Aye Aye Aye!!!!.....

It's past 10:30pm and I'm TRYING to get some shut-eye EXCEPT...



We have a FIESTA going on down the street. And someone gave an old guy the MIC and he's singing with the Mariachi band-- rambling away in cut-throat spanish, you'd think we were at a daytime auction! Seriously. Last time this happened (with another neighbor) it didn't end until 3... almost 4 AM. I'm usually pretty cool about stuff like this, since we LOVE to throw a few backyard parties ourselves... But COME ON!!!...

Can someone at least TAKE AWAY THE MIC!!! and give the old man a break?

My poor Sunday school class... if I'm not alert tomorrow, NOW you know why!

A WARM 74 degrees!

It must have been the winter blues...

because I was content to stay indoors ALL DAY LONG...

UNTIL I felt the WARM SUN peek through my curtains. I was so excited! I wanted to load up the kiddos, boogie boards and cooler and drive to Bolsa Chica BUT I knew I'd be majorly disappointed when I arrived. It'd most likely be overcast and 20 DEGREES cooler (The desert is ALWAYS hotter than the coast).

So I rolled out of bed and opened every window letting out all the wintry blues, pulled out our flip flops and t-shirts and took my babies to the park...

and just DREAMT of SUNNY BEACHY DAYS.

Then enjoyed this lastest pic posted by my SIL...



How FUN!!!! We miss you guys and wish we were there to soak up all that SUN!!!

This NEW year...

On top of the regular needing to perfect my daily scripture reading, prayer and temple attendance, I resolve to:

1. Never clean my children's plates (with my too eager mouth) AFTER they've eaten.

2. Rid my wardrobe of unsightly T's that make their way to my 'exercise' attire. (Burn baby, BURN! lol)

3. Sit up straight- improving posture and strengthening my CORE.

4. Breathe. Consciously. Focusing on each life-giving breath.

5. Clear my mind and my body of TRASH (negativity, unfair judgements, unkindness) that cloud decisions and rapidly increase MY aging process.

6. Keep my eyebrows clean and trimmed. Makes my face feel clean and improves a smile 100 x's!
(k
7. Sign non-negotiable contract with self to increase heart rate above 154 for 45 consecutive minutes at least three times a week (K 154's kindof high consecutively- I mean just long enough to break a good sweat and keep my heart rate pumpin'). Love me some CARDIO, yay!

8. Teach my children three part harmony. Who knows if they'll be able to carry a tune... but I'm inspired by an amazing Aunt of mine. BTW- She's makes the BEST Pani PoPo. This, but a million times better.

9. Faithfully commit to dates with my children and spouse.

There you have it. HERE are a few but not the all of the MANY resolutions I have running around in my head, but I guess important enough to remember first.

Love the New Year! Wishing you all the very, very BEST this 2009!

T'was the NIGHT BEFORE Christmas...

I attempted to prewrap gifts and put them under the beautifully decorated trees...

The tree(s) and pre-wrapped gifts LOST!

Why???



Well... because they were up against Monkey #4 and his Bessie. He'd take the presents and her the tree and together they'd ATTACK.

So of course, the trees and pre-wrapped gifts LOST.

By gift # 6 and tree re-decorate # 100 ... I gave up. Who needs a gazillion non-SANTA gifts and beautifully decorated tree anyway???



The night before x-mas the kids mixed, baked and decorated sugar cookies for SANTA (as if Santa didn't already have enough sweets!)... then nestled their heads in their beds.




And in the WEE hours of morning, we woke to the excited whispers and glees of delight as our children discovered, "Santa came! Santa came!". We barely got a minutes rest when these little guys woke. No longer able to contain their excitement Mr. J gave them the 'go ahead' and off they went down the stairs.



And in less then 20 mins. a whole night of preparation was completely unwrapped.
The kids were covered in chocolate, wrapping paper, gleaming smiles and laughter.

Later for lunch the Elders joined us for a very non-traditional meal of CRAB w/ garlic butter and lemon, Homemade clam chowder, warm-from-the-oven rolls and yummy deserts. LOVE LOVE LOVED it!

This year was simple for us. Besides the Elder time, we spent the ENTIRE Christmas, just the SIX of us. And although the night before I was missing the noise, family, cousins, and more YUM food, it was admittedly one of the BEST Christmas's we've had so far... I love my little FAM!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hideous Sweater/ Christmas Par-tay!

We got together last minute to throw a HIDEOUS sweater Christmas Party. It's was quite hilarious seeing what some couples came up with. Searching out one of these was actually more challenging then I'd thought, because a grip of people were scouting the Thrift Store for a Hideous Sweater as well... apparently invited to the same kinda PAR-TAY! Sifting through all the hideousness stirred up an IDEA for next year... HIDEOUS FORMAL NEW YEARS PARTAY! LOL!

We traded white elephant gifts, and I became the PROUD owner of TRIPLE the FUNNNNN RICHARD SIMMONS VHS EXERCISE TAPES! (YAY! Des and I are gonna be on those FIRST thing Mond Morn!). We ate YUMMY appetizers, desserts, played games, sipped delish cider and creamy chocolaty hot cocoa. Enjoyed a quick AFTER PARTY mix with the guys. Created our very own dance floor. Thanks UB40/ Adeaze/ Gregory Isaac/ Fob Jam Mix + Jared.

We had GREAT FUN, watching each other act a fool.... desperate to WIN the contest and the night!!!

And GUESS who WON?????

Riverside "Winter WONDERland"!

I know it's late... but since I'm up anyway editing MY FAMILY pics I figured I might as well get this on. My kids have been attending this charter school going on their second year and I am SO GRATEFUL! After feeling completely frustrated with their previous school, then pulling them out to homeschool (which was a complete flop, might I add) we found this 'diamond-in-the- rough' charter school administrated primarily by members of the Victorville/Applevalley LDS Stake. Phenomenal individuals determined to improve education for our children, MY children. So I was thrilled when they got into the school.

Last year about this time they held their first WINTER WONDERLAND in the tiny gymnasium. The audience was spilling out into the playground straining to hear the performances. This year they moved it outdoors to the large ampitheatre so EVERYONE could enjoy. It was WONDERFUL. The kids performed traditional, sweet and even witty numbers, keeping the audience entertained and wanting more. There was a Santa, a snow making machine, a miniature display of Jeruselem (I believe), students playing christmas songs on the piano, brightly lit revolving trees filled with ornaments made by our children.

I LOVED it!

KUDOS to RSPA! Excellent Job!

All that BUZZ!

My hub just returned from his 'boys only' trip to watch Fahu play.




Can I just tell you how JEALOUS I am about their little getaway. A bunch of guys, no wives or screaming kiddos, for an ENTIRE weekend. Trouble, I'm SURE! So after hearing a play by play of his expedition I am determined to have a WEEKEND out... one of these days (SO typical of us Mom's, huh!). Anywho... I had a busy weekend anyway... shooting and editing. I am SO ecstatic about this weekend's shoot.



check it out here!