Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. I hope she had a great day.

My mom is truly one of the greatest people I know, she has put up with more than her fair share from me, and some how still finds it in her to talk to me :-)

We all met for dinner last night at Chilis, and the funniest thing happened on the way home. We saw a full moon on the way home. Thats right some strange guy was mooning someone right in the middle of the intersection. What kindof FREAK would do that! Oh wait, as much I as I hate to admit that, yep that would be my brother, and I was the poor victim. I hope his Fiance knows exactly what she is getting herself into! Does he not know that you can be arrested for that! I wasn't going to post about it, because it is kindof embrassing that my 23 yr old brother would do that, but hopefully he reads this, and is a little embrassed!

We don't do birhtday presents for the girls in the family, on Friday we are doing our traditional girl's night out MASSAGES. We have a lot of fun, we get massages from a FANTASTIC spa, and then go and have dinner. I so need one, so I am very much looking forward to it. I will post about that later.

Happy Birthday Mom, We Love You!

Perfect!

WAY TO GO DANAKA!!!



(This is obviously an old pic of Danaka, but I love it....So I thought why not use it)

Danaka got a 4.0 on her report card. I am just being her mom and bragging, but I am truly proud of her. She worked so hard. Keep up the great work sweetie!

You are so my child....

So anyone that knows anything about me, knows that I love COKE (the drink that is is). I always have an always will. I drink my fair share and Jayci tries to drink her share. I walked into the kitchen and when I walked back in, Jayci had discovered my mug and was having a little treat.

Picture 1 - Jayci enjoying a refreshing sip of good old Coca Cola,

Picture 2 - I needed the rest for me!

Oh Jayci Jo

Ms Jayci is one of kind. I have been trying for a few months to get Jayci's "Look" on camera. When ever you do anything that is not pleasing to the princess she throws you a look. It is a hillarious!!! Oh sweet Jayci, I love you.

RiLeY RoSe!

We had Greg's niece Riley come stay with us for a few days. We didn't do too much, just kindof hung out. Danaka and Riley went with Angela and her girl's to see HSM3, yes they are juset now seeing it!!! We did go and see Marly and Me! It was the BEST movie. I loved the book and I loved the movie. Rose and I walked out bawling. We were going to go shopping, but we had fun playing games and watching movies. I was going through Danaka's camera to get pics of her and Jay, I came across their photo shoot, I have included just a few. YOU CRAZY GIRLS!

I love her so much, she is such a fun person and we love having her around. Thanks for coming Riley! We love you.

Ho Ho Ho Came!

Christmas was so much fun this year. Danaka appreciated all the fun things about Christmas, the lights, the music and just being around family. Jayci learned to say Ho Ho Ho so every where and still everywhere we go, she is saying Ho Ho Ho. She wasn't too fond of Santa, but did like her presents.

We had a couple of family Christmas parties this year where Santa came , but Jayci wanted nothing to do with him. Even the awesome Santa and Mrs. Claus that came that read a story, sang songs and even must have read their naughty and nice list because they knew all about each kid there. They gave each kid a gift and Candy cane.

On Christmas morning, we got up at 6:00 to open presents. My mom, dad and brother came down, to watch with Greg and I as the girl's opened their presents.

Danaka got a new cell phone, a new camera, clothes, jewelry, shoes, Itunes gift card, visa gift card and other fun things.

Jayci got clothes, a new car seat (what a smart Santa), a leap pad table, books and other things. She did not upwrap 1 gift. She saw her table and that was it.

After we opened presents here, we went to my mom and dad's to open our gifts from them.

I got $$$ for new carpet Yeah ME! and the typical Christmas stuff, movies, socks, calendar and so on.... I had a great Christmas and am so glad Santa still visits us. The girls got lots of fun and nice stuff from both sets of Grandparents, The Keddingtons, Chris and Danica, Dana, Jackie and my Nana.

After that we went to my grandma's for breakfast, then the girls went to Turner's to open presents with their cousins. Thanks grandma and grandpa Turner.

And after that WE CRASHED. We all went to sleep and slept in! Even Ms. Jayci. Here are few pics of Christmas Day.

One part about Christmas that I loved so much this year, was the chance to learn to make my Nana's famous fruit cakes that she makes at Thanksgiving and Christmas. "Yuck" you might be thinking, but they are not your typical fruit cakes. They are actually called a Poor Man's Fruit Cake. They are almost a cocoa bread with nuts and raisins. She was telling me that the receipe was her mom's who got it from her mom. How neat that I now have that I can make that a tradition with my girls. Thanks Nana for a great time. I love you!

Christmas Eve

We have a tradition that every year on Christmas eve we meet at my grandma's for a small dinner, and then head to the cemetary to decorate my grandpa's grave. We have done this every year since he passed and I love the feeling that it brings when we are there.


My sweet Nana, braving the cold Kindof!




After the cememtary we head to my mom's to open our Christmas pjs, and read stories. My mom and dad buy the girls a Christmas book and they all take a turn reading their stories. This year my brother had a little idea to throw a twist in. My parents had a St Bernard named Chopin for 13 years. We had Christmas pictures taken with Chopy every year. SO muuch fun walking through the mall with a 150 lb dog and having him slobber on anyone and everything. Anyway my mom has wanted a dog ever since chopy passed but they have just put it off for different reasons the last couple of years. My dad even told me before we went to the cemetary that if we bought them anything that was alive, that we better be able to take it back. My brother's fiance's uncle breeds labs, so my brother thought it would be great to play a joke a bring my mom a nem pup, knowing how my dad feels about getting "live" things for Christmas we were just waiting for the words to start flying. When we brought the dog in, my dad held his cool but was not happy about it. The little dog named Moose loved my dad, he jumped on his lap and gave him kisses and everything. My dad didn't find it too cute. My mom loved him, and would have kept him. When we finally told them after a half hour that it was a joke, my dad's holdai spirit seemed to perk right up, that is until moose decided to pee on everything!!! At least it was a joke huh Dad.
Mr Moose himself


After my mom's we came home, read out traditional "Twas the night before Christmas" and it was off to bed, well at least for the girls. I think it was about 2:00 when my head finally hit the pillow, just to have to wake up at 5:00. What would Christmas eve be without procrastination.

Way to Go Girls!

Danaka played on her school's volleyball team this year. It was a blast to learn the sport with her, to watch her participate in another type of team sport.

The girls made it to region and took 3rd place.

The last night the coach holds a Parent's play the players, I was grateful that Greg has a clue about volleyball because heaven knows I don't. It was fun to watch them play together with all the other parents.

Danaka I am so proud of you. You were AMAZING! I am so glad that you have the courage to try something new and to give it your all.

Christmas Band Performace

Danaka doesn't like me very much this year. She really wanted to play the clarinet last year. I told her that if I bought her a clarinet that she had to play it through 8th grade. What a mean mom huh!!!!



Anyway, she had her Christmas band concert and she did great!



Jayci loved the music and danced her little heart out.



Way to go Danaka!

Dance...Dance...Dance

I love December and all that it brings, especially knowing that I get to see Danaka dance. I absolutely love watching her dance. She grows so much between each recital, and this time was no exception. She did beautiful. We had to make some changes with dance this year and to be honest they turned out for the best. Danaka has grown more in the past 4 months than she has in the past 2 years.



My favorite performances are Care Centers. The sudio performs at them every year, and they are the performances that mean the most. The residents there are always so sweet, and just grateful that we are there. Here are just a few pics of the Care center performances. I was back stage during recital and have not yet gotten the pics yet. I will post when I get them.



The other great part about dance is Jayci is so fun to watch. She just bounces and claps, put her hands in the air and just has a ball whenever any music comes one. I for sure need to get video and post.



Danaka you did FANTASTIC! You are absolutely beautiful and I am so glad that we can share something so close to my heart.

Thanksgiving...It's Only January

My New Year's resolution was to do better blogging. Great start huh. Anyway instead of combining all posts that I have missed into 1, and I going to do short and sweet enteries about all that we have been up to the last 6 weeks.

First is Thanksgving. We had a great. I had both the girl's and was so happy to have them with me. We ate dinner at my mom's with all my cousins, my 2 aunts, my grandma my parents and my brother. We had a ton of people and a ton of yummy food.

Jayci decided that she really likes green bean casserole, and not to found of sweet potatos or mashed potates.

After dinner we went and saw Four Christmases. I love Reese Witherspoon, and this movie did not let me down! The only pics I have of Thanksgiving is Jayci eating breakfast in the morning. I guess that is better than none!

Coming Soon....

I know you are all on the edge of your seats! I have a ton of updates that I will be adding today and tomorrow!


Hope everyone had a great holiday season. Me and my girls did!