouldn't want to
10. Most of all he loves me for me, the good, the bad and the ugly.....Isn't that what we all want

I reflect back on our marriage and I wonder how I got so lucky?  Then I have to remember that I did not get so lucky, I was truly blessed by The Lord!  I am so happy to have him and know that we when we said our vows we meant them not just for today but for yesterday, and tomorrow as well!

Gardening Adventures....

So last year we bought the lot next door to our house and decided to turn it into a garden.  We worked really hard and got lots done even though Isaac was born just two weeks into the gardening season! Yes, I have to mention that it makes me feel like SUPER MOM!! This year I was certain that it would be totally done and beautiful, you know like Better Homes Garden Cover Material beautiful!! The truth has set in! With Andy's dad in the hospital during the planting season we did not get nearly planted what I had hoped for but we did get in some raspberry bushes, and 4 fruit tress plus some other plants. I guess I will not be canning and preserving like I thought I was going to be all summer long! Oh well we are building more boxes and really working with the land so by next Spring I WILL be ready!!!

Are they all yours????

So we just got back from a family trip to Disneyland and I can not even begin to tell you how many people asked me "are they all yours"??, meaning our kids of course!  I was so proud to say of course they are all mine, and we wouldn't have it any other way!! I love having a family on the larger side so many things to learn together, to teach other, to laugh with, to play with, to cuddle with, and yes sometimes to cry with!! I love them all so much and they are all so precious to me!!

The pictures of Disney will be posted soon, I hope! 

Issac just for fun because I really like this picture

Taylor in her jazz costume after the recital

Savannah all ready for the dance recital

The Family with Doug!

WE DIG DOUG!!!

Doug Turner Talking to everyone at the Block Party this was so fun.

Another reason I love homeschooling Civic Lesson in real life!

Brandyn after the White Rock was painted to WELCOME DOUG TURNER!!

Time Flies....

Just when you think things are slowing down......you wake up from that lovely daydream!!!  Well I guess if we could get everything done that we wanted to in a 24 hour day then what would we need tomorrow for??
So here are a few of the fun things that we did in the month of May:
1. Brandyn and I worked on Doug Turner for Governers Campaign
2. Our family hosted a Block Party for Doug Turner it was so fun
3. Isaac has learned to run away from us and turn around and laugh at us
4. We got part of our garden in but not all of it
5. We had Grandpa in and out of the hospital
6. We have been making changes for our family and our future together as family..VERY EXCITING
7. We finished our homeschool group activities on Thursdays and Fridays
8. Brandyn is busy working on his business with the Small Business Center, Ortega Lawncare Plus for the    second year in a row
9. I am hoping to run a craft camp for kids 2 days a week
10. Andy has been making all of us smile a lot for the past few weeks, more about that on another post!

Having a full house sure does keep us busy but right now I am happy to say that we can't accompish it all in a day because I love waking up to another tomorrow!!!

What We Have Been Doing:

Well we have been very busy lately.  Brandyn has been getting ready for a trip to Philmount Boy Scout Camp again which is a 50 mile backpacking trek.  He went last year and had a good time, but I was the happiest mom in the world when he told me I really missed you guys and being at home!! I hope he feels the same this year too!! I know that we sure miss him while he is away.  I really feel blessed to have him as our son.  Taylor has been staying busy with dance class, she will again be doing a 2 week long intensive with some world renowned ballet instructors for her ballet technique as well as for pointe.  Then we will be takingwa break from dance classes this summer, which I am very happy about. Taylor loves dancing and is really quite good.  We all enjoy watching her at her shows and recitals. Savannah is wrapping up he last year at Pre School where she has been recieving speech therapy, ocupational therapy and pyshical therapy.  I am so happy that this year will find her back at home with us for homeschooling and family life.  I know it is only for 3 hours per day but boy that is such valuable time, I really hate any time that I am away from the family.  I feel so blessed to be the mother and teacher of these children.  Isaac has learned to stand up all by him self with support and I can see him walking, I mean running here shortly.  This should lead to a really fun summer for all of us.  Andy and I have been busy with our family and our businees but there are no complaints from either of us as we feel so blessed to still have our business in this economy. 
Well I guess I need to post some picture so you can the changes that have been taking place.  Exciting times here in our lives!!

The Finished Project

FINALLY!!

The Project That Will Never End....

We decided not replace the trampoline last summer after it finally broke so we decided on this lovely little play structure, what could possibly go wrong right???  I am not kidding when I say that this thing came in two boxes and EVERY single piece had to be put together, there was not ONE assembled piece in the box.  The directions said this projedct will take two people 8 to 10 hours to complete.  So I thought with our Two and a Half Men, Andrew, Steve (our gracious family friend), and Brandyn that they would be done on day one..well day three we finally finished.  The kids really do love it, although Isaac is still terrified of it.  Times like these relly remind that I am so blessed to married to Andy.  He just got right in there and did it, not one complaint from him!  WOW am I one lucky wife, not too mention how grateful I am that the kids have such and awesome and hard working daddy!!  Hope you enjoy the pictures, it sure was fun. 

All About Me....

Today our homeschool group worked  on posters with the title "ALL ABOUT ME".  It really got me thinking.  I began to wonder do I show people the real me in my everyday life or I am trying to complete the tasks of the day.  I am one of those task minded people that just keeps moving.  Do I take enough time to enjoy the things that I really love about me?  The answer is no, not ever but I am realizing that being surrounded by our four kids is really enough for me, the scrapbook on the shelve can wait, the cards I really want to make can wait; one of our daughters wants to make muffins, the other wants to finish sewing a blanket, our son wants to sit down and discuss his future business and life plans, and the baby of the group just wants to be held and loved so all those things that I once loved that were all about me will wait until this FABULOUS season of my life is complete and I can go back and discover all about me once again.  I am looking forward to what will change and what will stay the same!

And We Are Off...

Well Isaac is now crawling so in addition to his first tooth he is all over the place....and loving it!!  I must say he is quite proud of himself as he now has come to the realization that doors open and close as well.  Let fun begin!!

Here We Go.....

Well, I never thought that I would be writing a blog but here goes.  I guess I will start of with a little of who I am and what I do.  I am the so grateful to be married to my best friend who loves me in spite of my quirks ( I can be a little Type A, but I am not sure yet if that is a problem???).  I am a homeschooling mother of 4 of the GREATEST BLESSINGS that I could ever have anticipated having.  They are Brandyn 14, Taylor 9, Savannah 5, and Isaac 7 months.  These children make me laugh, smile, cry, question myself, and challenge me to be the best mom in the world on a daily basis, and by the grace of god alone I am hoping that I am meeting the challenges!!! We also run a commercial janitorial and carpet cleaning business!! Needless to say we stay BUSY!!

I am hoping to write in this monthly and post lots of pictures of our journey through this life.  I hope that you will follow along with us.... It should be VERY interesting!!!!