Twister

I had to include the pictures from Christmas Eve at my mom's. Because...I got my nephew Cole the game of Twister. Thinking it would be fun. Thinking it would be fun to watch the kids play. NOT thinking Anna would play, Troy would play, Carlos would play, my mom would play and even I would play. Can you say laugh until you cry and/or pee your pants?

Anna, Taylor, Cole and CJ!

Taylor and CJ...stretching!

Troy can barely breath he is laughing so hard!

My sister and brother! This is not their better sides...I do love them.

I really do!

Can you see that Carlos' legs are crossed? Ha!

Merry Christmas

Here is a rare photo of my brother and me.

Looking fairly normal for a late Christmas day,

hair is bad and double chins are doubly bad!

After a great day with my family and friends I look around the house and see my sleeping boys (all three!), the Christmas tree with opened gifts under it, a semi-clean kitchen and new toys/presents out around the house. It is peaceful and quiet. Earlier today my mom, brother and sister came over for our traditional Christmas spread...Dutch Baby and all the fixings. Yummy! We then opened presents and since CJ was the only kid (Zac just watched and was very happy in Mimi's lap) it was calm and a bit more relaxed than usual. Anna really loves her big sis, because I know am the happy owner of a Keurig. It is super cool and fits nicely right along with my Nespresso. (That was from my Dad last year!) We do love some coffee in this house! She and my mom also got us a wii fit. It is super cool and a blast to play and watch others play. I really thought my brother was going to die laughing at my trying to hula-hoop! We all took turns playing and laughing at ourselves! Maybe they should have called it laugh-fit. And of course many rounds of Guitar Hero...CJ's gift from us. Between Anna, Carlos and CJ they were rocking all day. (Can you tell I didn't get tired of it at all. Really. Not one tiny bit. NOT!) Anyway, we settled down a bit and after a bit of relaxing friends started dropping by for a hello, some nibbles, exchange gifts and share the day. A shout out to Tramaine, always nice to see ya! Kari and Xander stopped by and he showed off his new DS outfitted with every Star Wars extra imaginable! The Ryan's also stopped by and Bethany surprised Kari and I with Wicked tickets for March! Yeah!!! Andrea also made a quick stop for a hello and my mom's super yummy chocolate cream pie. What a wonderful day filled with tons and tons of laughter, funny stories, my fabulous baby boy being smiley all day and my home full of love. Thanks everyone!

And of course my baby boy Zac!

Merry Christmas!!!!

First Time Eating and Sledding

Here is Zac eating from a spoon for the first time at Mimi's.

Here are some fun pictures of sledding with the kids, Anna, Kari and Xander! Fun times!

The Christmas Spirit

I have been wanted to blog about the spirit of Christmas for awhile, but my friend Judy beat me to it! I too was in a Christmas spirit slump...until the snow arrived! It has been really fantastic around here the last week and a half! In McMinnville it was recorded that we got a record 18 inches of snow. 18 inches! Of course that brings on a host of problems, but that is not my focus for today's blog on this Christmas Eve, today is about the Christmas spirit. The snow canceled 5 days of school in a row, that means we all stayed home...3rd grader and me the teacher. And after 12 years of marriage my husband finally got to stay home around the holidays. Now all of us home had its issues, but for the most part it was wonderful. We got up when we wanted, ate-drank-ate when we wanted, played, watched movies, talked, tickle fights, laughter and fun with the whole family. We did get out and make a snowman, go sledding and of course many snowball fights. The house was trashed, cleaned, trashed and cleaned everyday with snow coats, gloves, mittens, scarves and boots and we actually got into quite a routine. So where is this Christmas spirit I speak of? In the phone calls, emails, texts, blogs and visits from family and friends. I witnessed families eating breakfast together, laughter in the backgrounds, countless photos of kids and snow-snow and kids and some long conversations with my friends and family members I have not talked to in a long time! How many times in a lifetime do we get to be with our families uninterrupted and look out the window at a white-wonderland? The Christmas spirit is alive and well... it just came a little later than usual and brought some unexpected weather with it! So, here I am blogging on Christmas Eve at my mom's house. Candles are lit. Christmas tree is twinkling as my son sleeps under it. Kids are playing. Deer are frolicking in the backyard. (True story.) Now the appetizers are being served and I am getting the look to get off the computer...So Merry Christmas to all and I hope the Christmas spirit finds you and your family well! How does joy find you? How does the light of Christmas reach you?

Two Snowmen and One Snowboy

Steve and Carlos and my-off-camera-voice...oh yeah, and can't figure out how to turn it! Sorry!

Steve wanted to make a body print in the snow and as you can tell from my high-screeching-annoying-louder-than-I-ever-imagined-voice and coupled with my word choice...Carlos too "decided" to make a body print in the snow. CJ needed no convincing! Both videos are cute, minus my voice. Like you said Allison, how do I edit my voice out? Yikes! Note to others reading my blog NOT in the PacNW, these body prints were made about 9:00PM Sunday night, Monday at 6:30AM, Steve said they were practically filled in with new snow! We are getting really dumped on! I love it!

CJ making his snow print! I love how his feet are higher! Too cute!

The Lomas Brothers

Carlos' brother and his family came over for a visit, to eat, play and exchange gifts. As always it is fun, relaxing and fun to hear and see the kids interact. Right now Angie has baby Zac while cousin Angel and Jesse's gf help out, Jesse and John are playing the wii, Carlos is doing dishes, CJ is taking pictures, Jimmy and Dakota are hanging on the couch and I am blogging...watching it all and amazed at the amount of snow dumping out of the sky! It is totally gorgeous outside and warm and cozy inside Here is a rare picture of the two of the four brothers...Carlos and his little bro Jimmy.

Uncle Jimmy and nephew Zac!

Zac in his new Bumbo chair from Auntie Angie.

John, Jimmy, Angel, Angie, Dakota, Jesse, Jenny

Cousins Angel and CJ

Snow Day #5

Building a snowman or three, snowball fights, tamale at Troy and Kari's with the Ryan's then finally some cookie decorating...and lots of family fun...that is how we spent snow day #5! What a great day filled with fabulous memories!