Imagine

Imagine if cankles were considered adorable?

Imagine if you had a friend to eat all the food you didn't like?

Imagine if a dirty face charmed the pants off everyone?

I imagine if I got away with all of the above, I would think that Life is good. Life is very good.

A Flurry of Activity

Christmas has come and gone.

I am sad.

I am still listening to Christmas music and enjoying my tree (just don't bump into it or the needles go all over :). Christmas is such a magical time of the year.

We helped out a family this year and the kids helped with the cause by donating some of their new toys. They LOVED helping a family in need. They still talk about it daily. Dave and I usually do it ourselves, but this year I thought everyone could join in.

Service is great.

And we are fortunate to be in the situation where we can help others. For that I am VERY thankful.

We have had two birthdays in our home. Filippo is the big 13 and Evan is sweet 16. They are wonderful boys. They are a delight to be around and I am so proud to be their mom.

They are really cute, too.

I get told that all the time and it worries me a little bit.

Our So Cal trip was a blast. Busy, busy busy...but that is how it always is. I wish I could talk to everyone more, but that is just how it goes. We caroled, we went to Disneyland, we ate and ate some more (paying for that now!), we played and we opened presents. I love seeing my brothers and sisters and all their kin. They are all so cute. We stayed with my parents and we filled there spare bedrooms to the max.

When the heck did I become a mom to six?

Our car was filled with eight people, a dog, luggage on top and luggage on the back. Six hours there and six hours back is just about all we could take! I am still recuperating :)

Life is good.

2009 has brought some sweet blessing and bittersweet trials. My heart still aches when I think of the numerous times we almost lost Sophie. But then my heart leaps with happiness when I see her standing in her crib grinning at me. I love that face. She greets everyone with a smile...I believe that is her way of saying, "Thank you for praying for me." My husband is back to his same old self. My heart hurts when I think of how his body started shutting down of him that Saturday night. But then I see his smile and I smile back even bigger. Love that man. He is everything I ever dreamed of. He is mine forever. So are my kids. Lucky me.

So here is to a New Year. I can't wait to see what 2010 brings my way. (Hopefully good things :)

Tis the Season

Life has been so crazy. No joke. I am trying hard not to feel overwhelmed with trying to get everything done, so this evening before dinner, I told Bridgete we were going to take a walk. It is her favorite thing to do. I put dinner on hold, loaded up Sophie in her stroller asked Filippo and Spencer to join us and we were off.

Twenty minutes of feeling carefree.

It was heaven.

I skipped with them,

galloped,

hopped on one foot,

ran

and gave a piggyback ride.

(Filippo was running along kicking the soccer ball...no piggyback ride for him :)

It was almost dark so we hurried home. Everyone was happier. I was happier. So I have decided when I am feeling completely overwhelmed, I am going on a walk with my kids.

Thankful

Count your many blessings

name them one by one,

and it will surprise you

what the Lord has done.

Dave (my hubby)

Jenny

Evan

Filippo

Spencer

Bridgete

Sophie (extra tears with this one:)

home

My Savior

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

music

good health

food

the vacuum

Ok...I realize I can list a million more things. I am thankful that I get to reflect on all my blessings a little more today. Everyday should be a Thanksgiving day. I am going to work on that :)

Happy Thanksgiving

New things

Having a try at a new hobby :)

A bit overwhelming.

Fun with Grammy and Grampy

Last week, my parents came for a visit. They got to see Evan's football game and the other's soccer games.

I also thought they would enjoy going to the zoo. Spencer and Bridgete had minimum days, so we scooped them up and headed for the Sacramento Zoo and at the last minute, we decided to go to Fairytale Town as well. These two places are gems for young kids. I just love them, especially Fairytale Town. I get sad when the kids outgrow it. It is perfect for little kids. We went on a Thursday afternoon and there was barely anyone there. Spencer and Bridgete practically had the place to themselves. My parents loved it, too. I knew my dad would love all the beautiful mature trees. It was a lovely, crisp, autumn afternoon. Sophie and I at Fairytale Town

We always love having them come up. I think our dog Tucker loves it even more than we do. Grammy and dogs...a match made in heaven :) Seriously, there is NO dog that doesn't love my mom.

We can't wait to get down to see everyone next month.

The History Buff

Filippo loves history. I mean he really loves it. He is like a sponge when reading or learning about anything historical, especially WWII. So, he came home yesterday from middle school and said he got tons of candy from his history teacher. I said, "Why?" He said, "She quizzed us on WWII and I knew every one." Not shocking at all. He could not believe his peers didn't know about D Day. A history buff in the making, that is for sure.